Loving Devon Edition 3 by loving_devon

LovingDevon

I remember it like it was yesterday: October 2023 Despite having spent the past 7 weeks living a life of unadulterated superiority (you can remind yourself of my Euro Summer itinerary in Loving Devon, Issue 1), my heart felt full returning home to the the familial embrace of my Loving Devon There was truly no place I’d rather be Except Europe

My tired little bunny Moira, agreed that she would step up as Loving Devon’s next editor (the previous editor having not fulfilled the terms of their contract) This came as a tonic to my depleted serotonin levels and post-holiday blues! However, my excitement was short-lived This was also the moment I deduced what had been until now, a mere sneaking suspicion that one day, I would be Loving Devon’s next editor I quietly cast this realisation aside, hoping that by some miracle, everybody would forget that Katie and Moira in fact have a third flatmate (it wouldn’t be the first time) Fast-forward to December, our community had engulfed us in adoration at the Loving Devon Art Show & Launch Party In complete submission to my/our own self-indulgence, the internal monologue on loop in my mind ‘distract, evade, avoid’ had dissolved entirely Rendered defenseless to my own people pleasing and agreeable tendencies, I declared to the room, “Yes, I will be your next Loving Devon Editor!” (or something to this effect) I can assure you, nobody was more shocked with this outburst than me, and in fact, the only time an admission of mine has rocked Loving Devon more was when Katie and Moira learnt I had read my first book in the past 5 years And that the book was Rebecca Macfie’s Tragedy at Pike River Mine: How and Why 29 Men Died, on *longterm loan from Moira’s former colleague to the Loving Devon library

Returning to the present day, I feel privileged to deliver Loving Devon edition three as Chief Co-Editor Although, it is tinged with heartache that I announce this will be the last edition to which I will be contributing as a resident and flatmate I have loved every single day of Devon, all 641 of them I would like to extend an enormous thank you to everyone that has made it so special I am absolutely thrilled to be dedicating my final Devon moments to delivering a newsletter that stacks up against its unforgettable predecessors, alongside my beloved Devon hunnies I will cry when my work is done!

No longer part of Loving Devon, but inspired by my stint as Chief Co-Editor, I’m pleased to announce that my days in amateur print media are not over After a much needed holiday in Europe, I will be releasing my new publication documenting the lives of former Aro Valley residents entitled, Loved Devon

commencement

Taking control in October 2023, Rebecca touted her shiny new *big* budget as an economic clean up job, and reiterated plans to follow through on campaign promises to cut excessive spending at Aro Valley minimart, index weekly expense contributions to inflation and ultimately, restore a positive balance to the account Following the publication of Loving Devon’s Q1 finances in Issue 1, the immediate resignation of the, then, disgraced Finance Minister was demanded Rebecca had her work cut out – and boy did she know it Loving Devon had experienced their worst End of Quarter balance result in history - an account deficit of $46 in Q1 2023 Her quarterly economic and fiscal update laid bare

Mora’shealthisonthedownturnshe hadanoperationtoremoveamole* Just2daysaftergettingher5stitches removedthewoundreopened shavngorasurgerytohaveher wsdomteethremovedonAugust21 vistorswelcomefrom22August Katesuccessfulyorgansedafunera

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Katie won a case in court!!!!

DearDevonSt Residents

AroBakehasanew

Haloum

Peasetakethsaswrtten notcethatarentincreaseof $50w ltakepacefrom5 September2024

Rebecca Goddard does not live at Devon St, and never has

the extent of *unnamed former flatmate and Finance Minister’s* economic and fiscal vandalism, says Rebecca, taking aim at financial time bombs – or “unfunded fiscal risks” –that she claimed were left behind by the aforementioned

Rebecca’s budget outlined extensive cuts across the board, in a move that shocked absolutely nobody, least of all her Loving Devon constituents, all of whom maintained their full support for the minister in her new role, particularly after the introduction of a flat debit card The most significant of the cuts was to flat spending, notably in the removal of communal coffee (made achievable through the concurrent removal of the flat coffee machine) and the reduction in electricity to run the flat TV (made achievable through the concurrent removal of the flat TV) Supplementary measures included limiting movie rental to one-per-financial-quarter – as shown in Diagram, Q2 Expenditure, opting for SD over HD to yield an additional 99c of savings, and the strict imposition of a one-per-financial-quarter flat funded ‘hand pulled noodle night’ – a decision welcomed by Loving Devon on account of the time-intensive dough preparation involved, but unpopular for friends of Loving Devon at large

Rebecca is thrilled to deliver an account surplus in Q2, 2024, as shown in Diagram End of Q2 Balance While acknowledging these indicators show promising growth and trend towards an extremely successful Q3 result, she knows that her successor will have their work cut out She pledges to remain committed to leading Loving Devon to new financial heights (until her term ends on 21 July 2024)

UnhingedContent

CRIKEY!IHATETHEIRWINS

Before launching straight into my hit piece, I wan give you a bit of context about me, Freya Drawbri the author of this piece, and the Irwins’ biggest ha I’m 26 years young, born and raised in Wellington ginger, love to drive, hate to hike, would be absolu terrified if I saw a croc in the wild, but even more terrified if I saw an Irwin Most importantly, I have personal connection to the Irwins and no reason t hate them, but I do so be warned, the following is well and truly unhinged and irrational

I grew up coming home from school, jumping straight onto the couch with a snack and settling in to watch the Rachel Ray Show As a 12 year old, I wasn’t Rachel’s key demographic but something about watching her ‘quick and easy meals for the family’ and celebrity interviews filled me with a sense of comfort That was of course until the day a young Bindi Irwin and her mum Terri appeared on my screen Yes, this was after Steve passed away, and yes, I should have had some compassion for the girls, but instead it started a lifelong grudge Everything about Bindi that day triggered me the way her face scrunched up with every word, her painfully breathy Australian accent, the way she clung onto her Emmy award the whole time More and more hate was brewing The final straw was when she gloated about not having to go to school because she was too busy traveling the world As you can imagine, as a child destined to be stuck at sc

to come, this filled me with a jealousy I’d never felt, and it quickly manifested into a very personal hatred For some reason, American’s fell especially hard for the Irwin family which propelled them into the limelight for a few years Bindi even managed to win Dancing with the Stars season 21 which will forever be a mystery to me Bindi then married her American sweetheart, Chandler and gave birth to her daughter Grace Warrior Irwin Powell She has been a bit quiet ever since Naturally, this left me without a member of the Irwin family to actively hate and I had to turn my energy elsewhere At first, Terri was my target after I read that she won’t let herself move on from Steve and try to find love again because he gave her all the love she’d ever need This made me mad but mostly sad, because come on Terri, you must get lonely hanging out at Australia Zoo with your kids and a bunch of crocs surely there are a few cute zookeepers that could keep you company I then took quite a dramatic turn to hating the deceased Steve Irwin because of the bad reputation his death caused for Stingrays and Manta Rays You see, Mantra Rays are my favourite animals, because unlike most animals that have a purpose for the things they do, scientists have concluded that when Manta Rays majestically fly out of the ocean, it’s purely for fun and I think that’s unbelievably wholesome and beautiful And I don’t want to victim blame or shame but in my eyes,

Steve provoked a wild animal and faced repercussions and the entire Ray genus shouldn’t be blamed for that In more recent times, it’s been Robert Irwin, the youngest of the family who has piqued my interest My reason for hating him is probably the most irrational of all because I really don’t have a reason But here’s a few: I just hate him I hate how much time he spends with his Mum I hate his voice I hate his face I hate his fluffy blonde hair I hate that he ended up on my pop culture focused TikTok FYP because he was dating Heath Ledger’s niece for a bit I hate that he’s the host of I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! I hate that he never seems to be wearing anything other than his khaki green zookeeper outfit I just hate him “But mostly I hate the way I don’t hate him Not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all”

In preparation for writing this piece, I dug out the videos of Bindi and Terri on the Rachel Ray Show and although, not exactly how I remember them, they still to this day make me feel sick with rage Something about 10 year old Bindi just makes my skin crawl and I don’t think I’ll ever get over it In conclusion, even though I’m a city girl from New Zealand, I will take my hate of the Irwin family to my grave

Hit piece written by Freya Drawbridge

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Dear Sabs and Twm,

Welcome to Devon Street, I hope you love living here as much as I have Here are a few notes to ensure your move goes smoothly:

Bins go out on Monday evenings.

Moira requires a lot of attention, and will ask you plenty of questions about yourself while avoiding most you ask back “Not sure sorry” is a phrase you may start to hear frequently, as is “can I just say one more thing?” before she proceeds to say more than just one thing

Katie works long hours, make sure the house is nice and warm for when she gets home late

Do not be alarmed if you’re woken to the sound of the RNZ Morning Report, becoming louder and louder with each step Moira takes down the stairs on her way out the door, normally via the kitchen to collect her packed lunch (strictly enforced by her budget (Not K Budget))

If you forget any of our friend s

Freya Drawbridge

CheckOutHerstory

All self-respecting subscribers of Loving Devon have, at some stage of their readership, asked the same question This is, of course: which flatmate of Devon (rustic yet beautiful Aro Valley house) is which historical era of Devon (county of the United Kingdom)? Let loose your weary sigh of relief dear reader, as I succinctly yet accurately whet your thirst for knowledge

8000 years ago, the first homo sapiens arrived on Devon’s shores ‘Devon’ derives from their language “Goddess of the Deep” Thus our journey

In 410 CE the long-ruling Romans abandon

friends like berries and nutritious roots and flatties is doubtlessly the most dangerous with a flint-tipped

WHO’STHATGIRL?

M a ‘it’s like Isabel but without the I’)

Hailing from Nefyn, a picture-postcard village in beautiful North Wales (a stones-throw from the official ‘third best pub in the world’ (pictured) *

with a cheerful smil

At the same time, shade at those w portrait of noble Pe Tudor Devon was c the sort of prick wh smack about if he d

With that, we conclude our journey through time But both Devons march on, and new faces arrive on the horizon What epochs will these newcomers represent? Hopefully something cool like the Parties of the English Riviera or the Devon County Dog Show Time will tell my friends Time will tell

Written by Mark Howard

yoga and salsa dancing, running a half marathon, attending a few gigs, watching GBBO and Taskmaster as new seasons arise, and having a baby (TBC: expected 2026) She will appreciate your assistance and company in reaching most of these goals

Sabel brings with her almost 30 years of experience living in houses, and is keen to utilise those skills to become a valued asset to the 5 Devon Street community Expect her to be a proactive cleaner, a prompt contributor to flat finances, and a thoughtful and caring friend who is ready to lend a hand and brighten your day ***

Sabel is a newly-minted NZ resident (thankyou, Audit New Zealand and immigration green-list) who made the big interhemispheric move in response to several years of Twm waxing lyrical about Wellington’s beautiful green belt, high density of cultural and culinary delights, charming inner-city suburbs and blusterous climate Keen to get to know her adopted home as quickly as possible, Sabs took a crash-course in all things NZ by smashing out a 3000km tramp** in early 2024 with minimal complaint; and fell in love with the people, the long blacks, the pies, the date scones and the pinot noir Sabel’s goals for her time in Wellington include systematically scouring each and every cafe in the city for the perfect brunch offering, regular https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-wales-23288369 TyCochInn,thirdbestpubintheWorld.**SabelwillhappilydiscussherexperienceonTeAraroaatlength,butpleaserefertoTwmforanorak-levelquestionsaboutpackweight,topomaps,dehydratedmealsetc. ***PleasenotethatSabelcan occasionallybesomewhatirasciblebefore8am(9amweekends),approachwithcaution.

You will also benefit from a regular supply of quality baked goods including well-established favourites such as carrot cakes and pizza, along with new additions to her repertoire such as bagels, which debuted in June 2024 to universal acclaim

I’m sure you’ll love spending time with Sabel as much as I do Early dates for your diary include Sabel’s golden birthday (30 on July 30th!), Hutt Half Marathon (15th September) and The Beths at Meow Nui (29th September)

Written by Twm Morgan

GODDARD’SLOVELETTER:“THANKYOUTOMYCOMMUNITY”

After recently breaking my leg, many of the things I love most in life were put on pause In this time, our community is what got me through This is my public letter of thanks

Thank you to:

Rebecca Lucas, for driving me to the beach in the afternoons so I could see the sun and the sea Moira, for taking me to the hospital, and guarding my cast on the Lulu’s dance floor

KTB, for your excitement with every X-ray The Devon street flat for spending the weekend babysitting my siblings in Peka Peka (Editors note: the free weekend away made this one rather easy )

Rosie, for sitting at the waterfront several times a week after work

Jemima, for walking with me to events even when I crutched at a snail’s pace

Matt for being my porter at the gym and supermarket (both of which were otherwise near impossible)

Mark and his flat for offering me a lift after seeing me walking in a moon boot on one of Wellington’s iconic steep streets (sadly I was already at the top)

My colleagues that carried my hot drinks (due to my attention span and caffeine addiction this favour was required more than others)

Ellie, for making me go to ED when I insisted it was “just a sprain” and for applying my cast herself!

Everyone who took up aqua jogging with me

The Thorndon pool lifeguards for giving me free spa bands (I like to think this was them flirting not just pity)

The boys doing road works on my street who cheered the day I came out of my cast

My grumpy sister who helped me a lot, but said her way of coping was to complain about me

I’ve had to pick only a few examples, but I could go on for YEARS I was truly touched by the love and support that surrounded me and I feel so lucky to have such wonderful friends, thank you everyone

P S always carry a PLB

SobsandtheCity

CRYING IN MINI MART: & ASCOT & LA CLOCHE & 1154 & MASON & ....

CRYINGIN

Mini Mart

Alice

Clowes

I’ve lived in Wellington for 15 years now, and I’ve spent a lot of time crying, and a lot of time in this city’s finest hospitality venues - often at the same time! Some people say crying is a sign of weakness, something best done in private I’ve come to realise (my therapist told me) that crying is actually a skill or possibly a strength - it’s your body processing emotions in the moment Here’s a wee guide for the next time your body is processing emotions Why not get yourself a bev or a sweet treat, help yourself to some extra serviettes, and let it all out.

ROGUE AND VAGABOND

Venue and ambiance: You can’t beat Rogue on a good day Artificial grass for days, highly competitive beanbag culture, live jazz!

Staff response: It was like I didn’t even exist Perfection

Reason I was crying: Undiagnosed depression Also I was with a friend who just has one of those faces, you know?

LA CLOCHE, THE TERRACE

Venue and ambiance: Am I in Wellington or Gay Paree? Is that a former Minister over there? Is that my therapist having lunch? Is that my ex-boyfriend?

Staff response: I’ve cried here SO MANY times, the staff know me, they know the routine, we’re all cool with ignoring it

Reason I was crying: Men Burnout A weird thing my manager said Undiagnosed depression Losing a friend to London Why wasn’t I crying? Why aren’t you crying??

LA CLOCHE, FEATHERSTON ST ⭐

Venue and ambiance: Very bright, very exposed, feels like the new libraries Soooo different to the Terrace La Cloche Is that the entire staff of MBIE?

Greetings Loving Devon readers, I form part of Loving Devon's international readership and each time a new edition of this magazine/newspaper/thesis? is unveiled, I feel a little bit closer to home I give my utmost thanks and praise to the editors of this fine series; long may it continue It is an honour and a privilege to be asked to contribute

I am currently based in London (like most of New Zealand), and so I present to you the inaugural (and perhaps only, if you don’t all give this rave reviews) column “On...”

Staff response: Very cold, like I could tell they were disappointed in me

Reason I was crying: The man I was having a whirlwind romance with was moving to Pakistan and wouldn’t hold my hand in public

Venue and ambiance: Huge range of seating options available depending on how public or private you would like your cry to be

Staff response: Got the sense that they consider me to be a big baby And they would be right!

Venue and ambiance: Look, if I wanted to cry at work, I would cry at work (see: Halifax, ask: Moira) It has the same 2000s decor as most Wellington government departmentsan unnecessary amount of lime green I’ve added half a point for the private booths and happy hour negronis, but am I at Kanteen, or am I having a quick catch up about that briefing in the kitchen on level 9?

Staff response: It was so vast and corporate feeling that it was quite hard to tell who was staff and who wasn’t You could say we were all staff in some ways

Reason I was crying : Late 20s/early 30s panic re: all of my friends buying houses and the mortgage broker just told me to get a boyfriend

Reason I was crying: A disagreement with the whirlwind romance man who came back from Pakistan! 1154

Venue and ambiance: Hustle and bustle, bright lights, extremely loud music and incredibly close strangers Love the accessibility of the napkins

Staff response: They know me here, and we never address the crying Talk about discretion!

Venue and ambiance: This one does get a star for convenience as it is literally at my work But also a star is deducted as it is literally at my work and the CE and numerous other colleagues have definitely seen me crying there

Staff response: Will politely ignore the tears while delivering the oat flat white (OFW) If particularly pathetic, will sometimes bring an extra chocolate fish

On friendship (as overheard on the Northern Line somewhere between Euston and Kings Cross):

“We bonded over being love bombed by manipulative Sagittarius men”

Reason I was cryin Someone was mean ng

Venue and ambiance: Tiny, kinda dark, moody For a moment in time, the best restaurant in Newtown

On life (as overheard at the Parliament Hill café):

"My grandfather disappeared and left a note to my grandmother saying 'I'm not coming back, please send my vinyls – so I wrote a play about it I directed it with my ex-boyfriend, we had already broken up, but we had a really good working relationship"

On high achievers (as overheard at Gails, Balham):

“How are you?”, “I'm good, I'm still alive What about you? How was the street party, did you get drunk?” “Well, we filled a wheely bin with Pimms, 240L of it Thought we might have the world record for largest cocktail, but we don't, I looked it up and its Snoop Dogg – 500L ” (Authors note: is there anything that man can't do?)

On sharing (as seen from the window of Kossofs café in Kentish Town – if you go, try the miso swirl):

A man on a scooter pulls up alongside the bus waiting at the red light A conversation ensues between scooter and bus driver Next minute, the scooter driver jumps off his scooter, goes to his boot, pulls out a can of red bull and passes it through the window of the bus to the driver - all before the light turns green The number 24 had wings that day

Staff response: Actually maybe flirted a little which was appreciated The kindest and loveliest people

Reason I was crying: I announced the end of my year-long situationship with a stand up comedian, and a close friend announced her engagement

Honourable mentions: Little Grump - nice spot to be a little grump

Puffin, Ascot - great places for a date, great places to cry about said date

Goldings - bottomless chippies for your bottomless tears

On love (an excerpt from the profile of a man Hinge had the audacity to tell me I was "most compatible" with yesterday):

Aiden, 29, lives in Wandsworth:

"A fun fact everyone should know is If you fart and burp at the same time, your body takes a screenshot" (Authors note: We go again)

On shame (or lack thereof, as overseen by Gail Platt from Coronation Street at the V&A Museum): Emily Devaney caught pretending to take a selfie with Gail Platt for her family group chat

HighlightingDevon’sHomes

HUMANSOFAROVALLEY:LOVEDITCHEDITION

The small, inner-city suburb Aro Valley is home to Wellington’s most vibrant and eclectic Here, buried deep in the hills of Te Whanganui-a-Tara and fortuitously located a mere 30 seconds uphill (and then another 40 downhill) stroll from Loving Devon HQ, lies the infamous Devon Ditch We tested New Zealand’s two-degrees-of-separation theory to see how many links it would take for us to be welcomed into the Ditch, and thereby realise one of Loving Devon’s biggest dreams The results will shock you There were only two degrees of separation and 200m between us and Ditch residence, Tamara

Two thirds hungover, one third energised, all adorned in our *best Valley drip, we marched up Devon Street for a tour and interview Guided by delirium and pure glee, we descended the steep, moss coated staircase into the Ditch On the basis of a loose mutual friend introduction, a very brief Instagram dm exchange and no knowledge or real context to Loving Devon, the delightful Tamara welcomed us inside You will be pleased to see that Tamara’s flat also has a (much more high profile) brand of it @l0 dit h IG T ’ house, like othe prison guards at second house alo was built early in to show for it to external door th around deck not

Can you please tell us about Loveditch’s seasonal house gigs?

We do them once a season and choose different charities to fundraise for, everyone who helps out are volunteers so all the ticket money is donated We prioritise getting queer or femme bands to play

*Valley Drip

g like we're so close to town Also feels like a bit of a hub for meeting other artists, lots of shared projects and kōrero between creative people

WHAT WAS THE REASON FOR YOUR STAY?

“I came to visit my Aunty Katie for the weekend”

“Drunk, tired, unable to drive”

“Visiting family // Wellington Marathon”

“Could not physically move from Moira’s bed without throwing up”

“Missed my favourite sister”

WELLINGTON/AT DEVON ST?

“Beautiful bed linen (that I bled on sorry)”

“Meeting all the girls!”

“Listening to but not participating in karaoke”

“Napoleon Dynamite on the big screen // DIY lounge cinema with a bowl of ahi kirimi”

“Trying to put the mailbox back together, and tuning the old school FM radio in the kitchen on a school night!”

“The light show mostly and then the start of cyber punk ninja”

Loveditch gigs have become so popular, they implemented a formal ticketing system to cap numbers, and raise funds for worthy Their most recent event, Loveditch Jewel tones, raised 500 for Palestine relief Loveditch provides an inclusive r complete creative expression

spired them and do you plan to continue hosting

se has a history of being a music/party flat, the previous hosted ditchfest and that inspired me to continue the Other gigs happen in the ditch, a few houses down u can ear band practises going on as u walk past Also eyegum started at the neighbours place I plan to host as long as g here! “Loveditch makes me feel I’m part of something han myself it’s about more than just the fundraising, it’s his beautiful community of appreciating creativity that’s before us and hope for a long time in the future”

Does the sun reach your house?

In summer the garden and deck is so lovely, we sunbathe out there We don't have a lot of direct sun in winter but I'm personally not bothered cos that's just the nature of winter, I just pretend I'm in a epic secret cave, we have a heat pump in the lounge so it's not freezing, and the garden is still a lovely place to be, still full of light and life imo

What is the state of your ditch house?

I'd say pretty standard for Wellington, know how it is I think I'm a lot more forgiving cos it's in a better state than my childhood house, for others it's not as comfortable but I think there is a lot to be grateful for here But I am pretty demanding with the

IS THERE ANYTHING WE COULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY TO MAKE YOUR STAY MORE ENJOYABLE?

“The gals were fabulous No points deducted relating to host satisfaction”

“Absolutely not, the banter & chat was chefs kiss ��”

“Nudda - Devon St is very accomodating and I always enjoy the endless adventures!”

“The rugby first thing in the morning while hungover was slightly jarring”

“Prevented me from inhaling that vape like it was a normal nicotine vape”

“Nothing, Loved the skin care in the bathroom, thank you!”

Which amenities did you use?

the landlords to make sure all the bedrooms are as warm as they can be

Loveditch’s living spaces are vibrant and eclectic, in keeping with the spirit of the villa’s heritage and the lineage of its former tenants We were delighted by the extensive art collection displayed on the walls, the giant paper mâché wētā, promotional content for Loveditch events, height-measuring beam, and various christian themed typographics You may also be surprised to learn that Loveditch proudly homes a pet Axolotl

Who is your landlord? Do they take care of the property? idk if I should answer that I'm tryna stay in their good books

Loving Devon respects Tamara’s on-the-record statement regarding this topic

What do you love most about living in Aro Valley? I love being closer nature, being able to visit waimapihi steam and learn about the whenua - cos this whole place is built on top of the Waimāpihi stream, u can definitely still feel the mauri, u could write a whole article on that stream so I'll try not to ramble about it haha, also i like being walking distance to where I wanna go like town for gigs and i can walk to uni alsoo even tho I don't know everyone personally, it does feel like a nice community, u get to know the minimart, patels, and op shop people, aro bake is always thriving, the park is a beautiful spot where people spend time or pass through, lots of murals around, got a basketball court, it's all pretty cool and last Christmas I went to the lunch at the community hall and it was super busy, I wanted to help out but they had so many volunteers that I ended up just hanging out and eating lunch with people there, and someone was giving free haircuts too that was very cool to see the care people have for this community

Tamara and Loveditch are the heart of Aro Valley, and the soul of this publication We will eagerly await Loveditchs’ next seasonal gig Be sure to visit @l0veditch on IG for more!

THERE ANYTHING FURTHER YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?

“I had a whirlwind welly weekend with top service from the hosts at Devon st Great location, airport shuttle was a little late but apologetic, there was clearly heavy unexplained traffic so all was forgiven 1 point taken off for the toilet which wouldn’t flush after I went number 2s 1 point almost taken for hosts unwilling to pay the extra $1 for HD screening on movie night but as host Moira shared some of her ice cream with us I will let that blip slide In conclusion, would recommend Devon to anyone looking for a pleasant stay in the capital ”

“At Cyberpunk Ninja Matt pulled a little girl across a whole obstacle”

“Just that someone else had to flush gems poo”

“I feel that the loo under the stairs should be the 8th wonder of Wellington! It shows innovation can still keep house character while making the space more functional for the occupants ”

“Have never seen a tidier garden shed!”

Tamara is grateful to the Ditch being the perfect place to live while figuring out their early twenties, constantly surrounded by creative energy, music, and art

TheheARTofNewtown

SINK,IN-SITU:TRACKINGARTHOME

Kōwhai

The one that started it all This piece found itself on a journey home to Aro Valley, in the warm embrace of Katie Budgen sporting fresh eyebrows from Grishma Katie, caught off guard by a Rita Angus print in the window, discovered Sink for the first time, and therein a gorgeous hand-coloured etching of a kōwhai flower by Mary Taylor From there, many fine pieces have been purchased from Newtown’s finest art & framing establishment We trace them to the walls of our community in this piece

The kōwhai is apparently the unofficial national flower of e t

She now takes prime spot in the lounge of Loving Devon You may be surprised to know that she serves no drinks and it is preferred that no drinks go anywhere near her If you look closely, you’ll see the beautiful items Loving Devon has collected over the years: disco balls, James Bennet art and Patrick Sinclair’s word art display, both on long-term loan to the Loving Devon library, coasters showing the carpets of parliament, one Sig Wilder poster, pottery, and hourglasses!

n Katie’s life since 11/11 With the vigour in which the tag was snatched up during Piers’ art sale, there was never a question as to where it would end up It is now proudly displayed among the company of eclectic art, photography, one fucked up drinks cabinet, and paired with a rattan lamp, also originally from Newtown

Brent Wong 2 0

The second Brent Wong purchased from sink 0221265616 now finds itself in the study of an anonymous art collector and public servant, adding beauty and

Nō hea au?

As the most expensive piece from sink 0221265616 that we have followed, this four figure Michael Smither now sits proudly in the hallway of a villa on Aurora Terrace, close to the beating heart of government but with an eternal longing for a return to Newtown, its home Even if you happen to visit the Aurora Palace of LADS LADS LADS, you still might not see this piece Rumour has it that its owner, fiercely protective over his acquisition, hides it for safety when his clumsiest friends are around Could that be you?

More Michael Smither pieces will be available in the online auction of the Piers Abbenes Collection between 24-29 July 2024

Written by Sara Elgoran

CyberpunkNinjaNightmare

Review by Rosie Goble, age 27

“Physical exercise in a theme park Develop perseverance, strength, courage and balance” boasts the the newest attraction this side of the Remutaka Ranges You see, these are all my weaknesses

As someone who has long struggled to stay at work past 4 pm (lacks perseverance), cries when the guy on the One NZ ad realises his real mother is a jeweller for the cows of Scotland (lacks emotional* strength), can’t say no to a pilsner (lacks courage), and is worse on a wobble board than someone with a broken leg (lacks balance), Cyberpunk Ninja Hutt Park (CPNHP) seemed like the perfect upskilling oasis to target my workons!

CPNHP boasts an adventure rope course, two senior ninja courses with warped walls, three junior soft ninja courses, a donut slide, LED wave slide, and the Ultimate Air Coaster (extra fee applies) Also note AdventureRama socks ($2) must be worn at all times I have a pair that I’m willing to sell for the right price

Getting to CPNHP is a breeze – hop on the 81 or 83 busses heading towards Eastbourne, and you’ll be there within the hour Alternatively, State Highway 2, take the offramp at Pito-One and follow your nose to Seaview

When one child (Olivia), one hulk (Mike), one potential assailant (Matt, see accompanying photos and statements) and one Katie and I visited CPNHP in early June 2024, we were each handed AdventureRama grippy socks We headed through the gates to the safety briefing,** although Matt seemed unusually distracted by pretty lights on the LED slide $20 gets you an hour at CPNHP Like us, we found 10am on a Saturday the perfect time slot for becoming acquainted with 60 tiny and frail children I found this particularly helpful for s from my trip to CPNHP persistent, stronger than children I mean, tha

but were awesome,

: I was really scared on the high ropes course, ling out from beneath your feet This was also the our party got their harness tangled with a 7 year oss to her utter terror

Radical (punk term for interesting): When I went to CPNHP on a separate occasion, at 7pm on a Friday night, the vibe was very different, no safety briefing, and a stocked bar was visible

*NOT physical, for anyone who doesn’t know, I am the strongest, most muscular person you will ever meet, I win every arm wrestle, and am bigger than you in every way

**While all the staff between ages 15 and 15, they are safety conscious through and through! age 12

I stood on a platform, watching my Aunty Katie and her friends navigate the obstacles at Cyberpunk Ninja Adventure Park I was next in line, my heart racing with excitement We were a group of thrill-seekers, always looking for the next adrenaline rush, and about to attempt the scariest obstacle Cyberpunk Ninja had to offer But then, I saw it happen Matt, one of Aunty Katie's friends, attempted to mount the trickiest obstacle and got his harness tangled with a young girl's She looked about my age It looked like Matt pushed in front of the girl to catch up with Rosie and Aunty Katie, causing their safety lines to lock As Matt started to move across the course, he dragged the girl with him

I gasped, my eyes fixed on the horror unfolding before me Aunty Katie and her friends rushed to the scene, shouting for Matt to stop But he didn't seem to hear, too focused on his own progress I watched in terror as the girl was dragged, screaming and flailing, across the ropes course Her legs bounced against the foam beams, her body helplessly suspended mid-air The crowd gasped, some people shouting for the staff to intervene

Finally, Matt reached the end of the course and the staff rushed to free the girl, her face pale and terrified Aunty Katie and her friends surrounded her, checking if she was okay As we all caught our breath, I asked the girl, "hey, are you okay? What's your name?" She looked up at me with tears in her eyes and whispered, "I'm Abby "

We left Cyberpunk Ninja, our excitement replaced with a sense of shock and concern But I couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for Abby's bravery and resilience

By Matt Melligan, age 27

Uh hi, yes that’s me You’re probably wondering how I got here

caused that day I genuinely hope you have recovered Now, a retelling, from the eyes of yours truly Matthew, 27 years old, raised in a home where being kind to others was the value of choice

“Please step into the harness” spoke the polite staff member Once strapped in, I started my ascent, leading my frail rope up the 500 steps to the first obstacle 100m (give or take) in the air, a platform of weird and wonderful crossings stood in front of me, all seeming to sway in the wind, despite this being a fully indoor course The only way to describe this obstacle is to imagine floating logs adrift a deep river with rapids causing them to spin under foot I watched all of my friends bravely cross the suspended tortuous river one at a time I was impressed - they conquered the unconquerable! I locked eyes with a friendly child, and asked “do you want to go next?” She replied with certainty, “No ”

This was it This was my time My internal monologue gave a speech that could inspire an army into battle Halfway I’m doing it I’m really doing it

A bone chilling shriek filled the building “YOU’RE PULLING A CHILD MATT WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOU HEARTLESS BEING!!!!” Unbeknownst to me, I slowly turned to see the aforementioned “friendly child” being pulled onto the obstacle due to a misfortunate locking of our safety ropes Panic washed away from my body in that moment and it was replaced with heroic confidence I would not only get across, but I would get Abby across safely back to her family in one piece, too We made it across, to received a roaring applause from below as if to say, “Matt, you’re a hero! You saved our daughter, how can we ever repay you?!” It wasn’t about the plaudits, we were both safe, that’s all that matters

I’vegotaCrashonyou

LOVING DEVON’S DAMAGE NOTES: POWER RANKINGS

While we often tell prospective flatmates that parking on Devon Street is a breeze, truthfully it has come with some vital lessons in how to Damage

Note We’ve carefully e nces and details of seven Devon D by Loving Devon in these Power Ra

#7 DECOY

Victim: Rebecca

Perp: unknown

Damage: negligible

Note: blank

We rate the highly effective technique of a blank Devon Damage Note for those who are overseen hitting another vehicle but can’t be f*cked dealing with the consequences While we despise your behaviour, we admire your gall and quick thinking in the face of on-street parking adversity

The technique is brilliant yet so simple:

Step 1: hit Rebecca’s car

Step 2: check your surroundings If there are witnesses, find a scrap piece of paper

Step 3: get out of your car, pretend to look embarrassed We recommend fierce gesticulation to do this step justice

Step 4: leaning against the bonnet of your car, pretend to write a decoy Devon Damage Note for the owner of Rebecca’s car Arch your back and pop your booty if you wish to imagine a spanking from the heavy hand of the Loving Devon law

Step 5: pop the note under Rebecca’s back to your car Why be sorry when you c Step 6: drive away, rejoice in your perfect

#6 Crowdfunding Sincerity :)

Victim: Rebecca

Perp: Emily

Damage: none - Emily

Note: transparent

parked directly behind it In fact, the impact of the CityHop van translocated the Fiat from its parking spot, onto the footpath, and only inches away from oncoming traffic running perpendicular along Aro Street

Without a pen or paper, and with the time of the rental hireage still ticking, Redacted was required to run home to find the appropriate tools She returned with a hastily transcribed Devon Damage Note for the Fiat’s owner explaining why the owner’s car was on the footpath, that Redacted did not know who the CityHop van was insured with, but that Redacted’s personal car was insured with State, although that would be unlikely to assist Only blurred photo evidence of the note is available now, but you will be heartened to see that inked in red pen it begins “Hi, I am so sorry ”

In stark contrast to Unknown, Loving Devon brings you the sweetest perp of them all: Emily Or it would seem that way Don’t let obvious spelling mistakes and an unassuming smiley fool you Emily is a master of the damage note The note is succinct, clear, and convincing The way she frames the narrative is highly effective Observe how Emily diminishes the collision to an accidental “nudge” and asserts that there’s been no damage The “:) so sorry-Emily ' adds a lovely air of familiarity to the note In fact, Rebecca was so taken with Emily’s kindness that she sent the sweet perp some money for her troubles

#5 CHAOTIC TRANSLOCATION OF FIAT BY CITYHOP

VAN

Victim: Jeff

Perp: Redacted

Damage: internal

Note: ineffective

Loving Devon’s two R’s, Rebecca and Redacted, set off to collect two new couches after several months of sitting on step ladders and deflated bean bags It was all going so well: the pair successfully crossed Aro Street to CityHop’s fine establishment on Hōniana Te Puni Street Redacted unlocked the van, locked eyes with Rebecca and put the car in reverse Unfortunately, Redacted was unable to find the brake pedal or hand brake in the seconds that followed Within moments of hiring the CityHop van, Redacted had reversed the vehicle into the brand new Fiat

dacted’s spirits remained hopeful Despite being opelled backwards with force, the Fiat looked to be in rfect condition with only one visible scratch, and the yHop van was no worse for wear either Redacted and becca continued their quest for couches in these cumstances

Long after furniture was retrieved and delivered, at about 10pm Redacted received a call from the Fiat’s owner, Jeff “[Redacted] what’s happened?!”, Jeff began, not having understood these events from the Devon Damage Note Unfortunately, despite only having a scratch to show for its translocation, the Fiat’s engine was not starting and was to be towed immediately Feeling guilty for inconveniencing Jeff, Redacted offered to drive him home The two shared an awkward but pleasant drive from Aro Valley to Churton Park on that late summer’s evening

It is wrong to mark one’s own homework, but if she could, Redacted would say her Devon Damage Note was ineffective but honest She made up for its shortcomings by offering her victim a ride home, and thereby giving herself an opportunity to redeem herself in Jeff’s eyes However, we implore you to take better safety precautions than Redacted did that day Perhaps let someone know your plans to drive an angered yet trusting stranger home at 10pm on a weeknight

#3 Meat in the sandwich

Victim: Dr Rebecca

Perp: Dr Rebecca

Damage: emotional

Note: innocent

Oh, the calamity of being the middle car in a three car pile up! How to express this in a Devon Damage Note, you might ask? In third place, and in stark contrast to the selfpitying damage note above, is Dr Rebecca’s piece in the style of victim

of your car”

“A vehicle driven by James (Nissan Nivaro) backed into my vehicle tonight causing my car to be shunted back into the front

Unlike Emily, Dr Rebecca is blameless in this scenario and is therefore comfortable elevating the collision to a “shunt”, attributable to James’ driving In case you didn’t know, all insurance companies advise you not to admit fault whenever involved in a car collision Dr Rebecca has to be applauded for being so firmly aware of such Devon Damage Note basics

Dr Rebecca’s clear rejection of poor James and his terrible luck is striking Perhaps this is why Loving Devon was bemused to learn that lil Rebecca left the interaction with the strong impression that Dr Rebecca and James were mother and son OR brother and sister Her messages to the flat chat read “Hey mois!! we intercepted a son and daughter leaving a note on your car ” followed by “the mother of James (the young man driving) lives on Essex”

#2 Denial

Victim: Redacted

Perp: Joanne

Damage: rear bumper

Note: vague

#1 Fleeing Cutie

Victim: Moira

Perp: Jack

Damage: healed Note: business card

Every good story requires a rehabilitated villain Someone who is willing to right their wrongs and learn from their mistakes Some rizz, good looks and a company ute don’t hurt either For these reasons, our warmest congratulations go to Loving Devon’s victorious reformed perp: heartthrob, and Devon Damage Note writer of the year, Jack!

Not long after the evening of Redacted’s Chaotic translocation of CityHop van and James’ three car pile up, Essex resident Jack suffered a doozy when reversing his signwritten ute straight into one Honda Civic The Honda Civic in question, a cosmic magnet for reversing utes and unlucky cuties, you might have guessed, belongs to none other than Loving Devon’s Moira McConnell

ely for all involved, Moira and Jack were reunited ssex Street Moira, lounging on her deck with d and Katie T, observed Jack (successfully) park Still suspicious of Jack’s deceitful ways, Moira orded the interaction Her voice note to the flat d “Hey guys [Redacted] is about to flirt with and we are just waiting for him to come, so I’m ording ” You see, by this point, Jack had stamped as Loving Devon’s new reformed heartthrob, and s poised to seize on this chance to set redacted he transcript of this romantic exchange below:

Redacted She *gestures to Moira* has lost your business card!

Jack Ahh that’s alright

Moira Sorry, I lose everything!

Jack Do you want to just text me now? I’ll give you my number

Moira Oh yeah Okay we’ll write it down

J allmarks of denial and d ving Devon considers t n this artform

Observe how Joanne: does not apologise; 1 admits no fault; and 2 puts the burden on the victim to make face to face contact for more information 3

If not for Joanne’s chaotic conduct during her first meeting with Redacted, she might even have reached first place in these prestigious rankings However, Loving Devon was mildly alarmed when Joanne refused to involve insurers in the incident, accused Redacted of using the incident to have other external damage on her car repaired, and made a genuine offer, as a retired pensioner, to do the panelbeating herself

Winner: Moira

Moira failed to renew her coupon parking exemption permit while down in Christchurch for a funeral (true story) Parking wardens had had enough of the illegally parked Honda Civic and towed the car to the Botanic Gardens Loving Devon will never forget Moira’s messages to the flat chat in March 2023, “did all the jobs get done last week? quickly followed by “also, has anyone seen my car?!”

Runner up: Redacted

Redacted parked 1cm over Joanne’s driveway and, for reasons explained above, was dobbed in to Wellington City Council Redacted’s Toyota Corolla was towed to Brooklyn, a much more convenient repository for Loving Devon’s illegally parked vehicles Thank you Wellington City Council for this small

ware of her car’s uncanny ability to be crashed into, oira regularly keeps watchful surveillance over Essex eet from her bedroom window by working from home Upon hearing a collision that day, Moira jumped up, tightened her robe around herself, and stuck her head out the window to inspect the collision and to hold Devon’s latest perp to account Moira could not believe her eyes when she saw the offending signwritten ute in contact with the front of her own Honda Civic, followed by it quickly revving away up the street You see, after checking his surroundings, Jack had progressed to step 6 in our decoy instructions above But he was so wrong Not only had there been a witness, the witness was the victim! And the victim was Moira! She raced down to the street to stop the driver and to obtain photo evidence and her rightful Devon Damage Note Jack was shocked to come face to face with his victim during an attempted flee He quickly confessed, claiming that he was just driving off to find a new park, and coolly handed Moira a pre-prepared Devon Damage Note: a business card

The business card is the perfect Devon Damage Note, in Loving Devon’s opinion It’s direct, contains no admission of fault, and allows one’s driving skills to reflect negatively on one’s employer as opposed to themselves personally In the days to come, Jack would go to great lengths to reach Moira after she failed to make contact with him (Moira had no interest in conversing directly with Jack, she had swiftly contacted her insurance company to be the intermediary) This included knocking at Loving Devon’s door on a Saturday morning and calling out to Moira from the street None of these attempts worked, and Moira meanwhile, was becoming increasingly aggrieved by the memory of Jack’s attempted flee

Jack Just

022XXXXXXX

Katie T Got it *Enters into phone for Moira*

Moira Thank you! I’ll get my admin to text you *Gestures to Katie T*

All *Everybody laughs*

Moira *Whispers into voice note* Ok [Redacted] just made her mov

JACK

EatinginWelly

HOW TO WOW: AT POTLUCKS AND DINNER PARTIES

So that you don’t have to, I’ve designed a short how to wow! at potlucks and dinner parties guide These are sharing contributions that won’t break the bank for those trading in praise and diminishing funds These options are designed with the principles of minimal effort; maximum validation in mind In fact, all of them can be made on location in just a few minutes

Baked Brie & Bread

Galaxy brie is often on sale at Pak’n’save Unwrap it at home and noone will know! Before baking your brie at 180 degrees for 5 minutes, drizzle a bit of honey, cracked sea salt, and rosemary and thyme sprigs on top Encircle the gooey goodness with some sliced supermarket bread (toasted if it’s not fresh), and bam! You’ve got an easy little entrée that the public will love If you are looking for extra praise, you can always make the bread yourself

Pull apart bread

Chilli Oil (vegan)

1 large egg (them)

1 bigger egg (you)

3/4 conversations at the office

1 busy project

Contributing a condiment to a potluck or dinner party is BDE Big Dish Elevation! This is a special option that has so much potential In fact, we recommend making this on location Not to climax too early, but when you pour boiling oil over your chilli paste it creates a delicious sizzle and pop, equivalent to a visual crescendo for other guests, garnering you plenty of attention This is cooking entertainment at its best, and darling, you’re the star Bring a jar and bottle up your oil - leave it with your host as a thank you gift for a special touch

In your serving dish or jar, mix together a paste made up of: crushed garlic

2 tbsp of tomato paste

1 tbsp of crushed chilli flakes (we recommend shopping at your local Asian supermarket)

1 tsp of sugar (any kind will do)

1 tbsp of sesame seeds and some spring onion

Heat 1 cup of vegetable oil (or any neutral oil) on

Pour the boiling oil over your paste for a deliciou

Caprese salad & Bread

5/6 glasses of red wine (can be substituted for alcohol of your choice)

2 cups sowed oats

Dash of good humour

(optional) Sprinkle of awkward conversation to garnish

Bring eggs together with the busy project and conversation Mix well; the mixture should be smooth and light Allow to sit in bowl for several late nights in a row

While the mixture is marinating, slowly bring a pan to medium-high Test the temperature - if the pan is close to sizzling, add wine and bring to the boil

Pour in the mixture and add the oats and good humour

Allow juices to run, stirring vigourously Afterward, reduce heat and allow to cool off Set all memory to one side - we won’t need it for the rest of this recipe

Okay, not so cost-effective in this economy but bitches go crazy for mozzarella these days Layer thin slices of fresh mozzarella with tomatoesaim for a variety of colours and sizes in picking your tomatoes Drizzle with EVOO and balsamic glaze and sprinkle with fresh basil and other green herbs for good measure Pair that with some supermarket bread and bam! You’ve got an easy little salad that the public will love If you are looking for extra praise, you can always make the bread yourself

Burrata salad & Bread

Okay, not so cost-effective in this economy but bitches go crazy for burrata these days Layer thin slices tomatoes in a circle shape, leaving a space in the centre - aim for a variety of colours and sizes in picking your tomatoes Drizzle with EVOO and balsamic glaze and sprinkle with fresh basil and other green herbs for good measure Place fresh burrata in the centre Pair this meal with some supermarket bread and bam! You’ve got an easy little salad that the public will love If you are looking for extra praise, you can always make the bread yourself

* Kitchen hack!

Evidence shows that people are more likely to be impressed with your meal based on how homemade and colourful it looks. Take advantage of human fallibility by serving your meal, whether homemade or not, in nice serving dishes or tupperware, and adorned with colourful flowers (your average garden weed will do).

Ingredients Directions

Buy caramelised onion supermarket pull apart bread If you are looking for extra praise, you can always remove the packaging at home, transport the bread in a tea towel and oven dish, to give the illusion that you have made the bread yourself * Directions

5 big handfuls of baby spinach (about two bags)

2 tbsp of olive oil

1 tsp of cumin seeds

1 brown onion, diced

4 garlic cloves, grated

Small chunk of ginger peeled and grated

½ tsp of chili powder

½ heaped teaspoon of garam masala

2 handfuls of cherry tomatoes (about 125g) (in this cost of living crisis I also find tinned cherry tomatoes work fine)

Sea salt

work relationships if they were eggs

1 Add three quarters of the spinach and a splash of water to a pot on medium-high heat, cover and leave til wilted, stirring occasionally Once wilted, tip the spinach into a blender with 150 ml of water and blitz until smooth (If using a stick blender, don’t press the ‘blend’ button until your blender is deep in the spinach/water mix I did not do this and now have spinach all over my new recipe book) Set aside

2 Return empty pot to the stove on a medium heat Add oil Once warm, add the cumin seeds and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant Next, add the onion, garlic, ginger and a pinch of salt Cook for 10 min, until onions are golden and translucent

3 Meanwhile (don’t you hate it when recipes tell you to do two things at once), prepare the tofu In a small bowl mix the yeast and oil until they form a paste, then stir through the tofu Place a large frying pan on a medium-low heat and once warm add oil and throw in the tofu The diced tofu should not be touching each other a crowded pan will mean the tofu won’t crisp up as much and your dish will lose an important textural element (yes, I’ve seen Masterchef) Cook for 8-10 min, turning every 2 min or so, until crisp and golden all over

4 Add chili powder, garam masala and tomatoes to the onion mixture and cook on a medium heat for 5 min, until the tomatoes have started to break down Roughly chop the remaining spinach, then stir in, along with blended spinach

5 Once everything has come together and the spinach has wilted, season to taste and stir through the crispy tofu

Voilà, dinner is served

“CAN

REVIEW: DEVON SHEET FILM FESTIVAL

I’ve been welcomed inside by wonderful friends, offered a sparkling water and I’m parked up on one of Aro Valley’s more comfortable couches Moira brings out a sheet to make the movie screen It’s not ironed or steamed but that doesn’t matter, a warped eye here and there adds to the cinematic experience It gets pinned to the archway, the lights go out and the new projector on long term loan from Alice fires up

The first film, Am I OK? starring Hollywood’s favourite “say it as it is” nepo baby Dakota Johnson is the first screening It’s a coming of age, queer story about a woman accepting her sexuality in her 30s A solid premise But it doesn’t excite the Devon audience whatsoever In fact, it put Katie T to sleep The dialogue is pithy and predictable, the best friend Jane is selfish and annoying, and the sex scene (note the singular) is short and disappointing A high score on Rotten Tomatoes (80%) can turn you wrong people It’s a 1 out 5 from me (low-key still recommend it)

The second screening is Brokeback Mountain A cowboy love story starring the young and devilishly handsome Jake Gyllenhaal and Health Ledger Picturesque long shots of the Wyoming mountains and the complex relationships quickly had us hooked Appearances by other esteemed celebs in their younger days, such as Michelle Williams & Anne Hathaway, were also fun to watch 5 out of 5* from me

A dark and sad ending from the previous film meant we had to follow up with a screening of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour to lighten the mood No spoilers here Its a 4 out of 5 (a 5 must be left for the real deal)

That rounds us off to 5 out 5 for the Devon Sheet Film Festival

By Jemima Huston

*please note that Jemima originally reviewed Brokeback Mountain at only 3 stars. Loving Devon did not feel that we could publish this in good conscience, and have corrected it to 5 stars.

REVIEW: MY QUARTER-LIFE CRISIS (2023, DIR: DANIEL MEECH)

Acclaimed director Daniel Meech returns to the silver-screen with the 2023 comedy of errors, My Quarter-Life Crisis Inspired by real events - and the yawning existential chasm inside - My Quarter-Life Crisis is an exhilarating examination of the human condition It poses the question: 'what the fuck am I doing with my life?', and leaves us to search for answers on our own At 7 months and 13 days the film's runtime is on the longer side, but the hectic pace and concerningly chaotic energy means the scenes fly by with shocking speed Although the gorgeous scenery and ever-changing cast of characters add a genuine warmth and energy, the show’s surrealist and whimsical tone, and the earnest and overly-introspective lead, begins to drag by the end (There were also far too many scenes set at Latin dance classes )

By Daniel Meech

Artist Spotlight

We highly recommend Grace for all your music needs! Check her out for lessons in singing, guitar, violin and most other normal instruments as well as sound recording

MUSIC LESSONS

With Grace Duncan Music

@graceduncanmusic

I cannot recommend Grace enough. She has helped to guide our daughter Molly from being nervous about singing in front of people to singing non stop. Grace teaches without pressure or expectation. Molly's confidence and resilience in life in general has grown exponentially over the last year and I truly believe that her lessons have helped with this considerably. We also had the absolute pleasure of watching Grace perform at Gardens Magic, it was such an inspiration for Molly to see her on the stage.

Ali - Parent of Molly, 10

I wholeheartedly recommend Grace as an excellent guitar teacher. Her expertise, patient approach and passion for teaching create a fantastic learning environment. My daughter, Sanvi has made significant progress and thoroughly enjoys her lessons. Grace's dedication and skill make her an outstanding choice for anyone seeking a top-notch guitar teacher.

Swati - Parent of Sanvi, 13

Our daughter Moira was very nervous to start singing lessons, Grace quickly put her at ease by building a safe and supportive environment where our darling Moira felt comfortable and confident to push herself. Thank you Grace for your patience and dedication while teaching Moira, we have no doubt that under your guidance her singing will one day improve.

Geoff and Sheila McConnell - Parents of Moira, 28