The Simple Life
Being poor has been great for my health. Since I gave up my job to focus on our record label, we’ve been living on a shoestring. Booze was first to go, along with magazines, packet foods, printed loo roll and impulse buys. I used to be a shoe addict, but now I can walk past a sign saying SHOE SALE without even a tear in my eye.

I’ve never felt or looked better in my life. I may not be able to afford a gym membership, but I work out more often now that I can do it in my own living room. I may not be able to afford to eat out or take away, but now I have the time to cook fresh food every day. I had a lovely time buying pants this week at House of G - the last time I was a size 10 was in the 90s!

Tightening my belt has been a good thing. I used to buy crap every day that I didn't need. Like sandwiches at lunchtime and overpriced coffee. These days I value time more than I value money. We are setting up our own company so that we can choose our own pace of life, place to work and people to work with.

That to me is the ultimate luxury.

And then two come along at once...

Chelfyn is very excited. He's been booked to play alongside Chris Liberator in Wellington on his birthday weekend. Chris is one of our favourite DJ/producers, a founder of the Truelove collective and a thoroughly nice bloke.

LAB4 are also in the country that weekend. They were voted best live act by Mixmag in 2003 and are playing Wellington on the 16th of April and Auckland on the 17th. Adam and Lez from LAB4 have got to be two of the hardest working guys in the scene. They think nothing of playing a European festival, then flying to a gig in London before driving to another in the same weekend. They are also really big in Japan where the kids love their cyber-rock look and their manic live show. I interviewed LAB4 before we moved to New Zealand and I'm really pleased that things are really kicking off for them now. They have worked really hard and deserve it.

Apparently kids in Britain are starting to suffer from Celebrity Syndrome – the belief that they don’t need education as they’ll get famous instead. It’s a dangerous road to go down as there is no such thing as overnight success. When you speak to most successful/famous people they have a good 5 – 10 years hard slog behind them if not more. Britney and Christina have been at it since they were six. As for the Olsen Twins – I think they were grown in a vat. No-one can be that perfect twice.

Dreams can come true

I've realised two more dreams this week. I now have my own clothing label as my first TMet Tshirt design is up for sale, and an interviews section to play with on our site. I really love interviewing people, finding out what makes them tick, and then watching how their career grows.

I've published the most recent ones I've done with LAB4, Lee Haslam, Zana Mills and also the one with Chelfyn by Nik Barrett from her 'Raw Supastar DJs' radio show. You can hear Raw Supastar DJs every Tuesday on UPfm from 3 - 4 p.m. AND nationwide every Wednesday now from 1 - 2 p.m. on George FM. Bigups to Nik for all her hard work and dedication in helping promote the up and coming DJs on the New Zealand dance scene.

Update 16/5/04:
You can also catch Raw Supastar DJs every Thursday on Twisted Radio from 6.00 p.m. - 7.00 p.m.

Hell Gay Sport Eh?
We've recently been introduced to Steve a good friend of Baxter. He makes sets and props for production companies out in West Auckland or as I'm now calling it - Westiewood. Apparently Nicole Kidman is in town looking at locations for the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe which starts filming in June. Steve used to be a really good rugby player but he gave up after one too many tackles on his - er tackle. In that plain spoken Kiwi way he managed to articulate what I've suspected for years: "Rugby. Hell Gay Sport Eh?"

Musical Youth
Our PO Box was full of CDs yesterday from people wanting to sign to our indie label. I love hearing tracks from new producers, and the quality has been surprisingly good. Now we have to sift out the best stuff, give it a final polish and get it up for sale. We launched in December with four hard dance tracks but we’ve got all sorts in the pipeline, from funky house, to drum & bass, electronica and leftfield.

We’ve just signed our youngest NZ producer - who is only 8. He's written a track called ‘Lync’s Little Red Car’ with his dad, which is hands in the air Ibiza style trance. The words are really funny and I particularly love the bit at the end: ‘How many cars do you know go beep like this? Not many.’ Every New Zealander will spot the Scribe reference.

My favourite track at the moment is andy qroniq’s remix of Unhealthy Activity by The WBC. Fat and filthy Break-beat Ska. I’m loving it!

William Tells wanted!
Here’s a date for your diary. Go Natural New Zealand are advertising a Nude Archery Day on April 6th: “Bows, arrows and targets will be provided. Yes we are looking for a William Tell and an apple so volunteers...."

One Ring - 11 Oscars
We're down at the Farm with Clayton & Cathy watching the Oscars. Cathy was working on the The New Zealand Herald's live blog commentary today, so I know that 11 more Oscars will be heading to Aoeteroa this week.

Go the Kiwis! As someone said: The little country that could - did. Keisha was very composed [until someone introduced her to Johnny Depp], and Peter Jackson was his usually dishevelled self.

I've just been very disturbed by the sideways motions of Jamie Lee Curtis's breasts. They look like they are plotting to escape from her dress.