Dog Videos

The news came through the other day. He's gone. It wasn't a surprise as we were told he had entered palliative care the week before after many years of illness. He is now at peace; may his name be a blessing. 

I wasn't close to this man. A lovely man, I know his wife better, and for many years a lot of the discussion has been about her husband's health. It had been very difficult for both of them. She's a strong woman, but as they were together for around 40 years, I can only imagine the gut punch this must be. 

We've been in contact, as you do, on Messager. Quick messages of support and encouragement, for what can you say or do when somebody loses their partner of decades but lend your ear. you don't want to be in their face, but you also wish to let them know they're loved and thought of. I always end messages with the words, "You don't need to respond."

She came back to me a few days ago with words of thanks. 

"You don't mind me contacting you?"

We're not close friends, but we have known each other for well over 15 years. 

"Of course not."

"What I might do, if you're agreeable, is maybe send on the odd dog video. A few seconds of raw happiness never goes astray."

"Yes, please do that."

Maybe sending dog and cat videos is my love language. I know when my niece was ill, I'd send on short videos to my sister - they're not disruptive, but there is something wonderful about seeing a muddy Golden Retriever or some other goofball doing something stupid. Dogs bring love and comfort more than anybody else. 

I'm too aware of what it is to be grieving on your own. A quick message with something that may bring a momentary smile is all I can provide. As I said, it's my love language. 

Today's song:

The Miffy Board

Now I've settled into this between jobs state, not that I've cleaned the temple from top to bottom (and got paid for it), it's time to get the Kanban board running once again. 

Kanban board? 

Let's say I've worked on projects for too long. I like a good Kanban board. It's a project management tool that allows you to see what you've done during the day/week/sprint. 

Also, as an ADHD dopamine junkie, nothing feels better than ticking something off a list. 

With a Kanban board, you move your tickets, or in my case, Miffies, from a state of not done, to doing, to done. It helps to give a perspective of what you've achieved for the day. Some Miffies might be daily tasks (like exercise or stretch or take your Metamucil) or weekly tasks (like do the floors) or one-off jobs that really need doing (like doing a proper clean under the couch or spring cleaning the spare room).

And sure, I'm using the Miffy post-its that I bought in Paris at the Dutch chain HEMA for my task cards. I think they bring something to the joys of sprint planning your life. (Dutch friends, I know that you call Miffy by her Dutch name Neintje - but that's all too hard to say.)

And yes, that is a post-it with the word 'believe' written on it. Yes, I am a Ted Lasso fan, but I really do love the principle. I do believe I will find paid employment soon, just as I believe I can finish the first draft of a novel, find a temple cleaner and make my spare room look more like a tidy room and less like a cat's boudoir. 

And yes, there is a flyer for the Robert Mapplethorpe exhibition from 2017 along with the programme of shows at the Pop Up Globe from the same year. Both give me the warm fuzzies. Okay, I love Mapplethorpe's photographs, even if some are somewhat confronting. Shakespeare, in any form makes me happy. (Andybody want to join me for the Bell Shakespeares productions of As You Like It and Measure for Measure?)

Anyway, this is how I keep track of things. 

I will get a job. It's going to be great. I just have to remember to enjoy the downtime. 

Today's song:

Pistachio

Explain this to me. Why has pistachio taken over my life? Pistachio ice cream... pistachio coloured clothing. Love it. it's awesome. 

I'm in break mode, but I've made a promise to myself that I will start writing tomorrow. Today was crochet day - and placing some clothes on Depop. I made my 10,000 steps. 

The day before I had an interview. I haven't heard back from them yet - I'm hopeful, but I will understand if it's not me they want, then that's okay too. Today also had me sending out a few more applications and talking to an agency, keeping things moving. Regardless, with the other job - no news is no news and it's okay. 

But I've been thinking about pistachio stuff. 

And now, it's time to do some mobility exercises, do my affirmations in the light of a green candle (I'm gonna get a job and it's going to be great!) and wonder why the numbers on my blog tracking are going through the roof. Maybe I have a stalker. Maybe I'm being tracked. 

I'm gonna get a job, it's going to be great, and I'll start on the Miffy board tomorrow. (

Today's song:

Movie Review: The Social Reckoning

 Movie Number 38 of 2026

The Movie: The Social Reckoning

The Cinema: Village Cinemas at Crown

Runtime: One hour 52 minutes

Stars: 4

I've loved the work of Aaron Sorkin since The West Wing. Yes, his sensibilities and politics are very similar to my own, but he also gets to tell some important stories. This is another one of those, which he has both written and directed.

We were all around a few years ago when a whistleblower shouted long and hard about the abuses and lack of civil responsibility at Facebook. The Social Reckoning looks at this part of history, to great effect. Sorkin also wrote the screenplay for The Social Network, which looked at the formation and fallout of the formation of Facebook. In both of these films, Mark Zuckerberg doesn't walk away looking like a great human being. 

The Social Reckoning follows Frances Haugen (Mikey Madison), a young Facebook engineer, who enlisted the help of Jeff Horwitz (Jeremy Allen White), a Wall Street Journal reporter, to blow the whistle on the social network's most guarded secrets. We also see what Zuckerberg (Jeremy Strong) and his team do with him to "make him seem more likeable." If you followed the news at the time, Haugen testified in front of Congress about Facebook's nearly inhuman way of taking profits over people. And Jeff Horwitz received a Pulitzer Prize for his reporting. 

This is a wordy movie - but this is how Aaron Sorkin runs. Thankfully, the lead players put in excellent performances. Jeremy Strong as Mark Zuckerberg is particularly effective. (They asked Jesse Eisenberg to come back and play Zuckerberg but he turned the role down, wanting nothing to do with the man himself - and fair enough.) The well-crafted script would have helped these performances - mind you, Jeremy Allen White plaus a great underdog, just as Jeremy Strong is brilliant playing morally bankrupt characters. Mikey Madison, known best for her Oscar winning role in Anora is also great as the conflicted Frances. 

You'll come out of this movie thinking hard about social media and its horrors. The Social Reckoning provides a number of insider perspectives. It's a film that will play well on the streaming services in the near future. 

Today's song:

Theatre Review: Koreaboo

The Play: Koreaboo by Michelle Lim Davidson

The Theatre: The Lawler at the Malthouse

Runtime: 80 minutes

Season ended 10 October

Stars: 4

I came to the ticket for Koreaboo in an unusual way. Having booked two tickets to another show by accident, I had some sucking up to do with a friend who works in the box office, begging nicely to change the ticket to another show. Thankfully, my friend was able to assist me, and I was found a ticket to this. I'm so glad I got to see this. 

The other thing that came to mind was my late niece, Lauren, who as a fan of all things Korean. She would have loved this. The music. The sensibilities. The culture shock. The culture.

Me, I loved the story. 

Michelle Lim Davidson is an Australian actor who was born in Korea and adopted by Australian parents. This play is based around her experiences of meeting her birth mother in Korea and a subsequent trip back to spend some time with her. This play is taking from her experiences of being a Koreaboo - somebody who is only interested in K-Pop, Kimchi and bulgogi. 

In Koreaboo, Lim Davidson plays Hannah, woman who's returned to Korea to spend time with her motherm, Umma (Heather Jeong), who works almost without a break at the family's corner store in the back blocks of Seoul. With not only a language barrier, the two women try to find a way forward, finally bonding over K-Pop, which takes the play in yet another direction. 

Mostly set in the family's shop, looking like every stereotypical Asian corner store, Lim Davidson's wisdom and comic timing shone through here. The foibles of both sides were looked on lovingly, while also having a good dig and the K-Pop phenomenon. Jessica Arthurn's direction made sure that there were no lags in the show, while keeping a slightly tongue in cheek. By the end of the play, you've got a good understanding of where both women are coming from, with a good understanding of how things came to pass. 

I'm so glad I got to see this. It's a bit of a sleeper hit, but its loving look at the Korean diaspora is remarkable. I'm just sorry my niece couldn't have seen this. 

Today's song:

Sunday Stealing: Ten Random Questions

It's time to get the questions out of the way. I've had a good day. I managed to finish the cleaning project at the temple, which has taken me five days (spending two hours a day there, because if I did it in one shot I would have gone mad.) I saw a not so good play last night, a good one today and the washing dried on the line. Oh, and after five days, they've fixed the hot water. Life is good. 

Now I just need to get myself a job (Hopefully the interview I've got on Monday goes well.)

Anyway, here are this week's questions, brought by Sunday Stealing.

1. What was the last gift you received?

It was my birthday a few weeks ago. I received a voucher for a local bookshop and a voucher for a local cinema chain. I think that's all I received this year. This is fine, I want for nothing. 

2. Who did you last hang out with?

I went for dinner and the see a play with Jay last night. Jay is also my gym buddy, so I see a bit of her. 

3. Do you often lose the remote?

Yes, but it's normally found under my knitting or on my messy desk. 

4. When did you last check Facebook?

About five minutes ago. Checking on a friend who's in a body building competition. 

5. Are there scented candles in the room you're in?

Yes. Quite a few with different scents. I'm burning my green one at the moment. Burning green candles is a witch trick for bringing in abundance. 

6. Next time you leave the house, where will you be going?

That will either be early tomorrow morning to go to the gym, or a little bit later to go and meet Blarney at the cinema where we're going to see The Social Reckoning. It all depends if I can get myself out of bed in the morning. 

7. Do you know anyone named Steven or Stephen or Steve or Stevie?

Ah yes, I do. Steven is the child of an English friend of mine, who was named after the Australian Cricketer, Steve Waugh. I know a couple of Stephens - one is one of a partnership, Richard and Stephen. I had a Stephen who was my boss in a recent contract. I also know a couple of Steves - I'm not sure of their spelling, but I'm sure one is a Greek Stephanos - the other, I'm not sure. Oh, and there is Steve the builder at the site across the road. Most Stevens/Stephens/Steves are middle aged engineers. 

I don't know any Stevies.

8. Which do you prefer: macaroni salad or potato salad?

Look, I like both. A good home-made potato salad is gold - but am very fold of the pasta salad that you get at the supermarkets over here. It's glorious and addictive. 

9. Do you have an ice maker in your refrigerator door?

No. Too expensive, needs to be plumbed in - and I rent. My fridge is far more utilitarian. 

10. When you woke up this morning, did you get up straightaway or lounge a bit?

I'm a ditherer in the morning, especially now as I'm 'between jobs'. But I was up and about around 9 this morning after some doom scrolling. 

Today's song:

Theatre Review: Eliza

The Play: Eliza by Tom Holloway

The Theatre: Southbank Theatre

The Company: Melbourne Theatre Company

Runtime: One hour 30 minutes

Until: 31 October

Stars: 2.5

I've had a full subscription with the MTC for many years. Every year, of the ten plays, there will be a couple which you adore. They stay with you. They're fantastic. Then there will be four or five which you enjoy - not to the same extent as the great ones, but they're still good. Then there's one or two you will have to dig deep to find things you like. And one will have you wanting to leave at the interval. 

Eliza is the play I wish had an interval. It's an hour and a half that I'm never going to get back. 

This just didn't do it for me. I get what they're trying to do, but nah. Sorry, didn't work for me. A play about AI. Yeah, it's a bit fraught to begin with. They say it's a psychological thriller. Me, I was bored. It was a talkfest with characters you couldn't get into. It's called Eliza from the references to Pygmalion and the morphing of Eliza Doolittle from a flower-seller to a lady. In this case, Eliza is a computer program changing into generative A.I. 

The MTC describe this as follows: 

"Dr Joseph Weizenbaum (Dan Spielman), a brilliant professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, carries the trauma of a childhood fleeing Nazi Germany. When he begins testing a new computer program designed to simulate talk therapy – using details of the private life of his secretary Becky (Manali Datar) – the lines between code and connection begin to blur.

The project is lauded by his research assistant (Hamish Michael) and his colleagues, but as wider interest in his breakthrough intensifies, Weizenbaum begins to question the true cost of his innovation.

As society grapples with the ethics of rapidly advancing and increasingly invasive technologies, director Paige Rattray (Black is the New White) delivers an urgent and unnerving depiction of the birth of AI."

Although there were others in the audience who gave this a standing ovation, I was glad to get out of the auditorium. For me, the story fell flat. Sure, it's early in the season, but I was bored. Working in I.T.  I could see what they were trying to do, but it fell flat. The three actors gave this there best, but for me, it didn't hit. There were too many Orwell references, ad infinitum. It was circular. Sure, we know now the joys of generative AI, and this was the start of it, but this was trying to do too much with too little. 

I did like the set. I did like that the stagehands came out for applause at the end of the night. I like the murmuration light show about three-quarters the way through (which went on a bit too long) but yeah, this one was not for me. 

Some obviously liked this a lot more than Jay and I did (Jay slept for most of the first act). I was struggling to stay engaged. 

Just because it didn't hit for me doesn't mean others won't like it. However, I can't recommend this. There are better things on and around Melbourne at the moment. 

Today's song: