Concert review: Shania Twain 14th and 15th December 2018 - Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney

I've been a fan of country singer Shania Twain since I was a kid so when her Now Tour was announced earlier in the year I knew I had to get a ticket and that's exactly what I did. I immediately got an A Reserve ticket within an hour of the presale for the show on the 14th of December at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena. I wanted to be as close to the stage as possible. Say what you will, but where you are in an arena affects the enjoyment you have at a show.

The day of the concert eventually came around and Shania did not disappoint at all. Her opening act was Bastian Baker who had little charisma and it was easy to see why he was only a supporting act rather than the headliner.

Shania entered through the audience at the back of the arena before starting with Life's about to get good, the first single from her latest album, Now. The crowd was incredibly excited.

She introduced one of her newer hits, Poor Me, a song that had started out very angrily but changed as she went through the writing process and was now her drinking song.

Luckily the sombre mood did not last too long and it was back to the upbeat songs of the late 90s including That Don't Impress Me Much which saw her change into a leopard print gown and the graphics on the stage cubes change.

There was a Kiss Cam right after the song and at the end of it Shania kissed one member of the audience before singing a spectacular track, Any Man of Mine from her 1995 album, The Woman in Me.

The crowd joined in for the next two songs, Whose bed have your boots been under and Honey I'm home.

Again, the mood turned sombre and there was another outfit change for the track, I'm alright, which was about her divorce from Robert "Mutt" Lange.

After a brief interlude, Shania took to the second stage in the middle of the arena and was perched with just her guitar. She said it had been 21 years since the next song had been released and that everyone had been on a journey and grown up with that song. It was of course, the song that made her a superstar, "You're still the one". That was the highlight of the night for me and a very special moment. There's nothing I love more than seeing an artist up on stage with just their guitar talking about the song before they launch into the performance. I find it makes the performance much more personal than someone who just sings a song.

More Fun was a nice song but the inspiration for it was a bit cheesy and Shania talked about how Magic Mike had inspired the dance moves.

Next up was a video interlude of a few of her old songs before the 90s ballad From this moment on from Come on over.

The mood picked up again for I'm gonna getcha good and the stage cubes were lit up with neon writing.

She brought Bastian Baker back on stage for Party for Two and he stayed for the next song, Swinging with my eyes closed which she asked the audience to participate in.

The final song was If you're not in it for love I'm outta here which the audience sung along to.

Red Storm was played after a brief gap and then Shania came back on stage for the encore which was Man! I feel like a woman.

It was a great show.

It was so great in fact that after seeing an ad on Facebook for tickets to Saturday night's show at a heavily discounted price ($76.80 including booking fee) I had to go along.

I was delayed by public transport but my seat was even better. It was a side view which would normally put me off but I was actually right by the stage so I could see what was going on backstage. I could see the back up singers, the drummer, the dancers and the guitarists talking, taking selfies, taking photos and just taking in the surroundings. It was great to see. I could also see what was going on more clearly.

As I'd been to the show previously I could focus more on the performance rather than taking photos and videos.

I enjoyed both nights of the show and the standout moment for me both nights was when Shania sung You're still the one on the second stage and the epic costume changes and dance moves.

Shania's still got it and I give both shows 4.5/5.

It's time for a Celebration because Kylie is bringing her Golden Tour down under.

Australian pop Queen Kylie Minogue has finally announced tour dates for Australia next year.

She will be bringing her Golden Tour down under for six shows in March.

Tuesday, March 5th
ICC Sydney Theatre, Sydney, NSW (All Ages)
Tickets: Ticketek | Ph: 13 28 49

Monday, March 11th
Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, SA (All Ages)
Tickets: Ticketek | Ph: 13 28 49

Wednesday, March 13th
Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne, VIC (All Ages)
Tickets: Ticketmaster | Ph: 13 61 00

She will also be playing at the music festival A Day On The Green.

 

A Day On The Green Shows

With special guests Jake Shears & Hatchie
(plus an additional special guest to be announced!)

Saturday, March 9th
Sir James Mitchell Park, Perth, WA
Tickets: Ticketmaster | Ph: 13 61 00

Saturday, March 16th
Bimbadgen, Hunter Valley, NSW
Tickets: Ticketmaster | Ph: 13 61 00

Sunday, March 17th
Sirromet Wines, Mt Cotton, QLD
Tickets: Ticketmaster | Ph: 13 61 00

Kylie fans had better get their dancing shoes on because this is sure to be a show to remember with old classics and new music from Golden thrown in.

At this stage it looks like New Zealand fans will need to travel to Australia for the show, however with a few days between shows it's entirely possible more dates will be added later.

Pre sale tickets are on sale from Tuesday the 13th of November at 12pm AEDT, with the general on sale starting on the 19th of November at 2pm local time.

You can bet that I'll be there to see her in concert. I've been waiting a long, long, long time for this.

Thoughts on Charlie Sheen following his speaking engagement at Sydney's ICC Darling Harbour Theatre

Since his time on Two and a Half Men came to an abrupt end in 2012, actor Charlie Sheen has attracted mixed attention with him being dubbed one of Hollywood's bad boys.

He revealed in 2015 that he had HIV and that he was diagnosed in 2011 which may or may not have sent him into his downward spiral. He has never actually confirmed that it did, only hinted that it had.

The media was very cruel to him and mocked him and his assertations that he had tiger blood and was an Adonis who was winning at life.

He was also in the news for his relationships with his ex wives and accused of being violent and a womanising slimeball.

I can't really comment on whether or not these things are true because as anyone knows, only half the story is told by the media. I'm telling the Pro Charlie Sheen half but skimming over the details because without speaking to him directly I actually can't comment. It would just be conjecture and opinion.

Earlier in the year he announced that he would be coming downunder on a speaking tour. Given how many shows I go to, I couldn't exactly not go to it, so i bought a ticket.

Between buying the ticket and him arriving in Sydney I re-enrolled in acting classes after a five year break. I have three classes a week and then outside of that I have several rehearsals, one of which fell on the night on Charlie Sheen's engagement at the ICC in Sydney.

Fortunately, the event was held close to where acting rehearsals are. It was a five minute walk. I still thought I was going to miss out because as much as I wanted to see Charlie Sheen live, acting is way more important.

The speaking engagement started at 7:30pm so I did miss most of it but then just before 9pm decided I'd go to the final part. I caught the last half hour before going back to acting practice afterwards. As I walked in, Charlie was talking to host and well known Australian broadcasting personality, Richard Wilkins about Two and a Half Men. He said that given the chance he would return to Two and a Half Men and although he didn't explicitly say so, he indicated that he didn't like his replacement, Ashton Kutcher.

He briefly talked about his HIV diagnosis and how his mother had been there for him. Some photos of him and his family were shown on the screens in the theatre which has a capacity of 2500.

There was a brief question and answer session where Charlie answered pre-organised questions about Two and a Half Men, crazy things he'd done in a car by himself. He said something about falling asleep in a car and then being arrested. It's unknown if it was his car. That detail was left out of what he said.

He and Richard then answered a few other questions before the evening closed.

The impression I was left with from the brief half hour I was at the speaking event was that Charlie is extremely misunderstood and that he's not the bad boy that the media says he is, either that or he's learned from his mistakes and it's changed him. I also got the impression that he cares a great deal about his family whether that's his parents, his siblings or his children and grandchildren.

I don't really want to give this a rating as I was only there a short time so I'm not sure it would be fair, but I'd probably give it a 4/5 and the ICC staff were brilliant as well. They get a 5/5 which is very different to the staff at ANZ Stadium on Friday night at Taylor Swift's show.

Taylor Swift - Reputation Stadium Tour - Sydney - 2nd November 2018 - Review

I don't know where to start this blog. I guess I'll start with saying that I was really excited about seeing Taylor Swift live again. You see, I last saw her in 2015 when I was close to leaving Sydney but as a result of one of her monologues about how the audience had chosen to spend the night with her when we could have spent it anywhere else in Sydney, I decided to stay. You see, she said how great Sydney was. Now I know that she is paid to say those things but it still resonated with me and so I was excited to be seeing her again. I was so excited that I actually ended up buying a second ticket on the day that I really couldn't afford and giving the other ticket to a friend (who I later found out didn't end up going), but I knew I had to be in the A Reserve section and that I wanted to be closer. I figured I'd have a more memorable experience near the front, and well, that I certainly did. The experience is one I won't be forgetting in a hurry. It's also one that I would rather not repeat.

Like Taylor Swift I can relate to caring about one's reputation and then not caring. I can relate to people thinking one thing about you but another being true. Taylor Swift is one artist who writes music that I can relate to. She also delivers that music in a way that touches me.

I had actually decided I would only go to acting practice (rep) for a short time tonight because of Taylor Swift, so she was right. There were other places that some of us could have been. I can't speak for others in the audience but I certainly did miss being at rep, though I managed to get a short rep in prior to the show which was good.

Anyway, let's fast forward though shall we? I was on my way to the show and people were walking slowly. I didn't want to miss my train and I run at the gym so I weaved in and out of the pedestrian traffic at Central Station. I finally got to Olympic Park and I got to my seat at ANZ Stadium and that is when the drama began.

When I go to a concert I like to take a lot of photographs and I also like to get video. I do this for two reasons. One is because I simply like to relive the concert and the other is because I write reviews of concerts I go to. One of the major reasons I ended up buying an A Reserve ticket at the last minute was because when I went to the 1989 World Tour I had to watch on a big screen rather than watching her in real life. When you watch on the big screen the experience is completely different.

When I got to the show there was this group of four girls in front of me who were totally oblivious to the fact people were behind them. They were completely ignorant. I did what any normal person whose view was blocked would do, I stood on my seat. Now again, as I say, if I'd wanted to watch on the big screen I wouldn't have bought another ticket on the spur of the moment. I would have kept my original ticket.

Here is where the drama began even more. A mother came up to me and whinged that I was blocking her kids' view. I explained the situation and stood my ground. If someone is blocking my view then I will have no choice but to block theirs, but that isn't what bugs me really. It was her shear entitlement. She thought that just because she has kids they have the right to everything. I'm sorry but the universe does not revolve around children. It never has done and it never will do, and they are probably too young to remember anyway. I know I barely remember my first few concerts. I remember who they were, where they were and that's about it. I couldn't tell you anything else. That's not even the real issue though. She got really nasty about it and started name calling. I was polite. I explained the situation.

Later on, maybe about half an hour later, the father came over and asked me the same. He was more reasonable, but again, why would I sit down when my view of the stage was being blocked by other people? If I'd wanted to watch on the big screen I wouldn't have bought another ticket at the last second. I would've kept the cheap seat but I wanted a different experience to what I had at the 1989 World Tour where I couldn't see a thing and had to watch on the big screen.

The father was more reasonable and he kind of gave up but this is where it gets really bad. I tried to reach some type of compromise so we would both win and so that I'd be happy and they'd be happy but they weren't having it. It was their way or the highway.

They got really abusive though and their body language was absolutely appalling. I'm an actor, singer and a writer, so when someone is cold towards me I sense it. It could be one word, maybe not even a word, sometimes all it is, is a look. They got security and security was rude to me, but here's the part that really offended me and got me quite riled up and here is the part that actually ruined my night.

A group of people behind this couple and their children laughed and clapped after security forced me to sit down. Now that might seem quite minor but if you've ever been bullied then sometimes it's only a little thing that will actually trigger that memory and being laughed at and having them clap got me really upset and yeah I cried. The people sitting directly next to me though were about the same age and they were nice. They were basically on my side. You could tell that this wasn't their first concert and that they knew that some people would miss out on a view, but where they seemed to understand me was that they recognised that I'd been bullied by the parents, this random group in the vicinity as well as security and another staff member. They actually seemed to understand the situation and were nice. Just before the show started we changed seats so that I would have the aisle seat. I'll explain why this is important later.

I'm not one to give up on what I want though. Anyway, Taylor Swift came on late because rain delayed the show but that was okay. I actually don't remember the first part of the show because I was fuming because of being bullied and abused by staff and customers of the stadium. A few songs into the show during Look What You Made Me Do I decided to stand on my seat because I didn't want to photograph the backs of people's heads. I wanted to photograph Taylor Swift and her dancers. The couple directly behind me glared at me and were really angry. I was willing to compromise though and just stand up when taking photos. If I'd had my way completely that would've been the entire show though, but it was what was fair. This couple didn't really fight me on it.

Midway through was Shake It off when one of the other stages was used and Taylor Swift brought Charli XCX and Georgia from Broods back onto the stage. By that point it didn't matter who was standing or what they were doing. Nobody was paying attention so I staged my move and stood back on the seat because I'd be damned if I wasn't gonna get some good photos of the show that didn't involve the backs of people's heads. I positioned the seat though so it was partially in the aisle so that nobody would really be affected. I looked around a few times though and I noticed other people standing on their seats as well. I also noticed this one drunk lady yet nobody was doing anything about them, so what I want to know is the following:

1. Why did security think it was okay to harass me yet they ignored the others who were doing exactly the same?
2. Why didn't security tell the girls in front of me to sit down so they weren't blocking the views of other people?
3. Why did the parents think it was okay to abuse and name call?
4. Why did a random group of people think that laughing at some was okay?
5. Why do people think bullying is okay?
6. Why did the ANZ Stadium staff think it was okay to abuse me?
7. Why did the ANZ Stadium staff think that bullying was okay?
8. Why isn't there better crowd control? If people have seats then EVERYONE should be seated rather than having one rule for some people and another for others. It's as if they thought that harassing and picking on me was okay but others who were doing exactly what I was doing were allowed to.

That's not my real gripe though. Sure, I swore near the children, not at them. I want to make that very clear. I had absolutely no interaction with the children near me, just their obnoxious, rude and entitled parents. The people in my row agreed that I was being bullied by others and they tried to improve my mood but when I stew I really stew and given I'm writing this blog I'm still stewing because I don't like bullying.

And that's actually my real gripe. I wasn't bullied by children. I was bullied and abused by grown adults, adults who should know better, adults who should know the meaning of the word respect, and I just wasn't shown any respect tonight by the people behind me. In fact, I'd actually go so far as to say that a vast number of people in Sydney don't even know what respect is and that they think they can mistreat people, as I was mistreated tonight. There is no excuse for laughing at someone, calling them names or abusing them and grown adults should know better. As I say, there were kids nearby and while I don't really about that, I do question what type of example the children are being set when they're around parents who think that bullying people at a concert is okay.

And of all the concerts to bully someone at it was a Taylor Swift concert. Taylor herself has been bullied and she's written numerous songs about it right from Mean to Clean, Shake It Off,  Look What You Made Me Do, Bad Blood, This is Why We Can't Have Nice Things and Blank Space. People should know better than to bully others and there's never going to be any justification for it.

Anyway, how was the actual concert? Well, I was stewing until Shake It Off when Taylor moved to another stage. I did like the opening which was the song Reputation sung by Taylor Swift. I was definitely feeling that song. She sung a few other songs, Ready For It, I Did Something Bad, Gorgeous and a medley of Style, Love Story and You Belong With Me before Look What You Made Me Do which was when snakes really made their appearance on stage.

It wasn't until she moved to one of the other stages which was in the middle of the floor that the show got really good and the crowd was very enthusiastic. She brought Charli XCX and Georgia from  Broods onto the stage and they belted out the song Shake It Off. Snakes continued to feature more and she did a few songs from that position before moving back to the main stage for Don't Blame Me and the rest of the final act of the show.

The final act of the show featured other songs including Long Live/New Year's Day which was sung with just her piano on the main stage before she launched into Getaway Car which had a video backdrop, Call It What You Want which was set up on stage like a castle.

The show finished with We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together/This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things and there were fireworks which is very cool, especially given it rained for the majority of the show.

Sadly Taylor didn't do as many monologues as in previous shows and the ones she did do were much shorter and felt a lot faker. It didn't feel like she was as genuine as she has been in the past. She also didn't dance as much as during the 1989 World Tour. She relied much more on the dancers and she was much more in her own little bubble. It didn't feel like she cared about the audience like she had previously. The only time I felt like she did care was during one of the final video features before Getaway Car which was about how she'd been around fake people who didn't truly value her.

Unfortunately my opinion of the show was always going to be clouded by the bullying and abuse at the beginning of the show. I wasn't a fan of Broods. Charli XCX was good for the most part other than when she launched into a mini girl power monologue before her song Boys. I really liked her songs Break the Rules, 1999 and I Love It, which I now realise I actually have on my iPhone. I purchased Break the Rules and 1999 after the show. She had stage presence and definitely knew what she was doing. She deserved to be there.

Broods were inexperienced and I didn't really like their music. Taylor Swift was polished as ever but this time I felt like she was a little too polished and a little more impersonal than during the 1989 World Tour. The other disappointing part of the show (aside from the bullying and abuse) was that there was no encore. Welcome To New York would've been a good encore. I won't criticise Taylor Swift for being late onto stage. She didn't arrive until 9:30pm when she'd been scheduled to arrive on stage at 8:50pm. She was late onto stage because the rain caused logistical issues. I had also been expecting rain since tickets went on sale on the 13th of December.

It's mildly annoying though because had I known she was going to be on stage so late I could've spent longer at acting rep tonight.

Anyway, I can only give the show a 3.5/5 because aside from being bullied and abused by other customers (when others were also standing on chairs, which when you think about it, really says more about the ignorance of the people in front of me and the parents and other bullies behind me) Taylor didn't seem as genuine as in previous concerts, there wasn't as much talking and there was no encore. I always look forward to an encore during concerts. In some ways, Shake It Off's performance which was in the middle would've been an excellent encore but it wouldn't have fit at the end of the show, nor would Welcome to NewYork, Mean might have though.

Here are my favourite photos from the show though. Shake It Off, New Year's Day, Look What You Made Me Do and This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things were my favourite songs during the show and Shake It Off my favourite moment. It was during Shake It Off that I was able to shake off the bullies and start enjoying the show.

Meghan Markle sports Karen Walker and fashionistas go nuts snapping up the items

Karen Walker has long been one of the darlings of the New Zealand fashion industry, being worn by the likes of Lady Gaga and Kelly Osbourne plus many others. She can now add the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan to her list of admirers.

Since touching down in Oceania, Meghan has been spotted wearing several Karen Walker items.

When she touched down in Fraser Island, she wore Karen Walker's Northern Lights sunglasses in black which retail for $289.05AUD.

Source: https://www.popsugar.com.au/fashion/Meghan-Markle-Karen-Walker-Northern-Lights-Sunglasses-45408426 

In Fiji she was spotted donning Karen Walker's Temptation Studs which sell for $341.76AUD.

 
Source: https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/fashion/108173590/meghan-markle-wears-karen-walker

As she and her husband, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex landed in Wellington yesterday, Meghan had chosen a beautiful coat by Karen Walker. The Banks Trench retails for $975 and the New Zealand media organisations, Stuff and the NZ Herald are reporting that it is sold out. This is confirmed on the Karen Walker website.

Source: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12150655

As you'd imagine, this was a very proud moment for Karen Walker and when she was interviewed by Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking, she confirmed that the trench had sold out since the Duchess had worn it when she arrived in NZ.

She indicated that there had been a business agreement and that the brand had spoken to either Meghan or her team. Being an astute business person, Karen would not confirm any further details.

It has since been revealed that although the coat is sold out, it is available on pre order now. If you don't want to wait though then there is another alternative though and that is the Reverie Jacket which is available for $675AUD.

Source: https://www.karenwalker.com/clothing/jackets/reverie-jacket-60046/mocha

That's exactly what I have done, being a long time loyal Karen Walker customer, I have purchased the short version of the jacket.

It is so awesome that Meghan has worn Karen Walker's designs several times and the designer and her team should be extremely excited at all the worldwide publicity.

It certainly is a massive achievement and a real fashion coup given other NZ designers might have been looking for Meghan's attention.


 

Invictus Games Closing Ceremony - Sydney 2018

Now I am not one for ceremony, nor am I one to support sporting events. Generally I despise things, however I am a huge fan of Prince Harry and was absolutely gutted when he married Meghan Markle (because you know, there goes my chance of being with him).

Anyway, it was announced that Prince Harry and his pregnant wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex would be touring both Australia and New Zealand for the Invictus Games which were held at Sydney's Olympic Park.

It's extremely hard to find the time to travel around the city on the off chance that one might spot the Royals so I made a decision to purchase a ticket to the Closing Ceremony of the Invictus Games, and I snapped up an amazing A reserve seat. I was in row 10 of the grandstand, seated a couple of rows behind Estonia and next to the military representatives from Australia. You can't get much better than that unless you're a VIP, which sadly, I'm not yet.

The Closing Ceremony was brilliant. It was live broadcast on the ABC and had performers including Australian singer, Colin Hay, rock group Birds of Tokyo, The Kingdom Choir and many others.

The atmosphere was absolutely incredible with speeches from NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and the Governor General of NSW, David Hurley and of course, the Invictus Games founder, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.

The Closing Ceremony paid tribute to the competitors from the 15 participating nations and the crowd was incredibly enthusiastic, standing for all the competitors, and standing for both Prince Harry and Meghan.

Meghan spoke about resilience and not letting adversity stop you from living your life. She spoke about courage and not letting your circumstances get you down. She spoke of how she'd met with soldiers prior to meeting Prince Harry and she spoke of the general camaraderie throughout the games.

Later in the evening, Prince Harry spoke about how soldiers are the real heroes, that sportsmen aren't heroes (which I've always agreed with and said). He spoke about the importance of mental health and that people should be open and free with what they're feeling. He acknowledged his own struggle with mental illness and that people shouldn't be ashamed of what they're feeling. He said that mental health is more important even than physical health. I don't necessarily agree with this because the two go hand in hand. If you're mentally well then you'll be physically well but it also works in reverse as well.

You simply cannot have one without the other and they're both equally important. It was clear that both he, and Meghan were incredibly proud of the "mateship" to use Prince Harry's word and that they were pleased with the way all the competitors and volunteers treated eachother in the games.

The next Invictus Games are being held in 2020 in the Netherlands.

Here are a few photo highlights from the closing ceremony last night.

Is it really so hard to be kind to people in politics?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with ambition. Ambition should be admired and looked upon favourably. People should absolutely strive to get to the top if that's what they want, but I do have just one question. Of course, anyone who has read any blog I've written will know that when I have "just one question", it's actually more like a million questions, and some of these questions are purely rhetorical, while I do hope that I can answer some of them.

To give some background, there was a leak within NZ's National Party and it basically turned into a "he said, she said" mud slinging match (that could actually be a good song come to think of it) but over time the issue grew and grew. There were allegations that the leaker was mentally unstable. Over time the leaker was revealed to be Botany MP Jami Lee Ross who, up until that moment had been an up and comer. He was number seven on the list and having known him back at uni, I had thought he'd be future Prime Minister. Of course, we now know that's not going to happen. He was expelled from the National Party. There was talk of there being a by election, but that won't happen because as he's an electorate MP he's now an independent. Whether or not he stands at the next General Election remains to be seen.

The real issue though is the treatment of Jami Lee Ross by those within National, those on social media and media commentators.

After the election when NZ First leader, and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, chose Labour, Jacinda Ardern said taht she hoped that she could bring kindness to politics and that's what I really want to talk about this blog today. Why can't politics be kind? Why must everyone be nasty to eachother? Why does there have to be callousness? To my knowledge, Jacinda Ardern has never ever shafted anyone to get to the top and was a reluctant leader.

Over the last couple of weeks within the National Party we have seen the total opposite. Both National Party Leader Simon Bridges and Deputy Leader Paula Bennett have been nasty about Jami Lee Ross, with Paula bringing Ross' marriage and personal life into the debate. Basically it's been what I would call a smear campaign. Now I don't want to comment on whether or not Ross did in fact mistreat women in his office as allegations suggest, but the reaction to his mental health is what I do want to discuss, and the treatment of him following his admission to hospital last weekend has been quite honestly shameful. So shameful that it actually prompted the NZ Mental Health Foundation to speak out about it.

Firstly, today there was a headline in the NZ Herald (and normally I read them with a grain of salt but this headline really bothered me) that said:

National leader Simon Bridges says Jami-Lee Ross is "no longer my problem" because he is not a National MP anymore.

Source: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12147674  

That comment from Simon Bridges shows a few things that the National Party should be ashamed of.

1. It shows that he is callous and cold because he doesn't have any feeling whatsoever towards a former member of his caucus who clearly had a mental breakdown.
2. It shows little regard for those with mental health issues. If he can't offer support to a member of his caucus how can he possibly run the country?
3. What type of culture is he running in the National Party where a long standing MP with a promising future has a mental breakdown? Did he inherit the culture or did he create it? Those questions must be asked because without answers the public cannot trust the National Party.

Simon Bridges must step down as the leader of the National Party because if he's unwilling to support a former member of his caucus what will his views towards mental health in the general community be?

If Simon Bridge is willing to publicly shame an MP, what will his general attitude towards bullying in the community be? Bear in mind that NZ has one of the worst rates for bullying. How are people supposed to stop bullying eachother if the MPs and supposed leaders of the nation don't set a good example?

The poor behaviour from Simon Bridges doesn't stop there though. A few days ago it was reported that he had called MP Maureen Pugh a hopeless MP. What type of leader says that about a member of their team? If you expect better from your staff wouldn't you encourage them? Wouldn't you try to help them?

Maureen Pugh's response has also been somewhat questionable with her saying that she is glad that Jami Lee Ross is no longer in the National Party. She has also acted poorly when saying nothing would have been better. Her comment just added fuel to the fire.

Only one MP within National has actually shown any type of compassion and humanity and that's Auckland Central MP, Nikki Kaye who has never demonstrated, or shown herself to be nasty. She posted on Facebook yesterday:

Some of you have messaged me regarding what has occurred recently. It has been a very tough time for many people. I have been shocked and saddened by what I have heard. My thoughts are with the women who have come forward and I know that people are working to ensure that they are supported. I am also thinking of Jami-Lee Ross and his family at this time. The leader has confirmed that we will get some independent advice to make sure we have the best possible systems and processes to ensure that people are safe and are supported.

Why can't others show compassion and care towards everyone involved? Why does it have to be an either/or scenario? It appears as if several people are hurting, so why can't they all be cared for?

This brings me to my next point, if Simon Bridges is unwilling to care, genuinely care about a (former) member of his caucus then how can he be trusted to lead the party, let alone the country? The simple answer is that he can't be.

So who should replace him?

On the absolutely not list would be Judith Collins and Paula Bennett, Paula Bennett for obvious reasons and Judith Collins because although I like her strength of character, at this particular point in time she's not the right leader. National needs to show that it has heart and that it does care about the country. It needs to go back to basics and instill confidence in the public.

Todd McClay who is currently Shadow Tourism Minister, Shadow Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister; and number 5 on the list, is an option. He's been quitely in the background for a few years, just getting on with the job.

Then there is Amy Adams who sits at number 3 on the list and was a contender after Bill English stood down following his defeat at the last election. She is a stable MP from the South Island and Shadow Finance Minister. Although she's unlikely to ever be Prime Minister, she could be an option to bring back compassion to the party.

Longer term would be Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye, MP for Hutt South Chris Bishop or MP for Pakuranga, Simeon Brown. All of these MPs have potential and are up and comers. Kaye has always been popular within the community, beating out Jacinda Ardern in Auckland Central in 2008 and 2011 before Ardern was gifted the safe seat of Mount Albert, which has been held by Labour since its inception in 1946. She could potentially be Prime Minister and she certainly wouldn't resort to nasty tactics like some other politicians have.

The main thing to take away from all of this is that National has imploded and shown itself to be nasty, cold and callous. If someone has had a breakdown then the last thing you do is treat them like garbage as some of the MPs do. You offer them support and help. If National can't do that for one of their MPs how are they supposed to do that for Mental Health issues in the community? How are they supposed to care for the entire country when they can't even care for one person.

So to close this blog, I'm going quote Jacinda Ardern after she became the 40th Prime Minister of NZ last year; because this is what National needs to do, they need to bring kindness back and with Simon Bridges steering the wheel that's just not going to happen. National needs a new leader, one who actually cares about the people, because as Jacinda Ardern said on Radio NZ after she became Prime Minister last year.

I want people to feel that it's open, that it's listening and that it's going to bring kindness back...I know that will sound curious but to me if people see they have an empathetic government...it's not about just preserving people's political careers. It's not about power. It's about being in a position to make a difference.

Politicians need to set an example, and if they can't be kind to eachother, how are members of the general public supposed to be kind? Things need to change and nastiness needs to leave politics.

The same could apply to Australian politics or the community in general, but that's another blog post entirely.

Cher: Here we go again tour - 20th October 2018 - Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney

It's very rare that a singer will last a decade, let alone more than five decades but that's exactly what 72 year old Cher has done. Her music has stood the test of time and that's why her Here We Go Again tour has been such a huge success with extra shows being added in various cities.

I originally bought a ticket to the show being held on Thursday the 18th of October but I had to give my ticket to a friend because it clashed with my new acting classes. Luckily though, tickets were heavily reduced for the show on the 20th of October so I was able to get a great B reserve ticket in the second elevation. I had a great view of the stage and could also get amazing photos and video footage which I always like to do when I'm in a concert.

I'm not going to bother saying much about the support act, Andrew McClelland because he was absolutely terrible and had absolutely no stage presence. He was trying too hard and he wasn't at all natural.

As with all shows, there was a short break between him and Cher. Cher took to the stage at 8:45pm and one of the best moments in the show was very early on when she delivered a 15 minute monologue about how she'd been broke, rejected by Hollywood, had piles of debts owing to her flatmate at the time and how she eventually said yes to appearing on the David Letterman Show because she needed the $28,000.

The show was split into 5 acts, each representing a different era in her career, including her Sonny and Cher era with I've Got You Babe. On the screen behind Cher was footage of Sonny and you really felt like she was still had strong feelings for him.

She sung the hits, Turn Back Time, All or Nothing, Strong Enough, It's in His Kiss and a few Abba; and Elvis covers.

The best moment of the show came when she sung her encore of Believe. That was a moment that was so inspiring that people (myself included) were up dancing and really enjoying the moment.

Aside from Cher's brilliant singing, humorous personality and hits scattered through the show, the stage and set design was incredible. There was a circus act which reminded me of Britney Spears and Pink. All the colours were reminiscent of Katy Perry's California Dreams Tour from back in 2010.  That's why Cher is still relevant at 72. Even when other artists are top of the charts, she's still willing to learn and be inspired by the younger generation. Her music is also relatable, no matter what age you are. She appeals to all generations and there was something for everyone.

Other than the support act and lack of reference to Sydney (and I'm clutching at straws here) I would have to give the show a 4.5/5. One of the best I've been to.

Part 1: So you want to be an actor

I'm not sure if I've indicated this in previous blogs but I've been trying to make it as an actor since I was eight years old, so we're talking a very, very long time.

Although I say I have wanted to be an actor since I was eight years old, it probably actually started before then. My earliest memory of being interested in acting was when I was six years old and there was a school play and I wanted a lead role but I was too young so ended up being in the choir. It was for a production of Joseph and the Technicoloured Dreamcoat.

But deciding I wanted to be an actor at eight years old sticks out for me as that was when I started watching Shortland Street, a New Zealand soap and I immediately decided after then that I wanted to be an actor. At the time it was because Angela Dotchin, who played receptionist and later PA, Kirsty Knight was my favourite character.

Since then I took a lot of acting classes and I've been writing since then with roles as a journalist, digital marketer and content editor or writer but acting has always been in the back of my mind. I've also done singing since 2009. That's my other passion but I happen to be a better actor than I am a singer. And that's basically the purpose of this blog today, to talk a bit about why I love acting and a bit about the things that I've learned in acting classes and what steps you should take if you want to be an actor.

Despite having done dozens of courses and spent thousands of dollars on acting courses as well as having done paid extra work and some short films, I've been rejected by agents, even recently though I'll be trying again. So here are some tips I would like to give you if you do want to be an actor.

Take as many courses as you possibly can

As an  actor training is really important and as teachers of mine have said, it's important to learn from different teachers because they all have their own technique. You might learn screen acting from one teacher but theatre from another or methods from others. You will be a stronger actor if you have more techniques to your repertoire and you'll be able to be more multifaceted than if you only have one or two. Find the best acting schools in your area and then go to them and listen to what other people say about them. If a school has a good reputation then you should go.

Ideally you would do a three year acting course but if you're like me and either tried multiple times and didn't get in or you don't have the money short courses and short films are your best option. Get involved in as many productions as you possibly can.

Get your headshots and/or a showreel done

Every actor is judged on their appearance. It's just the way it is. Certain people will be better at playing different characters. If you are carrying extra weight (as I was for a while) then you will be limited in the roles you can be cast for. As an actor your physicality is really important so it's good to be as fit as possible and to maintain a healthy weight. You also need to maintain a consistent weight. This is very important because when you're submitted for roles your agent will rely on your headshots. If your headshots are outdated you won't get cast and could end up with a bad reputation. Get your headshots done BEFORE you get an agent. It will make you look more professional than if you do it afterwards and it will show your possible agents that you're serious about the field. This is the minimum you need to do. Most headshot photographers will charge around $400 for your shots.

If you can though, get a showreel made up. A showreel should show your best work, so before you get it made up, be sure to rehearse rehearse rehearse. You can never rehearse too much. A showreel costs more and could potentially be around $2000, but look around for quotes.

Get an agent

Although you can get some work through sites like Showcast and Starnow, you need an agent. Agents have industry contacts and can get you auditions for roles that aren't widely advertised. Because they know casting directors well they know what each one is looking for and will only put you forward for roles you are suitable for.

Although you may want to sign up with a top agent you're going to need to look around for an agent that is at the level you are at. That may mean going with an agent that only does commercials or extra work initially. Be aware though that extra work will not help you become an actor. Only courses and unpaid acting will help you with that. Get involved in community theatre or another acting group if you can do so.

There are so many other things you need to consider if you do want to be an actor including your physicality, techniques, communication, listening and script analysis and this will be covered in the next blog.

Before I close this blog though, I want to say that if you are considering becoming an actor then you should definitely enrol in short courses at NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art) in Kensington, Sydney, NSW, Australia. They offer a range of programs from one day short courses through to their three year bachelor degree programs. All comments in this blog are my own opinions and I have not been paid for this review. My opinions are based on genuine experiences.

I also want to add that f you want to be an actor and you love acting, it's a passion that will never go away. You may take breaks from it but it's something that you'll always be interested in and always return to. I did a course today and have another three coming up and I honestly cannot wait. As an actor you can always learn more skills and develop your craft.

The truth about dermal fillers: What to expect when you get them for the first time

So before I got Botox I said I would never ever get dermal fillers, and before I first got Botox back in July I was only open to the idea. It wasn't something I would definitely do. I didn't actually have a strong opinion on it either way. It was probably one of those things I was open to but didn't actually know a lot about.

I did however know that I was opposed to dermal fillers and thought that anyone who got them was an absolute idiot and that there was no real point to them. Again, I simply didn't know a lot about them.

Based on my previous opinions and the opinions of people around me, I would say that most people are the same and that for some reason people don't know a lot about cosmetic injectibles and that they are still taboo. Although the internet typically has a lot of information available, there is no singular reason as to why injectibles are still considered taboo but one theme that often comes up is that it contradicts feminism. The thinking is that if you get injectibles you're not happy in your own skin and that you're conforming to society's expectations to look a certain way.

Anyway, after a few sessions of Botox I decided I would take the plunge at get dermal fillers. Basically Botox is great for dynamic lines caused by expression, whereas fillers need to be used to the static lines that are caused by the skin drying out.

So what was it like to get dermal fillers injected for the first time tonight?

Well, I'd watched a lot of videos on YouTube of people having dermal fillers injected and I have to say that the YouTube videos make the procedure look a lot more scary than it actually is.

If you've had Botox then you'pre already familiar and experienced in having injections in the face it's not that much of a transition. The only real difference is that instead of it being over and done with in 10 minutes it will take half an hour.

First, your nurse or doctor if you've opted to see a doctor will tell you to sit down on the bed in the room and you'll lean back. When you're leaning back and relaxing they'll wipe your face with antiseptic and prepare the syringes for injection and then mark the places on your face that will be injected. Instead of it involving a quick prick like Botox the syringe will be in the part of the face that's being injected for a little bit longer. The nurse or doctor will also massage in the filler so that it spreads and is evenly spread. They'll inject a few spots to get the best possible result.

It's really quite painless because the dermal filler, I was injected with Juvederm Voluma has a numbing agent so it won't hurt at all.

When it's over you'll see the results immediately and they'll last anywhere from six months to two years so you'll need to get top ups after that. Fillers are like Botox, the more you have them, the longer they'll last. They also add moisture back to your skin that has previously been lost due to sun damage and aging.

Obviously because your face has been injected and massage there will be some bruising. That is to be expected and is a normal part of the experience. Your skin will also be a bit tender but that should only last a couple of days.

To sum up I would highly recommend dermal fillers if you want to add life to your face and look more youthful. Be aware that you will need to have multiple sessions. The average amount for each person will be 3-6mls and that will ensure you have th best possible result.

As you get older your skin in other areas also dries out so that means your lips will dry out as well, so if that is the case then you should also consider lip fillers. Like Botox and dermal fillers you can choose the number of mls/syringes based on the result you want. I haven't yet had my lips done, but if/when I get them done, that will simply be for moisture so I would only go for 1ml. Anything else would look ridiculous.

As I've said in previous blog posts it's really important that you choose a cosmetic specialist who is trained and qualified in cosmetic injectibles and can give you a professional and natural look.

Advice if you're considering dermal fillers

I first blogged about Botox in mid July and had my first Botox treatment on the 21st of July. As I've mentioned in previous blogs I started with my forehead and the sides of my eyes. Two weeks later I had my bunny lines done and a top up on my forehead and sides of my eyes. My next treatment was above my lips, some more in my forehead, my bunny lines and the sides of my eyes.

It was during the last consultation that I talked about having dermal fillers done to smooth and reduce the dark circles under my eyes. I had originally planned to have those done today but wasn't 100% sure and baasically I hadn't done enough research to proceed with them, so today I only had more Botox done.

Today's Botox session completed the Botox that I needed in my face so now I'm onto fillers and there are a few things I'd like to talk about in the lead up to my first fillers session.

The first thing you need to know is that there are many different brands of fillers and they all have different effects. Don't be fooled by the cheaper ones. The cheaper ones do not work as well as the more expensive ones and will only have a superficial impact. If you want a long lasting impact, then it's recommended that you choose the more expensive one (I would like to name it but due to Australian TGA guidelines and legislation, I actually can't - but there is enough information online that you'll be able to figure it out).

When your'e starting out with fillers for under the eyes then it's actually best to get them injected into your cheeks or at least that is what has been recommended for me personally. Everyone is different. Some articles and blogs online also recommend that you start with a small amount and then progress from there to a bigger amount, or have it topped up if you need to. This is what I've done with Botox. I've had four Botox treatments across my face totalling $1201.10 and that should cover me for the next six months but it's really hard to know because I thought the last treatment I had two weeks ago would be enough but it actually wasn't and I had to have a major top up today.

So anyway, now that I'm moving onto dermal fillers another thing to note is that it is more expensive than Botox. Each Botox treatment I've had has cost me an average of $200 - $350. Fillers are $650 for the premium brand.

I can't comment on what fillers can do for your face until I've had them but what I can say is that since I've had Botox friends have commented on my face. Now granted I've always had a great face, but Botox has really improved it dramatically and people have commented on it. They have also commented on the general change in my personality. This could be a result of losing weight prior to having Botox and then colouring my hair. it's hard to know, but the general idea is that Botox really does improve your mood and it has been reported that it reduces depression in people.

Anyway, I will keep you posted on what my thoughts after having the fillers are but so far I'm thinking I'm just going to go with 1ml as an entry point and then if I need to increase that later on that's what I'll do like I've done with Botox. Getting fillers is a huge decision and not one I've taken lightly at all which is probably partially why I didn't end up going ahead with the treatment today. The filler brand that was recommended to me today as well lasts for two years so I'll let you do your research and find out what brand that is.

My regular skin specialist was away today as well so I needed to see someone else and while I'm willing to have someone else do my Botox injections, I'd rather have someone I know well do my filler injections as it seems different to having Botox done and takes a little bit longer. Botox is basically over and done with in five minutes.

I know I've blogged about this before as well, but nothing beats the feeling of knowing that your face is free from lines and wrinkles and it's really cool because I never really had frown lines to begin with. I guess I just don't frown, either that or unlike other people I hadn't developed those lines. My eyes are a different story though. I am very very expressive with my eyes so that's where most of my lines are, hence I've needed to focus on them.

Now, in concluding, here are five tips that I want to leave you with before you do have fillers:

1. Choose a skin specialist you trust and feel comfortable with. Think about it this way, you're having your face injected. It's really important that you trust your skin specialist. That might mean you go to a small clinic or it may mean you stick with a major chain. I've gone with a major chain personally and other than today I stick with the same specialist as I trust and have rapport with her.
2. Start small. If you're not sure what you'll think of the treatment, start small. You can always have more injected later.
3. Be aware that the treatment will hurt slightly (I have had Botox above my lips and that is the most painful along with the bunny lines, it's only a short term sting but it does hurt and your eyes may water like mine do) and go to your happy place. Remember to breathe.
4. Listen to your skin specialist. You may do a lot of research on your own online and that's great that you do but it's important to listen to your skin specialist. They are a professional, and they know what they're doing so listen to them and trust them.
5. Cheapest isn't always best, just like you're best going with the more expensive filler brand, it's also worth paying more for a reputable skin clinic.

I'll keep you posted on what I think of fillers and will post another blog once I have had my fillers on the 6th of October.

Please note: Any opinions shared in this blog are the thoughts of the writer online and do not constitute medical advice. Please consult your medical professional for a tailored package.

Dear Sydney: We need to talk

Dear Sydney,

We need to talk. I know, you've received a lot of these letters from people saying the same thing and I swore a while ago that they were idiots. I swore I would never write a letter like this to you but lately Sydney, I feel like we're in a lot of trouble. I feel like we've been in a relationship for the last ten years and right now all you're doing is taking without giving.

You know we've been here before. You know that we've broken up a few times. Back in 2008 I accidentally moved to you. How does a person accidentally move? Well basically in 2006 the idea was put into my head and then two years later, after someone I know was murdered and a couple of people I knew moved to Sydney I thought, sure, why not. I'll move to Sydney and I did. I spent four months in King's Cross and it was great but it was missing one thing. It was missing my friends and I had a horrible employer with a toxic culture so I left you. I said I'd be back though.

18 months later back in December 2009 I decided I wanted to give you another chance as my friends had moved to Sydney and I was glad we were back together Sydney. I was stoked. We were together longer this time around but I wasn't getting where I wanted with work and the money was average, and once again, I missed my friends. By August 2010 they'd left and Sydney isn't the easiest place to make new friends in.

I spent four months back in Auckland, yes you'll have noticed there's a pattern. It's like you're the abusive boyfriend that's so captivating that I'm so drawn to and so attracted to and Auckland is the faithful husband (and funnily I actually did marry Auckland on January 20th 2006 at Cafe Cima on High Street in Auckland City, I lost our marriage license though) but I wasn't feeling it, so a few months later I went back to Sydney.

This time I did things differently.

I went back with a job lined up and another friend had also moved to Sydney but we fell out so once again I was on the outer. Long story short, that job wasn't for me and then I had a bad run so once again, I went back to Auckland.

Auckland was okay to me. I had a job I loved in Auckland but the department started announcing redundancies so I knew it was time to get back to you and I started applying for jobs. In the end I got a job offer but it fell through so I had to stay in Auckland. Luckily I'd been with my employer for nearly three years so when I asked for a transfer to Sydney the answer was yes and so I moved back. That was Christmas Eve 2013 and I felt like I'd come home. I was relieved to be back living in you Sydney.

But over the last few years you've shown yourself to be cold and heartless. You may know to party on New Year's Eve and you may have awesome beaches and a harbour, but when it comes to character and soul Sydney, sadly, you have none. At first I thought it was just one of my friends (yes one of the few friends I've made here) but it's not. It's YOU Sydney. You're the problem. You're the one who is cold. You're the one who doesn't care about people. You're the one who chews them up and spits them out. You're the one who abuses everyone who lives in you.

And well Sydney, I hate saying this because I still love you but part of me really wants to break up with you and get back together with Auckland. Auckland's not perfect, not by a long shot and there are still a lot of things I love about you Sydney but you just have no heart. You're not happy. I've spoken to a few Aucklanders over the last couple of weeks and I've been amazed at the warmth and friendliness they've shown. They actually smile. They actually laugh. They're human. You're not.

I get that you're international and you want to be the best, but it is actually possible to be the best and to have a heart, but you don't seem to understand that Sydney.

Then there's the guys. I dated a lot of guys in Auckland and I mean A LOT, and I never struck what I've struck here. Now I may be pickier but Auckland guys don't expect you to drop everything and they actually make an effort. They actually care. They're not arrogant and don't get me wrong Sydney, arrogance can be appealing in a lot of ways. It's one of the reasons I love you but lately it's starting to become more like abuse.

You haven't given me any good memories that don't involve my friends from Auckland and you haven't shown me any warmth.

I don't want to break up with you Sydney. I do still love you and I know you have a lot to offer but unless you make some changes then I'm going to have to break up with you because this isn't good for me. I need a city that's always there for me, that I can trust and Auckland has always shown himself to be trustworthy. Even though I often break up with Auckland he's always willing to take me back and right now he and I are talking about getting back together. We're just working out whether or not we want to give eachother another chance.

So Sydney, what I'm saying I guess is this, you need to make some changes and be kinder and more human or we're going to have to break up.