My Soundtrack to 2009...

Just over to the right there you'll be able to see my top 5 records of 2009 (note - they're not all FROM 2009, but they're the ones I have listened to most during 2009)

I've gotta dash to work...but I'll update tomorrow on why these albums have been so good to me over the past few months...

Haircuts and House Parties...

Hello.

I've had a haircut, a proper one from a proper blokes barbers. It's way shorter than I've had it before and I'm liking how easy it is to handle. It also dries in about 5 minutes flat, incredible. I went to a barber shop in the city that has a tobbaco shop out front. They were playing Johnny Cash and the Rolling Stones and had pin-ups from way back when on the wall, it was a pretty cool and cosy place. The guy who cut my hair had a face like old wood that looked as though it could tell you a thing or two about the past. He told me a thing or two about the Rolling Stones and about a few english people who'd been through his barber shop during their travels. I'll be going back there for more stories - and haircuts - for sure.

Working in the coffee shop is going ok - though I'm fully over working in hospitality. I've sent CV's out far and wide and should hopefully be making some progress career-wise in the next few weeks.

The guys I'm staying with threw a big house party on Saturday night. It was pretty awesome. Started out pretty civilised but soon turned wacky, and it's always a good time when it turns wacky. My brain felt like scrambled egg the next day. Two days later and it now feels more like an omelette, at least its getting firmer...

I need to buy a freaking laptop so I can keep on top of my blog and send photo's home more often, I'd kinda like to have a better job before I do though.

Got woken up by the wind again last night...it was insane. I thought the windows were gonna cave in, they never did. I have never heard wind like that in my life, and I knew that by the time I woke up it would be a beautiful, crisp, clear morning - and it was. Funny how the wind and storms and stuff do that...wake you up in the middle of the night but they always scurry off by daybreak like they don't want to be caught. I guess the beautiful day that often follows storms is natures way of apologising...

Album of the week...Zwan - Mary Star of the Sea...and it only cost me 3 bucks!

I'll call in again soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooon...its been quite cool having people (from UK and NZ) hit me up about not writing on my blog...it's nice to know it's being read!

Teppanyaki Golfers...

We went and had teppanyaki on Friday night, and it was amazing. Teppanyaki is a style of Japanese cooking that uses an iron griddle to cook food. We all sat around in a semi-circle as our Japanese chef cooked all this amazing seafood, chicken, steak, fish and rice right infront of us. As soon as it was ready he just chucked it on our plates, I have never tasted anything so damn fresh!


The teppanyaki evening was with my girlfriend's work colleauges. A very mixed bunch of people, but all very cool (in their own ways) nonetheless. One of the older blokes got pissed and kept asking our chef if he played golf (hilarious), one of the older women got pissed and pinched my bum and rubbed her hand down my chest (uncomfortable), and another one of the older guys told me a load of stories about when he was a punk in London in the 70's and 80's (interesting). Had a good chat with that guy about The Clash actually, although I am trying to curb my obsession...I still think I should've been born 30 years earlier though. I feel like I missed out.

After Teppanyaki my girlfriend and I went to one of her friend's places for a few drinks and a bit of mischief. I ended up drinking a little too much and breaking a glass that I was convinced was plastic...oops. Met lots of new people and called my mates back home about three times in one night, that phone bill is gonna hurt.

The sun is shining on Christchurch today and I'm bored of looking at this computer...I'm going to go for a drive and take some pictures or something. Maybe I'll get lost...here's hoping...

English weather....what?

It's been a while huh...I've been neglecting my blog lately, and for that I'm truly sorry...to...my blog...? hmmm...

Anyways, I have a job now, in a coffee shop. Not making coffee, because I'm not trained. They couldn't have a rookie like me working the coffee machine, it's all so bloody confusing. When I was working in a pub, all we had to do to make coffees was put the grind in the holder, stick the holder in the machine, press the button, and bada-bing bada-boom...the coffee came out. At this place they have to push the coffee into the holder harder or softer depending on how fine or coarse the grind is...they have to change their method if the temperature changes (front door opening and closing contributing hugely to temperature change)...once the extraction button is pushed, the coffee has to start running between 7-9 seconds, and be finished by 29-31 seconds...what is this coffee-science madness!?

All going good though, job is easy enough, same old hospo stuff. Take orders...collect crockery...make food (my favourite part)...and it's in quite a nice location too, so it'll do for now.

The weather has been awful the last few days...truly english...grey...wet...depressing. The sun's decided to come out today, and conveniently I have work, funny how that always happens huh!?

I can't wait for summer to roll (back) around...two summers in one year? Awesome!

How did I miss this?

Pretty cool...



As far as I know it's Tony Canal from No Doubt on bass, Elvis Costello, Bruce Springsteen, Dave Grohl and Steven Van Zandt on guitars and vocals, and couldn't recognize the drummer...

Funerals and Skateboards.

Yup. That's pretty much what's been going on the last few days. Funeral was sad, but turned into quite a nice day spent with girlfriends family, very wholesome.

Skateboarding in Christchurch is amazing. I went to the local park yesterday (pics coming soon)which is incredible. Took me a while to get my skating legs back (it's been a while) but I was flying around on my new set-up in no time. It was very therapeutic...I was way overdue some exercise! Definately something I'll be keeping up...

Currently listening to Moby...it's like a massage for the soul...

I've got a new favourite song too..."Burning Lights" by Joe Strummer (co-written by The Pogues, apparently) here it is in all it's glory - cool video too.



I'm going to go busking at some point and I'll play this song. I can kind of half sing it, but i'm gonna have a sign saying "all proceeds go towards singing lessons" or something, so even if people think im bad they'll still feel obliged to give me money...maybe?!

Going to have to try and tame my obsession for The Clash soon...nearly finished one biography and moving onto Joe Strummer's biography now...oh dear. Oh well, there's worse things you can be addicted to isn't there?

Felt like this blog was pretty dull. I'm not feeling very bloggy. I'll upload some pictures and stuff soon to shakeeeeeeeeeeeee it all up a bit...

Until next time...