Sunny Summer Sundays

So, what does one do on a Sunny Summer Sunday in Wellington?
Well, one has a nice lie-in to start with, but then:

The New Zealand Festival of the Arts is in full swing and is offering a lot around literature beside the usual dance, theatre, music and the such. In many of my meetings in the previous week, this had been mentioned so I booked tickets to a few events.

I started my late day with a 'conversation' with Alan Duff in the Michael Fowler Centre. Alan Duff was presenting his new book, "A conversation with my country". Best known to me as the author of the novel "Once were warriors" that was made into an impressive film, I discovered him as a highly critical and creative person. Half-Maori on his mother's side, he has delved deep into this side of his life.
His new book is rich in insights. "Returned from living in France, he views his country with fresh eyes, as it is now: homing in on the crises in parenting, our prisons, education and welfare systems, and a growing culture of entitlement that entraps Pakeha and Maori alike." A chapter per topic.
I had a look at the book but it was sold out at the Festival book stand.
Having been saved by re-discovering books aged 15 (his dad is a scientist and his grand-dad a writer), Duff has cofounded "Duffy Books at Home" bringing millions of books in the homes of millions of people who can't afford to have any. There is still a lot of anger in his energy but, like he says himself, he has learned to channel it in creativity and constructiveness.
The Festival bookshop was out of copies by the time I got there but I managed to appropriate another beauty of a book that was presented earlier that day in my absence: "We are here" (see further)

Before heading to my second conference I had a few hours to kill so I headed with my Ukulele to a Uke-in up Cuba street. This was my first experience of such a Uke Jam where ukulele players bring their instruments and the organisers provide scores and a location to just play together. 

Now I know that I could play ukulele practically every day of the week in Wellington and surroundings. The "New Zealand Ukulele Network" is the Facebook page to be.

There was still an hour to kill so I headed to my favourite café for a cup of tea, a late lunch/early supper and a read in my beautiful new book "We are here, An atlas of Aotearoa" by Chris McDowall and Tim Denee. It is gorgeous both visually and content-wise! check out some of the content here.

The day neared a closing with a conversation between authors Catherine Robertson, Bronwyn Sell and (British) Lucy-Ann Holmes on issues such as their creative journeys or how society in general and the literary world more specifically treat literature by women and for women.

For my stroll back home, I chose the way leading along the water and all the activity in the little time left before sunset. Walking around in Wellington, it is easy to forget how near to the water you always are.

Have a nice week!
Nga mihi