Busytown by Jolisa Gracewood

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Busytown: Sons for the Return Home

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  • Ivor Wells,

    Wow, you paint such an emotive picture, Jolisa. You capture the pull back south so well. Many Kiwis may be the descendants of straight-talking, pragmatic pioneers, but we remember our homeland with the passion and poetry of Renaissance painters...

    London, UK • Since Sep 2011 • 1 posts Report

  • recordari, in reply to Deborah,

    many students would still need a great deal of assistance in the first few months as they learn how to live in English, not just read, write and speak the language in test situations.

    Snap-ish! Took me too long to write my post.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • BenWilson, in reply to Rich Lock,

    Depends how 'custom' (and therefore emotinally attached) it is.

    Yes, indeed. If it's got serious sentimental attachment, that would make it worth the bother. But don't do it for the money savings...chances are there won't be any and it's a bunch of hassle for nothing. If you've sunk hundreds or even thousands of hours of your life into making it choice, then it's a hobby, and it's almost certainly worth transplanting that. Doing up vehicles is an expensive hobby, very seldom is it done for the purposes of making money. Most of the cool cars I've owned over the years have belonged to down-on-their-luck hobbyists. That sounds a bit mean, but practically, they're almost always super stoked if you buy their car, because they get the money they need, AND it's one last chance to show someone all the work they did, to a person that's very likely to appreciate it.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • recordari,

    Attachment

    If I owned this, I'd be bringing it home. Just sayin'.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    As for schools not being overly enthusiastic about adopting the standards, the one our three go to in Sandringham is holding out pretty well. But, there is news of considerable pressure being applied to recalcitrant schools. There does seem to be a number of principals willing to stretch the limits of the offside line to the maximum though.

    You can sense that there's a battle going on quietly between about 20% of schools who have decided that this is worth dying in a ditch over, and the Ministry/Minister, which is just sometimes spilling out into the public sphere.

    My impression is that they're all being crushed slowly.

    I expect that James Butler’s guess that Pacific nations might be right up there is right, just as a numbers game.

    Samoa, Niue would be well up above 15% in NZ, let alone overseas. Half at least?

    We spend a high proportion on students (allowances, interest free loans), at the cost of institutional support.

    Actually we spend quite low on both. And as a university staff member, students have been helping fund my reasonable pay increases for a few years now.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Brent Jackson, in reply to Carol Stewart,

    When we were trekking in the Andes with various Spanish, Dutch, English and French people, without realising it, our speech had modified to be slower and clearer. We shared a meal with another group which also had a kiwi in it and got to talking. The Europeans couldn't follow our conversation - it was too fast, with too many missing sounds. They were very surprised. One of the Dutch women (who spoke excellent English), initially thought we were speaking a different language.

    For Asians even with moderately good English, this must be very hard.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 620 posts Report

  • Carol Stewart, in reply to Brent Jackson,

    initially thought we were speaking a different language.

    I guess we are, in a sense.
    We went to see The Guard last night and I think a good proportion of the dialogue passed me by..

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report

  • Rich Lock, in reply to recordari,

    I'd be bringing it home.

    I'd be flying it home. It does fly, right?

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

  • Carol Stewart, in reply to Kyle Matthews,

    Actually we spend quite low on both. And as a university staff member, students have been helping fund my reasonable pay increases for a few years now.

    What did you make of Virginia Larson's editorial in the latest North and South?

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report

  • BenWilson, in reply to recordari,

    Heh, the perfect example a vehicle that would end up costing a fortune. You wouldn't be able to get a WOF for it without substantial modifications, and probably wouldn't actually want to drive it anywhere in NZ, in case you hit a bump. But who would be crass enough to drive such a beauty?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to recordari,

    If I owned this, I’d be bringing it home. Just sayin’.

    That is the sort of car that someone not bothered by inflation would admire.
    ;-)

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Lilith __, in reply to recordari,

    If I owned this, I’d be bringing it home. Just sayin’.

    I think someone on its planet of origin would miss it. Sayin. ;-)

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report

  • Simon Grigg, in reply to Brent Jackson,

    For Asians even with moderately good English, this must be very hard.

    In Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong, where English is a first language to many, I find it very hard to make myself understood at times, especially away from the urban centres.

    And the West Pacific English dialect they speak day to day, which I guess is spoken by far more people than our variety, sounds very stilted, almost staccato, to my ears.

    could be the results of American TV too

    An American a wee while back insisted to me that folk in Hong Kong had such a reasonable grasp of English because they'd picked it up from US movies and TV.

    He was immovable even when the history was explained.

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

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to BenWilson,

    who would be crass enough to drive such a beauty?

    But that's the point of a car - you've got to drive it, even if only under controlled conditions, to demonstrate it's reality. Otherwise it's just a car-like sculpture - it could have an engine that doesn't work and wheels that don't turn.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • recordari, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    That is the sort of car that someone not bothered by inflation would admire.

    But it's green. That must count for something.

    And Ben, do you have to be so practical? In fact it's the kind of car the Southward Museum would love, so just get them to look after it.

    But, alas, I don't actually own it. I'm clearly not 'TUFENUFF'.

    Beam me up, Scotty!

    ETA:

    But that's the point of a car - you've got to drive it, even if only under controlled conditions, to demonstrate it's reality.

    I'd totally drive it. Cause that's how I roll. Anti-inflationary anarchist that I am.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel,

    If I owned this, I’d be bringing it home. Just sayin’.

    So an alternate universe based on the drawings of
    Robert Crumb and Bruce McCall does exist...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • recordari, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    So an alternate universe based on the drawings of
    Robert Crumb and Bruce McCall does exist...

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

    Whoops, car jacked another thread. My bad.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • Paul Campbell,

    umm - I suspect that's just been flung off a merry-go-round

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to recordari,

    possibly the best car photo in the history of cars or photos

    Marvellous

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Simon Grigg,

    sounds very stilted, almost staccato, to my ears

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

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • BenWilson, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    That's how I see it, but tell it to a car collector! Every mile it does lowers the value. It's enough for most to simply get in and turn the engine over, and then sighingly caress the flanks of the beast, and imagine days gone by.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Rich Lock, in reply to recordari,

    Whoops, car jacked another thread. My bad.

    Let's get it back on topic, then.

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

  • George Darroch,

    "We attempted to go to a rugby game together, but we didn't because it was too cold and rainy, and we wanted noodles instead."

    I understand this, completely. Although I like rugby, I like noodles more. I should say something intelligent or witty, but I'm just happy to leave this here.

    A review of 'The First Asian AB'.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report

  • Jackie Clark, in reply to Rich Lock,

    I obviously have a very vulgar mind. When I looked at that, I thought I was seeing a hedge orgy. And then, I saw the title. Ooops.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Rich Lock,

    how on earth did you find that? #respec

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

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