winning entry

I recently won a competition on the editred site. It was in the form of a letter reply. If you wish to read it click the following link
http://www.editred.com/Uploads/st_38676_re_karina_letter_challeng

For winning this competition I am going to be mailed a copy of Karina's new book: In times of violence.
I'll write a review about it once I have finished.

I've been on holiday for the last few days and have caught up on various writing projects and and at present wroking my way throuh a book of short stories by Fredrick Forthsyth entitled No Comebacks.

The city bypass is now complete and in use. Various parts of town are now one way and the extra lights that have been installed at the now major intersections have made the city somewhat tricky to drive around. I'm sure though that this will take care of itself in the fullenss of time.

Catttleridge Butcher browns track

I thought it was about time I added a photo of yours truly to the blog. Yes that's me on the left. I took it whist holding the camera at arm’s length.
Anyhow I went tramping yesterday. First trip of the year.
I haven't really had time to compile a descent article about it on mynamelez.com but the following is a breif rundown of the day.




Sunday 25th February 2007

Easy/Medium Cattle Ridge/Butcher/Browns trk, Orongorongo tracks

We met at the Railway station only to find the usual place where we park no longer existed. but there were free (Sunday only) long term parks in Molesworth and Stout street.

There were 14 of us altogether so we pooled three cars and a van and left Wellington Railway Station just after 9am and drove out to Wainuiomata. Passing the main shopping center we made out way down Coast Road and took the turn off to the Rimatuka State Forrest.
Leaving the vehicles at Catchpool carpark, we set off at about 10.05am and headed up to the top of the Butcher track where we saw a self-sufficient house that someone had built. It had a solar powered hot water cylinder on the roof and several solar-powered panels generating electricity. There were also two mini wind turbines.

After a quick morning tea we walked Cattle Ridge (where farmers use to muster Cattle and take them down a goat track to where a Butcher once lived- they call that track, or at least the area The Butcher) for another hour or so then had lunch.

After lunch we took a steep decent down Brown’s Track to the Orongorongo River, which we followed back to the five-mile track. This led us back to the carpark and ended the trip.
As I say I’ll try and write out a more detailed description and post it on my website. Perhaps post a copy here as well. Something to look forward to, I guess.

Cuba Carnies

I went to the Cuba Street Carnival in Wellington today. The place was packed with people purchasing all sorts of things they really didn't need, just to feel that they had done their part for city promotion. There were all sorts of stalls with ethnic foods and juice bars.

Two women entertained the crowd with hula-hoops, while other buskers strummed on gutairs, played violins and bet drums rythmicaly. Even the Morris dancers were out in force, prancing about with their sticks and bells (last year one of them kicked a fellow dancer during what they called a fighting dance. The resulting counter kicks gave the specticle a new perspective).

Having the carnival in the middle of town adding to the insane congestions and oneway roads that are making Wellington a crazy ape bonkers palce to drive in. If you wanted to catch the buss it was only a dollar and some people actually walked (shock horror!). Prising petrol heads from their cars can be somewhat of a difficult task at times. I also wrote another poem. If you wish to read it click the following link.

http://www.editred.com/Uploads/st_33930_A_Supernatural_Chant

Let Me Out Poem

I guess every wirter is proud of certain creations that he/she writes.
The following link will take you to a poem I recently wrote which I am somewhat
pleased with.
It's called Let me out
A Poe type poem about a grave digger that is haunted by the calls for help
he once heard whilst filling in a grave
I named it "Let Me Out"

http://www.editred.com/Uploads/st_30198_Let_Me_Out

Expired

(50 word fiction)

Spinning tires smoked as vines ensnared the car and dragged it deep into the forest. Hungry auto-trolls leaped out from the boughs of gnarly trees gnashing their metallic fangs.

A tumultuous din.

Silence.

Erratic skid marks led back to an expired meter.

Above it stood a sign.

"Maximum parking 120 minutes only."