Delayed Flights

 There are two ways of looking at a delayed flight. The first way is to get all upset, and be pissed off, and start complaining, and make a complete nuisance of yourself. The second way is to get on with things, get out your book and be thankful that the airline is going to get you there in one piece.

Today, I chose the second way of doing things. My flight was delayed by nearly three hours due to inclement weather, and this did not make me very happy, but I would much rather get to the place I was going to in one piece. I was meeting friends for lunch. That turned out to be afternoon drinks, because I didn’t get to where I was going until three hours later than I was hoping. By this time, most of restaurants were closed until dinner time.

But on the good side of things, I’ve nearly finished my book group book, which I’m not enjoying but it is read for next week. I’m having a lovely time in my swanky hotel room, with a large bath, and some gin and tonic. I can’t complain about this.

I also had a lovely dinner with another friend who was in town for the day. She doesn’t know her around Sydney, so I got to show her just a little patch. It was nice to have dinner in the place I was planning to have lunch in with my other friends. It was also nice to make these plans for Christmas, seeing this friend lives in Adelaide. 

Now, I’m just grateful to have a night away from everything. I’m doing some book planning. I’m going to have a long bath in a minute. And just spoil myself for a night. It can’t be bad…

Today’s song:

Theatre Review: Golden Blood

The Production: Golden Blood by Merlynn Tong

The Theatre: The Fairfax Studio

The Company: Melbourne Theatre Company

Stars: 4

Until 30 November

It was one of those plays that I was going to love or hate. Jay mentioned that the reviews weren't that great. And what sort of play has the playwright in the cast? 

Well, this one does. 

Tong's play about family and responsibility is a gem in its own right. The MTC website describes it as, "Left to fend for themselves, a teenage girl is taken under the wing of her older brother. Trouble is, his gangster swagger is the real deal, and thug life doesn’t come with a parenting manual."

Tong plays the girl, (No name is given) from the ages of 14-21. Charles Wu plays the boy, her older brother with some pretty dodgy roots. The boy takes on the girl as his ward after their mother dies. The pair haven't seen each other in seven years after their mother threw the boy out. 

I found a lot to like in this play. For one, being set in Singapore, the two actors did the play in Singlish (Singaporean English). Having numerous friends from that part of the world, I settled into the accent with ease and saw some things on stage I could see happening. Spending the hour and a half of the production wondering where things were going, I was kept suitably entertained. Two girls of Asian extraction at the end of the row, found this hilarious. Jay was bored. 

Tessa Long's direction is assured, and I enjoyed how the play took you to places you rarely see. It also made you wonder just how good the decision it was of the girl to go along with her brother, who was a scammer at best. But strangely, they loved each other as well. The minimalist set really did a lot of favours to the play as well.

This won't be for everybody, but as it's closing tomorrow night there's no more chance to see it. For me, getting some insights into the Asian diaspora was a very good thing. 

Today's Song:

A Night Off the Regime

 After two months and 28 days, I finally cracked. Two months and 28 days with no gluten, sugar, dairy or caffeine. I've let the odd alcoholic drink back in since the start of November. Only have a drink or two a week - the naturopath was fine with this. 

But I cracked big time tonight. 

And what made me throw my regime out the window?

French Food. 

Jay and I have been plotting this for a while. It was Jay's birthday the other week and we never celebrated mine back in August, so tonight was the night. The venue, Bon Matin, a little French place at the bottom of Jay's building. Bon Matin. We have breakfast there regularly, but I've never done the dinner there. And at $45 for two courses, who's complaining?

Bon Matin has a very limited dinner menu, but what they do is amazing. 

I started out with the pate with pickled shitake mushrooms on toast. For a starter, it was small, but perfect. That mix of the herby pate with the tang of the pickled mushrooms was exquisite. Jay went for the fish croquettes which she said were divine. 

For mains, we both had Steak Frites - or steak and chips. For anybody who hasn't been to a French restaurant for steak, go do it! The steak was perfect, offset with shoestring fries and something called Cafe de Paris butter. For those who have never had French butter, this too should be on your list of things to do before you die. I don't know what they do to get such excellent butter, whether they massage the cows' udders or whip it with fairy wands, but it's most wonderful. Seriously amazing. 

And after washing all of this down with a glass of rose, we had dessert. What is a birthday celebration without dessert? Jay had the Parisian Flan, which looked like a cheesecake. Me, I went for the Crepe Suzette, which were doused in an orange tainted butter and with a scoop of ice cream. 

It was an amazing meal. 

But there goes my gluten, dairy and sugar free existence. 

It was worth every bite. It was a lovely, lovely meal, and I thoroughly recommend Bon Matin to all for wonderful, accessible and not overly expensive French food. 

But its back on the wagon tomorrow. For me, there's far too many benefits for eating without the inflammatory effects gluten, dairy and sugar provide. 

Today's song: 

Too tired to write

 I think I'm going to take a night off tonight. 

I've been writing all day.

Had enough. 

And Chuck pummeled me tonight. He's upped my weights again. 

And I'm falling asleep on the couch. 

Night. 

Today's song: 

Movie Review: Wicked Part One

 Movie Number 37 of 2024

The Movie: Wicked (Part One)

The Cinema: Hoyts Victoria Gardens

Stars: 4

I went into this blind. I've not seen the musical, as I'm a bit picky about the musicals I see. I also chose my session, going to the cinema on a Tuesday evening, hoping the theatre kids were happily ensconced in their music lessons and not anywhere near me in the cinema. I chose well. I could hear nobody singing along. 

Phew. 

Wicked picks up where The Wizard of Oz leaves off before Dorothy returns to Kansas. The Wicked Witch of the West is dead and Glinda, the Good Witch of the North (Ariana Grande-Butera) is left to tell her story to the citizens of Munchkinland. 

You see, at school, Galinda, and Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) the green-skinned, overlooked daughter of a local mayor, were roommates at school. The girls become friends at Shiz University in the Land of Oz. After an encounter with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum), their friendship reaches a crossroads.

I won't go too far into the plot. It's a musical, after all. But I was impressed by the performances of both of the lead characters, particularly Erivo, who gives great depth to the misunderstood Elphaba. Ariana Grande's Galinda is delicious. Rounding out the cast is Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, a love interest to both of the girls and Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, the head teacher at the university who is not what she seems, and Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard. 

This movie is going to be nominated for some Oscars. The costumes, the scenery and the cinematography are all exceptional.

My one reservation, not being across the stage play or book - the musical on stage runs for three hours. The movies, split into two films, are running for well over five. How did this happen. 

I really enjoyed the film. I will see the second installment. It's great entertainment. 

Today's song: 

To write a book

 When writing about an almost universal experience, is that nobody's experience is the same. 

And you have to find an angle.

And work out what's going to be for the best. 

And why am I wanting to write about menopause anyway? 

Actually, that's the easy question. I want to write about menopause because it can feel like the most isolating experience in the world where you don't know if you're going mad, you feel like crap and everything you thought you knew has been taken away from you. 

There's a lot to write about. 

Also, I'm not a doctor or allied health practitioner. I cannot 

So, I've got thinking - my experience is just one experience. 

And everybody is different. 

Questions like:

• When did you start the change? 
• How did you feel about it? 
• What surprised you about it? 
• Did you talk to anybody about it? 
• Have you talked to any medical or allied health professionals?
• How did you find perimenopause? 
• What do you wish you knew about before this started? 
• Have you talked to your family about this?
• What is the worst thing that happened/is happening to you?
• What's worked for you? 
• Any funny stories?
• Are there any good sides to this? 
• What would be your advice to women starting on their menopause journey? 
• What are your non-negotiables?
• If you were to go through this again, what would you do differently? 
• What bit of knowledge would 

And something that goes from being a little project gets soooooo much bigger. 

Also, if you'd like to be part of this project, get in touch with me. I'd love to have a chat. I can see my darling cousins, the ones I sit around family reunions with, talking about HRT/MRT patch strengths. 

It's a big subject. 

Best get researching. 

Best get writing. 

Today's song: 

Sunday Stealing

 

The questions came late this weekend, and with the busy week I've had, I've now got next to no time to get these done. 

Nevertheless, she persisted.

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

    What was the last song you listened to?

This: (I saw them live on Thursday - still wonderful after all these years)

    What is your favorite thing about the place you live?

As in where I live? I live in a really funky suburb in inner Melbourne. It's great for public transport and cafes. Melbourne is a huge multicultural city, which I love too. 

    What is your earliest childhood memory?

Although I have indistinct memories of man landing on the moon - I was just under a year old and lying in a bassinette, I have a few memories of me being at kindergarten. The play equipment was excellent. 

     If you could be any animal, what would you be?

Either a well-loved housecat, or a sloth. I think sloths have it good. 

    Who do you trust the most in your life?

Me. I do trust my close friends, but I trust me more. It's an independence thing. 

    How many languages can you say "hello" in?

Let me see...French, Dutch, English, Italian, Spanish, German,  Greek, Japanese, Balinise, Thai, Mandarin, Hindi and Australian Bogan (G'day).

What can I say? Love love learning languages. 

    What is your favorite kind of weather?

Autumnal weather, cool and crisp and possibly overcast. A light breeze is always nice too. 

    How did you discover that Santa wasn't real and how old were you?

I found out about Santa not being real when I was five years old. The family across the road were Jehovah's Witnesses who have nothing to do with Santa. Karin Haawkes told me all about it. I asked my parents about this and they confirmed it, but I was not allowed to tell my sister. 

    What is the best feeling in the world?

Achieving something you've been struggling to do. 

    What is your favorite color?

Pillarbox Red or Cobalt Blue. One or the other - but there are many colours I adore. 

    Is there a language you would love to learn?

I wish my French was fluent. I speak more than passable French, but I wish it was better. I'd also love to learn Spanish. It makes travelling around South America and Spain really easy. 

    How do you feel about reality TV?

I watch some reality television, but avoid most of it like the plague. We have a renovating show, The Block, which I enjoy, as I love Married at First Sight and Masterchef - but that's it. The rest I tend to leave. The really trashy shows, like Love Island or The Batchelor - no thanks. 

So, I think the answer to this is watch sparingly. 

    Did you ever skip school when you were a kid?

No. I was a goody-two-shoes and as we lived a couple of kilometres out of the nearest town, it was all too hard to negotiate. 

    What is your least favorite food?

Bananas. Lasagne. 

    Do you have a good luck charm?

No, unless you count my stimming ribbon. 

Today's song: