We Saw a Diamond in the Flesh

There are not many 17 year olds who could command the attention of a theatre full of people but Lorde did just that.
Lorde came to Dunedin on her world tour (thank you! As a New Zealander she knows how few people bother to grace the South Island). When we drove past the venue to find a park the queue was literally around the block. In the rain.
She put on a great show from start to finish and the crowd loved her. I can’t recall ever being at a show that caused girls to scream in delight.
It was great to see people of all ages, from those too tiny to see without bring lifted to those with grey hair, enjoying themselves together.
Lorde completely deserves the praise she is getting and long may it continue!

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Exploring the World’s Bottom

On our Labour Weekend holiday we ventured out from our base in Riverton to explore the bottom of the South Island of New Zealand.
The first sight we discovered was a bra-covered fence, not unusual in NZ, with a sign declaring it to be “Tom’s Tit Stop”. We tried to get a good photo but the scary dogs barking at us and the presence of (we assumed) Tom, looking at us from his caravan, led us to conclude that the bras were souvenirs of unfortunate victims of Tom – like Wolf Creek.
From there we visited Cosy Nook, Monkey Island (pictured, top left) and Gem Stone Beach. While we didn’t find any gem stones we did discover a little house tucked behind a cliff and trees above the beach (bottom left).
Lunch was sausages in Tuatapere (right) the sausage capital of New Zealand. Now, I am one who usually prefers their sausages made from fungus (Quorn) but man oh man I cannot stop thinking about those Tuatapere bangers. I need to find a supplier.
From there we headed to Bluecliffs then onto the Cliffden Suspension Bridge, once the longest of its kind in the country.
A very satisfying road trip, ticking off many new places we never knew existed.

Road Trip South

Pigalina and Tobias about to set out (with Mr Pigalina) to Southland for the long weekend.

Beer + Beach

Pigalinas went to the beach and had sandwiches and beer. There were about ten other groups of people around and we commented on how busy “our beach” was.
It is days like this that cement my not moving back to England. There would have been 10,000 people.

Walkies

Mr Pigalina went to work and, being a Saturday, I was determined not to spend the time he was there eating and watching TV like usual. The dog and I instead went on a walk as far as we could in one direction until he finished work.
I can’t tell you exactly how far we walked as I forgot to restart my app after stopping to check a map, but it was about 12km. We saw lots of sights that were new, enjoyed the sun and wore down the dogs cat-like claws on the footpath along the way.
Then we both had a nice nap at home.

Dunedin Craft Beer Festival – Take Two

This year Dunedin had two craft beer festivals. Pigalinas like beer. And beer festivals.
We sampled many varieties, ate tasty food and danced to good music. We avoided the beer that, legend has it, was brewed with beard scratchings when the brewer ran out of yeast. There’s experimental and then there’s…

Dunedin Craft Beer Expo

Today we went to Dunedin Railway Station for the Craft Beer Expo. We sampled many delicious and new beers – the coconut milk stout was surprisingly good.
The Taieri Gorge Train was available for people to sit in which proved priceless as the weather turned nasty.
All in all a great inaugural event, roll on 2015.

Father’s Day Beach Walk

Beach walk with parents and dogs for Father’s Day.

Don’t Know How to Title This One

Today three people working at a branch of my work were shot. Two are now dead. A man walked into the office with a shotgun and fired at them. He then fled and hid from police for most of the day. He is now in police custody, recovering from dog bites.
Two people went to work this morning and are not going home. At least not as they should be.

What makes me most angry, upset, bemused, is that there are people online making snide comments that it was inevitable or justified because we work for a government agency. One even said that he should have taken more people out.

I hate people sometimes, and in this case the ignorant f*cks who think they are being funny or clever sit higher on my list than the gun man. Think about what you are saying. Those women are daughters, sisters, mums, aunties, grandmas, wives, cousins and friends.

My workmates are fantastic, dedicated people and we stick together. Even though this happened in another town we stand with them and it is because of this that the stupid attitudes of outsiders will be but annoying blips on the radar. Stay strong Ashburton.

I Survived a Zombie Holocaust – Movie Premiere

Four years ago I achieved a life goal – be in a movie. I was an extra in “I Survived a Zombie Holocaust” filmed here in Dunedin. I walked barefoot in mud after my shoes broke; stood in drizzle for hours; got cold, sticky, blood splattered all over me; endured hours with irritating contact lenses in; drove an hour for night shoots until about 3am; and took a week off work – all for the love of it. And love it I did.
Today was the Red Carpet World Premiere at Dunedin Town Hall and it was so, so fabulous. It was better than I could have imagined, hilarious and polished to a point you wouldn’t know it was made on a shoestring.
I had been a bit nervous about MiL Pigalina and her friend’s reactions, but they loved it – getting frights and laughing the whole way through.
Mummy Pigalina was also an extra and both of us can be seen on screen if you know where to look. And my friends will be knowing where to look once it is released. I’ll make sure of it!
(Pictured – preparing for the premiere).