...the blown kisses and promises of snogs from lots of friends that I dutifully carried north with me on my birthday. Had I got close, I promise, I'd not have thought of myself at all, and I would have listed you all by name and told him how much we all admire him and his tight leather pants.
The concert, for which I owe thanks to my very generous older brother David, was fabulous. Lots of the good old songs, an astonishing stage, loads of energy, and just good old fashioned showmanship without too many gimmicks. They played for two solid hours which, while I hate to be ageist (though you can see what's coming, can't you?) would be a good effort from rock stars of half their age.
A nice little moment (those little moments of trivia I am prone to collecting) happened on the train on the way back to central Auckland after the concert....
The carriage was crowded, the train pulled into a station, the doors opened, and a drunk guy stumbled out of the carriage and onto the platform.
"Neil!" calls his friend from deep within the crush. "Come back, mate! This isn't our stop! Maaate, get back on, quick!"
The concert-goers join in, with shrieks of "Neil!! Neil!! Come back, Neil!" Neil staggers away, the doors close, and the train moves off. And one passenger takes things just a little far. I hate to assume, but I think that passenger may have been an Aucklander. "Bet Neil's from the South."
Elegantly, an older woman addresses the carrriage in general. She was someone I'd like to have shared a drink with.
"We are stuck in here in this stinking carriage and Neil's in the fresh air on the platform. And YOU mocked HIM."
Nice.
Last night, we joined Amberley School group at Waipara Springs for a staff farewell/Xmas function and what a lovely evening. Food and company were wonderful, though because I am naughty, my personal highlight was a speech which suggested - no, said - the departing male teacher had "touched many students in a special way." A sparkling gem among clangers. But truly, the lovely Alastair Campbell has an enthusiasm and rapport with children I admire hugely. An entirely appropriate rapport!
Today, lunch with friends at Pukeko Junction cafe. Sausagey, mushroomy pasta with a lemon yoghurt cake chaser. Took the yoghurt option with dessert in a sadly misguided nod to diabetes!
Have to let you know, too, that the lovely Hannah has done a stunning job of the Boys of Glenmark calendar, now on sale for $20 through the club (or contact me and I'll find you one). As Chief Willy Watcher (ie, I watched for stray willy so she could concentrate on getting a nicely framed shot) on some of the missions I can attest to her professionalism and the 'tastefulness' of the calendar for those of us with kids. Hannah is becoming quite accustomed to her subjects getting their kit off, as she has a private studio at her Amberley home and does a lot of pregnany photos.
I think I will end my blogs with a line from a song, just so you can be driven crazy with lyrics running through your heads.
You won't know this one, probably, it's off the new James Blunt album, Some Kind of Trouble.
"Hard these days to get my message through
If time is all I have, I'll waste it all on you
Each day, I'll turn it back, it's what the broken-hearted do.
I'm tired of talking to an empty space. Of silences keeping me awake.
When you marry, and you look around, I'll be somewhere in that crowd."
"If Time is All I Have" by James Blunt.
Loving the musical references. I have since reading this, purchased 'some kind of trouble'. I love James, he writes from the heart, abit like yourself! There is something irresistibly catchy about 'stay the night'. One of those songs that when you first purchase it, you gorge yourself on it, and then two weeks down the track the bingeing wears very thin. It is about at this time the radios start picking it up, and it is every 10th track played for the next six weeks. Who says you cant have too much of a good thing? Love you Jo. Half way through your radio. I hope it is a bearable burden. Catch up soon. Pats X.
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