The poor old blog has taken a bit of a backseat of late. There are several reasons why I’ve not been on the ball. Settling into city mode may have been one, been in any city breeds contempt in my opinion. Its not like the last six weeks have been uneventful, anything but, its just I struggle to get enthusiastic about museum exhibitions, coffee, wind and unknown hobbit actors. Saying that, although these things are high priority in Wellywood at the minute, there is much more to Lonely Planets coolest little capital in the world.
It may have recently gained this accolade but you get the impression Wellington has been pretty trendy for a while, If I had have been on the ball I would have packed my backpack with the contents of a Marie curie shop at home and flogged them out the back of the motor on Cuba st. Most of the young crowd looks like a mixture of: Bowie (Ziggy stardust era) Dr hook…Captain hook…and Adam Ant. Last week I saw at least three Brian Jonesalikes and at least twelve Dylanesque curly hair, ray ban sporting, uber trendy dudes. At home, this would probably annoy the hell out of me, for example. The Rolling Stones have probably tripled their lifetime’s earnings in the last five years with the royalties on the ubiquitous glittery, retro, lip toting t-shirts. It seems every kid wearing tight fitting trousers has to sport a ‘keif’ adorned loose fitting tee. Ask them one lyric from 'Street fighting man' and they’d struggle. In fact, half of these bastards probably think Mick Jagger is the name of a skip hire company or Charlie Watts discovered electricity.
Here in NZ's trendy capital however quirky fashion fits seamlessly with quirky fault line defined buildings, and an overriding art school atmosphere. There are more coffee houses than litter bins and each one of them is full, Wellingtonians love their kava and so they bloody should, being a barista here in Wellington is taken serious business. If kiwis could sort out their bacon, I recon the breakfasts here could be some of the finest on the planet.
Aside from falling into a city slicker lull, I’ve been writing a new blog…daily. Impressed with New Zealand’s vast array of fine craft beers I decided to take up the challenge of writing a daily tumblr blog for a year. With the hope of bringing some continued support to those affected by the Canterbury and Japan earthquakes. It possibly hasn’t taken off how I would have hoped, I’m probably not going to raise a penny but if one person follows a link to a donation site then it’s been worth it. Regardless of this it will still be a personal, humerous insight into some cracking brews. If you like beer I’d appreciate your comments and support….. Raise1glass.com
Life in Wellington as they say down here, has been “choice, bro.” Sharing a flat with a fabulous Canadian, an ever jubilant scouser and a classic comment making Dorset man (if there is such a thing) Dorsetolian perhaps…a bloke from Bridport, you get my drift. Simon’s beauties up to date range from…”are these chilies ok when they’ve turned red” or my personal favourite was during an overheard conversation about the news:
JEN: “ A man who worked as a human cannonball has died in the UK!”
SI: ”Oh yea…that’s terrible…..what was he doing at the time?”
I’ve had my faith restored in Americans after being introduced to two southern rebels spending there days in NYC and writing a fabulous blog about there times in NZ…http://brbnyc.wordpress.com/
Continued to be amused by a knife wielding Dane, and had my opinions of the chatting ability of Lancashire lasses galvanized. Although she recons she lives in North Cheshire…Tomato… Tomatoe I say.
Regardless of all this fraternizing one of the great New Zealand traditions I felt moved to write about in the last few weeks I posted separately below…A fantastic ever growing tradition that left me feeling rather humble.
As for now I’ve been joined by a fellow Yorkshireman its great to be able to say ‘put wood in’t hoil’ and to get an intelligent response. I usually get a painful expression and asked if I need a lie down. At the minute wee spending our time on New Zealand’s beautiful South Island, this country is continuing to dazzle and amaze me at every bend in the road….pictures and more scribbles to follow.
