Middle-aged, middle class, and occasionally neurotic, Laurice has been arranging words poetically (she hopes) and cutting up and rearranging other people's visual images since 1994. In the early 90s, after discovering during a Massey University Garden Design course (when it was still Wellington Polytechnic) that she could draw passably well, she attended art school at The Learning Connexion (Wellington) in a misguided and largely unsuccessful attempt to ward off a mid-life crisis. While doing so she rediscovered writing and collage, her two favourite childhood activities.

Laurice remains mystified as to why audiences find the sharing of her deepest fears and most personal experiences amusing. Turning to Vincent Van Gogh for inspiration she has decided that life on the emotional fringe is not as bad as it could be. At least she's managed to make a little money from more than one of her creations, and so far she is not addicted to absinthe.

As well as her Diploma in Art & Creativity from The Learning Connexion, Laurice has assorted certificates, diplomas and degrees in: abseiling, astrology, audiology, ballet, being intelligent, counseling, garden design, having babies, linguistics, mentoring, psychology, rational-emotive behavioural therapy and tarot card reading. She has been known to sing and dance (jazz - the dancing, not the singing) in public without totally embarrassing herself, and had a brief part-time sideline career as a life model. As a result of a loophole in tax laws, Laurice is officially a resident of Texas, USA, despite never having been there. She did once, however, spend 10 minutes outside the airport in Phoenix, Arizona, so she could say she'd been there and buy a fridge magnet.

Until July 2006 Laurice worked for 26 years as an audiologist in New Zealand's public health system. Creative differences with management led to early retirement, which enabled her to promote herself from ordinary committee member of the New Zealand Poetry Society, to National Coordinator in charge of pretty much everything. Election to President occurred when no-one else wanted the job.

In her spare time, such as it is, Laurice is an active member of Mensa and particularly enjoys pub quizzes, gardening, book-altering, yoga, knitting while watching the Hurricanes prove themselves the most unpredictable rugby team ever, and reading very late into the night. Occasionally she runs, though never more than 5k at a time, and she learned to swim at the age of 46, to prove that age is no barrier to physical learning. She got a tattoo when she was 42 and old enough to know better. 

"If I didn't follow my eclectic interests," she reports, "I'd probably be a better cook."

 

I Duz Yoga Ta Relax
see more Lolcats and funny pictures

 

Laurice was interviewed by Eva Radich for 'Upbeat', on Radio New Zealand: Concert, on 23 April 2008. To listen to this interview, go to: http://www.fluctu8.com/podcast-episode/laurice-gilbert-8392-36590.html

Literary History

School History. Published for the South Wellington Intermediate School Reunion, March 1987.

'Untititled V', shortlisted in NZ Post's 'Postcards' Competition, and published in The Evening Post, 2 February 1996.
- reprinted in JAAM 4 ed. Paul Wolffram, Wai-te-ata Press, Wellington, May 1996.

'Act 1, Scene1', in Brown Bread The Learning Connexion, Wgtn, 1996.

'Dissolution', in Word of Mouth ed. Julie Bomber, Poetry Today, Llangollen, 1997 (Vanity Publication. Well, everyone's got to start somewhere, don't they?).
  - Highly Commended in the Great Kiwi Poetry Competition, 2000.

'In My Sister's Garden', in the ordinary magic ed. Vivienne Jepson, The NZ Poetry Society, Wgtn, 1997.

'Weekly Phonecall', runner-up in The Great Kiwi Poetry Competition, 1998. Not published.
'Weekly Phonecall', in a fine line, NZ Poetry Society, November 2009.

'Cat Flap', in climbing the flame tree ed. Vivienne Jepson, The NZ Poetry Society, Wgtn, 1998.

'Maybe' (Highly Commended) and 'Life is a Grocery Store', in the whole wide world ed. Vivienne Jepson, The NZ Poetry Society, Wgtn, 2000.

"The Skating Grandmother", prose piece in 'Your Shout', Contact, 22 February 2001.

'chicken', short story in coastlines ed. Judith Holloway, Greater Otaki Literary Trust, Otaki, 2001.

'Stay in Touch' (Winner), 'City Life', 'This Man, My Hero', 'Undertow', in The Great Kiwi Summer Poetry Slam 2001/2002 ed. Mike Subritsky, Kiwiana Publishing, 2002.
('City Life' shortlisted in the Great Kiwi Poetry Competition, 2000.)
'Stay in Touch' - reprinted in Swings + Roundabouts - Poems on Parenthood, ed. Emma Neale, Godwit 2008.
'City Life', 'This Man, My Hero', 'Undertow' - reprinted in Valley Micropress July/August 2008, ed. Tony Chad.

"The lengths I went to to make swimming fun", prose piece in 'Readers' Column/News', Contact, 25 September 2002.

'Saturday Morning Ode', in A Question of Poetry ed. Greg O'Brien, Wai-te-ata Press, Wgtn, 2003.
- Reprinted in Valley Micropress May 2010, ed. Tony Chad.

'Ballad Of the Rangitata', in NZ Hunting & Wildlife ed. Andy Lyver, Wgtn, 2003.

'Personal Effects' (Commended), in something to expiate ed. Anne Harré, NZ Poetry Society, Wgtn, 2003.

'Ngauranga Gorge', 2nd place in Northland News haiku competition, March 2004.

125th Anniversary: Newtown School 1879-2004. 125th Anniversary Jubilee Committee, Wgtn, 2004.

'Audiology Report' (Highly Commended), in the enormous picture ed. Anna Livesey, NZ Poetry Society, Wgtn, 2004.

'Moon', in A Head Full of Daffodils ed. BodyFX for the Cancer Society, Wgtn, 2005.

'Temporary Memories' (Highly Commended in the Bravado International Poetry Competition), in Bravado 5 ed. Bravado Editorial Collective, Tauranga, 2005.

'46 Hats' and 'Quality of Life Survey', in tiny gaps ed. Margaret Vos, NZ Poetry Society, Wgtn, 2006.

'Lot's Wife had it Easy', in a fine line, NZ Poetry Society, May 2007.

Guest poet at 'Poet's Pub', Angus Inn, Lower Hutt, October 2007

'Strangers', 4th= place in the St Petroc's Society First International Poetry Competition, 2007. Not published.
'Strangers', (2nd place in the Bravado International Poetry Competition) in Bravado 17 ed. Bravado Editorial Collective, Tauranga, 2009.

untitled double dactyl ('Millary-Dillary'), in a fine line, NZ Poetry Society, March 2008.

Invited to launch the taste of nashi, New Zealand's 3rd haiku anthology, in Christchurch, April 2008.

Member of group reading at the Ngaio Community Arts Festival, Wgtn, May 2008.

'1981', in The Poetry Olympics, ed. Tony Chad, Upper Hutt 2008.

'Island Bay' and 'Divided World', in JAAM 26, ed Tim Jones, Wgtn 2008.
'Island Bay' - reprinted in The Dominion Post, Wednesday 26 November, 2008.

Member of 'The Academy', guest poets at the monthly meeting of The New Zealand Poetry Society, November 2008.

'How Darth Vader Eats', 'Daisy-Belle's Song' and 'The Friendly Face of Feminism', in Viola Beadleton's Seriously Silly and Astoundingly Amazing Stories! Volume Three, Winter 2009.
'Daisy-Belle's Song' - reprinted in Poet's Corner, Bay of Plenty Times, Saturday 3rd April 2010
'How Darth Vader Eats' - reprinted in Valley Micropress May 2010, ed. Tony Chad.

'Having an Older Sister' , in moments in the whirlwind ed. Barbara Strang, NZ Poetry Society, Wgtn. 2009

'August, 2006', in Landfall 218 ed. David Eggleton, Otago University Press, November 2009.

'10 lies to see you through another day', in The Book of Ten, Zebra Publishing, UK 2009
- reprinted in Valley Micropress July 2010, Ed. Tony Chad.

Featured Poet: Valley Micropress May 2010, Ed Tony Chad. Poems featured: 'On Being a Woman of a Certain Age', 'The First Year', 'Another Reason Why I Don't Keep A Gun In My Handbag', 'coming from Wellington', 'I wish I had a black dog', 'On the Road', 'Saturday Morning Ode', 'I would rather...', 'How Darth Vader Eats'.
'On Being a Woman of a Certain Age' - reprinted in The Mozzie July 2010, Ed. Ron Heard.

'The Craftswoman', in a fine line, NZPS, July 2010.

'Are We There Yet?', in Bravado 19, July 2010.

Member of group reading at Museum of Wellington City & Sea, Sampler Season 2010, July 2010.

'Family Snapshot', in Valley Micropress July 2010, Ed. Tony Chad.

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