The Weekend in Welly

Last weekend in Wellington was all about the music. I got to hear one of Hayden's drummer friends play with a metal band down by Cuba Street, in a club appropriately named Medusa. I also got to hear a jazz quartet (Drums, upright bass and 2 horns) play at a really cool and funky little club called Happy. The group was called the Troubles, which I enjoyed. :-) At Hayden's Uni this month they have a guest artist - sax player Dick Oatts is working with the jazz musicians there. Yesterday I sat to observe a workshop he did with the Uni big band, in which Hayden plays lead alto. Tonight I'll get to see the feature concert that he's doing with the Wellington Jazz Orchestra, which Hayden plays in as well. I'm really looking forward to the concert. So far all the music I've been hearing has been really inspiring for me, and I feel pretty lucky to be here.

2 days and counting until our road trip begins! This afternoon before the concert we'll do some shopping to prepare for it. We'll get some basic food supplies and an ice chest...I mean, a chilli bin, as they call it here.

Its been really fun living in this house with these great people. They love to cook interesting things, usually from scratch, and the meals are always so healthy and satisfying. Last night we tried out two new recipes from an Indian cookbook - a mango and potato curry, and a vegetable curry that we cooked in the hollowed-out center of a really big zucchini, or marrow. Both were awesome, and cleared out your sinuses as a bonus. :-) I cooked peach dumplings for the house this morning, as a way to contribute and also share a little bit of my home with them. The dumplings were a hit! :-) I've also bonded with a few of the girls here through some cookie baking, the best way to make friends. :-)

And now....I'd better wash some dishes.