Sunday Stealing: Bun Toting Librarian

I'm going to mix this up a bit and submit this on Saturday. I saw another film tonight and I need to mull it over. I also slipped and fell on a travelator on the way to this film  - a combination of Converse runners and a wet floor making me take a tumble on the travelator. Not my finest moment and I twisted my knee. Thankfully it's moving and weight bearing, but it is sore. So I'm sitting here with a bag of peas on it, hoping it fixes quickly.

Anyway, here are this weekend's questions, brought to you by Bev at Sunday Stealing. 

1.    When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?

Oh, my eyes are getting a bit baggy. Oh well. That's getting older for you.  

2.    What shirt are you wearing?

I'm currently wearing a black t-shirt which reads "In my defense I was left unsupervised." It is one of my favourite t-shirts (Along with my Jason Mraz pink t-shirt with the word Geek on it, my over washed black t-shirt which reads "the beatings will continue until morale improves", the one which reads "See You Next Tuesday" and another which says "Hell was boring."  

3.    Do you label yourself?

I did label myself as fat, ugly and stupid for many years. If I was to label myself now it is more along the lines of kind, sort of funny and rather odd. I like the last three adjectives, because I am kind, I am sorta funny and I am rather odd, but in a good way. 

4.    What does your watch look like?

I have an Apple Watch, currently with a Mickey Mouse face. I've also put a leather strap on it as I don't like metal bands and the latex / plastic ones give me a rash. 

5.    What were you doing at midnight last night?

I was just about to go to bed before doing the Wordle, the Worldle2 and the Worldle. I like all three and I like getting them done before going to sleep. 

6.    Last furry thing you touched?

My cat, Lucifer. About five minutes ago. Give him a kiss on the head too. 

7.    Favourite age you have been so far?

I really liked 40. So many possibilities, so little bullshit. 

8.    What is your current desktop picture?

This. I'm boring.

9.    If you had to choose between $1,000,000 or to be able to fly what would it be?

At the moment, I'd like the million dollars. I might be able to afford a house outright with that sort of money. 

10.  The last song you listened to?

I've been getting excited about the Pixies concert in December, so I've been listening to Surfer Rosa again. The last thing I listened to was Vamos.

11.  What time of day were you born?

2.30 in the afternoon. 

12.  Where did you live in 1987?

I was living at Lincoln College, a residential college attached to the University of Adelaide, in North Adelaide for that year. 

13.  What do you do when vending machines steal your money?

Normally hit the machine quite violently, then go off in a huff. Or feed the same money in again hoping I'll get two lots of the product required. But you have to hit the machine and yell at it. Because it's what you do.

14.  Would you move for the person you loved?

Maybe. To some great city. Yes. For the equivalent of Bumfuck, Nebraska, maybe not. it would depend on a lot of things. And whether my cat could come too. 

15.  Name three things that you have on you at all times?

• My house and car keys.
• My phone
• My wallet

16.  What’s your favourite town/city?

Oh don't do this to me. Here are my favourite cities by continent:

• London, Great Britain
• Boston, USA
• Melbourne, Australia
• Wellington, New Zealand
• Toledo, Spain

With special mentions to Athens, Greece, Paris, France, Rome, Italy, York in the UK, New York, USA, and of course Adelaide. 

17.  What was the last thing you paid for with cash?

I think I paid for dinner last week with cash - well, gave my end to a friend who way paying on their credit card. 

18.  When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper and mailed it?

Strangely enough, I posted three letters for the property association to members the other day. But actually writing a real letter? I can't remember. It's been years. 

19.  The last time you dressed fancy, what did you wear?

I got dressed up on Wednesday for a friend's book launch. I wore a black dress emblazoned with red cherries, kitten heels, make up, red lippy, tousled up my curls and went for it. It went down well. 

20.  Does anything hurt on your body right now?'

The area around my gall bladder is aching a bit, but nothing too bad. It's coming out in a few weeks.

Today's Song: 

The Bad Influence

 My friend Alice is a bad influence. 

Things I can tell you about Alice:

• We met on a job where we were both working as software testers.
• We are born a week apart. Alice is the week older. 
• We lived a mile away from each other in London but never met
• Alice is sure she met up with an ex of mine in a dodgy club down West End Lane
• Alice and I bonded over mutual loves of a good cup of tea and The Pixies
• When Alice and I get together, we often get up to no good. 
• We are each other's wing man
• Alice lets me embarrass her now teenage son (by relating the fact that I have changed his nappies)
• Alice is a good egg
• And she is a very bad influence

She calls me up tonight. 

"Pand. Pixies? Sydney?"

"No, Alice, I said I'd go in Melbourne."

"But it's at the Forecourt of the Opera House, like the one we missed."

"That was the last time I was in Sydney."

"We went to the Bienniale instead the next morning."

"We did."

"And Pete lost his phone and had to go out to the Sydney version of Woop Woop to get it back."

"And that was the last time I saw what's his face."

"Really."

"Yeah."

"Well he's not around any more and Sydney is a big place."

"True."

"So you're coming?'

"Did you see? Joey Santiago hearted our posts on The Pixies facebook page!" (Joey Santiago is The Pixies' guitarist - swoon)

"I did. So are you going with us to Sydney?"

"I'm going to try to get tickets to Melbourne."

"But you can come to Sydney too. It's me and Pete and Jerry and Mike and maybe Mel... And they're playing Surfer Rosa/Come on Pilgrim..."

"The gang's all here."

"Not the same without you, Pand. Surfer Rosa, Pand..."

What am I supposed to say? 

Seeing The Pixies outside on a big stage, versus seeing them in the Forum - which the last time I was there I think I saw Puppetry of the Penis and my mate Odious Odette was with us and it wasn't fun. 

And it's a bunta trip.

And it will break my slight fear of going back to Sydney. 

It's nine months away.

It gives me something to look forward to. 

And...

"Oh, fuck it. Count me in. "

My friend Alice is a very bad influence. 

I'll get her back. Billy Bragg is coming next March. I'll let Alice select what night we go on....

Today's songs: 

Last night's book launch has got the fire in my belly about writing my own book flaring again. 

So I'm arming myself with the tools required to write this bloody thing. (although I've got two and a half books in the planning and writing stage, there is the one passion project that I want to get off the ground first). 

And I've got Catherine Deveny's words in my head. 

Write in the gaps. 

In other words, those ten minutes all add up. Ten minutes here and there. It will get you somewhere. 

And use your prompts. 

I've got a lot of these stashed around my place and person. There's always a deck of tarot cards within five meters of me. At home, my set of Cards Against Humanity sit on the bookshelf behind me, always good for a laugh and left of centre pivot. 

And then there's the Oblique Strategies deck I have on my phone. Open the app, shake the phone, tap the screen, and get provided with a way to tackle the problem. There are great as they can help turn around your thinking. 

So today's missive from the great digital beyond read:

Try faking it!

Right.

Personally, I think all I ever do is fake it. Isn't that's what life is about - trying to look like you know what you're doing when you really don't have a clue. 

I know I was faking it a bit last night when I was out at that book launch. I had my armour on - my snug fitting cherry dress, make up, red lippy, kitten heels. Is that really me? I'm not sure. I feel like a bit of an actor when I'm out like this. The real me is happier sitting on the couch with the cat, in my pyjamas, drinking a gin and tonic. 

But when it comes to writing - how does one fake it?

Do you put on your writer's persona and get on with it? Or pretend you can actually do this? Or maybe just write so in-authentically that writing takes on a life of its own. 

Who knows, yet this is the head space I need to get back into. 

Each time I see a friend launch a book - achieve something I think is impossible, the fire is stoked again. 

And I can do this. I just have to let myself do this. 

Today's song:

The Book Launch

The Book: True North by Catherine Deveny

The Location: Tempo Rubato, Brunswick

One must show support for one's mentors. And tonight, all stops needed to be pulled. It was a meeting of the tribe, celebrating our fearless leader, the head of the feminist benevolent dictatorship, our chief MILF**, Catherine Deveny. 

We've been waiting for this book for 18 months. Tonight, it was launched. 

And I've now got it into my head that I can write a book and have a fabulous book launch like that.... but I'm getting ahead of myself. 

So, I left work on time. I put on my fabulous cherry dress, slapped on some war paint, ran fingers and product through my curls, dangled some silver from my ears and gave myself a squirt of Juliette's got a Gun's Lady Vengeance and I was out the door in half an hour. Frocking up, was also necessary. 

It was a meeting of the tribe. We all know each other wearing trackie dacks, jumpers and ugg boots - or nothing at all during the ritual retreat Sunday morning skinny dip. It would be good to be seen looking a bit more polished. Besides, it's a night out of the house, with people, and alcohol - and a kitten, but we won't go there. 

I made it to Tempo Rubato a few minutes late, got my vaccination status checked, then in to door to the proceedings. Clementine Ford helped launch to book. Another person I admire by the bucketful, I was hoping to catch her, buy a physical copy of her wonderful book,  How We Love, have her sign the copy, and thank her for writing such an amazing book - it's been one of the best things I've read this year. I wouldn't be amiss thanking her for the vibrator recommendation - but this was a night about books, and words, and supporting and decent company, my little helper in my bedside table could stay out of the topics of conversation. 

Anyway, back to Dev and her book. 

After a few more speeches and a Q&A session it was on to the catching up, meeting people and socialising. 

Most of the Gunnas - as we are known (people who attend Dev's masterclasses and Writer's Retreats) had frocked up a little - just because. When your Queen says celebrate, we celebrate.

Catching up with the tribe was great. A couple of meet ups and music gigs have been discussed. For me, to be surrounded again by these wonderful like minded people. A tribe who love and support you without prejudice or judgement - it's a too good a feeling to to go along. Walking in I found K - a partner in crime from the last retreat. Big hugs and heartfelt I love yous were the theme of the night. Fi placed a G&T in my hand. Lots of meeting up with others I've met either online or in person over the years. 

I bought the book - well two books. I'm now the owner of Clementine Ford's How We Love on paper. It was duly signed and I will cherish this. If you haven't had a chance to read it, do so. It is a generous, thoughful exposition about love in it's many forms. 

And then over to Dev to get my copy signed. Another book to love - up there with my tatty signed copy of Louis de Bernieres' Captain Corelli's Mandolin, and my copy of Lady Cottington's Pressed Fairy Book which Terry Jones signed for me many years ago. . 

After a hug and some hearty congratulations, my book was stamped and signed. The stamp was chosen with care, as these stamps always are. I was expecting the "Pull your finger out, your excuses are bullshit" one. I've received that one before. (As I said, benevolent, feminist dictatorship - tough love is a given).

I was pleasantly surprised. 

There was more talking, more laughing and another G&T. 

The offer of a lift home was accepted, and I was back home with the cat by just past nine. 

Never more have I been grateful for being a part of this tribe of strong, vibrant, eclectic and interesting women. 

And I'm truly grateful to Catherine Deveny for just being herself, and being so bloody generous with her time, her words and her ideas. I'll start the book tonight. I've read a number of her other books and they're great. 

It's now time to pull my finger out, write that bloody book, get it published and have a fabulous book launch party so I can return the favour. I've seen what I want to do, now I just have to do it. 

Oh, and Dev, if you're reading this, I fucking love you too. xx

Today's song: 

** MILF - acronym for "Mother I'd like to f*ck - I'm not a Mum so I can't be a MILF. 

Give me another three hours

 It's been one of those days. 

I've worked a full eight hour day. I need another three or four hours in this day. 

I did manage to cook myself some lunch, if you call blanching some broccolini, asparagus and edamame, before heaping that on top of some rice and salmon (with pickled ginger) and going back to my computer. 

I got none of my own work done. 

The day was spent helping others, putting out fires, teaching people stuff, getting on with things so that the rest of the streams were working well and getting on top of their stuff. 

But me, nup. It's now time to get some real work done.

It's 8 pm. 

I have at least two hours of concentrated effort ahead of me to get some stuff that looks like my work done. 

And part of this is to clear the way for tomorrow, knowing I'm going out tomorrow night. 

And part of it is knowing if I don't get this done I'm going to get quizzed by my boss. 

And part of it is knowing that I get more done in these two hours with MAFS on in the background. 

And at least I've taken a few hours off, gone into town to collect the mail and to go for a long walk - which has made me feel a lot better about things. 

But still. 

I'm just a bit over this. 

Today's song:

Movie Review: The Duke

Movie 11 of 2022

The Film: The Duke

The Cinema: Village Cinemas - The Rivoli

Stars: 4 1/2

For me, this was a nearly perfect movie. Not only does it have Matthew Goode in it (current celebrity boyfriend) but it portrays a little remembered event in British history which shows the English at their barking mad best. 

It's 1961 and Kempton Bunton (Jim Broadbent) is a Geordie activist who's looked on by the community as barking mad. His latest crusade it to let the Old Aged Pensioners to get there television licences for free (I had to explain to my friends what a television licence was - being aware of them when I lived in England) To get out of paying the licence, Kempton takes out the cathode which receives BBC1... go figure. His long suffering wife, Dorothy (played by the amazing Helen Mirren) takes the old duffer in his stride. Nobody does a long suffering wife like Helen Mirren, playing her age (or more to the point, 10 years younger than her current age). 

Anyway, on a trip to London, and incensed  Kempton, agitated about the British Government spending a packet on a Goya painting, on a whim, breaks into the National Gallery and steals the painting, which ends up sitting in the wardrobe in his box room in Newcastle for a bit. Until a few weeks later, Kempton takes the Goya back, walking into the National Gallery with it wrapped in newspaper under his arm. 

The film then goes into the court proceedings and what happened next (Which is where Matthew Goode comes in, playing his lawyer). You also get to meet Kempton and Dorothy's family and get a good view of what is happening in Britain, some 15 years after World War II, when things weren't like they are now. 

I loved this. This is a charming film - a very funny film in places, but one that ultimately restores your faith in humanity as the somewhat gormless, always caring Kempton shows up the British legal system. It's also wonderful because the rest of the cast will have you scratching your head and saying, "I know you from somewhere...". And of course, Matthew Goode is in it. And I have a spoft spot for when Helen Mirren goes all plain. 

But this is Jim Broadbent's movie, and the twinkle in his eyes has to be seen and celebrated. 

Another movie which is great to take your mother to. Hear that, Mum?

This is up there with movies like Their Finest, Misbehaviour, Pride, Brassed Off, Billy Eliot and Kinky Boots. 

Go. Take your Mum. Enjoy. You can thank me later. 

Today's song: 

Sunday Stealing: From Pinterest

 Well, I am home after my first date in 15 years. A pleasant coffee was had. I will say no more, but I am winning having a pleasant coffee on a lovely afternoon. Mind you, some stuff has been filed away under use for the novel :). All is well. 

Questions, provided as always by Bev at Sunday Stealing. 

1. Are you living a meaningful life.

Not really. I should do something about that. 

2. What’s the one thing you cannot live without?

My friends. They are everything to me. 

3. When is it acceptable, if ever, to break the law

Umm, as somebody who broke the law daily for six years I can't talk. But the way I see it, if you're not hurting anybody, then so be it. I don't see stealing food when you can't afford it as a big thing. Smaller misdemeanors can often be wiped away. Hurting somebody in self defence is allowable. Drugs, particulary personal use laws, should be wound back - as more often than not, long term drug use is a disease. There are too many grey areas in the law. I'm just saying that if people are not being inconvenienced or hurt, let them do it (like me and my immigration status way back then). 

4. What do you want your final words to be

Thank you. Maybe an attitude of gratitude will get me into heaven.

5. What do you think are the five most beautiful things in the world?

• Kindness
• Puppies and kittens
• Roses
• Sunrises and sunsets
• The ocean

6. What makes you feel empowered?

This is going to sound strange, but going for a naked swim in the ocean in the bracing waters of the Southern Ocean on those writer's retreats is one of the most empowering and enlightening feelings. I'm not sure what it is. That you're doing something illicit? That there feels like there is a sense of danger? That you're facing the elements head on. I don't know what it is, but it feels fantastic for days after. 

7. Which is more important–what you say, or how you say it?

Both are important - and equally important. I can't separate the two. 

8. Do you live to work, or work to live?

I work to live. If I didn't have to pay bills I'd not be working.

9. How do you think the world will change in 10 years? 50? 100?

Do you really think there will be a planet in 100 years the way we are going? Really. With everything going on at the moment, I don't want to think about it. Hopefully, as a world, we are a lot kinder to the planet. 

10. What is something you’re certain you’ll never experience?

Childbirth. 

11. What one responsibility do you wish you didn’t have?

I wish I was not on the Property Association for the Freemasons. Franky, I'm just over it - but if I walked away, nobody would pay the bills. 

12. What is something you’re embarrassed that you’re so good at?

I'm good at the following thing - all of which are a bit embarrassing. 

• Knitting
• Crocheting
• Starting arguments from 10 kilometres away
• Driving anything
• Rhyming

13. What’s the one thing you most want to achieve before you die?

I really want to publish a couple of books. 

14. What’s something that offends you?

Rude peope, particularly people who are rude to service staff. 

15. What makes you most angry about the country?

Pretty much everything the current Australian Federal Government either offends me or makes me angry. Allegedly we're having a Federal Election on 14 May. I will be four days out of surgery - but I am hoping we can have an election party where ever I may be and I hope we will be celebrating the demise of the current fuck up fairies who pretend they are in charge. 

Today's song: