Up and Down

I started this yesterday but ran out of puff. So let's make it a Friday/Sat collaborative kind of thing:

UP

• Sunshine, glorious sunshine. You have been gone far too long. I truly heart you.

• Getting stuff done. There's nothing like a deadline to light the fire under one's arse, and knowing that I'm getting on a big silver bird on Thursday has made my fingers race over the keyboard. Result: two interviews, three corporate pieces and a pitch all done and dusted.

• A meeting with the lovely owner of an advertising agency I met while walking the Hound. And a copywriting project that needs doing by Xmas. Bonus: after the meeting we took our respective canines into the Town Belt for a walk and a natter. Sometimes things do fall into place.

•  A long and involved chat with the PR for our Singapore media trip to iron out all the creases in our itinerary. And, joy of joys, we have the same guide I had four years ago; she was so much fun I spent most of my time in the tiny island state shaking with laughter. Not so joyful: having to attend some post-Formula 1 party next Saturday and not having a clue what to wear (this should probably be in the 'Down' column).  

• Freetime spent pouring over the Zara, H&M and Topshop websites in anticipation of next week's shopping spree. Scoff all you like, overseas readers, but here in these small, shaky isles we are bereft of these global behemoths. So while you may believe they represent the seven circles of hell, when you're denied access to them, they become like some kind of glittery prize. Perhaps a trip to one of these places can solve the above bullet.

DOWN

• The usual time/tasks conundrum.

• My friend Lorna and her adorable woofer Dobbie are moving. Yesterday we had a last walk with them, although they're only moving a couple of suburbs away, so hopefully we'll stay in touch.

• Realising a favourite Stella McCartney top (calm down, a sample I bought in China which probably cost about 1/8th of the real thing) has sprung a hole in the side. Cue inept tailoring skills.   

• Not being able to watch the second season of The Newsroom because the Animator had failed to bung it on the hard-drive. And he was, quite inconsiderately, out drinking. I do love me a bit of The Newsroom when I'm home alone.

Because it's the weekend, and I'm in a good mood, today's visual is this wonderful piece of nonsense I came across the other day. Happy weekend, wherever you are...

   

A wet Wednesday

If you thought my weather obsession had run its course, you were wrong.

Today the conditions were to moist what Lindsay Lohan is to crazy. There were torrential downpours and huge walloping gusts that threatened to carry us to the South Island. Sometimes at the same time.

Not surprisingly, a friend cancelled a walk with the Hound and coffee in O Bay; instead, I spent seven hours arranging and re-arranging words on various pages.

There was tremendous news in the form of a commission from a mag I've been trying to land; I believe it's what's known in the trade as a 'big get'. I startled the Hound with my whoops of joy.

Later there was a Skype session with my beloved mate Lil in Auckland, who has not long returned from a fabulous vacation in New York. And bought a new apartment. So there was much to discuss. So much, in fact, that I didn't have time to make the lentil shepherd's pie (I can see the lips of carnivores curling from here) I had intended to make and instead had to chuck together a random assortment of rice, tuna and Thai chilli sauce.

Tonight there will be the fourth to last ep of Breaking Bad. I am already in mourning....

        

A downer

We've spent the last two days getting stoned on Vitamin D. Today, however, the Weather Gods are clutching their sides with laughter (sorry this blog is becoming so obsessed with meteorological conditions - that's not why y'all come here).

We have plunged back into sub Antarctic conditions and I almost got blown into the path of a bus when I popped out at lunchtime. Am busy being an obedient little copywriter but my heart isn't in it today: all I want to do is go home and retire to bed with my book and lashings of tea. After risking pneumonia in the Town Belt with the Furry Fellow, of course.

Plans are being laid and emails zooming across the seas in preparation of our media trip to Singapore next week.The thought of 30 degree heat, chilli crab and the Orchard Road shops are the only things propping up my world weary soul at the moment...

      (Pic Credit: Google Images)

Forward Focus

Your Home & Garden Magazine's October issue (out today) runs two of my Wellington houses. Here's the first, a new build in Hataitai with stunning views (click here to read). You're welcome...

 (Pic Credit: YH&G)

The highpoint

of today was this strange golden orb in the sky. Which, miraculously, didn't bugger off after five minutes.

Naturally, it necessitated a walk in the town belt with His Highness and my lovely mate Pamela who helped me clarify my thoughts around a job opportunity (for the record, I opted to decline as I'm not ready to give up my very nice freelance/contract existence).

There was another jaunt around the waterfront, ice cream and lashings of work. Am I bitter that I was imprisoned inside whilst others froliced  in the sunshine? That would be a big, fat yes.

     (Pic credit: Google Images)

Weekend work

Another weekend spent galloping over the "too much to do and not enough time to do it" prairies.

There was an early start today, for an interview with the lovely owner of this Khandallah house for Your Home & Garden Magazine. Amongst the grocery shopping, cleaning and two loads of washing (the only downside of having house guests), there was also a furious pounding of the keyboard to deliver the three commissions I need to finish this weekend.

Red wine o'clock cannot come too soon today...

(Pic credit: Meg McMillan, www.teapea.co.nz)




          

Mr Hospitality

The current issue of Urbis Magazine runs my interview with one of NZ's leading architects (click here to read).