...Van Morrison, released 1974.
Expect a lot more Van Morrison reviews along the way...
I fell in love with this man's music at the age of 10.
My class teacher, Mrs Edwards, who was a strong mentoring presence in my early years, encouraged my songwriting endeavours, and whose house had a cave in its basement (into the heart of Mt Eden), gave me a lift home one time, and had Van's live album "Too Late to Stop Now" playing in her cassette player.
I was struck by the vocal and emotional intensity of the man, not to mention the deft string arrangements of many of the songs (the live album has long been regarded as a milestone in live performance recordings)...in the encores you can almost hear the sweat dripping!
So when Veedon Fleece was released I rushed out and bought the vinyl long-player from Peaches Record Store in Durham Lane, and subsequently thrashed it.
My parents survived (that's what they're paid for!).
The musicians are largely the same band as played on the live album.
Like that other touchstone of truly great pop music, Bob Dylan, Van is often "at the mercy of" his backing musicians - he usually picks the right people to play, and mostly has a superb lieutenant who I am sure makes most of the more detailed musical decisions. In this adventure I'm picking it was Jeff Labes (credited for string and wind arrangements), who does a superb job.
It's Van's voice which is the showcased instrument here, however. And what a rich offering there is for us on this album.
We are treated to blues/gospel stylings (Cul De Sac, Comfort You - a gorgeous love song), an entirely falsetto performance (Who Was That Masked Man), gruff grumbling (Bulbs - the "single") and the inimitable improvisational space travel to be found on the lengthily titled You Don't Pull No Punches, But You Don't Push The River.
YDPNPBYDPTR clocks in at just under 9 minutes - with strings(and only 2 chords)!
Lois loves Van also, but this song is an example of what she calls "noodly" music (hmm...Irish noodles taste pretty good, then!).
For me it is one of those magic times where Van gets into the whole vibe of the music and gives himself to the greater spiritual vibe of the song - transcendental.
Of course, I have no idea what the song is ABOUT, but it evokes many emotions.
I am sure that he would never perform a song the same way twice (and all the live albums are evidence of this).
For those who like their music a bit more tightly structured, there are the evocative Linden Arden Stole the Highlights and the brooding Streets of Arklow - Van takes us into a pastoral Irish world - green fields, castles, rolling hills and a wild wind blowing.
This album was followed by A Period of Transition, a New Orleans influenced collaboration with Dr John (aka Mac Rabenak), and then a return to mainstream pop sensibilities and success (Wavelength) - neither of which capture the intimacy and personal beauty of this album to the same degree (though both cracking albums in their own way).
Listen to this with the one you love, as the fire crackles in the hearth and the storm blows a full force gale outside (another Bailey's, anyone?).
10/10.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Oh, No, It's Raining Again...
As I'm sure I remember Rodger Hodgson singing plaintively about 20 years ago.
It's been fun to get out into a moistened garden - see that things won't die of thirst.
Alexander had a big day caving yesterday - went with Ian in search of the elusive "Bassett Rd" cave in Waipu - I think they found it!
He and Lois were in at Ak hospital most of the morning, so that he could have the "metalware" in his right elbow removed.
As I type, he and cousin Daniel are sat watch Terminator - light relief!
This is the last of my truly leisurely weekends, as next week I'm back into prep for the year ahead.
I am mastering the new tooth brushing techniques with the electric, the floss and the microbrushes - getting behind the teeth is tricky, especially with floss/microbrush.
Lois says to relax and go with it - easier said than done, but incremental progress is better than none.
As I finish here, Verdi's Requiem is blazing away in the background - if the music is anything to go by, Verdi's vision of "the afterlife" is very dramatic - just make sure you don't put a foot wrong in this one!
R.I.P.(till tomorrow),
Gerald.
It's been fun to get out into a moistened garden - see that things won't die of thirst.
Alexander had a big day caving yesterday - went with Ian in search of the elusive "Bassett Rd" cave in Waipu - I think they found it!
He and Lois were in at Ak hospital most of the morning, so that he could have the "metalware" in his right elbow removed.
As I type, he and cousin Daniel are sat watch Terminator - light relief!
This is the last of my truly leisurely weekends, as next week I'm back into prep for the year ahead.
I am mastering the new tooth brushing techniques with the electric, the floss and the microbrushes - getting behind the teeth is tricky, especially with floss/microbrush.
Lois says to relax and go with it - easier said than done, but incremental progress is better than none.
As I finish here, Verdi's Requiem is blazing away in the background - if the music is anything to go by, Verdi's vision of "the afterlife" is very dramatic - just make sure you don't put a foot wrong in this one!
R.I.P.(till tomorrow),
Gerald.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
"Sun Gangs" (CD review)
by The Veils, released 2009.
I had seen ads for Veils gigs prior to them appearing at BDO.
I had heard people saying "Oh, The Veils. They're good".
And now I had a chance to see them for myself, and was very impressed.
They had a great live sound, a consistent intensity and clarity of expression on stage...and a set of strong songs with memorable melodies.
Listening to Sun Gangs, the 2009 album from this Devonport (so my source informs me - see BDO Thumbnail Sketches blog) backs up the initial impression - the songs are solid, beautiful and catchy - also varied in tone, though pretty serious in nature.
Sit Down By the Fire kicks the album off in Bo Diddley guitar style, then we drop into a beautiful, intimate ballad, the title track, and the contours of tone, mood and tempo continue to surprise.
Probably the most harrowing of the tracks is Three Sisters, about a family burning up in a house, though Larkspur is also an intense piece, short on lyrics but long on emotion.
I really like Scarecrow, an evocative song with strong poetic imagery.
The album has something for everyone, and I'm looking forward to further releases from this clever, moving and convincing ensemble.
10/10.
I had seen ads for Veils gigs prior to them appearing at BDO.
I had heard people saying "Oh, The Veils. They're good".
And now I had a chance to see them for myself, and was very impressed.
They had a great live sound, a consistent intensity and clarity of expression on stage...and a set of strong songs with memorable melodies.
Listening to Sun Gangs, the 2009 album from this Devonport (so my source informs me - see BDO Thumbnail Sketches blog) backs up the initial impression - the songs are solid, beautiful and catchy - also varied in tone, though pretty serious in nature.
Sit Down By the Fire kicks the album off in Bo Diddley guitar style, then we drop into a beautiful, intimate ballad, the title track, and the contours of tone, mood and tempo continue to surprise.
Probably the most harrowing of the tracks is Three Sisters, about a family burning up in a house, though Larkspur is also an intense piece, short on lyrics but long on emotion.
I really like Scarecrow, an evocative song with strong poetic imagery.
The album has something for everyone, and I'm looking forward to further releases from this clever, moving and convincing ensemble.
10/10.
Spider (poem)
The size of a seed.
Light brown, left dangling by my blades.
Still alive, intact and struggling.
Finds a thread, a whisper of silk.
Thin thread of hope,
Sole source of rescue.
Slowly, steadily, spacewalking up and up as the sun shines.
The thread can barely be seen - is it there at all?
Spider knows, spider believes, has faith, has hope...
The thread is all there is.
And seeing this act of faith, determination and deliverance
In such a small creature,
I cease from my labours,
Caught in a moment of admiration and inspiration.
Light brown, left dangling by my blades.
Still alive, intact and struggling.
Finds a thread, a whisper of silk.
Thin thread of hope,
Sole source of rescue.
Slowly, steadily, spacewalking up and up as the sun shines.
The thread can barely be seen - is it there at all?
Spider knows, spider believes, has faith, has hope...
The thread is all there is.
And seeing this act of faith, determination and deliverance
In such a small creature,
I cease from my labours,
Caught in a moment of admiration and inspiration.
"Primary Colours" (CD review)
...by The Horrors, released 2009.
This is not a mainstream kind of album.
Interestingly, this album, The Horrors' second, is released on the XL label, home to Vampire Weekend.
That is where the common ground runs out.
On Primary Colours there is plenty of drone, distorion, reverb.
My points of reference for the band's sound are the Velvet Underground (basic, punky chord playing - thick texture) and The Psychedelic Furs (voice and retro keyboard riffs).
The songs are mostly about relationships, boy meets girl (but mostly boy loses girl).
Not really depressing - more melancholic and wistful - definitely written in sombre tones, but not as dark as The Cure or Joy Division.
Faris Badwan, the singer (I think) has a gorgeous, rich baritone that booms over the backings - you can even hear what he's singing (AND lyrics are provided)!
Listen to this for something off the beaten track - not for dance parties.
8/10.
This is not a mainstream kind of album.
Interestingly, this album, The Horrors' second, is released on the XL label, home to Vampire Weekend.
That is where the common ground runs out.
On Primary Colours there is plenty of drone, distorion, reverb.
My points of reference for the band's sound are the Velvet Underground (basic, punky chord playing - thick texture) and The Psychedelic Furs (voice and retro keyboard riffs).
The songs are mostly about relationships, boy meets girl (but mostly boy loses girl).
Not really depressing - more melancholic and wistful - definitely written in sombre tones, but not as dark as The Cure or Joy Division.
Faris Badwan, the singer (I think) has a gorgeous, rich baritone that booms over the backings - you can even hear what he's singing (AND lyrics are provided)!
Listen to this for something off the beaten track - not for dance parties.
8/10.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
"Volta" (CD review)
...by Bjork, 2007.
I guess it's time for yet another Bjork album.
Judging by her output, she's probably been off collaborating with other artists.
Volta is a zany album with several producers, including Timbaland.
It all makes sense, really.
For the uninitiated, Bjork can be heavy going.
She enthralled me at the BDO I think 2 years ago.
But she has come along way since "Venus as a Boy" (Debut) and "So Quiet" (Post).
Her melodies are angular, and could almost be considered atonal, except that they tend to be looped, creating a (false?) sense of tonality.
Her voice lurches from harsh to soft moment by moment, in a much more extreme way than Sinead's.
The track that's on right now is "The Dull Flame of Desire", which is a duet with Antony (of Antony and the Johnsons).
Builds wonderfully.
Bjork remains a musician who takes risks on a regular basis.
Not everyone's cup of tea, but well worth at least one listen.
8/10.
I guess it's time for yet another Bjork album.
Judging by her output, she's probably been off collaborating with other artists.
Volta is a zany album with several producers, including Timbaland.
It all makes sense, really.
For the uninitiated, Bjork can be heavy going.
She enthralled me at the BDO I think 2 years ago.
But she has come along way since "Venus as a Boy" (Debut) and "So Quiet" (Post).
Her melodies are angular, and could almost be considered atonal, except that they tend to be looped, creating a (false?) sense of tonality.
Her voice lurches from harsh to soft moment by moment, in a much more extreme way than Sinead's.
The track that's on right now is "The Dull Flame of Desire", which is a duet with Antony (of Antony and the Johnsons).
Builds wonderfully.
Bjork remains a musician who takes risks on a regular basis.
Not everyone's cup of tea, but well worth at least one listen.
8/10.
Blog 301
Business as usual.
Such a wind!
Finish the type-up of my Dark Glasses lyrics.
Memo 1 arrives from Otahuhu College.
It is nearly time.
Watch the first hour of Harry Potter 6...
I love watching the first ones over again, when these kids were at the start of their secondary schooling.
Samson was doing an impression of King Kong this evening.
He was sitting in the middle of the living room, on Lois's short deck chair (comfortable for her with her aches and pains).
He was sitting up and swiping at the flies who in return seemed to be tormenting him, reminiscent of the pterodactyls and biplanes in the movie.
Such a wind!
Finish the type-up of my Dark Glasses lyrics.
Memo 1 arrives from Otahuhu College.
It is nearly time.
Watch the first hour of Harry Potter 6...
I love watching the first ones over again, when these kids were at the start of their secondary schooling.
Samson was doing an impression of King Kong this evening.
He was sitting in the middle of the living room, on Lois's short deck chair (comfortable for her with her aches and pains).
He was sitting up and swiping at the flies who in return seemed to be tormenting him, reminiscent of the pterodactyls and biplanes in the movie.
"Dancing Girls" (book review)
by Margaret Atwood, pub. 1977.
This is a set of 14 short stories, of which 11 have appeared previously in magazines etc.
The scope of the scenarios is rich.
Everything from a shared bathroom through an ancient sacrificial site in Mexico to a plane crash.
The usual themes are to be found within the collection - male/female relationships, obesity, life as an academic, Canadians abroad, hallucinatory companions...
There are different themes, however - birdwatching (MA is a keen birdwatcher, and has encountered kiwis on Stewart Island), giving birth (the title of the last story), plane crashes...
As with Moral Disorder, one is left with a strong sense of atmosphere - place, character, psychology - after reading each story.
If you're after those sorts of stories that end with unforgettable twists (Roald Dahl's your man for this), you'll be disappointed.
The magic of this collection is that each story serves as a window into a person or set of people - usually their characters are all too easy to identify with!
One of the things I like about Atwood's style is the lack of necessity for her characters to say very much - one character might speak a simple sentence, which is then explored thoroughly, with many nuances filled in.
And as usual there are the swift changes between comic and tragic events/perspectives.
Once again an enjoyable and unforgettable reading experience.
9/10
This is a set of 14 short stories, of which 11 have appeared previously in magazines etc.
The scope of the scenarios is rich.
Everything from a shared bathroom through an ancient sacrificial site in Mexico to a plane crash.
The usual themes are to be found within the collection - male/female relationships, obesity, life as an academic, Canadians abroad, hallucinatory companions...
There are different themes, however - birdwatching (MA is a keen birdwatcher, and has encountered kiwis on Stewart Island), giving birth (the title of the last story), plane crashes...
As with Moral Disorder, one is left with a strong sense of atmosphere - place, character, psychology - after reading each story.
If you're after those sorts of stories that end with unforgettable twists (Roald Dahl's your man for this), you'll be disappointed.
The magic of this collection is that each story serves as a window into a person or set of people - usually their characters are all too easy to identify with!
One of the things I like about Atwood's style is the lack of necessity for her characters to say very much - one character might speak a simple sentence, which is then explored thoroughly, with many nuances filled in.
And as usual there are the swift changes between comic and tragic events/perspectives.
Once again an enjoyable and unforgettable reading experience.
9/10
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
a visit to the dentist...
Has never been such fun!
Or potentially expensive...
I went for a check-up (famous last words).
Why is it that the scene from Little Shop of Horrors plays through as I wait in THE CHAIR?
The dentist, Sunita, is an old girl of Otahuhu College!
She remembered the old gang (including Eileen P, who may be reading this from sunny Tonbridge!).
Because of chemo, I had a good excuse not to visit the dentist for most of last year.
But that excuse no longer holds, so I though I would see what my cute little white calcium friends are up to in there.
Not much good, I have to report!
So now I am armed with electric toothbrush, "bottle washers", and floss.
And listerene...
Unstoppable!
Or potentially expensive...
I went for a check-up (famous last words).
Why is it that the scene from Little Shop of Horrors plays through as I wait in THE CHAIR?
The dentist, Sunita, is an old girl of Otahuhu College!
She remembered the old gang (including Eileen P, who may be reading this from sunny Tonbridge!).
Because of chemo, I had a good excuse not to visit the dentist for most of last year.
But that excuse no longer holds, so I though I would see what my cute little white calcium friends are up to in there.
Not much good, I have to report!
So now I am armed with electric toothbrush, "bottle washers", and floss.
And listerene...
Unstoppable!
"Black Holes and Revelations" (CD review)
...by Muse, 2006.
I warned you...
This is the second to last studio album by Muse, and one of only 2 that I own (the rest are owned by Alexander, who is the honorary Muse discoverer in our family).
Muse are a 3-piece band, led/fronted/designed by Matt Bellamy (vocals, guitar and keyboard), ably supported by a tight, phenomenal and musical rhythm section (Dominic Howard on drums and Chris Wolstenholme on bass).
This album packs a punch from start to finish (they all do) - the songs are at once both full-on power rockers and catchy as honey on an ant trail.
The riffs are complex - some Muse riffs last over several bars (average riff length for a pop song = 1 bar, and probably no more than 4 notes).
A musical trait is strong emphasis on the use of harmonic minor chord structures and melodic lines, giving an intensity which underscores the lyrics, which are often about...
Paranoia!
Is "Black Holes" a concept album?
In a very loose sense of the word.
Having seen now how Muse work with a stadium crowd (and don't forget they played 2 sold-out gigs to open the new Wembley Stadium), it seems that a lot of what makes the songs tick is their singability.
And there is no shortage of singable, hummable, danceable songs on the Black Holes album.
Get hold of it and play it LOUD!!!
9/10.
I warned you...
This is the second to last studio album by Muse, and one of only 2 that I own (the rest are owned by Alexander, who is the honorary Muse discoverer in our family).
Muse are a 3-piece band, led/fronted/designed by Matt Bellamy (vocals, guitar and keyboard), ably supported by a tight, phenomenal and musical rhythm section (Dominic Howard on drums and Chris Wolstenholme on bass).
This album packs a punch from start to finish (they all do) - the songs are at once both full-on power rockers and catchy as honey on an ant trail.
The riffs are complex - some Muse riffs last over several bars (average riff length for a pop song = 1 bar, and probably no more than 4 notes).
A musical trait is strong emphasis on the use of harmonic minor chord structures and melodic lines, giving an intensity which underscores the lyrics, which are often about...
Paranoia!
Is "Black Holes" a concept album?
In a very loose sense of the word.
Having seen now how Muse work with a stadium crowd (and don't forget they played 2 sold-out gigs to open the new Wembley Stadium), it seems that a lot of what makes the songs tick is their singability.
And there is no shortage of singable, hummable, danceable songs on the Black Holes album.
Get hold of it and play it LOUD!!!
9/10.
Monday, January 18, 2010
A pleasant Monday
spent...
ordering Alexander's textbooks on line,
contacting a financial adviser about how to get my money back,
eating savoury pikelets made by Sophie,
hunting the last plums from the plum tree/rose jungle,
chopping overgrown plants from the raised bed round the swimming hole,
typing up the lyrics for Dark Glasses, my next performance project (March),
listening to Vampire Weekend, The Horrors, The Veils (brilliant! more of which later),
entertaining the Hofmanns (bbq, baked cheesecake, cider, sangria, swimming),
reading Margaret Atwood short stories,
contemplating the passing of time...
and the lack of COFFEE!!!
ordering Alexander's textbooks on line,
contacting a financial adviser about how to get my money back,
eating savoury pikelets made by Sophie,
hunting the last plums from the plum tree/rose jungle,
chopping overgrown plants from the raised bed round the swimming hole,
typing up the lyrics for Dark Glasses, my next performance project (March),
listening to Vampire Weekend, The Horrors, The Veils (brilliant! more of which later),
entertaining the Hofmanns (bbq, baked cheesecake, cider, sangria, swimming),
reading Margaret Atwood short stories,
contemplating the passing of time...
and the lack of COFFEE!!!
"Contra" (CD review)
by Vampire Weekend, 2010.
I think this is my first CD review in the Blog...
I guess it's time to "open the floodgates, Igor!"
I love Vampire Weekend.
Partly because they remind me of early Talking Heads - quirky, intelligent, and darn catchy.
Partly because they paint in bright, colourful sounds.
Their songs are so joyous that it is a challenge to remain miserable after hearing them.
Not all the lyrics make immediate sense, but they feel right.
And the topics are unorthodox.
Contra is their second album, and doesn't progress dramatically from their first, self-titled effort.
Except by being, if possible, richer in tonal palette, and rhythmic vocabulary.
The African rhythms are still there in a lot of the songs (as are the strings), but perhaps more subtly employed (cf Paul Simon's Graceland).
Music to accompany a sunny day, or shake you out of the doldrums.
10/10.
I think this is my first CD review in the Blog...
I guess it's time to "open the floodgates, Igor!"
I love Vampire Weekend.
Partly because they remind me of early Talking Heads - quirky, intelligent, and darn catchy.
Partly because they paint in bright, colourful sounds.
Their songs are so joyous that it is a challenge to remain miserable after hearing them.
Not all the lyrics make immediate sense, but they feel right.
And the topics are unorthodox.
Contra is their second album, and doesn't progress dramatically from their first, self-titled effort.
Except by being, if possible, richer in tonal palette, and rhythmic vocabulary.
The African rhythms are still there in a lot of the songs (as are the strings), but perhaps more subtly employed (cf Paul Simon's Graceland).
Music to accompany a sunny day, or shake you out of the doldrums.
10/10.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
BDO 6 - a young person's day?
Most of them were between 16 and 25 (and blonde!).
Most of the time I told myself "I'm here for the music, not the scene".
Most of the time it worked.
And I managed mostly not to be obviously Alexander's "old man".
Succeeded most of the time!
I guess I was resolved after watching an "old woman" talking to her sons about what time they had to be back with her, and getting them to show her how to take photos with the cell phone.
BDO is no longer a family event (with a lower age restriction to ensure kiddies can't come).
Maybe it never was...
I saw the most old codgers around and unselfconscious when Muse were playing.
And realised they were probably the same age as me...
Affirming my view that good music can cross cultural divides.
Time for a last cup of hot milo and then bed...
Most of the time I told myself "I'm here for the music, not the scene".
Most of the time it worked.
And I managed mostly not to be obviously Alexander's "old man".
Succeeded most of the time!
I guess I was resolved after watching an "old woman" talking to her sons about what time they had to be back with her, and getting them to show her how to take photos with the cell phone.
BDO is no longer a family event (with a lower age restriction to ensure kiddies can't come).
Maybe it never was...
I saw the most old codgers around and unselfconscious when Muse were playing.
And realised they were probably the same age as me...
Affirming my view that good music can cross cultural divides.
Time for a last cup of hot milo and then bed...
BDO 5 - racial issues
If you are white, you rock!
If black, it's r'n'b or hip-hop for you.
If brown, reggae.
This is not categorising exclusive to BDO, tho BDO certainly showcases the larger world.
If you are playing the wrong music for your race, you are a freaky oddity - "alternative" (remember Bowie doing Young Americans?).
And where was the brown audience? (I bet there won't be one at any of the Oz gigs either.)
The only brown people I saw at BDO were male and had their backs to the stage - they had solemn or fierce {"staunch")expressions on their faces, and the word "security" emblazoned on their shirts.
What conscious efforts have been made to make BDO a more racially inclusive event?
Not lowering the ticket prices must have some delineating effect on who buys.
Music as a political weapon should be working at breaking down racial/cultural barriers, not fortifying them.
If black, it's r'n'b or hip-hop for you.
If brown, reggae.
This is not categorising exclusive to BDO, tho BDO certainly showcases the larger world.
If you are playing the wrong music for your race, you are a freaky oddity - "alternative" (remember Bowie doing Young Americans?).
And where was the brown audience? (I bet there won't be one at any of the Oz gigs either.)
The only brown people I saw at BDO were male and had their backs to the stage - they had solemn or fierce {"staunch")expressions on their faces, and the word "security" emblazoned on their shirts.
What conscious efforts have been made to make BDO a more racially inclusive event?
Not lowering the ticket prices must have some delineating effect on who buys.
Music as a political weapon should be working at breaking down racial/cultural barriers, not fortifying them.
BDO 4 - gender issues
The next BDO needs Patti Smith.
We had Bjork at least 1 BDO ago, but she's a little bit loony.
Actually, Sinead O'Connor would do very nicely!
Why?
Because BDO tends to reinforce sexual/gender stereo types.
We tend to get the macho men dressed in de rigeur black.
Relations are described, in general, with women as objects.
It is usually the male perspective we get from the stage.
If females perform it is either as objects or at best with ambiguity bordering on teasing (witness Lily Allen).
But if Sinead, Patti or Kate (Bush) are there in 2011, all will be forgiven.
We had Bjork at least 1 BDO ago, but she's a little bit loony.
Actually, Sinead O'Connor would do very nicely!
Why?
Because BDO tends to reinforce sexual/gender stereo types.
We tend to get the macho men dressed in de rigeur black.
Relations are described, in general, with women as objects.
It is usually the male perspective we get from the stage.
If females perform it is either as objects or at best with ambiguity bordering on teasing (witness Lily Allen).
But if Sinead, Patti or Kate (Bush) are there in 2011, all will be forgiven.
BDO 3 - Amused
Muse - one of the biggest rock groups alive.
Phenomenal musicianship, with a capital ph.
Delivering to a capacity stadium crowd from the word "go".
Matt Bellamy (vocals, guitar, keyboard/piano) an introverted but highly effective frontman.
Riffs to die for!
One of them played by Matt on guitar held behind his head (what wonderful showing off!).
Every song inviting the audience to sing and clap along (don't you just relish the prospect of singing "they will not force us" along with 10s of 1000s of other people?).
Highlights = Uprising, United States of Eurasia (alas, without strings or Chopin piano ending), Plug In Baby (1st encore)...but it was ALL good.
Magic moment = drummer and bassist performing without Matt (more delicious showing off).
All this and no swearing!
Great sound, superb visual effects (lasers, graphics backdrops, explosions).
And I never knew there were so many Muse fans in Auckland!
Phenomenal musicianship, with a capital ph.
Delivering to a capacity stadium crowd from the word "go".
Matt Bellamy (vocals, guitar, keyboard/piano) an introverted but highly effective frontman.
Riffs to die for!
One of them played by Matt on guitar held behind his head (what wonderful showing off!).
Every song inviting the audience to sing and clap along (don't you just relish the prospect of singing "they will not force us" along with 10s of 1000s of other people?).
Highlights = Uprising, United States of Eurasia (alas, without strings or Chopin piano ending), Plug In Baby (1st encore)...but it was ALL good.
Magic moment = drummer and bassist performing without Matt (more delicious showing off).
All this and no swearing!
Great sound, superb visual effects (lasers, graphics backdrops, explosions).
And I never knew there were so many Muse fans in Auckland!
BDO 2 - morality
There's too much swearing at the BDO.
And yesterday, most of it was coming from the bands/performers.
The climax of this banality was Lily Allen's "sing-along" Thank You Very Much (except that the word Thank was replaced by the F-word).
Why am I upset/anguished by this?
I guess it's not so much the actual swearing as it is the acceptability of rudeness.
When the Sex Pistols appeared on the scene (for the younger readers, that's 1976), their advent released, explicated (new word?) or affirmed many things regarding rudeness/banality, which had previously either been banned, covered up, or smirked at.
In a way, good on the SPs for pulling out all that stuff from under the carpet.
I guess Lily Allen represents a point along the line begun with the SPs (or was it the Stones?).
Someone I know (we've been friends for about 30 years, and are still on good speaking terms) once said it's not what you eat, it's what comes OUT of your mouth that defines your morality (this is actually a translation/paraphrase - He was originally making his statement in Aramaic).
If you wish to swim against the moral current of "the age" I guess you need to be personally responsible for setting your own sights high.
Here endeth the exposition of the issue...
And yesterday, most of it was coming from the bands/performers.
The climax of this banality was Lily Allen's "sing-along" Thank You Very Much (except that the word Thank was replaced by the F-word).
Why am I upset/anguished by this?
I guess it's not so much the actual swearing as it is the acceptability of rudeness.
When the Sex Pistols appeared on the scene (for the younger readers, that's 1976), their advent released, explicated (new word?) or affirmed many things regarding rudeness/banality, which had previously either been banned, covered up, or smirked at.
In a way, good on the SPs for pulling out all that stuff from under the carpet.
I guess Lily Allen represents a point along the line begun with the SPs (or was it the Stones?).
Someone I know (we've been friends for about 30 years, and are still on good speaking terms) once said it's not what you eat, it's what comes OUT of your mouth that defines your morality (this is actually a translation/paraphrase - He was originally making his statement in Aramaic).
If you wish to swim against the moral current of "the age" I guess you need to be personally responsible for setting your own sights high.
Here endeth the exposition of the issue...
Big Day Out 2010 - Thumbnail Reviews
A quick rundown of the acts I saw yesterday (though I observe with interest that The Herald saw quite a few different acts and therefore has a different perspective).
More in-depth reviews/discussions follow in later blogs.
Bandicoot, 10.30am - 3-piece noisy outfit (feat. Don McGlashan's daughter on vocals.
A little too noisy for the time of day - courageous!
11am, Pop Strangers - BNet Winners (BFM is an alternative indie Ak Radio Station), young, self-conscious, perhaps too much into minory chords, but solid.
11am, Cairo Knife Fight - one guy on guitar and vocals, one on drums and loops, both on F-word duties (more of which later) - cosmic, spacy sound, spoilt by their intros.
11.30, Deja Voodoo - a dull, thudding "rock" band (I never thought of rock music as meaning music of a stolid, grey, immovable nature, but I guess definitions change).
12.15, The Checks - 3rd time I've seen them. They appeared to be a little lost on the stadium stage. The vocalist has a tremendous energy, and a wicked shirt.
12.30, The Temper Trap - Came across these guys in Real Groovy (their CD) - CD a little samey and disappointing, but live their sound resonated wonderfully and the vocalist was very impressive. Had us all bopping.
1.15, Passion Pit - as one might ascertain, very similar to The Temper Trap - cousins? A little more upbeat - catchy, rich songs.
1.45, Mastodon - well, what would one expect from the name? Slow, lumbering, ROCK.
2.30, Midnight Youth - A highlight. A delight. Ak produce. Unashamed, powerful, energetic and catchy rock music. Took Elemeno P's role at BDO this year, I s'pose.
3.30, The Horrors - another discovery. A cross between Pulp and The Velvet Underground. Dark, menacing, bizarre sounds - great frontman.
4.15, Ladyhawke - local produce (from down the line) - the venue was packed for this performance. Competent, semi-catchy tunes (the audience clearly knew them!)- pedestrian.
5pm, The Veils - where are they from? I loved this set - at turns dark, emotional (yay!), innovative and gripping. I reckon this is a band to watch!
5.45, The Decemberists - part Zep, part Tull, part REM, earnest, quirky and very musical (shades of Magic Numbers) - but a man's gotta eat some time, so it was off to Hell's pizzas (Greed and Lust never tasted so good!!), then find semi-permanent seats back in the Stadium.
6pm, Dizzee Rascal - cheeky, cheerful (high f-word quota), energetic - the thing is, most of my East End students were like this in London - imagine trying to teach this guy Music! {"Dizzee, please stop swearing, and SIT DOWN!")
7pm, Lily Allen - a lovely pink outfit, a great, versatile backing band, some very rude songs (f-words off the scale, especially with one "sing-along"),smoking on stage, a genuine feminist element (lacking in Ladyhawke), a great cover of Womaniser (originally Britney Spears?).
8pm, The Mars Volta - a prog rock band. Earnest, impassioned, hampered by a poor sound tech, and, if you didn't know what the songs, you could only gawp from amazement at the technical skills, or boredom. Not much 4/4 tho (more of which later).
9.10pm, Muse - the group we ALL seemed to be waiting for. I KNEW they were going to start with Uprising! They came, they saw, they conquered, they finished with explosions! Blew us all away (a fuller review to be published later)!
THE END.
More in-depth reviews/discussions follow in later blogs.
Bandicoot, 10.30am - 3-piece noisy outfit (feat. Don McGlashan's daughter on vocals.
A little too noisy for the time of day - courageous!
11am, Pop Strangers - BNet Winners (BFM is an alternative indie Ak Radio Station), young, self-conscious, perhaps too much into minory chords, but solid.
11am, Cairo Knife Fight - one guy on guitar and vocals, one on drums and loops, both on F-word duties (more of which later) - cosmic, spacy sound, spoilt by their intros.
11.30, Deja Voodoo - a dull, thudding "rock" band (I never thought of rock music as meaning music of a stolid, grey, immovable nature, but I guess definitions change).
12.15, The Checks - 3rd time I've seen them. They appeared to be a little lost on the stadium stage. The vocalist has a tremendous energy, and a wicked shirt.
12.30, The Temper Trap - Came across these guys in Real Groovy (their CD) - CD a little samey and disappointing, but live their sound resonated wonderfully and the vocalist was very impressive. Had us all bopping.
1.15, Passion Pit - as one might ascertain, very similar to The Temper Trap - cousins? A little more upbeat - catchy, rich songs.
1.45, Mastodon - well, what would one expect from the name? Slow, lumbering, ROCK.
2.30, Midnight Youth - A highlight. A delight. Ak produce. Unashamed, powerful, energetic and catchy rock music. Took Elemeno P's role at BDO this year, I s'pose.
3.30, The Horrors - another discovery. A cross between Pulp and The Velvet Underground. Dark, menacing, bizarre sounds - great frontman.
4.15, Ladyhawke - local produce (from down the line) - the venue was packed for this performance. Competent, semi-catchy tunes (the audience clearly knew them!)- pedestrian.
5pm, The Veils - where are they from? I loved this set - at turns dark, emotional (yay!), innovative and gripping. I reckon this is a band to watch!
5.45, The Decemberists - part Zep, part Tull, part REM, earnest, quirky and very musical (shades of Magic Numbers) - but a man's gotta eat some time, so it was off to Hell's pizzas (Greed and Lust never tasted so good!!), then find semi-permanent seats back in the Stadium.
6pm, Dizzee Rascal - cheeky, cheerful (high f-word quota), energetic - the thing is, most of my East End students were like this in London - imagine trying to teach this guy Music! {"Dizzee, please stop swearing, and SIT DOWN!")
7pm, Lily Allen - a lovely pink outfit, a great, versatile backing band, some very rude songs (f-words off the scale, especially with one "sing-along"),smoking on stage, a genuine feminist element (lacking in Ladyhawke), a great cover of Womaniser (originally Britney Spears?).
8pm, The Mars Volta - a prog rock band. Earnest, impassioned, hampered by a poor sound tech, and, if you didn't know what the songs, you could only gawp from amazement at the technical skills, or boredom. Not much 4/4 tho (more of which later).
9.10pm, Muse - the group we ALL seemed to be waiting for. I KNEW they were going to start with Uprising! They came, they saw, they conquered, they finished with explosions! Blew us all away (a fuller review to be published later)!
THE END.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Poolday
Definitely poolday today.
Hot, hot, hot, hot.
Clean bathroom and vacuum (as I won't be here tomorrow - BDO!).
Then up to the far corner of the section to pull jasmine and tradescantia (weeds, not ladies!).
Down to other corner to lop fronds from Phoenix palm.
Scrambled eggs on warm fresh bread courtesy of Lois.
Sophie slaving over a hot stove, preparing a yummy feast for tonight.
Juicy plums again - no additives!
Attempt to have swim - water to cold for my sensitive skin!
Will try again later this afternoon.
Hot, hot, hot, hot.
Clean bathroom and vacuum (as I won't be here tomorrow - BDO!).
Then up to the far corner of the section to pull jasmine and tradescantia (weeds, not ladies!).
Down to other corner to lop fronds from Phoenix palm.
Scrambled eggs on warm fresh bread courtesy of Lois.
Sophie slaving over a hot stove, preparing a yummy feast for tonight.
Juicy plums again - no additives!
Attempt to have swim - water to cold for my sensitive skin!
Will try again later this afternoon.
Harry Belafonte
On the stereo today.
A Best Of CD.
A golden honey voice.
Dripping with warmth of tone.
A seductive comfort.
A virile, energised singer when young.
A politicised, resolute hero when older.
Day-o, Jamaica Farewell.
Never has Venezuela had such catchy treatment as in "Ma-tilda".
This is music to cheer and stimulate.
A Best Of CD.
A golden honey voice.
Dripping with warmth of tone.
A seductive comfort.
A virile, energised singer when young.
A politicised, resolute hero when older.
Day-o, Jamaica Farewell.
Never has Venezuela had such catchy treatment as in "Ma-tilda".
This is music to cheer and stimulate.
Courage...
Do you have what it takes?
The courage to die?
The courage to live?
The courage to take the plunge?
The courage to make incremental progress?
To fail?
To succeed?
To face suffering?
To face wholeness?
To give generously?
To take from abundance?
How much courage do you have/need/want?
The courage to die?
The courage to live?
The courage to take the plunge?
The courage to make incremental progress?
To fail?
To succeed?
To face suffering?
To face wholeness?
To give generously?
To take from abundance?
How much courage do you have/need/want?
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Making Progress
A concerted effort on the vegetation today.
Also a combined effort, with Alexander lopping some limbs (off trees).
I actually managed to hack into the wild, wild roses as well, which have grown thick and long and appear to be attempting arboricide on the plum trees.
Another bucket full of juicy plums.
Today has been death to privet day as well.
But I have noticed a real invasion of traffic cones in the area - Attack of the Cones!
They seem to breed when you're not looking.
I managed to get some 2B pencils today also - these are the VERY thing you need when writing music, and I seem to have misplaced my last set.
Now I can get into writing some parts for the Van Morrison Celebration (A Marvellous Night For A...)
Also some stand-alone pieces for the school string group.
Nothing more fun than writing out blobs on sticks with a 2B pencil.
Also a combined effort, with Alexander lopping some limbs (off trees).
I actually managed to hack into the wild, wild roses as well, which have grown thick and long and appear to be attempting arboricide on the plum trees.
Another bucket full of juicy plums.
Today has been death to privet day as well.
But I have noticed a real invasion of traffic cones in the area - Attack of the Cones!
They seem to breed when you're not looking.
I managed to get some 2B pencils today also - these are the VERY thing you need when writing music, and I seem to have misplaced my last set.
Now I can get into writing some parts for the Van Morrison Celebration (A Marvellous Night For A...)
Also some stand-alone pieces for the school string group.
Nothing more fun than writing out blobs on sticks with a 2B pencil.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
"Moral Disorder" (book review)
...by Margaret Atwood, 2006.
A collection of short stories (not that short), published in between Oryx and Crake and The Year of the Flood (although some of the stories have been published elsewhere at various other times).
As one might expect, the style is incisive, captivating and moving.
The central character of the book is Nell.
Each story deals with a stage in her life, from early childhood through to old age, and the book includes 2 poignant observations of Nell's aging/dying parents.
I was particularly moved by the account of Nell's mother losing her senses one by one, till she is trapped/lost entirely in her own world.
Although traditionally dismal topics are covered, the style is far from dismal, and, as in "real life", each event is shot through with humour.
At times the humour is LOL, and my children have both had to witness their Dad grunting away at some passage in the book.
The title story has a good deal of humour in it, as Nell adapts to a rural/farming lifestyle.
The narrative switches from first person to third person - it's a bit like watching one movie with different camera angles.
The style is a little sparser than the other books I've read, though not as stripped down as The Tent (other short stories - very short).
Once again, a gripping and inspiring read.
10/10
A collection of short stories (not that short), published in between Oryx and Crake and The Year of the Flood (although some of the stories have been published elsewhere at various other times).
As one might expect, the style is incisive, captivating and moving.
The central character of the book is Nell.
Each story deals with a stage in her life, from early childhood through to old age, and the book includes 2 poignant observations of Nell's aging/dying parents.
I was particularly moved by the account of Nell's mother losing her senses one by one, till she is trapped/lost entirely in her own world.
Although traditionally dismal topics are covered, the style is far from dismal, and, as in "real life", each event is shot through with humour.
At times the humour is LOL, and my children have both had to witness their Dad grunting away at some passage in the book.
The title story has a good deal of humour in it, as Nell adapts to a rural/farming lifestyle.
The narrative switches from first person to third person - it's a bit like watching one movie with different camera angles.
The style is a little sparser than the other books I've read, though not as stripped down as The Tent (other short stories - very short).
Once again, a gripping and inspiring read.
10/10
Wet and Dry
When it's wet, I have plenty of stuff to do inside.
Sorting through the Archives.
Attending to correspondence.
Vacuuming.
Dry weather, back into the garden.
On 28th Jan I have my big checkup.
I am hoping for Good Things.
I have had an excellent Summer.
Good times, bad times...
It's all a gift.
Sorting through the Archives.
Attending to correspondence.
Vacuuming.
Dry weather, back into the garden.
On 28th Jan I have my big checkup.
I am hoping for Good Things.
I have had an excellent Summer.
Good times, bad times...
It's all a gift.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Chopping Things Up
Tradescantia - no debate whatsoever.
Roses - they are trying to strangle the plum trees, and must be stopped.
The wild ginger - ruthless hacking required here.
Privet - another noxious beastie. It seems to have been planted??
Creepy, milky vines strangling the natives.
Phoenix palm - also noxious (and venomous, and nasty).
Lavender - overgrown.
Trees with leaves with holes in them - crowding the camelia trees.
Jasmine - training required. Harsh discipline.
With my trusty secateurs, loppers and bare hands, I will fight back!
Roses - they are trying to strangle the plum trees, and must be stopped.
The wild ginger - ruthless hacking required here.
Privet - another noxious beastie. It seems to have been planted??
Creepy, milky vines strangling the natives.
Phoenix palm - also noxious (and venomous, and nasty).
Lavender - overgrown.
Trees with leaves with holes in them - crowding the camelia trees.
Jasmine - training required. Harsh discipline.
With my trusty secateurs, loppers and bare hands, I will fight back!
Saturday, January 9, 2010
More Good Weather
Alexander and I have been at Big Manly again.
The Smiths' last day there - they head back tomorrow.
Daniel has returned with us - one less child to pack up tomorrow morning.
My Sudoku puzzle book has gone missing - I half suspect I left it at Hofmanns' farm.
An opportunity to read more of Atwood's Moral Disorder.
The sky big and blue again.
Alexander paddled around on a windsurfer board at the beach.
Tim, Joel and I walked to the northern rocks and back.
Muse on the stereo on the way up.
Blur on the way down.
Good music for Summer.
The Smiths' last day there - they head back tomorrow.
Daniel has returned with us - one less child to pack up tomorrow morning.
My Sudoku puzzle book has gone missing - I half suspect I left it at Hofmanns' farm.
An opportunity to read more of Atwood's Moral Disorder.
The sky big and blue again.
Alexander paddled around on a windsurfer board at the beach.
Tim, Joel and I walked to the northern rocks and back.
Muse on the stereo on the way up.
Blur on the way down.
Good music for Summer.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Labour Day
8am apply mozzie repellent and sunblock and meet Ian M (frequent contributor to these pages) for action - attack the high gutters of the house.
As Ian sets up the ladders and so on, I continue with the compost distribution project.
A little later Michael B turns up unexpectedly, also dressed and armed for action.
We are collectively blessed that MB has the gift of clambering around in high places without the aid of a safety net - our scenarios of expensive cherry pickers or clattery wobbles on extended ladders vanish into mist, as MB prances around carrying the leafblower, armed like a starship trooper and doing serious damage to detritus/leaves/etc.
Ian meanwhile hoses gutters blown out or yet to be cleared, and becomes an inadvertent target at times for Michael's bombardment.
At 11am-ish the war games cease as Lois brings out a wonderful chocolate beetroot cake, still steaming on its way from the oven, and Michael regales us with his weird fishing tales (sharks? sea snakes? octopuses?).
As the 2 roof clamberers continue (Michael leaves after a wee while to go and paint the outside of his own house - a change is as good as a rest, they say!), Alex, his friend Tom, and I attack the neighbouring flora - a Mexican something-or-other tree, the Moreton Bay Fig and other little bits and pieces caught in the crossfire.
By 1 the gutters etc. are done - time for lunch!
As I blog, Ian is putting gutterguard mesh into the guttering to prevent future rooftop gardens from growing...I reached my limit shortly after lunch, and retreated into the house to report, and to listen to my latest recording - Psalms 11 - 20.
Recording update for GvW = Ps 1-10 (vox, viola and gat), Roadkill (vox and gat), Te Mamae me te Aroha (viola improvs) and now Ps 11 - 20 (v,v,g).
These discs are all available from me for $10 each (not incl. postage) if you are interested.
Next project is Dark Glasses song cycle.
For some cheaper vW entertainment, I recommend visiting Sophie's blogsite (sophiwophi.blogspot.com) - her 3rd sonnet was posted today.
Thanks to Chris White for unflagging dedication to recording my music, and today to Michael for his mountain goat impressions, and for the last week to Ian for thorough, wonderful rescue work on our gutters.
Yay!
G.
As Ian sets up the ladders and so on, I continue with the compost distribution project.
A little later Michael B turns up unexpectedly, also dressed and armed for action.
We are collectively blessed that MB has the gift of clambering around in high places without the aid of a safety net - our scenarios of expensive cherry pickers or clattery wobbles on extended ladders vanish into mist, as MB prances around carrying the leafblower, armed like a starship trooper and doing serious damage to detritus/leaves/etc.
Ian meanwhile hoses gutters blown out or yet to be cleared, and becomes an inadvertent target at times for Michael's bombardment.
At 11am-ish the war games cease as Lois brings out a wonderful chocolate beetroot cake, still steaming on its way from the oven, and Michael regales us with his weird fishing tales (sharks? sea snakes? octopuses?).
As the 2 roof clamberers continue (Michael leaves after a wee while to go and paint the outside of his own house - a change is as good as a rest, they say!), Alex, his friend Tom, and I attack the neighbouring flora - a Mexican something-or-other tree, the Moreton Bay Fig and other little bits and pieces caught in the crossfire.
By 1 the gutters etc. are done - time for lunch!
As I blog, Ian is putting gutterguard mesh into the guttering to prevent future rooftop gardens from growing...I reached my limit shortly after lunch, and retreated into the house to report, and to listen to my latest recording - Psalms 11 - 20.
Recording update for GvW = Ps 1-10 (vox, viola and gat), Roadkill (vox and gat), Te Mamae me te Aroha (viola improvs) and now Ps 11 - 20 (v,v,g).
These discs are all available from me for $10 each (not incl. postage) if you are interested.
Next project is Dark Glasses song cycle.
For some cheaper vW entertainment, I recommend visiting Sophie's blogsite (sophiwophi.blogspot.com) - her 3rd sonnet was posted today.
Thanks to Chris White for unflagging dedication to recording my music, and today to Michael for his mountain goat impressions, and for the last week to Ian for thorough, wonderful rescue work on our gutters.
Yay!
G.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
"Glitter and Doom Live" (CD review)
...by Tom Waits, 2009.
This is a 2cd set, the first disc a live recording of songs from Waits's concert tour of 2008, and the second, "Tom's Tales", a single track of Waits spinning yarns, as he famously does when performing live.
I had the privilege of seeing Tom Waits perform live in this super city of ours (Auckland) back in 1981.
I was in a ska band called The Blue Asthmatics at the time, and after the Waits concert (featuring TW on vocals, piano, kettle drums and accompanied by a saxophonist and the legendary Greg Cohen on upright bass), my girlfriend and I made our way up from the Town Hall to Mainstreet (does anyone remember Mainstreet??) where the Asthmatics were supporting Blam Blam Blam and the Screaming Meemees, to be told rather huffily by the sound man that there would be a delay due to the fact that Mr Waits had used our sound gear for his concert - aah, those were the days!
Waits at the time had yet to release his tongue-in-cheek soundtrack for One From the Heart (Coppola), but previewed his "I Beg Your Pardon Dear" for the Ak audience.
30 years have passed (almost) since that night, and TW's voice sounds like it's been "shot to hell" - back in the early 70s it had a "warm burr" - now, it's virtually all burr and minimal sustained tone.
I often wonder whether this is simply his natural tonal character, or whether it is the result of a relentless effort to sound more and more like Louis Armstrong, and he's stuck with it now...
My favourite Tom Waits period is probably that of Blue Valentine and Heart Attack and Vine, though the albums Swordfishtrombones, Frank's Wild Years, Black Rider and so on contain highly innovative structures and timbres, Alice, Mule Variations etc. darken the atmosphere further and refine the instrumentation, and Orphans is a 3cd panoramic epic consisting of rhythm'n'blues consisting of ballads, rhythm'n'blues and bizarre narrative vignettes (or as TW calls them, bawlers, brawlers and bastards).
Glitter and Doom draws on these last albums, and the band lineup is pretty much the same as on Real Gone (2 of TW's children feature).
It's fun to hear these songs performed to an audience - they gain energy and dynamics.
Tom's Tales is highly entertaining (in a noir way), though the fact that it is one continuous track makes selection of choicer moments impossible (I miss vinyl and cassettes for that reason only).
The live songs CD I would recommend only to those who know and love Tom Waits - novices should go to Blue Valentine or Heart of Saturday Night.
Tom's Tales could be played to an attentive audience wanting to listen to something novel and dark (aural equivalent to Black Books).
7/10.
This is a 2cd set, the first disc a live recording of songs from Waits's concert tour of 2008, and the second, "Tom's Tales", a single track of Waits spinning yarns, as he famously does when performing live.
I had the privilege of seeing Tom Waits perform live in this super city of ours (Auckland) back in 1981.
I was in a ska band called The Blue Asthmatics at the time, and after the Waits concert (featuring TW on vocals, piano, kettle drums and accompanied by a saxophonist and the legendary Greg Cohen on upright bass), my girlfriend and I made our way up from the Town Hall to Mainstreet (does anyone remember Mainstreet??) where the Asthmatics were supporting Blam Blam Blam and the Screaming Meemees, to be told rather huffily by the sound man that there would be a delay due to the fact that Mr Waits had used our sound gear for his concert - aah, those were the days!
Waits at the time had yet to release his tongue-in-cheek soundtrack for One From the Heart (Coppola), but previewed his "I Beg Your Pardon Dear" for the Ak audience.
30 years have passed (almost) since that night, and TW's voice sounds like it's been "shot to hell" - back in the early 70s it had a "warm burr" - now, it's virtually all burr and minimal sustained tone.
I often wonder whether this is simply his natural tonal character, or whether it is the result of a relentless effort to sound more and more like Louis Armstrong, and he's stuck with it now...
My favourite Tom Waits period is probably that of Blue Valentine and Heart Attack and Vine, though the albums Swordfishtrombones, Frank's Wild Years, Black Rider and so on contain highly innovative structures and timbres, Alice, Mule Variations etc. darken the atmosphere further and refine the instrumentation, and Orphans is a 3cd panoramic epic consisting of rhythm'n'blues consisting of ballads, rhythm'n'blues and bizarre narrative vignettes (or as TW calls them, bawlers, brawlers and bastards).
Glitter and Doom draws on these last albums, and the band lineup is pretty much the same as on Real Gone (2 of TW's children feature).
It's fun to hear these songs performed to an audience - they gain energy and dynamics.
Tom's Tales is highly entertaining (in a noir way), though the fact that it is one continuous track makes selection of choicer moments impossible (I miss vinyl and cassettes for that reason only).
The live songs CD I would recommend only to those who know and love Tom Waits - novices should go to Blue Valentine or Heart of Saturday Night.
Tom's Tales could be played to an attentive audience wanting to listen to something novel and dark (aural equivalent to Black Books).
7/10.
"2012" (film review)
Aah, those Americans...
Big bangs (more bangs for your buck)...
Spectacle...
Happy endings (-ish...the hero and his buddies survive, but most of the human race gets wiped out) (by the way, if you want to experience a bitingly intelligent American movie that deals with/to the Hollywood ending, watch Robert Altman's The Player - it messes with your head in the nicest possible way).
Chases (volcanic eruptions and tsunamis chase our escapees across mountains, deserts and of course LA or somewhere generically similar).
What's wrong with this picture?
Stereotypes, stereotypes, stereotypes (which begat corny one-liners, which begat happy endings, which begat even less pro-active viewing from "the great unwashed").
Criminal misuse of John Cusack (a terrific actor, witness High Fidelity, who should be using his time less materialistically).
It's been done before (even by the same director, in The Day After Tomorrow, which is slightly better and more fun)...
Criminal misuse of the first 2 digits of "2001" (a genius movie).
A waste of money (spend the movie company's money on movies like District 9 - chilling, clever and very exciting).
4/10.
Big bangs (more bangs for your buck)...
Spectacle...
Happy endings (-ish...the hero and his buddies survive, but most of the human race gets wiped out) (by the way, if you want to experience a bitingly intelligent American movie that deals with/to the Hollywood ending, watch Robert Altman's The Player - it messes with your head in the nicest possible way).
Chases (volcanic eruptions and tsunamis chase our escapees across mountains, deserts and of course LA or somewhere generically similar).
What's wrong with this picture?
Stereotypes, stereotypes, stereotypes (which begat corny one-liners, which begat happy endings, which begat even less pro-active viewing from "the great unwashed").
Criminal misuse of John Cusack (a terrific actor, witness High Fidelity, who should be using his time less materialistically).
It's been done before (even by the same director, in The Day After Tomorrow, which is slightly better and more fun)...
Criminal misuse of the first 2 digits of "2001" (a genius movie).
A waste of money (spend the movie company's money on movies like District 9 - chilling, clever and very exciting).
4/10.
"Lady Oracle" (book review)
...by Margaret Atwood, 1976.
And now for an Atwood novel which has nothing to do with science fiction!
Quite an early opus as well.
Still an amazing read - creativity and structural innovations like jewels strewn carelessly all over a beach.
Every page has something interesting and exciting to offer the reader.
Lady Oracle is a female author who relates her life story by means of reminiscences/flashbacks, quotes from her own Gothic romance novels (which link into her own life story), and views the past from her terrace in Terremoto, Italy.
It's a highly humorous set of adventures, and the reader is once again captivated by the strength of characterisation.
It's the literary equivalent of tiramisu, or pate de foie gras - rich, tasty and strong.
My one, small, reservation, and it's possibly a thing of personal preference, is that the novel ends up in the air - tapers off without an heroic conclusion, leaving me strangely unfulfilled - and the other novels I've read by Atwood have similar endings - it's a bit like going on a train journey to Wellington and having to get off at Lower Hutt and take a bus the last few kilometres.
The journey is definitely worth it all the same, and is a journey one could make several times in the course of a lifetime.
9/10.
And now for an Atwood novel which has nothing to do with science fiction!
Quite an early opus as well.
Still an amazing read - creativity and structural innovations like jewels strewn carelessly all over a beach.
Every page has something interesting and exciting to offer the reader.
Lady Oracle is a female author who relates her life story by means of reminiscences/flashbacks, quotes from her own Gothic romance novels (which link into her own life story), and views the past from her terrace in Terremoto, Italy.
It's a highly humorous set of adventures, and the reader is once again captivated by the strength of characterisation.
It's the literary equivalent of tiramisu, or pate de foie gras - rich, tasty and strong.
My one, small, reservation, and it's possibly a thing of personal preference, is that the novel ends up in the air - tapers off without an heroic conclusion, leaving me strangely unfulfilled - and the other novels I've read by Atwood have similar endings - it's a bit like going on a train journey to Wellington and having to get off at Lower Hutt and take a bus the last few kilometres.
The journey is definitely worth it all the same, and is a journey one could make several times in the course of a lifetime.
9/10.
Waerenga (17k SW of Te Kauwhata)
Arrival at 10.30am, having stopped at Mercer for 500g extra mature (2 yrs) Gouda.
A long walk up the forestry track and back with Renate.
Lunch - various pressed and sliced meats, cheeses, fresh breads, beer.
A visit to Ollie's "man cave" (shed) to watch an attempt at repairing a motocross bike piston.
Another beer.
A half hour walk along road and back (Yvonne and entourage opt for a one hour jog, including a crossing across a field of steers and one bull, who Angie the labrador has to have a go at).
Spa and beer.
Dinner - Christmas ham, fried new spuds, salad, red wine (9pm - slightly later than any of us are accustomed to, owing to Sarah cutting her foot open on a submerged rock in the swimming hole).
Hancock on the big screen under a sky drenched with stars (more wine).
Chatting into the short hours with Ollie and Renate, by the fireplace (vermouth and coffee).
Finish Lady Oracle to the accompaniment of some whirring insect.
Sunlight, shower, horse at the door, sudoku, pancake with banana and strawberries, chats with Stephan and Yvonne (German visitors), dishes, pack up kids, drive home (Pokeno for sausages and icecream), back to a sunbaked city, house, wife.
What is the collective noun for 14-year-old boys (there were 4 of them)? A choir? A gang? A parliament? A murder? A mess? A rebellion? A sneer?
A long walk up the forestry track and back with Renate.
Lunch - various pressed and sliced meats, cheeses, fresh breads, beer.
A visit to Ollie's "man cave" (shed) to watch an attempt at repairing a motocross bike piston.
Another beer.
A half hour walk along road and back (Yvonne and entourage opt for a one hour jog, including a crossing across a field of steers and one bull, who Angie the labrador has to have a go at).
Spa and beer.
Dinner - Christmas ham, fried new spuds, salad, red wine (9pm - slightly later than any of us are accustomed to, owing to Sarah cutting her foot open on a submerged rock in the swimming hole).
Hancock on the big screen under a sky drenched with stars (more wine).
Chatting into the short hours with Ollie and Renate, by the fireplace (vermouth and coffee).
Finish Lady Oracle to the accompaniment of some whirring insect.
Sunlight, shower, horse at the door, sudoku, pancake with banana and strawberries, chats with Stephan and Yvonne (German visitors), dishes, pack up kids, drive home (Pokeno for sausages and icecream), back to a sunbaked city, house, wife.
What is the collective noun for 14-year-old boys (there were 4 of them)? A choir? A gang? A parliament? A murder? A mess? A rebellion? A sneer?
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
1001 Books To Read Before You Die
This is a book with the 1001 essential reads.
It spans from the ancient classics through to the latest fiction.
I don't think I have a chance of reading them all!
But I have read some.
I found the book on my niece, Marlene's, bookshelf when we visited for dinner.
A healthy splash of Ballard and Atwood (some titles I never knew existed).
The French and Russian classics were there, of course.
We had a great time at the Whites.
They have Sing Star (karaoke sort of competition) - Alexander and I competed on Song 2 by Blur ("woo-hoo!" is now worth POINTS).
Finally, if you are in Auckland reading this, please feel free to come over to my place 8am Thursday to help with gutter clearing (lose some of that Xmas excess!).
Down to Hofmann's farm tomorrow, after my portacath flush.
It spans from the ancient classics through to the latest fiction.
I don't think I have a chance of reading them all!
But I have read some.
I found the book on my niece, Marlene's, bookshelf when we visited for dinner.
A healthy splash of Ballard and Atwood (some titles I never knew existed).
The French and Russian classics were there, of course.
We had a great time at the Whites.
They have Sing Star (karaoke sort of competition) - Alexander and I competed on Song 2 by Blur ("woo-hoo!" is now worth POINTS).
Finally, if you are in Auckland reading this, please feel free to come over to my place 8am Thursday to help with gutter clearing (lose some of that Xmas excess!).
Down to Hofmann's farm tomorrow, after my portacath flush.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Welcome to 2010!
Hold on to your hats!
Or throw them away if you must!
The only thing different about a new year really is that it's a new year.
Can we break habits that have been unhelpful?
Can we begin new ones that induce joy, peace and lurrve?
Time will tell.
We carry so much of the past with us into the new year.
Baggage we could do without.
Sweet memories that anchor and affirm us in our lives.
And hope/s for the future, stretching on to a horizon we won't reach.
Happy New Year!
G.
Or throw them away if you must!
The only thing different about a new year really is that it's a new year.
Can we break habits that have been unhelpful?
Can we begin new ones that induce joy, peace and lurrve?
Time will tell.
We carry so much of the past with us into the new year.
Baggage we could do without.
Sweet memories that anchor and affirm us in our lives.
And hope/s for the future, stretching on to a horizon we won't reach.
Happy New Year!
G.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Unexpected Generosity
Had some lovely surprises today.
We visited our friends Richard and Helen over in Devonport today.
Lois and I have know Richard for at least 30 years.
Their dining room has just had its tiles polished...
So they took our family out to lunch at Mecca, round the corner!
Wonderful!
Thanks guys!
Told you about the butter chicken thing.
Nipped out to get some tonight.
As well as the usual order, they gave us a bottle of Lindauer champagne!
Loyalty has its rewards, "my young apprentice".
Unexpected, unlooked for, generosity.
The joys of Christmas!
We visited our friends Richard and Helen over in Devonport today.
Lois and I have know Richard for at least 30 years.
Their dining room has just had its tiles polished...
So they took our family out to lunch at Mecca, round the corner!
Wonderful!
Thanks guys!
Told you about the butter chicken thing.
Nipped out to get some tonight.
As well as the usual order, they gave us a bottle of Lindauer champagne!
Loyalty has its rewards, "my young apprentice".
Unexpected, unlooked for, generosity.
The joys of Christmas!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
A Hot Tuesday
Open all the sliding doors.
No difference in temperature or air pressure.
Work outside.
Is it sweat or is it rain?
The rain eventually streams down.
Sky a grey blanket overall, all day.
Jump in the pool.
Refreshing, energising.
Take in a movie.
Air conditioning cools me down.
No difference in temperature or air pressure.
Work outside.
Is it sweat or is it rain?
The rain eventually streams down.
Sky a grey blanket overall, all day.
Jump in the pool.
Refreshing, energising.
Take in a movie.
Air conditioning cools me down.
"Julie and Julia" (movie review)
...dir. by Nora Ephron, starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams.
By now Meryl Streep is a veteran, a wonder, a delight.
I remember seeing her in the movie about Azariah Chamberlain and the dingo.
In this one she is Julia Child, and performs her role with zest and conviction.
The relationship between Julia and Paul is wonderfully portrayed - warm and loving.
Amy Adams also performs delightfully, and one finds oneself comparing the French Flashbacks to the Queens Contemporaneity (which do you prefer - old Paris or now New York?).
Amy's character is Julie, a woman who decides to cook all of Julia's recipes within a year (what's your favourite recipe - Lobster thermidore, boeuf bourgignonne, boned duck?).
The movie is chock full of delightful scenes, shot through with Ephron's dry, savvy wit (favourite scene?).
With a deft hand and a crackling script, gently simmered, Ephron brings an unlikely tale to the screen, and serves it up with gusto and relish.
The onion scene, the lobster scene, the boeuf bourgignonne disaster scene - many, many inventive episodes.
Time for a second helping!
By now Meryl Streep is a veteran, a wonder, a delight.
I remember seeing her in the movie about Azariah Chamberlain and the dingo.
In this one she is Julia Child, and performs her role with zest and conviction.
The relationship between Julia and Paul is wonderfully portrayed - warm and loving.
Amy Adams also performs delightfully, and one finds oneself comparing the French Flashbacks to the Queens Contemporaneity (which do you prefer - old Paris or now New York?).
Amy's character is Julie, a woman who decides to cook all of Julia's recipes within a year (what's your favourite recipe - Lobster thermidore, boeuf bourgignonne, boned duck?).
The movie is chock full of delightful scenes, shot through with Ephron's dry, savvy wit (favourite scene?).
With a deft hand and a crackling script, gently simmered, Ephron brings an unlikely tale to the screen, and serves it up with gusto and relish.
The onion scene, the lobster scene, the boeuf bourgignonne disaster scene - many, many inventive episodes.
Time for a second helping!
Monday, December 28, 2009
Life in the Summer
Saving the trees.
Working up a sweat.
Afternoon coffee in a softly shaded Mt Eden courtyard.
A pre-lunch swim.
Walks around the block (and up the steep driveway).
Lapping up the new Atwood.
Trying to spot the deadly white tailed spider.
Warbling through the old songs.
Communing with Bach.
Celebrating my niece Rebecca's 10th birthday...
Singing with tuis.
Working up a sweat.
Afternoon coffee in a softly shaded Mt Eden courtyard.
A pre-lunch swim.
Walks around the block (and up the steep driveway).
Lapping up the new Atwood.
Trying to spot the deadly white tailed spider.
Warbling through the old songs.
Communing with Bach.
Celebrating my niece Rebecca's 10th birthday...
Singing with tuis.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Domingo's Discoveries
Domingo = Sunday.
1. a set of songs from 12 years ago (more of which later).
2. unpleasant physical sensations, giving cause for worry.
3. 4 commands in 2Tim2: be strong, entrust, endure and reflect.
4. return of Samson the cat.
5. it's hot!
6. Margaret Atwood doesn't just write sci fi!
7. I am a BBQ genius!
8. Our driveway is VERY steep.
9. Kavanagh QC's wife has pancreatic cancer (TV series).
10. Bach can be played in any tempo and still make sense.
Gnight!
1. a set of songs from 12 years ago (more of which later).
2. unpleasant physical sensations, giving cause for worry.
3. 4 commands in 2Tim2: be strong, entrust, endure and reflect.
4. return of Samson the cat.
5. it's hot!
6. Margaret Atwood doesn't just write sci fi!
7. I am a BBQ genius!
8. Our driveway is VERY steep.
9. Kavanagh QC's wife has pancreatic cancer (TV series).
10. Bach can be played in any tempo and still make sense.
Gnight!
"Oryx and Crake" (book review)
...by Margaret Atwood.
So, once I'd read The Year of the Flood, imagine my joyful surprise when I found this treasure lurking in the library.
The narrative is much more conventional in structure than TYotF, and focuses on the character of Jimmy, who, post-meltdown, has become "Snowman".
The story of how the meltdown occurred is narrated in more detail here than in TYotF, and the element of surprise/realisation is weaker once one has read the companion novel.
I found the journey through Jimmy's nightmare world an "enjoyable" and gripping one, all the same.
Having read both books, I had a sense of having been given a stereo, or even 3D, account of the world of Oryx and Crake (by the way, Oryx and Crake are the 2 other central characters in the story).
There is the usual wit, incisiveness, and morality, shot through with detached irony so as not to become cloying (as it would in "lesser hands").
The basic question being asked through both books I suppose is whether mankind should play God, and if what happens when we do?
(Reminds me of a lesson plan/report I read once in the UK: "With 7R today we played Chopin - Chopin won".)
I found myself wanting a bit more detail on the character of Oryx.
And in spite of the dire situation humanity finds itself in within the pages of this book, there are many instances of LoL humour.
I wonder what Atwood will write next?
My next reading will be Lady Oracle - slightly different in scenario and tone, I think.
9/10.
So, once I'd read The Year of the Flood, imagine my joyful surprise when I found this treasure lurking in the library.
The narrative is much more conventional in structure than TYotF, and focuses on the character of Jimmy, who, post-meltdown, has become "Snowman".
The story of how the meltdown occurred is narrated in more detail here than in TYotF, and the element of surprise/realisation is weaker once one has read the companion novel.
I found the journey through Jimmy's nightmare world an "enjoyable" and gripping one, all the same.
Having read both books, I had a sense of having been given a stereo, or even 3D, account of the world of Oryx and Crake (by the way, Oryx and Crake are the 2 other central characters in the story).
There is the usual wit, incisiveness, and morality, shot through with detached irony so as not to become cloying (as it would in "lesser hands").
The basic question being asked through both books I suppose is whether mankind should play God, and if what happens when we do?
(Reminds me of a lesson plan/report I read once in the UK: "With 7R today we played Chopin - Chopin won".)
I found myself wanting a bit more detail on the character of Oryx.
And in spite of the dire situation humanity finds itself in within the pages of this book, there are many instances of LoL humour.
I wonder what Atwood will write next?
My next reading will be Lady Oracle - slightly different in scenario and tone, I think.
9/10.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
"The Year of the Flood" (book review)
...by Margaret Atwood.
I have developed quite a brutal approach to reading over the last year, based on the philosophy that life is too short to waste time worthily reading a book that has not ignited my spark (my approach to relationships is quite different, mainly because people aren't books!).
So when I heard that this book was released, I thought I would check it out in the bookshop and see if it grabbed me by the end of Page 1...
It did!
Page 1 of TYoTF was the first Margaret Atwood I have ever read, and I was enthralled by her evocation of place and character, her imagination and her deft use of colourful and pungent language...that was all in the first page!
I ordered the book thru my local library and finally Peter Beyer finished reading it and the library let me know...
As mentioned on a previous posting, TYotF is an equel to Oryx and Crake, Atwood's previous novel.
The story is told by Ren, a sexy trapeze artist at Scales'n'Tails, and another woman whose name currently escapes me - Ren tells the story in first person singular, and the other woman is in 3rd person.
The "flood" is not a physical flood, but a metaphor for a deluge of civilisation-destroying manmade events that turn the world upside down.
We are re-introduced to the Oryx and Crake principals, creating many "a-ha" instances (except for me it's the other way round 'cos I read TYotF first).
The literary landscape of TYotF is much brighter than that of the Handmaid's Tale, and the tone is much more humorous - there is a real sense of playfulness with the language.
Readable? Absolutely.
The amazing thing is that God's Gardeners (an apocalyptic, environmentally friendly religious sect) and their philosophies actually make quite a bit of sense.
On the darker side, the "future" that Atwood depicts is, in many cases, already all-too-present.
I wish she had written the script for Avatar - THAT would have been interesting!
Read the book, and be constantly amazed at the imagination, wit and skill used to create such a gripping story.
10/10.
I have developed quite a brutal approach to reading over the last year, based on the philosophy that life is too short to waste time worthily reading a book that has not ignited my spark (my approach to relationships is quite different, mainly because people aren't books!).
So when I heard that this book was released, I thought I would check it out in the bookshop and see if it grabbed me by the end of Page 1...
It did!
Page 1 of TYoTF was the first Margaret Atwood I have ever read, and I was enthralled by her evocation of place and character, her imagination and her deft use of colourful and pungent language...that was all in the first page!
I ordered the book thru my local library and finally Peter Beyer finished reading it and the library let me know...
As mentioned on a previous posting, TYotF is an equel to Oryx and Crake, Atwood's previous novel.
The story is told by Ren, a sexy trapeze artist at Scales'n'Tails, and another woman whose name currently escapes me - Ren tells the story in first person singular, and the other woman is in 3rd person.
The "flood" is not a physical flood, but a metaphor for a deluge of civilisation-destroying manmade events that turn the world upside down.
We are re-introduced to the Oryx and Crake principals, creating many "a-ha" instances (except for me it's the other way round 'cos I read TYotF first).
The literary landscape of TYotF is much brighter than that of the Handmaid's Tale, and the tone is much more humorous - there is a real sense of playfulness with the language.
Readable? Absolutely.
The amazing thing is that God's Gardeners (an apocalyptic, environmentally friendly religious sect) and their philosophies actually make quite a bit of sense.
On the darker side, the "future" that Atwood depicts is, in many cases, already all-too-present.
I wish she had written the script for Avatar - THAT would have been interesting!
Read the book, and be constantly amazed at the imagination, wit and skill used to create such a gripping story.
10/10.
"Avatar" (movie review)
...directed by James Cameron.
You have to see this movie.
And you have to see it in3D at Imax.
Not necessarily because it is a stunning movie, but because it is a stunning technical achievement.
The opening sequences caused gasps of awe and wonder from the packed audience who attended at 8.30pm last Tuesday, and at the end of the movie the audience applauded (I know this seems very silly on one level, but it felt like the right thing to do!).
The movie is one of those cutting-edge, breakthrough phenomena.
As to the movie itself....
One never really escapes from the overwhelming power of the visuals...
James Cameron tells a good yarn, and there are strong performances within fairly defined roles by Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver (still building relationships with aliens!) and the "blue girl" with the interesting (lack of) costume.
The plot is formulaic, however - Pocahontas set in outer space.
Once you've been introduced to the characters, you know which way the story's going to go...
I got the feeling that Cameron, having spent the equivalent of NZ's GDP several times over to make the movie (and having contributed in fact to the GDP by his use of Weta Inc. for so many things in the FX department), had to have a plot that Americans, in general, would "buy into".
Here's the hero, the love interest (albeit blue and gigantic), the jealous rival, the monsters, the mystic rituals (very much like the sloth dances in Ice Age II, I'm afraid), the baddie, the environmental theme (if only the Americans would take climate change seriously and put their money where their mouths are - no offence to my American friends!!) and, of course, the EXPLOSIONS!!
The music, by James Horner (Titanic), is also by-the-numbers (could have used a John Williams or Howard Shore score and saved money) heroic music, baddie music, love music, ethereal mystery music and the now-obligatory Vedic/Gregorian chanting to denote New Age spirituality - the end song, "I See You" (the catchphrase used by Pandoreans to acknowledge other living creatures who have died or with whom they are about to mate - also Sauron's catchphrase in Lord of the Rings) is appallingly mawkish, and should be left off the DVD release of the movie.
Impressive: visual effects, cinematography and Ms Weaver.
Unimpressive: plot, characters and soundtrack.
I would go and see it again, but probably with my ears plugged into some Beethoven or Dvorak.
6/10.
You have to see this movie.
And you have to see it in3D at Imax.
Not necessarily because it is a stunning movie, but because it is a stunning technical achievement.
The opening sequences caused gasps of awe and wonder from the packed audience who attended at 8.30pm last Tuesday, and at the end of the movie the audience applauded (I know this seems very silly on one level, but it felt like the right thing to do!).
The movie is one of those cutting-edge, breakthrough phenomena.
As to the movie itself....
One never really escapes from the overwhelming power of the visuals...
James Cameron tells a good yarn, and there are strong performances within fairly defined roles by Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver (still building relationships with aliens!) and the "blue girl" with the interesting (lack of) costume.
The plot is formulaic, however - Pocahontas set in outer space.
Once you've been introduced to the characters, you know which way the story's going to go...
I got the feeling that Cameron, having spent the equivalent of NZ's GDP several times over to make the movie (and having contributed in fact to the GDP by his use of Weta Inc. for so many things in the FX department), had to have a plot that Americans, in general, would "buy into".
Here's the hero, the love interest (albeit blue and gigantic), the jealous rival, the monsters, the mystic rituals (very much like the sloth dances in Ice Age II, I'm afraid), the baddie, the environmental theme (if only the Americans would take climate change seriously and put their money where their mouths are - no offence to my American friends!!) and, of course, the EXPLOSIONS!!
The music, by James Horner (Titanic), is also by-the-numbers (could have used a John Williams or Howard Shore score and saved money) heroic music, baddie music, love music, ethereal mystery music and the now-obligatory Vedic/Gregorian chanting to denote New Age spirituality - the end song, "I See You" (the catchphrase used by Pandoreans to acknowledge other living creatures who have died or with whom they are about to mate - also Sauron's catchphrase in Lord of the Rings) is appallingly mawkish, and should be left off the DVD release of the movie.
Impressive: visual effects, cinematography and Ms Weaver.
Unimpressive: plot, characters and soundtrack.
I would go and see it again, but probably with my ears plugged into some Beethoven or Dvorak.
6/10.
"The Handmaid's Tale" (review)
...by Margaret Atwood.
This felt like a feminine version of 1984 (Orwell).
The future....not characterised by any major technological advances - in fact, it feels like technology, and certainly reading/literacy/literature have been deliberately done away with by the New Order.
We experience the future society through the eyes and indeed body of Offred (because she's a handmaid, we never learn her real name - her Man is Fred, hence Offred being her name/designation).
Women have been given several distinct roles in the new society - Wives, Handmaids, Marthas, Aunties or Unwomen.
Due to general chemical/genetic/nuclear deterioration, only wives or handmaids are in positions to give birth - in fact, this is the sole function of a handmaid.
As Orwell does in 1984, Atwood creates a claustrophobic atmosphere of tension and paranoia, given emphasis by Offred's flashbacks to the Time Before.
Offred finds herself not knowing who to trust, till in the end she makes some decisions with a kind of resigned courage or carelessness, leading to a dramatic conclusion.
Typically of Atwood (as I'm discovering through an intensive read through of other novels), relationships are explored fully - the power play between the Handmaid and the Wife who "owns" her makes for a fascinating study.
The structure of the novel is unique - the flashbacks merge smoothly with the "present day" narrative, and both build to a climax; in particular, the passage in which the nature of the "revolution" is related sends a chill of recognition and fear down the reader's spine.
There is also the transcript of a lecture given about the authenticity and identity of the tale itself, set yet several decades beyond the tale - terrific!
Sound complicated?
It isn't - the style is sharp, light, beautiful and captivating.
Once hooked, you won't escape.
This felt like a feminine version of 1984 (Orwell).
The future....not characterised by any major technological advances - in fact, it feels like technology, and certainly reading/literacy/literature have been deliberately done away with by the New Order.
We experience the future society through the eyes and indeed body of Offred (because she's a handmaid, we never learn her real name - her Man is Fred, hence Offred being her name/designation).
Women have been given several distinct roles in the new society - Wives, Handmaids, Marthas, Aunties or Unwomen.
Due to general chemical/genetic/nuclear deterioration, only wives or handmaids are in positions to give birth - in fact, this is the sole function of a handmaid.
As Orwell does in 1984, Atwood creates a claustrophobic atmosphere of tension and paranoia, given emphasis by Offred's flashbacks to the Time Before.
Offred finds herself not knowing who to trust, till in the end she makes some decisions with a kind of resigned courage or carelessness, leading to a dramatic conclusion.
Typically of Atwood (as I'm discovering through an intensive read through of other novels), relationships are explored fully - the power play between the Handmaid and the Wife who "owns" her makes for a fascinating study.
The structure of the novel is unique - the flashbacks merge smoothly with the "present day" narrative, and both build to a climax; in particular, the passage in which the nature of the "revolution" is related sends a chill of recognition and fear down the reader's spine.
There is also the transcript of a lecture given about the authenticity and identity of the tale itself, set yet several decades beyond the tale - terrific!
Sound complicated?
It isn't - the style is sharp, light, beautiful and captivating.
Once hooked, you won't escape.
Love, Colonialism, Suicide...
...all to be found in the score of Madame Butterfly, which is surely one of the truly sublime achievements in Opera/Music Theatre.
Never mind "Miss Saigon" with its helicopter and Vietnamese fungirl choruses...
MB is the real thing.
Maybe I have been poisoned with an MB drug, but every time I hear it, it makes me feel all kinds of things...love, sadness, disgust, gentleness, horror...
Puccini was a genius, and this opera proves it (as do Tosca and La Boheme! - by the way, if anyone is still holding on to my copy of Tosca, with Maria Calllas in the title role, PLEASE can you get it back to me???).
I like Andrew Lloyd Webber (especially Superstar), but you have to admit that "Memory" from Cats is a blatant ripoff of Un Bel Di Vedremo (One Fine Day).
So, what better way to spend one's overheated Boxing Day then listening to MB in its entirety, punctuated by dips in the pool and a blog here and there, accompanied by a fresh strawberry or 2?
The children are both away at present (A to cousin's, S to friend's), the wife is "resting"....and YT is exercising his brain, contemplating the gamut of human emotions presented in this cherished musical masterpiece.
More reviews coming up (this wasn't a review so much as a rave!)...
Never mind "Miss Saigon" with its helicopter and Vietnamese fungirl choruses...
MB is the real thing.
Maybe I have been poisoned with an MB drug, but every time I hear it, it makes me feel all kinds of things...love, sadness, disgust, gentleness, horror...
Puccini was a genius, and this opera proves it (as do Tosca and La Boheme! - by the way, if anyone is still holding on to my copy of Tosca, with Maria Calllas in the title role, PLEASE can you get it back to me???).
I like Andrew Lloyd Webber (especially Superstar), but you have to admit that "Memory" from Cats is a blatant ripoff of Un Bel Di Vedremo (One Fine Day).
So, what better way to spend one's overheated Boxing Day then listening to MB in its entirety, punctuated by dips in the pool and a blog here and there, accompanied by a fresh strawberry or 2?
The children are both away at present (A to cousin's, S to friend's), the wife is "resting"....and YT is exercising his brain, contemplating the gamut of human emotions presented in this cherished musical masterpiece.
More reviews coming up (this wasn't a review so much as a rave!)...
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Christmas is Coming...
Christmas and New Year, so close to each other.
Jesus, God's gift to us all...
A gift that costs everything, but which is offered freely.
A gift that grows and grows, and doesn't break.
The Gift of Peace on earth, and Good Will to all.
If only...
One King to rule us all...
One Healer...
One Warrior...
One God...
A baby in a smelly, dirty cattle trough, mixed in with the hay and animal smells.
Born to socially suspect parents, out the back of the pub.
Who would ever have thought it?
Wherever, whoever, whatever you are this Christmas, may the Peace, Joy and Love of God be with you, inside and beside you, this Christmas and into the rest of your life!
A New Year is coming soon!
Love,
Gerald.
Jesus, God's gift to us all...
A gift that costs everything, but which is offered freely.
A gift that grows and grows, and doesn't break.
The Gift of Peace on earth, and Good Will to all.
If only...
One King to rule us all...
One Healer...
One Warrior...
One God...
A baby in a smelly, dirty cattle trough, mixed in with the hay and animal smells.
Born to socially suspect parents, out the back of the pub.
Who would ever have thought it?
Wherever, whoever, whatever you are this Christmas, may the Peace, Joy and Love of God be with you, inside and beside you, this Christmas and into the rest of your life!
A New Year is coming soon!
Love,
Gerald.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
AVATAR AWAITS
Shortly we will be heading off.
IMAX, 3D...what more could you want?
Today has been a day of sustained industry in the forest that surrounds our earthly dwelling.
Surprised myself by getting up at 6am!
Samson has been a bit of an outsider lately.
When we returned from Whitianga he had a cut on his head.
Being Samson, he runs away if we walk towards him with an air of...purpose...
So I hope he will heal naturally or eventually come in and succumb to our ministry.
DJ Alex has accommodated my tastes more on the stereo today.
So I was able to blast out "Australia" by the Manic Street Preachers.
Great song!
Tomorrow...fishing!
IMAX, 3D...what more could you want?
Today has been a day of sustained industry in the forest that surrounds our earthly dwelling.
Surprised myself by getting up at 6am!
Samson has been a bit of an outsider lately.
When we returned from Whitianga he had a cut on his head.
Being Samson, he runs away if we walk towards him with an air of...purpose...
So I hope he will heal naturally or eventually come in and succumb to our ministry.
DJ Alex has accommodated my tastes more on the stereo today.
So I was able to blast out "Australia" by the Manic Street Preachers.
Great song!
Tomorrow...fishing!
Monday, December 21, 2009
Walrus Gumboot...
Thanks to John Lennon for the above.
Um...the red trousers didn't fit!
Yikes!
I have gained weight since the last weeks of chemo.
About 10kg...I am determined to lose this...it is no fun feeling gluggier than I have to!
Perhaps it was the hot chocolates and lattes at work?
Did some serious damage to the surrounding flora on our section today, tho.
We are surrounded by vegetation - some of it fantastic - native, floral, noble.
And some real mongrel stuff too - tradescantia, ivy, "wild" jasmine, woolly nightshade.
We even have stuff growing in our top guttering (now I can't see myself getting up THERE with a hernia and 10 extra kg!!).
Tomorrow...AVATAR!
Um...the red trousers didn't fit!
Yikes!
I have gained weight since the last weeks of chemo.
About 10kg...I am determined to lose this...it is no fun feeling gluggier than I have to!
Perhaps it was the hot chocolates and lattes at work?
Did some serious damage to the surrounding flora on our section today, tho.
We are surrounded by vegetation - some of it fantastic - native, floral, noble.
And some real mongrel stuff too - tradescantia, ivy, "wild" jasmine, woolly nightshade.
We even have stuff growing in our top guttering (now I can't see myself getting up THERE with a hernia and 10 extra kg!!).
Tomorrow...AVATAR!
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Lazy Sunday Afternoon
The work was done this morning.
Our final Advent-ure: a sketch exploring Love within the Christmas story.
Challenge: to keep things simple yet meaningful, and create a bit of a new spin.
Tempted to throw in a punchline: "God IS a hard act to follow".
For the overseas blogpeople, this would have been an allusion to a HUGELY controversial picture which appeared outside St Matthew's-in-the-city.
Joseph and Mary appear in bed together, and the caption reads "Poor Joseph - God's a hard act to follow".
My responses (emotional/internal) have ranged from thinking "how crass, inane and insensitive" to "what an amazing way to draw the focus of everyone to the implications of the Virgin Birth".
I'm sure if you haven't seen it yet you will be able to google and goggle at it, and see what you think.
As the hose sprays its way into the pool to top it up not for the last time this Summer, and DJ Alex's music sprays its way from the family stereo into my laidback consciousness, I sup on Lois's latest batch of muffins (carrot cake) and the last of the vacation apricots, subconsciously preparing myself for the Family Christmas "Event" this evening - "Not A Silent Night".
Tonight will be a night for red trousers....
And I am aware that I need to catch up with my book reviews - Margaret Atwood keeps dragging me away without fail into her dystopias.
I'm currently into reading Oryx and Crake, which is an equel (neither sequel nor prequel) to The Year of the Flood, and which I also cannot put down - marvellous!
Catch you later!
G.
Our final Advent-ure: a sketch exploring Love within the Christmas story.
Challenge: to keep things simple yet meaningful, and create a bit of a new spin.
Tempted to throw in a punchline: "God IS a hard act to follow".
For the overseas blogpeople, this would have been an allusion to a HUGELY controversial picture which appeared outside St Matthew's-in-the-city.
Joseph and Mary appear in bed together, and the caption reads "Poor Joseph - God's a hard act to follow".
My responses (emotional/internal) have ranged from thinking "how crass, inane and insensitive" to "what an amazing way to draw the focus of everyone to the implications of the Virgin Birth".
I'm sure if you haven't seen it yet you will be able to google and goggle at it, and see what you think.
As the hose sprays its way into the pool to top it up not for the last time this Summer, and DJ Alex's music sprays its way from the family stereo into my laidback consciousness, I sup on Lois's latest batch of muffins (carrot cake) and the last of the vacation apricots, subconsciously preparing myself for the Family Christmas "Event" this evening - "Not A Silent Night".
Tonight will be a night for red trousers....
And I am aware that I need to catch up with my book reviews - Margaret Atwood keeps dragging me away without fail into her dystopias.
I'm currently into reading Oryx and Crake, which is an equel (neither sequel nor prequel) to The Year of the Flood, and which I also cannot put down - marvellous!
Catch you later!
G.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Return From Whitianga
No days without sunshine.
Sun blazing, sky blue.
Days of lazy awakenings.
Leisured strolls, peaceful rests.
Children playing in harmony.
Streets devoid of traffic.
Elusive second hand bookshops.
Nina's Cafe. thumbs up!
Alexander talking till late.
Cathedral Cove without stress.
Sun blazing, sky blue.
Days of lazy awakenings.
Leisured strolls, peaceful rests.
Children playing in harmony.
Streets devoid of traffic.
Elusive second hand bookshops.
Nina's Cafe. thumbs up!
Alexander talking till late.
Cathedral Cove without stress.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Going Away!
Tomorrow we head down to Whitianga, a very pleasant beach on the Coromandel Peninsula.
The children and I, and Alexander's friend Thomas, will form the advance party.
Lois has a medical appointment in the morning and will follow later.
Our friend Andrew will sit the house and look after Samson.
I don't know if I will have access to the internet over that time.
Today I visited my GP to check out a few spots - a reassuring time.
Also heard that my mo-in-law, Lorna, is free from hozzy visits for half a year - yay!
All 4 of us are now on holiday, so we'll have plenty of time to get on each other's nerves!
Aah, the luxury of being annoying!
So, speak to you later everyone!
Gerald.
The children and I, and Alexander's friend Thomas, will form the advance party.
Lois has a medical appointment in the morning and will follow later.
Our friend Andrew will sit the house and look after Samson.
I don't know if I will have access to the internet over that time.
Today I visited my GP to check out a few spots - a reassuring time.
Also heard that my mo-in-law, Lorna, is free from hozzy visits for half a year - yay!
All 4 of us are now on holiday, so we'll have plenty of time to get on each other's nerves!
Aah, the luxury of being annoying!
So, speak to you later everyone!
Gerald.
The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid (book review)
...Bill Bryson's latest.
Apologies for the late review of this.
A delightful and highly charged autobiography of his childhood and emerging adolescence in Des Moines, Iowa.
In calling up his childhood, Bryson somehow manages to call up many similar events/scenarios in the reader's childhood.
Long summer holidays, adventures with chemistry sets, early encounters with the opposite sex, grandiloquent movie theatres, unfenced lawns, black and white TV (and heroes equally monochrome in character), mythical and venomous beasts and funguses.
The sense of exploration is stunning - the sense of humour as powerful as ever.
BB harks back to the Age of Innocence (the 50s) with detail, wit and the power to make the reader laugh out loud (thereby waking up any nearby individuals who have chosen to go to sleep at a more sensible hour).
As with all other BB books I have read (and they are now beginning to create a bit of a trail) I have been sorely tempted to breach copyright in the interests of entertaining the visitors to this blog.
But that might let you off "doing the work" and reading the whole thing for yourself.
Doing the work?
If reading a BB book ever got to seem like work, I would have to take myself off to a Workaholics Anonymous group therapy course...thankfully, I don't see that happening in the near future.
Apologies for the late review of this.
A delightful and highly charged autobiography of his childhood and emerging adolescence in Des Moines, Iowa.
In calling up his childhood, Bryson somehow manages to call up many similar events/scenarios in the reader's childhood.
Long summer holidays, adventures with chemistry sets, early encounters with the opposite sex, grandiloquent movie theatres, unfenced lawns, black and white TV (and heroes equally monochrome in character), mythical and venomous beasts and funguses.
The sense of exploration is stunning - the sense of humour as powerful as ever.
BB harks back to the Age of Innocence (the 50s) with detail, wit and the power to make the reader laugh out loud (thereby waking up any nearby individuals who have chosen to go to sleep at a more sensible hour).
As with all other BB books I have read (and they are now beginning to create a bit of a trail) I have been sorely tempted to breach copyright in the interests of entertaining the visitors to this blog.
But that might let you off "doing the work" and reading the whole thing for yourself.
Doing the work?
If reading a BB book ever got to seem like work, I would have to take myself off to a Workaholics Anonymous group therapy course...thankfully, I don't see that happening in the near future.
The Wheel is Turning and You Can't Slow Down
Collage of Sophie
(by Sophie, Feb 2009. Before this blog was born)
I am leading a titillating life.
I am watching the Big Dipper ladle his milky goodness into the hole in the ozone.
I had a perky little toy cat once, Jumpy Haddock. He retreated to my top shelf to gather dust when I was about seven.
I had a certain interest for cookie dough ice cream, but that faded when I was introduced to Saucy As.
I thought that material things could quench my soul's thirst.
And now at 11 years, 11 months ...
I have seen many a rainbow pass without a pot of gold,
I have heard the cicada's incessant aria rendering me sleepless,
I have smelt the excuses for dinner burnt to a crisp in the oven that was turned to grill by accident.
I know that the wheel is the most useful invention yet.
I know that things pass and die, but I don't think anything ever really ceases to exist.
I don't know why the Earth is round, although it is what we have been told since we arrived in it.
I despise people that need scientific proof for something to be tangible.
I hate how there is only one answer to each maths question, and how flowers lose their beauty with every silken petal that droops.
I love the fresh, sweet vibes of musical creativity.
I used to love flying in aeroplanes, but have grown to detest the turbulence and the foul smells of the processed foods.
I've lost my room under cluttered mounds of obliterated, discarded items.
I'm looking for this year to be one of undying prosperity and harmony.
And my heart is wandering, stumbling, relentlessly searching for the last safe place.
(published with permission, more or less ...)
For Sophie, in response
(by Sophie's Mum, Dec 2009)
My heart wanders, too, and is glad of your company. There is no place without challenge.
But the safe place is inside of me, and I carry it with me everywhere.
I'm looking forward to next year, to more complexity, learning, experiencing and unjumbling.
I've lost my innocence under tangles of living and learning. It was a starting point, fragile and temporary.
I still love flying on aeroplanes, getting off and being in some other, more vulnerable place.
I love the scent of hearts, minds and souls on fire, burning for the sake of the new.
And, too, the completion of real life puzzles, chaos settling into painful, mathematical beauty.
Loss is gain. Boundaries inspire creativity. Hurt forces direction.
And the earth is any shape at all - it depends on the viewing-point.
From where, to where, why, and for whom?
The world is charged, God's grandeur flames out, flashes of brilliance, full of danger and exhilaration.
Sustenance, carefree moments,
Happy disturbed sleep,
Treasure made valuable by its rarity.
And now, at 47 years, 3 months
I know that all souls and bodies thirst
Turning and turning and turning and comforted and comforting.
(with love )
I am leading a titillating life.
I am watching the Big Dipper ladle his milky goodness into the hole in the ozone.
I had a perky little toy cat once, Jumpy Haddock. He retreated to my top shelf to gather dust when I was about seven.
I had a certain interest for cookie dough ice cream, but that faded when I was introduced to Saucy As.
I thought that material things could quench my soul's thirst.
And now at 11 years, 11 months ...
I have seen many a rainbow pass without a pot of gold,
I have heard the cicada's incessant aria rendering me sleepless,
I have smelt the excuses for dinner burnt to a crisp in the oven that was turned to grill by accident.
I know that the wheel is the most useful invention yet.
I know that things pass and die, but I don't think anything ever really ceases to exist.
I don't know why the Earth is round, although it is what we have been told since we arrived in it.
I despise people that need scientific proof for something to be tangible.
I hate how there is only one answer to each maths question, and how flowers lose their beauty with every silken petal that droops.
I love the fresh, sweet vibes of musical creativity.
I used to love flying in aeroplanes, but have grown to detest the turbulence and the foul smells of the processed foods.
I've lost my room under cluttered mounds of obliterated, discarded items.
I'm looking for this year to be one of undying prosperity and harmony.
And my heart is wandering, stumbling, relentlessly searching for the last safe place.
(published with permission, more or less ...)
For Sophie, in response
(by Sophie's Mum, Dec 2009)
My heart wanders, too, and is glad of your company. There is no place without challenge.
But the safe place is inside of me, and I carry it with me everywhere.
I'm looking forward to next year, to more complexity, learning, experiencing and unjumbling.
I've lost my innocence under tangles of living and learning. It was a starting point, fragile and temporary.
I still love flying on aeroplanes, getting off and being in some other, more vulnerable place.
I love the scent of hearts, minds and souls on fire, burning for the sake of the new.
And, too, the completion of real life puzzles, chaos settling into painful, mathematical beauty.
Loss is gain. Boundaries inspire creativity. Hurt forces direction.
And the earth is any shape at all - it depends on the viewing-point.
From where, to where, why, and for whom?
The world is charged, God's grandeur flames out, flashes of brilliance, full of danger and exhilaration.
Sustenance, carefree moments,
Happy disturbed sleep,
Treasure made valuable by its rarity.
And now, at 47 years, 3 months
I know that all souls and bodies thirst
Turning and turning and turning and comforted and comforting.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Sinead as a Starter
CD: Gospel Oak (an EP).
Song: This is to Mother You.
One of the most beautiful and comforting pop songs ever.
One of my counsellors lent me this at a very difficult time in my life.
Playing it reminds me both of the crisis and of the comfort to be gained from songs, from God, and indeed from Sinead.
She is a thoughtful, deep, emotional and centred person.
I love both her "out there" rampages and her quiet, reflective soothings.
Her latest offering, "Theology" is well worth a listen.
Today has been a lovely warm day with a house full of young people - 14 yr old boys and 12 yr old girls.
Amazing how much time can be spent in and around a swimming pool!
G'night!
Song: This is to Mother You.
One of the most beautiful and comforting pop songs ever.
One of my counsellors lent me this at a very difficult time in my life.
Playing it reminds me both of the crisis and of the comfort to be gained from songs, from God, and indeed from Sinead.
She is a thoughtful, deep, emotional and centred person.
I love both her "out there" rampages and her quiet, reflective soothings.
Her latest offering, "Theology" is well worth a listen.
Today has been a lovely warm day with a house full of young people - 14 yr old boys and 12 yr old girls.
Amazing how much time can be spent in and around a swimming pool!
G'night!
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Butter Chicken Night
It has been our habit for a long time now to eat butter chicken "of a weekend".
Lois and I usually eat it on a Saturday - the children eat earlier, something different.
We usually have a martini around 7pm - with Bombay Sapphire gin or vodka.
We then sit down to watch a dvd, with martini and little snacks.
Our current "staple" is "Ally McBeale" - an earlier version of "Boston Legal".
Towards the end of the episode I take up the phone and ring Santoor Restaurant.
Usually either Suresh Nama or his wife Githa answers.
By now they know me well enough to ask how I'm doing, and they know exactly what I will order.
Butter Chicken, medium hot, with a garlic naan - pick up in 10 - 15 minutes.
When I get back, Lois has the broccoli cooked just right, and away we go!
Lois and I usually eat it on a Saturday - the children eat earlier, something different.
We usually have a martini around 7pm - with Bombay Sapphire gin or vodka.
We then sit down to watch a dvd, with martini and little snacks.
Our current "staple" is "Ally McBeale" - an earlier version of "Boston Legal".
Towards the end of the episode I take up the phone and ring Santoor Restaurant.
Usually either Suresh Nama or his wife Githa answers.
By now they know me well enough to ask how I'm doing, and they know exactly what I will order.
Butter Chicken, medium hot, with a garlic naan - pick up in 10 - 15 minutes.
When I get back, Lois has the broccoli cooked just right, and away we go!
Friday, December 11, 2009
Siesta Time
Summer is definitely upon us.
It is early afternoon, and the heat is baking.
The animals inside and out are quiet and still...ennervated.
Yesterday L and I walked at this time - today we will wait.
My day's routine is ahaking down to this...
Morning = "work", i.e. gardening, cleaning, logistics, errands.
Afternoon = Creation and recreation (many small and big dreams at work here).
Evening = socialising.
I am definitely enjoying the lack of external pressures that the Holidays bring.
The birds, blackbirds and mynahs at present, have begun a recital.
It is early afternoon, and the heat is baking.
The animals inside and out are quiet and still...ennervated.
Yesterday L and I walked at this time - today we will wait.
My day's routine is ahaking down to this...
Morning = "work", i.e. gardening, cleaning, logistics, errands.
Afternoon = Creation and recreation (many small and big dreams at work here).
Evening = socialising.
I am definitely enjoying the lack of external pressures that the Holidays bring.
The birds, blackbirds and mynahs at present, have begun a recital.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
A Night On the Town
Tonight Lois and I went out to Tabou, a "bar and bistro" in Kingsland.
We celebrated the fact that I'm still here!
Earlier today Lois had a towbar fitted...to her car, of course.
A bit later than that Sophie spoke on behalf of the graduating Year 8s at her school - she likened the years of Intermediate School to being "a pit stop in the speedway of life" and took valedictory speeches to a whole new level (I thought, and of course I'm not biased!).
I had my first splash in the swimming pool today - the weather was sunny and warm and Lois had taken me for walkies just prior to that.
I guess one thing I will miss in these long holidays is the contact with the staff, especially my close colleagues Kerry and Theo.
Kerry is still in Ak, so we will get together, though he is on a Fellowship Year next year - an exciting year for him, but I will miss him at school...
And Theo is heading to Europe in a few days with Els - so I won't see him for about 6 weeks.
Another colleague of mine, Eileen, is flying to the UK to teach indefinitely.
And I'm still here and apart from feeling/being a little too flabby, feel pretty darn good!
We celebrated the fact that I'm still here!
Earlier today Lois had a towbar fitted...to her car, of course.
A bit later than that Sophie spoke on behalf of the graduating Year 8s at her school - she likened the years of Intermediate School to being "a pit stop in the speedway of life" and took valedictory speeches to a whole new level (I thought, and of course I'm not biased!).
I had my first splash in the swimming pool today - the weather was sunny and warm and Lois had taken me for walkies just prior to that.
I guess one thing I will miss in these long holidays is the contact with the staff, especially my close colleagues Kerry and Theo.
Kerry is still in Ak, so we will get together, though he is on a Fellowship Year next year - an exciting year for him, but I will miss him at school...
And Theo is heading to Europe in a few days with Els - so I won't see him for about 6 weeks.
Another colleague of mine, Eileen, is flying to the UK to teach indefinitely.
And I'm still here and apart from feeling/being a little too flabby, feel pretty darn good!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Assembly Fatigue
I copied this title from Sophie's blog - it sums both of us up!
My assemblies - does church count as an assembly? - have involved a singing assembly yesterday, 2 year assemblies (an hour each) today, a singing assembly, a pantomime assembly, and tomorrow...carol service, junior prizegiving, staff farewells, drinks by the school pool, drinks at the Cock and Bull (I will of course be moderate if not abstemious regarding my intake)...
And Thursday I get to see Sophie's graduation assembly!
Highlights for me since last blog have included...
Psalms Concert on Sunday (great having a smaller crew - piano viola, and 3 vocals including Jo McG and Patricia M, plus guest group The Dreamers)...
Pantomime today for Years 9 and 10 (amazing how many teachers managed to find their own wigs!!)...
Sketch in church on Sun (Fawlty Towers characters preparing a table for The Lord).
Alexander getting 2nd in Science.
Sophie getting Proxime Accessit ("runner up" to Dux) at her school, and excellence award for her class.
Lois's exam results (more details later).
Etc, etc.
Samson did his bit, or tried to - he brought a live mouse into the house (I didn't realise that they actually do squeak like a plastic toy).
These are indeed busy times for YT, and mostly fun, but I need my rest!
Goodnight, dear readers!
Gerald.
My assemblies - does church count as an assembly? - have involved a singing assembly yesterday, 2 year assemblies (an hour each) today, a singing assembly, a pantomime assembly, and tomorrow...carol service, junior prizegiving, staff farewells, drinks by the school pool, drinks at the Cock and Bull (I will of course be moderate if not abstemious regarding my intake)...
And Thursday I get to see Sophie's graduation assembly!
Highlights for me since last blog have included...
Psalms Concert on Sunday (great having a smaller crew - piano viola, and 3 vocals including Jo McG and Patricia M, plus guest group The Dreamers)...
Pantomime today for Years 9 and 10 (amazing how many teachers managed to find their own wigs!!)...
Sketch in church on Sun (Fawlty Towers characters preparing a table for The Lord).
Alexander getting 2nd in Science.
Sophie getting Proxime Accessit ("runner up" to Dux) at her school, and excellence award for her class.
Lois's exam results (more details later).
Etc, etc.
Samson did his bit, or tried to - he brought a live mouse into the house (I didn't realise that they actually do squeak like a plastic toy).
These are indeed busy times for YT, and mostly fun, but I need my rest!
Goodnight, dear readers!
Gerald.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Holidays? Really?
I like being busy in the sense of having projects to look forward to.
I don't like that manic sense of events running me.
The busy end-of-termoil is well upon us.
If I am reporting "fit for work" then some things are expected of me.
And some things are things I have chosen.
I WAS going to itemise these things, but decided not to.
Let's just say it's a busy time.
Many things to look forward to.
I am looking forward to the Psalms concert.
I have invited 2 vocalists to join in - Jo and Patricia.
Both have lovely voices, in quite different ways, so it will be nice to listen to them.
We are doing Psalm 38 as a Blues.
Psalm 39 is extremely intense - it will be a challenge.
And the day after this we go into the Panto season at school!
I don't like that manic sense of events running me.
The busy end-of-termoil is well upon us.
If I am reporting "fit for work" then some things are expected of me.
And some things are things I have chosen.
I WAS going to itemise these things, but decided not to.
Let's just say it's a busy time.
Many things to look forward to.
I am looking forward to the Psalms concert.
I have invited 2 vocalists to join in - Jo and Patricia.
Both have lovely voices, in quite different ways, so it will be nice to listen to them.
We are doing Psalm 38 as a Blues.
Psalm 39 is extremely intense - it will be a challenge.
And the day after this we go into the Panto season at school!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Starting point "Peter Grimes"
Back from walk around the block.
Peter Grimes, by Benjamin Britten, on stereo.
Samson the cat miaows up at me - his voice is high-pitched and plaintive.
A hot humid day today.
Not ideal weather for teaching 9J in the afternoon.
Trying to guide them in notating pitch.
Difficult when most have no exercise books, and none have manuscript paper (both items are on the stationery list).
Still, a sense of achievement from identifying accurately a sequence of 2 pitches - A and G.
It is possible for kids, even "slow" ones, to notate music and therefore turn out compositions.
I remember some Professional Development I attended recently, where someone outlined some teaching strategies, and thinking, "Where is the MAGIC in that lesson?"
No magic, no memorable lesson.
Peter Grimes, by Benjamin Britten, on stereo.
Samson the cat miaows up at me - his voice is high-pitched and plaintive.
A hot humid day today.
Not ideal weather for teaching 9J in the afternoon.
Trying to guide them in notating pitch.
Difficult when most have no exercise books, and none have manuscript paper (both items are on the stationery list).
Still, a sense of achievement from identifying accurately a sequence of 2 pitches - A and G.
It is possible for kids, even "slow" ones, to notate music and therefore turn out compositions.
I remember some Professional Development I attended recently, where someone outlined some teaching strategies, and thinking, "Where is the MAGIC in that lesson?"
No magic, no memorable lesson.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Today's Blessings part 1
Permission to attend Alexander's prizegiving.
A free lift to and from work, with good company.
The news confirmed that Lee is staying.
Roping in 1 or 2 guest vocalists for Sunday evening (Psalms).
Lee and Kirsty agreeing to cover my classes this Fri.
Sione doing good prep for his Uni audition tomorrow.
Hooking up a meeting to talk with and about a colleague's retirement.
Listening to Springsteen's "Thunder Road" at home, cranked up.
News that we are going to Whitianga as a family before Xmas.
Learning the moves to "Jai Ho" for the staff pantomime.
And more besides...
G.
A free lift to and from work, with good company.
The news confirmed that Lee is staying.
Roping in 1 or 2 guest vocalists for Sunday evening (Psalms).
Lee and Kirsty agreeing to cover my classes this Fri.
Sione doing good prep for his Uni audition tomorrow.
Hooking up a meeting to talk with and about a colleague's retirement.
Listening to Springsteen's "Thunder Road" at home, cranked up.
News that we are going to Whitianga as a family before Xmas.
Learning the moves to "Jai Ho" for the staff pantomime.
And more besides...
G.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Advent Begins...
Our church is a little bit unique.
Possibly one of only a few Baptist churches who are starting to observe bits of the church calendar.
Are we becoming Anglicans?....or Catholics???...
As you know I don't put myself into a particular denomination...I just happen to be at this church at this time...
But it is fun to follow the Calendar.
So today we learnt about waiting expectantly.
And I did the first bit of drama in church I've done for a while.
Enjoyed it immensely.
I had 2 partners-in-crime - Michael B, and Sophie.
Sophie was waiting to join Silver Ferns, Mike was waiting for global warming to hit Ak because it's a bit cold, and I was waiting for Labtest Blood Results...
Adventures in Advent continues next Sunday (Psalms Concert in evening at 7pm).
G.
Possibly one of only a few Baptist churches who are starting to observe bits of the church calendar.
Are we becoming Anglicans?....or Catholics???...
As you know I don't put myself into a particular denomination...I just happen to be at this church at this time...
But it is fun to follow the Calendar.
So today we learnt about waiting expectantly.
And I did the first bit of drama in church I've done for a while.
Enjoyed it immensely.
I had 2 partners-in-crime - Michael B, and Sophie.
Sophie was waiting to join Silver Ferns, Mike was waiting for global warming to hit Ak because it's a bit cold, and I was waiting for Labtest Blood Results...
Adventures in Advent continues next Sunday (Psalms Concert in evening at 7pm).
G.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Trip to Pakiri
Today I went to Pakiri beach with my sister Plonie.
The weather was overcast to begin with.
We left Birkenhead at 8.30
Met Carla and Paul in Wellsford for a coffee.
Puhoi traffic tunnels very disappointing.
At Pakiri we walked to the rocks at the southern end, then back again.
Water too cold for a swim.
The ocean, the constant noise of the waves breaking, the fresh, briny smell, the seabirds hanging motionless above the waves, then plummeting suddenly to feast upon fresh fish.
This is the beach where, following my body's cremation, I wish my ashes to be scattered (in the Ocean, that is, not the sand).
Wine with Hofmanns, then home for butter chicken.
The weather was overcast to begin with.
We left Birkenhead at 8.30
Met Carla and Paul in Wellsford for a coffee.
Puhoi traffic tunnels very disappointing.
At Pakiri we walked to the rocks at the southern end, then back again.
Water too cold for a swim.
The ocean, the constant noise of the waves breaking, the fresh, briny smell, the seabirds hanging motionless above the waves, then plummeting suddenly to feast upon fresh fish.
This is the beach where, following my body's cremation, I wish my ashes to be scattered (in the Ocean, that is, not the sand).
Wine with Hofmanns, then home for butter chicken.
Friday, November 27, 2009
More Passionate Thoughts...
One life only.
Every day could be the last!
Any day can be the first!
What would you do in your last hour?
Or if you had 25 hours in a day?
Did you waste yourself in any particular day today?
Did you energise others?
How did you make a difference?
What MUST you do before you leave us?
How has your life been a blessing to others today, so far, since you were born?
What do you really mean?
Visit Sophie's blog - she has written 2 amazing sonnets!
Every day could be the last!
Any day can be the first!
What would you do in your last hour?
Or if you had 25 hours in a day?
Did you waste yourself in any particular day today?
Did you energise others?
How did you make a difference?
What MUST you do before you leave us?
How has your life been a blessing to others today, so far, since you were born?
What do you really mean?
Visit Sophie's blog - she has written 2 amazing sonnets!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Life Goes On...
Funny how things seem to be normalising pretty much in my life at the moment.
I didn't even have to lie down when I got back from school today!
Things seem to be much more manageable.
Yes, there is still a little niggling sense of "How long?"
But I am being very active at present.
Watched a movie about Beethoven yesterday afternoon - Immortal Beloved.
Don't know if I could genuinely say it's a great film.
I guess our received view of Beethoven is that he was a very passionate man.
How passionate can one person be?
I guess if one was passionate ALL THE TIME one would become exhausted very quickly...
G.
I didn't even have to lie down when I got back from school today!
Things seem to be much more manageable.
Yes, there is still a little niggling sense of "How long?"
But I am being very active at present.
Watched a movie about Beethoven yesterday afternoon - Immortal Beloved.
Don't know if I could genuinely say it's a great film.
I guess our received view of Beethoven is that he was a very passionate man.
How passionate can one person be?
I guess if one was passionate ALL THE TIME one would become exhausted very quickly...
G.
Monday, November 23, 2009
"Where Have You Been, My Blue-eyed Son?"
One of my favourite Dylan songs ("Hard Rain's Gonna Fall") - also a fitting title for one whose absence from the blogsite has been noted.
So, Thursday night was a trip to the movies - 2012 (to be reviewed at some future opportune moment).
Friday - Planning meeting for Otahuhu Community event, following Paid Union Meeting, following Teacher Only Day, in the evening a family trip to Bosco Verde, with yours truly feeling sick as a parrot - a bad cough, snuffles, a headache and a hot feverish sensation in my head.
Saturday - Worship Team meeting from 9.30am to 3pm, a long walk, leaf-blowing, evening watching "Kavanagh, Q.C." (according to the cover this features Ewan McGregor, but I can't spot him!)
Still feeling sick.
Sunday - play bass at church (good sermon from Fred about personal spiritual discipline - also a slot in which Fred began to bake a cake with a bunch of children - great stuff!).
Sunday family do (Baxters), still feeling sick and a bit tired...
Then Kavanagh at night again, then starting the pantomime for school.
Monday up and down Rangitoto with 73-75 year 10s (GREAT weather, and a wonderful feeling for YT to be able to undertake such physically demanding activity).
BBQ! With Andrew helping out as YT needed a bit of confidence (the last time I used this BBQ was just before the discovery of my cancer, so there's a bit of Significance around it - it was my birthday present last year)...
Home group, where we continued with our plans to take over the world (with Faith, Hope and Love).
Then Back to the Blog.
Please pray for Holly's sister, Fiona, who is in chemo for her ovarian cancer (in Queensland) and is only 45 years old...she has 2 children, one who is about 20 and one who is about 15 (I think).
So...see you again tomorrow, okay (finished the Panto script this arvo, so now all set to do reports!)?
Gerald.
So, Thursday night was a trip to the movies - 2012 (to be reviewed at some future opportune moment).
Friday - Planning meeting for Otahuhu Community event, following Paid Union Meeting, following Teacher Only Day, in the evening a family trip to Bosco Verde, with yours truly feeling sick as a parrot - a bad cough, snuffles, a headache and a hot feverish sensation in my head.
Saturday - Worship Team meeting from 9.30am to 3pm, a long walk, leaf-blowing, evening watching "Kavanagh, Q.C." (according to the cover this features Ewan McGregor, but I can't spot him!)
Still feeling sick.
Sunday - play bass at church (good sermon from Fred about personal spiritual discipline - also a slot in which Fred began to bake a cake with a bunch of children - great stuff!).
Sunday family do (Baxters), still feeling sick and a bit tired...
Then Kavanagh at night again, then starting the pantomime for school.
Monday up and down Rangitoto with 73-75 year 10s (GREAT weather, and a wonderful feeling for YT to be able to undertake such physically demanding activity).
BBQ! With Andrew helping out as YT needed a bit of confidence (the last time I used this BBQ was just before the discovery of my cancer, so there's a bit of Significance around it - it was my birthday present last year)...
Home group, where we continued with our plans to take over the world (with Faith, Hope and Love).
Then Back to the Blog.
Please pray for Holly's sister, Fiona, who is in chemo for her ovarian cancer (in Queensland) and is only 45 years old...she has 2 children, one who is about 20 and one who is about 15 (I think).
So...see you again tomorrow, okay (finished the Panto script this arvo, so now all set to do reports!)?
Gerald.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Today's News
This time of year at school is quite weird.
Seniors gone, the main contact we have is with Years 9 and 10.
I met 2 new classes today - 9J and Theo's Yr 10 Practical group.
Only 4 students from 9J - their class had gone to Waiwera Hot Pools.
I met the Yr 10 group with my balance of formality and humour - establishing one's preferred routines at this time of year is an interesting challenge!
I took part in an interview about the PPTA Branch and Branch Chair - it's all confidential of course, so that's all I'll say.
It made me realise however that I've been in the Union (and involved) for 26 years.
Time for another chocolate cake then?
Home for a snooze then on to the concert.
Bach solo violin music followed by Moana and the Tribe's "Whaa" ("Four") in the car.
G'night!
Seniors gone, the main contact we have is with Years 9 and 10.
I met 2 new classes today - 9J and Theo's Yr 10 Practical group.
Only 4 students from 9J - their class had gone to Waiwera Hot Pools.
I met the Yr 10 group with my balance of formality and humour - establishing one's preferred routines at this time of year is an interesting challenge!
I took part in an interview about the PPTA Branch and Branch Chair - it's all confidential of course, so that's all I'll say.
It made me realise however that I've been in the Union (and involved) for 26 years.
Time for another chocolate cake then?
Home for a snooze then on to the concert.
Bach solo violin music followed by Moana and the Tribe's "Whaa" ("Four") in the car.
G'night!
PJ Pati - a Musical Feast
This evening I attended PJ's end of course recital.
PJ has been our recording technician at OC for a number of years now - he was a secondary student at Aorere College and still sings in Terence Maskell's acclaimed Graduate Choir.
Tonight's recital was something special indeed.
PJ performed "Sound an Alarm" from Judas Maccabeus by Handel,
3 different settings of Shakespeare's "Sigh No More, Ladies" (Fisher, Keel and Bush),
3 songs by Faure (A Day's Poems),
Ah, la Paterno Mano, from Macbeth, by Verdi,
4 songs by Richard Strauss,
and Lensky's Aria from Eugene Onegin, by Tchaikovsky (this last was the aria with which PJ won the National Aria Competition in Rotorua about a week ago).
Right from the start this young man had his audience captivated - by means of power, beauty, expression, clarity and presence.
As might be predicted (especially with a student final recital), PJ covered a wide variety of genres, moods and style periods.
The heroic Handel, romantic British geezers, fluffy, wispy French sentiments, tragic and gut-wrenching Verdi, varied and high-powered Strauss and achingly, beautifully tragic Tchaikovsky...
PJ's versatility and communication skillsreached a climax as he moved from the sensitively hilarious reading of Strauss's "Ach weh mir, unglueckhaftem Mann" to the hopeless farewell uttered by Lensky to his beloved Olga as he prepares to die in a duel.
From the high to the low, PJ moved with conviction, and took us all along for the ride.
Every nuance of every word and phrase was captured by his voice (count 'em, FIVE different languages), and he knows how to "let it rip" when he wants to as well (the sheer strength of his voice was at times physically as well as emotionally overwhelming).
Afterwards I went up to say farewell.
I couldn't think of enough right words, so I (and he) settled for a hug instead - one of those big, powerful ones.
And then he thanked me for coming, and I thanked him for his concert.
This bloke will go as far as his dreams take him, and I'm sure the journey will be mutually enjoyable for both the performer and audience!
Fa'afetai Lava, PJ!
G.
PJ has been our recording technician at OC for a number of years now - he was a secondary student at Aorere College and still sings in Terence Maskell's acclaimed Graduate Choir.
Tonight's recital was something special indeed.
PJ performed "Sound an Alarm" from Judas Maccabeus by Handel,
3 different settings of Shakespeare's "Sigh No More, Ladies" (Fisher, Keel and Bush),
3 songs by Faure (A Day's Poems),
Ah, la Paterno Mano, from Macbeth, by Verdi,
4 songs by Richard Strauss,
and Lensky's Aria from Eugene Onegin, by Tchaikovsky (this last was the aria with which PJ won the National Aria Competition in Rotorua about a week ago).
Right from the start this young man had his audience captivated - by means of power, beauty, expression, clarity and presence.
As might be predicted (especially with a student final recital), PJ covered a wide variety of genres, moods and style periods.
The heroic Handel, romantic British geezers, fluffy, wispy French sentiments, tragic and gut-wrenching Verdi, varied and high-powered Strauss and achingly, beautifully tragic Tchaikovsky...
PJ's versatility and communication skillsreached a climax as he moved from the sensitively hilarious reading of Strauss's "Ach weh mir, unglueckhaftem Mann" to the hopeless farewell uttered by Lensky to his beloved Olga as he prepares to die in a duel.
From the high to the low, PJ moved with conviction, and took us all along for the ride.
Every nuance of every word and phrase was captured by his voice (count 'em, FIVE different languages), and he knows how to "let it rip" when he wants to as well (the sheer strength of his voice was at times physically as well as emotionally overwhelming).
Afterwards I went up to say farewell.
I couldn't think of enough right words, so I (and he) settled for a hug instead - one of those big, powerful ones.
And then he thanked me for coming, and I thanked him for his concert.
This bloke will go as far as his dreams take him, and I'm sure the journey will be mutually enjoyable for both the performer and audience!
Fa'afetai Lava, PJ!
G.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
"Awesome" ad Nawseome
A gripe.
The more you repeat a word, the less it means.
The word "awesome" is such a word.
Awesome originally meant something/someone inspiring awe (= fear/terror/spell-bindedness).
Now we use it very casually, to mean "good", "nice", "cool".
Sometimes teachers or other encouragement professionals use it to push their charges just a little bit further in their endeavours.
For me, a sad thing is that it gets (ab)used in Church these days.
Far too often!
So we end up singing (brainlessly?),
"He's so awesome,
He's so awesome,
He's so awesome in this place".
Firstly, if He is "so awesome", aren't we doing Him a disrespect by repeating this mawkish lyric to the point of mindlessness?
Secondly, "so awesome"...
I mean, words fail me!
By the way, this is the song that also features the line "I've found where I belong I'm a living stone" - Dr Livingstone, I presume??
Why not "rolling stone"?
By the way, I think I once had David Tua in my English class in O.C. back in 1990..."O for Awesome" (he's a great guy, though, and gave me an awesome blue mohawk about 3 years ago!).
Enuff!
With apologies to the songwriter who wrote the above lyrics (we are all only human after all),
Gerald.
The more you repeat a word, the less it means.
The word "awesome" is such a word.
Awesome originally meant something/someone inspiring awe (= fear/terror/spell-bindedness).
Now we use it very casually, to mean "good", "nice", "cool".
Sometimes teachers or other encouragement professionals use it to push their charges just a little bit further in their endeavours.
For me, a sad thing is that it gets (ab)used in Church these days.
Far too often!
So we end up singing (brainlessly?),
"He's so awesome,
He's so awesome,
He's so awesome in this place".
Firstly, if He is "so awesome", aren't we doing Him a disrespect by repeating this mawkish lyric to the point of mindlessness?
Secondly, "so awesome"...
I mean, words fail me!
By the way, this is the song that also features the line "I've found where I belong I'm a living stone" - Dr Livingstone, I presume??
Why not "rolling stone"?
By the way, I think I once had David Tua in my English class in O.C. back in 1990..."O for Awesome" (he's a great guy, though, and gave me an awesome blue mohawk about 3 years ago!).
Enuff!
With apologies to the songwriter who wrote the above lyrics (we are all only human after all),
Gerald.
Super 12 Hello Goodbye
An event that I started last year.
An opportunity to greet new members and farewell old ones.
Tonight was "a bit" rough - seniors on exam leave.
Some beautiful performances.
Tevita's piece "Tears From the Sky".
Bridgit's poi.
Toni's uke solo.
Kakala and Esoto rapping and beatboxing.
The Dreamers!
Suli and Terina's duo - Ave Maria.
Starzya's a cappella "To Sir With Love".
The band "mix-up".
Sa'o's song.
Moira's performance.
Christine and Terina's originals.
A great, spirited, messy and fun evening!
Thanks, everybody!
G.
An opportunity to greet new members and farewell old ones.
Tonight was "a bit" rough - seniors on exam leave.
Some beautiful performances.
Tevita's piece "Tears From the Sky".
Bridgit's poi.
Toni's uke solo.
Kakala and Esoto rapping and beatboxing.
The Dreamers!
Suli and Terina's duo - Ave Maria.
Starzya's a cappella "To Sir With Love".
The band "mix-up".
Sa'o's song.
Moira's performance.
Christine and Terina's originals.
A great, spirited, messy and fun evening!
Thanks, everybody!
G.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
A Fun Weekend
Began Thursday evening with the Year 13 Graduation (apart from a road rage incident on the way home).
Continued with receiving the first Special Cake from Heather, celebrating 25 years of continuous service (minus six weeks after bowel op) (by the way, had a delicious carrot cake baked by L that afternoon)...
Fri am morning tea with Eileen and the Tech Crew and various "hangers-on" (Maria, Theo, Rosemary), at which the teaching cake was cut...
Fri pm senior prizegiving - once again the Head Boy is a bloke with a high Music profile (who this year has produced some excellent rap pieces), James Tomasi.
Fri ppm "meeting" with Lee at Burger King, where we made our plans for taking over the world (or at least developing music at OC).
Fri pppm party with GOOD FRIENDS who have known me long and supported us especially well over the last 8 months (including a reprise of the blonde wig and heels costume to the music of Hot Chocolate - you had to be there...) PLUS another gorgeous cake from Heather (photo appears on this site), this time for the 3 events (cancer battle, teaching and marriage).
Saturday - anniversary meal, cooked by Andrew, ably assisted by Sophie (who of course went all the way to look the part and set the scene and complete the dream) and Alexander ("they can't eat all that"..."McDonald's would be cheaper")...thanks, guys!
And NZ thru to the World Cup Finals of REAL Football...
Also visit from Carla and Paul, bearing gifts - Bill Bailey's "Remarkable Guide to the Orchestra", including "Cockney influences on Classical Music", tributes to Chris de Burgh, Bryan Adams, Prog Rock, and a "Belgian Jazz" lol version of the Dr Who theme (Docteur Qui)...you HAVE to see this!
Sunday - church (viola time), recital by Steven (his final - lovely Debussy and Rachmaninov in particular), worship leaders' meeting (we NEED sound tecchies!) and viewing "Brothers and Sisters" (tv drama with Mary Tyler Moore) and "The Staircase" (a rivetting doco about a death - was it a murder or an accident???).
Which brings us back to you and me here on the blogsite.
Time for a sleep soon!
Catch you later (tomorrow?),
Gerald.
Continued with receiving the first Special Cake from Heather, celebrating 25 years of continuous service (minus six weeks after bowel op) (by the way, had a delicious carrot cake baked by L that afternoon)...
Fri am morning tea with Eileen and the Tech Crew and various "hangers-on" (Maria, Theo, Rosemary), at which the teaching cake was cut...
Fri pm senior prizegiving - once again the Head Boy is a bloke with a high Music profile (who this year has produced some excellent rap pieces), James Tomasi.
Fri ppm "meeting" with Lee at Burger King, where we made our plans for taking over the world (or at least developing music at OC).
Fri pppm party with GOOD FRIENDS who have known me long and supported us especially well over the last 8 months (including a reprise of the blonde wig and heels costume to the music of Hot Chocolate - you had to be there...) PLUS another gorgeous cake from Heather (photo appears on this site), this time for the 3 events (cancer battle, teaching and marriage).
Saturday - anniversary meal, cooked by Andrew, ably assisted by Sophie (who of course went all the way to look the part and set the scene and complete the dream) and Alexander ("they can't eat all that"..."McDonald's would be cheaper")...thanks, guys!
And NZ thru to the World Cup Finals of REAL Football...
Also visit from Carla and Paul, bearing gifts - Bill Bailey's "Remarkable Guide to the Orchestra", including "Cockney influences on Classical Music", tributes to Chris de Burgh, Bryan Adams, Prog Rock, and a "Belgian Jazz" lol version of the Dr Who theme (Docteur Qui)...you HAVE to see this!
Sunday - church (viola time), recital by Steven (his final - lovely Debussy and Rachmaninov in particular), worship leaders' meeting (we NEED sound tecchies!) and viewing "Brothers and Sisters" (tv drama with Mary Tyler Moore) and "The Staircase" (a rivetting doco about a death - was it a murder or an accident???).
Which brings us back to you and me here on the blogsite.
Time for a sleep soon!
Catch you later (tomorrow?),
Gerald.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
More Good News!
At Green Lane hospital we waited next to a lady who described to 2 other ladies how her varicose vein had a way for popping up extra hard when she crossed her legs and then she could play with it.
Then a large man and his small son came and sat where they had sat, with him instructing his son not to tell anyone (the seats were reserved for oncology and haematology patients).
"What's Oncology?" asked the lad.
"Dunno" came the erudite reply.
Eventually we saw the doctor - not Dr Thompson, but a registrar type lady (still not sure what these different types do).
The scan shows that the tumour marker (the main liver tumour) has reduced further, from 19mm last scan to 14mm, which is half the size from what it was in about April...
The other tumours all appear to be stable at this stage.
So I only need to go back to a hospital for a checkup etc. in 3 months' time.
Here comes Summer!
Of course, if symptoms raise their heads it will be an earlier return.
Lois baked me a carrot cake.
And just before blogtime, Heather (Lois's sister) brought my 25th teaching anniversary cake over.
It's gorgeous!
Music icing round the outside, a healthy dollop of chocolate butter icing covering the rectangle, and key teaching words decorating the top ("sir, "passion", "paperwork", etc.)
It is the most thoughtful cake I have ever contemplated eating!
Thank you, Heather (and Lois for the yummy carrot cake too)!
So, in a nutshell, cancer not obliterated yet, but cowering in a corner for now, and I'll take that while I can.
Tearful farewells with our Year 13s today, and an amazing rap performance from the boy who at Yr 13 Graduation becaming Head Boy for 2010.
Aah. Music Teaching - a box of tissues should be standard issue (also an amazing performance from Barbara M, who sang a spinechilling song by Pink called "Dear Mr President" - a heartbreaking indictment of GW Bush.
From blogtime to bedtime, to dream of more assemblies, music and cake.
G.
Then a large man and his small son came and sat where they had sat, with him instructing his son not to tell anyone (the seats were reserved for oncology and haematology patients).
"What's Oncology?" asked the lad.
"Dunno" came the erudite reply.
Eventually we saw the doctor - not Dr Thompson, but a registrar type lady (still not sure what these different types do).
The scan shows that the tumour marker (the main liver tumour) has reduced further, from 19mm last scan to 14mm, which is half the size from what it was in about April...
The other tumours all appear to be stable at this stage.
So I only need to go back to a hospital for a checkup etc. in 3 months' time.
Here comes Summer!
Of course, if symptoms raise their heads it will be an earlier return.
Lois baked me a carrot cake.
And just before blogtime, Heather (Lois's sister) brought my 25th teaching anniversary cake over.
It's gorgeous!
Music icing round the outside, a healthy dollop of chocolate butter icing covering the rectangle, and key teaching words decorating the top ("sir, "passion", "paperwork", etc.)
It is the most thoughtful cake I have ever contemplated eating!
Thank you, Heather (and Lois for the yummy carrot cake too)!
So, in a nutshell, cancer not obliterated yet, but cowering in a corner for now, and I'll take that while I can.
Tearful farewells with our Year 13s today, and an amazing rap performance from the boy who at Yr 13 Graduation becaming Head Boy for 2010.
Aah. Music Teaching - a box of tissues should be standard issue (also an amazing performance from Barbara M, who sang a spinechilling song by Pink called "Dear Mr President" - a heartbreaking indictment of GW Bush.
From blogtime to bedtime, to dream of more assemblies, music and cake.
G.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Good News and Better News
Good news: I rang the hospital today.
They had received my blood test results from Labtests!
(Answered prayer number 1).
Better news: my cancer marker count is down to a staggering 54.
(Remember it was 4000 at start of Chemo...)
What percentage is that, you maths experts??
(Answered prayer no.2)
I mean, we call it "answered prayer" so often when it's something WE want.
If the 2 above events hadn't occurred, would my prayers still have been answered?
The next significant event is the consultation with the oncologist tomorrow at 3.30pm.
We will discuss the results of the CT scan.
So, to all those praying on my behalf, THANK YOU and DON'T STOP!!
I want to kick the little b....s well into touch (is that the right way round?) and be able to testify to the fact!
Today when I heard the good news I shared it with as many interested colleagues as I could find.
(It feels good to run down a school corridor even when you're a "senior" member of staff!!)
And now I share it with "the world".
Please, please, please also pray for:
Kath in Oz.
Bobby and Noel's sister, Sharmila in Hyderabad.
Sally's husband.
Carol-Ann's friend.
Barry.
JohnO.
Simon.
Margaret's daughter.
Colin.
...and anybody else who is battling with cancer, and their families.
A bit of a list, and you can probably add your own friends/contacts to it.
Pray for strength, hope, and light.
And I will give you further news, either "good" or "bad", tomorrow.
Love,
Gerald.
They had received my blood test results from Labtests!
(Answered prayer number 1).
Better news: my cancer marker count is down to a staggering 54.
(Remember it was 4000 at start of Chemo...)
What percentage is that, you maths experts??
(Answered prayer no.2)
I mean, we call it "answered prayer" so often when it's something WE want.
If the 2 above events hadn't occurred, would my prayers still have been answered?
The next significant event is the consultation with the oncologist tomorrow at 3.30pm.
We will discuss the results of the CT scan.
So, to all those praying on my behalf, THANK YOU and DON'T STOP!!
I want to kick the little b....s well into touch (is that the right way round?) and be able to testify to the fact!
Today when I heard the good news I shared it with as many interested colleagues as I could find.
(It feels good to run down a school corridor even when you're a "senior" member of staff!!)
And now I share it with "the world".
Please, please, please also pray for:
Kath in Oz.
Bobby and Noel's sister, Sharmila in Hyderabad.
Sally's husband.
Carol-Ann's friend.
Barry.
JohnO.
Simon.
Margaret's daughter.
Colin.
...and anybody else who is battling with cancer, and their families.
A bit of a list, and you can probably add your own friends/contacts to it.
Pray for strength, hope, and light.
And I will give you further news, either "good" or "bad", tomorrow.
Love,
Gerald.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Here's Hoping
So I went into the local Labtests testing "office" at 7am.
And approached them sotto voce.
Telling them my last blood test had disappeared.
Please would they do their best not to lose this one?
They responded with appropriate mortification.
And gave me 2 phone numbers to ring tomorrow.
Then it was off to Ak Hospital to have my portacath flushed.
I got another phone number to call tomorrow morning - I should have enough numbers now!
Tomorrow Alexander and Lois have the day off - lucky so-and-sos.
Sophie and I meanwhile struggle on gamely, trying to make sense of this game we call education.
And on Friday I celebrate the following milestones:
27 years' marriage.
25 years at the "chalkface".
8 months battling cancer.
Bring on the chocolate mud cake!
And approached them sotto voce.
Telling them my last blood test had disappeared.
Please would they do their best not to lose this one?
They responded with appropriate mortification.
And gave me 2 phone numbers to ring tomorrow.
Then it was off to Ak Hospital to have my portacath flushed.
I got another phone number to call tomorrow morning - I should have enough numbers now!
Tomorrow Alexander and Lois have the day off - lucky so-and-sos.
Sophie and I meanwhile struggle on gamely, trying to make sense of this game we call education.
And on Friday I celebrate the following milestones:
27 years' marriage.
25 years at the "chalkface".
8 months battling cancer.
Bring on the chocolate mud cake!
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Son's Day
Fred shared the story of his calling to our chuch today.
Moving and challenging.
Lois and I did some interview prep for tomorrow.
Exciting and a little scary.
I began rehearsing specifically for the Psalms Concert today.
Interesting, wide.
I wrote my first mini-analysis of a Bowie song (on this blog).
Satisfying, fascinating (for me!).
Came across more people with cancer today (more and more practically every day).
Endless, urgent.
Love,
G.
Moving and challenging.
Lois and I did some interview prep for tomorrow.
Exciting and a little scary.
I began rehearsing specifically for the Psalms Concert today.
Interesting, wide.
I wrote my first mini-analysis of a Bowie song (on this blog).
Satisfying, fascinating (for me!).
Came across more people with cancer today (more and more practically every day).
Endless, urgent.
Love,
G.
Blogpsalm 2
Burn my impurities away, Lord.
Burn all that is ugly, dark and dishonest.
Burn away my selfishness,
Burn and blaze against the Fear.
Let Your light blaze in me,
Shine and never dim,
Send the shadows far from me,
And I too will shine in darkness.
In You I have nothing to fear.
Not Death, not Sickness, not Hatred.
Leave me here to blaze a little longer,
Or take me to shine eternally.
Light,
Warmth,
The Fire of Love,
All are Yours!
Burn all that is ugly, dark and dishonest.
Burn away my selfishness,
Burn and blaze against the Fear.
Let Your light blaze in me,
Shine and never dim,
Send the shadows far from me,
And I too will shine in darkness.
In You I have nothing to fear.
Not Death, not Sickness, not Hatred.
Leave me here to blaze a little longer,
Or take me to shine eternally.
Light,
Warmth,
The Fire of Love,
All are Yours!
David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust - chapter 1 (Five Years)
The album was released in 1972, at the height of "glam rock".
Produced by Bowie, "his" guitarist Mick Ronson, and the then-ubiquitous Ken Scott.
Full name "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars", Bowie's first cohesive concept album - theme = superstardom in a dystopian society with only 5 years to go until the final meltdown.
Five Years majestically sets the tone of the concept, and the album.
The stripped-down rhythmic motif on bass drum, snare and closed hi-hat continues throughout the entirety of the song, with very few fills and little extravagance or indeed variation - on the video for this, the drummer, when filmed, appears to be almost comatose, and little wonder...
The song establishes Bowie as a masterful story-teller, in the vein of 60s Dylan.
He begins by telling us about a news report in which the reporter lets the world know that the Earth is really dying.
After this bad news, Bowie shares with us the visual and aural catalogue of events he sees and hears as he, presumably, walks down the street.
The song builds musically and lyrically, after a reflective pause at the end of the first verse ("I never thought I'd need so many people"...)
Strings enter, first subdued and sustained, but on later verses building through volume, pitch and rhythmic activity.
The chord progression (I, vi, II and IV) continues throughout (an example of Bowie being ahead of his time in terms of musical composition within the pop genre, unless you count the last part of the Beatles' She's So Heavy or Hey Jude), providing a similar unity to the drumkit pattern.
The chorus comes as the climax to the song, first sung, then shouted, as Bowie gets more and more involved in his apocalyptic message - electronic gurglings (once again, a reference to She's So Heavy) are layered on, and once the shouting stops all instruments fade out, save for the sparse drumkit, serving as a kind of heartbeat for the narrator (i.e. Bowie).
Significant features then are the use of rhythmic ostinato, the buildup throughout the song and the way in which the music underscores the lyrics.
Bowie often plays down his musical contributions to his own songs, but don't be fooled - this is Bowie at the top of his "game" and very much in control of his material.
Coming soon on "Bowie Reviewed" - "Soul Love".
G.
Produced by Bowie, "his" guitarist Mick Ronson, and the then-ubiquitous Ken Scott.
Full name "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars", Bowie's first cohesive concept album - theme = superstardom in a dystopian society with only 5 years to go until the final meltdown.
Five Years majestically sets the tone of the concept, and the album.
The stripped-down rhythmic motif on bass drum, snare and closed hi-hat continues throughout the entirety of the song, with very few fills and little extravagance or indeed variation - on the video for this, the drummer, when filmed, appears to be almost comatose, and little wonder...
The song establishes Bowie as a masterful story-teller, in the vein of 60s Dylan.
He begins by telling us about a news report in which the reporter lets the world know that the Earth is really dying.
After this bad news, Bowie shares with us the visual and aural catalogue of events he sees and hears as he, presumably, walks down the street.
The song builds musically and lyrically, after a reflective pause at the end of the first verse ("I never thought I'd need so many people"...)
Strings enter, first subdued and sustained, but on later verses building through volume, pitch and rhythmic activity.
The chord progression (I, vi, II and IV) continues throughout (an example of Bowie being ahead of his time in terms of musical composition within the pop genre, unless you count the last part of the Beatles' She's So Heavy or Hey Jude), providing a similar unity to the drumkit pattern.
The chorus comes as the climax to the song, first sung, then shouted, as Bowie gets more and more involved in his apocalyptic message - electronic gurglings (once again, a reference to She's So Heavy) are layered on, and once the shouting stops all instruments fade out, save for the sparse drumkit, serving as a kind of heartbeat for the narrator (i.e. Bowie).
Significant features then are the use of rhythmic ostinato, the buildup throughout the song and the way in which the music underscores the lyrics.
Bowie often plays down his musical contributions to his own songs, but don't be fooled - this is Bowie at the top of his "game" and very much in control of his material.
Coming soon on "Bowie Reviewed" - "Soul Love".
G.
The Other Side of the Sky (Book Review)
...by Arthur C. Clarke (what does the "C." stand for?)
A collection of short sci-fi stories by "the great master", etc. etc.
Features The Nine Billion Names of God, and The Star, amongst many others.
Clarke is dead now.
He was one of the early generation of sci-fi writers (NOT quite as early as H.G. Wells or Rice Burroughs, but the same post-war gen. of Asimov, Heinlein, etc.).
His stories are more about the development of technology, encounters with aliens, concepts of space/time travel than they are about character development.
You won't find the inner psychological angst eloquently portrayed as in Ballard.
You won't find fantastic landscapes with panoramic and brutal vistas, as in Frank Herbert.
And you won't find the humour of Heinlein (though there is a mildly dark humour running through most of these stories).
So, why read this book?
Read the book and be amazed by Clarke's prescience - his stories are of the type that you finish reading and think "hmm, a lot of this has actually come to pass".
Amazing prescience.
Seminal.
G.
A collection of short sci-fi stories by "the great master", etc. etc.
Features The Nine Billion Names of God, and The Star, amongst many others.
Clarke is dead now.
He was one of the early generation of sci-fi writers (NOT quite as early as H.G. Wells or Rice Burroughs, but the same post-war gen. of Asimov, Heinlein, etc.).
His stories are more about the development of technology, encounters with aliens, concepts of space/time travel than they are about character development.
You won't find the inner psychological angst eloquently portrayed as in Ballard.
You won't find fantastic landscapes with panoramic and brutal vistas, as in Frank Herbert.
And you won't find the humour of Heinlein (though there is a mildly dark humour running through most of these stories).
So, why read this book?
Read the book and be amazed by Clarke's prescience - his stories are of the type that you finish reading and think "hmm, a lot of this has actually come to pass".
Amazing prescience.
Seminal.
G.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Sitterdag.
Another beautiful day.
Very tempting to take these for granted, but recent weather has taught us otherwise.
Lovely to be able to spend all morning in the garden!
One thing I do with my teaching is play little games with spellings etc. on the whiteboard.
Yesterday, being Friday, was Jukebox Friday.
This is where the students and I play 2 or 3 songs/pieces and write about them.
Yesterday with my beloved Year 12s we listened to, amongst other things, Tchaikovsky (Symphony no. 6, 2nd movement, which has a 5/4 time signature).
So, as they gave their answers/comments I changed the spelling of their names (they get points for contributing positively, and lose points for "negative" contributions, e.g. talking while the music is on), where possible, so Toni became Tchoni, Kitea became Kitchea and Junior became Tchunior...get the picture???
Of course, sometimes the spelling thing becomes a little "unstuck" - I have had sessions with Year 9s calling out raucously as I deliberately misspell things like Hamony, Melodeye, Rithhim, etc. in order to get their points!
And on Friday I managed to spell INFLUENCE as INFLENCEU....uh, unintentionally.
This was in my Year 13 class, they teased me about it, so I had no choice but to retaliate and take out the RED (punishing) boardmarker and make an example of Issac and Herpert....
The teacher must ALWAYS remain in controll...lolll.....
G.
Very tempting to take these for granted, but recent weather has taught us otherwise.
Lovely to be able to spend all morning in the garden!
One thing I do with my teaching is play little games with spellings etc. on the whiteboard.
Yesterday, being Friday, was Jukebox Friday.
This is where the students and I play 2 or 3 songs/pieces and write about them.
Yesterday with my beloved Year 12s we listened to, amongst other things, Tchaikovsky (Symphony no. 6, 2nd movement, which has a 5/4 time signature).
So, as they gave their answers/comments I changed the spelling of their names (they get points for contributing positively, and lose points for "negative" contributions, e.g. talking while the music is on), where possible, so Toni became Tchoni, Kitea became Kitchea and Junior became Tchunior...get the picture???
Of course, sometimes the spelling thing becomes a little "unstuck" - I have had sessions with Year 9s calling out raucously as I deliberately misspell things like Hamony, Melodeye, Rithhim, etc. in order to get their points!
And on Friday I managed to spell INFLUENCE as INFLENCEU....uh, unintentionally.
This was in my Year 13 class, they teased me about it, so I had no choice but to retaliate and take out the RED (punishing) boardmarker and make an example of Issac and Herpert....
The teacher must ALWAYS remain in controll...lolll.....
G.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Terseday
An interesting day.
Yesterday Lee was out, Kirsty was in (sick).
Today Lee was in, Kirsty out.
Theo and I providing a bit of continuity...
Meeting of new and old Super 12s at lunch.
Thinking "a new journey is about to begin"...
Going to a new parents' dinner at St Cuths.
Partly thinking "wow, great opportunities for Soph here".
Partly thinking "if only our school could have the same vibe of expectations/striving for excellence"...
It's not about the money.
It's not about the resources as such...
It's about developing kids' potential, teachers' potential (not hamstringing us with, at least, dull administrivia and, at worst, toxic compliance dogma) and building a learning community.
To paraphrase a popular saying, "school isn't the building, it's the people".
The moment you move your school into a situation where people are not valued is the moment when the descending spiral begins.
Please remember that, Mr Key, Mrs Tolley and various principals (not ours) and executive officers who don't get out of your offices......
Yours (hopefully) provocatively,
Gerald.
Yesterday Lee was out, Kirsty was in (sick).
Today Lee was in, Kirsty out.
Theo and I providing a bit of continuity...
Meeting of new and old Super 12s at lunch.
Thinking "a new journey is about to begin"...
Going to a new parents' dinner at St Cuths.
Partly thinking "wow, great opportunities for Soph here".
Partly thinking "if only our school could have the same vibe of expectations/striving for excellence"...
It's not about the money.
It's not about the resources as such...
It's about developing kids' potential, teachers' potential (not hamstringing us with, at least, dull administrivia and, at worst, toxic compliance dogma) and building a learning community.
To paraphrase a popular saying, "school isn't the building, it's the people".
The moment you move your school into a situation where people are not valued is the moment when the descending spiral begins.
Please remember that, Mr Key, Mrs Tolley and various principals (not ours) and executive officers who don't get out of your offices......
Yours (hopefully) provocatively,
Gerald.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Woundsday
Just playing again.
Not actually feeling too wounded - actually not at all.
Best bit of the day was receiving very positive feedback on the Showcase (last night).
The Showcase was great fun.
I enjoyed watching the range of performers and performances.
Year 9s to Year 13s.
Kids starting off with hopes and expectations.
Kids finishing secondary and moving on to tertiary - the next phase!
Kids grown up coming back to check on the old school and see what's changed (nothing, really, if you don't look tooo hard...)
Enjoyed performing Eagles songs, and seeing the stunned/surprised look on peoples' faces when they received an award!
Thanks to all who contributed!
G.
Not actually feeling too wounded - actually not at all.
Best bit of the day was receiving very positive feedback on the Showcase (last night).
The Showcase was great fun.
I enjoyed watching the range of performers and performances.
Year 9s to Year 13s.
Kids starting off with hopes and expectations.
Kids finishing secondary and moving on to tertiary - the next phase!
Kids grown up coming back to check on the old school and see what's changed (nothing, really, if you don't look tooo hard...)
Enjoyed performing Eagles songs, and seeing the stunned/surprised look on peoples' faces when they received an award!
Thanks to all who contributed!
G.
Cancer! I Hate You! (poem...ish - not for the squeamish!)
You invaded my body!
You worked your way in from the inside!
And not just me, but also some of my friends and family - you never stop!
And you get your kicks by first of all causing fear....
(When will you visit us??)
Then pain...
(What was that agonising kick in the stomach?)
And you keep on growing greedily...one person not enough, one organ insufficient for your appetite.
And when you finally reveal yourself and are named you scare us shitless (in some cases literally)!
But I have news for you, my unwanted visitor (always the last to leave)!
You ain't gettin' all of me!
Your days of laughter, mocking and apparent victory are numbered!
While I/we (your numberless other victims) have life, breath, hope, faith, we will fight against you!
You may wreck a tea party or two with your foul manners, dark shadow and rude conversation...
You may crumble our bodies into dust as you cannabilise our cells and chew on our tissue and flesh and bones...
But you will not get all of us!
You may delude our mind, and invite sister Morphine into your hallucinogenic kabbal...
But you're really pathetic.
Because our bodies and minds are not the limit of our beings.
Try as hard as you want, make us writhe, twist, squirm, dance with Death...
But even after you have crucified us with your nails of pain
And buried us in your tomb of silence
We Will Rise!
Our Souls will not be crushed,
And our spirits will rise,
Will return Home (or perhaps come Home for the first time )
And the Door will be shut against you,
And the Rejoicing will be great.
We will be snatched from your jaws,
Either in this life or after it.
And our hope is in God,
And you have no power over God.
Any way you look at it,
You lose!
You worked your way in from the inside!
And not just me, but also some of my friends and family - you never stop!
And you get your kicks by first of all causing fear....
(When will you visit us??)
Then pain...
(What was that agonising kick in the stomach?)
And you keep on growing greedily...one person not enough, one organ insufficient for your appetite.
And when you finally reveal yourself and are named you scare us shitless (in some cases literally)!
But I have news for you, my unwanted visitor (always the last to leave)!
You ain't gettin' all of me!
Your days of laughter, mocking and apparent victory are numbered!
While I/we (your numberless other victims) have life, breath, hope, faith, we will fight against you!
You may wreck a tea party or two with your foul manners, dark shadow and rude conversation...
You may crumble our bodies into dust as you cannabilise our cells and chew on our tissue and flesh and bones...
But you will not get all of us!
You may delude our mind, and invite sister Morphine into your hallucinogenic kabbal...
But you're really pathetic.
Because our bodies and minds are not the limit of our beings.
Try as hard as you want, make us writhe, twist, squirm, dance with Death...
But even after you have crucified us with your nails of pain
And buried us in your tomb of silence
We Will Rise!
Our Souls will not be crushed,
And our spirits will rise,
Will return Home (or perhaps come Home for the first time )
And the Door will be shut against you,
And the Rejoicing will be great.
We will be snatched from your jaws,
Either in this life or after it.
And our hope is in God,
And you have no power over God.
Any way you look at it,
You lose!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Moondag
Just something I enjoy doing...
Playing around with names.
The situation at school is its usual frantic self.
Rehearsals, personal crises, impossible deadlines...
Getting things finalised for the Ultimate Showcase.
I have now got my new Super Twelve ready for 2010.
Many possibilities, many challenges...
Lois has a job interview coming up next Monday, for a job she would really like to get.
Meanwhile I have been practising Eagles and Green Day songs for tomorrow.
The school band will do Take it Easy and Hotel California.
The staff band will do "Wake Me Up When September Ends"...
From 70s country rock to 00s punk - it all happens at O.C.!
Playing around with names.
The situation at school is its usual frantic self.
Rehearsals, personal crises, impossible deadlines...
Getting things finalised for the Ultimate Showcase.
I have now got my new Super Twelve ready for 2010.
Many possibilities, many challenges...
Lois has a job interview coming up next Monday, for a job she would really like to get.
Meanwhile I have been practising Eagles and Green Day songs for tomorrow.
The school band will do Take it Easy and Hotel California.
The staff band will do "Wake Me Up When September Ends"...
From 70s country rock to 00s punk - it all happens at O.C.!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
What's the Haps?
A beautiful day.
Out in the garden - plenty of work to do!
Fixed the vacuum cleaner!
Me - fix something technical??
I told you miracles can happen.
Lois recuperating from law exam no.1 and prepping for no.2 (Alexander with his maths also).
Sophie - dressmart today (savemart yesterday to get pirate outfit - Lois's caption is right!).
To see the a cappella group from O.C. known as The Dreamers, either follow Andrew's instructions in the post Just Like Job, or go to google and search for Otahuhu College The Dreamers.
Worth watching - tho this is only about half of what they presented.
I have been booked in to do another Psalms Concert at 7pm on Sunday 6th December - remember, you heard (read) it here first!
Gerald.
Out in the garden - plenty of work to do!
Fixed the vacuum cleaner!
Me - fix something technical??
I told you miracles can happen.
Lois recuperating from law exam no.1 and prepping for no.2 (Alexander with his maths also).
Sophie - dressmart today (savemart yesterday to get pirate outfit - Lois's caption is right!).
To see the a cappella group from O.C. known as The Dreamers, either follow Andrew's instructions in the post Just Like Job, or go to google and search for Otahuhu College The Dreamers.
Worth watching - tho this is only about half of what they presented.
I have been booked in to do another Psalms Concert at 7pm on Sunday 6th December - remember, you heard (read) it here first!
Gerald.
Psunday Psalm
The sun shines,
Shines forever,
Warmth, light, power...
Colour!
Green, green and brown and shade and flowers...
Black, brown and ultramarine birds
Swimming through the air,
Singing, chuckling, celebrating -
A raucous, arcane and virile music...
Symphony of birds!
The earth, the sky, the sun, my heart,
Full of the Glory of God.
Shines forever,
Warmth, light, power...
Colour!
Green, green and brown and shade and flowers...
Black, brown and ultramarine birds
Swimming through the air,
Singing, chuckling, celebrating -
A raucous, arcane and virile music...
Symphony of birds!
The earth, the sky, the sun, my heart,
Full of the Glory of God.
Note From A Big Country (book review)
Yet another Bill Bryson book.
Far from ho-hum, though.
This one is a series of short articles originally written for the British Mail on Sunday's Night and Day magazine.
Bryson returned to the U.S.A. with his British family in the late 90s, and the articles are 90% comparative studies of life in the U.S.A. and the U.K.
They are, of course, largely hilarious observations, in the quizzical style we have come to know and love.
Which makes his article, "On Losing a Son" especially poignant - it begins by describing an idyllic twilight ball game with his young son, then takes us to the time where the Bryson family farewell the older son as he begins life at university.
Bryson writes:
"For the past week I have found myself spending a lot of time wandering aimlessly through the house looking at the oddest things - a basketball, his running trophies, an old holiday snapshot - and thinking about all the carelessly discarded yesterdays they represent. The hard and unexpected part is the realisation not just that my son is not here, but that the boy he was is gone for ever."
You needn't worry...the humour quickly bounces back.
I particularly enjoyed the article about getting a haircut...
As usual, immaculately written and packing a punch on every page.
Each article is only 4 or 5 pages maximum, so you can easily pick up and put down this book (a great bedtime read)...except that once you've picked it up, you won't want to put it down!
You have been warned (now bring on the Thunderbolt Kid)!
Far from ho-hum, though.
This one is a series of short articles originally written for the British Mail on Sunday's Night and Day magazine.
Bryson returned to the U.S.A. with his British family in the late 90s, and the articles are 90% comparative studies of life in the U.S.A. and the U.K.
They are, of course, largely hilarious observations, in the quizzical style we have come to know and love.
Which makes his article, "On Losing a Son" especially poignant - it begins by describing an idyllic twilight ball game with his young son, then takes us to the time where the Bryson family farewell the older son as he begins life at university.
Bryson writes:
"For the past week I have found myself spending a lot of time wandering aimlessly through the house looking at the oddest things - a basketball, his running trophies, an old holiday snapshot - and thinking about all the carelessly discarded yesterdays they represent. The hard and unexpected part is the realisation not just that my son is not here, but that the boy he was is gone for ever."
You needn't worry...the humour quickly bounces back.
I particularly enjoyed the article about getting a haircut...
As usual, immaculately written and packing a punch on every page.
Each article is only 4 or 5 pages maximum, so you can easily pick up and put down this book (a great bedtime read)...except that once you've picked it up, you won't want to put it down!
You have been warned (now bring on the Thunderbolt Kid)!
Jubilation (concert review)
Malcolm McA told us there was going to be an a cappella gospel choir performing.
Jubilation is its name, and it is currently touring the North Island.
On Friday they performed at Mangere East Metro Theatre at 8pm.
Unfortunately, very few Polynesians in the audience, which was pretty full.
Unfortunate because this is exactly the kind of thing most South Aucklanders would lap up!
So, marketing/publicity/etc. need to be addressed, because it seems such a waste!
Still, for those of us who were there, a terrific night was had.
The concert began and ended (sort of) with solos from Rick Bryant, a seasoned veteran of the Ak music scene (remember the Jive Bombers??No?? Where WERE you in '82??).
One of the very pleasant surprises for me was the wide variety of stuff that constitutes an a cappella gospel repertoire.
As well as the more trad numbers (including a raucous and dynamic rendering of "Samson and Delilah") we were treated to no less than 2 originals from the choir - "Learn to Forgive" by Rick Bryant and "First to Come Home" by Jean McAllister (Malcolm's sister).
Learn to Forgive is a deep, moving and true song - the kind Van Morrison would love to get his hands on (maybe the choir could send him a copy of their cd?).
"First to Come Home" is a rare thing - harmonically sophisticated and spiritually spot-on...sung and led by Jean...this is a song which grows on you as you repeat your listenings, so get the CD and explore it fully!
And...Tom Waits! "Come on Up to the House" (solo by Jackie Clarke, who is apparently quite well-known - a hugely spirited performer).
To sum it all up, this was more than a concert...seeing the way the group moved physically with their performance was refreshing - like the late, great Uncle Bob (Marley), they appear casual but are musically very tight beneath that appearance.
The moves flowed naturally from their singing, unlike the stilted mannerisms one sometimes finds with barbershop groups.
This made the separation between audience and performers (they were on a stage) frustrating...you wanted to get involved beyond mere foot stomping and hand clapping.
If you have not yet experienced Jubilation, get along to their next gig (I wanted to go again on Saturday night, but was prevented by personal concerns)...
At least get hold of the CD (go to jubilation.co.nz).
And if you attend a church with a bit of money (Destiny, maybe??)...you could get them in to lead a service!
Love,
G.
Jubilation is its name, and it is currently touring the North Island.
On Friday they performed at Mangere East Metro Theatre at 8pm.
Unfortunately, very few Polynesians in the audience, which was pretty full.
Unfortunate because this is exactly the kind of thing most South Aucklanders would lap up!
So, marketing/publicity/etc. need to be addressed, because it seems such a waste!
Still, for those of us who were there, a terrific night was had.
The concert began and ended (sort of) with solos from Rick Bryant, a seasoned veteran of the Ak music scene (remember the Jive Bombers??No?? Where WERE you in '82??).
One of the very pleasant surprises for me was the wide variety of stuff that constitutes an a cappella gospel repertoire.
As well as the more trad numbers (including a raucous and dynamic rendering of "Samson and Delilah") we were treated to no less than 2 originals from the choir - "Learn to Forgive" by Rick Bryant and "First to Come Home" by Jean McAllister (Malcolm's sister).
Learn to Forgive is a deep, moving and true song - the kind Van Morrison would love to get his hands on (maybe the choir could send him a copy of their cd?).
"First to Come Home" is a rare thing - harmonically sophisticated and spiritually spot-on...sung and led by Jean...this is a song which grows on you as you repeat your listenings, so get the CD and explore it fully!
And...Tom Waits! "Come on Up to the House" (solo by Jackie Clarke, who is apparently quite well-known - a hugely spirited performer).
To sum it all up, this was more than a concert...seeing the way the group moved physically with their performance was refreshing - like the late, great Uncle Bob (Marley), they appear casual but are musically very tight beneath that appearance.
The moves flowed naturally from their singing, unlike the stilted mannerisms one sometimes finds with barbershop groups.
This made the separation between audience and performers (they were on a stage) frustrating...you wanted to get involved beyond mere foot stomping and hand clapping.
If you have not yet experienced Jubilation, get along to their next gig (I wanted to go again on Saturday night, but was prevented by personal concerns)...
At least get hold of the CD (go to jubilation.co.nz).
And if you attend a church with a bit of money (Destiny, maybe??)...you could get them in to lead a service!
Love,
G.
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