Helen Mirren

I am sitting in the foyer of the Cuba Lighthouse opposite a group of young Kiwi ladies in their twenties probably. They are having a lively discussion and look very happy with their 'girls' night out' and it occurs to me, do they need men in their lives? I notice one has an engagement ring so is most likely with a man, but the others seem distinctly single. They laugh a lot, feel good in their skins, and are most probably going to see the same movie as myself, that of Dame Helen Mirren who is one of the most popular pin-ups for today's thinking woman. And now I see they are exchanging books so theyare probably members of a book reading club, a very popular phenomenon these days.

The movie is 'Woman in Gold', the title referring to the very famous Klimt painting which had been stolen from its Austrian owners by the Nazis during the war. Maria Altmann, the character played by Mirren, fled Austria sixty years ago to the US and decided to try and retrieve some of her family's heirlooms, amongst them, this famous painting, actually a portrait of her aunt, Adele Bloch-Bauer. It is a true story which makes it more interesting and the spectacular views of Vienna should be very satisfying as it is high on my wish list to visit that city.

The relevance of Mirren is also that I watched today a most illuminating U-tube interview by Michael Parkinson of a very young Helen Mirren, in her twenties it seemed, and already sporting a wedding ring.

Excellent movie... 

...and two more films to see..

Winter weather at Memphis

Well the snow is falling in the South Island and I caught the bus into town this morning with my neighbour Matt, the bassist with NZSO, who was on his way for a week in Dunedin to play with the their Symphony Orchestra. Matt does a lot of extra gigs to finance his ongoing love, and costs, of renovating his lovely house below ours on Evans Bay Parade. He knows it might be below five degrees but it may go even lower, so he will be warming his hands up.

Outside my bedroom, grey skies

Snow!

Harry to taste Stewart Island

Smokers in the cold at Memphis

Hillary is really the news with her launch to become America's first woman president. They could do a lot worse, especially if the Bush dynasty in the form of Jeb, were her opponent. I would be more than happy to see her win.

This blast of winter today quickly reminds me of how I know Wellington, in winter, and I must say I still have a love for this city in winter, 'cos you do rug up for it, like all the others, and it's not so bitterly cold that you freeze. Wellington's big negative is the icy winds which can blow but, hey, them's the breaks! 

This city still functions far above its fighting weight, offering the residents and visitors so much that their time here could not be busier, whether you like the arts, books, sport, adventure, food and wine, or just the stimulating company of creative people, Wellington has it all.

Monday at Memphis

Well, a visit to Symes Da Silva Dentist shows why I left them in the first place. The absolute dizziest receptionist in the world attended to me who took ages to try and make an appointment with a new dentist. I then changed my mind to say I'll wait for the return of Da Silva himself next week, at least it's the devil you know! The space in my teeth can wait for a week to be filled and then I'll talk about an imminent extraction for its very troublesome neighbour.

So with the dentist out of my mind for a week, I am at the Memphis and reminded yet again why I love this cafe. The music today is cool jazz, for which Wellington is rightfully famous, and the buzz is here even without the presence of the owner Johnny, who is the cafe persona. But he has instilled a good feeling of ownership into Gideon and Paris who are running the place today. I have my 'long versato', always good, and decide to have a cheese scone, just for the heck of it. I'll have a late lunch at home later before picking Ron up for the five pm meeting at the Backbencher bar with the Glamaphones.

The Dom Post gives me the exciting news that my Aussie Rules footy team, the Saints, is playing on Anzac Day at the Westpac Stadium. I cannot miss this game and they are playing Maisie's team, Carlton. This may put-paid to my attending the Scottish Country Ball that night. Anzac weekend is going to be crazy, thank goodness the Monday is taken off for the holiday, as there is also the Dawn Service which I want to attend at the newly renovated Memorial Shrine, also on the Saturday. Three big things in one day might just be too much.

A very pretty blonde model-type arrives at the Memphis to order two coffees for her and her Mum. They are seated outside although it is a cool morning, but they have, not one, but two, small pooches in tow. The staff attentively notices and fetches a plastic container for water for their adored pets. Typical Memphis attention to detail and service. Love this place!

Nick the Saints' captain...yeaa!

Memphis Morning...

...with a hot cheesy scone and jam, yum!

Sunday recovery and movie

Today, yesterday's dancers were supposed to come for brunch at Karaka on the wharf, which happens to be the restaurant of my housemate. There were about ten of us only, not a great number, but small enough to have a nice chat with the Sydney contingent who were all women. I made some good contact numbers for when I return to Sydney in August. It all comes down to 'will I be concentrating all my attention on Gosford', or not, but it may well be the best way to go, otherwise my energies are too spread out as always. Sydney does consume a lot more energy than Wellington.

The brunch at Karaka was nice; I ordered some Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon, and then afterwards did some market shopping before going on to my interview with Gareth at his quaint little home at Mt. Cook, an area which I didn't know too well. Instead of the allocated one and a half hours we spent an extra hour which just disappeared. He didn't seem to mind, and will edit where he wants. It is going on to the Gay Archives site I believe, and so now I am a permanent resident in the cyber-world of New Zealand. It was quite exhausting and I feel I said a lot too much, and now I am glad it is over.

Came home for a rest and to see the housemates before I may catch the French movie, 'Samba', which is on at the Cuba Lighthouse. The weather has turned dirty, windy and a bit wet, but then, hey, I am not a victim of this Wellington weather, so I will go out and enjoy a much awaited movie with the new French star actor, Omar Sy.

And tomorrow is a visit to the dentist, or at least an appointment for a broken filling repair, and then the meeting with the Glamaphones for the Candlelight memorial. It is an important one and is at the famous political Backbencher Bar in Molesworth Street in the region of Parliament House. 

It is a busy star to the week.

Lighthouse crowd...

...not going to see 'Samba'

This quite enjoyable French movie, made by the formulaic couple who had the enormous success with 'The Intouchables', which was a comedy tear-jerker sort of movie about a man in a wheel-chair, is in the same vein - people with problems, treated comedically and with nothing in depth. The star, Omar Sy, is indeed excellent, as is all the supporting cast, especially Tahar Rahim, as his buddy. 

The movie is based on the story of illegal immigrants to France, of which there are many, with the sub-plot woven into the story of the new 'burn-out' syndrome of French workers who have committed their lives totally to work and nothing else. This is the case with the female lead, played by the always good Charlotte Gainsbourg who is now a stalwart of the French cinema scene. However I found this double story a bit clumsy and it didn't add to the thrust of the main theme. 

Naturally it had a love story involved, which was nearly tragic, but in good cop-out Hollywood style it had happy ending, or possibly so. As I feared with their earlier film, it is a little mawkish, sentimentally, and not in the top rung, for me, of French movies. However it will appeal to some. I feel it could have been better, but it did entertain, and make some statement about the dire condition of illegal immigration in France, albeit painted in pastel hues.     Three stars. 

DANSS Competition at Te Whitireia

For a change I have come to Newtown Mediterranean Cafe and I don't know why I don't come more often as it is my sort of cafe. It's quiet and and the coffee is good of course, but there are no newspapers. One was stolen, the Japanese barista tells me, so I have to content myself with the NZ Women's  Weekly with articles about two of my favourite people Barbra Streisand and Graham Norton. Both are hugely successful and have had amazing lives, especiall our Babs, now happily married to Josh Brolin for sixteen years.I love her voice and she is a great actress. Graham's shows are also great  and he gets everyone on them, with his very gay sense of humour.

Am just having a coffee before going to Te Whitireia for the Dance Competition this afternoon/evening. I am competing in tango and waltz - the waltz with Mari is my favourite as she is a good partner, but we are doing it in the Vice-versa segment where she leads and I follow. And as I am a good two feet taller it will be very interesting. We'll see how we go and I am confident we will do well. The tango, on the other hand, with two boys, is not so hot as I don't partner well with them. Strange ay?

The Cafe....

The cover of WW

Inside Barbra...and 

They are now playing Barbra on the radio at the cafe and her voice is really mellow like creamy custard, and strong like steel. I should listen more to her, and I did have a few of her LPs I sold with my whole   collection to the Archivist in Melbourne. C'est la vie, I can always get her on U-tube I suppose.

...Angela Merkel, a fabulous woman

The article about Angela is illuminating too. Nine years my junior, she was born in Hamburg, another favourite city of mine, and she is a great cook and now is the most powerful woman in the world they say, who also makes a fabulous potato soup.

Now on to the DANSS! 

But first I must read Peta Mathias, my all-favourite Kiwi columnist who on interview gives her four ideal dinner guests as

Helen Clark, for her fierce intelligence, Michael Meredith for his niceness and culinary expertise, Maria Callas for her voice, and finally George Clooney, whom everyone would love. Sounds like a good dinner party, especially with Peta at the head of the table!

Below at Te Whitireia

My two male partners warming up...

..and my third, and best partner, Mari, at night's end.

Btw, the evening was a great success and I did not disgrace myself at all. Mari was wonderful!

Friday begins badly...

This is shaping up to be a gigantic weekend so starting it with an upset tummy is not my chosen way to go. Mysterious as to why my stomach is giving me gyp, but I just have to bear down and watch what I eat today.

Potluck lunch at BP was quiet but Steve was there, always a good energy, relating the story of his latest enrolment in a Master's Degree in Counselling from Massey University. I should have asked him how he finances such an expensive post grad degree as I hear they are exorbitant in costs. Anyway, not for me at this stage although I am fascinated by the idea of Family Therapy being resurgent in treatment for psychological ills from which many people suffer, some without realising it.

I am writing this from Cafe Zaida, having a quick decaf hoping to quell my tummy problems, coffee has to be good for something!  I am also waiting for 85 prints to come through at the local Harvey Norman shop. I have decided to bring my hard-copy photo collection up to date somewhat, as my online photos are now numbered in the many thousands. But I have decided there is nothing to replace a hard copy, if only for nostalgic reasons, although the trend is the opposite these days, to put everything on the net, in cyber space, in i-cloud actually, and where that is, I am not totally sure.

Later Satsang and Dance rehearsals for tomorrow's competition, that is if tummy settles down.

AC/DC coming to Wellie

Busy at Memphis

Another Kiwi in the top job at London Guildhall School of Drama

The Zaida family

In the Fifties perhaps

Movies to see

Here are the next two movies I plan to see, soon. 'Samba', the French one with rising star Omar Sy, opened, (or closed) the recent French Festival and I knew it would return on general release. I can't wait to see it. The other, about the famous Klimt painting, staring Helen Mirren, also looks good.

Perhaps next week when the early rush is gone I will catch both of them.

This weekend is absurdly busy, again. I have a dance rehearsal and also a Satsang on Friday night, Saturday is all day and evening at the Danss Competition at Te Whiterea on Vivian Street. On Sunday there is a celebratory brunch for all the dancers at Karaka, (my housemate Fir's restaurant) and straight after Gareth W has booked me for an extended audio interview at his place in Tasman Street. So altogether, I will nary have a moment to recover. Oops, I forgot my market shopping on Saturday morning. Got to keep body and soul together!

'Samba' with Omar Sy

'Lady in Gold' with Helen Mirren