the night before the farewell concert

Twas the night before the farewell concert and all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even the small son sleeping in the room beside mine.

I came to Auckland on Friday evening after a crazed and rushed day. (My darling husband took the day off to be with me and help me only be whizzed by and shouted instructions at by a frenzied and frantic wife) Rehearsals have been nine hours a day since Saturday. Tomorrow is a morning of rehearsing in the venue, then the afternoon off, then regroup for the concert. Of note is the post-concert reception (I really must learn the expectations and customs of these strange and exciting events before our grand Concert and Reception, to be thrown by none other than the High Commissioner in London!) I imagine it will include a tad more than the good old fishn'chips and sausage rolls one often finds after a rugby match- ah! It's good to be a chorister!

Have thrown in a swanky, low-cut yet thoroughly un-crushable black dress I picked up in the Hamilton sales over the New Years period! Will report back on these exciting occassions, and the swanky dress.

Should also report that I am feeling altogether most excited about the fact that my Big Fat Soprano Voice is back and as bad as ever (ie bad=good)
[Had perviously been having issues with the new and developing B.F.S.V. and trying to subtly snuggle it into the cosy blend of TOWER New Zeland Youth Choir blend... misguided and unhealthy methods lead to the B.F.S.V disappearing in disgust... after much character-buildingly-painful anguish, singing lessons and visits to qualified specialist it appears the B.F.S.V and I am working together for the good of all concerned!]
Recent reconfigurations of choristers positioning have helped to make my (and others) BFSV fit into the mix a lot better and, thus, made it easy to use the voice I've got. Feeling good about that. I'm sooo over mental anguish and torment!

Feeling tired, from working hard, but excited about impending trip! It still doesn't feel real... perhaps the farewell concert will deal to that.

... and saying "See you later" to beloved husband...

the hinitative... or H initiative

God bless gmail for there targeted ads! Recently, thanks to the good folks at Google, I received a link to a wee gem of a website thehinitiative.co.nz and I was pleasantly surprised to find some good kiwi folk doing something which has been brewing in my creative vat of goodness for many a good month

[Isn't it odd how you offer hear of two (or more) people have the same, or similar ideas as the same, or similar times!?! Richard Pearce and the Wright Bros... that person who went to Glassons and bought the same top as you and decided they'd wear it with their black pants on the same day... the hinitiative and Brooke's idea to design tee shirts to sell to raise funds for specific causes... Yup- it's odd alright!]

I thought it was cool and thought it looked like something I'd be interested in gettin' involved with when I'm back from Europe (Wow- that sounds sooo cool!) with a little time on my hands...

tomorrow's leaders

If you are happy and you do, know it, is it really that appropriate to clap your hands?

And if you are not happy, or indeed, are happy but unaware of your true feelings, will you mindlessly clap your hands along with all the rest of The Happy People and thus increase the number of hand clappers to reflect an untrue result?

And if this is the case, how do we know how many people really are happy and how many are just being swayed by the tide?

And has anyone considered the folks who are not happy, but just enjoy a good hand clap to let off a bit of steam!?!

If hand clapping/happiness indication is what we are teaching the young people today, in a pressured over-hyped atmosphere, what hope do we have of authenticity and even-tempered self awareness in the leaders of tomorrow?

How to plan the trip of a lifetime, for two or more ppl

This week Husband and I have decided where we want to go and put together an itinerary for our Fabulous Baker Tour of Europodiean Isles... it was difficult working out where to go and at the beginning I was all at sea as to how, indeed, one should go about deciding where to go, when one has not been before and one doesn't know all there is to see, or how the group will best travel... should we go to less places for longer time or many place briefly so as to see much and therefore increase the chances of finding a cool place to be the jewel of the trip, that you can show photos and tell stories of to inspire wonderment and jealousy in all who hear and/or see!?!

I felt going to many place was the best idea, but Jay felt more lead toward the fewer-longer school of thought. Though I bought in to the many-briefly style I did not know which destination those many should be! As you can imagine this was somewhat troubling for me (and a difficult angle to debate in favour of, when you're lacking in destinations to assert!)

So, finally, 12 sleeps out from my leaving home (to go on tour with my choir for a month, before meeting Jay in Spain) we hit upon a plan that was to see us piece together a itinerary that included sights, destinations and experiences to cater to the whole group!

Today I will share with you that plan!

Here is the plan in an easy 4 step method:
a) Request for all said members of said group to personally and privately formulate a list of places/thing they would like to see/do.
b) Group members compile individual lists into one definitive list (you may choose to ask members to rank their selection and/or to highlight activities multiple group members have submitted. It is also handy to note down how long you think you will need for each activity, to help work out how long you will need to schedule in each place)
c) Organise the list into countries and city/town/area/region type groups and work out an efficient route to visit all destinations.
d) Take your plans to the Travel Agent... it may help to consider the mode of transport most suited to each of the different journeys you will be making, and research this on the internet before you visit the dirty old T.A.

That is what we did- now we're waiting for the travel agent to get back to us, with prices, availability and options.

stinky breath day

What a stink day!
... you know how sometimes you're just going merrily about you day and each part isn't so bad but for some reason your overall vibe of the day is A%$E! Many, many little frustrations, problems and mysteries all gang up on you and laugh, taunting you with thoughts like "don't get upset- this happens all the time" and "you can't control this problem" and while they are all true still they sit and snicker, muttering nasty things about you behind their hands when they think you're not looking.
Adding to the malaise and general discontent of a day like this one, there are some good things that happen during the day but so distracting and irritating are all the little wee problems, with their laughing and muttering, that the good things are gobbled up and dissolve into what comes to be known as, an a%$e breath day

So, now, to piss off the muttering, chuckling little problems I will now talk about the good bits of my day in an effort to extend their lives and minimize the effect of the a%$e-breath day.
GOOD THING #1. Our Alarm went off this morning. This is good because yesterday (the first day of the week due to a public holiday on Monday in NZ, for all you international readers!) it did not and we awoke stunned and confused an hour after we would usually be woken.
GOOD THING #2. I did 2 loads of washing and now they are inside -not dry, but not soaking wet. Just that kinda cold dryness that you know indicates residual wetness.
GOOD THING #3. I worked with my computer and it did what I wanted it to. This is good because later it did not.
GOOD THING #4. We have a supermarket just three doors down from our house. This is good because I utilized it's facilities not once, not twice, but three times today.
GOOD THING #5. I did a photo job, taking photos of a cool flash house after the sun had set. This is good 'cause it's doing the business I'm (trying) to start, it was fun, I'm getting paid for it and it got me away from the frustrations laughing at me at home
GOOD THING #6. I am now walking out the door to babysit some lovely kids who (usually!) like me and that always feels good, 'cause kids have no reason to bother lying!

Alternative Worship at Connect

Our church has a "connect" service every first and third Sunday nights of each month, including just yesterday. Connect is one of five faith communities based from our church, Discovery Christian Centre, for 18ish-30ish yr old type people and our services are cafe-styled kinda things with an interactive message that often include discussion questions for around the tables and a big old break to grab another coffee and or cake.

So that's the context, the community. As I stated in a recent post I was organising Worship for Connect this week and was looking into various ideas of Alternative Worship. I did it and it went really well, so I thought it would be beneficial to feed back (and record!) what, exactly, I did.

The gathering began with an extended "social" cafe time (fellowship) chatting with one another round the tables. Then we went into discussion about what Connect could actually, actively do around the place (follow on from last connect gathering)
Then came worship. The main lights were turned off, leaving nice mood lighting from lamps directed up the walls and candles on different tables around the walls. A Karanga was heard as part of a song by Jazz/fusion NZ Christian band Chris Mason Batley Group using the unique Maori welcome cry in a Christian context as a cry of welcome to the Holy Spirit with woman's voice and haunting saxophone crying in counterpoint to one another. As the music played, text on the screen welcomed viewers/congregation to bring all that they are to worship, listing such things as "joys and fears," "faith and doubts" "Culture and Sensuality" amongst others. "God is here and all are welcome" it stated and invited people to express themselves to God. As the song ended participants were invited to visit any or all the stations set up around the room, or to "sit, read, write or pray" alone at their table if they wanted.
There were 6 stations against the walls. They each had a printed A4 of "instructions" on the wall with some candles on the table beneath for light.

1. David wrote Psalms to God as a way of being authentic to God and expressing himself… Take time to write your own psalm, or use pieces of psalms from the bible to create one appropriate for where you are

2. Write a letter…to God, to someone from whom you seek forgiveness, to yourself as a reminder of God’s work in your life

3.We often use songs as part of our worship. Think of words from worship songs
that resonate with you and piece together your own unique song to God.

4. Use colours and shapes to express yourself to God

5. Look at the cross. Read the stories. Think of what happened that day.
Stop. Reflect. Respond.
His body broken for you
His blood poured out for you
(this station included print outs of appropriate Bible verses, from The Message translation. There was a cross leaning against the wall for people to consider, a bowl of chunks of a selection of specialty breads and a bowl of coke with a ladle and glasses for people to pour themselves and drink and partake in communion in their own time.)

6. Take your single candle. Using the flame from the big candle, light your own. Offer prayers and thanks as you place your candle in Cross. You are part of something
bigger than yourself
(there was a small table with a pile of unlit small round "tea light" candles. Participants took a candle and took it to the front of the church and lit it from a big candle on a deflowered flower pedestal. From there they walked up the 3 steps to the raised 'stage' thing at the front of the church where I had stacked some hollow-stone blocks into the shape of a cross. People took their lit candles and placed them inside one of the free compartments of a hollow-stone block. I'll try to post a photo)

After ten minutes music started to play again and the screen read "Enjoy the music. We will join in prayer at the end of the song". The song was "Karakia" also by Chris Mason Batley Group, also fusing elements of New Zealand culture with Christian meaning, this time it was the Lord's Prayer spoken over chilled jazz, first in Maori, then Mandarin, Samoan and English - as from the Message Translation The cues on the screen prompted participants to stand and join in prayer, following the words on the screen for the English version of the Lords' Prayer. As the music died away people kept on with the things (writing, drawing etc) they had started and the vibe was very chilled and easy. When people finished they left the room to chat. It went really well.
If anyone would like a digital version of any of the resources I created you are most welcome to email

THUNDER (the cool silent art auction) is over...

THUNDER, my big dirty old silent fundraising art auction is officially over. It finished on Saturday night with the "Hammerfall party" which really wasn't the happening place to be for Queens' Birthday Weekend Saturday night. Many people went holidaying for the long weekend while others stayed in to watch the All Blacks game. So there wasn't the party atmosphere and there were no bids on the night but the auctions did finish and money, ultimately, was made. $837 to be exact. I suppose that's pretty good- I'm definitely happy with it. Still wouldn't mind an anonymous generous backer to come forward, but all in quite ok with how things went.
(Anyone thinking or looking at running their own silent art auction please feel free to contact me for info on how I did it.)

Melva's Sticky Date Pud

Melva's Sticky Date Pudding
This is my friends Melva's all time favourite dessert, now a hit with me too- super good quick, easy recipe great which simply screams "tremble at my feet- I'm a freakin' gourmet whiz" for any occasion... I reckon the addition of a few simple walnuts could have those partaking of this dish rushing to give you titles, medals, cash prizes, family heirlooms and other such highly valued sundry items! Best served with plain vanilla or french vanilla icecream to compliment the sweet saucy goodness.

1 cup dates, pitted & chopped
1 tsp baking soda
1c boiling water
2T butter
1c soft brown sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2c self-raising flour (1 1/2c flour & 2t baking powder)

Preheat oven to 180degC.
Mix the dates and baking soda in a bowl. Pour boiling water on top and leave until needed.
Cream butter and sugar, then add eggs one at a time, beat well after each addition. Fold in the sifted flour, stir int he date mixture and pour into a greased 18cm square or round cake tin.
Bake for 30-40mins until a skewer comes out clean.

For the sauce: combine ingredients in a saucepan-add cream last once sugar is dissolved and mixture is gently bubbling. Simmer for 5mins. Keep stirring so it doesn't stick on the bottom.
Set aside until ready to serve.
Sauce #1: 1c soft brown sugar, 3/4 c whipping cream, 1t vanilla, 2T butter
Sauce #2: 3/4 c brown sugar, 1/4c cream, 2T golden syrup, 1/4c butter
(I mix and match the sauce from the ingredients I have at the time...I usually do sauce one and include golden syrup instead of vanilla).