I got outrageously drunk *

71. Take a cooking class
"Real food - fast!" class at a local cafe. Nat and Katie showed how to make one base and use it several times and how to make food go further AND how to cook something delicious that doesn't take that long. Excellent.

* What Karl Urban did after he found out he'd been cast in Star Trek the reboot

sweet mystery

um, got nothing to say...spanish is back on with private classes (but not tonight). Other things kind of stalled.

must...get...motivated...

George R.R. Martin is not your bitch *

#29 Learn basic Spanish
*sniff* my spanish beyond the basics class has been cancelled for lack of students. I was really enjoying it. Unlike Maori there was no pressure to learn it. It was just fun and now it's not. I guess it's back to the CD.

#20 Learn 10 poems by heart
Trying to track down a copy of "Just" by Stephanie Johnston. Her husband reckoned that NZ women say "I'm just.." a lot (or "I was just..." etc) so she wrote him a poem that was all "I'm just..." ending with the poet running the country.

#28 Take a uni course
I'm quite reluctant to go back to tertiary education. Lots of money for a bit of paper. Lately though I've been feeling my lack of a university on-campus education so I'm rethinking my position. Maybe it's a midlife crisis?

*what Neil Gaiman said about complaints from readers about a perceived lack of progress by Mr G.R.R. Martin

abandon the kayak and climb for your life

#61 Drive the Twin Coast Highway
Completed during autumn 2009. This is traditionally when roadworks are actioned in Northland so I spent many happy hours travelling at less than 60km. It was annoying but did allow me to look out at the scenery more than if I hadn't had an excuse to drive so slowly. It was a revelation driving around up north. I understand why settlers chose certain areas - the calm waters of the Hokianga harbour where you could choose to fish out of a window; the smooth plains of kumara country...actually that was a bit freaky. It was flat with nothing to break up the monotony of the fields. One particularly memorable town (memorable except for the name) had a long straight road leading to a line of about 20 houses arranged neatly along the edge with glimpses of empty stretching behind them. The road kicked to the right with another 15 houses lined up. After that a well constructed footpath stretched off into the distance and resolved itself at the area schools. Houses at one end. Schools at the other. It made me wonder what people did for a living. If I was unemployed and living in that town I think the space would drive me mad within the week.
Memorable moments - sharing a snaking gravel road with logging trucks; coming off that road to see in front of me the calm Hokianga harbour shining in the sun; a hawk lifting into the blue sky; stopping for a coffee and a chocolate bar and watching the waves; the Opua vehicle ferry; walking around Waitangi barefoot; a waka in the harbour at Waitangi;
Typical scenes - 'Watch out for the kiwi' signs; road works; lots and lots of roadworks; glimpses of the sea; tiny beaches; amazing views.

Select 'tree planting' *

#66 Attend some festival events - arts, literature, movies etc
This has been a really rewarding thing to do. Even if it's taken me two years and 5 or 6 festivals to complete it. The last set of shows were all part of the Auckland Festival 2009. A bit of dance, some theatre, some music and a couple of circus acts all combined for a very life affirming and joyful couple of weeks. Thanks AK09. If I'd have had more money (or more space on Mr Mastercard) I would have tried to stuff more shows in.

#4 Go to a concert
One of the things I went to was Besser and Bravura a Twilight Music concert. I didn't have a clue what I was going to , only that it would fill in the time between work and a late night show nicely. Little did I know that it would be very affecting. A group of musicians (minus one who was off with his wife while she had their baby) including the composer playing various compositions. I loved the Tangiers one (world premier!) and Turn (?). One hour was over very quickly.

#36 Spend a night on Tiritiri Matangi Island
I haven't managed to spend a night on Tiritiri Matangi Island but I did finally get there. Tyla and I spent a nice sunny sunday wandering around the island. (saw two ex-workmates there - who'da thunk it??) I think the spaces are usually used for researchers so maybe sometime during the holidays? (Do researchers get holidays?)

* From the ARC website

Bees is a useless pet

#20 Learn 10 poems by heart

Another one learnt - Erebus voices by Bill Manhire. I can't quite crack the voice though. Should they be different? Should I rasp on the first half? still experimenting.

Updated 6/12/2012 : title from Preserve us from The Good Life

due to a wrinkle of the rules

#34 Attend a music at the zoo concert

On a slightly cloudy and very humid night, I, irkstyle, did attend a Zoo Music concert. Hot, sweaty, covered in sunscreen and anti-insect spray I made my camp behind the stage along a pathway. There were a lot more people than I was expecting and they had all arrived before me. I was by the generator but the performers all played so loudly that it didn't matter AND my spot was really close to the coffee bar. Score!

I missed a lot of Paul Ubana Jones' set unfortunately because he was teh awesome. Jangly, foot tapping guitar music with rolling, repeating themes.

Nathan Haines and his band were next up. Liked it all and especially enjoyed two tracks - one with tenor saxophone (something about memories or memphis or twilight?) and one with a flute (can't remember anything else about this one unfortunately.) (When I was in school he was my inspiration for learning the saxophone - anything was possible. Except for the fact that I was never going to be anything but slightly above average and that was only because I had years of piano under my belt so could transpose on the fly.)

Last up was Hollie Smith. I wasn't sure how I would like this and unfortunately I wasn't in the mood for her particular brand of music - maybe if I'd had a couple glasses wine I'd have been a bit more mellow. No worries though, I skipped out into the zoo to have a look around. Most of the animals were locked away but I did see a turtle and a small alligator swishing its way along the tiny river in the enclosure.

Overall a good night out. Lots of people were enjoying themselves - eating, playing poker, drinking, listening to the music.

Dinner was delicious - salmon salad, fruit salad, a chocolate bar plus coffee and a lemon lime drink.

he says okey dokey *

# 29 Learn basic Spanish
I've enrolled in a community education course to learn basic spanish. We reached the limit of my spanish in one evening. eek! still can't spell the words properly.

#34 Attend a music at the zoo concert
Have booked my ticket. couldn't find anyone to go with so am going by myself. Planning menu soon.

#39 '26 things' Flickr challenge
Completed this. It's no longer based off Flickr although that's where the majority of people save their photos. I found out about it late then put it off so most of the photos are taken on the very last day of January 2009. Most of the time I like my idea but not the execution so much. Favs - in the distance, twin, different, everything.

#66 Attend some festival events - arts, literature, movies etc
The Auckland Festival is coming up and I have booked/will be booking for 5 shows. go me! I have dance, circus, theatre, circus and theatre in my list. no opera. (not my bag baby.)

* Supernatural

a smile forming on his face

success! a tiny bit of progress...

#19 Read all of Jane Austen

"Emma" Is it just me or is that girl a silly cow who gets more than she deserves? (a bit like the Shopaholic bint although it does make a nice change from the fairytale plain unassuming girl gets the guy.)

Sweet baby cheeses! *

Well, I've only got myself to blame. I've done most of the easy ones and am now onto the longer term tasks which take a lot of time and effort to do. Or maybe it's just me?

I've continued to cook/bake through #35, the Edmonds cookbook. Trouble is that I'm now repeating recipes because they are 1. easy. 2. tasty. I need to get onto something different!

I need to buy two new tyres for #13 and #85.

This all conflicts with #41 and #52. *sigh*

Never mind. At least I'm still ticking along with this...

* nicked from Moata