The Pride Story, part 2 of 3

Read part 1 of this story here

To be continued…

‘True Stories Told Live’ was a fun night last night. Thanks to the tireless efforts of Susanna Andrew and the NZ Book Council, there was a big crowd, and because it coincided with an exhibition opening, there was wine and nibbles. Salmon on little bits of toast! Egg sandwiches!

I loved hearing everybody’s different pride stories, from Madeleine Tobert‘s shark story, to Russell Brown’s moment of rugby triumph. Hamish Keith told a touching tale of loss and mountains, and David Veart related a story of a 19th century engineer and wide-boy whose name sounded something like bottom, and had lots of hyphens. David Slack was hilarious with his account of plastic surgery interrupted (he was going to have his nose chiseled, but he didn’t, and I’m pleased, because it’s a fine nose, and my friends agree) and Ron Brownson showed us the first copy Ulysses purchased by a woman in Hawera, along with his Turkish (sic) bronze goat bowels (sic – bells, actually.) I was nervous as hell before the story-telling, but Ron told me that it was all very well to be shy and nervous, but you should keep that to your private life and be confident and fearless in public. I’m trying to figure out how to put that advice into action.