Current Status: Holidays

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  • Mark Harris,

    /Taker /Baker

    Waikanae • Since Jul 2008 • 1343 posts Report Reply

  • Mark Harris,

    ...although, as Freudian slips go...

    Waikanae • Since Jul 2008 • 1343 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Actually, no. While not the complete disaster predicted, she was still bloody annoying with moments of "not bad" tossed in occasionally.

    No, I thought she was better than that -- you're weighed down with all that fanboy baggage!

    And I was moved by her final episode.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Stewart,

    I'm with Mark on the question of Catherine Tate - she was, on teh whole, decidedly annoying with some good moments here and there. But as Russell points out, her 'demise' was moving.

    And good to know there's someone else who has seen the Hartnell series (not counting theose new-fangled DVD thingummies). As kids we watched the early b&w episodes, my sister occasionally having to watch from the landing on the stairs, peering under the lintel of the lounge door so she could be safe from the daleks.

    Myself, I missed most of the Troughton, Pertwee, Baker, Davidson, other Baker, etc years through being itinerant and/or not having a tv but I was heartened by the quality of the new series from Ecclestone onwards. The advances in CGI have made a huge difference. (Probably helped by adequate funding.)

    Te Ika A Maui - Whakatane… • Since Oct 2008 • 577 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Actually, no. While not the complete disaster predicted, she was still bloody annoying with moments of "not bad" tossed in occasionally.

    Different strokes for different folks, and all that, but I found Rose Tyler's presence in the last series infinitely more annoying than anything Catherine Tate did. Sorry, but I found it rather refreshing to have a companion who was willing to get in "Spaceman's" face when he's being a tosser, demand the techno-babble get translated into English now and them, and has precisely zero interest in shagging him.

    And here's something that will really melt your brain, Mark. I recommend you lay hands on Russell T. Davies' book The Writer's Tale -- basically an e-mail correspondence with journo Benjamin Cook during the run of series four. Even if you're not a Who-fan, it's loaded with fascinating insights on writing and the sheer grind of producing a television show. Damn good read.

    But I digres. There was no master plan to bring Tate back after 'The Runaway Bride'. Everyone just assumed she'd be too busy, and quite a bit of work was done on developing a companion that sounded depressingly like Rose Redux. Then BBC head of fiction Jane Tranter had a meeting with Tate, and reported back that she was interested in coming back. He he....

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Simon Grigg, as is his way, has blogged his current trip home to Auckland.

    As ever, he sees things we don't.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sam F,

    Simon Grigg, as is his way, has blogged his current trip home to Auckland.

    As ever, he sees things we don't.

    That's an awesome post.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Wow, I managed to find a post before Russell mentioned it. Damn good piece, Simon, and ta for the link to the story about Claire and Michael.
    And Russell, what happened to Magazzino?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    And Russell, what happened to Magazzino?

    I don't really know, but clearly they couldn't pay their bills last year.

    It's sad: I've been buying magazines from Stuart and Megan for a long time.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sam F,

    Wasn't yesterday's weather glorious?

    I left work last night, and planned out an epic cycle from town to the favoured supermarket to get barbeque things. Just past Red Baron Motorcycles on Great North Road I started to hear that loud rhythmic hissing that told me I'd just gotten a snakebite puncture on the rear tyre.

    It took me a good half-hour to walk home, but it was so bright and sunny and gorgeous that I didn't regret it in the slightest. It's nice to live in a city where you get days so good that a breakdown becomes an unexpected plus.

    Anyway, I got the nail out of the tyre, got to work fine this morning, and am planning an evening around Pollen Island by kayak to round off the week. Ace.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    A dispatch from Collingwood, NW Nelson. Everything (houses, cafes) is still for sale here, as they are every summer. It is a wonderful spot but people still are captivated by its summer glories, buy up locally, then move on once they have experienced a winter or two of 8 weeks of rain.

    We are staying again in the old Masters House on Beach Road (we are usually a few houses along) and it retains its quaint charms--a bit like sleeping over at the museum. The sea is like warm tea (not sure what warm coffee would be like)

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • JackElder,

    ...snakebit puncture .... nail out of the tyre

    Nitpick: that wasn't a snakebite; a snakebite puncture is when you hit something hard enough with tyre pressure low enough that the rim "grounds out" as the tyre herniates slightly to each side, so you get two small parallel cuts in the tube. These look like your tyre's been fanged, hence the name.

    I hear you, though. Cycling around through to Oriental Bay and along the waterfront last night was glorious. One of my friends rode home from Upper Hutt to Hataitai, it was so good.

    Wellington • Since Mar 2008 • 709 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    Thanks for the link Russell. I've gone and posted something full of bloody typos again..proofing ain't a personal strength as many album covers will attest.

    Must.edit.

    I was sad to see Magazzino gone. It always an early port of call on any trip to AK, if only to see what local folks are doing. And I was mightily impressed with Pilot, the first edition of which hit the shelves before Xmas. Andy Pickering, a happy refugee from (and co-founder of) Remix has provided one of those moments of brilliance I mentioned.

    Strangely Normal are unique, and I love'em. I went in on XMAS eve and found a jacket I liked for an impending trip to an American winter. I went back on the 29th to buy it and Michael said it wasn't a perfect fit. He called the next day and I went in. Both he and Claire said it needed to be adjusted more. They then went to the workroom on NYE, made me a brand new jacket and delivered it on the evening of Jan 1. Point me in the direction of an uppity Italian chain that will do that.....

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

  • Sacha,

    Simon, I wish I was that organised with Michael and Claire. We're still working on making a suit jacket that I ordered about a year ago. I may ask them to pretend I'm you and behave accordingly.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Strangely Normal are unique, and I love 'em.

    Ditto. They've done me a couple of shirts for the TV show and hopefully there'll be more (yes, there's a wee bit of waiting going on).

    It was only this Christmas (crazy pre-Xmas Swanndri sale) that I officially retired the Strangely Normal winter jacket I must have been wearing for eight or nine years.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    Just back from 10 days in Rotorua. And can I just say one of the things that I had dread about returning was to have to catch up with all the postings here. Ne'er mind. Anyway, I went with some of my family to a couple of houses on Lake Rotorua (check out Ngonotaha next time you're down there, it's a pretty little place). Weather was fantastic, the Lake was gorgeous to look at and swim in (but very shallow on the side we were staying.), and I took a lot of books to read. Heaven. Word to the wise, however. Do not return to Auckland via SH2. It's like driving down very wide country (metal ie) road at the moment. Bloody stupid.

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

  • Grant McDougall,

    I'm about to fly up to Christchurch. Then tomorrow morning, I'll be flying from there to...you'll have to wait for the next exciting episode of "What Grant did on his holidays"...

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    I vote that the plane takes you to Gore. Maybe Balclutha.

    I mean, if you're going to be smug about your big trip and what you're going to see, that's what you deserve, surely.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Avondale is as good as a holiday sometimes. I feel bound to clarify that my own persistent unavailability has contributed to my jacketlessness, and that I was perhaps seeking a more ruthless approach from my supplier to ensure focus.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    I've driven several 1000k over the last wee while,& although the festive season was really good in parts (paticularly at Oamaru & the awesome limestone country just south of Waimate) there were sadnesses and gaps, and it was good to get back to the beach. But there were still things missing...

    One of those has just arrived: envy me! I have 2 kilo of Totara lowland cherries & I'm devouring them!

    (Hey, I'd share if you were here...)

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

  • Sacha,

    Consider yrself envied. I remember scoffing awesome huge cherries from Seddon many years ago. Concentrated sunshine..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    One of those has just arrived: envy me! I have 2 kilo of Totara lowland cherries & I'm devouring them!

    Oh, how cruel!

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

  • Islander,

    Dear Jackie
    (smiling a dreamy entirely non-enigmatic cheery cherry smile)
    it was meant with lurrrve-

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

  • Jackie Clark,

    well, I shall have my cherries soon, islander - coming down to Lake Hawea for Waitangi weekend so I am sure that on the way from Dunedin, we will go through cherry country. Will we?

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

  • Danielle,

    My mum and I went halves on a kilo of hugely expensive Otago cherries just before Christmas. Worth every penny.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

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