OMG - Nirvana

I was watching Breakfast in the background this week and heard an item talking about an opportunity to meet like-minded people doing charity work.  You probably saw it, or heard about it too.  Retrospectively I've discovered that an impressive PR campaign had it in all the local papers and more. The organisation is called m.a.d. woman. Obviously the name appealed to me so I paid attention. So glad I did.

m.a.d. stands for making a difference.  Set up by Melina Schamroth, an expat Kiwi living in Australia, it started with a goal of finding her a boyfriend.  Well, actually not as simple as that, but it's a very appealing story.  Melina started a dating / volunteer organisation where single people could meet with like-minds, and do some good while they were about it.  Look the story is widely documented so google it if you want to know more.  Bottom line, I went to the event and had the most fun in years!

The purpose of this event was to support Lifewise, an NZ organisation that looks after at-risk people,  I meet some terrific women, had a good old barny, and left feeling really excited about being able to give back.  Even better, I was given a "pay it forward" kind of card that states "you've been touched by a random act of m.a.d." and encourages the recipient to randomly make a difference for someone else. I left my first one at my gym with enough cash for the gym's Christmas party or whatever they decided to do.

I'll blog about it again, but meantime seizing the day is definitely a great thing. Specially when it's m.a.d.!.

Recommendations: Opportunities like this are golden!  I had a brilliant night, met some wonderful people and felt like I'd made a bit of a difference. There were probably 50 or more women there and we had a great time.

Rating: 5 stars (out of 5)
There's little better than a night out with the girls and this was just like that, albeit that I didn't know the "girls" before I went.  Genuinely good fun, with the bonus of driving home sober, and satisfied that the world was slightly better for my effort.  Good stuff!

Lessons learned: I am so glad I took the opportunity. I can tell you that if you thought about it, and didn't go, you missed out! I realise being single gives me more freedom than many others have.  I don't need to hold myself back from things that look fun - they probably are!  This one was!!! And if it hadn't been, I could have left.

PS - if you want to see the dating aspect of things NZ side, you need to let them know you're keen.  As a charity, they're only going to come back if there's enough demand to justify the spend.  Fair enough. Sign up at mad woman now! If not for yourself, do it for me.  I could do with a m.a.d.man ;-)

Fancy a movie? How about Gold Class Albany?

I made a last minute dash to Event Cinemas, Albany to see The Social Network.  The next screening was Gold Class so I thought I'd give it a try. $30 for the ticket. For someone who hasn't seen a movie, except on a plane or the tellie, it seemed a bit steep.  But hey, I was on my own so who'd judge me?

I was told to go to the Gold Class Lounge so I did.  I walked in and you guessed it, couples, everywhere.  A Nigel No Friends moment as people looked up to check out the newcomer.  I took to the nearest seat that didn't leave me eyeballing anyone, with a menu.  As it turned out, you can have a drink, dinner, snacks etc... before, during and after your movie. Cool, I thought.

The women in front of me were asked to order, but they'd just sat down.  The couple behind me were offered more drinks, but didn't want any, so I caught the waiter's attention and ordered a wine. As I wanted to order food later, I set up a tab and was given a laminated bar code to call my very own. Okey Dokey.

Once the wine arrived I realised it was 5 mins to the movie start so I asked for directions to the theatre.  "I'm just taking this couple", was the reply, "but you can follow".  The couple then announced they wanted to go via the toilets, and the waitress diligently collected their glasses, signalling for me to follow behind.

The theatre was pretty much straight down the hall.  Staff seated the couple, leaving me to find my seat on my own.  Perhaps I should have waited at the top of the stairs, but hey, I'm a big girl.  I can count and I know my alphabet so finding 4c wasn't too hard.  The problem was then I was left with no idea how the process worked.  So once again, when a staff member was turned away by another couple, I caught their attention and asked for help.

I was then shown the call button, the seat adjustments and the table (that, I could've worked out myself).  I ordered some food and accepted the offer of another glass of wine half way through the movie. I then handed over my laminated tab card only to see it (somewhat unsettlingly) disappear into the waiter's pocket as he dashed to another patron's call light.

Fiddling with the seat, I thought this is really not bad. The food arrived in reasonable time but was impossible to see in the dark.  I had the Italian Foccacia which turned out to be a sandwich. Can't say I enjoyed it much, but they do say 80% of taste is in the seeing.  A second glass of wine arrived in due course - yum.  Eventually my tab card was returned.

I make a quick dash for it when the movie ended, and was glad for it as everyone queued behind me to pay their tabs. Transaction done.  Total bill $66.00!!!

Recommendation:  I didn't need all the pomp and ceremony to see a film.  The food could be good but not so as I noticed. The wine was nice but the distracting thoughts about where my laminated tab had gone weren't so much. The seats were big, probably great for tall people but noisy to operate.  Besides, I can fit comfortably in cattle class.

Rating: 2 stars (out of 5)

If a quiet movie on your own is what you are after, Gold Class might not be for you.  It takes a little extra care to make a solo customer feel comfortable and being allowed to tag along to the toilet didn't do it for me.

Lessons learned: Get your wine at the bar downstairs and save your money.

Sunny Sunday Glass of Wine, Browns Bay, Take 2

I tried to shake off the mood post my first attempt to find a glass of wine in the sun, and wandered down the road looking for a better option.  I didn't go far. The first bar I came to was Tropicana Bar and Bistro.

Imagine eight or so rickety tables with chairs. No sun. A building site next door. One woman on her own, two older couples. Very quiet. Of course, my confidence-wilted brain only processed "quiet", "older" and "table" and promptly settled for what was to be a fully lacklustre experience.

I put my bag on the seat and walked into the totally empty bar.  The first wine I ordered (bog standard Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc yet the menu's most exclusive offering), wasn't available. Confidence flagging further, I accepted a glass of Sav of which I had never heard. $8.  I asked what was being built next door. "Some shops I think" came the reply. So back outside I went with glass in hand.

I  sipped my wine and looked around me.  Then I opened my book.  The wine was ok.  The quiet relentless.  At one point I looked up thinking everyone else must have left, only to spot a new, younger couple at the next table, and the others still there. We exchanged smiles.  I went back to my book.

Recommendation: Really not worth $8, even for the quiet. I could have sat at home in the sun with a decent glass of wine and my book, and enjoyed it more.

Rating: 2 stars (out of 5)

1 for actually serving me. 1 for the absence of louts.

Lessons Learned: Don't let what you don't want, dictate what you settle for.  My confidence got knocked and I realised that I let one bar with poor service and a spotty punk affect my judgement. On my way home, I walked past a much nicer looking bar with sun, seats and people enjoying themselves.  So next time, I'm going to keep walking until I find something that actually looks like an experience I'll enjoy.