(Not about elections) End-of-year Wellington: too much fun!

It’s not just me having too much fun with end-of-year-shows in Wellington. Half my friends are also over-committed in November and December this year. During Lockdown #1 (March to June 2020) every event on my calendar was cancelled or postponed. In my case that meant two significant family gatherings, a book launch, poetry readings, a dance symposium, a gerontology conference, a choir concert and a Crows Feet Dance Collective concert.

• Some events have evaporated forever.
• The book launch happened in July, followed by numerous readings. Yay!
• Symposium and conference will happen next year, Covid-permitting.
• And now my friends and I are madly rehearsing for four dance performances and a very special choral concert this month.

Over-committed and a tiny bit stressed, maybe—but we wouldn’t miss a single minute of this end of year fun. We know, yes we know how hugely privileged we are to live in a place and moment where such things are not only possible but permitted and (touch wood) safe.

Tomorrow I take part in one of the marvellous Wellington LitCrawl events, a poetry reading astutely named Spells for 2020. Then there’s one other short reading to cram into November—more fun!

For poetry-lovers and music-lovers in Wellington and nearby, I strongly recommend the Capital Choir’s performance of a moving work uniquely suited to this place and times, Shaky Places. We sing 14 songs based on New Zealand poems, set to music by Felicia Edgecombe. Together they tell a story of an innocent and beautiful world struck by tragedy, and people slowly emerging into strength and peace. These songs were written expressly for our community choir, and were never more relevant to our world.

I might be a wee bit tired for the choir performance after dancing on Friday night and Saturday afternoon in our dance group’s delightful new show, Fashionistas. The Crows Feet are in our 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s, and hey we have fun. Vivaldi, Bach, and Alvo Part and Michelle Scullion keep us on the beat… mostly.

And out of the blue comes another wonderful commitment: The Older The Better, a comic variety show by Hens Teeth, an all-women collective. It’s at Circa Theatre featuring three astonishing nonagenarians. I’m honoured to be one of a revolving band of supporters.

Here’s a tiny poem I wrote for my sister Prue when she turned 60 (or maybe 65). It’s in my new book, How To Be Old.

Your trouble, my friend
is too much fun
and there should be
a lot more of it.