Busytown by Jolisa Gracewood

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Busytown: Sons for the Return Home

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  • Chris Waugh, in reply to Sacha,

    is that just retaining the rhythm of their own more intonation-based languages?

    I don't think it's the tones so much as the sounds retained in the Cantonese, Hokkien and related dialects, but lost in Mandarin, that are written as final -t, -k, -p, etc. The way they pronounce similar English sounds sounds to my ears like a kind of glottal stop, hence the staccato. But that hypothesis isn't even close to half-baked yet, and I haven't done even the most informal research into it.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report

  • recordari, in reply to Rich Lock,

    Topiary F1 Pit Stop at Williams F1 Factory

    Gobsmacked! Someone event an award for that man.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • ChrisW,

    how on earth did you find that? #respec

    Must have been a sophisticated search engine to come up with the car-jack as well as the topiary. The Lockian variant of the human brain?

    Gisborne • Since Apr 2009 • 851 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to ChrisW,

    car-jack as well as the topiary

    ah

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • BenWilson, in reply to ChrisW,

    Must have been a sophisticated search engine to come up with the car-jack as well as the topiary. The Lockian variant of the human brain?

    Google image search. Try "car topiary" to get 204,000 results.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel,

    I think this is possibly the best car photo in the history of cars or photos.

    Surely this must be an out-take from the real Tintin movie...

    Bonsai banzai...
    Re the Williams F1 hedge...
    I see this is called autopiary
    and here's some gonzo topiary ...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • ChrisW, in reply to BenWilson,

    Must have been a sophisticated search engine to come up with the car-jack as well as the topiary. The Lockian variant of the human brain?
    Google image search. Try "car topiary" to get 204,000 results.

    Fairenough and I see it won't be chance coincidence that said image is No.2 of those 204,000, but still it was the meta-ness of the literal/metaphorical car-jack that impressed me, sigh.

    Gisborne • Since Apr 2009 • 851 posts Report

  • recordari, in reply to ChrisW,

    literal/metaphorical car-jack that impressed me, sigh.

    It's a topiary knowledge, bro.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • BenWilson, in reply to ChrisW,

    Yeah image search is wicked. But you still need the keen eye to pick out the cool result....

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Rich Lock, in reply to BenWilson,

    Google image search. Try "car topiary" to get 204,000 results.

    Bah! Bet you're the sort of guy who goes to a magic show and spends the entire time shouting 'it's up his sleeve!', 'the hat's got a false bottom!'.

    I would have got away with it if it wasn't for you pesky kids.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report

  • BenWilson, in reply to Rich Lock,

    True. Or someone who blurts out someone else's punchline. I feel that I've lost mystique myself in divulging the secret of image searching.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Rich Lock,

    spends the entire time shouting 'it's up his sleeve!'

    he does, you know :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • ChrisW, in reply to BenWilson,

    still need the keen eye to pick out the cool result....

    Just been out for 45 mins, paddling kayak up the river at the foot of my garden, and saw my first fluffy black pukeko chick of the season, that wasn't advertising anything other than Spring.

    Gisborne • Since Apr 2009 • 851 posts Report

  • BenWilson, in reply to ChrisW,

    And you were only gone for 45 mins? I'd have been drifting around there for hours!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • ChrisW, in reply to BenWilson,

    Not so idyllic when the tide drops. There will come the day for the hours-long cruise but as yet my shoulder strength is lacking, still rebuilding after wasting away earlier his year, and lower tide level makes climbing out more than just awkward and messy. Stll, sure beats the gym, pukekos etc a bonus.

    Gisborne • Since Apr 2009 • 851 posts Report

  • Jolisa, in reply to Paul Campbell,

    before you start wander around the house, take lots and lots of pictures of every little corner, every special place

    I'm finding that putting the camera (accidentally or deliberately) in the hands of the younger members of the family is a great way to do this - they take pictures from the oddest angles of the strangest things, things the rest of us don't see.

    There is a tardis thing that goes on with houses, old houses are always much larger on the inside than the new one you move to ... Eventually your new house will do the tardis thing, as you find all the nooks and crannies it too will expand to fit

    This is extremely mysterious and incredibly true.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report

  • Jolisa,

    Do you know, I love the rail network expansion that goes on in these threads. I refused to call it derailing - rather, it's like when I put out the box of toy trains and watch the kids go for it. Every time a different, epic, complicated layout, worthy of photographing for the album.

    From my spot on the couch I am busily assimilating all the excellent info and advice - from the nitty-gritty logistics to the inchoate emotional stuff - and very grateful for all of it. Forgive me if I don't manage to reply directly to each and every one, but I assure you I am reading and loving it all, and will chip in over the next few days.

    We are very very fortunate in having a shipping container covered by the new job. Stuff-wise, all the lamps and books are definitely coming, and a few appliances that I had assumed wouldn't work, but will be fine with transformers. All the good furniture, and I'm on the lookout for chairs to go with our maple table. No cars; we're only bringing bikes and scooters, which won't need converting to right-hand drive. Thanks too for the tips on garden gear, Christmas ornaments (who knew??) and shells, of which I have a fair few. Funny, the little things you don't think about. Glad I have you guys to think about them for me!

    Dyan -- thank you for the thoughtful advice about things to do with the boys over the next few weeks -- very much appreciated.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report

  • Simon Grigg, in reply to Sacha,

    is that just retaining the rhythm of their own more intonation-based languages?

    I guess. It's interesting to note the influences of non-English tongues around the world - Yiddish in NYC for example.

    Places like HK & SG are similar melting pots of languages and dialects.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Simon Grigg,

    the influences of non-English tongues around the world - Yiddish in NYC for example

    and Maori in New Zillund

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Islander, in reply to Sacha,

    That is a very interesting one - our general vowels are rounding out (need to hunt for the source of that data, may take some time.) However, our speed of delivery hasnt changed (it also applies to Maori speakers - according to Hawai'ians & Tahitians) and it really bemuses other native English speakers.

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report

  • recordari, in reply to Jolisa,

    Attachment

    I refused to call it derailing – …
    Every time a different, epic, complicated layout, worthy of photographing for the album.

    Right then. Thought you might appreciate this tree (topical?) outside the aforementioned school. Yarn bombing in the burbs. We're a crafty bunch.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • Islander, in reply to recordari,

    Nah, goddess with upraised limbs…ooo, and aint her skirts purty?

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report

  • Paul Williams, in reply to recordari,

    That's beautiful, you've just given me a great idea for a fundraiser at our school, thank you muchly for sharing this stunning piece of art!

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Sacha,

    the influences of non-English tongues around the world – Yiddish in NYC for example

    and Maori in New Zillund

    Our (Australian born and bred) producer could not understand a word Tom Scott from Home Brew said on Media 7.

    I agreed with a couple of other people afterwards that Tom’s is a born-in-the-mid-80s-Grey-Lynn-to-Avondale- white-kid accent. I’m sufficiently familiar with that accent that I only hear it if I listen, but it’s fascinating when other people hear it and react.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Paul Williams,

    Hey Russell, this thing you've created, bloody marvellous it is... cheers.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

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