Category: Random

A Girls’ Weekend

A Girls’ Weekend

A girls’ weekend has to be the best bonding time ever created. 

You probably already know that I’m in an Improv group (which I’ll tell you more about on another day). This troupe is an almost equal mix of both men and women and one that I feel genuinely grateful for having the comradery of exceptional people.

 

It shouldn’t come as any great surprise then that the women of the group decided to have a weekend away to have some quality time away from the comedy. Let me point out here that these women range in age from late 30s through to me, who is the oldest at 68. There are more than 10 years between myself and the next one down. Now, I’m no sociologist, but I believe that these women keep me young, keep me being open to new adventures, and certainly keep me looking forward rather than back.

 

The first sojourn was in 2020, if my memory serves me correctly, just before lockdown. Not everyone was in attendance, and those absent were missed, but the gals who did go enjoyed a rain-filled, odd house weekend. Due to the weather, the only activities involved hot pools and massage. Well, it was Rotorua (also known as Rotovegas for my international readers), after all. Aren’t hot pools mandatory?

 

The latest weekend, held recently, was definitely a step-up. It was again in Rotorua simply because there’s always lots to do there, and it’s very close. The bonus was that the entire female Honest Liars Improv contingent were there.

 

It began with Frenzied Friday, relaxed into a Slower Saturday and ended with Stimulating Sunday. Well, these were the chapter headings I thought summed up the weekend!

 

The AirB&B home was primo. Not only was it a beautiful house, but it also offered a big enough spa pool and a fire pit on the deck which overlooked a calm vista of rolling hills.

 

As I said – it was a Frenzied Friday. That’s because everyone arrives, cars unloaded, snacks laid out and drinks started. With seven women, you can imagine how many delicious snacks there were, so much so that dinner type food was never even given a thought.

 

It was serious work firing up the fire pit, especially not finding the fire starters until well after the flames leapt into life the old fashioned way.

 

fire pit

 

By the time the deck was smoked out, it soon became obvious the best thing to do was to get into the hot tub. 

As more slipped into the warm bubbling water to escape the smoke, the deep talking really began. Naturally, I’m going to add here that the famous line by Colson Whitehead from the movie The Noble Hustle.

“What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas”

So, no, you’re not going to get any of the juicy details. Needless to say, it wasn’t just in the pool; there were funny, lively, detailed conversations going on throughout the evening and subsequent days.

 

Saturday saw a much quieter day, although it was full, beginning with a bit of mini-golf with bunnies. That’s right. Flemish Rabbits hopped around the course to the enjoyment of all. The bunny golf was followed by a delicious lunch at the Atticus Finch restaurant which catered for everyone, including the two vegans!

 

atticus finch restaurant

 

A gentle walk by the lake, then it was off for the mandatory massage. Everyone was too tired to go out clubbing or any other thing that involved strenuous activity, and so it was back to the house, and finally, Friday’s meal was laid out on the counter for all to partake.

 

lake rotorua

 

No better way to end the evening than to sit around and watch a girly movie. And the one of choice could have been made just for us. ‘Wine Country’, a story about a group of friends who have a weekend away to celebrate a birthday. Set in Napa Valley, the perfectly planned weekend turns into a wine-soaked event that changes the women forever. Although we were perhaps not quite as rambunctious, and we certainly didn’t have a ‘Devon’ who came with their house, we all laughed at some of the similarities we saw.

 

And so onto Sunday. Everyone had clear heads by then, and a walk through the Redwoods after breakfast invigorated us all. We could each return to our ‘normal’ lives refreshed, revitalised and revelling in the beautiful bonding that had only deepened our friendship.

 

Oh, I must mentioned that not only was the house beautiful, the weather was stunning also. A far cry from the previous girls’ weekend. But where both did hit the mark was with the fun we had. Do you have time out with your tribe? Please let me know in the comments.

 

fee figures that

 

 

 

 

 




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Two Sides to Everything

Two Sides to Everything

There are always two sides to everything, but two sides from the same person has me thinking ‘huh????’

Recently in the USA, the Covid relief bill finally passed in the Senate, scraping through with the Democrats 50 to the Republicans 49 (it looks like someone didn’t vote at all).

Why am I that interested in US politics? I hear you ask. Because I have a daughter living there and this current package is going to help her considerably.

The plan is $1.9 trillion, and it should have been released months ago but was held up due to old farts being more concerned about their party politics than the struggling people who make up the majority of citizens.

But it was this tweet by Mississippi Republican Senator Roger Wicker who riled my feathers (and others) at his sheer audacity.

 

two sides

Independent restaurant operators have won $28.6 billion worth of targeted relief. This funding will ensure small businesses can survive the pandemic by helping to adapt their operations and keep their employees on the payroll.

Great sentiments.

Hang on!

He voted AGAINST the bill (as did all Republicans). How can he be so two-faced and flip his opinion so quickly?

  • Is he trying to curry favour with his constituents?
  • Does the party bully the Senators into voting a certain way?
  • Are the Senators swayed because everyone can see who votes for what?

Seeing this tweet certainly was a WTF reaction and had me asking way more questions and doubting this man’s integrity more than anything else.

Politics! I honestly don’t know how some people actually get voted in at all. Perhaps the general voters have short memories.

fee figures

SIGN OFF FOR OVER COFFEE

 

 

 

 

 




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The Meghan & Harry Interview

The Meghan & Harry Interview

Yes, of course, I watched the Meghan & Harry interview the other night – I’m female and curious!

Along with my curiosity, I really did want to hear from the horse’s mouth, so the speak. In fact, both of the horses; and they didn’t disappoint.

Naturally, as this interview had already been aired overseas and the media were already all over it, I did have a bit of a head’s up as to the ‘bombshells’ that were dropped.

Did they take advantage of Oprah to further their cause? I don’t know and quite frankly don’t really care.

I feel that here are two people who really want to be of service to humanity. And in my opinion the Palace was dumb not to see a great asset when it was right there in front of their noses. That’s the sad part about all of this. History repeating, all because of tradition, egos, and a toxic media that has to pit two beautiful women.

Family dynamics constantly sway and swing as life goes on, but most do stick together. I wonder if where the Royal family is concerned, duty before family is just too much of an ask in this 21st century. The machine that is The Firm needs also to be brought into the modern-day and more care given to family members who are, after all, the Firm’s bread and butter.

I can totally understand what Harry meant when he said his father and brother are trapped, and my heart goes out to them.

Meghan was right when she said all we see are happy faces, and we envy their lifestyle of wealth and position. We saw it with Diana, we’ve seen it with Fergie, and now Meghan – life behind the walls is not free, nor is it easy, especially for those not born to it.

For me there were no surprises. The racial slurs were already there, the ‘no help’ is in line with the other women mentioned above and why Harry and Meghan left was pretty much what I had thought at the time… Harry wanted to protect his family.

The media have a lot to answer to – some good, most bad. And I’m saddened that the media are egging the public to make a choice. There is no need to.

And speaking of the media, I’m so glad someone finally stood up to the extremely arrogant Piers Morgan live on his show. His constant slamming of Meghan almost bordered on obsession. It seems he got all huffy because she apparently ‘ghosted’ him when she and Harry became an item. Perhaps she was told to?

BTW I haven’t bought a magazine since before the turn of the century… I don’t buy into the tabloid press.


 

 

 

 

 




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Move Over Ted Cruz

Move Over Ted Cruz

We have our own Ted Cruz right here in New Zealand!

Do you know the recent story about Ted Cruz? Well, do you even know who Ted Cruz is? If not, I’ll fill you in and if you do – skip the next paragraph if you want to.

Ted Cruz is a Republican senator from Texas who did a runner with his family to Mexico when the massive snowstorm hit Texas, and the lights went out. Well, it was more than lights; it was quite a disaster as people died in this dreadful storm.

The press had a field day with this news, and Ted was shamed into returning, giving some ridiculous excuse about his daughter wanting a holiday. He maintained he was just escorting her (and the rest of the family) to Cancun to get them settled into the hotel. Does that mean he doesn’t trust his wife to do this?

(Sorry, Reader, I know, that was two paragraphs.)



Anyhoo, it appears we have our own Ted Cruz, which became apparent just before the recent lockdown in Auckland. Brian Tamaki (aka Bishop Tamaki, leader of the Destiny Church) and his wife Hannah (who aspires to be a politician) jumped into their vehicle and drove from Auckland to Rotorua a few hours before the Level 3 lockdown shut that fair city off from the rest of N.Z. Talk about the the monied elite’s ability to escape hardship.

running away

As Ted left his constituents in a time of crises, so did Bishop Brian leave his parishioners – right when they needed him most. And, just so you know, he didn’t go back!

Now maybe the press wouldn’t have been so hard on him if he had gone back, but interviewing both of them separately, it seemed like they couldn’t even get their own stories straight. Brian was adamant that the trip was for business. However, Hannah said it was the annual hunting trip that always happens around this time of the year. – who was telling the truth?

I wouldn’t have bothered writing about this, even though it did make me laugh at the sheer audacity and selfishness of the couple. But now I’ve heard that this evangelistic leader of a cultist type of non-profit organisation has come out criticising politicians and church leaders for not backing him against the bad press.

Wait… there’s more

He also has claimed that all the bad press he’s received over this caused the recent earthquakes and tsunami warnings.

The couple ended up in the South Island, citizens of which publicly announced they didn’t want them! The poor lad was refused entry into Invercargill and had to go to Queenstown to conduct his Sunday service to the whopping big crowd of 20.

I have the feeling the wealthy in Queenstown are not really the Destiny Church’s ideal parishioner’s profile.

 

 

 

 

 




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Disaster Struck

Disaster Struck

Today I discovered that disaster had struck. No, I’m not talking about the tsunami warning that sent many residents into ‘leave now’ mode.

Thankfully, we weren’t actually in the wave’s line; only a bit of a surge in the tides was expected. I kept my eye on the government’s Civil Defence website as I continued with my work.

Mind you, tsunamis, earthquakes etc., are things that one can prepare for (and should), but I’m talking about the ones you don’t see coming.



I’ll put you out of your misery. The disaster that struck has to do with this website! The ‘sign up to follow my blog’ part had a hissy fit. Consequently, all those who had signed up actually hadn’t been receiving notification for a wee while. And then, to top it off, all of the addresses got deleted! Grrrrr.

You’d think I would know as I’m rather tech-savvy. But looking at stats is not exactly my preferred way of spending time. So I missed the signals.

The point is if you had signed up – huge favour – please sign up again. This time I’ll be the one sending out the email when I’ve written something rather than it being automatic. So much for automation!!!

You’ll see a sign-up form over there.

(Well, you’ll probably need to go up as well.)

Of course, if you’re on a mobile, the arrow will not go anywhere other than to your fingers which are probably holding your phone. That’s unless you’ve got one of those fancy round things on the back so you can hold the phone without dropping it… no good for me as I often stick my phone into my pocket!

Anyhoo, getting back to the arrow that may or may not point you in the right direction. The form is here; in fact, there’s a few of them scattered around, and knowing that you’re a smart cookie, I know you’ll find one of them.

Be warned. The intention is to write a blog a couple of times a week or when the mood strikes, but they will be short (well, most will), so they shouldn’t impinge on your day too much.

I will certainly appreciate it if you do like me enough to follow this blog. (Ahem, I like you anyway).

 

 

 

 

 




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I’m On Bluesky

I’m On Bluesky

About Me

fee o'shea

Thanks for dropping by. My name is Fee O’Shea. I’m a mother and grandma, an author, and a Comedy Improver.
This blog is for my thoughts, my rants, raves, reviews and things that have grabbed my attention. From politics to social media to beauty, health and the environment. Fee’s World is written to bring you a smile or get you thinking. Enjoy.

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