When I walked into Blarney's place she told me I could find him in Lance's room. He's normally stationed at the back of the house in the spare room. When I dropped him off, I left him in the spare room.
"What happened?" I had to ask.
Blarney smiled. "I went down to play with him and he got out. He doesn't know what outside is, but he ran into Lance's room, and he's been sitting in the cupboard ever since."
"He'd like that."
See, I know Lucifer hates staying with Blarney, but I know he's fed, watered, uses the litter box and plays a lot at night - for a few days, he'll cope. And he's got a cupboard to sit in - he feels safe. All is well.
Tonight, I collected him from the cupboard, put him in his carry cage, had a cup of tea with Blarney with him sitting next to me (in his box) on the couch, with Blarney's two cats, Rey Rey and Kylo sitting with her.
There was no hissing or spitting. Everybody was relaxed.
I took him home a bit later. He's great in the car.
We got home I let him out.
And he hasn't shut up since!
Lucifer is normally a quiet boy. Nope, he's chatting away like a dinner lady in a canteen. He can't leave his scratching post alone. He's being smoochy?
Here I was thinking I'd be getting the cold shoulder for a few days.
Rather than dwell on the fact that my plane might not get me home tonight, thanks to a looming cyclone I'm going to look back on the marvelous day that was had yesterday.
See, I really like New Zealand. It's familiar, but it's also different in a lot of ways. Auckland is a big city by the sea, but it has its own strange charm. The buildings are different. The people are different. The only thing that seems the same is the supermarkets and their set up. Being a port city, we arrived at the waterfront to find a very large cruise liner which holds up to 5000 people (Great way to get gastro or COVID as far as I'm concerned.) People are friendly, but they will also walk through you without a word if you're walking in a group.
The morning was spent with to others from our group. They are lovely. They're also a little older than me, but mobile, which is good. I refer to them as my maiden aunts. They would go into a shop. I'd sit outside. We had a good potter, had a lovely coffee, then I put them in an Uber and went off to see a friend at the Marina.
It was lovely catching up with ZeeZee. She's a writing friend who's been living with her partner on a boat over here. She's just awesome. I got to meet her partner and see the America's Cup and their boat and have a lovely catch up.
Another Uber ride later it was back to the hotel for a nana nap, then to get change and meet up with the rest of the crew to be taken to the meeting for which we came to New Zealand.
There are some interesting elements when you're a freemason. to being a freemason. We were talking about it, after the last night's meeting. Some of it is addictive. The fact that it gives you space to investigate humanity in a safe, nurturing environment is one of the drawcards for me.
Going into another lodge, you meet people, who you may have absolutely nothing in common with, but everybody will have some similar values. Seekers, searchers, those who want peace, harmony and fellowship and enjoy looking for the good in man. It's not a bad thing. What always gets me is how comfortable you become with these people so quickly. They are generous, kind, funny, knowledgeable and interesting. You never know where conversations will go. It's good.
We had a big meeting last night, where some ritual was performed. It appears the New Zealand lodges have more members than we have in Australia (mind you they don't have the tyranny of distance), so the room was busy. It was wonderful.
And then there was the proper supper, complete with asparagus rolls, decent vegetarian sandwiches and fruit plates. The feast could have fed an army.
We went back to the hotel around eleven, physically and spiritually replete.
Now, I'm preparing to check out of the hotel. We have another meeting today, before I take off for the airport and hopefully get the flight back. So far, the wind and the rain have not been too bad. It is very wet, but not unpleasantly so. So far, we've been lucky. May that luck hold.
Greetings from Auckland, where we're expecting a cyclone (hurricane) to hit in the next 12 hours. Oh what fun! I'm supposed to be going back to Australia tomorrow - but we will have to see whether the weather allows that to occur. It's a situation here that planes have to get in to get out. Fingers crossed, if not, I might be having an extra night here. Mind you, the people are lovely and the food is good. There are worse places to be stuck, and hopefully, it won't be too long. If the airline cancels you, they'have to get you back. I'm not that worried. As long as I get back safely.
Anyway, here are this week's questions, brought to you, as always, by Sunday Stealing.
1. Can you touch your nose with your tongue?
No. Did I try this out? No - I've done that in the past.
2. What foreign language did you study in school? How much of it do you still remember?
I studied French at school all the way through and into first year university. Since then, I've always tried to use it. I also have been on the Duolingo app for over three years, and I can proudly say, that though I'm not fluent, my French is very good. When in France, the French let me speak, gently correct my grammatical slips and encourage me to keep speaking French - which is nearly unheard of. Being humble and saying, "Pardonnez-moi, mon Francais est terrible. Je suis desole. Je suis Australienne," gets you a very long way. They don't mind Australians. The English and the Americans not so much. Getting along with the French is all about attitude.
3. What recipe did you most recently prepare? Where did you get the recipe and how did it turn out?
I had to take something sweet to a barbeque last weekend. It was a long weekend. The shops were closed. I looked through the pantry. Thank goodness for RecipeTinEats. Nagi is a goddess. I made her easy peanut butter cookies. A cup of peanut butter, a cup of brown sugar and an egg. Mixed the three together, roll up into balls and bake for 10 minutes. They went down a treat.
4. What song have you listened to over and over and over again?
As I'm in New Zealand, the song of the day is a Kiwi song that I have on regular rotation. I used to live about The Thompson Twins nanny in London in the 90's. I have lots of songs on regular rotation in my head.
5. Are there currently any pets in your household? Are you considering adding another?
I have a lovely black cat named Lucifer (who is staying with a friend while I'm away, much to his chagrin) who is a very solitary cat and very happy to be an only child. Given the opportunity, I would have ALL the cats. But Lucifer and I kick along well - although there will be hell to pay when I get home to Australia, whenever that may be.
6. As an adult, have you ever performed with a drama group? (Student productions don't count.)
Yes. I was part of a drama group when I lived in London. To this day, I am still an overgrown theatre kid and frustrated actor on the inside. It's good fun. Good for confidence.
Greetings from Auckland, New Zealand, where they are getting ready for a cyclone to hit in the next 24 hours. Fun, eh! They're explecting 6-month's worth of rain on Sunday morning
This is the weather map for Sunday at midday.
Yep. Fun.
While out at dinner tonight, I asked the fellow sitting opposite me what a Orange alert was. He just said it wasn't good.
"And a Red Weather Alert."
"Yeah, nah. Worse."
There's an Orange Alert out on Auckland from 9 pm on Saturday night.
My flight is booked to leave at 8.30 on Sunday evening. This might be a bit interesting. We will cross that bridge if and when it occurs. The airline has duty of are to get me home somehow.
I've just checked the Qantas website. The warning was issued about the cyclone while I was flying over. Hmmm.
Regardless, I will get home somehow. Hopefully the cyclone does what cyclones often do and divert.
And this is why we have travel insurance.
So, I'm in Auckland.
It's humid and overcast.
It has the feel of a larger city - lacking some of the charm of other centres in New Zealand. However, we've landed in an inner-city area with lots of older buildings and a bit more pizzaz than what I remembered from 23 years ago - when I was last here for a friend's wedding.
Tomorrow is the day for sightseeing, before a big mason's meeting tomorrow night.
Allegedly, on Sunday, there's another meeting at lunch time. Then I'm supposed to be off to the airport after that.
Okay, enough whinging about the weather.
I will now complain about airport prices.
$10 for an almond decaf latte (large).
Seriously.
Highway robbery.
Anyway, as I'm not making too much sense, I'm going to sign off. I've been up since 5 am Melbourne time and bed is beckoning.
Keep your fingers crossed I get back across the ditch in a timely manner and in one piece.
I have been told that I'm a bad mother. He looked me right in the eye with such disdain. I could see it. You hate me! How could you? As mothers go, you are the worst of all mothers, and nobody is worse than you.
Yes, I took my cat over to Blarney's tonight. Nobody spouts vitriol and bile like a black cat who has been forced into his travel box and then taken to his lease favourite cat sitter's place. Cat sitters who would love to love him, but he won't let them.
I got him in his room. I set out his stuff - litter tray, food and water, blanket, toys, they opened his cage. He hissed at me.
After going out for a chat with Blarney and Barney I went back in to see him again and say goodbye. This time, he was behind the bed head. He hissed at me again.
See - worst mother in the world.
I know this is only a short trip across the pond to Auckland, but I'm away for three full days, leaving early tomorrow morning, coming home late Sunday night. I'll happily leave him for two nights - but this feels a bit longer. (also my normal cat sitter is away). So, he's gone to Aunty Blarney's for a few days. I'll pick him up Monday night after going to the gym. I don't really care how unhappy he is for a few days - he's being fed, watered and his poop scooped - and he's being looked in on regularly (even if he hisses at his guardians). What more can he hope for? It's better than being left alone for three full days with no company.
Still, there is nothing worse than when your most near and dear call you bad names and let you know of their absolute hatred.
I'm sure he'll have forgotten it all when I bring him home in a few days.
I hear you. Yes. I'm getting on yet another plane on Friday morning, heading to New Zealand for the weekend.
The weekend, you cry!
Yes, I'm going to New Zealand for two days. I have a mason's meeting, in New Zealand. A delegation is going over. We get there Friday afternoon, there is a dinner on the Friday night, a free day on Saturday, a meeting on Saturday evening, another meeting Sunday lunchtime, then I trot off to the airport on Sunday evening to get back to Melbourne around 11 pm (if the cyclone which is threatening to bear down on the North Island doesn't cause too much havoc). Because I have to leave at stupid 'o'clock on Friday morning to catch the plane, and tomorrow night will be spent dropping off Lucifer at Blarney's place - which he will not like, but it's better than having him home alone for three days.
Documenting what I'm packing makes me feel a lot better about things. It's part of the process.
Come with me as I pack.
1) Mason's regalia
Being a freemason means you get to wear some funny stuff. Thankfully it's light and lies flat. I'll put the little instruction book in as well. We've been instructed not to take our swords and capes. The former doesn't give a good look in airport scanners, the latter is just asking for trouble as all superheroes will attest. Haven't you watched The Incredibles? NO CAPES!
Status: Packed.
2) Travel laptop and accouterments
I don't go anywhere without my little travel laptop, charging cables and a spare jack with USB ports - you never know what the hotel will have in the room. Thankfully, New Zealand uses the same plugs as we do.
Status: Packed
3) Mason's Garb
There is a 'uniform' of sorts that needs to be packed. Think hospo. Black trousers, white shirt, black cardigan, white gloves, black sensible shoes.
Status: Packed
4) Clothes for the weekend
I'll be wearing whatever it is I wear on the plane - with my basic white trainers. I've got some play clothes to run around Auckland in, a couple of changes of underwear, spare socks. I do no possess a rain jacket, but a brolly might go in my hand luggage - but fat lot of good that will be in a cyclone.
Status: Packed
5) Toiletries and Makeup
Thankfully my toiletries and makeup bags are already packed . I'm only gone for two nights and three days - if I'm missing anything I'll buy it over there.
Status: Packed.
6) Meds
Can't go without these, but with the exception of the HRT gel, these can go in the hand luggage.
Status: Ready to go.
All I have to do now is grab a few things for my hand luggage. Things like:
Passport (which is valid with years to run)
My book
Hairbrush
Assorted lipsticks
Fisherman's Friends (a flyers best made - keeps your ears clear)
It's a lot of not particularly nice people behaving strangely. Even if it is pretty to look at and the cast is pretty good, it doesn't have that many redeeming features. Maybe it's because if my friends started acting like these people, I'd tell them where to go.
Even stranger, this has got a very good metascore on RottenTomatoes.com, although if you look at some of the reviews, you can see that what I'm about to say about this film.
It's a bit of a dog. A dog with fleas, despite the good ratings on the major movie websites. I don't really get it.
The synopsis is fairly straight forward.
At the start of the film, we meet Emma (Zendaya) and Charlie (Robert Pattinson) who are on the brink of getting married. They appear to be the perfect couple with the perfect life. Living in Boston, they have a lively and varied life.
At their rehearsal dinner with their best friends Rachel (Alana Haim) and Mike (Mamoudou Athie) they play a game of "What's the worst thing you've done?" The group make their confessions. Some are truly awful, others, childhood slights. When Emma provides her worst moment, the group erupts. (I'm not going to give a spoiler on this, needless to say, I think what Rachel did was worse)
From here, everything spirals. Emma and Charlie's relationship falters and a lot of rather silly things happen right up to when they get married.
Even though the movie, though Kristoffer Borgli's script and direction, to view where their line may be, this didn't ring true for me at all. As the cards started to fall, so too did my belief in any of the characters thanks to their dodgy behaviour.
What surprises me is how popular this movie is proving. When we went the largish cinema was three quarters full. Maybe it's the star power, Zendaya and Robert Pattinson having quite a lot of pulling power.
And sure, the acting isn't bad and the film is pretty to look at, but this didn't ring true for me. It's a film of a lot of people behaving like children in many respects.
