(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.
Rachel, You continue to inspire me and give me hope for a wonderful future of my own as I get older…keep rocking it girl!
Now it’s especially fun, and with Hens Teeth I get to appear with three brilliant women in their 90s–Sunny Amey, Kate Harcourt and Coral Trimmer!
An exuberantly wonderful way to end the year you inspirational woman. Have fun!
I almost feel survivor guilt, looking at other countries, don’t you? To exacerbate our privilege, we will get the postal vote results of our own election this afternoon and the leader of the opposition says, in so many words, graciously, “no point in worrying about it–we just have to wait and see.” No lawsuits. No chanting mobs. Just democracy, folks.
I should try and get tickets for Crow’s Feet – better check my diary as as you say there is a lot going on. We are off to Beervana and the two dance performances at the New Zealand School of Dance (Here and Now and There and Then) in November at least. Will have to miss LitCrawl though this year.
Can’t do everything, can we? But we can try 🙂
Not sure why I came up as anonymous…..Thistles and Kiwis here ! https://basia329.wordpress.com
This all sounds like so much fun! Am pretty much staying in here in Southern California. Living vicariously virtually.
Maybe next year.
Wow! We’ve just gone back into lockdown. Can’t even visit my flat in London 🙁
So hard. This too will pass. One day.