R.I.P cuddles, more than just a cat

Sorry I've been a bit slack lately. Its been an up and down week since my last post. On saturday I received a call from Mum to tell me that our cat Cuddles had been hit by a car. Now you have to understand, cuddles is not just a cat. We used to own Bubbles, her mum, and we've had Cuddles for 15 years. I saw her being born in our very own backyard in a hut that me and my brother made out of chairs and sheets in the backyard. This was for us to play in at the ages of 9 and 11, but our cat had other ideas.
So you see cuddles was not only born at our house, but I really grew up with her. She learnt not to scratch on doors to come inside, but to actually knock. You could honestly hold conversations with her, I'm not joking, she had a different meow depending on what she wanted, and if you said "pardon, what was that cuddles" she would repeat herself exactly the same. Ok right now you're thinking I'm loopy right, well I have several people who will verify that she is no ordinary cat. From sleeping in casserole dishes, to opening my christmas presents early for me, to freaking me out when she would jump in the kitchen window 6ft off the ground, she truly is special.
She was a special part of the family, and special to two other honorary family members who know who they are so I won't mention names. Cuddles you will be sadly missed. Rest in peace.

I went to Mums and said my goodbyes today, she's buried down the back of mums section by the river, under a tree, I think she'll like it there. 15 years is pretty decent for a cat, so she lived a long and happy life. Still she will be missed.

Purpose?

Tonight has been one of those 'sit and think' nights. My internet connection wouldn't let me online for like an hour, so I watched special features on a dvd I had recently watched, tidied my room a bit, and did some thinking. I usually keep too busy for that :-) Anyway its been one of those "why do I do what I do?" nights. I often get asked why I work in the film industry, and why I didn't just stay in my comfortable, nicely paid Vodafone job with all the perks. And until tonight I've just said "because it wasn't what I was passionate about, so eventually it wouldn't have been enough". Tonight I defined it a bit more, and I actually wrote a full A4 page on it, it helps to get thoughts on paper sometimes. If anyone wants to know more, let me know, cos its all typed up. But yeah... here's a little excerpt from my thoughts ... so welcome to my world, enjoy your stay, don't be afraid to join in and throw in your 2 cents worth, and please come visit again :-)

Why do I do what I do? Why in a world where I can have a high paid office job with all the money, perks, and simplicity one could ask for, do I choose a career of instability, constant change and unpredictability? Because I love the challenge, I love the uncertainty of what’s around the corner. I love the fact that I can be a part of creating a world where anything is possible.

Everyone dreams of something beyond their capabilities, everyone dreams of the happily ever after, fighting dragons and beasts, being rich and famous, hitting the big time in their chosen sport … and so many other things. For that 90 – 120 minutes, or however long the film may be, you can help them escape into their world of “what ifs”.

So there you go ... a little glimpse into my world. Enjoy your stay :-) And for now I'd better go and get some sleep. So goodnite.

nearly monday, not my idea of fun.

Its sunday night, and its been a busy weekend! Totally worth it despite the lack of sleep!

Friday night I was working til 8pm, which was a bit annoying, but thats ok. Went out with a friend on friday night and had a girls night out. Hmm 2 single girls dressed up, drinking, and ready to party, it was recipe for trouble really :-) Had a great time, and we've already planned another night out next week. It was kinda creepy though how all the wierd old guys, and couples who couldn't dance to save themselves, ended up almost following the 2 of us around. I'm sure it was complete coincidence, but it was a little wierd. Then there was 'belt-girl' as we affectionately named her, who wore a skirt which we're sure was meant to be just a belt ... and we're assuming she was female, although it was questionable, haha. She left pretty much nothing to the imagination! Remind me never to run into her/him/it? again. haha.

Saturday night was a night of chilling out relaxing with some friends and playing Reel Clues ... a movie trivia game which despite my current career choice, I can't play to save myself! Was a good nite out though, and I got home at 5am to literally collapse into bed.

Today (sunday) I got up at lunchtime, went to dance practise, did my boring grocery shopping, and all those tedious jobs. Had church tonight though and that was really good. Facing monday tomorrow is not my idea of fun at the moment. Working in our quietest store with no internet to entertain myself cos we're banned from personal internet use at work. I have a pile of magazines to get me thru the day :-)

Halfway thru the week!

I've decided to add more photos to the site, on the suggestion of a great friend who told me I don't have enough (thanks Greg ... hehe). So today I'll introduce you to my family. The photo to the right is me, mum and my brother Dave. It was taken last december, so yeah its like 8 months old, but still a pretty recent pic. Hmm except my hair is different now, but I'll add a photo of that when I have one.

Why is that its only halfway thru the week and I feel like I need a weekend? Maybe its cos work has been too quiet, so I have to find stuff to distract myself during my shift. Like today I had time to start doing my overdue tax return (its overdue cos ird stuffed up, not me), and I ate lots of food, cos what else do you do when you have no work to do? Had dance practise tonight, that went really well, and we finished early (9.30pm) so I got more time to be a geek and sit at my computer, sad eh!

I've got a busy time the next couple of days, catching up with a couple of mates, and a meeting about a film (but I can't tell you about that one yet). I'm working saturday too, so I can guarantee by sunday I'll be well and truly ready for sleep!

Another week over!

Its been a week since I posted, must be some reflection of this rushing busy thing we call life.

I've had a busy week of work, not too exciting, but pays the bills. Its been 3G lauch week for Vodafone, so that has provided some new challenges at my part time job at First Mobile. I've also been looking into more new opportunities for film and tv work.

Went to movies on friday to see Land of the Dead with my friend Paul, It was an ok movie, but a little bit predictable and hollywood at times. I did spend a bit of time thinking "dang, that makeup artist must have gotten up early!" ... hmm typical film geek. haha.

Saturday I went to Cambridge to my friends Toni and Mark's engagement party, then back up to Auckland to go to a wrap party for a short film I was involved in earlier this year. I was a "previsualisation actor" or "previsualisation assistant"... wondering what that is? Well I did the acting out of the scene so that the director could check out camera shots, positioning of actors, etc, and so that he could then say to the real actors "this is what I had in mind". That was a new role for me, never done it before, but it was kinda cool to watch the film and go, oooh I remember this bit but I wasn't there :-) I met some wonderful new people at the party, unfortunately some people I may never see again, but I wait in hope, hehe. (Dan if you're reading this at all, then you'll know who I'm talking about ay ...?). Ran into a couple of people I didn't realise would be there too, that was kinda cool. I got home at about 4am, and slept most of sunday.

Got up in time to shower, have dinner, and head into church. Managed to get a flat tyre on the way, noticed it when I got to town. Decided to leave it for now, went to church and changed it after. That was a new adventure for me, I can now add "tyre changing" to my list of skills :-) Taught myself that wonderful new skill tonight :-)

Well its nearly 3am. I'm somewhat of an insomniac right now. But I start work at 9, so sleep should probably be next on the agenda. But I'm not tired yet :-( I only work for 3 hours tomorrow, so I guess if I can't sleep now I can do so after work. Wonder if my body clock will ever be normal? Nah probably not in my line of work!

My weekend ...

Well its monday night, I've had time to recover from my weekend (which is sunday and monday for me) and its time to let you all know what I got up to.

Saturday: I worked all day, then came home and cooked up one hell of a meal ... damn I can cook! haha. Then I went ice skating (considering starting up my lessons again, I'm having withdrawals!). After skating I went and watched a dvd with my mate Paul, and then had to decide whether I wanted to stay up for the game (ABs vs Sth Africa) or not.

Ended up deciding to go out and take up an invite from a friend to go watch with him and some of his mates at a new bar called Celcius out in East Auckland. Well the game wasn't much to go for really, kinda disappointing, and when you know as many south africans as I do, the text messages after the game can be a little daunting, haha. Had an interesting night, fun but interesting ... (I won't explain that one. There's a limited number of people who will understand. Hmm) But yeah. After the game we all went back to one of the guys houses and hung out for a while, and I ended up getting home at 6am. :-)

Sunday: A few hours sleep then up and off to town at 9.30am, only to find out that some tickets I wanted for a film were already sold out. (the stubbies festival, a collection of short films and music videos). I went to church at 10, then off to visit my friend Mikey. Had coffee at Gloria Jeans, the coffee shop that officially got me to like coffee :-) Then went to the movies to scalp a ticket to the stubbies festival .... hehe (the tickets are free, so I figured there's bound to be spare seats from those who got tickets but didnt show up). As luck would have it, I got in and watched the show. Was good to see some familiar names in the credits of some of them. Then did a bit of shopping round town and off to church at night. It was really good, but I was quite tired. Being so tired, I'm not sure why I went out after, but a group of us went to a cafe in ponsonby.

As you can guess, I slept very very well sunday night ... so well in fact that I got up at 2.30pm today. hehe, gotta love days off. I catch up on like a weeks sleep in one go. Speaking of sleep, I have work in the morning, so its time for me to love ya and leave ya. Until next time .....

long day at work, long nite out

Long tiring day at work ... hmm nothing new there. Was glad for it to be over.

Went out tonight though to The London Shed, a bar in pakuranga for those of you who don't know it. A group of us went to see a mates band play. 4 bands on tonight, they were ... This Found Favour, Jude, Day I Disappear, and These 4 Walls. All pretty good bands, and all in all a good night :-) Went a little later than I expected though, got home at 2am. Lucky I don't start work til 11 tomorrow ay! This week is all a blur so far ... hard to remember what day it is.

Well time to go to bed ... catch up on that beauty sleep ;-)

apparently 2day was my day off

Well monday has been and gone, and it was a pretty full on day considering it was my day off. Started out the day running round town doing odd errands that I've needed to do for like the last 3 weeks. Then for some crazy reason I decided to go to the gym and do Ringside, which is kinda like a kickboxing group fitness class, I'm gonna hurt tomorrow! I managed to take the skin off one of my knuckles during one of the punches ... (mental note: buy hand wraps before the next class, haha).

Then I got to sit round for 3 hours being pampered getting my hair and makeup done by Loreal and a MAC makeup artist. For those of you who know the little things about me, I'm slightly obsessed with MAC makeup, and my inability to afford any of it, haha, so it was kinda exciting getting it done today. Got to get all dressed up too :-) Then I had to spend an hour on stage with 8 other girls modelling for the loreal colour show. Well it was an exhausting day, and honestly by the end of my hair and makeup I didn't look like me at all! Might post a photo on here when I get copies ... maybe :-)

I'm sooo ready to spend the next 12 hours in bed, but alas I have to wake up in 6 hours and go to work, so I'd better get off the computer.
Bye for now!