pensées

Take this Bread

2009-10-27T09:38:00.010+13:00

Yesterday I walked out into our Kitchen and proclaimed that everyone must read this book: Sara Miles 'Take this Bread'.

I haven't found myself quite so taken with a book in a long while. I keep having to stop and catch my breath to try and take it all in.

It is fascinating, challenging, offensive, affirming, confusing and profound all at once. And all wrapped up in some achingly beautiful prose.

Loving every minute.

A taste:

'I still can't explain my first communion. It made no sense. I was in tears and physically unbalanced: I felt as if I had just stepped off a curb or been knocked over, painlessly, from behind. The disconnect between what I thought was happening - I was eating a piece of bread; what I heard someone else say was happeing - the piece of bread was the "body" of "Christ," a patently untrue or at best metaphorical statement; and what I knew was happening - God, named "Christ" or "Jesus" was real, and in my mouth - utterly short-circuited my ability to do anything but cry. All the way home, shocked, I scrambled for explanations. Maybe I was hypersuggestible, and being surrounded by believers had been enough to push me, momentarily, into accepting their superstitions...Yet that impossible word Jesus, lodged in me like a crumb. I said it over and over to myself, as if repetition would help me understand. I had no idea what it meant; I didn't know what to do with it. But it was realer than any thought of mine, or even any subjective emotion: It was as real as the actual taste of the bread and the wine. And the word was indisputably in my body now, as if I'd swallowed a radioactive pellet that would outlive my own flesh.'

what really happens in a year anyway?

2009-07-23T21:03:00.003+12:00

wow - it has actually been almost 1 year since I posted anything here!

oh well, life goes on much the same really doesn't it?

July 2008 - July 2009 the short version

pregnant. gave birth. slept. fed baby. slept. fed baby. slept. fed baby. slept. (repeat x 10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000) worked. slept. fed baby. worked. slept. fed baby. worked. slept. fed baby. (repeat x 10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000)

In all seriousness, life has been good. Emily is wonderful. But there hasn't been time to think about much else. Maybe this year will be different. We will have to see...

For pics of Em see here

Jacob Reviews the New Zealand International Film Festival 2008

2008-07-31T08:24:00.001+12:00

Kia ora film types,

I was asked about my reviews at work so I thought I should get the list together in case people were interested. I mean, hey, the festival may be finished but there’s always the cinematic run and DVD…

Be aware of typos and the like. This is mostly speedy late night work,

JP.

Reviews for The Lumière Reader

- Boy A English drama: a jailed child killer is released back into society as a young man. Will society accept him? Can he accept himself?
- Homegrown (Programme 1) A selection of NZ short films from the past two years covering such themes as subverting cultural stereotyping, the evocation of memory and loss, survival and the loss of innocence, and breaking cultural and social isolation.
- In Search of a Midnight Kiss Lo-fi indie romance set over a day on the not so sparkling streets of LA
- To Each His own Cinema Over 36 three minute short films made by many of the world’s greatest living auteurs expressing their passion for experience of movie-going at the behest of the Cannes film festival panel.
- Let the Right One In Haunting Swedish vampire thriller cum adolescent romance
- Rubbings From a Live Man Florian Habicht’s docu-theatrical exposition of the life of flamboyant NZ thespian Warrick Broadhead
- The Escapist and Timecrimes (double capsule review)Gritty, tightly constructed prison escape thriller and a trippy surrealist Spanish time travel headspin.
- Dear Zachary Emotionally wrenching and unpredictable cinematic ‘letter’ to the son of the documentary’s dead subject, as well as a memorial from the director who was his childhood friend. Be ready to shed some tears…

Still in the queue to be posted:
- Frontier(s)Ultra-gorefest Gallic splatter horror replete with psychotic rural inbred neo-nazi family, and more torture and maiming than you could shake a stick at. Funnier than it is scary if you have a strong constitution.
- Waltz with BashirSublimely animated docu-drama of an Israeli filmmaker’s journey to find his lost memories of his life during Israel’s ill-fated war with Lebanon in the early 80s. Harrowing.

Reviews For FilmGuide

- In Bruges Broadly appealing Irish crime dramedy in the vein of Lock, Stock, & Two Smoking Barrels. Clever dialogue, great unexpected plot twists and some truly reinvigorated performances by some recently tired looking A-Listers. Does trade on a lot of inappropriately un-PC jokes as has some graphically violent moments.
- Somers Town Beautifully observed veritè story of an unlikely pair of wayward young lads in London (a teen from the Midlands and a Polish immigrant who lives with his father). Director Shane Meadows is adept at capturing the realities of the English working class and also the fleeting innocence & emotional instability of male adolescence. This is his most optimistic film to date.
- Note by Note: the making of Steinway L1037 Documentary tracing the fascinating production process of a handmade Steinway concert grand, juxtaposing the worlds of those who make them and those who use them and finding connection in both music and the meditative beauty of age old process.
- Donkey in Lahore An Australian filmmaker films several years of the trials and tribulations of his 28 year old friend who, after an 8 day trip to Pakistan to attend a puppeteer festival, proposes to a 17 year old Pakistani girl. Wistful romanticism is slowly crushed beneath looming weight of the bureaucratic process, cultural/age differences, and the simple reality that they do not actually know each other.
- A Gentle Breeze in the Village A Japanese film that is not dark and disturbing! Director Yamashita Nobuhiro subverts the idealised romance of a popular schoolgirl manga by producing an acutely observed drama about a Tokyo boy moving to a small rural village and the effects that this has on the small group of children who live there. Some of the best cinematography in this year’s festival without overtaking the film – outstanding.
- Silent Light Slow-burn existential musing about the nature of love played out in a Dutch/German Mennonite family in rural Mexico. Well shot and quite well constructed if a little over long and pretentious at times.
- Standard Operating Procedure Errol Morris documentary about the notorious Abu Ghraib prison photos from the USA-Iraq war. Morris does not so much focus on the overarching war on terror but on the specific details of the photos – the context in which they were taken, what was going on outside the frames and the like. Very compelling viewing that does not exonerate the perpetrators but makes clear that they have been scapegoated by people up the chain of command. As one of the soldiers say, if the photos had never been taken – or gotten out into the wild – then they probably wouldn’t have been investigated by the army…shocker.

Formation Friday - Embracing Simplicity

2008-07-08T16:25:00.003+12:00

On Friday of last week (the 4th of July), we had our 3rd Formation Friday event of the year - 'Embracing Simplicity'.

We looked at what it means for us as disciples of Christ to think about how we live out our lives in a way that is shaped by and mirrors the lifestyle of Jesus. In particular we considered the value of the discipline of 'simplicity' and the challenge inherent in many of the teachings of Jesus to radically alter our social and economic activities in response to his call to follow him.

As part of our discussion we looked at 5 different ways which we could consider simplifying both our inner life and our outward practice:

Stop

Slow

Grow/Make/Build

Share

Disposable vs. Non Disposable

Below you will find 5 posts which summarise the discussion on each area. The discussion was relatively organic so some of the ideas cross over or might seem like they belong better under one category than another - I've tried to just compile things as we discussed them rather than re-organise them too much.

The ideas we compiled on Friday are just the tip of the ice berg - I would love it if we could continue the discussion we began here by continuing to pool ideas and point one another in the direction of other helpful resources. If you weren't able to be there but would like to join the discussion then please feel free to do so.

Please use the comments option at the base of each post to add further ideas to the mix.

Stop

2008-07-08T16:00:00.004+12:00

Questions to Consider:

What do I need to stop doing now?
What are the attitudes I see in myself that I want to 'cease' from?
What are the practices in my life which keep them rooted in my behaviour?
What disciplines of stopping do I need to employ in my life in order to help me become free?

Ideas explored:

Stop to eat
Take time to stop and enjoy eating with family/friends rather than rushing from one thing to the next.
Sit down, eat more slowly and engage in conversation with those you care about.
Eat around the dinner table not in front of the TV

Stop and make time to exercise

Stop and think before you spend
Questions to ask before making a purchase:
Do I really need it?
Do I need to upgrade or is what I already have sufficient?
Where did this product come from? (e.g. Is the cultivation or production of this item contributing to the oppression of other human beings? Is the cultivation or production of this item causing unnecessary/disproportionate harm to other animals, plants or eco systems? How far did this product travel to get to me? Are there other options that have less negative human/environmental impact?
Is this the best use of money I have?

If you don't already have budget - stop and make one!

Helpful websites:
The Fairtrade Association of Australia and NZ

Trade Aid NZ
Marketplacers International
Wise Money

Slow

2008-07-08T15:30:00.000+12:00

Questions to consider:

In what ways do I need to slow down?
What inward disciplines of 'slow' do I need to cultivate?
What outer disciplines of 'slow' do I need to consider taking up?

Ideas Explored:

Slow Travel
Use the stairs instead of the lift
Don't just jump in the car - ask yourself; Am I in a hurry? Can I walk there? Can I use public transport to get there?

Slow Food
Buy locally made
Cook twice as much and freeze the extras to use at other times
Cook for a week or a month in one sitting and freeze to use at other times
Reorganising your time so that you can bake instead of buying pre-made items
Eat/consume food slowly not in a rush

Slow Time
How much of my 'free time' do I waste watching TV, or in other tasks which don't really slow me down/relax me?
How could I use this time differently?

Slow activities
Take time to engage in activities which defy acceleration (e.g knitting, painting, model building etc.)

Helpful Websites:

Carl Honore - 'In praise of Slow'

Grow/Make/Build

2008-07-08T15:02:00.004+12:00

Questions to consider:

Can I grow it?
Can I make it?
Can I build it?
Can I fix it?

Ideas Explored:

Growing Things
Growing vegetables etc. when you have limited space options:
Potatoes can be grown in a garbage bag
Using pots on a deck/windowsill/balcony to grow herbs (e.g. basil, rosemary etc.) or smaller vegetables (e.g. tomatoes/chillies/capsicum etc.)

Making Things vs. Buying Premade
Baking vs. buying premade biscuits/cakes etc.
Making your own pasta sauces etc.
Preserving fruit/Jam etc.
Making/Sewing cloth nappies yourself
Making christmas presents

Learn new skills
Learn to sew/bake/cook etc.
Go to a course or ask a friend to teach you

Helpful Websites:

Fabrics and patterns to make your own cloth nappies:
Green beans; The Nappy Network

How to grow potatoes in a bag
The Advent Conspiracy
How to Preserve Fruit

2008-07-08T15:00:00.003+12:00

Questions to consider:

Are their resources or skills I have that I can share with others?

Is there someone I know who can teach me something new? Or someone who can help me to complete a project?

Is there a resource I have (e.g. a vegetable or herb or fruit tree) in too greater abundance to use it all myself? How can I share my excess with others?

Is there a skill I have that I could teach someone else?

Ideas explored:

Get to know your neighbours

How can you share resources with the people living closest to you?

Are there ways that you can save money/power etc. by sharing your resources creatively?

(e.g. Meal swaps - take turns at cooking double the amount. This reduces power usage, saves money on food costs (economies of scale!), and saves you time by reducing the number of times a week you cook)

Communal Living

Fix me days

Swap it

Furniture swap

Clothing swaps

Borrow it

Sharing/borrowing maternity clothes

Hand me down clothes/borrowed shared clothes for young children

Is there something you have two of where you could lend the extra to someone else?

Make use of your public library!

Hire it

Hire a handbag

Cloth nappy hire kits - check it out before buying to test out what you want/need in order to avoid buying too much or the wrong thing

Hire options for items only needed for a short period (e.g. some baby related items only used for a few months like bassinets/carry cot attachments for prams

Share it

Sharing tools

Sharing DVDS

Sharing books

Helpful Websites:

The Nappy Network

Disposable vs. Non Disposable

2008-07-08T14:30:00.001+12:00

Questions to consider:

Do I need to throw this away or can it be reused by me or someone else?
Is there a non-disposable option of this item?
Do I need to throw this away and get a new one or can it be fixed?
Is there a way that I can avoid excess packaging?
Can it be recycled?
Is there are a recyclable/non-disposable option?

Ideas Explored:

Reduce or eliminate packaging on grocery items
Buying from farmers markets
Buying fresh from fruit and vege stores and butchers
Bring bags or boxes with you to the supermarket/fruit and vege store/butcher etc.
Practice Saying: "Thanks, but I don't need a bag", as often as possible!

Bulk Buying
Buy goods in bulk from bulkbins in supermarkets or specialist bulk bin stores:
You can do this with lots of dried goods like pasta, flour, sugar etc. You can also do it with herbs and spices. Some specialist stores also sell things like cooking oil, laundry powders etc in bulk by the litre or kg and most bulk stores will let you take it away in your own container/packaging - so you can keep re-using the same container.
Bulk buying also tends to be cheaper than pre-packaged options - especially when buying from specialist suppliers or wholesalers who sell to the public.
Buying meat in bulk and then freezing in smaller portions

Making wise use of excess
Freezing excess of items in season in order to have all year round
This works well with: Beans, Chillies, Capsicums - all of which can be frozen whole directly after picking. They maintain colour and flavour if frozen in well sealed containers with as much air removed as possible.
Lemon juice, grated fresh ginger, garlic that has been diced/chopped/minced in food processor can be frozen in ice trays to create small frozen portions which can be defrosted and used as needed. Once frozen the cubes can be stored in bags or containers in the freezer.
Some leafy herbs (e.g. coriander, parsley) can be roughly chopped or frozen whole (Kaffir lime leaves, Curry Leaves) in bags or containers in the freezer.

Explore Non-disposable options
Use a handkerchief instead of tissues
Try cloth nappies instead of disposables

Helpful Websites:

Rubbish-Free Year
Freeset bags
Cloth Nappy Options: Snazzipants; Real Nappies; Ecobots; Bumbles; The Nappy Network

Day 6

2008-02-18T16:55:00.006+13:00

I have just completed my first weekend of Lent 2008 and I was entirely unsuccesful in maintaining my Sabbath day.

I spent Friday afternoon/early evening working on the cessioncommunity Lent devotional journal and preparing for our leaders gathering on Saturday. The leaders gathering was great, and I did know it was coming up. I had intended to try and take some extra time out on Sunday morning and Monday morning. However, I didn't quite manage to do this.

I was reflecting on an exercise that we did together on Saturday and I've decided I might need to downsize my goal a bit -not because it's a bad one - it is still where I want to get to. But I seem to have developed some bad habits about carving out down time for myself, so I need to start unlearning these in order to be able to maintain my bigger goal.

So I am going to start making some 'dates' for myself which I will book into my diary like appointments. Jonathan has been telling me for some time that I should put imaginary appointments with people in my diary. I guess this isn't too dissimilar - just that I'm not actually imaginary.

Henri Nouwen suggests that we should diarise appointments with God for prayer and spiritual reflection so that we don't allow our relationship with God to become sidelined by other commitments. This is certainly part of the goal for me too. By being so busy I get little time to reflect on how the different threads of my life are working together, and where God is at work in me. I also find it means that I stop enjoying both my work and the simple pleasures of life and the world around me, as I am so caught up in the busyness of getting things done.

So, I will still keep working on the goal of keeping a sabbath day, but I am also going to schedule some appointments with God, or simply for time out also.

Arohanui

Lent 2008

2008-02-13T16:38:00.003+13:00

'first clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean'

One of the things we encourage our community to do at cession, is to consider making a 40 day goal over the Lent period that will aid you in working toward a bigger spiritual growth goal that you have set your self for the year.

This year, my Lent goal is to abstain from overwork.

In order to try and achieve this I have set myself a goal of taking Friday afternoon (from around 4pm) till Saturday Evening bedtime as a 'Sabbath' day. I used to be really great at doing this but in past year or so, my time off has become less and less frequent and often Saturday - my one day off - ends up becoming another work day.

I'm not sure how successful I will be. I am already painfully aware of how busy my schedule looks between now and Easter Sunday, and I am appalling at ensuring I make time for myself (and for Jacob!). But, I am going to try!

(For info on making goals for Lent go to the cessioncommunity website and you will find a Lent preparation pack)

Arohanui

More Musicals

2007-12-15T07:38:00.000+13:00

Back in late November Jacob and I had the unexpected treat of going to see Goldenhorse's album release gig at the 'Hallertau'. If you're interested you can read his review here.

Also Darren has written a lovely (if slightly gushy) review of Once which was high on my list of the best films I have seen this year. Despite being termed 'the new musical' once is anything but the atrocities that such a comment brings to mind and is well worth a watch. You can read Darren's review here.

Lease

2007-12-11T08:10:00.000+13:00

Hey Kids,

A bit of frivolity for you. Here is the Grand National Winner of this years 48 hour film festival. A musical called Lease. It contains my all time favourite line in a musical:

"I wish the lawn was emo too, then the grass would cut itself"

This post is dedicated to Rhett Snell.

arohanui

December 1st

2007-12-01T18:22:00.000+13:00

Here is your last chance to view the mo up close and personal - until movember rolls around again...

'Too Much Mo for One Man'

'Uncle Bully Mo'

'Close-up Mo' - the final edition

Movember 24th

2007-11-24T18:14:00.000+13:00

Every morning it's like waking up and finding yourself stuck inside a nightmare that you just can't wake from...

Outpatient Mo

Close-up Mo

December just can't come fast enough!

Arohanui

Movember Day 13

2007-11-13T09:27:00.000+13:00

Mo [pukana]

Mo [closeup]

Arohanui

Movember Day 2

2007-11-02T09:03:00.000+13:00

Kia ora koutou,

It is that wonderful time of year again...Movember.

We forgot to do a before shot, but here is Day 2.

Red Moon Rising

2007-09-27T20:38:00.000+12:00

The view from our kitchen window this evening:

snake catching and the ordinary aucklander: a history

2007-09-26T20:14:00.000+12:00

Our voting papers for the Local Government elections arrived on the weekend, along with the usual array of electoral campaign rants which promise much and say very little.

But I was most bemused by this comment from Elliot Blade, a candidate standing for Auckland City Councillor: "A wide range of jobs, including dairy farming, snake catching and waterfront work, has grounded me in the realities of ordinary people's lives."

really?!?

Ahh well, I guess it could be a handy skill if John Banks gets back in...

Stations of the Cross Gallery

2007-05-28T10:04:00.000+12:00

Kia ora tatou,

if you are interested in seeing an online gallery of the cessioncommunity stations of the cross then please click here and you will be transported...

P.S. it is best viewed as a slide show

Stations of the Cross

2007-04-11T18:55:00.000+12:00

Over the easter weekend cessioncommunity put together an interactive art and media installation exploring the 'Stations of the Cross'. We are hoping to get an online gallery up which will take you through all the stations that we put together but in the mean time here are some pics of the three works I was directly involved with.

'a new commandment'

‘Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him...after he had washed their feet...he said to them: “Do you know what I have done to you?...I have set you an example that you also should do as I have done to you.’

John 13:5; 12-15 (selected)

Artist: Melissa Powell + the cessioncommunity
Media: Black and White Photography

The title for this work is taken from John 13:34, ‘A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another as I have loved you.’ This scripture sums up the teaching which Jesus used to explain the meaning of the foot washing to his disciples.
The story is now so familiar that it is easy to forget the revolutionary significance of Jesus act. But as M. Scott Peck relates in his book ‘A Different Drum’: “Until that moment the whole point of things had been for someone to get on top, and once he had gotten on top to stay on top or else attempt to get farther up. But here this man already on top – who was rabbi, teacher, master – suddenly got down on the bottom and began to wash the feet of his followers. In that one act Jesus symbolically overturned the whole social order.”

'crosswalk'

‘Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. The put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”. They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.’

Matthew 27:27-31

Artist: Brett Jones + Melissa Powell
Media: Mixed Media Sculpture

There is more to this sculpture than what you see here - but this is the bit I was involved in, the dressing of the mannequin. Brett will be posting some photos shortly of the work in it's entirety.

'new'

(let us receive what we are. let us become what we receive. The Body of Christ.)

‘...He is not here; for he has been raised from the dead...’

Matthew 28:7b

Artist: Melissa Powell

Media: Photo Triptych and Acrylic on Canvas

There is something beautiful to me about the act of sharing in communion. Through this simple meal we remember not just the suffering and death of Christ, but the new shape that our lives take on when we allow our lives to be moulded by Christ’s example.

I will post a link as soon as we get a full gallery posted.

Arohanui

Interview with Sandor Lau

2007-04-09T08:34:00.000+12:00

Jacob's most recent work for Lumiere reader has just been posted. It is an interview with Sandor Lau - NZ's only Chinese/Hungarian/American Filmaker. It's long but it is well worth reading - Sandor has a really interesting take on film and documentary making. Here's a wee teaser for you:

'...there are a million truths out there, and in my films I like to try to tell the ones that have been censored out. So for me film is entertainment and art and technology and recreation and suffering and enlightenment.' [Read More]

mental competency

2007-01-24T20:06:00.000+13:00

The last week seems to have been a little trying for my poor brain. I'm not sure exactly when it started, maybe it was forgetting communion on Sunday - and not remembering till this afternoon.

Or maybe it was when I emailed Julia and got completely confused about what month it was.

Or maybe it was when I tried to ammend this error by emailing her again - only to realise I'd emailed myself.

The real clincher though, that I had completely lost my mind, came today:

When making coffee this morning I turned on the wrong element.
Having ammended this I proceeded to make the coffee.

I put milk in Jacob's coffee.

Then at morning tea, while trying to procure additional caffeine to try and fend off my clearly deficient mental state, I entered the wrong pin on the eftpos transaction.

Later back at work, I called ACC to try and organise a return for some faulty product we had recieved from Warehouse Stationary.

Seriously, I managed all of these things in one day.

I have to say though, one of these sins is not like the others. And it had a much higher price tag. Can you guess which one?

Arohanui

must love dogs

2007-01-12T16:48:00.000+13:00

Scott swears that Zach was just biting his knee, its just the angle that is dodgy...you be the judge

"Happy 8:54!"

2007-01-01T20:54:00.000+13:00

I am officially old.

I was too much of a nana to stay up till midnight, Melva needed to make the most of Selah's sleep cycle to get some sleep of her own, and Darren was crossing datelines. The result: we all missed out on counting down to the advent of a new year.

So, we created our own special celebration...'Happy 8:54!'

countdown antics and celebratory bubbles:

8:54pm Fireworks:

Arohanui

eucharist 2

2006-12-07T19:08:00.000+13:00

Arohanui

eucharist 1

2006-12-06T15:57:00.000+13:00

A little while ago, I received an email from a friend with this link to a post from RLP, and accompanied by the following question:

Melancholy, when you're a RLP (or will you be a RLR?), you'll use the real stuff, won't you?

Strangely enough that very weekend Jacob and I were away at an unveiling service up in the Kaipara. During the service they had communion and they used....wafers. I forgot how much I don't like them!

So in answer to your question...

My dearest anarchy, of course I will always use the real stuff, especially now that I am an RLR ;)

Arohanui

24hr Film Festival

2006-12-04T21:05:00.000+13:00

For interested parties, Jacob's latest offering to lumiere has been posted...

TIME: 4:25pm. I arrive in Avondale suitably pajama’d in my dark Auckland-City-Hospital blue “Emergency Room” scrubs. I park on St Georges Road, about 15 metres down from The Hollywood, our cinematic shrine-to-be for the next 24 hours, and find my marathon crew. It’s all about to start! [read more]

Дo свидáния Бoрат!

2006-12-04T20:43:00.000+13:00

I think I can now officially say that November (aka Movember) wins 'Most Hated Month of the Year' award...

Week One:

Week Two:

Week Three:

Though Borat is gone, his memory will remain with us...unfortunately.

Arohanui

at your request

2006-10-08T12:31:00.000+13:00

On Saturday (last week) the Reads came around for lunch, as they were leaving I mentioned that I was going to the park to take some photos. Briahna then requested that I take a photo for her, so I said that I would take a photo for each of the Read girls.

So Hope, Aimee and Briahna these are the photos I took especially for you...I hope you all enjoy them as much as I enjoyed taking them!

Miss Hope Read
Hi Hope,

the photo that I took for you is of the daffodil walkway. I love the way the trees arch over the pathway as it winds off into the beyond. I picked this photo for you 'cause it reminds of where you are at in life - on the brink of an exciting journey, who knows where life's path will lead you; it is beyond what the eye can see.

Arohanui Melissa.

Miss Briahna Read
Hi Briahna,

the photo that I took for you is of a cheeky pigeon who was vying for my attention while I was trying taking a photo of something else. He was quite cute and playful and came very close so that I could take a photo - I think he liked having his picture taken because he stayed very still. He reminded me of you because I know that you like to have your picture taken too!

Arohanui Melissa

Miss Aimee Read

Hi Aimee,

the picture that I took for you is of some flowers in the gardens at cornwall park. I picked it for you because although the flower is called a 'Bluebell' it looked very purple to me, and I know that purple is your favourite colour. I hope you like it!

Arohanui Melissa

outpatients

2006-10-05T21:07:00.000+13:00

more scenes from 'the Depot'

2006-09-27T19:33:00.000+12:00

first meeting (continued)
(Sunday July 30th)

trial set up

blackboard pool table

Depth of field: Global Aperture
(Sunday 17th September)

objects for intercession

missions panel

connect gatherings (selected images)

cross

meditation space

community prayer book

re:settlement [part the second]

2006-09-01T19:33:00.000+12:00

On the 6th of August 2006 cessionlcommunity celebrated its first service at our new venue 'The depot'. The depot is a building owned by the Manukau City Council and located within Lloyd Elsmore park. It is used by a bunch of different community groups including; a school for kids who have been suspended or expelled and a holiday programme for disabled children.

Of all the spaces we have worshiped in it is by far my fave.

The roof leaks, its drafty and cold and has no insulation, the toilets are regularly without toilet paper; there is a mysterious leak in the kitchen; but it has that magical thing, that thing that money can't buy - a great vibe.

Maybe its because it is the first time we have been out on our own as a church community, maybe its because of the sense of connection/affinity we seemed to have from day one with some of the other groups who use the building - I really don't know. But it is there.

In the words of Reuben Dunn "We went looking for a building and we found a community". which is of course what being the church is all about.

Here are some photos from the journey so far:

First meeting (July 30th 2006)

EPR Gig (August 18th 2006)

film festival in review

2006-08-25T18:22:00.000+12:00

this years festival in review by our man in film: the jacobunny

*click here*

illumination

2006-07-28T17:37:00.000+12:00

More reviews from the Jaocbunny...

Keane

Claustrophobia. I remember having this intense feeling, occasionally, growing up. At the bottom of a ruck in a schoolboy rugby game; the time my brother shut me in my wardrobe which only had a handle on the outside; once when some friends put me in the boot of their car as part of making a short film. It was feeling of being smothered, of not being able to escape, of being confronted with a situation outside of my ability to control. This very real feeling is what filmmaker Lodge Kerrigan evokes, slowly but surely, in his latest directorial effort, Keane... [read more]

Black Gold

The first documentary on my festival list this year was Black Gold. I must admit that this was one I put on my list more because I felt I should see it (being the great consumer of coffee that I am) than because I wanted to, or thought it would be a great film. Happily for me I was proved wrong... [read more]

The Method

The Method [NEW]Marcelo Piñeyro/USA/Italy/France/2005 Worlds of DifferenceA LOW BUDGET psychological thriller which explores the dark, competitive side of human nature, a la Lord of the Flies, Piñeyro’s film does not so much stir our thinking as it does raise our eyebrows. Seven executives apply for a high level job and are put through a bizarre interview process which turns into a ramped up ego-fest competition. The ‘survival of the cruellest’ concept in itself, though not new, is certainly rich enough to support any number of explorations, but Piñeyro fails to capitalise, producing a series of ill-conceived character interactions that are neither convincing, nor particularly poignant. It plays more like a Spanish soap opera.—JP

homegrown

2006-07-18T23:27:00.000+12:00

To those interested individuals...

Jacob's latest offering to Lumiere has been posted.

Arohanui

wednesday.black-out.lock-out.reticence

2006-07-17T23:26:00.000+12:00

It’s been a weird week.

It all started Wednesday morning when I managed to put a hole in my stockings and spill berocca on my white cotton shirt in the 10mins before I left the house for work. Maybe I should have seen the weirdness coming after that. But I don’t really believe in omens. So I simply brushed it off and got on with the day – just in a different outfit than the one I’d intended.

Thursday evening Jacob and I headed off to the TNZIFF official opening function, and the premiere screening of ‘The Wind that Shakes the Barley’, one of the centrepiece films for this year’s festival. The film, which explores the birth of the IRA, weaves a complex story centring on the relationship between two brothers. True to director Ken Loach’s signature style, there are no 2 dimensional straw-men in this story. There are no heroes or villains. There are only fragile human beings, desperately attempting to make the best possible choices in the worst of circumstances. It was certainly not an easy watch. But having seen a number of Loach films before, and knowing the subject matter, I expected this. However it was all apparently too much for me. Early in the film there is a torture scene. Now, as I have mentioned on numerous occasions, I’m a bit soft. So the moment a British soldier began waving a pair of pliers threateningly in the direction of a captured IRA soldier, I knew it was time to shut my eyes. Apparently this wasn’t enough.

After dry reaching a couple of times, I blacked out.

I can’t really explain the reaction. Maybe it was because I couldn’t escape the sound. No threatening music in the background, just the sound of the chair on the floor, the sound of the pliers, and the screaming. Loach has an unnerving ability to bring the action so close that you feel like you are actually in the room. It took me about 10mins with my head between my legs to properly regain my equilibrium. Nothing like that has ever happened to me while watching a film before, and I have to say the experience un-nerved me. I don’t even think it was the most difficult scene to watch in the film, nor do I think the level of violence was gratuitous. The story is after all based on events that have been historically verified by both sides of the equation. Perhaps that was what made it so difficult for me to stomach; the knowledge that this was not just a movie. Real people, not unlike you and me inflicted this level of violence on one another. Both believing that their ‘side’ was justified in behaving the way they did. And then came the Civil War, further blurring the lines between who was right and who was wrong, pitting brother against brother; literally in this story. It felt somewhat ironic to me that I was in the midst of preparing a sermon entitled; ‘Forgiveness is the New Revenge.’

I spent Friday feeling slightly dazed. I got home around ten past five, only to find that I didn’t have my house keys. Jacob was at a movie and the Ritchie’s were away on holiday, so I camped out on our patio in the cold and the quickly descending dark and attempted to work on my sermon without the aid of my computer, my notes, or any of the books I had been reading. Jacob got home around 6:30pm - just as I was beginning to lose feeling in my toes. I have never been so grateful to be inside and in front of a heater!

After guzzling a hastily made panang curry, I headed off to the going away party of a friend of mine. It was a while since I had seen her so it was great to catch up with her before she heads off to the thriving metropolis of Hamilton. But, after my weird week thus far, I was not in the best or most patient of moods, and I was feeling a tad unsociable, even for me. So finding myself in a room full of people I had never met, (there were literally only three people in the room whom I had ever met, two of them only in passing on a couple of occasions), was more than a little overwhelming. I tried to stick with polite niceties, but unfortunately some curious person asked me the inevitable question – “So what do you do?”

I hate being asked about my job. It’s hard to explain why. It is certainly not because I don’t like it, or because I’m embarrassed about it. But I feel reticent about talking about it to strangers, especially Christian strangers, largely because the moment I say the words “I’m a pastor” people see me differently. There are judgements and expectations that seem to come with the label and I’m not sure that that is entirely a good thing. It makes me uncomfortable. The conversation that followed on this particular occasion really only added to my frustrations:

“So what do you do?”

“I work a couple of days a week for my church, and 3 days a week as a medical receptionist in a physiotherapy clinic.”

“Wow, that’s cool. What do you do for your church?”

“I’m a pastor.”

“Really? What kind of pastor are you?”

(Huh? (Short moment of stunned silence) Ummm...hopefully a good one????) “What do you mean by that?”

“Are you the Youth Pastor, or the Children’s Pastor? Or the Worship Pastor?...”

“Ohh, (internal sigh of relief that question actually makes sense), I’m the Associate Pastor.”

“Really? So, is your husband the pastor?”

“Um...no.”

“Oh...so he's also an associate pastor?”

“Ah...no. My husband is a librarian.”

Stunned silence fills the room. One of the girls I have met before does a nice save:

“Oh that’s right; your husband works at the Philson Library at the Medical school...”

I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to having to answer to questions like these. It frustrates me on so many levels. I’d be willing to bet money that if I was a guy I wouldn’t get asked what kind of pastor I was, just where I was serving. I guess this is where my reticence comes from, at least in part.

When I decided to go back to University to study theology, I did so because I was responding to what I perceived as a call from God on my life to do so. When I made the decision to apply to become a licensed minister, I did so because I was continuing to respond to that call, with the support and encouragement of my friends, family and church community. And now almost 2 years later I find myself weighing up whether or not I take the next step and apply for ordination. On some level the decision feels like a done deal, though in others, I’m just not sure.

When I first began to consider the possibility that maybe God might possibly be calling me to ordained ministry, I approached that possibility with extreme caution. I’m not someone who makes decisions lightly. I gave the idea plenty of time to brew before I took any steps forward, and even when I did those steps were tentative. From the very beginning I was always adamant that while I was happy to explore and test out whether or not my particular call to ministry was real, I was not willing to justify my right to even have a call to ministry. That is not a battle I feel called to fight. And yet I often find myself in position where that decision feels compromised by the judgements and expectations of others.

On top of that, I hate the perception that I am somehow different from other people, more special even, because of what God has called me to. The way I see it, all of us have a call on our lives, none more special or important than any other, just different. Yes, God has called me to do this, but it doesn’t make me any more special than Jacob, who serves God in response to an equally strong call, but in a very different manner and context. I neither want nor need special robes, or a special chair. I’m still just me, Melissa: daughter, sister, friend, wife, lover, pastor. I still get grumpy and occasionally shout. I am still useless without at least one coffee in the morning. I still talk to inanimate objects and food while it’s cooking. And I still have a thing for white Asiatic lilies. I’m still just me. The only difference is that I have chosen to take a step in a particular direction because I believe it’s the way that God would have me go.

This has been a much longer post than I intended. But it’s been a weird week; a week of strange occurrences, frustrating conversations and a thoughtful malaise. And this post only covers half of it!

more reviews

2006-07-09T14:07:00.000+12:00

Well it's that time of year again, the film festival is almost upon us. As a result there is yet another review of Jacob's now posted on Lumiere, this time for Kirby Dick's documentary 'This Film is Not Yet Rated' which will also be screening at this years festival.

Enjoy!

10 things I hate about commandments

2006-07-08T19:44:00.000+12:00

With the mo'town series still fresh in my mind I found this mash up vid '10 Things I Hate About Commandments' particulaly funny. The burning bush is definately the star of this show.

HT: to dissonant bible which led me to the link

5 x 2

2006-07-06T19:12:00.000+12:00

After a successful foray into the world of film reviewing with his writing for lumiere reader, Jacob has now branched out and is also reviewing for 'filmguide' a website that has been set up by 1914 media trust. His first effort, a review of Francois Ozon's 5 x 2 created a little bit of controversy for the somewhat more conservative readership. Unfortunately the comments got lost in the transfer to the new site but if you want to read the discussion you can view it on the original blogsite.

I guess it's a good thing he didn't post his review on the beaver trilogy there.

I enjoyed 5 x 2, despite feeling uncomfortable at times. Nothing has yet tipped three dollars from its 'the best film I have seen this year' pedestal, but the New Zealand International Film Festival is coming...and it is only July!

factotum

2006-07-04T17:27:00.000+12:00

Jacob has posted a new review on Lumiere - this time for Bent Hamer's Factotum which will be screeening in this years Auckland International Film Festival. It has actually been up since Thursday last week, but I have been a little pre-occupied - sorry.

pseudo holiday

2006-07-04T15:59:00.000+12:00

I have been a bit quiet on the posting front for the past two weeks as I was busy making preparations for and being involved in the 'Pre-wedding Celebration' of some good friends of mine who are getting married in September of this year in Scotland . They wanted to do something significant for friends and family here in NZ and asked if I could help them put together a service, which was both a privilege and a lot of fun. The pseudo wedding, as it was nicknamed, took place at St Barnabas Anglican Church in Ngongotaha. I should have taken some pictures of the church - it was quite stunning; a gorgeous old wooden chapel with a beautiful stained glass window featuring St Barnabas.

After the wedding practice on Friday evening, it occurred to Jacob and me that we were now free of commitments until 4:30pm on Saturday afternoon. Nice. We took the opportunity to take a walk round the boardwalk at Lake Okareka - also gorgeous. Thank-fully we did manage to remember to take the camera with us. Here are some of the better photos...

All in all it was a lovely weekend - although I have to say I am absolutely shattered (energy wise) and my brain is toast. I feel like I could sleep for several weeks and only just be back to normal. On Sunday morning I found myself struggling to answer simple questions with any clarity - a bit embarrassing really! But I have to say it was all worth it, especially to see the warm glow emanating from the bride and bride-groom to be, dancing to the Jazz Band at the Blue Baths on Saturday night. Definitely the most gorgeous of all the sights we saw over the course of the weekend.

two

2006-06-11T20:34:00.000+12:00

On Friday the 11th of June 2004 (two years ago today), Jacob and I stood together in the barrel room of Mills Reef Winery and Restaurant (Bethlehem, Tauranga), and in the presence of some of our good friends and family, we were married.

Today being Sunday, and being rather a busy day for us, we decided to celebrate our two years of marriage yesterday by doing some of the things we love most: we went to 'La Cigale' french style markets in Parnell, and had some traditional paella for lunch; went wine tasting at fine wines and brought a bottle of Craggy Range Block 14 Syrah; enjoyed coffee together at Brasil on K'Rd; watched 'the Breakfast Club' on DVD; went out to dinner at 'Delicious' in Grey Lynn. Yes, all of those things in one day!

It can feel a bit false to pick a particular day to commemorate your relationship (we ignore Valentines day for this very reason), but I honestly feel like the time we spent, and the things we chose to do together do say something about who we are, and our relationship to one another. These were not 'special' things that are out of the ordinary for us, but things we do together often. These are things we chose to do to celebrate, not our wedding day 2 years ago, but the relationship that we have now, today.

I will leave you with Jacob's words to me on this day, two years on...

Two.
Two souls.
Two years on.
Two, meshing, morphing, joining.
Two becoming one.
Two together.
Two.

contextualisation

2006-06-06T15:27:00.000+12:00

We (the powellritchie conclave) spent the long weekend at the Wesleyan Methodist Church National Convention. Unfortunately for me my laryngitis made participating in the way I would have liked difficult. However, despite my 'disability '; I really enjoyed the weekend and I have come away with much to think about. Some of those thoughts will probably find their way onto my blog in the next week or so, but for the moment I am still processing.

On Saturday afternoon, I wanted to attend the workshop on Cross-Cultural Ministry, but I found myself distratcted by the beauty of the campsite, so I abandoned my plans, grabbed the camera and spent the last part of the afternoon attempting to capture the atmosphere on film instead.

These are a few of the images I took:

Arohanui

magic box

2006-06-06T14:35:00.000+12:00

The last few weeks seem to have been punctuated by some great sharing of life over the dinner table, and accompanied by some fabulous food and wine. Highlights include a number of dinners with the Tollans both at their house and at ours, an Indian Banquet with the Coomes, and of course the infamous ‘Magic Box’ trial run dinner which Jean cooked for us at our house. The food was so great that I took some pics so you can all salivate jealously!

First course (a shitake mushroom soup served with creme fraiche)

Jean working her magic in the kitchen

Main Course (a shrimp curry served with rice flavoured with thyme and star anise)

If you want to see how her assessment went then click here to see the mouthwatering results!

everybody needs good neighbours

2006-06-06T14:31:00.000+12:00

As some of you know our new house is situated in a little pocket of One Tree Hill which receives NO television reception. After some discussion we decided that we would get a basic sky digital package through Telecom (cheaper than going directly through sky). Unfortunately the installation process was rather slow (we have now had TV for just over two weeks). During the TV lull we got into the habit of watching ‘Greys Anatomy’ with the Tollans, as they live just around the corner (we can see their house from our Kitchen window!). This has now developed into a regular routine of Monday night food/dinner and TV, with us each taking turns at being the hosts.

It’s really nice to be able to go out and have your destination within 5 minutes walk of your house. It reminds me of neighbourhood BBQ’s from my childhood. Growing up we knew all our neighbours and most of the people who lived within 4-5 houses of our house. All the kids knew one another and played together (though not always amicably). If you ran out of sugar, you knew you could pop over to the Corks or the Bells, because they would be bound to have some. If it started raining and someone had washing out on the line, you’d go grab it off the line and leave it on their doorstep out of the rain. If you were going to do something naughty you knew that even if Mum didn’t see you that Mrs Cork, Mrs Bell, Mrs Sharp or Aunty Leonie were bound to catch you out. These days, most people don’t even know their neighbours first names, let alone know them well enough to have dinner with them on a regular basis.

I have to say I miss that sense of community. We have wonderful friends who would be here in a second if we called, but to know that you can run next door in a time of crisis, even a small one, leaves you feeling incredibly secure. So I’m loving the fact that we now find ourselves living in a situation where we have friends just across the hall, and just over the back fence.

We are also getting to know one of our new neighbours; Gordon. He came around this morning to tell me that his cat had been run over on the weekend (very sad :( ), and that the people from number 98 had put their rubbish bin outside his house, instead of putting it outside their own (very funny :) - though not apparently from Gordon’s perspective!). Oh well, as a wise philosopher once said...’neighbours should be there for one another...that’s when good neighbours become good friends’.

it’s been awhile...

2006-06-06T14:29:00.000+12:00

It’s been awhile since I posted anything but links. It’s not that I haven’t had anything to say or to tell, but more that I have been either too busy, or too sick to take the time to post properly.

Anyway, the following posts will be some short snippets of life in the month that was May.

star trek and laryngitis

2006-06-01T14:32:00.000+12:00

For the last week and a half I have been attempting to fight off the flu/a chest infection without the aid of antibiotics. This morning I finally admitted defeat and went to the doctor. After surprisingly little time (obligatory 30min wait not included) and minimal poking and prodding, the doctor cheerfully announced that I have laryngitis. As a result, I am currently at home 'enjoying' an enforced vow of silence.

The upside of this is that I had an opportunity to chew through my overfull inbox, and make some long overdue replies to emails from friends. In amongst the rubble I came across this rather entertaining Star Trek mash-up vid, definately the funniest I have seen in a while - 'tune in and prosper'.
(Cheers to Darren Bevan for the original link. )

Arohanui

rough reviews

2006-05-23T21:53:00.000+12:00

For those of you who are interested Jacob has posted two new reviews on Lumiere; 'Dog Day Afternoon' and 'All the Presidents Men'. Both are special edition DVD releases. Jacob would like to preface them with the following comments...

"bear in mind that they are edited, a little, by him and that I was really over them by the time I finished late at night so didn’t proof them very thoroughly – as you know usually I would get someone else to have a look and then come back to them myself with a fresh eye a day after finishing the actual material.) Basically (as you will also be aware but I cannot stop myself from doing it!!) I am trying to give a justification for the fact they are a bit rough and I know it."

plaguing thoughts...

2006-05-22T17:35:00.000+12:00

For those of you who were apalled or amused by the talking jesus doll, check this out:

Ten Plagues Finger Puppets

(I found the link via dissonant bible)

'There is NO DOUBT about it. KIDS LOVE the story of the 10 Plagues... Here is just the right thing to keep your children interested in the Haggadah... and GUARANTEE they don't fall asleep... Our 10 Plagues Puppets.'

Hmmn yes, maybe if you never want your kids to sleep EVER AGAIN!

If only I had found these before we started our 'Mo'town' series, they could have come in handy, or not...

the likeness of God

2006-05-16T16:30:00.000+12:00

“For where shall the likeness of God be found? There is no quality that space has in common with the essence of God. There is not freedom enough on the top of a mountain; there is not glory enough in the silence of the sea. Yet the likeness of God can be found in time, which is eternity in disguise.”

Abraham Heschel

I found this quote in a book I've been reading and it has been occupying my thoughts for a few weeks now. In context Heschel is talking about the centrality of the Sabbath to worship in Judaism. Not because the Sabbath is the day we attend synagogue/church, but because the suspending of our time/week is in itself an act of worship.

Time really is sacred.

seacows/badgers/porpoises/fine leather

2006-05-16T10:04:00.000+12:00

I found this rather amusing link to 'dissonant bible' via Maggie Dawn's blog. I laughed out loud so hard I thought it only fair to share.

morning communion

2006-05-06T16:56:00.000+12:00

It is time to drink coffee. Dear God, we praise this drink and give thanks for its discovery and development. We salute the coffee bean; its delicious aroma. Beloved provider of caffeine and giver of life.

Giving and giving and giving.

The scent of its bean is promise and rapture.

Rejoice and rejoice! Celebrate the dark, sweet and yet slightly embittered soul of caffeinated goodness. Behold the delicious flavour! Behold the soft caramel crema that swirls through a sea of perfectly frothed milk. Let us rejoice! Let this rejoicing be our thanks for coffee.

Amen.
(Shamelessly ‘adapted’ from Michael Leunig’s prayer for tomatoes in ‘A Common Prayer: a cartoonist talks to God’)

I think it’s fair to say that without coffee in the morning, I am, well, less than pleasant company. As evidenced by the rather icy reception Brett received Wednesday morning around 7am, when he ‘bounced’ into Canteen (a café on Enfield St in Auckland city) with a smile on his face. I didn’t feel the need to return the gesture. Needless to say, my coffee had not yet arrived. Despite that I did manage to crack a smile by the end of the conversation, though not without the revelation of particularly good news. In truth, it didn’t really sink in until around 8:30am, when I found myself feeling ecstatic. I guess the caffeine had actually started doing its job.

I love coffee.

My favorite morning ritual, is sitting in the study with Jacob before we leave for work, drinking our morning coffee, slowly waking up, and doing our scripture readings. Our morning coffee and readings has become a part of the fabric of our life. Drinking coffee together, enjoying the coffee and one another’s company; reading God’s word together, and wrestling with the hard bits, together; these are defining features of our relationship.

Recently though, the coffee has been leaving a slightly bitter taste.

Not in my mouth.

In my soul.

Every morning, as I inhale that first beautiful aroma of freshly perked coffee, drifting from the kitchen, across the hallway and into our room as I finish getting ready for work, I find myself pondering not just the wondrous creation that is the coffee bean, but the awful plight of so many of the people who work to harvest it.

It’s not the first time I have thought about this. Jacob and I have experimented with numerous varieties of coffee beans, including various certified fair trade and or organic blends. But until recently the verdict has always been ‘too awful’ or ‘too expensive’. The result has been that we have tried to stay faithful to smaller New Zealand suppliers (like Coffee Supreme, Café L’Affarré, Atomic and Allpress) who import green beans themselves. While this doesn’t guarantee that all the beans are strictly ‘fair trade’, it does mean that a much higher percentage (estimated 70%) of it is bought from co-operative growing ventures that guarantee a much better return for harvesters. (If you want some stats on this you can get a lot of info from the company websites – Jacob and I also have a couple of articles, one specifically on NZ coffee industry which I can send your way if you’re interested.) So having done a little research, we rested easier. We were at least contributing something positive to the coffee industry.

Then I read Hope’s post on Fair Trade Chocolate.

It got under my skin.

Was it really enough just to do ‘something’? Could we try harder? Should we try harder? Maybe if Hope was 19 I could have delivered my complicated moral arguments about why it was ok for us to keep consuming as we were. But the idea of trying to deliver them to a 9 year old seemed unconscionable. Not because she wasn’t capable of understanding it, but because deep down I knew that the fabric of my argument was just too thin. Hope would be too clever not to see through it.

So we did some more research. Well, Jacob did some more research. (Librarians are kind of good at the whole research thing!) Eventually, after much discussion we have decided that it was time to change supplier. So as of the end of next week the Powell’s will be serving nothing but Havana. 100% fair trade*, 100% non-inflated prices, 100% fabulous coffee.
(*Havana sell some beans/blends that are not certified ‘fair trade’. Fair Trade certification is not just a set of standards you have to meet; it is also something you have to pay for. Some growers in poorer countries can’t afford to pay for the right to label their products ‘certified organic’ or ‘certified fair trade’ even when they meet the agreed standards.)

I’m not sure why we didn’t think about going with Havana a long time ago. We have been long time fans of Fidel’s on Cuba St in Wellington. I would rate Fidel’s, who serve Havana coffee, as one the best coffee experiences to be had in NZ. But you don’t find many places that serve Havana here in Auckland, and the beans aren’t right there in front of you to buy off the shelf in the supermarket. However, you can buy it direct from the supplier; which is exactly what we are going to do. Freshly roasted coffee delivered on an overnight courier. It’ll probably be fresher than the beans we currently buy. Nice.

Supply and demand. We demand something better…for everyone, and, voilà – supply.

bringing home beaver...

2006-05-01T15:34:00.000+12:00

For those of you who are interested, Jacob's latest offering to Lumiere reader has been posted. Just click on the link below and you will be transported...somewhere...

http://www.lumiere.net.nz/reader/item/471

Arohanui

paihia rd

2006-04-19T15:36:00.000+12:00

As promised to those of you out of auckland/nz, here are some pics of the new powell-ritchie residence. The new place is considerably larger than the MacPherson St house. Our new landlord is fantastic and is currently building a second bathroom/laundry for us that will be finished in the next few weeks. nice.

The new house lacks quirky features (no fountain, no bar, no spa bath and no wardrobe toilet!) But it is light, spacious and airy.
You will also notice that the new study is the nemesis of the old study. There is no chance that this room will retain the nickname 'bagend'.

Au revoir!

re:settlement

2006-04-12T11:16:00.000+12:00

It has been said that moving house is one of the most stressful things that you can do. I just counted on my fingers and realized that in the last 13 years I have lived in 14 different houses, some of those houses I have lived in, left and gone back to several times. Needless to say, movement and resettlement have become like an annual ritual.

Today is day 5 in house number 15.

I have a love-hate relationship with moving. I hate packing. I hate that the packing never seems to end. I hate the black ink from the newspaper which inevitably ends up all over your hands, and gets smudged all over your nose and forehead. I hate that the packing never seems to end. I hate having to scrub every windowsill, skirting and wardrobe corner to ensure that the house you are leaving is 10 times cleaner than when you moved in. I hate that the packing and the cleaning never seem to end. I hate carrying boxes from the house to the car, from the car to the new house. I hate that the packing and the cleaning and the carrying never seem to end.

But I love opening the boxes.

It's strange I guess, but the newspaper annoys me less at the other end. Maybe because there is something about unpacking that is strangely reminiscent of Christmas and Birthdays. Even though the things you are unpacking are not new, there is a sense in which you rediscover them when you open them up at the other end. And then you get to decide where they are going to go. The old merges with the new. The end product is at once new and exciting, comforting and familiar.

I love how every object is connected to my life and memory. Our dinner set is not just a dinner set, it's the dinner set my brother gave me; the milk jug is not just a milk jug, it's the milk jug my friend got us as an engagement present; my desk is not just a very difficult piece of furniture to move, it is the desk that my friend's dad gave me, it's the desk I am sitting at right at this very moment. It is also my favourite piece of furniture because I have had it so long, and because when I sit here at this desk I feel somehow connected to all those houses I have lived in, all the people that I have lived with.

I feel grateful that my life has been graced with so many beautiful people.