the colour of my love for you

Treasury of We

2012-02-05T16:52:00.000+11:00

When I moved to Melbourne in May, I was impressed with the amount of gigs. 'It's nothing', I was told: 'wait for summer'. And true enough, there have been a lot of great shows. Here are some thoughts on a bunch I've seen
Fran bought me a ticket to see The Gin Club play a christmas eve eve show. They were great, all ten (or so) of them. Big band, good sounds
I went with my friend Jasmine to see Metronomy at the Hi-Fi, and they were phenomenal! They played every song I could've hoped, and were thoroughly entertaining.
John Maus and Dan Deacon played at 'Fright Night'. Maus was amazing, playing his tracks via a sampler while he yelled/sang over the top. Really atavistic performance, shouting and self-hitting. Wow. And Deacon was absurdly fun, his live band involved three synths and two drummers. Tears in my eyes during audience participation in which we were asked to think about the person we loved the most.
Julianna Barwick played a Sugar Mountain sideshow at The Toff, and I went with my flatmate James. Great voice; a haunting show
Fran and I saw Feist's Laneway sideshow at the Palais Theatre (amazing venue!). She was great, very entertaining, and a great performer. My Moon, My Man was superb.
And off to Laneway yesterday. A really brilliant day out, I really enjoyed Girls, Givers and The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. Cults were spectacular, and worth the price of the ticket alone. And I felt the same about Glasser, who was better than I could've hoped. The Horrors played a great set, with all the songs I wanted (a good theme of the day) before I snuck off to catch Toro y Moi play Elise (yuss). Washed Out were fab, full of feeling, and I headed over to catch the last M83 song (Couleurs!). I boogied my way through the crowd, and the girl in front of me turned around: it was Naomi! I'd not seen her in months, and here we were, among thousands. I was spun out, it was a poetic moment.
All of this leads on to next week's Camp A Low Hum in New Zealand! Also coming up: Neon Indian, Slow Club, St Vincent, others

Minutiae

2012-01-26T12:26:00.000+11:00

At my work I find there are a number of things which seem trifling, and these are the things that really delight me. As Hank Scorpio said, 'it's the little things that make up life'
-Wineglasses are suspended in groups of three, upside down on rails. When you replace a row, they swing and hit each other, producing chimes. The beautiful thing is that they continue swinging for many minutes, and faint 'clinks' can be heard long after you've walked away. I love the harmonic, periodic nature of the swings, and the sounds they produce seem like the music of the spheres.
-Rainbows! The wineglasses, glass shelves and mirrors by the benches produce rainbows. So simple, so stunning.
-At the end of the night, the coffee machine is cleaned. Part of this involves emptying the grinder, and grinding a handful of beans to 'season the machine' the next morning. You hear the blades grind and whir, and as the last of the beans go through, the blades spin unimpeded. It sounds like a perfect moment.
-Coffeemaking, it's fun to try and make pictures in the foam. I'm still learning, but it's often best to simply interpret the shapes that arise. I've 'made' pictures of a moustache, question marks, and a hyperbola.
-Customers. People are beautiful and strange. It feels like every interaction has the potential to revolutionise how you relate to others.

Socks

2011-12-30T22:12:00.000+11:00

My whole life, I've put my socks on a certain way. I simply pulled them on: toes in the opening, the rest follows naturally. If the sock were inside-out, I'd half turn it the right way out, then whack the balled up sock in my hand, like a poi. People have teased me for this. I see that it's not ideal, though it gets the job done.
My whole life, my dad has put his socks on a certain way. Starting with the sock inside-out, he makes a dent in the toes, and pulls it back over his foot, inverting it as it goes. He stands up; his socks are on.
Recently I changed methods. I adopted the Dad Method. Faced with an inside-out sock, I calmly slide it over my foot, and carry on with my day. No more whacking socks to make them comply. I put on my shoes and leave the house.
As I walk, I wonder if I'd ever been taught a certain method. I was always aware of how my father dressed his feet - had he always been like this? Or was there a point at which his method changed, presumably to that of my poppa. At 27, what did this change mean to me? I was acutely aware of it, though it was seemingly triggered by nothing.
At 27, my dad was a recent father of twins. He'd been married a few years. And he'd been working as a carpenter for close to 10. He was unquestionably a Man. How do I compare? With my life, I feel like a man, though definitely not a Man.
I sit down on the grass at the park, and take off my shoes and socks. I leave the socks, inside-out, on top of my shoes, ready for when I walk home.

Christmas

2011-12-24T12:09:00.001+11:00

I made a crochet tree for a friend. Hope you have a lovely christmas. I'll be spending it with a few friends, then working at the cinema in the evening

2011

2011-12-19T18:16:00.001+11:00

In the last couple of years, I've had reviews of my favourite musical releases. As I didn't work in radio for most of the year, I felt rather disconnected from what was happening musically, so decided to branch out my reviews (also inspired by these guys)

Gigs of the Year
4 - Parking Lot Experiments @ Workers - a great way to cap off my first week in Melbourne
3 - Wintercoats @ The Evelyn - far exceeded my very high expectations
2 - Caribou @ CALH - kinda 'lost my shit'
1 - Beach House @ Laneway - I was covered in shivers the whole time

Albums
5 - Memory Tapes - Player Piano
4 - PJ Harvey - Let England Shake
3 - Cults - Cults
2 - Tennis - Cape Dory
1 - John Maus - We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves

Songs
Glasser - Ring (Delorean remix)
Summer Camp - I Want You
Neon Indian - Polish Girl
Rhianna - Only Girl
Shocking and Stunning - Salvia Gravity
Atlas Sound - Te Amo

Best Books I read this year
Sherman Alexie's The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven blew my mind. And I loved David Foster Wallace's Consider the Lobster

Favourite Films of the Year
Midnight in Paris was delightful. Source Code and Tyson were probably my fav dvds

Food items of the Year
Anything from La Panella (vegan bakery!), Log Cabin nachos, Gina's bagels, vegan licorice all sorts from Northcote IGA

Best Kebab
Abbott House of Falafel (aka 'King of Falafel'), Coburg. $5 of incredible

Girlfriend of the Year
Gina - Practically Perfect in Every Way

Suburb of the Year
A tie between the wonderful St Albans, Chch; and Northcote, Vic

Art Gallery Shows of the Year
Stabs @ Backwoods
Nior @ No Vacancy NGV
Eveline Tarunadjaja @ No Vacancy QV

Clothing of the Year
Probably a really nice fitting white polo I got from Tasman Traders. Also, cut-off shorts were the only way to short in '11

Most Aussie Thing
A drunk guy saying 'fair dinkum' regarding my review of Tyson

Event of the Year
Without doubt the earthquake. Changed most parts of my life, and was a very big motivator for the runner up: moving to Melbourne

Overall Trend
Learning that things will happen and people will do things that are totally outside your control, so you've just got deal with it the best you can

Moments

2011-12-08T23:10:00.000+11:00

It feels like the last 24hrs have been quite interesting in a bunch of ways. Yesterday I went to the Northcote Library, and then the Fairfield one to track down a book about infinity by David Foster Wallace. The afternoon was very warm, and I stayed inside, read, and cut pretty shapes in paper. I went for a walk down High St and looked in some fancy boutiques. I saw a girl I work with, and the girl who cut my hair - real community feeling.
In the evening I cycled in to town and explored the old Carlton Brewery. It was pretty cool, and I watched the sunset from the roof. I walked around town for a few hours, up and down laneways, and had some dinner. Town was busy, the air was warm. I walked up a dark, intriguing stairway, only to set off a deafening alarm. -10 Ninja Points. I walked back to my bike calmly and headed home.
At home, Mr Cat caught a baby mouse. My flatmate Tangle grabbed the cat, and I held the mouse. It looked okay, but must've been in shock as it gasped half a dozen times, and then was still. Watching a baby mouse die in your hands is so surreal, and achingly affecting.
Today I rode in to town with the expressed aim of winning a bike from a mobile phone company. They were doing a scavenger hunt. I checked the net at the State Library, read the clue and figured it was only a few blocks away. I jogged over, found the bike (and company reps) down an alley, and won a bike! Neato. I rode up to Fitzroy and met Netta for lunch ($4 pizza!). We talked and walked around, it was really great. Later on, I met Annie for an early dinner (tacos!). It was really nice spending time with some of my favourite people. I rode home, and went to work

Bands

2011-11-24T17:13:00.000+11:00

As mentioned previously, I like having stuff on my wrists, so perhaps it was only a matter of time before one of them was tattooed. I'd been wanting some wrist bands since seeing the singer from A Dead Forest Index, and also Hugh Jackman in The Fountain. On Halloween I went to visit Kiri and her fiance Mj, the latter being a tattoo artist. The band widths are related by the mathematic/aesthetic idea of the Golden Ratio, which is believed to be pleasing to the human eye. In a really neat self-confirming way, I didn't have a ruler when drafting the lines, and just went with what looked best. Measuring them later they were spot on.

Northcote

2011-11-21T10:41:00.000+11:00

I've moved house. I'm now living in Northcote, and it's great. I live with three other vegans, and my work is only a few minutes bike ride away (instead of 30+). It's a really nice suburb, lots of cool places to check out, and riding to town is easy. The people I'm living with are super nice, and it feels like this has been a good move (both logistically and... emotionally, I think). I'd been in a bit of a strange mood for the last few weeks (didn't really feel like I had nice stuff to post about), but things are back to normal. Now it's time to meet some cool Northcote people and make the most of living here.

Summer plans

2011-10-30T20:07:00.000+11:00

I was walking through town the other day, and it was warm and sunny and beautiful, and I felt like flying through the air. I felt really positive, and like things were fizzing and shaking, trying to leap out of me. Here are some plans for the summer months, some which will definitely happen (*), and others which range from achievable to 'pipe dream'.

1 *Move to a cool new flat in Northcote with three other vegans. Close to work, and a great part of town, yeah!
2 *Go to Melbourne Laneway and Camp A Low Hum
3 *Work over Christmas/New Year at the cinema
4 *Get a tattoo
5 Paste stuff pretty much every night
6 Find work at a cafe, max out my barrista skills
7 Swim more/learn to swim
8 Pash 100-200 babes. One a day would be pretty ideal
9 Explore more abandoned buildings
10 Collaborate with people creatively
11 Learn a few bits of some European languages
12 *Ride my bike heaps

How is your summer looking? If you'd like to be a part of any of these (especially 8 or 10), hit me up

Conceive

2011-10-18T21:27:00.000+11:00

A while back, my friend Kiri called. What I'd not mentioned before, but is relevant to this story, is that we broke up because she realised she was gay. We're still really close, and her and her fiance MJ have a lot of gay friends. She mentioned that a couple she knew were looking for a sperm donor so they could have a baby. They'd described the kind of person they were seeking, and Kiri decided that I could be up for the job. It was a big suggestion, and something I thought about a great deal. I thought about 'fatherhood', and what it would mean in this instance. I thought about having a child that was biologically mine, but that I'd not nurture. I thought a little about morals, and felt that the 'right thing' would be to help and donate. And at the most basic level, I saw this as an opportunity to help by providing a key ingredient, so agreed to meet Bec and Michelle.
And it was great. We were on the same page about everything. I would be an uncle/godfather kind of guy; they'd be very open with the child about where they came from; I'd be the donor, they'd be the parents (on the birth certificate, etc). They're a lovely couple, we were all happy, and agreed to go for it. I made two donations of Baby Magic (he he) for Bec, who was going to carry. I guess we make a good combination, as she's pregnant!
They're hoping for a boy, and are due in June. I knew that I was happy for them, but when I noticed my arms flailing and that I was shouting the news to Fran, I guess it really hit home that I'm a part of something really cool and special. I'll keep you posted.

Urban exploration

2011-10-10T19:58:00.000+11:00

As you may have picked up, I really like exploring new places. The urban landscape is rich with possibility, and of course there will always be plenty of buildings that are abandoned or in transition. In the last two days, I checked out two beautiful locations.
The Argus Building is located right in town, and has always fascinated me. Sunday afternoon seemed as good as any to check it out, and it was surprisingly easy to get inside. I was alone, and the beauty of abandoned spaces really hit me - the decay, the graffiti, the pigeons, the past/present/future. I was covered with shivers. I made my way on to the roof, and then up the tower.

Klara had written 'love/hate heights', which is exactly how I felt. Oh boy. I was really glad I made it though, and I'll definitely check it out in the future. Definite romantic date location.

Today's adventure was to the Yorkshire Brewery in Collingwood. Fran and I wandered around here a while back, and I was determined to get to the top. And it was pretty easy. It was another battle of nerves with the height, but it's a massive, sturdy silo, so I felt okay.

Kitten of Doom had posted about this place (she seems to love heights...), and these trips were inspired by her and Klara. It's cool to know other people visit, and leave their mark (be it blog posts of tags) - and I like the fun and challenge of experiencing it yourself.

Ships

2011-10-06T23:51:00.001+11:00

So, the rather wonderful Naomi and I broke up. She realised she still had feelings for an ex. I joked that it would be good if there were dials with which you could control how much you felt for someone. We both started off not looking for anything too serious, but it became really meaningful, really quickly. Oh, those dials! We'd also said in spite of what happens, we'd be great friends - which is how it's turned out. It got me thinking about friendships, relationships, all those 'ships'.
It feels really amazing that many of the most special people in my life are ex-girlfriends. Girls that I've dated, spent beautiful time with, and loved. I could tell them 'I love you', then and now. Maybe our time together can't help but flow in to our friendship. Perhaps breaking up isn't *that* bad if it leads to such good things. And how does love differ between 'girlfriend' and 'just friends'? I guess it's some kind of continuous spectrum. Before me lies a whole panel of dials, one for each person in my life. They spin of their own accord.

Brain waves

2011-10-05T21:53:00.000+11:00

'Listen up, I've got a story to tell', my brain says. I listen, and I hear a familiar story, one my brain tells all the time. It's about my relationships with the people in my life. 'Uh huh... yeah... hmmm....' I think, and I nod along, showing that I'm paying attention. Actively listening. But as I listen, I start to wonder where in my brain this story is coming from. Is it from the Data Centre: backed with truth, and based on knowledge and observation? I can be pretty perceptive about people. Or is it from ol' Irrationalville: a fantastic tale full of wild speculation? It can be hard to tell, cos it's all sounds kind of the same when my brain tells it.
Cogito ergo sum, I chuckle to myself. Yeah, great. Oh boy. Nonstop cogito

Nothing lasts

2011-10-05T21:36:00.001+11:00

The MoreArt Public Art Show is on at the moment along the Upfield train line. It seems really cool, and I plan to check it out fully in the next few days. I created my own piece to run in parallel with the show, entitled Nothing Lasts. It was there for a couple of days, before being removed. I was really annoyed with this, as I think my idea was great, and it was working as planned. It's frustrating doing things which make public spaces more interesting, only to have them removed. Perhaps it was deemed no different from other graffiti ('tags'). 'Public art' vs 'street art' vs 'tags'; 'a safe community' vs 'a diverse community'.
While my work was removed, it certainly won't stop me from doing more. If anything, I'll strive to create less ephemeral pieces.

Simon and I interview each other

2011-09-22T09:42:00.001+10:00

I had a chat with one of my best buddies, Simon, last week. It's kind of a discussion about our time in Christchurch, the earthquake, subsequent moves to other countries, and how we dealt with all that. The second half is at Simon's blog, link at the bottom.

Simon: Hi David, how are you?

David: I'm good thanks Simon, sitting in bed in Melbourne. It's just after 8am. How are you?

S: It's 2313 here the night before. I'm sitting in my living room in my new apartment thinking about timezones! And I'm good too thanks!

D: The world is both a big and small place.

S: It sure is! I'm in London now which is almost the antipodes from Christchurch, and not close to Melbourne either.

D: I really like the concept of antipodes. How long have you been over there?

S: Well I arrived here on August 6 -- so a little over a month -- but I left NZ on August 16 and was travelling for a bit through Asia and Egypt.

D: What were you doing in Christchurch/NZ before you left?

S: Well it's a long story! Let me try and parse it down.

I was working at a hotel in the Christchurch CBD until February the 22nd, when it was closed indefinitely. Thankfully the hotel had some pretty good insurance cover so I stayed on full pay and got sent up to Wellington for two months to work for one of our sister hotels.

When I came back to Christchurch, I was still being paid but really had nothing to do. I was doing a few days a week helping out with the hotels' emergency office but mostly I was dead bored.

I tried to volunteer and signed up for all the emergency relief operations I could find but never heard back from any of them. So I spent a lot of time reading, writing and contemplating what I was going to do.

D: Right. I know you had a few different ideas about where you might end up. Were there any particular reasons for the move to London?

S: Well it's funny really. I lived here for a year in 2006 just after I graduated from university and really enjoyed it despite not being able to get a decent job. I'd always intended to come back here but I've been putting it off for several years now.

I considered a few different things. One was staying in Christchurch and finding a different job, another was moving back to Palmerston North (our home town) for a little while to sort myself out. I also thought very, very seriously about moving back to Wellington -- more out of a sense of comfort than anything else. I also thought about coming over Australia for the high wages. It would have been a good opportunity to earn some money, wipe my debts off and set myself up

In the end I decided that, after a lot of consideration, that London ticked the most boxes. I wasn't especially thrilled about it at the time but I felt that I had to do something. I'd lived in limbo for too long and needed to make a firm decision to move my life forward. It was a tough thing, but I convinced myself to commit myself wholly to my decision and not look back.

Does that make sense?

D: It certainly does

It feels like there is a lot there that I can relate to also, especially with regard to future direction, and 'ticking the most boxes'.

S: Yeah, to be honest for a few months after February even though I was trying to be positive about things, I had just had this overwhelming sense of melancholy and even almost cynicism, especially when I was in Wellington and away from all my friends down there. At that point, I didn't want to leave Christchurch, but then I realised that a ton of my friends were leaving and it wasn't going to be the same city it was before. It seemed like the right time to do something I always wanted to

So tell me about your decision. You moved a little earlier than me. How long have you been in Melbourne now?

D: Tomorrow will be 4 months, or 'a third of a year', which is quite a long time really.

I finished an ecology degree at the end of last year, and I was always thinking about what would come next. I really love Christchurch, but had always intended to move after study. I really fell for the city though, and I made some incredible friends, so it was easier said than done. The Feb quake closed the cinema I was working at though, and while I was paid for a little while, it was a long period of limbo. I was still really happy there, but knew that I'd have to make a move.

So I settled on Melbourne. I'd visited twice before, and knew a nice amount of people here. As a city it has a lot of things that are really attractive to me. There was about two months between deciding and moving. It was hard to leave Christchurch, but I think it was the right move for me, and sometimes you have to be selfish about the decisions you make.

S: It seems we went through the same amount of angst over our decision. So tell me about the day you left town. What was going through your mind? What was it like at the airport?

D: It was reaaaally hard. I was dating an amazing girl, and we broke up as a result of my moving. That was horrible. And a real bind. I can't imagine having stayed in Christchurch now. So that would be the selfishness I mentioned. The airport was very sad, and I called my mum and was 'choking up'.

There's a Polka Dot Dot Dot song with the lyrics, 'It's not the leaving, it's the never coming back' - for me it was the opposite: I knew I'd be back, but it was very hard to leave

D: Also though I knew that things would work out okay, and I was looking forward to taking a leap forward in my life

S: That's tough man. I know you had more reason to stay in Christchurch than I did, and had been in the city longer, but I know exactly what you mean. I was at the airport at midnight all by myself. I just sat in the departure lounge completely numb with this huge empty feeling in my stomach. I was a giant mix of anger, confusion, panic and sadness. I think I texted you and my brother just venting. There was so much I wish I'd said to a lot of different people and I just closed my eyes and tried to breathe deeply and collect myself.

But when I landed in Kuala Lumpur, I just hit the ground running. Part of the reason I went to Asia beforehand was to just lose myself in a series of completely different cultures. It was amazing to just travel for three weeks and forget all about everything in the last six months. There was so much to see and do and take in that I no longer had time to be circumspect

D: Sure. Limbo seems like a good description for life for some people in Christchurch. I know you blogged about your journey to the UK. Was that always something you'd wanted to do?

S: Yeah, I've always wanted to spend as much time travelling as possible and it was a perfect opportunity. I wasn't going to go all the way to the UK without stopping!

One thing I've been thinking about a lot is that when I was in Wellington, one of my friends who moved there permanently described us as "refugees". It seemed absurd, but it feels like there's a granule of truth there Do you consider yourself a refugee?

D: Hmmm, a Kurt Vonnegut quote springs to mind: "I was the victim of a series of accidents. As are we all". I guess a little, but I'd also intended to move this year, so I wasn't forcefully displaced as much as other 'refugees' may be.

S: Yeah I guess the term is loaded. We use it to picture people permanently displaced because of natural emergencies and I guess that describes us in the widest sense. I wouldn't use it amongst strangers, but I do use it among close friends a little.

Let's talk about the first few weeks in our new homes. Were you trying to get into motion straight away and find a flat and a job etc.?

D: Yeah, I actually took the first flat I looked at, and moved in after staying with friends for four days. That was great to dive right in, and it's been a really fantastic place to live. I had a reasonable amount of money saved, so spent time enjoying Melbourne and exploring, with vague attempts to find work

Of course, as time went on, and money was spent, those efforts intensified.

S: Ha ha.

D: It was really great being in a new place - so much to see and discover. I still get 'wow, big city!' kind of feelings, which is great

S: You worked at a soup kitchen, right? Or "Hell" to use a better term?

D: Yeah, that was real desperation. Cash in hand, way below minimum wage. The job itself was okay, but the pay was terrible. Still, it paid the bills (and fed me soup) for a couple of weeks, then I heard back from a cinema where I'd been interviewed. I started there the next week and have been loving it since

S: Ok great. Is that what you wanted to do when you moved over there?

D: That's what I was doing in Christchurch, so I had relevant experience. I guess I wasn't sure how long I'll be here, so wasn't looking for a career kind of job. I have applied for some grad ecology jobs, which would be great

S: That's great man. It's good you have a short- and medium- term plan. Still working on the long-term one though, right!?

D: Ha, yeah, there are a few possibilities. Most of which involve travelling, which involves saving money. Which will happen, sometime

And how has your first month been?

S: It's been good. I landed and just slipped back into "London mode". It's completely different here than it is in NZ and Australia. The buildings look older, the streets are narrower and the air just feels different. It was kind of comforting in a way. I reached back into the very ante-chambers of my memory and managed to find my way round easily. I stayed in an awful hostel for my first two nights and then got a month's tenancy in an awful flat (no living room, unclean, expensive, no hot shower) in a place called Bow in the East End. Now I've just moved into a cool apartment with three other people in a part of town called Southfields which is great. We're all on the same page and I'm going to enjoy it a lot.

On the job front, I just dumped a whole bunch of CVs at a ton of hotels around town in my first week, and got about a dozen call-backs. I went for four interviews and chose a job working at a hotel in Kensington. It's a good job and a step forward for me if I decide to stay in this line of work. Plus it's three days on, three days off so I have plenty of time to explore London.

Read the rest here

Preconceive

2011-09-20T23:11:00.001+10:00

I'm doing a new series of pastings which are inspired by The Little Price - you can check it out at forever. I only recently read the book, but it was great, and articulated a few things I'd been thinking about. As you may recall, the narrator draws a picture of a boa constrictor, but the adults, lacking imagination, see only a hat. The grown-ups are very strange.
One time on the train, I heard a young girl exclaim, 'look! A graffiti!' I remember seeing two young children jumping with excitement as they watched a rubbish truck pick up bins. Oh what moments to see things for the first time! I know that as you grow, you learn, and everything you encounter shapes your life - it's an important part of development. But what if you could reclaim some of that wonder? Try and see things freshly without all the understanding your life has given you? Pick up a nearby object and study it, stripping away all preconceptions. Let it engage your senses, and imagine encountering it for the first time. You might just learn something.

(Also, I need your help for an upcoming project! If you could recommend a book to a stranger, what would it be? What's something that you've read that has made an impact? Something you'd really like people to experience. Comment below. Thanks)

The train

2011-09-15T16:45:00.000+10:00

My local train station is Batman (check out some colouring I did there). It's on the Upfield line, and a trip to the city centre takes about 20 minutes. I really like catching the train, and think I live about the right distance - any more would be tiring, less would seem trivial. I find it all rather romantic. Here are some things I like:
*Coming out of the city loop at North Melbourne at night time. From under the ground, to a yard filled with hundreds of beautiful lights. Really magical
*Passing trains - they seem to come from nowhere with such fury, and then are gone in an instant
*As the train slows, watching fence posts blur, before becoming individually discernible. Also the way the train kicks back slightly when it stops, and the brakes kick in
*People watching and listening is great. People are beautiful and weird
*The Brunswick tram depot at night is a huge cavern of light
*Seeing people running for the train. It's such a desperate, hopeful moment
*General rhythms of the wheels over the tracks

Familial

2011-09-11T11:43:00.000+10:00

I popped over to New Zealand for the first nine days of September. It was really nice being home. I went to Christchurch, Wellington, and Palmerston North, before retracing my steps. My mum had a hip operation, so I hung out with her and we watched the US Tennis Open. My twin sister, Kate, was down from Auckland, and it was out 27th birthday. I asked my dad what it meant to him to be a dad on father's day. I really wished I'd had more than 48hrs in Palmerston.
In Wellington, I stayed with Beth and we had dinner, went to a concert, walked about.
I stayed at my old flat in Christchurch. It was wonderfully familiar. I had a birthday get-together and saw my friends. I cycled around the cordoned off centre city: it was rather saddening. Alice, Eamonn and I set up a new blog of story readings - My Kafka Baggage.
Three of my four flights were delayed, and it really bothered me. I don't enjoy waiting at airports, but I tried to reconcile that with the magic of flight. Myself and hundreds of other people, all much heavier than air, travelling at hundreds of kilometres an hour through the sky.

A Short History of First Kisses

2011-08-25T15:30:00.001+10:00

The magic of a First Kiss. The buildup, the moment. Here are some of mine, in no particular order

-We'd been friendly for a while, were at a party, and I was drunk for the first time. I stole a kiss at a nearby playground and laughed, then you kissed me and ran back to the party.
-We had a vegan date up town, and I said I had a crush on you. You felt the same, and we were in the Square. A Korean photographer asked if he could take our picture, and motioned us closer together. After he left, we kissed in the sunshine.
-We had a sleep over and talked under the covers for hours, our faces nearly touching. We kissed, and later both agreed that it was weird, but would've been weirder if nothing had happened.
-At my birthday, we watched some boys kiss. You laughed and said it was no big deal, and kissed me, and then I kissed you back quickly. Would win 'Beardiest Kiss'.
-We went on an astronomy date and looked at the stars. Later on the couch in my room, I kissed you.
-I was drunk (super hazy) at a concert, and had a great time dancing with you. At the end of the night, we hugged, then kissed, then your friends took you home.
-After weeks of flirting, we ended up at an after-ball party. Some friends drove a bunch of people home, and you sat on my lap in the back seat. We kissed super discreetly, then you stayed the night at mine.
-We'd been on a few dates, and were sitting beside the Avon River. You asked me what I was thinking about, and I said 'the best way to kiss you'. You said I just should.
-We walked around town for hours, and had talked about everything. We were standing on a bridge, and compared hands, then hugged. You said you liked me (as I you), and we kissed

Participation

2011-08-24T23:53:00.002+10:00

Most days I'm in town, I have a look around different laneways, and try and check out the street art 'hotspots' (Hosier Ln, Centre Pl, Union Ln, etc). There are always people taking photos, and enjoying the art. Fair enough; it's Melbourne, and the city certainly has a well justified reputation. It does frustrate me though. Not the picture taking (people should embrace art), but what I see as lack of participation. It seems like loads of people observe, but don't realise that it is super easy to be a part of street culture. I believe it's a right (almost imperative) that people interact with their environment. It's yours. Engage with it. Do whatever you want.
Tonight I did some pasting, slightly drunk (thanks Riki!). I put up 60 hearts. 60. And it was super easy. And fun. And think of how many people will see them (and hopefully smile a bit. Or engage romantically). One guy said 'you're doing a great job'. Get out there and do something. You'll probably surprise yourself.
(I also found (via the lovely Georgiebird) this picture by Vivian Maier, which made me want to cry. I drew a picture of it - I was happy with how it turned out)

Short Poetry Collection 1

2011-08-22T10:08:00.000+10:00

You might find if contrived
to fall in love with your librarian
but to me
it's a daily occurrence

I can feel all the electricity inside
zipping up my body
'til it collects at the back of my neck,
all at the thought of seeing you again

At night the neighbour's security light shines
filtered through the trees and my thin curtains
and ends on my wall, looking like a neuron universe.
I stare in to it 'til my eyes go dark
or the light switches off

Over the fence there is a barking dog.
'Why are you barking?' I ask
'Because the wind blows, and the light shines, and there is so much I don't understand' it says.
But actually, that was just a guess
cos all I heard was
'arf rarf arff'

Mini zine review

2011-08-20T13:10:00.000+10:00

Recently I discovered that the Brunswick Library has a zine collection, and I've been borrowing a nice ol' bunch. Here are my thoughts on some of them, * = highlight

A Life in Botany - nice anecdotes about plants and flowers
Plastic Knife #5 - good short poetry * 'The Dam', 'the only way to fix the dam was to blow it up'
Just to Annoy You #7, Signs - classic collab zine, lots of nice ideas * good omen: pic of a smiley face in frozen drink
Push the Envelope - outstanding! All about mail, art, letters: just brilliant. Best zine I've read in ages
Disposable Camera - oh, and then I read this one! Beautiful poetic glimpses of life *unfolding Wish List
blue floral gusset - frank and interesting thoughts on transvestism and gender
Some Fun Questions to Ask Your Sexual Partner - really fun read, based on poorly-worded questions for your boyfriend
Hello Stupid #1.5 - pretty 'teenagey' kind of zine. Enjoyable

Pages

2011-08-18T09:44:00.000+10:00

"This page is dead", I say to myself. The wireless has dropped out on my netbook, and I'm left with half-loaded ideas, and pages devoid of pictures.
Resigned, I close the lid, and pick up Milan Kundera's The Unbearable Lightness of Being.
"This page is dead", I say to myself. The paper I'm touching was once part of a tree. I think about how information is stored, how it changes over time. I read a few pages, but start to wonder if the internet is working again.
I close the book, and go for a walk, touching the trees as I pass.

Webcam Self Portrait, 1 - 3

2011-08-15T10:46:00.002+10:00

1 - David waiting for the toaster to pop

2 - David in his new coat

3 - David eating an apple

Surgery

2011-08-15T10:35:00.001+10:00

Are you ready for this? you ask, and I say yes, though I never knew about your surgical background. I trust you, your swagger allows me to. I lie supine on the table, and you open me up. You rummage around inside me like you would with your handbag, moving pieces aside, throwing out bits of junk and receipts. Did you wash your hands? I ask, but you pretend not to hear me. Your hands feel cold, and then I feel a pinch as you grab hold of what you were after. This will hurt you say, and it hurts, and you pull and I feel my insides changing. My eyes are blurry, but I look down and see you, your hands covered in gunk, holding the irrational part of me that always threatened to overwhelm anything else that tried to blossom

Experience

2011-08-13T23:23:00.000+10:00

Life in Melbourne is going very well, and I've met some really great people. In particular, I've started dating a friend of Kiri's, Naomi. She's fantastic - we went out a few times, and really clicked. It's been heaps of fun, and it's great just spending time together. I think we're 'on the same page' about a lot of things.
Today we met in town. I'd made her a musical mix, and while I lacked equipment to make it tangible (tape player, CD burner etc), hasn't music surpassed physical formats? Isn't it more about the experience, the sound, and how it affects you? With this in mind, we had a Mix Experience. The previous night I'd pasted 15 stars around the city. Each had a track listing, and the location of the next track. I had the songs on my mp3 player, and she listened to each as they were found (I could hear them in my mind). At the end, I gave her a flash drive with all the songs. A really nice way to share music, the city, and each other.

Naomi, enjoying Grayson Gilmour's Loose Change in Degraves Pl

Dear Christchurch,

2011-08-13T21:11:00.000+10:00

Hey, how's it going? I've been meaning to write, and I've had plenty of time to reflect on what you mean to me in the three months since I left. In a word, you're incredible, and have played such a pivotal part in my life.
As I'm sure you remember, I moved down from Palmerston North in 2007, and knew nobody. I lived at a student hall, and it was a while before I met some real Cantabrians, but I did my best to cycle around and check out everything you had to offer. I was in a really good space to try new things (having attended Outward Bound six months prior), and things fell in to place nicely (radio, animal rights activism, uni malarkey). The next year, I worked as a residential assistant, and felt like I really grew as a person. I also started to discover your local music scene, and the many wonderful people that went with that.
Through meeting such people, in 2009, I moved closer to the city, in to the Log Cabin, which I can safely say is the best flat I've ever lived in. A tremendous bunch of truly outstanding people. And from there I met more of your local people. It was a beautiful cycle.
I loved exploring your streets, buildings, parks and outdoors. You are (or were) home to some of the greatest people I've ever met, who I love dearly. It was hard to leave you, and this does no justice to how much you truly mean to me. I know things will be rebuilt and spirits restored, and I'll be back again to spend more amazing time with you.
For now though, just know that you're always on my mind, and always in my heart.

With love and admiration
-David
x

Feel good redux

2011-08-12T23:42:00.000+10:00

In a creative whirl the other night, I drew a larger version of the recent feel good picture - something pasteable. I was really happy with how this guy turned out, and it looks like he's giving you a darn sexy 'come hither' look (I was listening to the smooth sounds of Toro y Moi as I drew...). He's available for romantic engagements on the corner of Greeves and Gore, Fitzroy.

All

2011-08-09T23:03:00.000+10:00

I am a hundred years old, and I look back on my life. I see all the people I've loved, all the girls I've kissed, all the beautiful pieces.
I see how everything unfolded exactly as it was supposed to. And I see how I wrapped up every moment, so that what came after is on top of what came before.
I peel back the layers, until it's just the two of us, staring into the expanse

Appreciation

2011-08-06T10:23:00.000+10:00

On my way to work the other day, there was a really amazing rainbow. It was huge, with really vivid colours, and it lasted for a long time. Later in the evening, I was talking with my workmates, and we'd all seen it, and agreed it was amazing.
A few weeks earlier, I was on the train, along with hundreds of AFL ('footy') fans. The sun was setting, and many of them noticed the amazing sunset.
Rainbows and sunsets are such amazing phenomena, and people may occasionally take them for granted. No matter what happens in your life, remember that you can appreciate rainbows.

Crochet winner!

2011-08-01T16:18:00.000+10:00

Thanks for the entries - there were 12 all up (including ones on facebook). Some neat ideas, and I might play around with a few of the suggestions. The winner however, is Lucy, who wanted a bow for her hair (I picked the winner using the totally rad random.org). Well done - it'll be coming your way in the next few weeks.
What else is happening? I saw Miranda July's The Future. It was good, but very sad and different to what I was expecting. I also read the book of Learning to Love You More, which made me both smile and tear up. I watched Source Code, and it was fantastic, interesting and full of heart, plus a great performance from Jake Gyllenhaal. I've been to a bunch of gallery openings, drawn pictures and written letters.

Feeling pasty

2011-07-27T15:57:00.001+10:00

This is Gerald, a new pasting down Centre Pl. He feels bad about himself (and looks much sadder than I'd intended). But floating just behind him is all the beautiful little ways in which he touches the world.

I'm happy with how this turned out, and the concept behind it. Even if you don't feel it, you're a unique part of the world. See also the second paragraph of this post.

This picture, and previous work, is on forever - a Tumblr I made (I recant! Tumblr's cool, though I'm aiming for entirely original content)

Feel good

2011-07-25T17:27:00.000+10:00

I drew this today. I guess it's a cuter, more subtle way of saying I like you/you turn me on.

For the non-anatomically minded, the middle one is the stomach, where butterflies live. You could change 'feel good' to 'feel funny' - whichever is more accurate for your current infatuation.

Stylistic nods to the game Operation, and also the fantastic Able and Game

Giveaway! Choose Your Own Crochet

2011-07-22T13:02:00.000+10:00

I'm really enjoying crochet, and I like making 'things' - objects and stuff, more so than useful items. Check out some of my past projects here.
Now though, lucky reader, it's time for a giveaway. I will crochet you whatever you want. To enter, just leave a comment (or email me (superchai @ gmail . com)) saying what you'd like. Simple! I'll send it anywhere in the world, and will design and make it myself. Be creative (so no hats, sorry) (and maybe include some kind of reference picture if it's obscure...)! Entries will be open until July 31st, and before you know it a Thing of Your Choice could be heading your way

Inscensed

2011-07-19T21:08:00.001+10:00

Work at the cinema has been pretty great. The first week of the final Harry Potter film is over, so things will be toned down from 'maniacal'. I had no work today, so intended to make the most of it. This morning I showered, trimmed my beard, and gave myself a haircut. I find few things as rewarding as cutting your own hair. It just takes a bit of moxie (and scissors). What's the worst that could happen?
I caught the train down to Prahran, to check out a gallery show by Urban Cake Lady, but alas, the gallery was closed! Instead, I walked around, bought the new Cabinet (ooooh, 'Infrastructure'), checked out an incense store (with free samples!), and had a look in a hotel/gallery. And spotted a stencil by Blek le Rat, which was an oh-my-god moment. I then headed to town for lunch with Annie, which was nice, followed by a tram to Brunswick. I met up with Dove, and we went to a cafe. I'd 'known of' Dove in Chch, but hadn't met him until we both dined with Kim in Melbourne. He's very nice, and we went to a cafe. I had (by my count) the fourth coffee of my life. I've never liked it, but feel now could be the time. I like the romance, but wouldn't want the addiction. We walked around the streets a little, and I caught the train home with the commuters, amidst the drizzle.
(Oh, and I added a new page of music I'm enjoying at the moment, with streams where available)

Pippy slippers!

2011-07-18T22:40:00.000+10:00

The rather fantastic Pip Lincolne posted a pattern for Pippy Slippers a while ago. I spotted them in her shop one time I went in to have a geeky talk about crochet. I really liked them, and figured I would have a go - but make my toes pointy. For added whimsy.

Warm feet! And warm, hairy legs...

The pictures might not show, but the left slipper is rather more pointy than the right. I made that one second, and was a little hung up on it for a while - I didn't use a pattern (just inspiration and instinct), but wanted them to be the same. But I like how they're different. They're unique.

T'nealle

2011-07-18T11:13:00.000+10:00

Earlier in the year, T'nealle sent me this picture: "I made some fan art for you. but you look a bit crazy. hope you like it in a not too creepy way."

It is a bit creepy, but I like the look of my Hypno-Glasses. If you've read this blog in the past, you'll know that T'nealle and I are good friends, and we spent a lot of time hanging out and exploring central Christchurch. She's one of my favourite people, and I think she really typifies all the great people I met in Chch. She's always up for an adventure (one time we were exploring a carpark, which led in to an office building, where we found an empty office, and climbed out the window, across the rooftops, up and down fire escapes, oh!), and is wonderfully creative. And she's probably the most 'can-do' person I've ever met, able to turn no food in to a meal for all, and re-imagining what things can be (forts!)

New feature - reading log

2011-07-14T14:04:00.000+10:00

I've been reading a lot more since moving to Melbourne. It's good to do on the train, and I've felt a renewed connection to reading, in general. Just like in primary school, I've created a reading log - the link is on the side, under 'about', 'best of' etc. Each book is given a short review. I'll update it as I go, so you could check it every now and then. Also, you can leave comments on the page, so if there's something you think I might like, that would be a good place for it.

Flash

2011-07-13T11:16:00.000+10:00

I have a new job - it's at Palais Westgarth cinema. That meant I was able to leave the soup cafe, which I was happy with. I've had three days between ending that job and starting the new one, and I was determined to make the most of them. After blogging yesterday, I caught the train to town for a bit of exploration, guided by the rather intriguing Deductive Logic Test, set up by CDH. Aided by my map book, I found the first part of the puzzle, and solved each step before moving to the next one. It was really fun, and very well put together - their work is great, and fits the environment so well. I enjoyed finding my way around new lanes, and there were plenty of interesting distractions along the way.
I stopped by ACMI to watch a bit of American Night, a five channel installation which was very inspiring. I read a few design magazines at Mag Nation, and found a piece about maniac crochet artist Olek. Fantastic! I'd seen her work, but it had been uncredited (big online faux pas). I caught the train home, and watched the world flash past me, zoetropically. Lying in bed, my mind flashed dozens of creative plans.

Flaneur

2011-07-12T13:50:00.000+10:00

A few weeks back, Susie texted me to see if I could meet up - was I 'flaneuring around'? I was unsure of the meaning of the word, but got the drift, and made a note to check it later. Dr Wikipedia was able to inform me that flâneur comes from French, meaning 'to stroll', and Baudelaire described it as 'a person who walks the city in order to experience it'. It turns out I was flaneuring, and it is a concept with which I identify strongly. There are few things I enjoy more than going for a walk, and I could litter this post with links to previous posts documenting my trivial adventures (this one is good). It all adds up to a rich tapestry, experiencing the city I live in.
And I've a whole new city to explore. The laneways of the central city seem innumerable; the streets in my suburb are gridded allowing many different routes. There is so much to see, and every new thing is a tiny wonder. Do you experience your city?

Coo-burg!

2011-07-12T11:54:00.000+10:00

As I mentioned last week, I live in Coburg. Many pigeons also live here, and I quipped that the suburb could be called Coo-burg. This idea formed the basis of a pasting project on Victoria St Mall, with a new flock appearing overnight. I really like the suburb, and want this to be a slightly odd celebration of its most populous bird species

Arboretum

2011-07-04T22:36:00.000+10:00

I went to the Dandenong Ranges.
I touched the tallest tree. It was soft and wet. The canopy swayed in slow motion high above me.
I touched a power pole down the road. Water and nutrients once flowed through its xylem and phloem, now electricity flows through its wires. It was once a tree. Now it's a pole.
I thought about how things used to be. With the trees; with me. Things have changed inside me. Things flow electrically.

Melbourne life

2011-07-02T09:54:00.000+10:00

I've been in Melbourne for about six weeks now. It's good, I really like it here. I have a flat in Coburg, which is in the northern city of Moreland. There are many pigeons in the area (they could call it 'Coo-burg'), and sometimes I see them in a flock, moving in such complex ways. The birds here are very differnet to those I know - a wider range of species, and I borrowed some books to learn more. My house is within walking distance to lots of interesting things, and there are many different streets to walk down, so I can always walk a new route.
I have a job working at The Soup Place in Centre Place. We sell soup, and it's not a bad job for now, but I'm still looking for something better. It feels like there are so many alleys, buildings, and secrets to discover. I like walking around, and sometimes feel a child-like shiver: 'I'm in one of the best cities on earth.' It's a good motivation to explore, rather than stay at home.
It seems strange, but for the most part, I don't really feel like I'm in Australia. It is very similar to New Zealand, except that I'm still missing all of my favourite people I'm apart from. There are lots of good people here though, and lots of new experiences

geek.crochet.nintendo

2011-06-25T11:43:00.000+10:00

I'm back on the crochet bandwagon in a big way. Street art sidetracked me, but now I think I can embrace both, and other creative endeavours.
So what to make? I really like the idea of making 'stuff' and toys, and the best part about crochet is you can just kind of make it up as you go along. So with a creative flourish, I made an original Gameboy

And continuing with the Nintendo theme, I made a Triforce from the Legend of Zelda videogame series. This was the first time I'd attempted triangles, and they turned out perfectly on the first go!

And what next? I think a Pokeball would be pretty cool...

The Day That Was - June 15th, 2011

2011-06-16T12:58:00.000+10:00

I woke up this morning at 8, and turned on the heater in my room. It was a cold morning, and I got out of bed and had a bread roll, a bowl of rice bubbles and soy milk, and a cup of tea for breakfast: 7/10. I listed to Elephant (fantastic album) and Anti-Tiger over breakfast, before hoping on my bike and cycling to the library. I did internet things on their free wifi and browsed the dvds. Around 11:30, I walked down Victoria Mall. It's currently home to the Coburg Carnivale, which is a really nice cultural community event. I bought a cup of veggie soup for $1.50 (yum: 8/10), and walked down Sydney Rd to find the act of the day - King Marong and Safara. They were an African drumming duo, and it was great to hear and watch them - they were infectiously happy and rhythmic: 10/10. I drank my soup and wandered around Coburg Market. I bought some nuts and fruit, and confirmed that I really love the suburb. It's amazingly multi-cultural, and I really like walking down the street hearing all manner of middle eastern and Mediterranean languages. 10/10.
I cycled home and had a peanut butter sandwich. I checked my map book and headed off to Oak Park station. It's the site of an art installation which is causing some outrage in the community. It consists of orange plastic fencing. All objections I've read have been frustratingly stupid: 'it's not art' - yes, it is; 'it's just plastic fencing' - in the same way a painting's just paint?; 'they should've spent that money on roads' - $10,000 is a small fraction of roading costs. And it goes on like this. The sculpture was okay - parts had been cut out to make pictures of birds, leaves, teapots etc: 8/10.
On the return ride home, I went to Fawkner Crematorium and Memorial Park, which is massive. I walked around, and it was a beautiful Autumn afternoon: 10/10. I picked up some abandoned plastic flowers and decorated barren graves. I found the site of John Batman's internment. And factoid of the day - I learnt that the Cemeteries and Crematoria Regulations 2005 deems it an offence to play sport in a cemetery. Though as I left I saw a father and son kicking a football.
Back at home, I sat on the porch in the sun and finished reading One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. It was great, highly recommended: 9/10. I then cycled to the library to return the book, and bought some baking ingredients at the supermarket. I was angry at how busy the roads were: 2/10. Back home, I made some broccoli and chickpea pasta (9/10), and my flatmate Paul and I watched a few episodes of Scrubs. We then biked down to the Drum Hotel to watch the State of Origin rugby league. We had a few beers, and it was a really good game. Plus, NSW ('my team', I guess) won: 8/10.
We headed home after the game, and I started to read 'The Deep End' issue of Granta. A pretty good day: 8/10

Things I don't like

2011-06-12T14:35:00.000+10:00

I can imagine that if you don't know me in real life, I might seem to be some kind of unshakeably happy/enthusiastic person, who is always glowing sunshine. Well, I am happy a lot of the time. And the main idea of this blog is nice stuff, so I don't tend to share things I don't like, or that get me down. But I'm a real person too, dammit! So just to even things up, here is a list of some things I don't like:

Walking through car parks
Burlesque culture
Horse racing
Rhys Darby
Seagulls
Steam punk
Roller derby
Cycling near unleashed dogs (unpredictable!)
Advertising

Motivation

2011-06-09T13:36:00.000+10:00

Working at RDU was great: I got to speak on the radio, play my favourite music, and interview some awesome people. I kept a list of those people I interviewed. It includes some big names like Florence Welch, as well as local musicians I really admire, like David Kilgour from The Clean, and Grayson Gilmour.
About a year ago, I asked a girl out. I kind of knew her, and decided I'd take the chance. I saw her in a computer lab at uni, and had 'People I've interviewed.doc' open. I felt really nervous, and was close to not asking when I thought, 'you've talked to all these people, you can talk to her.'
She was flattered, but said no - she had a boyfriend. Oh well. My point is that in your life you no doubt have problems or challenges, but you've also had experiences. You can use the experiences to help with your challenges.

My room, redux

2011-06-09T13:14:00.001+10:00

Here are a few more extra bits of my room

This is a bedside table made out a largeish box and some corrugated cardboard. There's also an old biscuit box on the right for my wallet, watch, miscellany

I made some bunting from an old copy of Beat. A while ago I asked Fran, 'why does bunting make me feel so happy?' Neither of us were sure why

This is a... progress indicator? I had the notion when reading Yes Man that 'we determine how enjoyable our lives are', and this aims to reflect that. There's a peg that can be moved between the two arrow heads. How was my day? Can I improve on it?

< dull -------- awesome >

Wish 8, 9, 10

2011-06-09T12:50:00.000+10:00

These are the last three wishes that I didn't or couldn't grant.

'100 dollars Claudia 8 377xxxx'
This is cute. She even wrote the 3 back to front on her phone number. I thought about calling her or her parents and working something out, but I didn't really have that kind of money to play with. Ambitious girl.

'Get laid TONIGHT! Mutant Mars'
Gee, not too sure about this one. Perhaps I could get laid, and claim it for you by proxy? Sorry Mutant.

'Homeless man in tent, Hagley South. Needy by way of earthquake and psychologically unfit for work on regular basis. Would appreciate a large moden pack. Money? Not as important. P/T under table work? Could do, just not every day. $10p/h. Have licences 1, 2, 4. Can you help?'
Damn. This one was the worst. Not enough details to help what seems like a very genuine problem. Heartbreaking.

So that's Wish Box. Mixed results, but I hope it inspired or amused you. Stay tuned for a similar project - I'm very excited about it!

Weighting

2011-06-04T11:38:00.001+10:00

The other day I was walking through a mall, and a guy selling gym memberships spoke to me. 'Gee, you're pretty slim mate. Do you work out, or just have a crazy metabolism?' I thought about it, and agreed it was probably the latter. The same day, I heard some school kids say 'wow, that guy's skinny'. I smiled.
I guess I am pretty skinny. Perhaps outrageously so. (You can have a perv at the time I was an underwear model. Or see me in lycra). And I've always been like this.
When I tell people I'm vegan, there's often a click; that explains it. But I had no weight change after switching. In fact, I've generally not changed weight since I was 13. It's sat in the 51-55kg range that whole time.
Most of the time, I have no idea how skinny I must appear. I have pretty high self esteem (and I'll say it now - I love my body. Love it. Wouldn't want to change a thing), and I sometimes feel like the opposite of this. Still, it can be hard being a skinny guy. It can be challenging to find clothes that fit. People assume you're weak. And there's a certain stigma that might be analogous to being very large - but being stick thin goes against most 'big, manly' stereotypes. Luckily for me, there are girls who like skinny guys. And in the indie/arts scene, there aren't many beefcakes.
I had a 23kg baggage allowance when I flew to Melbourne. It made me think about what I wanted to bring, and... how much does a jersey weigh? That kind of extended to me. 50-odd kg isn't much. How much does my hand weigh? How irreducible is my liver?

My room

2011-06-01T18:52:00.001+10:00

Here are some photos of my room. They were taken on my laptop's webcam, apologies.

This is me on my bed

This is my newest take on cardboard box storage. Boxes are labelled in case I (or a guest) has troubling recognising socks

This is my new bike. It's yet to be named (but I get the feeling it's a boy. Suggestions?)

Public transport

2011-06-01T18:40:00.000+10:00

I caught the train to Hawthorne today. I'm taking part in a clinical trial that looks at the effects of multivitamin use on mood. I get paid, and get free vitamins, so any changes are likely to be positive.
I caught the the train home at 5pm. It was obviously very crowded, but I felt in a good mood. I was reading. A guy nearby ate a mandarin. It matched his orange hi-vis. The lady next to me was also reading: Marian Keyes' Last Chance Saloon. "'You should wear your red dress', Thomas coaxed." I thought that it's nice to be living inside your head, reading, but looking out at the sunset, I felt like I'd much rather be living out there, amongst everything.
I looked around the train. Everyone looked content. Everyone looked so beautifully human, and I felt good for all of them. In the seat opposite me, there was an 8-bit explosion of music, as a girl started playing Pokemon on her phone. I smiled, and she laughed: not stifled, embarrassed laughter, but 'I can't believe that just happened to me on a crowded train' laughter. Near the door, a really blokey looking guy was on the phone, sorting out a deal. "Look, it's fine. Na, just get me some Neutrogena Face Wipes, and some of that Nivea Face Cream. Yeah, from Safeway. Cool."
The book I was reading was Submarine by Joe Dunthorne. I'd just read about how life doesn't race by, but it's 'a series of moments, like now now now now now now now.' The train ride felt like one of those nows.

Ways to feel better

2011-05-31T19:12:00.000+10:00

Take a walk
Touch things as you walk past (fences, trees)
Catch some of a strangers' converation and imagine what greater story it was part of
Skip as you walk!
Imagine a random item as being a piece of installation art. What does it say about its surroundings?
Catch a falling leaf
Walk along a fence or beam
Think about the moments leading up to a first kiss

Care to suggest your own?

The guide book

2011-05-27T14:33:00.000+10:00

When I moved over, my friend Fran gave me her copy of the Melbourne Compact Street Directory (6th ed). It's a solid 500+ pages of information. I enjoy flicking through the pages, trying to orient myself in this new city. Occasionally I spot something interesting - it told me that one block from my house, is a velodrome. I went to check it out, and it seemed pretty disused, but I found a way in. Many of the map symbols it uses are unexplained, and I think tomorrow I'll try find out what a flag with 'Indian' signifies.
It's been a handy tool to have as I make my way around the city. It helped me get down to Brighton where I bought a bike from a guy who had studied in Christchurch. I trained to Flinders before cycling home (~15km). I'd planned to buy a smart phone, but the combination of the book, my willingness to explore, and the kindness of strangers has been all I need to get around.
As I'm (slowly) becoming more familiar with the streets, I'm becoming rather familiar with the book itself. Waiting at a stop, a girl asked me if the 55 tram went down Flemington. I had a look at the tram map, before expertly flicking to Map 369, confirming that yes, it did. 'You're pretty quick with that map book', she said. 'Well, I do use it a lot' I replied.

A Saturday

2011-05-22T12:08:00.000+10:00

Yesterday I caught the train in to town. I was off to Footscray to have a look at a bicycle. The public transport is great here, but I'd much rather zip around on my own. I had a bit of time to kill, and found an all-you-can-eat vegetarian restaurant (called 'Om'. It was om nom nom), and walked around the CBD. I headed to Flinders St station, and was asked if I'd like a Free Stress Test. I said Yes, and was tested by Helen. The test consisted of me holding two cylinders which was attached to a machine with dials. The machine sat on the table next to a large pile of books by L. Ron Hubbard. I asked how the test worked, and she said 'it could detect if I was feeling stressed', which seemed a little tautological. Despite an initial spike when she asked about people I knew, I was one cool customer. She seemed vexed that nothing in my life (no job, moving to Aus, family, social problems etc.) was causing me stress, and really struggled to find a line of questions to get me worked up. I smugly asked if I'd passed the test, and she said yes, but I took some information about Dianetics anyway.
I jumped on the train, and waited for the person with the bike to arrive at Middle Footscray. It turned out to be the guy's grandmother, and though it was a nice bike (and I did want to say Yes), I decided not to take it . Which was a shame, as I was really looking forward to cycling home. With an afternoon to kill, I went to the museum. On the tram there, my friend Annie hopped on! It was really cool to see her (and felt right - she has a blog about trams), and we chatted until my stop.
The museum was great, but I wish I'd had more time. There was a pretty amazing dinosaur exhibition, and the stuff on geology was incredible. There were some imperative displays: 'touch these teeth, imagine it biting a branch'; 'touch this rock' (which was more than four billion years old. I teared up a little, it was all very overwhelming). I then headed to Brunswick to meet Riki for a beer.
While I waited to him, I explored some alleys off Brunswick St, and was absolutely amazed by the quality and size of some of the wheat pasting. It was a little off-putting but also really inspiring, and it's something I'd really love to do more of. It was great (as always) hanging with Riki, and after I while, I caught the tram home

Yes

2011-05-20T11:21:00.000+10:00

Simon gave me a copy of Yes Man by Danny Wallace as a leaving present for Melbourne. It's really enjoyable, and quite inspiring in its own way. Danny basically says 'Yes' to every opportunity, and that's that. It worked out well for him, and it's something I'm trying to embrace more.
I've moved in to a new flat in Coburg, and it's nice. It was quite impulsive, but it felt right, so I just said yes. It's with nice people, in a nice area. And the nearest train station is called Batman. Brilliant. I was out and about looking for jobs yesterday. I dropped by Australian Geographic, which is a science/cool stuff toy shop for kids (and big kids), and the guys seemed really cool. They said I was off to a good start by having a beard, awesome. Another maybe is Cinema Nova, which seems very similar to Rialto. Fingers crossed.
Leaving the cinema, I was stopped by a man who asked if I'd like to be in a photo essay which 'infers youth'. His name was T (he made a 'T' with his hands), and of course I said yes. In a bookshop across the road, I also found a copy of my beloved Cabinet, hurrah!
On my way home I stopped at Office Works to use their free internet (that's where I am now), and two young teens sat next to me. 'He's using Facebook, too' said one of them; 'Do you want to add me?' said the other. 'I add randoms all the time: I've got one thousand, two hundred and forty friends'. 'You're very popular', I said, 'but no, thanks'.
Rats, that was a definite Yes Moment! I'll try keep it at the forefront of my mind

Leaving

2011-05-17T15:40:00.000+10:00

Gina and I drove to the airport (with The Lion King soundtrack playing), and found our way to the new, futuristic/completely sterile terminal. We saw Kim, and after checking in, it turned out she was sitting behind me on the flight. We had a wander around, and I felt sick with the feeling of what was coming up. We made small talk about the nature of flying, before walking down to the departure gate. It was heart-breaking, but in the midst of tears and hugs, we exchanged a 'bye for now', as well as plenty of 'I love yous'. It's hard to say the right thing when you're choking up.
I passed through Customs with no problems, and a few sympathetic looks (crying might be the secret to successful smuggling). In the departure lounge, I just felt empty, and waited for the plane to board. I thought of a lyric from Polka Dot Dot Dot – 'it's not the leaving, it's the never coming home again'. It felt appropriate, but for the opposite reasons; I know I'll be back, but leaving is tough.The flight was fine, and as I had a window seat, I witnessed an astonishing site: a circular rainbow. It happened not long after take-off, a beautiful complete oval of colour, floating just above a cloud. I wanted to shriek, but remained silently transfixed as the plane banked and it fell from view.
Things felt a little better.

Last paste in Chch

2011-05-14T11:18:00.000+10:00

On my last night in Christchurch, Simon and I did a bit of pasting. A few days earlier, he and I had quite impulsively taken a trip to the West Coast. He'd asked if I was happy with what I'd done in Chch, and when I said I'd never been to the Coast, we seized the moment. It was a long day of driving (top marks to Simon), and we managed to check off some great sights.
The drive to the Coast was good, and Arthur's Pass was okay. We stopped for lunch in Greymouth, before heading north to Punakaiki. I was really amazed by the Pancake Rocks. I was probably a touch sceptical as to how incredible they would be, but they exceeded my expectations a hundredfold. It was then further up to Westport, before heading home via Lewis Pass.
I don't think I can really convey how great a friend Simon is. We talked the whole time, sometimes deeply; often just quoting The Simpsons and joking around. He writes a fantastic blog, and has been a very close friend since the start of high school.
He has also gotten a good taste for pasting. We went along Bealey Ave and put up some colour swatches T'nealle and I found in an empty office. I'd had the idea to brighten up all the plain black power boxes, and I think this was a good start.

There were also these cryptic messages: 'We conduct many of these'

Wish 7

2011-05-14T11:01:00.000+10:00

'New bike tyres :P KJ, YMCA'

I had my old pair still lying around the flat, and saw this as a good way to do a good favour. I left this note: 'Hey KJ, here are some tyres. Sorry they're not new, and I hope they fit. Best wishes! Wish box'

Wish 6

2011-05-07T08:53:00.000+10:00

'Wish there were less cops on the rd pulling people up for nothing'

This one seems pretty subjective. Though I didn't want to waste her time, I did send Police Minister Hon Judith Collins an email to get her thoughts on the matter. No reply as yet.
I also checked the ever-reliable Yahoo Answers for a possible answer to 'Do Cops pull people over because they have nothing better to do?'
In the end I don't think this is a wish I could grant, but I did have a look around to see what was going on. The Police say that road crashes are 'the leading cause of death to children and of disability to 14-44 year-olds', and Safer Journeys is the governmental strategy toward 'a safe road system increasingly free of death and serious injury'.
This wish may have been written by a 'boy racer', so I had a look at that too. The Land Transport (Unauthorised Street and Drag Racing) Amendment Act 2003 (aka The Boy Racer Act) has been law for a number of years and bans certain types of driving behaviour and illegal modifications. With those in mind, it seems possible that the police may have just cause to pull over the wish maker, or their friends.

The Day That Was - May 5th, 2011

2011-05-06T14:30:00.000+10:00

I went to bed at about 12:30am after staying up talking with my flatmates. We were all home and it was really nice. I slept in my bed with a hot water bottle, and got up at 8am. We had a flat and EQC inspection, so I wanted to be prepared. It seemed like a nice day, and I had toast for breakfast (two crusts: marmite and peanut butter: 8/10). I checked the internet and went to use the portaloo across the road (the sewage system is fragile in Chch, and while our toilet works, it really feels you're 'doing your part' for the city); patriotic toilet break: 10/10.
I cycled down to the doctors to pick up a new prescription. I have a few infected cuts on my feet (2/10), but they're being treated (9/10) though based on tests, I'd been told I needed a different kind of antibiotic (I guess that's a good thing, right?). The staff at the clinic and the pharmacy were really friendly, and I cycled home to straighten up my room a bit.
Two guys from the EQC arrived, and they were meeting our property manager. We hadn't mowed the lawns for a few months, so I was expecting trouble with property manager. She seemed in a really good mood though, and didn't appear to notice (10/10), and instead focused on changing the tenancy agreement. She didn't stay for long, and the earthquake inspectors had a good look around. They were really friendly, and allayed any fears we had as to the structural soundness of the house (10/10, it was great to be given an all clear).
That made everyone feel good, and the sun was out. I had some porridge for lunch (6/10), and a cup of instant noodles (9/10). I phoned the power company and got the account sorted for my moving out. I had missed a call from an Australian bank, but called them back, and got my bank account sorted (10/10). Then I cycled to the post shop to withdraw my Bonus Bond savings. They weren't able to check how much I had (2/10), so I cycled to the bank in Merivale who informed me that I had more money saved than I thought: 10/10!
After I got home, Hannah and I walked to the supermarket. It was really nice, and we bought ingredients for nachos (as well as honey-roasted peanuts: 9/10). Her and I made dinner, which was really yum: 9/10.
After dinner, I cycled to the mall to see Gina at work. The store was really quiet, and we goofed around: 8/10. I helped close the store (and did the vacuuming!). When work had finished, we drove back to her place. She had some dinner, and we lay in front of the fire doing a code cracker (I love them: 10/10). We talked in bed for a while, and then went to sleep. It was a really nice day: 10/10

Wish 5

2011-05-06T09:14:00.000+10:00

'I wish that Chris would realize that he missed out on me and get in touch and try again with me' (b/w 'I wish to be loved. Thanks heaps')

Without knowing anything about the two people in this relationship, I sided with the writer of the wish, and made a few notes like this:

Perhaps Chris will see it, and reconsider.

Wish 4

2011-05-05T08:41:00.000+10:00

'That the aftershocks would stop :( '

I was expecting this kind of wish, and I'm sorry to say that it's rather outside my abilities. However, doing a bit of research online, GNS say 'the rate of decay (of aftershocks) from Feb 22 is much sharper than at Darfield (September quake)' and that aftershocks 'had since tailed off sharply and they were now less frequent than aftershocks at the equivalent time after the magnitude 7.1 earthquake' (link).

I know that this isn't exactly reassuring, but I guess it might be helpful to have faith in the science and know that things are improving. We had a tremor this morning which wasn't fun, but they are infrequent, and things are getting better.

Wish 3

2011-04-21T12:02:00.000+10:00

'God can't sort it all out. I can. You can. We can :)'

Thanks? Very true I think, and there's been some really cool acts of humanity since the earthquake (which I guess this is alluding to).
This doesn't wish for anything in particular, but I'm going to count this one as coming true.

Wish 2

2011-04-21T11:56:00.000+10:00

'i wish Justin Bieber would cum to Chch!' (b/w 'this is so cute!')

Hmmm, big ask. Justin is playing a few shows around Australia in the next few weeks, so I emailed his management:

'Hi Scooter and team,

My name's David, and I live in Christchurch, New Zealand. As you may be aware, our city was recently hit by a large earthquake resulting in many buildings being destroyed, and lives lost.
To try and improve morale, I set up a project where people could write down a wish, and I would try and make it happen. A number of people wished that Justin Bieber would come to Christchurch.
I see that Justin is touring Australia, and I understand that he has an incredibly busy schedule. However, if any kind of 'flying visit' were possible, it would be tremendously appreciated.

Many thanks,
David Klein'

I'll let you know if I get a reply. As Gina pointed out, some NZ fans were quite mean on his visit to Auckland last year (someone stole his hat, and his mum was pushed), so he may have reservations about returning.

Wish 1

2011-04-19T15:30:00.000+10:00

'Topless women with dreads'

I don't know any dreadlocked women who would be prepared to go topless for whatever classy gentleman wished for this. Instead, I drew them this picture:

I like how 'with dreads' was seemingly added, to make a good situation even better

Wish Box update

2011-04-19T15:17:00.001+10:00

I left the Wish Box out for four days, and it experienced pretty torrential rain and strong winds. Here's how it looked:

"Cardboard? Minus 10 points" - Alice Tappenden.
She's right, but I like the look, and figure this could be v 1.0. It held out pretty well, though someone had taken the lid.

There were ten wishes in total, which I'll share over the coming days. No one wished for 'infinity wishes'

Chupa Chupdate

2011-04-17T14:59:00.000+10:00

A few weeks ago, I placed a bunch of lollipops around the streets of Christchurch. There were about 40 in total, and from wandering around, I've noticed that almost all of them have disappeared. Whether they were eaten or thrown away remains unknown, but I guess people interacted with them in either case. I suppose it takes a certain kind of person to first notice, and then take a lollipop left in a public place. I'm not sure if I would to be honest. I'd like to think of it as a reward for observant and adventurous people.

Wish Box

2011-04-15T20:15:00.003+10:00

Here's a new project I came up with. It's called Wish Box, and aims to make the world a wee bit better

It's simple

1. Write your wish on a slip of paper
2. Put it in the box
3. I'll try and make it come true.

I hope that it will get people to think about what they really want. Then I can try to make it happen. I figure most wishes will be anonymous, so perhaps I can turn the wish in to a random good deed. Raise the World Goodness Total a bit.
Wish Box is in place now, attached to a traffic camera on the south east corner of the Colombo/Bealey corner.

Moving to Melbourne

2011-04-15T13:22:00.000+10:00

In about a month, I'll be moving to Melbourne. It's been on the cards for a wee while. I'd imagined I'd only stay in Christchurch while I was studying, before moving on. Somewhere along the way, I really fell in love with the city (and its people), and it's not been the easy next step I'd envisaged.
Nevertheless, I think it is the right move. At the moment, my job, radio hosting, and many other things I enjoy are in limbo. Most of town is still out of action. Now feels like the right time to go.
In spite of all that though, I still love living in Christchurch. The people I know are incredible, I love my flat, and I know things are getting better. And then there's Gina - she's amazing, and I can hardly bare thinking about leaving her. She's in her final year at uni, so I guess we're in different places in our lives. We'll be breaking up, due to circumstances rather than things not working. I guess that's some kind of bittersweet plus.

So, Christchurch, you're a sweetheart. You've been more than I could ever have hoped for, and I'll be back. I'll let you know more about my plans before I go (May 13).

And Melbourne, hello. I'm looking forward to getting to know you. If you live there now, maybe I'll catch you around. And if you know any amazing jobs or cool places to live, drop me a line - superchai(at)gmail.com

Collage #4 - Scientist

2011-04-09T08:19:00.000+10:00

Watch out, Brandon Flowers!

Blog connections

2011-03-31T12:40:00.001+11:00

Inspired by the phenomenal Information is Beautiful, and shaped by the fairly cozy bunch of 'New Zealand indie bloggers', I made this diagram. It shows which blogs links to which others. I think it looks nice. It's accurate to March 30, and uses the current title of each blog. Some blogs don't have 'blogrolls'. All the blogs are good.

Collage #3 - Skater

2011-03-31T11:51:00.001+11:00

Collage #2 - Girl

2011-03-29T18:57:00.001+11:00

Collage #1 - X-ray Watch

2011-03-29T18:49:00.003+11:00

I've started making some collages. They're very simple I think, but they look at the idea of 'the more you look, the more you see'. Here is a detail of the watch face

The city

2011-03-28T08:24:00.000+11:00

The central city is still very much cordoned off, though access is slowly being allowed. I had a look on Google maps and street view to remind myself what parts of the city looked like. Knowing that they've changed, and that everyone is disconnected from those changes is saddening.
Sometimes I think about the streets of the city, and how empty they are, and how lonely the city must be. There are no people flowing through her, and she seems very frozen in time, from what I've seen. In particular, I like the street art in Christchurch, and knowing that so many pieces are sitting, unseen, in the CBD, feels very empty. Street art requires an audience, and is the work of individuals in response to the urban environment.
Last night I was very pleased to find the work of two of my favourite individuals on Flickr. I really love Vision, and how creative and versatile they are. And it feels like Vacuousity really 'gets' Christchurch, and has done some very inspiring pastes (you've quite possibly seen them).

(On the topic of street art: the latest video from Blu is mind blowing - Big Bang Big Boom)

Free and sweet

2011-03-26T11:58:00.001+11:00

This week I ordered a 'bag of crap' from 1-day - a mystery item from the online store. I was hoping for high-end computer goods, but instead received vacuum clothes storage bags, and a container of 60 Chupa Chups (spherical lollipops in case you didn't know). My flatmates and I had a couple, but I don't eat too many lollies, and I didn't really like them. Instead, I decided to leave them in public places for people to find.
Candy from a stranger (or a public place) may not appeal to everyone, so with colourful rubberbands, I attached some typewritten messages

'for you', 'you're sweet', 'good day', etc.

And stuck them in trees, bicycle helmets, clothing store trouser pockets, on fences - places like that.

Hopefully they'll sweeten someone's day

Heart

2011-03-21T09:56:00.000+11:00

I find it really hard to force creativity, and though I'd been wanting to make something nice after the recent earthquake, nothing really jumped at me. Yesterday, I remembered that I had a few large sheets of thick black and red paper (Canterbury colours), and in a flurry made a large poster. I like when creativity and inspiration hits from out of nowhere.
I put it up on Bealey Ave, one of the main roads in Christchurch, and a short walk from my house. It's very humbling and encouraging that mine is just one of many similar supportive messages on Bealey and around the city.

Hitchhicking

2011-03-21T09:45:00.000+11:00

As mentioned in the previous post, I set out to do a bit of hitchhiking around the country. I guess it went okay, but I headed back to Chch after a few days. A few people picked me up, but I guess that after trying it, I'm not a huge fan of hitching. Gina drove me to Ashburton where I spent the night. In the morning I was picked up by Vince, the most Kiwi bloke I've ever met. He was great to talk to, and dropped me off in Timaru.
From there I was picked up by Chrissie, who took me to the Waimate turnoff. I was aiming for Oamaru, and being on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere seemed to be quite a hindrance. After a few hours of standing there, I decided to walk the 8km to Waimate, which was tougher than I'd wanted on a really hot day.
After spending the night in the beautiful little town, I caught a bus back home. I had realised that I don't really like relying on other people for rides (which is the whole idea behind hitching), and that I'd much rather be out on my bike, instead of waiting around for hours for a possible lift.
I didn't feel too bad about; I'd given it a shot, and found that it wasn't really for me. I'll be fixing Sally up a bit, and then we'll hopefully be out for an adventure before it gets too cold.

Hitting the road

2011-03-09T10:34:00.000+11:00

I've been wondering what to do in this post earthquake limbo: I've finished at uni, my job is currently out of action, and other plans for the future seem a bit up in the air. So somewhere between watching a Marcus Lush documentary and pondering my life in Christchurch, I hit upon the idea of travelling to unexplored lands, within the maxim of 'don't leave home until you've seen the country'.
Given that I've lived in New Zealand my whole life, there are huge parts of the country I've never seen. The South Island remains largely a mystery to me, and now seems like the perfect time to remedy that. I'm planning on hitch-hiking around the bottom part of the South Island for a few weeks, seeing where the road takes me, and experiencing lands anew. And I guess implicitly, relying on the good nature of New Zealand motorists. I'm sure I'll meet some good people. After that, back to Christchurch, before hitting the rest of the island.
I've lived in Chch since 2007, and I always envisaged that I'd study, and then move on. Not get too tied down here. And though I've fallen in love with the city, and it's people, I realise that I can't be afraid to take the next step. I could quite happily live here (and will be back), but for now it's time to experience everything else out there.

Earthquake, redux

2011-03-07T10:15:00.000+11:00

Things have been a flurry since the most recent earthquake. I travelled to Palmerston North for a wedding of friends from highschool, and Gina and I went to Auckland for a few days. The wedding was fantastic: a really beautiful ceremony, the chance to see lots of old friends and family, and a fun reception. Things in Christchurch were a pretty common discussion.
While I was in PN, Gina and I planned a short trip to Auckland. We stayed with her dad in Howick and explored some of the central city, ate some yum food (including Nice Blocks!), met up with Stacey at First Thursdays, and played Cranium. Gina's family have been fantastically nice. I stayed with her and her mum for a few days after the earthquake. And I've fallen head over heals in love with Gina.
Still, being out of the city, and not having been in to the CBD I adore so much leaves me feeling really disconnected. Things feel in a real limbo now that I've finished uni, and am working a job that I like, but isn't a career. I think a change is coming

Earthquake

2011-03-01T08:31:00.000+11:00

So, there was a big earthquake in Christchurch last week. I'm okay, and everyone I know is fine. Our flat's still standing, but the wooden frames are getting tired of twisting around. Unlike last time, I was in town, and by all accounts this time around things were much stronger, damaging, and sadly, fatal. The city seems to have been really badly hit - lots of collapsed buildings, cracked roads all over, broken water mains. It's a real catastrophe, about as bad as I could really imagine things getting in New Zealand. It felt like things were getting back on track after the September quake, and now everything's changed, again. The last quake now seems trivial in so many ways, but also like things were better prepared for a response.
I'd thought about what to write for a while, and am still at a loss for words. I really love Christchurch, and intend to stick it out here. I really want things to get better, and know they will - there's been a huge community spirit, and the whole country has been very supportive. If you want to help, the Red Cross is a great place to start.
And another thing - no matter where you are, please make an emergency kit. When this quake hit, I couldn't believe our flat had not stockpiled any water or canned food, especially after we'd lived through the last one.

Insolence

2011-02-19T08:59:00.001+11:00

The genesis of this post now floats somewhere behind me, as perfect as the whole attempting to be described.
It feels like my dreams tell me secrets. Like they know more than I do. Like those times when you wake up with a song in your head. Where did that come from?
On the inside, I'm afloat, going along for the ride. And all that it constructs is bigger than you, like you'd search for an outside you'll never reach.

Campus A Low Hum 2011

2011-02-18T22:15:00.000+11:00

I went to Campus A Low Hum again this past weekend, and I had a really great time. The weather was incredible - gorgeous hot days and lovely warm nights. I had a good time with the people I was with, and I think apart from Gina and a few others, almost everyone I wished was there, including my whole flat. Tenting was great fun, and I think we ate pretty well.
The bands were obviously one of the main highlights. I really loved St Rupertsberg, Hold Dear, Delaney Davidson, Secret Knives, Toro y Moi, Chelsea Jade & James Duncan, Ghost Wave, Glass Vaults, Pond, Megalex, and Caribou, who totally blew me away.
There was a really great range of music, and plenty of other things to check out. I really liked the art pieces that were scattered around the site. Many of them had to be discovered, which made it more rewarding.
I ended up getting a ride back to Wellington on the last night, and we arrived at 4:30am - it was a pretty great adventure, and a nice way to cap off the festival.
Gina met me at the airport, and it was so great to see her again. I'd been away for a two and a bit weeks, and missed her like crazy.

Fascinating!

2011-02-08T15:23:00.000+11:00

Air New Zealand has a monopoly on flights to and from Palmerston North, so I always prefer to 'take the scenic route' and travel via Wellington. I was there for a week this time round, and Beth had the whole time off work, so we managed to do plenty of cool things that we'd wanted to over the last few years. We ate lots of yum food, explored the streets, went pasting (No Face from Spirited Away! (among others)), travelled to Somes Island, made rainbow cake, snuck in to spas, watched movies, visited Strathmore, drank cocktails, attended fun gigs, and bumped in to friends and strangers.
The main reason I'd travelled when I had was for Laneway Wellington. It was pretty good overall. The definite highlight was Beach House, who were overwhelmingly gorgeous. I was covered in shivers their whole show, which actually made me feel really hot. Deerhunter were disappointing with sound issues, though they did play Desire Lines, which I'm pretty crazy about.
I met up with my very good friend Adam, and we had sushi train. I also had juice with the lovely and very supportive team from Music 101.

It was a really great trip. Wellington, you're a gem.

High school

2011-02-06T19:57:00.000+11:00

I'm home in Palmerston North, and tonight I went for a walk. I found myself wandering around the grounds of my high school. It was strange returning to a place I'd spent so much time in. I left in 2002, and I could remember so many of the parts, but it was strange having the forgotten pieces of the puzzle find their places. 'Oh right, the music room...' I can remember being so small, and being overwhelmed, but also simultaneously recalling my final year, and feeling like my friends and I owned the place. It felt strange not being with my friends; we would've have been recalling all the fun times we'd had. By myself, I didn't feel sad, just a strange sense of reminiscence. It was a very central part of my life for five years, and now it's in the past.

World Buskers Festival

2011-01-25T14:30:00.000+11:00

This week, the World Buskers Festival has taken to the streets of Christchurch, and it's been fantastic. As you may have gathered, I really like spending time in the central city, and it's brought plenty of other people in to experience some really impressive acts. Buskers from all around the world have been performing on a number of stages around town, and it's added to a real vibrancy, which feels cyclical as the performers are encouraged by enthusiastic crowds. The quality of performances I've seen range from 'pretty good' (Jonathan Burns) to 'awesome' (BlackStreet Boyz) to 'astonishing' (The Flash). Even if I've not been overly impressed with the routine, almost all the performers I've seen are funny and entertaining. And making me laugh is always worth at least a handful of change.
I didn't catch much of last year's festival, but I'm pretty hooked, and would want to support it to make sure it stays in Christchurch. The international performers it attracts have vastly overshone the locals that I've seen, (perhaps it's the exotic, or all their experience) though I'm yet to catch The Boy With Tape On His Face, which looks brilliant. If you're in Christchurch with some spare time this week, I'd highly recommend checking out - it'll be the best value for money entertainment you'll find

People Are Just People

2011-01-19T20:54:00.000+11:00

I guess apart from the book I mentioned reading, a big reason for the previous post was something mentioned in one of my favourite blogs. People Are Just People is amazing, and I love reading it. It's the work of Stacey (in Auckland) and Susie (in Melbourne), and consists of poetry and observations and thoughts. Susie mentioned becoming vegan to gain readers (I'll let you know how it goes!). Everything they write strikes me as very insightful. I've exchanged letters with each of the girls, and I'm looking forward to meeting them at Camp A Low Hum in a few weeks. Adoringly recommended.

Vegan

2011-01-19T09:36:00.000+11:00

I'm reading Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer at the moment (concurrent with Everything is Illuminated). It's been a good read, and looks at the ethical and practical ideas regarding eating meat. I've been vegan for four-and-a-bit years, and it feels like a fairly timely read. I'd describe myself as a comfortable vegan - I know what can and can't be eaten, how to stay healthy, and how to talk about the pros and cons. I'm much more indifferent about veganism now than I was for the first couple of years. If you were wondering, I became vegan after talking about it with a friend. I figured it was something I could try and abandon if I didn't like it. My family embraced the idea (though my mum said 'but you're so skinny already'), and it's something I'd recommend you consider if you're looking for a change in lifestyle. It's healthier, better for the environment, and obviously better for the lives of millions animals. You can read about veganism here.
The book's fairly well written, but it feels like he sometimes misses a good seque or logical conclusion. Gina's vegan too, and it's been great to dine more creatively with her

Friends

2011-01-11T15:31:00.001+11:00

Toward the end of last year, I got an email from a friend of Jordan O'Jordan's, saying that he'd be travelling to New Zealand and was wanting to hang out. I said yes, and it turns out that Michael is a really great guy. It's been fun spending time with him, and we share a lot of the same interests. It's also got me thinking about a couple of things. One: friends of really nice people are usually really nice themselves. It's obviously quite a cliche that 'any friend of ... is a friend of mine...', but it seems to hold true in almost every occasion. (Plus, people who travel the world are usually very easy going).
And Two: the people I live with are great. I've been working a lot over the last few weeks (and had to head straight there after grabbing Michael from the airport), but I know that my flatmates are so accommodating that everything would be fine. I'm lucky to have such a good group of people in my life. And I guess One and Two combine rather nicely.
So, as mentioned, we have shared interests, and spent an evening pasting. Michael took a picture of my hand, traced it, and did a bunch of editing magic. We then got a whole bunch printed, and walked about sticking them up

2010

2011-01-02T11:08:00.000+11:00

Happy new year! I hope 2010 was a good one for you. It was pretty good for me, and I thought I'd try put together a few thoughts. I've already covered my favourite music; I really loved the films Animal Kingdom and Fantastic Mr Fox. The best book I read was probably Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, and I was constantly smitten with Cabinet magazine.
I stayed in the same flat, 'The Log Cabin', with some really great people. There were a few flatmate changes, but everyone was fantastic, and it's nice to be able to happily spend time with the people you live with. Work at the cinema was fun - the staff are great to work with.
RDU was more good stuff. I think I've developed a really good relationship with a certain section of the listenership, and I had some really good 'radio moments'. I also got my foot in the door at Radio New Zealand, which is brilliant. That, and that whole trip to Wellington, was probably my favourite weekend.
I got in to wheat pasting in a pretty big way, and probably became more creative. In spite of some mid-year worries, I think I moved forward and carried on being the kind of person I'd like to be, as well as improving in different ways.
Overall, maybe not quite a good a year as 2009, but 2010: 8/10.

Cupcakes for Christmas!

2010-12-28T13:24:00.000+11:00

I hope you had a nice christmas. I called my family in Palmerston North, and had lunch with Gina and her family. It was really nice. In the late afternoon, I went pasting with some friends. It was still light and I wanted to give the city a present. The City Council has erected a number of very helpful information signs and maps about the city centre. Quite fortuitously, I found that a cupcake pasting I'd made perfectly covered the council logo at the bottom of these signs. I made up a new 'batch', and went about giving all the signs we could find a fun addition.

I think the council do a generally good job, though cupcakes make for a nicer logo. Christchurch City Council = CCC = City of CupCakes.
Thanks to Jasper for the photos

Relate

2010-12-27T21:33:00.001+11:00

I work in customer service, as a 'Cinema Attendant' at Rialto. It's a cool job, and I like dealing with people. I often get annoyed when treated like some kind of automaton, and it's surprising when people don't even respond to something personal, something more than 'here's your ticket', because it seems outside the realm of a typical exchange. So of course it's great when customers are personable, and treat you like a person. Customer conversations can lead to respective favourite movies, and much else. It doesn't have to be much, or too deep, but we are all people.
Tonight at work, a man said he was enjoying the music. It was Belle & Sebastian, and one of the big perks is being able to select the music played. He complimented my taste, and said that he always tries to tell people when he enjoys something, which is about a good as rule to live by as any.

In the city

2010-12-24T21:12:00.001+11:00

I really enjoy spending time in the central city, as you probably could've guessed from a number of my posts. It feels like there's always the possibility for discovery: you can see people living their lives, evidence of their previous actions, or completely serendipitous moments. The thing that continually surprises me is that everything, everything, is the result of human action. All the buildings, every sign, each piece of graffiti - all were done by a person, at some definite point in recent history. Adbusters often talk about the disconnect with the natural world, which is certainly a problem, but being able to connect with people, directly or implicitly, in an urban setting, is something I will never want to stop.
To that end, about a month ago, Simon and I were exploring a carpark, when we found a basketball hoop on an adjoining rooftop. After a bit of to-ing and fro-ing, we settled on Christmas Eve as the date for court action. Today, he and I and six other friends squeezed through a gap in the fence, and shot some hoops on a lovely day, in a place that just seemed perfect.

Top 10 Gigs, Songs and Albums of 2010

2010-12-22T20:10:00.003+11:00

Like last year, I put together a list of my favourite gigs, songs and albums from 2010. No surprises to see Seth Frightening at #1...

Gigs of the year
*Honourable Mention – Jordan O’Jordan @ GBM
10 – The Ruby Suns @ Campus A Low Hum
9 – The xx @ Laneway Auckland
8 – Ponytail @ San Fran Bathhouse, Wellington
7 – Kidz in Space @ The Bedford
6 – Grayson Gilmour @ The Dux
5 – Parking Lot Experiments @ Campus A Low Hum
4 – HEALTH @ UC Orientation
3 – Rufus Wainwright @ James Hay Theatre
2 – Jeffrey Lewis @ The Log Cabin
1 – Dudley Benson @ Gaiety Hall, Akaroa

Songs of the Year
*Honourable Mentions – Panda Bear – Slow Motion, Wet Wings – Running Like a Man
10 – Holy Fuck – Red Lights
9 – The Mint Chicks – Say Goodbye
8 – of Montreal – Coquet Coquette
7 – So So Modern – Dusk and Children
6 – DOM – Rude As Jude
5 – Nas & Damien Marley – As We Enter
4 – Caribou – Odessa
3 – Cults – Most Wanted
2 – Disasteradio – Gravy Rainbow
1 – Atlas Sound – Doctor

Albums of the Year
*Honourable Mention – Belle & Sebastian – Write About Love
10 – Jon Lemmon – Kindling EP
9 – Disasteradio – Charisma
8 – Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
7 – Dudley Benson – Forest: The Songs of Hirini Melbourne
6 – Grayson Gilmour – No Constellation
5 – Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti - Before Today
4 – Beach House – Teen Dream
3 – Los Campesinos! – Romance is Boring
2 – Owen Pallett – Heartland
1 – Seth Frightening – The Prince and His Madness

How to paste

2010-12-21T09:15:00.001+11:00

As you may have gathered, I really enjoy wheatpasting pictures around town. It's so much fun to be up town at night, with a friend or solo, and doing something that makes the urban environment a more interesting place. I'd like to think that most things I paste beautify the city, and perhaps to that end, I've never had anyone try and stop me or get upset. Most encounters have been complimentary or curious, though generally ignored. I usually paste around 10pm in normal clothes, and without spray paint, people don't seem to consider it vandalism.
It's such a thrill to see something you've pasted still up months later, and to know that countless people must've seen it. Pasting is a fun, cheap and easy way to interact with your environment. Here are some tips:
-Paste is very easy to make, and essentially free. I use this recipe, but play around. I sift the flour first, and add a bit of cornflour for added stickiness.
-Use a paint brush to apply the paste. T'nealle came up with this incredible idea to keep things tidy - cut the corner of a zip-lock bag and tape the brush in.
-You can put the paste in a tight closing container, or a drink bottle with a sipper lid. Apply the paste to the surface, and place the picture, smoothing as you go (no one likes air bubbles). Put another layer of paste on top, and smooth around the edges.
-Lately I've been taking a damp cloth in a plastic cup. You can clean your hands, and also wipe away any excess paste surrounding the picture (which can look messy on glass/metal/plastic).
-Use your discretion. I tend to paste on to things like bins, street lights, seats, and tend to avoid personal and business property, though chain stores are probably a more valid target than the local dairy.
Get creative - you can paste anything on to anything! I don't think I'm a very good artist, but practice makes perfect. Or you can find cool pictures online, make stencils, write messages. There's plenty to keep you occupied. Be warned though: it's pretty addictive.

New layout

2010-12-19T15:08:00.000+11:00

I've changed the layout on this blog for the first time (have a look, Reader readers!).
Beth took the photos, which were mostly taken on a trip to the Botanic Gardens. She used a technique called redscale, which is quite clever, and gives the pictures a really nice look.

The Day That Was - December 14th, 2010

2010-12-14T22:15:00.001+11:00

Alright. It's back, and necessarily so I feel. It seems like I've not been up to much, or had as much direction as I'd like, so I'm going to chronicle a few days, get motivated, and see what happens.
I woke up at 8am, and had to really force myself out of bed. Normally I doze 'til 9 or 10, and feel lazy, so was up and about at 8:15: 6/10. I had two pieces of toast (peanut butter, and marmite), and a cup of tea for breakfast. I kind of straightened up the lounge in light of a possible early morning flat inspection, but it didn't eventuate: 8/10. I checked the internet: 8/10, and got on to a few things I'd been meaning to - pitching some music story ideas to Radio New Zealand, and burning a CD of sets from the RounDUp band final for Bill from Human Pleasure. I started figuring out my top 10 songs, gigs and albums of 2010 (the last two are easy, struggling with the first: 6/10). I had a second cup of tea, re-using the teabag (it's a different, less bitter flavour), and got ready to head in to town.
My outfit for today - black canvas shoes, cut-off jean shorts, black polo-shirt: 9/10. I wheeled my bike to Cycle Trading for a repair (broken spoke: 2/10). Really nice service: 8/10. I walked in to the Square to meet Gina for lunch, and both places we went to weren't open yet (why was I up so early?!) ...but Krishna Cafe opened after a short wait. I had the vege burger: 10/10 (my god, sooooo good!), and we shared an apricot muffin. Gina went to get some things to make christmas cards, and I found some cheap A4 stickers: 8/10. I walked home and made a mixtape (sounding 9/10), and made the cover. My feet were tired from walking, and I made some rice and got ready for work. I typewrote some messages on some stickers (positive stuff/Seth Frightening lyrics: 8/10) and walked through town. I bought a ready to eat curry from the Indian Supermarket which was tasty, and work was slow, but I read Cabinet: 10/10 (man I love Cabinet).
The walk home was nice, and I stuck the stickers around. It was warm, and a few street workers chatted to me. Rose was over, and her and the rest of the flat and I stayed up talking for a while.
A nice day, and I felt really motivated to get things done.

Streets

2010-12-14T07:27:00.001+11:00

I went out pasting for the first time in a while (well, maybe two weeks). I'd been a bit bummed out at failed attempts, and windy evenings, and really needed to get out and get some stuff done. It feels like I need to do something grand and definitive, I'm just not sure what that something might be yet. I've nearly finished a large project, which I'm quite excited about, but tonight I stuck up a bunch of leftover cupcakes (I'd made ~40).
It was such a warm evening, and felt so peaceful. I made some paste and biked in to town. There were plenty of amazing night smells, and people were walking about. Some tourists were pointed in the right direction, which made me smile. Simon was cycling to work, and I bumped in to him in Victoria Square.
Down Cashel Mall, some people came and talked to me. They were really friendly, and we did a bit of pasting together. It's really great meeting people under such nice circumstances.
I felt in a pretty good mood about things.

Parade

2010-12-05T16:16:00.000+11:00

Hannah and I went to the Christmas Parade in town today. It was overcast but warm. I'd been looking forward to attending; I'd not been to the Chch parade before. And I had a really great time. I couldn't stop smiling, for so many reasons. It was great seeing lots of kids happy, and most of the floats were really colourful (especially the groups from various Asian countries). I was really pleased to see a group advocating buying less, and spending more time with those you love. Conversely, floats for corporate fast food chains, radio stations and car yards can fuck right off.
I often feel pretty negative about the latter, and end up fantasising about illegally damaging property, or making grand vitriolic statements. But really, I'm not sure what that would accomplish. I think it's a lot better to try and take a positive, alternative route of action. Don't support those you despise in any way. Shop locally and communicate with your friends. Act in a way that inspires others - they're usually more receptive to a flower than a stick.
I hope you'll be having a nice christmas. I'll be in Christchurch, with friends. If you'd like a christmas card, let me know your address - superchai@gmail.com