Cleaver's Games: March 8 

Welcome to my blog. Ha, that's a word I would not have known the meaning of a few short weeks ago, and truth be known I still don't. But if blog in any way stands for always random, often rambling, frequently inane and rarely insightful comments of a sports hack on assignment, then count me in.

Yes, the Games are still a week away but my colleagues and I have been sent out in what can only be described as an advance party, scouting for Games information, stories, potential pitfalls, pratfalls and Melbourne's finest dining experiences.

If covering events like the Olympics, world cups and Commonwealths all sound like a glorified holiday, rest assured we work extremely hard... some of us up to 90 minutes a day.

It's always a wrench leaving NZ for any length of time, particularly when last night threw up the twin excitements of a power cut and a census. Undeniably the two are linked. I'm not sure how but that is a job for a news reporter, not sports.

Anyway, on large chunks of the North Shore the census was filled in by candlelight for the first time since the Edison startled the science community with his lightning rod, or was that Franklin. Again, that's a job for news.

The airport this morning was a similarly enlightening experience. Where else in the country would you find, Scribe, P Money, a Herald on Sunday reporter and the Canadian hockey team all under one roof? Exactly.

Truth be told, I'm worried about the latter. I know they beat New Zealand 1-0 in a two-match series at the weekend, but their dress standards are appalling. Some were in team issue jackets, some were in civvies and one was wearing shorts, trainers and socks that came up to his knees.

Not only that, one of them moved with uncommon speed to pick up a newspaper discarded by an unsuspecting member of the public. That's $1.50 he's saved on his per diems already. Thankfully the New Zealand hockey boys sauntered through customs soon after in matching team issue gear, restoring a bit of pride to the hockey world.

Next stop, next blog, Melbourne.