Jazz Festival in Wellie

This is a bit misleading, this title, as although I'm presently listening to some very cool jazz, it won't be coming to Wellie till June, from 2 to 7, when it will be a week of pure joy for the jazz enthusiasts in New  Zealand. In the meantime there is a jazz festival at Tauranga, and it looks like it will be everywhere until June. Jazz that is!

Last night I went to the Paramount Art Cinema, as it is called, and saw my first Royal Shakespeare Company's production direct from Stratford-on-Avon. it was a modernised version of Love's Labours Lost set in the1900s just before the outbreak of the second World War.

I really didn't know what to expect, but excellent acting of course. But it was much more than that, it was a superb production and well worth the extra money. Shakespeare's language  may sometimes need a bit of translation but in this case the audience was prewarned to let it just roll over you and the meaning would be there. And it indeed was there, and a most enjoyable rendition of the Bard from Avon it was. I was so happy I went and shared the experience with about ten others in a very comfy theatre at the Paramount. I will go again as it is paired with Much Ado About Nothing, aka, Love's Labours Won. Something to look forward to.

But now to return to chores, as this week is clean-up week and I 'm serious about it. Housemate Fir is doing the same so it will be an extra motivation to be on the same page as her.

Perfect Easter weather

Today is so perfect I wonder how I can leave this Capital City. And it seems, according to stats in today's Dom Post, that the Aussies have begun to discover Wellington, just as I have. Visitors from Oz have increased by 25% in the last year, and now ads are appearing in Australia about the attractions of Wellington, only three hours from Sydney.. Ooh well, it had to happen!

Am now at the Memphis where I am leaving my little momento on the wall, quietly, without anyone noticing, and it looks good and is a perfect fit for the space I had been eyeing off for weeks now. I want to pass on a few things when I leave and I may as well start giving things away now.

Sun at Memphis

Aussie dollar down, Kiwi up!

My pic under the mirror

Balck Caps somewhat glorious return

Mark Reason says it all, and in such a good erudite way, about the campaign of the Black Caps to win glory for New Zealand. He spoke of the good, the bad and the ugly, and the handsome, which is of course, the Kiwi team's behaviour both on and off the field. The Aussies' behaviour, on the other hand, is the ugly, with their constant uncalled-for sledging even when the cricketer has left the pitch.

Kiwi Daniel Vettori encapsulated the Kiw attitude. First generation Italian Kiwi, he has finished a long successful career starting at age18, being the most capped Kiwi Test player at 113 Test matches. 

He is the real hero who bowed out without a big announcement, just accepting the fact that his time as a player was over. He will make a great coach. The Black Caps remain on the top rung, albeit in second place.

Great champ!

The post mortems

Another beautiful autumn day and Wellington is blushing with embarrassment. The newspapers are also holding post-mortems about the cricket loss but Captain Baz McCullum is making gracious and sensible statements. There is no pride lost, just a great three weeks of cricket with the Kiwis runners-up to the best team in the world, the Aussies.

How could Wellington be so good to us? Caught the 9.40 am bus with Koroi on his way to work. Last night we has a good chat about his three weeks in Vanuatu and today he said he spent the last week on a luxury yacht supplying aid to the  cyclone victims with the help of the American yacht owner. He certainly has a story to tell, but also some of the trauma he experienced secondhand is not lost on him. I even dare to suggest he get some professional help at work as it could eventually have a detrimental effect on him and his work ouput. He agreed and is going to look into it.

Bought this book on the dollar sale at Quilters yesterday. They are clever cartoons about the famous Fitzgerald Police inquiry in Brisbane. Channel Ten took the lid off the most corrupt police force in the   country (perhaps) and this artist and writer covered it in a book of hilarious watercolours.

It was during the reign of Joh Bjelke Petersen and crime was everywhere, but Joh pleaded ignorance! Such was the stupidity of this Premier.

Have finally received an OK from the choir at to perform at our Candlelight Memorial in six weeks at Te   Papa. Lee from the Glamaphones has suggested using Ennio Morricone's Gabriel's Oboe solo from his theme to the academy award winning movie 'The Mission'. It could be quite a tear jerker, and also they will sing Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah', also a winner. Now to go to BP to get the OK from Ron.

This week is to be my week of cleaning my desk so today is the day I begin. It will take more than one day to do it but it will be a big relief to be decluttered and start with a clean desk. Such things are dreams made of.

A near empty Memphis Belle 

The day after the great loss

The whole of Kiwiland is mourning today as their new favourite team, The Black Caps, lost overwhelmingly to Aussie last night in Melbourne on the hallowed grounds of the MCG. It was a fait accompli I'm afraid. That ground spooks anyone, it has a spirit unto itself. And the naive Kiwis just didn't accept that they had to readjust completely to accommodate it. The Aussie team was better, and as well, had this enormous advantage. But the Kiwis  were a fantastic team and did their best and achieved the best. They could never have won that game but Kiwis expect so much of their sports stars.

Back page news ..the loss

Aussies celebrate

Still at the Memphis

Local winner Winston Peters, is he PM material?

Cubadupa celebrates

New table at Memphis..!

The fragile psyche of the average Kiwi was on show yesterday, but tomorrow it is forgotten. The weather is fine and they go about their business. March weather has been fantastic and with daylight saving coming next week at Easter time things look even better.  

The Memphis is certainly typical of all that is good in Wellington. They now have employed a young Down Syndrome man in the kitchen and are educating him. He is doing well. They are very aware of the 'other' and always do their best. It is indeed a fabulous country in spite of their always talking themselves down. Tall poppy syndrome is rife here I think and they hate the boasting Aussies. 

Ah well, Viva la difference!

Swimmer's Day on Cuba

Today I am marching in the parade, my first in New Zealand. Representing my swimming club we have a stall later near Cuba to promote the Different Strokes Wellington Swimmers.

I thought it may be fine weather, but look at these photos and you'll see what a difference a minute makes in Wellington. Now in town for a quick coffee before we gather at Civic Square, I wonder why I didn't bring my rainjacket! I should have learned that by now. However, as the day developed the weather got better, and it turned to be a fabulous day. 

The crowds on Cuba Street were enormous and very supportive and it was a good experience especially as last night I was asked by Gareth from Film Archives to give an interview for them about my past, rather adventurous life. I'll have to think a bit about what to say as it will be a record of my life, but strangely kept in New Zealand. 

Picture to the left..

Same moment, to the right...weird ay?

Coffee at the Vic

Victoria St looking green

Twins looking after each other

Classic Kiwi family surviving the earthquake

Out in the Carpark

Well today was a big one...march up Cuba Street, DSW stall, desultory rendezvous with Neighbourly.co at Beach Babylon, then dancing at Thistle Hall. Just another typical Sunday, topped off by a World Cup win by OZ. Perhaps it's a sign! 

The big thing today really was Koroi's return from Vanuatu. After two weeks reporting for New Zealand Radio he looked exhausted after this mammoth tour of duty. He is doing an important job and will doubtless have a big future. Makes it a bit harder for me to leave, but certain things have their time, and I have things to do at Gosford.

So back to a full house at number 42 Evans Bay Parade.

Cubadupa Festival

I was up early today for R.V. at nine am at the NZPC. Needless to say, arriving ten minutes early no-one was there so I popped down to Cuba St to see this great street preparing for a very big day. And so it turned out to be.

After a quick rehearsal we all arrived near Floridita's to meet up with five other choirs to do a final rehearsal for the noon start. All went well although the weather was threatening, of course it is Wellington so you expect anything.  

Right on twelve the clouds broke and the showers arrived, but to no real effect. The energy was too high and a bit of rain never stoppeed a Kiwi.  The five choirs converged on a square having been thoroughly  redecorated and looking fabulous with an enormous carousel with chandeliers on each corner. 

Julian, the choir master, had really done his stuff and after a karakia and some waitata at Dixon Street we walked with a spectacular group of young Maori singers from Te Whitereia along Cuba to meet up with two more choirs, Vox Serbicus and Wososi. Then all together we arrived at the square to meet the one hundred strong Wellington Singers, all singing in harmony a wonderful waiata created for the day in honour of Cuba Street. It was an exciting and wonderful celebration, and thus began the two days of feasting and song.

Tomorrow I will be walking in another parade with the Different Strokes Wellington swimmers. More fun and very united.

Again I am struck by the high quality and total dedication of all these Kiwis, many of them immigrants escaped from the war in Europe. Finding this island jewel at the end of the world is something they will never stop celebrating. And their kids love it too. 

Tonight I am back to Courtenay Place to fete Ron from BP on his 50th birthday at the Welsh Club. It will be a big bash I think.

Ti Whanawhana warm-up

The Haka starts

Beginning with a karakia

Friday at Memphis

Just walked by the Arty Bees Bookstore, one of the biggest secondhand bookshops in Wellington, of  which there are many btw. They have a big sale upstairs, 95% off and I am tempted, to say the least. 

So I walk in and see at least three books I would love to have, but for about one hundred dollars and weighing a ton. So I am suitably discouraged, reminding myself this is one of my obsessions I must get in control of. However I may just go back to have a quick look, after all, I am only human!

Books galore...

The windows..

..the temptation...

More books...

..and more..

And more!

Memphis with local poetry on each table

Kiwis still obsessed with sport

This country is very winning, in more ways than one. With its tongue firmly in cheek I am sure, one of the top commercial radio stations is called Wellington Breeze. So much for its valid reputation as being one of, if not the, windiest city in the world. 

Last night I was swimming at the Freyberg Pool which is on the famed Oriental Parade. Named after a Kiwi War Hero who was also a champion swimmer, it is a jewel and very handy for a quick swim being five minutes from downtown Wellie. 

Our new coach, (American Paige was repatriated), Casey, is a long distance champ, having swum both the English Channel and Cook Straits a few times I believe. He is like all Kiwis, or most of them, mild and understated, very good at his job and a delight to be with. He also looks fabulous! 

Last night we exited early as there was a hygiene scare at the pool, some toilets had spilled over it seems. They take no risks there, so they closed the pool! Perhaps this is over-reaction, but really it would only happen in a sport and health obsessed country like New Zealand. So we left five minutes early (only) and decided to have a drink at the nearby Bluewater Grill, a wonderful looking restaurant which I had never visited, right on the bay, opposite the Dairy owned by my beloved landlord Mr Patel.

We each had one drink, a lemon lime and bitters for me, boutique beers for the other three, and we continued to chat about the coming weekend where DSW is having a belated appearance on the street to garner new members hopefully. It will be on the Sunday of the Cubadupa weekend and happily rain is not predicted. The Drag Queens will lead a parade from Civic Square to Cuba where we will have  a stall which I  am manning with Martin for a couple of hours. Another busy weekend coming up.

And here is the wonder and beauty of this city. So much going on, of such pronounced quality, and you have to choose as you can't do everything. I see a great dance group is on at the Opera House for one night tonight, I can't go as I have a French Festival movie! So be it.

Later today I am attending a lunchtime workshop on Social Media, how to use it, given by the Wellington Volunteers association.  I may now become a twitter addict...

As I said, so much to do.

Aussies against India

In this sport obsessed nation the eyes are now on the second semi-final of the World Cup - India vs Aussie and all the tellies are on this game tonight. Including ours as well, which is streamed from the internet via IndIa, which Sonny has of course organised. 

I watched a half hour with him on my return from a swim at Freyberg Pool where afterwards we went for a drink at the bayside restaurant called the Bluewater Grill. One day I might try the fish'n chips there but I don't think it has a great reputation.

Seeing that Oz is going to win I have decided to quit the tellie and am now in my bedroom with my radio tuned in to hear the probable Aussie win. Sunday will now be the biggest cricket event of the year for New Zealand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the Holy Grail of the cricketing world and the whole country will watching.

Evening light on the bay

Also on the balcony...

An extension of the light.

Today I also caught a classic French movie at the Festival, the digitally restored edition of Jean Renoir's  'La Grande Illusion'. First appearing in 1937, with unrest in Europe creating a fertile ground for this political movie showing the futility of war against the backpdrop of POW camps and showing the class relations which existed at the time, the aristocracy being shown the door by the more working class population which was actually fighting this awful bloody war. Antisemitism is also given swipe in the sympathetic non-stereotypical rendition of a Jewish French soldier.

This is indeed a great movie, the luminous Jean Gabin in full stride with an excellent supporting role of the German officer played by Erich Von Stroheim. The Great War, which should never have been repeated, was related in a unique way of showing  French and German soldiers fighting a war not of their choice and who didn't really want to be there at all. It was a great indictment of the ugliness of conflict, and as such is a reminder of what an amazing social commentator and powerful director Jean Renoir was. I really enjoyed and it played to a full house at the Embassy - the Kiwis love a good movie, especially a French one. 

Tomorrow I hope I will enjoy the final choice I have made in the festival, quite a different one from all the others I have seen, called 'May Allah bless France' it is a search for tolerance.

Kiwi victory

History was made last night at Eden Park where, with one ball to bowl, New Zealand snatched victory from South Africa with a magnificent six hit by South African born Grant Elliott. He has since become the Kiwi national hero of course, sending NZ into first ever world Cup Final in Melbourne next Sunday against either India or Australia.

This is an amazing turnaround for this small country, but comes with a warning by sports columnist Mark Reason. He says that if NZ doesn't plumb the depths of Maori and Pasifika talent they will lose the small group of talent which exists now, but which is concentrated in the elite of wealthy privileged Wasps who play cricket in this country. He is right in my humble pakeha opinion.

The final winning six by Elliott

Memphis Belle in quiet shock

New Zealand goes crazy

With good Reason....

New Zealand today is recovering, that is if anyone went to bed last night in Auckland.

I watched the end of the game at the Cambridge Hotel which was a good classic venue. The small audience around eleven-thirty went ballistic on the last six hit by Elliott. An amazing cricket match was over. Now for the final.

I forgot to give a report of Gemma Bovery..not quite as exciting as the cricket, but indeed, an excellent and amusing film. It was a very interesting take on the original novel, with a bit of a tragic ending and the main chracter leaving the audience wondering what his literary obsession would lead to next. Really, it was quite a perfect French movie amd one I would recommend to any francophile. Five stars.

Yesterday was typical of my rich and full life in Wellington. For as well as the movie and the the cricket, I was witness to the Kiwi toughness of my friend Ron at BP who survived a drama from MK in Sydney who reneged at the last moment in his decision to come for the Candlelight Memorial. 

Ron immediately regrouped, changed the timing of the event, and was able to avoid failure by some subtle psychology and sheer pig-headedness. He was not going to lose this valuable Judge whom he was so happy to have secured in spite of all the drama. Full credit to him and I have learned I need to be more agressive in my stance sometimes. 

Michael Kirby is now officially coming to speak at our Candlelight Memorial on May 17. I can rest in peace.

Gemma Bovery

Well you'll  know I'm back in my home town when you see me at the cinema, and this time it's back to the French Film Festival at the Embassy Cinema, this great art deco building on Cambridge Terrace at the bottom of the drink strip of Courtenay place.

 I actually came in a few hours early so I could see some World Cup semi final cricket, but the weather in Auckland has prevented that with a stoppage due to rain. The home team is not, by the way, in a very good position, with only three wickets taken from the powerful South African team in this one day event. They will all be resting nervously until the weather clears and it not until tomorrow that the game finishes. Some people may be sorely disappointed.

So I am in the foyer of this grand cinema, biting into an excellent Florentine, accompanied by a hot cup of lemon, ginger and honey, another ubiquitous offering perhaps unique to Kiwi shores, I'm not sure. But it is refreshing and of course, very healthy. The chocolate hit of the Florentine just gives it the touch of decadence I need to prepare myself for tonight's interesting offering, a modern Anglo-French version of Gustave Flaubert's classic novel Madame Bovary. I have read the reviews and it should be certainly worth the effort of leaving my cosy home. An English actress plays the eponymous character, and it purports to be a comedy, so that is certainly not in the vein of the original. However my judgement waits.

High ceilings...

....bedecked with my beret.

Glamorous actress...

...in a comic interpretation of a French tragedy.

Cricket Fever in Kiwiland

New Zealand has never been in a Cricket World Cup final and today is crunch time. They play the favoured South African side and never has there been a more important game for them to win. The weather is fine in Wellie, but cloudy in Auckland where the game is on at Eden Park, the traditional home to the All Blacks. Now the Black Caps must show their stuff.

I may even catch some of the game on a public televison broadcast.

The charismatic captain Brendon McCullum

Back at the Memphis.

It is quite unsettling my return to Wellie after four days up north. My love for this town has not ceased, but just grown larger and it is a time like this when you leave a place, that you appreciate it more.

This week is busy with a performance on Saturday with Ti whanawhana for the Cubadupa festival. It should be a memorable event where five choirs come together singing and celebrating the history of Te Aro and the famous Cuba Street, my all-favourite street in Wellington, and one of the reasons I moved here.

Savoury muffin at Memphis

Teapot derby at the Cubadupa Festival this weekend

Photo of Pope Francis in Naples being mobbed by cloistered nuns. 

This is the modernity of the Papacy these days, and did I forget to say that my priestly brother, a retired Franciscan Missionary, who spent fifty-fve years working in Papua New Guinea, has been invited by the Pope to concelebrate Mass with him personally, in his private chapel, when my brother visits Rome later this year on a world trip to publicise the Missions. A fitting reward for one who has devoted his life to his Church you might like to say. I'm sure Peter (my brother) is chuffed.

Football always in the news in NZ

Return home to Wellie

Last night was a meal out with Norma at an Italian/Indian pizza joint, perhaps the best pizza I have had, as Norma assured me it was for her. Home for more chats and an early night as we were both very tired. A good night's sleep and dreams, unfortunately forgotten, left me in a good state for a coffee and toast with N before the ten o'clock ferry to Auckland, and then the Jetstar flight home to Wellie.

It seems a lot has happened in the last few days and indeed it has. The Retreat went very well, and I enjoyed it a lot. The visit with N was also successful, and she is still interested in HUing so I left it with her. No pushing, but it is not a coincidence that she Facebooked me out of the blue three months ago. She values my friendship without knowing what I have to offer her, which is pure unconditional love and friendship, generated  by my love for the ECK and my knowledge of where I am going. 

Who knows what the future can hold? Norma is absolutely on some path and she is not sure what it is. She now has the keys to open the doors if she so wishes.  I leave that to the ECK.

Local newspapers full of cricket

Semifinal against South Africa

Student commuter to Auckland

Back from a holiday on the Island

Waiting at Auckland airport

Bella waiting for me safe and sound at Kilbirnie. Quick shopping at Pak'n Save then home along Evans Bay Parade.....what a street to live on!!