Yes. It will be Team Stickalicious.
And Stick will be Captain. It will be awesome.
Updates from January, 2010
-
martin
-
i just want to play
martin
In the last week I’ve deleted the online presence of my old paintball team – Wellington Hybrid. Website, facebook, twitter, team forum – it is all gone from the cloud now (apart for those parts dwelling in the Google Cache). Its a sad moment for me because the team was a lot of fun to be a part of on so many levels.
We started in 2005 (not long ago I realise) to play the first season of the AXL in Australia. It was a lot of fun – we pulled the best players from around New Zealand together and kicked ass for 12 months across 4 events. We learnt a hell of a lot both as players, organisers and life in general in those trips across the Tasman – but mainly that X-Ball rocked and we were good at it. That and the fact that some were determined to stop a Kiwi team from winning events in Australia at all costs.
So with ending the team, and erasing the presence from the online world I feel at a lost. I shouldn’t really – I haven’t had a chance to play competitve paintball since I took over running/owning TAG Paintball here in Wellington (so almost 18 months now) – but I do. The fact that some of my old team mates are still playing/just started again (you bastards know who you are) does smack of salt in a wound. Add to the fact that I actually managed to play in the Open Day we ran a month ago – and the itch is back.
Frustration city.
So here’s the plan. I give myself six months to get the field well and truely sorted out – and then I ease myself back into some local events with a view to play 2011 properly. Sound good/fair? I think so – heck I can probably use those 6 months to convince the wife that I should be allowed to. So if any of you clowns want in taking into consideration the timeframe specified – you know where I am.
Hell I’ve even got a new team name sorted
-
martin
Upgrading to Wordpress 2.9. God help me.
-
forgotten fun
martin
I played paintball yesterday.
It’s not something I’ve had a great deal of chance to do in the last 14 months or so – since Tania and I took over TAG Paintball here in Wellington. Sure I’ve run hundreds upon hundreds of games – seen a few thousand people through the field having fun and getting the rush you feel when you try and shoot someone with a paintball gun … but I personally had not been out on the field as a player.
I had not realised how much I missed it.
It was a blast. There weren’t many of us out there, but for a couple of hours we played the game the way it is suppose to be. We stalked each other in the bush, on the speedball field, laughed, joked, gave each other shit and had good old-fashioned fun. And I sit here with the same feeling of wondering when I’ll next get out onto the field.
I think it is something, as a field operator, that I need to do more often. To remember why it is that I do this – to bring it back to the basics – the inner kid of running through the bush with your mates, with the adrenaline pumping – waiting for the thrill of the 10 second call to hit me again.
I can’t wait.
I am a paintball player – and this moment, right here, is my life
– Matt Marshall, Sunday Drivers
-
xero gets personal
martin
Now I’m sure that the long term readers of what passes for a regular blog here will be familar that I am an avid fan of Xero as an accounting & information system. I use myself (and heavily recommend) their solution for anyone who is in business. It just works ™.
One of the things that I’ve always hoped they would do is introduce a personal book keeping system (a la MS Money) that has the same amazing functionality that the business product does.
Well Rod Drury (CEO) has recently announced this on the Xero blog. (Followed closely by Orange Girl on their twitter feed).
To say I can’t wait for it to go live in early 2010 is an understatement – the functionality of what it will delivery in terms of us being able to truely see what is happening to our money (in a simple, graphical way) without needing to have create spreadsheets or the like.
If you’d like to see a (quick) video on the product here you go:
-
it's a spy flick
martin
A weekend or so ago I was watching Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with the kids. It’s a great classic movie, and I thought that the lads would like it. They did – glad to see that it keeps entertaining the generations.
But I noticed something now as an adult that I never noticed as a kid. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a spy flick – and more importantly it’s a James Bond spy flick. Here is the proof:
- Written by Ian Fleming
- Produced by Albert Brocoli
- Has an evil German badguy – Baron Bomburst
- Has Desmond Llewelyn in the movie – the original ‘Q’ from the 007 flicks for those who don’t recognise the name.
- Typical ‘Bond Girl’ named heroine – Truly Scrumptious
- Gadgets galore – hell the car flies, floats and does all sorts of things in between.
Now maybe I’m just a bit behind the times – but noticing all those things made me laugh. It was, however, a bit hard to explain why I was laughing at the credits to the kids.
-
hail to the king
martin
Its been a long time between drinks, but finally Patrick has come to the party and is in the process of releasing a new MWAG movie – Cereal Killers 2.
Finally.
Ive been a huge fan of his work – not that there has been huge amounts of it to date – since I can remember. Patrick has single handedly introduced countless people into the stories behind paintball – and not just a focus on the game of paintball.
Hes featuring a whole bunch of new players this time – Angel Ryan from Dynasty, Tyler Humphrey (Aloha Tyler), Konstantine Federov, Brian Fow – and a host of other top class players. I cant freaking wait for it to ship (Ive got 10 or so copies coming, so drop me a message if you want a copy or something).
Trailer below for your viewing pleasure.
-
martin
Wow. Went past the bank to see about putting some money on term deposit for the business. The ’savings’ account I’m using for the business is as good a return.
Thats crazy
-
has it been a year
martin
Wow – time flies when you’re having fun. It’s been 12 months now since Tania and I took over TAG Paintball here in Wellington.
It’s been a long 12 months to be fair.
For most of that time I’ve been running two fulltime jobs and trying to fix a business that was in a dreadful state when we took it over. In that time I’ve been made redundant, had some family issues that have had to be dealt with – and generally been moving from one crisis to another. I understand more fully the rollercoaster of emotions that I have heard people speak of around owning your own business.
The field is in a much stronger place now then it was when we took over. We’ve upgraded all of the equipment, purchased a new (more efficient) vehicle – and taken major inroads into fixing the damaged relationships that the previous owners had left for us to inherit.
The next 12 months for us are key. We have the tools, and the systems now to get things moving – we’re planning the marketing push for summer and with any luck we’ll be able to start seeing the fruits of our labour. Having time to focus on the business since leaving NZ Post has been great – but there are still lots to be done.
I guess that we’ll see how things go from here. But I know now that (like having children) no matter how much you know it’s going to be hard, that it’s going to take sacrifice to make it work – you really have no idea until you take the plunge and commit to something like this.
Whatever. I’m still here.
-
martin
The trailer for Avatar is out now. Just a teaser really.
You can find it here: http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/08/20/james-camerons-avatar-teaser-trailer/ or on the Apple site.
One that I’m intending on watching!
-
martin
A friend has started a small film school business. Target market those with small to no budgets. Should be a bit of a laugh for her – and on the upside she has managed to rangle some supreme talent to help run the sessions.
You can check out http://www.dontquityourdayjob.co.nz if you’re at all interested.
-
you get nothing
martin
Without asking. I’ve heard that a thousand times at least – but it’s never made more sense than since I’ve starting running my own business.
You get all sorts on the field – asking for freebies, discounts – anything that can be asked has been asked. We’ve got standard responses to most questions that people ask – but they do always get asked.
I’ve started doing the same sort of thing with my suppliers – a couple below for your reference:
Q – Would you like to advertise in our magazine? (Targetting a key demographic at a key time of year for us)
A – Sure, but only if you ensure that we are the only Wellington based paintball field that does.
Result – We’re advertising (with a quarter page ad) and will be the only Wellington paintball field in there.
Q – We’re going to have you pay the advertising bill in one installment (from a large corporate we advertise with)
A – How about we spread those payments out over a year?
Result – We’re spreading the payments over 10 months (or so), but have to move to direct debit (happy with that)
End of the day the message is clear – especially in these trying economic time – try and negiotate with your suppliers for more favourable terms, small discounts. Be prepared to give a little as well – but it will make things easier in the long run.