Random Play by Graham Reid

Nice one - but you should have told me!

In late 2000, I was commissioned to write a my-generation-and-Auckland thinkpiece for Metro, and came up with the phrase "Funky seaside village", which was true at the time. Baby-boomers were whining (Ralston wrote a daft piece complaing about how everything was shit) but K Road was blooming and the kids were alright. There was a certain buzz about the place. It was nice to get away from endless kvetching about where we stood in the world.

Nice historical time-slices, thank you.
From a little before the "Funky seaside village" era - late '77/early '78: as you rounded the point heading towards the city, on the ruined sewage-structure that later became Kelly Tarlton's was the clearly-visible graffiti NZ - DISCO DUMP.

It seems like there's way too many people in New Zealand who complain for the sake of complaining.
This is particularly apparent when reading the letters section of any major NZ newspaper.
I bet half of the people complaining about boy racers never run across any in their own lives.
Too many people pass judgement on things that they're not personally affected by. This was the case with the opposition to civil unions and legalised prostitution - if you don't like gay people or prostitutes, they're not hard to avoid (although it's not the case with the opposition to the anti-smacking bill, which implicity effects every family).
People who complain needlessly bring everyone else down. (I know it's ironic to complain about people complaining, but, hey :-)
I enjoy Russell's writing cos he's always optimistic about the future of New Zealand, and he has a nationalist streak which says we can plow our own path, let's do it!
(I shouldn't post that it in a Graham Reid blog - don't worry Graham, I like your stuff too!)

Have you looked through the delights of "Almighty Auckland?" Gives some nice slightly more up to date views on the place.

OK, vested interest - I wrote one of the chapters.

You ever need a bouncer to put a suit in a headlock I'm your man Graham! Just say the word.....

You ever need a bouncer to put a suit in a headlock I'm your man Graham! Just say the word.....

Hey, who needs to be asked? Let's all go down there (PA readers in Auckland) on Thursday and look nonchalant until Mr BusinessSuit gets testy again. AND THEN WE POUNCE AND GIVE 'IM A GOOD KICKING!! (Hey, its time we toughened up the image of bloggers)

And speaking of Olde Auckland I was very disappointed to return to NZ to find the seaview I enjoyed when driving down Princes Street from the Maidment to Shortland Street (yes kids, it was named after an actuall street!) was defiled by The Scene Apartments. There used to be a nice respite at the lights by The Hyatt where one good gaze wistfully at the harbour and Rangitoto. But no more, for it has been blocked out. The council does not view viewscapes as having any value.

good = could

(but you figured that out, didn't you?)

That's lovely Graham. If the weather isn't too grubby tomorrow lunchtime this new Aucklander will escape the office and check you out.

You're a braver man than I, Graham. I thought about the London Bar poetry readings... just thought about them, not about actually taking part myself, you understand. It made me feel ill. Truly terrifying. I guess my own verse - placing, as it does, new emphasis on the word 'blank ' - is just not suited to the Poetry Slam-type event, which always sounds like the kind of thing a sumo wrestler would do to a poet.

Nobody Important wrote:

And speaking of Olde Auckland I was very disappointed to return to NZ to find the seaview I enjoyed when driving down Princes Street from the Maidment to Shortland Street (yes kids, it was named after an actuall street!) was defiled by The Scene Apartments.

I have wailed about it on NZBC.

Chockasunday wrote:

It seems like there's way too many people in New Zealand who complain for the sake of complaining.

I wish to complain about that comment in the strongest possible terms.

Lets take a leaf out of Question Time as well, and plant patsy questioners. I just hope someone has the moral courage to ask the all time greatest patsy question of all:

Everybody loves you, why are you so great?