Sunday Stealing

Going Home

 It's time to go home. Well, nearly. 

12 days away. 

Ten nights in Darwin. 

One night in Batchelor (also referred to as Wolf Creek)

One night in Katherine. 

Lots of swimming. The waterholes at Mataranka and Bitter Springs were incredible. The pool at our hotel is BLOODY COLD, but very refreshing after work. The pool in in a gully, surrounded on three sides by large buildings. Still, it is July and I get to go into a pool for a swim. 

There's been more alcohol than I normally drink. When I dropped my Darwin bag back to the office, where it resides in one of the manager's offices, he asked if the gin was in there again. All the gin got drunk over the two weeks. I've had drinking mates this trip. It's been nice. 

I've also worked out that COVID is a pain in the arse. I came up here pretty much recovered from COVID. I felt fine. The nose had stopped running. I felt fine. The RAT test was clear. 

But COVID has a long tale end. Walking anything about over a slow stroll was catching on the top of my chest. I ended up buying a Ventolin inhaler to help with the breathing as I was getting a bit wheezy at times. The fact that you're in and out of air conditioning all day, every day doesn't help either. 

That, and the tiredness. 

Last night I was out with friends, but I was flagging early. I came home. I put a movie on the telly and curled up on the couch. Next thing I knew, it was 2 a.m. - Hence no blog last night.

Tonight, I was spoiled. A colleague offered me their leftovers. They used to be a chef. Prawn Caesar salad. It was INCREDIBLE. I owe them one bigtime. 

But now I'm going home - for two weeks - before I have to come back here for user acceptance testing, and my birthday. 

I'm nearly packed. It's just a matter of unplugging the Fire Stick, having a shower, taking my recycling down to the fourth floor and putting on warmer clothes, shoes with socks, gathering up the last of the detritus, charge up my watch and phone and meet a couple of colleagues and heading over to the airport at 11.30. 

Oh, what fun.  

At least I get my bed and my cat back soon. 

Best be off. 

Today's song: 

Not tonight

 Yeah, too tired.

Not tonight.

Casting

 I'm just out of my book group. This is not as hard as you think, as we hold our book group online. Instead of an 8 pm start, here in Darwin, it's a 7.30 kick off. It also means that I had to get my swim in early and forage for dinner from the leftovers in my fridge and have a gin and tonic ready. Easy. 

The book was Sarah Winman's Still Life. This was one of my favourite books read last year and it was a pleasure to read it again. The novel tells of the unlikely friendship between a soldier, Ulysses Temper, and a septuagenarian art critic, Evelyn Skinner, who meet in World War II and who have a huge impact on each other. Life goes on, Ulysses moves to Florence, taking in tow his old friends from the pub in which he used to live in London's East End, as well as the eight-year-old daughter of his ex-wife. 

The book takes in the period from 1944 to 1979, with a small foray back to Florence at the turn of the 20th century. It's historically pretty accurate. 

It's also ostensibly a queer book. Sarah Winman is gay, and there are a number of gay, lesbian and queer characters throughout the book, which, for the late 50s was almost unheard of. Still Life is a book of quirky characters that speaks of love, friendship, family and the ties that bind us. 

Oh, and there is a parrot named Claude. Loved Claude. 

One of the questions we were asked is, if we were to cast a movie or mini-series of this book, who would you cast. 

For me, it was a bit easy. 

For the slightly conflicted good guy, Ulysses, that has to go to James Norton. He does a good conflicted good guy with a bit of a past.

For 'The Kid', I reckon Millie Bobbie Brown would be good. She's do a great arty waif, that Alice turns out to be. She could use her native accent. 

In the roles of Cress and Col, two guys from the East End pub who are integral to Ulysses and his life in Florence, we're looking for an older actor with a bit of life who can then be aged. I'm thinking Daniel Craig or Hugh Grant. Hugh Grant does a great Cockney accent, and Daniel Craig has the range. I see him more as the faithful Cress. Cress has a sense of humour. 

For Peg, I'm seeing a Michelle Dockery. She can sing. And she can be tough. but vulnerable - and Peg needs that. 

Oh, and Evelyn - we'll give that to Olivia Colman. I reckon she could do her justice. If not, Celia Imrie.

I love to cast movies in my head. Get the right cast and this could be a ripper of a film or mini-series. 

Today's song:

I cannot be the only one…

 … Who doesn’t give two hoots the Olympics.

Is this unpatriotic?

Is this Un Australian?

Is this a character flaw?

I have a funny feeling. I’ll be watching a lot of Netflix over the next couple of weeks.

And it’s not that I don’t wonder at the scale of the people participating. What some of these people do is amazing, however, I have the following issues with the Olympics, particularly from an Australian perspective.

Firstly, so much money gets put into getting our team to wherever they’re going, to win medals. That money could be put too much better things. Australia is always seen to be punching above its weight, but participation Getting people prepared for the Olympics that of Russia or China. Think about it.

Secondly, I don’t like that. You only see snippets of everything. It used to be that you could watch all of the swimming, or all of the dressage etc etc. Now you’re just getting into it and it changes onto something that you don’t want to watch on the telly. 

Sod that.

Thirdly, get pissed off with this fixation medals. Isn’t the Olympics about participation, As an amateur, in your favourite sport? Why is obtaining medals so freaking important. 

This is not to detract from other people getting enjoyment from the Olympics. I'm sure if they had channels for just diving gymnastics and dressage I'd happily watch along. I find athletics and swimming rather boring - I mean, just running around a track or doing laps really fast,

I have a friend heading to Paris to support one of our marathon runners. Good on her, I say. I believe her friend is in with a change of a medal. I understand what it is to support your friends.

But I will be watching a lot of Netflix over the next few weeks. It's unpatriotic and un-Australian, but it's how I feel. 

Today's song:

Sunday Stealing: Time Capsules

 I am just back from two days away from Darwin. My colleague EH and I drove down to Mataranka and Nitmiluk (Katherine) to bear witness to the amazing natural beauty of the place. And because of this, I am currently very, very tired - and a little bit sunburned. Oh well. 

Quetions, as always, come from Bev at Sunday Stealing Sunday Stealing. 

1.  What would you put in a time capsule?

I really don't have any idea. I did see a video about them opening a time capsule from the 1970s which was filled with all sorts of unmentionables. I worry that if I put things in a time capsule, that would happen. (This probably only works for the Brits - the Plastic Mancunian understands.)

2.  What’s something you’re really good at?

I'm pretty good at knitting, writing stroppy letters, thinking my way out of problems and ironing. 

3.  What part of society would you like to change?

Everything. I'd like to get rid of the rich/poor and the class divides. It's so harmful. We could also get rid of the patriarchy and right-wing politics. That too would help a lot. 

4.  What have you eaten in the past 24 hours?

Crap. EH and I only got back to Darwin a few hours ago, but we had a sensible hotel breakfast in Katherine, a muffin and a coffee at Nitmiluk, I had a fish burger and chips at Pine Creek, and some salad and a little bit of ice cream for dinner. 

5.  What is an unusual fact about you?

I'm a practicing witch. That unusual enough? I am a white witch. No cursing or doing harm. 

6.  Do you collect anything?

Not really, but I do like it when people bring me back small elephants from countries which have elephants. 

7.  Have you played sports?

I do gym a lot, and I love exercising, but I've never played team sports. Unless you count pool. I love playing pool.

8.  What is your favorite blog?

The Plastic Mancunian. I have to admit, I don't read many blogs. 

9.  Ketchup vs. mustard?

Both. But I put tomato sauce (ketchup) on lots of things. I love all sorts of different mustards, like Dijon, seedy, Hot English, Horseradish... We don't really use American Yellow Mustard around here. I like the French style mustard used at IKEA. 

10.  Do you believe in ghosts or aliens?

I have a healthy belief that both ghosts and aliens exist, but they probably don't come in the way we think. The universe is too big to have this planet as the only inhabited one. And I've been around too many ghosts not to believe in them. 

11.  The last movie you saw in a theater.

Oh, that was Yorgos Lanthimos's Kinds of Kindness. I normally love his work, but I really didn't gel with this. It was VERY dark. 

12.  The silliest thing you have done this week.

Doing a 800 kilometre round trip road trip was pretty silly - but very rewarding. But now I'm really tired. 

13.  Have you ever done anything illegal?

Yes, but I've never been caught. Other than the odd speeding ticket, I did live in England without a visa for six years. But I paid my taxes and National Insurance.... swings and roundabouts. 

14.  What would you wish for right now?

World Peace. A kinder, gentler, less selfish society. 

15.  What shoes do you wear the most of?

As I am currently in Darwin, I'm living in Birkenstocks. In Melbourne, as it is in the middle of Winter, I live in Chelsea boots and Ugg Boots and trainers, but here, in the heat, it's sturdy sandals. 

Today's song: 

Notes from the Road

 Today’s road trip took us from Batchelor, down to Mataranka, and back up to Katherine. It’s been a fantastic day.

After EH picked me up at Wolf Creek Batchelor, at 7 a.m, we high-tailed tailed it out of this rather strange place, deciding breakfast in Adelaide River would be a good thing to do. It turned out to be a great idea. The roadhouse made an excellent egg and bacon pie and cup of coffee.

Note on getting a cup of coffee in outback Australia. Don’t try and be flash. When I asked for a coffee I asked for a standard skinny flat white hoping that my request for skinny milk be accepted. I explained that I was a Melbourne wanker and normally had an almond decaf latte. The lady behind the counter thought this was the funniest thing she had heard all day. The Melbourne wanker thing, not the skinny milk. Turns out they had soy and almond milk in this cafe. Well flash . (In Darwin, they punch above their weight when it comes to coffee).

People are very chatty out of Darwin. You don’t quite know what to make of it, but EH and I decided to run with it. Thankfully, the locals are friendly.

We had a few dramas with the music. Once again, being out of the metropolitan area, the is rather patchy.When trying to play music from my phone into the car, we found that we only had four songs able to be played. Now, I love the song Overkill, and the three Paul Simon songs are excellent, but after the second listen, you want to throw the phone out of the window. Once we got to Pine Creek, we downloaded a lot more music thanks to a working Telstra network.. EH has been subjected to my encyclopedic knowledge of 1980s music most of the day. I still don’t know how he didn’t  know about The Violent Femmes … or The Pogues… And he’s been submitted to a lot of very bizarre music trivia, but that’s one of the joys of going on a road trip with me.

The hybrid RAV4 we’ve hired, an upgrade from something small and tinny, is an excellent car, even if the start-up process is rather annoying.

Our main place to visit today was Mataranka, and the thermal springs. I can safely stay that this bucket list item has been knocked off. We spent about an hour in the pools floating around on pool noodles, chatting to other people, who have mistaken us for a couple and for grey nomads. I find this quite scary but dealing with it. The pool noodles were liberated from a manager’s office in Darwin. I will be returning them before he misses them. EH didn’t know why we should bring them, but they were excellent. He sees just how good these silly pieces of plastic really are. When you are walking around these hot, every has pool noodles.

My Darwin friend, Liz, told us that we had to visit Bitter Springs, Which is just the Darwin side of Mataranka. These pools were just as the thermal pools, however they were larger, and there was a current that could take you to another part of the complex, all the time on your noodle. Utterly glorious.I wish we had factored in more time there.

And now we are in Katherine. The Knotts Crossing Resort is a huge upgrade from where we were staying at Wolf Creek oops, Batchelor. The sheets, for one, are a lovely soft cotton. The rooms are old red brick, not a shipping container converted into a cabin. The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable. The restaurant at the resort is very good. We tried crocodile spring rolls for a starter taste like a bit a mix of fish and chicken. 

And there is internet!

Tomorrow, we go on a boat cruise of Nitmiluk Gorge, then meander our way back to Darwin, stopping in at Edith Falls and Pine Creek on the way home.

I had forgotten how much I love road trips.

Today’s song:

Batchelor

I am travelling with my workmate this weekend, who I’m going to call, EH. 

We’ve been planning this trip for a month as we are travelling for the next two days, saying “my colleague ,my colleague “ over time will get repetitive. Therefore, I am breaking my strict rule of not mentioning  colleagues by name. EH often reads this blog, so he’ll hopefully be cool with this. 

Anyway, I am currently in what feels like a converted shipping container, which probably was converted in around 1973, lying under what can only be described as polycotton sheets, which are a fetching shade of elephant shit brown.

I’m located about 10 km from the township of Batchelor. There is next to no Internet which means I’m writing this on my notepad and I’ll put it into the block tomorrow morning when I’m on the road and there is Internet again.

Going bush reminds you of how reliant you are on the Internet.

Then again, we have come all this way only need to find one of the biggest computer crashes has occurred. After picking up the car we tried to find supplies. We took our trusty Toyota Rav-4 down the track (the Stuart Highway) stopping off at a shopping centre on the edge of Darwin. There was a big Coles there. Only to find nearly everything shut. The computer shut down had completely decimated the place. Not so strangely, the bottle shop was open where we could get some water, paid by cash of course. There was also a Thai. Food place open. It was a very good decision to grab some food there. It was alright. Not the pub dinner I was expecting.

Bachelor is an interesting place. EH and I reckon it is the town in which Wolf Creek was based. We turned up at my camping ground just before eight the fellow was quite adamant that he texted me asking where I was the only thing is that the Internet, being so patchy on the track, meant I didn’t get his message. Regardless, I was settled  into my little cabin, with its own bathroom. Despite the 1970s decor and the ageing fittings, the place was spotlessly clean and the shower was really good. I can’t complain.

EH was staying in another part of town, at another holiday park. His reception was far scarier than mine. He picked me up at seven this morning, and looked a little rattled.

But I’m not sure about the point of this, other than to say that I want to say, other than I am on a road trip with a colleague, and we’re having a really great time. I’ll post the highlights in my next blog post.

By then, the duelling banjos might have stopped in my head.

Today’s song:

War Games

The walk was needed. From the hotel, around the back to the Waterfront, up past the Deckchair Cinema, which I was tempted to stay for their showing of The Motive and the Cue, then around to Bicentennial Park for the sunset, a stop at Subway for a quick and easy dinner, then back to the hotel before the real dark had set in. A nice hour loop around the city, my audiobook in my ears. After the day spent at the call centre it was bliss. 

The alternative was to go with my colleagues to this event called Pitch Black at Mindil Beach. The evening event had the participating military flying squadrons doing a fly past the beach. As there are international military games going on all around Darwin over the next few weeks, this is their big showcase, with the participating militaries showing off their hardware. 

For me, it was a matter of crowds and noise - no thanks. You can't go to everything, and I wanted to go for a walk. By myself. Without five thousand of my best mates gawping at the big birds as they flew past.

But if you want to see what was on offer, here's a link to the livestream.  Exercise Pitch Black 24 | Mindil Beach Flying Display Livestream ✈ - YouTube

Also, just wandering around the Waterfront, I got to see the planes as they flew back to base. Big, noisy, fast war planes. 

As I walked down to the Waterfront, I got a great view of some of the planes. Something stirred in my belly. 

We live in a peaceable country in peaceable times. 

Maybe it's because I'm reading a lot about World War Two at the moment, but I found the drone of the planes unsettling. 

As much as I know that these planes are here for practices, and games and show, there is a darker, more sinister reason for them being here.

These planes aren't going to drop bombs on Darwin, or hopefully anywhere in the near future, but this is not to say that they don't have the potential to do so. 

And it might be a spectacular sight to see all of these planes fly by, but I'm glad I got my necessary evening of solitude, avoiding the drone of the machines as they flew off into the horizon. 

Today's song:

Cold

For Darwin, this is a first. 

I'm cold. 

I don't get cold normally. I rather like feeling a bit cold. But not up here. 

It's the windchill factor. It got to about 28 degrees today, but there was a stiff breeze, making it feel cooler. It's supposed to get down to 13 degrees tonight. Positively Antarctic for up here - and I'm getting why they're saying it's horrible cold up here. 

As usual, I went for a dip after work. I stayed in about fifteen minutes, but with the pool being in the shade for most of the day, and the wind chill factor, and the fact that Territorians don't heat their swimming pools, it was bloody cold. On getting out, I listened to my colleagues count the clothes horses on the balconies that overlook the area. Oh, the fun we have. 

But I'm cold. 

Tonight, I chose to hibernate - have some leftover salad from last night's family dinner and get reading my book group book. I also found The Talented Mr Ripley and Heathers playing on SBS World Movies, so there way my night sorted. 

But I've put an extra blanket on the bed. 

And turned the ceiling fans right down.

And turned up the air conditioning a couple of degrees (normally it's as low as I can get it)

And put on the hoodie that I brought up to wear when I get off the plane in Melbourne next week. 

And still, I'm feeling a bit chilly. 

I get what my local colleagues are telling me about it being "cold". 

The stupid thing is back home in Melbourne, in the middle of winter, I wander around in thongs and Birkenstocks and a t-shirt and I feel nothing. I don't feel the cold in Melbourne. 

This is a very strange feeling. 

Today's song:

The Knitting Lesson

 I'm teaching a colleague how to knit. 

To me, knitting is an extension of myself. I've been doing it since I was child. I've been knitting myself jumpers and other things since I was a teenager. I can do cables, and lace patterns at a push - although I can't be asked to do things like Fair Isle - that's a bit too much for my head. 

Regardless, tonight, at family dinner, I sat down with my colleague on another colleague's balcony (because it was family dinner night - where we get a chook bag, some salad and other bits and pieces and wash it down with a gin and tonic in somebody’s apartment) and started them on the process. 

Anybody who's learned to knit knows you have to start easily. There was no way I was going to bamboozle them with learning how to cast on or do purl stitch. For the moment, we'll stick to the plain old knit stitch. Purl will come in a few weeks. First we’ll let their hands get used to the yarn and the needles. 

I cast on 20 stitches of the chunky wool onto a set of bigger needles - 5 mm needles. Not too big, not too small. Then, I did a couple of rows to start them off. As any knitter knows, the first few rows is when you find your feet, but you have to find your tension. 

Then came the instruction part. 

"First, it's about relaxing your hands. In your left hand, hold the needle with the work on it. In your right, hold the knitting needle like a pen. I'll teach you about wool tension in a bit. But do try to relax your hands. "

They did as I instructed. 

"Now, let's make a stitch. It's in three parts. It's a crime scene."

"What?" They were bemused. Knitting seems like such a calm and placid hobby.

"Well, first you stab it, then you strangle it, then you loop the noose."

"What are you talking about?"

I thought this was an ingenious way to teach somebody to knit. 

"I'll show you."

I took up my own knitting. 

"First you stab it." I hooked the first stitch onto the empty needle. 

"Then you strangle it. Wrap the wool around the needle from the back." I demonstrated. They copied my example. 

"Then you loop the noose." The new stitch was formed on the needle. 

"Then you repeat. And repeat. Until the end of the row."

I watched as they concentrated making the stitches. "Stab it, strangle it, loop the noose." I heard them mutter under their breath.

We knitted, while chatting with our other colleague, and having a gin and tonic, and watching the sunset over Cullen Bay. 

"It gets easier. This is all muscle memory."

"I can see that. You don't even look at what you're doing."

"I do sometimes. I watch and count when I do cables. It's like a meditation."

"Is that why you knit in meetings? » 

"Partly. It's fun to attend meetings when you're knitting. Nobody has to know that in your head you're repeating the words, "Stab it, strangle it, loop the noose..."

Today's song:

Munted in Darwin

 Things you should know:

1. I got into Darwin at 12:30 this morning.

2. I’ve got to the hotel at 1:30 this morning.

3. I got to bed at 2:30 this morning. Darwin time that is.

4. At least half an hour to get to sleep. That takes me to 3.30 a.m Melbourne time.

5. The alarm went off at 7:30 this morning.

6. I was in the office at 8:30 this morning, or thereabouts.

7. Yeah, I am overtired, overstimulated and running on a mix of sugar and caffeine.

8. I have done my big shop at Coles.

9. I had a taco dinner at the Cavanagh Hotel.

10. And I am officially munted.

All I have to do now is find a song for the day, run myself under the shower and maybe get some proper sleep.

I will be better - happier - tomorrow.

Today's song:

Sunday Stealing: Summer

Umm, it,s Winter here in Australia, but I am heading off to Darwin this evening where they're expecting a balmy 30 degrees Celcius (about 90 in the old measure) - but that is the weather in Darwin most days of the year. 

In Melbourne, it's currently 11.5 degrees celcius - or 52 in the old money. In Australia, we haven't looked at temperatures in Fahrenheit in over fifty years. 

Questions, as always, come from Bev at Sunday Stealing. 

1. What is the hottest temperature you've seen this summer so far? 

Umm, it's Winter here. But we had a mild Summer last year. I think I remember it hitting 40 (106) a couple of times, but the temperature sat around the late twenties, early 30s for most of summer ( 85-90). When you get a run of days over 40, that's the worst. 

2. What is your favorite summer beverage?

Gin and tonic. 

3. Have you seen any fireflies/lightning bugs yet? Cicadas?

Umm, we don't get those sorts of bugs here. Summer brings more spiders, dragonflies and beetles. But it's Winter, so no, haven't seen these bugs yet. 

4. What are the last 3 things you bought online?

• A dress for work in Darwin. 
• Cat litter tray liners
• Cartridges for my water filter. 

5. Where do locals go to cool off?

Shopping centres or the cinema - may as well use other people's air conditioning. Some go to the beach, but it's a bugger to find parking. 

6. Where did you buy your last postcard and what was on the pc?

I don't think I've bought a postcard since I was in France last October.

7. What's your favorite summertime scent?

Freshly cut grass. 

8. What kind of a/c do you have - central, room, fans only, chillers, none and what temperature do you set it to?

I have a split system in my living room and a couple of fans that get used about the place. They do the job. 

9. Do you have a summer vacation planned and if so, where are you really going??

Not yet, though once this job is over I'm thinking of spending a few weeks in either Japan or Vietnam. 

10. What are your favorite summer activities? 

Sitting in a beer garden or being at the movies avoiding the heat. 

11.  What's your favorite summertime food?

Really crisp salads, maybe with some grilled fish. 

12. Did you ever go to summer school?

No - not a concept we have here in Australia. 

13. What's your favorite summertime memory?

I used to love going down to our local beach near home and playing beach cricket. That's a very Australian thing to do. 

14. Do you like fireworks?

No. I'm not good with things flying around and loud noises. Besides, other than sanctioned displays and public events, fireworks are basically banned around here. 

15. How do you feel about the longer days of summer?

It's part of the world. I'm more of a fan of Winter, but it's good to be able to wander around after work. 

Today's song:

Film Review: Kinds of Kindness

 Film number 22 of 2024

The Film: Kinds of Kindness

The Cinema: Village Rivoli Cinemas

Stars: A very cautious 3

Things I knew about this film going into it: 

• The writer/director is Yorgos Lanthimos, who's previous work I've loved. 
• It has some of my favourite actors in it - Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Willem Dafoe and Margaret Qualley to name a few. 
• It's nearly three hours long
• And it has an audience score of 43% on RottenTomatoes.com

Things I now know about this film having come out of the cinema:

• It's probably Yorgos Lanthimos's least accessible work
• It's bonkers (then again, so are his other films)
• It's very deserving of the MA+ rating
• It is very thought provoking, if you can sit through it all. 

There were four of us in the cinema when the film started. There were two at the end of the film. I have a feeling walk outs will happen a lot with this one. 

See, as bonkers as it is, up until now, I've loved the films of Yorgos Lanthimos. The Lobster is incredible - hilarious. The Favourite, the film that got Olivia Coleman her Oscar - glorious. Poor Things got Emma Stone her Oscar. I adore these films. They're blackly funny, stylised and bizarre - but you enjoy watching them. 

The same can't quite be said for this one. 

This one is dark. Very dark.

There are three shorter films within the one all hinging around the mysterious R.M.F. and all have a story which is loosely based around themes of control and redemption. 

In the first section, The Death of R.M.F. Richard (Jesse Plemons) makes the decision to not fulfill his boss/master's (Willem Dafoe) wishes in killing somebody. This decision means his home life is interfered with. He also comes to learn that Robert's reach is large and insidious. Does he enact Robert's wishes or go it alone? 

In the second segment, R.M.F is Flying, Daniel (again, Jesse Plemons with shorter hair) is unsure his wife Liz (Emma Stone), who has been rescued from an island, is not his wife. 

This is the most disturbing section of the trilogy. 

In the last section, R.M.F eats a Sandwich, we meet Emma Stone's character Emily is on the hunt for a messiah type character for her 'Omi' (Willem Dafoe) the cult leader. Her lackey, Andrew (Jesse Plemons) also a member is not sure that the pair will find the woman. After an encounter with her ex-husband, Emily is cast out of the cult, but continues to look for the woman she seeks in the prophesy. 

Confused yet? You're allowed to be. 

G.G Townsend gives a better review than me, looking at the film in detail. 

I'll just say that this is an interesting film, bizarre and absurd, that has some pretty deep messages about control, consent and oppression. 

But not everybody wants to see a film about this - particularly when it's nearly three hours long. 

Stylistically, the film is amazing. It's view of Middle America is clear and unflinching. What's particularly good is the soundscape provided by an interesting mix of Greek hymns, discordant organ music and some pop bangers. 

Lanthimos uses his stable of extraordinary actors brilliantly, despite the bizarre material. I particularly loved the cult scenes and Emma Stone's dance at the very end. (See song of the day).

But I can't recommend this one, unless you're enrolled in film studies or you're a lover of either the films of Yorgos Lanthimos or absurdism. 

You've been duly warned. 

I'm going off now to think about it a bit more. 

Today's song: 

Film Review: Fly Me To The Moon

 Film Number 21 of 2024

The Movie: Fly Me to the Moon

The Cinema: Hoyts Victoria Gardens

Stars: 4

This is the perfect Friday night film fodder. Light. Fluffy. Fun. And steeped in a history that many of us will be able to either remember or know about and you may have been rapt with as a child. The moon landing, and what went on behind the scenes. Oh, and it has Channing Tatum in it as well. 

What's not to like? 

The essence of this film is really a big shaggy dog story. 

Kelly Jones (Scarlett Johansson), a New York advertising queen is drafted (well, blackmailed, or press ganged - depending how you want to see it) into working for NASA by the shady, odious Moe Berkus (Woody Harrelson), an operative with one of the big intelligence agencies.  

This is set during the 1960s Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union. Kelly's role is to fix NASA's public image and stage a "back-up" fake Moon landing.

With her trusty sidekick Ruby (Anna Garcia) Kelly starts working for the government agency, she's met with a lot of backlash. But Kelly is a consummate professional. And a bit of a grifter at heart. And very, very crafty. You see this from the first scenes in the film. 

On the other hand, Cole Davis (Channing Tatum) is the Director of Apollo 11. Having worked at NASA for years, he's got some issues, especially after the disaster of the Apollo 1 mission. He works in a bloke's world with his old mate Henry Smalls (Ray Romano) and a lot of engineers. He's no nonsense and dedicated and knows he's pushing crap up a very steep hill to get this project in the air. 

And of course, he doesn't want Kelly spinning his project. No, not at all. 

And of course, the attraction between the two of them is palpable. 

There is a lot to like about this film. Yes, it's rather light and fluffy, but in a good way. It's always good to see a film that has next to no sex and swearing, though the odd thing does blow up. 

They've got the period down pat. This is the late sixties. There's the aftermath of Korea, the Vietnam War going on in the background. Richard Nixon is president. And America was still the aspirational place we wish it was now.

Greg Berlanti's direction is sound, keeping the action going and the humour visible. The movie was also paced well, with its crescendo coming quickly as the rocket takes off. I was rather taken with the nerdy engineers and the boy's club sentiments which must have made women's lives hell at the time. 

The costumes and the soundtrack are right on point too. I'm sure they got in a job lot of short-sleeved, polyester men's shirts and skinny ties. 

Maybe this delighted me as all things NASA and space have fascinated me from early childhood. Maybe it's just me craving simpler times. 

But as a Friday Night movie, this ticked all the boxes. It's a film you can take your parents to, and you'll know they'll love it. 

And sure, there might be a bit of gawping at Channing Tatum's chest or Scarlett Johansson's bum, but isn't that what movies are about? Oh, and there's a black cat in the film, ergo, it has to be good. 

Maybe save this one for the streaming services, but I'm really glad I saw it. It's fun, entertaining and pretty to look at. 

Today's song: 

I want exercise

To relieve a bit of the cabin fever, I took myself out for a half our drive around Richmond. I didn't get out of the car, didn't interact with anyone - just went for a drive, listened to my audiobook and enjoyed being out of the confines of the flat. 

I think tomorrow, if the RAT test is either showing negative or barely there, I'm out of here property. Maybe a movie. Maybe just a wander down the supermarket. Anything to get me out of the flat.

Mostly, I want to exercise. Be back in the gym. Do something that makes me feel good. 

Mind you, COVID's knocked me about and filled my tubes with muck and is slowing me down a bit.

Hopefully, by the time I arrive in Darwin on Monday morning, the warmer weather will let me get out and move a bit more. 

I've missed it. 

Today's song: 

Thinking about Packing

The COVID is abating. Yay. 

I went back to work today - working from home - and got a little bit done. Regardless, things are moving in the right direction. 

Which means I now have to start thinking about packing for Darwin. 

The parameters have changed for this next trip. 

I'll be gone twelve days / eleven nights. The cat sitters are booked. 

I have access to a washing machine - our little apartments have one of those, and a dryer, in the bathroom. 

But here's the things I have to start thinking about. 

Knitting Shit

I always take my knitting up with me, however, one of my team wants to learn how to knit. I've got plenty of spare wool around the place, but can I find a set of needles up to the job? Strangely no.  I can't teach this person on circular needles. You go onto them once you've learned how to knit on straight needles - and crappy acrylic wool. 

The Novel

I want to take that manuscript up with me again. This time, I'll set some time to do some real work on it. 

Play clothes:

I have a Darwin wardrobe that goes up with me every time. As I'm in the office most of the time, going out means changing from my work Birkenstocks to my thongs. But I'm going on a two-day road trip with my colleague down to Katherine and Mataranka. My favourite travelling pants died a few months ago. We're going to be in and out of water. There's going to be dinner. And a lot of driving. I'm trying to work out what play clothes to take. 

Book:

Other than the book group book, (Sarah Winman's glorious Still Life, which I read over a year ago and need to get read before Tuesday week - and I need to collect this from Blarney on the way to the airport.) But what book after that? I need a book to read. 

Gin: 

I'll be gone for nearly two weeks. There is a small bottle of Never Never Triple Juniper up in my Darwin bag. Do I take another traveler bottle? Four Pillars Olive Gin? Macedon Ranges Dry Gin? Dig around in the cupboard and find some more of that Hendricks? This is a big decision. 

Do I also need a second pair of bathers? Or more gym gear, as I've promised Chuck I'd get a few workouts in, seeing I missed our session tonight (Thanks to COVID). 

There's far too much to think about. 

I'm forgetting something. 

Today's song:

Pantry Staples

 Maybe it's because I've been watching a lot of Masterchef and The Great British Bake Off over the last few days, or maybe it's because I've lost my appetite along with my sense of taste and smell thanks to COVID, but I've been hankering something tasty, which I can actually taste. 

At the moment, when I do eat, I'm going by mouth feel. After a discussion with a friend last night, I wanted a smoked salmon and cream cheese toasted bagel. Eating smoked salmon is a bit pointless when you can't taste it, especially as the flavours are subtle. I remember where I was the first time I tried it - in England, on a course somewhere in the Hertfordshire countryside. I thought it was the most ambrosial stuff I had ever tasted. Living in the West of London, the bagel bakery in West Hampstead Regardless, the bagel was toasted, the cream cheese was spread and two thin slices of smoked salmon placed in the middle. Despite not being able to taste the subtleties of my favourite breakfast, I could enjoy the textures.  

Or last night's snack, when hunger crept up on me, probably after skipping dinner. A toasted cheese sandwich. Of course, I can't taste anything, but there is the necessity of making a cheese sandwich, with a scrape of butter on the outside and lots of Worcestershire Sauce on the inside. Some would call this poor man's Welsh Rarebit, others would thing I'm mad, but there is something about the umami hit provided by this much maligned condiment that makes cheese sandwiches sing. 

Regardless, I could only appreciate the crunch on the toast, the meltiness of and the tanginess of the cheese, knowing that this was vintage cheddar and Worcester sauce, and not boring cheese slices. 

Lunch came late today after the Coles delivery. A nice man dropped off my groceries on time. Inside one of the bags was some Dari's Chicken and Noodle soup. Once headed up, I slipped in some rice noodles and a big dollop of chilli oil. Jonella makes a superior chicken soup which she calls Jewish Penicillin. This, however, does the job admirably, especially with the add ins. 

Of course, I tasted nothing. I felt the nourishment. Slurping on the noodles was the best. I got the mild heat from the chilli - but there was nothing to taste. Could have been cardboard. 

Then for dinner, not really being hungry, but now curious, I made me a single serve size of apple crumble. I had some apples that needed using. The apples were peeled and cored. Next, the cinnamon. Looking at my spice tubs, I knew one of the mystery spices was cinnamon - but which one? Was the darker one cinnamon, or was that the ground cloves? I ended up sprinkling on a little nutmeg and throwing in a cinnamon stick, because I couldn't be sure. Then some currants were mixed in, on which was put the topping of muesli, a bit of flour and some chopped up butter. Cooked at 180 degrees for about 40 minutes. Topped with some Greek yoghurt, I think it was yummy. 

I can't tell you. This COVID has completely decimated these two senses. 

I miss being able to smell my farts. 

I don't know if my armpits stink. 

I get pleasure from coffee, only because I know what it is supposed to taste like. 

The only good thing about this is that I can't smell the stinky churro cat treats that Lucifer loves so much - or his poo. That's just as awful.

Tomorrow, I'll be back at work, thankful that I took the second day off to recover. 

I have a feeling I won't be getting the sense of taste of smell back for a bit. From recollection, the last time this happened, it was back in about a fortnight. In have one unfortunate friend who's still waiting for her sense of taste and smell to return two years later after the initial bout of the crappy virus. 

Today's song:

Sod this for a game of soldiers

It's COVID.

Let's count my blessings. 

1. I've kept up with the COVID vaccinations every six-twelve months - recommended for people who travel a lot. 

2. It really did feel like a cold the other day. For COVID, it's a very mild dose. 

3. It still feels like a chest cold, although my sense of taste and smell has gone - like when you get a cold. 

4. I've got a job that I can do from home - though I've taken today off because I cough a lot when I talk - no point. 

5. I'm glad I didn't go to the office today and try and soldier on. 

6. I'm grateful for Jay who's dropped of bubble tea and bagels - not that I feel much like the latter. 

7. I'm glad it's not next weekend when I am going to be getting on a plane on Sunday night bound for Darwin. 

8. I feel virtuous that I masked up when I went to the supermarket yesterday.

9. I now have a decent reason to get Uber Eats - not that I'm hungry. 

10. And if I need groceries, I can have them delivered. 

11. Four years on from when this first started, COVID is no longer going to have you out for a fortnight. 

12. And the cat is happy I'm home. 

13. And some of my knitting projects are progressing. 

14. And that book that I'm not really enjoying might get read. 

15. And I can catch up on some telly. 

16. And I should be back at work tomorrow all going well. 

17. I'm not running a temperature, feel like I'm sucking on razor blades, aching all over or hacking up my lungs. 

Sod COVID. No idea where I picked it up. Public transport? The office? The gym? No idea. 

At least I feel like I've turned to corner. 

Today's song: 

Sick

 I am sick. 

I have a cold. 

Yes, I have tested for COVID. It's not that. 

I am filled with snot. 

I'm feeling sorry for myself.

I've missed most of the weekend. I was looking forward do to doing a lot more. 

The cat is being a brat. 

I've watched a full season of the Great British Bake Off, soggy bottoms and all (*IYKYK)

I've finished knitting two beanies - they just needed the ends sewn in. 

And I'm a bit over it. 

Hopefully I'll feel a bit better tomorrow. I won't be going into the office - I feel rancid, and going in when you are sick is no longer the done thing. 

I'm sick of taking panadol and sudafed. 

Yeah, I'm just over it all. 

Today's song: 

Sunday Stealing: What's your favourite?

 I have a head cold and I'm not happy about this. I hate colds, though I'm not travelling for another weeks, so this should all be over by next Sunday. Still, I'm already sick of the snot and I need to get more tissues tomorrow as I'm running out. The sudafed isn't touching this. 

Ah well. 

Questions, as always come from Bev at Sunday Stealing. 

1. What's your favorite animal? 

My cat Lucifer is my favourite animal. I love most animals, but he is my little mate. 

2. What's your favorite book? 

Do I have to pin it down to one book? Really. 

Take your pick from one of the following: 

• Richard Flanagan's The Narrow Road to the Deep North
• Jeffrey Eugenides Middlesex
• Louis de Bernieres' Captain Corelli's Mandolin
• Sarah Winman's Still Life
• Hanya Yanigahara's A Little Life
• J.K Rowling's Harry Potter series. (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkban is my favourite)
• Ian McEwan's Atonement
• Maggie O'Farrell's Hamnet

3. What's your favorite color? 

One of the following: 

• Pillarbox Red
• Jade Green
• Peacock Blue

4. What's your favorite dessert? 

Pretty much anything with vanilla or lemon. So, give me galaktoboureko, or vanilla slice, or any sort of vanilla ice cream, or a lemon meringue pie and I'm happy. 

5. What's your favorite drink? 

Non-Alcoholic - Coffee

Alcoholic - Gin and tonic

6. What's your favorite food? 

Mum's roast lamb. Nothing comes close (though Jonella and Stav made me an awesome dinner of roast lamb last week, though nothing like Mum's it was fantastic). 

7. What's your favorite hobby? 

I have lots of hobbies, from knitting to reading to taking photos. I love them all the same. 

8. What's your favorite movie? 

Again, just one? Pick from one of these: 

• Three Colours: Blue
• Casablanca
• The Breakfast Club
• Lost in Translation
• Pulp Fiction
• Best in Show
• Their Finest
• The Grand Budapest Hotel
• Branagh's Henry V

9. What's your favorite restaurant? 

My favourite restaurant, a little French bistro closed down a few months ago, so I'm looking for a new favourite. In Melbourne, one of my favourites is Cumulus Inc. Then again, for cheap and cheerful, I keep going back to the Vinh Ky for Vietnamese/Chinese food. I love Mejico for Mexican food and Hector's Deli for sandwiches. 

10. What's your favorite sandwich? 

Hector's Deli's Mushie Melt or the Ruebens they do at Cafe D'Lish in Caulfield. 

11. What's your favorite season? 

Autumn - or Fall to the Americans. I love the changing of the colours. 

12. What's your favorite series? 

Favourite series? At the moment I'm loving Bridgerton. It's the perfect mindless escapist television. From days before Six Feet Under, The West Wing, Lucifer and Suits come to mind. 

13. What's your favorite snack? 

Potato chips. Particularly salt and vinegar or cheese and onion chips. Never chicken or barbeque. 

14. What's your favorite sport to watch? 

Do I have to watch sport? If I am watching sport, it's only in snippets and it's either a quarter of Australian Rules Football, a couple of overs of cricket or a few minutes of Rugby Union (not league).

15. What's your favorite thing to have for breakfast? 

Eggs - preferably poached on toast, or Eggs Atlantic - which is Eggs Benedict which swaps out the ham or bacon for smoked salmon. 

Today's song: 

Movie Review: Perfect Days

 Movie number 20 of 2024

The Movie: Perfect Days

The Cinema: Palace Kino Cinemas, Collins Street

Stars: 5

It is wonderful to be surprised by a film. Perfect Days took my breath away. It is a seemingly quiet little film that packs an incredible wallop. What's more amazing is that for the first hour of the film there's next to no dialogue, and what is spoken is in Japanese (with subtitles). And yes, I was happy to go and see this at the local art house cinema, particularly as Wim Wenders wrote and directed the film. 

Hirayama (Koji Yakosho) is a man of strict habits. He wakes, makes his futon, he dresses, cleans his teeth, gets ready to fact the day, grabs a can of coffee from the machine outside his door and goes to his work as a cleaner of Tokyo's public toilets. He barely says a word to anybody. He doesn't his work willingly, showing a great sense of pride. He loves his music, which he plays on cassettes in his van as he goes from job to job around Tokyo. He shows a great deal of patience as he deals with his rambunctious workmate, Taskashi (Tokio Emoto). He reads old classics bought at second-hand bookstores. He eats at the same food concessions and goes to the same laundromat and bar on the weekends, to which he rides his bike. 

It's only when some happenings change his routine do we get to more about this humble, yet enigmatic man.

And I will say no more about the plot, which feels non-existent until you work out that watching Hirayama going through his day is a meditation on life in itself. You don't really know what happened to him to put him in this situation (I mean, he's reading Faulkner, he's unfailingly kind, and yes, he has boundaries, but he is generous). The last five minutes of the film, where he drives around in his van are a masterpiece in character acting. 

This is an awesome film on so many fronts, from the unexpected cinematography to the views of a very unseen Toyko, to the second half of the film where a number of occurrences take Hirayama out of his comfort zone, only to let him self-reflect on his life and the world arounds. 

This is Wim Wenders' love song to a Tokyo that is rarely shown. It's a love song to the simple man who is happy with his lot. And it pays a great deal of attention to the tapes that live in his car, giving we Generation X viewers a great deal of nostalgia. 

Perfect Days is on wide release at the art house cinemas around town. It's been out for a while. 

Catch this before it leaves the cinemas. It is an absolute gem. 

Today's song: 

Black and White

I gave into the fact that I'm a creative decades ago. There's something in my makeup which means I have to be doing something that produces something, whether that be writing, or knitting, or making a cake, or taking photos. It doesn't matter what it is, as long as I'm producing something. This blog is a testament to this. I know it's a silly blog, but it's me producing something on a daily basis. 

One of my little creative endeavours is producing black and white photographs. I normally do this every day for one month during the year with varying degrees of success. 

I am not a photographer.

I shoot on my iPhone (iPhone 15 Pro), then use an Instagram filter (Always Inkwell, never Moon), often fiddling with the brightness, contrast and structure. 

And I put them up. 

Albert Street, evening, Melbourne

There's no rhyme or reason to the photos. I just like taking them. 

Kate, Beach, just outside of Apollo Bay

When finding subjects for the black and whites, I look for texture. I don't spend a lot of time constructing the photos. Sometimes something catches my eye, I'll point and snap and Bob's your uncle. 

Date night, Southbank, Melbourne

It really amazes me how much joy producing these shots provides. I know that technically they're not great photos. I'm not trained in any way. I just do these to please me. Selfish, eh?

Miffy Snow Globes, Hema, Paris

It's fun to work in another medium. 

Randoms, Southwark tube station, London

I'll keep doing it. It takes no time, and it brings me joy. 

Random, Collins Street, Wet Day, Melbourne.

Today's Song: 

Push Ups

I'm dedicating today's song to my new trainer, Chuck. 

He likes it when I curse at him, basically because he knows that I'm working hard. 

Tonight, after a three-minute warm on the skier (because both of the rowing machines are broken) and some loosening up, it was on for young and old. 

First up, TRX rows. The look like this. 

"Move your feet forward," he chimes. 

"But I'll be nearly horizontal!"

"That's what I want you to do. Move 'em and give me twelve."

"Sadist!" I moved my feet forward, doing the required 12 rows from an angle that felt like I was horizontal. I came out of this with aching arms.

"Good girl," he praised. "Was that medium or hard?"

"Hard."

"Excellent. You know that angle now. Keep at it."

We went on. Nasty things. Weighted squats. Lunges. Then push ups.

Chuck is big on technique. He shouts at you.

"Hit the floor with your chest. Don't jump your pushes. Push yourself off," he encouraged.

"Grrr," was my response. Though I do push ups from my knees, my angles are such that he's going to start making me do them on my toes. 

"Keep it up, you can do this."

"You're really not very nice,"

"But you love me!" he chuckled.

"I can't love you, you're an Essendon supporter."

"And what's wrong with them?"

"Everything. Besides, you're mean!"

"And you're very strong and you said you needed to be challenged."

I don't have any recourse to that. 

"Still doesn't mean I like you. Flattery will get you nowhere."

He giggled at that. Then showed me a picture of his dog, because that's what we do. And the session is over. 

I'm going to feel my shoulders and back tomorrow. 

And Joan Armatrading is a seriously underrated 80's performer. 

Today's song: 

Theatre Review: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf

 The Play: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf by Edward Albee

The Company: The Red Stitch Actor's Theatre

The Theatre: The Comedy Theatre, Exhibition Street. 

Until 21 July

Stars: 4.5

I was a bit reticent about going to see this huge play, on a school night. I remember seeing the Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor film version of this when I was at university and not being overly enamoured with the play, but at the time I wasn't up for empathising with the play's dysfunctional relationship. Then I have some memories of doing scenes from this in drama class back in the day when I did drama classes (yes, another string to my bow). Strangely, I found myself whispering the lines of the first ten minutes of the play.

Anyway, the ticket has been bought, arrangements were made, the cat got fed - I'd give it a go. It's three hours - it won't kill me, I told myself. 

Holy Fuck! This is a FABULOUS production. 

Seriously, I can't pick holes in this - it's too good. Pitch perfect. Tragically, deeply darkly funny. Spot on timing. Excellent performances. Just wow. 

For those who've not discovered this play in the past, it tells the story of George (David Whiteley) and Martha (Kat Stewart), a middle-aged couple with a few "issues" who invite a younger couple, Nick (Harvey Zielinski) and Honey (Emily Goddard) over for drinks after a party at Martha's father's place to witness the fun and games.

And all hell ensues. 

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf is a wordy play. There are a lot of word play, inside jokes and round the houses conversations which elicit more information about the main characters as the play goes on. The first act is uncomfortably funny as the four characters drink themselves into oblivion and open up a number of wounds. The second act, also funny, sets off a series of events that lead to the final act, which is tragic almost to the point of Shakespeare. 

It is magic what they've done here. Kat Steward and David Whiteley are excellent as the bickering Martha and George. Stewart's feline grace adds a menacing air, while Whiteley's near stoic reactions to Martha's goading is her perfect foil. Their relationship is volatile and toxic, relying on a lot of game play to keep them together. Nick and Honey are unwitting guests.  Emily Goddard's Honey provides some of the lighter and funnier moments. 

One of the best things about this production is the accents. The cast are spot on with their New England drawls - not a flat Australian vowel in sight. I find badly performed accents incredibly distracting. All four actors were flawless in their delivery. 

Sarah Goodes, who has been directing for the Melbourne Theatre Company, keeps the pace on this tight. There is no room for error, and her cast have the material well under control. This is a three-hour play (with two intervals) It didn't feel like it. The play went incredibly quickly. 

This is the first time the Red Stitch Theatre have transferred a play onto a main Melbourne stage, normally playing out of a theatre in St Kilda. The proscenium arch format frames this angst-ridden party perfectly. Set in the sixties, complete with my grandparent's doorbell and settee, everything is set up for a good night of theatre. 

I came out of the theatre into the cold Melbourne night knowing that this is a little bit of theatrical magic

This comes highly recommended. Tickets are selling fast. 

Today's Song:

Given up the Ghost

 My vacuum cleaner has officially died. It's been going through its death throws for months, but today, after asking the poor old thing to suck, it did nothing. The nozzle and hose were not blocked. The bag wasn't full. It's just died. 

I obtained it from a share house nearly 20 years ago. I have a feeling the old Werthheim was about that age when I was gifted it. I will miss it. 

Owning a cat, I need a hoover, as I call them, having lived a long time in Britain. And the floors were awful and really needed a clean. And rather than wait, I got online. 

Where do you go. In days of old, I would have gone to Godfreys, but they are all but in receivership at the moment. 

I wish it had broken down in the week before as all of the End of Financial Year sales were on. 

In the end, despairing at the state of the floors, I turned to the evil Amazon and found a new one. Affordable. Good reviews. Bagless. Cordless. Light. With free delivery in under 24 hours. 

I don't know myself. The floors are clean. If I'm honest, the new one isn't quite as strong a sucker as the old one, but it will do. 

My colleague asked me if I was going to get a Dyson. Ah no, for two reasons. First of all, everybody I know who has a Dyson has to get it fixed regularly. Secondly, I've got my name on my mother's Dyson - but that is probably a few years before it comes my way. 

Anyway, that's my big news for the day. New hoover. 

I feel a bit special. 

Today's song: 

Tidbits

 It's a writing prompt sort of day, so I have Catherine Deveny's pre-recorded Write Here Write Now session playing in the background, providing me prompts. I'm not feeling overly inspired at the moment. 

What three things do you want to buy? 

The first things I would like to buy, as a collective, is the ingredients for French Onion Soup. It's winter. I love French Onion Soup and there is something about that thick soup, with croutons and lots of melted Gruyere cheese on top that is just the bomb. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any Gruyere at Coles. I suppose a trip to the cheese shop would make this happen. Or a decent sharp cheddar would do the trick.

Next things I would like to buy is a long holiday to somewhere. Whether that somewhere is Japan, or Vietnam and Cambodia, or heaven forbid a trip back to England and France, we will have to see. 

The last thing that I would like to buy is a pair of bright red brogues. I'm not sure where I would get them from. Is saw a great pair on the interwebs, but I have too many shoes as it is, so I didn't buy them. They were nice though. 

Ten ways you could write about fire:

1. My hatred of fireworks
2. When Dad set the sheds on fire. 
3. The power of candlelight.
4. Sitting in front of the television with a video of a fire playing at Christmas, in Australia
5. The smell of distant bushfires. 
6. Lighting up a cigarette with the other pariah-smokers
7. Incense sticks in a Hindu temple. 
8. The mystery held by the backyard incinerator when you were a kid
9. The firepit at modern places
10. The pyres at Harishandra Ghat in Varanasi. 

Write about one of these scenarios for five minutes. 

I had no idea what to expect. It was the part of the trip that unsettled me the most. A walk along the Harishandra Ghat in Varanasi, a place where the funeral pyres burn all day, every day, stoked by the bodies of locals and tended to by people referred to as untouchables. Fires which take these souls back to Nirvana. 

I had no expectations, other than I was going to overcome my fears, not that I could tell you why this was such a difficult experience. 

We were lead to the back of the ghat on our way to a boat, which would take us to a Sunset ritual.

"Avert your eyes," was the advice of a travelling companion. 

"I'm not sure if I want to. I'm not sure if I can," I told him as we approached the entrance to the ghat. We were passed by a group of men supporting a bier, a fabric draped body tied to its poles. 

"Shit just got real."

"Yes, it has. "

What struck me, as I passed the pyres, was the intense heat of the flames. You don't think about what it takes to burn a body to ash. They've been doing it here for hundreds of years, placing the corpses under mounds of dry wood, the more fragrant the wood, the more expensive the funeral. 

But there were no funeral smells. It was more like an open fire burning sandalwood, the fires making their own thermals, sending the smoke skyward. 

My companion and I looked into the flames from our respectful distance. I spotted what looked like a pair of feet sticking out from one pyre's coals. These were pushed back in by one of the attendants. 

And with that small act of final kindness, the spectacle of the fires made sense. 

This was life. The end of life. This was the making of the ashes. This is what will happen to us all. 

And it is okay. 

That will do. 

Today's song: 

Sunday Stealing: Travel

 I have a free weekend and I'm just back from Sound Meditation. Now, before I go out for dinner-, I get to write about one of my favourite things: Travel. 

Question, as always, come from Bev at Sunday Stealing. 

1. Have you traveled abroad? Where have you been? If you haven't been overseas, which country would you most like to visit?

Have I travelled overseas. I'm Australian. Travelling overseas is in our blood. I was overseas, in Europe last October. 

Where have I been? Take your pick. I have been to:

• New Zealand (Many times)
• The United Kingdom (many times, and lived there for many years)
• France
• Spain
• Italy
• Greece
• The Netherlands
• Ireland
• The United States
• Indonesia (okay Bali - a number of times)
• Thailand (twice)
• Malaysia
• Singapore
• India
• Hong Kong

2. Where did you go on your last trip? Talk about where you went and what you did.

Last weekend I was on a Writer's Retreat down the Great Ocean Road, about three hours out of Melbourne. 

The view from where I was writing last week. 

My last proper holiday was the writer's retreat in France last year. It was awesome. 

3. What is the best place for a vacation in your country? Why is it good?

I'm very happy when I go down the Great Ocean Road for a long weekend. But if you're holidaying in Australia, I thoroughly recommend my hometown Adelaide - but get out of the city. Adelaide has so much to offer. Beaches, wineries, great food, laidback people and lots of experiences. I am biased. 

4. What is the longest time you have been away from home? Did you feel homesick?

Eight years. Did I get homesick. Very rarely. 

5. How long should a vacation be? How long does it take you to really relax?

At least two weeks. If you're travelling distances, then a bit longer. I don't start relaxing for at least a week. Then I settle into holiday mode. I know I'm on holiday when I'm having breakfast beers - or is that just in Bali?

6. What forms of transportation do you prefer to use when you travel?

I'm on planes regularly, but if I was travelling the way I'd love to, then I'd go by boat. I love being on boats - big boats that is. But then again, I'd be up for staying on a barge on a canal. I reckon that would be wonderful. 

7. How do you choose where to go? Are you inspired by other people's travel stories? Or photos? Or advertising?

My holidays are dictated by funds, then by other people's experiences. On my current wish list are the following places: 

• Japan
• Vietnam and Cambodia (I really want to go to Angkor Wat)
• Mumbai and Rajasthan in India
• France and Spain

I can see me going to one of the top two in the next year, with any luck, and some savings. The other part of me wants to find a portable job and work from Paris for six months. Just because. 

8. What's more important to you when you travel - comfort and relaxation, or stimulating new experiences?

First up is safety. I like to feel safe - or at least give myself a chance of being safe - so that's things like going on tours in third world countries, or being with friends who are locals. Then I go for experiences, then finally for relaxation. If I want a "toes up" holiday, I go to Ubud in Bali for a week. 

9. Do you like to try local foods when you go somewhere? Have you ever had something really delicious?

Of course, I love trying the local fare. That's what holidays are for. 

Some favourite discoveries include: 

• Kadai Paneer in India
• Everything in France
• Yum Cha (Dim Sum) in Hong Kong
• Street food in Thailand and Malaysia
• Tapas in Spain.

I'm an adventurous eater, and finding new foods is half the fun. 

10. Things can go wrong when you travel. Have you had any bad travel experiences?

Thankfully all of my misadventures on holiday have been minor, from things like missing a connection, or travelling with the wrong people (Greece) to a bout of food poisoning in Singapore, to being humped on a bus by a local in Florence. All inconvenient, but all minor and thankfully over quickly and easily sorted. 

11. Do you take a lot with you when you travel? Or do you try to pack light?

I'm a medium packer. As I travel for work at the moment, I've learned to keep things to a minimum, but if I'm in a different climate for more than a week, I like options. Also, as I'm bigger, finding clothes in some countries is harder than it looks. 

12. Which places in the world do you think are too dangerous to visit? Why are they dangerous?

Any place with ongoing conflicts are places I wouldn't go. I wouldn't go to Israel or Ukraine at the moment. I'd be reticent to go to parts of Africa. I have to say, if Trump gets in as President again, I don't think I'd want to travel to America. The vibe is not good.  

13. What is the best age to travel? Can children appreciate the experience?

Any time is a good time to travel. For kids, I think once they're about seven or eight they can start to appreciate all that travel can provide - but you have to be prepared and plan well. 

14. What are the advantages and disadvantages of traveling alone?

I have pretty much only travelled alone. I love that you can do what you want to do, when you want to do it. You have your own agenda. You meet more people, make your own fun. The only disadvantage that I know of is when you have the urge to share the experience with somebody. I've been many places where I wish there was somebody I could just sit and wonder about the places I've been with. 

15. What kind of accommodation do you like to stay in when you travel?

That depends on where I am. Weekend breaks in other cities I try and find the cheapest five-star accommodation I can get - and there are ways of doing this. I'm very good at sniffing out a bargain. 

Anywhere else, budget-friendly, clean and well-serviced is good. When I was in France we had a couple of excellent AirBNBs. I like to think I do my homework. 

16. Do you like to talk to the local people when you travel? Why or why not?

I'm from Adelaide. I talk to anybody. I love talking to the locals. In France, speaking reasonable French as an absolute godsend. Again, if you get weird vibes off people, then you don't talk to them. Simples. 

17. Would you like to go to a big international event, such as the Olympics or an international film festival? What would be good or bad about attending such an event?

Um, depends on the event. I hate crowds, but I think going to an International Film Festival would be fantastic. I've travelled interstate for concerts and plays (I'm doing that in a few weeks). I know I was lucky enough to see a favorite actor (Andrew Scott) on stage in London. But the Olympics doesn't float my boat. Also, we're lucky here in Melbourne. We get a lot of international acts coming here. 

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