The New Flag

Josh has designed a new flag for NZ..

He says:

"I did an informal survey and found that kiwi's don't feel much when they gaze upon their flag. they don't feel any national pride, like when they see the haka or something. so i figured we might as well help them out and make a flag that everyone can rally around and not have it be a symbol of colonial control, but rather a flag that symbolizes NZ's march forward as united country with a common future as opposed to a colonial past.

The Silver Fern represents the fauna of NZ and the Black represents the All Blacks, the pride and joy of their sporting history (and really the de facto national colour).

It will be a way for NZ to feel a swell of pride over a national symbol instead of ambivlence. The same thing happened in Canada. they used to have the red ensign with the crest of Canada on it. Then they changed to the maple leaf flag and people really took to it and love it now."

Thoughts?

So far I've gotten:

"A bit pirate-ish"

"Great!"

26 - 2008!

The 17th of August dawned bright and sunny. I treated the birthday boy to an unfinishably large breakfast, which included an assortment of four different beverages..


Josh spent a lovely afternoon hiking at Owhiro Bay, whilst I attended a committee meeting with the Wellington Improv Troupe. Then, we had dinner at Wagamama - yum.

This is Josh with his assortment of gifts from his dad:

Uninteresting? Perhaps...it was funny at the time..

WellingDUH?

I recently had a friend over here ask me what I thought of NZ and Wellington.

It’s interesting because we’ve now been over here for nearly 8 months, and I’m starting to forget how certain aspects of our countries are different. Also, the fact we don’t have TV is hindering my assumption-making!

I’ve sometimes heard people refer to AU and NZ as “pretty much the same country.” After actually spending some time here, I would have to disagree. New Zealand people do have quite a different culture to Australians – though we both like similar sports.

New Zealanders, as a generalized whole, seem to me more ‘Britishy’ than Australians. In my view, they’re a little more:

While Australians are a bit more like:
“Where the Bloody Hell are YA?”

New Zealand is also home to the ‘Kiwi Mumble’ (which I am going to develop a wiki for I think). They (very politely) don’t like to speak up under any circumstance, and may not even do so under duress. I am already a loud person in general, so team me with a loud American and we sometimes get strange looks on the bus…maybe for disturbing the peace?

Bus drivers in Wellington are also too polite sometimes – they can’t seem to drive past a person waving at a stop, even when the bus is full. Conversely, you’re also sometimes dropped off in the middle of the street, something which I never encountered in Brisbane – where the bus drivers are adamant about safety in different ways. Mostly gruff/ angry ones shouting “move to the back of the bus” at the passengers.

New Zealanders also seem to have a stronger, unifying sense of national identity. Although this is not lacking in Australia, it’s quite different here because of the overarching embracement of Maori culture and language. Sadly, I wouldn’t know a word of any Aboriginal languages, or even much about history and culture. Here, the people are strongly identified with the idea of NZ being a country of shared heritage and dual language (Maori is the second official language). Through my work I can even to a Maori language course, or one about the Treaty of Waitangi – so that I can be a better informed public servant.

People are also more keen to get into arts and cultural events. I went to see Be Kind Rewind on Monday as part of the NZ Film Festival. It was a 4pm screening and I was expecting it to be pretty empty really. However, the huge Embassy Theatre was PACKED. I have found this amazing because people want to engage with the arts seemingly so much more than in Brisbane. Even the weekly WIT shows recently have averaged 50+ people on a WEDNESDAY! We struggled to get 10 people to come to our shows back home..

So anyway, this is getting rather long.

I’ll just stop for now. Maybe if anyone has any specific questions they could comment? Ok

Merrilee

Soon to be properly linked

I've just started editing our Improactive site to be a bio/ resource page for us.

You can check out the beginnings here:
http://www.improactive.info-a.googlepages.com/home2

Once I get my act together, it will be accessible via http://www.improactive.com, but alas my work internet security blocks my web host client godaddy.com because of apparent "adult references"

I don't get it...

The Deep South

We've been lucky enough to have had Josh's mom Dee come to visit. It's been lovely to hang out and show someone new around Wellington.

Also awesome that we got to travel to the south island and see some more of NZ's spectacular scenery. And I'm not just saying that for flattery of the country - it is seriously amazing...

Thus, let's begin the photographic journey of our trip:

Flying in as the mountains peek through the clouds..

In Arrowtown, which is a small goldrush town

This is a tiny shack from the chinese village that existed during the gold rush..

In the Eglinton Valley - SO amazing!! It was carved by a glacier - and is steep mountains either side, then this golden grass along the bottom without trees. I've never seen anything like it!

Mirror Lakes

Me on Milford Sound - I can't believe we got to go!!

More Milford

Me outside the Skyline Queenstown with...SNOW!!!

View of the Remarkables from Queenstown

So, that's all for now...but yes it was AMAZING.

BIG thanks to Dee for taking us! xxx

I thought I knew...

New Zealand - land of Hobbits, hokey-pokey ice cream, kiwi and sheep.

Also the land lacking insulation and central heating.

It has been SO cold and it's not even fully winter yet! Believe me, for a person who has lived in tropical Queensland for over ten years, it's a shock to the system. There was a time back home where I couldn't take enough layers off (and felt like removing my skin to get cooler), whereas here, I could be wearing four shirts and still feel like my marrow has frozen.

At any rate, the coldest is still to come. I'm going to invest in more thermals and do what any warm-blooded person would do - HEAD FURTHER SOUTH..

Queenstown here we come!

Tired...so tired!!

Well, we have been busy bees lately. It seems that Wellington really is an active city, and naturally so are our friends. I think Josh and I have had but 2 nights at home this week!

It's been fun, but man I am glad tomorrow is Saturday.

This week, we saw "Sensible Susan and the Queen's Merkin" a positively delightful and hilarious tale about a 'boring' girl who has to journey to Hades to save her husband. And, we just got home from "Funk Rabbit" - a two-man improvised show starring our friends Derek and Julian. Which was also delightful and funny...

So I'm all theatred up, which is a nice feeling after quite a theatrical drought (apart from my own shows). It really makes me feel alive and inspired to see other shows. Which is great, because we're soon to start the first drafts of our TV show script - so inspiration is essential!! I've really been amazed not only by the variety and quality of theatre on offer here, but also peoples' willingness to get out there and see it (hence the aforementioned "active city") It's envigorating and heartwarming...despite the icy-cold-rainy-windy night we're having.

mmmmm...

Anyway, I also wanted to put up some photos of Jen and Joe's farewell. They will be on the plane as I write, jetting their way to the motherland. I was quite sad to see them go, because I only just got to know them properly and they are awesome!! The party was fun though (see below)

The cuties..

All the WITsters at the party..

Steven and Josh's Connect 4 battle

Christine's handiwork with lipstick..

This is New Zealand

Here are some pictures of New Zealand.  We climbed up this great big hill on the shores of Wellington in a place called Makara (pronounced Mack-ra) to see the gun emplacements.  These guns were used to protect New Zealand from the possible invasion from the Japanese Imperial Army.  Now that i have seen these gun emplacements and the one's in the Marin County Headlands i have completed my worldwide tour WWII gun emplacements.  Our friend Cat came and visited and we hiked up the mountain on a absolutely gorgeous day.  The weather in Wellington is usually crap, but on a clear day it is amazing, the air is so clear and fresh and crisp.  enough of this here is the pix.

Theatre Review!!

My show - Improv Angels has closed....

BUT, we got a review!! :)

Very exciting to have a theatre review of an improv show.
Hooray!

Check it out HERE.

Be careful what you wish for..

There was a time when I dreamt of a future where I could just do more impro.

Flash forward to today – I am staring down the barrel of barely a weekend free to sit around and watch ‘Entourage’ on DVD**

In the next month, I’m performing in two shows – which means heaps of training/ rehearsal/ bonding time with the two groups. I’ve also just done a grant for WIT (for a secret exciting project), I’m co-producing said secret project, and I’m also tied up with marketing/ sponsorship seeking for Impro Divas.

WOAH…

Thankfully tonight, I will get to go home, cook a nice dinner, relax…..

..and then work on our TV show script *sigh*

At least it’s still fun!

** This show is seriously great – funny, real and great cast. Check it out.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NZ International Comedy Fest 2008

...We're performing! YAY!

Check out Impro Divas' Show (which I am in):

And also Catch 23 - which is also going to be fun for both of us!

It's really exciting that we've got the opportunity to perform over here with such awesome folks and great to be part of the festival. 

New Stuff

Now to let people know what is happening in my life.  I have gotten a job at a coffee shop.  It is ok.  I know now that I don’t want to spend the rest of my life doing it.  coffee is a thing I love to drink and now that I have a chance to drink it as much as I want I am taking full advantage.  However this has disrupted my sleeping patterns a bit and caused me to have to take drastic measures to make sure I can sleep at night.  I have to meditate before bed and think about the nature of existence, this gets me so tired so quickly that I nod off no matter how many coffees I’ve had that day.  

 

I do however like some of the people I work with.  It is an interesting store because it seems to employ more foreigners than actual Kiwis.  But then again Wellington is a very international city so go figure.  Paolo is a funny Italian guy who reminds me of Roberto Benigni the Italian comedian.  And Mischa is a very pleasant German girl who doesn’t remind me of anyone.

 

I played cricket in the nets yesterday.  That was goood.  I hurt my back though and we had to call it early.  But it whetted my appetite for more and it was just good to get out there in general. 

 

I am also going to perform in the New Zealand Comedy Festival with the Wellington Improv Troupe.  I will get to play in at least two shows which is exciting.  It will be good just to get out there on a stage again.

 

 Well that’s it for now.  until next time boys and girls….a very happy tomorrow to you…..

Photos of recent stuff

My Birthday..breakfast at Sweet Mother's Kitchen

Laser Force induction - before the fun began...

Our Flat:

Wellington - An Update

So far, we’ve been going pretty well since we moved to Wellington two weeks ago.
We got a flat on our second day, and it was the first one we went for. I started working within a week, and Josh got a job at a coffee place (the first interview he went for!).

After staying in a backpackers for the week (as it was pre-paid), we moved to Northland. Thank god we’d found a sofa bed for cheap at the Salvo’s because we were bed-less for a few days!

The last week has been good – sourcing the essentials we need and getting settled into our first place all alone(!). I had a great time shopping at The Warehouse for cheap toaster/ bedding/ pots etc. And otherwise, TradeMe (the eBay equivalent over here) has been a great source of anything else we’ve needed.

Otherwise, I’ve been kicking it with the Wellington Impro Troupe (WIT), where I got to do a weekend of training with the amazing Patti Stiles from Canada (and, more recently Impro Melbourne). Josh and I both went to our first group training last night, which was also fun. I got to perform in my first Micetro show last week, and I’ve also been cast in an upcoming all-girl show Improv Angels.

We’re also in planning for some other ‘major’ things like:
* Next steps for our sketch material and also another comedy series about a small-time production house.
* The next move post-NZ which will hopefully be back to Aus to settle next year
* Applying for our visa which will allow said move to be possible.
* Saving money to cover all of the above, and more.

I’ve been missing people too – and would love to hear from you either via email, or just commenting!

Will post photos and write more once we’ve gotten our mobile broadband at home.

Josh accepts the invitation

Well after all my hemming and hawing i am finally contributing to the blog.  i know i have come into this kicking and screaming but now i have finally seen the light.  we live in a digital age and it is high time i learned the fine art of blogging.  so now i guess i just talk about myself here for a while (one of my favourite things to do in person...so it is strange that i have taken so long to take this into the digital realm).

i went to a wellington firebirds match yesterday.  saw stephen flemming play in maybe his last game.  he retired from international cricket today, but he may continue playing at provincial level.

now we have a place in Northland Wellington.  pictures to come.  we are going around doing all the domestic stuff like buying furniture and getting the electricity signed up.  

more later

My Love and Cricket

Despite my invitation to Josh to contribute to this project, he refuses to.


Therefore, I will take this opportunity to talk about him....and cricket.

Josh loves cricket more than some Australians I know. He currently has three bats, two sets of wickets, pads, whites and is only lacking proper shoes.

I don't play with him at the moment and because he's got no 'cricket friends' here yet, he's taken to getting the fix any way he can. Like today, at a belated Christmas lunch with family, he managed to get all the kids out onto the tiny lawn to face a few balls.

Sometimes I wonder, as he lovingly oils his bat, "Why doesn't he look at me that way?"

I guess I'll just never bring him the joy that the crack of a ball on willow brings him...