Maybe I'm generating excess static electricity or something; whatever, all my electronic equipment seems to be fritzing out. Latest victim is my mobile phone. OK it's old, 18 months old at least, and clunky as all get-out, but hey! I've still got credit to use up.

Today it completely blew a fuse -- I was en route to Anthea's and there was a huge traffic jam (road works), and I was phoning to tell her I'd be late. I had trouble accessing the phonebook, then it all sloooooowwwwed right down, and finally it said: "empty list". I switched it off and on again, dialled the number manually and finally got through. (By then the traffic was moving and I had to cut the call off short as I was being cut up by a huge bus.)

Then tonight when I was talking to Andrew up north, it cut off the call with the message: "Insert card". There's nowhere to insert a card!

I guess it's Vodaphone's way of saying "This phone is terminally uncool. Buy a WAP-enabled Nokia with 254 annoying ringtones immediately."

I've just been to the bar of the hotel across the road (during my break, I'd like to emphasise!), hoping to catch a glimpse of an All Black -- they're staying there. No such luck; though the bar was full of men who look like they were once rugby players -- thick necks and broken noses. Today Argentina pasted Scotland, and they're playing NZ next. My boss is an Argentine, so that should be interesting ...