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I have always been fascinated by nature. As a child I would catch butterflies in my bug-catcher and observe them before letting them go. My brother preferred them to be pinned to polystyrene in an obscene collection. I would also make frequent trips to the rocky shore and spend hours turning over rocks to discover the limpets, crabs and starfish underneath. I doubt if many kids today would know what a limpet is. Sad.
As you can see, I love dolphins. They are awesome creatures - streamlined, intelligent, protective and friendly. I swam with wild dolphins while snorkelling in Australia and it was an awesome experience. I don't like to see them swimming round and round confined to the walls of their concrete prisons and performing for human gratification - I like to see them in the wild, free to roam the world's vast oceans without fear of getting caught in dragnets. I live in hope.
I don't like people who take advantage of me to suit their own ends. Because I am a generous person and find it difficult to say no if someone needs my help, this has happened many times - but in the end, such people find themselves off my Christmas card list.
I started a psychology degree many years ago and lately I have a hankering to return to study. What makes people tick fascinates me, especially when it comes to men. I just need to find the time.
I like to write, as my blogs show. I don't mind sharing my innermost thoughts and feelings and I like to receive different points of view so I can view any given situation from all angles. I am currently writing my first novel. I plan to finish it before I hit the retirement home!
I gained my private pilot's licence in mid-1990 (oh, happy day!) and still love to burn some avgas from time to time, though it's an expensive hobby. It's a great way to escape all of life's crap for a while. I got into aviation via my best friend who was training to be a pilot at the time and thought it a good thing for me, as I had a fear of flying. Still do - but not when I'm Pilot in Command!
I am also interested in music, photography, architecture, the great outdoors (New Zealand has some mind-blowing scenery)and I'm back on the social scene now that my boys are more independent.
After more than 21 years in the same job and a horrible year, I am planning to take some time off to travel. Starting in January next year, I plan to visit Italy, Greece, Scotland, Ireland, France (Paris in particular) and end up in a quaint little place in the UK somewhere (such as Glastonbury)and find work for about eight months, before returning to Napier and starting a new career.
I like playing pool (which cue, the far cue!), dancing and going to gigs. I haven't been to a gig in a while, I will have to rectify that!
BJ Cunningham;
The Finn Brothers;
Goldfrapp;
Freddie Mercury in another life;
Ditto Princess Diana;
Tina Turner - again;
David Letterman
It is cruel, you know, that music should be so beautiful. It has the beauty of loneliness and of pain: of strength and freedom. The beauty of disappointment and never-satisfied love. The cruel beauty of nature, and everlasting beauty of monotony - BJ Cunningham.
I was singing before I could walk and over the years I've sung in many styles - classical, opera (great for voice training and breath control), rock, folk, blues, pop, etc - so I'm open to anything. Lately I'm becoming a punk fan, believe it or not!
I love Goldfrapp. Unique. Awesome lyrics. They're great to have around if I'm feeling amorous, too!
Queen is my fave band of all time (Bohemian Rhapsody is always #1).
Simple Minds and New Order get me going. U2 are brilliant. Nathan Haines is exotic and haunting. Elton John rocks!
I like Kiwi bands, esp Split Enz, The Finn Brothers (in particular the extraordinary "A Life Between Us"), Flight of the Conchords, Bic Runga, Boh Runga, Dave Dobbyn, Goldenhorse (that chick has an awesome voice), dDub and Elemeno P. Oh, and The Pukes are up there now, too!
I began singing lessons when I was almost three (the first song I sang for my singing teacher was Incy Wincy Spider and I still remember being up on the stage and doing it!) and still sing every day.
Some of my fave artists from way back are David Bowie, Tina Turner, U2, Queen (esp Freddie), Black Sabbath, Uriah Heep, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Van Halen, The Beatles, Elvis (the King), Elvis (Costello) - but I also enjoy the pop charts and especially British bands. The Beat are awesome. Cinderpop are cool, too. Aussie Missy Higgins rocks.
Lately I find myself drawn to Indian music - it's alluring and sexy. The same goes for sounds from Vienna. El yummo.
I am an avid movie-watcher. I like a few chick flicks such as 50 First Dates, Sliding Doors and Pretty Woman - but I enjoy most genres.
The Blues Brothers is cool. Trainspotting makes you think. So does Moulin Rouge.
Love the Matrix, Matrix Reloaded and Matrix Revolution trilogy (still go back to them).
An old favourite is Labyrinth because The Thin White Duke stars in it and the script is magic. I am still a big fan of make-believe and using one's imagination, may the child in me never grow up!
I also like war movies such as Saving Private Ryan, anything with Johnny Depp in it, and films based on true stories.
The L Word - fantastic, The Brittas Empire, Chewin' The Fat, The Young Ones, Only Fools And Horses, The Office ... I love a good laugh and tune into British comedy as often as I can. Blackadder cracks me up, as does Billy Connolly - he's just brilliant.
I'm not a huge fan of American TV but I do enjoy The David Letterman Show, The Simpsons, Friends (even the endless re-runs) and M*A*S*H (at the age of 12 I was hopelessly in love with the then-very-sexy Alan Alda). M*A*S*H gave me a deeper understanding of war and its fallout more than any book, news item or doco could.
Running With Scissors, by Augusten Burroughs - I've been reviewing this memoir recently and I have to say, it's revolting. I just couldn't put it down.
Pure Mental (Graeme Cornwallis) is the longest continuous laugh I've got out of a book for ages - Scottish humour at its very best.
David Letterman - you gotta laugh in the midst of despair.
I do have just one other hero but he probably wouldn't consider himself a hero or want to see himself featured here in the Heroes space - so he shall remain nameless.