Jeremy Baker

I could get used to this … (part 2) #edenontheriver #vanuatu #efate #waterfalls #rivers #rockpools #rainforest

Standing on a lush river bank surrounded by rainforest - wearing a tshirt and sarong

Turquoise waters. Moso Island, Vanuatu 🇻🇺

Literally turquoise water and a beach with white sand and rocky outcrops

Chilling in Vanuatu 🇻🇺 - Moso Island

Sitting on a swing bench surrounded by foliage

I could get used to this …

#amalfiapartments #ellukroad #portvila #vanuatu #swimming #pool

Azure swimming pool surrounded by palms.

Rainbows from Amalfi Apartments, Elluk Road, Port Vila

Rainbow over Port Vila lagoon

Port Vila, Vanuatu

Bill and Jo in Port Vila, Vanuatu. Visited Port Vila market for fresh fruit and vegetable supplies, then Au Bon Marché for deli food.

Bill and Jo in VanuatuBill at Port Vila MarketPort Vila MarketAu Bon Marché shelving

Wet evening, Willis St, Wellington

Rain washed street scape with yellow and red lights from shops, cars and street lights reflecting on the street. People in pink, red and other colours cross the road.

Pōneke sunset sequence from the air

Sunset and clouds from the air - orange blush on the cloudsSunset and clouds from the air - orange and yellow cloudsSunset and clouds from the air - deep orange and bright yellow on the clouds

Bill in Port Vila

Bill and the Vanuatu JudgesRainbow over Port VilaShopping in Port Vila

Finished reading: Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree 📚

Absolutely loved this book. The characters are great and it’s such a gentle, heartwarming story (with enough occasional edge to keep it interesting). And what’s not to like? Retired lesbian Orc mercenary freebooter sets up a coffee house and gathers round her a glorious found family of misfits, including a dire-cat, a genius rat-kin baker, a stone-mason bard who wants to play ‘modern’ music, and also someone to fall in love with? What a story :)

Finished reading: Translation State by Ann Leckie 📚

A surprising and inventive book of science-fiction that explores what it means to be ‘human’ - but metaphorically and literally (within the story). Great characters and a satisfying story and ending.

Current reading 4 Aug 2023

After 4 days of “No Book Purchase August”, I’ve started in on my book stacks in earnest.

This is my current reading pile:

  • “The Princes of the Renaissance” (Mary Hollingsworth) - an excellent overview of some of the key players in the Italian Renaissance, highlighting both their political and artistic endeavours.

  • “A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived” (Adam Rutherford) - a history of humanity told through genetics and DNA, revealing the startling fact that everyone with European ancestry is descended (in some way) from anyone in 10th Century Europe who has descendants.

  • “Legends & Lattes” (Travis Baldree) - a lighthearted queer fantasy romp about retried female orc mercenary staring up a café.

  • “The Life & Death of States” (Natasha Wheatley) - a sweeping analysis of the experiments with sovereignty in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and its successor states in central and eastern Europe.

  • “Beowulf” (trans. Seamus Heaney) - a bi-lingual publication of the Old English epic poem by Irish Poet Seamus Heaney.

  • “Beowulf” (trans. J.R.R. Tolkien) - Tolkien’s translation and commentary on Beowulf. Re-reading both versions in preparation of a couple of anticipated arrivals…

A stack of books in the same order as the text in the post (top to bottom)

My unread book stacks are a little out of control.

Having acknowledged I have a problem, I’m doing “No Book Buying August” ❌📚❌ - wish me luck… 😳😢🤪

Wonderful visit to the Lego Brickman Jurassic Exhibition at Tākina with the grandkids.

The latest set of books borrowed from the Eva Street Library:

IMG 3626

Enjoy, Theo and Claude!

Great to welcome Mr Go's to Eva Street!IMG 3622IMG 3619IMG 3614

Finished reading: The Last Heir to Blackwood Library by Hester Fox 📚

Family brunch for Matariki at Floriditas #family #brunch #matariki #matariki2023

Collage of family brunch photos. Ash, Eva Louise, Mum and Dad.

The Diva, The Deity, The Drag Queen … the Divine Miss Polly Filla - exquisite. #diva #deity #divine #drag #pollyfilla

A drag queen in a swirling zebra pattern dress in sultry lighting on stage at S&Ms bar in Wellington A man looks directly at a drag queen who looks directly at us. A study in obsession. Polly and Jeremy

Mānawatia a Matariki @EvaStreet

#matariki #matariki2023 #evastreet #hannahslaneway #roberthannahcentre #rainbowbridge🌈 #pōneke #aotearoa

Collage of images of a sunny day on Hannah’s Laneway, including the Rainbow Bridge 🌈

We ran a party 🏳️‍🌈

Three people in bright fluro tops with lights and rainbow flags

Just a little party we pulled together…

Collage of a house party with many people wearing bright fluro colours

Deuxième dîner d’adieu avant de partir pour Vanuatu

@ Shepherd Restaurant

#dinner #farewell #billhastings #vanuatu

Bill at the kitchen bench at Shepherd Restaurant Three glorious dishes at Shepherd

Premier dîner d’adieu au Vanuatu #farewell #dinner #vanuatu 🇻🇺 at Concord Restaurant www.concordrestaurant.co.nz

Bill holding up a negroni at Concord Restaurant, Wellington

Runner 🏃‍♂️

Picture of me after a run at Hōkio