Yes, yes I know I'm lazy

Okay, I know I should have blogged a while ago, but I have been far to lazy and far to busy enjoying this stunning London weather.

I promise I shall write something in the next couple of days (I wonder what it will be? Royal Wedding perhaps?) - plus - I will include an exciting, interesting blog for once!

Until then..... big loves....

Celebrity Look-Alikes: Russell Brand vs the Jabberwocky

God I feel mean posting this, but it has been on my mind for a while.

Now, I quiet like Russell B - he was excellently hilarious in Forgetting Sarah Marshall and I like the bits I've seen of his tv shows.

I don't want to say they look alike, but in my head there is definitely a passing resemblance.

Would you agree? Yes? No? Maybe? Is it the facial hair? The smile? The eyes? Or I'm just crazy...

30 Day Song Challenge

After reading Boganette's rockin' good list I thought I should create my own... so here goes... my 30 Day Song Challenge....

01 - Your favorite song 

That is a mighty big question to ask up front!

A hard one to answer - but for overall beauty and simplicity I'm going to say Across the Universe by the Beatles

02 - Your least favorite song

I hate music and artists who pretend to be something they're not! This is the reason I think Avril is worse than Britney by pretending to be a punk goddess when she is little more than a pop star - at least Britney isn't fake about her fakeness.

I agree that I Kissed A Girl by Katy Perry is an awful song (she hasn't even kissed a girl). I hate chicks who cash in on that faux lesbian shiz.

03 - A song that makes you happy

Patti Smith Rock 'n' Roll N*****

It works when I'm angry, in a bad mood, grumpy or just feeling 'meh'. The rhythm, the pulse, the lyrics and the attitude! The perfect punk rock song x

04 - A song that makes you sad

I'm a pretty big sap when it comes to sad songs - but nothing brings out the sap in me more than country music, especially the Dixie Chicks and these ones in particular get me...

When You Were Mine - about an affair and separation - I always tear up on the lyric "I can give you two good reasons to show you loves not blind. He's two & she's four and you know they adore you, so how can I tell them you changed your mind." *SOB*

And then there's the tragically beautiful Top of the World. Goosebumps.

05 - A song that reminds you of someone

My dad used to sing the chorus of this to me when I was a kid - awww loves it.

Mairzy Doats

06 - A song that reminds you of somewhere  

Roxane's basement in Titirangi - hanging out, being totally cool teenagers, making schemes, shooting pool, being bad-ass (at least we thought we were).

We were so awesome - this song takes me right back to that time...Peaches En Regalia

07 - A song that reminds you of a certain event 

This music is oh so terrible, but it takes me back to my month long holiday in Croatia in 2004. For that reason alone this music holds a special place for me...Za tvoje snene oči by Colonia (I always thought that was a man singing!).

08 - A song that you know all the words to 

I'm quiet sad so know the lyrics to more songs than any person should -even songs I hate! But when I want to show off quoting Bohemian Rhapsody goes down a treat.

09 - A song that you can dance to

The Doors The End. I have the most amazing free-form choreography to go with this epic song - created by one of my bffs & me partially to embarrass our dear friend Lucy. It involves skipping, wriggling, jerking, twisting & arm flapping.

10 - A song that makes you fall asleep

In a bad way - pretty much anything by Coldplay! In a good, relaxing way Stardust by Dave Brubeck

11 - A song from your favorite band 

My favourite band has gotta be the greatest band in the world - Blood & Laughter. And I love me some Amigo!

12 - A song from a band you hate

I don't even like posting this on my blog! *Gag* Midnight Youth

13 - A song that is a guilty pleasure

Probably songs from musicals! Especially Rocky Horror, Hairspray and Chicago.

I like to loop this song on my iPod every now and then. Extremely cheesy and catchy, but with intelligent lyrics... The Nicest Kids in Town

14 - A song that no one would expect you to love

People who know me know I have a soft spot for metal, but those who haven't known me long are surprised to learn I have a love for head banging out to the likes of Slayer

15 - A song that describes you

Heaps of my friends have songs with their names in them - Laura, Roxane, Penelope, Lucy, etc. But I have yet to track one with my name down.

So instead I'd like to think these describes me....in my head... Billionaire or Boys Want to Be Her by Peaches

16 - A song that you used to love but now hate 

I don't hate any songs I used to love, but several have been killed by overplay on the radio and are now in the like category.

17 - A song that you hear often on the radio

This was on overload in the USA - the last time I really listened to the radio.

Alejandro

18 - A song that you wish you heard on the radio 

See answer number 3

19 - A song from your favorite album

I'm sure this could change, but my current favourite album is The Fox Confessor Brings the Flood by Neko Case - The song Hold On, Hold On makes me want to sing, to play and to daydream... I made a tape of the album to play in my car and this song got all distorted.

"I leave the party at three a.m.
Alone, thank God
With a valium from the bride
It's the devil I love
And that's as funny as real love
And that's as real as true love"

20 - A song that you listen to when you’re angry

This is one angry song by Mr Dylan Positively 4th Street (this is a cover - for some reason Dylan isn't on YouTube)

Or there's always something more shouty - like this

21 - A song that you listen to when you’re happy  

Janelle Monáe - Tightrope (pictured) Love her style, her music, everything! she is just so talented and this song makes me bop in the car, on the tube, in the house. I think this is the best concept album in years. If I ever have a daughter I want Janelle to be her inspiration!

22 - A song that you listen to when you’re sad 

Don't Forget Me by Neko Case - sad, but not in a 'I wanna kill myself' kind of way.

23 - A song that you want to play at your wedding 

So many songs - My boyfriend thinks this one by Rage Against the Machine

I think this is a good knees up... Golem Hora - If they would play for me I'd be over the moon!

"Have a tequila, have a tequila, have a tequila, just one more!"

24 - a song that you want to play at your funeral 

This speaks for itself really Non, Je Ne Regrette Rein - and the french version please!

"My life, my day, today, they started with you"

25 - a song that makes you laugh

Other than comedy songs (and there are plenty of those) Kiss Me I'm Sh*tfaced by the Dropkick Murphys always makes me smile.

"I can bench press a car, I'm an ex football star
with degrees from both Harvard and Yale
Girls just can't keep up, I'm a real love machine
I've had far better sex while in jail"

You think he's just some cocky, showoff, but then comes the switch at the end...

"Who am I shitting?
I'm a pitiful sight, and I ain't all that bright
I'm definitely not chiseled from stone
I'm a cheat and a liar, no woman's desire
I'll probably die cold and alone"

26 - A song that you can play on an instrument

Not wanting to be a showoff, but I am a musician so can play quiet a few! Not all that well, but you can tell what song they are supposed to be if you listen really hard.

27 - A song that you wish you could play

This one! My grade six piano fingers can only dream... Flight of the Bumble Bee

28 - A song that makes you feel guilty 

Guilty?! Music does not ever make me feel guilty! I guess listening to the above song makes me feel guilty for not practicing the piano more often.

29 - A song from your childhood

Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding. I remember my dad playing this on our crusty old record player in the basement of our house. This was well before it was done up - just an old concrete room with a bookcase made out of bricks and planks of wood and a big rug on the floor.

30 - Your favorite song at this time last year

Way back when I had this song on an almost permanent loop. Thanks A Lot by Neko Case.

Homesick in London: Things I DO miss about NZ

Aside from the obvious - friends, family, warm weather - these are the little things whose absence I truly notice.

You'll see that this list is much longer than the things I don't miss!

Friendly bus drivers

I'd never thought I'd miss the overly friendly chatty Auckland bus driver, but here in London the silent and caged in driver is a poor alternative.

Yes they drove like manics, yes they could be cranky and weird, but I loved it when two drivers pulled up next to each other and the one on the right would swing open the bus doors and they'd have a good old natter.

Being able to eftpos items for $1 (or less) everywhere

The rest of the world is a bit backward. I hate carrying cash. Back home the only time I had money in my wallet was when I knew I had to catch a taxi.

I'd use my eftpos (debit) card for everything from buying a drink in a bar to a stick of gum in the dairy. Hell, I used to buy a $1 lolly mix so I could get $5 cash out for the bus!

Many London places have a £5-£10 minimum on cards which I think sucks - grrrr. It's so much easier with plastic.

Driving

Oh how I long for a drive on the open, winding road with my music way up loud and the window rolled down - in my green Nissan Sentra - best little car ever.

We drove up and over mountains to Gisbourne and hugged the coastal road to Whakatane.

Even just a drive to the supermarket for bread. One day we will meet again.

Stubbies (shorts not beer)

Nothing beats a late summer afternoon lazying around the house in a pair of shorts - stubbies to be precise.

I don't mean the sort that let it all hang out - just short and fun. 

I think my love of this iconic clothing item is genetic - they are my dad's outfit of choice from summer to winter in the garden or going for a walk.

I have a feeling they might be a little too relaxed for a London summer - I may have to hide them until I return to the southern hemisphere.

Manners

The English may have invented them, but plenty of folk in London seem to have forgotten them. People actually saying sorry when they smash into you, or excuse me when they want you to move - what a wonderful world!

A proper rain storm

Rain! You call that rain! While often grey and overcast, it doesn't rain a lot in London and when it does it's more of a constant light drizzle.

What I need is a giant Auckland downpour - so loud you have to turn up the tv and so dense you have to pull over to the side of the road. Big fat rain drop that soak you to the bone in seconds.

And of course there are Peanut Slabs, Healtheries tea, St Piers Sushi, Nice & Natural peanut bars, proper fish n chips, pants not meaning undies, places with no other people around, sun at Christmas and smiley faces!

Things I don't miss about NZ

This might sound like a bit of a negative-Nancy topic for a blog, but since I've been terribly homesick of late I thought I'd put together a list of things I don't miss about NZ to make me feel a wee bit better about being overseas.

I promise when I'm in a better mood I'll make a 'Things I do miss about NZ' blog too.

1) Buses every hour
Back in my neck of the woods in West Auckland trying to get around without a car would take a German-like scheduling ability.  Missed your bus? Tough! You now have a lovely hour-long wait for the next one.
And when I say hour I actually mean anywhere between 45mins to 90mins - bus driver time.
Here in Chiswick we have six+ bus routes (two stop right outside our house, one of which runs 24hours) and the longest wait you'll have is 10mins - ahhhh. Progress.

2) Midnight Youth
Yes, I realise a lot of people like them, but for some reason I can't put my finger on I can't stand them! This dislike wasn't helped by the fact NZ tv and radio seemed to love them and in turn force feed them to audiences. So far away in the UK I am safe... for now.

3) Getting sunburnt in less than 10minutes
Thanks to a good layer of smog, fog, ozone and lower levels of sunlight I am able to walk from my office to the gym in the middle of the day without turning red.

4) Free doctors
While doctors in NZ are almost free there is a big difference between almost and completely. It should put an end to those times where you should probably go to the drs but really don't want to spend $20 for a 10 minute chat and a sick note.

5) Hayfever - gone!
By some magical miracle I no longer am a victim of year round hayfever. My dependence on
Antihistamines and a cabinet full of eczema creams has all but disappeared.
I don't know whether it is the air, the trees, the animals but something in the air in NZ wants to kill me.