Traveling

So, I went to Wellington for the weekend. It was great, and the traveling itself was adventurous. At the Christchurch airport, I was staggered to realise I'd booked my flight from Wellington to Christchurch, instead of vice versa. Drats. I just tried to focus on how good the weekend would be. It was really good.
The return trip had me walking to the train station at 7am. I caught a shuttle to the ferry terminal, and hoped on the Interislander. I bumped in to one of my best friends Simon, who has just moved to Chch. I was taking the train down, and he was driving. The train had broken down, and Simon's completely packed car meant that I was catching a bus instead. The bus took passengers to Seddon, where we waited an hour and a half. I'd previously spent a night in Seddon on my cycle trip.
Once finally on board the train, it was really nice. I sat opposite a retired French couple, Jean-Marie, and his 'swapped over' wife, Marie-Jean. They were traveling the country painting water colours. The train was amazingly scenic, and as tired as I was, I didn't want to miss anything.
I popped down to the observation carriage, and ended up spending an hour there. I just couldn't leave - it was so captivating. The air was so warm, and the scenery ever-changing. Thistle seeds (fairies) swirled around endlessly in the open air carriage, and traveling through tunnels felt like a blast from hell, with screaming wraiths as the train sounds echoed infinitely.

A trip to Wellington

I went up to Wellington on Thursday - it was Beth's birthday. She didn't know I was coming, and I was incredibly nervous, sitting in her room, hearing her walk up the stairs after work. She walked in to the room with her palm outstretched. The words "Hi David!" were written there. "Agh! Who told you I was coming?" I asked. "No one. I just figured you'd come up". It's like no matter where we are, we're always touching by underground wires.
We had a great weekend together. We had beers and kebabs, walks around the city, special moments, and a fraudulent admission to Homegrown. It was a flying visit, but amazing all the same.
Leaving her was, as usual, so hard. "I love you", we both said. Crossing the road from her place, I turned to see her at the top of the stairs. Further down the road, I checked again, and she was peaking out from the balcony. I waved, and turned and cried in to my palms.

Food issues

As previously mentioned here, I seem to have a quirk of leaving nearly empty containers of spread in my cupboard. Once again, my cupboard was full, so it was once again time to sort out the problem.

The culprit this time was Marmite.

Eight jars. Marmite's generally consumed slower than peanut butter, and the jars are bigger. The second to the left is rebranded as Mo-mite, to raise money for Movember. Certainly not the most recent Movember.

I didn't feel like trying to save the left over marmite.

On the topic of food, I bought a packet of so-good-and-deliciously-vegan Oreos last night. I don't know what they put in, but it ain't dairy. In that packet, a miracle happened:

My diary

NO NEED TO PANIC! I'VE FOUND MY DIARY!

I didn't want to alarm you by mentioning that I couldn't find my diary for the last two days. It wouldn't do either of us any good both being hysterical. There was a band staying in my room for a few nights, and not that I'd think they'd take it, but y'know - where was it?

On my desk. Of course. Under the Canterbury enrollment carry-on.

This is right up there with the time I lost (stolen?!) my Dark Was The Night compilation CD. I spotted a gap in my alphabetised CD collection, right where it belonged. After two days I found the solution.

The gap was in the B's. Not the D's. My Belle & Sebastian CD was on the floor.

Perhaps I should wait a few days for everything. It'll turn up.

South Shore

Today, the weather was beautiful. It was nice and warm, and I'd planned to go for a bike ride. My destination was 'The Spit' at South Shore, my absolute most favouritest place in Christchurch.

I cycled along Avonside Drive most of the way, trying to keep my attention on the road, rather than the river. It was the first time I been 'on a bike ride' for a long time, instead of simply commuting. I'd forgotten my keys, so I brought my bike Sally through the sand dunes and on to the beach.

As soon as I arrived, I was struck by how much I love the place. It feels like a world away from Chch. It was slightly overcast, gulls flew in the air, seaweed and driftwood covered the beach. The lowering tide had left patterns of impossible detail in the sand.

On a busy day, you can look across the water to Sumner beach, and see thousands of people, and yet hear nothing, nor be surrounded by anyone.

In the sand I wrote 'never stop' with a piece of wood.

Laneways

Completing the last of my summer jaunts (well, there can always be adventures, and escapades), I went to Laneways in Auckland on Monday. And given that it's the first time to be held in NZ, it was outstanding. I wrote a review of the concert here, and here are some other things that happened.

I travelled to Auckland with Rose. She was staying with friends, and I once again stayed with Nick and Sarah. I met up with my friends Hannah and Ben, and we went to The Big House. We bought groceries and went to Western Springs. Hannah hand fed a sparrow.

On Sunday, Hannah and I walked around clothing stores. I bought some amazing yellow jeans. We also went to a vintage store. While there I recognised a girl from Camp; she'd had recording equipment with her. I introduced myself, and she was Emma, a producer from Music 101 on Radio New Zealand. She was at the store with host Kirsten, and we talked a little about radio.

Hannah and I played The Wallet Game, in which two people swap wallets, and quiz the other on the contents. Hannah received the grade of Pigeon; I got Yellow Stripe.

Laneways started at midday, and showers threatened. We all dressed lightly, and it proved to be a nice day.

I saw a number of my friends - the concert was a well sized 5000-strong, and didn't feel crowded. I saw Emma once again, and also found the completely stunning Chelsea Jade. I introduced myself (as being the author of this blog), and we chatted briefly. She was lovely, and gave me a gift. "I admire everything you do", I said.

The concert was very good, and ended with farewells. My flatmate Fran was leaving the next day on an 8-month world trip. It'd been great living with her, and we hugged for about ten minutes. Rose also left the next day, though just to Australia for two weeks.

"It's a lie that you've gotta be a big man - big man in this world"

Camp, again

As mentioned before, I went to CALH. It was such a great time. Photos can be viewed here and here.

I tented with Beth, and it was great to share such an amazing experience with her. She was there with her friend Lucy, who I'd previously hung out with at Animal Collective. We set up out tents in the dark, as the rain soaked everything but spirits.

As there was a whole bunch of people I knew from all over the place, it was always fun to spend time with other people, and it was impossible to be lonely.

And it was three full on days and nights of music. That's what I was there for. A whole part of Camp is that you could just hang out and still have a great time. I'm not doubting that it's true, but there are so many great acts, it would be silly to miss out.

Beth and I ate some meals I'd preprepared, as well as the near-universal Mi-Goreng noodles (need I really wiki that?). I drank Passion Pop, the drink of choice for fourteen year old girls. It would seem they've got great taste.

The sun came out on the second day, and it was everything you could hope for. Dreams of a childhood schooltrip/camp, wonderful company, and fine music.

Space

Right now might not be the best time to blog, but anyway:

It feels like inside me, there is something empty, and I'm not sure what it is. Well, perhaps it is probably the absence of a person, the thought of something that's been there as long as you've know them; for now, it's away, but it might come back. Like if your stomach went on a carousel, and slowly smushed out a circle inside you to create a gap. Where your heart might actually be. And where that person actually belongs.

This year

Here are some goals for my year,

• Budget well, and actually save some money
• Read more
• Get involved with Radio New Zealand
• Complete my under-graduate degree, and get top grades
• Spend more time outdoors
• Kiss a stranger (inspired by the phenomenal Pretentious and Pop)
• Continue living my life