David's Journal

January was spent entirely overseas. For work we went to Oslo and Lillehammer for about a week, then a bunch of us took annual leave and tripped around. I ended up going to Sweden, France, Switzerland, Italy and England. It was a fantastic, amazing experience. I both saw and ate some memorable things, one of the best being a chocolate éclair from a bakery in the back streets of Lyon.

February was spent moving into a new place. I'm renting an awesome two bedroom house in the country, about ten minutes out of town. It suits me great right now as I like to make music at strange times, and the peace and quiet and greenness of it are very relaxing. This is the view from the lounge/kitchen/deck bit (its rather open plan):

And the house itself:

So I'm very happy about that. There's even a small garden around the back where pumpkins have self seeded and are taking everything over. So come over for pumpkin soup sometime.

Reading:

Dandelion Wine, Ray Bradbury
The October Country, Ray Bradbury
Judas Unchained, Peter F Hamilton
The Best New Zealand Fiction Volume 3, Ed. Fiona Kidman

Playing:

Final Fantasy XII

Movies:

Hot Fuzz, Edgar Wright
Ghost Rider, Mark Steven Johnson

Spring has firmly entrenched itself in New Zealand and there are is some foreshadowing in the warm afternoons and broad blue days that summer approaches. The water is still a bit cold, as we found out gathering mussels at the whangamata estuary but the payoff was well worth it, especially the grilled chili and garlic variety. Many thanks to the Dewstow/Wright's for the hospitality.

Spent the day yesterday in Auckland at my nephew Reily's second birthday. Both him and his little bro Asher are ridiculously cute and its always a joy to hang out with them. From talking to him at the playdoh table I was able to ascertain that Reily is fond of buses.

Been playing Tomb Raider Legend which aside from some camera and control issues is excellent. Its hard not to fall in love with Lara Croft to be honest, I have to keep reminding myself that I'm not actually that much into archaeology, so it would never work. Also she's completely fictional. The next gen technology setting is gorgeous, it improves almost everything, but particularly the lighting, shadows, curves and textures. It really is a whole next level in real time rendering and its good to know that future games will be looking as good.

I haven't been watching many movies lately, largely because nothing has taken my fancy and my moviegoing buddies are mostly overseas. However, for those who haven't tried it, I suggest taking yourself to the movies sometime, it is actually a very liberating experience. Screw the stigma, the convention that a movie is a social thing only. Sometimes your own company is the most enjoyable.


Reading:

Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury
Something Wicked This Way Comes, Ray Bradbury
Galapagos, Kurt Vonnegut
Grimm's Fairy Tales, Brothers Grimm

Today I worked a twelve hour day and just as I was leaving I got a text from the girl that I like and was very much hoping to hang out with a lot. Which turns out isn’t going to be a possibility. Now after drinking some feijoa smoothie, listening to Radiohead and talking to Grant a bit I’m gonna go play my guitar by the river despite the fact that its raining. Goddamn it.

Last saturday I went to Auckland for my nephew’s first birthday which was excellent. As I said at the time, its a good birthday when some of your presents are larger than you. It was a windy and rainy day (it even hailed once) and I scandalised my mother by insisting that we go to the beach so I could swim. Very few people I talk to relate to me in this. I love to swim, no matter the weather or temperature - it’s something that reconnects me to nature and reaffirms the fact that I’m really alive, not just living some comfortable facsimile. When I’m away from the sea for too long I feel stifled, and diving in to her welcoming waters is like a deep breath of fresh air. Most people think, “Dear God man, it’s winter/spring/autumn, the water will be freezing! You are so weird!” But honestly, it feels so good (especially when you walk back up the beach with the wind warming you) that to me it’s strange that people are afraid of it.

Reading:

The Iliad, Homer
The Martian Chronicles (The Silver Locusts), Ray Bradbury

Playing:

Soldat
Cave Story
Wolfenstien: Enemy Territory
Counter-Strike Source
Star Wars Knight Of The Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords