Greetings and a very warm welcome to the September 2024 edition of Hamptons Happenings!
In this issue we:
- Let you know about brick ties
- Share the details of the ITM Cup Football Tournament
- Let you know about the latest Dewalt Impact Driver
- Give you a chuckle with some Hamptons Humour
- Meet the team with 10 questions
If you’re short on short brick ties, we’ve got you covered. When it comes to short, these brick ties make even Gavey look big.
Designed to withstand the toughest conditions, our heavy-duty earthquake-resistant ties provide the ultimate security for any construction. And now, for a limited time, we have a special stock of 85mm BrickTies priced in nice round numbers of $100 and $200 and have stacked them high by the door, ready to go!
Our 85mm BrickTies are hot-dipped galvanized and offer exceptional durability and longevity. Perfect for dry and wet bed applications, these ties are ideal for ensuring your masonry veneer is securely attached to any structural frame.
Compliant with AS/NZS2699.1.2000 standards and featuring a water stop design, they come in a convenient bucket of either 250 or 500.
Come in and see the big man, Gavey, and he’ll make short work of giving you a great deal.
If there exist footballing deities, then surely these tempestuous Gods were gratified by the opening spell of play by team Gib in the Gib vs Makita football game as for five minutes the game was played at a level far beyond what those who first wrote the rules could have ever envisaged.
Players and ball sweeping down the field in a single motion, the ball perpetually moving, swept deftly from foot to foot by players who seemed to glide across the surface rather than burden themselves with having actually to step up on the pitch.
The opposition was left chasing ghosts as the players played, not each other or the ball, but rather the spaces, creating a dizzying array of tessellations that stretched the game beyond the limits of what seemed possible at the opening whistle.
It reeked of a beauty born in power and a sense of helplessness in the face of a football machine that plowed over and around all that stood before it.
That is until the fifth minute when Don Blair, Hamptons ITM (Team Leader) and a goalkeeper without fear, threw himself courageously at a 50/50 ball, badly injuring his knee. While this earned the respect and kudos of his teammates who appreciated his self-sacrifice, it proved to be a season-ending injury.
Sadly, Don has now semi-retired from football, although he will always have his memories from his time at the top of the game and the hours of joy he gave those who watched him play.
Without their dynamic goalkeeper, team Gib succumbed to Makita, eventually losing by a few goals to the team that would go on to win the tournament and the ITM Cup.
The ITM Cup was fiercely competed for at the ITM conference, with ten teams competing for the inaugural trophy. With teams representing major suppliers and key members of the ITM family, this tournament was for many the highlight of the ITM Conference that was held recently in Christchurch.
Despite the semi-career-ending injury suffered by Don Blair (football career that is, his career as Hampton’s ITM Team Leader continues to go from strength to strength), a lot of fun was had by all participants, as can be seen in the leaked video below that has made its way onto Youtube.
Rest assured, the scouts at Man City and Chelsea won’t be throwing any money at ITM’s football players as they are well too rich in talent for them….!
DeWalt DCF860N-XJ- 18V XR Brushless Premium Impact Driver
Unleash the power of precision and performance with the DeWalt 18V XR Brushless Premium Impact Driver. Engineered for professionals and DIY enthusiasts alike, this bare unit is a testament to DeWalt’s commitment to quality and innovation.
Featuring an advanced 18V XR Brushless Motor, this tool delivers high performance, extends tool life, and allows for a much shorter design. With up to 282 Nm of torque, you can tackle even the toughest applications with ease.
Whether you’re driving screws, bolts, or other fasteners, the high torque output and variable speed control allow for seamless operation across a variety of tasks. Its compact and lightweight design minimizes user fatigue, making it the perfect companion for extended projects.
Durability meets versatility with the DeWalt 18V XR Brushless Premium Impact Driver. Built to withstand the toughest job site conditions, its robust construction ensures long-lasting reliability.
The innovative XR Li-Ion technology provides superior battery life and performance, while the precision drive mode prevents over-tightening and fastener damage.
Additionally, the ergonomic grip enhances comfort and control, allowing you to tackle even the most demanding tasks with ease.
Come into the store or speak to your Account Manager to upgrade your toolkit with this indispensable power tool and experience the unmatched efficiency and power that DeWalt brings to every project.
This is one of our favorite YouTube channels focussing on construction and we have wasted many a lunch break watching workers worldwide. While some show inventiveness and skill, others don’t quite meet the mark and provide a good laugh. The clip below is a good introduction, but don’t be surprised if an hour has passed and you’re still watching this channel.
Anthony Stephenson has the skills of a silent assassin, able to slip in and get the job done with maximum efficiency and minimal fuss. In his three years at Hamptons as an account manager, this has earned him the nickname of “The Ninja” and he is held in high regard by his customers and colleagues alike.
But do we really know the man? This week we hope that our ten random questions will unlock the key to who Anthony Stephenson really is.
1. How did you meet your wife?
Many, many years ago I was driving to a bar in town with two friends in the car. We were driving down Colombo St when my friend in the back seat pointed and yelled out, “Hey quick, pull over, I know those girls”. He pointed to a group of girls walking along the footpath, so we stopped and started talking with them. As we were going to different places, we agreed to meet up later that night at a nightclub in town. Luckily for me, Jacky and her friends upheld the agreement and we did meet up later that night. We started talking, but initially, she didn’t think much of me, I had to use all my charms, and here we are 34 years later.
2. What was your best summer?
It would have to be the summer of 1987 (the summer after leaving school and starting full-time work) – I had bought my first car (a Triumph Herald for those of you who can remember that far back), and a group of friends went on a boys trip to Queenstown. My friend also took his Ford Escort van that we had turns sleeping in, along with bushes, and park benches. A week of drinking, jet skiing, sunbathing, and even bungy jumping. Those were the days.
3. If you could only communicate using movie quotes, which movie would you choose?
Initially, I thought it would have to be Pulp Fiction, this movie has so many great quotes, and each time I watch it something else jumps out at me. But then I thought of another one I watched back in the mid-1980s made by “The Comic Strip Series” called Mr Jolly Lives Next Door which stars Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmonson. It would be a hard choice between these two, to be honest.
4. Favourite guitar solo?
This question is a little harder: do I go old school and choose something from Jimi Hendrix or Duane Allman, or do I choose something newer from Slash or Eddie Van Halen?? In the end, I have stayed true to my heart and decided my favourite guitar solo would have to be Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Without a doubt the best guitar solo of all time, even if the short version is still over five minutes long.
5. If you could share a drink with any FICTIONAL character, who would it be?
Alfie Solomons from Peaky Blinders, the Jewish baker. Without a doubt the best character in the whole program. He deserved a dedicated spin-off series, maybe just called The Baker?? One of those characters that was always on the edge, and you never knew if he was being serious or not, and what would happen next. Never a dull moment once a few drinks were had.
6. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
It would be either “Don’t sweat the small stuff”, or “Do what you say, and say what you do.”
However, I do find myself sweating the small stuff from time to time.
7. If your life was a sitcom, what would the theme song be?
It would be the theme from Cheers – “Where Everybody Knows Your Name”, a show where everyone was welcome and was about friends getting together, telling stories and just enjoying each other’s company, where you could just be yourself and everyone was accepted.
8. Obligatory car question – what is your dream car?
There are so many choices here, I’m not really a car person (although my son is), but I do appreciate a good-looking car. With that in mind, it would have to be the new Mercedes AMG SLS 300SL Gull Wing, which is the updated version of the 1950’s version. Still a car ahead of its time, and made by AMG (does this stand for All Money Gone??) How could you go wrong? However, in all honesty, the funniest car I have driven would be a NA (first generation) MX5 – engine in the front, gearbox in the middle, and rear-wheel drive, not the fastest, but the most balanced and best handling cars ever.
9. If you were an ice cream flavour, what would you be and why?
Most probably “Goldrush”, because it has a really nice flavour, but has hard pieces that come to the surface when you least expect it
10. Who is the most memorable person you’ve ever worked with?
Stu Moore, who was my sales manager when I started at Dimond Roofing in the mid 1990’s. As an impressionable young man starting my first office job, I needed someone who I could rely on to help make the right decision and point me in the correct direction when required. Stu took me under his wing, always had time to talk regardless of how many questions I had, and helped me out immensely ( exactly the same as Don does these days).
Do you have your own questions for Anthony? Feel free to reach out to him at 0274 322 122 or ants@hamptons.co.nz You could even ask him about some of the very fine products he sells, or the competitive pricing he is able to offer.
Best wishes,
David & Wendy, Don, Carolyn and the rest of the team at Hamptons ITM
