Go camping why don't you?

Sand in your toes
Bites on your ankles
Boogie boards in the surf
cocktails and good times

Happy new year from the new world!

Best wishes for health and happiness in 2010.

More party animals

With only a few more days until I get away from it all, this means broadband folks, I wish you all the compliments of the season.

Catering hint: Remember it's just one day and that two spuds is ample for the vegetarians amongst you. They will just have to get into their secret stash of miso soup.

Party animals

Another use for those festive earrings.

'Tis the season to be jolly

or
merry making
stingy, cheeseparing
cheeseboarding - could this be a new torture?
grumpy, snarling
beatific
bountiful
thankful

you're alive after all

smiling
smidging
smart - that's for you Emilia
foolishly seasonal

laid back
horizontal
beachy
sandy
rueful, smooful

Happy holidays everyone!

Zebby goes to Ritaland

Yes well it's been a few Japanese Slippers and far too much work since there was a post so here is a little holiday magic.

Been hit by a few philosophical dislocations lately, the main one being the old cliche about 'valuing diversity'. This is heard a lot in educational circles and, surprise surprise, it isn't true.

Diversity may well be valued as a concept but in practice it seems that we like to be surrounded by those who are similar to ourselves and turn feral when someone different turns up. No longer the comfort of strangers but of the familiar. I think that this grouping together is a recessionary response similar to frontier wagon circling.

Was Da Vinci a team player?

Beggar off buskers!

This notice has recently been put up in the entrance to the Pt Chev mall.

It sucks the joy out of life to see this in my neighbourhood which is made up of people who are damaged and deranged, those on the way up, those on the way down and those treading water. The quality of busking was wildly variable from the great Maori guy with the fabulous voice to kids raising money for more violin lessons but - that's the point. If you don't like their work you don't give them any money.

Now for the beggars - same diff, they may try to bum a fag or get some cash for drinks but they don't get ugly when you say 'Thank you, no' when invited to contribute.

Steve Braunias has written more eloquently in the SSTimes about the Pt Chev mall and its people and commented on the sign.

But it's still there. Suggestions please.

Snapper or cutter?

I am talking about asparagus and will get to the horses later.

If you are a snapper you snap off the ends and if you are a snipper you cut them where you think they stop being fibrous and where they start being succulent. I'm a snapper. How about you?

Here's a recipe which is more like a protocol than a recipe, I'll get back to the horses after that.

Ingredients
Bunch of asparagus
streaky bacon
evo (extra virgin you know the rest)
Grill

Snap asparagus until they are succulent
Wrap in streaky bacon
Drizzle over evo
Grill

How long? Not that long, just trust your nose, they will smell done and it isn't very long at all. Do not leave the kitchen to play guitar, write your blog or practise belly dancing or you will miss it.

The horses are from Helensville and are charming and were not at all involved in the Melbourne Cup. They look a bit fey but are just playing hard to get. When you do get them they have velvety noses and smell gorgeous.

Prize for name for the asparagus protocol.

Just one damn thing after another

Something to remind us that there are beautiful things out there. Hold that image.

Check out a beautiful thing which is being sent to hell in a handbasket this week by the government. Take a look at this from the day after Labour Day .

Restate your right to a tea break now. Have a cup of tea or coffee if you are really sophisticated..

Getting a handle on Labour Day

Today is Labour Day which commemorates the 8 hour working day. It is a public holiday when people who run cafes and restaurants leave little informative notices explaining that, as they now have to pay EXTRA to their staff on this day, they will pass their costs on to us.

There are a few who don't - please buy from them.

The 8 hour day is a wonderful concept which eludes many; the unemployed, SAHMs and SAHDs, 'mobile' workers ( you guys are in for an interesting time with the new no hand held phone legislation aren't you?) , real estate agents, businesses which run 24/7 and people on their way up the slippery career pole. The list is not exhaustive.

Consider working 8 hours only tomorrow and then see if you can keep it up all week.

Or have a cup of tea.

Through the bathroom window + Thugby

No matter what it says at the top of this blog, this was snapped through my bathroom window this morning, Monday 19th October. Of course this was just the start and there were many permutations of weather to be experienced later.

The Hindu New Year kicks off tonight which reminds me that the Thugby World Cup kicks off in 2011 and apparently the RU don't have enough money to finance it. Lovely, unlucky ratepayers in Auckland City will not only cough up for Eden Park but also 'contribute' to Party Central. Talk about having a shark bite you on both legs!

How about each ratepayer calculating an amount, random works for me, to deduct from their rates?

Praise for beans and a carrot cameo

Broad beans are outstanding.

They grow over winter and keep your garden looking busy.

They have stunning black and white fluffy flowers.

They taste fantastic podded, blanched and put in a salad. There is no need to peel them, no matter what the recipe says.

They keep producing so fast that you can watch it happen in the warm, moist weather.

The Giant Carrot of Ohakune is another matter.

Water lilies

Something soothing to look at after the first day back at school after the holidays. Getting up at the 'normal' time is now unnatural and alarming. Want another helping of daylight saving anyone?

Great Expectations

No, I'm not pregnant, just hoping for this magic potion to smooth my furrowed brow. Beautiful green bottle, product of Aotearoa (spelt New Zealand on the bottle), organic as all get out and with a suitably medical dropper - 'cos you only need a little right?

You can stop laughing and remember that no animals were harmed in the making of this product and I didn't need to take out another mortgage to buy it! Go on, find out more about organic skincare .

No money was involved in the writing of this post but I could be open to negotiation.

Titty titty bang bang

Keep fondling.

You can also become more informed about breast cancer, give money to the cause, give time and support to friends.

You could save your own life or help save someone else's.

Home grown

Effortlessly, gorgeously beautiful.

When it feels like it is permanently buggety o'clock, Nature can just sneak up and slap a smile on your face. Home grown and fabulous.

Acropolis now

One for all those snow dome fans who like things a little less snowy and with a subtle sparkle. This little beauty can now sit on my mantelpiece - or anywhere I care to put it. Of course it could become a weapon against a particularly small headed burglar, but luckily I am a real girl when it comes to throwing.

Road trip in October

Excited awe struck snow bunny shot of actual snow, unbelievably thrilling to a Norklander. This trumped the trip to the south which included seeing Cao Fei's Factory Fairytale at The New Dowse, coffee with mates at Go Bang in Petone, a little real estate perving and more good food with lovely people.

What recession?

Dust bunnies wear these!

This was found under the bed with the other dust bunnies after some spare bedroom 'cleaning'.

Obviously I am not a manic housekeeper as this hat would also fit a 5 year old girl like the one who visited back in late September.

Comments on other weightier subjects postponed until I have applied speed cleaning tips.