19/12/12: The Paquins

I went and picked up the boys of Paquin from the airport. They were playing a show later that night at the San Francisco Bath House and I was their chauffeur for the day.  There are usually a lot of laughs with these cats and today was no exception.  It was lovely to hang out with my ol' buddy Stu, who I heart very much.

I had to say goodbye to another pal, Robbie, this evening. Robbie lives in Melbourne and that's quite far away so I don't see him very often.  Robbie told me some stunning jokes and gave me some great hugs.

My picture today is of my ol' photogenic buddy Stu:

18/12/12: Jo

After doing another day of recording I went to the airport and picked up my baby sister Jo who is in Wellington for Christmas.  I took a picture of her in front of Voldemort:

17/12/12: Recording Songs.

I've got half a dozen songs floating around in my bedroom that have never found a band to play them.  I thought I'd tie them down into a recording so I've been heading in to school and laying down some sick beats.  Arrangements tend to consist of drums (played averagely), bass, acoustic guitar, and then about a thousand vocal overdubs.  I'll put up my efforts one day.

16/12/12: Kaimoana

Danny and I went out for another swim round by Wahine Memorial Park, near Moa Point. 

Danny managed to get some kai.  These are the tasty friends below.  Then Danny cooked them and we ate them and they were delicious!  Thanks, tasty friends!  You were appreciated.

Note:  we did not eat the seaweed.

15/12/12: Bottle flu, and my friends play cricket.

I woke up with a pretty severe bottle flu after having a bit too much fun the night before at a super-villain themed party.  For some reason I'd stayed up partying till about 4.30 in the morning.  The sky was starting to get light on the walk home.  Ugh.

It was now 2:30pm and I was still in bed.  I got a text from Danny that he was going in to bat soon so I hightailed it to Ian Galloway Park in Wilton to see the action.  I'd already missed Eamonn batting, but I was able to see Danny's innings.    

 Danny's forward defensive stroke.

Some variety of cut shot.

This was me the night before at about 4:30am.  Ugh.

14/12/12: Shifting an Organ, and Morrissey.

As I mentioned in my last post, John is leaving Wellington.  I am going to miss him.  Not only is John an amazing multi-instrumentalist (Drums, Guitar, Bass, Keys - anything else you throw at him), he is also a wonderful person.  Perhaps it's his unique sense of humour.

On this day John was moving his things out of his flat.  He asked me to help him move some of his possessions out to Chris-and-Emma's place in Titahi Bay where it could stay till he was able to move it to Dunedin.

It was mainly this organ
that he needed help with.

We borrowed Jim-and-Claire's car (towbar), and got a trailer.  We also had Jim-and-Claire's dog Tui with us for the fun.

That evening, Logan and I attended the Morrissey concert at the Town Hall.  It was a religious experience. 

He played for 90 minutes.  Amongst the set of his solo stuff were six Smiths songs (Shoplifters of the World Unite, How Soon is Now, I Know it's Over, Please Please Please let me Get What I Want, Meat is Murder, and Still Ill).  Significant tingles occurred in the vicinity of my spine during I Know it's Over.

13/12/12: Snorkeling Twice

It's amazing how I don't look at all like a dork in this photo.  I just look nothing like a dork.

Snorkeling with a wetsuit is amazing.  For most of the year the water around Wellington is too cold to swim in without a wetsuit. Since I've never had a wetsuit, I have not been able to swim in the water around Wellington for most of the year.

Wetsuits are a bit of a catch 22.  They are expensive, which means I'm not going to buy one unless I know how awesome they are to wear.  But if I don't buy one then I'll never know how awesome they are.  Is that a catch 22?  I think so, but tell me if it isn't.  I think it's a catch 22 which I've made a meal of explaining.

The way to go is to borrow a friend's wetsuit, which I did.  Twice.  In one day.  Two different friends. Things are better in twos.

Snorkeling around the rocks of the south coast is great.  I found it to be a very peaceful experience.  It felt like I was on a drug trip and I'll explain why.  Under the water there is a lot of sea plants growing on the rocks.  It's kind of like floating through a garden.  Fish swim in and out and around the plants and they are kind of like the birds in the underwater garden.  It's like another world.  I think I'm going to buy a wetsuit. Thanks to John for giving me a go in his wetsuit in the afternoon, and thanks to Danny for the evening wetsuit lendage.

This is John. He's leaving Wellington.  I'll miss John.