Mhairi and I went to the Kea networking event on Wednesday - first one we had been to, although I think its about the 3rd they've run.
It was very good - the speaker was Tim Bean. His speech started off a bit underwhelming, with some slightly sexist/old fashioned references, but it got better as he went on. There was some structured networking which I wasn't expecting so didn't enjoy that much, but next time I'll be expecting it! There was also a prize draw and I won a bottle of NZ wine and a copy of Turn Back Your Age Clock so I was quite happy!
The only disappointing aspect was that it was meant to be held at The Southerner, and apparently there were going to be pies (which we were both very excited about!), but they had to change the venue so there were no pies...
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
ANZAC Day
I made my usual pilgrimage into town this morning to go to the wreath laying ceremony at the Cenotaph. I wore my 'Born Here' t-shirt that the Piha branch of the family sent me for my birthday last year - I don't often proclaim my 'kiwi-ness' so publicly, but ANZAC Day is worth making an exception for :-).
The ceremony was moving (as always). And again I noticed that the number of old soldiers is very low - mostly people from the active forces now. I didn't take flowers this year, but took my poppy from last year, and at the end of the ceremony I tucked it into the wreath that was laid by the government of Northern Ireland. I thought that seemed very apt.
Afterwards I strolled up to the NZ War Memorial through St James Park. The dawn service is held up there, but there were only a few wreaths there. I've posted a couple of photos below, but there are more on Flickr.
It was a lovely, moving day - as always. It is my day for Dad, and he is very much on my mind today.
The ceremony was moving (as always). And again I noticed that the number of old soldiers is very low - mostly people from the active forces now. I didn't take flowers this year, but took my poppy from last year, and at the end of the ceremony I tucked it into the wreath that was laid by the government of Northern Ireland. I thought that seemed very apt.
Afterwards I strolled up to the NZ War Memorial through St James Park. The dawn service is held up there, but there were only a few wreaths there. I've posted a couple of photos below, but there are more on Flickr.
It was a lovely, moving day - as always. It is my day for Dad, and he is very much on my mind today.
NZ Army, ANZAC Day 2009
NZ Army, ANZAC Day 2009
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
I zoomed in on this guy, as his uniform made me think of photos of Dad - I'm sure I remember seeing one of him wearing the same type of hat.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Another two sections down...
We completed another two sections of the London Loop - from Banstead to Kingston - sections 7 and 8 on the list. This one ended up in my neighbourhood which was great - a short stroll home!
I wasn't overly impressed with these sections - too urban for me, or walking along somewhat uninspiring canals. The others didn't agree with me - I think its been too long and I need to get out and do some 'proper' country walking... So no photos, as there wasn't really anything worth taking a photo of.
But it was a lovely sunny day and we ended up having a drink down by the river in the sun at the end which was most pleasant.
I wasn't overly impressed with these sections - too urban for me, or walking along somewhat uninspiring canals. The others didn't agree with me - I think its been too long and I need to get out and do some 'proper' country walking... So no photos, as there wasn't really anything worth taking a photo of.
But it was a lovely sunny day and we ended up having a drink down by the river in the sun at the end which was most pleasant.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Easter events
So Easter is winding down for another year... still its only a few weeks until we get another long weekend here!
I had a fairly social weekend which was nice - weather wasn't great though. Didn't rain much, but was just very grey and dull for much of it. Until about 5pm today when the sun finally came out. Typical...
Anyhow, Thursday evening I met Jackie, Nicola and Mhairi for dinner at Wahaca - a new fave of mine. Its the 3rd time I've been there and its been great every time. After dinner we met Simon (who had only just finished work!) for a drink. Nice way to start the long weekend :-).
Friday it was off to a friend's 30th birthday at the Queen Bodicea pub in Angel. It was a good do, but was a bit of a pain to get to as my line had engineering works all weekend. Ended up on a replacement bus service home so it turned into a much later evening than I was expecting.
Sunday was round to Simon's for a lovely roast lamb lunch - very chilled way to spend Easter Sunday.
And today I spent a lovely afternoon at Kew with David, Dominic and Chris - photos posted on Flickr as well as the couple below. There was a very cool display of seed pod art, and the blossoms were just stunning. We were probably a week or so too early for the bluebells, and we'd missed the best of the daffodils, but the rest were just gorgeous. And we saw some very cute wee ducklins and cootlings (?). I love Kew and will definitely be renewing my membership when it expires.
I had a fairly social weekend which was nice - weather wasn't great though. Didn't rain much, but was just very grey and dull for much of it. Until about 5pm today when the sun finally came out. Typical...
Anyhow, Thursday evening I met Jackie, Nicola and Mhairi for dinner at Wahaca - a new fave of mine. Its the 3rd time I've been there and its been great every time. After dinner we met Simon (who had only just finished work!) for a drink. Nice way to start the long weekend :-).
Friday it was off to a friend's 30th birthday at the Queen Bodicea pub in Angel. It was a good do, but was a bit of a pain to get to as my line had engineering works all weekend. Ended up on a replacement bus service home so it turned into a much later evening than I was expecting.
Sunday was round to Simon's for a lovely roast lamb lunch - very chilled way to spend Easter Sunday.
And today I spent a lovely afternoon at Kew with David, Dominic and Chris - photos posted on Flickr as well as the couple below. There was a very cool display of seed pod art, and the blossoms were just stunning. We were probably a week or so too early for the bluebells, and we'd missed the best of the daffodils, but the rest were just gorgeous. And we saw some very cute wee ducklins and cootlings (?). I love Kew and will definitely be renewing my membership when it expires.
Saturday, April 04, 2009
These are the feelings I taste in my dreams...
Had an incredibly vivid dream this morning about Mum. I had travelled back in time (I have complex dreams!), and Sam was in it, but he was only young. He was in the lounge in Taupo telling Mum that something was empty, and she was talking to him about it.
I knew in the dream that Mum was gone, and I was just loving being there and having the opportunity to see her again and hear her voice. And in my dream I was thinking 'Thats right - thats how she sounded'. I woke up with her voice in my head, but already it has gone again. Sometimes I can hear her so clearly and other times I just can't hear her voice at all.
I knew in the dream that Mum was gone, and I was just loving being there and having the opportunity to see her again and hear her voice. And in my dream I was thinking 'Thats right - thats how she sounded'. I woke up with her voice in my head, but already it has gone again. Sometimes I can hear her so clearly and other times I just can't hear her voice at all.
I think I'm back...
I do realise its been a long time since I've posted. I don't think I've ever gone a full month without posting before... Not sure why really - just been a bit distracted and tired I think. Haven't even been reading either. My creative writing juices just seem to have dried up.
But working on the assumption that I do still have some followers out there in the ether, here is a bit of a round up as to what I've been doing since Feb 23rd...
But working on the assumption that I do still have some followers out there in the ether, here is a bit of a round up as to what I've been doing since Feb 23rd...
A snapshot
- Went to see my friend Steve play Valere in 'La Bete' at the South London Theatre. He had the most amazing amount of lines, and did so well. It was great - very funny. Steve is the one in the wig in the photo - although fortunately he didn't wear this while actually performing the play.
- Went to 'Do Something Funny for Money' which was part of Red Nose Day. EY are the honorary accountants for the charity, and this was a show put on my people at work trying to be funny. Accountants/consultants etc and humour really don't mix. It was dire.
- Mhairi and I went to see The Dodge Brothers album release gig. We are both big Mark Kermode fans so thought it would be good to go along. And it was - a great skiffle band, but while I enjoyed it, it wasn't quite my style of music enough to actually buy the cd...
- Spent an enjoyable hour or so at Space N.K. getting some advice on facial care, and am now a regular wearer of a very light foundation to work... and mascara! And I've even started wearing make up when I go out... At the advanced age of almost 41 I've decided its time to start accentuating the positives and hiding the negatives :-)
- Walked another section of the London Loop
- Been up to Glasgow for the weekend to see Lindsey and her whanau. Had a great weekend - always fantastic to see her, and to re-connect with Ricky, Chloe and Jamie.
- Helped Julia celebrate her birthday.
- Helped Jackie celebrate her birthday.
- Almost lost my voice - strangest sensation to just open your mouth and only have a squeak come out of it!
- Watched the final ever episode of Battlestar Galactica with Owen - we are both now bereft.
- Bought myself a very cool pair of cowboy boots which I am inordinately proud of.
- Helped Jackie celebrate her birthday for the second time at the 'official' party.
Loop walk - a very small observatory!
Loop walk - a very small observatory!
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
A very small observatory from the last Loop walk.
Jackie's 40th
Jackie's 40th
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Jackie, me and Mhairi - rocking the purple/blue look!
Monday, February 23, 2009
Megan Needs
This is one of these Facebook things, but I quite liked it so thought I'd post it to my blog as well for the readers who aren't also FB bods...
Here’s how it works: Google “[your first name] needs” and share the first 10 results. That's it: it is that simple. But be honest! These are actual quotes from the top ten results.
1. Megan needs a summer intern (really?)
2. Megan needs an ass kicking now!! (OK - that may be more apt...)
3. Megan needs a very quiet home in a place with few or no thunder storms and lots of sunshine. (actually I quite like thunderstorms - like the sunshine bit tho)
4. Megan Needs is on Facebook
5. Megan needs to get Sarah’s contact information from Glenda. (again - really?)
6. The only thing that Megan needs help with at this point is in the area of responsiveness. (Again - possibly more apt...)
7. Megan needs help with at this point is in the area of responsiveness (ok - this is getting repetitive now...)
8. MySpace profile for Megan (needs to be an optimist) (yes I probably do need to be an optimist...)
9. Megan needs a dress rehearsal (what for - life?)
10. Megan needs a boy's profile (couldn't agree with that one more!)
Here’s how it works: Google “[your first name] needs” and share the first 10 results. That's it: it is that simple. But be honest! These are actual quotes from the top ten results.
1. Megan needs a summer intern (really?)
2. Megan needs an ass kicking now!! (OK - that may be more apt...)
3. Megan needs a very quiet home in a place with few or no thunder storms and lots of sunshine. (actually I quite like thunderstorms - like the sunshine bit tho)
4. Megan Needs is on Facebook
5. Megan needs to get Sarah’s contact information from Glenda. (again - really?)
6. The only thing that Megan needs help with at this point is in the area of responsiveness. (Again - possibly more apt...)
7. Megan needs help with at this point is in the area of responsiveness (ok - this is getting repetitive now...)
8. MySpace profile for Megan (needs to be an optimist) (yes I probably do need to be an optimist...)
9. Megan needs a dress rehearsal (what for - life?)
10. Megan needs a boy's profile (couldn't agree with that one more!)
Sunday, February 15, 2009
And so to Maya's work
On Sunday I thought that seeing as how I had seen where Chris works I should really go and see where Maya earns her crust. So in I went and she made me a lovely flat white! No photo though as I didn't take my camera. Very nice wee cafe tho - would be lovely to have one like it on my doorstep...
Saturday, February 14, 2009
A lot of scary dogs, great views and Chris's pub
So on Saturday the intrepid Loop walkers (being me, Nicola, Mhairi and Jackie) headed off to do Section 4 - from West Wickham Common to Hamsey Green in Croydon.
We had been meant to do this section a week earlier, but after the 'Big Snow' we thought it might be prudent to wait a week... which was probably wise, but even so it was very muddy. Following on from the walk we'd been invited to a Valentine's dinner at Simon's place (for all of us singletons) - and as it was only a 9 mile walk I thought if we headed off at midday we wouldn't get to Simon's too early. Turns out I was basing my calculations on mine and Julia's walking pace, not that of the four of us so it took us a wee bit longer than I had thought it would! Hey - finishing walking almost in the dark is fun...
But it was a great walk. Lots of woods which were lovely to walk through. Most surreal moment was our lunch stop. We went into a pub called the Sandrock, which was fairly 'gastro'. We were impressed with the service, and enjoyed our meals (we just had light meals however as we were saving ourselves for Simon's), and chatted about how nice it was to get somewhere where the pubs were good (we've been in some pretty sub-standard ones up till now). It was at this point I looked up and through the door into the kitchen, and after peering intently I realised that it was Chris in the kitchen! So purely by coincidence we had ended up in the pub Chris cooks in!! Fortunately I could honestly tell him that we had all been very impressed :-). He came out briefly (they were busy) and was telling me about the fab roasts he does on a Sunday so when Maya has a Sunday off we're going to go out for Sunday lunch!
After lunch we took a slight detour to the Shirley Windmill which is just down the road from the Sandrock. Very cool to see - although Nicola was a bit horrified I hadn't seen the one in Wimbledon Common... After that it was up into Addington Hills for some great views out over London. Check out my pics on Flickr - although my camera really isn't good enough to do them justice. But we were all very impressed - we could see Canary Wharf, Wembley Stadium, the Gerkhin, great views of Crystal Palace etc.
Then it was on through many more woods - and an encounter with not just one, not just two, but FOUR German Shepherds. What was most disturbing was that they were being walked by a woman on a mobility scooter, 3 were not on any leash, and they were all VERY barky and growly at us. It was really unpleasant - and although Nicola spent a lot of the rest of the walk and dinner telling us that wasn't their fault, the opinion of the rest of us was that we would rather not have dogs that scared people. We were not convinced of the woman's ability to control them just with her voice, and it did feel like a pack...
Not long after that we encountered the two Staffordshire bull terriers - which were almost as scary, but at least they were being walked by a fairly scary looking man who did look like he could control them. And while they are meant to be nice temperaments you can't help but think of all the awful stories you hear about them...
And about 1 and 3/4 hours after we said we'd be there, we did get to Simon's for a lovely meal of French Onion soup, hearty beef stew and apple crumble made by Mhairi. Who needs a boyfriend on Valentines Day when you've got your friends :-)
We had been meant to do this section a week earlier, but after the 'Big Snow' we thought it might be prudent to wait a week... which was probably wise, but even so it was very muddy. Following on from the walk we'd been invited to a Valentine's dinner at Simon's place (for all of us singletons) - and as it was only a 9 mile walk I thought if we headed off at midday we wouldn't get to Simon's too early. Turns out I was basing my calculations on mine and Julia's walking pace, not that of the four of us so it took us a wee bit longer than I had thought it would! Hey - finishing walking almost in the dark is fun...
But it was a great walk. Lots of woods which were lovely to walk through. Most surreal moment was our lunch stop. We went into a pub called the Sandrock, which was fairly 'gastro'. We were impressed with the service, and enjoyed our meals (we just had light meals however as we were saving ourselves for Simon's), and chatted about how nice it was to get somewhere where the pubs were good (we've been in some pretty sub-standard ones up till now). It was at this point I looked up and through the door into the kitchen, and after peering intently I realised that it was Chris in the kitchen! So purely by coincidence we had ended up in the pub Chris cooks in!! Fortunately I could honestly tell him that we had all been very impressed :-). He came out briefly (they were busy) and was telling me about the fab roasts he does on a Sunday so when Maya has a Sunday off we're going to go out for Sunday lunch!
After lunch we took a slight detour to the Shirley Windmill which is just down the road from the Sandrock. Very cool to see - although Nicola was a bit horrified I hadn't seen the one in Wimbledon Common... After that it was up into Addington Hills for some great views out over London. Check out my pics on Flickr - although my camera really isn't good enough to do them justice. But we were all very impressed - we could see Canary Wharf, Wembley Stadium, the Gerkhin, great views of Crystal Palace etc.
Then it was on through many more woods - and an encounter with not just one, not just two, but FOUR German Shepherds. What was most disturbing was that they were being walked by a woman on a mobility scooter, 3 were not on any leash, and they were all VERY barky and growly at us. It was really unpleasant - and although Nicola spent a lot of the rest of the walk and dinner telling us that wasn't their fault, the opinion of the rest of us was that we would rather not have dogs that scared people. We were not convinced of the woman's ability to control them just with her voice, and it did feel like a pack...
Not long after that we encountered the two Staffordshire bull terriers - which were almost as scary, but at least they were being walked by a fairly scary looking man who did look like he could control them. And while they are meant to be nice temperaments you can't help but think of all the awful stories you hear about them...
And about 1 and 3/4 hours after we said we'd be there, we did get to Simon's for a lovely meal of French Onion soup, hearty beef stew and apple crumble made by Mhairi. Who needs a boyfriend on Valentines Day when you've got your friends :-)
The Sandrock - Chris's pub
The Sandrock - Chris's pub
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Chris's pub - with ugly red car parked out front annoyingly!
View over London from Addington hill
View over London from Addington hill
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
If you look carefully - and you know what you're looking for, you can see the Wembley Arch in this one!
Mhairi, Nicola and me at the viewing platform, Addington Hill
Mhairi, Nicola and me at the viewing platform, Addington Hill
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Spot those bags under my eyes - thats what comes from burning the candle... :-(
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