A lot of people are like this, superficial, two-faced, back-stabbers etc. Being an all-round good Samaritan (where possible) feels great, and will hold you in great stead for being in the right place and time for all those opportunities that “other people” so often get.

Before I forget: any panel-beaters out there? I had a wee nose to tail, and the front of my Primera is a bit concaved. Your help would be greatly appreciated and rewarded.

I think I’ve found a new passion, interviewing. Luckily my first attempt was for people I’d heard about for years, and dealing with an industry I knew very well.  The TV Rock crew, at this year’s Groove In The Park, were Ivan, Grant and Seany (their MC). I had done significant research so was well prepared for my 10 minute slot; this was fortunate as the Alchemia vodka I’d consumed in the hours leading up wasn’t working in my favour when it came to alertness.

These guys love performing and they’ll be involved with music till the grave. They take what they do very seriously; it seems only Seany (a long-time guide-getter and self confessed ladies man) likes to keep the party going after a gig. The TV Rock duo of Ivan Gough and Grant Smilie have both separately played in Auckland before, but this was their biggest NZ gig performing as one. Seany B (Flaunt It’s vocalist) was on stage for half the time and yes they did perform their trademark track “Flaunt It”, much to the 5,000 strong crowd’s delight.

A chat with Sweedish DJ superstar Axwell, and his glorious girl Gloria followed. The chips of facts I got out of him were: he does homework on the type of crowd he’ll be playing for and plays that angle; stays backstage the entire time to remain focused; can only write music in his studio at home; doesn’t have any sort of sponsor; loves drinking straight vodka, holding it in his mouth and then adding OJ before swallowing.

Axwell’s set went mega-well playing his anthems, and those of others. During the last track though, the oddest thing happened. Someone lobbed a bottle from the crowd towards him. He caught it and threw it back, thus sparking a bottle hurling frenzy. I’d say about 200 plastic bottles lay strewn on the stage afterwards. He didn’t seem to mind at all, in fact wanted to keep playing amidst the recycling, but the sound controller had other ideas.

This year’s Groove in the Park was a fun day out, but sadly numbers were down on last year, and word on the street is that this will continue at a rate of knots for next year. The consensus being that it’s turned into a strict money making venture held in a cage. I suspect organisers will take the feedback onboard and radically shuffle things for next time. And if that doesn’t please the punters, well there are always other options for your February 6th day off.

It had already been a splendid day, but never one to say “when” I rocked into town. Bouncing around a few unhappening places I concluded the night to be a dud and almost called it a night, then for some reason I thought of The Globe Bar. Backpackers are always up-for-it, so off I trotted. I am so glad I did, the bar was jammed and humming till I left sometime around 4am. I met some friendly American guys who insisted on buying me Agavero, some saucy Scandinavian gals, who if unleashed would rival Christina in the dirrty category, and some old friends that I never expected to see there. Globe Bar seems to be “up there” on many peoples favourite watering holes list. It’s on Darby St in the CBD, have a gander if you’ve not been for a while.

The Breakers helped their chance of hosting a play-off game last Thursday, by taming the second placed Melbourne Tigers by a whopping 14 points. It was the last home game of the regular season and this brought with it the biggest crowd, probably aided by the half time draw of a 4 burner BBQ and 2 leather lazy-boys. Derek Alston (our USA imported centre) admitted to me later that they were “just having fun, and it paid off”. Sing Sing at Pony was a non-event for some reason last week, so I caught up on some much needed sleep.

I welcomed Friday with open arms, my favourite day of the week. Anything goes at work, and you’ve got “48 hours off from the world” (thanks Human Traffic) just a stone’s throw away. Met and Code hosted The Ministry of Sound Annual 2008 Tour that night. Past gigs there have been lacking energy and people, this one had both, fingers crossed that this continues.

The Kingslander had their first ever Loyalty Club boat cruise on Saturday afternoon. Everything was just dandy; the boat, staff, catering and naked twister (yes people did get down and put on a pink bikini). It was just missing the vital ingredient that most blokes look for, pretty girls. There were screeds of them though at The 2008 NZ Bikini Model Search (if only both could have combined somehow) at the Britomart Pavilion. Crowd attendance was low, but calibre of hotties on stage was super high. Girls came from all over the country to compete for cash and fame. Gail Chan took it out, one point ahead of bikini comp. veteran, Hannah Norton.

I made the short stroll to Spy afterwards and ducked in for Club Luxury, it was good but much like all the other nights there. I wanted something different, something harder. Freeformation hard dance party was across town at Space Bar, so I went for it. Not knowing many, and being on the older side in relation to the masses, I bopped up front for hours, Coronas firmly in hand. Arkitech and Ben Stevens from the UK tore the decks up with never-before-heard tracks and mixing ability, and the assistance of Lou Lou on vocals was something to thoroughly revel in.

UPFM ticks along merrily on 107.5 fm playing all types of techno. Every few weeks during summer they take over a council grassed zone for a full afternoon. Last Sunday it was at The Quarry by the zoo. 200-300 materialised and danced, taking breaks for hacky-sack, touch rugby, croquet, frisbee or a break dancing showdown. I sat on the periphery and successively sipped down 2 bottles of rosé, watching the madness that lay before me.

The Bridgeway on Northcote Point is a refreshing movie theatre with Sausalito Café (one of those places where almost everything on the menu appeals) attached on the side, and award winning The Engine Room restaurant adjacent. I went there for the first time on Monday for a Cure Kids movie fundraiser put on by the team at Aim Proximity. We saw Juno, a quality comedy with a twist, morals, super soundtrack and the capability to coax a tear or 2. A lovely restful “normal” evening; roll on the weekend.