Last night was 80s night in Auckland.
Spandau Ballet and Tears for Fears at Vector Arena.
Harlem Gospel Choir Michael Jackson Tribute at Auckland Town Hall.
And Vampire Weekend bringing back the spirit of Punk Pop (channelling Talking Heads circa 1977-8) at Bruce Mason Theatre, Takapuna.
A packed theatre was treated first of all to the very promising sounds (including imaginative drumming!) from Dunedin Band Knives at Noon.
But we were all there for the melodic, crisp, energetic and original music of Vampire Weekend.
The detailed, refined orchestrations of their first two albums morphed into a more stripped-down and powerful expression from the fulsome foursome, Ezra Koenig a young man's David Byrne with quirky, droll and engaging intros ("this song lasts less than 2 minutes"), varied vocal delivery and sharp, impressive guitar playing, multi-instrumentalist Rostam Batmanglij effortlessly sequencing and filling all the melodic lines, gangly giant Christopher Thompson squeezing a multitude of rhythmic styles from his drumkit and bassist Chris Baio hopping/dancing/bouncing around the stage like a one-man Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
They held the audience in the palm of their hands, encouraging singalongs to some of the most bizarre lyrics you could possibly string together ("Blake's Got a New Face", "Gotta Get Out of Cape Cod Tonight").
Out of the 3 massive gigs on offer last night, I'm sure I made the right choice!
Vampire Weekend leapt to number one in the American Charts with their second album, Contra.
Whether or not their music provides them with a source of constant, continuing commercial success remains to be seen.
I have no doubt that they will continue to refresh and inspire the ears of today for some time.
10/10.
But the sound mixing for Knives at Noon was rubbish.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Gypsy Rovers
We're at it again!
The chemo twins returned today as the gypsy rovers.
I purchased $5 of "bling" yesterday - gaudy necklaces and a cheap bangle (my nurse today didn't know what bling was...).
Used my viola shawl as a bandanna and Ruth's belly-dancing belt thingie as a neck scarf.
Big "gold" clip-on ear-ring from Andy, and we were away!
Not as terrifying a splash as pirates, more a gentle easing-in.
Serenaded staff and patients in the atrium of the oncology block - wonderful acoustics for solo viola!
The lovely thing was (apart from the joy of playing) the feedback from patients.
I always feel a little self-conscious about playing, where the audience is "captive" - the atrium venue was good because people could keep on walking if they wanted to.
We even got $2!
Loveliest thing was a couple who came back to me when I was lying down again and expressed gratitude for the music, saying they'd wished the bloke had had a similar treat when he was in for chemo.
Next chemo is without Andy, but with my niece Marlene.
What will we wear??
Future ideas include "Robin Hood" and "Batman and Robin".
Please pray/direct positive energy to the following: Jim, an intermediate teacher battling a brain tumour with radiation and drugs - very positive bloke, and Bruce, a friend from WAY back who played with me at a Psalms gig last year and who is undergoing stem cell treatment for ongoing cancer.
It was a surprise to see him there today - still, we keep on keeping on until the need to keep anything is gone...
Also, please pray for John O, who it appears is at the end of all treatment possibilities, and getting ready for the farewell period...
Vampire Weekend tonight!
Hope I don't fall asleep!
G.
The chemo twins returned today as the gypsy rovers.
I purchased $5 of "bling" yesterday - gaudy necklaces and a cheap bangle (my nurse today didn't know what bling was...).
Used my viola shawl as a bandanna and Ruth's belly-dancing belt thingie as a neck scarf.
Big "gold" clip-on ear-ring from Andy, and we were away!
Not as terrifying a splash as pirates, more a gentle easing-in.
Serenaded staff and patients in the atrium of the oncology block - wonderful acoustics for solo viola!
The lovely thing was (apart from the joy of playing) the feedback from patients.
I always feel a little self-conscious about playing, where the audience is "captive" - the atrium venue was good because people could keep on walking if they wanted to.
We even got $2!
Loveliest thing was a couple who came back to me when I was lying down again and expressed gratitude for the music, saying they'd wished the bloke had had a similar treat when he was in for chemo.
Next chemo is without Andy, but with my niece Marlene.
What will we wear??
Future ideas include "Robin Hood" and "Batman and Robin".
Please pray/direct positive energy to the following: Jim, an intermediate teacher battling a brain tumour with radiation and drugs - very positive bloke, and Bruce, a friend from WAY back who played with me at a Psalms gig last year and who is undergoing stem cell treatment for ongoing cancer.
It was a surprise to see him there today - still, we keep on keeping on until the need to keep anything is gone...
Also, please pray for John O, who it appears is at the end of all treatment possibilities, and getting ready for the farewell period...
Vampire Weekend tonight!
Hope I don't fall asleep!
G.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Good News Returns!
Coming up to Chemo 4.
Visited doctor for pre-assessment.
Feeling so much better than last time!
No cramps, no nausea, no diarrhoea, no hair loss, no neuropathy...
Cancer count is DOWN again, to 269 (higher still than at the end of last chemo, but not without hope).
Had a laidback evening, watching Blackadder 4 with Soph (Alex at D-teams and Lois at law test), Rome by myself (too gory and stuff for 13 year olds).
Out for a walk round the block with Lois upon her return.
Just finished reading Sophie's latest blog poems - a treat.
Refreshing ideas, structures and vocab.
CT scan next Tue - bring it on...
G.
Visited doctor for pre-assessment.
Feeling so much better than last time!
No cramps, no nausea, no diarrhoea, no hair loss, no neuropathy...
Cancer count is DOWN again, to 269 (higher still than at the end of last chemo, but not without hope).
Had a laidback evening, watching Blackadder 4 with Soph (Alex at D-teams and Lois at law test), Rome by myself (too gory and stuff for 13 year olds).
Out for a walk round the block with Lois upon her return.
Just finished reading Sophie's latest blog poems - a treat.
Refreshing ideas, structures and vocab.
CT scan next Tue - bring it on...
G.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Whirlwind Starts Here...
6.45am down to blood test.
7.30am into school
8am practise "Good Golly, Miss Tolley!"
Teachteachteach.
Discover Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam coming to NZ 29th June Vector Arena.
Lunchtime call emergency meeting of Supertwelve - reminder of vision/hopes for these temporarily lost musicians...
Teach.
3.30pm Guy Allan Award for Branch Activism presented to Otahuhu College Branch, amidst speeches, laughter, songs, food and wine, etc.
5.30 arrive home - Andy cooks meal and Nola and Aren are guests.
7.30pm Home Group, prayers followed by last 2 chapters of Daniel.
9.30pm return home laden with feijoas - my fave fruit at present.
G'night.
7.30am into school
8am practise "Good Golly, Miss Tolley!"
Teachteachteach.
Discover Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam coming to NZ 29th June Vector Arena.
Lunchtime call emergency meeting of Supertwelve - reminder of vision/hopes for these temporarily lost musicians...
Teach.
3.30pm Guy Allan Award for Branch Activism presented to Otahuhu College Branch, amidst speeches, laughter, songs, food and wine, etc.
5.30 arrive home - Andy cooks meal and Nola and Aren are guests.
7.30pm Home Group, prayers followed by last 2 chapters of Daniel.
9.30pm return home laden with feijoas - my fave fruit at present.
G'night.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
"And How Would Sir Like His Macbeth"?
I am currently listening to some gorgeous music - Macbeth the opera, by Verdi.
Instead of 3 witches he has about 30!, divided into 3 groups of 10.
The fact that I'm enjoying this format of the story so much has prompted me to think about the merits of one format versus another.
Shakespeare's original has immortal language in it, and, if properly produced and performed, takes us into the deep, dark places of the psyche that Hitchcock had to use other stories to do.
However, Polanski chose to do a movie version, and I remember seeing this as a secondary student and thinking how cool all the gory, bloody bits were.
Then there was the physical theatre version Kerry L produced at O.C. a few years ago, reducing the story to a 20 minute stretch, but still packing it with dramatic force and pathos.
Verdi's opera, as do all effective operas, transfers every sentence, every gesture into music, transcending words and guiding the listener's psyche in a way that good soundtracks do in movies - this is the strength, and also the silliness of opera - it is one thing to suspend one's disbelief for the sake of a good play - we know it's not real, but we become enthralled by the conviction of the actors, the realism of set - but to go to the extreme of thinking that warriors, tyrants, witches and ghosts SING as they conduct their business - well, that's just toooo much, innit?
I say no - I love opera, love writing it, listening to it, performing it, AND I love the play, AND the movie - one is not better than the other (though I do thoroughly recommend the book version of Jesus Christ Superstar if you haven't yet tried it!).
So, I'm not going to choose a definitive version - in fact, if I get some time, I may even write a set of songs based on Macbeth (rock on, Macduff - wasn't he in ACDC??)...
Perhaps there's a Game Boy or Playstation version of it?
In the meantime, those adorable witches are calling me back - guess they put a spell on me!
BTW, Macbeth is probably one opera where the leading lady is required to be anything BUT sweet, beautiful, fulsome, etc.
And of course in the original play, her role would have been played by a MAN.
Viva Verdi!
Instead of 3 witches he has about 30!, divided into 3 groups of 10.
The fact that I'm enjoying this format of the story so much has prompted me to think about the merits of one format versus another.
Shakespeare's original has immortal language in it, and, if properly produced and performed, takes us into the deep, dark places of the psyche that Hitchcock had to use other stories to do.
However, Polanski chose to do a movie version, and I remember seeing this as a secondary student and thinking how cool all the gory, bloody bits were.
Then there was the physical theatre version Kerry L produced at O.C. a few years ago, reducing the story to a 20 minute stretch, but still packing it with dramatic force and pathos.
Verdi's opera, as do all effective operas, transfers every sentence, every gesture into music, transcending words and guiding the listener's psyche in a way that good soundtracks do in movies - this is the strength, and also the silliness of opera - it is one thing to suspend one's disbelief for the sake of a good play - we know it's not real, but we become enthralled by the conviction of the actors, the realism of set - but to go to the extreme of thinking that warriors, tyrants, witches and ghosts SING as they conduct their business - well, that's just toooo much, innit?
I say no - I love opera, love writing it, listening to it, performing it, AND I love the play, AND the movie - one is not better than the other (though I do thoroughly recommend the book version of Jesus Christ Superstar if you haven't yet tried it!).
So, I'm not going to choose a definitive version - in fact, if I get some time, I may even write a set of songs based on Macbeth (rock on, Macduff - wasn't he in ACDC??)...
Perhaps there's a Game Boy or Playstation version of it?
In the meantime, those adorable witches are calling me back - guess they put a spell on me!
BTW, Macbeth is probably one opera where the leading lady is required to be anything BUT sweet, beautiful, fulsome, etc.
And of course in the original play, her role would have been played by a MAN.
Viva Verdi!
BLOG 450 - Happy 100th Birthday, Doris Baxter!
Grandma Baxter turned 100 last Monday.
Today we attended an afternoon tea in her honour.
Many, many Baxters and Baxter-associates (people like me) were there.
As is the case with most of these things, the numbers were huge and there was a great noise of family and friend catch-ups going on.
Thankfully, being the shy and retiring person that I am, it was possible to have a pleasant and stress-free arvo simply catching up with Lois's immediate family (she has 6 siblings, 5 of whom were there this afternoon).
Yesterday I attended a rugby match!
VERY out-of-character for me, I know, but you only live once, life is short, and...it was the O.C. First XV v Auckland Grammar 1st XV.
A very enjoyable time (great when you only have to watch and shout occasionally!), lovely weather, and I ate my first feijoas for a lonnng time as I watched our lads battle with one of the most reputable teams in the country (a bit of disrepute last year of course).
Also good to bump into Janice G again!
Watched 2 very good films on DVD yesterday ..."Big Fish" (Tim Burton) and "Closer" (Mike Nichols).
"Big Fish" has amongst many other qualities, a beautiful ending, and "Closer" features a tight, intense script and outstanding performances from Clive Owen (what else has he done?), Jude Law, Julia Roberts and Natalie Portman - this one not suitable for children.
Stuff Coming Up - Chemo 4 this Thu - we are planning on being gypsies!
Van Morrison Celebration at O.C. Wed 5 May 7pm (exact venue to be confirmed).
Sat, May 22nd (God willing, etc.) MRBC, 7pm - "Dark Glasses".
Over and out!
Today we attended an afternoon tea in her honour.
Many, many Baxters and Baxter-associates (people like me) were there.
As is the case with most of these things, the numbers were huge and there was a great noise of family and friend catch-ups going on.
Thankfully, being the shy and retiring person that I am, it was possible to have a pleasant and stress-free arvo simply catching up with Lois's immediate family (she has 6 siblings, 5 of whom were there this afternoon).
Yesterday I attended a rugby match!
VERY out-of-character for me, I know, but you only live once, life is short, and...it was the O.C. First XV v Auckland Grammar 1st XV.
A very enjoyable time (great when you only have to watch and shout occasionally!), lovely weather, and I ate my first feijoas for a lonnng time as I watched our lads battle with one of the most reputable teams in the country (a bit of disrepute last year of course).
Also good to bump into Janice G again!
Watched 2 very good films on DVD yesterday ..."Big Fish" (Tim Burton) and "Closer" (Mike Nichols).
"Big Fish" has amongst many other qualities, a beautiful ending, and "Closer" features a tight, intense script and outstanding performances from Clive Owen (what else has he done?), Jude Law, Julia Roberts and Natalie Portman - this one not suitable for children.
Stuff Coming Up - Chemo 4 this Thu - we are planning on being gypsies!
Van Morrison Celebration at O.C. Wed 5 May 7pm (exact venue to be confirmed).
Sat, May 22nd (God willing, etc.) MRBC, 7pm - "Dark Glasses".
Over and out!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
My Top Five Movie Directors
1. Stanley Kubrick
2. Steven Spielberg
3. Ridley Scott
4. Francis Ford Coppola
5. Woody Allen
2. Steven Spielberg
3. Ridley Scott
4. Francis Ford Coppola
5. Woody Allen
My Top Five Operas
1. Madame Butterfly
2. La Boheme
3. Rigoletto
4. La Traviata
5. The Barber of Seville
whoops - forgot Mozart and Bizet - oh well....
2. La Boheme
3. Rigoletto
4. La Traviata
5. The Barber of Seville
whoops - forgot Mozart and Bizet - oh well....
My Top Five Jazz Performers
1. Jan Garbarek
2. Louis Armstrong
3. Ella Fitzgerald
4. Duke Ellington
5. Tito Puente
2. Louis Armstrong
3. Ella Fitzgerald
4. Duke Ellington
5. Tito Puente
My Top Five Scenes in "Boy"
Without giving too much away...
1. Boy's opening speech.
2. The finale
3. Melting copper door handles
4. Digging up the paddock
5. The penultimate scene
1. Boy's opening speech.
2. The finale
3. Melting copper door handles
4. Digging up the paddock
5. The penultimate scene
My Top Five Strangest Animals
What makes an animal strange??
1. Dugong
2. Wombat
3. Praying Mantis
4. Weta
5. Komodo Dragon
and yes there are many more out there.
All weird and wonderful in their own way.
1. Dugong
2. Wombat
3. Praying Mantis
4. Weta
5. Komodo Dragon
and yes there are many more out there.
All weird and wonderful in their own way.
Hat Trick
3 good days in a row.
Surviving well.
No cramps yet.
Extremely minimal finger tingling (neuropathy).
Good practices with kids.
Things running smoothly.
2 rooms vacuumed in the afternoon!
Have just watched "The Visitor" - a beautiful film with great performances.
Sophie cooked a lovely macaroni cheese.
One step/day at a time.
Surviving well.
No cramps yet.
Extremely minimal finger tingling (neuropathy).
Good practices with kids.
Things running smoothly.
2 rooms vacuumed in the afternoon!
Have just watched "The Visitor" - a beautiful film with great performances.
Sophie cooked a lovely macaroni cheese.
One step/day at a time.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
My Top Five Van Morrison Songs
...for now!
1. Listen to the Lion
2. You Don't Pull No Punches But You Don't Push the River
3. Into the Mystic
4. Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile)
5. Days Like This
1. Listen to the Lion
2. You Don't Pull No Punches But You Don't Push the River
3. Into the Mystic
4. Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile)
5. Days Like This
My Top Five Beatles Songs
oh dear...
hear we go!
1. Here Comes The Sun.
2. Strawberry Fields Forever
3. I Am The Walrus
4. Hey Jude
5. A Day in the Life...
...and, yes, there are many more that I absolutely love!
hear we go!
1. Here Comes The Sun.
2. Strawberry Fields Forever
3. I Am The Walrus
4. Hey Jude
5. A Day in the Life...
...and, yes, there are many more that I absolutely love!
My Top Five Beethoven Pieces
1. Symphony No.9 (tho still looking for a GREAT recording - suggestions, please!)
2. Last String Quartet
3. Piano Sonata op.111, in C minor
4. Piano Concerto No.5
5. The Waldstein piano sonata.
Apologies for not putting in all the opus numbers!
2. Last String Quartet
3. Piano Sonata op.111, in C minor
4. Piano Concerto No.5
5. The Waldstein piano sonata.
Apologies for not putting in all the opus numbers!
Monday, April 19, 2010
Back to School!
Always a buzz in the staffroom the first day back.
How were your holidays?
Where did you go?
Who's stuck in Europe?
Then the classes.
Slow to warm up.
A bit like taking your car out of the garage after 2 weeks.
Forget everything we did/learnt last term.
New beginnings.
New opportunities...
And I manage to last the distance!
How were your holidays?
Where did you go?
Who's stuck in Europe?
Then the classes.
Slow to warm up.
A bit like taking your car out of the garage after 2 weeks.
Forget everything we did/learnt last term.
New beginnings.
New opportunities...
And I manage to last the distance!
Sunday, April 18, 2010
My Top Five Clothing Items
1. The jumper Lois knitted when waiting for Alexander to be born.
2. My Polynesian shirts.
3. My violas tie.
4. My black leather boots.
5. My dark green Kathmandu jacket.
2. My Polynesian shirts.
3. My violas tie.
4. My black leather boots.
5. My dark green Kathmandu jacket.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
The Wedding
So, Fred and Pat married today.
Practise, practise, practise.
Pump taken off.
shower (luxurious) then into church.
Practice, rest, wedding.
Good, simple, warm, beautiful wedding.
Home.
Lie on sofa.
Off to reception at St Francis friary.
Home before pudding - watch 2 compelling dvds - Indictment and Rome.
Bed.
Practise, practise, practise.
Pump taken off.
shower (luxurious) then into church.
Practice, rest, wedding.
Good, simple, warm, beautiful wedding.
Home.
Lie on sofa.
Off to reception at St Francis friary.
Home before pudding - watch 2 compelling dvds - Indictment and Rome.
Bed.
Friday, April 16, 2010
My Five Worst Smells
1. Subway
2. Oncology Day Stay
3. Certain Teenagers Who Shall Remain Nameless.....(it's only a phase!)
4. A certain car's air freshener...
5. Shellfish/prawns/etc.
2. Oncology Day Stay
3. Certain Teenagers Who Shall Remain Nameless.....(it's only a phase!)
4. A certain car's air freshener...
5. Shellfish/prawns/etc.
My Top Five Smells
With thanks to Sarah L for the suggestion!
And bearing in mind the Chemo factor...
1. The NZ bush.
2. The NZ beach.
3. A Certain Person's deodorants, etc.
4. Crusty bread rolls.
5. Beeswax candles.
And bearing in mind the Chemo factor...
1. The NZ bush.
2. The NZ beach.
3. A Certain Person's deodorants, etc.
4. Crusty bread rolls.
5. Beeswax candles.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
My Top Five Female "Pop" Acts
1. Sinead O'Connor
2. Kate Bush
3. Joni Mitchell
4. Bjork
5. Ella Fitzgerald
2. Kate Bush
3. Joni Mitchell
4. Bjork
5. Ella Fitzgerald
"Rock'n'Roll Man" (v.s.s. = very short story)
Rock'n'roll man had seen better days.
He had jumped and jived his way through hundreds of dance halls.
He had met and danced with such fabulous young, and then slightly older, and then a few middle aged, women.
Through rock'n'roll he had met his one and only rock'n'roll woman.
Like rock'n'roll, their love would never die.
Though she had.
He watched his teenage children on the dance floor now, lost in a mass of swirling bodies.
Immortal teenagers, for that was the gift of adolescence - fiery, unquestionable, unquenchable immortality.
And he jumped into the frenzy and the flood of rock'n'roll baptism.
And lived.
He had jumped and jived his way through hundreds of dance halls.
He had met and danced with such fabulous young, and then slightly older, and then a few middle aged, women.
Through rock'n'roll he had met his one and only rock'n'roll woman.
Like rock'n'roll, their love would never die.
Though she had.
He watched his teenage children on the dance floor now, lost in a mass of swirling bodies.
Immortal teenagers, for that was the gift of adolescence - fiery, unquestionable, unquenchable immortality.
And he jumped into the frenzy and the flood of rock'n'roll baptism.
And lived.
Heaven? Part 2- Is it?
A question of faith.
I believe God = Creation = Eternal life = Heaven and Hades.
If no belief in divine design etc., no need for Heaven.
From at least the age of 12 my life has been informed by a belief that this world is not all there is.
Beautiful though this world is!
This life!
It is also full of pain, anguish and suffering.
I believe the teaching, claims and life of Jesus.
And that He promised, as He died upon the cross, that the prisoner who recognised his own guilt, and who Jesus was, would be with Him that same day in Paradise.
Please consider the transitory and imperfect nature of this planet and the creation as it now is, and have a think about whether this is "all there is".
Even before following Christ, I came to the conclusion that it isn't....
Love and Peace,
G.
I believe God = Creation = Eternal life = Heaven and Hades.
If no belief in divine design etc., no need for Heaven.
From at least the age of 12 my life has been informed by a belief that this world is not all there is.
Beautiful though this world is!
This life!
It is also full of pain, anguish and suffering.
I believe the teaching, claims and life of Jesus.
And that He promised, as He died upon the cross, that the prisoner who recognised his own guilt, and who Jesus was, would be with Him that same day in Paradise.
Please consider the transitory and imperfect nature of this planet and the creation as it now is, and have a think about whether this is "all there is".
Even before following Christ, I came to the conclusion that it isn't....
Love and Peace,
G.
And So To Bed...
Clearing archives.
Practising songs.
Having infusion.
Trading vinyl.
Watching movie.
Cabin bread.
Ice cream.
Watching DVDs.
Stroking cat.
Feeling all right!
G.
Practising songs.
Having infusion.
Trading vinyl.
Watching movie.
Cabin bread.
Ice cream.
Watching DVDs.
Stroking cat.
Feeling all right!
G.
"Boy" (movie review)
Dir. Taika Waititi.
I was delighted when Alexander stated a preference for seeing this movie over Clash of the Titans.
Hopefully it didn't disappoint him - it was probably at least slightly counter to expectations...
It ran slightly counter to my expectations, for sure, though not in a bad way.
The trailer, and indeed some reviews, lead you to believe that Boy might be a zany comedy, with plenty of belly laughs.
It is not - though there are without doubt some wonderful moments of great humour.
No, this movie is a little more sophisticated than that, and through it run undercurrents of male (lack of) bonding, grief/loss, child neglect and rural violence.
There is, ultimately, hope and...potential!
The young lad who plays Boy, James Rolleston, is outstanding - he has a lot of potential!
Taika Waititi plays the role of Boy's absentee (suddenly turning up) Dad spot on, though I found his character less fully developed than Boy's.
The boy who plays Rocky, Boy's younger brother with "special powers" is also a delight to watch - in fact the quality of juvenile performances is cause for great hope in future NZ dramatic performances.
Soundtrack features original music by the Phoenix Foundation, old NZ songs from the 70s/80s, and a bit of Michael Jackson.
The scenery is stunning - I have a feeling that it would be possible to take a camera out to the East Cape, let it run, come back at the end of the day and find you have a hit movie on your hands.
My one reservation about Boy is that it could do with a bit more editing - the ideas could be a little more streamlined.
Nevertheless, this is a movie NZers will take to their hearts (many have already done so!) - maybe it will travel?
8/10
I was delighted when Alexander stated a preference for seeing this movie over Clash of the Titans.
Hopefully it didn't disappoint him - it was probably at least slightly counter to expectations...
It ran slightly counter to my expectations, for sure, though not in a bad way.
The trailer, and indeed some reviews, lead you to believe that Boy might be a zany comedy, with plenty of belly laughs.
It is not - though there are without doubt some wonderful moments of great humour.
No, this movie is a little more sophisticated than that, and through it run undercurrents of male (lack of) bonding, grief/loss, child neglect and rural violence.
There is, ultimately, hope and...potential!
The young lad who plays Boy, James Rolleston, is outstanding - he has a lot of potential!
Taika Waititi plays the role of Boy's absentee (suddenly turning up) Dad spot on, though I found his character less fully developed than Boy's.
The boy who plays Rocky, Boy's younger brother with "special powers" is also a delight to watch - in fact the quality of juvenile performances is cause for great hope in future NZ dramatic performances.
Soundtrack features original music by the Phoenix Foundation, old NZ songs from the 70s/80s, and a bit of Michael Jackson.
The scenery is stunning - I have a feeling that it would be possible to take a camera out to the East Cape, let it run, come back at the end of the day and find you have a hit movie on your hands.
My one reservation about Boy is that it could do with a bit more editing - the ideas could be a little more streamlined.
Nevertheless, this is a movie NZers will take to their hearts (many have already done so!) - maybe it will travel?
8/10
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
"The Snail" (v. short story)
The snail crawled to the concrete's edge.
He had travelled so far, with such a load on his back!
At the edge, his eyeballs, waving around on the end of his antennae, caught sight of the panoramic Ocean of Green.
He had only heard of this Ocean from friends and family.
And they had only heard about it from strangers returning along the Great Slime Trail.
Now he was here, and he had a decision to make.
Stay on the concrete, or plunge into the Ocean?
The Sun set and rose on his indecision.
"I think I will - "
But we will never know what he decided, because at that point a blackbird flew down, smashed the snail upon the concrete, and enjoyed a nutritious breakfast.
He had travelled so far, with such a load on his back!
At the edge, his eyeballs, waving around on the end of his antennae, caught sight of the panoramic Ocean of Green.
He had only heard of this Ocean from friends and family.
And they had only heard about it from strangers returning along the Great Slime Trail.
Now he was here, and he had a decision to make.
Stay on the concrete, or plunge into the Ocean?
The Sun set and rose on his indecision.
"I think I will - "
But we will never know what he decided, because at that point a blackbird flew down, smashed the snail upon the concrete, and enjoyed a nutritious breakfast.
Thinking About Tribes
Lately I have been thinking about tribes (oh dear - remember the Gumby men off Monty Python? "My Brain Hurts!!")
At the dawn of mankind, we were all tribal.
In the 21st Century, the West (i.e. those of European descent) are "a million miles away" from Tribes (although cf the Yugoslavian Civil War), whereas in Pacific and African cultures, for example, Tribes are still a very big part of social organisation.
In the west (and possibly other places such as Japan?), our movement away from genetic tribes has left a gap in our humanity that seeks some kind of substitute.
These substitute tribes are things such as clubs, societies, churches, sports teams, choirs, companies, unions, etc.
Things that were offered by genetic tribes are offered by these groups now.
Positive Tribe Features:
Extended family
Belonging
Sense of past, present, future, unified
Strong cultural identity
Support
Negative Tribe Features:
Limited Individuality
Negative social inhibition
Hostility to/fear of other tribes
Territorialism
Limited exploration
Well, those are some thoughts to feed back on.
Apologies if it comes across as a lameman (rather than layman} anthropology 101-type exercise!
G.
At the dawn of mankind, we were all tribal.
In the 21st Century, the West (i.e. those of European descent) are "a million miles away" from Tribes (although cf the Yugoslavian Civil War), whereas in Pacific and African cultures, for example, Tribes are still a very big part of social organisation.
In the west (and possibly other places such as Japan?), our movement away from genetic tribes has left a gap in our humanity that seeks some kind of substitute.
These substitute tribes are things such as clubs, societies, churches, sports teams, choirs, companies, unions, etc.
Things that were offered by genetic tribes are offered by these groups now.
Positive Tribe Features:
Extended family
Belonging
Sense of past, present, future, unified
Strong cultural identity
Support
Negative Tribe Features:
Limited Individuality
Negative social inhibition
Hostility to/fear of other tribes
Territorialism
Limited exploration
Well, those are some thoughts to feed back on.
Apologies if it comes across as a lameman (rather than layman} anthropology 101-type exercise!
G.
Heaven? Part 1 - Where Is It?
Introducing a new subseries in which I discuss Heaven.
And do not think I have all or even the definitive answers!
It's just that I've been thinking about it a lot lately!
So, where is it?
Not in any physical place that we can see or reach by physical transport.
It is beyond the world we know.
I love the allegorical imagery in the Narnia and Middle Earth books.
Narnia - thru the wardrobe, and then beyond that!
Middle Earth - in The West...(where the Sun sets...)
In THIS world we are "forced" to visualise Heaven through the use of our imaginations/Faith.
When I say imagination I don't mean that in a derrogatory sense, as in "Oh, you're just making that up!"
Heaven is God's Home, and our ultimate resting place, "whatever that means!"
Next in the Heaven series - "does it exist?"
By the way, if your views are slightly or widely different from mine, PLEASE feel free to post your views in - I will not be offended!
G.
And do not think I have all or even the definitive answers!
It's just that I've been thinking about it a lot lately!
So, where is it?
Not in any physical place that we can see or reach by physical transport.
It is beyond the world we know.
I love the allegorical imagery in the Narnia and Middle Earth books.
Narnia - thru the wardrobe, and then beyond that!
Middle Earth - in The West...(where the Sun sets...)
In THIS world we are "forced" to visualise Heaven through the use of our imaginations/Faith.
When I say imagination I don't mean that in a derrogatory sense, as in "Oh, you're just making that up!"
Heaven is God's Home, and our ultimate resting place, "whatever that means!"
Next in the Heaven series - "does it exist?"
By the way, if your views are slightly or widely different from mine, PLEASE feel free to post your views in - I will not be offended!
G.
Still No Cramps Today
Another good day (last one was....Monday?), thinking specifically about cramps.
The thing I forgot to tell you yesterday was that the doctor was still amazed at the lack of neuropathy!
I told him I have people praying specifically about that - he was impressed.
And don't give up praying for Healing!
Tho, for a guy facing the prospect of a fairly imminent death, I am in a Good Place (not to be confused with The Good Place!)...
Today I had a lovely converation with a friend who counselled me through some very dark stuff a few years ago - Sandy F.
This was lovely because, even though not a counselling session, we are used to talking at a very deep/candid level.
Sandy paints amazing pictures also, whose visual identities stay with me long after the conversation has been forgotten.
Then this afternoon I had a houseful of vW-tribe: Carla, Paul, Hamish, Plonie, Marlene, Esther, Fergus - great stuff!
Plonie is off to San Fran and NYC this Sat for 3 weeks - I am vicariously excited.
After things quietened down, sat on the Sopha with Sophie, watching the Silly Walks episode of Monty Python (which ends with Spiny Norman the Giant Hedgehog looking for Dinsdale Piranha amongst the monumental builings of London - epic stuff!).
Tomorrow, Chemo, Real Groovy and Boy.
Luv,
G.
The thing I forgot to tell you yesterday was that the doctor was still amazed at the lack of neuropathy!
I told him I have people praying specifically about that - he was impressed.
And don't give up praying for Healing!
Tho, for a guy facing the prospect of a fairly imminent death, I am in a Good Place (not to be confused with The Good Place!)...
Today I had a lovely converation with a friend who counselled me through some very dark stuff a few years ago - Sandy F.
This was lovely because, even though not a counselling session, we are used to talking at a very deep/candid level.
Sandy paints amazing pictures also, whose visual identities stay with me long after the conversation has been forgotten.
Then this afternoon I had a houseful of vW-tribe: Carla, Paul, Hamish, Plonie, Marlene, Esther, Fergus - great stuff!
Plonie is off to San Fran and NYC this Sat for 3 weeks - I am vicariously excited.
After things quietened down, sat on the Sopha with Sophie, watching the Silly Walks episode of Monty Python (which ends with Spiny Norman the Giant Hedgehog looking for Dinsdale Piranha amongst the monumental builings of London - epic stuff!).
Tomorrow, Chemo, Real Groovy and Boy.
Luv,
G.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Less = More?
To bed with cramps.
Cramps thru the night.
Cramps upon awakening, etc. etc.
Tonight they seem to have ebbed away.
I am to have my chemo scaled down, in terms of the fluorourocil (the stuff I carry in my pump).
Dr T reckons this will make for a more comfortable ride in future.
Happy Birthday, Alexander!
Now 15.
And with a learner's licence!
A lovely birthday meal cooked by Lois.
And no cramps right now...
Cramps thru the night.
Cramps upon awakening, etc. etc.
Tonight they seem to have ebbed away.
I am to have my chemo scaled down, in terms of the fluorourocil (the stuff I carry in my pump).
Dr T reckons this will make for a more comfortable ride in future.
Happy Birthday, Alexander!
Now 15.
And with a learner's licence!
A lovely birthday meal cooked by Lois.
And no cramps right now...
Sunday, April 11, 2010
My Top Five Mozart Pieces
1. The Magic Flute
2. Don Giovanni
3. Piano Concerto no. 20 in D minor.
4. Requiem Mass
5. Clarinet Concerto.
2. Don Giovanni
3. Piano Concerto no. 20 in D minor.
4. Requiem Mass
5. Clarinet Concerto.
My Top Five Places of Worship
1. Pakiri Beach
2. Holy Trinity Church, Sydenham.
3. Sacre Couer, Paris.
4. St Mark's, Venice (on a quiet day!)
5. Canterbury Cathedral.
NB would like to have said St Peter's Rome, but they wouldn't let us in when we visited, cos Lois wasn't wearing a long skirt...as you know, God is very particular about what women wear to church!
2. Holy Trinity Church, Sydenham.
3. Sacre Couer, Paris.
4. St Mark's, Venice (on a quiet day!)
5. Canterbury Cathedral.
NB would like to have said St Peter's Rome, but they wouldn't let us in when we visited, cos Lois wasn't wearing a long skirt...as you know, God is very particular about what women wear to church!
The Worst Five Places I've Been To...
1. Hotel Tunis, in Sousse, Tunisia.
2. The bedsit in East Finchley, 1987.
3. The B'n'B we stayed at in Dublin.
4. The field in which I attempted to fry sausages in the rain, Waipu.
5. Huntly
2. The bedsit in East Finchley, 1987.
3. The B'n'B we stayed at in Dublin.
4. The field in which I attempted to fry sausages in the rain, Waipu.
5. Huntly
My Top Five CD Shops...
1. Real Groovy
2. JB Hi Fi
3. Marbeck's
....and that's about all that's left in Auckland!
2. JB Hi Fi
3. Marbeck's
....and that's about all that's left in Auckland!
My Top Five Vegetables...
1. Potatoes (but they're not vegetables! oh yes they are! oh no they're not! etc...)
2. Fresh tomatoes
3. Fresh thin green beans
4. Broccoli
5. Courgettes
Ratatouille, hear we come!
2. Fresh tomatoes
3. Fresh thin green beans
4. Broccoli
5. Courgettes
Ratatouille, hear we come!
My Top Five Takeaways...so far....
1. Santoor (best butter chicken!)
2. KFC (...umm...NOT Butter Chicken)
3. Burger King (real burgers still)
4. Wendy's (fun with the "kids")
5. The fish'n'chip shop 'round the corner in Hillsborough Rd by the Drs'...
2. KFC (...umm...NOT Butter Chicken)
3. Burger King (real burgers still)
4. Wendy's (fun with the "kids")
5. The fish'n'chip shop 'round the corner in Hillsborough Rd by the Drs'...
My Top Five Ak Cafes...so far!
1. Orvieto
2. Columbus in Onehunga
3. Ironique
4. Circus Circus
5. The Fridge
2. Columbus in Onehunga
3. Ironique
4. Circus Circus
5. The Fridge
Yet Another Good Day
Breakfast - peanut butter and chocolate hazelnut spread on Lois-made toast!
A lovely time playing viola at church - STILL no neuropathy!!
A lovely service with Fred talking about faith in the resurrection!
Our friend Katherine at church - so good to see her again!
Lunch - bacon and baked beans on Lois-made toast!
Six shirts ironed to the accompaniment of Jacqueline du Pres playing Elgar.
Beautiful weather.
Walk up and around Mt Mangere with Maree (recently returned from Kenya and Sudan, but heading out longterm with Stu on 20 July) and Lois.
NO PAIN!
NO DISCOMFORT!
NO NAUSEA!
NO NEUROPATHY!
NO HAIR LOSS!
NO CRAMPS!
NO DIARRHOEA!
NO WORRIES!!
Hakuna Matata!
Thank You, GOD!
G.
A lovely time playing viola at church - STILL no neuropathy!!
A lovely service with Fred talking about faith in the resurrection!
Our friend Katherine at church - so good to see her again!
Lunch - bacon and baked beans on Lois-made toast!
Six shirts ironed to the accompaniment of Jacqueline du Pres playing Elgar.
Beautiful weather.
Walk up and around Mt Mangere with Maree (recently returned from Kenya and Sudan, but heading out longterm with Stu on 20 July) and Lois.
NO PAIN!
NO DISCOMFORT!
NO NAUSEA!
NO NEUROPATHY!
NO HAIR LOSS!
NO CRAMPS!
NO DIARRHOEA!
NO WORRIES!!
Hakuna Matata!
Thank You, GOD!
G.
"Children of Dune" (book review)
...Frank Herbert, 1976.
I am pretty sure I read ALL the Dune books about 25 years ago - and this one certainly had a familiar ring to it as I walked the deserts of Arrakis and smelt and tasted the cinnamon-fragrant spice known as melange which creates the economic structure of Herbert's imaginary world/galaxy/universe.
In terms of scale, this is a weightier tome than Dune Messiah, its predecessor in the series - it is more akin to the original Dune, both in terms of complexity and scale.
The amazing thing about Herbert's writing is the detail - the world of Arrakis/Dune and its related communities is drawn fully.
And not only the physical world - the thought processes of each and every character who moves through the palace intrigues, set-pieces, duels, battles are clearly and fully explored - so much so that our perception of good guy/bad guy is vulnerable to manipulation and inversion, without things seeming forced.
As with Dune Messiah and Dune, this book has a cinematic quality to it - each chapter becomes a 3D scene (why has nobody operatised this yet? ...hmm...another rainy day project!), with an atmospheric intro, a meaty middle, a twist or two, and a climax.
And the book's climax, when it comes is stunning, horrific and spectacular.
Can't wait to read volume 4! (25 years ago...man, my memory doesn't seem to stretch far these days!)
9/10.
I am pretty sure I read ALL the Dune books about 25 years ago - and this one certainly had a familiar ring to it as I walked the deserts of Arrakis and smelt and tasted the cinnamon-fragrant spice known as melange which creates the economic structure of Herbert's imaginary world/galaxy/universe.
In terms of scale, this is a weightier tome than Dune Messiah, its predecessor in the series - it is more akin to the original Dune, both in terms of complexity and scale.
The amazing thing about Herbert's writing is the detail - the world of Arrakis/Dune and its related communities is drawn fully.
And not only the physical world - the thought processes of each and every character who moves through the palace intrigues, set-pieces, duels, battles are clearly and fully explored - so much so that our perception of good guy/bad guy is vulnerable to manipulation and inversion, without things seeming forced.
As with Dune Messiah and Dune, this book has a cinematic quality to it - each chapter becomes a 3D scene (why has nobody operatised this yet? ...hmm...another rainy day project!), with an atmospheric intro, a meaty middle, a twist or two, and a climax.
And the book's climax, when it comes is stunning, horrific and spectacular.
Can't wait to read volume 4! (25 years ago...man, my memory doesn't seem to stretch far these days!)
9/10.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
My Top Five Comedians
1. Monty Python's Flying Circus
2. Flight of the Conchords
3. Bill Bailey
4. Ricky Gervais
5. The Goons
NB I realise I was cheating a bit, having comedy collectives for 3 of them...
2. Flight of the Conchords
3. Bill Bailey
4. Ricky Gervais
5. The Goons
NB I realise I was cheating a bit, having comedy collectives for 3 of them...
The Day So Far...
Waking up is important!
I mean both actually waking up, AND how one feels when one does.
I felt good, and this has continued.
Andy came over to paint, prepare the stuff for the skip, etc.
We had some fun with a long white box...
Lois and I went to Crazy Heart.
I am in a butter chicken mode/mood, but have been advised by SWMBO that this is not on due to the week's track record - fair enough, I glumly admit.
Apparently 42 years ago Petula Clark touched Harry Belafonte's forearm on American TV...
I began my Top Five lists - hope you enjoy them, but even if you don't you can totally ignore them.
I read somewhere that blokes enjoy lists more than wimmin - is that true?
"High Fidelity" by Nick Hornby has a structure based on lists, which is funny and effective!
G
I mean both actually waking up, AND how one feels when one does.
I felt good, and this has continued.
Andy came over to paint, prepare the stuff for the skip, etc.
We had some fun with a long white box...
Lois and I went to Crazy Heart.
I am in a butter chicken mode/mood, but have been advised by SWMBO that this is not on due to the week's track record - fair enough, I glumly admit.
Apparently 42 years ago Petula Clark touched Harry Belafonte's forearm on American TV...
I began my Top Five lists - hope you enjoy them, but even if you don't you can totally ignore them.
I read somewhere that blokes enjoy lists more than wimmin - is that true?
"High Fidelity" by Nick Hornby has a structure based on lists, which is funny and effective!
G
"Little Creatures" (CD review)
by Talking Heads, 1985.
I love the album artwork on this.
The front cover is in naive/primitive style with cartoon aspects.
The back features the most amazing silky costumes, which I would love to wear!
This is the album after Stop Making Sense, the "groundbreaking" concert movie that Byrne and co released, featuring a huge band.
Musically, it is a reaction to the heavy, heavy electronic stuff they were seduced into by Mr B Eno (some of their best songs!) - the style is one of mature eclecticism, though with Tina and Chris still as the rhythm section (wonder what they're up to now?), there is still a groove to get you on your feet.
Highlights include "And She Was", "Television Man", the title track (country'n'western??) and "Road to Nowhere" (immortalised filmwise in the movie Young at Heart, which is a MUST SEE).
I have to say, the na na na chorus of Television Man is totally irresistable.
One of the special Talking Heads features which TV man explores also is metamorphic structure - a song begins as one thing, but has changed into something different by the end - unique (tho Muse sometimes do this too) (this structuring method is used to a greater extent on their last album, "Naked", and Byrne still uses it when he's not designing funky bike racks).
As many of you know, I have been culling my collection over the last year, and have lost a few Talking Heads albums.
This is not one of them....
9/10.
G.
I love the album artwork on this.
The front cover is in naive/primitive style with cartoon aspects.
The back features the most amazing silky costumes, which I would love to wear!
This is the album after Stop Making Sense, the "groundbreaking" concert movie that Byrne and co released, featuring a huge band.
Musically, it is a reaction to the heavy, heavy electronic stuff they were seduced into by Mr B Eno (some of their best songs!) - the style is one of mature eclecticism, though with Tina and Chris still as the rhythm section (wonder what they're up to now?), there is still a groove to get you on your feet.
Highlights include "And She Was", "Television Man", the title track (country'n'western??) and "Road to Nowhere" (immortalised filmwise in the movie Young at Heart, which is a MUST SEE).
I have to say, the na na na chorus of Television Man is totally irresistable.
One of the special Talking Heads features which TV man explores also is metamorphic structure - a song begins as one thing, but has changed into something different by the end - unique (tho Muse sometimes do this too) (this structuring method is used to a greater extent on their last album, "Naked", and Byrne still uses it when he's not designing funky bike racks).
As many of you know, I have been culling my collection over the last year, and have lost a few Talking Heads albums.
This is not one of them....
9/10.
G.
"Crazy Heart" (movie review)
The prairies....New Mexico, Texas, Arizona.
Small dives (first gig is a bowling alley!).
Jeff Bridges, Robert Duvall...
A gifted singer/songwriter with a growing belly, age and drink problem...
Is this a rerun of Tender Mercies??
No!
Because the soundtrack is wonderful!
Many original songs by T Bone Burnett (who, as well as scoring Cold Mountain, O Brother Where Art Thou? and many others, has worked with Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, etc.), and some gorgeous and thoughtful cover versions.
But, also, Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Secretary) features as THE love interest, and she is vulnerably superb.
Things seem to be heading in a deliciously predictable vein UNTIL the twist, which I will not disclose.
All I will say is that I have found myself in a similar predicament, about 11 years ago.
This will appeal to musoes (esp. fans of AUTHENTIC country, NOT the Shania Twain/Billy Ray Cyrus/Garth Brooks schmaltz, fans of good acting (Jeff Bridges is in top form, as is Mr Duvall, who I last saw 2 nights ago as the Corleones' lawyer), and appreciators of well made anti-Hollywood movies.
9/10.
BTW saw the trailer for "Boy" and was in tears of joy at the end of the 3 minutes - can't wait to catch it soon!
Small dives (first gig is a bowling alley!).
Jeff Bridges, Robert Duvall...
A gifted singer/songwriter with a growing belly, age and drink problem...
Is this a rerun of Tender Mercies??
No!
Because the soundtrack is wonderful!
Many original songs by T Bone Burnett (who, as well as scoring Cold Mountain, O Brother Where Art Thou? and many others, has worked with Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, etc.), and some gorgeous and thoughtful cover versions.
But, also, Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Secretary) features as THE love interest, and she is vulnerably superb.
Things seem to be heading in a deliciously predictable vein UNTIL the twist, which I will not disclose.
All I will say is that I have found myself in a similar predicament, about 11 years ago.
This will appeal to musoes (esp. fans of AUTHENTIC country, NOT the Shania Twain/Billy Ray Cyrus/Garth Brooks schmaltz, fans of good acting (Jeff Bridges is in top form, as is Mr Duvall, who I last saw 2 nights ago as the Corleones' lawyer), and appreciators of well made anti-Hollywood movies.
9/10.
BTW saw the trailer for "Boy" and was in tears of joy at the end of the 3 minutes - can't wait to catch it soon!
My Top Five Horrible Diseases
1. Motor Neurone Disease
2. Multiple Sclerosis
3. Alzheimer's
4. AIDS
5. Necrotising Fasciitis (sp?)
2. Multiple Sclerosis
3. Alzheimer's
4. AIDS
5. Necrotising Fasciitis (sp?)
My Top Five International Leaders (recent, and NOT NZ)
1. Barack Obama
2. Nelson Mandela
3. Gorbachev
4. Chavez
5. Lulu da Silva.
2. Nelson Mandela
3. Gorbachev
4. Chavez
5. Lulu da Silva.
MY Top Five NZ PMs
1. Norman Kirk - cut short too soon!
2. David Lange (1st term)
3. Helen Clark
4. Jack Marshall
5. Keith Holyoake
2. David Lange (1st term)
3. Helen Clark
4. Jack Marshall
5. Keith Holyoake
My Top Five School Teachers (who taught me!)
1. Jim Davies (yr 8 class teacher)
2. Ken Turner (music teacher at sec. school)
3. Elaine Davies (German teacher st sec. school)
4. Alan Churches (English teacher, yr 12, term 1).
5. Dawn Fuller (class teacher, yr 5/6).
2. Ken Turner (music teacher at sec. school)
3. Elaine Davies (German teacher st sec. school)
4. Alan Churches (English teacher, yr 12, term 1).
5. Dawn Fuller (class teacher, yr 5/6).
My Top Five Classical Composers
1. (van) Beethoven
2. Brahms
3. Verdi
4. Bach
5. Puccini
ouch - also a difficult one!!!
2. Brahms
3. Verdi
4. Bach
5. Puccini
ouch - also a difficult one!!!
My Top Five Movies
1. 2001: A Space Odyssey
2. Alien
3. Lord of the Rings - all 3 together!
4. Lawrence of Arabia
5. The Passion of the Christ.
2. Alien
3. Lord of the Rings - all 3 together!
4. Lawrence of Arabia
5. The Passion of the Christ.
My Top Five Dream Locations (that I haven't yet been to!)
1. Antarctica
2. Iguacu Falls
3. Ayers Rock
4. The Forgotten/Lost World
5. Mars
2. Iguacu Falls
3. Ayers Rock
4. The Forgotten/Lost World
5. Mars
My Top Five Bruce Springsteen Songs
Couldn't Resist!
1. Thunder Road
2. Born to Run
3. The River
4. Nothing Man
5. Kitty's Back in Town
1. Thunder Road
2. Born to Run
3. The River
4. Nothing Man
5. Kitty's Back in Town
My Top Five Rock Albums
The first of a guaranteed sporadic occasional series of LISTS!!
1. Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run.
2. Van Morrison - St Dominic's Preview.
3. Bob Marley - Exodus.
4. David Bowie - The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars.
5. The Beatles - Revolver.
phew!
I need to go and lie down now!
G.
1. Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run.
2. Van Morrison - St Dominic's Preview.
3. Bob Marley - Exodus.
4. David Bowie - The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars.
5. The Beatles - Revolver.
phew!
I need to go and lie down now!
G.
Reunited!
No, the title is NOT a reference to Man U's debacle at the hands of Bayern Munich.
I'm talking about the Taumarunui Road Trip.
Left Wed 7.30am, returned about 1pm Fri.
Alone on the road travelling to and thru new spaces!
Pirongia, Whatawhata, Te Kuiti (sheep shearing capital of the world, so they say!), Otorohanga (nice cafe with the current holy grail of Peppermint Slice on offer!) and, the Goal, Taumarunui itself.
Many good times with Chris, Joke and Gemma-good-girl-dog (who gave me a wonderful scalp lick on Thu evening).
Visited the hillside, Whakapapa, the Incline and had introductions to Sir Paul's recent output (really good stuff!) and Vegan cuisine (likewise!).
Best thing was the time spent, the warm love, the humour.
Feeling better overall too, tho cramps invade from time to time.
Temperature very COLD!!!
Love,
G.
I'm talking about the Taumarunui Road Trip.
Left Wed 7.30am, returned about 1pm Fri.
Alone on the road travelling to and thru new spaces!
Pirongia, Whatawhata, Te Kuiti (sheep shearing capital of the world, so they say!), Otorohanga (nice cafe with the current holy grail of Peppermint Slice on offer!) and, the Goal, Taumarunui itself.
Many good times with Chris, Joke and Gemma-good-girl-dog (who gave me a wonderful scalp lick on Thu evening).
Visited the hillside, Whakapapa, the Incline and had introductions to Sir Paul's recent output (really good stuff!) and Vegan cuisine (likewise!).
Best thing was the time spent, the warm love, the humour.
Feeling better overall too, tho cramps invade from time to time.
Temperature very COLD!!!
Love,
G.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Resurrection Sunday
The new body is on its way!
A good service at church.
Fred spoke really well about Jesus raising Jairus's daughtr.
Very emotional.
Music was fun.
Have had a non-vomiting day - yay!
French stick and cabin bread doing well, and Lois cooked a lovely omelet.
Finished watching American Beauty - interesting, disturbing, empty (?)movie.
Needed a lighter touch so switched to classic Rumpole.
Listened to a good dollop of Beethoven and Rolling Stones.
Missing my children!
G.
A good service at church.
Fred spoke really well about Jesus raising Jairus's daughtr.
Very emotional.
Music was fun.
Have had a non-vomiting day - yay!
French stick and cabin bread doing well, and Lois cooked a lovely omelet.
Finished watching American Beauty - interesting, disturbing, empty (?)movie.
Needed a lighter touch so switched to classic Rumpole.
Listened to a good dollop of Beethoven and Rolling Stones.
Missing my children!
G.
"Comet in Moominland" (book review)
by Tove Jansson, 1946.
1946??
Yep, 1946 in Finland, is when and where this book springs from - and from the fertile imagination of Ms Tove Jansson, who is no longer with us.
She wrote several books about the Moomins, a very sweet type of creature with a curvy hippo-like snout and a pot-belly, and all the Moomins' friends and...er...acquaintances.
I was introduced to the Moomins by my sister, Joke - who came across them as a member of the Scandinavian society at Ak university (I also met Pippi Longstocking through this association) - and fell in love with them straight away back in the 70s.
Why?
Direct writing, almost naive, filled with humour and a wonderful observation of human character through fictional/fantastical beings.
Or maybe that's why I like them NOW - back then it was probably more the all-enveloping magical world of the Moomins that appealed.
The books are, then, for children "of all ages" - easy to read, easy to love, sometimes difficult to rationalise!
Oh, and it's about a comet speeding towards Earth.
Here's a quote:
"Moomintroll thought how frightened the Earth must be feeling with that great ball of fire coming nearer and nearer to her. Then he thought about how much he loved everything; the forest and the sea, the rain and the wind, the sunshine, the grass and the moss, and how impossible it would be to live without them all, and this made him feel very, very sad. But after a while he stopped worrying.
"Mamma will know what to do", he said to himself.
9/10.
1946??
Yep, 1946 in Finland, is when and where this book springs from - and from the fertile imagination of Ms Tove Jansson, who is no longer with us.
She wrote several books about the Moomins, a very sweet type of creature with a curvy hippo-like snout and a pot-belly, and all the Moomins' friends and...er...acquaintances.
I was introduced to the Moomins by my sister, Joke - who came across them as a member of the Scandinavian society at Ak university (I also met Pippi Longstocking through this association) - and fell in love with them straight away back in the 70s.
Why?
Direct writing, almost naive, filled with humour and a wonderful observation of human character through fictional/fantastical beings.
Or maybe that's why I like them NOW - back then it was probably more the all-enveloping magical world of the Moomins that appealed.
The books are, then, for children "of all ages" - easy to read, easy to love, sometimes difficult to rationalise!
Oh, and it's about a comet speeding towards Earth.
Here's a quote:
"Moomintroll thought how frightened the Earth must be feeling with that great ball of fire coming nearer and nearer to her. Then he thought about how much he loved everything; the forest and the sea, the rain and the wind, the sunshine, the grass and the moss, and how impossible it would be to live without them all, and this made him feel very, very sad. But after a while he stopped worrying.
"Mamma will know what to do", he said to himself.
9/10.
"Dune Messiah" (book review)
by Frank Herbert, 1969.
This is the second book in the Dune series, an epic series of novels which is phenomenal in scope and detail.
You need to read "Dune" first of course, which paves the way for this second and somewhat slimmer volume.
The novel has a strong cinematic quality to it, with each chapter set in a particular locale and following the thoughts and actions of a few characters.
It builds to an intense and exciting climax.
The internal workings of each character are followed in great detail, and you need to be wide awake to follow the nuances of thought - it's "rich" writing, in the Ballardian sense (or even in the sense of extra mature Gouda cheese!), and extremely satisfying.
So, if you're looking for a good, SLOW read, and you like the genre of sci-fi fantasy, Frank Herbert's your man - just remember to start with "Dune" itself.
9/10.
This is the second book in the Dune series, an epic series of novels which is phenomenal in scope and detail.
You need to read "Dune" first of course, which paves the way for this second and somewhat slimmer volume.
The novel has a strong cinematic quality to it, with each chapter set in a particular locale and following the thoughts and actions of a few characters.
It builds to an intense and exciting climax.
The internal workings of each character are followed in great detail, and you need to be wide awake to follow the nuances of thought - it's "rich" writing, in the Ballardian sense (or even in the sense of extra mature Gouda cheese!), and extremely satisfying.
So, if you're looking for a good, SLOW read, and you like the genre of sci-fi fantasy, Frank Herbert's your man - just remember to start with "Dune" itself.
9/10.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Easter Sat night - what a day!
After coffee, some throwing up back at home.
Lost the scone and the hot chocolate - in retrospect not a wise choice of brek!
Andy over to finish painting new room, and off to select carpet.
Mike and Jenny on our roof further blowing leaves off, then clearing driveway and deck!
Overwhelmed by generosity and goodness of friends - and after the vomiting, starting to actually feel a bit better.
At hospital get a script for longer anti-nausea stuff - odenzatron (or something), and some more panadol.
Stop at Pak'n'Save for french stick and cabin bread - keep it simple!
Watch The Passion of the Christ - as usual, a moving, heartbreaking and beautifully constructed movie - not pleasant viewing at all, but essential (when you're old enough).
Things lighten up in the evening with Crackerjack, a movie about an Australian bowling club, along the lines of The Castle - low key, heartwarming stuff.
Finish off with another 20 minutes of American Beauty.
Daylight saving ends tomorrow - see you then!
G.
Lost the scone and the hot chocolate - in retrospect not a wise choice of brek!
Andy over to finish painting new room, and off to select carpet.
Mike and Jenny on our roof further blowing leaves off, then clearing driveway and deck!
Overwhelmed by generosity and goodness of friends - and after the vomiting, starting to actually feel a bit better.
At hospital get a script for longer anti-nausea stuff - odenzatron (or something), and some more panadol.
Stop at Pak'n'Save for french stick and cabin bread - keep it simple!
Watch The Passion of the Christ - as usual, a moving, heartbreaking and beautifully constructed movie - not pleasant viewing at all, but essential (when you're old enough).
Things lighten up in the evening with Crackerjack, a movie about an Australian bowling club, along the lines of The Castle - low key, heartwarming stuff.
Finish off with another 20 minutes of American Beauty.
Daylight saving ends tomorrow - see you then!
G.
Easter Saturday 2010 brief update
Just a brief update.
A lying around day yesterday.
Virtually no food, tho 3 attempts.
Mike and Jenny round in arvo and had good chuckles.
Watched Man on Wire, an incredible doco about the guy who walked wire between the 2 World Trade Centre buildings.
Feeling better this a.m.
No nausea - yet, and looking forward to disconnection of pump.
Off for a coffee now!
G.
A lying around day yesterday.
Virtually no food, tho 3 attempts.
Mike and Jenny round in arvo and had good chuckles.
Watched Man on Wire, an incredible doco about the guy who walked wire between the 2 World Trade Centre buildings.
Feeling better this a.m.
No nausea - yet, and looking forward to disconnection of pump.
Off for a coffee now!
G.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
"The Road" (movie review)
A lot to live up to, that Cormac McCarthy book (see review, posted earlier).
The good news is that the film delivers on expectations...
It is a meticulously faithful rendition/interpretation, with only a couple of cinematic-licence type add-ons (NOT Hollywoodisms).
The acting is impeccable, with Viggo Mortensen playing an Anti-Aragorn role with great dignity, humanity and vulnerability (though there are at least 3 Aragornisms in the story line!), and young Kodi Smit-McPhee cast superbly in the role of the boy.
Complaints have been heard from some quarters that there is too much flashback - I enjoyed the flashbacks and for me they added powerfully to a sense of loss and farewell to memories.
And the soundtrack!
Assembled by Nick Cave and his Bad Seeds sidekick Warren Ellis, it subtly takes us along the emotional road,using piano, subdued strings, sound effects (whooshing and whispering) and one short section of drums and animated strings underscoring a fast-action scene.
Visually the work is stunning - dead pine forests, echoed by dead telegraph poles, powerful but toxic waterfalls and rivers,brooding thunderclouds and the desolate, grey, zombified Ocean.
This is the team that brought us The Proposition, a bleak Australian western, which I guess I'll be ordering from Fatso soon!
It's not by any stretch of the imagination a "happy" movie - you will need to devote your time to watching it (2 hours, AND read the book FIRST, as with LoTR and Schindler's List/Ark) - and there is no taste of Hollywood in it (yay!), so if you bring an open but sobre sensitivity to it, you will be richly rewarded indeed.
In a sane world, this movie would be highly honoured with movie awards, etc....
10/10.
The good news is that the film delivers on expectations...
It is a meticulously faithful rendition/interpretation, with only a couple of cinematic-licence type add-ons (NOT Hollywoodisms).
The acting is impeccable, with Viggo Mortensen playing an Anti-Aragorn role with great dignity, humanity and vulnerability (though there are at least 3 Aragornisms in the story line!), and young Kodi Smit-McPhee cast superbly in the role of the boy.
Complaints have been heard from some quarters that there is too much flashback - I enjoyed the flashbacks and for me they added powerfully to a sense of loss and farewell to memories.
And the soundtrack!
Assembled by Nick Cave and his Bad Seeds sidekick Warren Ellis, it subtly takes us along the emotional road,using piano, subdued strings, sound effects (whooshing and whispering) and one short section of drums and animated strings underscoring a fast-action scene.
Visually the work is stunning - dead pine forests, echoed by dead telegraph poles, powerful but toxic waterfalls and rivers,brooding thunderclouds and the desolate, grey, zombified Ocean.
This is the team that brought us The Proposition, a bleak Australian western, which I guess I'll be ordering from Fatso soon!
It's not by any stretch of the imagination a "happy" movie - you will need to devote your time to watching it (2 hours, AND read the book FIRST, as with LoTR and Schindler's List/Ark) - and there is no taste of Hollywood in it (yay!), so if you bring an open but sobre sensitivity to it, you will be richly rewarded indeed.
In a sane world, this movie would be highly honoured with movie awards, etc....
10/10.
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