Thursday, March 12, 2009

First dog snog


Yep. It's the first day of my new class, so I'm blogging because my tiny tiny brain can't handle the fact that I've committed myself to 2 hours of talking about the predynastic period (5000-3000BC)in Egypt.

And it's in the same crappy lecture hall I've had before where pillars obscure the view of the screens. Most irritating.

Quick quiz - is there any point in having your ipod on shuffle if you spend half your time grimacing & hitting fast forward?

However, on a lighter note it's interesting to see that the Kent police force have been told off for playing the Hi De Hi theme tune at high volume to disperse protesters. That is borderline torture.

On a less cheery note, our beloved Prime Minister, Mr Key, appears to be taking the interesting view that the best areas to cut costs during the recession is the environment & pensions. So, if we're lucky we'll survive having not quite enough money to buy all the useless crap we don't need, but we'll have f**ked the climate & starve to death as old folk. Magic. Can't wait.

Things starting to settle down in the domestic realm - Jo & I have negotiated a 3-day week, so Tuesday & Thursday are family days when we'll do exciting things like go to the zoo. Or watch DVDs rented from the library ("King of Kong" & "Mis Pettigrew Lives For A Day" on reserve), depending upon the weather and how skint we are.

I notice that the REAL IRA are up to no good again; over here people are going all White Supremacist, though I don't fancy their chances (have you seen "Once Were Warriors"?). Are we really heading back to the 1970s?

The 9 day working fortnight is being introduced here too. Basically every private company that has more than 100 employees can tell their staff to take every other Friday off (no pay) & the govt will pay the employee up to $62 (20 quid) to compensate.

Ugh. I give up.

Saturday, March 07, 2009

All the fun of the fair!



So today is the annual Newtown Fair, which means a great big lorry/soundstage right outside and lots of goings on.

For some reason Green Street seems to be designated for selling old tat; on my return from this morning's dog walk I noticed we have the obligatory emo/stoner t-shirt stand, a snowcone stall, someone selling trendy babychairs and some junk stalls. Luckily,we also have the RadioActive soundstage (playing The Cocteau Twins a moment ago).

The remainder of Newtown's main thoroughfare is jam-packed with nick nacks, "art", clothing, FOOD, coffee, more soundstages etc etc. Even the French cafe has put out extra tables! The local school playground has transformed into a fairground and, of course, it's scorchio hot, so all the stall holders will get vicious sunburn.

We're venturing into the fray in about 20 mins. Wish us luck!

Sunday, March 01, 2009

I'll be brief



Mostly because we are off on a great adventure - i.e. walking down to the Basin Reserve & back to enjoy the glorious weather, but I thought I'd treat you to a couple of photos of Ben looking 1.) windy 2.) stunned & monkey-armed.

And those of you who worry that I am neglecting my family in favour of being online please rest assured that Jo is more than capable of kicking me in the arse if needs be and baby/mother sleeping time is tres handy for office time! Plus, I'm working now on my new courses so am a little tied to the pc when I'm not walking dog/burping baby/cooking lunch or dinner/stopping noisy baby from waking up his mum etc etc etc. I promise that, despite the hoofing great tattoo on my arm, I am a responsible & sensible grown up person. In fact I realised today, whilst out on a 5km run with Gert, that I haven't even drunk more than 2.5 glasses of wine in one go for more than a year!

In fact, I think if it wasn't the tattoo thing, I'd be the most sensible person in the world.

Oh, and to save multiple explanations -

- tattoo = cover-up of old tattoo from 20 years ago
- it's a combination of winged heart/star/personal reminders
- given half the chance I'd do more (slow deep breaths Dad...it'll all be fine)
- Jo likes it
- Jo doesn't have tattoos; she's a belly piercing girl
- this doesn't mean I will let your travelling kids get tattoos whilst they are in NZ

Now we're going into the great blue yonder!

love
S