A Blog Darkly
(14 February) David Bowie is my God. Oh yes indeed
Wow. Just got back from one of the top five gigs EVER. And I've seen a LOT of gigs. It's brilliant how good music can turn the shittiest situation into a good one.
Anyway. We'd been planning this one for ages. Drake and Casey were supposed to come round my house for drinks before hand. But they are having serious shit to deal with at work, so couldn't make it. They didn't even make it to the concert to meet me till after the support act had started. What was worse, was that it had started raining, really, really heavily. And our seats are on the field.
We got to our seats eventually, Hillary and Monique were there as well but sitting well away from us. Monique started hassling me about my clothes being wet, so I asked if that was a ploy for her to see me naked again, and managed to embarress her.
So we're sitting in our seats, getting wet, knowing we won't be able to see anything when he comes on. People are in bad moods. Drake and Casey are snapping at each other. We decide to go sit in the stand, which means we can't actually see the stage properly, but we aren't wet.
The man comes on. Honestly, he is incredible. Opens with 'Jean Genie', then a couple of new ones, then a cover of 'Cactus' by the Pixies. Drake and I are practically hugging each other at that. (Big Pixies fans). Bowie's earning big respect from us for thanking us for coming, and sympathising about the rain.
We decide to get some more atmosphere, and head back to the field. Unbelievably, we're able to walk right up the side, near the front. We end up closer to the stage than we've been at some indoor concerts in Wellington. It is fucking great.
You just have to love Bowie's attitude. He's standing on a platform leading out into the crowd, so he's getting as wet as we are. But all he wants to do is have a good time - you can tell that performing is a huge buzz for him. He does the hits (Ashes to Ashes, Fame, Changes, Ziggy Stardust), he does the obscure ones (instrumental off Low, Hang on to Yourself), he does the covers (White Light/White Heat, All the Young Dudes, Cactus, Man Who Sold the World - OK, that's one of his that someone else covered ), he does the new(ish) ones (Halo Spaceman, I'm Afraid of Americans, a few off the new album that I forget), he does something from pretty much every era of his career. Except, mercifully, 1984-1992. Nothing between China Girl and Halo Spaceman. But, frankly, he only recorded about two good songs in that period anyway. So no big loss.
The man has class. And awesome charisma. He makes you feel like he really wants to be onstage, performing for you. Everyone came away from the show buzzing and happy. Couldn't ask for more
(Top 5 gigs ever:
1. New Order, at Reading Festival, Reading, England, 1998. They played the Joy Division songs again for the first time. People were alternately crying and hugging each other with joy.
2. Beastie Boys at Big Day Out Festival, Galway, Ireland 1998. Same deal. The *entire* crowd dancing. Afterwards I couldn't talk, could barely walk, just trying to get my breath back, but like everyone around me I had a huge grin on my face. This random girl came up and hugged me.
3. David Bowie, today, Westpactrust Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand.
4. George Clinton, Camden, London, 1999. Unbelievably good vibes, the entire crowd singing in unison (this is while he was *off* stage).
5. Sex Pistols, Auckland, New Zealand, 1997. Incredible. They take the stage with white lights playing across the entire venue, and Johhny Rotten screaming 'do you know who we are?' as they launch into 'Bodies'. 20 years later and they still play with an untouchable energy.
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(14 February) Fashion shows, absent DJs and distant friends
Friday night I head down to Shed 11 for the Fringe Festival launch party. Shed 11 is an actual shed, an old brick building on the waterfront from the days when the waterfront actually had something to do with industry. I arrive to find Drake and Casey with the Fringe board members. Case looks exhausted, but manages a hug for me. Drake has been nominated by the board to find them alcohol (even though there is a bar at the party - they've decided that's too expensive).
He and I disappear, and although for a while it seems like the town has been taken over by Mormons (why have all the shops stopped selling beer?) we succeed.
Back, catch up with Monique whose opening line is 'I haven't seen you naked for a while'. Bitch She complains about Rick for a while, then abandons me, and I'm standing on my own for a while till Rick turns up with his new girlfriend. We have a good chat before they decide to leave for a house party.
I wander in and try to catch the fashion show. It's impossible, basically. A whole load of really tall people are standing between the door and the stage - most of them drag queens or models. But the people who can see the show seem to be having a good time.
I have a drunken conversation with Sarah, another of Casey's workmates who also turns out to be a librarian. I think she's flirting with me. Which is somewhat unfortunate (but flattering).
Then panic as it turns out the DJ has decided not to turn up. Casey, Drake and Hillary are making urgent phone calls to everyone they know who owns decks. Chaos for a while, but I think they get it sorted.
I'm heading off to see the Pheonix Foundation, so I go to say goodbye, mainly to Hillary. I keep getting interrupted by Sarah, who ends up kissing me goodnight (on the cheek, yo) and another of Casey's friends. I think I now understand cockblocking - stop talking to me, and let me flirt with her! So....I get a few minutes to chat with Hillary, we vow to catch some music when she isn't working fantastically hard, and end up agreeing to meet for lunch next week
I head up to Bodega, where the bands are running late - the Savages (#15) are only going on stage as I get there. They're OK. Basically a PG rated version of the Cramps. Then I run into Anthony. Who I thought was in Greece. Turns out he's just back - yay! Hang with him for a while, and watch Cortina (#16) who have an energetic rock/electro-clash vibe. I'm not sure how I feel about it, probably a good thing.
Around this time I'm feeling hot and claustrophobic and tired, so I leave. Bleh. No Pheonix Foundation for Simon. This is weird and frustrating - like I'm not depressed anymore, but I'm suffering from anxiety instead. I find it hard to stay long in bars and venues and crowded areas. It's pissing me off - what to do?
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(12 Feb) Miscellany
I'm still alive. The flat appears to be working OK. I dig it. Jason is fairly quiet, and Laurie isn't there very often, but it's cool. Can't see there being any hassles really. I got to meet Jason's girlfriend a few days ago - she's the sort of girl I'd expect him to be dating - they're workmates and she's a similar quiet(ish) accountant type. Seems like a good lass though.
Tonight is the wild and crazy celebrations for the end of my degree. Well, probably not. This class tends to prove the stereotypes about librarians. At least in company with each other. Still, should be fun. And we're drinking at the same bar that my dad drinks at on Thursdays. So I get to watch him attempting to pick up women. Sad thing is, he'll probably suceed.
On to better things, the Bowie concert is this weekend (swoon...) and I'm going to Pheonix Foundation (great local band that sound a bit like Grandaddy) on Friday. Also got an invite to the launch party for the Festival Fringe (OK, it's open invite, and free entry, but still) - Casey and Drake will be there and presumeably Hillary and maybe Monique etc. Should be good. Drink champagne, watch DJs, then go to the Pheonix Foundation.
And Saturday after Bowie friends of Vanita's are DJing in town, so will probably go along to that. Hopefully a few people from class will come along.
(At some point I also have to write two assignments, but I'm sure I'll manage).
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(9 February) Movin' in with...
OK, so the move went more or less as we would have planned it. Laurie turning up at the old flat 45 minutes late was balanced by the movers also being 45 minutes late, so we still had time to prepare. Took us just over 4 hours, which really isn't that bad (not counting time to unpack, but that seems to be going OK). I love love love the new place - it's the first really nice, new flat I've ever lived in.
Weirdly, I think we now qualify as yuppies
we're young (yes, 31 is still young as far as I'm concerned)
we're urban (townhouse on the edge of the city's financial district)
we're professionals (we all work in various professions).
I don't feel like a yuppie.
The end to a perfect day was Laurie's mother bringing around risotto and beer, which we ate on the balcony in the sun
Oh. One reason the day was perfect was the great conversation I had with a certain American. Darling, it's moments like those that remind me just why I love you, and just how much <3
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(8 February) "Ditch the bitch!"
So I spent Friday and Saturday at the Rugby Sevens. Friday's highlight was my dad discussing his sex life - in detail. Saturday was a lot better, with the crowd in party mode (Sevens has to be seen to be believed - half the crowd are in costume, there's music and dancing and singing and chanting (New Zealand crowds never chant normally) and lots of drinking, the vibe is incredibly good, everyone's friendly and happy. Best of all is the way every team gets cheered when they leave the tournament. Every single team gets a standing ovation from the crowd, even teams we've been cheering *against* only a few moments ago (like Australia).
In spite of what the Sydney Morning Herald says this wasn't just a brave attempt at forgetting the (real) Rugby World Cup. This is a party, pure and simple.
Oh, the 'ditch the bitch'? I ran into a bunch of gay lads I used to play rugby with - they were fairly drunk and one of them kept repeating 'ditch the bitch' - talking about my father and his girlfriend, about our friend Brad and his boyfriend, pretty much everybody really. I also told 'em about my long-distance relationship, which inspired questions about how good she is in bed and what positions we like....
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(7 February) Hey! It could get worse! *crawls under a rock*
OK, things
have to start getting better now.
I get home to Casey's place after the rugby, I'm tired and strung-out and not happy with myself. After a couple of minutes conversation, Drake asks if I remember getting up to go to the toilet last night.
- Yeah, sure.
- Do you remember seeing Monique?
- Yeah (actually, that was a bit embarrassing because I was only wearing a towel round my waist, and I was topless. but no big deal).
- Do you realise you were naked? Like, completely naked? And wandering around the kitchen?
Oh god. I swear that I still have no memory of being naked, and a very strong memory that I was wearing clothes. But I guess I'm wrong. Poor Monique
Very very embarassed.
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Barbecue goodness
Over to Drake's for a farewell barbecue for his housemate Rob, who's going travelling around the country with an old friend he hadn't seen for four years who he met when the friend walked into the bar where Rob works and ordered a beer. This is on the other side of the world from where they last met, both being English.
Barbecue was quite good. Sister and boy were there, plus a few others. All good.
Good food and I had an interesting conversation with this English girl who works with Drake's girlfriend. Turns out we have similar tastes in music and she is keen to go to some gigs. Which is great because I know very few people who are into live music at the moment. Yay me! Yay English girls with good taste.
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(30th January) Early nights with Paul and Kim
So I go out drinking with Paul and Kim, and as per usual I'm home by midnlght. Some things don't change, even when you haven't seen people for a year. What's worse is that this time it was me who went home early - they actually lasted longer than I did.
It was a good night though. We started off in Tupelo, which has been done-up since we used to drink in there (not for the best, I think) then wandered off to find a Malaysian restaurant. Ate cheap, good (but spicy) food while loudly solving the problems of drug prohibition. Paul and Laurie were surprisingly in favour of legalisation.
From there went for a quiet drink at JJ Murphy's, forgetting that they have a godawful covers band on Fridays. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as we went upstairs to hide from the band, and ran into Hamish and Michael. Yay! So I managed to give Hamish my phone number, and it turns out he's moving down to Wellington. Yippee! I'm already picturing a few big nights with those guys.
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(29th January) Packing, and moving...
So, I get to spend this weekend packing up and cleaning the flat. For some reason which I don't quite understand, we don't get to move our stuff over to the new flat yet. Even though we have the keys, and there's no-one in it.
Instead, we leave our stuff here, while the new tenant moves in (she's a 60-year-old woman). We leave our stuff downstairs, she moves in upstairs, and all is well. Or something. We then come back in a week and move our stuff to the new flat. Meanwhile, we sleep on a floor somewhere. (I'm lucky, I've got a friend who lives near enough to here that it isn't a big deal). What I don't understand is why we can't just move our stuff over to the new flat, even if we don't move in?
Bleh. Lots of heavy lifting. And limited internet access. We're out of here in about 48 hours, into the new place next Saturday AM.
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(27th January) Mad at my brother
I get home last night from the gym, all hyped up and ready to play on BL and even maybe do some study.
I go to log on to the interweb. Sorry sir, we've shut down your account due to violation of our terms of service - multiple users trying to access at once. Brilliant. A while back, when I lived with my brother, I gave him my logon. Didn't matter then because we lived together, so only one of us could use the net at a time. Since we moved apart, he promised he wasn't using my logon. I guess he was, huh? So no net for Simon till I sort this out.
AND, Tanja is leaving town
Just when I thought my friends were starting to come back, another one leaves. Her excuse is that she went home to her hometown for Christmas and met a man there. How ridiculous, fancy moving hundreds of miles just for a relationship.
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(26th January) Driinking with Paul and Kim (and Cory)
So I finally get to catch up with my friends who are back from Malaysia on holiday, after a year away. And it's like we were never apart, really. I guess the internet has a big part to play in that - we can keep up-to-date with each other's lives quite easily. Still, it's good to see them in the flesh. And the impression I'm getting is that in the next 6 months to a year, a lot of my friends will be moving back here. I'm looking forward to it.
And I took along a photo of my American to show them, and they were all impressed. Becuase it was framed, it ended up sitting on the table while we drank. (I think there were a few toasts made in its direction). Hopefully next year we can all drink together for real.
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(25th January) So, we got another flatmate
Which was good. We only had a few people ring up about the room, and even fewer came round to look at it. In the finish, this one guy was pretty much the only one who wanted it. He looks like he'll be a good flatmate (trans: won't get into screaming matches, can pay the rent, won't steal from me, unlikely to hold all night drug and sex orgies when I'm trying to sleep for work, seems fairly laid back). Which is what I need at this time of my life. If I want to be drinking all night and listening to loud music I'll go out. At home, I mostly want peace and quiet.
And I'm falling more and more in love with the flat. It really does look very cool. My aim now is to stay there till I have a girlfriend to share the master bedroom with, and move up there with her. Cheap rent, in a cool flat, what more could you want?
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