Sun bear

This is the female Malaysian Sun Bear at the zoo. And this is breaking news. You heard it here first. She is preggers! Don't tell though, she hasn't told the father yet.

And I do have pictures of her front, but they seemed less relevant in this situation.

AND - this is embarassing. Since I had my babies every time someone tells me they're pregnant I get little tears in the back of my eyeballs. They don't spill over, and to I try to be cool about it. I was most shocked today when I got these prickly tears in my eyes when the zookeeper told me the bear is up the duff. Which is why I'm writing this now. Otherwise I wouldn't care about a bear. I wouldn't care if they were here or there. I would not talk about its smell. I wouldn't say it lived too well.

Enough of the bad Dr Seuss.

It has arrived at last

And here is our swish new cart. It bloody rocks. I was prepared to be a bit disappointed (because I can admit it now - it was a very hasty, random trademe purchase). It is bloody AWESOME though. Goes like the bejesus. Well, it might if we could plug it in.

It has a very lovely new trailer with a winch - which is going to save us DOLLARS in skip fees. And we could get a very heavy yacht now too, to lug around on it. Perhaps when I get my sea-legs we'll do just that.

The grinder had snapped off its legs. To be honest I don't care at all. So relieved am I that a) I haven't sent a big deposit into cyberspace for nothing and b) the whole thing isn't a big bag of pus.

It is perched in our carport at the moment (having shunted our last new toy onto the street - poor car). I think we'll get rid of the carport - which is ugly anyway and blocks the sun into our bedroom.

Oh it is all so exciting.

The picture is of Megan (our doyenne of coffee), Finn, Glen and Malo.

Russell Brown hits the town

I know all you clever people read Public Address, but in case you hadn't noticed I thought I'd point out this. I love Russell Brown and if I didn't have a breastfed baby to put to bed would definitely go along myself.

"the Great New Zealand Argument book tomorrow, when I'm sure it's in the shops (and yes, there will be a way for offshore readers to get it) - but for now, the Book Council is running an event for us at the Film Archive, 84 Taranaki Street, Wellington, 6pm this Thursday night. I'll make a speech, there will be a screening of David Lange's Oxford Union speech, and Jim Traue, Gemma Gracewood and I will discuss ideas arising from the book.

It should be fun and we'd love to see you there. You can get yourself a ticket ($15, $12 unwaged) by contacting the Book Council by phone (04) 499 1569, fax (04) 499 1424 or email: events@bookcouncil.org.nz. Get in there."

Trifle

Mmmm, take some sponge, some of Terry's damson plum gin, some home preserved plums, some custard, some cream. Very blimmin tasty.

Had to make something nice. Everyone looked decidedly underwhelmed with toasted sandwiches for dinner.

Elitist quiz

Name the era, and you can name every artist from
it. You've got an eye for design and a knack
for feng shui. Color schemes, architecture, and
objt d'art - these are all your forts.
What people love: You're the perfect person to shop
with.
What people hate: They have to clean their house
whenever you come over.


What Kind of Elitist Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla


Which is a bit scarily accurate I think. Although I don't care much how clean other peoples houses are - I just like to tidy mine before people come (although no other time).

And I'm enough of an elitist to know how to spell slightly better than the quizilla people., But I've left their commments unadulterated in case you might think I've changed my status from "beer swizzling moron" or something.

Coffee cart

And here is a picture of the lovely wee beastie. It comes with a trailer in case you were imagining us towing it along behind the car on those itty bitty wee wheels.

Coffee coffee coffee

Our beautiful cart is stuck in Auckland. The removal comapny seems to keep forgetting to bring it down - doh, the wha??

But we've engaged a supplier. Good Hutt peeps like ourselves - Ripe Coffee in Moera. They're rather fab, and have a rather fab wee cafe (if in a somewhat unlikely locale). We kind of thought we'd go with them, or with the People's coffee place in Newtown. Glen went into Ripe for a chat though, and they were nice, and said our coffee machine is the best kind, and gave us some coffee and cups, and you know, well, we like that kind of attention. So Ripe it is.

I'm getting really excited now. I've been reading a book by the people that set up Coffee Republic in London, which I think is like Starbucks (I know, crappola). It is very interesting reading though, from the point of view of market research and all that. They've done some. We haven't. Nevermind.

Still not sure about the name. I know it is just a wee cart, but this could be the beginning of our empire. More likely just the beginning of a bad coffee addiction.

More dancing

I'm not saying I wouldn't do it, however, I PROBABLY wouldn't do it.

Theresa Healey has done a Dancing With the Stars themed Briscoes ad. I'm a bit disappointed.

Dorothy's Dance Party

Anyone who missed the Wiggles - stop crying!

Dorothy is coming with her own band of merry revellers. I will be there, having missed the last 2 Wiggles concerts. There will be no Anthony, but Captain Feathersword will feature.

You can book at our favourite site here

They're playing Wellington on the 22nd July.

Today or Monday

Our cart arrives today or Monday. Can't wait. We still don't really have a plan. I think it will look nice on our deck though. Might have to get some decaf beans as I anticipate drinking A LOT of coffee and don't want to be completely WIRED.

So if anyone wants a coffee cart at their next occasion, Wellingtonist Party or whatever, let me know...

Bandwagon jumping

I am just going to jump on the bandwagon in a very shabby bandwagon-jumping fashion.

It is worth adding to what Em and Rosie are saying about Mr Cruise and Miss Katie Holmes.

Isn't it curious that Tom seemed quite okay until now? Well, until that Samurai movie - which I was FORCED to watch and was the most terrible film I've had the misfortune to view. Magnolia was great though, but maybe he wasn't actually being ironic.

Anyhow, to my main point. I want to know about Scientology and WHY? Isn't it sci-fi? Could this mean a cult of Dr Who being a possibility? I have being dying to see Battlefield Earth with John Travolta, but nobody seems to want to watch it with me, and I'm too embarrassed to get it out on my own.

And who told me about Tom Cruise's tool and his desire to keep it clean? Was it you Katie?

Sorry. Feeble post. No structure. No point. No pictures of Tom's tool - although who'd know anyway.

F is for Frustration

We are so very close to having a working pantry and laundry. Because we opted for the Mitre 10 cabinetry though, we have some work ahead of us before it is in.

And we're too old and tired to do it.

The schemer returns

Anyone who has read this blog for more than a minute will have realised that the author is a bit of a mad schemer.

Well, finally I have something concrete to report. Last night we purchased a coffee cart.

We haven't quite worked out the logistics of the thing. No idea where we'll plonk it, or what the council requires for you to plonk it anywhere.

We haven't got a business name, accountant or a business plan.

We need to suss out a good coffee supplier.

We need a small generator and a towbar.

We're very excited.

We welcome ideas.

Before they dance

Norm will win, or I'll eat my hat.

Saturday

So shall I tell you my Saturday?

Bit of a pissy day in Wellington. Apparent very early on that I wouldn't be bringing in the washing I hung out on Wednesday.

My parents came around first thing for a coffee and to see Malo crawl - bloody genius baby - he sort of started yesterday, and is fully into it today.

Then I primed the laundry/scullery area. We need a name for it, it used to be known as the annex, but now actually serves several purposes. I hate priming. It is the worst form of painting there is. To be honest, Glen finished up for me because it is so tedious and makes your shoulders hurt.

After lunch I painted the first coat. I was much less piker-ish about it, but Glen still finished the high corners.

Woolies followed. Lower Hutt has a fairly primo new supermache which is a tiny bit reminiscent of Moore Wilsons. But flasher - obviously, being the Hutt and all.

I had offered to cook some pakoras for a dinner party (that sounds a bit formal - dinner) we were going to. I swear I have lost my cooking mojo. I am normally a fairly competant cook, and I knew from word go I had a disaster on my hands. After a very soggy batch I managed to fry up something presentable - but I know that my mojo is AWOL somewhere.

Off to dinner, and very lovely it was too. I have managed to convince another friend that Petone is where it is at so now we have 3 lots of people within walking distance with whom we can drink. Did I say that? I mean talk.

At 7.30 we reeled down to the beach. The fireworks were stellar. As someone pointed out, they're all about sex really. They all look like sperms.

And home for a couple of quiets with friends and family and 4 yelling, overtired children.

All round a very excellent to above excellent day.

Gmail

What do I have to do to get gmail? How come all you tricky people have it and I don't?

God's Proofreader

I thought I'd never come across God's Proofreader. For one thing I don't read many very clever books these days, and another, if I do I usually borrow them off my parents. Imagine my surprise when I saw this in William Brandt's Alpha Male. There were another couple of pencil scratches - another similar offence involving a double possessive, and a query on the word 'mojo'.

I feel like I've hit the jackpot.

Snap Crackle Pop

Come all ye citizens to Petone.

This weekend is going to be action packed out here in the Hutt.

Snap The Settlers Museum is creating a photographic record of 24 hours of Petone foreshore life. I'm kinda inclined to think summer may have been a little more interesting - but I am sure it will still be marvellous. You need to pre-register by emailing settlers@huttcity.govt.nz.

Crackle Yay for fireworks. Kickoff is at 7.30pm on Saturday and Petone foreshore will ROCK. Last year was great, and dare I say that it was much better down by the pier?

Pop Shan't be joining in with this - although I think I'll watch. If you're a total crazy there is a mid-winter swim. For the more sensible amongst us there is kite making at the Settlers Museum. The swim is at midday on Saturday by the Heretaunga Boating Club.

Architectural term du jour

As used by my Arch 171 and 172 lecturer - Russell Walden - in the Dom Post today.

Rectilinear.

I shall use it daily.

It sounds a bit like rectal.

Bollywood dancing

I've had a million dollar idea, and you're not allowed to tell.

Wouldn't it be fantastic fun to go to Bollywood dance classes? I'm not sure there are any running in this neck of the woods, and I can see masses of potential for a franchise operation running them all over the world.

But lets just start here. Anyone keen? Think Basement Jaxx 'Romeo' video - funky Indian dancing with a line dance twist.

I'm a sucker for group dancing. You can keep your interpretive, tricky dicky Limbs dancing. Give me pink saris and jumping men any day.

Watch this space.

Dancing - almost the end

Quick round up.

Tim is gone. Not surprisingly. Man, people piss me off though, going on about his lack of dancing skills. THIS IS NOT A DANCE COMPETITION. It is a pseudo popularity contest with dancing as a vehicle to humiliate and celebrate.

Of course someone who can dance will win - especially as we have Shane and Norm who can. What the hell is wrong with middle NZ that they can't see that having Tim there made it funny and interesting? As I watched it last night I realised I was grinning from ear to ear just because Smiling Tim is so bloody hilarious.

I don't mind at all that he was voted off, and I imagine that he is pretty relieved too. Looked like bloody hard yakka.

I don't care now what happens. Although I must say that Nerida is looking decidedly hot - so there you have it Llew, she isn't too shabby after all.

And wasn't Jon Stevens good? I didn't know he was Frankie's brother.

Home again

Oh lord.

Well, we had quite a weekend. Finn had an ear infection last week, so we were a bit dubious about taking him on the plane to Nelson. He was much better by the end of the week though, and almost finished his course of antibiotics. Malo started being a bit peaky on Thursday, but babies recover pretty quickly so we thought he'd be all better after a couple of days.

You can see where this story is heading. We risked. Hopped on the plane on Friday morning with two snotty wee boys, and they just got worse and worse as the weekend progressed. My in-laws hadn't met Malo before, so a really charming first impression.

By Saturday Malo was quite feverish and had lots of nice diarrhoea. I took him to the after-hours doctor in the afternoon. The doctor asked about symptoms - you know, temperature, vomiting etc. I assured him there hadn't been any vomit. Anyone with kids will know that Murphy's Law is very cruel to parents. Malo about 2 seconds later did an exorcist style barf the length of the surgery. The doctor leapt from his seat and ran out the door. I thought this was a bit extreme for a man of medicine, but he came back with a nurse to clean it up shortly after.

The boys both showed slight improvement about 1 1/5 hours before we flew home.

We did have one great highlight. At the Nelson market there was a guy covered from head to toe in tats playing Sweet Child o Mine in Maori. Bit of G'n'f'n'r does wonders for the spirits.

And in case you're wondering, when my children are well I'll be able to stop writing about sick babies - until then they dominate my every move.

Jetsetting away again

We're off to check out the peeps in Nelson.

Will be back Sunday, so you all behave y'hear?

La la la happy thoughts

Well the last post is getting a bit sordid.

So here is an innocent, happy baby.

Lovely Malo.

Who'd you do?

Britney or Christina?

Tana or Ma'a?

Curly or Gail's ex - whattisname? Martin

Abba or the White Stripes?

Margaret Thatcher or Nancy Reagan?

I quite love coming up with these conundrums, and was just lying in the bath thinking of a few when I got to Michael Jackson. I couldn't come up with anyone I considered to be sufficiently comparable. I was even thinking of dead people, but I really don't want to advocate necrophilia, and I really don't want to know that any of you do either.

So who?

Modernist lamingtons

I thought I'd try a modernist approach to lamingtons. They seem to taste slightly better, with the appeal of curvilinear (see? nice) leather and chrome enhancing their intrinsic all round chocolately goodness.

Well I've got to keep going now

It would be wrong not to comment on Dancing with the Stars at this stage.

Can you believe Tim Shadbolt? He should go for some really well paid type election, because he can obviously win anything he sets his heart on. That said, it will be a pretty lame final if it is Tim vs Norm or Shane.

I reckon what the show is lacking is a street dance section. There was a dance show for pros (no, not that kind of pro) from Aussie on telly a while ago, and they had a sort of hip hop section. It was outstanding. Dancing types togged up in their version of hip hop gears - which as it turns out is jeans, braces and white singlets with a jaunty hat. Imagine Shane and Nerida, they could gel their hair, put their hands in their hoodie pockets and get down and dirty to some J Lo. Nice.

And big ups to Bernice. She is a very beautiful woman, and should have been paired up with someone cooler and taller. D'Artagnan, hello!

Okay. There goes my shallow post for the week. Okay, for the day.

Got nuffin

I am studiously avoiding the lounge, as there is something on telly I don't want to be getting embroiled in.

"Glen, I've got nothing to write"
"Laurence Delalalalalio looks like he's broken his leg and will be out of the tour!"
"That's nice, maybe we'll win"
"Not really, we want him to play"
"Okay, I've got nothing to write"
"Delalalalalio has broken his leg!"

How long is this tour?

My old desk does an arabesque

Workstation
Originally uploaded by Wanda Harland.

Cluttered house, cluttered mind.

Here is why my writing is a bit schizophrenic. I work in mayhem.

I shall never write my memoirs in this chaos. I need an assistant.

Wanda Shit in Car

"Wanda Shit in Car" was the latest bestest google search which ended up at Wanda Harland.

Some lucky punter in the States will be patting themselves on the back that they found me instead.

The Simpsons and study

Brilliant. I've just been able to use an architecture term from the Simpsons in my assignment. I think it may be the favourite word of my diploma.

The word is curviliner, and Marge used it when discussing Gehry's buildings.

I got my Art History degree using the word biomorphic in every essay I wrote - even when things weren't ie. "Mondrian refused to use the biomorphic forms that were popular at the time". You can pretty much use it anywhere.

I can't remember what word I used for my politics degree. It'll come.

For my Communications papers it was stakeholder. They just loved it.

Study

I'm finally sitting down to do my first Interior Design assignment, and naturally have to start off with a decent bit of procrastination.

Basically I can't believe one of the questions:

"The diverse and brilliant career of Charles'Edouard Le Corbusier is well recorded. Provide illustrations and comment on these two outstanding buildings.

*Villa Savoye, Poissy, France.

*La Notre Dame du Haut
Ronchamp, France."

Now maybe I'm being a bit precious, but in the good old days of study I remember so fondly, you weren't told someone was brillant and their buildings outstanding. You were asked whether they were brilliant and outstanding and why they were brilliant and outstanding.

I've got a feeling I know how to ace this course.

"Oh Corbusier was so brilliant and outstanding"

Good on you Open Polytech.