Day 58, Level 1: Yesterday's update, racing, sparkling car, advertising, "home" and creatives

Okay, so let's start with details of yesterday which I couldn't relay due to - not Covid, but no Power! It's a longish post - but you can be assured it's not spiel, it's just my authentic story!

As advised, I arrived at Omaha to no power. Dusk was at its end and virtually as soon as I opened the front door, darkness enveloped the place. My phone torch got into operation to enable me to get things unloaded and upstairs safely. Then I got out a bunch of candles and lit them, and switched on some battery-powered "light flowers" that I've never actually switched on before. They worked and it was a really nice ambience. And all this gave pretty good light to be honest (see yesterday's photos!) The torch didn't work - that needs battery replacement!

The place looked quite nice with all its glow - but there wasn't a lot I could do. And I always like to be doing something! I did have to make up the bed as I'd washed the sheets when last here and hadn't remade it. Doing that by phone-light wasn't so hard. I ended up going to bed at 10.30 - OMG I don't remember the last time I did that at home. After a long flight or while travelling perhaps, but not on a normal day at home base, Auckland or Omaha! It was a struggle but there wasn't much choice in the matter. 

So back to report on yesterday's antics ...

In the morning I met with Paul Wilcox, the CEO of Auckland Racing Club (along with Neil, editor of the Owners Bulletin) - we wanted to find out more about the proposed merger of Auckland and Counties racing clubs. It's all for the betterment of racing - and with the aim of increasing stakes for owners. Bring it all on! Paul is a great guy, very passionate about racing and also a long-time owner (still striving for winning glory). He's been going to Ellerslie races for yonks, since a kid, and now he pinches himself every day that he actually runs the place. This is the sort of passion we love, if someone lives, works and breathes racing - and it can only get better! I recently discovered he actually lives across the road from me - we're down a walkway off the street front so it's not like we're going to bump into each other as we use another accessway - but he is literally 2 minutes' walk away. And both of us are literally 5 minutes' drive away from Ellerslie racecourse. Perfecto! We both love it.

I'm writing an article on this proposed racing club merger so took my notes and it was a great chat and update. Not to mention exciting times in the racing industry, which has been somewhat in the doldrums for a while. The aim is to boost stakes and that is exactly what owners want to hear. They're also going to put in a new StrathAyr surface - asap - and that will be a game-changer. This surface is used in Hong Kong and Singapore and throughout Australia - it has many benefits in terms of safety, durability and cost effectiveness. It also means races will never be abandoned like they often are here because of weather and rain issues etc. Bring it on! Then they'll be looking at upgrading the stands and facilities. Bring it on!

This will all take time but the emphasis is on sooner rather than later, short term not long term. That's what we want - and need - to hear. With higher stakes, the new track surface and, in time, top class facilities ... well, Ellerslie will become a world-class facility. It's already good, but this will step it up a zillion notches. Bring it on! 

After that meeting (this is yesterday), I called into the supermarket to pick up a couple of things. The car park was full and getting a park wasn't so easy. This seemed strange on a Thursday morning. I went inside the store and all the staff were wearing Christmas outfits. I thought that seemed a bit over the top - it's only the beginning of December for goodness sake!

But what I hadn't realised (I don't really take notice of advertising) is that it was the big Christmas Sale Day (or whatever they called it) at New World supermarkets. Loads of specials and heaps of tastings. Rah-dee-rah-dee-rah. So instead of rushing in and out for a couple of necessities (toilet rolls being one!) I came out with hordes of stuff!

Well, why not take advantage of those specials? And with the horrific price of NZ groceries, we need all the specials we can get. Everything will get eaten and enjoyed. I was pretty hungry in there, so as there were plenty of tasting stations, I even got to get lunch en route through the aisles - a delicious egg muffin, created using eggs local to Matakana! I can get those eggs when up Omaha way - and they definitely taste good. The egg farm (is that what you call it?) is obviously going into full-on marketing mode further afield than the local area. All good. 

It was a tad too early for wine tastings, but I picked up a few bottles as there were some great specials in that department. Grabbed this and that from here and there, and then got the hell out. It was drizzling and not a very nice day. A longish supermarket shop had not been on my agenda but there I was with several bags full and my pocket emptied! No wonder the car park was full - everyone was in for the bargains!

Back home for more work and then late afternoon I headed into the city to participate in a focus group about a dairy product and a prospective advertising campaign. That's all I knew. It was a good two hours of discussion and I really enjoyed it. I don't engage with ads, in fact I loathe 99% of the ones I see and either switch off, walk away, lament loudly or determine never to investigate or buy. 

There are some truly atrocious ads and I have to wonder about humanity and people's sense of rationale. Someone senior has to sign off on the marketing nonsense we have to endure. There are a handful of really good engaging ads that are eminently watchable (but only so many times) - and then there are ads that are so bad they not only perplex, they actually make you lose the will live. They certainly don't make you want to buy the product or service on offer. The opposite. 

So this focus group was interesting - a diverse bunch of people (it was obvious that our group was selected because we are empty-nesters). The premise was "home" - what is home, what does home mean to you? They were exploring all sense of home. Of course that sense was different pre and post Covid for everyone in the room. And everywhere. 

For me, it means two homes, which are both quite different. It also means being at home (one or other) ALL year - no travelling. I could travel within NZ but I don't feel the need. I'm happy to stay home. This is my year of "home".

So it was a timely and interesting discussion. The company want to use the essence of "home" as its advertising slant and was gathering every perspective it could. I wasn't quite the "norm" (never usually am) and I did put forward some provocative thoughts and comments, and some off the wall perspectives, which weren't quite where everyone else was coming from or had thought of. They were duly noted!  I could have gone much further and deeper - but I think I went about as far as I dared. Sometimes too much is just that. Provocation can only go so far!

Anyway it was a very well-run and an indepth session and I'll look forward to seeing what the outcome is and what ads are produced. I doubt it will sway me to swear allegiance to the product. It's one I buy - but I also buy other brands. For me, purchase depends on price, mood, need. I have never hooked into brand advertising, ever since seeing it at work when I was 19, just landed in London, and worked for Unilever. I think that work experience made me understand and resist advertising forever more. 

But it seemed that most people in the focus group  are 100% swayed by it. Like most people in the world seem to be, otherwise why would companies do it?! It's more than a bit scary how influenced people truly are. I have been swayed at times but no more.

After that session I headed straight up to Omaha - didn't arrive until 9pm - and that's when I encountered darkness and no power. 

TODAY: So now onto today ...

So I went to sleep at 10.30pm and it was funny as I woke up at midnight when my sister texted me (she was home from her bar and we usually talk at that time as I'm usually always up) - but this time when she texted, the power came on at exactly the same time. It seemed highly bizarre but it was truly a double whammy that woke me from sleep. At exactly 12.01am. Suffice to say I texted her and went back to sleep, I was happily in a kind of dreamland which I rarely am at that time of the night!

Morning came and it was a nice one too. I opened all the doors and then fiddled about on my laptop and tied up some loose ends which I hadn't been able to do last night. I don't have any immediate deadlines - there are several in the next couple of weeks but today I could finally relax just a little. I welcomed it.

Mid-morning I set off to the beach for a quick walk. Got waylaid by talking with the neighbours across the road - they haven't been up much this year. Chatted away for ... probably an hour. It was a spectacular day weather-wise, and the beach looked superb. Only about 4 people I could spot. I had a short walk along to the next walkway and then headed home. I did have stuff to do - like wash my car! 

There's a very gorgeous newly-built home that had to stop in its tracks during lockdown. It's now complete and I think it's absolutely stunning. The "across the road" neighbour said the build cost $2m, that's without the land price. Woah, wow! Here it is below - it is incredibly beautiful and there's a lower storey you can't see here. I am wow'd by this house - but also staggered by its price tag. But, in the great scheme of things when it comes to NZ house prices, it provides better beauty, live-ability and investment value than many.  I still can't get my head around the figures, it's all obscene to me. 

I had a great walk on the beach and it looked superb. Kind of muted but with a clarity you can't describe. It was a lovely mellow walk - I passed one couple walking and there were a few people at the Surf Club end. But basically, the beach was deserted on this very beautiful Friday. I dipped my toes in the water - OMG it was cold. But then I walked on and after five minutes or so it felt okay.  My 20 minutes' beach walk was heavenly. 

And then I was back on my laptop - with all the doors open. Did a bit of writing, roasted some nuts (soy, honey, sherry) and then had - OMG I can't believe I'm saying this - I had a hotdog for lunch, a la frankfurter. It's not something I've ever done or contemplated doing for myself. But at that supermarket yesterday, studying specials I might otherwise never have laid my eyes on, I saw these Frankfurther sausages. They looked rather nice. So today I cooked one for lunch, added sauce and mustard - and was in 7th heaven. A very long time since I've had a "hotdog" - since making them for a kids in a long distant past! It was yum. But I have to say the sausage/frankfurter was of the highest quality - and hideously expensive - even on special!

Then ... OMG I can't believe I'm saying this ... I washed and cleaned my car! I started off vacuuming it and cleaning the inside surfaces, all easy enough.

And then it was time for the outside ... 

Normally I take it to a car wash - get this thing over as quick as possible! 

But today I had both a moment and the intention - and it wasn't so hard. It really needed it so I got stuck in. I ran a bucket of water and added my friend Lynn's "Sparkle Bar" soap into it; not a lot, just a little. I put that wash all over the car - it was out in the sunshine and the mixture dried quick. The car was looking all streaked and whatnot. But no worries, I then got a bucket of clean water, washed the car down, and then dried it down with a dry cloth. Oh the sparkle!

This took me literally 10 minutes. Yay for Lynn's "Sparkle Bar". Amazing. I can't tell you it's going to make me clean my car more (I'm really not interested in cars, they're a thing that gets me from A to B and that's about it) but I can tell you I will do it more often with Sparkle Bar making it so quick and easy!

Then I left to meet Lynn (Sparke Bar creator!) and carpool to an artists' Soiree about 10 minutes from my place. Run by Helene Carpenter, a very talented Welsh artist who now calls NZ home. She has set up a rambling art studio not far from Omaha and runs workshops and classes and all sorts. The Soiree is a monthly gathering of creative and - to be quite frank - zany people. Right up my alley! I'd been to the first Soiree in October and that was where I met Lynn. This was the second one. 

Oh what a fabulous night tonight was. Met many interesting people from all walks of life, near and far. In heaven.

Spent ages talking to Lindsay who is a painter a la Jackson Pollock (not my style but loved hearing how he does it). Interestingly, he is currently living on a boat and has restricted painting space so splashing paint across huge canvasses is no-go at the mo. He's focussed on inks. Yes, I get that, it's my preferred medium as it's highly portable. Previously he's grown olives, made olive oil and all sorts of stuff, so much that I can't quite recall. Very fascinating chap to talk to.  

Lindsay and Lynn chatting, and others in the background - the guy in the blue floral shirt had the best shoes!

Also spent ages talking to young Giosue (English name Joshua) - he had blue lips, a lip ring, long hair and judo style clothing. Lynn and I engaged immediately - this was a young guy worth talking to. (Suffice to say Lynn and I love talking to and finding out about anyone and everyone!) 

Giosue hails from the town of Cuneo in Piedmont district in north-west Italy. He's been here for some time and of course with Covid got "stuck" here. He loves it. He does judo as well as a bit of life modelling for the studio (yes that explains everything) - along with a couple of other rather lovely human specimens, male and female who also do live modelling!! Suffice to say there are quite a few people signing up for life drawing classes! I might have to do so ...

Giosue and Lynn - and food and art stuff

Helene (the Welsh woman who runs the studio) is endearing and whacky in the best way ever - and her artwork is outstanding. Here are some amazing examples of her work. Love to share other people's lovely work.

All in all, this was an evening not to be forgotten. 

And forever remembered. There's a difference. 

Thing is, creatives are always a bit nuts ... in the best and most unusual way!

And these Soirees just confirm that!