Once upon a time

Once upon a time, the Scowly Teen was not so scowly. 

The end.

Tuesday Tipple

Greetings from the Land of Shaking and Not Stirred, rather like my cocktails if you think about it. I rarely stir them.


Yellow Bird


30ml Bacardi
22 ml Galliano
22 ml Cointreau
22 ml fresh lime juice
ice


Pour all ingredients into shaker, shaaaaaaake, (if you're in Christchurch this will be easy) then pour into serving glass. I'd use an old-fashioned glass with a slice of lime in the drink. Then I'd sashay on over to the nearest hammock and flop down, with one leg dangling over the side I'd gently rock myself to the bottom of the glass....before starting again!

Silent Sunday

Wistful Wednesday

Am feeling rather wistful today, no special reason really. The sun is shining, we had a flurry of snow for about 2 minutes yesterday, car was iced over this morning but all good now and no aftershocks that we have felt. Things should be on the up and up.

I've been fossicking about on YouTube lately, and have rediscovered a group I had forgotten about. I can't say they are a band because they aren't really a band, they are a group of Kiwi musicians who get together to play live only and as a result have varied styles whenever they get together so you can't even 'peg' them as any particular type. Here, have a listen to these two different tracks and you will see what I mean.

Laddles and jellyspoons - I give you "FLY, MY PRETTIES"....



Pretty good, and no brass section! You could imagine sitting in a groovy bar and having a grand time out with this group eh?

Now, try this one...this is for the wistful bit in me today. I think I will dedicate it to someone in the 'states who is going through a rough time at the moment. You know who you are!

Tuesday Tipple

How boring I am, I had to search out this topical tipple....looks like a nerve-steadier to me! I have to say that the aftershocks are subsiding, we get the odd one or two but they are now 'spaced out' and I think people are less on edge than they have been, I know I am!


So, I hope you've all got your torches at the ready, stout walking shoes nearby and a good supply of fresh water....kick back and enjoy this new one from OpShop. They would be one of my favourite Kiwi Bands (and not least because one of my friends 'discovered' them). This is a track off their new album.

Silent Sunday

Wellington Visit

A mere 3 days before the earthquake struck, I had the blessed fortune to be in Wellington for work. I stayed the night as I had 2 meetings, and took advantage of it being Pixie's birthday. We went out. yes, on a Tuesday night! On my way to meet Pixie at a bar, I found these ol' birds....

Later in the quaffing procedure we ventured past this old Lady of the Evening, once called Aqua Vitae, now named the GP...

and this poor ol' sausage, once a regal bank building and now a fast food joint.

These youngsters have no respect for the elderly!!

Silent Sunday

http://www.christchurchquakemap.co.nz/

I'll break my silnece rule for today, I figure if the Carmelite nuns had to break their vows of silence last week  ("Get under the doorway, Sisters!") then it's ok for me to do it today.

The above website is a cracker, if you'll excuse the pun. And so is this one, it keeps us up todate (incase we miss the odd aftershock) and helps with our scoring of them - yes, we have wee cards that we hold up score like and the one with the closest to the richter scale gets a prize! Play along at home!!

http://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/quakes/recent_quakes.html

Bye bye Chimney...

A bit of relief yesterday when the wonderful Fire Service boys arrived to push over our chimneys, we had been spending the week convinced that the next aftershcock would send them tumbling into either our bedroom or the neighbours bedroom! Up the ladder, one of the Firemen fastened a noose around the neck of the chimney. The noose was made of a fire hose, very McGyver! The everyone incluing us grabbed and pulled and over she went, Bruce. No damage to the houses at all and only a biot of a crack in the neighbours driveway and a few splintered bits on the fence, we couldn't believe it. But the Fire Service assured us they had done a few of these lately so knew exactly where to get it to fall.

The remaining bits of brick sit there like a sad tooth stump. It has since been covered and someone will be calling round eventually to sort it properly. Tally ho and off to the next chimney which miraculously they saved. Albeit the thing resembles a soldier form the Civil War the way it's splinted and wrapped but the Fire Boy reckoned it would stand anything that ol' bag mother nature feels like hulring at it! Great.

The kowhai is flowering. And without the worry of the chimneys going 'thump' in the night, we can sleep which means life is good.

Refugees

Spotted making a break from the earthquake zone...

Shaken but not stirred

Hey just a quick message, we're fine. House is a mess but we have teenager girls we can blame for that!

We have 2 chimneys that may topple any minute, depending on the aftershocks. Just got power restored hence we can get this message out. The size of the quake keeps being reported as either 7.4 or 7.1 depending on which station you listen to. Suffice to say, it shook like hell!!

Our fireplace 5 mins after the 'shake.

Our corner dairy, about 150 metres from our place.

Many roads around here like this, mud/silt/water everywhere.

We're very lucky, for some reason pockets of the city are not as bad as others. In some areas one side of the street is a bomb site and the other looks almost untouched.

It was super scary, The Stud and I could hardly stand, ended up crwling across the floor and being thrown against the bedroom furniture. The Scowly Teen and the New Teen were spooked, stuff fell on us while we tried to get to them. The Stud has an injured ankle but is fine really. I have an injured wrist but can still hold my wine glass!

Our backyard was awash as the pool did it's thing throwing water out. The rabbit hutches stayedupright (good news for when you immigrate Steve!)

In the city itself fire has broken out and shops have fallen over, lot of old brick buildings here anyway so wasbound to happen.

The after shocks are nerve wracking and have been up to 5.1 so you can feel them, although there are heaps smaller than that and some of us feel seasick with the motion. bridges have collapsed round the road from us, and the river looks murky!

Taking the cat on holiday

Many years ago now when I left on the traditional "OE" (almost a rite of passage for Kiwi's - the Big Overseas Experience), I was packing my case and took a breather.

When I cam back, my dear (now departed) tabby Lucy had obviously decided she was coming too! In this photo, to me she looks like perhaps she is dreaming of the places she will go, the mice she will chase and the other cats she will meet...and probably the food she will devour.

When we were kids my Dad made his own caravan and we had many a fabulous family holiday in it. One year we were going up the Coast, and were some miles from home when we noticed our cat (the now dead Tinker - a beautiful silver tabby) asleep on the top bunk, visible by a small window Dad had made in the 'van. We had to turn around and take her home again. I think we left the following day again, but without Tinker.

Thirsty Thursday

I've been away, scouting about the bars of another city! (No really, I've been away with WORK. But of course, you guessed that.)


Still, no time like the present to relieve one's thirst, I always say.


Rhett Butler


30ml orange curacao
30ml Southern Comfort
15ml fresh lemon juice
15ml fresh lime juice
ice
soda water


Pour curacao, Southern Comfort, juices and ice into a shaker...shaaaaaake, then pour into a highball glass. Top with soda water. Garnish with an orange slice and mint leaves.


Guaranteed to make you not give a damn, my dears.If you want to relive a real "Gone with the wind" experience, have this with onion rings.