Huge for me personally.

Last year, I purposefully routed my trip to England to avoid the USA. Paid more for my flight to do so. But I know it's not safe there for queer folk like me. It certainly isn't safe for people that aren't white. So when do we stop sending athletes there?

"My plea to the unions of the Pacific Four is simple, stop stumbling into this series and start taking it seriously." Another year, another schedule full of TBCs open.substack.com/pub/alicesoa...

It’s still wild to me that in what could be one of the most consequential elections is recent times we have two of the most meh guys running for Prime Minister.

These days with search engines being broken, I am finding myself heading to reddit more and more for answers. Might finally have to create an account.

It’s early doors still to say I’ve completely conquered it. But surprised that today, after a long day of mahi, I actually wanted to go get some time in the gym. Cutting it right down to a 30min smash has been a big one to get me out the house.

The annoying thing about having more work is I have to do it all.

Given my interests, it is funny how the only thing by high school qualifications that stopped me from being a nerd was being good at sports.

Fresh from the garden.

Just on this, if you live in Te Whanganui-a-Tara and want to get involved in the political process this year, hit me up. I don’t care about your party affiliation cause I’m not affiliated myself. As long as you’re in alignment on values and willing to put the mahi in, we’d love to have ya.

We have been doing some tidying up around home which means I have got out my old DVD stash. Making Bailey watch my preteen fav, Roswell, for the first time.

One the the best opshop scores of late. A ROK Presso manual espresso machine. I love her.

Today, I bring you the overview of the pockets of joy to look forward to in 2026. PS. Migration off substack is in process and should hopefully be complete by end of month 🙂 open.substack.com/pub/alicesoa...

We don't have an election date yet but I'm already planning my first voter contact session for the year. GAME ON!

Hey so I haven’t followed men’s rugby since 2015 so don’t have an opinion of their current coaching drama. Kinda interested in structural stuff as I don’t think we’ve seen the Director of Rugby role work aside from Wayne Smith. But that elevated appointment was about managing previous coach out.

GOOD NEWS EVERYONE! Our leaky kitchen tap has finally been fixed after our mate popped around with a proper tool to removed the seized bonnet. I have been experiencing the torturous drip, drip for the last couple of weeks so today I am so grateful for the silence.

My gym experience has been massively improved by embracing it as a place to show off. Retired from sports but can still throw the weights that made me an athlete.

I am nearing the end of the final book in the Secret Commonwealth and already missing it. Now I’m thinking I should read some Terry Prachett for the first time. But where do I start?

I love Heated Rivalry, what I don't love is people suggesting a sapphic version would be too far fetched. Have we all forgotten that Megan Rapinoe only came out in 2012?? open.substack.com/pub/alicesoa...

I don’t know what it means but everything is growing really tall in the garden this year. Raspberries, beans, tomatoes, all shooting for the heavens!

I have tried to migrate to ghost and why does this feel like 10,000 steps that I’m fucking up at every turn.

Hello, today I discovered a very annoying thing. The Black Ferns are playing a three match series in October against France. On the 17th, 24th and 31. Do you know who else is playing France in October? The Kiwi Ferns on the 25th. Cool chance for a cross code weekend right? WRONG.

Making my way back to work via breakfast in the garden.

Just watching Marlon Williams doco and aside from anything else, please stop smoking Marlon! That beautiful voice aue!

SPOILERISH: I love Heated Rivalry so much because it’s always asks what if it worked out though? And us queers know all too well what the worst is so it’s a joy to see the best case scenario play on screen.

For the last 3 years, I have made a Boxing Day ragu from all the left over lamb.

Meri kihimete! May your plates be filled, your people well behaved and your presence be celebrated!

Everything is set for tomorrow, so I’m back with my boys. Rewatching episode 5 of Heated Rivalry to set me up for a good cry!

My second start to the day after being up early doors to put the lamb on.

Today, I experienced a peak bro moment where I was in the barber’s chair and he showed me a picture of the fish he caught that he’s serving for Christmas lunch.

I have managed to engineer Christmas this year so events are: Christmas Eve lunch BREAK BREAK Christmas lunch Plus kick ons Team, I have successfully got myself out of the marathon AND really just committed to just making the lamb and crispy potatoes. Baby’s first regulated Christmas 🎄

Randomly reading some family history because tis the season. And come across an anecdote in which my great grandfather is kicked out of a RSA event for basically interrupting and saying “BULLLLLSHIIIIIITTTT” when they were waxing lyrical about the glory of these two young men headed to Vietnam.

All writing is filed and scheduled. I don’t want to hear a single news break in the next fortnight.

Starting my day as normal (texting people about how they should be watching Heated Rivalry).

When Luxon is asked what his biggest challenge was this year and replies “quarter two”. He’s right but just not in the way he that he thinks. That language and his inability to shake it is what’s causing him to be so unlikeable to the general public.

My boy, my boys, my beautiful boys. Heated Rivalry has my entire heart.

A way I know a place is good is I will order across the menu on visits rather than sticking to my safe order.

To all the companies sending me emails wishing me a Merry Christmas - include a freebie or forget about it.

Thanks to Vicky Dombroski for jumping on the phone with me this morning. Her insights are shared alongside mine with the news of Whitney Hansen's appointment as Black Ferns head coach. Read more here: open.substack.com/pub/alicesoa...

The first person I wanted to talk to…

Whitney Hansen as new Black Ferns coach. Great to see a woman rise to the top, 31 years after the last woman to lead us, the one and only Victoria Dombroski. Questions now: - who will she assemble around her? (Assuming she has the freedom to) - who will Matatū replace her with?

Turns out that Santa was the role I was born to play.

O scrum, all ye faithful! We have an early Christmas pressie for you- a bonus episode of Full Credit! We've been making a list of all the rugby news and checking it twice and now we are here to tell you what's naughty and nice🎄 shows.acast.com/67bb89ff86a5...

It was my birthday over the weekend and so you should give me the gift of donating to this. Thaaank you!

Was talking to a fellow self employed the other day and we agreed that the one shitty part of contract life is not having annual or sick leave. Feel this very acutely during the holiday season where time off means overtime in anticipation.

She’s the Man really is unmatched. Makes me laugh every time.

One thing about me which I think folks find surprising is I am rarely a fan of nonfiction. Many people have gifted me books over the years on many different interesting topics and I’m sure they’re great! But I’m always more fond of a couple hundred speculative pages on the human condition.

You can hire me to be the queer Santa of your dreams

I scored some vintage Rixon Groove NZ made linen shirts at the opshop the other day. I am your luxurious uncle.

Part one of my year that was. open.substack.com/pub/alicesoa...