60 Again

The big day dawns. I'm too excited to stay in bed and read my book so get on my bike. Reoxygenated blood peps me up and I'm ready for party jobs. There's always more than you imagine but today they go well because I've got a team on board: Kahu, John, Chris, Anjie. We don't plan we just do. Everything gets done in spectacular fashion, especially the moving of the pool table from up the lane. It's a tight fit in places so I assume the role of Health and Safety Officer. This table won't move again. 

Anjie is super efficient and super practical. We move furniture while the boys are at the supermarket and Kahu is tidying his room. There's lights, glasses, food, dishes... then I get dressed. Saves last minute stress and I work better when I'm on top of the small things. John comes back from the shopping trip with fluro g-strings and bras- one for him, one for Will. Outrageous it is. He has volunteered himself and Will to man the door. They look shocking, but that's the point, and line up Mexcal shots for guests and themselves. 

We're off to a good start. Rene begins with Afro beat. People sream in with Margo and Steve on the sofa at the top of the steps in their see through and high rise gear. Lots of chat, drinks and some chocolate. The party begins to take shape. People wander up and down the hall... the David Bowies take pictures in the doorway of Chris's room... Kahu stays in his room receiving guests. I wander round hostessing, sipping drinks, nibbling and keeping an eye on things. It doesn't take long for the party to take off. Scoff's disco jam gets fills the living room. I've given him a play list which starts with disco and I wait for him to move on but he stays with it. I lose track but keep dancing. And chatting. And quaffing wine. I'm 60 and it's all good. I hear John tapping a glass till there's quiet and he speaks, as him who has known me longest. Since high school, 15. At one point he drops to his knee and does a mock proposal. Unexpected. Never know how to take him. A wet towel I've been mopping spillages with gets passed around for people to speak. They start with, "I met Jillian when..." It's reaffirming and works as an impromptu. Amana has made me a cake, big enough for one candle. All I need. 

I get the towel and send us back to boogie wonderland. That's what we're here for. I'm loving having people from all walks in one place: old flatmates from different stages of my life...Deanna, Lyndon, who also did the building for my EQC fix, Heather, another friend from ex-boyfriend David days, and my second stay in London when I also met Chris. Her son, Oscar, and Kahu went through school and played rugby together. There's Convergence friends, some Pap High people, the party crowd, Judith, Karen and Patsy, and Chris's mates. So many connections, and we're partying hard. Kahu lobbies to party with his friends and gets a ride from Judith.

The music goes on and on. The kitchen gets more outrageous, eventually I sit down. It's half 3. I chew the fat with Armana and drift in and out. I wake, look at the clock and hit the hay at 4:15. There's party goers around but Chris is up and tidying glasses. John is in my bed, he has permission. I climb over and slip into blissful slumber. It's been a big night. 

Party Build Up

 I do three periods of relief. The Year 9 class period 1 are really rude. That's typical of their cohort but makes me wonder what's happened along the way. They know how to behave, everybody does. They just don't know enough about respect and have been too difficult to manage. Boundaries are nearly non-existent for some of them. And the Year 10 class period 6. They are a bit more mature, sort of. It's last period Friday and they're ready to cut out for the weekend. So am I but I can't ignore the girl with the village hall voice who shouts, "Penis," until I kick her out. Really not sure what was going on in her head. 

The bell goes and I drive to pick up my old mate, John Dainty, he of the Walking in Light book which I edited at the end of 2013. His chronicle of walking from Bluff to Cape Reinga with no money. And walking, rides refused unless someone dropped him back to resume from the same spot. I take him to the house for a catch up but we look through the windows. Lance is busy with the paint brush...dust is the enemy. From outside the shower looks small. Too late. 

Next stop, party mission at Anjie's. I climb into her ceiling space which is set up to store preserving jars, dress ups, musical instruments, and other peoples' stuff, mine included. We go through the racks and I pick a dress which is actually mine, and a negligee of Anjie's. John comes up to fossick. Mission accomplished. 

Will arrives with oysters. We plate them up with chilli powder, pickled onion vinegar and some onion. I manage three before I feel like I'm swallowing sea water. They're delicate. John's drawn a picture of the old house and underneath is

22 Things I learn't while at the College in the Woods

Celebrate often, Plant gardens, Keep family together at all costs, Be colourful, Be welcoming to friends at all times and have a place for them to sleep, Always have a book to read, Have music flowing through your home, Have a couch on your porch, Acknowledge the teachers that touched you in your life, Give gifts of food to people, Listen to student radio- it keeps you young, Be careful with fireworks, Embrace the fantasy world of the child, Stand up for principals, Support artists and have art in your home, Cats called Pierre can be tres illusoire, Pickle onions, Garages can be delapidated and still function, Door knobs can be confusing, Being able to cook is a gift to everybody, Have a brazier and gather around its fire with friends, Some butters are higher quality than others.

And that nicely sums it up.

Peter Poser

Wooden posts for the laundry

Speeches

Thursday and my life at school is about speeches. Otherwise it's 22 College Ave. We're watching Lance while he's doing his level best to get the place painted. Then we can move to floors. Kahu and I drop by and Lance is sanding and tidying up the demo doors so they look brand new. I take a look at the place the basin spout is going for the bath. It looks ok, not as far back as I'd thought. Maybe this combination will work. Fingers crossed. Otherwise I'll be able to swop it for the bath spout which, according to Sherrill and the guy at Perrin, is very bulky. There's some daffodils out in the garden and I take them back to Upper Crichton. There's no-one to appreciate them at home.

Social volleyball and the highly unusual occurrence of our team winning. We didn't choke for once.

Push Comes to Shove

For the second day in a row I try to get Kahu to shovel dirt into the planter boxes after school. I've even brought his gum boots. For the second day in a row he protests he can't due to not wanting to get his jeans muddy. Push might have to come to shove soon. 

In the meantime life goes on searching for sockets and light switches. Ever decreasing circles. I'm getting to know a lot of people. And seeing mates in their "offices." Mates rates...the two tier price system again.

Stepping Up

I feel like I've had a bit of respite from house issues while Lance gets on with the painting. He's been painting since he was 15 and nothing goes wrong when he's on the job. But the bath is taking centre stage and today I need to sort the spout. I take the offending basin spout to Edward Gibbon. Sherrill has done Perrin and Rowe research and we can't just swop spouts. There are fittings in the wall which are not interchangeable and will need to be taken out. Sounds messy so I consider the option of a shorter spout which Sherrill assures me should work. Both of us had a haunted night's sleep under the full moon last night thinking about it. First world problem but I can't ignore it nevertheless. I leave hoping everything will be alright. The bath is becoming a cast iron menace and the spout a liquid nightmare.

Back at the house Lance gives his opinion on paint for the spare bedroom wall. Better to Half Bianca it and maybe change it later. Anyway it's better to wait till the Tasmanian Blackwood is down so we can see the colour melange created by all the elements. Foresight would be a great thing. As far as I can see, when building a house it's better to have patience.