Kiwi Pro Wrestling

I went to my first ever wrestling event this weekend, it was awesome.

Some of the highlights of the Cossie Carnage event (from a total noob):

• Impressively functional and highly constructed costumes (with all that rough and tumble, I only picked one or two wardrobe malfunctions)
•  Good vs evil alter egos, the dramatic nature of the rivalries were a pleasure to witness.
•  The close proximity between the audience and the physical expression of wrestling, The crowd were very much active participants in the matches in terms of loudly supporting the good guy, booing the baddie and heckling the referees. 
•  Some excellent critique and engagement with gender stereotypes. A couple of male wrestlers utilised aesthetics that are typically associated with femininity whilst performing highly masculine acts of physicality: Johnny Idol wore his hair in pig-tails and Jonnie Juice adapted a sparkly love heart motif. Sadly the level of engagement with racial stereotypes left me wanting more* 
• The overall spectacle was really fun and I look forward to attending more Kiwi Pro Wrestling matches in the future. 

*Researching the representation of indigenous people is my job and I can't turn that shit off - it is very problematic when people are just trying to have a good time. Killjoy, I know.

A giant thanks to my lovely friends Aurora and Dan for inviting me along. As for the blue sky imagery - it is a part of a project I have been working on for the last few months. Two birds, one stone - heart from Sarah.

Summer Plans.

This morning was so beautiful and sunny that i walked to work. By lunchtime it was raining. But it got me dreaming about summertime. Most of my clothes only work for winter/autumn, so i really need to get something a bit more summery. These are things i'm dreaming of right now. No thick jeans and no merino sweaters!

Trying new nail colour today, too. Teal & gold, it looks like lolly wrappers!

x D

the Sprig and Fern Tavern -

I guess the Sprig and Fern would be my 'local', they provide an amazing array of craft beers in a warm, stylish setting.

Devon and I (and our Doc Martens) went along last week, they do a 'tasting tray' for about $18 and you can choose what beer you would like to try. 

Along with great, fresh beers~ Sprig and Fern has a welcoming, community atmosphere. I probably haven't been there enough to call it my local, but I really like their ethos ~ with no television screens or pokie machines, they encourage you to be present in pleasant surroundings. Did I say the beer is really delish too?

They also do flagons, so after our tasting tray; I got two litres of Fern Larger to take home. Cheers Sprig and Fern, see you soonish - Sarah. Check out their website for more details:  http://www.sprigandfern.co.nz/taverns/tinakori-road-wellington.aspx

Fire in Babylon

This is the one of the best documentaries I have ever seen. It is not so much about cricket, but sport as a tool for revitalisation of a culture and beating the colonizer at his own game. Fire in Babylon particularly focuses on the West Indies Cricket Team under the leadership of their first Black captain, Clive Lloyd. It follows Lloyd's team during the 70's and 80's where West Indies cemented their dominance of the sport and the different Caribbean countries were fighting for their independence. 

The whole movie is filled with great accents, amazing 70's fashion (facial hair of particular importance), a beautiful Caribbean aesthetic, rich stories of racism and more significantly empowerment; all interjected with reggae songs about cricket. 

Clive Lloyd and Viv Richards, the keystone figures of WI Cricket

 As a media studies nerd, it was really interesting to see the type of language that the 70's-80's media used to describe these "other" cricketers. Even as the played a 'gentleman's game' they were labelled violent savages. Check it out if you have the opportunity, highly recommended by me (Sarah).

we found a garden

We looked at birds and flowers and had a picnic in the Wellington Botanic Garden

Daisies, green ombre hair, leopard print denim jacket, snake ring from Meadowlark and amythyst ring from a gem market.

Poppies, Docs, sweet stockings, vintage olive dress, thigh tattoo

Magnolia, Docs, Sarah's muscular legs, hand-made tulle skirt, under knee-length socks

Magnolia, fresh hand-poked tattoo, sunnies because it is Spring

Weekend Away Photoset

Lachie and I went away for the weekend.We talked to people who knew the Wairarapa when it was industrious, we walked for hours and then lounged in the afternoon sun. Thanks to Ellena and Capbell and Nina.

-Sarah

Groom Barbers

I haven't paid for a haircut since 2008. I like to do that shit myself ~ and I'm usually pretty good at it too! But  over the weekend, the extent of my self-hairdressing expertise was unsuccessful and I needed professional help. Groom Barbers on Tinakori Road in Thorndon sorted me out. I had never been to a barbers before, it was much cheaper compared regular Wellington salons. The stylist there was really nice and skilled, she set me up with a handsome ass cut.

Groom Barbers are situated just down the road from my whare, later in the afternoon ~ I went back and asked if I could take some pictures. The following set were shot on my new Canon which I'm still getting used to as I have been a Nikon-gal since forever but ye, here are the results:

-Sarah