Saturdee...

Last night I saw Hillary reach the summit of Everest, with his guide Sherpa Tensing Norgay, to be sure. It was revealing insofar as the Auckland beekeeper was really the lucky one to be next to Tensing when the time came to reach the summit. Modest as always, he was reluctantly deified but stayed on in Nepal for many years later with his wife and family doing good things for the Sherpas in a good Kiwi tradition. And it was a great adventure movie which was hard to experience, even from the relative comfort of the seats in the Film Archives. What brave mountaineers they were. The Conquest of Everest, a UK production certainly worth having on your shelf. 

Today, lovely weather, results in a coffee with Tom at Newtown and a decision to climb a modest mountain he said, at the back of Karori. Someone else had also told me it's an easy walk and I hope so as I have to be home for a nap before the 'Topp Twins' Special at the Opera House tonight.

Kiwi stories of death by pistol and methamphetammine

Cool quiet Newtown on the other hand

 And below, Lorde strutting the stage as NZ most successful pop star, evah!

My ticket for the Topps

Well they certainly lived up to their legend, Linda and her twin sister. Born in the South Island on a dairy farm, with parents who only knew about cows, these two gay sisters, and their gay brother, certainly brought their family up to date in social and sexual mores. Supremely talented as Country and Western singers and composers, they combine their acerbic wit and many musical talents to totally captivate an already captive audience. They are indeed New Zealand Royalty, where Lorde and Kiri Te Kanawa only have a limited audience, the Topps are across all social stratas and are adored by their public for being true Kiwis, who, although world famous, choose to live quietly in their small town of Wanake. It was a great night out, and included support acts worthy of a show themselves.