random videos of kindness

Red Dwarf I,II,III,IV
Red Dwarf Smeg ups
Daria
Logans Run
Chef

Just a few of the classic titles I've collected over the years. I haven't had the heart to throw them out and there's no where to sell them any more.  I have hoarded a big plastic box full of them and a video player which have been sitting in the garage for about 4 years.   So when I saw a request on Wellington Re-cycle for a video/videos I was really happy.  Finally a place for them to go to where they'll be used! 

A fabulous lady called cynthia came around yesterday.  I had just watched my favourite TED video (see previous post) and was in a great mood when she arrived.  She wanted them for her son, aged 9, and I couldn't be happier.  I had to go through them a bit to make sure I had all the home videos myself (no euphamism!) and point out the potentially above-aged-9-rated tapes.  She was such a lovely lady - american/canadian accent and 5 kids!

I had a big smile on my face when she later sent me a text:
'Thanks again cd. My son was happy and laughing watching Red Dwarf. He said it was one of his favourites.  I heard him exclaiming, oh man! I cant believe i got all these red dwarfs!'

I can just imagine him bouncing up and down as he says it, eyes wide.  :D  Enjoy little guy!



Happiness is a warm TED

This is the best post ever on TED:

http://www.ted.com/talks/shawn_achor_the_happy_secret_to_better_work.html

That's a big claim, I know, but I think when I go back to a single post time and time again, it's gotta be good.  I get excited by this 12 minute speech every time I listen to it!  Amazing.  It supports my setting up this blog in the first place - although I saw it long after I had started this.  It makes me think of http://freshnewday.net/ the blog which I was originally inspired by - it's about finding the good thing that happens each day.  i honestly don't know how this couple managed to fit it into their busy world.

Some of the best quotes from Shawn Achor:

• Amy, you're a baby unicorn!
• If we study what is merely average, we will remain merely average.
• It is the lens through which you view the world which shapes your reality.  If we can re-shape the lens not only can we change your happiness but the outcomes as well.

Reversing the formula for happiness, positivity in the present and seeing the good in life will change your focus and give you a happiness advantage.  Your intelligence rises, your creativity rises, energy levels rise.

Imagine that...

TGIFriday

Before you say anything - yes, I know it's not friday!

Last Friday Wellington turned on the charm.  It's become a chiche but cliches become cliches because they are true - You can't beat Wellington on a good day.  I woke up to blazing sunshine, clear skies and warmth.  I become a different person when the sun is shining - relaxed, positive and motivated (no change there you say!).  I went for a swim at Kilbirnie pool (the best in Welly, if you're looking for one) and came out energised and happy.  As it was so near, I decided to go to the beach; so I got a pizza from Mediterranean Food Warehouse and headed down Lyall bay. 

What more could I want? a good book, a great pizza, sun on my face and the sound of waves in my ears.  This was my view of the world for at least a couple of hours:

Ok, this stupid app has 'corrected' my photo so that it's upright - this is supposed to be on it's side, so please tilt your head to the right and imagine lying on your side - cos that's how I ended up, snoozing on the sand.  Ah Wellington, I loves ya.

Wn On Board

Yesterday a hoard of about 11 people invaded my place!  I didn't even know half of them.

Yesterday was the inaugural meeting of the Wellington On Board gaming group.  For years WN has been short of a central place for people to find out about what's going on in town in the way of games.  As it says on the website

 http://www.meetup.com/WellingtonOnBoard/:

"This is a friendly gaming group with the aim of enjoying meeting people and having fun. Anything to do with gaming - playing, designing, creating rating, collecting - we're into it. Board games, role playing, table top gaming, war-gaming, whatever your favourite flavour - here you can meet people who are into the same things."

So a group of random strangers turned up at my house to play a selection of stuff - some from my collection, some which people brought with them.  We played:

• 7 wonders - to introduce people who were new to games
• Dominion - the classic
• Marrakech - cute little rug-laying game with cute little rugs
• Galaxy Trucker - if you haven't played this, get hold of someone who has it immediately!

The atmosphere was convivial and I think everyone had a good time.  I certainly enjoyed it.  Thanks John for the bubbly to open the show with and thanks everyone for coming and making a success of it!  Here's to many more!

I have really great friends

It's my birthday coming up, yes another 10 years on the planet - let's celebrate!

So I decided to book a batch and do the weekend away thing.  I found a really great, and cheap, place on the south coast.  After being totally shocked at the prices peopel want to charge for a weekend cottage I found Ann's Abodes, a lady who just advertises on her own website (not through the holiday homes websites) and therefore is a bit cheaper than average.  Of course I had no idea what it was going to be like inside - no pictures of the rooms - but it was toally wonderful.  Wood fire, huge living area and amazing view out over the beach.  Very calm and tranquil and NO cellphone cover. 

That was a bit of a shock, to realise there are still places with no cellphone coverage - but we got over it very quickly :}

I'd just like to say a huge thankyou to the 7 people who spent the weekend with me playing games, walking up to the light house, and eating vast quantities of food, I had a fabulous time with you all.  I really enjoyed the startrek crew we became - great costumes even if the mystery itself was a bit convoluted!

There's only one question remaining - how do I get through all the leftover humus, chicken and cheese without ending up twice the size I am now??!!

Thanks James, Sarah, Sharon, Brent, Adrianne, Lisa and Paul, I love you all.

The seasons turn

It may look like a patch of dirt, but this morning this was foot-high with weeds of all flavours, including a horrible creeping thing that grows over everything else if you give it 2 seconds. 

I was talking to a friend on Monday and he told me he was digging holes for fence posts and getting hesian netting up outside.  I was thinking about it and realised that the weather IS getting better and as a consequence, it seems, people are getting out and doing stuff in the garden.  So it's true what they say, spring does affect our mood and our tendancies.  Goodbye to the cold and wind and cold of winter, here come the good times.  I know from living in Brisbane one year that I love the summer, but that without the winter I really wouldn't appreciate it.  That doesn't mean I have to be here for all of it - I'm quite happy to gallivant about the place (overseas) for several weeks of winter but come back to heat pump, scarf and hat so that when the sun shines (like it is today) I can love it with all of my heart!

What's in a walk?

Yesterday I went for a walk.  What's so special about that you say?

In New Zealand we are so spoiled for places to go and enjoy nature.  I have several walks I do near my home so that I don't have to get in the car, but sometimes it's just worth driving 30 minutes to get to one of the many parks around here.  Although everyone likes to complain about the New Zealand government, in many ways they have done great things for us.  Our National Parks are nothing to be sneezed at.  We went to Rimutaka Forest National Park and it was so easy - just drive up to the carpark, follow the signs and in 5 mnutes you can't see more than a few meters for all the trees, ferns, and climbing plants.

It's absolutely fantastic that I can drive half an hour from my home in the city and be in native NZ bush.  There are so many countries where you simply cannot do that.  People have populated so much that it's just impossible to get away from them!  Thanks DOC for beautiful, dense, green, lush, and yesterday squelchy New Zealand native parks.