BLOG ARCHIVES: 31 Jan 2010 - 31 Dec 2010
31 January 2010 Sunday.
Its the future and I missed a whole month !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NYE was um - well I was in Perth so it was a dud event as usual. And not even any fireworks nearby to watch because Gloucestor Park cancelled their event! So I watched the Sydney ones on telly instead.
Had the first week of Jan off work and managed to achieve a bit.
First - the Womens refuge sent their men around to collect my entire declutter pile. It only just managed to fit in their truck, bar the biggest piece of of the TV unit which was an inch too high. Former neighbour Stu was able to collect it for me during the week and drop it off to them.
So I have my living room back !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Also spent the day shopping at the evil Morley Galleria giant complex. I truly despise shopping but I was desperate for some summer tops and pants for work, and new orthotic shoes. The real estate agent below my apartment had been renting my car bay all year and gave me a lovely lump sum payt that allowed me to have quite a spending spree. 2 pairs of orthotic yet trendy walking shoes from Paul Carrol & Sons, and 5 pairs of pants and 5 tops from Mysize. And I came home with change !!!!
Then it was eventually time to return to work and continue with my ongoing training modules each day in preparation for being a trainer in February. The Australia Day weekend meant a further 6 days off work as all our systems shut down for the biggest migration of records in Australia's history. 242 million records dating back to the early 70's. It seemingly went well - so far.
So my training continues and my brian slowly explodes !
January came and went seriously FAST !
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5 February 2010. Friday.
Well just discovered that I failed to publish my last few blogs ! Hope people didnt think I was dead.
And its so hard to type because something has happened with my computer monitor and the font is all wonky and hard to look at.
So - Monday I stayed home with a migraine and later in the day I ended up on the computer deciding to achieve a really big resolution. This wasnt a specific 2010 one (in fact I just noticed I didnt make note of any!). This is a resolution I have made to myself every year since I was a teenager and it was high time, in the words of Nike, to JUST DO IT.
The resolution ?? The dream ??? Well it is shaped like this:
...... and its really really big, and white, and home to penguins, and a grave to many great explorers. And its at the bottom of the world and only accessible for a few months each year to a few icebreakers and small ships.
And its time I stopped talking and dreaming about it !
So on Monday I filled out the loan application. Thursday I got a call from the bank - and I swear it was Mrs Doubtfire on the phone - she sounded adorable. She said the finance was pre approved and how could they not let me go on my dream holiday!
The land of Antarctica awaits me. The dream will be achieved before the year is over !
At this stage I am on the waiting list for one tour called the Epic Antarctica on the Kapitan Khlebnikov, which goes from Falkland Islands, South America and semi circumnavigates Antarctica for 32 days before ending in Hobart, Tasmania. But just in case I dont get a berth on that one, I have paid a deposit to be on the same ship a month earlier. This one is a 30 day anniversary trip commemorating 95 years since Ernest Shackleton and his men watched the Endurance sink and began the fight for their lives in an incredible test of endurance itself. We will visit the very sights that Shackleton walked upon and visit the islands he and his men rowed to and sheltered on for many months. Our fellow passenger will be historian and author Jonathan Shackleton, the cousin of the great explorer himself !!!!
I am so excited that I have been shaking all week just thinking about it.
I have built a webpage where I can do my planning, so feel free to take a look - the link is in my To Do list on the left.
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7 February 2010, Sunday
Went to see a real old favourite last night, Cliff Richard and the Shadows. They might be 69 and over but they were trim, taut and terrific and didnt stop rocking for 2 and a half hours. The audience may had aged over the years but the guys on stage put us all to shame !!!
It cant possibly be 20 years (well almost 21 actually) since I went to the 30th anniversary concert at Wembley Stadium in London ??? But here we were at the 50th anniversary Reunion gig.
Burswood Dome was packed to the rafters. Gawd only knows how the canes and zimmer frames made their way up the stands to the back row! Our seats were so so - expecially given that both nights sold out in 2 days. We (myself and Davina from work) were about 40 rows back.
Everywhere we turned we ran into people from work !
Cliff and the Shads stuck to the hits from 1959 to 1968 - throwing in all the most favourite songs and instrumentals. They looked like they were having as much fun as we were and Hank was clearly revelling in front of his home crowd, throwing out lots of hilarious one liners.
Fantastic show all round. Lots of photos and great videos are slowly uploading to my phanfare albums - may take a day or so !!!
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2 April 2010, Friday.
The start of two weeks away from work. I just needed a break from the place.
Have spent the past few months planning the big Antarctica expedition and its all becoming very real ! The other week I paid for the flights !! Business class on Malaysian - Perth to Buenos Aires. Woohooo. I decided that the dream trip of a lifetime deserved top class seating !!!!!
My expedition polar wear arrived from the US (where it was soooooooooo much cheaper than here !!). I am going to look like a big black michelin man !!! And no the irony was not lost on me that I was dragging home bags of polar wear on a 41 degree day!!!!!!!!!
Meanwhile I am reading Earnest Shackletons book South, about the Endurance expedition. I last read it when I was about 12 and am now amazed that I had the stamina to get through it back then - its such a heavy going book full of so much detail. But he is also a man of wimsy with some of his lovely descriptions of the actions and behaviours of the penguins !!
To be travelling to locations where he and his men journeyed and sheltered and lost their ship, 95 years after those events - will be simply incredible. And what took he and his men 2 years, will be done by me in a month.
The hairs on my arms stand on end when I think about the fact that I am really truly going there.
As you can imagine - the apartment is covered in lists!!!! Nothing like being over organised ! Planning is FUN !!
So - also over the next two weeks I hope to get a man in to build the storage bed (finally), move the new TV cabinet into place, then I can build the new Ikea cube shelves for either side of the TV. Then I need to get a few more chores done around the house.
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26 March 2010, Friday.
Another night at Burswood to see Chicago again. This time with Davina from work. This time 2 row seats. And this time with the fabulous Sharon Millerchip as Roxie. I last saw Sharon as Columbia in Rocky Horror.
The production was simply brilliant. The way the leads and ensemble work with the orchestra (who are situated smack bang in the middle of the stage!) and the conductor, its so clever !!!
Davina and I then wandered Burswood looking for a place to have a cuppa and once again I am reminded how much it differs from Star City and Crown over east. Other than the mile long queue at the Dome cafe - there was nothing.
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22 March 2010, Monday
I had Monday off as I knew after 2 big nights out I would want a nice sleep in. I woke to a hot muggy overcast day and it looked as if the promised afternoon storm may well happen.
How right I was. At 4pm on the dot the first of 3 massive storm fronts passed over with heavy rain, hail, thunder and lightning and 100kph winds. It was incredible to watch from inside the safety of my apartment and I was very glad I was not trying to walk home from work in it !!
The second front was the most incredible that I have ever witnessed in my lifetime. It was a savage shade of green - so angry and powerful.
No damage at my place but it was the first time I have been seriously concerned about the strength of my skylights and windows.
Out on the street below me the intersection flooded up to a depth of over a metre. Incredible to watch. The nearby art gallery got very flooded - sadly for the current display - room sized cardboard dogs and water do not mix well.
The damage reports across the entire city were just astounding. Several hospitals, the domestic airport, 20 schools, 2 uni's, uncountable businesses and homes all damaged. Historical damage included the 80 yr old stained glass windows at Winthrop Hall (UWA), and the famous Jacobs Ladder beneath Kings Park collapsed causing a land slide through a block of apartments.
When I returned to work on Tuesday it was to storys of 3 hour journeys home, hail damaged cars, two team mates with seriously damaged homes, the office basement flooded badly and a lot of lucky escapes.
Plenty of photos and videos - mine and others - in my Phanfare albums.
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20 March 2010, Saturday.
Jo and I had another night out with Absolutely 80s - this time in bogansville Ravenswood Tavern. The land of "drink till you puke, get up on stage & molest the singers, embarrass yourself and wake up oblivious". Nope not me - but basically the whole population there. I love a good night out with my 80s bands but from now on it will be at the more respectable Friends Restaurant. Its closer too ! Not a 2 hour journey. Photos in Phanfare albums - not my best!
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19 March 2010, Friday.
Met Camelia at Burswood after work and went to see the newest production of Chicago. Great seats in 5th row. Fantastic casting with Caroline O'Conner in the role she was born to play for the rest of her life it seems. Sharon Millerchip was missing so we got a lovely understudy for Roxie and she did a good job. Craig McLachlan as Billy - perfect casting ! Cheeky and in very fine voice. Colleen Hewitt (who I last saw in Boy From Oz earning the longest standing ovation in my theatre going lifetime) was gorgeous as Mama Morton and her voice is still able to bring everyone to their knees. Damien Bermingham (who I saw play just about every role in Priscilla !) was simply the most perfect casting as Amos and I was humming his Mr Cellophane all night. The ensemble were a brilliant bunch of characters and all incredible dancers.
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13 March 2010 Saturday:
Fab night. Absolutely 80s (featuring Brian Mannix, Scott Carne, Sean Kelly & Ally Fowler) were playing at the lovely Friends Restaurant at The Hyatt again. Had a fabulous front row table with the Lemons who I met last year at the gigs, and Jo - who I met as a teen at our first ever Mannix gig!!!!! Great to catch up with her as a grown up!!!!! We had a lovely 3 course meal and many fines wines and then the band rocked the night away. Plenty of photos in my Phanfare albums.
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26 April 2010, Monday:
Well I had a very productive 2 weeks away from work, followed by a very busy return week to work.
I had a lot of long late sleep-ins but managed to do a productive thing each day, including building an Ikea TV cabinet and two shelving units for each side of it, not to mention getting the heavy TV into place all by myself !
Had a man come and help me build my storage bed so its finally done (only bought the bed in June last year !!!!!). Also set the spare room up with the spare bottom half of my bed ensemble. That was harder work than I expected and I strained my back doing that one.
Ordered a steam cleaner mop thing. Note to all - when you see things advertised on the TV morning shows - DONT ORDER IT ! Go and check ebay instead for the identical item. You will be surprised to find the same company that is selling something in the TV for $200 - is selling the same item for $50 on ebay - brand new and usually with more stuff thrown in. So my very much cheaper steam thingy arrived a few days later and I gave the carpets a very well needed clean.
I had a big Sunday shopping day in the old Wellington Surplus store in the city. I dont think I have shopped there since I was a kid - we use to get the old yellow canvas bags to be our school bags back in the day. I found all the thermal socks etc and so much other stuff - all brand ame and the same gear stocked in the posh adventure stores. Same stuff but a 3rd of the price. So I was able to buy the last of the gear needed for the Antarctica expedition - especially the thermal liner socks, merino hiking socks, silk liner gloves, close fitting ski sunnies, etc etc oh and a pair of hiking boots that I will break in by wearing them to work during winter !
Had a shopping day with Mrs H. We went to spotlight and bought a sewing pattern for polar fleece tops and bought some polar fleece material in 3 colours. She is going to make me some nice tunic length tops for the trip - ie bum and tum covering length !!!! She is also taking up the polartek track pants and the arms on the thermal tops for me.
Had some culture on April 10. Laurel and I went to see a new play called The Swimming Club at the Playhouse Theatre. Starring my fave John Waters, as well as Tina Bursill and Caroline Gilmoure (who I love in Bed of Roses). It was a "baby boomers trying to grab back their lives" kind of story and very cleverly done on a stage covered in sand with two pools of water and stage front and back !! A lot of cleaning up must take place in the dressing rooms afterwards! Loz and I had a nice long chat with John after the show.
The following weekend on April 17 it was time for Loz and I to reclaim our own youth at Sandalford Winery - with Spandau Ballet !!!!!!! For some reason I never got to see them when they can here in the 80s so I was so thrilled when they reformed. Tears for Fears were the support act and I admit to only knowing their 2 main chart hits. They were never favourites of mine. When Spandau hit the stage it was clear they had lost nothing over the years ! They absolutely rocked ! Fantastic sound and lighting and great vocals etc. They did every single hit you could imagine and it looked like they were having as great a time as we were ! They have all aged brilliantly. Martin Kemp is totally to die for !!
As usual the issues relating to concert set ups and concert goers runs the risk of overshadowing the concert itself. We were stuck in traffic for well over an hour and missed the other support act Jack Jones. Its a vineyard so they seem utterly fine about serving people who are clearly already paraletic - and those inconsiderate drunks like to ensure all in their vicinity get disturbed by them. And once again we find ourselves paying hundreds of dollars to sit on tiny plastic garden chairs that are set up and cable-tied far too close together making economy on Qantas look spacious. As a plus sized concert goer its bad enough when you realise your bum cheek is encroaching on the seat beside you and you cross your fingers that the next person is anorexic - but when they arrive and turn out to be twice your own width - well it makes for a very uncomfortable evening for all concerned.
So then it was back to work and all that encompasses that place. Ho hum. By day 2 you dont even feel like you had a break.
Luckily there was this 3 day weekend to look forward to straight away.
Yesterday (Sunday April 25th), Davina and I met at Burswood to see Cats The Musical. This was one I had never had a chance to see over the years for one reason or another. I hadnt really gone out of my way as it had never held that much appeal. But seeing as how it had ventured across the Nullabour and I cant afford east coast theatre trips right now - I am seeing anything and everything that heads my way!!
We had seats in the middle of row C - a couple of seats away from the centre aisle and we also had a wide aisle right behind us. This meant we had pussy cats running past and behind us all night and one siamese did some spectaculat back flips right behind us ! The set was stunning - with the look and props creeping out along the edges and over the front of the stage and cats came and went from all angles.
It was a Sunday matinee so as well as the usual blue rinse set there were dozens and dozens of kiddies - some just 3 or 4 years old. They were all very well behaved and utterly entranced by the entire spectacle. Especially at the end of interval when cats appeared all through the audience, crawling along and getting patted (and rifling through handbags !!!).
I found it really hard to form a real opinion about this show. Unlike most musicals that are a mix of dialogue and song - Cats is all song. When the entire ensemble were singing I found it really hard to distinguish the words. But when singing solo's it was much clearer and easier to follow. There was no denying the talent and athletisism of the performers. But it didnt grab me like some other musicals.
I am glad I have finally seen it as it means I can finally have an opinion on it. But I dont think its one I would see again.
Photos of the loving room and bedroom makeovers, and the Spandau concert are all now in the Phanfare albums - link on the left.
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4 June 2010. Friday.
Note to self - where the heck did May go ??????
Spending the long weekend in bed with a throat infection and head cold :(
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25 July 2010 Sunday.
The weeks just seem to be skimming by. I actually didnt want to happen this year. I have never planned so far in advance for a holiday. Usually I just see a theatre production I fancy seeing, book a flight and zip on over. Antarctica and South America is a whole different kettle of fish. While the dreaming started back in the 80s, the actual full blown planning, from the loan application, to the bookings, to the creation of the worlds weirdest packing list etc etc commenced in January and its felt like its been a daily thing ever since. This week the final payments will be made to the expedition company (Peregrine) and it will all feel extremely real then - and my bank balance will be greatly reduced!
So let me think - what went on in May and June that I forgot to mention ?
In late May Alison from Sydney popped over for a quick visit. We managed to do Kings Park by night, Freo Prison, Cottesloe Beach, Kings Park by Day and a drive along the Sunset Coast to Hillarys for dinner before she departed for Uluru !! Lots of photos in the Phanfare albums.
On 30 May Davina and I went and had ourselves some serious culture at His Majestys Theatre. We had fabulous seats to see Waiting for Godot starring Sir Ian McKellen and Roger Rees (who I use to love in Cheers!). I had always heard a lot of mixed things about this play because at the end of the day its just two men talking while they wait for someone. For me the theatre has always been about seeing someone you admire - live in the flesh there on stage acting just for you. For that reason, when it comes to plays, I generally choose to see something based on the casting and not necessarily the storyline. I am glad I did because these two men are most incredible talents and to have them come all the way to Perth is a real privilidge. Their body language and humour kept me intrigued throughout - when really the storyline shouldnt have ! It was clear why they are in this business. Its not to become famous celebrities. Its to revel in interpreting someones written word for the pleasure of themselves and the audience.
June marked the start of winter and for some reason Perth took itself very seriously for a change - with a month of record breaking low temps. People in my office found themselves dealing with daily iced up windscreens for the first times in their lives. Naturally on day 1 of the cold snap my ducted heating blew up. A whole new motor had to be ordered from Sydney and the whole roof had to be lifted and replaced just to access the old motor. GRRRRRRRRRR
All this took 3 weeks :( 3 freezing record breaking weeks.
I have seriously never been so bloody cold in Perth in my life. I was warming the bed with a hair dryer each night and wearing 4 layers of clothes just to sit and watch TV. I couldnt use the computer because typing was impossible in gloves !
Everyone thought they were really smart making comments about "but hey arent you the one going to Antarctica ??". Well yes indeed I am - but while there I will be wearing appropriate clothing suitable for such temperatures. And while I have indeed purchased all that clothing already - half of it is at my friends house having adjustments done, and the other half was in Melbourne having very technical adjustments done ! Believe me - if any of it had been in my house I would have had it all on !!
Anyway fingers crossed the exhorbitant costs of repairs to the heating are going to be reimbursed to me from the strata's insurance company. I hope so because they have come out of my holiday savings.
Meanwhile - at work I have been doing higher duties in a technical team, answering queries from staff across the country, and checking and writing procedures. All my kinda stuff and I have been learning heaps every day.
From July 10 I had a week long visit from Uncle Col, attending a big navy reunion. We last caught up in 2002 during my big "round Oz following Chris Isaak" trip. We had a good catch up and he showed me some good tricks on my puter that will come in handy. We also went thru hundreds of old photos of the family back to the early 1900's.
So really not a whole lot going on bar work and holiday planning!! Some shows to look forward to in the next month or so are Let It Be (with John Waters), The Graduate (with Jerry Hall), Ian Moss at Friends Restaurant, The Removalists (starring Jon English) and then West Side Story.
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29 August 2010, Sunday.
Blimey its almost September and now I can officially start saying (ever so casually) "oh yes I am off to Antarctica in a 2 months time" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Its been a lovely weekend of music.
On Friday night Laurel and I headed off to Burswood Theatre to see the 2010 incarnation of Let It Be. Its a concert featuring the music of Lennon and McCartney, as interpreted by 4 very different artists. When I saw it in 2006 it featured John Waters, Christine Anu, Leo Sayer and Rick Price.
This time around John was joined by Jon Stevens, Jack Jones and Doug Parkinson.
The best description I could give John after the show was "Boy that made 2006 look like "Let It Be Lite" !!!! Last time it was sweet and melodic and "pretty". This time round it was loud and pure and utter rock. 4 seriously powerful voices on stage backed by an awesome band. Even the ballads were given a new life with a bigger fuller rockier sound. It was brilliant.
Last night Laurel and Mrs H joined me to see Gina Williams singing at Downstairs At The Maj - its a cozy little club beneath His Majesty's Theatre. Gina was as brilliant as she always has been. The band are sounding tight and talented. And way off in a back room 14 week old Thomas was trying to prove his lungs were just has good as his mums !!!!
Mrs H delivered a couple of lovely big polar fleece tops she has been making for me for my trip. Really nice and long so they keep the bum warm and no risk of freezing gaps when arms are raised or when crouching to take photos etc !!
At work I was thrilled when they extended my higher duties in the tech team all the way through to my final working day before my holiday!! This team has such a nice feel to it that I was dreading having to return to the other nasty world for a couple of weeks right before my trip. Now I dont have to think about that other world until January!!!!!!
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12 September 2010, Sunday.
Another week of theatre and music to distract me from thinking constantly about packing lists !!!
Friday 3rd Sept I went to see The Graduate at His Majestys. They had brought from the UK the brilliant casting of Jerry Hall (Mick Jaggers Texan ex) and her regular co star Rider Strong. I have seen The Graduate before in 2001 (with my man John Waters) so it was nice to see it with a different cast. Identical set (which is one of my favourite sets around).
Jerry was brilliant. Dry, sarcastic, brittle. And looking mighty fine for mid 50s. And having viewed her buck naked from the second row I can assure all that she is aging gracefully - definitely nothing fake - just good living and laugh lines in all the right places.
The chemistry with Rider was fantastic. Considering they have done the role with each other for over 600 performances - he still manages to portray the nervousness in her presence so well !!
Then Sunday Sep 5th, it was time for another gig at my favourite little venue - Friends Restaurant at the Hyatt. Its basically a 3 course set menu (5 star) and an intimate gig (2 to 3 hours depending on the performer and the audience!) and they have been doing them for about 20 years. Even tho its a set menu they always look after me with my allergies and ensure there is lovely special meals for me !!
The stage is teeny - about a foot high, 7 foot across, and 5 foot back. There are a mix of tables seating 2, 4, 6 or 8. About 100 people maximum. Great wine and cocktail list!!!! Great 5 star service !
So they do the dinner from 7.30 to 8.30 then just as coffees (and chockies) and more drinkies are served - the performer hits the stage.
So this it was Ian Moss. Ian was part of the iconic 70s and 80s band Cold Chisel and then a solo artist. He does a big mix of blues, soul and pure straight from the heart rock - old Chisel numbers, his solo stuff - plus some great covers. Its just him and his guitar but man it was huge and loud - you definitely couldnt hear anyone else talking !!
He took requests - changing the gig around through the night to suit everybody. He even did the Chisel songs that he usually leaves to Barnsey - just cos we were begging for them ! He did 3 hours solid with only one quick run to the loo !!!!
Then he stayed around chatting and having photos done with everyone and signing menus and cds etc. Photos and videos from the gig are in my Phanfare albums - link on the left.
Then last night it was time to see the very final night of the very final production ever at the Pier St Playhouse theatre. It closes down today to relocate to the brand new state theatre which should be finished construction by December and will be just perfect walking distance from me on the cnr of William and Roe sts. So Lisa and I saw David Williamson's 1971 play The Removalists featuring one of my ole faves Jon English. It had just the right amount of humour to temper the somewhat brutal realism of the 70s bigotry and sexism.
Back to the packing lists ...............
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14 October 2010, Thursday
Sitting here trying to immerse myself into technology. My iPhone finally arrived a month after I ordered it. So far have managed to sort out the internet and email on it but havent yet sussed out how to connect the phone bit ! I can see how the object could become addictive !
For my birthday this year I joined Laurel and Mrs H on a whale watching cruise from Sorrento. The ocean was the smoothest you could ever imagine - not even the slightest ripple. This didnt stop 30 out of 40 passengers being violently seasick for 5 hours. The 3 of us must have the sturdiest stomachs on the planet because none of us have ever been seasick - and somehow the sight and sound of so many people chucking around us didnt turn our stomachs!
The whales were out there aplenty however it was like they were in a Sunday morning mood (as I was!) as they basically floated on the surface but no leaping around breaching or anything.
All in all it was a lovely day of 21c and a gorgeous ocean and a lovely cruise. We then had lunch at Hippo Creek - a fantastic African place at Hillary's Marina. Some photos are now in the phanfare albums.
On October 9 I met Davina at Burswood and we went to enjoy 2nd row seats for West Side Story. It was the first time for both of us. I dont actually recollect this musical making its way to Perth before. The cast was young and fresh out of WAAPA. Many of them are destined for big careers. The sets were simplistic yet very effective in portraying the laneways of New York. The orchestra were fantastic.
Am on the serious countdown to my big trip now. Last weekend I did a test pack and ticked everything off the lists. The medical bag of "could possibly need it" things is the largest item ! Having to consider all the things you could potentially catch or fall victim to on a ship of just 100 passengers, and also taking into account that there will be no nearby chemists if you run out - means the first aid bag looks like a drug couriers collection ! Flying business class means I at least can go a bit over my usual luggage weight, and for the internal Sth American flights I will just haveto be prepared to pay for the excess - apparently its only US$3 per kilo so its not as bad as here or the US.
My tummy flips with excitement when someone asks me "how long till your trip" and I reply "just a couple of weeks" !!
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29 October 2010, Friday.
Finished work for the year today. It was great. Been in a fabulous team for the past 5 months and it was nice to be busy, and surrounded by like minded hard working technical people. The execs all said they loved my work ethic and what I had achieved in the past few months and that they would have me back any time. One actually said he always knew I would be perfectly suited to the role - not bad considering I didnt know he knew anything about me !
So this weekend I will be making everything fit in the lovely little samsonite case and spring cleaning the apartment before flying off on Tuesday.
I will be in an internet free zone till mid December so look forward to sharing a huge blog and photos with you all then.
I AM GOING TO ANTARCTICA AT LONG LAST !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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31 Dec 2010, Friday:
A tonne of updates to come - I ran out of internet while sorting and uploading 8609 holiday photos and videos.Meanwhile - my end of year message and a mini slideshow - can be accessed HERE.
