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: 

I can't be the only one

 It's getting cold, thank goodness. Finally. 

Being cooler means one thing. The cat starts to sleep on his blanket on my bed. 

It's cute. 

But surely, I can't be the only one that makes sure the cat is cosy - you know, tucking him in under a blanket, making sure he's warm enough. All that. Visiting him on the bed to make sure that he has everything he needs. 

I can't be the only one.

Today's song: 

The Strategy Document Playlist

 At work, I am writing a Strategy Document. 

Kill me now. 

In my job, most of the time, I am a worker bee. I'm a doer. The information comes in. I write it up in an acceptable format. I'll take some pretty pictures. I'll sign the document off. Rinse and repeat. 

Currently, I'm writing a strategy document for a nearly redundant website upgrade. 

It's not something I normally do, but as a they are paying me I need to suck it all up. 

I don't like thinking about all of this stuff - I mean, telling people what they should be doing and how they're supposed to be doing it. Sure, I think about this before I make the changes to whatever website/document/training material but write about it... really....like what are all the considerations you need to think about before doing all this. Things like reading age, templates, fonts. image quality...

I needed a playlist to get me through this. 

Here are some of the songs that came up. It might be a bit strange what goes through my ears as I write this tome of despair.

Kneecap's H.O.O.D. (See song of the day)

Kneecap is the best for writing stuff like this. 

Metallica - in particular, Master of Puppets. 

The Streets - Fit But You Know It

Rage Against the Machine - Killing in the Name

Public Image Limited - Rise

Nine Inch Nails - Closer

The Prodigy - Smack My Bitch Up. 

Billie Eilish - Bad Guy. 

Talking Heads - Psycho Killer

Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter

I think this list of tunes will see me right - and will deliver a quality document. 

What do you reckon?

The cat is telling me to go to bed. 

Today's song:

Two Projects Down

One of my goals for May is to complete three knitting projects. 

It sounds worse than it is. 

One project was inherited. One is a beanie which will be sent to a friend in Canberra when it’s finished. The other is a scarf that I started about three years ago. 

The inherited project, a blue jumper, only needed the neckline doing and a few holes patched. I finished this on Monday night. I'm hoping the recipient of the jumper will love it. I've even got it smelling a lot better thanks to the liberal application of Febreeze. 

The scarf has been sitting on the back of my couch for most of those three years. It’s been picked up, put down, I’ve broken knitting needles, run out of yarn, bought more yarn (Bendigo Woolen Mills Classic 12 ply in Periwinkle). It's a long cable scarf/throw. It's thick and long ang gorgeous and will be great for a Melbourne winter. Through this scarf, I've proved to myself that I can cable. (Knitters will know)

Tonight, after work I completed the scarf. It seems to be able to double as a blanket. It’s glorious.

But I will have to find another project to sit on the back of the couch.

My shrink was quite amused when I said that I always had three knitting projects on the go at any one time. (It’s an ADHD thing…) It will be nice to tell her that I finish something. 

Two down, one to go. Then I can start the next one…

Today's song: