Privileged

This morning I had the great good fortune to drink coffee and eat cheese scones with one of New Zealand's most iconic photographers, the 77-year-old Ans Westra.  

She was generous with her time and laughter. And her anecdotes, which grazed across some of the most fascinating periods in our nation's collective history.

I was privileged, and humbled, to be in her presence. I only hope I can summon 1500 words to do her justice.

(Pic credit: Ans Westra and Stuff)  

Shaved

Last night we folded ourselves into the Welsh Dragon Bar (the Southern Hemisphere's only Welsh bar, in case you were interested) to watch several men, and our crazy Welsh friend Ani, have their heads shaved to raise dosh for Shave for a Cure, Leukaemia and Blood Cancer NZ's flagship fundraising event.

Along with the auctions and raffles (the Animator won a Converse bag and a cupcake), shedloads of money was raised. There was also oodles of laughter. And red wine. And only four hours sleep. Not quite sure how I managed to stay awake at the gulag today.

But it was a great night and I salute Ms Ani's bravery and willingness to support something she believes in.

Apols for the rubbish quality of pics - its what happens when you try to operate a camera after too many wines. 

An afternoon at the beach

One of the joys of this working-from-home-two-days-a-week lark is that I get to do stuff that's impossible when you're a wage slave, entombed in an office doing work that doesn't excite, alongside folk you'd normally cross the street to avoid.

Today that included driving out to Red Rocks with the Hound. Apart from a couple of other dog walkers, we pretty much had the beach to ourselves. And it was gloriously sunny and restful and so goddam pleasant to look at something other than my laptop.

Y'all know about my two year plan, right? How, in two years (or less, if I can swing it), I will focus solely on freelancing instead of whoring myself out to PR contracts. When/if that happens, I plan on strolling the beach at least once a week.

Now if I could just figure out how to make time run faster....

         

The one where a frantic day ends well

My sanity window is fast closing. I have eight gazillion emails to send, meetings to attend, deadlines to meet and not enough effing time in which to do it.

Tonight, after work, I had to interview a lawyer for a feature I've been commissioned to write for a magazine. To say I was dreading it would be to wallow in understatement. I was tired and harried, and the words for an article I was rushing to complete were stalling somewhere between brain and keyboard.

But after 10 minutes in this woman's comfortable office with the enviable seaview, I felt my shoulders drop several centimetres. She was charming and funny and entertaining. We got on so well, it felt like I was there for a girly chat rather than serious note taking. As I was leaving, she suggested we meet for coffee when I get back from Korea. I would like nothing better.

I arrived home to a lovely meal cooked by the Animator and a sloppy kiss from the Hound. As if the trifecta of pleasantness wasn't enough, I turned on my phone to find an email from a former manager asking if I was able to do some work for her. Happy days.

Today's visuals are of one of the two gorgeous boys that make my world go round...

Brilliant Birmingham

Let's Travel Magazine finally runs my piece on Birmingham (click here to read).

Today was made of

SUGAR

A morning interview with the lovely interior designer Charlotte Minty for a profile for Urbis Magazine.

SPICE

A delicious paneer curry for lunch at the Newtown Festival (pics of the kai are, sadly, absent because it was so delish I devoured it as though a famine was nipping at my heels. Images are instead of the festival itself).

AND ALL THINGS NICE

A glass of red and this wee man...

Slammed

You know how you can wait hours for a No 20 bus and nothing comes along? And then three of the bastards turn up at once? If you live in Kelburn, like I did for 11 years, you'll have more than a passing acquaintance with this scenario.

Sometimes freelancing can be a bit like waiting out in the rain, hoping for that elusive bus to turn up. Fortunately, this year has been pretty good so far but today all my buses turned up at once - I got slammed with five freelance commissions. In one day. And all of them need to be filed before I go to Seoul at the end of this month. Like most freelancers, I am permanently estranged from the word 'No' so I accepted them all and then spent the next half hour talking myself down from the ledge. Oh well, at least it will make for a busy month.

In other completely unrelated news, last night I went dog walking with Ani, Dan and gorgeous Humphrey and we got chewed to pieces by midges enjoying a walking buffet. I have spent all day trying not to scratch. And driving myself mental in the process. Probably more information than you need on this gloriously sunny Friday, but a little overshare never hurt anyone, did it?

Today's images are of adorable woofers found on Tumblr (because losing large chunks of time to cute websites is such a good use of my time when I have work coming of my proverbials, right?!)