A Few Quirkes

So, this is the section where we tell the world that we are luvvies.
The arts festival comes biennially, and I suppose is like the Edinburgh Festival, (though I have never been!), with its associated fringe .

http://www.nzfestival.telecom.co.nz

Anyway, this year we have rolled out the dollars and are attending a number of events.

The first up was last night, Sunday. So the the big weekend goes on….

We went to see The History Boys an Alan Bennett number with rave reviews from around the world.

“It is a long time since Alan Bennett has had a new stage play produced. Those who see The History Boys will pray that its successor is close behind. Director Nicholas Hytner has been a great success in his year or so as director of the National and directed one of the hits of last year, Henry V.

Now, this dream combination has come up with what must surely win awards for Best New Play of 2004. Its combination of comedy and pathos is extraordinary and it is saying something that after three hours in a theatre at the end of a heavy week, an extra hour would have been desirable.

The History Boys are eight pupils, with varying accents, at a minor public school in the North. They form an Oxbridge Scholarship class of the 1980s and the play follows their education as well as their sexual and mental awakenings as they are groomed by two very different teachers.

This is more than a simple coming of age drama. It is also an allegory on Thatcherite values, as culture and knowledge for its own sake give way to the spin and results-driven society that we see today.

The mountainous Richard Griffiths as Hector, in outmoded Prince of Wales check and spotted bow tie, gives a moving performance as a man steeped in literature who wants to share it. There are shades here of Dead Poets Society, as Bennett puts his great love of words and aphorisms into the mouth of a quirky schoolmaster who is never short of a quote.

Hector is a wonderful Bennett creation, one of life’s losers but still able to enjoy himself until a fatal flaw is revealed. Griffiths fills the role perfectly.

Clive Merrison’s grim headmaster cares for little but league tables and a quiet life. He believes that fresh graduate Tom Irwin played by Hugh Grant lookalike, Stephen Campbell Moore will end the school’s Oxbridge drought.

The play opens twenty years later with the wheelchair-bound Irwin as a populist TV historian. His trip from arrival as fresh-faced supply teacher runs in parallel with the decline of his predecessor.

Irwin is a sound bite man with a motto “the wrong end of the stick is the right one”. He will embellish history in order to achieve his end of exam success for the pupils. Like his almost-namesake, David Irving he will even deny or rewrite the Holocaust for effect.

The always perceptive Bennett has a knack for making people laugh. He is at his very best in The History Boys, in particular in a scene straight out of French farce.

The History Boys is a great play that explores male foibles at the same time as it looks at how today’s society became as it is. Alan Bennett is a rare playwright and this shows him on top form.”

The Guardian 2004

We gave it the thumbs up as well. Stimulating story line with good acting innovative set and staging.

Richard Griffiths was a recognisable face, and body, and missus Q was appeciatative of the actor who plays Jamie in Fat Friends.

Disadvantage was that we were up in the gods, so smallish figures and low volume at times. Even so, great night out. Only problem going to bed late before work and school the next day! Too old!

So far so good, 1/1 on the scoreboard.

It happened and we survived.
Ten six year olds in total, lots of noise and activity. Dancing in the kitchen proved to be a winner, with DJ Eleanor being a fine role model for the young girls. Musical statues, muscial bumps and straight dancing competition. There was high quality “Dad Dancing”, which was well received by those too young to know better.
Usual cac-fest was enjoyed.

A new activity took place which is new to me, and I believe a Mexican, by via US, origin. Bash the pinata. Paper mashe donkey gets wacked by wild kids to empty its innards of sweets. For those of the home baking mentality follow the link.

http://www.bry-backmanor.org/holidayfun/pinata.html

Anyway, nearly three hours later the visitors were on their way, party bags in hand. These did not contain oranges, Gouda mini cheese or olives.

Quick clear away and sit down on deck in sunshine to recuperate with cold beer ensued.

For those who wish to know what goes on.
Friday after work and school involved a trip with boys to open air pool at Khandallah Park to catch some rays in the sun. Dad read his book. Boys played. fought and screamed.
Then it was off to Nairnville to practice in the cricket nets. Joe working on his left arm spin which is coming on. Accuracy is improving, and certainly looking more like a bowler these days. A bit of a work out on the batting; backlift and eye-foot-bat to ball stuff. He then practiced his fielding which was not so good, as plenty of low ones went into Dad’s shins. Bruises expected tomorrow.
Rushed back to pick up the pizza for tea, and a beer in front of the telly with the Hurricanes playing the Cats
Tomorrow morning offers cricket game across town with the Onslow Shastris (grade 10) playing Brocklyn. After last week’s display the coach is looking for improvement, but is confident.
Then after game Joe has to sign up and weigh in for rugby registration. Soccer is gone, rugby is in for the coming winter as Joe dreams of future All Black glory. Yes there is an official weigh in and have to prove age with passport or birth cetificate. No messing about here.
Isaac bithday party with 9 other five/six year olds takes up the afternoon. Trepidation already being felt.
And then he rested on the 7th day.

Hello to those over there who have been enjoying their winter sun, snow and tumbles. We thankfully have been enjoying some summer sun.
The Volvo Ocean racers have been in town, and as such, because wellington has had the yes of the world on it for a while, the weather has been glorious. The yachts left yesterday bound for Rio, and today it has clouded over.

http://www.volvooceanrace.org/

They arrived on Thursday and were tied up at Queen’s Wharf, allowing wasy viewing. Beautiful though I guess costly toys.
On Sunday we watched them edge out to the harbour, warm up undre the sun then race within the harbour before going to the Cook Strait before heading east. It was a beautiful scene for Khandallah, watching them race with the huge number of boats watching and following.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/dominionpost/0,2106,3577688a6000,00.html

Earlier on Sunday morning the sporting Quirkes took part in the Round the Bays Fun Run, 7km run for Mum and Dad, and a walk with a bit of a run at the end for the children. All told about 15, 000 people took part. Sunshine and heat but not too much and a bottle of water and a banana to great you at the end.

The weekend was rounded off by working at the afterhours centre……hmm.

Today the QE 2 was in town, moored up on the quay and looked majestic on its way in and out.

So the school holidays are over and it is return to work for all. Parents and children back to the coalface on Tuesday.
Isaac came back from first day of school full of enthusiasm and excitement. The older lags were more low key.
The camping trip did not proceed quite as planned. The weekend in Taranaki was fine, easy camping in the host’s garden and a great night for the stars.
“Top 10” campground in Bay of Plenty was busy until the storm arrived. 80Km winds and rain to boot. We were forced out though the tent survived intact, though others on the site did not, including the same Warehouse make that was detroyed with the Rudgley crew in situ.
We moved on to a holiday let and ending up staying for the duration. The weather was then good, sunshine and surf and everyone in the Q household believing they were the best boggie boarder in town. Sara did well to keep surfing at the same time as her bikini was hanging off through wave action.

The fishing proceeded after a brief lesson from the landlord and watching bods in action on the beach. So far two sessions and no fish.It does however relax the mind and get one in touch with nature…..man.
Transfer to Mount Manganui partially successful. Sara did not like the sight of the campsite we were due to use(me likewise), so camping deferred again and 2 nights in apartment. Good walks and good beach action for two days then a turn in the weather and off home.
Kids had fun though Joe disappointed at lack of time under canvas though was a proud assistant to his dad when out with the fishing tackle. He took nifty photo of dad in action.

Trip to Sounds for Waitangi weekend was also a mixed affair. Camping succeeded and weather on day one was great. Kids did lots of jumping off the jetty, bit of snorkling and the fishing rods came out. Eleanor caught a small one with mussel as bait. Dad still to break his duck.
A great night for the stars was had.

Then the weather turned to custard; wind and rain. Time to read the book, and “Long Walk to Freedom” is going well.

Does the Number 4 all over still work?