Mrs W sent me a excited text this morning - "Kate will not be saying she "obeys""
Part of me suspects even the women who say they wil obey have their fingers crossed behind their backs!
Thursday, 28 April 2011
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
Whisky Tasting
I sat there last night drinking fine whisky (well to be honest I didnt enjoy the first 3 or 4 but as the quality went up so did my love of the amber liquid
Feeling remarkably robust this morning all things consdiered!
But I didnt really get to taste any of the peaty undertones or hint of chocolate that the host talked about
Am I just an uneducated yob?
Feeling remarkably robust this morning all things consdiered!
But I didnt really get to taste any of the peaty undertones or hint of chocolate that the host talked about
Am I just an uneducated yob?
Tuesday, 26 April 2011
Royal Wedding
I tried to avoid it................ apparently there is a wedding going on (Friday, UK, Saturday NZ). Unlike the anarchists (better dead than wed) I dont wish the soon to be married couple any hurt, harm or humiliation, but I do question the madness that is going on around the wedding. My invite got lost in the post so it is probably sour grapes - I am sure I was due to sit somewhere near Elton and David - hopefully behind rather than in front of (I am very tall and Elton quite weeny I believe so he would be able to see anything if he was behind me)
Anyway, much love and happiness to K & W, and next time you get married make sure my invite arrives early (and Lily Allen's as well)
Anyway, much love and happiness to K & W, and next time you get married make sure my invite arrives early (and Lily Allen's as well)
Tuesday, 19 April 2011
Turn Left Rule or is it Turn Right?
The sooner it goes the better!
A couple of times in recent days I have nearly been collected by it
First time was when I was turning left and a guy was making an illegal right turn - I turned in to have him nearly take me with him. Secondly, I was turning right and a guy was indicating left (but guess what he actually wanted to go strainght on)
The sooner it goes the better!
It is holding NZ back in the dark ages methinks
A couple of times in recent days I have nearly been collected by it
First time was when I was turning left and a guy was making an illegal right turn - I turned in to have him nearly take me with him. Secondly, I was turning right and a guy was indicating left (but guess what he actually wanted to go strainght on)
The sooner it goes the better!
It is holding NZ back in the dark ages methinks
Happy Birthday Mum!
Another example of today being tomorrow
Happy Birthday Mum. I have said it before, and I will say it again - the distance from friends and whanau is the greatest difficulty about being half a world away.
And then M & S say they cant deliver the gift voucher I had ordered this side of Christmas - shame on them (it is Easter actually, but no one said I cannot be dramatic in my little corner of the cyberworld)
So, although she won't be reading this I would like to say I wish my Mum many happy returns of the day. she is an amazing woman in so many respects
Happy Birthday Mum. I have said it before, and I will say it again - the distance from friends and whanau is the greatest difficulty about being half a world away.
And then M & S say they cant deliver the gift voucher I had ordered this side of Christmas - shame on them (it is Easter actually, but no one said I cannot be dramatic in my little corner of the cyberworld)
So, although she won't be reading this I would like to say I wish my Mum many happy returns of the day. she is an amazing woman in so many respects
Monday, 18 April 2011
We can be heroes just for one day
I posed the question a few days ago about whether it is a good or bad thing to meet ones heroes.
Simply put from my experience the answer is "maybe" Ringo Starr was rude and grumpy, Paul McCartney was polite but unwilling to give me an autograph (at first!). The Beatles were and always will be the ultimate band in my opinion. I wish I had been there to see them at the time. I miss George and John like you wouldnt believe! So it was a thrill to see Sir Richie and Sir Paul in the flesh but I wish the experience with Ringo had left a better taste in my mouth - after all I had purchased every one of his solo albums and there was some uncomfortable listening in amongst that lot!
What is that line "I have suffered for my art and now it is your turn". Anyway, they are both welcome to pop in for a cup of tea and a slice of cake the next time they are passing
Simply put from my experience the answer is "maybe" Ringo Starr was rude and grumpy, Paul McCartney was polite but unwilling to give me an autograph (at first!). The Beatles were and always will be the ultimate band in my opinion. I wish I had been there to see them at the time. I miss George and John like you wouldnt believe! So it was a thrill to see Sir Richie and Sir Paul in the flesh but I wish the experience with Ringo had left a better taste in my mouth - after all I had purchased every one of his solo albums and there was some uncomfortable listening in amongst that lot!
What is that line "I have suffered for my art and now it is your turn". Anyway, they are both welcome to pop in for a cup of tea and a slice of cake the next time they are passing
Sunday, 17 April 2011
Happy Anniiversary
Who said it wouldnt last? Obviously the pair of us, your parents, my parents and all of our friends and families. Oh and I nearly forgot the marriage celebrant (who could forget her?) You marrying someone other than me as she got my name wrong (consistently) and "the angels of love" from my reading being turned into "the angles of love" from her typo (I quite like to imagine the angles of love though)
Anyway, we made it thru 2 happy years!
Anyway, we made it thru 2 happy years!
Thought from the Weekend.
Watched a classical choral piece at the weekend that our fabulous neighbour Scotty was in - he was great, the choir was wonderful. the solo singers looked particualarly bored, the orchestra seemed very good (not knowing a lot about the classical music world I will defer to others - but they seemed good and I didnt hear anything too off key)
Anyway, the point I wanted to ponder was all to do with the conductor.
At the part of the first movement when he started fiddling with his trousers that seemed to be slipping it didnt seem to make any difference to what the band played. Indeed, other than the choir few people on stage were evening looking at him.
So what difference does he make on stage?
Would it all have been as good without him?
Answers on a postcard please to the usual address.
PS the gig was a bit too long, the Town Hall was too hot and the seats were bloody terrible.
Anyway, the point I wanted to ponder was all to do with the conductor.
At the part of the first movement when he started fiddling with his trousers that seemed to be slipping it didnt seem to make any difference to what the band played. Indeed, other than the choir few people on stage were evening looking at him.
So what difference does he make on stage?
Would it all have been as good without him?
Answers on a postcard please to the usual address.
PS the gig was a bit too long, the Town Hall was too hot and the seats were bloody terrible.
Thursday, 14 April 2011
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
Possibly last thing on fashion
Slowly getting over the excitement of last week
Just wanted to say that the majority of people involved were lovely - hardworking, not too far up themselves or the like. So a lot of what you might suspect of the fashionistas is a long way off the mark.
Thank you to everyone who was so good and wonderfully kind. Thanks especially to the good folk who took pity on the poor befuddled English guy who spent the majority of the week doing damage to his liver!
Just wanted to say that the majority of people involved were lovely - hardworking, not too far up themselves or the like. So a lot of what you might suspect of the fashionistas is a long way off the mark.
Thank you to everyone who was so good and wonderfully kind. Thanks especially to the good folk who took pity on the poor befuddled English guy who spent the majority of the week doing damage to his liver!
Tuesday, 12 April 2011
People sometimes amaze me
Imagine the scene - some megastar comes to town - say his name is Sir Paul for want of another name.
I phone him up and say I want 25 tickets, he says "sure" reserves them and then pays for them on my behalf (he is good like that)
On the day of the gig I decide I am too busy to go. The day after he phones to say "where were you?" and I say that "I was rearranging my sock drawer and I also realised I dont have 24 other friends either"
He has paid for 25 tickets as well as the hassle associated with doing the work on my behalf. Yet I feel that as I havent gone to the gig that I shouldnt have to pay............ This has happened to me several times recently and again I am not sure if it is a Kiwi thing or not.
If you tell me you want a ticket - I go and get those tickets and pay for them (or reserve them and ensure someone else does not have the opportunity to go, or indeed we reduce the ability of a band or individual to get paid)
Do not make sloth, illness or clashing events my issue - I have been on the wrong side of the deal (as has Mrs W) a number of times recently, and I am not inclined to get involved again
Also, why does no one recognise the cost of buying tickets incurs booking fees and when people (sometimes!) reimburse me it is always for the ticket price rather than the actual price I have paid on their behalf?
Rant over - apologies!
I phone him up and say I want 25 tickets, he says "sure" reserves them and then pays for them on my behalf (he is good like that)
On the day of the gig I decide I am too busy to go. The day after he phones to say "where were you?" and I say that "I was rearranging my sock drawer and I also realised I dont have 24 other friends either"
He has paid for 25 tickets as well as the hassle associated with doing the work on my behalf. Yet I feel that as I havent gone to the gig that I shouldnt have to pay............ This has happened to me several times recently and again I am not sure if it is a Kiwi thing or not.
If you tell me you want a ticket - I go and get those tickets and pay for them (or reserve them and ensure someone else does not have the opportunity to go, or indeed we reduce the ability of a band or individual to get paid)
Do not make sloth, illness or clashing events my issue - I have been on the wrong side of the deal (as has Mrs W) a number of times recently, and I am not inclined to get involved again
Also, why does no one recognise the cost of buying tickets incurs booking fees and when people (sometimes!) reimburse me it is always for the ticket price rather than the actual price I have paid on their behalf?
Rant over - apologies!
Tall Poppies
NZ is a funny place - this whole thing about "Tall Poppies" probably a bit like the UK - "Too big for their boots" kind of thing. But it can be quite nasty - evidenced by people having a bit of a go at Mrs W over the last week and her and the team's amazing efforts on the Fashion week stuff.
In the midst of various events various people (many of them in senior positions and who should have known better) feel free to divest themselves of their opinions to her when it was neither the time nor the place.
Maybe they think that she has a thicker skin than she actually does, or that the event (and her) are now too successful and that they need to take her down a peg or 2.
Anyway, dear reader, it is one of the lesser attractive elements of NZ life. Can we not just celebrate success and enjoy it? Everyone is entitled to an opinion but with that comes a certain amount of responsility to use that ability wisely (and kindly).
Mrs W does a lot of service for free - Fashion, Advisory Boards etc. It would seem a crying shame if people like her stop doing this stuff gratis simply because of others who should listen more and speak less, or even stop pointing the finger (because if you are pointing a finger then usually 3 are pointing back at you!)
Rant over, but it is only because I care!
In the midst of various events various people (many of them in senior positions and who should have known better) feel free to divest themselves of their opinions to her when it was neither the time nor the place.
Maybe they think that she has a thicker skin than she actually does, or that the event (and her) are now too successful and that they need to take her down a peg or 2.
Anyway, dear reader, it is one of the lesser attractive elements of NZ life. Can we not just celebrate success and enjoy it? Everyone is entitled to an opinion but with that comes a certain amount of responsility to use that ability wisely (and kindly).
Mrs W does a lot of service for free - Fashion, Advisory Boards etc. It would seem a crying shame if people like her stop doing this stuff gratis simply because of others who should listen more and speak less, or even stop pointing the finger (because if you are pointing a finger then usually 3 are pointing back at you!)
Rant over, but it is only because I care!
Monday, 11 April 2011
Happy Birthday James!
Another one of those things where today is today was tomorrow, could be yesterday (as George Harrison was articulated in a much better and tuneful manner) Note to self - get the proper lyric
So the "Little Fella" turned 15 today or tomorrow or yesterday
Miss him, love him and very proud of him.
Dad
X
So the "Little Fella" turned 15 today or tomorrow or yesterday
Miss him, love him and very proud of him.
Dad
X
It's nice to be important.......................
But as my dear old mother says - it is more important to be nice
Of course "Nice" is one of those words that polarises people - Miss Kirby (my wonderful English teacher at school) would highlight in very red ink any attempt to use "nice" in essays etc. Of course she was incredibly "nice" she put up with my awful handwriting and tried to help me write better - that was during breaktimes when she also tried to help Dave with his spelling and Philip with trying to enlarge the size of his writing. She was (and probably still is)
She drove a Renault 4 (Brown) called "The Duke of Warwick" (she was a fan of the Bard methinks or maybe it was a local boozer) The number plate was RPO 735 S (is that scary that I can still recall that 30 years on?). Her first name was Ruth (and probably still is), she smoked like a trooper (and probably swore like one as well), I remember so much about her and others such as Mr Martin, Mr and Mrs Waylin, Miss Ockwell, Mrs Lord etc etc etc, and yet I cannot picture her face. I saw some photos of schooldays on Freinds Reunited many years later and there was one tagged as being Miss Kirby (so I guess it must be) but yet it does not ring even the smallest of bells in my memory as being her.
Anyway, back to being "nice" - I had the opportunity to undertake some randome acts of kindness on Saturday night at the fashion show - handing out free bottles of beer - it made me incredibly happy
I love being able to do things like that. I fully subscribe to the idea that random acts of kindness have the opportunity to make someone happier for even the briefest of moments. Try it - you might like it. I get an almost childlike glee in being nice or doing something for somebody.
So, that's nice!
Of course "Nice" is one of those words that polarises people - Miss Kirby (my wonderful English teacher at school) would highlight in very red ink any attempt to use "nice" in essays etc. Of course she was incredibly "nice" she put up with my awful handwriting and tried to help me write better - that was during breaktimes when she also tried to help Dave with his spelling and Philip with trying to enlarge the size of his writing. She was (and probably still is)
She drove a Renault 4 (Brown) called "The Duke of Warwick" (she was a fan of the Bard methinks or maybe it was a local boozer) The number plate was RPO 735 S (is that scary that I can still recall that 30 years on?). Her first name was Ruth (and probably still is), she smoked like a trooper (and probably swore like one as well), I remember so much about her and others such as Mr Martin, Mr and Mrs Waylin, Miss Ockwell, Mrs Lord etc etc etc, and yet I cannot picture her face. I saw some photos of schooldays on Freinds Reunited many years later and there was one tagged as being Miss Kirby (so I guess it must be) but yet it does not ring even the smallest of bells in my memory as being her.
Anyway, back to being "nice" - I had the opportunity to undertake some randome acts of kindness on Saturday night at the fashion show - handing out free bottles of beer - it made me incredibly happy
I love being able to do things like that. I fully subscribe to the idea that random acts of kindness have the opportunity to make someone happier for even the briefest of moments. Try it - you might like it. I get an almost childlike glee in being nice or doing something for somebody.
So, that's nice!
Sunday, 10 April 2011
Bleary Eyes
G'Day
After a week of many functions, pre-functions and domestic dramas we can say goodbye to iD Fashion week here in funny old Dunedin for another year. Some fantastic frocks, lovely designers and an abundance of "grog". My liver thanked me for the alcohol free day (AFD) that I bestowed upon it yesterday!
I will get back into the swing of this over the next couple of days - just as soon as the fur disappears from my teeth, eyes and brain.
Thank you for bearing with me dear reader, and well done Mrs W on another wonderful week
After a week of many functions, pre-functions and domestic dramas we can say goodbye to iD Fashion week here in funny old Dunedin for another year. Some fantastic frocks, lovely designers and an abundance of "grog". My liver thanked me for the alcohol free day (AFD) that I bestowed upon it yesterday!
I will get back into the swing of this over the next couple of days - just as soon as the fur disappears from my teeth, eyes and brain.
Thank you for bearing with me dear reader, and well done Mrs W on another wonderful week
Wednesday, 6 April 2011
Fashion Week In Dunedin
The village of Dunedin is in a frenzy over the annual iD Fashion week
http://www.idfashion.co.nz/
And rightly so - a real buzz around the events. Some much needed colour to an otherwise monochrome existence that most folk choose to wear (any colour you like as long as it is black!)
The only thing that has taken the edge off the week so far was the front page of the ODT yesterday which had some old fat bloke on it (me) and the disagreement I had with Mrs W (see yesterday's blogfest entry)
Anyway, Emerging Designers show tonight which I am greatly looking forward to - as indeed are you (I am sure)
http://www.idfashion.co.nz/
And rightly so - a real buzz around the events. Some much needed colour to an otherwise monochrome existence that most folk choose to wear (any colour you like as long as it is black!)
The only thing that has taken the edge off the week so far was the front page of the ODT yesterday which had some old fat bloke on it (me) and the disagreement I had with Mrs W (see yesterday's blogfest entry)
Anyway, Emerging Designers show tonight which I am greatly looking forward to - as indeed are you (I am sure)
Springtime?
Just as people (whanau) from the Northern Hemisphere are bombarding me with stories of Spring, I sat in my study this morning crafting stuff for you dear reader in the freezing cold. Heatpumps are a wonderful invention, but they cannot banish "frozen to the core" cold.
But I am very pleased that Winter has passed for the folks on the top of the world - they deserve some warmth after what they have been through
But I am very pleased that Winter has passed for the folks on the top of the world - they deserve some warmth after what they have been through
Tuesday, 5 April 2011
Arguments
Arguments with ones partner are interesting things aren't they.......................
Even after all these years I hate arguing - I don't think I am any good at it
But maybe I am not perfect or easy to live with (I know I am not perfect)
Anyway, next post will be a chirpy one!
Even after all these years I hate arguing - I don't think I am any good at it
But maybe I am not perfect or easy to live with (I know I am not perfect)
Anyway, next post will be a chirpy one!
Monday, 4 April 2011
Labour MP
Here in the Land of the Long White Cloud there has been a bit of a kerfuffle surrounding a particular Labour MP who has resigned post an incident involving some sort of hi-jinks. What I hadn't appreciated until this morning was that he was "Chief Whip" for the party. Certainly it sounds like no one should have been surprised about what allegedly followed if his role was anything like his title. How we should mourn the loss of innocence from days of yore when parties involved nothing more dramatic than throwing car keys into a bowl.......................
Thought for the Month - April
Because of this time difference thing I thought my Shakespearian aside would suffice for April but now it is forever stuck in March and I do want to get into the habit of having a thought early on in each month. So carrying on the them of Bill S I would like to pose the question or challenge the statement -
"The Koala Tea of Mersey is not Strained" Well why not?
I now have 3 1/2 weeks to come up with a thought for May
What fun this blogging thing is - and without the danger of offending anyone as I continue in this void of cyber isolation
"The Koala Tea of Mersey is not Strained" Well why not?
I now have 3 1/2 weeks to come up with a thought for May
What fun this blogging thing is - and without the danger of offending anyone as I continue in this void of cyber isolation
Sunday, 3 April 2011
Another Certainty I Once knew
Water disappearing down plug holes - same or different from North to South or on the Equator...............
Why do I worry so much about something like that - the reason is because I no longer know or am no longer certain of something that I knew and was certain
Why do I worry so much about something like that - the reason is because I no longer know or am no longer certain of something that I knew and was certain
Mothers Day
Mothers Day was today/yesterday in the UK and I was wondering why there is a difference in timing
Could have something to do with Spring time and availiabilty of Dafodils at hugely inflated prices
I will defer to you dear reader for your thoughts on that one
Note to Countdown - some UK Mothering Sunday time related cards would be nice for those of us unable to get our act together at the time of the NZ Mothers Day...................
Whilst on the subject of Countdown - how come whenever I go I try to pitch my shopping total somewhere near the limit for the maximum petrol saving on their voucher scheme and yet yesterday (and usually) I managed to get it wrong by over $100!
No booze in that total either - I am thinking it might be cheaper to give up food and just drink beer (it must have most of the major food groups and vitamins in it?)
Could have something to do with Spring time and availiabilty of Dafodils at hugely inflated prices
I will defer to you dear reader for your thoughts on that one
Note to Countdown - some UK Mothering Sunday time related cards would be nice for those of us unable to get our act together at the time of the NZ Mothers Day...................
Whilst on the subject of Countdown - how come whenever I go I try to pitch my shopping total somewhere near the limit for the maximum petrol saving on their voucher scheme and yet yesterday (and usually) I managed to get it wrong by over $100!
No booze in that total either - I am thinking it might be cheaper to give up food and just drink beer (it must have most of the major food groups and vitamins in it?)
Cultural Differences?
So why is it my UK Passport says I am 194 CMS tall but I tell everyone in NZ (when asked, obviously I don't just walk up to strangers and give them personal details) that I am 6 Foot 4 and a bit?
Odd that this country is metric - everything is KMs, KG's etc but that I can go into a Pub/Bar and order a pint (which would appear to vary in volume considerably) can walk along 90 Mile beach (if I was anywhere near it) and ask quite rightly how much a baby weighs when born in Pounds and Ounces?
Funny old world we live in
Odd that this country is metric - everything is KMs, KG's etc but that I can go into a Pub/Bar and order a pint (which would appear to vary in volume considerably) can walk along 90 Mile beach (if I was anywhere near it) and ask quite rightly how much a baby weighs when born in Pounds and Ounces?
Funny old world we live in
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