Iceland - Paris - New Zealand...
Thursday, 19 August 2010 14:17
Arrived back in New Zealand on Monday after a wonderful and very crazy six weeks away.. Again I just can't believe it's been two years since I was last in Iceland! So much has changed and at the same time so little.. June-August is a brilliant time to be there, lots happening, 24 hour daylight and a lot of people enjoying their summer holiday. I like extremes.. Love the coldest part of winter too - the two best times to go if you're planning on visiting Iceland ;) During winter you get the snow and the dark days - it's quite beautiful when you have white snow covering the ground and a pitch black sky, the snow glows.. And the northern lights.. I miss the northern lights. (I have a dvd with video footage but it's just not the same..) Feel like I'm getting a bit sentimental.. A couple of days before leaving Iceland I went into the studio and recorded 3 songs with Haffi Tempó, and Gummi P (brilliant guys) More news on that soon but the plans are exciting..
Then went to Paris! my first time there and already planning to go back! Was completely wowed by all of it! Had some amaaaaazing food/wine! saw some beautiful places/people and walked my feet off!
It's good to be home though.. greeted by two very happy cats and a very cold wind!
Still winter over here! (this is the bit where I would complain but it's actually quite nice and refreshing, coming from a lovely hot summer..) At least we are through the coldest part of it here -and soon it will be Spriiiiiing!
Here are some photos from the trip :)
The volcano 'Eyjafjallajökull'
Jumping at Skógarfoss - waterfall
Jumping at the Glacial lake 'Jökulsárlón'
on the drive - on tour
Big map of Iceland, traveling from left to right..
Icelandic sheep (New Zealand sheep are born with tails!? Icelandic sheep are tail-less)
In Akureyri before the final concert.. needed a nap :)
Sunset at home, in Reykjavik.. (the sun only set a little bit and was still bright outside)
Yes this is Iceland! this is 'Nauthólsvík' beach, complete with imported white sand and hot water pumped into the sea!
Visited my old school.. I was there from 5 or 6 - 11 years old
Have always loved the horned stone sculptures.. spent a lot of time trying to climb them when I was younger..
Haffi Tempó! recording..
in the studio.. 'Hljóðriti'
The naughty sculpture outside 'Laugar' spa.. I fell a little bit in love with this!
and made some very smiley friends in Keflavik!
xo more soon.
There's no need to light a night light on a light night like tonight..
Tuesday, 06 July 2010 06:38
One of my favorite tongue twisters.. and it's so true over here! Daylight 24 hours and summer.. The tour started last week and there are only two shows to go now.. I started at the Ghost museum in Stokkseyri - an awesome venue! there's a lovely article about it here by Reykjavik Grapevine.. their official website is here.
I spent time between concerts at Hella with family, about an hours drive from Reykjavik and just so peaceful.. this is where I did the forest-jumping ;) Everything is so green here at the moment, and I'm loving all the summer wildflowers as I mentioned in the last blog..
Then Oddakirkja was the next concert.. here's a short video I posted on twitter last week..
it's the bell-tower and the view out the window. (very happy cat on the pavement outside)
We also went for a drive to the Volcano area.. but it was so ashy it was hard to see anything.. It settles on things as you can see in this short video.. (recorded in daylight, midnight in Iceland..)
And we bumped into some beautiful Icelandic horses near the volcano.. got out of the car and they came right away to say hello.. got this beautiful but slightly sad picture of them and the ashy sky..
And then there was Reykjavik.. which just rocked. Love the venue (Rosenberg) and had a great night.. then had a bit of a night on the town ;) *I really am still finding the daylight a bit odd..
One more month here and then back to NZ.. via paris!
xo
Who said there are no trees in Iceland?
Wednesday, 30 June 2010 12:24
Landed! and my inner timezone is almost in sync with where I am.. Hit the ground running and just getting into the groove of things now.. Here is some proof there are trees in Iceland.. small ones.. but trees :)
and some beautiful Icelandic wild flowers.. Lupins, sóleyjar, blágresi.. but I'm not sure
what the purple one is.. (would really love to know..)
keeping this super short but will write lots more soon.. the tour starts this weekend..
xox
Voyages..
Friday, 25 June 2010 23:18
I'm at the airport in Paris killing time before I can check in to the flight to Iceland.. Flight from Christchurch to Singapore = 10.5 hours.. 6 hours between flights there (Love Changi airport.. even had time for a bubble bath!) then Singapore to Paris = 13.5hours.. 7 hours in Paris at the airport.. then 3.5 hours to Reykjavik.. So it takes about two days to get to Iceland from New Zealand.. or 27.5 hours in the airJe suis fatigué..
And so here I am in Paris.. and I can't find enough excuses to speak the french I know..
I loved learning it at school and have been on my way here for so long.. Really enjoyed ordering coffee, red wine and pan au chocolat..
But I can't really walk up to someone here and just say 'I'm tired' or 'it's quite hot here' or 'I am really sorry' (or some of the other bits and pieces I know in french..)
Anyway.. I'll be back here just for a few short days in August and will do some walking about so I'm sure at least I'll get a chance to talk about the weather.
Iceland in a few hours.. it really is a bit weird. I can't believe it's been two years! but then again it never feels like any time at all once I'm there and I'm sure it will go by far too quickly. This time I'll be twittering along the way, and will do some more video blogging too..
I'll have a few days to rest (I'm lying.. it will be chaos from landing) but then the first concert will be next weekend.. 1st of July at 'Draugasetrið' which is an Icelandic ghost museum! yes.. GHOST museum! Will talk about it more in the next blog.. then on July 2nd at 'Oddakirkja' again *you can see the video from the last time I was there ..here
And then in Reykjavik at Café Rosenberg on Saturday the 3rd..
The 'Evening Inn' at Pomeroys was wonderful.. we had mulled wine and chocolate and much cosy-ness on a crazy stormy night.. I've been experimenting a bit more on the sewing machine and made my outfit ;) will post photos next time..
Ah summer here I come!
xo
June June June...
Wednesday, 09 June 2010 13:43
It's June.. in case you hadn't noticed.. A little bit scary because time seems to have a will of its own and has sped up on me.. I'm leaving for Iceland in about two weeks! Music month was brilliant! the Al's bar concert was wonderful! it was so nice to re-visit some forgotten songs and be warm and cosy during the rain (it has been raining here in New Zealand for a loooong time now..) Thank you all for making it magical :)
There is ONE more concert here in Christchurch before I head off.. It's at a favorite place that's usually closed on monday nights.. they are opening especially for us... all the info is on the poster below.. I'm quite excited I get to share a favorite thing on the night.. the special treat ;).. Here's the poster:
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The end of Music month got a bit hectic so I forgot to do the last poem post :) So here is a final silly poem from my childhood...
The frog Prince, version 2 (1997)
A frog jumped along,
of the rock in the pond,
he got to a well,
and there was a blond,
She´d dropped her ring,
all the way down,
he decided to bribe her,
then steal her crown.
She was a princess,
with wealth and power,
she had the room ,
in the castle tower,
He wanted her wealth,
he wanted her life,
maybe a kiss,
but not a new wife.
He said to the princess,
I get you the ring,
if you just grant me,
one little thing,
can I come over,
can I have a shower,
can I sleep in the room,
in the castle tower,
for just one night,
you won´t be sad,
I'm just a wee frog,
could I, be bad.
She said, well..... okay,
you can stay one night,
but don't start croaking,
you'll give me a fright.
so all was set,
he didn't have long,
he had to be careful,
for all could go wrong,
so after a shower,
they all went to sleep,
and as they´d been drinking,
they slept real deep,
The frog got ready,
with a gun in one hand,
he slid down the stairs,
on the last step, he'd land.
He went to the bedrooms,
he killed them all,,,
with a victory smile
on his face, (that was small).
He took over the castle,
and all the kings men,
and changed his name,
to Royal Prince Ben.
He lived happy for ever,
in every way,
he's the richest frog
that has lived... Hurray!
A frog jumped along,
of the rock in the pond,
he got to a well,
and there was a blond,
She´d dropped her ring,
all the way down,
he decided to bribe her,
then steal her crown.
She was a princess,
with wealth and power,
she had the room ,
in the castle tower,
He wanted her wealth,
he wanted her life,
maybe a kiss,
but not a new wife.
He said to the princess,
I get you the ring,
if you just grant me,
one little thing,
can I come over,
can I have a shower,
can I sleep in the room,
in the castle tower,
for just one night,
you won´t be sad,
I'm just a wee frog,
could I, be bad.
She said, well..... okay,
you can stay one night,
but don't start croaking,
you'll give me a fright.
so all was set,
he didn't have long,
he had to be careful,
for all could go wrong,
so after a shower,
they all went to sleep,
and as they´d been drinking,
they slept real deep,
The frog got ready,
with a gun in one hand,
he slid down the stairs,
on the last step, he'd land.
He went to the bedrooms,
he killed them all,,,
with a victory smile
on his face, (that was small).
He took over the castle,
and all the kings men,
and changed his name,
to Royal Prince Ben.
He lived happy for ever,
in every way,
he's the richest frog
that has lived... Hurray!
Here's a photo taken at 'the first ever second Laugh inn' at Pomeroys the other day..
The belt and my guitar strap are made by Ágústa - a wonderful Icelandic designer and friend who's just releasing a new label.. check out her stuff here - The material in my guitar strap is redfish ..yep fish :) Photo by Shaun Waugh
And I was sent something so wonderful the other day I just have to share it :) these are the year 4-6 students at Hurunui college (where I went and worked with the older kids in April) performing 'Makebelieve girl' at Assembly.. They are awesome :) :)
xo
Iceland tour dates and white sauce..
Thursday, 20 May 2010 15:09
The Iceland tour dates are up! and here below, the poster can be found in the live section here on the site :) Can't believe it's only a few short weeks away.. it's been about two years since I was last there.. Fimmtudaginn 1 júlí - Draugasetrið, Stokkseyri
Föstudaginn 2 júlí - Oddakirkja, Rangárvöllum
Laugardaginn 3 Júlí - Café Rosenberg, Reykjavík
Föstudaginn 9 júlí - Hótel Framtíð, Djúpavogi
Fimmtudaginn 15 júlí - Græni Hatturinn, Akureyri
and here's the facebook event
Also thought I'd share something with you.. This was made as part of the 48 hour film challenge..
One more poem next week at the end of music month ;)
till then - have wonderful days.
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