Sunday

Fact: caramel salted macaron eating is incredibly conducive to creativity and of rather great assistance when it comes to poetry writing in particular.  (You can thank me for the tip off later).

I've got a few of my Stranger & Co poems underway and numerous short story ideas have been creeping into my notebook; characters are slowly establishing themselves.  It feels good.

I'll share more soon.  In the meantime, Shakespearean adaptations and Utopian notions call...

Enjoy your Sunday.

PS: This photo is exciting, not only because it captures the awesomeness of said macarons (take me back) but it is also evidence of the fact that I have finally learned (read: remembered to) use the camera feature on my phone.  Therefore, in lieu of an i phone and the ever popular instagram (a girl can dream right? Struggling artist and all that...) I shall henceforth* be experimenting with the features of my trusty acer cell.  Hmmm, me thinks this might be dangerous procrastination material...

*I love using that in a sentence

The Lady is a Hawke

"I wanted to make music that could put a smile on peoples faces and give them a feeling of nostalgia even though they may be hearing my songs for the first time. "

Pip Brown

Ladyhawke: aka New Zealand songstress Pip Brown, aka my favourite guitar toting, fringe rocking, 80s repping, funky t shirt wearing, humble heroine, played a super-cool set on a crisp winter's eve on Thursday at The Foundry.  I've been a fan for a few years, my first foray into live Ladyhawke being a chance encounter during a somewhat spur of the moment attendance at Portugese summer festival Sudoeste; I'd heard of this blonde locked London based lady who channelled "all the good bits" of the 80s in her debut self titled album but I hadn't yet listened to her tunes myself and, I have to admit, I was somewhat ashamed that the audience members around me sang out her lyrics in fervent unison, whilst I, dumbfounded, had to enjoy the moment somewhat vicariously through them as they formed their fingers into love hearts and held them above their heads in admiration of Miss Brown. The vicarious business didn't last long though; sweet synths and 80s inspired guitar riffs got me dancing with the rest of them and I have been a fan forever after. Balance was restored on Thursday as I made my way to the front and sang to my heart's content beside other faithful fans; an experience I had been coveting in the years post that delightful Portugese summer.  She rocked it. Enough said.  Thank you, Miss Brown.  Please, come back soon...

via

The Wordinary: Entry No. 7

carnevoyeur


car-ne-voy-eur [kahr-nuh-vwah-yur]
noun


1. A former carnivore turned vegetarian who watches others eat meat in an attempt to fulfil their craving for their long lost diet.


For more about The Wordinary click here.

Of Late

“Don't use the phone. People are never ready to answer it. Use poetry."

Jack Kerouac

I did it.  Two 10,000 word assignments have left the building (thank you, thank you very much) and two brand-new-slightly-intimidating-but-nevertheless-exciting papers now stand in their place.  I'm reading (a lot). And writing, too;  the "Stranger & Co" experiment is well and truly underway and I've found myself adrift in the sea of words sent to me from far off places that I must now fashion into individual poetry pieces to be handwritten and sent away.  I'm looking forward to it; I am doing this partly for inspiration, partly to connect with others, partly to practice the art of poetry and interrogate my own creative process, and partly to be prompted by being made accountable for my work, in order to make good on my promises to myself (and now, to others) to just write. I apologize for my absence; those assignments almost got the best of me.  But now I'm back, and I hope to be more regular with my posting, now that I've got a tiny bit more time on my hands. 

What does July have in store for you?

via

Swellington

(You know, because Wellington is swell...)

Whenever I visit our capital city I feel at home, despite never having actually lived there.  It's one of those places where you feel at ease in your own skin, comfortable to wear what you want, walk at a leisurely pace, stop and take a few snaps and admire the harbour views and plethora of art installations.  I don't feel hurried along in Wellington, like I do in so many other cities; I don't feel as self conscious.  And because I've never lived there, there is a kind of pleasant freedom in anonymity.

Our holiday consisted of down time with family, museum visits, cheap curries at Satay Kingdom, a comedy show, a short film viewing, a night at Havana with sweet, sweet music, country & folk with Eb & Sparrow, John the Baptist and The Unfaithful Ways at Bodega, incredible pizza in a magical log cabin in the middle of nowhere (fairy lights and cider included), a trip along the Wairarapa coast, a few games of pool, and catch ups with friends.  

In short, it looked like this:

(Note: me and the Monsta being cheesy tourists / Lord of the Rings fans/ shamelessly plugging New Zealand. It had to be done...)

Until we meet again, fair city...

The Wordinary: Entry No. 6

sunoku


su-no-ku [soo-noh-koo]
noun

1. The belief in a sudoku free society where people can once again ride buses and trains without being bombarded by the obsessive sighs and hair pulling of sudoku playing passengers.

E.g. "Please refrain from bringing your numbered boxes in this space.  We practise sunoku here."

For more about The Wordinary click here.

A Week Away

I've been on holiday. 
                  I got sick (really sick). 
                                      & it rained (alot).
                                                       And it was still awesome.

More photos and philosophizing to come...

Wairarapa, North Island, NZ.