Monday, November 19, 2012

Baba´s Kiwi Newsletter - 7 (english)


Baba´s Kiwi Newsletter – 7

And here she´s back again... from the other side of the world :) even if a bit late (lost my mobile but luckily I got it back – puh!).

I´m still doing great! I had a nasty cold but finally got over it except of a cough. It is a little annoying when you have to work as I wouldn´t get any money if I call in sick (which is new to me as well).

It´s currently a bit empty in Brooklyn. Everyone is really busy and not many people are home. That´s as well why some of our weekly chores e.g. dishes, cooking, washing aso. are kind of „out of control“. I´m really thankful for the experience to live in such a flat – and especially with 7 other people. Beeing tolerant gets a whole new meaning ;)

Here my „adventures“ during the last weeks :)

Day 189 – 218 / CAPITAL UPDATES

TATTOO
YES – I did it :) After years of thinking about it and after 5 month of designing I finally had an appointment on the 12th of September.
Like expected it was the worst pain!!! Thinking back the first 2 hours were actually alright and possible to manage while during the last 1,5 hours I just wanted to punch my tattoo artist and run away. But a half finished tattoo doesn´t usually look very good... ;)
Zoe was so kind to come with me for my entertainment. Actually she talked and I listened. After it took us half an hour to place the design right my ripcage was already sore from rubbing it away. This is not really helpful and just makes it even more painful. You can see the red lines on my skin quite well on the pic.
After 4 hours I was finished and really proud of myself :) It´s worth to spend some time with the design aso. 2 weeks before the appointment I got such good feedback from Charlie (the tattoo artist) so that my tattoo will still look good in a few years. And Sean (the Maori guy I met in Maketu while travelling) showed and explained me all the symbols I needed to know. It feels great to have something permanent related to New Zealand on my body :)

MAREN
Two days later I said goodbye to Maren. Claire, her boss from the „Sweet Fanny-Anne´s“, invited about 20 people for chicken roast and vegetables. It was a great party and who knows – as Maren is as well travelling now with her friend we might bang into each other in New Zealand again :)

KERRIE
Just after Maren left Wellington, Kerrie went on her way to Oz. We had another Catch-up with a glass of wine and went to potery with Clare, my flatmate :). I finally could try potery with a wheel and did my first vase (or whatever it is ;)) Just has to be finalized and painted – what a fun!

EQUINOX PARTY
Hippiealarm :)
One week before the Equinox, AK Jefferson (our homemade band hehe) was asked to play at the Equinox Festival again. That´s an open air with different bands around Wellington and takes place at a hippie commune about 30 minutes away from Wellington. As it was quite on short notice not everyone was able to join and play. But Tawanda with guitar and singing, Adam on the drums and Clare on the Violine should be enough. Therefore on a Saturday afternoon we made our way to Kaikori, fully packed with food, drinks, blankets and instruments.
Arriving in the valley right in the bush everyone was already busy with preparing the stage and collecting fire wood. They told me that 2011 around 300 people found their way. We prepared our space and I started to have a look around. It´s exactly like I imagine a place like that: colourful VW busses, a huge fireplace, a stream crossing the place, tents, swings aso. 2 lambs were already turning above another fire. The first band started to play soon and they offered self made pizza :) As it got dark the huge equinox fire was lightened and some „Fire dancers“ did a great show with fire pois (Pois are the things the Maori women are dancing with) and a burning Hulahupwheel. Altoghether we were around 100 people and it was an awesome atmosphere around the fire as everyone brought their drums and joined the group. At 11:30pm it was finally time for AK Jefferson to play. It wasn´t the best gig – you could hardly hear drums and violine  as the sound set-up in general was bad. But hey – the night was fantastic anyway!!!

SANDSCULPTURE
We were actually really tired the morning after the party but wanted to do something with the day – especially as the weather was good :) So we packed the balls, brushes, shovels and anything else you need to do sandsculptures on the beach and drove to Scorch Bay. The plan was to do a small sculpture to start with (as it was my first one) but I´ve drawn the outline to big like it turned out later :) It took us 2,5 hours to get the sand up to 1,5m and as we started to define the shape one side broke down as the sand was too heavy. It was great fun anyway and a fantastic exercise! There was still enough left to carv and do something with it ;)
There was no time for soccer or rugby this time but we couldn´t move the next day anyway. It´s great to have sore muscles again :)

WOW – WORLD OF WEARABLE ARTS
Beginning of october Wellington had the fashion fever as WOW (originally founded in a garage in Nelson) came to town. As a designer a MUST ;) Adam was interrested as well so I got 2 of the last tickets for the 4th of october as the show was pretty much sold out for the whole week.

The Sunday before we had another rainy and stormy day in Wellington (really rare! :P) and used that as a sewing day to prepare our outfits. Adam did a pant completely out of sheepskin and matching to his vest he already had (pic from production attached) and I just pimped a mens shirt and draw a print on it.

Thursday was the day and I have to say the show just blows you away! 2 hours full of wearable art – almost to many impressions at once... beautiful! Pictures were not allowed but I took one anyway as we unfortunately forgot to do a picture of us ;)

JOB
I finally got the „no“ from Kowtow – after I sent them another 2 emails. At least I know whats happening and can continue my travel plans – or not ;)

3 weeks ago I also worked at the police Headquarters of Wellington... you see a lot with this temp jobs hehe
Was a great place to be, especially the view!
I even experienced my first Earthquake alarm to practice „drop, cover, hold“ and asked about the general secureness of the building – not that I have any hopes up on the 15th floor... That´s how I found out that this building stands on the foldline (where the earth breaks) anyway and would probably just fell and cover all the people.  So I was wondering why we did the alarm as it would stand or fall anyway ;)

And I have been back at the Reserve Bank of course. First just for a few days here and there and then Kylie quit. As she is working for the same company but at another place everything was happening quite fast and Ian asked me if I would be available for another 4 weeks till they have found someone else – wooohooo :) Perfect timing as Baba Black Sheep is a bit of a bitch at the moment ;)

RUNOGRAPHY
Here and there I still manage to run :) If the weather is ok I try to run home from work which means about 25 minutes uphill.
I managed to run up to the windmill, too :) No, not at home in Wiggensbach... but felt similar hehe. We have one in Brooklyn and it is even higher than our house and offers an even more fantastic view!

CAR
I had to drop the car at a Pitstop place as it turned out that I had a wheel bearing problem. I just realised it on the motorway with about 100km/h. And while they did that they found out that as well my break pads are gone. I have to admit that I was a little bit annoyed as I thought the car was fine. Luckily Joedy (the former owner) helped me to change the break pads so I got away with $400 altogether – puh! I really hope the car doesn´t make anymore trouble while we are travelling...
I even drove a car with gears the other days. We have been to a housewarming party and I´ve driven home with Adams car. As this has a bench seat the gears are vertikal next to the wheel... what a fun :) Thank god there wasn´t much traffic and the bumps on the forehead are healing ;)

WEATHER
Slowly the wind is getting on my nerves. At the moment it´s not only windy, it´s STORMY! But I got told that this is normal for Wellington in spring. Because of this no fires in the backyard are happening and all other outdoor activities are difficult as well. This is as well a reason why Wellington is as well called the „Creative Capital“, I think. You just do stuff inside :)

PROJECTS

SCOOTER COVER
Clare asked me a few weeks ago if I would do a scooter cover for her. The leather seat got ripped so it soaks all the water and Clare looks like she wet herself :) As it is hardly raining in Wellington this is not ideal so I tryed to do a scooter cover for her out of a rubbish bag to save money. The first one I did was immediately blown away by gailforce up to 130km/h – testing failed. The second one is still fine so far and has a much more airodynamic design and less area to get attacked by the wind :)

All other projects are still in work and can´t be shown yet.

That´s it from me so far. Quite short but I´ll be back travelling soon and then there will be more again ;)

Kia ora – Barbara

P.s.: Due to the late delivery english version is ready as well :)

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