Sneak Peek: Bosch The TV Show, Not the Appliances

 

On the surface Bosch sounds like every other TV cop show. There's a hard-ass cop who smokes too much, a murder that soon turns into a possible serial murderer and behind-the-scenes political intrigue.

And yet watching Bosch is like having a long soak in a warm bath or a firm but relaxing massage or eating a bar of chocolate.  It makes you feel all warm and fuzzy and relaxed and is highly addictive.

Like seriously addictive.

To the point where you finish an episode and just want to watch the next one.  Even better it has just 10 episodes in the 1st season which means it's perfect for a marathony binge.

It has an old-school film noir feel along with a gritty edginess, a superb cast including the much under-rated but always excellent Titus Welliver in the lead role, lots of twists and turns and red-herrings and the story pacing is taut, tight and rolls out the hits one by one.

Of course if you've read the books you're probably already aware of who Bosch is, if you haven't then you're in for a treat.

So remember the name and keep an eye for Bosch on your screens.

Reconsumption

What is it about watching the same movie or TV show over and over? Why do some books survive repeat readings? Well, it’s partly because with reconsumption you pick up on different aspects of the story – details that you missed the first time, or the tenth time. And partly it’s your brain wanting that reliable reward - every time, guaranteed - whether that reward is delight, thrills, or consolation. It’s also a way to gain insight into your own life and gauge how you’ve changed over time.

Anyone with kids will know that they love to have the same stories read to them, over and over and OVER. It’s comforting and familiar, and repetition has some actual sciencey benefits too: children learn vocab much faster through repeat readings and they gain a deeper comprehension of, say, exactly where is Spot.

We’re going way back here, but for me as a tween (although tweens hadn’t been invented then) my most-thrashed movie was the Parent Trap (1961) starring Hayley Mills AND Hayley Mills (see what they did there??). This was when you had to rent movies on VHS from your local video store – there were no easy downloads straight to your phone – but I still managed to borrow it so often that I learned all the dialogue by heart AND drove my family completely crazy.

When I re-watched it as an adult I was absolutely shocked at how TERRIBLE the story is! But it's good-terrible. Hayley Mills stars as identical twins, Sharon and Susan, who were separated from each other as babies when their parents divorced. Each parent took a kid, Dad took Susan to California and Mom took Sharon to Boston, and they never told them about their sister. Can you imagine? These details are just glossed over in the movie. It’s Disney. There is no bitterness, no family therapy, not even a “how could you lie to me for my whole life?!”

The twins meet at summer camp and decide to switch places. (Sample quote: “You must bring Mother to California. Boston is no place to rekindle a romance.”) I think this was the big draw card for me: an opportunity to have a complete change of scene for a while: new city, new family – what fun! The twins have a good old time meeting their long lost parent and plot to get them to meet and fall in love again. (At confession time: “Let’s get this straight. I’m not Sharon I’m Susan. Sharon – your Sharon – is out in California with Daddy, swimming, riding and having a keen time while I’m stuck here with these lousy music lessons and I hate them!”) The spanner in the works is Dad’s new girlfriend, icy blond Vicky who’s out to get his money (Vicky: “You're a big girl now, Susan. You're old enough to understand that wonderful, delicate mystery that happens sometimes between a man and a woman.” Sharon: I know what wonderful, delicate mystery Daddy sees in you. And I can't say I blame him there, either. You're very nicely put together.”)

You get the idea: pranks, shenanigans, misunderstandings, camping. And a happy ending. Even I can still see the appeal in all that, even if the premise is seriously suspect.

What to read: Not That Kind of Girl - Lena Dunham

“There is nothing gutsier to me than a person announcing that their story is one that deserves to be told,” writes Lena Dunham, and it certainly takes guts to share the stories that make up her debut memoir, Not That Kind of Girl.

Fans of Lena’s will know already, she is queen of the outrageous one-liner.

“I am twenty years old and I hate myself,” are the opening words of the book; from a writer who uses pure self-loathing to mask her incessant narcissism.

Written in typical Dunham fashion, the book is disguised as an advice column in how to navigate the tribulations and awkwardness of girlhood. She delivers a candid and sincere reflection of the experiences that molded her young self into the empowering, confident and outspoken woman she is today.

Clustered into five main sections - Love & Sex, Body, Friendship, Work and Big Picture - the series of short essays provide insightful, and sometimes cringe-inducing, reflections on Dunham’s key life experiences.

Being an avid Girls fan, I waited patiently for months until her memoir finally hit the shelves. Having finished binge-watching Season three of the show in March, I desperately needed my Dunham fix. I had high expectations for the wild, witty, and warm girl I had grown to respect on screen – and in no way did she disappoint.

It is loaded with frank and intimate accounts that draw similarity to the trials faced by the fictional Hannah. She crafts a revealing, unfiltered, graphic and at times uncomfortable description of what she has learned thus far.

Before she was a sensation, Dunham was a 9-year-old vowing to be celibate; a 14-year-old playing dead at an all-girl sleepover, and the one girl sporting a tankini at an Oberlin University party.

It may seem like I’m gushing about this woman, but from my perspective, Lena’s likability stems from the fact that she doesn’t fit into a traditional celebrity mold. She is loud, unruly, imperfect, and some might say even a little gross. She speaks openly about feminism and sexuality, without apology, and for the majority of the book she is so wildly inappropriate, you don’t know whether to keep reading or slam the book down from embarrassment. Ironically, it is these unique qualities that I believe make her one of the most relatable celebrities to date.

I asked my friend the same question: ‘What is it that you like about Not That Kind of Girl”, to which she replied “her memoir just feels like an extension of the show and we get to dive in a little deeper into her personality – that, and she’s just so raw and hilarious, what’s not to love about her!”

Whether you have seen Girls or not, this book gives you access into the quirky mind and experiences that created one of Hollywood’s hottest comedic talents.

Not That Kind of Girl is from that kind of girl: bold, gutsy, ambitious and willing to stand out. This is why Dunham is not only a voice who deserves to be heard but one that will continue to shock, thrill and will most likely, continue to surprise us all.


- our thanks to Sophie Buchan for the guest post!

DIY outdoor furniture and other awesome projects

Do you love recycling? Or creating awesome home projects?

I had a go at making a pallet outdoor couch and table over the New Year period and let me tell you, it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be that's for sure.

I'm really happy with how it turned out in the end, however I don't think I would make another one. At least not the way I did it. As a helpful hint, don't use fence paint with a brush....this process seemed like it was never going to end. Who knew that pallets had a never ending series of sides to them! Spray paint would have been a much faster way to go.

I love the idea of recycling discarded items and turning them into something useful or decorative around home. This couch was my first of hopefully many more projects. The project itself wasn't too costly. You can pick up pallets from most big stores if you ask. The most costly items were the pillows, which could of been made cheaper by waiting for sales or finding other means to also recycle and create pillows (Unfortunately I was hosting a work BBQ and had time constraints to get the project finished on time)

The table was an added part as we had a number of left over pallets and thought it would be a handy extra. We used two pallets for the table top to make it more sturdy. As the pallets are stacked on top of each other, this also created shelves under the table. Great for putting your books and magazines to rest while you sit back, relax and have a sip of a refreshing beverage.

I found Pinterest has a huge amount of recycling projects for around home. So many that I'd need to retire now if I was ever to try them all. And so does Auckland Libraries - with lots of creative books, click here to see some of these if you are interested in getting some inspiration.

So, my question to all you blog readers is - Have you created any recycled projects? If so please share them in the comments. I love being inspired by all of your creativity.

And yes - that's my cat in the photo showing her appreciation of having some comfy outdoor seating... Meow, purr purr.

Books to sink your teeth into – check out 2014’s best cookbooks for inspiration

Do you want to improve your culinary skills in the kitchen? Looking for some delicious recipes for your next summer party? 2014 served up some impressive cookbooks for faster cooking and plan-ahead meal ideas, while also giving you more reasons to be reaching for that extra slice of cake again and again.

So many of New Zealand’s favourite chefs, from across the globe, have released cookbooks this past year; the haul just might even break your coffee table. From vegetarian and vegan recipes to beautiful baked goodies, there’s something for everyone in this mix.

I’ve picked a few of my favourites from last year’s crop, to bring you inspiration by the gallon and the ladleful.

River Cottage Light & Easy By Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
Fearnley-Whittingstall’s latest offering is filled with a bevy of healthy everyday recipes at your fingertips. Steering clear of both wheat and dairy, vegetables are the alternative stars of these dishes. These nourishing, wholesome and healthy crowd-pleasers will satisfy keen harvesters and the grow-your-own type of cooks.

Josh's Backyard BBQ by Josh Emmett 
This book is one for the blokes and takes outdoor cooking to the next level. Masterchef judge Josh Emett proves there are family-friendly and ‘no-fuss’ ideas to spice up the tradition meat and three veg meal. If your man is a hungry meat-loving carnivore, these recipes will lead you to exhaust the BBQ over this summer season.

Movida Solera By Frank Camorra and Richard Cornish
You may not be able to pronounce its name, but this cookbook offers you the next best thing to taking a journey through the Spanish region of Andalusia. It is filled with vivid photography, Moorish food and majestic travel stories. If you’re searching for simple food with top quality ingredients then look no further.

Everyday Delicious By Chelsea Winter
This book is a personal favourite in my household, where we often refer to Chelsea as our most cherished and valued flatmate. Chelsea's debut cookbook ‘At my table’ is loved by many for its tasty and hearty recipes. Her second book contains the same relaxed and accessible style of Kiwi cooking, but focuses more on 'week-night' meals that are quick and easy to whip up. Two of my favourite recipes are the shortbread and peppermint slice; straight-forward, delicious and no-fuss.

Through the seasons: the free range cook By Annabel Langbein
Every Mum in New Zealand is surely equipped with one of the many cookbooks created by this matriarch of hearty Kiwi cooking. Audiences once again see why Langbein has solidified a permanent place in the New Zealand food scene, returning with an essential kitchen handbook for today’s busy bodies. Inspired by a year of fresh seasonal harvests, she has created even more simple and alluring recipes, many of which are gluten-free or vegetarian.

Healthy every day: 120 delicious and nourishing recipes for energy and good health By Pete Evans.
Pete Evans, Celebrity chef and one-half of the My Kitchen Rules Australia judging duo, shares his favourite recipes for good health and vitality. Inspired by the ‘paleo lifestyle’, these everyday meals feature loads of nutritious ingredients, and are free of gluten, sugar and dairy. The recipes are fairly easy, assuming you have many of the ingredients already stocked in your pantry, but are delicious and achievable after a long day at work. Sadly for many, sauce is sparingly added to the mix, however with striking photography, and a range of recipes from different cuisines, this book is great for the health conscious foodie.

- our thanks to Sophie Buchan for the guest post!