Southerly by David Haywood

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Southerly: Busytown

18 Responses

  • giovanni tiso,

    "I just know I'm going to be into cute eighteen-year-olds when I'm forty," she says.

    Okay, I heard this one like a month ago. Is it included in some sort of book of pick-up-lines for babies? Disturbing. Very disturbing.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • David Haywood,

    I suspect you read it here! (See last three paragraphs of post.)

    Note that I modified the quotation from "hot" to "cute" in an effort to make it less disturbing.

    Dunsandel • Since Nov 2006 • 1156 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Thanks David, that's a relief. And lovely post, as per usual.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    This is fucking sublime, dude.

    The A key above middle C has something wrong with the damper, and it goes 'dong-g-g-g' every time he strikes it.

    My childhood piano did this, except it was the B above C. I ended up developing a slightly odd playing style that involved just miming this key every time I had to use it. If I didn't know you were already in another country, I'd suggest you suggest it.

    Tell me Opera Lady was at least a coloratura.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Jolisa,

    (Homesick sigh). That was lovely, David.

    And thanks for the compliment, although I never did get to have breakfast at Tiffany's.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    When my kids were tiny I worked at home, my wife worked mornings and I got to be solo dad with kids at the park every day (in Berkeley rather than NY) - the actual parents would tend to gravitate together while the nannys would form their own clique - I think this was largely a language issue (we mostly didn't speak spanish) - being the only guy at the playground with a kid did seem a bit strange though

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen,

    "Oh, so it's an Australian accent."

    Will-power is over-rated

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    One of the things I most enjoy about your writing, David, is how evocatively you do so. Mind you, with Bob the Baby in tow, you do have some excellent material!

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

  • David Haywood,

    Emma Hart wrote:

    Tell me Opera Lady was at least a coloratura.

    Just an ordinary soprano -- but very good, I thought. She may, on reflection, have been warming up for a performance rather than practising.

    Jolisa Gracewood wrote:

    ... although I never did get to have breakfast at Tiffany's.

    Heh -- that's what was missing from the photographs you sent. One of those really long cigarette holders. Oh, and maybe the diamond tiara thinggummyjigger.

    Jackie Clark wrote:

    One of the things I most enjoy about your writing, David, is how evocatively you do so.

    Thanks, Jackie, we try our best...

    Dunsandel • Since Nov 2006 • 1156 posts Report Reply

  • David Haywood,

    Incidentally, do the media in New Zealand care about the world plunging into recession (maybe even depression)? It's on the front page of the Guardian and NYT nearly every day, but when I check the Herald and Stuff websites it barely gets a mention. They're all just rugby and crime. Is New Zealand TV and radio giving the topic some air-time that I can't detect from here?

    Dunsandel • Since Nov 2006 • 1156 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    Oh, so it's an Australian accent.

    I once had a woman at a party in Houston get *annoyed* with me for having what she deemed to be a 'fake' accent. Friends leapt to my defence: 'she's from Noo Zealand! That's how they talk!'

    Ah, my time as a circus freak. So delightful.

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

  • Danielle,

    Is New Zealand TV and radio giving the topic some air-time that I can't detect from here?

    They're *always* nattering on about it on NatRad. Perhaps it's just that I'm always in the shower listening to the radio during the just-before-7am business report, though.

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

  • giovanni tiso,

    Incidentally, do the media in New Zealand care about the world plunging into recession (maybe even depression)? It's on the front page of the Guardian and NYT nearly every day, but when I check the Herald and Stuff websites it barely gets a mention.

    Even with the Cullen fund and Kiwisaver, nowhere nearly as many people have their retirement funds invested in shares or derivates over here. Here it's the falling house prices and the failed finance firms that hit people in the pocket, and they both got plenty of coverage I think.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Incidentally, do the media in New Zealand care about the world plunging into recession (maybe even depression)?

    Key (not John) words like Obama, rescue, cute dog, and cheese going through the leaky building roof may inspire a wee look from msm but then again, maybe not. Whadda'ya gonna do?

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Sam F,

    They're *always* nattering on about it on NatRad. Perhaps it's just that I'm always in the shower listening to the radio during the just-before-7am business report, though.

    I always end up listening to this whilst having breakfast. Nothing like a bit of economic doom and gloom to speed you out the door into a summer morning.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    Here in the UK my brother sat me down and made me watch a number of Flight of the Conchords episodes (yep, I have to travel 1/2 way round the world to catch up with kiwi culture and yep, those boys have done good, haven't they?).

    "Oh, so it's an Australian accent."

    But doesn't she know, we say "caar" and they say "cahar"? Did you get Bob to flip her the bird?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • Jolisa,

    After we watched that episode, my older boy has been on the lookout for the forbidden hand signal. Sure enough, he came home from school the other day and told me: "This boy in my class? He did that sign... you know, Flipper the Bird."

    Like Skippy the Bush Kangaroo, I guess, only birdier?

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report Reply

  • Newsprint,

    Flipper the Bird.

    Awesome!

    Wellington • Since Mar 2008 • 42 posts Report Reply

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