LET ME CATCH YOU UP TO SPEED WITH WHAT WENT DOWN IN MAY -
*Our unholy rabble gathered for an impromptu ramble round a dam - Waitakere Dam to be more precise. For an autumn arvo, it turned rather warm rather rapidly and I was tearing off my coat. My kiwi friendies introduced me to a couple of new ones. This was less of a hike and more of a roadside walk but that didn't matter; it's more important to spend time with like-minded but lovelier (than I) individuals, amongst the nature of Western Auckland. Who knew dams could be so astonishing?
*Housemate dinners are rare in our 'Broth' (the nickname given to our abode) but Milika cooked up a storm for our family meal with the 5 of us and Sash's older brother. Her father had bestowed onto us an entire goat which he'd hacked to pieces!! I was ready to pop after the goat stew, polenta, homemade bread, deviled eggs, trifle, cheesecake and truffley choc cake.
*I should have hated the mice for intruding on my room and its sanctity but I've grown accustomed to their furry faces and it's almost nice to hear their pitter patter. I had at least 2 baby mice as Mama mouse bore children which were so thin and almost lizardy. These pickles sprinted across my floorboards and I named them after chocolatey things - Brownie, Truffle and Praline. Were they swans or spiders, I wouldn't have lasted even 3 minutes trapped in a room invaded by those beasties!! I ratsat Dicky, my house mate's pet rat hoping that would deter them but NAH.
It wasn't the greatest that the floor smelt like a musty cage or having to sweep up poop pellets from places they ought NOT to be but I didn't want to turf them out into the cold. They have long since left the roost now..
Bussing to Smales Farm was a breeze but as soon as I stepped out into the streets I was done for. In the dark and rain, I wandered through Taka for over an hour when the bus station itself is nearby where Syndi lives but I'd continued walking up and up 20 minutes out of the way as I hadn't clocked the street signpost. Crazily, it was only then that I thought to ring her and she helped me re-route; my misdirection was not over yet.
I made it to the street I believed Syndi lived on and was pacing backwards and forwards for an additional 20 odd mins, abso BAFFLED that her house number was nowhere to be seen. This time, I couldn't reach Syndi by phone, so called my friend Graham knowing he'd dropped her off at her home and would know where she lived. As luck would have it, he was one minute down the very road I was on and resolved my predicament by pulling over at the petrol station I was at to let me jump in and drive me on down to her real street. Thanks for rescuing a dimwit in distress!
Just one minute with Syndi is all it took to take my troubles away and get me back to smiling and we had such a fun night watching movies.
THE *ULTIMATE* EXAMPLE OF AN ADULT -
Maccas breakfasting while still in our jim jams and then eating it down by the Pupuke Lake in Takapuna :D After showering, we had many errands to run - beginning with taking Syndi's car through the car wash, while singing 'Car wash' from A Shark's tale soundtrack -- as it's gotta be done!
After we finished at Westfields, we had to get back to Syndi's for some brownie baking before we moseyed on down to Mangere for Kalolo's shindig. It's always lovely to see the Felicias who are genuine delights; the gold medal of friendship goes to US. As we'd all bought a plate to nosh on, there was quite a spread with some stand out dishes being Chris' butter chicken and Kalolo's curry.
Chatty catch ups with the crew and games, an ultra competitive quiz ignited hysterical laughter and Ron, Pen, Syndi and more busting grooves to Beyonce's 'Move your body' - all made for an entertaining evening. I'd move heaven and earth for any one of my friends in this group as I love these nuggets!!
THAT'S WHAT'S CALLED BEING AN AMAZING HUMAN -
A kind, young stranger rushed to me in my pasta sauce emergency and restored some of my faith in humanity one Monday night. This boy was raised right by his Mama, as he was straight to my side when he heard the glass jar SMASH smack on my right foot. It shocked me as I hadn't noticed a hole in my carrier bag after food shopping. I was so grateful for his assistance, particularly that he cared enough to stain his brand new, white sneakers. I felt guilty that I had to walk away from what looked like a bloody, murder scene on the pavement as I was unable to sweep up the shards of glass.
That Thursday, Erin and I met up with Annick (whom I had met in Christchurch the previous month) as she was in town for the night. Went for Besos Latinos and had the Mexican machete, foot long chicken taco with beans, sour cream, red salsa and salad - a real Mexicano privilege and I cannot over-hype it enough. Holy guacamole was our waiter good looking!! Never has a waiter waiting upon me looked more attractive.
IT WAS JUST ALL ROUND TERRIBLE -
We saw a comedy show as part of the NZ Comedy Festival by the Improv Bandits but it didn't have me leaping out of my chair excitedly. The monologues were not remotely funny and the rest of their performances revolved around pulling a question out of the hat for audience members to shout out answers to.. they then riffed off that for a scene but many were obscene and obscure. Still, some of the one liners worked my funny bone but I was not amazed as I'd been expecting more in the way of Whose Line is it Anyway?
It wasn't until I got home later that night, that I had my darkest Thursday here. I was locked out of my bedroom (having left the key in my room but locking the door from the other side as I left in a hurry in the morning for work) ARGUAHKUYVUBKJEL!!! My house mate Jason, tried with all his might to get me back in but I made him give up as short of kicking the door down or paying an arm and a leg for an emergency locksmith, there was no use. We knew our landlord had a spare copy and we could obtain that the next day. This is where all my roomies were AWESOME.. Milika lent me an outfit for the next day for work and Sach gave up his bedroom so that I had somewhere to sleep and let me borrow a clean towel so I could shower. I can't thank them enough.
MY HALF BIRTHDAY FESTIVITIES WITH THE SMILEY SIX:
The Langham Dessert buffet at Eight Restaurant kicked off a night of responsible fun in the most opulent surroundings. Perfect puds of desserty goodness included: bread and butter pudding, creme brulee, mini choc eclairs, cupcakes, bite-size choc treats and choc fountain with fruit and marshmallows to skewer. I seriously love chocolate HARD.
Karaoke at Sky Karaoke came next; the 120 minutes in our private room from the stroke of midnight, flew by as time does when you're having the funnest of fun! It was testament to our vocal talents that we made all the 90's classics rock; we took on Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, Shania Twain, TLC, Britney, Christina, obvs Disney and many more.
My karaoke game was way off but Ron and Syndi had numerous diva offs while duetting. They officially sang EVERYTHING by all the greats - Whitney, Mariah, Alicia Keys and Beyonce and the videos are gold as they worked it and hit all the high notes. Really had the loveliest night and will always be grateful for these lovies.
MY SECOND TERRIBLE THURSDAY IN A ROW -
Many tears of despair were shed after another huge mistake of mine when my Iphone fell off my desk onto the wooden floor below with a horrific thud. It was done for! The LCD screen was black bar from one minuscule, pink dot; how could I have predicted tripping over the plug cord? I'm not Nostradamus.
I've definitely had better days but I knew it wasn't busted altogether as my alarm blasted out the following mornings and the screen lit up a fraction behind the glass. Rianne + technology = FRAUGHT WITH PERIL. I was dreading the repair fee but I found a new repair place down Queen Street and he fixed both the smashed glass and LCD for a paltry $67.85 and it was ready the morning after I dropped it off there.
ALWAYS A DREAM TO SPEND TIME DESSERTING WITH ANOTHER PUD LOVER -
After work one night, Erin and I went to Milse, where I bonded the heck out of a Bombe Alaska gelato stick of marshmallowy joy. I saw it, my eyes instantly lit up and then fell in love. I was also really feelin' the hot apple cinnamon beverage of wintry wonder. Then again, everything at Milse is delicious and gives me a silly smile.
Maccas breakfasting while still in our jim jams and then eating it down by the Pupuke Lake in Takapuna :D After showering, we had many errands to run - beginning with taking Syndi's car through the car wash, while singing 'Car wash' from A Shark's tale soundtrack -- as it's gotta be done!
After we finished at Westfields, we had to get back to Syndi's for some brownie baking before we moseyed on down to Mangere for Kalolo's shindig. It's always lovely to see the Felicias who are genuine delights; the gold medal of friendship goes to US. As we'd all bought a plate to nosh on, there was quite a spread with some stand out dishes being Chris' butter chicken and Kalolo's curry.
Chatty catch ups with the crew and games, an ultra competitive quiz ignited hysterical laughter and Ron, Pen, Syndi and more busting grooves to Beyonce's 'Move your body' - all made for an entertaining evening. I'd move heaven and earth for any one of my friends in this group as I love these nuggets!!
A kind, young stranger rushed to me in my pasta sauce emergency and restored some of my faith in humanity one Monday night. This boy was raised right by his Mama, as he was straight to my side when he heard the glass jar SMASH smack on my right foot. It shocked me as I hadn't noticed a hole in my carrier bag after food shopping. I was so grateful for his assistance, particularly that he cared enough to stain his brand new, white sneakers. I felt guilty that I had to walk away from what looked like a bloody, murder scene on the pavement as I was unable to sweep up the shards of glass.
That Thursday, Erin and I met up with Annick (whom I had met in Christchurch the previous month) as she was in town for the night. Went for Besos Latinos and had the Mexican machete, foot long chicken taco with beans, sour cream, red salsa and salad - a real Mexicano privilege and I cannot over-hype it enough. Holy guacamole was our waiter good looking!! Never has a waiter waiting upon me looked more attractive.
We saw a comedy show as part of the NZ Comedy Festival by the Improv Bandits but it didn't have me leaping out of my chair excitedly. The monologues were not remotely funny and the rest of their performances revolved around pulling a question out of the hat for audience members to shout out answers to.. they then riffed off that for a scene but many were obscene and obscure. Still, some of the one liners worked my funny bone but I was not amazed as I'd been expecting more in the way of Whose Line is it Anyway?
It wasn't until I got home later that night, that I had my darkest Thursday here. I was locked out of my bedroom (having left the key in my room but locking the door from the other side as I left in a hurry in the morning for work) ARGUAHKUYVUBKJEL!!! My house mate Jason, tried with all his might to get me back in but I made him give up as short of kicking the door down or paying an arm and a leg for an emergency locksmith, there was no use. We knew our landlord had a spare copy and we could obtain that the next day. This is where all my roomies were AWESOME.. Milika lent me an outfit for the next day for work and Sach gave up his bedroom so that I had somewhere to sleep and let me borrow a clean towel so I could shower. I can't thank them enough.
The Langham Dessert buffet at Eight Restaurant kicked off a night of responsible fun in the most opulent surroundings. Perfect puds of desserty goodness included: bread and butter pudding, creme brulee, mini choc eclairs, cupcakes, bite-size choc treats and choc fountain with fruit and marshmallows to skewer. I seriously love chocolate HARD.
Karaoke at Sky Karaoke came next; the 120 minutes in our private room from the stroke of midnight, flew by as time does when you're having the funnest of fun! It was testament to our vocal talents that we made all the 90's classics rock; we took on Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, Shania Twain, TLC, Britney, Christina, obvs Disney and many more.
My karaoke game was way off but Ron and Syndi had numerous diva offs while duetting. They officially sang EVERYTHING by all the greats - Whitney, Mariah, Alicia Keys and Beyonce and the videos are gold as they worked it and hit all the high notes. Really had the loveliest night and will always be grateful for these lovies.
Many tears of despair were shed after another huge mistake of mine when my Iphone fell off my desk onto the wooden floor below with a horrific thud. It was done for! The LCD screen was black bar from one minuscule, pink dot; how could I have predicted tripping over the plug cord? I'm not Nostradamus.
I've definitely had better days but I knew it wasn't busted altogether as my alarm blasted out the following mornings and the screen lit up a fraction behind the glass. Rianne + technology = FRAUGHT WITH PERIL. I was dreading the repair fee but I found a new repair place down Queen Street and he fixed both the smashed glass and LCD for a paltry $67.85 and it was ready the morning after I dropped it off there.
After work one night, Erin and I went to Milse, where I bonded the heck out of a Bombe Alaska gelato stick of marshmallowy joy. I saw it, my eyes instantly lit up and then fell in love. I was also really feelin' the hot apple cinnamon beverage of wintry wonder. Then again, everything at Milse is delicious and gives me a silly smile.
