Luck from the universe

OK so I am putting it out there that I am off to a second round interview at a company I really really really really want a job at so please universe send me some luck.

Beer tasting and Hamilton Gardens

This weekend I set off for Hamilton for a night of beer-tasting and as a bit of fun we thought we would get into the theme and dress as a German Oktoberfest couple. The costumes as you can imagine caused alot of laughter.

I tried 22 beers by the end of the night and found some real favourites I have listed below.

Sierra Nevada Kellerweiss
Renaissance Blonde
Schofferhofer Kristal Weizen
Little Creatures Pale Ale

The boys however voted Renaissance Porter and Castle Milk Stout as their two favourites liking a bit more body to their drop.

On Sunday we went to the Hamilton Botanical Gardens and they are really fantastic I am sad I have never been there before. Hopefully some pictures will tell the tale of how beautiful it is especially on the eve of spring.

Semi Permanent

Inspiration is so important for anyone creative and sometimes when you do it for a job you need your batteries recharged as you get too caught up in the admin and process side of things and forget to take time to smell the roses.

I have been attending Semi Permanent since 2004 making this my 5th one and they just keep getting better every year a credit to the Church who started them here in NZ.

This year I had my little sister with me which was so awesome as for once I could discuss at length each speaker as they went and this only spurred more ideas bubbling away.

You start with a goodie bag packed with coffee, chocolate, stickers, threaded and frankie magazines and of course the annual illustration book, by far the best goodie bags I have come across. The bags are even nice enough to use again.
photo courtesy of Unlimited magazine

We also had the superb MC job again by the extremely talented and funny Radar, he gets away with the most inappropriate things but he does it with such a genuine tone that you take it as harmless. I do think he needs a girlfriend though as he talks about his love of woman alot.

The best speakers for me were the first and last ones.
Jessica had the horrible first slot but she came out like a bolt of energy and was so great to listen to. She had the most amazing portfolio of work especially for a relative newcomer - I am hoping I can buy some of her pieces to frame as she does truely beautiful things with type. Her anecdotes about dogs and ribbon type were also very funny.

The middle speakers I will just rate and sum up in 1 sentence.

Karen Walker & Mikhail Gherman - 2/10 I love their clothes but they were not built for public speaking - Mikhail would have been better on his own as he was interesting

Frost* Design - 6/10 a little hard to follow but the speaker was really wonderful and I can tell she would be great for a night out

Duncan Speakman - 8/10 inspiring what some great ideas can turn into

Pixar - 6/10 Loved seeing their workspaces - if only all companies were as flexible

The Light Surgeons - 7/10 loved the trip down memory lane to old skool analogue

Dick & Otis Frizzell - 9/10 these guys are both brimming over with talent and really made me proud to be a kiwi - plus I did have a crush on Otis as a teenager so was nice to see him a little closer up :)

Poke London - 7/10 amazing work and nice to see designers giving back

Katrin Sonnleitner - 6/10 loved that she kept the T-Shirt that was meant as a prize as why shouldn't the speakers get something too. I know a few people who would lover to play around with her puzzle rugs.

Adrian Shaughnessy - 9/10 very educational and what a privilege to see such a design legend

Buck - 9/10 love to see the mad lengths we can go to sometimes to achieve gems and so great to see another kiwi making it on the international scene

Last slot went to Storm - wanted to know where his name came from as very cool. He was wonderful to listen to as he had a rare combination of extremely dry wit mixed with class - although he did remind me of the saying a gentlemen is a patient wolf. He also asked the audience whether they believed there was life in outer space and the replies were very interesting. It was wonderful to hear all the layers of meaning and stories behind his works and to see him do a project live with the audience a true genius and the Dali/Picasso of our time.

Beers

This weekend I am off to a beer tasting themed 40th and for it all guests were asked to bring 3-4 different types so the pics show my choices all based on weirdest factor plus coolest labels - question is can you judge a beer by its label?

August Fun

So this has been a bit of a weird month as it has been a mixture of hard out job seeking sprinkled with a little escapism so rather than get into the job hunting as that's a little dry will update some of the August highlights.

Waiwera Hotpools - this is one of those places your parents take you to as a kid and then you get old and think you are too cool, but I have to say it was such a nice place to spend a grey winter day. I still can't get in the 48c pool not even a foot.

Foodshow - This expo is now a firm regular on my calendar as I just really enjoy spending a day at it. It could be the fact that with all the wine tasting by the end of the day you can achieve a nice buzz and whilst cruising on this buzz you can sample so many exciting new products and existing ones from people uber passionate about them. You know I like an event when I will suffer the cost and crowd and even pull out the trolley something not really accepted in NZ society. I found loads of new teas to add to my bulging collection and in an attempt to not look too mumsy bought some playboy energy drinks.

 I also completed my first ever web design a decidedly different challenge to my comfort zone of print. Hoping to see the finished site live soon.

To broaden my chances of meeting potential employers I went along to Sead's Google event where they re-asserted the mind shift to mobiles as a primary source of online interaction, the change to cloud computing and consumer driven apps. Plus the continual rise in social networking sites. Also learnt google had purchased YouTube - the players are getting smaller. All very interesting and met some great fellow lovers of all things online.

I have also managed to satisfy my need for mainstream movies and get along to a few. I am severely behind - the upside of this is for the first time ever I shouldn't have seen every movie on the plane flight coming up.
Inception - 10/10
Cemetery Junction - 6/10
Salt - 7/10
Knight and Day - 6/10
Killers - 7/10

Went along for another fun filled night at K'rds best cabaret bar Caluzzi. I think Pictures tell more than my words.

Also went to another Dance party held in Auckland's Town Hall for Chemistry's 10th Anniversary. The theme was white and most complied making some great black lighting effects. They also had some truely impressive laser lighting. I didn't last long this time as had been at a conference all day so was tired but my fellow dancers lasted till close.

The Chai Tea winner is...

Dilmah's Masala Chai Fiery Ceylon Spice

This packs a punch but has warm sweet undertones and is great black or with milk.

On the Tea subject look at these great songs about tea drinking.
The Tea Song


The Tea Song


Tea Tea Tea Tea Tea Song

Being on your own

I am on the hot chase for a new job at present and whilst I do this I am alone at home alot which is nice but can sometimes be lonely and/or boring so a friend sent me this video and its great and was a funny way to make me think of this time alone.

How to be alone

my most visable fan

To Del, the super person who always comments and so reminds me that atleast one person is reading my rants I wanted to say a special thanks as you are amazing and don't worry the Melbourne sales pitch is working well.

Plus look at the amazing adventure she is on at the moment. Kokoda Experience.

The R Word

Recession, Restructuring, Redundancy and Reality

You never think it is going to happen to you but today was my turn and well I do like to say I have experienced most things in life so mark that one done and not required to be gone through again.

What does this mean, well — all you lucky employers out there I am back on the job market so will be in touch soon. Am kind of excited as they say "change is as good as a holiday" and on the travel theme a wise friend said to me today "remember that the Airplane takes off against the wind"

On the upside I finish only a week before I go on a USA holiday so could be a well timed refresh and revitalisation (Don't want to miss a few extra R&R's) before starting somewhere new.