Triumph over O C D and G

Last weekend a family brunch marked another successfully completed year of my life. This particular birthday necessitated the renewal of my driver's licence. This would mean an eye test, and it would appear I am related to a genetically weakened lot in this respect. Younger or older, they all had licence endorsements requiring the wearing of glasses.

Lots of my friends and associates also wear glasses and without exception look just fine, but for some reason I really don't suit them. I've tried on all sorts of shapes and sizes and I just look awkward. I don't achieve the sophisticated look, the wise and thoughtful look, or even the chic geek that is currently so trendy. I also don't like the way they feel, the way the frame is always in the view and the way wearers end up with those nasty little grooves on the sides of the bridge of the nose. I do actually own both regular and reading prescribed glasses, and sometimes I wear them. The reading ones are useful, the others make little difference. When I do wear them it is because I want and need to. I don't want to be required to wear them. 

So it was very important I do well in the eye test. To this end, I arrived at the opening of my local AA when my eyes were well rested, unwearied from a busy day of looking. Most of the letters on the test line were obliging, unblurred and obvious. No mistaking a V, S, T or K. But O, C, D and G were clearly colluding in order to confuse the unwary. I took my time, studied the full line, counted the occurrences, weighed up the odds and looked for the subtlest of cues as to which letter each round blur would be most likely to be. And so it came to be that for the next ten years I'm good to go! 

What I Did In My Holidays

Well, what I didn't do was blog, or indeed get my due days. Practically the whole first week spent feeling very ill, most of it in bed. There was one upside to this, in addition to the soup and sympathy, in the re-discovery of Laurence. I always enjoyed Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen many years ago on Changing Rooms, long before The Living Channel delivered home improvement programmes almost 24/7. So delicious then, and still delicious now in a lovely programme called House Gift. It's on series link for the future, so I can enjoy him on a regular basis still, even though I won't be reclining, wan and weak, at 11 o'clock each morning.

I've always been a great reader, but buying books is not a budgeting option too often, and the charm of library books was finally extinquished after a social occassion some years ago at which the host had his reading supply of library books nicely stacked on a wee table next to the toilet. Library books often have suspect stains, but until then I had just hoped those brown smears one sees came from the consumption of a vegemite sandwich rather than anything more sinister. But now I am once again free to read, read, read as many books as I like, unsullied by previous borrowers. I can choose them from the comfort of my home, change them immediately if they don't hook me in and read comfortably without the need for glasses thanks to text sizing options. My iPad and ePukapuka are an absolutely wonderful combination - a brilliant holiday discovery.

I did manage to see three movies, all of them excellent. Michael Douglas really was Liberace and the story was highly engaging. I enjoyed the book Mr Pip and the movie did a faithful retelling. Apparently much of the graphic violence of the original cut was removed before general release, but the horror of that episode in Bourgainville's history was still vividly portrayed - we don't know how lucky we are. I'm not into 'boy movies' at all, but I do find things about space travel fascinating. Gravity was an enjoyable romp, though when I win Lotto I will no longer be signing up with Richard Branson's 'out of this world' travel options, as previously planned.

There was much sadness in Petone last year when Gusto closed its doors to dinners. I am happy to report that its replacement, Taylors on Jackson, is an excellent replacement. The interior of the old building is a treat in itself, and I can personally recommend the grass fed Horowhenua beef fillet (slow cooked for twenty hours - how did they know I would want it?) and the spiced vanilla creme brulee. The restaurant was doing very brisk business on a Wednesday evening, and I gather bookings are pretty much essential at most times. As Mr Dilmah would say - do try it!

I've always loved the look of Havana Bar and Restaurant, those two dear wee houses nestled between the high-rises, and finally I have made it inside. Until now I have never been a tapas fan, but Havana has won me round. A friend and I had a delicious lunch, and I discovered a treat that I am apparently the last to find out about - peppadews. 

I can't get enough of them, and am now becoming a bit of an expert in the relative merits of peppadews sourced within the greater Wellington region. Other than the delightful ones at Havana, La Bella is currently in the lead.

Thanks to all I caught up with in my truncated break, happy term to all those teachers out there. And remember - it's only 72 days until Christmas!