Three years after starting this, and at a reasonable level, after daily lessons, every day for over 1350 days, I've finished Duolingo!
There are no more lessons.
But what do I do now?
Daily practice? Duolingo lets me do that.
But how am I going to get my 15 minutes of daily French in? I'm not sure daily revision is going to cut it.
I could read French - maybe read aloud a page of Le Petit Prince - I have that in French. Bought that at Shakespeare and Co on the banks of the Seine.
Or I could as AI what to do. Get it to design me a course.
Or I could win lotto and move to a pokey apartment in Paris and take on the Paris Guide's course (but you have to deliver your viva in French.... argh.... nice dream.)
I just know that I want to keep going. I like being able to operate in another language.
Sequels are hard. With very few exceptions, and I'm thinking of the second Lord of the Rings movies, one or two of the Harry Potter films (Azkaban is a favourite) and some of the Marvel films, most sequels fall a bit flat.
Unfortunately, The Devil Wears Prada 2 falls into this second category. It is watchable. It is fun. The fashion is great. The script and acting aren't too bad, but it lacks the charm of the first film.
There, I said it.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 isn't a stinker. It's just that it's a cerulean covered (IYKYK) film with a lot of product placement and some people you'd like to dong on the head every now and then.
The plot, according to IMDB.com, reads "Andy Sachs reunites with Miranda Priestly as they navigate their careers amid the decline of traditional magazine publishing."
Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) has grown up quite a bit in the 20 years from when she chucked a hissy fit and then her phone into the Seine at the end of the last film. She is, and always has been, the grown up. Miranda Priestly (Meryl Street) is as acidic as ever. Nigel (Stanley Tucci) is busy keeping everything together behind the scenes at Runway. And Emily (Emily Blunt) has hooked up with a millionaire and is working at Dior.
The more I look back at this, the lazier this film comes across. It's like they've moved the plot into 2026 and hoping the things that made things work back then will work again - from the fashion, the token Australian boyfriend (Patrick Bramhall), to introducing Miranda's husband Stuart (Kenneth Branagh) who has next to nothing to do, to the reasonably competent assistant to Miranda (Simone Ashley).
Lazy, lazy, lazy.
On the good side of things, it's very pretty to look at and there are some fantastic one liners in the scrip - but really, I was a bit bored. What was fun and charming 20 years ago has not aged that well.
However, we went to a later session on the Friday night - the large theater was almost full or mainly flamboyant men. it was great to see.
This isn't the greatest sequel in the world, nor is it the worst. It makes great Friday night movie fodder where you don't have to think too much. If you're a fan of the original, you'll spot the Easter eggs. Otherwise, maybe wait for it to come onto a streaming service in a few months.
I had a couple of drinks - probably one a week. A friend of mine has a distillery and they do these amazing pre-made cans of raspberry vodka and lemonade. I love them. I'll have one when I want to have dessert, but can't be bothered. This is the next best thing.
2. Eat sushi?
Of course. I have sushi once a week. Something I found out recently is that Australian have sushi in concession stands and you can buy a hand roll or two - fresh, easy on the run food. It's always made on the day and chilled. The soy sauce, wasabi and ginger comes in little packets. It's so easy and awesome - and I can't believe other countries don't do this.
3. Go shopping with friends?
No, I tend to shop by myself for food and buy clothes online. I don't need for anything. I'm lucky.
4. Eat an entire box of cookies by yourself?
No, didn't do this either. I'm trying to keep the sweets down - they're not good for me, even though my blood sugars are really good, according to my doctor.
5. Dye your hair?
This I did. I have a standing six-week appointment with my hairdresser to rid me of the greys around my temples. Once every three months, I'll have a touch up on the colour on the rest of my hair. Vain, yes. Makes me happy and feel a bit more confident. Yes. It's worth it.
It's been a while since I've posted some monthly goals, but I want to keep myself on track. Changes of circumstance means that things change and it's time to commit to a few new things and keep myself accountable.
They will be SMART goals - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timely.
Oh boy, I've been working in corporate for far two long.
Anyway, here's what I want to get done this month.
1) Read at least six books.
The last few months I've read eight books, either on paper, through audio or on the kindle. I've set the bar a bit lower, but would like to get eight books read. I love my reading.
2) Finish three craft projects
This sounds worse than it is, but it's very doable. I have three projects on the go. A large scarf/wrap which I've been knitting for years, a jumper that I inherited and a beanie. I have committed to making Blarney a blanket for Christmas - this is a huge project, but I need to clear the decks first. Thankfully, the wrap only has half a ball of wool to go, I've just got to finish the neckline and plug a few holes in the jumper and I can knit up a beanie on a wet weekend. The must be finished before I start the blanket. there has been far too much sitting on the back of my couch, which is where all my craft projects reside.
3) Close the Activity Ring on my watch daily
In other words, get 60 minutes of exercise in a day. I feel better for it. It's not hard. After my last job where I was not moving anywhere nearly enough. It's time to get cardio fit again.
4) Stretch, bridge, flex
A preventative measure - and a cost saving. The physio is expensive. If I keep up the rehab stretches, with a few more thrown in for good measure, with any luck I won't have to go back to see Brett. I like Brett, but I'd rather not have to see him on a regular basis. Stretching, flexing and rehabbing helps keep the physio at bay.
5) Write 3000 words of the novel
Decent words. Proper words. Words that sing. Time to get back to this.
6). Take my lunch to work two days out of three.
I'm now doing three days in the office a week. Do I love this? No. it gets expensive. Besides, the options at one location are pretty dire (Docklands). Besides, taking your lunch in gives you more control. I've been at the new job two weeks now. I'm settled enough to not have to run out at lunchtime.
7) Start a vision board
I've never had one. It's woo woo. If you can't see it, you can't be it.
This one snuck up on me. It's also a recurring dream, or at least I've had some variation of this dream over the years.
This morning, when I woke, I wasn't aware that I was dreaming, but it's been haunting me over the day. On a day of what I call Ra-Ra meetings (these rally the troops meetings that large corporations are inclined to have with monotonous regularity) you get some time to think.
When I have these dreams, I'm always high up and outside. When I have these dreams, I have to stand on top of the tallest building, generally without any support or guard rails. I found myself standing on top of the tallest building in Dubai. I’ve been outside of Sydney Hotel where I’ve had to walk around a window ledge on about the 70th floor.
Last night’s dream had me asked toclimb up a thin ladder to the very top of a building. Once again it was a skyscraper. Once again, I was thinking about doing this, not that I wanted to.
Today I found myself sitting in these meetings that I really don’t know why I’m there, thinking about the feeling of having to climb up a ladder on top of a skyscraper, then realising that this is recurring
Generally,I am not scared of heights, they’re not my most favourite things either. Keep me on land or put me in water, and I do like perches, but maybe not that high. High enough that you can feel the building move in the breeze, Which you can feel in very tall skyskrapers. If you haven’t felt it, go visit the Eureka Tower.
As I've got not chance in hell of finishing another book by the end of April, I may as well get my list of books out for the month.
Once again, I've read eight books over the month. Some great, some good, some not so good, but mostly, they've been enjoyable.,
So, here we go.
1) Theo of Golden by Allen Levi - Audio - 4.5 Stars
This is a glorious book with a hell of a lot of heart, not out of the realm of the Fredrik Backman or Virginia Evans' The Correspondent.
Set in the American South in a university town, Theo, a mysterious old man comes to live in the town. A local artist displays portraits in a local coffee shop. Theo buys these paintings and donates them to the sitter. The people gifted with their portraits come from across society. Rich, poor, mad, sane, happy, sad, Theo gets to hear their stories and ultimately befriending the town and changing lives.
My description does not do this justice. This book is a big warm hug - like The Correspondent. The characters are well drawn, Theo's story, which we hear in fragments, is memorable.
I loved this.
2) A Great Act of Love by Heather Rose - Paperback - 4.5
Van Diemen's Land, 1839. Widow Caroline Douglas arrives in Hobart, with her ward a young boy called Quinn. Caroline leases an old cottage from Mr. Swanston and it has an abandoned vineyard, but how did she end up in the colony full of convicts and including one’s who have earned their ticket of leave.
Caroline has secrets, and the narrative takes you back to divulge all the things that happened to her prior to arriving in Van Diemen’s Land or as we know it Tasmania.
Heather Rose is a Tasmanian national treasure. This book, historical fiction, looks at an enigmatic woman doing her best in the early days of the colony and a devastating family history that circumstance and good fortune help to bring that family back together.
Rose's prose is effortless. She's awesome. Hunt her out.
3) When the Red Leaves Fall by Alli Parker - Paper - 3 Stars
This was our April book group book. What looked like an interesting premise turned out to be a bit of a flop.
Emmy Darling has a secret. She has a few. Her lemon meringue pie is a recipe from a women's magazine, she's always wanted to be a playwright, and the best parts of her husband Sebastian's plays are the scenes she's written during edits. But when charismatic theatre impresario and leading lady, Virginia van Belle, insists Emmy write about her wartime experiences as the lead play in her 1957 season, Emmy is faced with every writer's dilemma.
Because Emmy's biggest secret is that her name is actually Emiko Tanaka. She and her Japanese-Australian family were arrested, brutally split up and held in internment camps by the Australian government after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. And it's this secret that Virginia wants to bring to the masses.
This could have been a lot better if it concentrated on the Japanese/Australian experience rather than Emmy's writing career. I found the whole novel incredible ham fisted. Never to mind, you can't win them all.
4) State of Wonder by Ann Patchett - Audio - 4 Stars
I know of the anecdotal story around this book - Elizabeth Gilbert had the idea for this book, the characters, the premise, the location - she worked on it for years - then gave it up. Ann Patchett came up with exactly the same book - and according to Gilbert, wrote a far better novel.
This story of a researcher going down the Amazon in search of answers around the death of a colleague is great. Patchett does a fantastic job of creating the look and feel of the jungle, the river and the predators, wild and human. The audio book had Hope Davis reading this gem of a book. It's worth a look.
5) A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne - Audio - 5 Stars
I'm a new convert to John Boyne. I've heard there's been some controversies around the author, which I'm tuning out. Boyne wrote The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. This book has a small historical element to it.
Maurice Swift is an aspiring novelist struggling to come up with the story that will make his name, and he doesn't care where that story comes from. Even if he has to beg, borrow, steal or worse, he will make it to the top. Whatever the cost...
Maurice is evil. He's amazing. Even better, the audiobook really brought this to life. I loved this - and I'm keen to check out more of Boyne's work.
6) Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth - Paper - 3.5 Stars
Local author, Sally Hepworth, brings on this tight thriller based on three women who met when they were in foster care. Their batty, vicious foster mother has left them all traumatised. Years later, when a body is found under the house where they used to live, the girls are forced to go back to Port Agatha and face their demons.
As thrillers go, this is very readable, tightly plotted and has so many spins and turns. However, this isn't really my genre and I found some of the writing lacking. As a standalone quick read, it's great. It's getting passed to my mother this weekend. Recommended easy reading.
7) The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood - Audio - 4 stars
This isn't my favourite Atwood, but she's still brilliant. Her mind thrills me. This dystopian novel set in the near future gives an alternative America - and it's very good.
"Stan and Charmaine are a married couple trying to stay afloat in the midst of an economic and social collapse. Job loss has forced them to live in their car, leaving them vulnerable to roving gangs. They desperately need to turn their situation around—and fast. The Positron Project in the town of Consilience seems to be the answer to their prayers. No one is unemployed and everyone gets a comfortable, clean house to live in . . . for six months out of the year. On alternating months, residents of Consilience must leave their homes and function as inmates in the Positron prison system. Once their month of service in the prison is completed, they can return to their "civilian" homes.
At first, this doesn't seem like too much of a sacrifice to make in order to have a roof over one's head and food to eat. But when Charmaine becomes romantically involved with the man who lives in their house during the months when she and Stan are in the prison, a series of troubling events unfolds, putting Stan's life in danger. With each passing day, Positron looks less like a prayer answered and more like a chilling prophecy fulfilled."
Atwood is always fun and thought provoking. Though not her best novel, it's very thought-provoking and entertaining.
8) The Stranger by Albert Camus - Kindle - 4.5 Stars
Oh my! This small novel - all of 120 pages - was read before seeing the new Francois Odon film in the cinema. I read it in English, but there is a part of me that wants to read it in the original French. Because I'm like that.
There is a reason why this is a classic.
First published in 1946, this is the story of an ordinary man unwittingly drawn into a senseless murder on an Algerian beach, Camus explored what he termed the nakedness of man faced with the absurd.
Absurd? Nihilistic? A document showing the internal workings of an autistic person who successfully navigates society for the most part.
You can read it in one sitting. Just like his other short novel about a pandemic, also set in Algiers, Camus is incredible. I'll be thinking about this - and the film - for a long time to come.
Okay, this is another case of being so glad I read the book before seeing the film. The classic novel by Albert Camus is incredible - as is this film. One of my writer friends, Fee suggested we go. We're friends from both of my French trips and I'm never one to say no to a French film. Fee studied the novel extensively at university - I read the book over the last two days. It's incredible.
What Francois Odon in this marvelous piece of cinema is a take on the classic novel, keeping all of the plot points and adding a heap more. It's superb.
For those not familiar with the book, we follow the life of Meursault (Benjamin Voisin). To paraphrase the first words of the book, his mother died, either today or yesterday. He can't be sure.
You soon learn a couple of things about Meursault. He lives in Algiers, working a boring office job. He's very contained. He's a man of few words. And he sees the world as it is. Some would see him as an absurdist, some nihilistic.
On arriving back from his mother's funeral, he meets up with his soon to be girlfriend, Maria (Rebecca Harder) and hangs around with his friend, Raymond (Pierre Lottin) and somehow gets involved with his life. After Raymond is threatened by a group of Arabs after assaulting on of their sisters, Raymond ultimately shoots one of them. Meursault is put on trial, through which he displays his usual indifference. The film ends as he waits to see his fate.
Cheerful stuff.
This is an absolutely gorgeous film. It's in black and white and this lends itself to the story, its themes and the oppressive nature of life in Algeria in the 30s. The black and white also amplifies the oppressive nature of life in Algeria in the 1930s.
Benjamin Voisin is an absolute joy to watch. Odon's lens tends to the homo-erotic - which is not a bad thing. He is a beautiful man. The only time he shows anything that resembles emotion is in the final scene in the prison with the priest. It is almost word for word from the book.
Fee and I left the cinema content. Both of us, with knowledge of the book said the following.
Meursault is on the autism spectrum (they didn't have words for this back then)
Yes, the film felt homo-erotic at times.
The black and white format was perfect for the film
And it doesn't matter if Meursault or not - we're all going to die in the end anyway.
This comes recommended, especially if you like art house films. I also recommend reading the book, all 120 pages of it, as it is a masterpiece. You don't have to do this, but it certainly helps in your understanding of this understated, fabulous, somewhat difficult film.
"I have something for you," I was told at masons on Sunday. This could be anything but sitting on a bench were two bags. "It's Marion's knitting."
Ah.
As I said, it's like the timing has been having a laugh. Marion passed away a year ago on Thursday.
There is a story to this knitting. Marion was a kindly soul. On her property was a granny flat, in which a woman named Kate lived with her partner. As Marion was declining, Kate was incredibly generous with her time and energy looking after Marion, taking care of her dog when she was in hospital and providing assistance in many ways. She's been Marion's tenant for a number of years. We, who knew Marion, were grateful in the knowledge that there was somebody keeping an eye on her. Kate also adopted Marion's dog when she passed - a most beautiful thing.
Anyway, soon after she died, one of the masons said that there was a knitting project Marion was working on for Kate. It was nearly finished. Would anybody know somebody who might be able to finish this off.
I put up my hand. I'm a gun knitter. Okay, maybe not fair isle and colour workings, but I'm great with straight forward patterns, easy cables. I'm a neat, tidy knitter, able to do some more intermediate stuff. I remember my mother asking me to finish off a top she'd made - needed some sleeves sunk. I said I'd do it - she passed it over with the directions to not bugger it up. Two hours later, the top was returned, finished, ends sewn in and to my mother's exacting standards. (Note, Mum was having trouble with this manouevre, I think it was a matter of tools - nothing that a circular needled couldn't sort. )
Regardless, I looked in the bags.
They smelled strongly of unwashed dog.
In one, there were a couple of complete balls of acrylic yarn. Knitter's rule number one - never refuse any yarn. You'll find something to do with it.
In the second bag, the jumper, some extra wool, the pattern and a number of miscellaneous knitting needles.
To my slight surprise, the jumper was a beautifully rendered cobalt blue cable knit in a fluffy 5 ply. A complicated cable knit - something I'd need time and patience to do. The garment was all sewn up, ready to go, with the neckline half off double-sided needles.
Marion had had cataracts - her work is lovely. How she did this with failing eyesight, I will never know.
So, I am now the custodian of this unfinished jumper.
I've had a look at what's to be done. I've managed to tack up the neckline, removing the double-sided needles (never liked using them) picking up the dropped stitches and put the neckline onto a similar sized circular needle. From here, I'll finish the last few rows of the neckline and do any finishing required.
A good spray of Febreeze has sorted out the dog smell, which I'm sure has come from it staying with Marion's executor, who lives in the countryside with a rather boisterous Border Collie named Max.
Anyway, I feel quite honoured to be finishing this jumper. It won't take long. As Marion's house is being sold next month and Kate will be looking for a new home, this small action of completing this garment feels right.
I hope Marion thinks that I've completed it to her standards. It really is a lovely jumper. I'm in awe of the work she's done. In all, this is a very masonic task which has to be done. Alpha and Omega, Order Ab Chao and all that. Despite the fact it's taken a year to get me this knitting, it will be sent to it's rightful place, finished, in order, and smelling a lot better than when I received it.
I went with no pre-conceived ideas about what this would be like - and I'm glad I went in like this. Like many Gen-Xers I have a variable view on Michael Jackson. Genius? Weirdo? Trouble soul? Philanthropist? Abuse victim? Drug addict? All of the above, maybe.
However, I also remember loving the Jackson 5 cartoon as a kid, and the Jacksons' music permeated my younger childhood. I was never a Michael Jackson superfan, but I did enjoy his music. He was an incredible musician, and nobody can take that away from him
This movie is what I would call sanitised. It's obviously been made with the blessings of the family. Janet Jackson has been written out of this. His mother Kathleen, who is still alive, was treated sensitively. But I'm sure this was a cleaned-up version of his life from when he was a young child until his split with the Jackson family juggernaut in the mid-eighties.
I remember most of this history - I was there. Still, this is a very entertaining movie as long as you realise that this is the family's version of the history they want you to see. And this is okay. Look at is it like a story and go for the music - which is fabulous.
This movies takes us from the origins of the Jackson 5 in Gary, Indiana. The five boys (Germaine, Tito, Marlon, Jackie and Michael) are under the thumb of their perfectionist and abusive father, Joseph, played with chilling insight by Colman Domingo. I would not be surprised if there were some awards for his performance - he's outstanding. Joseph Jackson was borderline evil.
Michael is portrayed by two actors - Juliano Valdi plays Michael the boy with an incredible voice and dance moves. Jaafar Jackson, Germaine's son, plays older Michael - and his look is eerily similar to the Michael Jackson we all know at the time.
In the film, written by John Logan and directed by Antoine Fuqua, is cohesive. It does gloss over a lot of what would have happened at this time, a lot of which is not easy. A violent and abusive father. The racism of the age. The reliance on Michael's talent is all there.
You're also introduced to Michael's love of childhood games, books and toys and his desire to own exotic animals. Bubbles, thankfully is AI generated. Knowing this monkey wasn't real helped matters.
Redeeming the movie is the music, which is on brand, sounds brilliant and is just as I remembered it back in the 80s. All of the song and dance numbers incorporated into the film are wonderful. Jaafar Jackson's performance as the older Michael is superlative.
Also, the film stops short of going into all of the not-so-great things we remember about Michael - the marriage, the kids, the drug use (although the film introduces why he was on painkillers after the hair burning accident). This is not a bad thing.
In all, if you go to see this for the music, you'll be happy you've seen this. Go for a great cinematic experience and you'll probably be disappointed. The music, for me, was everything.
I'm procrastinating about going to the gym - so let's get the questions for the week out of the way - then I'll go. At least I'm in my gym gear and ready to go - and they questions are quick.
So here we go. Questions have come from Sunday Stealing - as always.
1) Has anyone ever told you they would love you forever?
No. Never. Not even close to anything like that.
2) Who is the last person you were in the car with?
Jay. We went to the movies last night and I picked her up on the way there.
3) Do you have big plans for tomorrow (Monday)?
I'm writing this on Saturday, so things are a bit skewy. Tomorrow is Sunday - I plan to get up, go to the gym, maybe get some breakfast, then I've got a mason's meeting in the afternoon - after which, I'll probably go and see Blarney for a cup of tea. Monday I'll be working from home then going to the gym in the evening.
4) How long do you typically spend in the shower?
It depends. My morning shower takes around five minutes; my evening shower is two or three minutes (I like to rinse off the day). Of course, the morning shower goes up to about ten minutes if I'm washing my hair.
5) What were you doing at 7 AM yesterday (Saturday)?
Both yesterday (Friday) and today (Saturday) I was home in bed, contemplating getting up and feeding the cat.
We came out of this tonight and Jay says, "That was weird," while scrunching up her nose. That's Jay for she didn't rate it.
"I loved it. Have you not seen any Jim Jarmusch before?" I asked.
"I don't think so."
"Well, there you go then."
I really liked this film. I also like Jim Jarmusch's films. And yes, they are strange, but it is their strangeness, and sadness and relatability which I love.
Is this as good as his wonderful Night on Earth? No, but I love the subtlety and the twists with this film of three parts. Jarmusch is good at setting his movies across countries, using similar props and themes. Father Mother Sister Brother is no different.
Imdb.com describes the plots of the three vignettes as such: "Estranged siblings reunite after years apart, forced to confront unresolved tensions and reevaluate their strained relationships with their emotionally distant parents".
In the Father section, Jeff (Adam Driver) and Emily (Mayim Bialik) visit their ailing father (Tom Waits) in his rural New Jersey home. None of them want the visit to happen. It's been a while and from the visit, they can see that their father is not doing that well. The twist at the end of this is a chef's kiss.
In the Mother section, located in a nice part of Dublin, Charlotte Rampling waits for her daughters Timothea (Cate Blanchett) and Lilith (Vicky Krieps) to arrive for their annual high tea. They love each other - sure, but it's what's not said that speaks volumes.
In the third section - Sister Brother - set in Paris, twins Skye (Indya Moore) and William (Luka Sabbat) reunite to say goodbye to their parents' flat after their untimely deaths. Of the three stories, the twins' relationship feels the most functional.
Written and directed by Jim Jarmusch, it's just his style. The stripped back script, the quirky humour, the repeated themes - skateboarders, a Rolex, a blue car, water - it's the little things that make this film.
If you're not into arthouse cinema, you're not going to love this. For me - it was just what I wanted and needed. Subtle, fun, surprising and a script that keeps you guessing. Just my cup of tea.
Eh, another eighties rocker has crossed over to the land of decent musos where he can jam with his old bandmate James Freud, among others. He was well loved this side of the metaphorical guitar bridge. Broadcaster, musician and all-round decent bloke, he went out on his own terms. After a battle with cancer, he took the decision to use the Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) facility that's available in all states (but not in the ACT or the Northern Territory - however these laws are being reviewed.)
It's always sad when somebody from your youth passes. However, I was buoyed by the method of his passing.
He chose to go.
He'd had enough of the pain, and wanted it to end for himself, and his family. He was of sound mind, even if his body had given up the ghost. He also wanted the world to know that he chose the way he went. Surrounded by family, in his home, on his own terms, in a calm and peaceful manner.
Of course, it's not a good news story in that somebody who's been a part of the Australian landscape has left us a little too early, however learning of his courage in choosing the way of his exit is going to be a part of this legacy.
We are lucky - in certain circumstances, when you a sick, dying and suffering, you may have the choice to use this facility, it is there.
Nobody likes death. It's a hard, looming fact of life.
It is, however, good to see these stories of VAD and the grace and dignity that making the decision to use this option provides for all concerned.
Wandering into the building, all neutral colours, blonde wood, escalators and denial, I wondered what I was getting myself into.
I've been here before. I know the drill. I can swim with these sharks and come out unscathed.
My first impression was that I'm going to have to up my corporate wardrobe - I'm still wearing Darwin business casual, and it's not going to cut it here. If anything, I'm going to have to find some different, comfortable work shoes - my trusty white trainers aren't going to cut it in the main office - maybe the satellite offices, but not this one.
The second impression is that the man on the concierge desk was known to me.
"You came back! Good to see you again."
"Lovely to see you too -though I've forgotten your name."
"I've forgotten yours too - but we know each other and that is all that matters."
He's been with the company about as long as I've been going in and out of it.
As onboardings go, this has been a good one. by 11 am I had a configured computer, a working door pass and ID and a functioning email (not that I can email out of the company - joys of being a contractor.)
And I got started on the compliance training.
I'm not sure what I did in a former life. Most of it is boring (although it has improved tenfold over the years). But still. It's been a day of compliance training. Tomorrow will be a day of compliance training.
It's new job day tomorrow. I hope the new team are as lovely as my last team - who I'm going to miss.
The list of things I wanted to do is nearly complete. The Lost Dogs Home visit nearly killed me - when all I did was drop off some blankets and towels.
I've had a lovely day today. I found the couch, had lunch with a friend and had book group this evening.
Now, I'm going to do my physio exercises and get ready for tomorrow.
That will do.
Here's hoping all goes well. At least it's a company I've been at before and know the lay of the land.
Drive out to the Lost Dogs Home and drop off the unused towels and blankets.
Go home.
Knit and watch Netflix
Not hard. It's not too much to ask.
The physio went well - intermittent knee pain - nothing serious, but we have some exercises to do a couple of times a day. Thankfully nothing is broken.
After this, my organising head come on. Did I take my meds? No. Does it matter? No. But I do get led astray a bit more. I get it into my head to go and get a coffee, so I have something to drink on the way to the Lost Dogs Home. How hard can it be? Go to my favourite coffee shop, get a coffee, get driving.
Did that happen? No.
Did I run into an old friend, Trish, who I keep saying to Jay, we really should catch up with Trish and then do nothing about it.
Trish and her gym buddies have a coffee at the same place at the same time every Monday, not that they go to the gym anymore. Also, Trish, technically, is old enough to be my Mum. Only just. As are most of her friends. They are very nice people. They remind me of the masons.
However, don't get me started on gender politics. That's a bad move. Especially when you start a sentence with, "When we were growing up..."
Give me my dues. I didn't roll my eyes. I tried to be gentle. When the other party was stating some narrow views on personal pronouns, I gently reminded them how would they feel if they were addressed as Mr on their post? Or how I get shitty when I'm referred to as Mrs or Miss, instead of my default Ms (personally, I think we should be done with courtesy titles - especially as there is no courtesy in this world. Besides, who needs to know if I'm married or not? Seriously.) Or when people assume that I've got another nick name - It's Pandora or Panda - nothing else. The courtesy title discussion is a good jumping off point.
And besides, who is it hurting if the person wants to use alternative pronouns. It's a matter of respect...
I think my mate Trish's friends think I'm a bit odd and lippy.
Never to mind.
An hour later, I made my excuses, found some lunch and then drove out to the Lost Dogs Home in North Melbourne, which is one of the most heartbreaking places I've sensed. Dropping off the towels and blankets to a cacophony of barking. I just wanted to take all of them home. I didn't see them, but I could feel the beasties. I hope they find a home soon. At least now, they have some warm dry bedding to sleep on
I’ve got two days off before I start this new job, so it’s time to get down to some odd jobs. I like making a list. I also know that in making the list I won’t get through half of these things, but it’s nice to set the intentions.
Anyway, here is my list of things I would like to get done before I start my new job on Wednesday.
Find the couch
Everything gets put on my couch. It’s a bit like a tardis, you never know what you’re gonna find on there. I’m missing a pair of bone conducting headphones that I would really like to find again. And put a few things away. And maybe throw a few things away. Regardless, I need to go over the content of my couch, and what’s under it - hat’s just as much of a minefield as well.
2. The floors
I hoover the floors once a week. I’m up once a fortnight. I know it should be more. I will feel better if I do the floors. I hate doing the floors, still I have the time to do them.
3. A clothes cull
There is no room in my chest of drawers. Time to make some space. Even if I go through just one or two drawers, it will be an improvement.
4. Drop off towels and blankets at The Lost Dog’s Home
I’ve been meaning to do this for months, and now I have the time. I wish I could go in and get a cuddle with one of the puppies, but that’s probably not gonna happen. I would take home all the puppies. We know this so it’s probably best not to chance fate. Lucifer wouldn’t like a puppy.
5. Meet a friend for lunch on Tuesday
She’s down from Darwin, it will be fantastic to see her.
6. Go to the physio tomorrow
Intermittent knee pain needs to be investigated. I’m glad I’ve got the time to do it. I’m trying to be proactive with minor injuries at the moment. I’m sick of being injured.
So, along with everything else, I think that’s enough. I’m also getting back into knitting again and would like to finish my big scarf in the next month or so. I’ve always wanted a Doctor Who scarf. I’ll have one soon.
1) Are you the sort of person who can nap or sleep anywhere, any time?
No. I can't nap unless I'm horizontal, warm and quiet in a darkened room (or sick) and even then, I don't sleep well during the day or on planes.
However, by the end of my stint going up to Darwin on a monthly basis with very anti-social flight times and a lot of red-eyes, I was getting better at sleeping on the planes.
2) Have you ever walked in your sleep?
No.
3) Do you chat with your Uber/Lyft/taxi driver?
It depends on the driver. I've had some great chats with taxi and Uber drivers - then again, I also know when to shut up and keep my own company. It's very much dependent on the driver and the mood at the time.
4) Do you remember what you did on Valentine's Day?
No. Well, nothing. I went to see Wuthering Heights the night before and I did the Sunday Stealing questions on the day. It's a Hallmark holiday.
5) How many laptops have you owned over your lifetime?
Far too many. I was an early adopter and I tend to replay my personal laptop every couple of years. Saying that, I bought an iPad this afternoon. I've not had an operational one of those for a while.
6) How many countries have you visited?
Okay, let me think about this:
New Zealand (I was there last weekend)
Indonesia (Bali)
Thailand
Malaysia
Singapore
India
Greece
Italy
Spain
The Netherlands
France
The United Kingdom (England / Scotland and Wales, but not Northern Ireland)
Ireland
The United States
Hong Kong
Vatican City (it is technically a country)
Germany (but only for a few hours on a train.)
You can also add Finland as I had a few hours of stopover there a few years ago.
7) Did you/will you go to work today?
No, because it's 1) a Saturday and 2) I'm between jobs. I finished up my last job on Friday as I'm starting a new one on Wednesday. I'm looking forward to a few days off.
The Theatre: The Princess Theatre, Spring Street, Melbourne.
Booking until 19 July
Stars: 4
I always qualify my reviews of musicals with the words, "I'm not into musicals, but...".
I'm not into musicals, but The Book of Mormon is just how I like my musicals - high energy, irreverent, great fun and about 15 shades of wrong, which makes it so good.
After seeing this around 10 years ago, I knew I could see this and be amazed by it all again, because it's not only the fine details which assist with the appreciation of this show, but it's the shock value that makes it so funny.
It's a simple story. Elder Price (Sean Johnston) is just out of Mormon school ready to go on is mission. He's hoping to be sent to Florida. Elder Price is a good Mormon. Elder Cunningham (Nick Cox) is everything Elder Cunningham is not - a bit of a dud Mormon, who hasn't done the work. He's also prone to the odd fib.
The two are sent off on their mission to deepest darkest Uganda, where The General (His other name is not suitable for work) is terrorising the villagers.
The young men must proselytise and try to bring new members to the faith. Cunningham, somehow brings them around through some unconventional needs.
I won't say much more about this so not to ruin it for first times.
The singing and dancing are fantastic. The songs are irreverent - I loved "Spooky Mormon Hell Dream" and "Turn It Off" in particular.
This is not for anybody who gets offended easily. There are some terribly off colour jokes in there and the crude humour isn't for everybody, but I really enjoyed this. I know I liked it more the last time I saw it as the shock value made the laughs louder. Still, this production is sound. And it still takes the absolute piss out of organised religion - but what more would you expect from the creators of South Park, who also created this wonder.
Tickets are selling through until 19 July. Keep your eyes out for ticket deals - there appears to be some decent cheap tickets on the market.
I'm glad I saw it again, although I won't enjoy singing "Hasa Diga Ebowai" for the next few weeks. If you know you know.
After a quiet penultimate day at work meant that the ironing got done and I've got some knitting done and I have finally got to watch The Other Bennet Sister.
As a lover of Pride and Prejudice, I've always been of the impression that Mary got a bit of a bad rap.
This series, based on Janice Hadlow's book of the same name, is awesome.
I relate to this Mary a little too well. Ella Bruccoleri, who play's Mary, is awesome.
Short episodes, encompassing another side to Jane Austen's seminal work.
Comes highly recommended.
And because of this, I left the blog until late.
But it was worth it.
The Other Bennet Sister can be seen on Binge (which is having a cheap month sale at the moment).
The last days of a job can be good, if you're lucky. Thankfully, my luck has come in. I'm at what's called the "Rats and Mice" stage of the job, finishing off the loose ends, doing some handovers, saying goodbye to the crew. I've really enjoyed this job. Great people, and I'm sad to be leaving them behind. But it's my last few days with the company, and this means I get to do things like get a lunch break and go out for coffee.
Which is what I did today.
For an hour.
Unheard of.
Regardless, I went out for coffee with an old colleague from way back when - back in the deepest darkest naughties when we worked in merchant banking. Back when the lunches went on for hours, the alcohol flowed and all of these behaviours. 25-years on it's been lovely to reconnect. It's funny how people don't change that much. We congratulated ourselves on doing well. We don't look our age. We're solvent. We're single, pretty much by choice (but also have you seen the dating pool out there - sheesh!)
It was lovely.
I'm not sure of the moral of this short blog, but it is nice to reconnect with people, just as it's good to get a bit of downtime.
Two more days of this contract, then four days off, starting a new job next Wednesday.
I'm not going to write about how cute my cat is being. He's being hideously sooky after his little holiday at Blarney's place. Making it even more fun, he's decided it's cold enough to sleep with me again. I woke up this morning with him cuddled up next to me and Manky Mouse (his aptly named favourite toy) on my pillow. Thanks, mate.
No, I'm going to provide a few of my observations about New Zealand. Not that I'm unaware of this place. I've been over "The Ditch", also known as the Tasman Sea, ten or twelve times - but mostly to the South Island. Geetangeli lives in Christchurch. I make a point of visiting. There's a difference between the North and South Islands
In saying this, New Zealand is not really a foreign country, even if it is classed as one thanks to the use of my passport. I mean, so much is familiar. The electricity sockets are the same. They drive on the same side of the road. The food is similar, if not the same, coming from, similar British roots. Yet, there are some differences that I saw, and rather liked from my short stay in Auckland.
1) People seem to be universally nice
Sure, people are nice all over the world, but as Canadians are known as the nicer cousins to Americans, New Zealand seems to have similar relationship. People appear to be universally welcoming. Maybe a little quieter, but welcoming. I'd heard some things about people from Auckland - akin to how people from Melbourne view people from Sydney. It didn't make a difference.
2) Walking through groups of people
Maybe it's a big city thing, but randos seem to walk right through groups of people. How rude? It was noticeable while walking down Queen Street.
3) Their National Anthem is much, much nicer than ours
Have a listen to this. It's sung in both Maori and English, and it doesn't contain the word 'girt'. It goes to show that a National Anthem can be both stirring and lovely.
The song of the day is the alternative national anthem.
4) The incorporation of the Maori language around the country
Another great thing New Zealand does better than Australia. We're about 50 years behind them. I really like the way signs and words are in both languages. It gives a sense of belonging for all.
And they've got some great words, like whanau (Friends and family), kia ora (g'day) and my favourite, whakeparu (toilet). It's great being a part of this.
5) The food and coffee punch above their weight
Kiwis like their food and coffee and it's lovely to be a part of the culture. Saying this, a lot of my eating was done in the refectory of a Freemason's hall where and excellent CWA (Country Women's Institute) spread was provided. Asparagus rolls! I'm happy.
They are everywhere. Wherever you go, there seemed to be a box of feijoas in a cardboard box in the lobby. They must be in season. I love the soda you used to be able to get.
8) Whittaker's Chocolate
Have some spare New Zealand dollars at the airport. Spend it on Whittaker's chocolate. My favourite is Jelly Tip - Geetangeli always brings me some over when she's about. it's addictive.
When I walked into Blarney's place she told me I could find him in Lance's room. He's normally stationed at the back of the house in the spare room. When I dropped him off, I left him in the spare room.
"What happened?" I had to ask.
Blarney smiled. "I went down to play with him and he got out. He doesn't know what outside is, but he ran into Lance's room, and he's been sitting in the cupboard ever since."
"He'd like that."
See, I know Lucifer hates staying with Blarney, but I know he's fed, watered, uses the litter box and plays a lot at night - for a few days, he'll cope. And he's got a cupboard to sit in - he feels safe. All is well.
Tonight, I collected him from the cupboard, put him in his carry cage, had a cup of tea with Blarney with him sitting next to me (in his box) on the couch, with Blarney's two cats, Rey Rey and Kylo sitting with her.
There was no hissing or spitting. Everybody was relaxed.
I took him home a bit later. He's great in the car.
We got home I let him out.
And he hasn't shut up since!
Lucifer is normally a quiet boy. Nope, he's chatting away like a dinner lady in a canteen. He can't leave his scratching post alone. He's being smoochy?
Here I was thinking I'd be getting the cold shoulder for a few days.
Rather than dwell on the fact that my plane might not get me home tonight, thanks to a looming cyclone I'm going to look back on the marvelous day that was had yesterday.
See, I really like New Zealand. It's familiar, but it's also different in a lot of ways. Auckland is a big city by the sea, but it has its own strange charm. The buildings are different. The people are different. The only thing that seems the same is the supermarkets and their set up. Being a port city, we arrived at the waterfront to find a very large cruise liner which holds up to 5000 people (Great way to get gastro or COVID as far as I'm concerned.) People are friendly, but they will also walk through you without a word if you're walking in a group.
The morning was spent with to others from our group. They are lovely. They're also a little older than me, but mobile, which is good. I refer to them as my maiden aunts. They would go into a shop. I'd sit outside. We had a good potter, had a lovely coffee, then I put them in an Uber and went off to see a friend at the Marina.
It was lovely catching up with ZeeZee. She's a writing friend who's been living with her partner on a boat over here. She's just awesome. I got to meet her partner and see the America's Cup and their boat and have a lovely catch up.
Another Uber ride later it was back to the hotel for a nana nap, then to get change and meet up with the rest of the crew to be taken to the meeting for which we came to New Zealand.
There are some interesting elements when you're a freemason. to being a freemason. We were talking about it, after the last night's meeting. Some of it is addictive. The fact that it gives you space to investigate humanity in a safe, nurturing environment is one of the drawcards for me.
Going into another lodge, you meet people, who you may have absolutely nothing in common with, but everybody will have some similar values. Seekers, searchers, those who want peace, harmony and fellowship and enjoy looking for the good in man. It's not a bad thing. What always gets me is how comfortable you become with these people so quickly. They are generous, kind, funny, knowledgeable and interesting. You never know where conversations will go. It's good.
We had a big meeting last night, where some ritual was performed. It appears the New Zealand lodges have more members than we have in Australia (mind you they don't have the tyranny of distance), so the room was busy. It was wonderful.
And then there was the proper supper, complete with asparagus rolls, decent vegetarian sandwiches and fruit plates. The feast could have fed an army.
We went back to the hotel around eleven, physically and spiritually replete.
Now, I'm preparing to check out of the hotel. We have another meeting today, before I take off for the airport and hopefully get the flight back. So far, the wind and the rain have not been too bad. It is very wet, but not unpleasantly so. So far, we've been lucky. May that luck hold.
Greetings from Auckland, where we're expecting a cyclone (hurricane) to hit in the next 12 hours. Oh what fun! I'm supposed to be going back to Australia tomorrow - but we will have to see whether the weather allows that to occur. It's a situation here that planes have to get in to get out. Fingers crossed, if not, I might be having an extra night here. Mind you, the people are lovely and the food is good. There are worse places to be stuck, and hopefully, it won't be too long. If the airline cancels you, they'have to get you back. I'm not that worried. As long as I get back safely.
Anyway, here are this week's questions, brought to you, as always, by Sunday Stealing.
1. Can you touch your nose with your tongue?
No. Did I try this out? No - I've done that in the past.
2. What foreign language did you study in school? How much of it do you still remember?
I studied French at school all the way through and into first year university. Since then, I've always tried to use it. I also have been on the Duolingo app for over three years, and I can proudly say, that though I'm not fluent, my French is very good. When in France, the French let me speak, gently correct my grammatical slips and encourage me to keep speaking French - which is nearly unheard of. Being humble and saying, "Pardonnez-moi, mon Francais est terrible. Je suis desole. Je suis Australienne," gets you a very long way. They don't mind Australians. The English and the Americans not so much. Getting along with the French is all about attitude.
3. What recipe did you most recently prepare? Where did you get the recipe and how did it turn out?
I had to take something sweet to a barbeque last weekend. It was a long weekend. The shops were closed. I looked through the pantry. Thank goodness for RecipeTinEats. Nagi is a goddess. I made her easy peanut butter cookies. A cup of peanut butter, a cup of brown sugar and an egg. Mixed the three together, roll up into balls and bake for 10 minutes. They went down a treat.
4. What song have you listened to over and over and over again?
As I'm in New Zealand, the song of the day is a Kiwi song that I have on regular rotation. I used to live about The Thompson Twins nanny in London in the 90's. I have lots of songs on regular rotation in my head.
5. Are there currently any pets in your household? Are you considering adding another?
I have a lovely black cat named Lucifer (who is staying with a friend while I'm away, much to his chagrin) who is a very solitary cat and very happy to be an only child. Given the opportunity, I would have ALL the cats. But Lucifer and I kick along well - although there will be hell to pay when I get home to Australia, whenever that may be.
6. As an adult, have you ever performed with a drama group? (Student productions don't count.)
Yes. I was part of a drama group when I lived in London. To this day, I am still an overgrown theatre kid and frustrated actor on the inside. It's good fun. Good for confidence.
Greetings from Auckland, New Zealand, where they are getting ready for a cyclone to hit in the next 24 hours. Fun, eh! They're explecting 6-month's worth of rain on Sunday morning
This is the weather map for Sunday at midday.
Yep. Fun.
While out at dinner tonight, I asked the fellow sitting opposite me what a Orange alert was. He just said it wasn't good.
"And a Red Weather Alert."
"Yeah, nah. Worse."
There's an Orange Alert out on Auckland from 9 pm on Saturday night.
My flight is booked to leave at 8.30 on Sunday evening. This might be a bit interesting. We will cross that bridge if and when it occurs. The airline has duty of are to get me home somehow.
I've just checked the Qantas website. The warning was issued about the cyclone while I was flying over. Hmmm.
Regardless, I will get home somehow. Hopefully the cyclone does what cyclones often do and divert.
And this is why we have travel insurance.
So, I'm in Auckland.
It's humid and overcast.
It has the feel of a larger city - lacking some of the charm of other centres in New Zealand. However, we've landed in an inner-city area with lots of older buildings and a bit more pizzaz than what I remembered from 23 years ago - when I was last here for a friend's wedding.
Tomorrow is the day for sightseeing, before a big mason's meeting tomorrow night.
Allegedly, on Sunday, there's another meeting at lunch time. Then I'm supposed to be off to the airport after that.
Okay, enough whinging about the weather.
I will now complain about airport prices.
$10 for an almond decaf latte (large).
Seriously.
Highway robbery.
Anyway, as I'm not making too much sense, I'm going to sign off. I've been up since 5 am Melbourne time and bed is beckoning.
Keep your fingers crossed I get back across the ditch in a timely manner and in one piece.
I have been told that I'm a bad mother. He looked me right in the eye with such disdain. I could see it. You hate me! How could you? As mothers go, you are the worst of all mothers, and nobody is worse than you.
Yes, I took my cat over to Blarney's tonight. Nobody spouts vitriol and bile like a black cat who has been forced into his travel box and then taken to his lease favourite cat sitter's place. Cat sitters who would love to love him, but he won't let them.
I got him in his room. I set out his stuff - litter tray, food and water, blanket, toys, they opened his cage. He hissed at me.
After going out for a chat with Blarney and Barney I went back in to see him again and say goodbye. This time, he was behind the bed head. He hissed at me again.
See - worst mother in the world.
I know this is only a short trip across the pond to Auckland, but I'm away for three full days, leaving early tomorrow morning, coming home late Sunday night. I'll happily leave him for two nights - but this feels a bit longer. (also my normal cat sitter is away). So, he's gone to Aunty Blarney's for a few days. I'll pick him up Monday night after going to the gym. I don't really care how unhappy he is for a few days - he's being fed, watered and his poop scooped - and he's being looked in on regularly (even if he hisses at his guardians). What more can he hope for? It's better than being left alone for three full days with no company.
Still, there is nothing worse than when your most near and dear call you bad names and let you know of their absolute hatred.
I'm sure he'll have forgotten it all when I bring him home in a few days.
I hear you. Yes. I'm getting on yet another plane on Friday morning, heading to New Zealand for the weekend.
The weekend, you cry!
Yes, I'm going to New Zealand for two days. I have a mason's meeting, in New Zealand. A delegation is going over. We get there Friday afternoon, there is a dinner on the Friday night, a free day on Saturday, a meeting on Saturday evening, another meeting Sunday lunchtime, then I trot off to the airport on Sunday evening to get back to Melbourne around 11 pm (if the cyclone which is threatening to bear down on the North Island doesn't cause too much havoc). Because I have to leave at stupid 'o'clock on Friday morning to catch the plane, and tomorrow night will be spent dropping off Lucifer at Blarney's place - which he will not like, but it's better than having him home alone for three days.
Documenting what I'm packing makes me feel a lot better about things. It's part of the process.
Come with me as I pack.
1) Mason's regalia
Being a freemason means you get to wear some funny stuff. Thankfully it's light and lies flat. I'll put the little instruction book in as well. We've been instructed not to take our swords and capes. The former doesn't give a good look in airport scanners, the latter is just asking for trouble as all superheroes will attest. Haven't you watched The Incredibles? NO CAPES!
Status: Packed.
2) Travel laptop and accouterments
I don't go anywhere without my little travel laptop, charging cables and a spare jack with USB ports - you never know what the hotel will have in the room. Thankfully, New Zealand uses the same plugs as we do.
Status: Packed
3) Mason's Garb
There is a 'uniform' of sorts that needs to be packed. Think hospo. Black trousers, white shirt, black cardigan, white gloves, black sensible shoes.
Status: Packed
4) Clothes for the weekend
I'll be wearing whatever it is I wear on the plane - with my basic white trainers. I've got some play clothes to run around Auckland in, a couple of changes of underwear, spare socks. I do no possess a rain jacket, but a brolly might go in my hand luggage - but fat lot of good that will be in a cyclone.
Status: Packed
5) Toiletries and Makeup
Thankfully my toiletries and makeup bags are already packed . I'm only gone for two nights and three days - if I'm missing anything I'll buy it over there.
Status: Packed.
6) Meds
Can't go without these, but with the exception of the HRT gel, these can go in the hand luggage.
Status: Ready to go.
All I have to do now is grab a few things for my hand luggage. Things like:
Passport (which is valid with years to run)
My book
Hairbrush
Assorted lipsticks
Fisherman's Friends (a flyers best made - keeps your ears clear)
It's a lot of not particularly nice people behaving strangely. Even if it is pretty to look at and the cast is pretty good, it doesn't have that many redeeming features. Maybe it's because if my friends started acting like these people, I'd tell them where to go.
Even stranger, this has got a very good metascore on RottenTomatoes.com, although if you look at some of the reviews, you can see that what I'm about to say about this film.
It's a bit of a dog. A dog with fleas, despite the good ratings on the major movie websites. I don't really get it.
The synopsis is fairly straight forward.
At the start of the film, we meet Emma (Zendaya) and Charlie (Robert Pattinson) who are on the brink of getting married. They appear to be the perfect couple with the perfect life. Living in Boston, they have a lively and varied life.
At their rehearsal dinner with their best friends Rachel (Alana Haim) and Mike (Mamoudou Athie) they play a game of "What's the worst thing you've done?" The group make their confessions. Some are truly awful, others, childhood slights. When Emma provides her worst moment, the group erupts. (I'm not going to give a spoiler on this, needless to say, I think what Rachel did was worse)
From here, everything spirals. Emma and Charlie's relationship falters and a lot of rather silly things happen right up to when they get married.
Even though the movie, though Kristoffer Borgli's script and direction, to view where their line may be, this didn't ring true for me at all. As the cards started to fall, so too did my belief in any of the characters thanks to their dodgy behaviour.
What surprises me is how popular this movie is proving. When we went the largish cinema was three quarters full. Maybe it's the star power, Zendaya and Robert Pattinson having quite a lot of pulling power.
And sure, the acting isn't bad and the film is pretty to look at, but this didn't ring true for me. It's a film of a lot of people behaving like children in many respects.
To read the book, or not read the book? That is the question. Whether it is nobler to see a film on spec, or to slug through a tome before seeing said movie. It is a universal question.
Blarney and I went to see the film this weekend. I've read the book (well, I listened to it as an audiobook - and it was excellent) Blarney hadn't. We both really liked the movie, however, having read Andy Weir's novel of one man saving the world from space, my views were a little more skewed.
Don't get me wrong - this is a very good film. But you're always going to get more out of the book.
Thankfully, the film follows the book closely and hits most of the major plot points. Not that movie goers really don't need to know that.
For a short synopsis, Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling), a middle-school teacher with a PhD in molecular biology finds himself in deep space, alone, wondering how the hell he got there. Over time, he regains his wits and memory and goes about discovering how he's going to save the world. You see, the sun is dimming thanks to these alien microbes which are eating the sun. Other stars in the galaxy are also diminishing. Something has to be done. Over the two hours and 40 minutes of the film you see him discover alien life in the form of Rocky (the voice of James Ortiz) and the two work out to save both of their planets.
In the background, we're taken back to Grace's memories where the enigmatic Eva Stratt (Sandra Huller) runs the Project Hail Mary who press-gangs Grace into working on the project.
It's a simple story, very well executed. What's essentially a monologue for a lot of the film until Rocky's arrival brilliant viewing. Grace, and Rocky, have a lot to work out, from how to communicate, to how to survive in each other's atmospheres, to conflicting scientific beliefs. Somehow, they manage it.
This is where the book comes into its own. Through the book, you get more of an insight into how Grace and Rocky develop their communication, and the science, and the situation to hand. I remember listening to the book being on the edge of my seat wanting to know how these strange bedfellows were going to get out of their predicament. The movie glosses over a lot of this. An eight-episode series would have had the space to investigate everything in the book.
Yet, Project Hai Mary is a very good film. The set up, the cinematography, the animatronics in the way they created Rocky, the sets - they're all excellent. For a longer film, the time goes quickly. And don't be afraid of the science - it's adequately explained (where the book delves deeper into the concepts.)
What it missed for me was the depth of Grace and Rocky's relationship, which felt a bit rushed in the end. You don't get the gravitas of Rocky's predicament, having his large crew die around him and being stuck at Tau-Ceti for years alone. Nor do you feel Grace's final response when they realise that they've messed up and there are only two solutions - go home - or save your friend.
Also, I wasn't thrilled with the way they tried to intimate that Grace and Stratt had more than platonic feelings for each other.
Regardless, I really recommend seeing this on the big screen. Drew Goddard and Andy Weir's script is fast paced, funny and moving. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller's direction keeps this feeling very real.
Project Hail Mary is best seen on the biggest screen you can find. It's great. (And if you haven't seen The Martian, look it up - same author, similar set up, just as good.)
But read the book. You'll get a lot more out of the experience.
It feels funny to be saying this in a secular country in a place where everything is closed on Good Friday. It's a bit bizarre.
Anyway, I've got a busy day, so here are this week's questions, supplied, as always, by Sunday Stealing. I like these easy fallback questions.
F. Film: What movie or tv show are you watching?
I'm just about to go off with Blarney to see Project Hail Mary at the cinema.
There's also talk of going to see The Drama tomorrow. I loved the book of the former. The latter just looks interesting.
Currently, as I'm writing this, I'm watching The Ballad of Wallis Island. I think I need to give it more attention.
I've also started watching Shrinking on Apple TV.
A. Audio: What are you listening to?
I've been a bit remiss with music of late. I saw an artist called Irish Mythen at a local pub the other week. They were great. This song has been played at both Stockholm and Boston cathedral.
B. Book: What are you reading?
At the moment, on paper, I'm reading the amazing Heather Rose's A Great Act of Love. She's a Tasmanian author and one of Australia's best.
On audiobook, I gave into the hype and I'm listening to Allen Levi's Theo of Golden, which is a delight.
I hope to have both of these finished by Friday so I've got something new to read/listen to on the way to New Zealand.
I laid in bed this morning thinking about the day, only to remind myself that there is the barbeque and my instructions are to bring some dessert.
Bring on the ADHD rejection sensitivity and the feeling that anything I do or bring will be judged. Fun, eh!
Making matters worse, yesterday, being Good Friday, nothing was open. Could I get anything to make a dessert? No. Could I make something from what I had in the cupboards? Maybe. Would it be what I would normally make? No.
See, I've got a reputation as the dessert queen. I make a great tiramisu. My lemon polenta cakes are legendary. I bake a decent chocolate cake. There's little you can do when the supermarket is closed and you can't pick up the lady finger biscuits, marscapone, almond meal, fresh eggs or whatever else you might need to make such a concoction.
Added to this is the Gen-X guilt of not being a good enough home maker.
I was discussing this my friend last night and she sympathised, but recommended popping into Aldi and get one of their apple streudels from the freezer section. Or even better, go and find a Vienetta. So very retro.
I made a compromise. I did went apple strudel route as I passed an Aldi on the way home from meditation.
The other thing I did, to keep up with the CWA guilt, was made some biscuits. Nagi from RecipeTinEats had a recipe for three ingredient peanut butter cookies. Peanut butter (crunchy preferred) a cup of brown sugar and an egg. Mix. Refrigerate for a bit. Roll into balls and bake for 10 minutes in a medium over (180 degrees). Perfect. I cooked it myself (See how clever I am?) and I'd filled the brief.
I rocked up to Blarneys with the Apple Strudels and the biscuits. It seems somebody had brought over an apple pie and Blarney had made a large apple crumble that could feed an army.
Ah well. I put the apple strudels back in their freezer and got on with my day.
