Switched course of study, highs and lows...educating Tanya

I thoroughly enjoyed studying the Cerificate of Design and Art at Unitec, Mt Albert campus, last year. For personal reasons, last year was a bit of a toughie, so the course was something of a life-saver. My time there absolutely flew and I felt that my interest in art and art making really grew and developed. I  learned to look at art/practioners in a fresh way. Mostly I painted my way through the course, though I did have a go at both graphic design and photograhy as well. All very enjoyable. Met lots of interesting people, mostly younger than myself (no, I'm not ancient yet), but some near my age as well. Overall, it was a very enriching experience, and I believe, certificate level is an excellent introduction to tertiary study. Having left school at sixteen, I have often regretted not going to Uni when I should have. I ended up going from job to job with no real fulfullment. Returning to study, was the only way out of this dilemma, I decided. Especially as my job had dried up, anyway. For me, starting at certificate level served as an excellent taster and introduction of just what is involved in tertiary study, and what the expectations/requirements are for success and high grades. The staff are very committed to helping the students through the course, and the on-campus facilities are fantastic. You couldn't ask for better.

Being rather indecisive at times, I almost continued this line of study, and I was going to undertake a degree in Visual Arts. However, the field of Social Practice and social work really interests me as well, and in the end, I decided upon the latter as I can paint my my spare time, and maybe bring it into a social context at a future date. I do need to look towards employment though, and this is why I decided to undertake the Social Practice degree instead.
I will greatly  miss the greenery  and space of the Mt Albert campus, but it is nice to be near the Henderson mall, movies, shops etc, (not that I'll have time for movies, etc!) if further away from home. I would still like to undertake a painting degree at a later date, perhaps extramurally. I love the thought of working within the social services as well, and could maybe combine this with my creative bent. Being a nightowl, I can always paint into the small hours...

I've already met a diverse range of people at the Waitakere campus. There is much reading, research and writing to be done. Yikes. Scary stuff, but also very exciting. The only real low overall is the fact that I cannot study both degrees at once, much as I would like to! Also, I will miss the people I met last year, though I will try to keep in touch.  Such a privilege, higher education, whatever the discipline. I am hoping at the end of my degree to obtain not just a job, but a career, that I will love and grow in, while helping others at the same time. Awesome. Lots of politics involved, too. Just up my alley...this blog may well become even more neglected than it's been of late. Hopefully not! It's something I enjoy doing/coming back to, now and again.

Moved house, online at last. Yay!

It's so nice to be connected to the global village once again. Having a computer without the internet is akin to having a car without wheels. Can't go anywhere, stuck in a timewarp. So, it's nice to be connected again, and to get back to writing here, when I can. Now that I'm studying full-time for a degree in Sociology, my time is going to be limited. I enjoy blogging though, and it's something that does not take long.

Having spent a month off-line, as I admit, I am no electronic boffin (in setting up the  blasted thing, found help at last! Yes, I'm hopeless with gadgets at times!), I have really missed my on-line fixes, including the political blogosphere. It's annoying relying only on the printed word for latest events/ commentary, because it's so slanted and limited. Having missed all the latest political online hullabaloo, I am now in catch-up mode. Put simply, I could hug my internet, and my kind helper.Yipee! Now to the blogs...this could take a while...

The King's Speech

Wanting an escape from the stress and hard work of shifting house, (though of course, nothing compared to having to what Canterbury is going through) and just needing a break, I decided to visit the cinema. Refreshing indeed.

There was plenty of gritty-looking movies to choose from, but I am glad I picked the above, The King's Speech. I just loved every moment and every detail, from the wonderful acting by a sublime cast, including Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham-Carter and of course, the illustrious Colin Firth. Really enjoyed the lush sets, the history lesson and the story itself, which was never boring or stuffy. Who would have thought a film about a stutterer would work, but it does, and it is a humane, thoughtful subject. It also gives one an interesting look into the imagined inner-lives of royalty

A film that was different, told a brave tale, and with sublime production values, ala Merchant-Ivory. Of the other Oscar contenders I have only seen Black Swan, (average, I thought), and the Social Network. I am glad that the top prize went to the King's Speech, very well deserved. It's great to see 'films' getting made again, rather than action-packed 'movies. True Grit looks really good, as does Conviction. At the moment, a sublime feast of quality cinematic joys seem to be on offer. Black Swan was never dull, but I felt it relied too much on shock value, rather than a really good script. It had the potential to be awesome, but I was disappointed. A potentially great story not fufulling its promise, in my view.. Also, there is very little ballet in it., overall, nor much realism. For a good ballet movie, 1977's The Turning Point, starring Anne Bancroft and Shirley McClaine, is still very very hard to beat! Anyway, loved The King's Speech. This is how they used to make them!

 My worst movie of the year absolutely has to be the ghaslty Burlesque, which I found cheesy, cliched and just plain boring. The dancing was dull, the characters harsh and unappealing, the story a rehash of smoky Hollywood B-graders. Only the singing was remotely interesting, but I could not wait for the end credits to roll. Cher's myriad talents were sorely wasted on this glitzy puff, which is a real shame. Suffering through Burlesque made me wish I was watching Silkwood instead. (A film where Cher matches Meryl Streep every step of the way).

I did enjoy the Social Network, but for me, it was a tad glib and glossy, although fascinating all the same.  So, The King's Speech is without a doubt my favourite movie of the year, having all the incrediants of a long-lasting, well-made and memorable film. And not one computerised special effect in sight, thank goodness! Instead it relied on the timeless values of great acting, a wonderful script and divine, lush cinematography. Loved the sets and the costumes, too. The story is original and fascinating. An unusual subject, handled with panache. A touch of the historical as well. What more could you ask for?

An excellent year for good films overall, it's so neat to have such a strong bunch in contention for the accolades and awards. Reminds me of the great (retro) times past! Keep them coming, and just maybe, the public will return en mass to the joys of great and lasting cinema.

Christchurch Chaos

My thoughts and best wishes to everyone affected by the quake. Poor old Christchurch, even worse this time, with death and injury involved.  Is someone trying to get our attention, I wonder? It would perhaps seem so. The sight of the collapsed cathedral is heart-wrenching as well. Very tough break for Christchurch. and its residents. A sad day. May God be with Christchurch and its people, right now. Tragedy again, and the timing was much worse this time. Prayers. It certainly puts my own 'rental' problems into perspective, that's for sure. Kia Kaha.

Rental Chaos in Supercity land, (and elsewhere).

Tried renting a home lately? What a nightmare. I have been looking for a two to three bedroom place in West Auckland, and the going is really really tough. Everything available is snapped up really fast, and yet, I've seen nothing but pretty depressing dumps, with large price tags attached. And as usual, no pets, rah, rah, rah. My cats have to be rehomed, sadly. I wonder, how many families with kids are going to end up in relatives garages, or worse, with absolutely nowhere to go at all. What has caused the problem, outside of the recession. Where have all the rentals gone to? It would seem, many landlords are cashing up their own home, and moving back into their rentals. Landlords can no longer claim losses on depreciation, Homes are also taking longer to sell, it would seem, so this must be a factor also. Luckily for my family and I, we have a friend who is letting us move into their soon-to-be empty apartment in Te Atatu South, but without this avenue, my family and I would be well and truly up the creek, without a paddle, or should I say, home. What can the govt do to help this dire situation, and how much worse will it get from here, I wonder? Much worse before it gets better, I bet. Much, much worse. Scary indeed. And not to mention, very, very expensive for what you get! Ouch!

There are no jobs, Mr Key...

Why did we bother changing the government, I often wonder. What with the smacking referendum being ignored, the ETS being shafted upon us, the EFA being re-done, and the unemployed now being blamed for their often blameless situation (as in, just where are the jobs?),  I really do feel as though I blew my vote.

The jobs are just not there, and the few that remain often receive hundreds of applicants. Just ridiculous. Where's the empathy from John and Bill now, the empathy I thought I saw while they sat on the Opposition benches. Long gone, that's where. The low-paid get almost no tax-breaks, while the wealthy are continually rewarded. What ever happened to my block of cheese, I wonder? So much for a brighter future, smaller government, or fairness and transparency...utter disappointment this watery government and it's photo-obsessed leader.

Still, once bitten, twice shy. I won't be voting for purpled, deaf National come November. And where to turn this year? In one word; Winston, The stark and obvious choice.

Cats, and kittens, birds and fish...

While I meant to attend Phil Goff's State of the Nation speech (just for the fun of it, and because I live nearby to the New Lynn venue ), I ended up drivng my kids out to the SPCA instead, where for the paltry sum of $50.00 (half price at the moment, a summer special...), we adopted ourselves a cat. The staff and volunteers out there were really friendly and helpful, and there were some very cute kitties and cats available for adoption. Being a busy mum and part-time student, I decdied to go for a cat rather than a kitten, just seemed wiser especially as we already have a fully grown moggie. Anyway, we ended up with a lovely slinky, fluffy, dark brown female feline, with enormous yellow eyes. She is gentle and shy, and sweet natured. Settled in in no time at all, and is vice free.

So, my eldest son, an absolute animal-lover, now has two cats, two budgies and several fish. Fun indeed. Yep, he is really devoted, despite the work involved...might have to move to a farm...yes, how I wish!...Adopting a cat or kitten from the SPCA...recommended. The kids really enjoyed seeing the animals, choosing a pet, finding a name, settling her in, saving a life, and having a new animal friend. Purrfect.

Roll on Parliament though, I can't wait for the House debates to resume, this political junkie is feeling rather starved...am so glad it's election year, an added bonus.