The Social Network

On the weekend I went to see the movie depicting the beginnings of the phenomenon that is Facebook called The Social Network and like the doco "Exit through the gift shop" a few weeks earlier it was kinda horrifying as it reinforced that this generation, people seem OK with burning everyone around them for singular success and fame. I think I am turning into a hippy as I really would rather be broke than hurt a friend to make a penny. Worth a look though on the eve of Facebook launching their email competitor to Hotmail, Yahoo and Gmail. Also does have a great soundtrack and was extremely well cast - big ups for Justin taking on the devil role, much as I try it is hard to not taint the real person with the Characters they portray.

Tea of the month

On my wonderful holiday in the USA I spent a day at Disneyland and whilst there I purchased a fun tin of tea called Wonderland "Mad tea party blend" . It really is one of the nicest blends I have ever come across, with a light blend of floral's over an Indian black tea base. Now if only there was a Disney store in New Zealand so I could get some for my friends for Christmas.

Yay for flowers

I had a most unexpected, but very welcomed surprise arrive last night in the form of some pretty indigo flowers. I don't know about you but I rarely receive them, but they are one of my favourite presents so always sure to put a smile on my face.

Chocolate Shortage = Tragedy

read this

Chocolate: Worth its weight in gold?

I am now soooooo buying fair trade chocolate to maybe keep it coming as the thought of a drought is unbearable.

Woman to admire

I have just finished reading Theresa Gattungs book "Bird on a wire" and have to say it has been an eye opener on so many topics that to save words I am going to cheat and list them below:
• How strong the media's influence is on the public in NZ (and how often uninformed and skewed)
• How wrong we are to try and fracture big businesses
• How we need education on what makes this country survive and get behind those industries as a country even though they may be manned by the smallest population
• That I never want to be a CEO
• That the government both National and Labour make some major mistakes at times to win favour in what really is too short an election time-frame for any good legislation to see its true long-term goals come into effect
I would highly recommend this book as it covers many an interest from business, management, being a woman, promoting NZ, and so on.

Eat Pray Love and crash

I finally went along to see the movie rendition of a book I really enjoyed Eat Pray Love. I have to say there are actresses that are for men and ones who are for woman and Julia Roberts is definitely the latter.

I was very critical of the casting of her in this role but she was marvelous and captured the true spirit of the three phases the author went through so well. The soundtrack is also really good for lazy afternoons.

However in my rosy glow walking home I had the weirdest thing happen to me — I was run over by a bicycle - never thought that could happen — but it did and boy was it painful so I am now sporting a massive bruise on my butt and thigh and just when my legs had finally recovered form the 1/2 marathon :P

Sculpture on shore

Dad and I went along to the Sculpture on Shore exhibition today. To help support the Women's refuge and to get some inspiration. Turned out to be a mammoth amount of artwork ranging in materials, scale and subject although did notice two predominant themes of war and nature.

Most moving artist for me was Sean Crawford with two works one entitled "Ewe Me and the Bomb" and the other as pictured below "Dominion - Redux" which you could see was about our greatest export in the literal being sacrificed but on closer look it was made up of poppies so on researching the work I found their was a double meaning of the sacrifice of the men who fought in Gallipoli. A definite thinking man type artist and one to watch in my opinion.

Sean Crawford - Dominion - Redux

A couple of other favourites

Gregor Kregar - Twisting the Void 1, 2009

Cat Auburn - Stealing the luck of George Stubbs, 2010

Saskia Baetens-Van Gils - Rabbit Ascending Staircase, 2010

Windy Weekend

Is it just me or are beautiful blue skies just not quite as nice when they are accompanied by southerly winds?

Anyway been keeping busy with the job hunt and if nothing else am getting to know the lay of the land in terms of Marketing, Advertising and Studio's out there.

Friday tried to help raise awareness for the plight of the Whales and also had my first AK Samba experience having a go at the bells, which was alot of fun and much harder than it looks. Loved the body painted people as pretty brave in the cold wind.

Saturday went to the Auckland Cultural festival which was great fun watching the parade of so many different cultures and then trying lots of yummy new foods. The parade commentator was very naughty asking things like the pretty Thai girls to come closer so he could make a proper assessment and telling his colleague to lay off the sausages as his gut was already too big.

Change the present, change a future - Oxfam

At university I did my main written assignment on charities and at the time found that a few really aligned with my values. Some that really were making some positive changes in the world. One of them was Amnesty International and the other was Oxfam. I think Oxfam's fun campaign of making you able to choose your donation like a shopping experience is very original and smart and I love choosing between donkeys and ducks at Christmas as my support to them.

If you have not seen their Oxfam Unwrapped campaign check it out here.

First strawberries for summer

I managed to fill a bowl with strawberries from my balcony garden today. Can't wait to have them for dessert tonight. There really is no substitute for the joy of eating something you grew yourself.

My first half marathon

Last year I tried out my first 1/4 marathon so this year I decided to up the anti and give the 1/2 a go and I did start out training but with a trip overseas and a bout of bronchitis my last 6 weeks were a little low on it. None the less I made it to the finish and was really happy with my time as I improved on my rate from last year. It was also an amazing thing to get to run over the harbour bridge.

Hopefully next year though Adidas picks a slightly more boring colour as the high vis yellow was kinda yuk.

Only downer is hobbling round like a grandma so stiff and sore for the next two days.

I also managed to drag myself out for the always fun Diwali festival as the dance shows are always amazing, the food good and fed my obsession for firework shows.

Also really love the gates they have installed in the Aotea square.

Red and Lee Child

So in an attempt more for myself than anything to keep a record of what I read here is the latest book.

I just finished my second Lee Child book and even though it was totally out of order I still really enjoyed it I think he will be my choice for summer lazy days. This one was kidnapping and militia cults so quite exciting and weird.











I also saw the movie Red with the most amazing cast featuring some fav's of mine Helen Mirren and Morgan Freeman. A shout out to Bruce also as he looks amazing for a guy in his 50's. The scene where he hops out of the car and shoots at Karl Urban's character is simply amazing choreography.