On Sunday night Science Guy organised dinner at The Providores (Posh Kiwi Restaurant in Marylebone High Street) with our London whanau and the Lovely Nearly In-laws. Twas grand! Dinner was to celebrate the Ceremonial Receiving of the Carefully Posted Scroll from New Zealand University What I Studied at Post-Gradually. We had Craggy Range Sauvignon Blanc and Mt Difficulty Pinot Noir (you’ve seen Lord of the Rings* right? NZ is full of mountains so that we can name wine after them). The food was outstandingly good. But the best, most awesomest part of the evening was when Ms Wise said they have a secret stash of hokey pokey ice cream. And that turned out to be true. So Monday had a weeny bit of a delicate start. For which I received no sympathy. Bitches.
The day has passed in a bit of a blur. And I am a bit knackered. But I wanted to share a couple of things that are making me breathe heavily with excitement right now:
21.5.800 ~ starting tomorrow this project combines yoga and writing and community. Bea introduced Bindu to me on twitter a few months ago. And on Friday we Skyped. It was like meeting up with an old friend again. Don’t you love it when that happens? She is soulful, big-brained and laugh-your-tits-off funny. I am so excited to know her and to be a part of this project. If your writing need a loving kick-start, go sign up on Bindu’s site!
Marianne is a change-maker, peace-keeper, writer, yoga teacher and kiwi. I have been counting the sleeps until the 12th of June when 30 Days of Yoga starts. And of course because the world is small and beautiful, Marianne and Bindu are joined up for 21.5.800. So I received my yoga instructional videos yesterday. I love the idea of opening a doorway to being really present. Of letting my body, mind and spirit have a conversation, a dance: one that is supportive and gentle and shame-free. I am also a little apprehensive of what might happen. Of what being still might crack open in me. Once more with the fear… And once more I am walking though it.
A few months ago I considered paying out my phone contract so I could join the cool kids. I was (wisely) counselled into staying the course until June when the new iPhone was rumoured to be released. And today it was announced: glass and steel, brilliant quality screen, a squillion other geeky features (including a fucking gyroscope!) and this awesome face to face video call thing between iPhone 4. Just like Star Trek. Blackberry you are dead to me.
I bet the new iPhone smells like hokey pokey ice-cream.
*small confession: I may the only kiwi to have not actually seen any of the LOTR movies. Except for the last hour of the last movie that we caught by accident on Saturday night. Science Guy has read the books. Twice. So luckily I had my own human-wikipedia to answer all my questions. I could tell he was judging me.
Comments
You’re not the only Kiwi who hasn’t seen the LOTR movies. I’ve seen bits, but I’ve never sat down and watched a whole one. Frankly, I don’t have that kind of time. (However the bits I have seen make me think “Oh, New Zealand….so pretty.)
Also, I don’t like Hokey Pokey Ice cream.
Do I have to hand in my Kiwi patriot card now?
sas Replied:
Yeah I think there is some law. But then you love all the sporty stuff that I truly don’t get. So that probably gets you 3 points. Which takes you over the threshold. So you can stay.
It’s true, my love for the All Blacks knows no bounds. My love for Richie McCaw in particular…Wait, where was I?
Anyway…I also like Watties tomato sauce, so I think that increases my quotient too.
I’ve watched all the LOTR movies, NZ wine is the best (*whispers* it’s OK France, Italy, Aus, Spain and Chile, I change as appropriate), I’m happy to sound like I’m saying bugger instead of bigger *ducks as a can of DB Bitter is flung at me*, and I love sheep. Can I PLEASE be a Kiwi now?
Also, that ice cream looks bloody amazing and I want to jump through my ‘puter screen and eat it.
sas Replied:
we can probably get you a special stamp.
i think we need to do at least one yoga session while skyping. seriously.
i love you.
sas Replied:
i love that idea! yes yes :)
LOTR: You should watch it. Suspend disbelief and just f/fwd from Viggo scene to Viggo scene. I’m always getting him mixed up with Sawyer anyway. And has a big….sword.
sas Replied:
that may be the best freakin’ idea! will run it past science guy – if he ‘rebranded’ it viggo day instead of 9 hours of bloody hobbits day, I could be in.
ahhh, craggy range, right out my back door and down the road. Hmm Ms Post-Gradually, so about this skype session a deux avec ms wise?
sas Replied:
definitely! will check with ms wise and get a date :) YAY
I’m so bloody cold I can’t feel my toes. It is hailing outside and it’s been less than 6 degrees today. And you get to eat hokey pokey icecream.
To say I’m jealous would be a MASSIVE understatement. It looks soooo good….
sas Replied:
Oh I know! We had such a seriously shit winter. It lasted about 87 weeks. I hear there has been loads of rain and hail at home? blergh.
Megan Replied:
Rain. Hail. Cold, cold southerlies. But, out my window now, I see blue sky. And I am holding on to that for as long as it lasts. Cos…well, this winter thing is painful, thus far.
I broke down and ate some ice cream the other day after wanting some for weeks. It looked a LOT like this one. The sun is shining today after rain and more rain. Everything is green, which is the plus side of all that rain.
That icecream. I am slobbering over the keyboard. Not.a.pretty.sight.
Congrats on the certificate of goodness.
Mel, DJan – ice cream is amazing isn’t it?
It’s the great leveller as its impossible to be pompous eating anything out of a cone ‘look ma, no hands!’
That dinner sounds absolutely brilliant. I must go there!! Gutted you didn’t send any hokey pokey, but @matkiwi says he has a supply of pineapple lumps at his Dorset restaurant! Tis worth a look! x
Hello! I’ve stumbled upon your blog, and have been reading some of your posts, you have such a lovely writing style!! And it was a nice surprise to read of New Zealand mentioned upon here (it’s where I am). I didn’t think that NZ food would have been unique enough to earn it’s own restaurant…