anorak

This plan has all gone somewhat awry so maybe we should try again in the near future.

Are we all going for Scottish dancing at DOC on Friday?

I'm coming along. What time does it start?

Alexis and I should start playing records around 9.30.

Here's a poster;

Could get something to eat beforehand if anyone wants.

I think we'll be eating at home and heading straight to DOC

Okay. I'll be there around nine.

Wow, things have gone pretty quiet on the Indiepop Kiwis thread as autumn starts to merge moistly into winter.

Anyway, this coming Monday 7th June sees our glorious figurehead the Queen of England celebrate her 97th birthday and we in NZ all have the day off to mark the occasion.

Whilst I have no intention of drinking a toast to our evil colonial oppresors it would be a joy to get together and stick a couple of drunken fingers up at our English chums who don't even get a sliver of regal birthday cake never mind a whole day off work.

Anyone up for celebrating "Ha ha, you have pay huge amounts of tax to support an archaic institution and we get the bonus day off, suckers" Day?

Perhaps we should actually celebrate on Sunday so we don't have to pay the inevitable preposterous 15% surcharge?

yeah I'm up for a weekend meet up - prob more keen on sunday than monday. location? i still can't think of a more central decent pub than galbraiths. or maybe the shakespeare. that's probably easier for everyone to get to.

The Bluestone just off the appropriately named Queen Street was quite nice when we popped in once when it was not full of people. I quite like the almost appropriately named Queensferry on Vulcan Lane too. They're both a little bit more northern than Galbraiths which might work out better for those folks from t'other side of the harbour bridge?

Sunday's good for me. Maybe a bit later? I'm at work in Glenfield until 4.30, but I can be in town around 5.

After doing some research Blueston appears to be shut on a Sunday. Queensferry's website says they should be open though, so maybe that's the best option. Evening works for me.

Queensferry on Vulcan Lane about 5:30 to 6-ish then?

They do pretty nice chips there if anyone wants to eat. I think i do. I love eating.

Great. We'll be there.

Good Lord! Have you seen the Groove Guide Mix Tape list in this weeks Groove Guide? Pastels! Popguns! Brilliant Corners! Who put this together, that's what I want to know.

Apparently you can listen to it at http://www.myspace.com/grooveguide if you aren't working at Auckland Council. Which I am. Bugger.

UPDATE: Not only does it turn out that I actually can access the Groove Guide playlist (which is transpires was put together by Twee FM) from Auckland Council but the project overlords here have laid on random Friday beer and snacks! So if you're wondering why your taxes are so high once Supercity comes into being the answer is slipping down my previously parched and starved gullet as we speak.

FURTHER UPDATE: Twee FM just seems to be the name of the playlist. So I'm still none the wiser as to who compiled it. Rather frustratingly the Brilliant Corners track is illustrated with a picture of the sleeve of the Driscolls "Bang" EP which I only have on knackered tape and would love to have a nostalgic listen to right now. I have, however, had two lovely bottles of yummy Tiger beer and only a small handful of crisps (or "chips" as the Kiwi language police insist we call them) so I may be rambling a little.

Great.

I think you'll find it's pronounced "chups".

People up for another meet up soon? Need Markie to report back in his overseas research so we can all get hip to what the coolest trainers and haircuts are for todays decerning popadult.

For hair you'll be wanting to think "minimalist" (which has been the fashion for a number of years now of course and shows no sign of changing anytime soon). Oh, and trainers are so last season! The cool middle-aged hipster about town is currently sporting some hardwearing, unbranded walking boots, 20 quid from Brantano and guaranteed to impress everyone from the lonesome sheep on the desolate and rainy Peak District moorland to the bewildered traveller getting elbowed out of the way as you race breathlessly through Singapore Airport to reach a far too tight connection. Brown cords from the recent sale at Hallensteins in Newmarket are still de rigueur wherever you are in the world. You'll probably want to team then with the latest Smittens T-shirt pulled snugly over an ever expanding paunch for maximum head turning effect. It would have been a yellow Lovely Eggs T-shirt but that developed some strange orange blotches during its first wash.

Let's meet up and wow the good people of Auckland with our unattainable levels of chicness.

I'm keen on a meet up. Most evenings would be fine, and a bit earlier at weekends.

Great - I thought last meet up's venue was pretty good. Plus it's close to Sal's if we fancy some pizza, which I almost certainly will. Probably a bit late notice for this Sunday though. Does a weeknight suit people - or next Sunday?

How do you all like my impersonation of an 'organiser'?