Weekend social 18/01/2013

Written By: - Date published: 2:00 pm, January 18th, 2013 - 27 comments
Categories: weekend social - Tags:

Christmas truce 1914Weekend social is for non political chat. What’s on for the weekend, gigs, film or book reviews, sports, or whatever.

No politics, no aggro, why can’t we all just get along?

27 comments on “Weekend social 18/01/2013 ”

  1. Ennui in Requiem 1

    The Mosquito…..big boys toy flying around Masterton with company like Spitfires and a Mustang. It is my intention to view these whilst standing in the Ruamahanga trouting.

    Otherwise domestic drudgery involving a paint brush. Plus some subversive planting of winter crops.

    • TheContrarian 1.1

      I am heading up there myself, Ennui, but have bought myself tickets to attend the show on Saturday. My father had a Tiger Moth when I was growing up (he still has it but is too old to fly it) and he used to store it at Hood Aerodrome in Masterton. Going for rides in it when I was a lad gave me a love of old planes – particularly the Spitfire.

      After that – back to Wellington for a nights kip then change into a suit and head to the races. Corporate box this year – might even have a flutter.

      Hope the weather holds.

      • Ennui in Requiem 1.1.1

        Lucky sod! My late fishing buddy was mad on aeroplanes, we would often screech to halt on remote roads to watch “ag”buses” (topdresser planes) launch themselves from impossible places. Mad buggers. Enjoy the day.

    • TheContrarian 1.2

      Ennui – the mosquito was fucking beautiful. In formation with two vampires and a venom jet. Stunning aircraft.

  2. Coronial Typer 2

    Elvis Costello, finally in Auckland.
    I want to hear them do Shipbuilding, even without Chet Baker on the solo.

  3. NickS 3

    Yarrrrrr….

    So, if I do a half and half mix of cheap arse Bunnings compost and potting mix anything I plant in it will be fine right? Rather late this season in getting the chillis and tomatoes started :/

    Oh, and the large plastic planter bags from Bunnings are pretty good too for tomatoes.

    • Ennui in Requiem 3.1

      Methinks Nick, unless you are north of Taupo that toms and chillies are more than a little late to plant. A better option might be to plant some autumn leaf crops like silver beet and cabbages. Sumer down in Wellywood has been a little crap for the plants that are lovers of hot weather.

    • Populuxe1 3.2

      You’ll be fine if you grow your toms and chillis in pots indoors

      • ianmac 3.2.1

        Agapanthas. Someone here had ideas about getting rid of them. (They are spreading like dandruff!) Very hard to dig out. Wonder if I topped them and poured Roundup onto the exposed raw flesh? Or offered them for free on Trademe. Pick your own perhaps. Any ideas? Please?

        • just saying 3.2.1.1

          Hi Ianmac,

          With round-up, I’d advise you to spray all the leaves, twice to be on the safe side, then cut and discard the plant and what roots you can dig out. It wont have died back much in just a few days, but the poison is right through the system, so you don’t have to wait.

          I think your chance of getting someone to come and take your agapanthus out and home with them is zero. Just my opinion.

          I’m in the’ round-up isn’t that toxic’ camp, and don’t even wear gloves when I spray it, even though I’m averse to garden chemicals in general. DoC makes good use of it it managing the conservation estate from invasive exotics.

          • Northshoreguynz 3.2.1.1.1

            You really have to dig out the roots. Can be very hard work.

            • ianmac 3.2.1.1.1.1

              Northshoreguynz: Have started digging them out but the spade bounceback really hurts my joints. Trying to find an alternative.

          • ianmac 3.2.1.1.2

            Just Saying: I don’t think that Roundup will penetrate the leaves but open root flesh might.
            I helped Mike Sexton from DOC kill wilding pines in the Sounds. He drilled holes in the pine treetrunks with a portable drill and I poured straight Roundup (glyphosate) into the holes. The trees started collapsing within a month. (Agreed that Roundup is not toxic to people.)

            I wonder if I used my chainsaw sideways, to lop off the leaves at root level, then poison the exposed flesh????

            • just saying 3.2.1.1.2.1

              I thought round-up was a foliage-only spray?
              I’ve heard of what you describe using woody weed killer (a very toxic herbicide).
              If glysophate can be used in this way, I have a couple of sprouting stumps that it could be useful in dealing with. I don’t like using woody – lots of safety precautions and careful disposal of anything that might have come in contact with it. Glysophate on the other hand has no residual soil activity because it quickly breaks down to its constituent parts.

              • ianmac

                just saying: Guarantee the glyphosate as in Roundup and several other brands using that chemical. Westminster for one. It seems that thick leaved plants like in agapanthas, the poison does not penetrate. Hence the drilled holes in wilding pines, and now my new plan to remove the agapanthas leaves and poison the freshly exposed flesh. Did a trial run with a dozen plants today. Will wait and see???
                I used glyphosate to kill the stump of some “whitey-wood” about 3 years ago and that tree is very dead.
                (For some reason clover does not die with Roundup and even grows better! Like that flyspray that flies seem to enjoy!!!)

                • ianmac

                  That’s pure Roundup not watered down. I used a paintbrush to apply.

                  • NoseViper (The Nose knows)

                    I have a problem, as do many others, because the weed isn’t well enough controlled, with bindweed. I think it is more dangerous than old man’s beard. Thought of pulling a lot out, roots and all and then painting young leaves with strong roundup, perhaps full strength might be needed. But I wasn’t sure what effect that would have. Could it be absorbed by other plants with roots in close proximity I wonder.

                    • ianmac

                      Nose: I also cut some Old Man’s Beard off near the ground last week then dipped the bare stalk into raw Roundup. Hope that that works. If so, should work for bindweed as well. You have to do it quickly while the wound is fresh otherwise the wound seals over.
                      When I was renting once, the neighbour came over and asked if he could deal to a patch of convolvulus that was coming through into his place. He put a few of the leafy ends into a little jar of roundup and left it for a few days. The poison crept down the stem and wiped out the weed in about 10 days.

    • NickS 3.3

      About timing – Last year I had chilli’s outside, growing like weeds until June. same with tomatoes. We’re in for a long, hot summer too, main producers are in the greenhouse, so I shouldn’t have any issues until late March at the very earliest.

      Just need to know if the mix I want to do will hurt the plants 😛

      • Ennui in Requiem 3.3.1

        Mix will be fine I reckon. You must live somewhere hotter than Windytown!

        • NickS 3.3.1.1

          Nothing like those NW 28+ degree to get the plant’s growing 😉

          And thanks, now to buy the it (so. many. kickstarter. game. projects…..)

  4. NoseViper (The Nose knows) 4

    I found a thoughtful piece by Schopenhauer.
    (Came to mind after reading the comments about Key and fainting and Antarctica)
    (His sentences can be too long so I’ve split some up.)

    Schopenhauer Arthur :
    How very paltry and limited the normal human intellect is,
    and how little lucidity there is in the human consciousness, –

    may be judged from the fact that, despite the ephemeral brevity of human life, the uncertainty of our existence and the countless enigmas which press upon us from all sides, –

    everyone does not continually and ceaselessly philosophise, but that only the rarest of exceptions do so.

    The rest live their lives away in this dream not very differently from the animals, from which they are in the end distinguished only by their ability to provide for a few years ahead.

    If they should ever feel any metaphysical need, it is taken care of from above and in advance by the various religions; and these, whatever they may be like, suffice.
    (Probably written about 1850’s.)

  5. Celebrated being able to hear again by finishing (nearly) a track I’ve been hoarding.

    https://soundcloud.com/theal1en/hello-world

    Men Are from Mars, Women from Venus.
    I’m thinking double A side. Same song, different lyrics, a point of view from each.
    I’m thinking me and Ladyhawke in NZ, me and the lovely Lily Allen back in blighty, and Lady Gaga over in the states, but only if she wears sensible clothes for the video. 😆

    Hello World ( Mars)

    Hello World, how you been?
    I’m doing quite well old friend, all things considering.
    I don’t know why I’m in a spin.
    I made myself thin again, old thing considering, considering them.

    Years gone by since I went on trial over them.
    The tears all dried and I won’t cry them again.
    No fears inside on overdrive over them.
    But one more time she spins on by and I bend.

    And though there’s nothing left between us that won’t taste of spite.
    And though there’s nothing left between us that could catch alight.
    And though there’s no love in her acid rain and rings of fire.
    She’s still the one that I needed to stay.
    She’s still the one that’s still needed.

  6. NoseViper (The Nose knows) 6

    Words good. Now I have to go to the link.

    • The Al1en 6.1

      Hope you got the updated vocals. 🙂

      Hello World (Mars) https://soundcloud.com/theal1en/hello-world

      Hello World, how you been?
      I’m doing quite well old friend, all things considering.
      I don’t know why I’m in a spin.
      I made myself thin again, old thing considering, considering them.

      Years gone by since I went on trial over them.
      The tears all dried and I won’t cry them again.
      No fears inside on overdrive over them.
      But one more time she spins on by and I bend.

      And though there’s nothing left between us that won’t taste of spite.
      And though there’s nothing left between us that could set alight.
      And though there’s no love in her acid rain and rings of fire.
      She’s still the one that I needed to stay.
      She’s still the one that I needed.

      Hello World, here’s the thing.
      I’m doing quite well on principle, still invincible, considerable, considering.
      I don’t know why I let her in.
      I made myself go against the grain, old flame/same pain. Considerate, considering them.

      Years gone by since I went on trial over them.
      The skies all died and I won’t fly them again.
      No fears inside to override just for them.
      But one more time she spins my mind and I bend.

      And though there’s nothing left between us that would last a night.
      And there’s a rift so big between us it would capture light.
      And though there’s no love in her acid lakes and hearts desire.
      She’s still the one that I needed to stay.
      She’s still the one that I needed.
      She’s still the one that’s still needed.