In Auckland
My last couple of days in New Zealand are being spent with some friends in Auckland, The Hemingways. We knew them well in the UK, but a decade ago they moved out with their five children to live here. It has been great fun. Their kids are now, with the exception of one, teenagers and young adults, and there's a real positive vibe in the house. Where they are living, some way out of the centre in west Auckland, is pretty and leafy. We're just taking it easy, swapping stories, and drinking some nice wine and playing some guitar. Their son, Oscar, is a musical genius. He plays guitars and keys wonderfully, and sings well, too. His band will make it big sometime soon, I'm sure, if there's any justice in the world.
On Saturday morning they run a market, bringing together loads of crafty people to sell their wares, so I went along with them. Pictured top is Oscar busking; just above is my buddy Andrew with two of his girls. Auckland, like Wellington, seems quite an easy city. Perhaps all of New Zealand is easy?
Labels: New Zealand
posted by Jamie @ 2:52 AM
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7 Comments:
I too love NZ having spent a good few years of my life visiting or living there.
Do you think this experience,will influence your judgment of the wines in any way Jamie?
Thinking more in the future perhaps.
Auckland is a great city, Jamie, and I will not live anywhere else. I was born here and have spent most of my life here. Next time you come through, we must catch up. Re. the outswing issue - try changing that thumb angle and putting less skin contact on the underside of the ball.
And you must be disappointed by the result @ Hull!
Auckland is a great city, Jamie, and I will not live anywhere else. I was born here and have spent most of my life here. Next time you come through, we must catch up. Re. the outswing issue - try changing that thumb angle and putting less skin contact on the underside of the ball.
And you must be disappointed by the result @ Hull!
Your mate's band is indistinguishable from every other wet and sensitive indies group on earth, blander than Yellowtail and just as sickly-sweet. Drab enough to sync a song somewhere.
I'm not so bothered when you chuck around teenage slang- that's just quaint- but words like 'genius' should be used sparingly. Though I now consider myself a 'hero' for enduring the bland stylings of Kadet. If only they'd dare to call themselves Mutton Kadet... could an NZ band have a better name?
Steve, that's a little bit harsh - musical taste is quite a personal thing. I heard him play some of his stuff, and he's technically very competent - both vocally and instrumentally - to a surprising degree
Yes, paul, very disappointed by the result - thanks for the outswing tips, and great to have met you
Keith, I think it will help me understand them better
'Very competent' does not = 'genius' though. Millions of people are competent. Between genius and competence come 'adequate', 'talented', 'inspired' and 'virtuoso', while the handy 'original' covers a multitude of (often interesting) sins. Wild overenthusiasm has done more damage to music than anything, especially in an age when the chance to hear all those supposed geniuses is just a click away.
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