I'm getting these out of the way late on Saturday night after a great day of excellent theatre. I saw an alternative version of Pride and Prejudice - one of the funniest things I've seen in ages. Pride and Prejudice, funny? Maybe you had to be there, but this small Australian theatre company did a very good job.
For the Americans here, we don't have Memorial Day. I gather this is when people can start wearing white trousers again - I've heard this from the movies. We have a public holiday for the Monarch's birthday in a few week. It's strange not to call it the Queen's Birthday holiday. It will be strange if we ever become a republic not to have this day off.
Anyway, here are this week's questions, brought by Sunday Stealing, as always.
1) What freedom are you most grateful for?
I'm Australian. We're watching what's going on in America with a lot of amazement. We're left scratching our heads as to how some of the laws that are going through are getting through. Our system is nowhere near perfect, but sheesh.
Anyway, here are some freedoms that I have over that I am truly grateful for:
I have the freedom to choose how I want my reproductive organs to be managed. No man can tell me that I can't have a hysterectomy, or my tubes tied or heavens, terminate a pregnancy. My body, my choice. It's nobody else's business.
I have the freedom, if I am terminally ill with limited time left, and being of sound mind, m to choose to end my life painlessly, and with dignity.
I am free to wear what I want, when I want.
I am free to drive a vehicle, by myself.
I'm free to have my own bank accounts.
I'm free to vote for who I choose.
I'm free not to marry.
I'm free to write and say what I want, when I want (*with the exception of hate speech - and why would I want to do that anyway).
I'm free to travel when I want, where I want .
I'm free to work.
I'm free to have a decent education.
Want me to go on?
2) What book are you currently reading?
I'm currently between the sublime and the ridiculous. On audiobook (I count this as reading) I'm listening to Susan Choi's incredible novel Flashlight. I can see why it was shortlisted for the Booker Prize.
On paper, I've just started Steve Toltz's A Rising of the Lights. I've not really got into it yet. His A Fraction of the Whole is incredible. (Australian author).
On my kindle, I'm having a lot of fun reading Jilly Cooper's novel, Rivals. It's fun. As I've been a bit low, it's good to read something that bolsters the spirits.
3) What have you been listening to?
I don't count audiobooks as listening, more reading. But I've been listening to some 80s and 90s alternative playlists, a lot of Talking Heads, Imagine Dragons and The Pixies and a bit of Yann Teirsen - he's great to work too.
Yann Teirsen - he wrote the soundtrack for the movie Amelie. Very French. Good for the neurodiverse mind.
4) What shows or movies have you been watching?
Movie recommendation - The Sheep Detectives. It's brilliant! I also saw Jodie Foster's French film last weekend, A Private Life. It's not bad. Her French is amazing.
The two things to write home about on the streaming channels - Margo's got Money Troubles on Apple TV is very cool.
And don't get me started on Rivals (which is streaming on Disney). It's a bonkbuster and it is most wonderful, even if they are drip-feeding us the episodes. I'm definitely on Team Freddie and Lizzie.
The Play: Pride and Prejudice - novel by Jane Austen, adapted by the Bloomshed Theatre
The Theatre: The Merlyn Theatre at The Malthouse
Runtime: 90 minutes
Until: 23 May
Stars: 4.75
This is possibly one of the best, and funniest, bits of theatre I've seen in years. Absolutely and utterly wonderful. And to think that I would have missed it, if not for the box office staff being able to reprint my ticket. When they handed over the replacement, I was told I was in for a treat.
It was exactly that.
This was an absolute corker of a production. Funny. Deeply satirical. On point. Engaging. Critical at just the right level and a brilliant farce, I wish I could see this again Unfortunately, tonight is the last night of the run - it's also sold out. Still, this afternoon I was treated to an absolute gem. It's been advertised as a story of housing insecurity - which when you think about it - it is.
For those who don't know the story of Austen's best-known novel, Mr Bennet (played by a Ficus in varying levels of health) and Mrs Bennet (Emily Carr) have five daughters and seriously need to get them married off, as on Mr Bennet's demise, they are going to be out on their ear. The house will fall into the hands of the odious Mr Collins (Sid Brisbane).
The daughters sort of run to their descriptions in the book. Jane (Anna Louey) is the pretty one, who soon forms and attachment to Mr Bingley (John Marc Desengano). The witty, wise Lizzie (Elizabeth Brennan) has a love/hate relationship with Mr Darcy (James Jackson). Slutty Lydia (Laura Aldous) wins a wet petticoat contest and ensnares the terrible life choice that is Mr Wickham (Lauren Swain). Mary, (also Lauren Swain) is normally the forgotten one - she's turned into a gun toting emo lesbian, to great effect. And Kitty (Syd Brisbane's other alter ego) is the much-maligned Kitty.
If you're a fan of the book, and not too precious about the text, you'd adore this.
What Bloomshed have done is take this story, add some physical theatre and cabaret elements, put in some up-to-date references about the Australian housing market and you've got this wonderful show.
Set on what looks like a big wedding cake, Savanna Wegman's set is perfect for this laugh a minute show. Being a collective, the company have directed this show among themselves to great effect. I loved the physicality of the production - the actors' movements, the dancing (and twerking) the fast paced-nature of the whole thing was amazing.
For me, the best scene was the one with Lady Catherine De Burgh (once again, John Marc Desengano) where they all had tea. Tea was brought in on a small table, with an urn, paper cups, tea bags and a family pack of Arnott's biscuits. I nearly wet myself over the five-minute scene - so relatable, yet so funny. Maybe you had to be there.
As the season finished tonight at the Malthouse, I can't say go and find a ticket for this. It toured Canberra, Darebin and Geelong late last year. I just know that this was thoroughly enjoyable.
I'll be keeping my eye out for more Bloomshed theatre productions. They're wonderful. Wow.
I can't be the only one who discusses politics with her massage therapist. This is our normal greeting. I've been seeing him for nearly 20 years.
More chatter. What's on telly. I impart that I'm going to get my takeaway and go home to watch the new episode of Rivals on Disney+. I've been told I should watch Riot Girls on SBS On Demand. We have similar taste in these things. He's also been told to go see The Sheep Detectives, because that is the best film EVAH!
Regardless, I get my massage. I let him know that I'm running pretty well. Just a funny right knee, which I'm trying to rehab, the rest of me is fine.
We talk about life on Bridge Road.
"You know that Annie Lewis Wine Bar has closed down?" he tells me.
"No! My French group used to meet there. Bugger."
"And the wine bar up the road is gone."
"Atlas Vinifomo?"
"Gone."
"My mate is going to be unhappy. He met his husband there."
"All change it is. The Malaysian place on the corner only lasted less than a year - then again, it was an old bank building - who'd want to eat in there?"
Talk goes back to my body. I mean, I'm naked and prostrate under warm towels. It's what I'm there for.
"So, your hip's out a bit," he mentions.
"I think it's throwing out my knee a bit."
"Probably."
"You know, it's funny. This started a few weeks ago."
"Anything changed? Gym? Exercise?"
"Well, now it's colder, at night, when I go to bed, I turn off the light, roll over onto my stomach and within a minute or two, Lucifer comes and settles between my knees. That leg is the one that is on top - it's his bed head."
"And you wonder why your hips a bit stiff and you're knee's playing up?"
Bloody cat!
Looks like I'm going to have a sore knee for a few more months. My massage therapist says he has a couple of clients with cat related injuries just like mine. The cat, due to its sleeping preferences, causes aches and pains for many people.
I'm struggling for inspiration at the moment. Thankfully, the depression, though still there, is in a manageable state, it's tiring me out more than anything. And I'm doing a lot of crafting. Crochet makes me feel settled.
So tonight, I pulled a Dev Card.
Write a two minute comedy skit. (About 200 words)
I'm about as funny as a car accident, but we'll give it a go.
I'll call this 'When My Mob Get In"
When my mob get in things are going to change?
And why are "my mob"?
Menopausal Gen X women, that's who!
Can you imagine what it would be like if Gen X women, now heading towards cronedom, with their frozen shoulders, leaking bladders, fluctuating moods and inbred sarcasm taking over the country.
How good would that be?
What would it be like to have a parliament full of women who would take absolutely no crap? Women who know how to fight, how to take down the worse of bludgers and for once in their lives, so something for themselves.
Can you see them commandeering the mens' bathrooms in Parliament House - and making them clean them after use. See how they like having too few facilities for so many people. Fuck the loo queues, women have been lining up for the bathrooms for centuries. It's time! Gough Whitlam was right.
Money could be channeled to schools and hospitals. To start balancing the books, medical research would only be done on women for the next 20 years. Women would start investigating sexual assaults. Punishments for these crimes would be shown on air - Castration Corner - after the 9 pm watershed time of course.
What would the place be like if functional, emotionally aware, forward-thinking women were in charge?
I hang out with too many astrologers. I'm a Leo/Virgo - nicely cuspy born in the later part of August.
But if you look at my chart (yeah, I know, gobbledygook to most) you'll see that I have five planets in Virgo. From Right to left, there's Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Pluto and Uranus, all in a row, bunched up like best mates on a beach blanket - unhappily opposing Saturn and trined with Neptune.
I've got enough Virgo in my chart to make me a decent Virgo.
And what are Virgos? Pains in the arse who like making lists. Yep.
They also make me a bit of a perfectionist at times.
This isn't good - it's sometimes useful.
Today I've been making training videos. An eye for detail, a lot of refining with AI, A lot of moving things around a video editor.
It's exhausting. It's exacting.
My new best friend is Ryan (Multilingual-Australia), the voice I use to do the video voiceovers. He's on the app and takes direction well - in other words he one of the better voice-to-text voices. All you have to do is type in your commentary and he says it for you. Magic.
Not really. It's a part of the job. I'm doing some pretty basic stuff - but it looks cool, and it's a skill I'm developing - even if the Virgo in me is berating me for not being perfect.
Pity I can't show you - mind you, short training videos about banking applications aren't that interesting.
There's a reason I'm reading a Jilly Cooper book at the moment. I need the sheer fun, banality and fun that Jilly Cooper can provide. I don't need tough stuff.
I also need to get away from my computer. I've been sitting in front of one all day. I've been playing with SCORM files.
I hate SCORM files.
I have opinions about SCORM files (Doesn't everybody?)
I got out of work late because of the SCORM files.
And because of this, I'd rather stay away from to computer.
We've just had book group. The book, Charlotte McConaghy's Wild Dark Shore, was excellent.
Jodie Foster is enigmatic. She's also a polyglot, speaking French like it's her mother tongue. I saw an interview with her on breakfast television the other day, advertising this film. It's the first time she's done a whole film in French (however, she's often found doing the dubbing for her English speaking films.) Curious, I wanted to have a look. the film also has Daniel Auteuil, Mathieu Amalric and Irene Jacob, I was in.
Besides, any chance to use my French is never a bad thing.
According to IMDB.com, the plot goes something like this.
"The renowned psychiatrist Lilian Steiner mounts a private investigation into the death of one of her patients, whom she is convinced has been murdered."
This is not the world's best film - it's a bit slow, it's a bit strange and it's a bit convoluted. I went with Jay and she said she was bored.
Me, on the other hand - I'm a bit more forgiving.
A perfect film - no. A French film, with an ambling plot? Yes.
Of course, I was won over by the opening credits of the film where the bass like of Psycho Killer plays. We learn soon that Lillian (Jodie Foster) is a psychiatrist and a pain in the arse. A reluctant mother and grandmother. A tetchy therapist, she tapes her sessions on mini-discs. When one of her clients turns up dead, allegedly by suicide, she's certain that she wouldn't have done that and goes on a journey to work out just what is happening.
She's thrown out of the shiva by her client's husband (Mathieu Amalric), enlists the assistance of her ex-husband (Daniel Auteuil) and appears to become a little unhinged in the process.
This isn't a perfect thriller, but it had enough to keep me going. Seeing Paris in Autumn is never a bad thing. Foster's French is incredible. There are some very funny moments in the film. The client who's trying to give up smoking is a gift that keeps on giving over the film. I liked the relationship she had going with her ex. Foster and Auteuil had a wonderful comfortable chemistry.
I left happy. I know that the film doesn't show what a real psychiatrist does (One of Jay's complaints) and it didn't seem to make sense in places. Regardless, I'm pleased to have seen this - if anything, to air out my French and get some language into my ears.
This is a stylish, fast-paced and occasionally misguided thriller. There was enough for me to enjoy on a wet Sunday afternoon. You can't ask for more that.
Until 17 May in Melbourne - at Her Majesty's Theatre Adelaide 20-24 May
Stars: 4
Cheap tickets make me happy, especially when you can secure yourself a good seat in the front row of the Dress Circle for half the full ticket price. Seeing they were trying to fill the theatre for Art's last few days (especially as I looked at the ticket prices, then thought the better of it) I was glad to be able to go along at a more reasonable price.
I remember seeing Art in London in the 90s. Yasmina Reza, a French playwright, was all the rage at the time and it had a long run at the Wyndham Theatre. I'm pretty sure I saw it with Robert Bathurst as Serge, Nigel Havers as Marc and Roger Allam as Yvan. I do remember the premise of the play. I remember enjoying it. I could tell you it was a three hander about three blokes who react to one of them playing an exorbitant amount for what's basically a white canvas. And all hell prevails.
Nearly 30 years on, this revival is sound - but has it aged well? Part of me thinks not.
Art is a very funny place on the surface. Three men who have been friends for years. A doctor, and engineer and the one who's still finding themselves, drifting from career to career. As much as they like each other, they also get up eachother's noses. Marc (Richard Roxburgh) can be an egotistical wanker who's sarcasm gets the better of him. Serge (Damon Herriman), the doctor who bought the painting, wanting to show his cultural chops. Then there's Yvan (Toby Schmitz) the boy-man who's about to get married and has been drifting for years.
The play is still funny. It's witty and cutting and laugh out loud hilarious in places.
However, I felt some of the scenes were a bit overacted - especially by Roxburgh and Schmitz - the physical aspects of their performance weren't needed.
The other thing that had me questioning the play was looking at male friendships. Maybe we're hearing about the male loneliness epidemic too much, but do men still have these almost co-dependent relationships with each other? Can men really be this vapid? Or and U just reacting to the acting.
In all, this was a good way to spend a Saturday afternoon, but I do have some questions about the play and how it's being performed in the 2020s. What would this look like if the characters were Marg, Sergia and Ivana? How would it play out differently?
Art has another week to play in Adelaide. I don't begrudge getting the ticket for a cheaper price. I'm not sure how I'd feel if I paid full whack for it. Regardless, it was a good use of 90 minutes, even if it raised more questions than answers.
Okay. it's Saturday and I have a lot to do. I'm off to a play in a bit, there's a book to complete for book group on Tuesday (Charlotte Conaghy's Wild Dark Shore - it's very good.)
I'll get the questions out of the way. Questions, have been supplied, as always, but Sunday Stealing.
Which one?
1. Pepsi or Coke?
Oh, definitely Coke. If you want me to be really specific, Coke Zero (or Sugar Free Coke) and not Diet Coke. Even better, if you can find it, Caffeine-Free Coke Zero - but it's hard to find.
Pepsi tastes like lolly water, but it's there for when you really, really, really need a pickup and there's nothing else about. It still puzzles me that some places only sell Pepsi.
2. Cappuccino or coffee?
You don't ask Australians this question as we have a thriving and most excellent coffee culture here which is nuanced, bordering on obsessive and most excellent. Cappucino? Phah - Italians drink that for breakfast. Coffee in the American sense is just another reason not to go to America - and a big part of why Starbucks is universally ignored by the Australian coffee drinking masses - there are so many other places with far superior coffee
Please give me a flat white, if there is no decaf or milk alternative. My normal coffee order is an Almond Decaf Latte (also known as a Melbourne Wanker)
I loved this clip from Anyone But You - where the Glen Powell character was just given a shot of our finest - made from the machine in the kitchen, like most Australians do in the morning. Yes, most of us have our own coffee makers at home. I have one and an Italian stove top pot. We really do take our coffee seriously.
3. Chocolate or vanilla?
Vanilla. Always vanilla. Vanilla over everything. White chocolate can sort of be classed as vanilla - there's normally a hint of it in there anyway.
4. Hot tea or iced tea?
I'm very partial to a cup of tea (Australians just call it tea - mention tea, you know it comes in a mug, with water boiled from a kettle, and either a teabag or a leaves in a pot making a brew.)
Iced tea is about, but not as prevalent over here.
5. Dinner for two or a party?
Depends on the company. Dinner for two is lovely, but if you have an interesting crowd a dinner party can be good too.
Twenty-one years on, this film feels even more relevant. The dystopia is becoming real, more recognisable, more relatable. V for Vendetta has aged very, very well.
Have you not seen it? With a fantastic cast. Hugo Weaving behind a mask of V, his voice doing all the work. Natalie Portman as Evie, who shaved her head for the role. I loved watching some of my favourite actors in their youth. Eddie Marsan, Rupert Graves, Stephen Rea. Seeing Stephen Fry once again in his youth was lovely.
Based on the graphic novel by Allan Moore, this film is timeless. The Wachowski's did a brilliant job with the script - and yes, it does have a bit of a Matrix feel about it. Of course it does. Dystopia with a sense of action and thriller. It's what the Wachowskis do best.
For me, on this rewatch, what got me most was the oppression of the public - how the government tries to dampen down dissent - not that we're as bad as many other places - but our rights to protest are being ebbed away. This feels all too familiar.
And the line of the movie? " People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people."
How very true.
This film continues to stand up as one of the greats. So glad I have got reacquainted with it.
V for Vendetta is streaming on ABC iView. Catch it before the government twigs.
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.
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.
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.
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.)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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…
Three years after starting this, and at a reasonable level, after daily lessons, every day for over 1350 days, I've finished Duolingo!
There are no more lessons.
But what do I do now?
Daily practice? Duolingo lets me do that.
But how am I going to get my 15 minutes of daily French in? I'm not sure daily revision is going to cut it.
I could read French - maybe read aloud a page of Le Petit Prince - I have that in French. Bought that at Shakespeare and Co on the banks of the Seine.
Or I could as AI what to do. Get it to design me a course.
Or I could win lotto and move to a pokey apartment in Paris and take on the Paris Guide's course (but you have to deliver your viva in French.... argh.... nice dream.)
I just know that I want to keep going. I like being able to operate in another language.
Sequels are hard. With very few exceptions, and I'm thinking of the second Lord of the Rings movies, one or two of the Harry Potter films (Azkaban is a favourite) and some of the Marvel films, most sequels fall a bit flat.
Unfortunately, The Devil Wears Prada 2 falls into this second category. It is watchable. It is fun. The fashion is great. The script and acting aren't too bad, but it lacks the charm of the first film.
There, I said it.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 isn't a stinker. It's just that it's a cerulean covered (IYKYK) film with a lot of product placement and some people you'd like to dong on the head every now and then.
The plot, according to IMDB.com, reads "Andy Sachs reunites with Miranda Priestly as they navigate their careers amid the decline of traditional magazine publishing."
Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) has grown up quite a bit in the 20 years from when she chucked a hissy fit and then her phone into the Seine at the end of the last film. She is, and always has been, the grown up. Miranda Priestly (Meryl Street) is as acidic as ever. Nigel (Stanley Tucci) is busy keeping everything together behind the scenes at Runway. And Emily (Emily Blunt) has hooked up with a millionaire and is working at Dior.
The more I look back at this, the lazier this film comes across. It's like they've moved the plot into 2026 and hoping the things that made things work back then will work again - from the fashion, the token Australian boyfriend (Patrick Bramhall), to introducing Miranda's husband Stuart (Kenneth Branagh) who has next to nothing to do, to the reasonably competent assistant to Miranda (Simone Ashley).
Lazy, lazy, lazy.
On the good side of things, it's very pretty to look at and there are some fantastic one liners in the scrip - but really, I was a bit bored. What was fun and charming 20 years ago has not aged that well.
However, we went to a later session on the Friday night - the large theater was almost full or mainly flamboyant men. it was great to see.
This isn't the greatest sequel in the world, nor is it the worst. It makes great Friday night movie fodder where you don't have to think too much. If you're a fan of the original, you'll spot the Easter eggs. Otherwise, maybe wait for it to come onto a streaming service in a few months.
I had a couple of drinks - probably one a week. A friend of mine has a distillery and they do these amazing pre-made cans of raspberry vodka and lemonade. I love them. I'll have one when I want to have dessert, but can't be bothered. This is the next best thing.
2. Eat sushi?
Of course. I have sushi once a week. Something I found out recently is that Australian have sushi in concession stands and you can buy a hand roll or two - fresh, easy on the run food. It's always made on the day and chilled. The soy sauce, wasabi and ginger comes in little packets. It's so easy and awesome - and I can't believe other countries don't do this.
3. Go shopping with friends?
No, I tend to shop by myself for food and buy clothes online. I don't need for anything. I'm lucky.
4. Eat an entire box of cookies by yourself?
No, didn't do this either. I'm trying to keep the sweets down - they're not good for me, even though my blood sugars are really good, according to my doctor.
5. Dye your hair?
This I did. I have a standing six-week appointment with my hairdresser to rid me of the greys around my temples. Once every three months, I'll have a touch up on the colour on the rest of my hair. Vain, yes. Makes me happy and feel a bit more confident. Yes. It's worth it.
It's been a while since I've posted some monthly goals, but I want to keep myself on track. Changes of circumstance means that things change and it's time to commit to a few new things and keep myself accountable.
They will be SMART goals - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timely.
Oh boy, I've been working in corporate for far two long.
Anyway, here's what I want to get done this month.
1) Read at least six books.
The last few months I've read eight books, either on paper, through audio or on the kindle. I've set the bar a bit lower, but would like to get eight books read. I love my reading.
2) Finish three craft projects
This sounds worse than it is, but it's very doable. I have three projects on the go. A large scarf/wrap which I've been knitting for years, a jumper that I inherited and a beanie. I have committed to making Blarney a blanket for Christmas - this is a huge project, but I need to clear the decks first. Thankfully, the wrap only has half a ball of wool to go, I've just got to finish the neckline and plug a few holes in the jumper and I can knit up a beanie on a wet weekend. The must be finished before I start the blanket. there has been far too much sitting on the back of my couch, which is where all my craft projects reside.
3) Close the Activity Ring on my watch daily
In other words, get 60 minutes of exercise in a day. I feel better for it. It's not hard. After my last job where I was not moving anywhere nearly enough. It's time to get cardio fit again.
4) Stretch, bridge, flex
A preventative measure - and a cost saving. The physio is expensive. If I keep up the rehab stretches, with a few more thrown in for good measure, with any luck I won't have to go back to see Brett. I like Brett, but I'd rather not have to see him on a regular basis. Stretching, flexing and rehabbing helps keep the physio at bay.
5) Write 3000 words of the novel
Decent words. Proper words. Words that sing. Time to get back to this.
6). Take my lunch to work two days out of three.
I'm now doing three days in the office a week. Do I love this? No. it gets expensive. Besides, the options at one location are pretty dire (Docklands). Besides, taking your lunch in gives you more control. I've been at the new job two weeks now. I'm settled enough to not have to run out at lunchtime.
7) Start a vision board
I've never had one. It's woo woo. If you can't see it, you can't be it.
This one snuck up on me. It's also a recurring dream, or at least I've had some variation of this dream over the years.
This morning, when I woke, I wasn't aware that I was dreaming, but it's been haunting me over the day. On a day of what I call Ra-Ra meetings (these rally the troops meetings that large corporations are inclined to have with monotonous regularity) you get some time to think.
When I have these dreams, I'm always high up and outside. When I have these dreams, I have to stand on top of the tallest building, generally without any support or guard rails. I found myself standing on top of the tallest building in Dubai. I’ve been outside of Sydney Hotel where I’ve had to walk around a window ledge on about the 70th floor.
Last night’s dream had me asked toclimb up a thin ladder to the very top of a building. Once again it was a skyscraper. Once again, I was thinking about doing this, not that I wanted to.
Today I found myself sitting in these meetings that I really don’t know why I’m there, thinking about the feeling of having to climb up a ladder on top of a skyscraper, then realising that this is recurring
Generally,I am not scared of heights, they’re not my most favourite things either. Keep me on land or put me in water, and I do like perches, but maybe not that high. High enough that you can feel the building move in the breeze, Which you can feel in very tall skyskrapers. If you haven’t felt it, go visit the Eureka Tower.
As I've got not chance in hell of finishing another book by the end of April, I may as well get my list of books out for the month.
Once again, I've read eight books over the month. Some great, some good, some not so good, but mostly, they've been enjoyable.,
So, here we go.
1) Theo of Golden by Allen Levi - Audio - 4.5 Stars
This is a glorious book with a hell of a lot of heart, not out of the realm of the Fredrik Backman or Virginia Evans' The Correspondent.
Set in the American South in a university town, Theo, a mysterious old man comes to live in the town. A local artist displays portraits in a local coffee shop. Theo buys these paintings and donates them to the sitter. The people gifted with their portraits come from across society. Rich, poor, mad, sane, happy, sad, Theo gets to hear their stories and ultimately befriending the town and changing lives.
My description does not do this justice. This book is a big warm hug - like The Correspondent. The characters are well drawn, Theo's story, which we hear in fragments, is memorable.
I loved this.
2) A Great Act of Love by Heather Rose - Paperback - 4.5
Van Diemen's Land, 1839. Widow Caroline Douglas arrives in Hobart, with her ward a young boy called Quinn. Caroline leases an old cottage from Mr. Swanston and it has an abandoned vineyard, but how did she end up in the colony full of convicts and including one’s who have earned their ticket of leave.
Caroline has secrets, and the narrative takes you back to divulge all the things that happened to her prior to arriving in Van Diemen’s Land or as we know it Tasmania.
Heather Rose is a Tasmanian national treasure. This book, historical fiction, looks at an enigmatic woman doing her best in the early days of the colony and a devastating family history that circumstance and good fortune help to bring that family back together.
Rose's prose is effortless. She's awesome. Hunt her out.
3) When the Red Leaves Fall by Alli Parker - Paper - 3 Stars
This was our April book group book. What looked like an interesting premise turned out to be a bit of a flop.
Emmy Darling has a secret. She has a few. Her lemon meringue pie is a recipe from a women's magazine, she's always wanted to be a playwright, and the best parts of her husband Sebastian's plays are the scenes she's written during edits. But when charismatic theatre impresario and leading lady, Virginia van Belle, insists Emmy write about her wartime experiences as the lead play in her 1957 season, Emmy is faced with every writer's dilemma.
Because Emmy's biggest secret is that her name is actually Emiko Tanaka. She and her Japanese-Australian family were arrested, brutally split up and held in internment camps by the Australian government after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. And it's this secret that Virginia wants to bring to the masses.
This could have been a lot better if it concentrated on the Japanese/Australian experience rather than Emmy's writing career. I found the whole novel incredible ham fisted. Never to mind, you can't win them all.
4) State of Wonder by Ann Patchett - Audio - 4 Stars
I know of the anecdotal story around this book - Elizabeth Gilbert had the idea for this book, the characters, the premise, the location - she worked on it for years - then gave it up. Ann Patchett came up with exactly the same book - and according to Gilbert, wrote a far better novel.
This story of a researcher going down the Amazon in search of answers around the death of a colleague is great. Patchett does a fantastic job of creating the look and feel of the jungle, the river and the predators, wild and human. The audio book had Hope Davis reading this gem of a book. It's worth a look.
5) A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne - Audio - 5 Stars
I'm a new convert to John Boyne. I've heard there's been some controversies around the author, which I'm tuning out. Boyne wrote The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. This book has a small historical element to it.
Maurice Swift is an aspiring novelist struggling to come up with the story that will make his name, and he doesn't care where that story comes from. Even if he has to beg, borrow, steal or worse, he will make it to the top. Whatever the cost...
Maurice is evil. He's amazing. Even better, the audiobook really brought this to life. I loved this - and I'm keen to check out more of Boyne's work.
6) Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth - Paper - 3.5 Stars
Local author, Sally Hepworth, brings on this tight thriller based on three women who met when they were in foster care. Their batty, vicious foster mother has left them all traumatised. Years later, when a body is found under the house where they used to live, the girls are forced to go back to Port Agatha and face their demons.
As thrillers go, this is very readable, tightly plotted and has so many spins and turns. However, this isn't really my genre and I found some of the writing lacking. As a standalone quick read, it's great. It's getting passed to my mother this weekend. Recommended easy reading.
7) The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood - Audio - 4 stars
This isn't my favourite Atwood, but she's still brilliant. Her mind thrills me. This dystopian novel set in the near future gives an alternative America - and it's very good.
"Stan and Charmaine are a married couple trying to stay afloat in the midst of an economic and social collapse. Job loss has forced them to live in their car, leaving them vulnerable to roving gangs. They desperately need to turn their situation around—and fast. The Positron Project in the town of Consilience seems to be the answer to their prayers. No one is unemployed and everyone gets a comfortable, clean house to live in . . . for six months out of the year. On alternating months, residents of Consilience must leave their homes and function as inmates in the Positron prison system. Once their month of service in the prison is completed, they can return to their "civilian" homes.
At first, this doesn't seem like too much of a sacrifice to make in order to have a roof over one's head and food to eat. But when Charmaine becomes romantically involved with the man who lives in their house during the months when she and Stan are in the prison, a series of troubling events unfolds, putting Stan's life in danger. With each passing day, Positron looks less like a prayer answered and more like a chilling prophecy fulfilled."
Atwood is always fun and thought provoking. Though not her best novel, it's very thought-provoking and entertaining.
8) The Stranger by Albert Camus - Kindle - 4.5 Stars
Oh my! This small novel - all of 120 pages - was read before seeing the new Francois Odon film in the cinema. I read it in English, but there is a part of me that wants to read it in the original French. Because I'm like that.
There is a reason why this is a classic.
First published in 1946, this is the story of an ordinary man unwittingly drawn into a senseless murder on an Algerian beach, Camus explored what he termed the nakedness of man faced with the absurd.
Absurd? Nihilistic? A document showing the internal workings of an autistic person who successfully navigates society for the most part.
You can read it in one sitting. Just like his other short novel about a pandemic, also set in Algiers, Camus is incredible. I'll be thinking about this - and the film - for a long time to come.
Okay, this is another case of being so glad I read the book before seeing the film. The classic novel by Albert Camus is incredible - as is this film. One of my writer friends, Fee suggested we go. We're friends from both of my French trips and I'm never one to say no to a French film. Fee studied the novel extensively at university - I read the book over the last two days. It's incredible.
What Francois Odon in this marvelous piece of cinema is a take on the classic novel, keeping all of the plot points and adding a heap more. It's superb.
For those not familiar with the book, we follow the life of Meursault (Benjamin Voisin). To paraphrase the first words of the book, his mother died, either today or yesterday. He can't be sure.
You soon learn a couple of things about Meursault. He lives in Algiers, working a boring office job. He's very contained. He's a man of few words. And he sees the world as it is. Some would see him as an absurdist, some nihilistic.
On arriving back from his mother's funeral, he meets up with his soon to be girlfriend, Maria (Rebecca Harder) and hangs around with his friend, Raymond (Pierre Lottin) and somehow gets involved with his life. After Raymond is threatened by a group of Arabs after assaulting on of their sisters, Raymond ultimately shoots one of them. Meursault is put on trial, through which he displays his usual indifference. The film ends as he waits to see his fate.
Cheerful stuff.
This is an absolutely gorgeous film. It's in black and white and this lends itself to the story, its themes and the oppressive nature of life in Algeria in the 30s. The black and white also amplifies the oppressive nature of life in Algeria in the 1930s.
Benjamin Voisin is an absolute joy to watch. Odon's lens tends to the homo-erotic - which is not a bad thing. He is a beautiful man. The only time he shows anything that resembles emotion is in the final scene in the prison with the priest. It is almost word for word from the book.
Fee and I left the cinema content. Both of us, with knowledge of the book said the following.
Meursault is on the autism spectrum (they didn't have words for this back then)
Yes, the film felt homo-erotic at times.
The black and white format was perfect for the film
And it doesn't matter if Meursault or not - we're all going to die in the end anyway.
This comes recommended, especially if you like art house films. I also recommend reading the book, all 120 pages of it, as it is a masterpiece. You don't have to do this, but it certainly helps in your understanding of this understated, fabulous, somewhat difficult film.
"I have something for you," I was told at masons on Sunday. This could be anything but sitting on a bench were two bags. "It's Marion's knitting."
Ah.
As I said, it's like the timing has been having a laugh. Marion passed away a year ago on Thursday.
There is a story to this knitting. Marion was a kindly soul. On her property was a granny flat, in which a woman named Kate lived with her partner. As Marion was declining, Kate was incredibly generous with her time and energy looking after Marion, taking care of her dog when she was in hospital and providing assistance in many ways. She's been Marion's tenant for a number of years. We, who knew Marion, were grateful in the knowledge that there was somebody keeping an eye on her. Kate also adopted Marion's dog when she passed - a most beautiful thing.
Anyway, soon after she died, one of the masons said that there was a knitting project Marion was working on for Kate. It was nearly finished. Would anybody know somebody who might be able to finish this off.
I put up my hand. I'm a gun knitter. Okay, maybe not fair isle and colour workings, but I'm great with straight forward patterns, easy cables. I'm a neat, tidy knitter, able to do some more intermediate stuff. I remember my mother asking me to finish off a top she'd made - needed some sleeves sunk. I said I'd do it - she passed it over with the directions to not bugger it up. Two hours later, the top was returned, finished, ends sewn in and to my mother's exacting standards. (Note, Mum was having trouble with this manouevre, I think it was a matter of tools - nothing that a circular needled couldn't sort. )
Regardless, I looked in the bags.
They smelled strongly of unwashed dog.
In one, there were a couple of complete balls of acrylic yarn. Knitter's rule number one - never refuse any yarn. You'll find something to do with it.
In the second bag, the jumper, some extra wool, the pattern and a number of miscellaneous knitting needles.
To my slight surprise, the jumper was a beautifully rendered cobalt blue cable knit in a fluffy 5 ply. A complicated cable knit - something I'd need time and patience to do. The garment was all sewn up, ready to go, with the neckline half off double-sided needles.
Marion had had cataracts - her work is lovely. How she did this with failing eyesight, I will never know.
So, I am now the custodian of this unfinished jumper.
I've had a look at what's to be done. I've managed to tack up the neckline, removing the double-sided needles (never liked using them) picking up the dropped stitches and put the neckline onto a similar sized circular needle. From here, I'll finish the last few rows of the neckline and do any finishing required.
A good spray of Febreeze has sorted out the dog smell, which I'm sure has come from it staying with Marion's executor, who lives in the countryside with a rather boisterous Border Collie named Max.
Anyway, I feel quite honoured to be finishing this jumper. It won't take long. As Marion's house is being sold next month and Kate will be looking for a new home, this small action of completing this garment feels right.
I hope Marion thinks that I've completed it to her standards. It really is a lovely jumper. I'm in awe of the work she's done. In all, this is a very masonic task which has to be done. Alpha and Omega, Order Ab Chao and all that. Despite the fact it's taken a year to get me this knitting, it will be sent to it's rightful place, finished, in order, and smelling a lot better than when I received it.
I went with no pre-conceived ideas about what this would be like - and I'm glad I went in like this. Like many Gen-Xers I have a variable view on Michael Jackson. Genius? Weirdo? Trouble soul? Philanthropist? Abuse victim? Drug addict? All of the above, maybe.
However, I also remember loving the Jackson 5 cartoon as a kid, and the Jacksons' music permeated my younger childhood. I was never a Michael Jackson superfan, but I did enjoy his music. He was an incredible musician, and nobody can take that away from him
This movie is what I would call sanitised. It's obviously been made with the blessings of the family. Janet Jackson has been written out of this. His mother Kathleen, who is still alive, was treated sensitively. But I'm sure this was a cleaned-up version of his life from when he was a young child until his split with the Jackson family juggernaut in the mid-eighties.
I remember most of this history - I was there. Still, this is a very entertaining movie as long as you realise that this is the family's version of the history they want you to see. And this is okay. Look at is it like a story and go for the music - which is fabulous.
This movies takes us from the origins of the Jackson 5 in Gary, Indiana. The five boys (Germaine, Tito, Marlon, Jackie and Michael) are under the thumb of their perfectionist and abusive father, Joseph, played with chilling insight by Colman Domingo. I would not be surprised if there were some awards for his performance - he's outstanding. Joseph Jackson was borderline evil.
Michael is portrayed by two actors - Juliano Valdi plays Michael the boy with an incredible voice and dance moves. Jaafar Jackson, Germaine's son, plays older Michael - and his look is eerily similar to the Michael Jackson we all know at the time.
In the film, written by John Logan and directed by Antoine Fuqua, is cohesive. It does gloss over a lot of what would have happened at this time, a lot of which is not easy. A violent and abusive father. The racism of the age. The reliance on Michael's talent is all there.
You're also introduced to Michael's love of childhood games, books and toys and his desire to own exotic animals. Bubbles, thankfully is AI generated. Knowing this monkey wasn't real helped matters.
Redeeming the movie is the music, which is on brand, sounds brilliant and is just as I remembered it back in the 80s. All of the song and dance numbers incorporated into the film are wonderful. Jaafar Jackson's performance as the older Michael is superlative.
Also, the film stops short of going into all of the not-so-great things we remember about Michael - the marriage, the kids, the drug use (although the film introduces why he was on painkillers after the hair burning accident). This is not a bad thing.
In all, if you go to see this for the music, you'll be happy you've seen this. Go for a great cinematic experience and you'll probably be disappointed. The music, for me, was everything.
I'm procrastinating about going to the gym - so let's get the questions for the week out of the way - then I'll go. At least I'm in my gym gear and ready to go - and they questions are quick.
So here we go. Questions have come from Sunday Stealing - as always.
1) Has anyone ever told you they would love you forever?
No. Never. Not even close to anything like that.
2) Who is the last person you were in the car with?
Jay. We went to the movies last night and I picked her up on the way there.
3) Do you have big plans for tomorrow (Monday)?
I'm writing this on Saturday, so things are a bit skewy. Tomorrow is Sunday - I plan to get up, go to the gym, maybe get some breakfast, then I've got a mason's meeting in the afternoon - after which, I'll probably go and see Blarney for a cup of tea. Monday I'll be working from home then going to the gym in the evening.
4) How long do you typically spend in the shower?
It depends. My morning shower takes around five minutes; my evening shower is two or three minutes (I like to rinse off the day). Of course, the morning shower goes up to about ten minutes if I'm washing my hair.
5) What were you doing at 7 AM yesterday (Saturday)?
Both yesterday (Friday) and today (Saturday) I was home in bed, contemplating getting up and feeding the cat.
