House guests

The Wonder Dog cosies up to Syd, our visitor from the UK.

Syd's step-sister Anita is the woman behind my Parcels of Goodness (aka clothing packages from the car boot) and one of the lovely friends I made during my 14 months in Bristol. Syd is travelling the world before starting Uni in Sept and although her timing is a little off (as in, NZ is about to put on its winter coat. And boots. And gloves), it's been fun having a piece of South West England - and, by extension, Anita - with us.

      

Playing Mum

Today, in-between wrangling work, grocery shopping and a trip to the vege market, I was required to play Mum to little Humphrey while his parents had some much needed time-out.

Saying Bristol and Hump adore each other is like saying the Royal Family is a little elitist; but, holy mother of God, they are exhausting. From the moment Humphrey arrived, the pair of them have been jumping over each other, using the downstairs rooms as a circuit and trying to break the land/speed record for climbing stairs.

There was a short nap and then Round II kicked off. It is currently in full flight and, as I type, various bundles of fur are tumbling over my feet and dive-bombing off the bed.

Tomorrow we have a friend from the UK arriving for a few days; the house looks like a tip and after supervising these canine hi-jinks all day, I no longer have the will or the energy to put it to rights. Wine O' Clock cannot come too quickly today.

Some images of the terrors:

Sadly, this was only too fleeting:

       

Running

I know there are worse things in the world - war, famine, Justin Bieber - but when I don't get out for a run, my whole being is thrown out of whack.

My recent workload - and the fact that the day has its PJs on by 5.30pm - means it's now too cold and dark to run after work. No run for a few weeks = Shazzy close to a slaying rampage.

Today, one of my working from home days, the sun came out and I was determined to run until my legs burned and my heart felt ready to pop out of my ribcage. And, later, to embrace the runner's high that, I swear, gets better with age.

Alas, the time management gods conspired against me: there was waiting around for the phone guy, two deadlines to meet and about eight million emails to send and respond to. The day slipped through a crack in the floorboards.

I finally got out around four, as the shadows started to lengthen and there was no longer a need for sunglasses. Bristol and I ran up the hill, feeling the familiar but good burn (me, not him) and about 10 minutes we met a friend and her dog, so we stopped to chat. Five minutes on and we ran into another of the Mt Vic Dog Walking Crew we hadn't seen for weeks; she had injured her foot so couldn't run so we ended up walking. It was lovely to catch up, but it meant saying goodbye to the runner's high and the calories I'd hoped to burn.

Oh well, there's always tomorrow...

Today's visuals are of the Wonder Dog who is surely better for the soul than all forms of exercise combined.  

 

A moment's violence

After a long, hard day at the adjective coalface, and still more when I got home, I was badly in need of a laugh. This item from the Guardian made me roll around the floor until my eyes leaked.

If you've the time, and also need a giggle, check out the comments underneath the story. Some of the subtitling clangers are priceless, such as the late Kim Jong-Il who was said to be "masturbating in public" or someone who was described as "lacks a daisy call", And then there was the subtitle that had Kofi Abbey National (a British bank) instead of Kofi Annan attending an event.  

Click here to read 

(Pic Credit: The Guardian)

Cry the Beloved Country

Remember back in March I interviewed one of NZ's pre-eminent photographers, a woman who's been called a "living Kiwi icon"?

The June issue of North & South Magazine, out last week, published the piece. Am quietly chuffed about getting four whole pages in N&S.

Click here to read.

(Pic credit: Ans Westra and Stuff) 

No words

First day at new contract. Writing to do for old contract. Interviews to set up for corporate newsletter I've just been commissioned. Two deadlines about to crash over me.

Tired and a teensy bit over it. No time for words so these gorgeous photos from the lovely Animator will have to do.

Adult eating disorders

Today's Sunday Star Times Magazine ran my feature on disorded eating in adult women. It was the cover story (insert happy dance here).

Click here to read.

(Pic credit: Sunday Magazine)