Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: That Summer!

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  • Russell Brown,

    Shine ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Darlington,

    It's the compilation album with the Ramones and Undertones on innit? Or was it a soundtrack?

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report Reply

  • Mark Cubey,

    Ah, That Summer! What a lovely compilation from those new wave days of yore. And yes, crummy ol' summer down here in Wgtn, but the last few days have been superb, and with Festival, cricket, Phoenix, beerfest and the usual capital throb it's just been terrific. Which makes me think: time to get out in the sun and check out what the Mannequins are doing today.

    Wellington • Since May 2008 • 66 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Ah, That Summer! What a lovely compilation from those new wave days of yore.

    I owe you a fish, sir.

    Meanwhile, another lovely summer song:

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Darlington,

    I owe you a fish, sir.

    Harsh... :)

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    Hmmm ... the recent summer?

    I saw Qi for the first time on Sunday. There was an error - I'm not really sure whether I should be happy or sad about it =)

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Harsh... :)

    Yeah, it was -- I didn't see your answer! Fish too.

    Meanwhile, anyone got a good lead on Jonathan Richman's Jonathan Sings! album? I want to re-acquire it now that I've reminded myself, and it looks hard to buy.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Boden,

    Summer was complete rubbish down here until February. :|

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 97 posts Report Reply

  • Sam F,

    As is now becoming family tradition, I crammed most of my summer funtimes proper into nine days in February, spent down at Waihi Beach. The weather was pretty much invariably glorious and a good time was had by all (with a few exceptions, including a workplace burglary which dragged my sister and her bloke back to Auckland for several days to deal with the aftermath...).

    It was so nice in fact we tried for a weekend of the same at the end of February - which was great on the Saturday, but Sunday unfortunately got a bit derailed due to the tsunami alert...

    Other than that, have enjoyed this year's Auckland summer weather but have found the humidity a bit of a pain - the cooler air that's begun now to linger at dawn and dusk makes getting around on a bike much more pleasant, and there's still plenty of warmth in the middle of the day to get out and about in.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    Most of summer on the Coast was unnaturally hot (for the place.) Spent quite a bit of time many evenings watering the garden (my deck pot plants, and the vegetables in containers out the back.) Didnt dare go for a walk until nearly dark.

    It's autumnal now - pleasantly cool...

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    anyone got a good lead on Jonathan Richman's Jonathan Sings!

    Too Short A Life.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • uroskin,

    Summer was glorious on Waiheke Island but it's not only Northland that has a drought. We had to buy water for the first time in 7 years (no evil Watercare or Metrowater on Waiheke! I'd rather go without a shower than to be gouged by those evil CCOs) and the garden looks like an Arizona desert patch. The Beach Races were postponed due to the tsunami risk, be all welcome on the 14th. And the Summer doesn't officially end until Pink Drinks (regular gay & lesbian cocktail party) at our place on April 17.

    Waiheke Island • Since Feb 2007 • 178 posts Report Reply

  • Neil Graham,

    I slept through December. Doing a trial increase of Venlafaxine to see if It was causing my Tiredness (the theory being if it wasn't, increasing keeps the therapeutic benefits, and there'd be no down side).

    ...so I slept through December and in January proceeded to come off Venlafaxine. This is not easy. The fact that this url even goes somewhere http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discontinuation_of_Venlafaxine could be considered a bit of a warning sign.

    January was not as fun as it could have been, but I did get down a pretty good Michael J Fox Impression.

    Then my brain decides that what I really want now is Tourette's, I flapped and yipped my way through February. The hope that this is a withdrawal symptom is fading now that it's March. It may be the new me.

    In the last six months I have heard the following lines from Doctors
    "I'll Just go and fetch my colleague"
    "That's a new one on me"
    "Oh, maaan"

    But more importantly. The Fatigue is gone, Once I got over being a wreck I started to get things done. I had a crack at making something that does Flash like things without being Flash. here's a working prototype (Firefox/Linux). I've gotten heaps done on my big project (a netbook OS for kids). Being productive is good, real good.

    This is maybe one of the less interesting clips posted here, but it shows AN OLPC-XO running many of the bits I've been working on strung together

    Needless to say, I didn't see a lot of sun during the summer, but that's ok because I'm mostly blind in sunlight now anyway. I bought a hat which helps.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 118 posts Report Reply

  • John Morrison,

    Our summer has been typically windy Nov/Dec, but since mid Jan it has been wonderful with hot days (30+C) and very little wind. I expect it to continue like this till mid April. But we live in a very dry climate and the locals are really crying out for moisture, any moisture will do.

    But having bought a new BBQ and having people stay, its been great to cook, drink and saviour the landscapes and warmth. Typical CO summer!

    Also got a couple of new toys to play music etc but haven't got the desire to follow the music scene like other posters here.

    Cromwell • Since Nov 2006 • 85 posts Report Reply

  • FletcherB,

    I'm not usually one to enjoy particularly physical activities but two outdoor highlights of the summer were kayaking from Puhoi to Wenderholm, and wandering along a heritage trail in the Karagaheke Gorge (SH2 just north of Waihi).

    Both highly recommended. Beautiful scenery passing slow enough that you can take the time to appreciate it.

    In the gorge, all the mining ruins and tunnels well signposted with explanations and historic photos for the interested, the walking tracks well layed out and maintained, the stairs and railings in good maintenance... and the 1km long disused railway tunnel is a highlight... it's dead straight and you can see all the way through... but gee, that light at the end gets bigger very slowly...

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report Reply

  • slarty,

    I saw Qi for the first time on Sunday. There was an error - I'm not really sure whether I should be happy or sad about it =)

    Do tell!

    And yes, a magnificent summer on the island, not least of which because I wasn't on crutches this year!

    Fruit is just starting to roll in... could be a good one...

    Since Nov 2006 • 290 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    I love the Pasifika festival. The shameful lack of coverage it gets is also always the first piece of evidence for the prosecution when one wants to argue the MSM is all about white middle class capture.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    I truely wonder if this is arson simply setting a fire in Canty during the dry or some sort of reason to remove that curse of pleasant landscapes - golf.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3423535/Canterbury-blaze-threatens-golf-course

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Fish,

    Also on That Summer was Ian Dury and the Blockheads and The Members. I recall it was a Virgin Records sampler disc from their early days.
    Glad the fish has gone however, I don't need another one!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 19 posts Report Reply

  • Richard Irvine,

    I've done my share of bike riding too, and always return home dripping, but happy.

    Going home on the Bayswater Ferry yesterday afternoon, the water was glass - not a breath of wind to stir it up.

    It's beeen a great summer. I love it when the weather's tropical and reminds me we're a little blip in the middle of a big ocean.

    Auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 242 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Darlington,

    One of the best things about Nelson this summer has been the ever growing Nelson real ale pub crawl. If you start at the organic Founders Brewery in Nelson you can move on to The Freehouse with any number of great beers and probably some Clash or ska on the stereo. Carry on out via the Abbey in Appleby to the Golden Bear in Mapua where Jim and Anne specialise in grunty American APA's. A quick dash into Monkey Wizard in Riwaka before a swim at Kaiteriteri beach then you're on the homeward stretch. Stop off and sample some of Martin Towshend's fine hand-pumped ESB at the Upper Moutere Tavern before finishing with a couple of cold ones at the Sprig & Fern in Brightwater and a very short stagger back to mine.

    Proper civilised it is...

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report Reply

  • James Littlewood*,

    The 5yo in the big boat with her cuzzies overnight.

    French winemakers buying up farms, flogging off the sheeps, and replacing them with grapes.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 410 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Litterick,

    It's the compilation album with the Ramones and Undertones on innit? Or was it a soundtrack?

    It is the soundtrack to a film about two girls from t'North who work a summer in Torquay as chambermaids. The cast includes Ray Winstone.

    I found a tracklisting on t'Internet:


    A1 Ian Dury And The Blockheads Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll
    A2 Mink DeVille Spanish Stroll
    A3 Elvis Costello (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea
    A4 Boomtown Rats, The She's So Modern
    A5 Zones (2) New Life
    A6 Only Ones, The Another Girl, Another Planet
    A7 Wreckless Eric Whole Wide World
    A8 Patti Smith Group Because The Night
    B1 Boomtown Rats, The Kicks
    B2 Ramones Rockaway Beach
    B3 Undertones, The Teenage Kicks
    B4 Eddie And The Hot Rods Do Anything You Wanna Do
    B5 Ian Dury And The Blockheads What A Waste
    B6 Nick Lowe I Love The Sound Of Breaking Glass
    B7 Elvis Costello Watching The Detectives
    B8 Richard Hell & The Voidoids Blank Generation

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report Reply

  • Jo S,

    We bought our first house this summer which kept us very busy doing little "house things" all summer long. The charm hasn't worn off yet, and I have fallen very much in love with our deck.

    I'm much happier now that autumn is getting here though - I have trouble sleeping through the heat in summer, and we can't justify aircon (not that the boi would sleep through the noise if we had aircon).

    is it autumn yet? • Since May 2007 • 80 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Summer this year in Auckland has been superb, blighted only in my case by too much bloody work keeping me indoors. I made a special point of getting Marcus out of doors as much as possible, playing in the garden or taking him to the beach. Usually Pt Chev, it being the closest sandy beach, a decent ride on the bike with him on the back. His overall confidence took an enormous stride forward during the week I managed to snatch at Waiheke too, so many challenges there, things to see, and every day the weather begged us into the water, or onto the deck for cool drinks and light meals.

    Didn't get to very many public events, but dozens of private parties lingered on into the small hours, outdoors in the balmy nights.

    The garden has put out fantastically this year - one especially neglected patch decided of it's own accord to become an astonishingly productive tomato garden (I only planted one, but about 20 plants came up). I also managed to convert my indoor cat into an outdoor cat. As far as I can tell, she's much happier now, after the week or so it took to get over the hardship of not being able to destroy furniture, drink from the toilet and vomit everywhere.

    I may be imagining it, but Aucklanders seem especially mellow this year. The roads seem to lack aggro, and faces that pass by are relaxed and smiling. Even at Christmas.

    Only problem is, when it's just lovely like this continually, the days seem to blur. I hope I don't end up like the old jaded lady in White Mischief "Oh God! Not another fucking beautiful day".

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

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