Wellington Peeps

I’ve been taking a decent amount of pictures since I arrived but it’s only when I go to Deirdre and Nahum’s that I can download pictures, so we’re not really talking real-time documentation of my Big Overseas Experience up in here. Most of these are from at least a month ago, and a lot has changed since then. I don’t even have any photos yet of my new house or my new housemate or my new duvet cover, none of which is even that new anymore, in the grand scheme of life. My laptop is on its way over here though, soon, so one day I hope not to have such a delay between the time of my taking a terribly-composed-and-exposed picture and the time of my sharing it with the internet. In the meantime, want to meet some of my Wellington homies?

Here’s Deirdre. This was taken the very first night I arrived in Wellington, and by her expression you can tell that I’m blabbering “HEY HI I JUST GOT OFF A BUS AND I KNOW I DON’T KNOW YOU BUT GOSH IT WAS NICE OF YOU TO PICK ME UP FROM THE STATION AND GIVE ME FISH AND CHIPS HEY WOULD YOU HOLD MY OCTOPUS HEH HEH HOO BOY THAT SOUNDS DIRTY UM AWKWARD SO CAN YOU JUST HOLD IT WHILE I GET A PICTURE THANKS OH MAN I’M TIRED I’M NOT SO SURE ABOUT THAT HOSTEL.” Deirdre continues to hang out with me for some reason.

And here is one of my favorite pictures, of Richard and Bridget, taken on a walk to Oriental Parade one overcast Sunday almost two months ago. These guys left Wellington just last weekend and I already miss them very much. My Flickr page is full of Bridget, with captions like “Bridget = Great” and “My girlfriend Bridget, caught in a moment of contemplation” and “Bridget is pretty” and “I like Bridget.” I can’t imagine the Maple Lodge without them.

Wait, did I say the above was my favorite picture of them? I totally lied. This is my favorite picture of them, or indeed of any human beings. This was taken at the 80s party we had at the Lodge to celebrate the aforementioned Bridget’s birthday. What’s the best part of this picture, do you think? Is it Richard’s smarmalicious shades or his foul facial hair? Is it Bridget’s Dynasty shirt (complete with shoulder pads) or her glitter eyeshadow? So difficult to decide. That was such a fun night. I’m sorry now I gave up and went to bed at midnight and didn’t get to go dancing with them.

Here’s the birthday cake. Instead of a candle? She has a lit cigarette on there.

And here we are with Miriam, looking very serious about this 80s party indeed.

Here are a couple of the boys. This wasn’t at the 80s party, though. This is just how they dress. (Seriously, for the week after, Ben would not take off that tie-dyed jacket. And everyone wanted to wear his headband, too).

Here is the beautiful and talented Nicole, who makes extremely fantastic purses, two of which I now own, looking very hot in a tie.

And here’s Big Mike, who is apparently sitting in judgment upon you, that he may write your name in the book of the damned I assume he’s holding.

I could have sworn I red-eyed this, but here’s the fantastic Shona, about to leap out of the picture and yell “HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!”

And here’s my girl Jill. She runs the Lodge and when I heard her lovely Scottish voice over the phone that first Sunday morning I was in Wellington, trying desperately to get out of the ooky scary hostel, telling me that she had one bed left at the Lodge, I knew everything was going to be all right.

Here is the lovely Cherie, who was my roommate for a week at the Lodge and has since taken up permanent residence in my heart. She is gorgeous and fun and now lives just a couple blocks down the road from me in Island Bay.

Here is Huw at his very own housewarming party, dressed as a terrifying yellow monster. Please note his lovely flowing locks emerging from his monster-head neck.

Here are some non-Lodge people: my workmates Sarah and Alex, the day we went on the rainy sheep hike. Kelly is ostensibly in this picture too but I’m not too good at the arm’s-length photo thing.

And here, because I just can’t get enough of myself, is what I’m looking like lately, feather boa and all.