…this lonely view

I have had the laziest Sunday in history. It’s been an overcast and cooler day so it seemed the perfect time to take a break from summer and lounge around inside for the day.

I have surfed the web, caught up on news, published a couple of posts, watched some TV and finished a book I started (re-reading) a few days ago. The book is great so here’s a quick review for anyone looking for something easy to read. Scar Tissue was released in October 2004 by Hyperion and authored by Anthony Kiedis with Larry Sloman. 

Red Hot Chilli Peppers vocalist and songwriter Anthony Kiedis shares his personal experiences in a first-person, chronological narrative of his life from childhood through to today.

Anthony has lived a breathtaking life. He started doing drugs with his father at the kitchen table from 12 years old and at around the same time his dad ‘loaned’ him his girlfriend so Anthony could lose his virginity.  Scar Tissue recounts the fascinating and tragic story of Kiedis’ life and the history of the RHCP. His tale of heroin addiction, love, fame and making music lurches the reader from one crisis to the next and gives us an often shocking insight into lives almost crippled by drug dependency. I read this and can’t believe how RHCP made a success of music making for 20 years and still continue to survive and grow today.

A superb read for anyone who enjoys autobiographical non-fiction; a simply fantastic read for RHCP fans.

Mellow sounds

Dub? Reggae? Soul? I have no idea what to call it but I like it. To me Fat Freddy is the sound of the kiwi summer.

As It Is in Heaven

No spoilers.

I just finished watching the brilliant 2004 Swedish (subtitled) film As It Is in Heaven. It’s directed by Kay Pollak and stars Michael Nyqvist and Frida Hallgren. I first saw the film not long after it was released in 2004 – it was a huge hit here in NZ and ran for 52 weeks.

The story centres around Daniel Daréus (played by Nyqvist) who is a renowned international conductor whose life aspiration is to create music that will open people's hearts. Ill health forces him to retire to the home of his early childhood in the far north of Sweden, to the village where he endured a terrible childhood of bullying. There he reluctantly agrees to help with the church choir.

This is a beautiful film and I highly recommend it. Sometimes, inspiration is where you least expect to find it…

Grinch

I just can’t seem to summon any enthusiasm at all about Christmas this year. It’s the 12th today and not one decoration is up; no tree, no window dressings, no wreath on the door. Thankfully I have at least done my Christmas shopping.

My health problems are getting me down and to add to the general misery work is so freakin’ busy and I now need to be away on Monday and Tuesday  again but I have this huge presentation to deliver on Thursday as part of my study and I haven’t even finished it yet – eeeeeeeeeeeek!!

I’m barely keeping panic at bay.

I wasted a whole day off work yesterday when I should have been working on my presentation. We had our Christmas work function on Thursday night and I drank far too many margaritas and consequently had a very sore head. I didn’t do anything except sleep and feel sorry for myself all day yesterday. The work do was great though; dinner and drag cabaret – heaps of fun.

It’s my sister-in-laws 40th birthday party tonight but there’ll be no drinking for me so I’m dedicating Sunday (tomorrow) to be a study day. A good productive day should help me feel a bit more in control.

Sorry for being a whiney Grinch.

What a night

It was a beautiful late spring evening with a clear blue sky and just a touch of chill in the air after sunset. No matter though as we were rocking and we’d have been warm even if it was snowing.

From the opening Daughter at 8pm through to a rocking cover of Neil Young's Rockin' In the Free World at 10.35pm, it was a fantastic Pearl Jam experience. Photo taken last night by Dean Purcell.

Over two and half hours of sublime performance and it sure didn’t hurt that Eddie Vedder is still hot hot hot!!

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EDIT: Yet another belated Friday flowers

 

Something a little different today.

I came across this lamp online at Barbara Gail Lamps. I love it. Iris are my favourite flower and I’m seriously considering placing an order. This would look so cute in my little sun room where I sit and read.

Even more about me

I nicked this from Daniels blog over at The Pursuit of What Matters to Me. Thanks Daniel. Feel free to join in anyone who wants to.

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1. Do you have any tertiary qualification?
Yes I have. I also continue to struggle along with study – it’s a never ending process.

2. What was the amount of your last electric bill?
NZ$63 for a months worth of power. Not sure how this compares but this is considered a very modest bill here especially as I don’t have gas as well – I’m tight as all hell with regards power usage.

3. Do you have life insurance?
Yes (single mother and all that).

4. How many hours per week do you work?
Around 45-50.

5. Have you ever attended a Toastmasters event?
No.

6. Favourite place to attend Happy Hour?
Nowhere these days. Occasionally I meet a girlfriend after work for a wine but that is few and far between these days. 

7. How far is your commute to work each day?
When I am working in Auckland my travel is only 15 minutes each way but on the once or twice weekly days working in our capital city, Wellington, the commute is about 2 hours each way – yuck!!!

8. What time do you get up every morning for work?
We’re up at around 6am to get to Rory’s school bus at 7.10am. I then head straight to work so am there by 7.30am most days.

9. What is your definition of sleeping in late?
On a Saturday I can sleep and then doze until almost midday if there’s nothing I have to get up for. 

10. Do you check your cholesterol on a yearly basis?
Yes along with all the other checks that are deemed necessary.

11. How large was your first cell phone?
Not that big as I was fairly late to the cell phone game. Only flash businessmen or ‘out and about’ types like trades or sales people, had the bricks here in NZ. My first cell phone was in the 2G era, it was a Nokia that I got in about 1995 or 1996 I think.

12. Does your employer provide good health insurance?
No, that’s not something employers do here as we have a public health service that covers all New Zealanders. It’s not that great but it’s free.

13. Did you use the Internet to write a research paper?
When I was at university there was no such thing as the internet, well as far as I was aware of anyway.

14. Have you attended a High School reunion?
Yes. Had a few laughs but I think I’ll leave it there. Anyone I still like I am in contact with anyway so no further need.

15. How many jobs have you held in your career? 
I have had about 10 jobs over the years.

16. Have you ever been fired or laid off from a job?
No.

17. What is your favourite drink?
Jim Beam and Zero Coke in a tall glass with lots of ice. Yummmmm.

18. What’s the most expensive bottle of wine that you’ve bought?
Not much. I buy inexpensive wine – I don’t have a snobby palate.

19. Have you been divorced?
Nope.

20. How old were you when you stopped getting ID-ed for alcohol?
In my early 20s if I remember rightly.

21. Favourite casino?
None. Hate the places, they reek of desperation.

22. Are you happier now than you were in high school?
Yes and No. High school was great carefree fun but now is cool too.

23. Did you ever have a Hypercolor shirt?
Yes I had a yellow/green one though I didn’t wear it much. It always seemed a bit weird wearing a shirt that clearly showed that you were hottest under your arms and boobs.

24. Do you remember when Michael Jackson was black and was attracted to older people?
I remember him as black, yes.

25. Do you remember when MTV actually played music videos?
No we didn’t have MTV in NZ until after it had gone to shit.

26. Have you had a will made?
Yes, within a month of Rory being born. Updated twice since then.

27. What music was in your cd/cassette player when you were 16?
It was a cassette player and it was Patti Smith, The Clash, Led Zeppelin and Simon and Garfunkel.

28. Favourite fancy/upscale restaurant?
Don’t have one. My favourite eateries are cheap and cheerful local Thai places.

29. Where were you when you found out about 9-11?
My clock radio went off at around 6.00am as usual on the morning of 12 September but the morning DJ crew I wake to each day were talking about something serious instead of the usual joking around. I got up and turned on the TV and was horrified.

30. Do you have any children yet?
Yes, one.

Still going strong after 19 years

I’m getting really psyched to be seeing Pearl Jam again later this month. This is the first single from their new album Backspacer which I’m loving.  Double click to go to YouTube to watch it there as I can’t embed it here in my post.

Friday flowers

And just like that it’s Friday evening again. I have a big night planned – a 70’s party. Yes that’s right, yet another 70’s party, this one sounds like it might be a rage. Here’s hoping.

My outfit is all sorted, I am going as a punk rocker – all leather and Union Jacks, safety pins, studded dog collar and ripped clothes. Even managed to dig out my old cherry red Docs from the ceiling space at mum and dad’s. I can hardly believe that I just spent $16 on some beautiful tights so that I can ladder them and generally skuzz them up plus a further $10 on black nail polish – I don’t remember anyone actually wearing black nail polish in the 70s (in NZ anyway) but what the heck.

Anyway down to Friday Flower business…

I saw this rhododendron in a front yard up the street a couple of weeks ago but just got around to stopping yesterday to take this pic. My procrastination means it’s now past its best unfortunately as we’ve had rain, lots of spring rain. Typical of me to bugger around.

They’re a particularly small flower. I have no idea of the variety.

Enjoy and have a wonderful Friday everyone.

Two for Tuesday

I) Love this song

This is Gin Wigmore singing her song Hallelujah. She wrote it when she was 16 about her father losing his battle with cancer. The song won the International Songwriting Contest in 2005.

Ignore the dodgy ‘video’ – just listen if you will. Her voice takes a little getting used to but I’m hooked. She’s quirky and original. 

It was The Plashing Vole post of yesterday that reminded me of this song. I went hunting for a recording of it and the result is this post and me pre-ordering her debut album, Holy Smoke, on iTunes.

I hope you enjoy as much as I do.

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II) Cottage envy

I imagine that this row of cottages face out to the Atlantic ocean. The stony path meanders down to the sea where the grey waves crash upon the thin strip of beach. The fishing boats are tied at the old wooden pier and disgorge the days catch while the big black back gulls squawk and dive bomb in the hunt for scraps.

The Feelers

I went and saw this local band last night. Good night was had though now of course I have to suffer through Friday with a minor hangover to start the day. I’m also on an interview panel with 6 interviews scheduled starting at 8am this morning. Feel the joy.

Love this

Nothing like a point of difference. Looks like a fun day, good on them for thinking outside of the square.

Best of luck to the newlyweds.

Miles from nowhere

On Monday edder, I don't care for your tone, published a great new meme idea. Now I see Bob, I Should Be Laughing and DuPree, chlorine in the gene pool have both joined in and seeing I’m still stuck in bed with the flu, there’s no excuse for not making an effort though it looks frightfully difficult.

 

The instructions are to answer each question using only song titles from one artist.

I chose Cat Stevens partly because he has a large repertoire but mostly just because I was a huge fan as a teenager.

OK here goes -

• Are you male or female? – Hard headed woman
• Describe yourself – Better bring another bottle baby
• How do you feel about yourself? How can I tell you
• If you could go anywhere, where would you go? 18th Avenue
• Favourite form of transportation? Peace Train
• Your best friend is? Sad Lisa
• Your favourite colour is? Rubylove or Bitterblue
• What's the weather like? Morning has broken
• If your life was a TV show, what would it be called? Wild World
• What is the best advice you have to give? The First Cut is the Deepest
• If you could change your name, what would it be? Sweet Scarlet or perhaps Lady D’Arbanville
• Your favourite food? Buddha and the chocolate box

 

 

 

Wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be though I acknowledge my cheat on the last question – Buddha is an album not a song.

 

 

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Treat yourself to something uplifting for a few minutes. Relax.

“…when she was bold and strong”

My mate Tim published his current top 10 songs over on his blog, The Fat Man and his efforts inspired me. 

Trust me on this, it’s not a simple exercise.

My first draft has taken a couple of hours on and off this afternoon between the chores. After initially building to upwards of 50 tunes I’ve finally managed to prune it to the required 10. Don’t be surprised that the 70’s and 80’s are over represented, after all they were my formative years.

In no particular order;

1. Better man - Pearl Jam
2. A little is enough - Pete Townsend
3. Run to the water - Live
4. Because the night - Patti Smith
5. Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin
6. Fishing for Lisa - The Feelers
7. Imagine – John Lennon
8. Numb - Linkin Park
9. Creep - Radiohead
10. The Boxer - Simon and Garfunkel

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I’m finally getting back to work tomorrow after nearly 3 weeks off. It’s great to be feeling better but I’m somewhat dreading what I’ll have to deal with at the office.

The Joy of Glastonbury

I just saw a report that the Glastonbury music festival is on this weekend in beautiful Somerset, England. The festival started in 1970 (in fact it was first held the day after Jimi Hendrix died) and has been held most years since then. I was there in 1990 when The Cure were the top act -it was a fantastically psychedelic weekend. Oh to be that young and brave again.

The headline acts this year are  Blur, The Prodigy and Nick Cave  and I see there’s even a few of my old favourites including Crosby, Stills and Nash, Bruce Springsteen, Echo and the Bunnymen and Neil Young.

Initial reports indicate there’s been rain and the first photos, see example below, indicate that mud is yet again an issue this year. I guess it makes for a softer landing at least.

 

 

 

 

Photo / AP

It makes me feel old that upon seeing this photo, my initial reaction is to thank the gods that I don’t feel the need to put myself in situations like this anymore.

I have gotten shamefully soft.

Gee thanks sassy girl

1) What is your current obsession?  Statistics. Not an easy choice of study when one is mathematically challenged but I had to take the plunge for my careers sake.

2) What are you wearing today? I am having a day off work and it’s freezing. I’ve just got out of bed so I am wearing baby blue pyjamas with tiny little cartoon elephants on them – I am a big fan of elephants.

3) What's for dinner? No idea yet. Nothing imaginative I can guarantee you that.

4) What would you eat for your last meal? It would  involve pasta and red wine and fresh fish and bread. And pavlova and cream with strawberries to finish.  It’s a last meal for goodness sake, who cares about calories?

5) What's the last thing you bought? A DVD copy of the movie Trainspotting. I loved that movie when I saw it years ago so I re-watched it last night. It’s shocking but entertaining.

6) What are you listening to right now? The local rock flavoured radio station. Pearl Jam classic Better Man is playing right now. Love this song!

7) What do you think of the person who tagged you? sas from sas’ magical mystery tour  is a thoughtful and intelligent kiwi chick. She’s cool.

8) If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be? On a huge Montana ranch. Not that I have ever been to Montana but in the movies it looks like somewhere I’d want to live.

9) If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go? London to catch up with a couple of good friends or maybe New York for a quick peek. Or perhaps Fiji for a swim in the sun in tropical clear waters mmmmmm.

10) Which language do you want to learn? Spanish

11) What's your favourite quote (for now)? Sorry I can’t limit it to one. A couple of nights ago I re-watched a few episodes on DVD of a kiwi TV series called Outrageous Fortune and I’m still chuckling;

Grandpa: "Life is shit."
Wolf: "What's pushed your button?"
Grandpa: "Being old and useless."
Wolf: "Yeah, well, you get that."
Grandpa: "That's pretty fucking profound son."

"Is texting someone eighteen times and getting nothing back - is that stalking?" – Munter

I'm going to be like a nun - except better dressed. And no church crap." – PascalleVan: "What does ironic mean?"
Munter: "It means how come the guy with the job has never got any money for any piss?"

12) What is your favourite colour? Plum right now I think with winter here. I seem to be wearing a lot of deep reds this season, though by no particular design. More to do perhaps with the beautiful maroon 3 inch courts I succumbed to a couple of weeks ago. Italian.

I was too ashamed to post about them at the time seeing as how I am meant to be on an economy drive *sigh*

13) What is your favourite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe? My winter swing coat. It’s a double breasted, hip length, tiny grey and white checked pure wool number and I feel like Audrey Hepburn when I wear it.

14) What is your dream job? It makes me sad to think about it as I have no idea what my dream job would me. Perhaps a children's author or maybe a teacher?  Maybe a travel writer or a professional foodie? All I know is that right now I have to be challenged. One day perhaps I could run my own small business combining my loves of people and food and books and coffee?

15) What's your favourite magazine? Don’t have one. The only time I pick up a magazine is in a doctor or dentist waiting room. Perhaps NZ House and Garden? It’s very stylish and glossy but it’s also about NZ$16 a copy. I’d never spend that much on a magazine.

16) If you had £100 now, what would you spend it on? That’s about NZ$256 right now. Heaps. Don’t even have to think about it. Boots. 

17) What are you going to do after this? It’s scheduled maintenance day today. Hair cut, manicure and eyebrows. Am considering adding a facial to the usual mix as am holding a wee soiree tomorrow night.

18) What are your favourite films? See my profile, they’re all listed.

19) What's your favourite fruit? I pretty much only eat seasonal fruit so I need two favourites: oranges in winter, I love the smell. Peaches in summer.

20) What inspires you? A great book. A fantastic sunset. Italian renaissance art. Snorkelling in clear water. A million things inspire me. 21) Your favourite books? See my profile, they’re all listed.

22) Do you collect anything? Architectural drawings of old houses. The pure lines are fabulous. 

23) What are you currently reading? I just started re-reading Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood. I adore this book.

24) Go to your book shelf and take down the first book with a red spine you see, turn to page 26 and type out the first line: “…the moon out of her sphere, if she would continue in it five weeks without changing.” from an 1889 Clarendon Press edition of The Tempest that I bought a couple of years ago at a fair.

25) By what criteria do you judge a person? Tough question. Language I suppose, openness, integrity and let’s not forget that grooming and hygiene are also important.

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1. Answer the questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your invention. 
2. Tag eight other people. Tagging, with love: Du Pree, Uamada, Xanadu, edder, Kate, Bob, Lermontov and Tim. Anyone though please feel free to participate (or not) just as you desire.

…a few of my favourite things

Crème Brulee by Chris Caldes. Photograph by Carrie Russell

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Got this idea a couple of days ago from Dade Freeman’s great site It’s My Life. Thanks Dade.

My favourite things…

- Author: Margaret Attwood
- Beverage: Ice cold Jim Beam and coke
- Cologne / Perfume: Elizabeth Arden Red Door
- Dessert: Crème brulee mmmmmm
- Electronic Device: my Nokia E71
- Food: Thai (specifically yum nua and giang panang)
- Game: Pixel Junk Monsters
- Hobby: Mosaic
- Ingredients as a pizza topping: Chicken and capsicum
- Job (you've had): my current role (Operations Mngr)
- Kind of breakfast: Eggs Benedict with salmon
- Living or dead person: my fabulous dad
- Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
- Novel: I know this Much is True by Wally Lamb
- Organic Produce: Big fat juicy tomatoes
- Programme on TV: Outrageous Fortune
- Quote: “Do or do not, there is no try” (Yoda)
- Relaxation Method: sorry don’t know you all well enough to share this – let’s stick with ‘see favourite beverage as above’
- Song: Run to the Water, Live
- Time to wake up: around 6:00am
- Unusual Talent: None (only fairly normal ones)
- Vacation Spot: various NZ lakes and rivers
- Website: http://www.youtube.com/
- Xperience: travelling (especially south-east Asia) 
- Yoghurt: no thanks – yuck
- Zodiac Sign (your own): Leo

Leotards and high heels

Piccadilly Circus, London late 2008.

I love these flash performances. I would be rapt if I ever witnessed one. So cool. To all you cynics, I know they’re just a marketing ploy but I still think they’re cool.