New Zealand

Always had sympathy for low key countries like Australia, New Zealand or Canada, but never  any interest traveling to them. This has changed now and i am heading to New Zealand next week. Seeing my favourite little lady there is another incentive for going the distance.

Aintree follow-up with a view on experts

Before the race experts let me know - don't bet on a French horse, they are not bred for
 a distance that long - don't bet on a grey, they didn't win since '61 - don't bet on a horse carrying more than 11 stone 5.Would be too much for the grueling distance - don't bet on a horse trained by Paul Nicholls. Yes,a champion trainer, but never won the race.
                                 

Well, the race was won by Neptune Collonge, a French bred, grey horse, carrying 11 stone 6 and is trained by
Paul Nicholls. Experts are pushing to the limelight in many areas trying to impose their opions on others, but  they get it wrong all the time. So the lesson is, never to forget about the own judgement and to be critical - paid me a nice dividend. Apart from that, riding such a magnificent animal and crossing the line first in such a big race must be one of the finest moments in sports. Unfortunately all i ride is a rusty bicycle.
                                                        
                                                                                                         

14.04.2012 Hamburger SV - Hannover 96

German Bundesliga - Matchday 31
Bookies still clueless about Hamburg  making them favs despite their dismal home form, which reads 2-6-7. Hamburg dwells in an dogfight against relegation and you want to see them fighting teeth and nails, but what did i see yesterday against modest Hoffenheim - zilch, zippo, nada. Hannover is no away force, but they need to win to qualify for the Euroleague and with Ya Konan and Diouf up front Hamburg defenders might quickly feel like whirligigs. Some already demand to stop this guy from singing before the game, because he puts everybody in a sluggish mood. Ladbrokes offers odds of 3 for the away win and this writer gladly accepts.*** 1:0

In times, when The Netherlands become baseball ...

... world champions it is obvious, that things are not, what they used to be. But what you still can count on are incomprehensible laws and rulings made by the German government on taxpayers expense. Talking about so called child care subsidy. In short every child in Germany up to three years was granted a kindergarten spot by law. But there are not enough  for everyone , so the government decided to pay their parents some money ( "oven premium" ) for forfeiting their rights. In other words  parents receive money for keeping their kids away fom the kindergarten and attend them at home, something you would expect every good father or mother to do. The price tag for that nonsense lies at 1.9 billion Euros annually and coinicidentally that law comes into effect in January 2013, a few months before general elections. Living in a democracy are they trying to buy votes ? If i vote at all i do so with my feet.

14.4.2012 Grand National Chase in Aintree

Finding a winner in this one is not an easy task considering the magnitude of the field and the number of obstacles. Ballabriggs ( left ) did me a favour winning it last year and i expect him to be a leading contender again this year, but my main money will be down for STATE OF PLAY. This horse is a brilliant jumper and stays longer than the mother-in-law, or so they say. He finished 4th last year and 3rd two years ago and has this year  less weight to carry. Odds of 33/1 show some lack of respect for his achievements and i will back him each way meaning he has to be among the first five for an excellent payout. But win or lose lets's hope all jockeys and horses make it home safe and sound.*** Incredible race with Ballabriggs sixth and State Of Play unseating his rider. My third selection won it though with the narrowest of all margins, by a nose, after 4.5 miles and thirty huge obstacles leaving me well in profit. But nothing to cheer about as the ugly side of racing was displayed in abundance with horses falling left, right and center. Only 15 of 40 made it to the finish line.