Vision

Today I was eating a bagel on the steps of the library, and I watched a blind woman walking across the quad. She looked quite unsure of herself, and a man pointed her in the direction of the library.
I was reading, and I glanced up to see that she'd gone past the steps, and was very close to the pond that surrounds them.
She fell in. It was so horrible. I ran down to help her, and she climbed out. Another lady helped her up, and security were nearby. She was so frightened. "I just can't deal with not being able to see."
I feel terrible for her, but also like I should've done something. It might not've helped, but I could of called out.
It is almost unimaginable to lose a sense, but I guess this lady recently had. It makes me appreciate what I am able to do.

I wish I could love you like you love me

It has been a short while since I last blogged, and I'd been thinking about what to say. I went to Wellington to see Beth, and we had so much fun. It was a really great weekend, that included:

-eating kebabs

-drinking beer, wine, and soju (Korean sake)

-whispering

-sneaking in to fancy hotel spas

-staying in fancy hotels

-laughing

-dancing to Tiddabades and Brand New Math

-walking up hills

-making brownies and inari (WOAH!)

-discussing grammar, dream, and chocolate

On the last night, it seemed like she had something on her mind. Lying together in bed, she whispered that she thought we should break up.

It felt like I would sink through the bed.

This was so unexpected, and probably the farthest thing on my mind. I just felt empty, and so sad.

It was a rough end to the weekend. I won't go in to the details, but things are okay between us. We've been talking a lot.

Exciting!

As I mentioned in Haunted Love loves you, the band and I had come up with a pretty amazing project. They played in Wellington, and I'd asked them if perhaps they could say hi to Beth while they were there...

"Yes! Yes! We'd love to!"

"Oh we could play a song for her"

"No! We'll cover any song you want, and play it for her!"

"We can give her flowers!"

... and last night that is exactly what happened. They played Hey Sunshine by Let's Whisper. I was so super excited about it, and they were too! They were glad that I had asked them to do it, because they really like doing stuff like this - "we can be your cupid" said Geva.

So I just had to make sure Beth went, and was sending her some fairly impelling text messages.

I'm so glad it worked out. I'm up to Wellington tomorrow for the weekend, and have a few more things planned.

Sunday afternoon

Spring seems very eager to get started here in Christchurch. The sun is feeling warm, and the sky is clear.

As I lay in bed this morning, I listened to Radio for Kids on RDU. The kids that phone up can be annoying, but often tell great stories (about kid stuff). Their taste in music is pretty bad, but the show plays some amazing recorded stories. Like, Thomas the Tank-engine. And Oscar Wilde's short stories, read by men with the most wonderful voices. Wilde's 'The Selfish Giant' was read today, and was stunningly beautiful,

'He did not hate the Winter now, for he knew that it was merely the Spring asleep, and that the flowers were resting.'

I've been reading about possums in New Zealand as part of a case study about an invasive species. I read in the sunshine and enjoyed a cup of tea. After noon, I crocheted some granny squares (pics coming...), before heading in to town to meet Sophie for afternoon tea.

It was nice to see her again. We went to Soul Food on High Street. I had a fantastic pie.

We walked about the streets of the inner city. She studies theatre costume design, and I asked her what would be the most basic, number one piece of information about that. She said, "make it fun."

As I walked home, the sun was setting; through high cloud it created a faint rainbow halo.

Hauted Love loves you

I went and saw Haunted Love last night - and they were really great! I missed their first song, but they seemed in great spirits. Some very clever banter covered up organ malfunctions. And they played some great songs! Nothing off their EP Darkness in Diamond City (which I've been loving), but that's something to look forward to next time.

I'd spoken with one of the girls, Rainy, on Wednesday, and got a Hello Hug when I met her. It was awesome. I also got a Hello Hug from Geva. I was speaking with the girls after the show, and woah, woah, woah! We have a very-special-super-secret-amazingly-exciting-project coming up, which I will tell you about next week. Eeeek! So excited!

The Bats also played, and I always forget how amazing they are. Super tight, with a massive catalogue of great songs.

I'm crocheting a hat for Netta. I also talked about a craft collaboration with T'nealle that should be pretty choice

Lovely weekend

The weekend just passed was absolutely splendid - one of the nicest in a long while.

Saturday was wonderfully warm and sunny, and I did some research in a chair on the front lawn. I had a cup of tea, and was listening to a mixtape Beth had made me (a real tape!), and reading about the removal of possums from Kapiti Island. It was a very well written, interesting report. I have a 3000 word case study to write about an invasive species in NZ - it's quite intimidating.
After I'd read the report, I went for a walk to the chip shop, and got some food, and an ice block from the dairy. When I got home, Melinda, Eamonn and I had a picnic on the front lawn, and listened to music. We watched clouds and birds drifting above us. It was a great Saturday afternoon.
I went to a gig that night, but was home fairly early. Netta and I watched a combination of Face/Off-28 Days Later-music videos - none of them were especially good.

Sunday was not as warm - the sun was hiding behind roaming clouds. I read a little bit, and then set off to town with overdue library books. I was also heading to Pak 'n' Save, but rather than shopping on an empty stomach, I visited The Orange Tree, a new-ish cafe. They were closing, so food took a while to prepare.
While I was waiting, a girl walked in, who I'd seen last week in P 'n' S. She had been wearing, as she was now, a red riding hood/poncho, that was very distinctive. We both sort of waited, and I wondered if I should talk to her.
I did - mentioning that I'd seen her last week. We sort of got chatting, and her name was Sophie, and she was touring NZ from Adelaide. We had lunch together in Victoria Square, and it was lovely.
We hung out for a while, and then exchanged numbers. I felt over the moon.
I was really happy with how things went. Reaching out to a complete stranger, and making a really nice new friend.

I bought groceries and went home. I've been crocheting a hat for Netta, which I'm designing myself.
Beth called, and it was great to talk to her. She'd lost her cell-phone, and I was feeling a bit less in touch with her. I'm up to Wellington Friday after next!

Coming up on this week Wednesday Drive (4-7pm), I shall be interviewing Haunted Love, James Duncan and The Gladeyes. Swoon swoon swoon. RDU 98.5fm