2.92 Read The Tales of the Otori Trilogy

The three books that make up the trilogy are Across The Nightingale Floor, Grass For His Pillow, Brilliance Of The Moon. Author Lian Hearn has written a compelling story based in feudal Japan. It's magical realism, at once hopeful and inevitably tragic. I liked it very much.

2.24 Go to a tweetup

I went to the #WGTNBNO2012 at the Little Beer Quarter. Saw some people I hadn't seen for ages, met some people who I've never met in person. Everyone was lovely, looked fabulous. Made a lunch date with some tweeps. Left while the Chiefs were winning. Good night out.

2.14 Join a gym

Lucked into a transfer membership so have joined a Les Mills. So far so good.
Top three characteristics of going to the gym
1. Lots of laundry.
2. Hunger.
3. Fun.

2.72 Read five books suggested in 'The Happiness Project'

Going gray: what I learned about sex, work, motherhood, authenticity, and everything else that really matters by Anne Kreamer (Memoir)  Interesting if a little 'rah-rah gray is great'. I am skeptical about the reported attitudes to people with gray hair (having said that, I know a few people who look AMAZING with gray hair.) Has inspired me to leave my Rogue-style gray to grow out.

The happiness hypothesis: finding modern truth in ancient wisdom by Jonathan Haidt (Psychology) Leads the reader through different philosophies and thinking about happiness. Main takeaway: the elephant (unconscious, willful) and the rider (conscious, willed.) The elephant and the rider can be both good and bad depending on the situation.Will read again.

Happy all the time by Laurie Colwin (Fiction) A very sweet book about romance, love, and relationships.

The story of a soul by Saint Thérèse of Lisieux (Memoir) Talked up in The Happiness Project. Did not meet my expectations. Full of flowery religious writing and humble-brags which annoyed me. Feel somehow lesser because the story (terminally ill young woman chooses to be nice to everyone, mostly _not_ saying or behaving in a certain way) is a lovely one.

Stumbling on happiness by Daniel Gilbert (Psychology) Hilarious. Lots of gems in this book. Probably one that I will purchase at some stage. Main takeaway: Thinking about the future is influenced by the present. I am so influenced by the present that worrying about something (e.g. money) means that I do not have any spare processing power to think about other things. The present is all consuming.

2.02 See the Old Bank Clock

The Old Bank Arcade clock tells the story of the building site in four clockwork scenes every hour, on the hour. There's something pretty special about seeing it go through the little animations. Not many people in Wellington know it exists (according to the Wellington walking tour guide who was there at the same time as us.) Grab a coffee from Smith the Grocer and take it upstairs with you.

2.62 Buy a bookcase

Purchased three tiny bookcases instead of one giant one. I still need a couple more to corral everything but things are definitely tidier. I like the options that having three gives me. They aren't very tall which I think is pretty safe if there's a major earthquake. If I had enough space I could stack them, fixed to each other with magnets.

2.69 Buy a bedside cabinet

Purchased a tiny bookcase to use as a bedside cabinet. Three open shelves with just enough room for books, tissues, pen and paper, more books, a light, phone, phone charger, rubbish bin, and wine glass. A definite case of why-didn't-I-do-this-sooner?

2.08 Drive over the Rimataka Hill

Drove over the Rimutaka Hill (Wellington to Featherston) the week after the hollandaise spill (you can imagine the jokes!). The weather wasn't the greatest so I didn't get to see much of the view. It wasn't windy but it was winding. Must do it again so I can check out the shops.

2.11 Create a running repairs kit

This task was inspired by a nightmarish day when I snagged three fingernails on my desk. Two peeled off to the quick. They were very ragged and smarted everytime I caught them on something. Luckily a colleague had a nail file but I decided that I should have my own. I found a tiny square tin to put everything in. My collection includes: nail file; sticking plasters; hair tie; tweezers; tampons; cough lollies; needle; thread.
Now, if only I could remember to bring it to work...

2.88 Sleep on a marae

I stayed at Kuratini Marae on the Wellington Massey campus as part of the first marae stay for Te Ataarangi (my te reo classes.) I was a bit nervous about the weekend but there were a few other te reo beginners there so it actually turned out pretty well. I like urban marae. They are an oasis in the middle of the bustle of the city.

2.39 Go to a show in another city

Easy peasy choice this one. Silo Theatre were putting on Top Girls by Caryl Churchill. Great cast, great script. I enjoyed it.

Direction
Shane Bosher
Design
Simon Coleman
Elizabeth Whiting
Jane Hakaraia
Performance
Bronwyn Bradley
Nancy Brunning
Danielle Cormack
Rachel Forman
Abigail Greenwood
Sophie Hambleton
Rima Te Wiata

On at Q Theatre to 17 March.

2.31 Vist the Auckland Art Gallery

Auckland Art Gallery has recently been refurbished. I spent a bit of time in the New Gallery on Lorne street (in Reuben mostly) so it was great to have some time to leisurely walk through the new/old gallery. I love the way parts of the old building have been incorporated into the new building. (I took notes of the pieces I liked and photos of the old columns.) I also like the way that Albert Park has been let into the building via strategically placed windows. There is a covered outdoor space with seats on one side that look over the water feature through a window to the giant flower sculpture in the foyer. Clever use of multiple levels and focus.

Some of my favs from this walkabout:
Octobre by James Tissot
Painted Video by Daniel von Sturmer
Kinetic Object: 2 stripes by Gerhard von Graevenitz
The Gisborne Triptych by Mark Boyle and Joan Hills
Flat Out by Bill Culbert
The New Zealand Chiefs in Wesley's House by James Smetham

Some I liked for the story and some I liked for the piece.

I like this one for the description:  "Paint more babies!"
Sleeping Child by Frances Hodgkins

2.16 Go to the marae

My Dad's whanau come from a marae that is close to Wellington. I've been there once 14 years ago for a reunion. Now I'm in Wellington I was going to visit. Unfortunately that visit was hastened by the sudden death of a second cousin.
The marae has changed a bit in 14 years. It's a little community hub with the usual elements of a marae - wharenui, wharekai, washhouse etc - plus some extras - kohanga reo rooms and a giant garden.
A very sad occasion in which to reconnect with the whanau.

2.21 Go to a Phoenix game

Thanks to a serendipitous twitter encounter I ended up at the Wellington Phoenix vs. Brisbane Roar game. It was quite eventful.  I was lucky to be hosted by a season ticket holder who was very kind to this football newbie. We stood with the Yellow Fever crowd. (Apparently one buys tickets then sits in the general area; close to but not on allocated seats.) Lots of singing and (mostly) good natured slagging.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/irkstyle/6868418317/

2.86 Watch the Blessing of the Boats

The Blessing of the Boats is an annual ceremony held during the Island Bay Festival. It came with southern Italian settlers to the southern end of the North Island. The blessing ensured the safety and success of the fishermen.  In Island Bay the boats travel out of the sheltered bay, into Cook Strait, around the Island, back into the bay, to slowly putter past the boat with the priest before speeding up and milling around with the other boats that have been blessed.

There's a great variety - from tiny dinghies to cruisers to working boats.  

http://www.flickr.com/photos/irkstyle/6868441245

http://www.flickr.com/photos/irkstyle/6868433621

http://www.flickr.com/photos/irkstyle/6868429999

Round Two.

Back for Round Two. Prompted by The Happiness Project - to "think about feeling good, feeling bad and feeling right in an atmosphere of growth." In Round One I did things that I wouldn't have if there wasn't a list that I could check off.

This time I'm concentrating on things that:

1. Have a clear start and finish (no long term resolutions.)

2. Are focused on my new circumstances. (Along I may have signed up to spend too much money and this may be an issue...I'll see.)

NB. There are many 101 tasks in 1001 days projects all over the Internet. Have a look!