Queen's Birthday Holiday

It's a strange place this New Zealand and it doubtless takes a foreigner to look in and discover the weirdness and brilliance that exists in these cloudy and windy islands.

On one hand you have dentists like Calvin, who wasn't able to extract my tooth, then found another filling and did two, for the outrageous sum of nearly $500 only to have one of the fillings, a half tooth, fall out two days later. I am now awaiting the chance to tell him this and ask how it happened. No doubt he will have a plausible excuse but I am not paying him another $250 to replace the one that disappeared.

So there, you have the incredible inflated costs and prices, and then the excellence of their food and beverages, their drug free lambs (I hope) and cattle, and a superbly healthy, fit society which beats most other countries ten times their size in most competitive sports. 

Today is cool, but nice, the streets are quiet and I have been able to park, free, right outside Memphis Belle in the centre of town. There is  no other city in the world of this ilk where you could do that I am absolutely sure. And get a superb coffee in your own persona mug! (See pic)

Kiwi youth, unassuming, handsome

Relaxing in the cool, in shorts!

Capt. McCullum takes the Queen's Honours

Next year the Edinburgh Tattoo for Wellie...

My friend Dame Margaret in news..

 Margaret has fittingly now an exhibition honouring her pioneering work in contraception in New Zealand, a place which desperately needed her in the fifties and sixties, and this amazing lady is still dancing, Scottish Country, that is!

My pussy cat mug...and I am now off to another iconic part of old Wellie, Aro Valley, to see and have lunch with Y, or N as I am now calling him. Am sure it will be an interesting encounter, with this most interesting and attractive man.

Wet Sunday

Having done the market at Vic. Street I am having a coffee at the Raglan Roast in Abel Smith Street. Always nice tasting coffee, although not my own cup, it has some good magazines to look at especially the NZ 'Interior' mag, which is a great example of Kiwi excellence in design and has such forward-looking editors, it is, in itself, a reason for wanting to stay in this creative isle.

Raglan Roast lounge area

Always knew cannibis was addictive...

California drought for fifteen years is worst in a thousand years...what to do?

Great design mag...

It is a day of recollection and decision making as my meeting with Y has given me other options.

As we are both impulsive Geminis it is wise to take our time and gauge the future. I rang him this morning and we chatted. He is depressed about the loss of the man whom he was attentive to for forty years. I totally understand, and it will take time to emerge from his gigantic shadow. We decided to give ourselves the best space possible so I will return as planned, to Gosford, and he will visit me there so we can get to know each other on a foreign soil. He does not know Australia, and I know he will enjoy his time there. If we feel very together eventually I can rejoin him in NZ or we can make other plans. There is always a solution and we will make it as easy as possible for both of us. It is an exciting position to be in, and I feel very optimistic about the future.

I may even leave Bella with him as I know I will never sell her for the right price and I would prefer she stays with a friend.

Peter in Sydney sent me a beautiful email about accepting anything I choose to do to be right, and he finished by saying:

'May he love tomorrow who has never loved before,

And may he who has loved before,

Love again tomorrow'

Love that quote and I wonder where it comes from?

But other news is that my newly planted tooth filling has mysteriously disappeared. The dentist said he had problems getting it to stick and now it is totally gone, and my $500 with it. A phone call on Tuesday will see that  fixed, but it will mean yet another visit to not my favourite place in the world. In Gosford I may catch up with Rob my preferred dentist who can give me trusted advice. Teeth certainly are a drain on the finances, especially in New Zealand.

Tonight is Ron's house-warming and it will be an interesting event, he never is simple in his personal life although he is a loving and generous soul. I will go for a short while as tomorrow I have an important visit with Y. If it is meant to be it willl happen, and I have no worries about the future. 

Happiness is my only goal, and that is for everyone.

In the meantime back to the absorbing read of Oliver Sacks and his fantastic voyage into life and all its vicissitudes. He was such an adventurer, and came from an incredibly brilliant and achieving, progressive English Jewish family. He has done so much that his legacy in writing and the study of neurology will remain for a long time.

Saturday recovery

Have just had coffee with Tom and purchased a housewarming gift for Ron for tomorrow night. Practical as always, Tom bought at a 60% reduction at Briscoes a tasteful duvet cover. Then on to The Milk Crate for  a coffee and croissant, nicely served with butter and raspberry jam, an all-time favourite of mine. It is briskly cold and the people are all out in their winter Katmandu accessories. Wellingtonians certainly  know how to dress for the weather.

After sleeping last night only with the aid of four codeine pills and also finally a valium, it is no wonder I feel a little strange this morning, but Tom's early call got me out of bed and going. That is after an important although brief conversation with Y about my plans and what I will do now the goal posts have changed. He agreed with what I said, so I am feeling quite relaxed about it all, and the changes will present themselves little by little to arrive at the ultimate and desired conclusion, the best for everyone, and possibly not till the end of the year anyway. I will be patient and enjoy the journey.

My latest read, which may go on to P in Sydney.Oliver Sacks, now sadly suffering from terminal cancer, has all the same found his first big love, and at age seventy-seven, something encouraging for me at only seventy, or nearly...in three weeks. His big love in this photo was his BMW motorbike, and I must say it is one I had always wishe to have. But now, of course, I have Bella!

A 'New Yorker cover'..this lovely cover says it all about New Yorkers, they start young in their search for excellence, and many achieve it of course, but at what cost?

..are we ever!an interesting article in a cutting-edge magazine, but it told me nothing new, some how I have known for many years that the secret of my good healh is in eating natural, unprocessed foods, and probably no red meat.

At the Milk Crate..always interesting clientèle.

But I am thinking of Y all the time.

What a Friday!

Am in an old haunt above BP, The Library Bar, a cocktail bar full full of young things having smart drinks and lustful thoughts, although next to me has settled a couple about my age, a very nice smiling romantic couple in their sixties! Encouraging isn't it?

The dark bar scene...

Today had a lot to offer, starting with an unexpected coffee with Y and Tom, all three of us sharing a tiny table at the Memphis and it was not long before we were holding hands under that table. Of course Tom and Y got on well as they are also birds of a feather. It was a nice first public date and we went for a stroll later and ended up at BP where lunch had luckily been cancelled with Ron being on the move, and also on holidays. Talked with caretaker Paul, had a bit of drama with Lesley about undelivered internet ordered goods, but all  turned out OK.

So with some time on our hands Y invited me to lunch so we had something very nice at the Japanese Sushi Train on Courtenay Place.  Things were moving along so before my dentist appointment we caught a bus home to catch up there and pick up prescriptions for later. 

Y enjoyed my view and as we jumped in Bella to go back to town, me to the dentist he to the bank, he said 'Don't have extraction' before he left, and wonder of wonders, the dentist said two fillings might repair the problem, in the short term anyway. He was a nice Chinese man who had seen me before and also said that my skin was the result of too many Brazil Nuts, which I have been consuming like a madman. So there was was the solution I had been looking for, always dietary, and me trying too hard to be healthier. Y had indeed endorsed that too many nuts ain't good for you, three nuts a day is more than enough or the oil gets secreted in the skin and eruptions occur. No more nuts for a few days and I'll see how the skin improves.

Now for seeing what my future plans are as Y has indeed thrown a spanner, albeit, a good and tempting one, in the works. I will leave it to the powers that be, which is of course the ECK.

I came to New Zealand thinking this may be my last stop in the world travels I have been doing for so long now, but knowing all the time that I need to meet someone for that to happen. Now, having decided that time is over, I have made arrangements for my return to Gosford, my hometown, where I have so much to do.

 Or do I? 

I now ask myself this question: What is the most important thing in life? And the answer is so quick. Love is, of course, the indisputable answer. We are all searching for love and we need to love ourselves before it apppears in our lives. Perhaps I am now ready to accept it and although it may be still a little early, I have a strange feeling that my life has quickly, and irrevocably, changed forever.

Crunch time

It is again freezing and my tooth has been aching every night so I have decided to have the extraction I said I would have a fortnight ago. It is time for this troublesome molar to go and I also had the inner nudge that my face is breaking out because of the toxins released fom this infected tooth. Am off to see Dr Don this morning to get a prescrption for vitamin D and will ask his opinion as well. Although I really don't have much faith in doctors, and never had, although my life was saved at least twice by doctors who knew their stuff.

So with a blotchy face I made my trek to Aro Valley last night to have a visit of reconnaissance with Y and to be honest, it  couldn't have gone better. So there is possibly something happening there but only time will tell and there is no pressure from either side. After all, I am in the throes of moving and yesterday I made two purchases for trips to Melbourne and Hobart in December and August when I return from England. It is really time to catch up with old friends from these two former cities of residence. The rest will look after itself with no organising by me. 

So I am happy I have done that and now on to present exigencies, like doctor's today and dentist's visit tomorrow. So by the weekend hopefully I will have worked out a few problems. And Monday is the Queens's Birthday holiday here so I wonder what will happen then. I am leaving it open, but things are moving along with my preparations and the timeline is working, so something unexpected might happen...I wonder what?

 

Specialty corner in Memphis for blended coffee

A Specialty customer, rolling her own

Extreme Weather everywhere in New Zealand

Perhaps I won't dye my hair after all, lol!

Interesting times...

Life in Wellington is 'on the move', just like the recent autobiography of Anglo American Jewish neurologist and writer, Oliver  Sacks.

Today I try a new savoury pastry, vegetarian pin-wheel, and it's delicious as all the pastries are here made by Zaida's just up in Tory Street.

Last night's opportunity to catch 'The Sugar Movie' made by an extraordinary young Aussie filmaker  Damon Gameau, was a delight to experience. It told the horror story of sugar and its pernicious health effects with such deft stokes you were left wanting more, of the film that is, not sugar! I knew most of what he said but to be shown in amusing and accurate footage, and proven by high brow scientifc gurus, it was quite the must-see film that Jamie Oliver had talked about. Congrats to Gameau, may he make more such movies, it made me proud to be an Aussie!

Some French boys come in to the Memphis with broken English, and they sit outside in the cold , smokers of course, for coffee and patisserie. But after one coffee they come in and I start to listen to the rap music which John has now played in their honour, a totally French rendition so they feel totally at home. This is the inimitable style of the John at the Memphis Belle.

Later today I am to pop in to see Yono at his home in Brooklyn to have a chat as one does in times of stress and change. Perhaps  we can go somewhere good on this, as I share somewhat, in his sense of bereavement.

Then later after HU we have the Scottish Country Dance birthday bash where I am to bring a plate. Perhaps I'll also wear my kilt tonight to celebrate the birthday. The dancing will warm everyone up I'm sure.

Young Kiwi fencer called Felix, a man to watch, a future world champion I confidently predict.

Weird things happen in New Zealand..the busdriver didn't stop to drop any kids and they had to jump from the moving bus...

..and a schoolboy falling out of a window!..more weirdness.

Egypt still in a real political mess..I feel for the freedom, or lack of, in that ancient and brilliant country.

Russian ballerina coming to the Opera House  I would love to see her dance in Swan Lake!

Example of Tony Abbott's inhumane tratment of asylumseekers. He should be brought to trial as contravening international human rights.

Wellie weather on the Straits, ooops!

Typical expat Kiwi cricketerplaying for England brings the Black Caps to their knees. Only a Kiwi......!

Lots of photos on this very chilly day in Wellie, but somehow I feel warm inside.

Winter hits Wellie!

They predicted it would come and winter has arrived, if just a week early to these windy shores.

Having begun giving away my too-heavy clothes which I will certainly no longer need in OZ, I am happily finding I still have enough warmth to sustain me. 

 Headline news today is the finding of the bones of a thirty year old mystery, a man 76 years old went for a walk in the Ngaio Bushland and never came home. This is a story which is not all too irregular in this mysterious country which gave birth to the likes of Jan Campion's 'Heavenly Creatures', not to mention the the Middle Earth Kingdom of Tolkien's Hobbits. It is not at all a simple country, but complex, deep and searching, with a philosophy to match its psyche. 

A rare recovery after 30 years

Memphis Coffee...

Snowing in Napier!

Graeme, a worthy stalwart from my moving firm of Conroys came yesterday for a final quote. He wheezed his way, big gut out front, up my sixty-nine stairs and said he's done worse. Anyway, all was booked with notes on his latest model i-Pad, and the date for pick-up was set for the Friday July 24, the eve of my early morning flight to Sydney. Am hoping Tom may put me up for the final night so all will be tightly organised and graceful, not like my last three moves which were all exhausting, but cathartic in some way. He has quoted some twenty-three cartons which he has already given me, plus extras, and on Tuesday he will return to pick up the signed papers. This will really be a palpable marker of my moving, giving me a kick-on so I can continue my count-down, now eight weeks to go.

Tasty looking free range chicken..mmn!

Busy caff...

What has been strangely happening, is that after my unexpected encounter at JB's memorial concert, I have been harbouring thoughts of another kind because of the meeting with his remaining partner Yono. Yono has unabashedly said he dosn't know where he's going or what to do. That I can easily understand, as he had been living in the shadow of this great composer and eccentric for nearly forty years, and that in a totally foreign environment. His adopted family no doubt will have a large influence on his future, but he is now so free, I wonder if he knows how to value or use this freedom, something which happily I seem to have had all my life. I may contact him for a chat about life after death, that is, after somone else's death, as he has already told me he believes death is the absolute end, and that's that. We certainly don't agree on that basic premise but that doesn't mean we can't have a dialogue. As the French say, 'On va voir...'.

Beautiful wintry vista of Queenstown..

Have decided to go out into the cold, but into a very warm Cuba Lighthouse Cinema to see the Aussie film about Sugar. Nothing new posssibly, but just a reassurrance of everything I have known about the evils of sugar. It even may improve my diet, who knows?

Anyway I am out of a very cold house and leaving my chefs to discuss the huge dramas in their kitchens, and there are some apparently, with one resigning and the other refusing to be re-employed, although they are begging him to return. But no go, he is sticking to his guns. Restaurants, and kitchens, are a world to themselves, and I am seeing the inside story here which is not very uplifting I'm afraid. 

I am hoping tonight's movie won't be in the genre of 'upsetting' rather than 'reaffirming'. Jamie Oliver has said it is a 'must see', and judging from the ages of the kids waiting to go in, they are all his generation, all willing to give up on sugar. He certainly has a large following.

Mondayitis....

What is Mondayitis? Different things to different people I'm sure, and for me it takes a few different colours as well. I woke well this morning, after a good sleep, and a very interesting dream which I noted in my thickening Dream Diary, then caught the early bus to town for a coffee at the Memphis. All in order, but I feel strangley flat. However I think it's because the weekend was really so packed with things I couldn't feel any other way. I have a few emails to write, and I must stop regretting I didn't follow-up my meeting with Bev Hull at the ballet. This is Bev whose son danced wonderfully in the much lauded  'Salute' , and whose lovely daughter Beth, who happens to to have mild Down Syndrome was delightful to meet. It just occurred to me that co-incidences sometimes need to be acted upon. 

Here was I, sitting in the very back row in the stalls, with not a bad view. Unimpeded, but distant, and I noticed that three or four rows down were Bev and Beth with two empty seats next to them. So I decided at the first break to wander down and ask if they minded me sitting next to them which they didn't at all. Then at interval we chatted, I discovered Bev was from Sydney with her son John in the NZ Ballet.  As a young boy he had actually danced with Graeme Murphy when I worked with the Sydney Dance Company in the eighties. Beth was so nice and smiling as she cheered loudly at the curtain-call for her beloved bro on the stage, who indeed, had danced magnificently. Probably

all the better for his Mum who had made the big trip over with her daughter just to see him dance, something she did regularly it turned out.

The ballet was just so damned good I would like everyone to see it so I am putting it on FaceBook as we speak, to see if friends in Christchurch might be able to go. It is doing a tour of both islands just for a few days each stop. They are such hard workers these dancers. Bev told me that the boy sitting in front of her was the injured dancer who was replaced by a female  for the Men's Suite, the only girl onstage, doing everything the men did, lifts and all. She happened to be an Aussie too, so we were well represented on stage. She had stepped in at the last minute to do a role she had not prepared for, and had rehearsed only one day and did it perfection. What a trooper!

Kiwi in foreign gaol for being silly...

Dave Armstrong writes for a new flag...

A great ballet company

Interesting article about prevalence of child homicide being four to six times higher in NZ..I thought the reporting was high in this area, and it is true.

Great Irish result!

Conchita from Vienna rules the waves in Eurovision, is she the the future of Pop music?

Ireland's new law and Jack Body's Memorial

Sunday yawns with a promise of blue skies and no wind, bliss! And it is a day where the first news is good news, that is, Ireland has vehemently decided in favour of legalising gay marriage, something which I had secretly predicted.

I was in Dublin three years ago and such a cosmopolitan happy city I had rarely seen. It is very akin to Wellington I have now discovered, after two years in this wonderful town. Naturally it is just a little more cosmopolitan, but the spirit is the same. Young, carefree, and 'can-do', these are the great similarities of these two cities. Of course the Irish vibe is alive and well in Wellie, and the chance to follow NZ's sensible  and only sane decision to legalise same sex marriages was a no-brainer, it had to happen. And now it has, and I think to the great shame of its larger patronising partners Great Britain and Australia. So a big congratulations to the Republic of Ireland. Poor Northern Ireland, whatever will happen there, England's neglected step-daughter. 

This tiny green isle has had such a turbulent history because of religious wars one wonders how anyone can countenance having religion play a role in politics, ever!

Four happy customers leaving Memphis

Jon Stevens regretting a few things.....poor Kiwi rock star, in refuge in Sydney, but at Point Piper with Jodhi Meares, not a good recipe I'm afraid!

An endemic problem in NZ, silence about mistakes..

My dream stay in Wellie - at the Museum Art hotel

Sunny day, blues skies for Jack Body's Memorial

After a rare Sunday coffee at the very busy Memphis, I am off to St Andrew's, again, but this time for a Memorial Funeral service for the late and great composer and teacher, Jack Body. I want to get there early to secure a good seat as I know it is going to be very full and also a musical spectacle to remember. Jack apparently was a stickler to have organised his wake to the last detail.

And then on to St Jame's Theatre to see the excellent NZ Ballet dance a set of ballets in commemoration of the World War One saga. Called  'Salute', it should be good and I hope the seats have good vision, not behind a pole! J. has organised some seats for all her friends so I will be with a bunch of mad balletomanes.

Well, the ballets were superb, really world class productions and most enjoyable indeed. Abigail, Matt's girlfriend, was impeccable, as they all were, and the variety and contrast of the four short pieces were a delight to behold. I moved seats at half time to be closer and my neighbour happened to be a Sydney woman, mother of one of male dancers, John Hull. Interestingly he had begun his career at the tender age of six, with Sydney Dance Company when I was working with them in 'Poppy', one of the many great successes of Graeme and Janet and one I knew very well. It's a small world!

So it was an excellent and exciting night of top creativity and yet another Salute to New Zealand Ballet!

And now to the Memorial Concert for Jack Body, a great artist whom I saw once only at the Michael Fowler Centre when he was already in an advanced state of ill health, with cancer.

The church was full and the program written by Jack himself, so it was naturally representative of his favourite and best work. The Indonesian Gamelans featured strongly as Jack had introduced them to 

New Zealand in the eighties. A String Quartet also played, and two wonderful female singers sang beautifully. It was ninety minutes dedicated to Jack, who, himself, had dedicated his whole life to his many adoring students. It was a fitting Valé to Jack Body, and we all then went for a reception with delicious 'kai' in the adjoining room.

I knew a few people, friends of J, and I stayed just long enough for a chat but also I had the pleasure of meeting Yono, Jack's Indonesian partner of forty years. He was a delightful gentle man.

Jack Body's Memorial...one to remember!

Busy Saturday 'dans le Sud'

I am having a full cultural day today after a disappointing visit to the Mediterranean Cafe in Newtown. They don't know how to make coffee there I have decided, and today I told them so, but probably the barista will never learn, if he can't already do it now.

So I have come to Vic Uni where there is a semi-French play, Le Sud, which was recommended by B at the Thursday's meeting.. I finally find the venue and and have rashly, probably, a second try at a coffee...because this time it will be a good one, and I will be paying for it, awake at one a.m. tomorrow morning.

Now for the play! See below...

Tomorrow's ballet 'Salute' at St James

The perils of the Kiwi bush, a lost tramper, again...

Strong letter supporting trans ops.....and to get qualified surgeons here to do them. There is a waiting list of up to 24 years! Is that fair to our brothers and sisters born in the wrong sex? 

A book I would love to read, neurologist and renowned social observer Oliver Sacks, finds love at 77!Sacks has written a second autobiography practically on his death-bed, with cancer, where he relates that after a life of oppression and depression, much of it caused by a disapproving mother, he finds a lover in California at age 77. There is hope yet!

Best foreign movie of year, by far!More below..

A good barista at Vic Uni...

...and an excellent local comedy!

Well you can never say there is nothing to do in Wellington, esp. for an old codger like me...

Last night at my favourite cinema, the Cuba Lighthouse (best hot chocolates ever!) I saw what was voted as Best Foreign Movie and I can totally endorse that decision. It was incredibly funny, even blacker than Almovodar, who with his brother, co-produced this absolute gem from Argentina.

They were six short stories of revenge, all superbly acted, directed and filmed, and I laughed out loud often, which is very rare for me. It was a real introduction in a multi-facted fashion to today's life in Argentina, where modern Buenos Aires strutted its stuff, for better or for worse, certainly showing some not very easy parts of its lifestyle, although with such a Latin panache it made you forgive everything. It was indeed a fabulous introduction to this most advanced of Latin countries, and it is obvious why the famed and super talented Almovodar brothers lent their names and energy to this superb bunch of short black comedies. A Five Star movie and a must-see for any cinema tragic like myself.

Which brings me to today's great, locally written and acted, production at Victoria University called 'Le Sud'. A student effort, created by the French Society, ironically showed just how cool and talented this group of young people are. Written by Dave Armstrong, directed by Brett Reid, it showcased the talent of six actors, many of whom spoke fluent and good French. It was a smart political satire positing the situation of New Zealand being owned and governed by the 'invading' two nations, Britain and France, with the French governing the South island, Le Sud,  which had superior natural resources, or did so in this story, and the North, owned by the inept Pakeha in tow with the Maori. In funny twists it very accurately rendered the present political climate of a co-party government, and satirised the French and Maori stereotypes while at the same time sending up the less than brilliant contribution of the Pakeha British element.  It was quite a romp with the audience in stitches and I am sure it will be recorded in the annals of the VUW French Society as one of their great 'succès d'estime'. 

Félicitations to VUW!

A last Post Script to Saturday was a visit to the short but sweet concert by my former choir The Glamaphones. They sang a medley of film songs and were much appreciated by a near full-house. It made me miss my singing in a choir and when I return to OZ that is high on my list of 'to do's.

At the movies..