Hicksville

Google tells me that it has been three years since my last post. Fittingly then it is at least 10 years, and probably more like 13-15 since I last read Hicksville.

At the time I was living in the Todman St flat and I think Chris lent me his copy. It was one of those, not pressured, no obligation, I think you'll like it moments. Even if it wasn't and this is completely misremembered then I'll go to my grave thinking about this moment.

It was this moment and the reading experience that followed that has cemented Hicksville as an Important Book for me. It sits on the same shelf as Neuromancer. And I'm unsure why.

I read it ONCE. Only once. Neuromancer, shit I've read that dozens of times. I can fall into that world at a drop of a hat. Hicksville, on the other hand, was an immediate force but one I got to put down, put aside, but never forget.

In fact the only immediate reaction to reading Hicksville in early 2000's was to buy it... and then send it... to my sister in Canada.

The reason for that was obvious and justified. My sister needed to read it. I could tell. I could also justify sending away a thing I loved, because I said to myself that I would read this precious thing while sitting in the cabin by the lake my sister had spoken of and the visions of which had made me want to travel to Canada with a need.

So let's say 15 years later, I'm home with my family and look at my book shelf and see my copy of Neuromancer, and think of Hicksville.

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The follow up to this story is that of course this thought process resulted in me purchasing myself another copy. I've just finished re-reading it. It took months before I started the re-read. I was scared that this precious thing would, after 15 years, be tarnished.

It's not, at all. But I'm still mystified about why this book has got me.

I'm now the very proud owner of another book that I will reach to on occasion. It can sit on my shelf, next to Neurmancer and, like this post, be an outward sign of who I am.

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The only regret that my copy brings is the fifteen year failure to feed the need to sit and read it in Canada... with my sister.

Neuromancer

<p>There seems to be a bit of momentum towards making Neuromancer a movie. Coming from someone that has always wanted to see this as a movie you can expect two things from me. 1. I'm not going to be happy about it till I'm happy about it. 2. I'm happy about it till I'm not going to be happy about it...

I suspect the vast majority of my blogging in the near future will be taken up by points one and two.</p>

Testing blogging from a phone

Testing 1 2 3 !

Three Years On

 
 
Celebrating three years of my new life today with a Piratical Themed party. Much fun had by all, most especially the birthday boy himself. This was the pick of the cards.

We are off to Thailand for a month. You will not notice my absence from this blog.

Save the Mokihinui

120 kayakers, environmentalists protest West Coast dam - Environment Sci - Video - 3 News

Briefly out of blog retirement to lament the slanting of the above news item. Having been at the Mokihinui this weekend in support of the river run, I'm disappointed that news piece couched the run in terms like "costly" and supported by "outsiders".

For the record the most of the costs of the exercise went directly into the West Coast economy and a number of locals are against the dam. This would have been evident if the ONLY 'local' interviewed in the piece hadn't been a representative of Buller Electricity. Also, Meridian's consent is under appeal and this means that the dam is NOT going ahead until these appeals are sorted (amongst other go-ahead issues).

The river run was an incredibly important way for those opposed to it to generate a personal understanding of the river and balanced publicity for the reasons behind not wanting to dam it. It was also an economic way for some river lovers to run the Mokihinui river and see it, first-hand, for what may be the first and only time.

As I mentioned I travelled to the coast to support the trip, but to be honest, I wasn't entirely for or against the dam. On seeing the river, and on walking some of it's length, and witnessing the effects that large scale industry are having on the West Coast, e.g. the Stockton mine, I can't help but now be 100% against the proposed 85m tall dam.

I say we should save the Mokihinui.

In other News...

Building and Resource consents have both been granted. At last. We shall commence and there will be photos and posts...

Yay!

Broken Blogging Continues

Still really haven't got a use for this site, but in the interests of half maintaining a presence on it, here are a couple of links to two inspirational videos that I just keep watching. It helps beat the winter blues you know...

Video one is just plain awesome. Linked to it by William Gibson, way back in August last year, I've been regularly watching ever since. I keep hoping it will start me back on the path to flight dreams. I used to have them regularly as a kid and teenager but for some reason they have left me in more recent years. Every time the spectator on the road yells "Dude, that was sick!" I'm reminded of that delicious sick feeling that I used to get when jumping off cliffs in my dreams or diving in flight. Quite how stomach churning sick feelings can both be delicious and yearned for I don't know. But I want them back. This video is the closest I've come in AGES!

http://vimeo.com/1778399?pg=embed&sec=

The second video was linked to my my best blogging buddy ~m. Of course he would be up on the latest rising starlet of YouTube. And this true celt from the Isle of Skye riding his bike around Edinburgh seemed like a Friday Linky just-for-me! Anyway, if you ever wanted a reason to ride your bike then join the other five an a half million viewers and take a look at the cool shite you can do on one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z19zFlPah-o

Arthur is One!

From Exported Videos

From Exported Videos

Three Posts: Three

We bought a house.  In fact we bought this one...

It is an old villa that was built in all likelihood in 1914 as part of a development that was designed to create affordable housing for workers in Nelson. 

It is in a particularly poor state of repair.  You can't see it from this photo, but the lean-to area at the back of the property, which housed the bathroom, kitchen and toilet, can't be lived in at the moment - well not at least with a baby.  It has taken three months just to get rid of the mouse poo and urine stench.

It is proving to be a very interesting project.  Not only does the property need a HUGE amount of work, it is protected by inclusion in the Elliott St Historic Precinct that recognises the importance of maintaining the houses in the street as an example of early New Zealand housing.  

We had to apply for resource consent to approve the renovation work we aim to commence and were worried that this would unduly hold up the project.  However we were very pleased to have been granted consent last week, and are now itching for the building consent before we commence the renovation works.  The condensed list will see us re pile the house, extend the rear lean-to, renovate the front veranda and redecorate and insulate the entire old house.  There are also plans to add a solar hot water cylinder and re-roof but we hope to delay that a little till the funds come through.

In the end we hope that the exterior of the building will look like this:

Will have to post progress photos.

Fortunately  we have the house pictured in post Two to stay in while the work is carried out.  Even better is the fact that the in-laws, and owners of the big house, are dab hands at renovation work, having fully renovated Hillwood over the last number of years.   It is their expertise and support that has allowed us to go full steam into the Elliott St project.

That said, it is proving tricky balancing the demands of the project with a twelve month old baby.  So this Sunday I'm on baby sitting duty while the missus is in at the house sanding and scraping (we are re-using all the original lean-to windows and doors etc.).  The baby is asleepat the moment and I'm not being the productive domestic goddess that I'm supposed to be.  Off now to hang out the nappies, make some vaguely pureed veges and some homemade crumpets for the adults.  But while I'm doing that, I'm itching to be at the house...

Three Posts: Two Point Two

Just a quick follow up on the second post.  Saw this article in the paper a day or so ago.  

Spooky about how that happens; you think of something and then it pops up again a short time later.  

Three Posts: Two

As mentioned (almost a year ago now...) the plan was to head back to NZ and start settling in Nelson.  Here is a special photo of the house in which the family is currently living.

It is an amazing photo for a couple of reasons.  For a start, the perspective of it makes the massive building look like a dolls house. The miniaturising perspective was achieved by an arborist, who had climbed one of the massive redwood trees on the property.  The photo was taken in on the 28th of August last year, right after the big storms had come through the region, toppling trees and generally making a big mess.  The protected trees at the house in the picture were no exception and this arborist had come to lop off dead hangers, tidy up the fallen branches and, for good measure, climb the tallest tree on the property!  At the time we didn't knowhe had his camera with him.

The arborist died in a private climbing accident eight weeks later.  We read the news article at the time but didn't put two and two together and realise that the climber was the same arborist that had visited a couple of months earlier.  When his widow arrived a week or two later, and offered us copies of his photos, she told of how Stephen had spoken very fondly of the big redwood in his last weeks. 

We are very lucky to have this photo.  Thanks Stephen and Denise. 

Three Posts: One

It has been nearly a year and the silence on this blog has been near absolute.  Here is the reason, my lovely boy Arthur.

This is my favorite photo of Arthur.  It is reminiscent of old photos of me at Arthur's age; always smiling and always with some food in my mouth!

Being a dad is great.

Hmmn

My baby saw the new Indianna Jones movie today.  I have yet to see it.  Seven weeks old (nearly 8) and I am already jealous of him!

Home in about a month

Quick update on the return from France.  We are travelling home.  Yes home, for good.  We arrive in NZ on 02 July 08 (in Auckland) and will drive down the Nth Island to Welly town thereafter.  Plan on hitting the capital on 04 July 08, so for those of you who are also in town that weekend lets get together.  I have a son, now 7 weeks old, to show you all!

That is all for the moment.

What is a name?

I didn't think I was having a boy, but when it became apparent this name stuck.  It is a good name:

Arthur Finlay Gillespie

I am a Dad

I have a son.

Born 7:10am 02/04/08 3.54kg.

Thankfully mother and baby are fine.

I suspect I will write more about this.

Tune in next time when Spidey says...

Interestingly I need to blog based on a radio interview that Dylan Horrocks had on bFm the other day (should still be here). 

 

It was an interesting enough interview to be sure, about E. Gary Gygax, but it took a big turn for the amusing-as-hell when Dylan began chatting away about how the advent of computer game style scriptwriting/storytelling as being seen by some authors as a corruption of the form.  I think the next second or two, and the ensuing comment, will live with me forever, for after a dead air radio pause, Dylan said in response to this evidently preposterous notion:

 

"Fuck that shit!"

 

Spidey, it appears, completely disagrees.

 

Another one of those moments of the "'O' for awesome" ilk.  Totally made in NZ; it sure made me laugh and made my day.  Still a small part of me, the one that is tickled pink due to expecting to be a father any-day-now,  the same that has been actively thinking about the things that I say and not wanting a little mimic to parrot a large number of them back, went "You can't say that Dylan!"

 

Then of course I went around all weekend parroting it myself (and chuckling whenever I did). Me thinks that the little one is doomed...

 

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On that count, not long to go.  3 days till due date.  Signs abound that it is ANY-DAY-NOW, which I think I already mentioned.  Can you tell that I'm excited (and just a wee bit scared)?  News will follow and unlike other blog promises you won't be able to stop me from telling you over and over again all about it!  Till then...

 

 

Another thing to enjoy...

Blade Runner most especially because it allows you imagine drinking spirits (like gin) with impunity.  Tomorrow shall tell.  Avoid We Own The Night.

One more fucking day at work and this year of it is OVER.  Of course the same shit will still be there next year, in an all too brief 10 days time.  Still 2008 is shaping up to be a cracker.  And you can't have crackers without a sacrifice or two. 

Have a good holiday kids, all 0 of you reading this (; and lets see if we can't swing the numbers in 2008!

Ha! - The Mathematical Proof!

Look at the statistics below. They make me laugh. Blogs are selfish.
Don't treat them otherwise, just fucking enjoy them!

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sidonia.net

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A Bi-Monthly Rhythm

It appears that I only blog every 2nd month. Three posts in half a year. Not a very good average...

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I think it may have something to do with Google Reader which has organised my web based readings away from sidonia.net (where I used to link to all my favorite blogs etc.). Means I don't visit this space often and can aviod the 'guilt' of not utilising it.

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Many things on the boil at the moment.

Work is going OK. Embroiled in a project which is equal measure frustration, stress and satisfyingly busy.

As per last post (now a further two months along) Sal is pregnant. This is by far an away the most exciting thing that has ever happened in my life (that I have chosen to do). Six months is a long time to be excited, but it remains, changes and progresses and I have no doubt it will continue to build till the end of March when the little babe pops out into the world and says hello! Can't wait.

I expect with the plans afoot regarding the birth and thereafter, that I will begin to use this space more often as an area for my musings (unless I'm inundated with nappies and lack-o-sleep etc.). Till then I expect that I'll continue to ignore its existence.

For Xmas I am off to Morocco (again) to go riding in the Atlas Mountains. How cool is that? I say VERY COOL. Will try to feel obligated to let you know how that goes.

A father's perspective of pregnancy is changed irreversibly when he feels the baby kicking for the first time. Try it sometime!

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Sal is in Perth (Australia) this week! Then in Nelson (NZ) for a week and a bit to celebrate Xmas with her folks. The potential grandparents (mine included) are convening in Nelson to 'inspect' the bump. I'm very happy about this, but sad not be there to take part in this family event.

At times I have felt very selfish and irresponsible coming to the decision to have kids. I did it without consulting my side of the family, and once the pregnancy became a reality, I found the idea of telling my family difficult. I was projecting my own insecurities about having a child onto their response. When I did tell them, they were only positive and supportive. Of course!

To have them rally together to inspect the bump makes me even more grateful that we are having a kid. I feel a bit as if it has 'allowed' our respective folks and extended family to move on from thinking of Sal and me as not just long term boyfriend and girlfriend but as part of the family--there to stay, there to be supported. And it is very cool to think that active decisions I've/we've made have the backing of the tribe. This is basic life at its best.

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Anyway, after making rash statements like "I'm not going to drink while Sal is pregnant" I am off to prepare for a Saturday drinking session. Rest assured, I've had plenty of practice in the last 6 months...

Little one (if you read this in the years to come) as well as current readers: this Dad (to be) will often not live up to his words, but he means well and wonders if this is enough?