A collage by my son Sam
It's a local legend. American tourists are famous for it and I have heard it from two different people who have met Americans here in New Zealand and they pretend to be Canadians.
Dear me! That's kinda beating around the bush I reckon, obscuring one's origins like that.
Last Saturday night I went to Chambers restaurant. I was invited to a private party there in honour of Leah's birthday.
A pyjama party.
It's getting on into Autumn and the nights can be a little chilly when there isn't a warm Northerly blowing and I said to Leah "well actually I only wear..."and she interrupted me with "I don't want to know what everyone wears to bed..." and I thought ooh how assertive, do I detect a glimpse of anger and passion ? mmm how exciting but of course being the polite people pleaser that I am what I said was "when I was a kid I had a check dressing gown with a multi coloured tassled cord to tie it and flannel pyjamas and tartan slippers and my Dad had the same and on Sunday mornings at 7 I would sit on his knee in the lounge and listen to the children's requests on the radio..." and Leah said "yes that's the kind of thing, get into the spirit of it"
So I did get into the spirit and some beer too and a jolly good time was had by all and I met some interesting people there including Anne and Andrew who had opened a cafe in Waihi recently and Andrew said that they had some Americans in their cafe for dinner one evening and when he asked them where they were from one gentleman said very fast, all in one word and in obviously practiced fashion, "we're from Texas and we hate Bush"
O.K. buddy, too much information but I see where you're coming from.
Actually I was cynically grateful to Mr. Bush for ensuring supplies of fuel for my vehicles even if I gotta pay extra for it (wars cost money and we all gotta stump up and pay the cost of whatever the American public decides is best for the whole world) but I lost my drivers licence and walk and ride a bike now so I don't give a damn--
--except when I remember the wonderful Iranian and Iraqi movies and art I have seen and the literature, novels and short stories I have read from those countries and then I get a little annoyed.
But what would you? 'Tis the way of the world and America has great movies art and literature too.
don't they?
On Thursday I lost my drivers licence. Yes my long criminal career is over, I have been brought to justice at last and the full force of the law has been brought to bear, New Zealand is now a safer place thanks to the vigilance of the Police and the efficiency of the Justice Department...
Let my personal tragedy be a lesson to you dear reader: next time you are in your favourite bar enjoying some down time and you chance upon some playful and light, amusing pseudo philosophical conversation with warm hearted people enjoying just being well just don't! No No No don't do it! Don't give in to the temptation to linger longer on a hot sunny afternoon and have another beer and then another and yet another while flowing with the feeling of the futile and yet pleasantly companionable amusing wonder of this unfathomable life...
Ha! you will do exactly whatever you want to do won't you?
And I wouldn't have it any other way..
I chanced upon a friend while crossing the road from Woolworths with my flimsy plastic bag of fruit and milk on my walk back from the Courthouse and got my first ride home.
And you might think me churlish but I have to say that by the time I'd made Alison two coffees and a lunch of avocado and cherry tomato on toast and she's scabbed three cigarettes out of my tobacco stash (she's trying to give up..) I swear it would have been cheaper to get a taxi. Cyril charges $6 for a ride to or from town and often lets me off for five (he is a sweetie), well Alison is a sweetie too, shit ain't we all?
Friday I started the day by reading a book on Florence that my lovely wandering ex wife had left me on one of her sojourns back in New Zealand from wandering the world and I happened upon a photograph of Savonarola's chair.
Such a beautiful design Savonarola's chair and talk about bonfire of the vanities Trevor! How it is that Savonarola should encourage the good folk of Florence to burn all their lovely things while he himself sits in such a cleverly complicated yet subtly elegant chair is just..just.. just inspiring is what it is Yes! a painting of Savonarola's chair is in our future folks ( I say our because you will be seeing it displayed on this blog one fine day )
The curve of the frame/legs of Savonarola's chair is reminiscent of the curve of licking flames.
Inspiration!
Hey Sandra
I just looked at your visitor map. You are truly global, including Mexico and
South America and your stats are approaching 3000.
I hope we can still be friends now you've hit the big time.
Next time you are in New York attending an opening with your agent and minders I
wonder could you find the time to look at Nippon curios on 47th street?
It's the only place in the world you can buy a genuine 1960's New Zealand green
plastic tiki.
I would so like to have one if they are no more than $US400- each.
I hope that won't be too much trouble for you, I'd really appreciate it.
Last time I was at the dentists I got the chance to check out the National
Geographic photo article on you and your work again. God those photos are just
amazing aren't they? Yeah yeah I know you've probably heard that so many times
before from the hundreds of sycophants that seem to swarm around you and take
up all your time but you know dear the article on you in Women's Day that
mentioned your fan club didn't credit Barbara and myself for our part in
launching the fan club.
Well of course you had to help Barbie and me organize the spreadsheets and
database for the club back in the early days but the article didn't credit
Barbie and me with all our hard work and support on your behalf and Barbie is
so sensitive and I thought you would at least....you know the last time I saw Barbie
putting on that brave face it just broke my heart and I had to hide my tears....
O! Who can stay mad with you Sandra? I still remember the time you brought
Prince Charles and Yve St Laurent to visit your quaint old artist pal in little
old Waihi...a tad patronizing really but when Yve St Laurnents boyfriend
actually spat in my goldfish pond and Prince Charles hugged my Kauri tree -
well I'll never forget how proud I felt, this was truly the proudest moment of
my life and I owe this to you!
Just my luck the MI6 guys wouldn't let me take any photographs but once a nobody
always a nobody eh?
I guess it is just my destiny to walk with difficulty through the mud of my own
making but my way lit by the bright stellar radiance of your glory.
I am content
God Bless
John
A collage by my son Sam
