Vague Rattie Musings

10:47am: Destruction - Reconstruction
First there was nastiness

Then Bob the builder came and destroyed Alison's kitchen

Then we thought actually it needs more destruction, so we smashed one wall off

But we had the technology to rebuild the wall. Better, stronger, faster than before.

And so, while Bob built the kitchen...

...we slacked off and played the Doumbeks

And lo recreation did happen

To be continued with much sparkliness

Images thanks to J

10:35am: Erotica 2003
Off down to the show very soon now. Got our albeit small shopping list. Shame you can't take cameras in, coz like Alison at the LOTR exhibit, I'd really like to get some construction pictures on many of the bondage pieces, both wearables and furniture, but hey it's probably better this way, as I can pick up the jyst without rampant counterfeiting.

4:44pm: Let them sing it for you
People have probably seen this, but its cute:

Let Them Sing It For You

8:20pm: Oz here we come!
Now I don't mean to rub in Peta, but Woooo Hooooo, we're going to Sydney. Just booked the hotel for 11th through 14th December. That means it's really real! Up until now it hasn't been.

Other fringe benefits of our much deserved holiday include crimbo dinner not at our folks' along with Return of The King at the Wellington flea pit. Hurrah!

10:00am: Evanescence at Apollo
Wow! What a superb little concert? Amy Lee's ass kicking band can really put it out. Amy herself is amazing. Not only is she kawai as anything, but she can really sing and hold the audience.

They did pretty much all the tracks off the Fallen album and a couple of old tunes too.

The support bands were ok, but nothing to really shout about.

I must be getting a bit crumbly in my old age but the rake of the floor in the stalls was really doing my back in by the end of the evening. Hey ho, Zimmerframe next time.

5:10pm: Epitome of Slack
Ummm, yes I was slacking in a major way. No LJ for ages and ages. Oh well, at least I've been up to stuff I guess.

On Leather...

I decided a while back that I really should try my hand at leather-working, largely on the BDSM side, which let's face it is definitely the fun end of the canoe. I have sourced some lovely, buttery, thick italian hide from Ian Stevens on Bridge St. He's a great bloke who hasn't yet tired of my newbie questions.

I also managed to snap up a superannuated commercial leather sewing machine from the jeweller a few doors down, for not a lot of money at all. Talk about happy bunny rabbit.

So if anyone has any ideas they'd like to see in leather - and has boundless patience - go right ahead and suggest.

12:02pm: It's always nice to know WHERE you're going to burn
The Dante's Inferno Test has banished you to the Second Level of Hell!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:

Level	Score
Purgatory (Repenting Believers)	Very Low
Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)	Low
Level 2 (Lustful)	Extreme
Level 3 (Gluttonous)	High
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)	Low
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)	Moderate
Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)	Very High
Level 7 (Violent)	High
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)	High
Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)	High

Take the Dante's Inferno Hell Test

2:50pm: It's a hippy thing
Well, the highlight of this weekend was the Raqs sharqi workshop and performance on Saturday night. Now let me make it perfectly clear that I was not involved in the performance, I merely spectated and enjoyed. Alison was really on form and did a really rather wonderful solo, along with all the group pieces.

Now the the workshop was rather interesting, and enjoyable up to a point. The class was taken by Aurora, whose has in the past taught us Pilates, and there certainly was some crossover between the two activities. Unfortunately Aurora is not the best at pacing instruction, so after hearing "OK, so everybody has got that. Lets add something else" a few times, you just had to ignore her and practise the basics...

... or go for a ciggie when it all got too much.

Still, there should be some pics of the performance up soon...

But for now, it's Monday and it's back to work, grrr

2:34pm: Nomma Sushi at Teri-Aki
Went to Teri-Aki down on quayside last night, with Alex, ALison and James. Lovely evening and the sushi was superb. All votes were for the extreme yumminess of the Maguro Sushi (finger shaped tuna sushi). Extra credit for nice pungent wasabi, it hurt so good.

2:10pm: Lara sucks us in once more
I like Tomb Raider games. Not everyone does, certainly the game critics don't not any more. Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness has got slated all over the shop. Silly game critics.

It may be that I enjoy Lara's perky bum bouncing around in front of me, but compared to a real perky bum bouncing around in front of me it's a bit lacking. No I think it's more the feel of the locations, the types of puzzles and the cinematic flavour that they put in all of the games that works for me.

Now that doesn't mean that I don't find parts of the games intensely annoying, Alex will testify at how much I swore as Lara plunged to her death for the 10th time in a row last night. Though we are now saved the hideous bone crunching sound effects of earlier versions.

A definite plus for realists like myself is the use of ragdoll physics. This means that if you kill a bad guy on the edge of a gantry, he doesn't fall down to the level of that floor, and stick out like a bowsprit with his centre of gravity way over the edge. No he crumples and slithers off the gantry, landing in a very dead heap on the floor below. It's a small detail, but it helps sell the visuals.

The animation is really rather nice, people move more like people than puppets, but some of the women really need some help with their eyeshadow, powder blue with a red dress, no I don't think so.

The game seems pretty darned big, so it looks like it'll take a while. It's funny going back to the PlayStation 2 after playing on the GameCube, stuff takes longer to load for a start, but I do like the two sticks on the PS2 pad, one for movement, one for the camera.

If anyone wants to borrow it when we're done - I play, Alex tells me that I didn't want to do that, perfect teamwork ;o) - drop me a comment

11:02am: Rogue, hmmm
I guess they may have a point:


The Rogue. Hardened, Dashing and a bit of a
romantic, you've seen the underbelly of life.
While not as bitter as some, you have a
Darkside and accept it. It helps get you
through the worst of times and helps you laugh
and party when you can.


What is the Dominant Inner being within You?
brought to you by Quizilla

11:10am: Oh why do I bother?
Those who get to share real air with me will know that I'm working in Huntingdon and that it's not really suiting me. Bit of a personality clash with the management. The worst thing is, I'm staying here so I can finish the project, I want to complete it, just for bloody minded personal satisfaction. And I want it to be good.

Bahh, vented now. Maybe I can stop cruising photosig and get back to work... hope so

2:43am: It's a Milton Brewery thing
I feel like I should have a hangover, a moderately headachey one, but I don't which is testament to the quality of beer at the Milton Brewery.
As Alison's leaving bash from White Carbon (TTP spinoff) we joined her and some of her ex colleagues for 'tour' of the brewery, again. Richard, the brewer, reckons this must be about our 5th time and that we could probably give the tour - presumably while he gets some drinking in.
All in all a fun evening, great beer and I feel fine, cool.

10:15pm: Bless Loch Fyne
You gotta love fish, it's lovely. Wonderful salmon and terrific tuna. This is Alison's belated birthday meal and it's lovely. All the fish in the world, washed down with new Zealand's finest Sauv Blanc. Life is good.

8:56pm: PocketLJ
oh cool! So I can update my livejournal from Cafe Nero. I am indeed a happy little rattie now.

7:16pm: First Entry, oooh
Ahhh, here I am at last. I guess I'd better start fixing this place up. It's rather like buying a house and moving in to empty rooms with strange smells. It'll take a while before it feels like home, but it's exciting and new.

So I guess I should hang some art, or at least link to it. Images from our gothic party at the weekend. Enjoy.

And thank you olithered, code much appreciated.