Hey everyone!
Hey, well i've been hanging out here for about three weeks now, so i'm probably overdue for a basic introduction. I'm a horticulturist, literary dilletante living in relative solitude in small town New Zealand. Just recently shifted to this town and the only people i know here are work colleagues and the pathetic drunks at the local pub. Perhaps i'm being judgemental, but they seem to have the combined intelligence of a wet sponge, and appear to believe that reading is the past time of nerds or stuck up pretenious assholes. The plan is to finish the year out on the orchard, then go to university (or college as some of you call it) to study english literature.
Was attracted to this site after reading some passages from Chuck's writing programme. Have been here for a bit, generally making a fool of myself and regularly getting caught up in debate trying to defend certain authors. The place has an excellent vibe so i intend to hang around while trying not to be argumentative bastard who throws of the unique balance that the regulars have established here. In short i'm a simple man who is an avid reader, big drinker (i think Tom Waits put it best when he said 'I'd rather have a drink in front of me than a frontal lobotamy') and general odd sort. Here is a pic that shows the view from the orchard i live and work on 
Hi Moonjumper. You're right, the orchard is just a short drive out of Nelson, in Motueka. Hehe, haven't quite worked out the proper format for posting photos yet, hence the size. I'm going to do my BA in English Lit also, in Dunedin at Otago.
Luckily Nelson isn't too far from where i live and it has lots of really good second hand bookstores. Which is fortunate, because the local library has a very dismal selection. Thanks for the welcome!
Aaah Mot. About 11 years ago I had some delicious blueberry pancakes there on my way back from The Gathering (new years dance festival thing).
I'm glad you can get your hands on some decent books.
An easy way to post photos (for me anyway) is from photobucket.com, just copy and paste the html code I think it is.
You guys speak English down there?
I feel more like I do now than I did before.
Haha, yeah English is the main language here. A lot of people can speak basic Maori, but English is far more common.
Was almost thinking of studying in Wellington Rosie, but decided against it because it seems like an expensive city for a student to live in.
I think you are probably right about it being an expensive place to live, especially rent wise. Dunners sounds like a really fun place to study if you like beer and couch burning. I don't know what their English Lit papers are like. If you're into creative writing I think Wellington is the place to be with Bill Manhire's writing course at Vic.
RosiePosie is our resident pancake expert.
This is why we can't have nice things.
Welcome kiwi friend !
You're lucky Sarah's a cultie, because she's been representing New Zealand and everybody adores her.
Welcome!
Yeahhh Go the All Blacks. Hey Robert, are you going to the World Cup this year?
"I hope you realise the story you're telling yourself, because every day you die for it."
Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome!!! Quite excited about the World Cup, have just brought tickets for a few games today. Sadly none of the semis or finals, but it should still be epic.
Pffft finals are like $1500. Screw that.
Agreed, the pool games weren't too bad, at about $30 a piece. And the atmosphere will probably be just as noisy/insane watching the games at the pub.
Welcome!
Awwwwwwwwww. Thanks Imke.
Yeah totally. I think they've even gone up again now. They're trying to sell "Finals Packages" here for $10K!
I'm taking my Grandad. He lives there. I can't wait.
"I hope you realise the story you're telling yourself, because every day you die for it."
Ten Grand? Holy crap!
Yeah Rosie, Crazy hey!
"I hope you realise the story you're telling yourself, because every day you die for it."
Hi there, I'm a kiwi too.
That picture is giant! Where is the Orchard? My guess is Nelson. Where do you plan to study? I did my BA in English Lit in Wellington at Victoria. Actually that's where I work now too funnily enough.
In a small town how do you get your hands on good books? I hope there's a good library or book shop close by.
Welcome to the cult.