Californian Lunch

Today is the Queen's Birthday holiday weekend in NZ and everything is closed, so happily I have invited my two, very non-royalist friends, Californian Elanita and Lucas, for lunch. I poached some lemon fish bought fresh yesterday, and I included some steamed broccoli, sprouts (brussel) and also baked some  waxy potatoes and juicy pumpkin to go with it. This with a nice leek and mushroom sauce, made a lovely meal and they were both suitably impressed. I think I was too as it turned out much better than I had thought. I also baked an Italian recipe of gluten free apple pie, served with yoghurt, which was a resounding success. They are soon to return to the US having tried the tough life here and decided the US is sweeter. Lucas is a psychiatrist and would have found it very hard dealing with the system here in NZ. I empathise with their decision. Elanita is a talented health worker/acupuncturist and did great things on my back, so essentially it was a thank-you lunch.

She also told me how to set up a website, which is next on my list of things to do. I now await an email with more details. It is time to teach French and when the new housemate comes it will really be time.

Btw, Michelle a lawyer from Malaysia, is a certain possiblity as she would fit in perfectly. She came by yesterday for a look and said Yes!, but I await the Aussie who comes to look tomorrow.

Btw, I forgot the Queer Film Festival...here are some reviews. 

The first movie, about the internet nerd in NYC and his GoGo dancer boyfriend, was intriguing as it seemed to be nearly a documentary, made by him on his i-phone. It was well done, and actually believeable, and a bit scary for an oldie like me, who keeps well away from internet dating. But it was another audience favourite and I did enjoy it from a few points of view.

 

The Californian Couple....

after a lovely lunch.

Born This Way.....

This was a great documentary about Cameroon and was the second film I saw. It was a moving account of the sexual discrimination existing in many African countries. The film covered a lesbian couple who were hunted out of their village for being just that, and a young man who also had to move house for fear of being bashed, and possibly murdered, for his sexual orientation.

A good human rights lawyer, a woman, had taken up their cause and hopes to get it to the Supreme Court where a change in law might happen and make an enormous difference to many countries in Africa. I felt so much sympathy and sadness for their plight I felt like I needed to go there to support them. But the change must come from within.

I then saw a charming 'coming of age' movie from Brazil, about a blind teenaged boy learning about his sexuality and actually falling in love with a classmate in the face of much mockery from the other straight schoolmates. It was a delightful, happy, life-affirming move, with the parents also coming to believe in their son's ability to survive by himself in this world. It was another crowd favourite.

The opening Gala for the Lesbians I also decided to attend, just because it was there. Yes, I was the only male in a very large female audience. A rather raucus reception was received to this comedy about a 'butch dyke', (their words), and a femme lesbian who wasn't sure of her preferences. Called 'Heterosexual Jill', it was a fun sort of movie, however the lesbians sitting next to me disliked it intensely in spite of the hilarity from the main crowd. They were thinking, I believe, that it was stereotypical, and real life was not ever like that. For me it was a romp and a good laugh, made by usually non-funny Americans who must have had a lot of fun making it. But such is lesbian life, they seem to guard their space very carefully, some of them anyway. 

There are a few more films to go, so I'll keep you posted. I have a busy week ahead of me, in this very film-crazy city.

Jill flirting with her 'girlfriend'

Bella's arrival

Here she is, front, back and side, in all her (non) pristine glory. She's seen a few bumps like her new owner, but she purrs like a kitten and runs like a deer. I am still in a little state of shock as it's a while since I have had a European car, let alone a sports car. So I'm still settling in to the reality, not the dream. But then all life's a dream, isn't it?

The delivery was this morning where I met Chris the Kiwi boyfriend, a very nice ginger haired young man, who proudly  showed men his Aussie 'Heavy Vehicle Driver's' licence. It is still a mark of achievement to have worked a while in Oz. I took some shots around 'Bella', her new name which suites her just fine. Lucy was delighted to have the car off her hands, and into my very willing hands. It took me ten minutes to find out how to lower the windows, but that done,  I feel very, very good. 

I am now in downtown Newtown having a celebratory cup of coffee and am about to do my market shopping for the weekend. Next week I will do the final transfer paper work as I am already insured and all is good.

Side....

Back and front...

At quintessential Newtown's Cafe Baobab, with the very apposite African texting his girlfriend ( he has 'Obey' printed on his T shirt)

Stunned BMW owner, me, having a much needed cafe fix...

Floriditas

Scopa is for hot chocolate as Floridita's is for tea, in this case Japanese and lime, which I am drinking here, accompanied by a beautiful cocoanut meringue and lime tart - complementary and delicious.

It is time to look over the happeninigs of a very long, and productive, in many ways, week. To get straight to the point, I have just emerged from a discussion with Jamie from Ellmers Motor Mowers, where I surrendered my scooter the other day. I wanted to give him my helmet also as it would be my last time using it. We had a nice chat about Karma, he appears to be a born-again Christian, and he invited me for a beer to discuss things. However on replying that I didn't drink, that invitation was somewhat rescinded. His wife also doesn't drink,  he proffered, but he likes one obviously. Anyway he went on to give me the bad news of offering me a tiny return on my scooter, which, of course, I suppose I had expected. I told him I would ring back on Tuesday with my decision, but we both knew it would be a Yes. Scooter chapter - finito!

But back to more momentous subjects, the new Beamer. No delivery today, as Indian Bho was too busy, but Tuesday should be fine. I must remember to source a BMW car cover asap, as the salt air of Evans Bay is not at all propitious to keeping a pristine Beamer. I quickly email Lucy telling her I have transferred her $1k as a deposit, the remainder coming on Tuesday after inspection.

Anyway, Bho was very nice and assured me he would look over the Beamer as long as it came in early on Tuesday, so I have alerted Lucy and friend to this new timing. Now for a Beamer-free weekend ...of movies, and cooking, as I am entertaining to lunch Elanita and hubby Lucas, on Monday, a long promised invitation. So I bought some fresh fish from the Cuba Fish shop and now am having a nice cuppa and cake at Floridita's. It is another Cuba Street delight and one day I will dine here.

My earlier little conversation with Jamie had to happen, as I knew my motor Karma would be involved in this final pay-off. And it is with a smile and resignation that I wipe my slate clean and start again when I take my next motor car on Tuesday, this time to be Karma free.

It will also be a weekend of movies as the the Queer Festival, for me, starts tonight. I'll keep you posted, but last night's 'Ida' was an absolute delight. Filmed in black and white, it's about a postulant nun discovering she had been a stolen Jewish baby, and who decides to give life one chance before returning to her cloistered vows of celibacy. But one was left wondering whether she might be bringing a babe into this convent life inadvertently as a result of one night of love with a talented saxophonist. The film was Polish, sad, and very evocative, and a great reminder of the torture endured by so many Jews during the second world war, and the total displacement of Poland, first under the Germans, and then under the Russians.  It was a lovely movie to go home on. Tonight's will be totally different I can assure you, about a male GoGo dancer and a nerdy male admirer on the internet. What did I tell you!

Lovely serving at Floridita's... 

Fireman Kiwi hero but result of bad health and safety... 

Efficient service in lovely cafe...

Delicious tart!

Before I leave Floridita's I visit their unisex toilets, all very artistically presented and commodious. Speaking with one of the lovely waitresses and smelling a strong scent of garlic on the way back, I discover they do a delicious linguine with clams and garlic, which is for my next visit I immediately decide. I also wonder if I'll come here one day with someone, or continue on my solitary cafe adventure, dining always alone?

A day later...

'Has the euphoria worn off, or has it actually settled into reality? 

Well half and half, as I have made an excellent mechanic contact who will check it over for me at a good price, also be its service provider on delivery. Wellington is solid like that. There are many European car snobs like me, hahaha, so there are also a few mechanics who specialise in them without charging European prices, like my new mechanic called Beau, from Page European. See already I like his name and now I only need to get Lucy to take the car there for a check over, and that may be difficult, but if she wants the money, which is waiting in my bank, she will have to have the check.

So here am I, sipping my favourite hot chocolate at Scopa, recording the progress of the sale. Of course this comes at the same time as my finding a housemate, so there are some major changes afoot in my life, and interestingly on the eve of my 69th birthday. They say be careful what you ask for, and I certainly asked for some action in my life, and it is happening just like that.

Scopa is interesting as always, the man next to me turns out to be a woman, and the boy opposite, a young Kiwi, is practising his excellent Spanish with his South American girl friend. He is quite good too, much better than me! 

The other thing happening at the moment, in these  busy days, is the Queer Film Festival which is shaping up to be fantastic with many excellent South American movies on show. It starts tomorrow with an American movie about finding love on the Internet, quite fitting for today's audiences. The gala opening is tonight, which I will not attend, a twinky movie which is not to my taste. The  other one set in NYC will at least be in familiar surrounds and is an interesting subject.

The man who is a woman..

A rear view...

A fattening hot chocolate, my only indulgence.

The Kiwi speaking Spanish with waiter.

The girls enjoying Scopa

Going into 'The Trip to Italy', with wine tasting.

Coming out of 'Grace of Monaco', excruciating.

Just to finish a very busy day, (the weather has been awful),I am rewarding myself with a Cuba Lighthouse movie, 'Ida', which has a great review. More later.

After Scopa and the hot chocolate, it was time for the Peer Support group, which I find quite fascinating, especiallynow we have a farmer/trans gender in our little circle. Again it was  good, more post-mortems about the Memorial Service, some saying my speech was great, one saying it was too long. You just can't please everyone, but luckily for me he said this as I was about  to invite him for lunch. He is now permanently off my list. No waste of time there. My confidence in others is often destroyed and my nature of ingenuousness continues to exist, in spite of the world being as it is. But I have no regrets, it's how I am, and I am slowly learning  that few people appreciate my obvious simple nature. Or know it. It is, however, a family trait and will stay with me all my life.

Many at the group were excitedly going to the Gala Opening of the Queer Festival, and a free ticket was being offered. Naturally it was taken by my 'critical friend'. So much for him. I am happy to be with real cinema lovers at Cuba. Opening nights attract a certain sort of people, and I am over first nights. I can say this because in a former life I used to go to the opening of an envelope!

Oh, by the way, good news re BMW, the  b.f. Chris is taking it tomorrow for the much needed check over.  The force is with me. I may even take delivery on Saturday.

The BMW

I should start this blog with 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds', as  I am on my way to meet Lucy Liu, not the famous actress on world screens, but a local lassie, who has a car for sale which I may like. She is in Hobson Street right next to the Australian Mission to NZ, which may, or may not, be an omen.

In any case it is a BMW Sports car and not for the faint hearted, that I am about to caress, and hopefully drive. The idea is very attractive, especially as I have given up all expectations of living cheaply in wonderful Wellington. I just need a car for weekends and rainy windy days, and there are a few of those in Wellington.

My adventure with Dmitri from yesterday is still fresh. His car is still very nice, but perhaps it is time to move on from small economical Japanese cars and head for the top end, where I always have been very comfortable in the past. Lucy is asking a nice price, but may even negotiate if we get on well and she really wants to sell her baby. I always have the Suzuki to go back to, so it gives me some lee-wayto  negotiate. 

As I am a little early for the 4 pm rendezvous, I have discovered yet another cafe, this time in the Archives Building which houses the actual Treaty of Waitangi, a bit of a farce these days, but I will come back another day to view it. Also the National Library is around the corner so there is lots to see at this end. Noted for the near future, but today's priority is car hunting. The weather, always a factor in Wellington, is cool and windy, but not raining so I am in good spirits. After the trial run I am off to HU and Scottish Dance, so it is another filled day in this charming city. A decision to buy would be a great bonus and it would be lovely to have wheels for the coming Queen's Birthday long weekend, as everything is cancelled for Monday.

I popped in to BP today to suggest to Ron that next year's Memorial we should have Justice Michael Kirby  as guest speaker. And I would do the liaising and try to get him. We need to start now as he is very busy and possibly already booked out for next year. But it may happen and I would love him to   come. It would of great benefit to the Kiwis and he would have a great time too. So that's  another thing I have to start planning. So much to do,  and the Queer Film Festival starts next week, OMG!

The Archives Cafe

Smiles from the bar..

It's a great place for a relax.

I am now in the warm and leathery foyer of the West Plaza Hotel in Street. The meeting with Lucy was not unlike that with Dmitri. Neither could speak English and neither understood the other.  It was quite strange as I liked the car a lot, we agreed on a price, just two hundred less than she was asking. But I am not  sure if she really understood me. Her boyfriend Chris, who speaks 'Engrish',will ring me on my mobile after five thirty she said, to confirm, but nothing has yet eventuated.

I'll be detached and see what turns out. The only problem seemed to be the oil light was alight on the dashboard and she said she hadn't had time to attend to it. I tried to get her mechanic's address,  she said somewhere off Taranaki St. but she didn't know his name or the name of the shop. However she did explain where he was and I'm quite sure I can find him. It is Wellington after all. 

What a bizarre series of events, leading me to think I am being prepared for some big experience, as both cars seemed excellent, the BMW $400 cheaper but dearer to run of course. But the experience in driving was totally different. This is a nice little dream come true, and next week I will own a BMW Sports Z3. Halleluja!

But first to the HU, and then to dance, trying to forget that it may have been a dream. I'm sure there will be some work to do on the baby, but not  immediately, and I will be using it so little. It will be my 69th birthday present to me. Can you see me sliding into to a low slung silver sports car motoring along the highway? I can.

PS Chris, the boyfriend just rang and said all is understood. He sounded just like a young simple Kiwi boy. I can have the car for $8 grand, with money sent to her a/c as soon as it arrives in my account. Done deal, but first a few phone calls to check on its background, to make sure it is all bona fide - she seems honest and even simple. The first call is to the dealer who sold her the car three years ago. He should give me some info. Then onto the mechanic to question him. If both of these are OK, then all is good. Photos in next blog.

Car buying...

Today is the day I start my seeing some cars. First off the block is the Suzuki at Porirua, with the Russian Dmitri, to discover. Jamie, coming over to pick up my poor scooter, very kindly takes me to the railway station and we have a nice chat on the way. It appears he was a wild young lad as I had formerly guessed. He tells me he'll buy back the scooter - at his price of course, but I just want to forget it.

I arrive at Porirua Station and D, very friendly and smiling, is there, with a nice soft red coloured car in perfect condition. He wants $8.5K and it has only 35,000 kms on the clock. It would be a good buy at $ 8.4 which he offers me, but is it legal? Where are the papers? I'll do an internet check and see what's happening. He is certainly a young Russian entrepreneur, importing cars from Japan and reselling them at a profit. But still it smells a bit, but perhaps I am paranoid he has to make a dollar.

In the meantime Chinese entrepreneur Lucy Liu has come up with an invitation to see her 2001 silver Sports BMW Z3, tomorrow at 4 pm. And it is cheaper at $8.2K. I am a little excited about this, as it would no doubt be legal, but is it a good buy, considering the on-road and repair costs? It has done 113k kms, but that, for a BMW, is not a great deal. I must say, I am sorely tempted, although the Suzuki is really a perfect choice.I have to consider I am only a weekend driver, and this BMW may well be just what I need for a little boost in self-esteem, and comfort to boot. It is just a more expensive car to run, but hey, it's only money!

Can't wait to drive it tomorrow and a lot will depend on how I find the redoubtable Lucy. It will need a full AA check-up before I make  a decision.

Trying out the famous cafe at Wellington Railway Station...

It is very good coffee too.

Kiwi All Black falls down stairs to his death...

...the Dominion Post patronisingly teaches a Maori word each day. Today it is cake...keke!

Pizza al Funghi e prosciutto

Losing my scooter is turning out to be a good thing as I am today ticking off two things to do on  Cuba St.... Cafe Ombra was one, and a pizza at Scopa is the other, so I am hoping it will be an OK experience. Really I  don't think much of house-made pizzas, homemade ones are always better, but I am skipping swimming and I can eat after Te Reo and then go to my first night at the WelMac club. This is my new 'assist-club' for Mac users, and I am hoping to learn something from them. The meeting room is happily right next to my Te Reo Maori class, on Willis St, in St. John's Church, in the Mckenzie Room. I think it will be an interesting experience to say the least. After all, I paid thirty dollars to join them so I should get something back, ay?

Just being in Cuba Street on Monday night is a first anyway, and it is a nice atmosphere. My Irish waitress knows me now from my hot chocolate fetish, and she welcomes me in and puts me at a single table at the back, warm and cosy in this cold night. I have time to blog and consider the changes in my life after a very happening weekend.  I told Ryan, my scooter mate from Te Reo, what had happened, and he was very sympathetic, but having just borrowed a friend's Yamaha motorcycle, he is rearing to go on two wheels, whereas I am rearing to get off them. I left my keys and papers at Ellmer's this afternoon as Jamie wasn't there. No doubt I'll get a call from him tomorrow about my misadventure.

The Maori class tonight was just as confusing as always, and we are missing next week's class with the Queen's  Birthday holiday on Monday. The following week is our third assessment and I hope I don't fail that one as I did the other two, not that one ever fails, but it does become obvious that I have not much of an idea of the language at all.

Monday night at Scopa...

Looking forward to a 'pizza experience'

I forgot to say in an earlier blog that I had an interesting encounter which will have future effects at the Te Papa Memorial. I met a neighbour of my very good friends Linda and Guy in Dargaville, north of Auckland. Nikkie was there commemorating the death of her younger brother Robin, from AIDS in 1990, and we met at the Film Archives and discovered our friends in common. Feeling a bit guilty that I hadn't contacted L and G since my arrival, I have now hopefully remedied that by emailing Linda with my news, and a few details about me she may not have known. Best to disclose early and find out how she is about being positive, as I know she is cool about most things but she did not know about me, nor about that. I await her reply with interest as I will have to visit them one day, perhaps when I buy my next car, the Suzuki?

Eh voila, le Pizza, much better than any I had in Bella Roma I must say. I could only eat half so the rest comes home with me!