I love this wee place! Looks like Stuart Little's house in the movie..this is actually a bar in Wellington, sandwiched between all the high-rises it has a character all of its own.

I have returned from Dannevirke. Intact. I had an adventure because I got lost (due entirely to the directions I was given by the Avis Rental car chap at the Palmerston North airport), and it took me ages to get there. I should have known really, it all started when the plane was delayed "because of operatonal requirements" (translation = we haven't got a captain to fly the plane but we will get one), then when i got to Palmserton North the Avis counter was unattended as by now it was after hours. THEN I got lost, and it was dark, raining...you get the picture.

However, I then had a very creepy encounter at the takeaway place I chose..yes, the fact that it was called Bollywood Stars and the guy behind the counter had one of those porno-moustaches should have alerted me but I was tired and hungry (shades of Goldie Locks, I hear you mutter). I managed to escape with my Butter Chicken into the crazy-rain night.

The next few days I spent doing a safety audit at one of the meat processing plants. Very tidy place too considering. I had a good time and my meal that night was great...at a place called The Black Stump Cafe. I had the Anguspure steak (blue). Seemed a shame not to.

Two words for you today....Champagne Sour.

I am going home tonight and am going to make myself one of these. If I'm a good girl, then I may well have another (yes, Old Cheeser, I'm a slow learner!). In case anyone wants to join me in this debauchery, take 1 sugar cube, 1 tablespoon lemon juice and plop into a champers glass. Top it up with bubbly. Relax and enjoy the un-wind that is known as FRIDAY!

I am away for work next week, hopefully by the time I get back I will have heard back from at least one of the many web designers I have contacted to get an upgrade of our work web site. It is in such a crappy state I am embarrassed by it. The boss has given me the job of finding someone to do this for us, so far I would have had more luck finding rocking horse shite!!

Well, there you go. As promised a few days ago, managed to dig this up. I took this photo probably around 1969 or 1970. It shows a Maori canoe, very, very old even back then. From memory it was not very deep and I recall wondering how many it would seat and how it would stay afloat (given that most of the locals I had come into contact with were rather portly). Anyway, I was only about 8 or 9 at the time.

This photo has reminded me about how lucky I was I guess that my parents gave us such a rich and exciting childhood. I had no doubt that my parents loved me and my brothers (even if today my brothers may consider me a product of the "middle child syndrome"- ha!) It got me thinking about how much I love my own kids (and even more so when I watch them sleeping, why is that?) But I get all "welled up" sometimes when I peek in on them before I go to ned myself at night (yes, every night), fast asleep, looking so defenceless and harmless and cosy and TRUSTING. It got me thinking and wondering how it is that some folks abuse these tiny people, how some kids have such a rotten childhood if they are lucky enough to even get out of it alive. There has been so much child abuse reported by the media in this country lately - please, if you do nothing else tonight...hug your kids, tell them they are a loved and cherished part of your life, and for goodness sake SHOW THEM the same. Future generations will thank you for it.

Here endeth my rant. Normal transmission will resume next blog.

Some years ago now I stumbled across a Highland Pipe Band playing in a local park. This young lad in the foreground obviously didn't share the enthusiasm. That evening, it was a very grand sunset. Gotta love this country!

Monday. Back at work. However, thought I would inflict this on you...it has already been published by the NZ Listener a few years ago. My 15 seconds of fame.

Waitangi, Chatham Islands 1969
- Amanda Stephens ©

Across the fractured road
Mr Daymond has hung
A sheep in the arthritic
Limbs of his pine tree
Overhead gulls circle
Screaming their warnings
To expectant sparrows
Waiting like popping corn.
It’s a February day but
Summer has slept in
A novice wind plays with our
Hair and scuttles down the road,
Past the green Police Station house
And out over the sober bay
Where waves casually claim the shore
To the left, fishing boats lined up
Like school children, jostle against
The despondent splintered wood
Of the wharf……
The Island has chosen
Early retirement today.

I must dig about and see if I can find some old photos from those days. They will be in original black and white and quite possibly taken on my first camera..an ol' Box Brownie which I still have stored in my wardrobe.

I like this blog business, took a while to get into it but its really like being on a big bus ride, sometimes over-hearing the conversation of others and contributing when deemed appropriate. Of course, ever mindful that one might get a biff in the ear or told to mind their own business, or even a cyber-hug of some form or other. Happy Monday, fellow travellers. Its a great day to be up and about.

Don't you love birthdays? yeah, well maybe if you didnt have about 25 of them in one month. What is it about August, oh yes that's right...must have been a wet November. So to speak. (Blush, I am really the shy and bashful type).

Have just got home from celebrating a mates 49th birthday (say it fast and it doesn't hurt). What fun. Our rugby team won (Canterbury beat Wellington 43-21 for those in the know) and it hasn't rained for about 6 hours. Fun indeed.

Thought I would show off a bit of Christchurch...the pic on the left is of a sculpture in our town square, the other I took during the Chinese lantern festival earlier this year...the punter just snuck outta the shadows (Soprano style) as I took the picture. My photographer mate tells me I could have added the Monet effects after the pic had been taken except it was there "au naturelle". Lucky me, or as my Engrish teacher would say "You lazy" (yep, she mitta bin Chinese). Anyway, am going to take the gals swimming tomorrow, its the best way I know how to get an hours uninterrupted reading. And I have been to the library and got 3 books out. I am going to read myself into a stupor for the next few weeks. Starting with Mil Millington's "Love and other near death experiences".

Don McLean, thats what I'm listening too. Flashback Friday and I wasn't able to find the photo I wanted for that. So, the PC savvy computer kid in my house found this graphic instead. Wish I was 12 again. Which reminds me, what age would YOU be if you didn't know how old you were?

By the way, do check out my old neighbours website (link on the right) NAKED ART. They are very clever people and I really miss being next door to them, and popping in for a coffee but ending up with a wine (well, I didn't like to be rude). The business got too big so off they went.
Also, since I am in an indulgent mood my old mate Chris the photographer gets an honourable mention. You are an inspiration to me and my wee camera, Chris old bean!!

Phew, there is somebody out there (thanks - you know who you are!).
Yes, the ol' "ex" thing has occupied my time lately. Am surprised how much so. Then I decided its a waste of energy. The what ifs don't matter and THEN I had the horrid thought that I may have just grown up. Afterall.
As Dr Suess says
" You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself in any
direction you choose"

So, there we have it. I'm off and away and who knows where I'll stop. My grateful thanks to Pixie ( and you really must check out her review of King Lear) and my dear friend Cinders for listening to me prattle and wail. Turns out it was about me after all! Who knew! I owe you more wine than I'm sure we could drink (altho' I'm certain we would give it a fair shake).

This photo is taken from the main road through Dobson (West Coast, South Island, NZ) - it shows a wind named "The Barber" (obvious if you have the misfortune to be outside in it, very cutting); I love it. Mix it with that coal dust odour and the sunshine and I'm sure there would be a great cocktail in the making.

By the way, I know I am new at this but geez...I really feel like I am talking to myself. Is this the way it is? Am I really boring? I can talk about what its like to have my best friend get it on with my ex...would that get you talking to me?? Honestly, that would be great, cos she ain't talking to me...hey, he's MY ex..she knew that, right? And I am soooo over it....

When I wake up in the morning, my "baby" will be years old.

She is so excited I have almost forgetten how sick I was 10 years ago, how scared I was that we would both die, that maybe her dad wouldn't get to us both in time. Thank gawd for modern times eh?

We all made it.

Am listening to Bob Dylan, his "Modern Times" album and its stirrin stuff. Maybe "gulping" stuff but I have cheap red wine and one shouldnt gulp that!!

I have returned from the 'naki. Went toHawera and had a peek at the meat processing plant here plus the HUGE Fonterra dairy plant. the scariest thing was climbing the Water Tower. Honestly, I really thought that I had got over my "thing" about heights. No. I do have pix of me clinging to the Towers' innards but they ain't for publication. get your thrills elsewhere. I am sure I don't look that terified anyway. No. I don't. Not at all.

Next week.....