Tinktiahs

TVNZ party was good as predicted. Hannah and I got veerryy into costume and character which we found hilarious. We assumed secret flapper names for the night (Violet and Celeste) and partook of many "tinktiah's". Highly amusing. We did make it across to Eden's, and caught some of the band. Had many compliments on our 'outfits' too. Might have to post some photos.

Started a little late at work on Friday, as was a little shady, due to the very open bar at the Studio. Finally went to see Sith after work, which was perfect hangover fare. Acting was super wooden, but film was totally fun. Hannah and I got our OC dose after that and then I went to meet Rosie for another round of leaving drinks for Tom. One drinks turned into a very late night, but was great to see everyone. Can't believe Tom has gone. They were all doing an increasingly messy Power Hour when I arrived and then we got to talking about 'old times' aka everyone laughing at me and Rose for stuff we did when we were eighteen and they were older and therefore much cooler. Good times.

Saturday was a late start, and then was seduced by shoes at the Scotties sale. Have not managed to buy washing machine yet but feel these will be as useful. Hung out with Lucy and Simone before my little sister's Preball that night. Invited a few friends and we all well outstayed everyone else, leaving once the alcohol was gone at about eleven. Shanghai Lil's followed for Buffalo Stance which was a good party, with a lot of small dramas like Rosie's wallet getting stolen, Olly running into Liv, and the fire alarm going off. Left at about three, as it was getting really cold.

Sunday was spent muddling around (not going to Waiuku as I should) and seeing my parents. Excitingly, Alan from Living Channel had his baby. So that was good. It's a little girl called Zoe and he sounds stoked.

Rest of week will be taken up with work, placating supervisors, roast chicken and sleeping. Having drinks this weekend, and many good parties happening. It's weird though how the whole city grinds to a halt when the rugby's on. I think I'll have a go at watching it this weekend. Maybe.

Flapper

Hannah, Phil and I are off to the TVNZ Dancing with the Stars party tonight, and Hannah and I have rented matching flapper outfits. Very amusing. Hers is white and I'm in black. All is very fringy, and we have enormous feathered head bands too. Should be fun. Especially if I get my way and we go to see Teen Wolf at Edens bar after. I'm sure the outfits will go down a treat.

Just had minor panic when almost poured Diet Coke into new computer. Bad.

Enjoying work, had a late start (as opposed to the usual 7am) which is make the day feel as though it is trucking very quickly. Even planning a gym visit after work. Very dedicated.

Caught up with Emma finally on Tuesday night, we had drinks at Mea Culpa, which is vying with Gyspy as favourite bar right now. Am captivated by their mini tonic bottles. Very cute.

Week going very quickly and has been very busy. Having to skip but the AUT Ad Show and Toms leaving dinner tonight. Faint pangs of guilt...but tonight will be so much fun.

The Trinity

Have moved into Trinity Street, with almost no hitches. Very relieved and happy to be there. Saturday was looking like a bit of a nightmare, with serious rain and gale action. Luckily, Dad saved the day by offering to get movers, which was a great idea and made the whole process pretty much painless. A bunch of friends turned up too and loaded up their cars which was rad. So I moved in pretty much one go, and was all unpacked by Sunday evening.

And the flat's looking really good. My room is smallish but cosy and everything fits in well. The poor landlord is confused by our distaste for the fittings which we are progressively changing. All the furniture is in and looking nice...too much excitment? Maybe.

Phoenix Foundation on Friday were really good, and was great to catch up with everyone there. Wish they would play in Auckland more. Saturday night was a little quieter after the move. Nick, Q and I went round to visit Becs and Simeon in their new house, which is lovely. We had some drinks and hung out in their new garden. Very nice.

On Sunday Q and I hung out, and journeyed to the Shore to buy the calf skins I wanted for the floor. In the evening a gang of people came round for Burger Fuel, beer and a heated game of Triv. Q later admitted that they were cheating- amusingly, Hannah, Jess and I still won...

Yesterday was busy with an early meeting with Jeff, my doco songwriter. Luckily, he's great and Mark and I are going out to Waiuku with him this weekend to look at old footage and locations. Also sorted interview at Pavement to talk about potentially writing for them...And have research essay two due next week. Much on...

Film Festivities

Despite having made the foolish mistake of booking to go to Sydney for five days of the International Film Festival, I have still managed to find ten films which I am so looking forward to seeing. The Festival while initally looking a bit flat, should yield some gems this year. I think it will be quite a musical fest for me, with DIG!, which I've been dying to see and 9 Songs both featuring. Very exciting. Also looking forward to 2046 (I know you didn't like it Brad, but then you also took me to I Heart Huckabees, which I still have not forgiven you for...), the Battleship Potempkin special screenings (you can take the girl out of film school...) and glad to see that my ex-flatmate's stunning film Minginui will be making its World Premiere at the festival. Should be a great few weeks, and I expect to emerge with a stunning Playstation tan. It's hard work, you know.

Also looking forward to seeing the Phoenix Foundation play at the Classic tonight, supported by Cassette. If I recover a little energy it will be a great gig, although I'm taking it pretty quiet before moving day tomorrow. Can't wait to get settled in my new house. Especially happy, as my doctor told me yesterday that the source of my newly vicious allergies is probably the incense the hippies insist on burning at all times. It's like being at high mass 24-7. Weird that something I connect so strongly with Catholocism is so embraced by the new age.

It's been a very long week with very little sleep, and an assignment due which is just not done. It was one thing too many. Hopefully my lecturer will be understanding. On that front though, my fledgling documentary project is taking shape really well. Mark has offered to help me with the visual side of things, and I'm meeting with the songwriter who I want to use on Monday.

About to head to work drinks and then to Gypsy for a vat of wine before I begin packing again. I'm worried that I haven't successfully sold the concept of 'Moving Party' to everyone and I won't have enough would-be movers tomorrow. Which I guess means more beer for the rest of us.

Tooth finally got fully fixed this week, which is nice. Unfortunatley it got sharpened in the process and I keep biting my tongue- unusual for me. Also saw Downfall at the Rialto this week, which was gruelling but excellent. It was also the last film I'll see at the Rialto for awhile as the cinema has closed for renovation. The end of an era in many ways.

The Point of No Return

I was just reading Simon (Pound's) efforts on becoming a Grey Lynn pariah. Very amusing and right on the money. I really shouldn't call them efforts as he is far more accomplished a blogger than I am. He gets comments and things. Anyway, it got me seriously relecting on this weekend's move to Ponsonby, which for all intensive purposes might as well be Grey Lynn, or as I like to call it, the point of no return.

Because, basically, once you've done Ponsonby/Grey Lynn you're spent. There's really no where else in Auckland to move to. And I've now lived in a good five different Auckland suburbs. but after Ponsonby where do you move to when you want a change? Not that Ponsonby is the height of Auckland, but as an area, it provides well for you, you adopt the Ponsonby mindset and that's it! Done. No longer will Arch Hill or Eden Tce appeal. In fact, from what I've observed after Ponosnby you have to look at buying a house, and then move to Ponsonby-in-training areas like Point Chev. Scary stuff.

Maybe I'm exaggerating, but I think that this is a serious business. Having said that, I'm almost counting the hours until I leave the hippie den. I found three of the in the living room on Sunday 're-centering' themselves. That was special.

On the plus side I finally went crazy and got a lap top. It's making my life so much better already. Love it.

Flat Out

Working on a Sunday again. Can't wait to cut out this weekend work business. Not impressed with it.

Has been a good weekend. Hannah had a party on Friday night, in honour of her father being away- teenaged but worth it. It was a big night, with lots of people there and was fun except for being extremely cold. In keeping with the parents houses theme, Emily had a Mexican lunch yesterday. Eveyone turned up, or rather straggled in looking a little worse for wear but the margarita's, which were all initially turned down, warmed things up quickly. We ate lots of fajitas and debated the Corby thing (again).

Olly had a dinner party last night, for about ten of his architect friends and us five token non-architects. Again, the food was super (I dragged up a tiramisu). It was fun, and the night ended with Jenna, Olly and I chattering and smoking on the deck until late. Tonight the 48 Hour Final screens, so I get to see what we should have done...

As part of a busy and pretty productive week, Olly, Rosie and I booked for Sydney this week to go and see the much-missed Brad and Hagen. We leave in a month, and it will be fantastic. We have an apartment booked, and lots of fun planned....

Long Weekend

Another long weekend over. My job currently means that I have managed to miss every public holiday this year. The union guy at work keeps telling me to bail up the lawyer about this but it's just more of an annoyance than anything.

We all got together for a roast again on Sunday, at Hannah's house. I managed to pull off a pretty sucessful roast for eight people. We drank lots of wine and played Triv, kind of. It reminded me about our roast evenings in Wellington, which I miss. It used to be me, Alek, Rico, Mark (who was, of course, vegetarian at the time...), Lucy, Meredith, Rosie and always one other (Mikey or Bis or the random neighbour). Always a good time. And always ending with Alek and I arguing over whether he was allowed to pick at the carcass. It's revolting to watch. Anyway.

Monday I hung out with my parents which was nice. Dad and Imogen made dinner, which apparently required a day of stress for all. I'm getting things all ready to move house in a fortnight. I can't wait. Everything is falling into place house-wise. Mum and Dad both like it. Mum's even having my couches recovered. Geeky and yet exciting.

Relief...

Another big week. On Tuesday the landlord came back and offered us the Ponsonby house, which I gladly accepted on behalf of Nick and I. Luckily, he was pleased. So we move in a fortnight, which I officially can't wait for. Looking forward to settling down somewhere for awhile, sick of the "wherever I lay my phone" deal. And it's exciting to see Becs and Sim (the current flatties) as they get ready to move into their new house. Well, it makes me feel less like a horrible flat vulture...

Handed in possibly the worst essay of uni career on Friday (and by career I mean blasted heath of a career). Am blaming this on extreme work week and general laziness.

We celebrated our channel's third birthday this week which was all very exciting.

Other highlights of the week included finally catching up with Meredith, which was long overdue and got me planning my trip to the states again, a quite bizarre session with a new personal trainer who is apparently obsessed with the Body for Life program, dinner with Hannah and ET on Friday night, which featured every dessert treat we could find and America's Next Top Model for added irony, and going to the last (?) Pelvic Trust party last night with Jenna and Rosie which was fun, except that I felt really tired. I've been on the verge of a cold all week, which I think my flu shot is holding off- for all the flu shot naysayers.