Author: telboy2
Loving New Zealand at the moment
How did the All Blacks improve on perfection? Simplicity and honesty | Robert Kitson | Sport | The Guardian
New Zealand were already world champions but Steve Hansen and his coaching team demanded, and delivered, even more to retain the Rugby World Cup
Not so good
BBC Sport – Brentford 0-2 Hull City
Goals from Andrew Robertson and Sam Clucas send Hull City to the top of the Championship with victory at Brentford.
Prize-giving success
As ever late- but…
Nearly the end of the school year-exams are imminent. However, that means recognition for events and success during the year.Last Thursday we attended the senior prize-giving. An enjoyable if long experience. Speeches from the Rector (never really warmed to him), the head the board and the trust that owns the building-a high court judge in his real life. Generally good to listen to with music interspersed from the choir, successful barber shop quartet and the jazz group.
Isaac won three awards for Samoan, RE and English.
The very pleasant side of being a parent.
The Orchard is productive
The Flag
Momentum is gaining on the discussion of the new flag in New Zealand.With the release of the final four for consideration discussion seems to have increased. On the whole the reception has been negative.
A grand committee I assume of the ‘great and good’ have lead a process that has considered all the proposals, set a long-list and then a short list of four. The final selection is driven by an unsurprising compromise of incorporating the common themes that seem to gain traction, aside of whether these components work in combination.
The task set I think is an impossible one. The flag is to represent the important features of what makes New Zealand ……New Zealand. I do not think other countries set such high expectations for its flag. Such desires need a painting or such like! Of course John Key is driving his preference-something fern like. Not particularly mind stretching and he has reasonably been accused of just branding or corporatising the intent. How to make dollars, as if that is the way nations think of themselves. The problem with the fern and the colour black, another strong theme, for example is that they are already used widely by business and sports teams-the All Blacks of course. Hence the preference of Key, the currently great Ritchie McCaw and many Joe-Blokes (“ordinary Kiwis”).
The current four options to go into the planned run off against the current flag. I think there is a reasonable level of desire for change but the options have been received negatively.
A new one currently hitting big on ‘social media’ is below:
At least this design shows some imagination is design and offers meaningful interpretation rather than ‘the world knows us by the fern and the colour black”.
We will see but I do nor expect a change with these offerings. Key has been accused of using this process to define his heritage. One can see his fingers all over it. His usual suspects are lining up behind the offerings but I wonder if there will be some national tactical response.
Film festival revisited
So yesterday was the end of the Wellington setting of the NZIFF.
In the last 2 weeks we have squeezed a few more films. Last night was a viewing of 45 Years that seems to have been a hit with all the critics:
“It’s a film of small moments and tiny gestures that leaves a very, very big impression”
plus Shaz, but not me. It left me cold; too slow and with no particular expression the important issues. I obviously missed the point.
‘When Marnie was there‘ is the film that Isaac requested. I enjoyed this animated film as did he. It was a little unusual in that as a Japanese film it had a lot of European influence in the characterisation.
During the week we saw ’71 a drama set in Ulster while Shaz and Isaac saw ‘Saint Laurent‘ which was huge disappointment. Reading the reviews after the event was a bit late which were in keeping with their experience.
Les Misérables
This has become a great musical piece for us to watch. From the first time we saw it performed as a school production at St.Pats, through to the film released in 2013 to now the version at Wellington East Girl’s College.
This time of course Isaac performed.
As I am parent of the year I saw the production twice. The last night was yesterday. A great performance with young people who can sing so well.
Now we await whether Isac makes it to centre stage the next time St. Pats put on their show.
Wellington • New Zealand International Film Festival
Screening dates: 24 Jul — 12 Aug 2015
Source: Wellington • New Zealand International Film Festival
A belated post on the NZIFF which is currently in full flow. Last weekend was a fil marathon for us; one on Friday, two on Saturday, one on Sunday and even a film on Monday evening.
We started with Far from Men set in Algeria in 1954 at the beginnings of the independence fight. It is based on an Albert Camus book (that I have read in part!). It as a beautiful story of relationships and being an outsider in society with the actions of the colonialists and Arabs as the backdrop. The filming is beautiful. A good start.
In brief Wrinkles is a cartoon depiction of the vagaries of aging with the loss of health and self-control with increasing dementia. Good, thoughtful but inevitably black.
Amy is a well-known story and a documentary that has made some waves. Essentially a sad story, with the ending well known, of a talented but vulnerable woman, who makes mistakes but is offered no protection by those on whom she depends. Not a good advert for fathers or humanity in general maybe.
The Enemy Within as famously said by the ‘Iron Lady” (was she one?) is the miners viewpoint of the 1984 strike. It is important to be told or reminded of the circumstances of the strike, the power of the state and its allies and to see the way events unfolded and as I saw it, the errors of strategy on the part of the miners.
Pheonix tickled the satisfaction less than the others. Seems to be highly rated and enjoyed but lacks credibility in the storyline. Survivor from an extermination camp in WW2 has plastic surgery and is unrecognisable by her husband when she comes back to their home city. A beautiful films as it recounts the new world and their new relationship but in my mind the implausibility always nags.
And today offers Banksy. A little bit different.
Black humour
Greece has defaulted on its debt to the IMF. What next?
