Here’s what’s good and Wellington-related this week!

Best book that every Wellingtonian should read because I just did and wow

Sodden Downstream by Brannavan Gnanalingam. 

This has sat neglected on my bookshelf for far too long after it came out in 2017, but as our public transport gets worse, terrible weather events get more frequent gets worse, poverty increases and communities get more fragmented it has become even more relevant.

“Thousands flee central Wellington as a far too common ‘once in a century’ storm descends. Roads are closed and all rail is halted. For their own safety, city workers are told that they must go home early.

Sita is a Tamil Sri Lankan refugee living in the Hutt Valley. She’s just had a call from her boss. If she doesn’t get to her cleaning job in the city she’ll lose her contract.”

I couldn’t put this book down. It ostensibly takes place in less than 24 hours, but there’s so much crammed in – histories of trauma, poverty, marginalisation and also sheer determination. It’s nothing I’ve ever experienced but I could picture every single scene in it, because Brannavan is that good a story-teller. You should read it.

(Disclaimer: Brannavan was once the only one of my co-workers to come to an afternoon tea I had when I moved into a new flat so he’ll always get high praise from me). 

Best cafe that everyone on the Wellingtonista email list was talking about

Em started it: “”Marry Me Chicken” toastie at Zephyr. In general, the vibes at Zephyr, that place is gorgeous and yum”

Then Tom B added: “Zephyr was going to be my selection too! Here’s some photos: of their outdoor area, “marry me” chicken gnocchi, and their muesli. ”

Outdoor area at Zephyr

museli at Zephyr with coffee

'Marry Me' chicken gnocchi at Zephyr

And even Tom A came to the party: “very traditional but also gorgeous high tea for in-laws at Zephyr last weekend, weird though to be cordoned off in a cavernous space. Some food pix:”

high tea sweet things

high tea savouries

high tea scones

So that’s three ‘istas who’ve been there, plus my lasting endorsement from earlier.  I guess you’re going to Zephyr then!

Best tribute to a public servant

We’ve talked before about Simone & Molly and how useful they are, so it was lovely to see Simone getting her dues  in a half page article in The Post – “Social media maven ‘Simone’ signs off from council” 

Best development in choosing a nail colour a combination of nail colour photos

 

4 Seasons Nails in Johnsonville has a new folder full of different nail colours laid out all easy and prettily aesthetic so you can pick without having to rummage through a million little samples randomly in a basket together. Beware though – I got the matte option for gels and they’ve already started chipping after one week (normally I’d go three weeks without a chip), so maybe stick to glossy? (Gel express is $48 plus $5 for old gel removal, and all the staff wear masks at all times, but none of the other patrons seem to).

Best response to the Spinoff written by a member of the Wellingtonista this week

Em’s piece “My future Pōneke doesn’t feature generative AI.”

Best scholarships currently open to Camp Boom

Camp Boom is a weekend of fun and power for fat babes that I put on in November, but this year is the last time Camp will run, because I am closing the House of Boom. If you’d like to join us at Camp for talks, workshops, crafts, movement, gin/beer/wine/soda tasting, an enormous clothes swap and all kinds of other amazing community events, and you can’t afford a ticket, there are currently TWO scholarships open – one for anyone age 27 or under, and one for anyone who needs the financial assistance.

(Very obvious disclaimer: I run Camp Boom and House of Boom and theoretically profit financially from them though not in actuality. If you’d like to support the event, get in touch!)