Film Review: H is for Hawk

Movie number 22 of 2026

The Movie: H is for Hawk

The Cinema: Village Cinemas, The Rivoli

Runtime: Two Hours

Stars: 4

I don't like birds that much. They flap about. However, even I can see the beauty of these creatures, and raptors in particular, are incredibly majestic. A favourite memory of mine is seeing a wedged tailed eagle, complete with its six-foot wingspan, up close in the wild. You don't forget this sort of grace and beauty in a hurry

But this is by the by. 

A little extra, when doing some light research into the book, I discovered Helen McDonald, the book's writer is ADHD. I say ,"no shit, Sherlock", but it helps understand some of the protagonist's single-mindedness throughout the film. They're doing what they do, because it's how they process the world. 

This is a movie about one of my tribe. 

H is for Hawk was always going to tick my boxes. It's an English film, based on a book and a little bit quirky. Okay, quite a bit quirky in an academic, quiet, considered way. 

The other great thing about the book is that Emma Donoghue, who wrote Room, wrote the script for this. She's done a brilliant job. Phillipa Lowthorpe's direction is also great, ensuring this beautiful, quiet film doesn't run too fast, nor overplay the huge emotions which are going on in the background. 

This is a story about love, grief, and healing. 

Helen (Claire Foy) is a Cambridge academic in natural sciences. She's been asked to apply for a fellowship at a prestigious institution in Germany. She's liked by her friends and students. She's also got a lovely, nurturing relationship with her father, Alistair (Brendan Gleeson). 

Unfortunately, her father dies early in the film, leaving Helen to process this deeply felt grief. 

Helen's solution is to buy and train a goshawk.

I'm sitting here thinking this is the side quest to end all side quests. 

For me, this would be a 'don't try this at home' moment. Helen does have experience with falconry, and friends who can help her with this task. 

By the end of the film, you've learned a lot about this incredible art. Goshawks are not falcons. Falcons hunt in the air, hawks hunt close to the ground. Hawks are not affectionate. This is relationship built and nurtured on trust. In the words of her friend Stuart (Sam Spruell), hawks are bastards. The only way to keep one is to let them murder. Also, the fluffier the name, the better the killer instinct. 

Helen names her hawk Mabel - which means loveable. One look into her big yellow eye and you know you're looking into the soul of a psychopath who's capable of ripping your throat out. Mabel is the most incredible of creatures. 

As the movie progresses, you see Helen and Mabel form their bond. Mabel becomes a regular site around Cambridge. You also watch as Helen's grief and depression take her over. 

The cinematography in this is awesome as well.

Sure, this is a film about loss, grief and depression. It's also a film about how we get through these things and the amazing bond between animals and man. 

I loved it. Of course I was going to love it. Hats off to Claire Foy for having that bird on her arm. It's something I don't think I could ever do. 

Today's song: 

Sunday Stealing: Friday Fill In

I’m sitting in a suburban cafe with my iPad wasting an hour before I go to the hairdresser. My hairdresser is a 45 minute drive away from my place. I’ve been seeing her for over 20 years. She’s worth it. 

This respite, with a bottle of Coke Zero and a cherry Danish are the perfect foil for getting the weekly questions out of the way. 

So, with to further commentary, here are the questions, posed, as always, by Sunday Stealing. 

Friday Fill-in - Fill in the Blanks. 

1. ________ is not the end of the world. 

Trump is not the end of the world. He might be giving it a red-hot go, but here’s what I think. I don’t reckon Trump is going to be around for much longer. He shouldn’t be there - like somebody should take the keys of grandpa. Regardless, when he’s gone, I think the bubble is going to burst. Like popping a pimple, all the crap comes out and the healing can begin. Hopefully his sycophantic cronies will crawl back under the rock from whence they came.

2. _____ tastes so good!

I’m sitting in this Jewish cafe in the middle of a big Jewish area here in Melbourne. The bagels with cream  cheese and smoked salmon are second to none. Breakfast of champions. The cherry danish was very good too. This cafe does fantastic Reuben sandwiches as well. 

3.  Sometimes, putting others first is_______.

…not a very good idea at all. There is a lot to be said for self-preservation at times. It depends on the scenario. 

4. ________ is breathtaking, really. 

Milford Sound in the South Island of New Zealand is one of the most naturally beautiful places in the world. I’ve been there twice. It’s a three hour drive in. It’s a treacherous drive. Often, the roads are blocked. You have to go through this long, steep tunnel. Then you are deposited on the shore between soaring cliff faces. It’s mind-blowing how small you feel amongst this beauty. 

If you can, go to New Zealand - the South Island is incredible. 

5. Well, maybe there is______.

A God. I have no idea what God might be - monotheistic, polytheistic, a spaghetti monster in a huge colander, Keith Richards…? I’m agnostic. I’m good with the concept, but don’t ask me to  articulate exactly what god is. I’m okay with that. Happy to be proven either right or wrong. 

6. This week, my plans include…….

Work, exercise, sleep and anticipating the next episode of Rivals which comes out on Friday. 

Today’s song:

Theatre Review: Retrograde

The Production: Retrograde by Ryan Calais Cameron

The Company: Melbourne Theatre Company

The Theatre: The Fairfax Studio at the Arts Centre

Runtime: 90 minutes

Until 27 June

Stars: 4

This is an uncomfortable play, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but it does get you thinking. It also makes you grateful for how far we have come as people. We're not perfect, but things have improved somewhat. 

But sheesh. This one is a tough one - good, but a hard watch at times. 

The blurb on the MTC website reads "It’s the so-called Golden Age of Hollywood, fueled by big money and heady ambition. Paranoia simmers beneath the surface and McCarthyism casts a shadow of fear. A young Sidney Poitier arrives at a television studio with a career-defining opportunity on the table. All that stands between him and a breakout lead role is a signature on a contract – or so he thinks. When the network’s fast-talking lawyer begins firing loaded questions, and the screenwriter’s loyalty to Poitier is called into question, the meeting takes a sinister turn, and the cost of ambition becomes alarmingly clear."

A wordy blurb for a wordy play - but it was very good. Uncomfortably good. 

The performances were excellent. Alan Dale will always be Jum Robinson from Neighbours to me, but he's great as Mr Parks, the skeezy lawyer who's out to trap Poitier. Some of his lines make your skin crawl. (Hard to believe that he's turning 80 next year). 

Josh McConville is also great as Poitier's friend, Bobby, who's introducing Poitier to the lawyer in the hopes of advancing both of their careers. He's a man with a conscience but is also wracked with the knowledge that by implicating people as communists, his life could be financially better off. 

But this play belongs to newcomer Donne Ngabo, an Australian actor fresh out of WAAPA. He's fabulous as Sidney Poitier, a young actor at the time who's ultimately blacklisted for not playing the game. He's going to be one to watch - stoic, quiet, with great stage presence, the final 15 minutes have him exploding - brilliant. 

I keep mentioning that this isn't a comfortable watch, due to the themes. The racism, the privilege grate heavily. I had to keep reminding myself that this was set in 1950s America. This is what makes this so effective. That and Bert La Bonte's direction, which slowly amplifies the action over the 90 minutes of the action. The set leans into all of this as well. My one small criticism is the amount of smoke in the 

I now also want to go learn more about Sidney Poitier's early life and Paul Robeson, among others mentioned in the play.

Retrograde gives you a lot to think about. It's very good. Powerful stuff. 

But I think I'm ready for something fluffy now - Prima Facie last night, Retrograde tonight... I think I need a beach read play now. 

Today's song: 

Theatre Review: Prima Facie

The Play: Prima Facie by Suzie Miller

The Theatre: The Comedy Theatre, Exhibition Street

Runtime: 90 minutes

Until 31 May

Stars: 5

You have to love AI. I asked it to find me the review I did for Prima Facie a couple of years ago - and it came up with the goods. February 2023 at the Fairfax Studio. Brilliant. I remember the play well. You don't forget this one. 

Everything I said about this play stands. You can read my original review here. 

Three years on, everything still stands. 

In this limited run at the Comedy Theatre, Sheridan Harbridge takes on the role of Tessa Ensler once again - in a larger auditorium. Gone is the intimacy of the 400-seater amphitheatre. Tonight, the Comedy Theatre, which seats around 1000, was all but full. 

Harbridge once again wove her magic over this incredibly important play. 

It's been three years since I saw this. Tonight's performance was just as fresh as the last time - if anything, tonight's performance was more nuanced than what I remember from three years ago - her movements subtler, more refined. Some of her diatribes were softer, but this made the message clearer. 

I found tears welling at the very end. The play has that effect. 

There was also a well-deserved standing ovation from most of the audience. 

This time, I think the play hit home even more. One in three women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. That fact remains. One in a hundred will take the complaint to the police. Sexual assault has very low conviction rates. Nothing has changed. Rape is prosecuted in courts and often it's the victims who are all but put on trial. 

This in a week where three teenage boys repeated raped two teenage girls, filming them all the while. They were guilty. They had irrefutable evidence. The boys were sentenced to non-custodial sentences, which are now being reviewed. The judge said in his findings, that he didn't want to further criminalise the boys, seeing they were minors.  

There has been an unprecedented outcry. And rightly fucking so. 

Still, at the end of the 90 minutes of this play, once again, I was on my feet applauding this incredible play and the tour de force that is Sheridan Harbridge. 

The play has also been turned into a book. If you miss this, the book is just as good. 

I'm honoured to have seen this again. It's too important to no witness. 

Today's song: 

Dev Card: The Reverse Bucket List

 One of the not so good things about having a low-grade case of the morbs is you don't see the good in things, even though you know they're there. Thankfully the depression is passing, but this Dev Card came just at the right time. I've had a day in front of the spreadsheets and something that's easy to write is good. 

The card I pulled reads " Write a reverse bucket list. A list of everything you have already achieved and experienced."

Again, having the morbs means that I'm not in the most positive frames of mind - but this might help. 

It will be in dot points. 

Here we go. 

Stuff I've achieved and experienced. Not a definitive list. 

• I've earned a Master's degree. 
• And a Bachelor's degree.
• I write everyday. It's twaddle, but I do it every day. 
• I've been to more than 17 countries. 
• I've travelled extensively, and mostly by myself. I love to travel. 
• I got out of Adelaide... and never went back. 
• I managed to lose my virginity - 16-year-old me never thought that would happen. 
• I own a cat. 
• I have friends
• I'm well read. 
• I've solvent and debt free. 
• I can leg press 160 kilograms (that was my top weight tonight - 12 reps)
• I've kept myself gainfully employed throughout life in work I generally enjoy (Long may that remain)
• I normally read at least a book a week
• I'm arty in the nicest possible way. 
• I've been to see the Taj Mahal
• And Nitmiluk Gorge (Katherine Gorge)
• And Milford Sound in the New Zealand South Island
• I've overcome my fear of magpies. I'm still wary of them, but the maggies at home are okay. We say hello to each other now. 
• I've had a gym membership for over 20 years - and it still gets used 2-4 times a week. 
• I have fallen in love
• I read tarot cards well
• Animals love me - I love them, but animals are the best
• I'm good at starting arguments from 10 kilometres away. 
• I have looked after my body well - thanks to the gym and reasonably clean living. 
• I've lived on a Greek Island for a bit. 
• And illegally in England for a number of years. 
• I've stopped worrying about what people think about me
• And I'm learning to ask for help, when needed.

I know there's more that I've done - but this will do for the moment. I can tell myself life isn't that bad. 

Today's song: 

Mango Chutney

I'm not an Aldi shopper. I don't trust myself not to come out with ski gear, a cheeseboard and a winch. 

Also, sometimes, you want something, and it just isn't there. 

Case in point. I made a chickpea curry the other day - it's really just souped-up dahl. It's nice - thanks to Nagi at Recipe Tin Eats. I followed the recipe. All good. I got some rice to go with it. All good as well. But it needs a bit of jzushing  - some livening up. A bit of pizzaz. Some thing that cuts through the legumeness of the whole thing. 

This is where mango chutney comes in. A bit of tang - a bit of sweet. Perfect. 

Does Aldi stock mango chutney - preferably Sharwoods, if not then Beerenbergs or Pataks is fine. Yes, I'm a mango chutney snob - years of living in England will do that to you. 

Regardless, I did a lap of Aldi, avoiding the junkies, scouring the aisles, looking high and low for this wonderful condiment. 

Aldi, well my Aldi, down at Junkie Central as the small shopping centre is often referred to due to its proximity to the safe injecting room, does not stock mango chutney. 

Oh well. It's on the shopping list for tomorrow when I know I've got a choice at Coles.

And in the meantime, I found some Quandong Chutney, a gift from the hotel in Darwin, at the back of the fridge. It did the job, but it's not the same. 

Today's song: 

Movie Review: Power Ballad

 Movie Number 21 of 2026

The Movie: Power Ballad

The Cinema: Hoyts Victoria Gardens

Runtime: One hour 38 minutes

Opens Thursday 28 May

Stars: An easygoing 4

Two questions. Does Paul Rudd actually age? And is there anything Paul Rudd can't do? These are valid questions because, firstly, Paul Rudd and I are the same age - but he looks incredible - and yes, he doesn't look as you as he did when he played the brother in Clueless, but he's doing bloody well. And secondly, this bloke can sing! Power Ballad is just is style. 

Watching this, I thought of a couple of things. Firstly, it reminded me of The Wedding Singer, without Adam Sandler's sense of humour. But this was still fun. It also reminded me of The Commitments, but without the soul. Ah yes, big surprise - most of this film is set in Ireland. 

The film starts in Dublin. Rick (Paul Rudd) is the lead singer in a wedding band. He used to be a semi-famous rock star in the 80's, then he fell in love, stayed in Ireland with his wife and child and he stopped writing songs and became a wedding singer. His band, including his best mate, Sandy (Peter McDonald), is his ultimate wing man. The boys in the band are under no illusions - they're wedding singers and they get on with it. They're middle aged. They wear reading glasses, need their sleep and are prone to act up on occasion. 

At a large wedding Rick meets Danny (Joe Jonas) a washed-up boy band singer. After getting up on stage with the band, Rick and Danny bond, and after a lot of alcohol and heart bearing, they have a song writing session - Rick offering Danny his advice, before playing him a song he's been working on for 15 years. The two part as friends. 

Six months later, while out shopping, Rick hears his song playing in the local shopping centre. The song is everywhere. Rick is rightly pissed. He tries to get to talk to Danny through his skeezy manager, Mac (Jack Reynor) with no luck. By this time, his marriage is under strain, he's been kicked out of the band and his daughter thinks he's crazy. It's only then that Rick does the last thing possible and goes to L.A. to seek out the now famous Danny. 

Power Ballad is a feel-good story about music, self-respect, friendship, and the price of ambition. Coming from the pen of John Carney, the writer of the incredible Once, Begin Again and Sing Street, all songs about music, set in Ireland, he knows what he's doing. Carney also directed this little gem. 

And the soundtrack, mostly performed by Rudd and the band, is great. The song that he and Danny co-create isn't too bad either. For me, the staple covers done by the band were on point. 

I really enjoyed this. This had enough fun, music and heart to keep my happy. 

Look out for it when it comes onto a streaming station in the not-too-distant future. It's great Friday night fodder. 

Today's song: 

Sunday Stealing is Artificial

 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. 

Today's song: 

Theatre Review: Pride and Prejudice

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. 

Today's song:

Cat Related Injuries

 Massage night. Overdue. 

"Comrade!"

"Comrade!"

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 glad I'm not the only one. 

Today's Song: 

Dev Card: Write a Comedy Sketch

 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 see men running for the hills already. 

(Sorry, it's not funny - but it could be)

Today's song: 

The Virgo Effect

I'm not a Virgo, but I am a Virgo. 

Eh?

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. 

Today's song: 

Knackered

 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. 

But I can't do computers any more today. 

Night night. 

SCORM files. Blah. 

Today's song: 

Movie Review: A Private Life

 Movie Number 20 of 2026

The Movie: A Private Life (Vie Privee)

The Cinema: Hoyts, Victoria Gardens

Runtime: One hour 47 minutes

Mostly in French with English Subtitles

Stars: 3.75

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.

Today's song:

Theatre Review: Art

The Play: Art by Yasmina Reza

The Theatre: The Comedy Theatre

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. 

Today's song: 

Sunday Stealing Makes You Choose

 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. 

Today's song: 

V for Vendetta

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. 

Today's Song: 

What to write about?

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

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

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

2) Tia Maria

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

Enough about dogs. 

3) Yesteryear

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

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

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

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

5) I want a boyfriend

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

6) And I've just realised

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

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

Today's song:

The Best Part of my Day

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

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

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

An AI rendering of Zoe

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

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

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

This morning, her Dad saw me crossing the road. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Her dad looked at me and smiled. 

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

"Of course she does."

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

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

"You too," he called over his shoulder. 

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

Today's song: 

Projects Finished

 My shrink will be very proud of me. 

The inherited jumper - finished. 

My Doctor Who cable knit scarf - done. 

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

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

But now what? 

Leave the handicraft for a while? 

Start Blarney's blanket? Probably.

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

Onwards I say. 

Today's song: 

Inspiration Sessions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Today's song: 

Movie Review: The Sheep Detectives

Movie number 19 of 2026

The Movie: The Sheep Detectives

The Cinema: Hoyts Victoria Gardens

Runtime: One hour 49 minutes

Stars: 4.5

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Today's song: 

Sunday Stealing: Thunking

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

As always, Sunday Stealing has provided the questions. 

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

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

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

2. Tell us about a school trip you took.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Today's song: 

Theatre Review: The Glass Menagerie

The Play: The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams

The Company: Melbourne Theatre Company

The Space: Southbank Theatre 

Runtime: Two hours twenty minutes with an interval.

Stars: 4

Until 5 June. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Today's song: 

I can't be the only one

 It's getting cold, thank goodness. Finally. 

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

It's cute. 

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

I can't be the only one.

Today's song: 

The Strategy Document Playlist

 At work, I am writing a Strategy Document. 

Kill me now. 

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

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

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

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

I needed a playlist to get me through this. 

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

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

Kneecap is the best for writing stuff like this. 

Metallica - in particular, Master of Puppets. 

The Streets - Fit But You Know It

Rage Against the Machine - Killing in the Name

Public Image Limited - Rise

Nine Inch Nails - Closer

The Prodigy - Smack My Bitch Up. 

Billie Eilish - Bad Guy. 

Talking Heads - Psycho Killer

Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter

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

What do you reckon?

The cat is telling me to go to bed. 

Today's song:

Two Projects Down

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

It sounds worse than it is. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Today's song:

So now what?

 I HAVE FINISHED DUOLINGO'S FRENCH COURSE!

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. 

I love this bilingual journey. 

I don't want the journey to end. 

Today's song: 

Movie Review: The Devil Wears Prada II

Movie Number 18 of 2026.

The Movie: The Devil Wears Prada 2

The Cinema: Hoyts Victoria Gardens

Runtime: Two hours

Stars: 3

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. 

Today's song: 

Sunday Stealing looks back on April

 Nice quick questions before I get to the gym for the day. I've got to go down to the Surf Coast tomorrow, so I'm getting tomorrow's jobs done today. 

Questions, as always, come from Sunday Stealing. 

During April, did you ...

1. Drink alcohol?

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. 

Today's song: 

May Goals

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. 

Today's song: