15/10/2006
Spring
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
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06/07/2006
Music equipment and adventures
Tonight I am excited because tomorrow if all my nefarious plans come to fruition I will be in possession of a djembe and a Presonus Firepod. Since I also recently aquired a bass I should be able to construct some rather smooth sounds. So thats what I've been doing lately, aquiring musical equipment - a process I hope I wont get addicted to. It could be VERY easy to do...
I've also been working a whole lot, but things seem to be going well so its quite satisfying. To blow off steam after working so hard one week we headed down to rotorua for some adventure tourism and ended up doing the swoop and the freefall simulator down near the agrodome. Lots of fun, I'd recommend either of them, heres a pic of me in action on the freefall.
I look quite stable in the photo but that must have been taken in the split second before I tumbled out of the airstream and fell to the side. It's hard to maintain your balance as the slightest movement can send you spinning off. The massive airflow also does hilarious things to a persons face, we got some good photos. To finish off we went for a soak in the Polynesian Spa which was great as always.
Reading:
Enchantment, Orson Scott Card
Enders Shadow, Orson Scott Card
Most of The Chronicles of Narnia, CS Lewis
Hocus Pocus, Kurt Vonnegut
Movies:
Superman Returns, Bryan Singer
Land Of The Dead, George A. Romero
Man On Fire, Tony Scott
Starship Troopers 2, Not Paul Verhoeven
Mirrormask, Dave McKean (& Neil Gaiman)
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19/02/2006
Back from Norway
I’ve been back home from Norway for a couple of weeks now and its high time I recorded my impressions. Norway, much like its women, is achingly, impossibly beautiful. We arrived to a city covered in snow which we trudged around aimlessly for a while, having forgotten to print out directions to the hotel. A short visit to a mexican restaurant that was oddly enough also an internet cafe sorted that out and we arrived safely, though exhausted. During a final walk which was an effort to stay awake till a reasonable bedtime it snowed. The biting cold, ice falling from the sky and beautifully lit main street was perhaps one of my most romantic experiences ever. Well it would have been had I actually been with a girl and not been with my colleague Jesse, who didn’t really want to hold hands. One can’t have everything I guess.
Workwise it was great, we got to put faces to a lot of names and in general learned a great deal about the new company that we are working for. Tell you what though - those Norwegians sure know how to drink. Thursday night was a huge company wide party at which I confess I got rather toasted and payed dearly for it the next day. Unfortunately a camera was on hand the whole night - the contents of which has provided my workmates with hours of mirth upon our return.
The times we ventured out of the city were amazing. The countryside was incredibly beautiful. Imagine driving through the rolling New Zealand countryside, except its covered in white, complete with cottages buried up to their hips and trees groaning with snow. One of these trips was to Hemsedal, where we staying in cabins on the mountain and snowboarded all weekend. Afterski on saturday night was another demonstration of the Norwegian drinking ability I mentioned earlier and involved drinks on the company and a bar that must have violated the fire safety code for maximum occupants by at least four times. It was awesome. Snowboarding was an exercise in balance, skill and pain tolerance and was a great deal of fun. The views from some of the high runs were breathtaking.
Other highlights involved seeing the viking ship and kon-tiki museums, falling into deep snow unexpectedly while walking down the 1952 bobsled track, seeing how all the stuff our company makes is put together and just hanging out with all the lovely Norwegians that we met. In short we had a great time and I definitely hope to visit again sometime. Perhaps I’ll go easier on the aquavit next time though…
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