Heef

Fantasticly smooth, lustrous voice that he had. Did loads of tv too - from Hitchhikers to playing Kevin the Teenager's dad in Harry Enfield and Chums. One of those stalwart actors whose name you might not know straight away, but you recognise from years and years of work.

I think that moves me up to my highest position - 39th. Any chance of a theme team update?

9th hit with Reg Watson. Don't think I've missed any other hits at this stage.

More points for my Politics XX with Chirac, I think. Might have beaten my tally from last year now.

Hmm. My Politics XX seems to be having another good year. The dizzy heights of #31, but all my bigger scorers have already gone. Still, there we are.

Mainly sparrows, blackbirds, silvereyes, the occasional tui. Used to get a few hedgehogs, but the big DOC200 rat trap seems to have taken them all out. Shame, I like hedgehogs but they are an invasive pest here. Should catch 'em and send 'em in the post to Blighty - I understand you're running a bit short over there.

Up to 8 with Brian Lochore

Sir Brian Lochore. Absolute legend of New Zealand rugby - from the Wairarapa to the All Blacks. No legends left to present the Heartlands Championships (Meads Cup and Lochore Cup) this year. I see this has got obit on BBC and the Telegraph.

Looks like we're up to six hits with Bob Hawke and Ron Elvidge.

Anzac Wallace, star of the Geoff Murphy classic Utu has died. https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/film/111875092/utu-actor-anzac-wallace-dies-from-cancer Quality film, that.

@msc - if, by some late quirk of fate, I somehow emerge from the Kiwi Grudge Match as the winner, then please use the same team with the next sub on my list to replace the departing Hammer. I think this scenario is, by now, unlikely but better to have a team in just in case. And, assuming that I do lose to John Key, then I will be able to empathise with a generation of different NZ Labour politicians.

Not much time left to salvage the insipid Kiwi derby. Mind you, at least our tie has much in common with the football managed by our All Whites national football team. Dull and uninspiring. Certainly well off the pace compared to our more illustrious Northern Hemisphere colleagues.

I fondly remember his interview on the Jonathan Ross show.

I, of course, blame you. If you hadn't dropped him he'd only be worth 3 points and I'd still be ahead on age count back. Anyway, I never trusted my former PM. I suspect his security team wouldn't be beyond knocking a few people off. I mean, it's a reasonably short leap from tugging waitresses' pony tails to having people bumped off... isn't it?

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-47607556 EDIT: I see there are plenty to QOs by now. Still...

Damn. I thought Parrikar would last a bit longer. Still, good to take the lead in the New Zealand derby - though all to play for as we reach the business end of the fixture.

A Ghost in my house Indiana Wants Me Gotta See Jane Classics one and all.

FFS. Things like this don't happen in New Zealand. 9 currently listed as dead. Gunman still on the loose?

And another hit close behind. Mike Willesee. Again, no doubts about a QO here. LINK

Well, as I picked Chng too, I won't be too disappointed if you're the one who's right about her prospects. I see Spade has picked Chiemi Hori. I rejected her on a similar premise as I was dubious about Chng. I guess I'll find out in time whether I rejected the right ones or not.

I think she'll see out the month anyway. The only two of mine I have reasonably high expectations of are Hammer and Starling. I think Tin, Okoth, Miller and Nugroho will probably be in the 3-6 months bucket. Okoth maybe more.

#KiwiGrudgeMatch is on Some duplicates, so let's eliminate: John Key (Bracknell, Mugabe, Vervoort, Kerslake, Chapman*, Kumar, Blanco, Quinn, James, Buydens, Ricksen) Vs Heef (Hammer, Kerslake, Harris, Ricksen, Starling*, Trintignant, Blanco, Tin, Okoth, Miller, Nugroho) Chapman as a unique and joker is a big point of difference. There's some big names in Key's list, and if any of them drop off then it'll make a huge difference to the outcome.

Sent. Not sure how successful I'll be. Only just got back from an adventure race down South. Hard to research without internets.

Missed hit #3. Prince Leonard. Definite QO. LINK

QO for Colchester United footballing legend Arthur Turner. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/feb/07/arthur-turner-obituary?fbclid=IwAR0PXjuYpCFBuerm1dD3rg2ehZ5Xa3X9NENQtVxSehb65dZqOSHVbZeDVUM