I STILL DREAM

BOUDOIR

WHEN THE PHONE RANG

SUGARTIME



UPDATE

Oops i forgot to link to Sugartime. For those of you in Australia, their burlesque nights are great fun, so watch out for them!

CONFESSION



Not me (but I do have toothache...ouch!)

SMOLDER

WELL?



If not, then have you seen this dog?

CONSPIRACY

POTENCY



One of the most tangibly powerful experiences I had in New Zealand was when I went to Kawhia a couple of years ago. The Tainui tribe had carved a replica of the double-hulled canoe (waka) that they originally arrived in from Hawaiiki, and had a festival to re-enact their landing. We were up before dawn, and entered the Marae (Maori meeting house). The waka was carried down to the water's edge, whilst the female elder welcomed us all and our dead ancestors. A spine-chilling and moving wail.

In the dark, the waka paddled off to the beat of a drum and the chanting of the tribe. It was timed so that when they arrived back, the sun was coming up. I had seen the haka before, but the one that the Tainui did, in the mud, when they got out of the waka was incredible. Not aggressive, but powerful, intense, energetic, passionate, close.

I have total respect for such preservation and endurance of tradition and ritual; something I feel a lot of the West has lost touch with, and that sometimes saddens me. It was an honour to have been welcomed onto the Marae to be part of the whole experience.

SET ADRIFT



I knew then, as I stood at the door,
That it would be the last time.

I can still feel the warm soft of your cheek
Against mine.