Just finished reading #56

Last Summer - Kylie Ladd

This is the second of her books I have read and it was a page turner.  A simple tale of an Aussie bloke who dies too young and the fall out of his passing.  It really is just about a bunch of friends and their story and how their lives change because of or just because Rory passed away. 

There is no big story and there is no great epiphany but just a cosy story about people you might know or perhaps might be.  I think there are about 9 characters whose story we connect with in alternate chapters.

Set in Melbourne you get that real Aussie warmth and love of life.

 After the Fall I found a bit unsettling but this one was just a nice weekend read.

Library love

Comments like this is why I get out of bed in the morning, even when it is cold or grim outside.  People appreciating what we do, so lyrically, is what librarians live for....

"Dear Art Gallery and Library, I wish to acknowledge and thank you for a recent epiphany about Christchurch. Time was first spent looking at every panel of your "Conversations on a City " . I had a sense of both remembering and despair as I afterwards walked towards the Peterborough Street. The desolation was a reminder of why I've never been able to engage with any city plans, or sketches of the future. Everything seems not right without any hope of a new city. Gothic, NeoGothic, cricket ground,... all do nothing for me. I'm missing something. A 440 kV shock hit me when I saw the mural above the Peterborough Library. This is exactly what I've been missing since Feb '11. Colour, shapes that move from simple mathematical form at the centre through to Pacific forms growing at the margins. I could imagine the ends being joined. This was my first glimpse as to what a new Christchurch could become. Curves, colour and symbols standing out from straight lines of the past. Thanks for making such a strong statement despite not having a gallery or a large library. Art and books once again are vital for me to understand and engage with the complex changes that will be a new Christchurch. "

The art work by Richard Killean is what this customer was refering to...a treasure which we feel privileged to provide a space for

Just finished reading #55

The particular sadness of lemon cake - Aimee Bender

When lovely nine year old Rose eats her birthday cake she is astonished to find that she can taste the emotions of the maker...her mother.  This discovery, although interesting puts Rose into a place she never really becomes comfortable with.  Being able to feel her mother's sadness, her despair and loneliness is a heavy burden on a your girl.  She can also taste the angst of potato growers, can intentify factories all of the country and taste the happiness of one particular chef at a favourite restaurant.  Rose is an intuitive and gorgeous girl and the story of her life unfolds in a slightly sad and wistful way.  Her relationship with her father, brother Joseph and his friend George are all interesting, honest and strangely warm, considering how un-ordinary they all are.  Essentially this is a book of 'fantastic realism' along the lines of Like Water for Chocolate so you have to get with it and go with it to enjoy the story.  It is tightly written and draws you in to Rose's world kindly.  Someone said it was funny but I must have missed that bit .

Make a wish

Routine often punctuates the weekend and I do find that rather stultifying.  So, how lovely it was to spend  breakfast at my folks place with the family celebrating my dad's 78th birthday.  After a morning of fruit, bagels, pancakes, coffee and magazine and newspaper reading  I went out for lunch with 7 gal pals to Under the Red Veranda...a firm favourite with the must have fish of the day...yes there was food envy happening.  Nothing like a bunch of women laughing and enjoying each others company with good food in a nice setting.

Ben eying up the birthday cupcakes

Great having kids who still love candles too

Rainbow candles and cases...cyte

Nic's beach themed 'Best Grandad" card. 

Now home to sit by the fire before heading out to watch the Crusaders beat the Western Force.  Living Saturdays....

Art

Jeepers, you can tell that I have had the day off today with nothing much but thinking to do.  It really is amazing what a little bit of head space can do for your thinking and looking.  I work too hard, far too hard and give far too much of myself to my work.  Yes I do. 

I think I have talked about art before and how desperately I miss the gallery and art since the earthquake.  Almost every time I go to a gallery of any type I just start welling up and feel very peaceful.  YEsterday we popped into the L'Estrange Gallery in Sumner and I just fell into my world.  I just loved it.  The works were gorgeous.  I especially loved this one and exclaimed as much and the painter himself popped out of nowhere and said thanks...cool.  I is very much better up close.The detail in the 'widows' is special.

....as well as Tony Cribb, very funny 'tin man' inventor..funny and good looking.  Lots of his stuff there and I will own one, one day, need to save up as we are still hurting from another recent art purchase

While we are talking about art here is an image of the gorgeous woodcut on embossed paper by Michael Tuffery we bought in January while on holiday in Wanaka.  Put on layby we didn't pick this puppy up until April.  We have it hung low and large above our dining table so we can gaze at it all the time. 

 It is large so looks much better in our house than it does here. 

Just finished reading #54

Me before you - Jojo Moyes

I managed to squeeze Jojo in between Christian and Anastasia (more about them later).  My two besties both recommended this little tear jerker and I am so pleased I read it.  The type is large which is always appealing to me as I have to wear glasses to read these days...bugger.  Anyway, when I saw the big writing I thought how cool, no glasses.  Alas, not to be.  Instead it was just fuzzy big writing.  Back to the story. 

Louisa Clark is a mid 20's woman in a small town in England with a bit of a nothing life.  She has potential but no dreams.  Will on the other hand has dozens of dreams and a great big life behind him.  Sadly he has been made a quadriplegic by an accident and is living in his parents home.  Living is not really how he sees it, going from an action man to a deflated image of what he used to be. 

I don't want to ruin the story as it is too good to do that.  The relationship between Lou and Will is prickly and feisty and full of excellent dialogue.  Lou's family is great too.  I loved this book.  It really is one of those very easy reads that draws you in and envelopes you.  I had to sneak off and read it at every spare moment.  It is a bit of a tissue grabber. 

ho hum

So, I am  a few hours into a day off.  A thing so rare that I have not freaking idea what to do with myself.  My blog has become dull beyond belief and does not at all reflect what I am thinking about most of the time but is just a list of books and movies.  That is because, other than work, life is a little bit on the dull side.  Everything is broken and bumpy and decidedly grey so what loveliness is there to talk about?  Nothing much actually.

Nic is in Nelson having a blast I suspect with the Christchurch boys choir. Having library moles all over the country I heard the boys went down a treat in the library up there...standing ovation no less.

With all the voice coaching and being around dancing and creative people I wonder if Nic will come back changed, more expressive perhaps.  Will be interesting to see how or if he has been influenced.

I am half way through my Diploma in Interior Design but have nothing on the go at the moment but am loving the work and liking my development as a 'designer' .... I use that term very loosely.    For something a bit more interesting I might share some of those ideas in the future.

That's all, back to bills and homemade soup for lunch.

Just finished reading #53

I have been reading up a storm lately but woefully not sharing with you so although this is post number 53 there are others, quickly forgotten books on my giant pile of paper loveliness.  This morning in bed I finidhed

The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides

I am not sure that this a book that you can describe the plot as it is a little bit confusing to explain.  IT issessentially a story about three people with the central character being Madeliene.  ALready this doesnt sound very good so here is someone elses much better description of the book....by the way...LOVED it. Jeffrey is a stunning writer and this is the second book of his I have loved.  He is really really good.

Good Reads review gives you a good overview and accurate summation of the novel.  Read it.

Found in Wellington

I started this post MONTHs ago and have just found it in the drafts....I think we may have done this in April but I am not sure...

It is not often that I go anywhere without my camera and although I know phones take good photos these days, mine doesn't.  So for this post I am relying on some grainy sots from my phone, better ones from Alex's and some web images to visually describe a great day in Wellington.    Going for one day meant one intense stab at a few pre-planned activities PLUS a few found treasures.   Of course it was 28 stonking degrees in Christchurch while we landed in a windy, muggy, grey and wetish Wellington.  It didn't matter  a jot.  I have been to Welly a bit in the past 6 months so for me it was a few revisits to places I love and then we discovered some new treasures.

The Hippopotamus Restaurant is obviously not a big secret to the ladies of Wellington who made up most of the groups in the first floor restaurant at the famous Museum Hotel.  Stepping into a world of French loveliness we managed to get a tiny table by the window after Alex charmed the maitre d into letting us stay.  Yes, we used the earthquake card....unashamed.  It was awesome.

One of my favourite shops in Wellington - Small Acorns

Much Ado

I am so hopeless at blogging these days.  Tired and bereft of anything interesting to say. However, the embarresment of not posting for weeks is enough to propel me in to writing.

For the very first time in ever we managed to get ourselves off to the new Court Theatre on Saturday night.  We do need to get out more.  'Much ado about nothing' is clearly as it describes.  A precursor to every romcom and soap opera ever written.  The acting was great especially Lisa Chappel who did a fantastic Beatrice.  Roy Snow as Benedick was also great.  The rest of the Courts programme for the rest of the year looks pretty stunning so I am going to get myself organised and get a ticket.

Libraries 1, Internet Nil

As a librarian I often find myself arguing against the mighty internet as the font of all knowledge.  Apparently you can find everything you need by typing in questions or statements into a search box.  If you are lucky you might find the answer to a simple question...as most people are quite simple in their information needs, this is probably correct most of the time.  However, when you are a child looking for information that requires thought and research you can come across some utter inane bullshit.  Let's go to this website and find out if the Kiwi (bird) has been introduced to Australia...a recent question in a research project....

http://library.thinkquest.org/5053/Australia/brownkiwi.htm

According to library.thinkquest the answer is they are a bird of Australia...who knew?
Digging a little deeper I find the Oracle Education Foundation has put together this website, pulling in a whole range of websites.  I for one will never believe anything written on the site.  Unverified, wrong, and very available to anyone who beilves the internet knows everything. 

Two sweeties

I love the movies and when I am retired I am going to go to EVERYTHING I want to. I am going to go to cheap sessions and take my own snacks, maybe some carrot sticks and an apple combo or vegemite sandwiches.  In the meantime I get to go to the movies with my lovely friend Alex, usually on a Saturday night and often indulge in a Kapiti ice cream to boot.

For the last two films we have probably been the youngest in the theatre but what the hay.

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen was another book group book that I just couldn't bring myself to read.  To my shame I am often admitting that I do get put off by the cover and the supposed location.  Bad bad bad.  This film was so sweet and quietly funny and I know I have deprived myself of yet another good read.  Ewan McGregor, Dr Alfred is called in to help a rich sheik establish salmon fishing in Yemen, an indulgence but done with a kind heart.  Acting on the Sheik's behalf Emily Blunt - Harriet - has to encourage Fred to get on board with the project.  Their characters are just fantastic.  Both quiet and very proper but quietly funny and compassionate.  Although the inevitable does happen, it is never a done deal and actually not really what you expect.  Kristen Scott Thomas is bloody fantastic and says all the things I would love to say and lives life not giving a toss what anyone thinks or says.  Ruthless and hilarious.  There are lots of lovely government 'in jokes' and pokes at the Englishness of England...all just very very nice.  Beautiful scenery in Scotland and "Yemen' adds another layer of warmth and atmosphere.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel as I am sure everyone already knows is just gorgeous.  Great acting, superb location, a little bit scruffy and just perfect.  Dame Judy as always is a delight to watch, Bill Nighy so himself but just that tiny bit held in, Dame Maggie superb....all of it and all of them were just very very good.  I did have a sense of foreboding thinking about how fucking horrible it is going to be to be old, however, like the characters I soon discovered that age can set you free and that is all there is to it.  It makes me want to go to India more than ever.  Definitely worth seeing. 

Library Love

My love of libraries plus my love of Saturdays.  After an impromptu lunch of Donna Hay French Onion soup

 we popped down to Parklands Library  (not our local) with our friends Karen and Nat.  I have a deep feeling of warmth for this library as it was the first real library building I worked on and had the pleasure of leading the team  for a while.

Although I blanched momentarily at the sight of cake crumbs being walked into 'my' carpet as we entered I was soon distracted by the buzz.  Kids on computers and playing games, all the cafe tables chokka and the coffee machine screaming, lots of people in such a tiny space.  Then I ran into a neighbour from the beach and then a customer who I had served when she was a child at her local library...I was almost a child myself then and watched our children enthusing over books and excitedly running from place to place and it was just gorgeous.

We left with groaning piles of books mags, cds, talking books and even some homework material.  I love that little library and I love Saturdays.

Before I forget

I spent two days in Auckland this week attending the Association of Public Library Managers conference as a guest of my manager.  Holed up in Rydges Hotel on Federal Street for two days with no shopping opportunities or art gallery visits was a bit sad.  However, I did manage to have two delicious meals out so in the spirit of social media and the need to share everything, here are two recommendations for those in the area and looking for tasty treats to warm the winter nights.

Café Hanoi, cnr Commerce & Galway Streets, has been quite rightly featured as  Metro top 50 restaurant.  Very good value for money a well as stunning Vietnamese flavours, fresh and piquant.  I enjoyed a girly catch up with gal pal Karen. 

A very affable and chatty night was spent with 50 other library types at the Wine Chambers in the cute skinny part of the city.  A lovely antedote to the broad brash Queen Street at 33 Shortland Street.  the food was good but could have been great.  Another top 50, I suspect it would be better on a less busy Monday night.  However, no complaints from me.

Daily Pics

Every day as I ride around the city on my bike, to and from work and to meetings I see people taking lots of photos of our damaged buildings as they stand and as they fall.  I have not really done much photo taking and I wondered, with the rapid rate of change, whether I should take a few snaps just to remember because once they are gone you just can't remember what was there.  So, on my way to work the other morning I snapped a few shots from my bike.  

Starting on the corner of Cambridge Tce and Barbados Street....

Beauty still exists.  Note how scruffy the waters edge is in the foreground.  Small things have changed.

Just up the block, an empty section and a sad house.

Across the road, a really good example of the wonky storybook look we are demonstrating in Christchurch east this year.

From Peterborough St looking at the back of the Med Lab South building on Kilmore. 

Colombo looking South from Peterborough...No Metro or Johnson's, Lime Bar or antique shops

The Town Hall through the ruble of the Convention Centre from Peterborough

What is left of the Crown Plaza(Park Royal) where Jonty and I spent the first night of marriage.  Our room is still there. Corner Durham, Victoria and Kilmore.

Cranmer Court, corner of Kilmore and Canmer Square. Love the photo in the window.  A wistful image of what might have come before.

The lovely Environment COurt building on Durham St corner of Armagh.  Not much gets to me in the destruction of the city, I have a very pragmatic view, however, this breaks my heart.  I love this building

Another view of it

Provincial Council building...being lovingly looked after since February 2011

Don't know what this building was but this is a view of Hereford St building from the Stirp, in front of where the Banaglor Polo Club used to be.

Very attractive alley I bike down to get from Cashel to Lichfield which, by the end of the day was cordoned.  One year down the track and this building on the right is obviously coming down or too dangerous to be near.  I always thought it was a place to move through at speed. 

Finally, the very attractive entrance to the warehouse in which I and many of my colleagues have and do work. 

Whitecliffs

Often talked of but I have never been to Whitecliffs before and what a treasured place it is.  With no sea breeze providing the limiting chill, this place was just stunning yesterday.

Camp with the caravan and the massive mobile home. As day trippers, we just had a car and a few deck chairs.

In the caravan drawing pictures and eating chocolate

Cockabully tales

Nic swinging on the rope, not togs so it was an undies undies undies day.

Ben loving the swing, I wonder if his arms are working today as he spent a very long time doing this

Navigating the rapids

Easter '12

My love of Saturdays just never ends, no matter where in the world Saturday is just the best ever day.  Yesterday Saturday did not disappoint with the discovery of new things that just confirm Saturday as the BEST day of the week.   Three things we found...me and Marie-Anne on a moochy afternoon around Christchurch.  After an expected delicious lunch at UTRV (a survivor of the EQ world we live in..)

we then mooched down Colombo Street to The Colombo which is slowly being turned upmarket and interesting.  A mall without being a mall.  Nice work.  Anyway, two new foody additions to the space included Cooper & Co, looked deli delicious to us

 PLUS

 where we also discovered our lovely neighbours about to indulge in macaron loveliness.

 From there we headed towards the famous Christchurch Red ZOne to indulge in a much missed Alice and Videoland adventure.  It was truely lovely to be back in the familiar building, a testament to the over engineering of Post Office buildings.  Thank you for the NZPO.  At least there will be two or three buildings left in the CBD.  I picked up a lovely light French film to spend my solo evening with. 

Tiny Alice sign with soon to be demolished McKenzie and Willis building on Tuam Street.  The 'lanes' are gone....damn it.

 And then the best treasure of the day came in the form of the Dance-o-Mat, another great Gap Filler project in the city.  I am sooo going back there at night to see the glitter ball and get my boys dancing on a demo site in front of the passers by.  How liberating it is to dance like you just don't care who sees you.  It was such fun and so windy.

We found this fantastic family dancing away and so just joined in.

Definitely worth a visit when groups of dancers are booked in.