Orientation

I have returned from the orientation day of my Graduate Diploma in Teaching wondering to myself what the use of an orientation day is, especially when most of the day was not spent orienting. As cliché as an Oxford definition might seem, the meaning apparently intended by the Faculty today was the process of familiarising a …

Review: Jungle Solid Conditioner

Strange as it may sound, we have had so much rain in the last week that Auckland is facing its worst (clean) water crisis in 24 years! In spite of this, George and I ventured through the storm to the other side of the city on Sunday to visit our favourite Lush store at Sylvia Park and …

Review: Lush Freebies

In our recent visits to Lush, the staff have been kind enough to pop some free samples in our bag. Whether a ploy to hook us into buying more the next time, or just a way of moving stock that is nearing the end of its life, I'm not sure, but regardless it's a pretty …

I Miss that Cafe Vibe

In spite of what I said last week, it's easy to convince myself that going back to university is a good idea. With my student loan paying itself off at snail's pace behind the murky veil of the New Zealand payroll system, and with my workload easing off after 5 months of intense concentration, coordination, and …

Crybaby Curry Misadventure

For most of Sunday I had been draped across the living room couch, book in hand like a literate goddess incarnate (call me Alexandros Bibliakotatos, Alexander Most Versed in Books). We had been out the night before after a day of traipsing through Newmarket, so the idea of doing not very much had its appeal. …

Review: South of the Border, West of the Sun

Title: South of the Border, West of the Sun Author: Haruki Murakami, trans. Philip Gabriel (2003) Publisher: Vintage Random House It is not often that you come across a book as powerful, seductive, and unsettling as South of the Border, West of the Sun. The novel follows an only child, Hajime, through adolescence and into adulthood, and …

Life Without a Plan

Last year I decided to grow my hair. I don't know why, particularly, but I did it anyway. Perhaps the thought of elongated strands of keratinised protein dangling about my neck and jaw appealed to my subconscious urge to resist the social expectations surrounding how a responsible young man should act and look ... or perhaps …

Review: If I Was Your Girl

Title: If I Was Your Girl Author: Meredith Russo (2016) Publisher: Usborne Publishing Ltd. As the blurb gives away, If I Was Your Girl is the story of Amanda Hardy, a transgender teenage girl who has moved to a new school and thus shed her former (external) identity: the boy, Andrew Hardy. The novel has as its …

Water, water, everywhere

"I underestimated the rain," my co-worker said, returning to the office lunch table with sushi pack in hand and half an ocean's worth of water streaming down his face and shoulders. Sympathetic groans sounded, and we watched as he halfheartedly peeled his jacket from his arms. Of course I didn't really feel for him at …

Cajun Chicken and Autumn Vege Roast

Summer is coming to an end, which means we're going to have to say goodbye to all those fresh salads we've been having and start turning our attention to the kinds of meals that sweep the dampness off our bones and tip the warmth back into the dining room. This one is a winner winner …

Raspberry Valentine

I was woken today as always by the dulcet tones of my alarm at a healthy 5:50am, and spent the next 45 mins romantically try to pull my life together and stumble out the door for work. George and I were at the bottom of the drive before we remembered that Tuesday = Rubbish day, so …