Entries from February 2005 ↓
February 14th, 2005 — What I'm reading
Thought I’d try out a new stream of rambling about what I’m reading. Although it may prove to be more revealing than a blog!
Right now I’m onto the latest Patricia Cornwell – Trace. It’s the 13th in her Dr. Scarpetta medical examiner series, I’ve read all the others in order and over the last few years Cornwell has been my all time favourite author.
Before starting my current book, I spent time over 3 weeks devouring Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic series. I’d never heard of them and was lent the books so I read all four in the series in a row! I was addicted. Absolutely marvellous trash about a woman with a credit card who just can’t stop herself from shopping. Hope there’s a 5th coming soon …
February 14th, 2005 — Random thoughts
I was asked very directly by an Aucklander today why it is I like Wellington. When put like that I was almost stumped for words and as a result has been the cause for much thought over the last couple of hours since I was asked. If I were to answer straight off, not based on comparison with any other place some of the things I’d say:
- it’s familiar in terms of places and people and I’m building a history for myself here having lived here 3-years shy of half my life
- whether summer or winter there’s no more stunning a blue than the blue the sky here gets
- coffee snobs and cafes
- the city scape directed by hills and water
- it’s a city but it’s compact enough to feel cosy if you’re in that kind of mood
- and some specifics: Fuel, Civic Square, the waterfront, Capitol, Nikau, Moore Wilson’s, fireworks on the harbour, The Terrace …
See? Kind of a hard question to answer. I just love it.
February 14th, 2005 — Orange
Judging from photos I’ve seen on the web, Central Park in New York is looking stunning right now – and orange. Against the stark winter background, winding its way along the park’s paths, is a trail of orange ‘gates’ with orange pleated fabric hanging off each one. It’s a piece of art by Christo, unveiled on Saturday and scheduled to be dismantled in 16 days time.
From nytimes.com
“The giant $21 million art project “The Gates“, which had already filled the park’s 23 miles of pathways with thousands of saffron-colored portals, blossomed yesterday at 8:31 a.m., just as the artist Christo and his wife, Jeanne-Claude, had planned.
Each and every one of the 7,500 gates had the same cocoon of fabric, and after Mr. Bloomberg had unfurled four more, workers (hired and paid by the artists) fanned out through the park to complete the job.
By midmorning, the park’s circulatory system had taken on the bright color of veins twisting and twirling against the gray-and-brown backdrop of midwinter. The pleated nylon fabric pulsed and swayed at the whim of a 12-mile-an-hour wind – not strong enough to make it snap like a spinnaker on an America’s Cup challenger. The color was almost as fiery and fierce as the sun that had risen a couple of hours earlier.“
I must say I’m completely mesmerised by the whole thing. The photos and the concept. I have a photo hanging on my wall already and my eyes keep straying to it. I got goose bumps when I first saw the slide-show of photos on nytimes.com and I’m now completely distracted …
(By the way, 1.089 million yards is 995 781.6 metres).
… and my favourite …
February 13th, 2005 — Orange
February 8th, 2005 — Out and about
I’ve just had a lovely hour – coffee and a chat with an old friend of mine who I haven’t seen in about 2 years. She’s from a ‘previous’ life of mine and it was incredible to look at her face and hands and gestures and expressions and realise how familiar and ingrained they are to me. It’s amazing as well when you try to sum up 2 years how many big things can happen in such a short time-frame. Anyway, warm fuzzies for me right now 
Oh, and we met at Espresso Republic on Featherston Street – they use Mojo coffee, I had a latte which had too much nang but otherwise the flavour wasn’t too bad and a yo-yo bikkie so they definitely get snaps for a) having bikkies and b) having ones small enough that you can actually finish it.
February 6th, 2005 — Work
I love summer stone-fruit: nectarines, apricots, plums… although things get rather tricky at work. I don’t mean squirty juice – I’m quite good with that anyway. I mean the bits that get stuck in your teeth. I have started a routine of having to rush to the bathroom immediately after eating to check my teeth. Lucky I checked just before … post Black Doris plum … it looked like I’d just recently ripped someone’s heart out and eaten it! Roll on apple season…
February 6th, 2005 — Orange
Great fireworks photo – taken by a professional (thanks stuff.co.nz) – and it’s orange
February 6th, 2005 — Random thoughts
I was surprised to see another article in the Sunday Star Times magazine today about people who choose to be childfree. It was centred around woman who are full-time Aunties, in other words they enjoy the children of their siblings or friends, often looking after them and having them stay, but they choose not to have children of their own. Statements referring to the childfree as perhaps not ’women born with a maternal instinct by-pass’ or ‘having a disease that can’t be cured’ might be a sign that this status is becoming more acceptable.
February 6th, 2005 — Out and about
A couple more scorching days. We spent yesterday down at Oriental Parade where the beach scene was like a European holiday spot:
Later on in the evening we were treated to huge fireworks for Chinese New Year:
February 3rd, 2005 — Orange
Just saw a dozen guys in absolutely fluoro orange shorts and shirts … why oh why didn’t I have my camera with me? The Rugby Sevens brings out many interesting groups of people, often wearing orange (!) so will have to park myself at Fuel tomorrow morning – with my camera – and watch them all making their way to the Stadium.
