Happy Holidays!

This is Rosie. She is 11 weeks old and comprised entirely of fluff and needle sharp bits that are teeth and toe nails (I just can't equate claws with this little lass) She is the latest edition to my sister's household. In a rare moment of tuckered out stillness on Christmas Day, she snuggled on my lap.

She had her head on my arm and was side eying me in the cutest way and as I went for my phone to capture it, she moved and refused to look at me or be cute. We got this photo by my niece hanging over my shoulder getting her attention. It is very cute!
Did I ever tell you my nieces and nephews call me Mamush? Although, I found out yesterday there's some who spell it Mamoosh.

We had a lovely day, it started with breakfast with my adopted kids and a few others, then out to said sister's for a bio family time. They had a game called Articulate and I am hooked! I'm trying to source a set of our own.
Anyone else discover something fun on Christmas Day, or got to cuddle a ball of fluff and needles?

Sydney Food!

Well!!! We spent Tuesday to Friday in Sydney last week. It was hard going, what with the humid heat and the bushfire smoke, which is super distressing given the implications of it. :(
However, I did experience a culinary delight known as The Bite. This is a large falafel with avocado in the middle.
It is basically a vegan scotch egg.
I had it three days in a row for brunch.
Now I have to convince a cafe in Wellington to serve it so I can have it here. The mushrooms and salad are the perfect complement.
I mean, I'd not give up actual scotch eggs - I'm not as into them as a certain Welsh blogger, but they are pretty delicious.
Still, the melt in the mouth combo of falafel and avo, yum!!!!

The Arizona Burlesque Festival

I went all the way to the other side of the world and haven't said anything about it yet.  But we just got photos back from the Arizona Burlesque Festival so I'm sharing.
The AZBF was amazing!!
Tucson is amazing in itself. Hot, dry, sunny, gorgeous vistas of desert and those giant cacti, friendly people - and I have good friends there I stayed with in luxury, with a pool!
I spent a fair bit of my time there hunting down pink feather boas to repair this gown, which after so many wears looked like it had some kind of bird mange.
My darling Stevie patiently drove me all over town until we found what I needed at Jo-Ann, and SAS Fabrics. The latter was amazing. If I didn't already have enough sequin fabric to last me three lifetimes, and an already full suitcase, I'd have dropped some serious currency there.
Anyway it was worth it. As you can see I'm all pink and fluffed up! I performed Perhaps on Saturday night, which meant I could watch the rest of the show. Great show.

Someone called me Ursula that night. I was a bit miffed but after seeing this photo, I think it's a fair call.

Talk to the Hand!!!

What was happening? Maybe the microphone was giving me an electric shock, not sure. LOVE the lighting and the haze.

Thanks so much to Matt Finish and his team for putting on such a great festival. And to Tiffany at 48th and Pixel for the great photos!

Run up to December

After the Tease on Tour show in Queenstown last Monday, we experienced an unprecedented amount of audience curiosity and fandom! Over several hours around a fire pit, I got asked a lot of questions and got given a LOT of amazing compliments, which was lovely. It was an amazing way to round out a fantastic night and it got me thinking about what I will have achieved by the end of this year.
This includes:

• performing and hosting about 40 times in seven New Zealand locations! - Queenstown, Dunedin, Christchurch, Hamilton, Te Mata, Tauranga and Wellington;
• four countries: New Zealand, Canada, US and Australia (next week!);
• hosting 20 events from shows to a conference dinner, a carol service, some private corporate events;
• hosting in venues from an intimate 45 to a sold out 400 seat theatre, 400 dinner delegates, and everything in between;
• winning the Golden Garter Award 2019 for Favourite Emcee for the second time of three consecutive nominations;
• increasing my musicianship considerably from three guitar chords to 11 in a whole new type of performing for me;
• being invited to perform in the Menagerie in 2020 with my precious partners in crime, Leo and Clever.

One of the things I am proudest of is that Debbie and my DIY Burleskiwi show has jumped the ditch to Australia! To be known there as DIY Burleskoala, the inaugural show is on Thursday 5 December. Debbie and I are going to judge and host respectively. Jack is going to kitten, Artem his lovely boyfriend is going to be generally useful and amazing. A family busman's holiday! This year's DIY Burleskiwi winner Amourous Ava is also coming over.

Random encounter in a bar in Queenstown at 1am with Jason, it turns out we know lots of the same people! "Only in NZ"

 One of the cutest things that has come out of the stats is this. In 1983 I went on a tour of NZ with a show we would now call burlesque. I had made the costumes and was operating the spotlight. The show went to Queenstown and Dunedin among other cities and having hosted Tease on Tour in those towns I realised it was the first time since that tour I'd been to either of them! And two of the cast of that show now live in Sydney and I get to hang out with them next week when I am there.
How's that for a full circle.

I'm actually Back. Fact.

Hamming it up in Dunedin on 26 October.

I got home from Tucson on Thursday 16 October, and started a new contract on the following Tuesday, given Monday was a stat holiday. Since then I've done:

• two out of town gigs, one flying and one driving
• an at home gig last minute
• most of my Christmas costume
• a round trip in one day to Napier (4.5 hours each way) to pick up shop stock
• bought 23kg of dried fruits to make 23 Christmas Cakes
• worked full time

And now I have a two year contract which is like a proper permanent job really, working on a massive project that will make my CV look very impressive. I start in a week.
So there you go, I just glossed over my entire adventure because I can't face scribing it all a yet. I will, it's not like the news changes for waiting, not really!

Somewhere safe?!

I put my current passport somewhere safe a few months ago. SO SAFE, neither I nor David nor the two kids are able to find it. It has vanished. Gah.
So, I just forked out nearly $400 for a replacement to make sure I get it in time.
All this for a tiny boring book with terrible illustrations...

20 days and counting...

September got here and it's already over a week old and only 20 days until I get on a plane!!
I am working not silly hours, tying up the last bits of work to completely my two contracts. I finally have time to breathe. And with every chance of a week off before I depart.
Due to a throat that was threatening to turn really nasty, I bailed on the show in Tauranga. It meant a precious four days at home and while I was REALLY SAD and had massive FOMO, I also got my living room tidied up, breaking down piles of C-rap that had solidified over the years. I mean, the walls are not lined with piled up newspapers, it's nothing like that, just clutter.
Now I can see surfaces! I found things!
There's something in all of this tidying, I feel calmer. But then, looking around my six paisley living room, calmness is all relative.
This evening I picked the boy up from the airport after his extended weekend stage managing the show and hanging out with friends, and I was missed.
Aww...

I love this photo. I look like a 1940s stage comedian!!

September LOOMS!!

Life is packed right now. With the end of August looming, I am looking at September with the apprehension I feel at the top of a steep slope.
Since my last post, I have been accepted into the Arizona Burlesque Festival, which is very exciting, the only downside being that I had to rejig my flights, cut NYC out of my trip, and pay silly money to reroute my flights from Canada to Phoenix instead.
BUT, though I don't get to meet a very old and dear friend in NYC, I DO get to hang out in Tucson with another old and dear friend who lives there!
So, it's all good.
Stateside friends: I'm in Vancouver 29 Sept-3 October, in Saskatoon 3-8 October, Tucson 8-14 October.
We just did shows Thursday AND Friday nights, and with only a week of august left, I'm not sure what September is bringing work-wise. No contract extensions as yet confirmed, no
I'm in Tauranga 6-7 September doing Trianja then on 21 September I'll be in Raglan hosting a fundraiser for another performer Sapphira L'Amour who is off to the Czech Republic for the Bohemian Festival. Payin' it forward as you do, after the wonderful one my friends helped us to do in Wellington on 6 July. It's called Soiree!
SO, I have a month of mystery ahead of me! it had better cough up some money as well as fun!

 Me on Thursday night, feeling the pressure of getting a gig off the ground on a week night!

My beautiful son and his "Baby Daddy" Debbie. We have a complex family structure hehe

Big or little?

What is more interesting; the big things that happen, or the little things?

Big things:

We had a huge fundraiser show on 6 July to support my trip to Canada in Sept/Oct, with performing friends descending upon Wellington from all over New Zealand to give their time and talent.

And on Sunday 7th my mum had her 80th birthday concert, which I hosted. My extended but not very far family all performed. No photos as my brother in law, the person most likely to take photos, went to Hawaii a couple of days later.

Little things:

I have had two weeks of almost no work as I've had some kind of fluey thing and my brain was mush.This week I feel normal again thank goodness. A big week with the guest spot at the Southern Cross Music Quiz. My little achievement that makes me happy is that I played the guitar again. But instead of just three chords, I busted out 11!!! In order to be able to play snippets of ten songs (the teams have to guess what they are and what the theme is) I called on 35 year old muscle memory. It's amazing what the body remembers!
Also, no photos.
Everything else is making shows that are coming up - three in production - and work. Which I can't talk about, but then again it is pretty dull!

On night clubs and meaningful conversations

After last evening's show I was persuaded to go out on the razzle. My normal post show routine involves heading home for bed! Instead my friend Wendy and I ended up at LuLus, a "tiki" bar famous for its ridiculous cocktails. We got in pina coladas in pineapple shaped glasses, then headed down the back to find a table.
Now I'm in full show sequin gown, crazy makeup and tall hair, not exactly blending in, and we got summoned to a table by two gorgeous young women sharing a bowl cocktail. An amazing conversation about life and being a woman; and I showed Sera a photo of me without all the stage makeup. Here eyes lit up and she said, "Can I tell you a story? A few weeks ago I was in Moore Wilson (supermarket) and this lovely woman told me she loved my eyelashes. I'd just got the extensions done and was feeling weird about them and I said back to her, "Oh, they're not mine." The lady said to me, "honey, you paid for them, they're yours, own it, I know what I'm talking about, I'm a drag queen!"
That woman was me! I remembered pretty quickly. And there I was with my lashes and paddings and addings in my hair living proof of my own advice hehe. She told me it made a big difference to her.
It was a magic moment indeed.

They left before we did and I ended up sitting at a table with a bunch of young men one of whom tried to convince me they were a singing group like the ten tenors. I wanted to believe him but after asking a couple of questions it was clear he didn't know anything about singing! But it was good fun and we chatted happily until I left.

I might add that a lot more pina coladas were consumed after that first one and my memories of bits of the night are not great. And also, getting drunk on sickly cocktails is not a success strategy for a pleasant night's sleep. It was heaps of fun but I think I'll return to the usual rituals like visiting the all night bakery, sharing a cuppa with any friend staying over, or just taking off my face and taking down my hair and hitting the sack!!

Not your average night club patron!

Ageing gracefully!

This is me about 12 years ago. Short hair, a bit slimmer and living in a different city.
This photo came from a photo shoot with a lovely friend who is quite a famous photographer here in NZ. he asked me to do a trade to assist with some sewing, and we did this shoot at 8am on a week day!
I remember we were both jammed up against one of those big lights, with a reflector disc just below the level of the shot. He is very tall and is silhouetted in the reflection in my eyes.Very arty!
The view past him and the light was piles of leisurewear as they were shooting a catalogue.
I absolutely love it when life occurs with these ridiculous contrasts. So grounding!!!

I'm a Granny!

This little bundle of human is my step grand-daughter. She's in a different city so I've not met her in person yet but I will soon. I can't wait for snuggles! She's just gorgeous and her lovely parents are understandably besotted. So are her aunties, grandparents and, well, everyone!
A few months ago my step daughter asked us all what we wanted to be called - this kid has three grandmothers and three grandfathers. I chose Mamush, which is what my nieces and nephew call me, so as to leave all the G names to the other two.
I'm too young for this!! But also, I'm not! Eep! Tips welcome!

What I've been up to...

 More Constance Ravings! Truth is, I am working a day job which I'm really enjoying but I can't talk about it even if it was interesting to do so, so Constance is the only interesting bit. Oh wait there's something else but that is for my next post!

 Golden Garters Awards, hosting with Mae de la Rue from Sydney, singing possibly the ROPIEST version of Razzle Dazzle em ever!!! We'd like to think it was so bad, it was good hehe.

 My Golden Garter for Favourite MC. Behold how masterfully I manage microphone, clipboard AND award. Those skills got me where I am today hehe.

And THEN there was the NZ Burlesque Festival last weekend, three days of mayhem, music, musings and mugging on stage!!

 Thursday night's Meet and Greet, Clever and I broke out our best Weimar? Vy not? look...

 Yip, we were channelling our best look!!

 And then Mr Lola Illusion joined us for a moment of filling viewing that reminded me of..well, I found the pic!

On the Saturday I taught a workshop in the afternoon but that was it really. So Mr Lola and I went hand in hand to the show- please note the matching cape thrown over his shoulder - he made it from the offcut of my dress! We caused quite a stir, it was a lot of fun to be this EXTRA and not have to perform. Which is fun to, but not three nights in a row thank you!

So that's what I have been getting up to when not doing boring things to pay the mortgage. Cos, well, ain't nothin' going on but the mortgage!

Award Winning MC apparently!!!

Look! I won another thing! I'm so excited because I never win anything, let alone three years in a row. It means a lot to me. And after a week of amazing experiences.

This wee baby is going on my wall soon. ALL the glitter!

So the week before on Thursday 21 March, Leo and I got to MC at the ILGA World Conference dinner. When we walked into the venue and saw how big it was, we had a giggle! 450 delegates, 40 tables of gorgeous humans from all around the world! It was so much fun to get up on stage and look out at them.

Leo and I hosting the ILGA World Conference Dinner

 Me before the show in the shade hence the blue tinge. Prize for best use of a $2 lawn ornament? ;-)

$2 lawn ornament head piece!!!

 This is me with Ross Weistroffer! Who is Ross Weistroffer I hear you ask? (Unless you know him and Googled his name and this came up in which case HI!!!) He is a Research Analyst from UCLA who hunted me down at dinner time to sit and chat because he loves drag queens. What a poppet! I adore gorgeous Gay American men so we're a match! Ross took the photo of Leo and me on stage, bless him.

Ross Weistroffer and me

We had an amazing night with incredible food, dancing, speeches, food, dancing.

Dessert Unicorn!!!

On Saturday 23 March I was up in Auckland, sans lawn ornament, co-hosting the NZ Burlesque Industry Awards with the ravishing Mae de la Rue from Sydney. No photos as hosting an awards is a huge and busy night, so my phone hardly got touched. When the photos come out, I'll post some. It WAS fun!!
Right now I have a rotten cold but I'm dragging myself into work anyway, dosed up on Codral. Trying hard not to cough on people. Don't judge me; it's my second round in three weeks and I don't have time to be sick again!

A weekend away and a wedding

Hi there! Life has ratchetted up somewhat over the past few months and that makes it hard to find time to write. Plus most of the busy is very, very dull.

Relaxing at a friend's wedding recently

A few weekends ago a bunch of us headed up to Auckland for a wedding. It was lovely to hang out and not have to do much - usually we are madly producing shows. Clipboards were swapped for glasses of bubbles for the day. SO nice. Plus we got to go op shopping and eat brunch.
I bought this little off the shoulder number to wear as most of my clothes are either too ordinary or WAY too sparkly for even a formal wedding.It was cool and comfortable in a very warm and humid climate, which was the plan.

The Caburlesque Family - son Jack, me, Pinot Sister Debbie and everybody's Daddy, Soundbitch!

What a glamorous lot we were! I do feel that we are one Timmy The Dog away from being The Famous Five here however. Or perhaps the Narnia children. I wouldn't put it past Jack to dob us all in - not for Turkish Delight but possibly jersey caramels!

A lovely day was had by all - a couple who are meant to be together got to be together and it's always an honour to witness that.

You've got to Move it, Move it!

 Finally moving day is here for Made Marion Craft, our little but thriving business in Wellington.
Assisted by a small but perfectly formed army of volunteers, everything got packed up by close of business Sunday and all we had to do today (Monday) was get the furniture coded for the movers who arrived at lunch time. It was weird being sort of open but not really. And there being nothing to do for a few hours.

And now just about half of the stuff is over there; through friends with big cars or vans on Sunday taking the odd shaped things like mannequins, spinning wheels and racks, and the movers arriving today at lunchtime and whipping out most of the furniture.
The photos below show the incredible back room that will be our storage and staff area. It has a mezzanine and graffiti!! For some reason these two elements combined seem incredibly edgy to me!

It's scary but also exciting to be growing, sort of (much, MUCH busier part of town, more rent, more classes etc) when other shops are folding. We're holding our own which is a good feeling.
Tomorrow, more moving, more unpacking, rinse and repeat for the rest of the week. I will take some pics of the new space as it develops. Today I was too comatose!
P.S. Cuba St is very edgy. We're all deciding how to rise to the occasion. I feel I should get more tattoos, there may be dreadlocks and pyjamas or leather studded wrist bands. Curly moustaches, it's all here!