Florence and the Machine

I am soooooooooo excited as tonight I get to see three great musicians live and the sky has turned blue and its not even too cold so working out brilliantly. I have to post a generic pic for now as the venue doesn't allow cameras but will try and get atleast one or two sneaky iphone pics.

1st Naked and Famous
2nd The Drums
Last but not least Florence and the Machine

plus as the venue is out west I thought I would go westie rock-chick so have on all my black clothes. Think Outrageous Fortune but with slightly longer hemline.

She was as awesome as hoped and the venue is not half bad either as first time for me. Can't wait for the new album sounds much more bassy. Loved her hippy, fluid dancing and the harp was very dreamy.

Catchup photo style

What I have been up to over the last two months in pics:

Cabin Getaway to Ruakaka, Northland NZ - was so tranquil and the ultimate break

My first opera on film Armida and my first live opera The Marriage of Figaro - both amazing performances I am hooked

 Saw the play When the Rain stops falling - very moving and free tickets even better

Fish and Chips at Muriwai Beach - Love this place

Field Days, Mystery Creek Waikato - Lets just say am a city girl through and through - was good to give the gold gumboots the mud test though and they came up well.

Deep Hard n Funky - Dancing like its 1999, so much fun I am hooked again so Chemistry here I come

 Sarah Laurie - Inspiring Life Coach Seminar

 Twilight 3 movie Marathon - had to be done and was a fun night but hard to stay awake till 3am - loved the books and enjoy the movies if only we could pretend the books were not based on teenagers and have some spunky older actors

 Fashion Museum Launch - So inspiring, if you have money please get this great idea going

Bitchin Bingo - Have not had so much fun in ages, can see why the oldies love it

Configure Express - So I joined a gym - yikes and sorry no pics of this ever

Dinner at The French Cafe - As always 5 star and mouth watering

My first live Rugby Game - All Black bet the Springboks and was so much fun

Visit to Alberton Historic House - Oh they had so many lovely things including teacups - yay for all things tea

In short lots of fun and activity.

I never get sick

Well this used to be my saying and up until Monday was fairly true as I rarely get colds or any kind of illness to the extent I won the best attendance award at school one year. But Monday morning I woke with the dreaded thumping headache, sore sinuses, blocked ears and achy body.

As I am not one to accept defeat in the lurgy department I am attacking it with drugs, lemon & honey drinks, chicken soup, total abstaining from sugar and aromatherapy so day two am already feeling better. Hoping that by day three it will be 100% eradicated. If you have any gran's remedies you swear by let me know.

Oh and a side note I had some old sinus pills in my medicine cabinet and they still have Pseudo-ephedrine in them - oh how I love the clear minded energy little old ephedrine's provide.

Buds and Bubs

Sunday, the traditional day of the lazy was a busy one for me and who could resist when the skies were so blue and the sun was shining.

Went for a stroll around the Auckland Domain and Winter Gardens. It was like we were in warfare with the multitude of cameras - felt like a game of soccer or dodgem. Then had a bite to eat delivered by the absolutely rib cracking funny trolly dolly who is there as part of the Kai to Pie exhibition on at the Museum. How she stays in character so brilliantly and so long I have no idea. Imagine Coronation Street circa 1960's.

Then had my best friends Baby shower and shower is apt as she is a pretty special lady and as such she was literally showered in pink gifts for her baby girl - some really amazing handmade things too like a knitted blanket by her big sis. We had some fun games and quizzes - to which I learnt I have no idea about anything baby related as I got the massive 0/12 for both tests.

If you ever need catering I can highly recommend the Wilson's gals as they made the most amazing spread of cakes and savouries.

And to complete a lovely day I had Thai green curry at "The Legendary Thai Restaurant" not quite sure what they are legendary for but they are conveniently located 20m from my apartment.

Bumping into blogs

So on Saturday I was lucky enough to go along to the first Art and Craft Fair at the Auckland Art Gallery. It was a buzz of activity with barely enough room to breathe but you could see why when you got the chance to look at the wares as they were all a cut above the Sunday hobby.

I purchased two lovely prints one as it was just so funny and the other because I liked the cute darkness of it.

The best part though was the most unexpected as through someone's blog - so long ago I cannot remember who I originally surfed off but I came across Tiny Happy and I had made the assumption she was Australian so you can imagine my surprise when the blog I have been reading for over a year transformed into real life and I got to meet the very beautiful lady behind it, her embroideries are even lovelier in real life.

We also had cakes at the very fun LaCouronne Bakery - reminds me of the bakeries I visited with my friend Ellen in Japan.

Check out these craft artists, they were my favourites on the day:
Boxx - perfect for any boys out there soon to ask their sweethearts the special question
Chasing Rabbit - I so want this ring so the savings have begun
Ferrit - would love a bleeding heart
Vandalised Vintage - Have wanted a set of seven deadly sins plates for ages

Ultimate Chai in a tea bag

So I am on the hunt for the best Chai in a tea bag. Why you might ask? well there are a couple of reasons. The first is I love chai and have ever since a little guru walked me to the top of Mt Abu in Rajasthan, India and brewed it from scratch in a billy. Second it's kinda like mulled wine, both I associate with winter. Third I love tea and am always giving myself a reason to hunt out new companies and blends.

Below are the choices I have found locally. I will report back on my favourites once dicovered. I have the advantage of the food show coming up next weekend so can sample lots there.

Healtheries
Green Chai Tea
Black Chai Tea - Be Spicy Tea
Vanilla Chai Tea
Cocoa Chai Tea


Harney Teas
Green Chai - Chai Hara
Indian Spice
Rooibos Chai Herbal

Tea Total
Ginger Spiced Chai Concentrate
Bengal Chai
Caramel Chai
Nepal Masala

Twinings (Bell Tea)
Aromatics - Chai

Scarborough Fair
Chai Black Tea
Chai Green Tea

The T Shop
Chai Espresso
Garum Masala Chai
Ginger Spice Chai
Green Yogi
Irani Chai
Sweet Apple Chai
Vanilla Choc Chip Chai

Tea Culture
Marsala Chai
Nepal Chai

T Leaf T
Chai

Arcadia Chai Tea

Thanks Universe

Funny how the universe sometimes knows you are blue and sends out some hot pink to cheer you up. It was pouring with rain this afternoon and I was not looking forward to the walk home (sans gold gumboots and umbrella) when a colleague out of the blue offered me a lift - yay. Then I went to get my dinner at my favourite Japanese takeout Renkon and the lady I see every week had just come back from a trip to Japan and gave me a gift as her best customer.

I figured I would join the bandwagon so am now sipping bubbly, while listening to Florence and the Machine and curling up in front of the heater.

So thanks universe I am now a happy lady.

Falling like Domino's

What an ordeal!

So as you do when it's late at night and the cupboards are bare and you are too tired to venture out you decide to call on the trusty pizza delivery guy. So we did exactly this we went online and ordered a pizza about 11pm at night all went through fine. Well so we thought — but when an hour later we had not received a call and then re-thought the situation and decided it was weird no confirmation email was sent decided it was time we rang.

The phone-call didn't help though as no one answered and it didn't go to a message, so we went back online and after some hunting on the worst store locater function I have ever come across realised 11pm was closing time so we gave up and assumed the transaction was cancelled.

Only the next day a phone call was received at 11am to say the delivery guy was standing downstairs so several phone-calls later we tried to get it diverted to my work, where at 2pm it finally arrived dry cold and not very appetizing - not to mention 15 hours late.

A very bad user experience Dominos from the transaction that went through when the store was closed, to the not picking up that it was a weird one and phoning in the morning, to the eventual delivery of a horrible shadow of a pizza.

Will I shop at Dominos again - NO.

Photo love affair

Quick Share - Due to reading a colleagues blog I was reminded of her brothers really emotive prints and this in turn reminded me of two other photographers I love the work of for the same reason. Christine Webster and Bill  Henson. All have a dark style that I love love love. Go check them out highly recommended.

Farewell into Feasting

At work as in any community you naturally form bonds with like minded people and eventually these people transition into friends. One such work buddy for me was Calvin. We shared a love of fine food and he eventually became my love and diet guru, keeping me in line when I was wavering and offering some very funny love advice at times. For instance girls out there - apparently a PS3 is the equivalent of 12 long stem red roses.

So when I heard the news he was moving on I was a very sad gal. The upside of it though was a week long foodathon.

First up Sidart, a new restaurant Headed by the Chef formally from The Grove (This years top Auckland Restaurant). This restaurant was a full 9/10. From the moment you walk into the intimate setting with the stunning view of Auckland city to the incredibly creative and experimental menu to the taste sensations on biting into the artworks everything was amazing and I can't wait to go again. We each had 4 courses and the pics don't do justice but will give you an idea atleast.

First Course
T - Salmon w mascarpone, licorice & goats curd
C - Seared scallops, crumbed fish, prawn & feta

Second Course:
T - Lamb loin, smoked beetroot, yogurt & cashew
C - Firstlight venison, grapes w green pea & dukkah

Third Course:
T - Beef fillet, parsnip puree, harissa & parmesan
C - Milk fed veal w rabbit loin, escargot & paella rice, truffle foam

Fourth Course:
T - Fig pudding, mandarin, caramel & five spice
C - Chocolate textures

Then for our next lunch out we hit The Longroom to make the most of their two for one deal and I had a semi nice Baked chicken breast w' creamy wild mushroom on bubble & squeak.

Next up was a Marker favourite Bolliwood as they have this awesome $10 lunch special which includes a curry, pompadom, naan, rice and a drink, very good value for money. My favourite here is their Palak Paneer a spinach based curry that is really really good.

Lastly but not least – I work with mainly boys and they seem to love pizza. It has become somewhat of the holy grail mission here to find the best or the weirdest for our onsite functions. So for Calvin's official farewell a colleague recommended we try Toto's metre long creations. I know what you are thinking at that size they will be soggy and horrible but they were actually some of the best pizza I have had in years. Sergio’s Monthly Special - Tomato pulp, mozzarella, large caper berries, feta cheese, marinated eggplant, chili & mixed herbs, this was my favourite but they were all good.

What a great week of food.

chupa chup heaven

I have been sooooo good for a year now with all things health so guess it was bound to happen that the old sweet tooth would wage a war but I have found the perfect weapon - The humble chupa chup and I am a huge fan of the berry yogurt flavour and best part they only cost 50c. So this month I am going to sample as many flavours as possible mmmm mmmmmm.

Please let me join your club - Barcamp 2010

OK so I have written the full rundown of what I listened to over on my work blog so head over there for that but here I thought I would write more about the dynamics of the web/IT community gatherings instead.

Long story short I started in my current job almost 3 years ago now on the premise of helping do a little design whilst mainly doing scheduling for a design studio only to quickly realise that the company was in fact much more of a development one with a tiny portion of design and this portion mainly consisting of web. Well I quickly upskilled in my geek and now am three years along but I still feel very much like an outsider as my art side still vastly out-weighs my science one.

This outsider perspective though means I can sit back and gain some insights from their subculture. I find even though most are introverts they are also massively social as the internet if nothing else has given a forum where the shy can have a screaming voice and yet hide simultaneously the only analogy I can think of even remotely like this in our pre digital days would be graffiti. This voice means that they can break the ice and therefore get to feeling comfortable with a person/group before they have even met them. Plus they are vastly more cheeky over a chat than in person.

So warp speed ahead to an event such as Web Meetup, Webstock, Full code press or the one I have just attended Barcamp and you suddenly see all these shy guys and gals getting up in front of crowds and networking. Now think how many other subcultures could adopt this kind of intro system to eliminate their public speaking and networking fears. It means we finally get to hear talks from people that in the past may never have gotten up and are often the ones you really want to hear being super passionate and knowledgeable about one niche subject.

They can even get celebrity status and like hollywood celebs they have pseudonyms so instead of Madonna or Prince we have names like bigman_01 or the likes. Although you do have to pass a rigorous on/off-line test to become a celebrity including having presence on atleast 3 of the following - Linkedin, Facebook, Flickr, Tumblr, Blogger, Wordpress, Twitter, YouTube and so on but lets face it you should be on all. Having followers and this is pretty big as the more you have the brighter your star will shine. If you can quote lines from Simpsons, Dr Who or other current Animation, Sci Fi and Fantasy TV that helps. The more acronyms you can run off the better too such as CSS, HTML, SEO, UI, RSS and so on (See I can only do 5). Plus the more gadgets you carry the better so if you are just a laptoper you are boring but if you also have an ipad, iphone, Blackberry or notebook much better, if you have all that's supreme.

They are also one of the most highly opinionated set of people I have ever met so if you love debate this is a great forum for it.

Anyway I am hoping I am getting closer to becoming one with my geek-side and entering this world 100%. I think the penny is even starting to drop as words like HTML, Pinging, Wireframing, SEO and so on are all making sense now. The question remains though — is my original online name "totaltanya" now naff and too nineties?

NZ International Film Festival 2010

To put it nicely I am what you would call a little obsessed with the big screen and movies, have been for years only difference over the years is what I watch and the amount as now thanks to being employed for more than pocket money (thanks mum & dad for all the paid car washing that funded me as a kid) I can go to alot more and Care bears and Disneys Snow white are now docos and fest films. As always when July comes around I get super excited as it brings with it the biggest film fest of the year and I get to spend a weekend watching heaps of trailers and trying desperately to narrow down 100+ films to the small 5-10 I will be seeing.

As a note the design of the logo and accompanying marketing this year is amazing it captures the magic and allure as well as being the most finished, perfected piece of print design I have come across in years. I will be keeping an eye on this design firm and the designer and illustrator for sure.

Illustration: Thomas Simpson

Design: Matt Bluett, Ocean Design

This year due to a rather exciting OE coming up in September I limited myself to five so below are the films I saw and my thoughts/ramblings.

The Illusionst - Sylvain Chomet

I enjoyed this film as the illustrations were lovely and the fact it had no dialogue was nice for a change but I would not say it wowed me and the unusual narrative of the Lolita/Goldigger type character didn't really seem quite right with rather a flat ending. Also a very sad story so you will feel blue on exit. I am told though that this was a shadow in comparison to his first feature length film so I will have to make an effort tosee that.

Favourite scene - When the little girl cooks the performers a special stew and you freak out that she has used the illusionists white rabbit for the meat. Luckily this is not the case and the little rascal eventually pops his head up.

Ajami - Scandar Copti

Wow this film was captivating, brutal and powerful. It was one of those films where the hopelessness of certain areas in the world is highlighted and makes you super sad. The way the story was woven amongst the characters of this one town and in a format like a play with scenes was really well done along with the amazing ripple effect of one action. Would highly recommend seeing this but be warned it is not a happy film. It will also excite some healthy debate so go along with your favourite antagonist/protagonist friends.

Favourite Scene - The one near the end where the brother instinctually knows the choice his brother is making is wrong and won't leave him - it is also the saddest scene but really captured the theme of the movie.

The Runaways - Floria Sigismondi

Two stella performances from the leading ladies Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning and a real gritty pic about the effect of sudden fame and wealth. I thoroughly enjoyed this, good as a chick flick, as a flash back to some old favs in the music department and as a movie in its own right. Plus one can't go past the irony of the life imitating art or vice versa as I am sure the two stars have experienced very similar lives to the ladies they were portraying. Michael Shannon is fantastic as Kim Fowley too.

Favourite Scene - There are many but I do love the scene where Cherie sings Bowie at her high school talent show, her commitment to his look and her attitude of defiance is great.

Melody for a street organ - Kira Muratova

Wow this was a dark film, and if you wanted to produce an anti tourism one this hits the mark as would put me off ever visiting the Ukraine, worth a look though as the way the director spins so many characters into the dialogue is quite cool and it is definitely quirky but have a st johns wort happy tea before hand.

Favourite Scene - right at the beginning when the siblings are sleeping curled into each other and wake up because of the ticket inspector and this is the scene that sets the dynamics of their relationship - plus one of the only happy scenes

Cyrus - Jay and Mark Duplass

American black comedy at its best, a really enjoyable Sunday arvo film with some great performances from some great actors.

Favourite Scene - The conversation at the van as the son moves out when he realises that the new guy is not as dumb as he thought and the true battle for the mums affections begins.

Construction pits

I walk everywhere and as such have the time to notice things most drivers wouldn't in their daily commute. Two things that come to mind of late are locals turning their council plots of grass into gardens and the two development disasters.

Firstly the gardens. I try to go for a long walk during my lunch break and each day my fellow walker friend and I try to map out new routes around work. So it was on said walks that I started to notice that people were taking over the normally very plain sections of grass between the road and walk path and turning them into really sweet mini gardens. Here are photos of two of these transformations.

Secondly I have two construction pits around me one right in my street on the site that used to house a halfway house, which albeit a bit on the seedy side did give my street a bit of hard cred and certainly provided loads of entertainment. This is now a two time failed development so all that stands is a pit with foundations and concrete. The second and much uglier yet more transforming pit on the corner of Ponsonby and Williamson Avenue. This one was to be a massive undertaking to add new townhouses and shops to the area but alas also fell through so is also a pit of concrete and foundations. This site though keeps transforming as it started as very boring then came the hilarious swimming pool tag.

Then the gold spray painted wheel barrow - never remembered to take a pic of this.

Then it filled almost to the brim with water.

Then they pumped all the water out.

Then came more graffiti and some absolutely hilarious signs.

You have to love how the community gets in there and has their say.

Sad news for my local

So I assume everyone will understand my woes when I say I just heard that my local haunts Wine cellar and Whammy Bar which are both literally on my doorstep and that I walk past on the stairs everyday on my way to work and back are due to close down this time next year - yet another reason to leave the city during August 2011 and Rugby World cup fever. I will have to make an effort to hang out at both venues heaps between now and then as they have so many memories.

If ever there was a reason to make one of those annoying facebook save it pages now would be it.

Time for an upgrade

As you can see I felt it was time I upgraded my blog as it has been 4 years since I set the original one up. So with that in mind I felt a splash of colour was in order and what better colour than a coat of pink.

bye bye old one - you will be missed.