Hot stuff

Here I am in Leicester, England, yes England.  It's been ages since I have had time to blog, so busy have I been planning. My epic European and Scandinavian adventure has only just started and will see me traipsing all over the north of England, London, Amsterdam ,Helsinki , Sweden and Denmark.  I am fortunate to be sponsored for the trip but also carry the weight of expectation and the guilt of getting to leave broken Christchurch for some relief.  It is a luxury many cant afford.

I am currently hanging out at Louisa and Guy's and we are just home from the matinee session of Hot Stuff, a very British grown up panto kinda thing with Ceri Dupree, drag Queen extraordinaire and what a hoot it was. Funny being in someone else's culture and observing their ways of responding and enjoying a show.  I realised the music was 'their' music as Split Enz is ours.  Although world famous, the music has special importance to the people it belongs too. Very fun.

Sola Rosa - Dux Live

My new favourite band. And I love them so much. Took my friend Anne along to see them and she was a Sola Rosa virgin but totally rocked it out. This photo is an all rights reserved Sola Rosa owned so don't use it. My first gig and the new Dux Live and it was fantastic. It is all about the music and the dancing. It is small and funky with no airs or graces. If this is what we can do after an earthquake I say bring it on. My fear of big new and boring is being dispelled but I am still a bit wary. Can't wait to go back, it reminds me of the fun we used to have in the olden days.

Don't stop me now

A few moments into the 'One night with Queen' performance I thought "I wish I had seen Freddie live', however by the end of the night I was rocking it out with everyone else.  And what a diverse crowd that 'everyone' was.  There were really old people...could have been 80, maybe...and they weren't old rockers just old people in old people clothes.  So that tells you several things
1.  Old people still rock it out in their heads...bodes well for aging
2.  Old people like seeing nice young men who do impressions.

Whatever the motivation was for the 70 year span of ages to be there, it was a fun and exciting night.  I took Nic and it was his first rock concert.  Very cute watching him get the hang of it.  Ear plugs were mandatory.  The cutest thing he said was 'are you allowed to sing along?' I said 'yeah mate, it's a rock concert, anything goes'.  Later I asked him why he asked that question and he said that it was 'Freddie's' performance and it might be rude to sing at the same time.  How cute!  I guess that is because he sings in a choir and it is a totally different gig.

Finally, you have to admire a guy (Gary Mullins) who wanted to be Freddy and made it happen.  10 years he has been doing this show.  Nice one.

Rita and Douglas

Imagine sitting down to a play (of sorts) featuring Michael Houstoun playing Douglas Lilburn and Jennifer Ward-Lealand playing Rita Angus....for $20!!  I would pay $120, but such is the joy of the Christchurch Arts Festival this year.  With no venues left untouched this years shows are only at the weekends and are being hosted in school halls and auditoriums and temporary spaces erected especially for the festival.  There are two distinct advantages to this.  ONE, the tickets are sooo cheap and TWO, those of us who are dying a slow death through cultural deprivation can afford, and have time, to go to fantastic shows and start our hearts beating again.

The intensity and skill in last nights show was palpable and even the giant fuck off earthquake in the middle didn't even register on their faces as we all gasped and grasped. The images projected on the screen included those stunning paintings which we gasped at times as well as photos of the artists and their world.  Delicious.   Both Jennifer and Michael were masterful in their craft and it was a brilliant 80 minutes. At the end it was tears all round and the loudest applause ever.  If you have a chance to see this you must.  I think it would be amazing for anyone not just starving Christchurch people.

why I love my son

Having spent a blissful Saturday morning in the mall and library with the boy I had a chance to reflect on how much and why I love him to bits...

• he loves clothes shopping and has a keen sense of style  (even though I think the real attraction is the locking mechanism on the change room door)
• he takes great interest in anything I am trying to buy, lipstick, clothes, shoes etc
• he asks great questions -' if a raisin wasn't a grape would it be a fruit?'
• in the middle of contemplative moments he offers to share his skills in counting ...'do you want me to count in doubles?'
• he sets little tests for me-with flash cards - 'how do you say hello in Maori to more than 3 people?'  with a little set of flash cards with stick figures on them.
• he sings like an angel
• of all the things he could have had for his morning tea at the mall today, he chose seaweed salad
• he still holds my hand when we are out and about...

...and so it goes on.  It is important for me to remember this on the not so great moments.

Other fun things I did today included shopping.  I haven't had the time or energy to do that much lately so today was pretty epic.  Although I went out to get boots for me and didn't get any I still ended up with great booty

• two pairs of pants for Nic from Pumpkin Patch...on sale
• lipstick, mascara and hand cream using beauty club vouchers (and some cash)
• two cds from Borders - REM (which it turns out we have - obviously a keen favorite), and kd lang
• a smiggle postcard pad
• fabric, lining, shoulder pads, thread and a pattern to make a winter coat.  Wow.  The last thing I sewed that wasn't a straight line was my bridesmaid dress for Karen's wedding
• and groceries to make a picnic for our trip to the snow tomorrow. 

I am not even going to look at the bank account.  No good can come of that.

Play

I know I have mentioned it before but again, being at home is such fun and I have so much more energy.  I have had a lovely week off with Nic.

We had a bus ride adventure retrieving the keys from Jonty who had them at work so we could go about our business.  Went to 'How to train your dragon' - in 2D.  Special request from Nic, and a very good choice I believe...the 2D that is.  No need for more, it was perfect just the way it was.  Great film, based on a book by Cressida Cowell.

Spent a superb morning in the McLeans Island park mountain biking with Ruth, Olivia and Ben which was such fun.  Did the groceries.  A rare treat and frankly one that should be limited considering the hammering I gave the bank account.

On Thursday night I went out for dinner and then on to the Carole King and James Taylor Troubadour reunion tour.  It was a work related outing and a great mix up of fun people.  Such a good night.  Dinner was at Edesia.  Stunning food, service a bit slow and prices special occasion level.

The concert was amazing.  real musicians and performers doing what they love.  Lots of wrinkles on stage (and in the audience).  I have always enjoyed Carole's music but probably didnt think much about her.  She was a fantastic performer with amazing energy and mana.  James Taylor was adorable and soooo funny.  Talented to the max with the voice of an angel.  It is great to enjoy music in a bubble and not be distracted.  I should do that more often.

In all a stunning week off work (although I did have to do a half day on Friday).  I love my boy even more than ever having had a week of hanging out.  He is such a cutie.

Kid stuff

We are just home from a lovely garden party at school.  Nic is in the school choir.  The voices of angels.  Gorgeous.  And the weather was fantastic.  Still and warm.  I managed to get a photo on my phone which doesnt really capture the loveliness but you can see the wee one in the front there warbling away.

I have a dream

I recently attended the funeral of a friend who died of cancer one day before her 47th birthday. We went to see Mamma Mia! film to help Julie fund raise for treatment in Australia last August. Today I am listening to the soundtrack from the film and the last track is the song Julie chose for her funeral. It is achingly sad in that context but also a really simple and beautiful message for all who knew her, a kind of reassurance that she will be alright wherever she has ended up. Click below and enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-Gdyuz57M0

Something I thought about at the funeral when her brother who I hadn't seen for about 15 years said 'wow I didn't expect you to see you here' in a very lovely way, was that although you might not see some friends for years for lots of reasons, it doesn't mean that they are not always your friends and that will always care about them.

Yes, I am getting through my Sunday list but am slightly distracted, in a nice way.

Musical notes

I know this is a total cliche of a title but there you go. Sunday was the day that Nic had been practicing for for many days and the first time I had felt nervous in a very long time. Nic was part of his music teacher's students recital. As the newest and possibly youngest of the performers, he was up pretty early in the piece and he did a great performance. Like most of the children he made a little mistake in his first piece but settled in for the second and third and did a fantastic job.

Julie was suitably excited to have her students playing on a brand new Steinway grand piano...worth more than our house...no toilet though. Anyway, 'The Music Centre' needed people to run the piano in so was happy to rent the piano to our little group. All of the children played beautifully with each on being more accomplished than the one before. It was a lovely experience and I was so proud of Nic getting up on stage and performing, although obviously excruciatingly embarrassed and nervous, he did so well. Jonty took some pictures but in deference to his son, he didn't use the flash so they are fuzzy.