What to write about?

There are many things I could write about, but I'm not having any luck putting more than a few lines together on any of these topics. So, I'm going to give you a brain dump of these ideas, just to show you what an ADHD brain can do for you. 

1) Why do I have My Lovely Horse running through my brain?

I always loved Father Ted. (Ah, goowaaaaannn...) but that stupid fever dream song that Father Dougal was supposed to do for the Eurovision song contents. Really, this is the worst of bad earworms. Have a look. It's bad. 

2) Tia Maria

I wrote about dogs last night so I can't write about Tia Maria. I went to the gym last night. Outside, sat Tia Maria, with her Aunt Sally. I met Tia a few months ago when she was little, little. She's a Border Collie. Now, she's six months old. A too-smart ball of energy. I walked up. She greeted me like a long-lost lover, promptly gave my face a lick and sat on my feet. Aunt Sally said that I was in. Of course I'm in. It's a dog. Dogs love me. 

Enough about dogs. 

3) Yesteryear

I finished the most extraordinary book today. Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke is brilliant. Messed up, bonkers, furious, scathing, this book tells of Natalie, a Trad wife influencer who managers her social media account that she runs from her perfect farm, with her perfect husband and kids, spouting Christian fundamentalist claptrap and living the life of a hypocrite. Then things change. 

A five-star read, I'll review it later, but I loved every minute of it. It won't be for everybody, but what the author has done here is INCREDIBLE. 

4) I need to get the book group book read by Tuesday

It will happen. I started Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy this morning. I'm already 100 pages in. It will get read. 

5) I want a boyfriend

Don't say this very often, but I would like somebody to cook for and somebody to occasionally watch telly with. Is that too much to ask. 

6) And I've just realised

I have a touch of the black dog. Two good things - it's just the stirrings of a touch of depression - nothing major. And catching it quickly means it will be over soon. Lots of clean food, exercise and being good to myself. Admitting it is half the battle. 

That feels a little better already. It also makes sense as to why I don't want to write. 

Today's song:

The Best Part of my Day

I'm heading off to work, the best part of my day normally occurs when I cross the road. 

Opposite to where I live is a building site. The works have been going on for months now, but there has been a constant. Among the slab and the bricks and the plumbing, the second story and the security fencing there is often found the bit that makes any day better. 

At the site, most mornings, is this grey, hefty land seal arrangement - also known as a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Her name is Zoe. 

An AI rendering of Zoe

Zoe is lovely. She's very friendly. She's a bit old.  When I first met her, walking to the tram, we looked at each other. I think asked her Dad if it would be okay if she said hello. Of course it was. 

Ever since, if Zoe's come to work with her Dad, Zoe comes and says hello. 

She also has a friend who comes with her. A Border Collie named Lola. She's a bit more standoffish, but she also comes for a pat. 

This morning, her Dad saw me crossing the road. 

"Zoe, your mate's here, " he calls out to her. She comes trotting out, wagging, then comes and sits on my feet for a pat. 

Today, she was wearing a parka - a good thing for keeping short-haired dogs warm. So cute. 

Lola stood by, tail wagging, watching in the distance. 

It seems Zoe has a fan club. I've noticed other neighbours passing by in the hope for a tail wag and a pat. She is a sweetie and will be very missed when the building work is done. 

After this, I made my way to the tram stop. 

While waiting for the tram to arrive, a man was walking his dogs. One, a Pugalier, rather fat, rather old, but loving the walk. The dog stopped in front of me. 

Her dad looked at me and smiled. 

"I think she wants to say hello," he said. 

"Of course she does."

I bent down, let her smell my hand. She gave it a sniff and a lick, wagged her tail, then went on her way. 

"Thanks for that," I said to her dad. "Have a lovely day."

"You too," he called over his shoulder. 

And that is the best part of my day. When the local dogs come and say hi. 

Today's song: 

Projects Finished

 My shrink will be very proud of me. 

The inherited jumper - finished. 

My Doctor Who cable knit scarf - done. 

And the beanie for one of a friend I went to France with. Complete.

Three projects - all finished. I still have to work out how to get the jumper to it's owner. I love the scarf, but it needs to be cold enough to wear. And the beanie will be put in the mail in the next couple of days. 

But now what? 

Leave the handicraft for a while? 

Start Blarney's blanket? Probably.

Television is not the same if I don't have a project - or two on the boil. 

Onwards I say. 

Today's song: 

Inspiration Sessions

 Most years I try to get to a couple of sessions of the Melbourne Writer's Festival. It's a good thing to do. I've been attending Writer's Festival events for 25 years. In the early days I'd volunteer at the festival, often driving the writer's from their hotel to the venue, which was then, at the Malthouse. I got to meet some great people. I got breathalysed with David Malouf sitting next to me (May his name be a blessing - lovely man.) I got to meet some Australian luminaries. I remember telling Graeme Blundell that my dad would be stoked that I was meeting Alvin Purple. It was a cool gig, done for credit for my Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing. 

Since then, the festival changed hands. It became more central - larger auditoriums, a different vibe. But I still went to see favourite authors, both foreign and local. I love hearing about the ideas, the processes, the book talks. It's a great way to spend an hour on the weekend.

This weekend I made it to a couple of sessions on the Sunday afternoon. 

As usual, I left buying my tickets a little late. Some of the sessions I would have loved to attend were booked out. Yet, I made it to a couple of great sessions on Sunday afternoon. 

The first session at the Athenaeum was Susan Choi in conversation with Beejay Silcox. Susan Choi is an academic, teacher and author of six books. Silcox, a book editor, got to fangirl over Choi for the hour. As somebody whose book made the Booker Shortlist, I was keen to see what she had to say. 

The second session was with RF Kuang (also known as Rebecca to her friends and family). She's the current literary wunderkind. At 30, she already has six published novels. Her lit-fantasy book, Babel, was Book of the Year in England. Yellowface was the love/hate book of two years ago. Her next tome, Katabasis, is on my TBR pile.  As much as I disliked Yellowface, I did enjoy Babel, so was willing to give her my time. 

In both sessions, the conversation was lively - thought provoking. Everything from patchwork quilting (which was a metaphor for later drafts of a novel) to AI, to how you can be so prolific (Kuang - at 30 - has six large books published - freak), to writing processes, to how introverts manage to take centre stage at these events. 

Food for thought? Absolutely. Inspiring, indeed. Soul building. Of course. 

I got to spend a few hours with my tribe. I'll keep attending these Festivals. It gives me something to work towards (Says she with two novels at the 80,000-word mark that I've never finished. I CAN do this.)

Today's song: 

Movie Review: The Sheep Detectives

Movie number 19 of 2026

The Movie: The Sheep Detectives

The Cinema: Hoyts Victoria Gardens

Runtime: One hour 49 minutes

Stars: 4.5

This is AWESOME! It's wonderful. And a bit silly. And it's got a lovely heart. And it's not a kid's film, though kids will love 90 percent of it. And yes, I cried a bit at the end.

Seriously, this is a wonderful, wonderful film, putting together a brilliant voice cast, a great script and excellent CGI. And sure, some of it's a bit over the top, but it's just wonderful.

Yes, I'm gushing, but deservedly so. You take the best of the best, run with a silly idea, have excellent production values, this is what's going to happen. 

Based on a German novel written by Leonie Swann, master screenwriter Craig Mazin has shaped a glorious film. Mazin's credentials include the third episode of The Last of Us and Chernobyl. He knows what he's doing. 

And sure, this sounds stupid. It's not.

I'll explain. George (Hugh Jackman) is curmudgeonly shepherd. He's got a beef with most of small town for initially unknown reasons. He's a bit of a loner. And he likes to read his sheep detective novels before they go to bed. The sheep love this. 

He's got no idea that the sheep talk to each other. And have ideas, and thoughts and dreams and a whole different way of seeing the world (such as sheep don't die, they just turn into clouds - this is a biggie.)

The sheep are of different breeds, making them easy to identify. Lily (Julia Luis-Dreyfus) is the smart one who keeps everybody together. Chris O'Dowd is Mopple, her sidekick who remembers everything (see, sheep have the ability to forget things if they wish). There's Rhys Darby playing Wool-Eyes - who really needs a haircut. Andmy favourites, Ronnie and Reggie, voiced by Brett Goldstein (Roy Kent off Ted Lasso - Chef's kiss casting).  Oh yes, and Bryan Cranston voices Sebastian, a ram brought to the flock who's a loner, yet he still keeps an eye on the herd. There are more sheep, but these are the main sheep characters.

One morning, George turns up dead. He's been murdered. The sheep, being amateur sleuths thanks to George's nightly reading set out to find the killer.

In the sleepy town we have the suspects. The jealous shop owner (Hong Chau), the butcher (Conleth Hill) the shepherd who agists land off George to run more sheep (Tosin Cole) and the vicar (Kobna Holbrook-Smith). Adding to the group, George's Daughter Rebecca (Molly Gordon) comes to town, along with a lawyer (Emma Thompson) to read George's will. Oh, and there's a pesky reporter who came to look into the town's show (Nicholas Galitzine). Oh, and then there's the town's only policeman (Nicholas Braun, who will forever be Cousin Greg from Succession). Sure, there are some slips in the accents - it's forgivable under the greatness of the script. 

It sounds convoluted - it's not really. It's just a murder mystery with sheep - and a great cast and script. It's also got some brilliant messages about looking after your tribe and the horror that is othering and what it can do to people. 

Seriously, go see this. Take the family. There are a few scenes that might scare little kids, but older ones will be fine. 

I've just told my mother to go see this - I'm not so sure about my step-dad going - he used to run sheep and might not see some of the humour. 

This is what happens when you get the best production values, script and cast together and make something amazing. 

Today's song: 

Sunday Stealing: Thunking

 It's Saturday and I have things to do, as usual. So, let's get the weekly questions out of the way, while doing jobs between questions. 

As always, Sunday Stealing has provided the questions. 

1. Is there anyone whose home you enter without knocking? Does anyone (who doesn't live with you) have permission to enter your home without knocking?

The only place I enter without knocking is Blarney's place, but they know that I'm over. I like to be polite. 

The way my place is set up, you have to let me know you're coming so I can let you in. Jay has keys to my place, as I have them for hers - but I'd never used them without express permission. 

2. Tell us about a school trip you took.

In year eleven we went to Mount Hotham for a ski camp for a week. It's the first and last time I've been skiing. On the bus on the way home (some 16 hours away) INXS's album The Swing played end on end, as it did the whole ski camp. I've avoided INXS ever since. 

3. Name three things within arm's reach right now (but they can't relate to your phone, computer or laptop).

Around me I have - a copy of The Little Prince, in French, some Miffy Post-It notes and an empty can of vanilla iced coffee. Will that do?

4. Weather permitting, do you dry your clothes outdoors on a clothesline?

Always on the clothesline, preferably outside, if not, on a rack in the spare room. As I don't have a clothes dryer it's the only way to get things dry.

5. If every flower in the world only bloomed in one color, what color would you like to see?

This is a silly question as the best thing in the world is the colour that flowers bring. I'd be good if only roses and sunflowers were the only flowers, but I don't like this question really. Flowers make the world a better place. 

Today's song: 

Theatre Review: The Glass Menagerie

The Play: The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams

The Company: Melbourne Theatre Company

The Space: Southbank Theatre 

Runtime: Two hours twenty minutes with an interval.

Stars: 4

Until 5 June. 

Tennessee Williams. Ah, the angst, the suffering, the dysfunctional families. I'm there for it all. I saw Brendon Fraser, Frances O'Conner and Ned Beatty in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof in London a long time ago. It was incredible. 

In the past, I've seen The Glass Menagerie - I'm fairly certain I saw their 2004 production with Ben Mendelson Tom and Pia Miranda as Laura. Though it's not up there with Brick and Maggie the cat going for it, this rendition by the Melbourne Theatre Company is solid and enjoyable - maybe a little heavy handed in places, but I'll forgive that. 

As with most other classic plays, the story doesn't change. Tom (Tim Draxl), a dreamer works at a warehouse to support his mother, Amanda (Alison Whyte) and his marginally disabled sister Laura (Millie Donaldson) He's unhappy and frustrated. His mother is a nightmare. His sister is reclusive, partly due her mother's indulgent, party through her shyness. Amanda is your atypical Southern Belle who's come across hard times. The family have come on hard times after their husband and father left to never come back. The family is a fragile powder keg of a unit.  The only way to save them is to marry off Laura. Tom arranges for a 'gentleman caller' (Harry McGee) to come around, bringing promise, then despair. 

This is a solid production. Not perfect, but very good. Some reviewers have called this out for playing to laughs - for me, it was more that they pushed the pathos. 

Alison Whyte is fabulous as the vapid, insufferable Amanda. She does a very good Southern Belle. 

Tim Draxl's Tom is great, even if he's a bit heavy handed in places. Tom's role is to display the angst caused by the desire for freedom set against the drama of family obligations. Having a starring role is Draxl's biceps, which are a thing of wonder. Mark Wilson's direction has overlayed all of this with a hefty side of closeted homosexuality. It was fine - I found it a bit heavy handed. 

Newcomer Millie Donaldson, a disabled actor, in her first role, was very good as the fragile Laura. Her scenes with the Gentleman Caller were touching - and it was wonderful to see her come out of her shell. Harry McGee brought just enough bombastic Midwestern innocence and charm to balance things out. 

The stripped-back stage, with the large, industrial stairwell to one side was effective, as were the 1930's costumes. Amanda's dress in the second act requires its own acting credits.  

In some ways, this is the most personal of Williams' plays, himself the carer for an institutionalised sister, a gay man in a society where it was frown upon, a man who knew the difficulties of impossible families. 

This is a good rendition of an enduring classic. The board at the front of the auditorium warned of ableist and racist language - of course - it's Tennessee Williams, what do you expect. 

But this is good. Though provoking in places. I know I left after the last scene, wondering what happened to Amanda and Laura after Tom, like his father, had deserted the family - and this is a sign of an engaging, haunting production. 

Today's song: