Just gotten back from the Auckland Symphony Orchestra rehearsal. The orchestra is rehearsing for a Friday night Christmas performance at the Auckland Town Hall. Due to a few of the regulars being absent, my violin/viola teacher invited my brothers and I to play with the orchestra for this concert. So if you're free on Friday the 3rd December, come along to the Town Hall at about 7:00pm and try spot me in the orchestra! I'll be playing the viola in the...viola section. Aonghas will be playing 2nd violin while Hamish won't be there at all and instead will be dining with his fellow year 13s at the farewell dinner.

Auckland Symphony Orchestra

Friday 3 December, 7:30pm

Auckland Town Hall

FREE

It's really great playing in a full-piece symphony orchestra, as every single orchestra I've ever played in has comprised of less than 20 musicians, and I've more than often been the only violia player in it! It's really cool having the brass blasting your ears behind you, because in school orchestras....well there aren't any brass instruments full stop! I now really want to join an orchestra! I've been thinking of the Aotea Youth Symphony Orchestra. I might try auditioin one day, but first I probably need to pass an exam!

NOW for my rant and rave for the day: The Civil Union Bill
So instead of having husbands/wives/spouses, partners who have a civil union will be called 'Civil Union Partners' will be called CUPs? That is completely ridiculous! Of course the Select Committee would be in favour of the Civil Union Bill because it is none other than gay Labour MP Tim Barnett who chairs the committee! I would not have a problem with the Civil Union Bill if it were only open to homosexuals, but not if heterosexual couples are allowed to have one. It will make a mess, especially since the Civil Union Act will apparently be so similar to the Marriage Act. If heterosexual couples are given the choice of marriage or a civil union, things will be like 'So...Mary's your wife aye?' 'No she's my Cup' Let's keep it simple - gays can have a civil union; straights have marriage.

Anyone notice 3News' new theme song? To me it doesn't sound 'newsy' at all and sounds pretty cheap and low budget. Looks like ONE News and 3News did a swap-around of colours. Originally it was ONE News with the orange/yellow colour and 3News with the bluey green colour. Now its the complete opposite.

With John Campbell set to host his new current affairs show at 7pm next year, Paul Holmes hosting his own show 7pm on Prime and TV One having their own show with most likely currently Closeup @ 7 host Susan Wood, Breakfast host Paul Henry (or maybe even Hugh Sundae as The Herald on Sunday has put forward), the 7pm slot will definitely be dominated by current affairs. Could this benefit Shortland St as the only non-news show at that timeslot? Or maybe even the music videos on C4?

It will be really interesting to see what TVNZ Head of News and Current Affairs Bill Ralston decides to do with that 7pm slot. What is really needed is good analysis of the day's news, and hopefully they will deliver.