Absolutely chuffed with his loaf

"I almost don't want to eat it...just look at it. *Pat Pat*
But I am going to eat it"

Winter warm fuzzies

If winter is getting a bit to much and you need something extra special to lift you day check out the lovely toys on offer at www.badanimals.co.nz
My friend Amy has been toiling away the winter months making sweet things for little and big kids alike. Each is handmade, born in Wellington and uniquely one of a kind.
Not only are they ridiculously adorable they are incredibly afforable.
I want the Yeti!

New World Metro embraces the diversification of marriage

That's right folks. You saw it here first. Click on the image for more detail. New World Metro now provides

-straight bride and groom
-lesbian bride and bride - matching tux
-gay groom and groom- again matching tux
-dancing bride and groom
-mini dancing bride and groom
-lone bride - ouch
-ethnic bride and groom - sari included
-funky gay groom and groom - zany tie and balding provided

For all your wedding needs, New World metro is the place...unless you are an ethnic gay couple. Hideous background cake included.

Looking to the week ahead

MUM is coming to Wellington for the second time this Sat! With a reputation for being epic/awesome/amazing/incredible- you better be there.

With Bang Bang Eche, Over the Atlantic, Tommy Ill, DJ's and more...It's gonna be real sweet me thinks

IGNORANCE IS BLISS

After days of being stuck inside, curled up next to the heater and constantly sipping on hot tea - I've decided enough is enough. My fantasies of warm weather, soaking up the sun and jumping in the sea - are driving me crazy
Sadly however my 'solution' is not to buy a ticket to Fiji

I've decided that my next day off will be spent at the closest swimming/gym establishment near to me

There I intend on spending THE WHOLE DAY jumping from the sauna to the spa, to the sunbed, to the pool - and to do this over and over and over again. Mostly the sun bedding part. (I know right? How tacky.)

But if I can't get the real thing, maybe I'll fake it

Because I am in SERIOUS need of summer, and some Vitamin D!

There are some issues I struggle to comprehend.  No matter how many people I ask, articles I read, or bulletins I watch, I'm consistently left confused and asking- why? Zimbabwe and just exactly what kind of leader President Mugabe is ( or has become) is one of these. 

For my entire life Mugabe's face has been popping up at 6 o'clock, and stories of injustice, starvation, accounts of heroism, bloodshed and hate ( not to mention the 'D' word) have filled my head with all kinds of conclusions. 

So I decided to rent out this FABULOUS DOCUMENTARY which I recommend you all go and see. ( I've only seen it at the Library so far, but it may be lurking in stores.) It provides a first hand account of those still willing to speak out and traces a short, but very complex history of Mugabe's reign. 

At 85, and after 25 ( or so) years in power, it's high time he steps down, but as the film makes all to clear, for as long as he can - Mugabe will rule. I'm still a bit hazy, but a few of my H,W,W,W and W's have been answered.

Because of the immense danger journalists or anyone daring to speak out will face, those who appeared on the film were forced either to go into exile - or be punished by Mugabe's supporters. 

Shocking, disturbing, heart wrenching ( the list goes on) I implore anyone with an interest to go rent this DVD. 

Desperate times call for desperate measures!

Falling behind on rent? Need an extra dollar or two? Well here's the solution for you! Go supermarket shopping and seek out deformed fruit and vegetables. Come up with 'kooky' names....and sell!

For example: 'The Man Orange' as recently listed on Trade Me.

Starting bids sit at $1, but just watch this baby soar!

So long Dash Snow, you were wonderful

Joining the infamous 27 club...

The god of Tap Guitar

Andy McKee can play guitar better than you.



I, on the other hand, am almost this good.

THE THERMALS DO IT DIY...

I've always had a kind of dubious relationship with The Thermals in the sense that I've hated to love them. They come from a totally pop punk perspective, which generally I HATE, but their lyrics and musicianship belies the simplicity of their overt pop songs. Anyway, was awesome to discover them hanging in a cemetary playing acoustically; gave weight to both Hutch Harris' ability and my appreciation for them. Check it out on the below, and for more info check out their record label Kill Rock Stars' website HERE 

Episode #8.1: The Thermals - "Now We Can See" from Off The Beaten Tracks on Vimeo.

Get ready for FRIDAY

The International Film Festival is about to begin!


You can download a Wellington Screening Schedule HERE

Yus!

A call for change...

So a friend of mine recently got back from a super short stint in the States, jet setting from Coast to Coast, and returning with a wad of culture shock stories in tow. Among the myriad of Venice Beach “it is actually what it looks like in the movies – there are people totally pumping iron on the shore and groups of ‘sex kittens’ parading bikini bodies on roller skates down the promenade" – and Disneyland – they went during off season so they could go on every ride and it was Amazing – stories, we finally settled into tales from the more culturally sound area of Brooklyn, New York.

Spending the majority of his trip in this particular burrough he divulged the type of social culture they uphold, in relation to music and partying and general community atmosphere, which ended up partially explaining why this area has recently become a mecca for creative pursuits.

It basically boiled down to the simple but often overlooked nuance of supporting ones friends rather than supporting ones party at all costs. So Brooklanders would pay cover charges, arrive before the bands played, and consistently turn out to nights that were more organically community focused chill out times.

Don’t get me wrong (or him – he was actually there after all) on the nights they party, they party – think free pouring shots when mixing drinks and cocktails (read: uber strong and dangerous) but they are also consistently supportive of almost every event taking place.

Anyway, this friend came back super morose. Wellington is the same size as Brooklyn – the Cuba Street and surrounding areas anyway – and yet the only time people go out is after midnight on a Wednesday, Friday or Saturday, refusing to pay cover charge, missing bands, and generally just being obnoxious drunks.

Coincidentally, a couple of friends (Scott Nicolson from Radioactive, and Gemma Syme of The Kitchen Sink and Radioactive) and myself had jump-started the idea of hangin’ around in Wellington with The Listening Post.

OK, so it's an idea that's been kicking round in Auckland as The Eavesdrop, but it's so perfect, we had to copy! Particularly in the time of blogs and MP3’s and record labels folding and record stores closing down, the ‘real’ side of music has sort of been lost; you know, actually spending time with the physical album, looking at the artwork, listening to great songs in a social environment and discussing them.

PLUS, board games. Brilliant. So we hold it on the last Thursday of every month at The Watusi, and from this month on there, along with the board games and great music, will be a Happy Hour of some description from 9-10p.m, to coax punters from their semi-warm flats into the cold. And all on a Thursday night to ease you into the more salubrious weekend pursuits. If you’re in Wellington come along, we will totally make it worth your while and you might just learn something!

You can check out previous Run Lists at www.thekitchensink.co.nz

Written by CJS

Picking up that paintbrush...

My art teacher told my mother in sixth form that I could, and I quote, 'paint a pretty picture, but had no good ideas.'

Although I loved painting and was damn well good at it thank you Mrs you-know-who-you-are, I soon quit and never really touched a brush again (well, not with any confidence anyway.)

This experience now baffles me. Who has any 'great ideas' at 16? Who was she to determine my future/potential? Who cares anyway - it's 6th form right!?

It's funny how children are encouraged to think about 'what they're 'good' at' or 'what they'll be successful doing'...or, and is often the case, 'what will earn a lot of money.'

'It's pursuing things you enjoy that make your life worth living' they should tell you.

'Who cares if your crap, you think your alright and that's OK' they should consider.

'You'll probably become an accountant anyway, but damn it'd be cool if you could paint pictures for Xmas' they should contemplate.

Because, as my guiding philosophy states:

TONIGHT!!!

Tagline: 'The Worst Bands in NZ - all in one night!"

No not really, but you all know that....right?

At Watusi ( that's 6 Edward Street) i'd say around 10.

Woohoo 

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