Northcote College 150 year reunion

Well lets just say this was a disaster as even though there were over a 1000 attendees as for ones who attended between the years of 1980 and 2007 there were 10 of which myself and my two friends were 3 so not much of a catchup. but did get to say hi to a lot of my old teachers and hear some amazing stories from people who attended during the war.

Cybele at NZ fashion week

Well lucky stylishly challenged me has a very talented friend who is one of the designers at Cybele the next big thing in NZ fashion so I got to go free to their catwalk show and it was so much fun. I had my sister with me who knows who everyone is so that made it even better as got loads of goss on all the fashion crazies. Also got to see Trelise Cooper up close one of my all time favourite designers. Also in true Tanya fashion managed to totally do something embarrasing with no idea as walked up to a girl in the crowd and said "I recognise you from somewhere" "Did you used to live in Scotia" luckily she did but as it turns out she is one of the biggest faces in NZ TV so starting the conversation with you look familiar was a bit funny luckily after I explained I had been out of the country during her rise to fame I was let off with a laugh.

Back into the shoe box

On september the 10th (fluckily the same day I left on my world trip a year ago) I moved back into my apartment in the city. I was happy to find that after 5 years and no sightings that everything was still in reasonably good nick. Don't get me wrong still had to do heaps of scrubbing and throwing out before it was deemed liveable by my standards but there really is something so much nicer about your own place as opposed to renting. Still need to work on the decor a bit. And far from having moved all my stuff in yet as most of my artworks and books are still st the folks.

Also brought my first real bed and it was alot of research and alot of hopping on and off beds but well worth it the bed I now have is a top of the line dream machine it even makes me the most morning person I know want to sleep in that little bit longer.

OK back to blogging

So sorry for the long absence, I don't really have a huge excuse just got out of the habit. Lots has happened so will break it all up. For those that don't know I have a new man in my life called Grant. met him through Kev in Melbourne originally and caught up when I got back and it went from there. So that is a nice development and we have been having fun going to movies and on little trips together for the last 2 months.

August update

Well started the month flat out with temping at businesses such as Fairfax, Bluestar, M&C Saatchi, Gibson Rusden which was interesting to get an insight into what is happening round town in the agencies.

Then headed to semi permanent lectures with my Fashion designer friend Emma to get inspired by lots of local and international speakers. Was most inspired by a company called UVA who do lighting production for people like massive attack and the V&A. Also loved Misery a local grafitti artist who had dancing sausages as part of her talk.

Seen some fabulously funny movies - chuck and larry and knocked up. Saw a great DVDs blood diamond, read a great book Lance Armstrongs biography.

Went to an opening of my sisters boyfriends art at her gallery and also got to see some great porn pics from the victorian age and the 60s so different to todays.

Went to see Greg Johnson perform at the sky city wasn't overly impressed but his support act was amazing.

Went to see Sir Ian McKellen in King Leah and it was amazing and his naked seen was a surprise, he has a big willy for an old guy.

And of course most important went to work at Marker for the first time. I absolutely love my job and the people just hope they love me back and decide to keep me round for a while.

Art Cars

As dad is a fellow on the designers institute of NZ I luckily get to go to all sorts of inspiring things. Last night we were lucky enough to hear talks from 2 transport designers. One was even one of the inventors of go carts. Also got to see 4 of the art cars that BMW have sponsored over the years. My favourite was one by Liechenstein who had drawn comic style the landscape as it whipped by onto the car.

In Memory of Graham

It is a very sad time for our family as we have had to say a final farewell to our cousin Graham. He will be sadly missed.

Rainy Day in Murawai

well sunday saw Grant and I head for a nice drive to Murawai beach for a brisk walk in the rain. It really showed me how unfit I was though as by the walk back the sand walking was killing me. I love love love beaches though and no rain was going to stop me from enjoying myself. we also saw a few crazy rock fisherman still all alive when we left.

A wild and windy day in Kumeu

I was spoilt rotten today by the Mayo family with whitechocolate and raspberry cake and chorizo pasta on a trip to the beautiful west auckland suburb of Kumeu. I also got to play with a very well looked after cat called George and 2 great kids Ali and Hayden (oh and of course there mum Debs too).

Thanks for the great day.

Congratulations to me

Well finally I can proudly say I am no longer a bum. I have finally secured a job for myself at a company called Marker Studio. The best part is its on queen street so only a small stroll down from my apartment which it will be nice to be back in my own place again after such along time away. My role is management of the studio but also has some hands on design involved too so basically my kinda job. I think I scared the shop clerk when I squealed at the acceptance phonecall she thought I had just found out I was pregnant very funny.

Anyway big picture this means I can finally start to live again call all you for catch ups and hopefully plan a trip to melbourne soon (pre christmas).

Film Festival fever

well I tried not to go as am trying to be good and save a little but to no avail. As always I was swept up in the tide of film festival fever. I did however only go to 4 which is rather a small number to the amount I have been known to see. I finally saw the movie to the crazy 80's book perfume and it was incredible I don't think apart from gone with the wind, and lord of the rings I have ever seen such a satisfying adaptation and it wasnt an easy one to portray as it is an extremely weird story of a murderer. I also saw a funny one in the vain of 4 weddings and a funeral called Death and a funeral that had the crowd in stitches. and two artsy fartsy ones called painted on film animation and one about Edith Collier a female nz painter from the early modernist period.

I also had the added treat of being reminded what a romantic and dreamlike place the civic is to see performances. (So good it even features in the movie king kong) pictures added.

Congrats to the Jordans

Well it is with a big smile on my face that I congratulate Sara and Jordy on the arrival of their second bambino Jack Henry Jordan Born on Tuesday 24th July. I can't wait to pop over and see him.

Pictures of my sisters house

It is out in the west in the Waitakere Ranges.

Which star do I look like?

www.myheritage.com

fun site to see which celebrity your face is most like.

Happy Birthday to all the July babies

Sara, Kevin, Sean and Hayley. Hope you all have a great day. Also goodluck to soon to be new july direen.

Just some nice pics I have taken

some are from the apartment in Viaduct Harbour others are trees from victoria park

What else...

Well I had a big surprise 2 weeks ago as Kev came to visit for a day so that was nice to see him.

I have also finally seen Harry potter 5 which I loved. Only down side was we had booked great seats and these kids had decided to take them so we had to play bad cop and tell them to bugger off. but was worth it for the good view.

I also saw Amazing grace with my dads rotary club which is a sad but very moving film about the slave trade in England.

I also saw nancy drew which was a bit of fun and had to see it as read so many of the books as a young girl.

Pic of my sisters cat they are so cute cute cute I had forgotten how much time wasting can be had playing with animals.

My sister has moved in

Well I have to say my sisters house move has to go down as one of the hardest I have ever heard of. Take two hoarders mix in the fact that one is a woodworker and they are both artists and you have amazing amount of stuff and fragile and heavy stuff at that. It took 3 trucks, 6 trailors, 10 carloads and alot of hard work to get it all out to her cabin and usually at night in a bush and the rain and freezing cold.

I know now I can survive any move. I did score some couches though for my living room so not all bad. Will send some pics when I have seen the place in daylight finally.

Blackouts and freelance

Well it has been school holidays so the streets are very quiet which is nice as I have been doing freelance for a company called Gibson Rusden based in the CBD and it means I can zip there in back in no time. I have also figured out that cars are cheaper than pub transport as I have worked out that a return trip city costs me $3 in petrol and $7 in allday parking vs $9 on the bus so sorry no competition and a 10 min taxi ride costs about $35 so way to dare.

I have had a great time freelancing as the team are really nice and I am doing fun jobs for Lion Nathan and the auckland mayor. But it was hard to make a good impression when on day two we had a massive storm which left my home in a blackout for 2 whole days so no straightening irons or showers or clean clothes very funny.

I think I am starting to think a drought is not so bad as atleast the weather seems fairly predictable and calm.

Another Haircut

So my hairdresser is slowly working on me she is a whizz at recognising the most attractive hairstyle for your face shape and complexion which for me is a long tapered bob and a reddish shade. I am not ready for short yet so we are taking baby steps.