Camping

My whole life is packed up and in the back of a truck.  Well, almost my whole life; I have a suitcase, the kettle and toaster, the contents of my fridge, coffee, peanut butter (the vegemite got packed!) and a picnic set, the vacuum cleaner and a box full of random cleaning products that the movers won't carry, cat things, the phone, wifi and the Sky box (so it keeps recording, not that I am addicted or anything, not at all). Oh, and toilet paper.  And all of that is going to fit in the car tomorrow, I hope.  Plus the cats.

Having dealt to the dust bunnies and cat fluff I am camping the night on my living room floor.

Then one night camping at the other end and we do the whole thing in reverse.

Cake

Friday was my last day at Puke Ariki and along with some lovely presents and flowers one of the staff made the most wonderful cake.  Shaped like a kete with 6 layers of lemon cake stacked up it looked so realistic that it even fooled the weavers.

I Heart the Interwebs

So, I'm moving to Wellington.  It's almost seven years since my last move and things have changed a little making it much easier to get everything disconnected and reconnected.

Electrics & gas - log in to my account, click the Moving House button, old and new address and move date entered. Done. Instructions for taking a last gas reading emailed. No Nord to do the electricity because the meter is online.

Phone & wifi - checked out what's at my new place online then one phone call, I'll be connected by lunchtime the day I move and I already have my new number.

Post - redirect all done online.

Sky TV - one phone call, sorted for move in day and technician booked for the next day just in case.

So my first night there I will be sleeping on the floor but I'll have power, light, hot water and wifi.  Not bad.

Heading South Again

Seven years ago I started this blog to share my transition from Melbourne to New Plymouth, heading east and breaking my general southerly trend to that point.  Well, as of a couple of weeks ago I am going south again and moving to Wellington.  I'll be working at the National Library and this morning secured the rental of a lovely little house in Petone.

My New Favourite Thing

I'm just back from 3 weeks in Canada visiting friends, family and most importantly, relaxing and seeing new things.  My best discovery? Poutine - essentially fries, gravy and cheese curd, sometimes fancied up with other things, sometimes not.  Sounds gross, tastes fantastic and turns out to be the perfect lunch to sustain sightseeing.

Also very good with beer.

Festivaling

It's Winter Arts Festival time again and it's a good thing it's only on every two years.  So far I've ticked off theatre (x 2), music (x 2; a trio of guitarists and a quartet of singers), live cinema (silent film with live soundtrack) and an author talk.  This afternoon its more music (choral) and in the coming week magicians and a beat boxer (that's more music).

This was our very civilised afternoon yesterday, glass of wine, dessert platter (yet to arrive) an author talk (also yet to arrive) in the Libri Lounge.

Under Construction

Things have been crazy and busy and crazy busy over the last few months but I have kept up with the weaving.  Kind of anyway.  I currently have 3 kete/baskets almost finished, just waiting for inspiration to strike about handles and one just started.  I'm on a deadline too, two of these need to be finished in the next two weeks so they are ready to give as thank you gifts to friends I'm visiting.  Nothing like a bit of pressure to assist the creative process.

And as you can see Huia is still intensely interested in anything that a) might be fun, b) takes attention away from her good self or c) both.