mind & insidesLeave a comment

marking time / health misadventures

Briar

It’s two years and a day since I had surgery. Unexpected, life-saving, emergency surgery. I was in incredible pain before it, and different kinds of incredible pain after it. Before the operation, I was doubled over. Stabbing sensations, rolling walls of abdominal agony that would come and crest and fall just because I moved a fraction of an inch too far. I didn’t know what was wrong. I mean, on a grand scale, I did, because when you’ve got Crohn’s, it’s a fair bet that what’s ailing you somewhere in the digestive tract is Crohn’s related. But it was a different kind … Continue reading marking time / health misadventures

music, words from elsewhereLeave a comment

A year(ish) of music

Briar

Been a while since I’ve linked to pieces that I’ve written. I mean, admittedly, I’ve not done a huge amount of extra stuff this past year, but my usual glorious New Zealand Musician articles have kept on keeping on. So here’s a wee round-up. (Excludes CD reviews.) Anna Coddington. My favourite interviews are the rare occasions when I go to the subject’s house. Anna and I chatted while her little bub napped and giggled and had an occasional squawk. He’s delightful – so is she. Prizegiving. Wellington gang who make good tunes! We had a good natter over Skype. Huia. Another glorious … Continue reading A year(ish) of music

everything elseLeave a comment

movement

Briar

This time a year ago, I was in Wellington. But I knew I’d be leaving it behind soon. Now, I’m in Wellington again, but only for  few days. I’ve only been here a couple of hours and the weather is broody and windy and typical, but it really feels so good. I hold tight to the knowledge that my new job has a Wellington office too, in case the opportunity to return comes up. Wellington is where I fit in. It’s where the city’s pulse is as close to mine as any city could get. Auckland is ‘home’ – in … Continue reading movement

everything elseLeave a comment

honiara essays

Briar

I have a million things to still write about Honiara. Here is what will eventually (touch wood) eventuate: My first foray into sports writing, by way of describing two separate volleyball matches between various teams made up of local folks working in the legal sector. The High Court has two dusty volleyball courts right next door. This is one of my favourite things about Honiara. Writing something about Seif Ples and the amazing work that the women who work there do to help domestic violence victims in times of absolute crisis. The food. Coconuts. Cold pineapple straight from the fridge. Banana … Continue reading honiara essays

creative, everything elseLeave a comment

coriander, basil, corn

Briar

The first plant I have ever successfully grown is a small pot of coriander. I can’t even claim to have grown it, really, just not let it die. It’s in a giant teacup that I inherited when a flatmate four flats ago left to go overseas. I kept fruit in it, but my kitchen is tiny and the teacup was relocated to a bookshelf when a rice cooker took countertop precedence. There were still oranges and kiwifruit in it, and they sat there forgotten, gently moulding. When I remembered, I put the bowl outside and it’s lived there ever since. The pot of … Continue reading coriander, basil, corn

mind & insidesLeave a comment

0

Briar

My laptop has been dead for two months. I have no idea how much it will cost to fix, but I’m pretty confident that I can’t afford it.  So I haven’t been writing, except here and there on paper. And at work, obviously, but that’s a little different from what I’d be doing in my off-time.  But I’m going to try to get back on board, even if it means wearing out my thumbs. I have a phone. I have an internet connection. If I can stream Netflix to my TV from here, I can write a few blog posts … Continue reading 0

musicLeave a comment

NZ Music Month – Day 1 – LADYHAWKE

Briar

I’ve been a combination of overworked, overwrought and overtired since I kicked off this site, so it has started to feel like a bit of a lost cause at times. But projects with an end date sometimes feel more achievable, so how about this: my take on NZ Music month. My opinion doesn’t necessarily have any more weight than any other person’s, but I write about music on the reg for NZ Musician, so I have some sort of idea what I’m talking about. Particularly, though, I’m a fan of the badass women of kiwi music. So for my version of … Continue reading NZ Music Month – Day 1 – LADYHAWKE