Geoff Stahl
Ten days in and I’m already planning the move to my new digs. Just a few minutes walk from the department, I’ve found a place strategicially placed between my work and play zones. It’s on a strip called The Terrace, in an old deco-era building. It’s up on the fifth floor, at the top of some pretty treacherous steps. An okay view, where, if you crane your neck properly, you can actually see the harbour. I suspect I’ll take this for the year and then see what happens. It’s not a dream place at all, but it’s cheaper than the last place and it’s my own abode. I’m a bit weary, after two years, of living in someone else’s place, sleeping in someone else’s bed, eating off of someone else’s plates. Time to put down some roots and surround myself with things of my own.
So it’ll be a spartan apartment for the first while, but the kitchen looks good, I’ve got a bedroom, an office and a living room, separate domains which are perfect for me. I’ve even got cat doors, as do the neighbours.
The weather finally turned nasty today. Winds and rain the likes I’ve not seen or felt for a while. I know this is only a hint of the full power of Wellington weather, so no complaints yet. It does make the descent down to the city a bit more unpleasant, though. Stories of cars being blown into the bay are common here, as are tales of people losing their heads to bits of runaway tin roofing. Scary stuff. It’s quite dramatic, all the same, and it’s certainly part of the appeal for me. The weather here is at least assertive, which you can’t say about Berlin.
I’ll no doubt make some comments on NZ TV soon. I’ve only got four channels so I can’t say much. They’re just running Desperate Housewives and the last season of 24, which is the typical lag time here. I’m thinking I’ll start writing something about Bittorrent and the way in which it’s affecting local television schedules (as well as the hype-building machinations of the European and North American broadcasters). We’ll see, but as it’s the way I keep up with the Daily Show, etc., it seems like a good new direction to go with things.
I’ve sorted out my things and I’ve dug up some vinyl treats for you. I’ll be posting them over the next few weeks, as I rip them. It’s good to have music back in my life. Some more Indian disco for you, again: Asha Puthli - 1001 Nights of Love.