A quick on tonight as I've spent far too long staring at a screen today.
But here are some modern-day conundrums.
1. How can the dentist charge nearly $200 for a checkup and clean that takes approximately 15-minutes? And yes, I do get that rent, insurance, hiring a dental nurse, equipment... but still. Thankfully, my health insurance extras covered a lot of it - but still...
Lucky he's been my dentist for nearly 20 years, and I've sent him some new regulars over the years.
2. Why does a day of what I call fiddly admin feel rewarding? A colleague and I had to send out nearly 200 emails between us today. A long story. Lots of manipulating spreadsheets and other stuff. But it felt good to do something mindless.
3. Why do I want to be able to do pushups on my toes?
4. Is it wrong to want to give your Uber driver 3 or 4 stars for no other reason other than they have B.O.? Due to tight timings, I caught an Uber back from the dentist. The driver was very nice. The car very clean. But he ponged. I gave him 5 stars regardless, but...
5. Is it law that when your cat crosses your keyboard you have to give him a kiss?
6. Is it okay to take blue cheese to a friend's place?
7. Should I let the book group know that so far, we don't have any Australian content on the list. This is not a good thing. I'm not trying to massage the list.
8.Why do I always have a split lip when I go to the dentist. Is this Sod's Law?
9. Why do I have the urge to clean out the cupboard in the spare room? Is this a sane idea?
10. How can I talk myself into doing my hip rehab exercises. Why is it so hard to get down on the floor?
11. Why do I still have the desire to fly off to Bali and do a sound healing accreditation?
After years of whining, I've done it! I've got a writing group! Yay!
It's been years in the making. I came out of the Faber Academy hoping that I'd get a writing group out of that, but what can I say - COVID - messed up everything.
Then last year, I approached a couple of friends hoping to get a writing group going, but then Darwin happened.
I know - excuses, excuses.
It took another try, after the Darwin contract was over, to get this happening.
Attending a friend's book launch and knowing that she was in a writing group with an acquaintance - a brilliant writer in her own right, that got me on track again.
Then, I ran into a mutual friend, somebody I know from the retreat. I mentioned that I was wanting to get a group going - for accountability, fellowship, to bounce ideas against... and probably to whine about my cat. She was open to it, especially as some of her works were getting published.
The friends that were contacted late last year got a message. A date was set. Then somebody else joined us. The new recruit was found at a writer's festival by one of the others.
Five is a good number. We could do with one more - but that is about it.
The date was set. The First Monday of the month. Timing is paramount as there are kids and animals and commutes home to work into things. We agreed on 8.30 p.m. AEST, 8.00 p.m. ACST (Adelaide time) and 5.30 p.m. AWST (Perth time)
Thankfully, we meet on Zoom.
And we're an unlikely group. An IT project manager, a lawyer, a doctor, a book editor and me.
Four of us have started projects. Interesting, engaging projects.
We've set down some rules. You don't have to share, but if you want to, keep it to under 3000 words for a thematic or structure review. (e.g. If you're sending work out, you give an idea of what you want to review - for me, I asked to have a look and see what they thought of the structure.). If you want a close edit - maximum 1000 words.)
But really, we're here for support and fellowship. Writing can be such an isolating activity, it's good to know that there are others out there who can be in the trench with you.
I'm feeling hopeful that the group which we've given the name the Happy Mondays, how much mischief can we, as a group of middle-aged women writers, get into?
"We've just heard from down the street. Bruce is no more. He died yesterday. His family are dealing with it the best they can."
My reaction was, "NOOOOOOO, not Bruce!"
Bruce was my mate.
We didn't see each other very often, but we had meaningful interactions when we did catch up. He could be flighty. He could be stroppy. He could be aloof. But he was my mate, Bruce.
I should also say that Bruce was a fat, black cat who lived around the corner would bale you up for a pat on the way to the tram stop or on the way home.
This afternoon, I went down the street to where Bruce lived. Sure enough, his dad had attached a sign to the mailbox notifying the neighbourhood of his demise.
So sad.
Bruce liked to be of a man of mystery. You'd not see him for ages, then you'd run into him regularly. Thinking about it, not going into the office as much meant that we didn't get to see each other.
Thinking about it, he'd have to be well into his dotage - he had to be at least 15-years-old.
But over the years, I've looked forward to walking home from the tram only to meet this chubby, black terrorist of a cat, demanding a pat before letting me through.
He was a friend to many, but if he didn't like you, he'd let you know.
He was a unique personality - then again, all cats have their own personality. It's just this one has been patrolling the street around the corner for many years.
So, vale, Bruce. We know you're up there sucking up to one and all, tormenting your new slave, like you tormented the last one. (He was very good at having his dad buy him new wet food, only to dismiss it after he brought in a pallet of the stuff.) You certainly made the streets of Richmond feel a little more welcoming. You were loved by many and won't be forgotten.
Tomorrow, after going to the gym, and going to Masons, I'm off to a barbeque at Blarney and Barney's place.
I was told to bring a dessert, or something sweet.
Joy.
I will let you into what my head thinks when I'm told to bring something along. This is my normal self-talk when it comes to bringing things to a barbeque:
What I make's not going to be good enough.
I can't buy something at Coles.
Nobody will like what I make.
Lemon, vanilla, chocolate - why do people not like the order I put things in?
I want to go fancy.
But it's a barbeque.
I wonder what's in the Coles chiller section.
I don't have time for this.
I want to have time for this.
I am not a natural homemaker, despite my mother's best intentions.
I've got better things to do.
I love baking.
Dammit.
Thankfully, I've talked myself of the ledge.
And yes, this is my normal self-talk when I'm told to bring something and not given clear directions.
Also, I'm a reasonable cook, and known for making desserts. At Christmas, Blarney gives me the job of glazing the ham - something I'd never do with my family as we're seafood and salad people at Christmas - which suits me just fine.
Did you know that Arnotts has brought out a cookbook? Arnotts - The Cookbook is hot off the press. I'm told it's on its second or third printing within the month. The book as all of these Australian standards like Chocolate Ripple Cake (my brother-in-law's staple), slices, upscales, celebrations desserts - you name it - it's in there.
Tim Tim slice sounded just up my alley.
So easy. It's Australian CWA kitchen staples. Two packets of Tim Tams. A can of condensed milk. 100 grams of butter. 200 grams of milk chocolate.
Yes, diabetes in a box.
All you do is grind up one of the packets of Tim Tams, roughly chop the other pack. Over low heat, melt the butter and combine with half of the condensed milk. When the butter and condensed milk is combined, stir that through the blitzed Tim Tams, then add the chopped biscuits. Spread into a greased, lined tin and put in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. When set, on low heat, combine the chocolate and condensed milk until smooth, then spread over the set biscuit base and put it back in the fridge for a few hours.
It was easy. It's finished and sitting in the fridge. The dishes are done. And the questions remain.
Why did I want to put chopped dried cherries or cranberries in the base?
Will they like it?
Can I leave what it's left at Blarney's place?
If I have to bring it home, will the neighbours like it?
Why does bringing something to a barbeque/party fill me with such dread.
Also, is there nothing that an Australian woman cannot do with some butter, a packet of biscuits and a can of condensed milk?
On the good side of things, I got to do one of my most favourite activities - licking out the condensed milk tin. It still brings some joy.
I love that Sunday Stealing is having a Thanksgiving break - and they haven't posted Thanksgiving questions, as being Australian, we don't have Thanksgiving. It's not a thing here, unless you have American family or friends who will drag you around for turkey, stuffing, gravy and sweet potatoes covered in marshmallow and pumpkin pie, which, as an Australian, sounds like a bit of an abomination because pumpkin is a savoury dish which you eat roasted or in soups and salads.
C'est la guerre.
Anyway, today's questions come from Sunday Stealing. I hope they have a great Thanksgiving. As an Australian, it's just the last Thursday in November followed by a day of sales.
F. Film: What movie or tv show are you watching?
Some things I've been watching over the last while.
I saw Wake Up Dead Man last night at the cinema and loved it. Very funny film.
The other week I saw the second installation of the Wicked franchise, Wicked: For Good. I was underwhelmed by that one, though others love it.
And the reboot of The Running Man was great, and I don't normally like action films. Glenn Powell is everywhere. Very easy on the eye.
On television, I've got into The Man on the Inside with Ted Danson. It's got a lovely heart to it. Also if you have aging friends and family, you'll understand some of the undertones.
Another thing I've loved was the British season of The Celebrity Traitors. That was just wonderful.
A. Audio: What are you listening to?
As music goes, I've been going over The Pixies back catalogue. Having gone to both Melbourne concerts last week I've been reliving both gigs. They really are awesome.
After a trip to a jazz bar on Thursday, I'm also having a dig around some jazz. I've got to be in the mood for jazz, but it's been very cool to search some stuff out.
I've always got an audiobook on the go to. This morning, I finishedTrespasses by Louise Kennedy, which was a stunning book about a couple during The Troubles in Northern Ireland.
On paper, I'm about halfway through RF Kuang's Babel. It's a strange mix of historical fiction and fantasy, but I'm enjoying it.
The book group book this month is something called Hard Copy by Fien Veldman. It's allegedly about somebody who falls in love with a photocopier. I've heard different reviews on this. At least it's short.
Jay suggested a Friday film. There were some suggestions of British films, but they all sounded a bit grim, and I was in the mood for something a bit lighter. It had been a big week, something funny and light was required. We settled on the latest in the Knives Out series - Wake Up Dead Man.
If you've not seen any of the Knives Out series, you'll find them on Netflix. The first one is fabulous. I don't rate the second one. But in this third in the series, writer/director Rian Johnson is back to his best. Do you have to see the other two movies in the series to enjoy this? Absolutely not - though a little bit of history about detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is not a bad thing. There are no related characters. The only similarities between the films are that they are stylish movies with killer casts.
This is a good, old fashioned detective movie, which also happens to be very funny.
The story starts off when we meet a young priest, Jud Duplenticy (Josh O'Connor) who after getting into some skirmishes with another member of the clergy is sent out to a parish in Upstate New York to be a junior priest to a turbulent Mons Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin). This bloke is on an ego trip, keeping some members of his clergy close, while driving others away. Jud and the Mons don't get on. The inner circle, consisting of Martha, the Church Secretary (Glenn Close), Nat, the gin-soaked town doctor (Jeremy Renner), Lee, a reclusive writer (Andrew Scott), Vera, a lawyer who hasn't reached her potential, her brother Cy, a wannabe MAGA styled Senate candidate (Daryl McCormack) and Simone, an ailing artist (Cailee Spaeny) are all in the thrall of the malevolent Wicks.
And then Wicks turns up dead in a locked room, during the Good Friday service after delivering the homily.
Jud is automatically the number one suspect.
This is when the investigative team comes in. Mila Kunis is Geraldine, the chief of police, who brings in the amazing Benoit Blanc to investigate.
I'm not going to go into the plot, other than it's a murder mystery in which an improbably murder takes place, and it's the absolute bomb. There are twists and turns and a lot of laughs along the way.
For those who have not witnessed Daniel Craig do a Southern accent, this is all a part of the charm. Along with the rest of the cast, their comic chops all come out. Oh, and if you haven't seen Daniel Craig in Logan Lucky, search it out. He's hysterical. I love it when you can tell an actor is having a ball.
This film also belongs to Josh O'Connor, who plays the sometimes-hapless Jud. A street kid who's found religion, Jud is both happy to sit back and let things run but also stand his ground when needed.
The rest of the cast are just as strong. Glenn Close as the conniving Church secretary and Daryl McCormack as Cy, the MAGA wannabe man-baby are stand outs. The rest of the cast are just as strong. A lot of this is thanks to Rian Johnson's air-tight script, which is as funny as is it subversive. The digs are the church and the US political climate are on point and very, very funny.
As this is a Netflix production, it will be streaming in the next few weeks put this on your Christmas viewing list. It's very entertaining. A great Friday night film - intelligent, light and funny. What more do you want?
