Pulp Fiction is thirty years old. I remember seeing it at the Swiss Cottage cinema back in the day, and I was blown away by it, mostly for its incredible structure and the fact that I could tolerate a very violent film without having to run out of the auditorium. Since that first viewing, I’ve seen it on television and DVD countless times. It’s a film I can recite the lines from throughout.
It seems the audience of the Deckchair Cinema in Darwin could do this too.
Pulp Fiction gets better with age. It’s not only a classic, but also a cult classic. It has a 92% fresh rating on RottenTomatoes.com. It’s never been out of the imdb.com top 100%. It’s a freaky, funny, dreadful tale of retribution and redemption. It’s grouse.
There is something wonderful about seeing a well-loved film on the big screen. I remember seeing Branagh's version of Hamlet at the Astor in Melbourne. And Stop Making Sense on the big screen a few years ago was amazing. I'd love to see Casablanca... my list goes on.
What makes Pulp Fiction stand out is all the fine details that are found in the two hours and thirty-four minutes of screen time. Even better, you get to watch as all of those little things you'd forgotten screen in front of you. Oh, and then there's the Deckchair Cinema experience in Darwin, sitting outside with my supermarket popcorn and a bottle of water watching as a gecko on screen climbed into John Travolta's nose.
Of the movie, it's still wonderful. I'd forgotten how hot Bruce Willis was back then. Vincent Vega's (John Travolta) haircut is still awful. And Samuel L. Jackson gives a gravitas to Jules, along with a sense of inevitability. And The dance scene at Jack Rabbit Slim's is one of the most joyful things you're ever going to see. (I saw a documentary about this once. Tarantino give Travolta and Thurman the direction to go have fun. They did.)
And I still want to know what's in the briefcase, and why Marcellus Wallace (Ving Rhames) has a bandaid on the back of this neck, or what else Honeybunny (Amanda Plummer) and Pumpkin (Tim Roth) gave up their life of crime, or whether the gimp as really dead. And where do you find a Mr Wolf (Harvey Keitel). So many questions. Still not answered.
But it doesn't matter. I loved every minute of this showing, even if it was 30 degrees and 80 percent humidity and I was covering in bug spray.
With its quirky humour and killer soundtrack, and screenplay which is like no other, Pulp Fiction doesn't age. It's still a magic, all be it extremely violent, blackly humorous and quirky (The scene in the back yard where Vince and Jules get hosed down by Tarantino...brilliant)
As much as I wanted to be home this weekend, going out to brunch with my friends, hanging out with the cat, going to see Blarney and Barney on Sunday night, I rather like my weekends in Darwin.
For one, I don't have to do any housework. Never a bad thing.
Then there's the access to a swimming pool. I love being in the water, whether it be in the hotel swimming pool or down at the wave pool. It's nice to be able to go for a swim without having to plan it. Swimming is my main exercise when I'm up here. It's too hot to walk before about 6.30 p.m or after 8 a.m. The humidity at the moment is terrible.
I love that I have an apartment to myself, which feels a bit like home.
And I have my little rituals, like having a pedicure and buying a book in the independent book shop down the mall, because it feels good.
Today, on my visit down the mall, after my ritual aqua aerobics class, and a chat with some French tourists on the walk back to a favourite cafe for breakfast, then the relaxing pedicure where I read my book, I found myself chatting to the fellow in front of me as I was purchasing a book.
We started talking about a book of postcards filled with disappointing affirmations - things like " Accept yourself for the hot mess that you are," and "There's nothing you can't do. As long as it doesn't have to be any good," and "Just be yourself. But not your real self. No one wants to see that shit."
The book had to be bought.
He had to buy one too. He's a comedian and does a thing on affirmations - and he too thought it was a necessary buy.
We had a chat about Darwin, and some of the good things about. The friendliness of the locals being the main thing.
He asked why I was up here. I explained about being a corporate FIFO who wrote for a living, and how I liked finding local things to do where I could meet other people.
He then said that he ran a bar, where they had a Silent Book Group and that might be up my alley.
"Funny that - I already have a ticket. I'll be there on Wednesday. "
It's a small world.
And yes, I know I'm fortunate that I'll talk to anybody and everybody, but it was a bit of a cosmic kick to me to know I'm doing the right thing in going. I mean, sitting around silently reading for an hour with a group of other people I don't know, phone off, across the road from where I'm staying. Sounds like a good thing.
I'm wondering if I could set one up in Melbourne....
Another weekend in Darwin and today was delightful. I had a lovely day with my friend, who used to be my PE (Gym) teacher in high school, some 30 years ago. She's a most wonderful person and was generous enough to show me around the suburbs of Darwin, taking me out to places like Nightcliff, the Parap Markets and out to Humpty Doo and Foggs Dam, relating all sorts of history. It was a most marvellous day, and I cannot thank her enough.
Anyway, on with the questions, provided, as always, by Bev at Sunday Stealing.
What’s the best birthday party you’ve ever had?
I remember my 40th as being really good, but my 50th celebrations went on for a few weeks. A group of friends and I went to Bali for a week, then there was a big combined party with my friend Alice, who turned 50 the week before me. It was really good.
Where is your favorite place you’ve ever visited?
There are many places in the world that I call my favourite.
Here's a few by category.
Favourite cities: London, Paris, Toledo in Spain (not Ohio), Wellington, New Zealand.
Favourite historial site: Mont St Michel, France, Doi Suthep temple, Chiang Mai, Thailand, any British cathedral, particularly Ely, near Cambridge. The Taj Majal, Agra, India.
Favourite place in nature: The Great Ocean Road, Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge, Cornwall in England, Most Fleurieu Peninsula beaches.
How do you like to spend your free time?
Doing lots of things, from getting exercise, spending time with friends, reading, going to theatre and the movies... ironing. I like to have my ironing up to date.
What’s one of your favorite bands?
Talking Heads. I've loved Talking Heads since I was a teenager. They are still great. And relevant. And fun. Please see the Today's song for a cover of the following. It's amazing. Kudos to anybody who does a good job of covering this seminal band.
What is the cutest animal you’ve ever seen in person?
I saw pandas at Adelaide Zoo many years ago. They were amazing. Red pandas are even better.
I also love foxes. I see a lot of them around my suburb at night - amazing animals. I also remember coming across one in England when I was out at a friend's place in Surrey. We looked at each other for a couple of minutes. It was amazing.
How would you describe your style?
Very casual and comfortable, maybe a little bit edgy. I wear a lot of black, but that is a Melbourne thing. I've always worn a lot of black, or plain colours and quiet prints. I love motorcycle boots and comfortable shoes. In Darwin, I live in loose cotton trousers, a cotton t-shirt and Birkenstocks.
If your wardrobe could only be one color, what would it be?
Navy or black. Though there is a part of me that would love that to be bright red.
What was the first concert you ever went to?
Elton John and the Sydney Philharmonic Orchestra in Adelaide in about 1984.
What is the best book you’ve ever read?
Don't make me choose that. Here are a few of my favourite reads:
Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres.
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan
The Harry Potter books by JK Rowling
Born to Run by Christopher McDougall
Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
The Cornish Trilogy by Robertson Davies
The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert
Still Life by Sarah Winman
What’s your favorite movie of all time?
Again, don't ask me to name one. Here's a few of my favourite movies:
The Colours: Blue
Atonement
Calvary
The Shawshank Redemption (It was on television tonight)
Witness and The Truman Show
The Princess Bride
Henry V (Kenneth Branagh's version)
The Wedding Singer
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Many English films that nobody has heard of, but I love.
What’s the stupidest movie or TV show you’ve ever seen?
Probably Love Island. It's awful.
If you could only have one food for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
Ice cream. But that isn't going to happen.
What are your biggest pet peeves?
Rude people
People who butcher the English language when they should know better
People who don't use their indicators while driving.
Are you more into brains or looks?
Definitely into brains. Brains are sexy. Anybody with a good brain is automatically attractive, and as long as they are clean, the looks will get better.
Do you celebrate any holidays? What’s your favorite?
Australia is a secular nation, so we don't have the Holiday season per se. I don't celebrate any holidays, but do rock up to family functions when required.
Actually, losing your gall bladder, when it's full of stones and causing you pain is good, and necessary, but it does play with your eating habits.
Then once you have your gall bladder removed you have to find a new normal. You soon find out what you can and can't eat. Normally, after gall bladder removal, you start off with bland, good food, and stay away from saturated fats, and after a few months, you find a new normal. Some things will come back. Some things won't.
I've been lucky so far. Since this sack of marbles that was sitting under my liver removed I've had to change very little.
Things that were on my food no-no list before the surgery have pretty much stayed on the stay away list. Duck is the main offender. Duck breast is okay, but roast duck has me sitting on the loo for most of the night after eating it. Coconut cream and milk are another thing I can't look in the eye. Coconut on lamingtons, shaved coconut is fine, but high in saturated fat cream and milk and yoghurt, need to stay in the supermarket aisles.
Oh, and red wine and I don't get on. I'm not sure if that's a gall bladder thing or something in the wine.
Anyway, after the last few visits to Darwin, I've found something else that's now on the don't eat list.
Fried Flat Rice Noodles. Char Kway Teow. Ha Fan. You name it, if it's got flat rice noodles and is flash fried in a wok with some bits and pieces, I'll be sitting on the loo in about two hours.
I'm bummed. It's so unfair. Wok tossed flat rice noodles are one of my favourite things.
On Wednesday, out at the depot, we ordered in lunch. This is what I ordered as flat rice noodles are gluten and dairy free. On tasting said noodles, something was a bit off. After having a reaction the last time I was in Darwin, where I spent and evening doing an imitation of the Exorcist from both ends, but I thought it was gastro. On Wednesday, lunch was bought from a dodgy Chinese place in a Northern suburb. This time, I started the noodles, but after a few bites thought it tasted a bit funny. The oil might have been off. I ate the chicken and tossed the rest.
By 3 pm I was running to the loo every half hour on the half hour. Thankfully I felt okay - my body was just rejecting something it didn't like. A bit of Imodium and all was well.
(My colleague had the same thing as me but ate the lot. I've since found out that they spent Wednesday night with fluid coming out both ends).
Today, I met up with a friend and we went for lunch at a lovely Thai place in Fannie Bay. The food is exceptional. I've eaten there on numerous occasions.
I had the chicken and flat rice noodles with basil and chilli.
It was marvellous. Tasty. Fresh. Maybe a little too much chilli. It was great.
And I was sitting on the loo at 3 pm with it coming out of me. Again, once it was out, all was well, and I feel fine.
But I'm bummed. They really were one of my favourite things to eat as a treat meal.
Endeavouring to keep a semblance of a life while in Darwin, I look for things to do when I'm not working. There's the Deckchair Cinema, which only runs in the dry - but Pulp Fiction is playing on Sunday Night - I haven't seen that on the big screen since it came out in the mid-nineties.
Of course, I like to go to aqua aerobics with the oldies on a Sunday morning. That's good fun - and exercise, and I treat myself to breakfast at a favourite cafe afterwards.
And there's the gentle socialising with colleagues that has to happen, whether it be with a traveler drink in the hotel pool or going out for dinner.
Yet I've been wondering if there are other activities, where you can meet people who you don't work with in a town you don't life in.
Speaking to a colleague at the depot today, I may have found one of these types of things.
A Silent Book Club.
A silent book club?
Eh?
From what my colleague tells me, you pay your $10, then turn up at an upmarket pizza bar, which is conveniently a stone's throw away from our hotel. Then you sit in personable company for an hour and read in peace. The rules are no talking and phones on silent. You go there to read your book for an hour. There is time for talking after. Oh, and part of the $10 ticket price is a glass of wine, beer or soft drink.
I think this sounds like a great thing to do. My colleague will be going, so we can catch up there, especially as they're now working from home most of the time. And I'll just have to work out what to take with me, whether it be Kate Mildenhall's The Hummingbird Effect, or the Anne LaMott's book on writing, Bird by Bird (which is on the Kindle) or something else.
Even better when you only need to go down four floors.
I've taken to going for a swim 8.30 at night, after I've had time for dinner, and a walk, if it's not too hot.
The other good thing about swimming in the evening - no kids. Or people.
And with the nearly full moon poking out from between the buildings, and some live music filtering Aussie classics as I did my lazy breast stroke up and down the empty pool, I think I've found my personal versions of bliss.
A colleague joined me after I'd nearly finished my required 20 laps.
We left when we were kicked out by one of the staff, being flanked by security.
I did it. I managed to finish this month's book group book with about three minutes to spare. Part of me wishes I had timed things better so I could have savoured the book. After a good book group, I went for a swim, meeting up with my one up for a daily debrief. The pool is good after 8 pm. No kids.
So, what have I been thinking about today?
1. Next month I must start the book group book earlier.
2. Living next door to work is really cool - there is something great about going next door and making yourself lunch.
3. Darwin sunsets are cool.
4. George Negus died. I still wanted to call him George Fungus, but I can't for the life of me remember who tagged this. Was it Paul Hogan? I do remember him on Sixty Minutes, when it had some journalistic virtues - I'm Ray Martin. I'm Ian Leslie. And I'm George Negus. It's still in the brain along with the Wide World of Sport theme. And I wonder why I find Channel Nine strangely soothing (even if I only watch them to see what the bogans are thinking.)
5. I need to be in the foyer at 8 am to meet one of the BAs so I can head out to the depot.
6. I need to get to Coles to get a jar of peppers. Roasted peppers, the one you get from the aisle with the olives and sun-dried tomatoes, are great on top of rice cakes spread with hummus. I bought the rice cakes and hummus yesterday. The peppers didn't make my shopping list. Oops.
7. Night swimming with goggles that have tinted lenses is fraught with dangers. I bumped into a few walls - it probably doesn't help that the pool is round.
8. The antibiotics I'm taking for this irritating cellulitis are giving me a bad taste in my mouth. I'm inhaling sugar-free mints to counteract this.
9. We have to Uber out to the depot tomorrow. I'm wondering how I'm going to find lunch.
10. Oh and it's housekeeping day here tomorrow. Does this mean I have to make my bed and run the dishwasher and put my vibrator away or out of sight? What is the etiquette here?
