Yep

Just time for the briefest of posts...last night I finally bit the bullet (not sure why this is a bullet situation actually) and downloaded Firefox. Highly recommend it. Best browser I've used, and no pop-ups. Do it...

AVID

Last few days have been super busy again, reminding me that holidays are few and far between. Except of course for when we go to Ohakune next weekend for Mardi Gras...

Uni started again for me on Tuesday, a week late as I missed the first class. Already, we have to film an assignment for next week. Which will be an interesting test of my actually non existent Avid skills. Becs has agreed to help me on Sunday which will be super. I just have to find something repetitive to film by then.

Class looks like it will be good though. It's only a six person class, which I think is the smallest I've ever taken. Everyone else seems nice, although I'm the only non-SCAPA person, so they all know each other well already. Plus I drew the mature student from 'Nam for the second semester running. Felt quite good about how things are going with Jeff after the class. I think we have a pretty solid relationship already. I'm meeting with him again tomorrow to look over the photos from Waiuku. We're going to hang at the Odeon where I haven't been for ages.

Michelle left yesterday too, which was kind of unexpected all over again. I thought she might stick around for awhile longer. So it's just me and Tabitha in the Canary Closet now.

Last night Adam and I caught up for the first time in ages. We went for sweet Movenpick and chatted. Sounds like he had a much more interesting Film Fest. I think I made some bad choices. Or maybe just didn't see enough. I missed out on seeing Tarnation for a second time in Sydney, and am now hoping it will come back. It seems like so many people are talking about it.

News wise, election issues are coming to the fore. Student loans seem to be shaping up to be the big one, with Labour releasing a super appealing tax break policy. I just hope they stick with it. People who stay in New Zealand do deserve some kind of break.

Seeeedneeeee

Hayley, Brad and Jenna in our palatial apartment

The whole gang: Hagen, Olly, Rosie, Jenna, Hayley, Clementine and Brad in Taylors Square

One bit of the amazing welcome effort from Hayley and Hagen

Hagen and Jenna at Don Don

Brad getting a massage at The Green Park, how awkward

Upcoming in September

Today the election date was announced, September 17th. Should be an interesting one. Already, we are splintering into a National/Labour household. Guess which is which. Nick is actually slightly annoyed at the prospect of voting National, he says there's no good option though. I'm sure him and Dad would get on just fine. I'm still going with Labour. Can't believe I vote for the second time this year. Also can't believe it was three years ago that Tim and I trucked up to Bond Street to vote last time, still having Green/Labour debates the whole way I believe.

Has been a week since we returned from Sydney. Was about to post a whole bunch of photos before I realised that Blogger doesn't support Tiger. Shame. Soon though. Am waiting on a whole bunch from Olly too.

Week has been super busy, with catching up post-leave at work. Michelle announced today that she is resigning, which is a shock and will really leave me at the helm of the Living Channel. Exciting.

Caught up with Davian, Mark and Rico for dinner last Thursday. Lots of ex-flatties in the room together. Was nice though, especially good to see Davian. He was the bright spot of Fleet Street. Friday night hit work drinks briefly, then watched the OC, as usual. After that, Rosie and I headed to Bens for drinks before I met Meredith and Jess at the Musket Room. So an unexpectedly big night. And an unpleasant Saturday morning.

Saw my last film of what has been a disappointing festival (more on this soon) on Saturday night. Went to 'Rize' with Meredith B, who just got back from a long holiday. Great to see her. We went to Lucy's after the film, and then dragged ourselves into Crow for another late one.

Sunday was quite laid back. Breakfast with the parents at current favourite, the Electic Eatery, in Williamson Ave. Hit Briscoes for some sale madness to buy useful things like pastry brushes. Nick and I went on a cleaning binge in the early afternoon, before the landlord came over at three. Turned out the charming (and noisy) neighbours told him that we had a party. Which we haven't. Annoyed about that.

Hannah and Q came over for a roast in the evening. We all sat around eating and watching bad crime tv. Good end to the weekend. Wonder why I haven't managed to kick this cold yet? Hmmmm.

Satdee, Sundee, Mondee

We kicked off Saturday with a big group Yum Cha in Chinatown. Something we haven't all been able to do in ages. Well, most of us did. Rosie looked pale and only ate a spring roll. We stumbled around Paddy's Market for awhile afterwards, where I completed my buying of novelty underwear (it's tradition among my friends to bring back revolting 'panties').

Brad and I spent some time together in the afternoon, eventually meeting Jenna at the David Jones Food Hall (yes, we ate constantly all holiday). We were all pretty tired from the night before and headed home about four. Rosie and I got totally hooked into INXS Rock Star on Foxtel and had to be persuaded out. After we made it to Oxford Street, we all went to see Sin City, which was so good. Film Fest aside, it might be the best thing I've seen this year. Can't wait to see it again.

So a quiter Saturday. Sunday was effectively our last day due to Air NZ screwing us over the strike and forcing us to change our flights. I'm a supporter of strikes, but I'm sure that the airline allowed us to book on a flight that they knew wasn't going to go. I don't think the prospect of airpoints makes Air NZ worth it anymore. I'm going Emirates next time. I want my own tv.

Sunday morning, we all met in Potts Point, and went to Fratelli Paradiso, my favourite Sydney restaurant for breakfast, which was super. Afterwards, Olly, Brad and I went to the Museum of Contemporary Art which was not super. It sucked actually. The gift shop and cafe were good though. Hmmm.

We hit the NSW Gallery next, which is huge. That was good, but I had to leave to go and visit some buddies of my parents. That night, we all collected at Brad, Hagen and Hayley's flat for a big noisy dinner. I've really missed having all the group around, and the trip was so good mainly for that reason.

Next morning Rosie and I got the world's most morose American taxi driver to take us to the airport. We hit MAC duty free hard and had a pretty uneventful flight back. Didn't have the energy for drinking on the flight, so made up for it by buying lots of alcohol for the flat on the other side. Good times to follow...

A Return to Posting Sober. Boring I Know.

So after the excess of Thursday night, I dragged Rosie and Olly to Bill's for breakfast. Bill's is a Sydney institution, and a must go to in my books. It took quite a bit of walking, but I'm convinced it was worth it. Olly doesn't eat breakfast and Rosie was super hung but I enjoyed it.

We hit Oxford Street again, and Rosie and I lost the others by taking way too long in a shop called Rodeo Girl, which we loved. We met Jenna and Clem for coffee in the afternoon and then wandered back to the apartment.

Olly and Hagen arrived a bit later bringing fresh tonic supplies and then we headed to Vespa, a pizza place in Surrey Hills for dinner. Dinner was a grand affair with twelve of us crammed around a table for amazing pizzas. They actually were the best I've had since the magical place I found in Germany. They were thin, crispy, piled with good things like anchovie, blue cheese, rocket and proscuitto. Sweet. What too much excitment? Can't beat a good pizza.

After dinner, we hit the bars, starting at a revolting dive called Courthouse, probably so most of the inhabitants would feel at home, and then moving up to Middle Bar. At this point we lost Olly and Hagen as Olly didn't quite make it in. We met up with them at Green Park and after I escaped the clutches of a homeless 'poet', Rosie and I decided we had to go dancing. Somehow the friends of Hagens we were with knew exactly where to take us and we ended up at a club playing Kiss and Make Up worthy music, but where everyone was in fancy dress and drinks were cheap. It was fantastic.

How Awkward aka MUCH Later

We just lost 'How Awkward' forever. We got into the lift and a man, who obviously a drug dealer, said “How awkward that you said How Awkward” after our clumsy attempt to invite him in for 'martinis' composed of gin mixed with vodka after meeting him in the lift when he was obviously going to deal drugs to other apartment dwellers. He even stole our key card access from us. And then abused our quote. How awkward. Olly believes he is the far better and smarter man.

To second last night's viewing of Videodrome, today Olly bought Blue Velvet, my all time favourite Lynch film, which we are now watching. So appropriate. I adore Kyle McLaughlan so much. We're currently watching it in French, in honour of Bastille Day. And trying to make Olly go to Harry's to buy pies. And peas.

Tonight we went out with Brad, Hagen, Hayley, Jenna and Clem. We had second rate Japanese, and VB long necks. I had chicken katsu, which was redeemed by the fact that it had an egg broken into it, giving me mother and child in the same bowl. In news, I think the chicken came first. So that's sorted. Good work. The egg was raw which was a little strange.

Then we went to a bar, possibly called the Green Hotel. I drank far too much gin before we went out, so the evening is quite hazy. I can say that Rosie and I played the most embarrassing pool ever and talked to lots of hot Irish men. So it was a good night. Lots of them though we were English which was amusing. I tried not to bring up the Lions tour too much. Mainly as I know nothing about it.

Tomorrow we have plans for a latey late breakfast and lots of shopping. Right now, we need to sing the theme to Blue Velvet very out of tune.

Sydney Day One

Twenty-four hours of Sydney and I'm thinking I could make this city a permanent fixture. We stumbled in at 7pm last night after a flight where we encountered an excessively grumpy airhostess and a lot of screaming children. The airhostess disliked us from the start, after Olly mucked up his order for a coke. Then she served us the world's most rancid Bloody Mary's and gin that tasted distinctly of petrol. And the plane was way too hot.

We took ages in Duty Free and then got out to find that Hagen and Hayley had made us the mother-of-all Welcome to Sydney signs. It covered the whole arrival barrier area, and said “Olly, fate bought me to Sydney but love bought you to me. Welcome to Sydney Rosie, Bea and Olly. Will you marry me?” Oh yes, on cardboard, in black spray paint. Hot. And we'd kept them waiting there for a good three quarters of an hour. It was quite the amazing reception.

After braving the might of the Barina, in 'sports mode' no less, we got to the Wharf and checked in, to find that our apartment is actually fantastic. Two floors, two bathrooms, big kitchen, sweet Foxtel, and Klimt prints everywhere. Super. And we have an excellent view of both the Navy frigate and Harry's Café de Wheels. I'm waving pairs of Rosie's of panties out the window to lure the sailors up here. She's quickly running out of smalls.

We chucked our stuff into our rooms- Olly's is a lot more palatial than ours, and headed across to the Tilbury Hotel for VB's. We followed up our beer drinking catch-up with pies at Harry's Café de Wheels, a Sydney landmark that serves pies almost 24 hours a day and is conveniently located about two steps from our apartment. The Harry's speciality is the Tiger. A beef pie, topped with potato mash and mushy peas, making a portal for copious amounts of gravy. Amazingness on a paper plate. And I don't even like pies very much.

Because Olly and I don't know when to call it a day, we followed this up by sampling anything new and different we could find at the superette. We discovered that Macadamia and Mango ice cream bars are great, Peanut Butter Kit Kats are the future and confirmed that Double Cheese Doritos are the kings of corn chips. We didn't strike any dud food actually. Australia is sweet. And we felt slightly sick. Not at all the fault of the Iced Tea, green flavour.

This morning we got up late Auckland time, okay Sydney time. We had a shocker of a breakfast at a bad touristy café by a fountain and spent the rest of the morning waiting for the poison to hit. It never did, Hagen met us and we made it to Oxford Street. We split up and Rosie and I commenced shopping.

We're now in the apartment waiting for Hayley, Jenna and Brad to come over. Foxtel is playing us the top 200 hits of the 90's. In half an hour Home and Away is on, so Rosie and I are refusing to move. According to the paper “Ryan is having trouble adjusting to married life”. Sorry for the spoilers fans. I'm behind anyway; I was too hung over for Omnibus on Sunday.

More to come, watch this space for photos too...

More Flappery...

Bored of the flapper thing yet?
(thanks to Will for this one)

Just Dandy

So Film Fest has now begun proper for me. League of Gentlemen on Sunday was kind of disappointing. It was a great turnout, with lots of fans coming out of the woodwork for it. The film itself, while a great concept, fell a bit flat for me. I just wanted more laughs and catch phrases to take away. Part of the problem probably was that I was excessively tired. I made it out for a beer afterwards and caught up with Tan, Jess and Simon.

Yesterday's film was 9 Songs, which I'd been looking forward to. I took Lucy with me, for her birthday, which maybe wasn't the worlds most appropriate choice. I liked the film though. Not a popular film to like. Most people who I've spoken to think it's too explicit and pointless. I really like Michael Winterbottom in general, and I think this film is really interesting. Or maybe I just like that it's only really about bands and sex. Hmmm. I could just be shallow...

Next up this afternoon is Dig! Can't wait for that. Festival is quite Dandy Warhols heavy right now, with them also performing in 9 Songs. Maybe it will help me get over how abysmal they were at Big Day Out last year. Although apparently they don't come off too well in Dig!...maybe I'll end up renouncing them completely instead.

On the Sydney front, was worried I'd never find passport and end up stuck here. Finally just ducked home and located it in a bag pocket. So that's sorted. Spoke to Brad yesterday and am looking forward to seeing all those guys even more now. Just have to get packed, and do about a million more hours at work...

Kariotahi

Busy mood at work on Friday, with lots going on. Met up with Simone, Lucy and Simone FG at Mea Culpa after work, for great gin and tonics. Lucy and Simone were heading off to the Film Festival opening 'Hidden', which made me slightly jealous. My first film isn't until tonight.

Later Hannah, Rosie, ET, Liam, Q and I hung out at my house, watching the increasingly fraught OC. After what was actually an amazing episode with many twists and turns, we hung out under the patio heater for far too long. Patio heater is increasingly tempermental, requiring lots of loving attention from Q.

Saturday morning kicked off a little too late with a haircut and a catch up with Gareth, my hairdresser from when I was fourteen who Lucy recently tracked down. Secondhand book shopping followed, and I managed to bump into Bonnie who was en route to Bali, for two weeks of "bombs, drugs and sharks" as she put it. Seems like everyone's getting out of Auckland right now.

Yet another copy of FutureShock later, met up with Hannah and ET, for coffee and Ponsonby wandering. We avoided the rugby on Saturday night, I had drinks instead, and we danced crazily until about twelve when we headed to a party at Phil's house. Having had a very decent head start on the partying, the night quickly turned into a large one and we wound up at Stevie's 'rave' in Newton at about four.

This morning Jessamy and I hit Bambina for breakfast, which made me look forward to going to Bills in Sydney this week. After this, I picked up Mark and we made our way to Waiuku. We made it out there without too many hitches, and found Jeff's house by two. We both took still cameras out and got lots of photos over the course of the afternoon. We wandered around his parents farm first, finding a very excellent scout bunk house, and then drove out to Kariotahi beach, one of my all-time favourites. It was great to go out there again- the last time must have been Brad's birthday at least four years ago. Today there were lots of parachutes and paragliders out over the cliffs, it looked amazing.

We went into Waiuku central- or the 'Ku, and had coffee at Sorelle, a great little cafe my parents had put me onto. It was fun to be out there again, I used to go when I was at primary school and stay with Shana on the weekends. It's very weird though, the Steel Mill looms so large. It's visible all over town. I think it will have to have a presence in the finished film.

London's still featuring in all the conversations. It looks like a New Zealander is missing, which brings it even closer. Very scary. The only upside is that there's just of news flooding back from everyone that's there. It's great to hear how everyone's getting on, it's just a shame it's under such negative circumstances.

On a lighter note...League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse tonight, very exciting...

Hmmm

Hopefully this Saturday night will contain NONE of this sort of manic carry-on...(from the Birdcage last Saturday, thanks to Pocky for the charming photo)

Boom and Voom

Went out to Kings Arms last night, as planned, to check out Voom, Duchess and Operation, only to watch as the scenes in London unfolded on the Sports Channel the television was tuned to. Was totally shocking, and impossible to get a fix on the scope of what was going on. Made for an odd gig. The crowd was pretty straggly anyway due to Shihad and the weather, and it did cast a bit of a pall over things. All the bands were still good, but eyes kept drifting back to the big screens above the bar.

On the gig front though, Voom were especially good last night, which makes me look forward to their new album a lot. The old songs sounded very good too. Lots of toe tapping going on. Duchess were good, first time I'd seen them, but they were good and played a tight set. Difficult with a small and distracted crowd. And finally caught up with Ben, which was long overdue.

Once home, I found Nick glued to the BBC. After a big argument over who we thought was responsible and the War on Terror in general, we watched until about two. He was convinced the 'Old IRA' were responsible. Which made me think about a story my father told me recently. When we lived in London my mother and I (circa age two) were heading to Harrods. We got distracted somehow (I'm guessing my fault), and never made it there. Good thing, because it was the day of the IRA bombing. Not that I'm cashing in on London hysteria, it just brought it all a little closer for me I guess.

First day of Film Fest today. Going to Sydney has severly screwed up my film choices. So it had better be a very good time. I'm missing about three new films that I doubt will come back and which are all by favourite directors. Have tracked down some Sydney newspapers and looks like I'll be able to catch a couple. Shouldn't whine about it too much I suppose.

Quiet Friday at work, with an especially (mercifully) quiet phone. Very nice. Meeting up with Lucy and Simone at old faithful Mea Culpa after work, before hanging out with Hannah and ET for overdue couch time.

Rugby takes over again this Saturday night. At least if we win, it will be fun to go out afterwards. I hope we do, but I can't say I'm too worried about it. Hopefully won' t be too big a night anyway. Am determined to make Waiuku this week...

Blues

Rugby really does grind the city to a halt. The Lions played the Blues at Eden Park last night and it was quite amazing. Rosie, Olly and I decided to go and see Batman (and not watch the game- rebellious!), and it was eerie seeing how deserted the streets were. We even had trouble finding somewhere to eat, so many places had shut up shop early.

Batman however, was super and well worth sacrificing the rugby for. So much fun. Maybe a bit long, but they did have a lot of ground to cover. Super gadgets. And Christian Bale was great. So was Michael Caine but for different reasons.

In another great find, tonight Hannah, Rico and I grabbed dinner at the Fishmonger in Parnell Road. It was a great seafood fiesta. We had sweet prawns, mussels, squid, salmon and great salad. A bit too much of it, but it was all fresh and tasty.

Had weird super long session at Optometrist today as they were fascinated by one eye. Must find out what that was about. Was a little disconcerting to say the least.

My parents get back tomorrow, which is great. The pets at their house are super taxing. As soon as you wake up they are there to stare at you and demand food. Can't believe I campaigned so hard to get them in the first place. Reminder for future. Jasper is still not looking healthy either. Poor dog is walking less and less these days. He's started to find stairs really hard and he's hopeless on a lead.

Not sure what the weekend is going to hold yet. Mark and I are going to Waiuku with Jeff on Sunday, as we should have done a fortnight ago. Stevie is having another rave on Saturday night, which will be great. Looking forward to a hair cut too. And of course Film Fest- namely League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse on Sunday. Finally!

This time next week will be in Sydney...

Flappers!

Here's Hannah and I aka Celeste and Violet on the mainpage of Cheese On Toast, the best NZ music website (www.cheeseontoast.co.nz)

Rico Suave

Rest of last week was pretty quiet. Got a good start into Research Essay part two...very exciting, but did involve hard word from supervisor about doing more on the project. Have redoubled efforts. Caught up with buddies on Thursday night for dinner, due to the stupidly big chicken, the fridge is still full of proceeds from Thursday's dinner.

Friday night was spent getting very drunk at home with Nick and Q. Also was first time ever playing Cranium. Very exciting. Attempted to either make it out, or do some work but was thwarted by volumes of wine. Which made for a demonic Saturday morning.

Took my parents out to the airport on Saturday, while still trying to hold head together. They have headed off to Sydney for five days. Which left the house free for me to have drinks on Saturday night. Drinks were fun, we had a great time and a huge dance before heading out. Hannah and ET were going to the party at Crow and were in full costume. The rest of us headed to the Birdcage, a dirty but huge bar by the motorway where there were lots of bands and cheap drinks. Very good.

We all crashed at my parents house, and had huge Sunday breakfast, then Olly and I took out our dogs and went to the domain, before going back to the Fabric sale for round two. Rico showed up, fresh from Wellington, and with a new and even more revolting tattoo. Good to see him though, he's staying until he heads overseas in a few months. Spent evening appreciating television and heater.

This week involves lots of essay writing, home time and seeing Operation play at Kings Arms. Also a haircut. Looking forward to Film Fest opening this week. Can't wait to sift around town with the festival crowd. And off to Sydney to visit Brad, Hayley and Hagen next week. Can't wait to see everyone.