2007 is on the way out...

And I'm sat in front of the TV watching the 'World's Strongest Man' - always been one of my fave tv programs at this time of year. So while I watch crazy men do ridiculous feats I'll update my blog with some of the things I've been doing over the last couple of weeks.

Apologies for sporadic-ness of blogging recently - I'm finding it difficult to get the energy together to do it. Hopefully this will improve as time goes on.

Christmas 2007

Was a very low key affair. Kevin let us use his house as he disappeared back up to Wem for Christmas, so me, Maya and Chris spent the day with a lot more space and better TV toys etc than we would have had if we'd spent it in my one bedroom flat!

Chris cooked us a lovely roast chicken, we opened our presents and then we just watched lots of TV...

Boxing Day we headed off for the second year in a row to Hampton Court to go ice skating. This year though I passed the skates over to Chris...

Maya and Chris and dinner

Maya and Chris and dinner
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Me and Maya amongst the ruins of dinner!

Me and Maya amongst the ruins of dinner!
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

And here they come...

And here they come...
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

The ice before the skaters hit

The ice before the skaters hit
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

More photos

I've blogged a few more photos from Simon's dinner party a few weeks ago - courtesy of his friend Jenny.

Me modelling my new Phantom t-shirt

Me modelling my new Phantom t-shirt
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

I bought this at Auckland Airport on my way back to the UK - I've always loved the Phantom so couldn't believe my luck!!

Cheers!

Cheers!
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Us in the midst of having a lovely time!

Julia & Simon

Julia & Simon
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Love Is A Mix Tape

I've just finished reading the above book, by Rob Sheffield.

Absolutely brilliant.

Very very sad, but also just captures the whole power of music as well. And at times I felt like he was describing my life - which I'm sure many readers would think as well! I won't go through the storyline - you can read that on the Amazon link, but it really made me think about things - I seem to really be thinking about music in my life since Mum, and this book really reinforced that.

I remember sat in the front of the radio in the sunporch in Taupo, creating mix tapes from the radio. Listening to the Top 20 and taping the songs as they came on - always managing to get a bit of the announcer in as well!

Then going to university and music being one of the key connectors as I became friends with Raewyn. I always felt a bit of a fraud - she seemed so much cooler and into better music than me but I went along with it, figuring that I could bluff my way along. And 20 years later we're still friends :-). And so many of my other friends as well - even now I'm making new friends through a shared love of music and gig going...

And there is the whole magic of making mix tapes for people. I still have tapes that friends made me (Raewyn, Jonathan....) and we would have huge mixing sessions at Marlborough Street if there was going to be a party - although we would re-use old tapes there was always new music that needed to be added. And while creating a CD is the same principle I don't quite think it is quite the same...

And when Kevin and I first got together, it was music that was the common bond, we both made tapes for each other (him many more than me it has to be said...), and even now I still pick up so much new music from him. (And he lent me the book...)

Anyhow - I'm not quite sure where I'm going with this - but it was such a great book, and spoke to me in so many ways that I just wanted to try and put some of that down. I absolutely recommend it - but with tissues. I cried, I laughed and I've gone back to music that I haven't listened to for ages because of it.

I guess in some ways it has made me appreciate even more the love of music that Mum and my family have given me. I just can't imagine not having music to love and hate.

As always - any music recommendations always welcome!

And a bit of singing...

On December 15th, me, Simon, Nicola and Mhairi went to listen to Jackie sing with her choir - the Fulham & Hammersmith Choral Society.

The first half of the program was a performance of the A Sea Symphony, while the second half was some Christmas carols - aided and abetted by a bit of mulled wine and some mince pies... It was a lovely evening - and while singing the carols in the church where the concert was held, I almost felt Christmassy...

He's behind you...

So this year I went to see what I think is my first panto as well - I'm pretty sure I haven't been to one before!

Steve - a friend from work was playing Wishy Washy in Aladdin at the South London Theatre - and it was absolutely brilliant. Steve was just fantastic ("Wotcha Wishy Washy!!") and the audience participation was full on. Lots of booing and hissing when the baddie came on, a bit of singing along to Waterloo, lots of shouting 'Oh yes he will, oh no he won't, he's behind you...' type of stuff. I came out and my face was just aching from smiling and having had such a fun evening.

What a great tradition!!

And here is Steve on the left as Wishy Washy, with his 'Mother', Widow Twanky...

A wee round up...

Of the last week...

Sunrise in Surbiton

Sunrise in Surbiton, Dec 2007
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Its got really cold and frosty this week - very clear nights and days - this was the tail end of what was probably a stunning sunrise earlier this week...

A not so Golden film...

On Sunday Kevin and I went to see The Golden Compass which I had been very excited about seeing but it was a wee bit disappointing... Such a shame - the books are so fantastic and the film just didn't quite get it. Bits of it I liked, but on the whole it was just not as fab as it could have been.

And lyrics of another kind...

Saturday a group of us headed around to Simon's place for a dinner party - his kitchen extension was finished and he wanted to show it off.

Was it the copious bottles of bubbles, the lovely port Julia bought or the gorgeous damson plum vodka supplied by Nicola, but it wasn't long before we got the SingStar out... Even I sung!!

It was a great evening - as some of the photos prove :-). Fortunately I was taking them so there are no embarrassing shots of me.

Happy singers in between tunes...

Mhairi, Julia, Owen
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Mhairi, Julia and Owen relax while another tune is selected!

Who needs matches when you have a blowtorch?

Mhairi, Owen, Si
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Simon and Owen attempt a ballad - which works on Mhairi!

Getting ready for the go...

J, N, M, J
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Jackie, Nicola, Mhairi and Julia wait for the song to start.

Beware the random lyric...

I'm learning that there are songs I just shouldn't listen to when I'm in public - any old Neil Diamond (especially 'Cracklin' Rosie'), Kris Kristofferson, 'I Miss You' by The Hours... But its the random ones that hit you - the latest lyric came from 'Either Way' by The Twang - "She's the one thats always there, she's the one that always cares".

It really doesn't take much at the moment.

Roses in bloom, Taupo

Roses in bloom, Taupo
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Emailed to my by Tracey from her phone, so not too bad quality!

The Shields Whanau (by age)

The Shields Whanau (by age)
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

L to R: Jonathan, Bruce Leigh, Adrian, Tracey, Eryn & Me.

The first time we'd ALL been together in 30 years - and the first time ever (as far as I can establish) that a photo of all 7 of us has been taken...

Come on - what are you waiting for?

Come on - what are you waiting for? (2)
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Desperate to be chased....

Bacchus in black & white

Bacchus in black & white
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Bacchus with one of his fave toys - depending on his mood!

Hmm... Thats not a duck...

Hmm... Thats not a duck...
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

"This looks like something I could be chasing... but its not a duck...? Looks sort of tasty tho"

Bacchus and Alex face off in Lake Taupo, November 2007

Things I have learnt over the last 5 weeks...

• My family are amazing. I sort of always knew that, but now I REALLY know it.
• My friends are also pretty amazing. Especially my 'Gatekeeper' Kevin - couldn't have managed without him.
• The healing power of a hug from people who love you can never be underestimated - be they friends or family.
• Acknowledgment is always better than silence.
• It is lovely to sit up drinking Scottish whisky with my family.
• Bacchus is a dog that has bat ears, behaves on the odd occasion like a cat, but is everything a dog should be...
  
• My self proclaimed 'Scrabble Queen' title may be under threat...
  

Oh dear...

I'm sure I've blogged about this before...

I was quite excited when I read (and blogged) a while ago about the fact they were making films of 'The Dark Is Rising' sequence...

And I've just seen the short of 'The Seeker' - which is incredibly American, and so not what the books were like at all. From the short I'm really struggling to see what they got from the source material. I know they have to update it but still....

So disappointing.

Good but not Great 'Black Sheep'

Went to see Black Sheep this afternoon - not at all scary but somewhat gory in places. I thought it was good - not great. Didn't really blow me away, and I can't see it would greatly appeal to British audiences as so much of it is very NZ humour/jokes.

And that was the bit I liked - my particular fave (for those who have seen it) is Experience's rant to Tucker about colonial oppression and genetic engineering - brilliant. The burning mint sauce was a nice touch as well!

Lots of references - men turning into sheep was very much like An American Werewolf in London. Good film tho.

The return of the beasty....

And this time it jumped!! Took me a while to find it, but luckily I did. So it was out the window straight away.

But is it the same beasty...??

I would walk 500 miles....

Oh ok - only about 96 really...

So read on for brief synopses of the days - but our photos tell the real story...

Day 1: Milngavie to Drymen, 12 miles

Not a very interesting day this one. It was pretty urban for most of it - although it was also really cold! Luckily when we got to Drymen there was an outdoor shop open so I nipped in and bought another fleece :-).

We dropped our bags off with Travel-Lite, the company who were shipping them from B&B to B&B and headed off walking around 9.30. En-route we stopped off at the Glengoyne Distillery and did the tour. It was right on the West Highland Way so it would have been a crime to not visit it really! And so began the walker's love affair with whisky... Yum!

Day 1: Glengoyne Distillery

Day 1: Glengoyne Distillery
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Day 1: Brilliant sign, Glengoyne Distillery

Day 1: Brilliant sign, Glengoyne Distillery
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Kevin agreed to pose by this sign - you have to admit it was a great opportunity!!

Day 2: Drymen to Rowardennan, 14 miles

The walking started to get a bit more interesting today. It was up and around Conic Hill and then we headed off along the shores of Loch Lomond. Which reminded me a lot of Lake Taupo - so it was a bit like walking at home!

Had a lovely lunch at Balmaha, and then headed off for the second stretch. Which was loads of up hill and down dale, so we were knackered by the end of the day. Unfortunately for me, Craig and Julia our B&B was one mile away from where Kevin and Owen were staying - also the only place for dinner so we had to walk an extra 2 miles to get food...

Kevin and Owen were upgraded at their hotel and ended up in this fantastic chalet, with Sky TV, big huge bedrooms and plasma tv's as well. After our extra one mile walk we weren't best pleased... The actual hotel was pretty dire tho with bog-standard pub grub so our experience wasn't one of the highlights of the trip - did get to use our headtorches on the walk back home - there weren't any streetlights!

Day 2: View from Conic Hill

Day 2: View from Conic Hill
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Day 2: Getting ready to start for the second day

Day 2: Getting ready to start for the second day
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Getting ready to start walking in Drymen.

Day 3: Rowardennan to Inverarnan, 14 miles

According to the various guides to the walk we had, this day was supposed to have been the roughest and the hardest of the walk, and I guess had it been wet it might have been. There was a lot of up and down, and climbing over rocks and tree routes, but on the whole it was ok. This was my first day walking with one of Julia's walking poles as my left knee was pretty painful - so Craig and I tended to be found bringing up the rear on many of the downhill sections!

It was also the day that we finally left Loch Lomond behind us. As lovely as it was, two days of walking beside the lake was a bit dull - and we were getting a bit bitten by the midgies!

We had the strangest lunch at the Inversnaid Hotel - admittedly it was the end of the season, but it was just odd. Our waiter we nicknamed Igor as he lurched from room to room. We had to sit in the posh dining room to eat our bar food - baked potatoes etc. It was a bit like the hotel out of The Shining - very weird! And reading some of the reviews of it, I don't think we're the only people who found it strange... It looks fantastic from its website but it really wasn't.

Day 3: The winding path around the shore

Day 3: The winding path around the shore
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Day 3: Self timer of the crew!

Day 3: Self timer of the crew!
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Craig looking a bit fed up - we were being midgie attacked!

Day 3: Mist over the hills and Loch

Day 3: Mist over the hills and Loch
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Day 4: Inverarnan to Tyndrum, 14 miles

An absolutely beautiful days walking today - it was a lovely misty morning, which gradually burnt off - giving many photo opportunities, and just some stunning scenery to walk through. If you haven't already check out my photos on Flickr...

We dropped down to the village of Crianlarich for lunch - bit of an error as it was a steep downhill, but luckily we found a slightly less uphill route back.

It was the first time we got a real sense of all the different people doing the Way, as for the first time a lot of the route was out in the open so we could see people behind and ahead.

Our B&B was horrible in Tyndrum - luckily there was a great fish & chip shop where we ate at. Then it was back to the horrid pub while Kevin and Craig played 'the arrows' while we all sampled many types of whisky...

Day 4: Approaching Tyndrum

Day 4: Approaching Tyndrum
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Day 4: Munro views

Day 4: Munro views
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Look at this weather!!

Day 4: The sun through the mist

Day 4: The sun through the mist
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Sun shining through the mist.

Day 4: The WHW sign with tree...

Day 3: The WHW sign with tree...
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

WHW marker with tree in the mist. (One of Kevin's shots)

Day 5: Tryndrum to Inveroran, 9.25 miles

This was a lovely, easy, short day of walking which was great. We stopped for lunch at the Bridge of Orchy - got there before 12 so had to wait for the bar to open before we could get our food! Then it was a hop, skip & a jump over the hill and down the other side to the Inveroran Hotel. It was weird to be at the hotel by about 2.30 and having finished our walking for the day.

This was a great place to stay - nothing else around, fantastic walkers bar (bring on the whisky), and beautiful views.

For some reason I had pictured the Bridge of Orchy to be an imposing bridge - but it really wasn't!

The boys went to the bar but Julia and I strolled out down to the Loch and took some more lovely photos - again (if you haven't already) check out my Flickr account....

Day 5: Outside the Inveroran Hotel

Day 5: Outside the Inveroran Hotel
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Spot the sign to the Bar on the far wall behind me...

Day 5: The boys relax in the Walkers Bar

Day 5: The boys relax in the Walkers Bar (2)
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

The post walk pint :-).

Day 5: Signs at the Bridge of Orchy

Day 5: Signs at the Bridge of Orchy
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Note the sign to the walkers!

Day 6: Inveroran to Kings House, 9.5 miles

Another short day this one - we were at King's House just after 2pm. But what a walk this was. Across Rannoch Moor which was just so stunningly beautiful. So wild and remote, and the colours were just fantastic as well.

I spent a lot of this walk hanging back from the others and just walking by myself, and I got a real feel of the solitude and desolateness of the place. I absolutely loved it. This can be one of the hardest stretches of the walk as there is no shelter so if the weather comes in you just have to walk through it, but we were pretty lucky. It was the first day we saw rain (out came the waterproofs), but it just added to the atmosphere - it was just fab.

Then the rain came in, we got to the hotel and had a great afternoon partaking of the bitter in the Climber's Bar. Much recommended!

Day 6: Rannoch Moor

Day 6: Rannoch Moor
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Day 6: Chilling at the Climber's Bar, Kings House

Day 6: Chilling at the Climber's Bar, Kings House
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Day 6: Me and coffee on Rannoch Moor

Day 6: Me and coffee on Rannoch Moor
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Day 6: In the rain on Rannoch Moor

Day 6: In the rain on Rannoch Moor
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Day 7: Kings House to Kinlochleven, 9 miles

3rd short day in a row and we were all getting a bit bored of the short walks. Much discussion about weather we should have done an 18 miler instead of three 9 miles, but having said that, by the time we got to Kinlochleven and had had lunch we were all pretty tired!

LOTS of rain in the morning as we walked steadily uphill for what felt like a long, long time. Real Scottish weather! Then it was the down the other side of the hill into Kinlochleven - a very small town. It used to have an aluminium smelter there (bizarrely) and is now reinventing itself as an ice-climbing destination. Very picturesque, but very quiet. It seemed like there weren't any people around - very Stepford Wives-ish.

And after lunch the rain had gone and the sun was shining again...

Day 7: Crossing a ford on way to Kinlochleven

Day 7: Crossing a ford on way to Kinlochleven
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Day 7: Looking down towards Kings House through the rain

Day 7: Looking down towards Kings House through the rain
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Day 7: WHW sign at Kinlochleven (again)

Day 7: WHW sign at Kinlochleven (again)
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

WHW sign in Kinlochleven.

Day 8: Kinlochleven to Fort William, 14 miles

And so for the last day of walking we were back to a 14 miler, but again the scenery on this stretch was just lovely. Different again from what we'd been walking through as we climbed up to one Glen, walked through it, then up and over to Glen Nevis and along that. One lovely stretch through forest which was beautiful in a different way.

And we finally saw Ben Nevis! Which just towered over everything else around it.

The final stretch to the end was along the road and seemed to take a long time - but we did finally get to the magical sign marking the end of the West Highland Way! We were very happy and very proud. And headed straight off to find a pub to enjoy a well deserved pint :-).

Day 8: Coffee on the way

Day 8: Coffee on the way
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Day 8: Ben Nevis

Day 8: Ben Nevis
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Day 8: Views back towards Kinlochleven

Day 8: Views back towards Kinlochleven
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Every end...

Day 8: We did it!!
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Has a start...

Day 1: The start - Milngavie Town Centre
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Check out my photos on Flickr...

And I'll update this with text shortly!

Tiki touring in Dorset...

So the weekend before I headed off to Scotland I went down to Dorset with Nicola to do a one day glass blowing course at the Dorset Rural Skills Centre. Nicola has a car so we had a lovely day on Saturday making our way there.

The last time I was in Dorset (I think) was New Years in 1996 and it was absolutely freezing! It was the coldest winter, we had a house booked which didn't have central heating and generally it was miserable.

This time I was muchly impressed with the county and would love to go back...

We drove down to Poole and took the chain link ferry over to Studland Beach. This is all owned by the National Trust and is a lovely piece of coast. We had been considering going to Lulworth Cove, but we went for Tyneham Village instead, which was just fascinating. The beaches around Tyneham were being used by the military during WWII, and in November 1943 the villagers were told they would have to leave. They fully expected to return after the war, but the land was compulsorily purchased and they were never able to go back. It was very sad, and very eerie - you can only get to the village on the days that the MoD are not using the land around it.

After Tyneham Village I went and had a look around Corfe Castle. Aside from the scaffolding it was great! It was deliberately destroyed in the 1600s, and the ruins are amazing - lots of fab photo opportunities :-). As well as the couple below I've posted lots on Flickr so take a look.

Tyneham Village - Post Office

Tyneham Village - Post Office
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Corfe Castle

Corfe Castle
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Glass blowing - or glass mangling...

I was terrible!! Had a great time doing it, but I was rubbish! Nicola was much much better than me... Once I've got my pieces back I'll take some pictures and post them for everyone's amusement!

It is much harder than it looks - and our tutor Emsie made it look very easy indeed. I got so frustrated as it seemed so simple, and I just couldn't do it. Nicola took much more time than me however and I think that will be reflected in her pieces vs mine... It involves a lot of multi-tasking, which I had always thought I was ok at - little did I know! It felt like trying to pat your head and rub your stomach at the same time...

Ah well - I won't be giving up my day job just yet. But now I do understand why hand blown glass is so much more expensive.

Adding colour to the glass

Adding colour to the glass
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Back later...

Well I was hoping to get this up-to-date before heading off on my epic West Highland Way trek, but that ain't gonna happen... So I'll be back around the 6th/7th!

Fab sculptures

I've been enjoying these Klaus Weber sculptures at Southbank - the industrial material looks like scoria, and where they've got water coming out of is very entertaining! The vomiting man is one of my particular favourites!

Klaus Weber sculptures - Southbank

Klaus Weber sculptures - Southbank (2)
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Note the vomiting man on the far right...

The perils of being a single gal...

Scary beasty of Lovelace Gardens
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

The latest beasty I've had to deal with in my lounge... This one freaked me out!

Flight of the Conchords - on the Beeb

So am sat here watching a special before the series of Flight of the Conchords starts next week. Very funny - very reminiscent of The Front Lawn. Very NZ as well - will be interesting to see how it goes down - but I'm liking it :-).

Holiday blogging resumed soon!

And there's more...

I've updated a bit more - see below. Sorry for the delays - but I'm getting there!

Oh yes - I've been on holiday....

But just haven't updated my blog for ages... Been a busy bee (doing not much) since I got back. But I am now starting to - read on!

I've added my photos to Flickr so check them out - and I'll keep updating this over the next few days...

Elvis!

Elvis!
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

First statue (of many!) that I saw of the man...