In an effort to consolidate my many pages on Bajaclub, I am moving all of my blog archives to this single page. Oldest post down to newest post. The earliest ones were theatre and film reviews rather than actual diary notes. Some records have been recreated via calender notes and posts off old forums at the time.
MAY 2000:
So far in May 2000 I have not been out much. I have been to see one movie - Erin Brokovich - which I really enjoyed. I can see Julia Roberts and Albert Finney being well rewarded when it comes time for the awards time of year. I thought it was a good role for Julia because as well as being her charming self - it shows a rougher side of her that we have not seen before. There were some great lines that will become classics and several scenes where you just felt like standing up to applaud. Something else that stood out to me was the performances by the kids. They seemed "real" and what came out of their mouths did not come off as scripted or rehearsed. The toddler was definately adlibbing !!!!!
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Also in May I went to see FAME the Musical. This was an all Australian produced, directed and choreographed production.
The special guest performers from the US were Thelma Houston as Miss Sherman, whose solo "These are my children" was a heartstopping tear filled number, and Levensky Smith who played Tyrone Jackson, the illiterate but extremely talented dancer. I felt that the story, which covered three school years, moved a little too fast and had a lot of gaps. But the stage settings were amazing - and the talent on stage were incredible. The grand finale saw the entire cast singing and dancing on a yellow taxi cab to the huge Irene Cara number Fame. The whole cast seemed so energetic and alive that I came out of the theater feeling quite invigorated.
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OCT 2000:
In October 2000 4 cast members of my all time favourite TV show, the UK police drama The Bill, ventured over to Oz to perform the play Lonestar. In the pic on the left they are Huw Higginson who played Ray, Tom Butcher who played Cletis and Russell Boulter who was Roy. Mark Wingett at the front directed.
The play was set behind a bar in Maynard, Texas in 1979. It centred around the character of Roy, a bitter man back 2 years from Vietnam in a town that hadnt changed enough for him. The only thing still the same is his 1958 Pink Convertible Cadillac His brother Ray idolises him but really isnt all that jealous about not going to 'nam. Cletis is Rays friend and Roys object of abuse.
In one drunken night behind the bar several events occur that make each of the three take a step back and look at thier lives.
Huw showed amazing comedic talent, his facial expressions and lines nearly stole the show on many occassions.
Russell was excellent as the almost vicious older brother tho there were moments of true comedy coming out of him at times.
Toms role was short but pivotal to the story. His geeky nerdy character was so against type. After the show the guys all sat on the stage for an hour and answered questions from the audience, all of whom were huge fans of The Bill. I had the pleasure of meeting all the boys backstage and photos can be found in my online albums.
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JUNE 2001:
Lisa and I went to see The Rise and Fall of Little Voice on June 9th 2001.
It starred Sonni Byrne as LV. Sonni and Lisa starred in Jack The Ripper together in November 2000. Lisa and I had been to see the movie version of Little Voice starring Michael Caine, a couple of years ago, and really enjoyed it. It had been a musical originally so we were keen to see the Perth version.
Little Voice is the story of a young woman, LV, who lives with her brassy, loud, desperate to be young again mother Mari. LV is a quiet, shy, agorophobic whose life revolves around the records her late father loved. Records by Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, Marilyn Monroe, Shirley Bassey etc. LV is able to imitate the voices of these singers to a "T".
When Mari's new boyfriend - a sleazy promoter - Ray Say, hear's LV singing one night, he decides it's the big time for her. He takes control and tries to put her on stage in a local club. Its a distaster for LV - but a wonderful opportunity for the audience to sample Sonni's fantastic voice.
A shy telephone repairman, and part time lights and illuminations fancier, named Bill is LV's eventual salvation.
I thoroughly enjoyed this local production. If the play is put on in your home town - do go see it.
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JUNE 2001:
Also in June 2001 I went to see Nunsense with Sonni from Little Voice and Warren, Lisa's hubby.
Lisa starred (and shone !) as Sister Mary Leo, one of 5 equally shared lead roles.
Nunsense is the story of 5 nuns who went off one night to play bingo. Upon their return they discovered a fellow sister had accidently poisoned the entire population of their nunnery with botulism after serving dinner. The remaining nuns used all their funds to bury ALMOST all of the deceased - unfortunately there were still a few unburied nuns being kept in the freezer.
So the 5 nuns put on a fundraising show. A highlight of which was Lisa's portrayal as the nun who dreamt of being a ballet dancer. Lisa's "Dying Swan" routine left us with aching sides.
Nunsense was chock a block with some of the best one liners I have ever heard and the lyrics to the songs were simply hysterical.
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JULY 2001:
John Waters as John Lennon in Looking Through A Glass Onion
I first saw Glass Onion in June 1994. Back then it was a very simplistic moody show with just Waters and his guitar and Stewart D'arrietta on keyboards.
This time around Waters was accompanied by D'arrietta's band and a string quartet, giving it a louder, harder edge - with a rock concert feeling to it.
Glass Onion is a tribute to Lennon. Its hard to know whether to describe it as a play or musical.or impersonation. I choose the word performance.
It starts with the resounding gun shots from Lennon's assassinator and ends with his slowing then final heartbeat. In between those two moments Waters gives us an insight into Lennon's memories. Moments in time important to Lennon. Times with the Beatles, His Mother Julia, The feud with McCartney, Meeting Yoko, Life in New York, Sean's Birth, His Own Death.
Narrations in Lennons accent (Waters was also born in Liverpool) are interspersed in a hypnotic manner between songs that relate to the memories.
Its confronting in many places, but at the end you feel like you actually knew Lennon.
Waters is an Aussie Legend in his own right. Starting with a lead role in Hair in 1969, appearances in TV drama's, Mini Series and Movies through the 70's to 90s, followed by a return to the stage in the 90's in Jesus Christ Superstar, My Fair Lady and Sound of Music.
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OCTOBER 2001:
The Graduate. Starring:Wendy Hughes as Mrs Robinson, John Waters as Mr Robinson, Brooke Satchwell as Elaine Robinson, Mark Priestley as Benjamin Braddock, Andrew McFarlane as Mr Braddock, Tracey Mann as Mrs Braddock.
I flew over to Sydney in October 2001 to see The Graduate. I wrote quite an extensive review for my John Waters web site. Here it is.
More Than One Reason To See The Graduate. By Karina. October 20th 2001.
I have only seen the movie version of The Graduate once and it was a long time ago, and I don't even recollect if I watched it all the way through. So I wasn't sitting in the front row of the Theatre Royal for the plays Sydney season with any preconceived notions other than the fact that I was aware of the older woman seducing younger man scenario. No I was sitting there on the front row, jetlagged and suffering missing luggage syndrome, to enjoy the opportunity of seeing some of my favourite Australian actors on stage.
Wendy Hughes is one of Australia's most beautiful, most enduring actors. I have seen most of her movies and TV appearances and have always enjoyed her work. This would be the first time I had seen her live on stage.
John Waters well if you are looking at this website you already know how I feel about him. Even a considerably small role in a play was enough for me to take an all night flight to the other side of the country to see him perform.
Andrew McFarlane, who didn't have a crush on him in the 80's be it in The Sullivans or The Flying Doctors. Dashing looks and a gentleman sense of style help too. I had not yet had the chance to see him in a stage performance before.
Tracy Mann. A quality Australian actor. I have always enjoyed her work, especially in Cyclone Tracy and many guest roles on TV. I had seen her live on stage in Perth in Dead Funny a couple of years ago and thought she was very capable with the live work.
Brooke Satchwell. Curiosity more than anything. Former Neighbours starlet, turned serious actor in a continuing role on Water Rats.
Mark Priestley. It's always fun to see someone's big debut performance. In ten years time when they are signing $10mil deals in Hollywood, you can think to yourself "wow I saw him when he was young and fresh, look how far he has gone". And that is what I think we will be saying about Mark as his performance was so very strong.
The early scenes show Andrew McFarlane as Mr Braddock to be an overzealous, nervous man constantly wanting to be seen to be doing the right thing, in particular he wanted to come across as the perfect father. Tracy Mann as Mrs Braddock was the same as the twittering, nerve-racked mother.
John Waters as Mr Robinson, the old family friend, is brash, loud and overbearing.
And then we meet Wendy Hughes Mrs Robinson, already drunk and in a seductive mood. She confronts a young, confused and upset Benjamin (Mark Priestley) in his bedroom and within minutes is standing in front of him in all her naked glory daring him to seduce her. The look on Benjamin's face as Mr Robinson appears at his bedroom door, and a nude Mrs Robinson disappears into his bathroom, is simply priceless.
The remainder of the first half of the play is dominated by Benjamin and Mrs Robinson, as the set changes from Benjamin's bedroom to a hotel. The long awaited seduction finally happens and the bedroom scenes are laugh out hilarious as Benjamin fumbles his way through the experience.
Wendy is magnificent, putting him down constantly, her dripping sarcasm and wickedness oozes off the stage.
The simulated sex and oral sex scenes left the audience crying with laughter, and I must say the view from the front row straight up under the sheets gave me a whole new insight into method acting.
Eventually we meet Elaine Robinson and watch as Benjamin falls in love with her and then her reaction as she finds out about the affair. A gorgeous, realistic drunken scene with her mother follows as some home truths are recalled. I think this scene is one that will remain etched in my mind.
As can be expected, Mr Robinson and the Braddocks find out about the affair. Benjamin declares his love for Elaine only to find out she is planning to marry a college friend. Benjamin interrupts Elaine's wedding, causing a complete ruckus and John Waters excels as the axe wielding, murderous, vengeful husband and father. I believed he was angry very much so !!! I also believed that was a very real, and very heavy axe !!
Everyone is forced to confront their own feelings and actions before the plays conclusion.
I loved the simplistic sets. The main three sided back drop being massive louvred doors. These could spin or open into doorways and cupboards and then before you knew it they had changed from Benjamin's bedroom, to a hotel foyer, to the hotel bedroom, to the classically decorated 60's living room of the Robinsons, complete with staircases. Eventually they became a room in Berkeley before being transformed into a church of magnificent proportions, some of which would have to be reconstructed each day after John's heavy handedness with the axe !!!! Between scenes segments of Simon and Garfunkle's original soundtrack were used to set the mood.
I thoroughly enjoyed the entire show. I recommend anyone who is a fan of any of the actors seeing it during its Sydney season. As for me, I am thinking a trip to Melbourne for its opening night may be in order.
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NOV 2001:
Chicago - The Musical
Not even the Wanneroo Show fireworks could interfere with the brilliant performances at the Limelight Theatre on Saturday November 24th 01.
Sonni Byrne was brilliantly cast as the sassy manipulative murderer and wannabe celebrity Roxie Hart. Sonni describes herself as a ham and it really showed with every hilarious facial expression thru the show. Her voice was at its best and came out stronger and more confidently than the rest of the cast.
Stand outs were "Funny Honey" - Roxies ode to her husband and "We Both Reached For The Gun" where Roxie mimes as the puppet to lawyer Billys words, and of course her theme song "Roxie".
It was also good to see David Nelson in the role of Roxie's hapless husband Amos. I have enjoyed David's performances in Guys and Dolls, and South Pacific. His comedic style and rubbery face are remeniscent of Oliver Hardy and he manages to steal most scenes. His main solo, "Mr Cellophane" is pure pathos and his major scene stealing moment at the end when he demands his stage exit music is worthy of a standing ovation !!!
The swing band were great, as were the ensemble cast of very young dancers and singers. Also a stand out was the costuming in general.
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Feb 24 2002
Mamma Mia. Princess Theatre, Melbourne
I missed the first ten minutes of the show due to a very scary anxiety attack in the top tier. Fortunately the ushers and the theatre manager were so helpful and kind as they helped me down to a seat in the stalls. It took a further half hour till my heart rate slowed to a more normal speed and allowed me to concentrate on the actual show.
I think I was expecting fluff and corn, probably a stilted storyline designed to fit in with the Abba songs. I was pleasantly surprised when I found the show to be so much more than that. The story was so well written that by the fourth song I had forgotten they were Abba songs, they felt so perfect for each song it was as if they had been written for the play itself.
The story was that of a mother and daughter, Donna and Sophie, and their life within the Greek taverna they run. Donna and her friends Rosie and Tanya use to perform as a singing trio in the 70's. Sophie and her friends read Donna's diary one night and discover that Donna has kept a secret all these years. Sophie's father could be one of three men. Sophie decides to invite all three men to her impending wedding to Eddie. When the fathers, he-bimbo Sam, staid Harry, and rugged Bill arrive on the island they are unaware one of them is Sophie's father. The rest of the story follows the relationships between Donna and the three men from her past, Sophie and the three men who may be her father, and Sophie and Eddie and their future.
Anne Wood as Donna was very good. She had a strong voice and a great range of emotions with a touch of a comedien in her. I have not seen her in anything before. Sophie was played by understudy Kate Hoolihan and she was great. The fabulous Perth talent Lara Mulcahy was Rosie Lara stole practically every scene she was in with her wonderful expressive face and brilliant comedic timing. My favourite Lara scene was with Bill before the wedding scene with "Take A Chance On Me". Legend Rhonda Burchmore was Tanya. Her scene with the infatuated Greek lad during "Does Your Mother Know" was simply hilarious.
Two of my favourite Aussie actors Nicholas Eadie and Robert Grubb played possible fathers Sam and Harry. Bill was played by understudy Adam Murphy and Adam was suitable rugged, ocker, handsome and also hilarious with Lara in "Take a Chance". Nicholas portrayed his divorce court hearing with an angry version of "Knowing me Knowing You". Robert played Harry as a very stiff upper lipped banker. I had no idea he could sing and was surprised at the quality of his voice during "Thank You For The Music".
For the encore everyone came out in gaudy 70's glam rock outfits and sung Waterloo, Mamma Mia and Dancing Queen. Most of the audience stood up and danced along. I cant wait for the show to come to Perth so I can see it again.
During this same trip I joined Keith and Shane for a day out at Werribee Mansion where Shane and I bonded over our addiction for the film musical The Pirate Movie and spent the day re-enacting scenes in and around the mansion. Photos in my online albums.
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March 2 2002
Looking Through A Glass Onion. Palais Theatre Melbourne.
My first official "duty" as the webmistress to Johns Official Fan Site www.johnwaters.info.
I flew to Melbourne to meet fellow John fan Katie and the two of us went to see the show in St Kilda's gorgeous old Palais on the seaside. We had fabulous seats courtesy of John's wife Zoe.
Having seen the show in 1994 and 2001 I knew what to expect, however John has lengthened a lot of the monologues and songs. With the full band and string quartet behind him, and singing in many cases the entire song instead of just a verse or two, it really felt like a concert. John seemed to be having a really good time up there on stage. He looked totally at ease with the role and his performance was seamless.
Like the 2001 show there was an encore - I really enjoy this bit of the show as it feels more like Johns interpretation of Lennons songs rather than Lennons. As in 2001 he performed Starting Over and Instant Karma, but then he ended the show with huge loud fantastic versions of Stand By Me and Twist and Shout. This left the audience on their feet clapping and dancing.
After the show Katie and I had the opportunity to finally meet John after both being fans since the mid 70's. It was a great thrill for both of us.
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May 29 and June 5 2002:
Oliver! Lyric Theatre Sydney.
Cast: John Waters as Fagin, Tamsin Carroll as Nancy, Steve Bastoni as Bill Sikes. Also starring: Stuart Wagstaff, Mark Mitchell, Keegan Joyce as Oliver and Matthew Waters as the Artful Dodger.
Keith, Shane, Mum and I all went on the first night. I enjoyed the show so much that Mum and I went again a few days later.
Everyone was really well cast. No one could have imagined John as Fagin, in fact he was utterly unrecognisable. It was a brilliant opportunity for him to totally escape into a character so different to any he has played before. Tamsin had a beautiful solo, Steve was suitabley angry (complete with an acting doggy) and the cast of kids were all talents to watch in the future.
The sets were amazing. Unlike any I had seen before. Two storeys high so that the london streetscape was visible, and down below, via a manhole, was Fagins Lair.
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May 31 2002.
Chris Isaak. Enmore Theatre Sydney.
Well - having been a fan since the mid 80's and still never had the chance to see Chris in concert, I jumped at the chance to fly to Sydney with Mum to finally see him.
It was a great reason for an internet buddy reunion with friends flying in from Perth, Melbourne, Canberra and Adelaide to meet up with our Sydney pal Manda.
Manda, Mum and I had good seats just a few rows behind the general admission sardine can. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole show. Chris performed so many of my all time favs that I cant even remember them all.now. I really enjoyed San Francisco Days, and Forever Blue. At one stage he disappeared from the stage and reappeared in the balcony above us before charging down the aisle past us to return to the stage.
After the show he signed autographs by the hundred so we all had the chance to meet him up close. Also spent time meeting the rest of the band.
The next day they performed a few songs at the Warringah Mall so we all went along to that too and enjoyed our front row seats. Photos are in my online albums.
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June 8 2002. Singing In The Rain. Burswood Theatre, Perth.
This show bought home two Perth born talents in Todd McKenney and Jackie Love. Based on the movie of the same name, it recreated the famous Gene Kelly in the rain scene using new technology that allowed it to actually rain on stage until Todd was completely soaked. Pity the poor stage hand who spent the entire interval super soaking up the water !!
Having seen Todd in Boy From Oz I was already aware of his boundless energetic singing and dancing talents and he showed them off yet again as Don Lockwood. Pia Morley was sweet and funny as Kathy Seldon and really danced up a treat with Todd. Wayne Scott Kermond stole most scenes as Cosmo Brown with his born 80 years too late vaudeville talent. His solo "Make 'em Laugh" was amazing for so many reasons. His brilliant dancing and singing abilities aside, it was his rubbery expressive face and his immediate connection with the audience that had us all in stitches. Jackie Love was awesome. Her role of Lina Lamont had her stuck with the whiniest high pitched voice for 2 hours but she kept it up admirably and stole many scenes with her gorgeous comedic talent. I loved her dressing room solo "What's wrong with me?".
Its a very long time since I saw the movie so the actual storyline wasn't too familiar. I felt it kind of lost its way half way through and went off track. It seemed to devote a lot of time to dance scenes with no story or dialogue simply to show off the casts talents on stage. I have since been told the movie did the same thing ! I need storyline to keep me engrossed in something so my mind really wandered off once the stage filled with women in bizarre costumes dancing. It picked up again when it returned to Don and Kathy's love story.
The encore was the whole cast in raincoats performing the title song under the pouring rain again. Several well timed jumps meant the front row of the audience got extremely wet ! I enjoyed the show a lot but still felt a little hungry for more after it ended. It wasnt quite as full and satisfying as Oliver!.
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June 28 2002.
Pirates of Penzance. Burswood Theatre
Pirates is one of my all time favourite musicals. This was the third time I have seen it with Jon English and Simon Gallaher in the lead roles since 1984. It gets better each time I see it. One of the things I enjoy most is that the show is rarely the same twice. Topical dialogue to suit the city it is being performed in at the time, and a lot of adlibbing makes it a joy to watch.
Jon was, as always, a sexy rugged Pirate King who, even when it isn't his scene, manages to draw attention to himself. Simon is still playing Frederic despite being more than twice Frederic's 21 years but he still gets away with it. The opening scene had Jon adlibbing straight away when a curtain refused to behave and rise properly.
Gerry Connolly played Major General Stanley. He also introduced the show as the Queen referring to the Pirates as Boat People and insisting they had never been overboard ! His big solo "Modern Major General" allowed him to segue off into his own comedy routine which involved his other famous persona Joh Bjelke Peterson and to change the lyrics to Perthise them a bit by referring to Rose Hancock and Peggy Mickleberg.
It the scene where Ruth and The Pirate King tell Frederic of his duty due to not really having had 21 birthdays, Jon appeared to have a hidden agenda that being to make Simon laugh. Whilst pretending to be shocked he flailed around the stage banging into props, pretending to be a Wiggle, and holding Simons hand all lovey dovey like until Simon finally was unable to say his line without laughing. Jon then needed Ruth to prompt him as by then he had totally lost his place. Ruth yelled the word "Terrible" and he replied "Yes I know but I have been doing this for a hundred years. And hey the purple tights still fit and you cant see the join in the wig, and the producer (pointing to Simon) has had 15 face lifts just to keep playing a 21 year old". Simon retorted with "hey at least I got my moneys worth" pointing to his eyes. Later in another scene Jon said he had an announcement that being he was very very sorry and the producer has never had a face lift !!!
"Come Friends Who Plough The Sea's" left Jon an exhausted mess. Everytime he thought the big rawkus song was over the conductor signaled to the audience to scream for more so the entire chorus and dance routine had to be repeated. Jon was either acting well or seriously genuinely knackered by the end !!
The grand finale featured the entire cast re singing the major songs in a modern rock way that left the entire crowd up and dancing till long after the last cast member had left the stage. Jon insists he is retiring from the exhausting Pirate King role now I am glad I have seem him perform it three times now.
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May 17 2003 to May 31 2003
Keith, Shane and Shane's dad Kevin, flew in from the east. Keith has some work to do around the Sorrento house. I have two weeks off to start preparations for putting the Gretham Road house up for sale. Yes the decision is made. So, interviewing real estate agents, getting the property valued, and commencing some pretty serious decluttering is the go for the next fortnight. Some socialising tho. On Monday 19th Keith and I are having a little reunion with the mob from DEET - I still work with Jools and Cate now, but Keith hasnt seen them for years, and Tammy is coming along too. We are meeting up at Hillarys Boat Harbour.
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June 17 2003, Tuesday
Busy week. On Monday the 9th I officially signed the contract and put my Gretham Road house on the market. On Friday 13th (yes black friday) I went to a dentist in East Perth and had my upper right wisdom tooth pulled out in the chair. Stupid stupid me. The woman was horrendously vicious - she practically had her knees on my chest to get a grip. I screamed throughout and was utterly traumatised. In the taxi going home I went into shock and that really worried the driver. He c ouldnt believe the dentist let me leave in that state. No wonder I usually choose general aneasthetic. Anyway - Saturday morning I went grocery shopping while the real estate slime showed people through the house. Mum arrived mid arvo. That evening I signed a contract of sale. $178,000. Nice young couple in Balcatta buying their first investment property. Tonight I went to look at a brand new apartment in Smith St Highgate. Really nice and spacious, ground floor. I signed an offer and acceptance but am having second thoughts cos I think there will be council issues getting approval for sails or shades - there are apartments right opposite that look straight down into the living room.
(additional notes: Not sure what day it happened but I did pull out of the Highgate sale and continued house hunting. Chris Hands took me for a drive one afternoon on 13 July 2003 and we found the apartments on William St and fell in love with Unit 6).
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July 7, 8 and 9 2003, Monday to Wednesday.
Because of the SARS virus scare in Asia, many of the cruise ships from the region have escaped to Australia to avoid going out of business. So the Superstar Virgo headed to Perth to do a series of mini cruises. I decided to take Mum on a 3 day cruise to nowhere to thank her in advance for all the work in packing up Gretham Road and moving to William Street. We departed from Freo Harbour around 6pm. It was gusty and stormy. Heading out towards the ocean was like being in a movie like The Perfect Storm. The waves were enormous and the ship crashed and smashed its way up them and then fell down the other side. Many times we found ourselves airbourne. It was brilliant. Tho 90% of the passengers had never been on a ship before and were all violently ill. Morons ! I had no sympathy for them ! For any one who understands nautical terms - it was a force 7 gale and we were doing 14.4 knots directly into it and the swell was 23 feet. In comparison - the next day when there was only a gentle rolling in the ship it was a force 5 strong wind, 11 knots and 13 foot swell. All my photos are in my online albums.
Notes straight from the Silver Toned Devils forum:
Settlement date on my lil purple home is July28 and I still havent found a home to buy !
I commenced the purchase of a brand new spunky little bachelourette paddette but found the developers were dicking me around and basically lying to me about certain building regulations etc in order to pressure me into a purchase. So I used a clause in the contract to escape it all.
So now I gotta find me a home. ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Packing is really stressing me out. For gawds sake I am a Libran - it took every ounce of decision making power to sell the house - I cant be expected to ALSO decide which room to start in and what to put in each box ! So consequently each room is partially packed and the great wall of china is being built thru the house in brown boxes. And that stresses me too cos when I roam the house in the dark in the middle of the night (as we do ????) I keep running into boxes ! And the ones filled with books friggen hurt !
The buyers of the lil purple house have offered to rent it back to me for a while - while I search for a new place. It will feel strange but I dont have another option. I rang a few rentals today and the minimum lease is 6 months and they require rental referrees - I havent rented for 11 years so I have no referees !
To take my mind off it all Mum and I went on a 3 day cruise to nowhere this week. Our destination was 350 nautical miles west of Perth so basically "somewhere" in the Indian Ocean.
The Virgo is a lovely 76000 tonne ship. In one restuarant alone she had $130mil in paintings by Van Gogh, Monet and Renoir !!!
The food was divine and I longed to kidnap the waffleman and take him home to make me fresh waffles every morning !!
We danced and played charades and quizzes etc and mum lived in the hot tubs. I came second out of 500 people in a movie trivia quiz !!
Our cabin was right at the top of the ship and right at the front.
On night one it was a savage trip. Savage but fun I thought - specially since MummyPert and Pert were the only people not suffering seasickness hehehehehe. Basically we sailed directly into one hell of a storm. For any one who understands nautical terms - it was a force 7 gale and we were doing 14.4 knots directly into it and the swell was 23 feet. In comparison - the next day when there was only a gentle rolling in the ship it was a force 5 strong wind, 11 knots and 13 foot swell.
So there we are trying to dance during what the captain was describing as his most treacherous trip ever !!!!! People were crashing into tables and falling down stairs - but mummypert and I danced away !! A bride - regal in her white gown just hours earlier - raced past me - her dress now an attractive multicoloured speckle of carrots etc !!!
I even went out the front to do a "Kate Winslett" but the wind literally threw me off my feet durnit !! And an older more mature "Leo" (ie Harrison) was no where to be found.
The cabaret show was cancelled - I couldnt understand how the chinese acrobats didnt want to balance on each others shoulders while holding glass bowls when the stage was at an 90 degree angle ?????? Luckily it calmed down the next night so we got to see their amazing show.
When we finally went to bed the storm worsened. It felt like scenes from "The Perfect Storm" - cept I would have had the Clooner instead of Mummypert as a cabinmate hehehehe. You could feel the ship climbing and climbing up amazingly tall waves and then a pause before we came crashing down - several times we were actually airborne.
Mummypert sailed thru a typhoon off Japan in Oct01 and said that this night was rougher than any during the typhoon !!!! I would have loved to have seen the ship from another ship - it would have looked spectacular. She was built for gentley cruising the flat calm waters around Thailand and Singapore so this was not what she was use to.
Twice I fell out of bed as the ship crashed to the bottom of a wave ! So funny. All around us we could hear crashing of glass and icebuckets etc in surrounding cabins. Glad we werent sleeping near a kitchen - imagine the noise !!!! Anyway - us being the only non seasick people - we had a ball !!!! And it meant the queue for the fresh waffles was really short the next morning !
The next day and night were much calmer - tho the seasick struck would not agree with me !! I took photos - but computer is barely running at present so I will have to wait to download them.
Anyway - packing, househunting and a dud puter has kept me away from here and I just wanted to say that I was missing everyone.
Hope you are all healthy and well. To those with the power - think "cute but big apartment coming Perts way soon" thoughts please !
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July 15 2003. Notes from the Silver Toned Devils forum.
House update: Well I just went off my nut at the agent selling my house. He went and changed settlement date to YESTERDAY without asking or advising verbally or in writing. So in his eyes the house is no longer mine as off yesterday and I should be paying the new owners rent. All very well cept I havent seen a fucking cheque ?????????????? and in my eyes - and in my banks eyes, and in the settlement agents eyes settlement was not till 28th.
I have to swear - either that or I will have to go out and kill a small child - so swearing is probably better.
It just took a viscious threat from me to take legal action to get my $2000 deposit back off the other agent who I was buying the other place from. After 2 weeks of emails and phone calls. Miraculously the chq was delivered to my office this arvo ! Funny that.
I am sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo sick of bloody estate agents. Is there a normal ethical one out there ???????????????? In my entire city ????
Anyway - I am going back tomorrow to see a place I first looked at on Sunday. Its living space was larger than most I have seen - bathroom was miniature tho but I can live with that. Carpet is new and the worst shade of green I have ever seen - so that would be an immediate replacement job !!
anyway - off to scream some more ! and eat chocolate
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July 25 2003, Friday.
Notes from the Silver Toned Devils forum.
OK so I bought the green place on Monday !! Mummy is going to paint it purple so it will be "The Purple Palace" instead of The Green Place !!
The balcony has a great view on the CBD and I imagine fireworks night in January will be quite a view !! I need to get an electrician in because there are no where near enough powerpoints for a gal like me ! Meanwhile I am going to stop stressing about incompetant banks, settlement agents, and real estate agents and just go on my trip to freezing Melbourne and have fun. Then I will come back and move house.
Settlement on the Gretham Road property is today. The buyers are renting it back to me for a few weeks till the William St apartment settles.
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August 3 2003: Notes from Silver Toned Devils forum.
Well its 9.15pm and I fly out at lunch time tomorrow and am I packing ??? nope I am answering emails !!! Will the suitcase pack itself ? sheesh I hope so !!! Explorer keeps dying on me mid post so this is third time lucky.
Hools I am guessing your escrow equals our settlement ?? handover of the keys etc. If so - then I think its scheduled for around the 15th if all goes to plan. I am back from Melb on 11th.
Sandy - yep that sounds exactly like what they described to me for the Strata Fees. All the maintenance and common area stuff. And apparently insurance for common areas too. So if the roof blows off the strata insurance covers the oof and my contents insurance covers all my stuff inside. So my fees will be $300 a quarter.
Okies - my little green (to be purple) place. Its one of four apartments above two offices. Its on a corner so the building is curved. The two bedrooms have a curved wall each. The living area is nice and long rectangle and will fit all my furniture. Bedrooms both have double built in robes.
Loo is in a separate room with its own vanity so people dont have to go into the bathroom to wash hands. Actual bathroom is TINY !! Just a glass screened shower and a vanity and the smallest space to towel off. The laundry is a little nook between these two rooms.
Kitchen is woodgrain - not my fave but I can soon fix that !!! Decent amount of cupboard space. Next to it is a sliding glass door out to the balcony with the CBD view. The balcony gets the afternoon setting sun.
Locationwise. Its just 4 blocks - less than a ten minute amble from my office. A one minute stroll to the second best park (Hyde Park) in Perth - HUGE and generally where at least 10 weddings a weekend occur. A 3 minute stroll into chinatown where there are loads of fresh produce stores open 7 days a week till 7 or 8 at night so very handy.
Also within a 10-15 minute stroll north or south are cinemas, restaurants, pubs, cafes, everything. About a 20 minute stroll south would have me in the centre of the city for everything else. Plus there are bus stops directly outside my building which would get me into the city in minutes.
So hopefully this means I will get a lot of STROLLING done !!!
Plus - I will still be getting up at the same time each day and leaving home at the same time - but will be at work by 8.15 instead of 9.00 - so I will accrue 45 minutes flex a day !!!!!! AND its within the internet grocery delivery zone so I can do a big monthly internet shop and just pick up milk and bread as I need it.
On the negative - cos nowhere is perfect !! The area is reknowned for its junkies and street hookers. But as more and more people make the move into inner city living (remember this is sooooo new for Perth - we are 30 years behind everywhere else) the areas will be gradually cleaned up. There are already moves in place at the council as they become more aware of how many voters and rates payers are moving there.
So I had better git off my bootie and start packing my suitcase. Packing for the dead of winter in Melb is bloody hard - winter clothing takes up so much more room that summer gear !!
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August 4 to 11 2003:
Flew to Melbourne on Monday. Spent the first night at the Hilton before joining Keith, Shane and Mim from Sydney at the Novotel Stargate serviced apartments up near the Queen Vic Markets. I cant remember which day it was but I did a great all day bus tour of the Great Ocean Road. All the photos are in my online albums.
August 7 2003 Thursday
OK lemme just get this outa my system first OMIGODOMIGODOMIGODOMIGODOMIGODOMIGOD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ok - I have had the BEST night and STILL havent even been to the show itself - thats tonight !!!! Believe me - it was worth the flight over !
OK so the premier last night - I thought I would go and watch the red carpet arrivals. Anyway - timing was all off and I got there as they were rolling up the red carpet and I only caught the latecomers Wilbur Wilde and Andrew Denton (with his sister). So I was fair to middling disapointed having flown all
the way over and then to have timed it so badly.So we go to the Crown for dinner and when we come out I look at the time and its like 10 to 11. So I said lets go and see if we can watch people leaving. So we get there and gradually over the next hour people came and went. I couldnt understand why people were "arriving" !!
Barry Humphries came and left about four times - turns out he was timesharing between this party and his own opening night nearby ! Garry Sweet came out for a smoke as did my ole 80's fave Wilbur Wilde. Mark Holden arrived with his luggage but the bouncer wouldnt let him take it into the party !
Former State Premier Jeff Kennett left in his own car - and took off with out his headlights on ! I was signalling him to turn them on - but he just waved back ! And this man once ran the state ????
Anyway we were considering leaving when out comes Stephen Curry (Nugget, Changi, The Castle) and he just walks up to me and says "here I am going home - take this and go in and have a ball" - and hands me his backstage pass !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!And then his brother pulls his pass out and gives it to my friend. So I said "but isnt everyone leaving ?" and he says "mate the party is just getting started - go in and enjoy it". So I gave him a big thank you hug.
So as we put our passes around our neck up walks BEN ! I am not sure if he recognised me from years gone by but when I said I flew over from Perth he did a double take at me and was pleased. We asked how the show went and he said it was awesome. I asked if he was bringing it to Perth and he said he would try his hardest. We asked the cute lad in a white suit who was standing with Ben if he would take our pic. (argh - if only we knew who the white suited boy was !!!!) Anyway - so we kinda wandered in behind Ben (actually I damn near accidently pushed him down a flight of stairs in my nervousness!!).
We walk down a few flights and into a huge room. I couldnt work out if it was the theatre with all the seats removed - or if it was another ball room or something below the theatre. It had a stage and bars had been set up everyhere - with huge signs saying "Killer Queen Cocktails" !! Huge buffett of food, waiters walking round with hor dourves etc etc. Then I start noticing people - god there were like 2 or 300 there.
Then I walk over to the dance floor and see Molly Meldrum DJing - playing stuff like Eye of the Tiger and making the crowd sing the chorus etc. I turn to my right and Robert Grubb is standing beside me - I turn to my left and Mark Holden is standing there. So I have a Flying Doctor on one side and a Young Doctor on the other - bwhahahahahaha!!!!! The entire cast were there - unfortunately not having yet seen the show - I had no idea who they were !!!! So I am saying "how did you enjoy the show" and they are replying "great cept my voice was a bit flat!" !! So thats how I worked out who was cast and who wasnt !!
The line that sticks in my head for the night - Mim turns and says to me "Wow - things like this never happen to me" and I reply "Stick with me kid - for some reason things like this ALWAYS happen to me!!"
Ok - so the various faces I saw around me - Barry Humphries, Jeff Kennett, Gary Sweet, Ben E, Brian May (searched for Roger everywhere but didnt find him), Vanessa Amorosi (who did about 8 songs), Gina Riley, Jane Turner, Glenn Robins, Christine Anu, Laurence Mooney, Lillian Frank, Jodi from Mcleods Daughters, Peter Hellier and Belvedere from GMA !
So we drank the free wine and ate the free food and danced to Vanessa and Mollys tunes. Then the cast got up and started belting out some numbers, Bowies Rebel rebel, Cockers Leave Your Hat On and more. I took a load of photos and they came out better than my paparazzi snaps of celebs - Barry Humphries is all a blur !!
Anyway - it got to about 3.30am and we could barely stand up any longer - the party was still in full swing but our stamina was waning. So we crawled back to the hotel and tried to sleep - NOT ! Way too hyper. We had to check out of our room at 10 - which we have now done - and we are soooooooo tired - can check in to our new room in an hour. Sleep all arvo and then start getting ready to actually see the show !!!! I hope the cast still have voices cos they sang them raw last night !!! Man oh man - wot a night ! I may never come down from this !
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THE NEXT DAY AUGUST 8 - AFTER ACTUALLY SEEING THE SHOW !
OK well its approximately 34 minutes since the show finished - and 32 minutes since I worked out how to make the actual glow stick bloody glow - hmmmmm instructions would have helped. We had centre front row seats My arms are sore from clapping and "will will rock you-ing".
What can I say - I am so bad at describing stuff but first I have to add to the night befores party review as since seeing the show I have now recognised people !! Namely a guy who came out for a smoke and offered us to use his pass for a ten minute peek in the party - and for some inane reason we declined the offer - turned him down - well it only turned out he was the guy playing Prince !!!!!! AND - the guy that took the photo of us with Benny boy - was Micheal Falzon !
Ok so onto the show. Well for a start - centre front row is a rather pleasant view !!
The entire cast were awesome and so hard to pinpoint any one talent or moment.
Kate is awesome - havent seen her since she played the lead in Mamma Mia in Feb last year. Her expressions and sarcasm were brilliant.
Michael - what a voice.
Robert Grubb - always a big fave of mine and again I havent seen him on stage since MammaMia. I loved his role.
Brit and Oz were gorgeous.
The band were bloody brill.
Annie was sooooooooooooooo awesome - and her outfits were to die for. Her facial expressions just killed me and Fat Bottomed Girls (my theme song) was a highlight.
I kinda teared up a little as Freddie rose from the water - sniff.
Ross - freaky Rutger/Walken thing going on there - he was hilarious.
The sets - wicked.
The costumes - perfect and really made each scene a delight.
The cast looked like they were having an absolute ball up there and the finale encore was brilliant. What can I say other than I am now seeking a spare seat for tomorrow night ???? I sooooooooooooooooo have to see it again before I leave for Perth.
REVIEW AFTER AUGUST 10 SHOW
I went to the show again Sunday 5pm. Instead of centre front row - this time I had centre back row - and I have to say - the band sounds just as awesome way back there - but yes - as Robert Grubb says - we can only see your legs !!!!!
Ok - in Sundays show I tried to take notes while I was watching - but it was very dark and I can barely read them !! So I will do my best to transcribe.
We got Christine Tan in the role of Oz but no other changes. Her voice and stage presence are no where near as "big" as Amanda but I am sure with a few more go's at it she will make it her own.
Annie had a few mike probs at the start of each song - this may have been due to me sitting at the back - it was like an echo for the first few seconds.
In the bar scene where Robert Grubb puts the "vie dyo tarpe" in the player - well on Friday night we got sound but no vision !! But on Sunday we got both !
Kashoggi's voice seemed rather weak caompared to the rest of the cast when listening from the back row.
Other comparisons between front and back row: From front row I loved not being able to see the holes in the stage opening - it was more of a surprise each time someone "popped" up. From up the back your eyes were drawn away from other stuff happening on stage to watch the ole appear etc - distracting.
Obviously from front row you see each and every expression. From back row I felt people nearby me were not appreciating Gazz'a confusion whenever lyrics popped into his head, and while Scara's saracsm can be heard brilliantly - her facial expressions cracked me up all night the first night and it was disappointing not to be able to see it from afar.
A positive tho - from front row we didnt really grasp how great the opening light show was - from back row it was awesome ! My solution - theatres should have no more than 20 rows of seats !!!!!! (I can only dream !). Roll on Perth !!!!!!!!
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August 19 2003: Notes from Silver Toned Devils Forum.
Well finally some progress. After much delays - mostly by the banks solicitor - FINALLY - settlement on the lil green apartment is tomorrow at 11.30am. Thats when I will finally own it.
At 11.35 Mummypert and I will be able to enter it armed with paintbrushes and cleaning products !
So hopefully by the end of the week it will be a lil purple place and the removalist men can do their job etc.
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August 21 2003: Notes from Silver Toned Devils Forum.
We had the electrician boys in today. A thousand bucks worth of extra power points and phone cables etc etc So each room now has plenty (dont laugh - I put 8 in my bedroom alone !!!!!!! - and 4 above the computer area) of points. I hate not having enough powerpoints and I hate having power boards and extension cords all over the floor.
Mum has starting all the patching and plastering etc. I am going back to work on monday and she will continue painting. The various purples have been chosen and I am thinking a funky fresh lime shade for the bathroom and loo.
I dont think we will move till the following weekend now.
And we are building a custom made desk ! I always whinge that mine are too small and the hutch is too small. So I swapped my four drawer filing cabinet with mums 2 two drawer ones and we are putting a 220cm long bench top on it
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August 31 2003: Notes from the Silver Toned Devils Forum.
well the moving van has gone from under my name and also in real life.
Here I am in my new partially purple bachelorette pad in the city.
Moving Truck and guys took 5 hours yesterday to pack the old house and move it al to the new house.
All we have unpacked is the couch, telly, video, and the new fridge ! Yesterday was 18 hours of non stop work and mum and I crashed into deep slumbers in the new place last night.
Woke early this morning to go back and collect all the potted plants and bring two car loads of forgotten "stuff" back and then a big clean up of the old place before mum dropped me at the apartment round 7pm and then she had a 3 hour drive home with a full car and a full trailer. She is having a week off before coming back to finish the painting and the building of shelves, pantry and desk.
Once it was empty - I walked around and took some photos of the old place and thanked each room for all the good times (hehehe specially my purple bedroom and also farewelled the back yard for hosting all the wonderful parties it has hosted over the past 11 years.
As we pulled out of the drive for the very last time - I called out "goodbye purple house" and mum honked the horn. I got a little crack in the voice and my eyes welled up a bit. Sad to leave a big era in my life - almost a third of my life spent in the first home I ever bought.
A new era begins now.
Got tomorrow off work to do some unpacking and some laundry etc. Have barely unpacked even the essentials !
I have the computer balanced on a filing cabinet and the keyboard on my lap !
god I am exhausted !
Ohhhhh so sweet - last night the new neighbours (Kim and Mike) brought over spagetti and two glasses of red wine for mum and I !!!!!
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September 13 2003. Note from the Silver Toned Devils forum.
MummyPert is down again to finish the painting and to build some cupboards and put shelves up etc.
Plumber has been today and fixed the taps - I havent been able to use the washing machine since I moved in ! I announced at work on Friday that I had used up my last article of clothing and next week I was coming in nude !
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October 6 2003:
Well I have decided to use ezboard to keep my online diary. I thought about using the various blogs available on the net but they mostly require html knowledge and most didnt allow posting of photos unless you purchased a package for a cost.
So ezboard it is. I have been 35 for a couple of days now. Freaky.
Freaky, I guess, because by now I should have worked out what I wanted to do with my life. I am not really in my dream job - but I have no idea what exactly my dream job is !
But I am doing mostly all the things I want to, and enjoy doing. Travelling, seeing concerts and shows, meeting friends where ever they may live.
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October 11 2003
Its pretending to be summer here. The week started with nice pleasant temps of 18 degrees, but by Thursday it was 26 and by Friday it was 31.
I need more t shirts for summer.
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October 12 2003
October 12 is a strange day for me.
Sometimes I forget I am actually married. Sometimes I forget I ever was. Its a distant memory tucked away in the archives of my mind.
I was married on October 12 fourteen years ago. I have been seperated for twelve of those years !! One day I really should get a divorce.
This year October 12 is even more significant. It marks 1 year since the bombing of Paddys Bar and the Sari Club in Bali where 88 Australians lost their lives and countless others were left with horrendous injuries and traumatic memories for life. All over the country everyone knows someone who has been affected by the Bali Bombings in some way or another.
I am proud that my dear friend Gina Williams will be singing at the unveiling of the Bali Memorial today in Kings Park in Perth.
Yep its been a tough morning. I felt I couldnt go to the Perth memorial - aside from the fact that I freak out among 20,000 people - the idea of actually being able to get a taxi seemed impossible. So I watched the live coverage of the memorial in Bali. That was hard - especially since I was also reading the morning paper - filled with peoples memorys and stories of survival etc.
So I have had a good cry.
Tonight I will go to Kings Park with Gina where she will be singing "Angel" a song written by Pete Stone for his unborm son - but adapted to be released as the memorial song. Pete and Gina and some others - along with a very small private group
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October 17 2003
DAMMIT Peacefully eating a toasted sandwich and WHAMMO - there goes my temporary filling.
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
I soooooooooo cannot afford to get another one to replace it.
The jagged edges of the tooth are so sharp they are cutting the inside of my cheek. And thats nothing - wait till my tooth actually realises the protection from hot and cold is gone - YOWSER that is going to friggen hurt.
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October 25 2003
Weehee - back online after several days of being unplugged !! Had to move puter to another room for a few days while mum made and painted a new desk for me. Its 220cm long, 3.2cm thick, painted a nice deep purple to match the walls, coated in a shiney gloss sealer to strengthen the finish, stands on two 2 drawer filing cabinets also painted purple !! Its awfully posh !
Still badly affected by the Bigpond crash so if you havent recieved an email from me - thats why.
Mum and I went into town last night to see new Jamie Leigh Curtis movie Freaky Friday. I still remember seeing the Jodie Foster version at the drive over 20 years ago !! It was a very funny movie with some gorgeous moments in it. Ad it cant hurt having yummy Mark Harmon in it too.
Then we came home (walked from the city - just 15 minutes !! - love this CBD living !!) and watched my newly delivered Indiana Jones DVD - got the 4 dvd package this week. So we watched Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Just realised that because the puter was packed away all week - I hadnt mentioned going to see Mamma Mia last weekend !! Yes thats right - 20 months after seeing it in melbourne - it has finally made its way over to Perth !! When I first saw it last year I suffered a major anxiety attack due to very steep stairs in the theatre so I missed the first 20 minutes of the show. So I made sure this time I had front row seats ! Not a single stair to worry about.
There was only one original cast member left from the Melbourne cast - Bill. The cast was good - tho I felt the Rhonda Burchmore replacement was nowhere near as good a dancer as Rhonda and didnt have the comic timing required for the role.
It was disapointing that WA actress Lara Mulchahy didnt travel over with the cast for a home performance as I really thought she stole every scene she was in - excellent comedic timing and wonderful facial expressions. Happily her Rosie replacement - Emma someone - must check the program - had oodles of talent and tackled the role brilliantly. The sound and lighting were great. Everyones voices were impeccable. Great show.
Go see it somewhere out there if you havent already.
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October 26 2003
Just back from watching two very sexy stars - The Clooner and the Zeta - in Intolerable Cruelty. A clever little movie that cant go wrong with a cast like that. Some genuinely hilarious moments and at one point I was convinced CZJ was channeling Joan Collins - watch for the scene where she dons a huge black hat.
Saw an ad for a new Hugh Grant and big cast flick - forgot its name - but I definately want to see it.
Have the news on now and nature is beating up people around the world. Enormous hail stones battering the east coast, and massive bushfires blazing across South California. Hope everyone I know in both places are fine.
OK gotta have dinner and watch Idol now - its down to just four.
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October 29 2003
Dammit my teeth hurt. Why do they break when I can least afford to fix them. I have one on each side that have snapped in half and are causing a dull thud in my mouth and ache when cold air gets into my mouth.
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November 1 2003
Yesterday I went into the city, bought new summer sandals (times 2) and had a haircut. Considering 18 months ago my hair had been bum length for approx 10 years - suddenly its getting shorter and shorter everytime I get it trimmed. Its now just sitting above shoulder length.
I dont know that it suits me - maybe I need a more mature cut. I asked the hairdresser for a "messy trim and a messy root perm" mainly cos the ends of my hair are really curler - but close to the scalp its dead flat and I hate it. She asked why I didnt like "neat cuts" and I said my hair hadnt been neat since birth so it was no sense trying to start now !!
Then I said maybe the short length made me look a little too girlie and was too young for me. And she said "well - you are - what - 25 ?"
OMIGOD !
Just the other week when I told my new neighbours I was 35 that day - she died of shock and said she thought I was 25.
Maybe I act 25 ? I know I dont look it.
Anyway - my new hair cut and I went to Fremantle last night to see my dear friend Gina sing with her new band. Her last band was a bit to rock sounding for her jazz rock style. The new band are young uni students who are studying jazz. The guitarist and keyboardist definately have the perfect jazz thang going to compliment Gina's voice and songs.
And boy was her voice in fine form last night. The notes she hit in "In Your Eyes" and "Dont Say a Word" were outstanding.
Afterwards I had a nice long chat with a lad who I later was advised was a previous winner of the Young Australian Of The Year award ! See the types Ginas music attracts !! Got home late late late ! So had a nice long sleep in this morning.
Getting ready now to go outside and take some piccies of the folk getting ready for the Gay Pride March tonight. See my online albums for the results.
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November 6 2003
Quiet week really.
Biggest excitement is the Australian Idol controversy ! How sad is that ! Reality TV is all that provides me with stimulation.
What else ? Well I bought Frontpage For Dummies and am busy reading it bit by bit so I can start using Frontpage for all my websites.
Pauline Hanson got released from prison. Is that a good thing ? What kind of example is it ? If you are a politician then its ok to break the law ? hmmmmmm
I have blisters on both heels breaking in new shoes. Owwwww
I work with an arsehole ! Who doesnt !! He is one of these short easily intimidated pedantic lazy girlfriendless idiots who gets threatened by females of a lower level than him who have bountiful oversupply of knowledge over him.
He spent an entire day sending out emails to help desks etc asking a question that he, as a technical advisor, should have known simply because its common knowledge and known by every single person of every level. Then he was stupid enough to proudly send his newly aquired information to my team. Problem was - he didnt "aquire" it properly so he then diseminated completely wrong info. So I - ever the helpful - sent out an email correcting him. And recvd a blasting reply instead of a thank you.
He really hates females (and basically anyone "below" him) who have more knowledge than him. I havent replied to his pathetic little flame. Instead I sent it to our boss with a note simply saying "I think I am beyond this - dont you".
Its a good thing my entire team is 100% more intelligent than our supposed technical advisor. How else would we get our work done. I have managed to completely ignore this miniature terrier for 9 months now. No sense changing that !!!
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November 9 2003
Ho Hum - bit bored. Have mostly done chores this weekend.
Met the newest neighbor yesterday - he is an artist - he and his girlfriend are painting the place before they move in. Nice to know it is another owner occupier - we seem to have similar ideas as to what we want out of the place - especially regarding parking and stuff.
This morning Lisa and Warren were down from "them thar hills" for a coffee. They hadnt seen the place since it had been purpelised !!
I really need a door bell.
Watched all the extras on my Jaws dvd. May watch the movie tonight. The "making of" was really good - really chock full of interesting info.
Have been watching my Indiana Jones trilogy and bonus dvd this week. Hotdamn the bonus dvd is brilliant. Heaps of different "making ofs" and specials on just the stunts, sound, and theme music. Its occured to me that perhaps a quarter of my dvd collection is made up of Spielberg movies. He and I obviously think the same way when it comes to a bloody enjoyable movie.
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November 22 2003
Hmmmmmm Its been a quiet couple of weeks.
After last weeks heatwave where it hit 40.4 c - I have discovered I badly need an airconditioner before the real summer starts.
So I am sitting here working out what I can sell on ebay.
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December 6 2003
Well its been a quiet few weeks - nothing to write about.
Last weekend there was an article in the paper, the kind we see a lot of leading up to xmas - the standard "hard luck please feel sorry for us" story. You know the type.
Anyway this one was about an unemployed father of 9 kids - yes 9. And I might add one had been concieved and born after the father lost his job. So this overbreeding family are there in the paper whinging about how their 9 kids cant have the christmas they desire because the taxpayers of Australia ONLY pay this family $2500 a fortnight. This is more than I earn in a month and I work 5 days a week for that - I dont sit back and expect it for free just for overproducing children. So the paper has set up a charity collection for this family !
It really shits me when I see these kinds of stories. And they are all the same - single mother chooses to starve this week so her child can have a Play Station on Xmas day. Is this childs life any more enriched for recieving a game on Xmas day ?
I hate the commercial focus on this one day of the year.
Anyway some guy wrote in to the paper complaining about the irresponsibility of over breeders , and another guy wrote in saying he was only prepared to donate condoms and not money ! Love it.
So I wrote in and my letter was published on Thursday. here it is:
A hearty congratulations to NF White (No Sympathy For Them 2.12.03) for not only saying what I was thinking all day, but for putting in words what most people think but are too afraid to say. I have no doubt the "do-gooder" brigade will leap down your throat but let it slide because everything you said was true.
To the "poor" Sleemans and others in the same situation, try thinking before you go to bed and reproduce another mouth that my taxes will have to feed because you can't afford it. Most people I know struggle to get by each month on two wages with two kids. Not one of them would consider having more than two for this very reason.
I really don't know what to say to the people who spend all year panicking about what they will buy their child on December 25th. Try treating it as any normal day, its much cheaper. Ignore the advertising that tells you your life isnt complete until you or your child owns this particular toy. Life is complete when you are surrounded by friends and family who love you. You dont need the perfect, expensive christmas meal or toy once a year to prove that.
K TAYLOR, PERTH.
I am so glad it got published. And it was really nice to see that way more people wrote in minus sympathy and mostly with disgust. Only one person wrote in with some rubbish about them being resposible people ensuring the worlds population will be there to provide for the ever growing aging population !! Shame he is wrong - cos basically 9 kids gowing up on welfare are going to expect welfare their whole life and will certainly not be providing for anyone !!
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January 11 2004
ok its so hot that I just put my thermometre clock outside to get the temp and it blew up !
It hit 38c before noon. Yucky yucky.
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March 1 2004
Spent the day with friend Carina visiting from Sweden. We walked over to the Hyde Park Fair where I took the kiddie pic on the right. I forgot to write about us catching up the week before to see my pal Gina in concert.
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March 2 2004
Its been a long time coming but finally David Bowie returned to Perth. He put on an awesome show and we had great 14th row seats. My only teeny complaint was that I only knew every third song !! But it was great to be introduced to his newer stuff, while longing for and enjoying the older classic favorites. It was a bit bizzare to have the CBD on the right and the Swan River on the left - wierd location for a gig.
Long walk home from the Supreme Court Gardens.
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March 6 2004
Well today I moved the blog from Ezboard to my own bajaclub site - easier really. I tried out lots of blog sites and I needed more technical knowledge than I had. At least here I know what I am doing!!.
So - busy week. Fleetwood Mac were in town last weekend. Then David Bowie last Monday, and tonight its Meat Loaf. Thats more old rockers in town in one week than I can remember in a long time ! I had fantastic seats for Bowie and great seats for tonights gig.
On Wednesday I got my home airconditioned ! Yeay !!!!! Now I can survive summer like a normal person.
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March 7 2004
Wow - Meatloaf was awesome to say the very least. I had great seats right up the front but just before the show started I ran up to the barrier in front of the stage and scored myself a possie against it for a fantastic view for the whole night.
He started with Life is a Lemon and continued to roll out the hits all night. My personal highlights (because the songs have personal meaning to me) were Took The Words and Paradise. Anything for Love and Bat were also performed brilliantly.
On tonights Channel 10 news I saw a snippet of myself enjoying the night !!
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March 13 2004
Ho hum. I really have nothing exciting to add today. Oh I had a letter published in the paper this week. A couple of weekends ago a bunch of drunken teens gatecrashed partys around Perth and basically destroyed peoples homes and streets. They also assaulted police officers. When a couple of the drunken louts were dealt with rather softly by the juvenile courts there was an uproar in the papers.
One woman wrote to the editor basically stating that we should all think back to when we were 17 and have a bit of sympathy for these bored teens.
My letter went as follows:
Bleeding heart Roberta Perkins would like me to think about myself when I was 17.
Well I have thought about it Roberta and I can confirm that I wasnt inciting drunken teens to gatecrash parties, nor was I assaulting police officers.
Criminal teens should be dealt with as the reprobates they are. Law abiding teens can get on with their day.
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March 20 2004
Embarrassing really to have nothing to say - and so unusual for me !! Its the start of a 4 day heatwave - temps over 40 each day. I am breaking in my new aircon :) Luvly.
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March 28 2004
Well its been a quiet cool weekend. I have been busy loading up items to sell on eBay. Mainly old magazines at the moment - more stuff to sell later. Need to start getting rid of junk. If you want to see what I am selling just go down to the links and click on my eBay link. Nothing contraversial to talk about - nothing is pissing me off lately - strange as that may seem.
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March 31 2004
Last day of the month. A quarter of the year gone by already. Where does it go ?
In a foul mood today. My boss is on a few months holidays and the dickhead he has left in charge is .... well.... a dickhead ! He is the most pedantic anal idiot I have ever met. He can use up to 40 sentences when one would have sufficed.
He suffers from short man issues. He suffers from hatred of women issues. And the one that affects me the most - he suffers from women who know more than him issues. He hates that people in my team ask me for assistance instead of him.
For over 12 months since I joined this team we have said maybe 4 words to each other. While he is acting in the team leader position his silent treatment has not altered. Its extremely unprofessional.
This morning he sent me an email that was written in the most agressive threatening tone - I seriously could have walked over and punched him in the face. I spent the rest of the day having violent thoughts about him. I was going to forward the email to his superiors but instead I sent it to a girl in my team who has known the dickhead for over 10 years. She also happens to be the harrassment officer !! She took him aside and suggested he think before he hits send on an email. He felt I was reading the email wrong. She advised that she had read it and it shocked her at how threatening it was. She seriously had to sit there and line by CAPITAL line explain to him what he had said and how better it could have been said. She had to explain to him (and he has been using email for 6 years in this office) that the use of capitals in the middle of sentences is shouting and agressive.
She told him I had every right to take the email to his superiours. He begged her to tell me not to do that because he is paranoid they would question his ability to lead a team - well theres my inspiration !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So I have filed the email for the time being. But its the fourth one in the past few months where he has angered and upset me - so one more and they will all be sent to the big bosses.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH got it out of my system now - can go to sleep without being kept awake thinking of ways to push him in front of a moving vehicle.
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April 9 2004
Progress on the dickhead front !! I ended up sitting down with his superior and laying down the line. I said he was acting like a child instead of a manager, that his team have no respect for him, that he turns every little molehill into Mt Everest, that he goes out of his way to try to prove me wrong - to the detriment of his own duties, that he suffers from paranoia and is seriously insecure. There was more but I have gone blank !! I am sick of working hard at my level while those higher up sit around twiddling their thumbs doing diddly squat. I hope that Mr Superior takes notice of my claims and actually does something about Dickhead. I felt a lot better for getting it all off my chest with Mr Superior and I felt that I came across as a mature adult with concerns about my team, whereas Dickhead came across as a scared paranoid twit.
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April 13 2004
I am sure its just me - no one ese has mentioned it happening to them ! What you ask ? Since getting a DVD player I now have several versions of the same dream - either in the same night - or over several nights. I get the directors cut, the audio commentary, the special effects versions etc.
The other night I had a pretty scarey dream that was reminiscent of Close Encounters of the Third Kind. I was in my bed when light started creeping in thru gaps in the curtains, thru the skylights, thru the air con vents. Like a helicopter with a spotlight was above my home - but there was no chopper noise. I knew the light was coming to get me and so I was trying to find somewhere to hide. It was the kind of dream where you wake up all sweaty and nervy. So I go back to sleep hoping to "change subject" - but no. My brain is in "dvd mode". So this time I get the entire dream with commentary. Then last night I had the "special effects" version of the same dream, followed by interviews ! All thats left for tonight is the "still photos".
Now I am sure this would be fine if it was a romantic comedy dream - but seriously - I dont need to relive a nightmare each and every night !
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April 28 2004
OK first up OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
I have not been this hungover since I was a teenager !
Last night I went to the Perth premier of We Will Rock You and the after party.
Actual show was as awesome as ever. We were slightly off centre on the front row – a wee bit too close to the pyrotechnics for our comfort zone !!!
Only booboo of the night - during Under Pressure - Micheals mik started buzzing badly. We wondered how he was going to deal with it when a cool calm collected Yes Thing strolls across the stage - hands him a mik and strolls off - In Character !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Micheal got his own mik fixed the next time he went off stage.
For Champions every person in the house had their arms in the air - and Perth audiences get told they are non reactive !!!! The standing ovation went for ages. Then the ovation and applause for Bo Rap was amazing - I can honestly say in all my years of shows in perth I have never heard it so loud. And the band got even louder applause - and what a flaming great job they did all night.
Then Ben got on stage and chatted - in my excitement I cant remember what he said !!!!! But I do remember him saying he originally wanted to open the show in Oz first but he did it in London - so he kept his promise and made sure Oz got it second. And that he REALLY wanted it to open in Perth and how its been his second home for 18 years etc - but he opened in Melb and made sure Perth got it next. Then he said "na na na na nahhhhh Sydney has to wait till AFTER Perth and brisbane !!!!!". And he said it’s the most expensive largest ever production to be brought to perth.
Ok then it was off to the PARTY.
My note pad is completely illegible ! I cannot read anything so this is all memory via my aching head !
I immediately cornered Ben and had a discussion about the missing Freddie statue. I told him it always made me cry in Melb - he said he loved it too but Roger thought it like a "f**ked up midget" !!!!! He said he was glad it affected me and glad I noticed it missing and he would do everything he could to put it back in the show before I next see it in May !!!! I vaguely remember congratulating him and thanking him for bringing it to Perth. Thru the course of the evening and the wee small hours I accosted him about 14 more times and am sure I got photos - will check - have no memory of what I discussed each time after that !! I told him how when I gatecrashed Melb that we walked in behind him so the bouncer couldn’t tell us off and he said “glad I could help out and from now on you are in my inner circle !!!!”. Ohhhhh - I just had a vague recollection of telling him to change the line "Charlotte Friggen Church to Delta Friggen Goodrem" !! And he laughed !!
I took video footage of him dancing on stage with a gorgeous enemble lass - I will have to search the program to see who she was.
I had really long chats with Robert Grubb/Pop and Annie/Killer while I was still relatively sober. Robert and I discussed the technicalities of no hydrolics and how he feels a little lost not climbing up thru the hole in the stage and he is still working out what he can do during those bits.
I told Annie that when I came over in Jan how disappointed I was that she fell sick 20 minutes before the show and she gave me all the gory details of how sick she got and blood noses on stage etc. I told her I missed her rising up from under the stage and the boob wobbling bit and she cracked up and said "I stop - and they are still wobbling 30 seconds later !!!!" And we chatted about how I thought I had seen her support Chris Isaak a few years ago and she said no I had seen her support Sting and that solved a mystery for me !!!! But she said she had met Chris and we went on to extol the deliscious virtues of him.
I had a luvly chat with the gorgeous Amanda/Oz - she is sooooooooo tiny !! Both she and Annie have such enormous presence on stage but when you meet them they are soooo tiny !! I met argh - I cant remember his name - the spunky swing – Micheal Griffiths - and told him I had photos of him singing at the Melbourne premier party and how much I loved his Joe Cocker song and he seemed genuinely amazed anyone remembered him doing it !!!
By now I was seriously consuming the free booze !
I finally found Michael/Gallileo - and he remembered me from January and my nasty camera not working - so he said lets try again and made his friend take several !! I told him how perfect the microphone save was during Under Pressure and he said he nearly cracked up when the Yes Thing handed him the mik !!! I look seriously smashed in the photo while naturally he looks stunning.
While at the bar I got chatting to a gorgeous lad and I asked if he was in the show and he said "No I am the director" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We ended up having a very technical discussion about stages in various cities and the lack of good theatres in Perth for big productions - and he was giving the the technical specs on the size of the show - gawd knows how I was capable of this discussion by then !!! Looked him up in the program – name is Andrew Pole and he “only” directed Les Mis and Phantom !!.
And when chatting with Annie about her costumes etc I said something about "arent you glad people like Ben are coming up with new funky musicals cos you couldnt have worn that outfit in the musicals of the 50's" and with that we both burst into "Oklahoma" !!!!!!!!!!!!
Everything becomes a blur now. My last memory around 3am was leaning on a stage or sitting on the dancefloor having a big in depth with Robert about how he got to sing in Gallipoli and I told him about my websites and he took my card and said he would email me about building him one !
I took 40 business cards and came home with 3 so good grief who did I hand them all out to !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know I was giving them to some of the ensemble cos they saw me taking pics of them and wanted to see them !!
I will pop the photos on a website later in the day - depending on how many double chins I have in them !!!!! (Check my online albums)
Now I have to go DIE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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May 16 2004
Been a while since I had something to talk about :) I have uploaded the WWRY party pics on the photo album page.
Am going to see the show again twice next week - centre front row both times. Am I addicted ? hmmm tell me after I bankrupt myself to get to the Sydney premier :(
Have been playing the UK cast cd a fair bit and it really makes me want an Aussie cast one - hint hint Brian and Ben.
Stayed up till 3am this morning watching Aussie Mary Donaldson marry Crown Prince Frederick of Denmark. Gorgeous to watch a royal wedding where the couple looks head over heels in love. The dress was lovely very heavy silk. And a bouquet of cream roses and gum leaves and I think I could see wattle sprigs as well.
The boss returned from his holidays this week so normality can resume in the team and the Dickhead (or SMS as co worker calls him - as in Short Man Syndrome) can get over his pathetic attempt at a power trip.
Winter arrived last weekend. Torrential downpours and storms all day Mothers day followed by a pretty rainy week. Couple of chilly 3degree mornings on Thurs and Fri - brrrrrrrrr.
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May 19 2004 - late at night :)
Been home for 4 whole minutes !! Just got back from seeing We Will Rock You again - from centre front row seats.
What a show Every night is like a new and fresh experience.
The entire cast was in peak form - i didnt spot a single solitary glitch, the sound was awesome and the band were hotdamn spectacular, the pyros still make me leap out of my skin !.
Robert Grubb was on a real roll tonite - he cracked me up. So did Cliff hehehehe.
I went with the friend who came to see it in Jan in Melb with me - the night Kate was off sick and Annie had fallen sick 20 minutes before the show started. So my friend had not yet experienced their particular brilliance. She was amazed by Annie !!!
I love how even 30 minutes after the show I can still feel the guitar beats in my heart. I love how loud it all is
Micheal gave me a lovely smile during Champions - I hope he didnt recognise me from the party ! I was well pithed by the time I had a chat with him ! Way more than "Just a bit pissed Pop" !!
James - legend guitarist waved - Hey Brissy ! Theres that mad Perth chick in the front row again !! Dont freak out when you look down and I am in the identical seat on Saturday ! I am taking my Mum - thats my excuse - its not an addiction, honest - tho I believe there is a pill available
Ok its so dark in here that its taken me ten minutes to write the post ! So now I have been home a whole 14 minutes !
And now its time for bed ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz night night Cast and Band - YOU ROCK !!!!!!!!!
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May 22 2004 - really late at night
Went to see todays matinee of WWRY - took Mum. To give the cast a sense of de ja vu I sat in the identical seat on centre front row as I did on Wednesday night - Michael noticed mid way thru I Want To Break Free and gave me a lovely grin and eyebrow raise !!
Because of the time of day there were a load of Under 10s in the crowd and they definately loved the "Why is everybody WIGGLING" line !!
Everyone was awesome as usual - mum was blown away by the whole show and raved about the costumes as she is a dressmaker. She now understands what I have been waffling on about since August last year and why I have sat thru it 6 times !!!!!!!! Her personal fave bit was the Heartbreak Hotel scene and she totally lost it when "Bicycle" started and didnt continue !! She loved the Yes Things too - especially the boy with the pink vacumn cleaner - she laughed at how well he danced with it !!
My personal fave changes each time - I love every line Pop says - he just cracks me up - but also today - Micheals facial expressions were hilarious - he was adding a few extras in. At the end when he came out to the spotlight side on to start Bo Rap the girls next to me did a brilliant whistle and he stopped, turned and grinned at them - and made their day.
During the final applause and bowing - Robert/Pop looked down and recognised me and gave me a "Hey" and a wave. Awwwwwwwww Then Micheal - the last to leave the stage - looked straight at me, pointed with both hands, put them to his mouth and blew me a huge kiss - sigh :)
I am sitting here now wondering if I should spoil myself ONE MORE TIME before they leave Perth !! Argh - all the renovations I need done before winter hits are getting delayed because I keep spending money !! It would be fab to go to both opening and closing nights tho - wouldnt it ? How could I not ?
Dear Mr Visa - can you handle the pain of one last transaction ?? If I promise NOT to fly to Bris for any shows !!
I love how much of a high I come out of the shows on !!
Then Mum and I went and had dinner in a restaurant next to the My Restaurant Rule restaurant - and we accidently heard tommorow nights result !!!!!! But Ash and Amanda begged everyone to keep it a secret - arghhhhhhhhhhhhh.
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May 30 2004 - Sunday
Not a lot to add today - have been sick with a gastro flu since Tuesday - whole office has it and it leaves you feeling really run down.
Had a bizarre dream last night - that I was moving house again only this time to a really rambling half renovated house and the owner didnt seem aware that he had sold up and moved - he kept returning to collect things. The house was my worst nightmare - 70's flowery brown carpets - different style in each room, extensions added to the back of the house - badly built. A huge net fence enclosed the entire back yard - like a giant avairy - and the birds were having conversations with me.
Ok no comments - I have been unwell !!
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June 6 2004 - Sunday
Its cold, dark and gloomy today - perfect for sitting at the computer with your cosy trackies and slippers on while the heater keeps you snuggly.
Ronald Reagan died today. He was in his 90s and had been suffering Alziemhers for the past decade or more so I think he was probably glad to go. My memory of Ron is that politically he dominated the 80's - the decade of my teens. The decade started with an attempted assasination to impress Jodie Foster. Reagan survived, it probably took Jodie longer. I remember the power group of the 80's with Reagan, Gorbachov, Hawke and Thatcher.
I visited Blog Ideas today. Its a site set up to give you inspiration when you cant think of anything to discuss on your blog !! A suggestion there today is Have you ever broken a bone?
Well yes I have - but it was months before I knew it ! It was hmmm 1995 or 96 and it was two days before Xmas. I had spent the morning at a friends house having a champagne breakfast. I took a fall down a curb but was more concerned with the grazed palm and knee than the rapidly swelling ankle. Later that night I polished off another bottle of wine and squeezed my huge foot into high heels and went to my school reunion. I danced and got even more drunk.
The next day my friends partner came to pick her up and he saw me lying on the couch and saw how large my foot was. He put a packet of frozen sausages on it while I slept !! By Xmas day the entire foot was BLACK !! I hobbled around preparing lunch for friends and family - saying "no its just a sprain".
Three months later I went to the doctor about something else and he noticed my swollen ankle and asked how long it had been like that - when I told him since Xmas he literally threw me under an xray machine !! Turns out the entire time the ankle had been completely snapped thru and if I had so much as turned it wrong or stumbled - the bone would have shifted and come thru my skin !!!!!!!!
Yes he gave me quite a lecture about not seeing a doctor immediately !! He was unable to do anything to it by then - and he said I was very lucky that it had healed straight - I have a nice big calcium line along the break and its aches a bit in winter now ! But next time I promise I will go to the doctors !!
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June 19 2004 - Saturday
Sigh - only a few more weeks then We Will Rock You leaves Perth and heads for BrisVegas. I have tiks to June 27 and July 4 - the very final show. Dammit I will need a new (and cheaper) hobby. Or maybe I could do nothing for a few months and save money !
Nothing to chat about today really. Its a sunny chilly day so I have done the housework and unpacked another box. Yes I know I moved like 10 months ago but there are literally dozens of unpacked boxes to go. I needed a casserole dish so I had to search thru a pile of boxes - thank gawd for good labelling - till I found it.
Am jealous cos Mum is currently holidaying in Sydney - and I sooooooo feel like another holiday. I need to save up for a trip in October.
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June 19 2004 - Saturday
Sigh - only a few more weeks then We Will Rock You leaves Perth and heads for BrisVegas. I have tiks to June 27 and July 4 - the very final show. Dammit I will need a new (and cheaper) hobby. Or maybe I could do nothing for a few months and save money !
Nothing to chat about today really. Its a sunny chilly day so I have done the housework and unpacked another box. Yes I know I moved like 10 months ago but there are literally dozens of unpacked boxes to go. I needed a casserole dish so I had to search thru a pile of boxes - thank gawd for good labelling - till I found it.
Am jealous cos Mum is currently holidaying in Sydney - and I sooooooo feel like another holiday. I need to save up for a trip in October.
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June 25 2004 - Friday
What a week. I have battled severe insomnia my entire life and have my own methods to dealing with it. But every few months I have a week like this one. Since last friday I have struggled to get as much as 45 minutes sleep per night. During the day I am vague, its hard to concentrate, my blood pressue is dangerously low - I see stars and start to faint if I so much as turn my head too fast. Yesterday at work was the worst - I nearly passed out in the loo's. Last night sleep just refused to happen, despite several "sleepy" painkillers and a few sleeping pills. In the end I gave up and stared at the ceiling till dawn. I had told the boss before leaving yesterday that I didnt think I would come to work - I was in a pretty bad way. Sleep took over around 7am and lasted till noon. It was a heavy deep slumber filled with bizarre dreams about the mafia, Chris Isaak touring with Keith Richards, and packing to move house ! Now I have a heady hungover feeling. I wish I could get 5 hours sleep when its dark - like between midnight and dawn - like normal people. ZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
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July 2 2004 - Friday
Well its been a pretty busy week. Last Sunday I went to see WWRY again but had to sit in SECOND row ! Egad !! I am so use to Front row that I am unaccustomed to having peoples heads in front of me ! Especially not used to being behind the only three people in the entire theatre not clapping. Some people just dont deserve to be on the front row !!!! Micheal actually stood right in front of them and yelled CLAP at one point.
Everyone was having a great time up there - and I know I was having a ball in the audience. They have added a piece of Tie Your Mother Down since I last went in May so that was fun. Annie, Micheal and James both waved during the ovations.
Scara was being silly with a guitar during the ovations !! It wasnt plugged in but she was prepared to try and play it anyway !!
ONE MORE SHOW FOR ME - back to my "proper" seat on centre front row for the very final performance next Sunday.
Then on Thursday lunchtime I went into town to see John Waters performing a mini gig of Glass Onion (piccies on the right) to promote the show before next weeks gigs at the Regal Theatre. Had a lovely chat with him afterwards.
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July 5 2004 - Monday
WWRY all gone bye byes. Last night was the final Perth show. Back to my "proper seat" on front row. Cast was awesome - everyone seemed to be pulling out all stops. Ben came out after the standing ovations to do a speech. Silly me got caught taking photos of him by the Phantom Usher who came from no where ! Had to go to admin and sadly delete some gorgeous pics.
When out to stage door to say farewell to members of the cast who were not coming for drinks. Caught up with the fabulous Annie Crummer, Ross Girvan and Robert Grubb. Then I joined the cast, crew and band for farewell drinkies. Finally got a good photo of me with Micheal Falzon - last ones looked dreadful !!
Sad to see the show go - but of course am extremely grateful that Ben brought it to Perth in the first place - as a part time Perth resident he knows how much we miss out on stuff here. He said they sold something like 130,000 tiks - way to go Ben !!
All the photos are in my online albums.
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July 10 2004 - Saturday
I am freezing ! For the first day in weeks its not raining so I have all the windows open to air the apartment out. But its only 16 degrees - and rather breezy - so I am walking around all rugged up ! My hands are freezing while I type !! It would be much cosier to just close everything up and put the heater on !!!
Its Glass Onion weekend :) Last nights audience was very reactive and it cracked me up when John cuts "Come Together" short to go into monologue and the audience all kept singing !!!! Encores of Starting Over and Instant Karma really got the house moving. Going again tonight :)
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July 17 2004 - Saturday
Been a quiet week so I have been loading stuff up to eBay to sell - dvds and videos at the moment - more to come. Click on the eBay link in the right column.
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July 31 2004 - Saturday
Another quiet week. I moved desks twice at work and we start a new project this week so a bit of a change to look forward to. Socially - utterly nothing. Am trying to save some money, so no concerts or theatre right now and lots of selling on eBay to be done.
Am totally Reality Tv'd out !! With the final eps of both The Block and Big Brother last week - and the right people winning both - I was mentally exhausted just from hating the "bad" contestants. The normal couple won The Block - thank gawd they beat the fake revolting Ken and Barbie.
And the wonderful Trevor won BB4 and promptly fell to his knees and proposed to his gorgeous girlfriend. Yes I bawled !
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August 12 2004 - Thursday
I don't really have anything interesting to say ! Life is merely plodding along right now. Am home for a few days with an icky head cold - its so hard to sleep when you cant breathe. I have moved my reality tv affections over to Australian Idol. Stand out at the moment is Hayley who can do a pretty good Eva Cassidy. Still narrowing down the top 30 so next few weeks will be interesting.
Seriously stormy here the past few days - last night was very wild and wooley. Today it has been blowing a gale. Would love to be visiting my Aunt in the Snowy Mtns right now - check out the pic of her snow covered yard - sigh - how pretty !!.
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August 14 2004 - Saturday
YAWNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
Very sleepy. Stayed up till 4am watching the live Opening Ceremony.
Not sure how to review it ! I didnt get very emotional during it - but I guess I got emotional during Sydney 200 because it was telling the history of Australia, from aboriginal bush burning to sunday law mowing. Athen opening was telling the story of civilisation so it had a lot to cover !.
I enjoyed the amazing technicalities of it all - the ability to flood the stadium and then drain it in under 3 minutes. The cleverness of the face statue covered in laser displays of mathematical diagrams, breaking apart into various statues before becoming the islands of Greece, then a hill with olive tree on top.
I enjoyed the frescos and sculptures coming to life.
I didnt find it "gripping" - I think different music may have altered my opinion on that - its was slow repetative chorally kinda drippy stuff.
I enjoyed the parade of athletes - I always love watching out for the best outfits. I think it was Brazil I loved best - if it was them in the rainbow skirts and shirts and lime green jackets - very funky indeed - and WOW some delicious looking guys !!!!.
I laughed at the irony of the Aussie commentators struggling for something new to say about each team as they came out - finally saying - for Iraq, Afghanistan and similar - "Well they have some excellent shooters in their team" ! Why oh why was my 3am thought - "well obviously, but have they shot at a non human target lately" !!!!!!!!!!!!! Ahhhh bite me for being politically incorrect ! :)
I didnt "get" Bjork. Not that I ever "get" Bjork or anyones attraction for her or her "music". But mostly what I didnt "get" was the choice of an Icelandic singer at a Greek ceremony. Was Demis not available ? or any other Greek singer from the past 50 years ?? (hmmm not Yanni !!!!!!!!!!).
Oh well - I shall wait for some gymnastics and diving as that is generally all I watch and then its on to the closing ceremony - maybe they will have found some greek singers by then !
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August 22 2004 - Sunday
On August 12 myself and my co workers lost a darling friend and co worker. Margie died during a girls night out, falling from a balcony at a beachside hotel. At 40 she was too young to be gone so suddenly, and it shocked us all so deeply. At the funeral on Friday I saw a really touching moment after her brother completed his eulogy. As he sat down his son, who looked maybe 9 or 10, rubbed his dads shoulder and mouthed "are you alright dad?". What a gorgeous little boy to have taken time out from his own grieving to ensure his dad was ok.
To take my mind off the sadness of the week I have been watching the often mind numbingly boring Olympics coverage. In the hopes of actually seeing some Aussies competing in the gymnastics, I find myself stuck watching ridiculous things like Korea vs a country I have never heard of in the preliminary finals of the frigging ping pong. Give me a break - this is high rating viewing ? Thank gawd for our swimmers and divers, at least while they keep winning medals we can be assured of constant replays of their achievements.
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August 28 2004 - Freezing Saturday
OK I give in ! I am the last person in the world to discover Colin Firth ! Where have I been ? Back in Feb during the heatwave I went to an airconditioned cinema to watch Love Actually. Have always been a Hugh Grant and Richard Curtis fan so this was another of thier collaborations to check out. So there I was, busy being mesmorised by Hugh when suddenly another man on the screen started creeping into my subconscious. By the end of the film I was wondering why I hadnt seen him in anything before !
So a few weeks later I thought it was tme I saw Bridget Jones's Diary. Initially avoided even tho it was another Hugh and Richard Curtis piece - for two reasons - I can stand Renee Zellwegger - and I really cant stand movies and books that lead the world to believe a single woman in her 30's cant possibly be leading a happy life unless she has found Mr Right - AH PHOOEEY! But now I had to get past the whole Renee thing and find out more about Mr Firth. So I watched BJD and by the end of it I adored Hugh even more in his "wicked" phase, had totally fallen for the seductive restrained glare of Firths eyes, and still couldnt stand Zellwegger !
So I mention this to Mum - who says I must be insane - Pride and Predudice has been repeated 5 or 6 times on ABC - surely I liked Firth in that ? Nope - never wanted to watch it as all those books bored me to tears in my teens. Sure enough - ABC is destined to assist Karina in her discovery of Mr Firth - along comes a repeat season of P&P. So for the past few Sundays I have fast and furiously become a Firth Fan !
My apologies for taking so long ! I have officially been seduced.
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September 5 2004 - Chilly Sunday
Not a whole lot to add today. Olympics are finally over. Russian school seige is over with a tragic result, over 250 dead. I have a flu or something. Have been sleeping till noon since Friday so gawd knows how I will wake up for work tomorrow. Have a wierd craving to eat something made of sugar - like FUDGE. Went thru all my recipes and do not have a single solitary recipe for this apparantly simple thing. Must look for a recipe website and make it. Final ep of Pride and Predudice tonight - no more Mr Firth on Sunday nights - I wonder if its available on DVD !!!
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September 6 2004 - Sick snotty Monday
Ugh - I hate when you cant sleep because you choke and cough everytime you lie down. So here I am at home again today sharing this cold or flu with just me. NOTE TO SELF : Learn to spell PREJUDICE ! Just noticed all my spelling boo boos below. Final ep last night. I cant believe there could be so much chemistry in a miniseries where the two leads dont even hold hands, let alone kiss until the very final scene as the credits roll. I looked up some Fudge recipes - apparently I need condensed milk - ick that almost puts me off completely, and I am not going outside to the shops to show off my bed hair and big red nose - so no fudge will be made !
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September 12 2004 - cold sunny Sunday
God I have so little to talk about that I spent an hour redesigning the page instead ! Now the pics should all be alongside the actual day they relate to. I was sick most of the week - really shouldnt have gone back to work on Wednesday - I still had a fever ! Am bored with the impending federal election and the fact that they can use a bombing in Jakarta as an elction topic - sick cretins. Have booked my flights to Sydney for next month - despite Virgin not helping at all - not a single decent special, no half price fares to be seen dammit.
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September 25 2004 - Saturday
Watched the AFL Grand Final today - had to cos it was an historical game - the first ever to be played minus a Victorian team. Brisbane started well but in the end Port Power wanted the cup more. Good game with multiple Alastair Lynch perving ops.
A strange week here. Jupiter entering Libra has somehow been affecting me. Everything I touched at work turned to mud. Murphys Law surrounded me where ever I tried to hide. Anything that could go wrong - did. Not a lot I could do about any of it but it was very frustrating.
Meanwhile there is always reality telly to keep me occupied. I am following the talents of Courtney, Ricki Lee and Hayley in Australian Idol. I really enjoy watching both of them. And Survivor started this week - this time its in Vanuatu. Tribes currently separated into Male vs Female with the girls winning the first immunity challenge. Havent had a change to get to know any of them yet so I havent picked any favourites.
Have also been reliving some 80's memories thank to Trev in Melb who has been recording old A Team episodes onto DVD for me. Scarily - eps I hadnt seen for 20 years - I still knew all the punchlines and every facial expression pulled by "Faceman" !!! And he is still a big spunk !
Some more memories to be had now that my Star Wars boxed dvd set have arrived. Looking forward to sitting down with some popcorn and savouring all the special extras.
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October 2 2004 - Saturday
A sunny cool day to start a 3 day weekend. The Murphies Law week continued with things at work I was unable to control - classic example of a department filled with right hands who dont communicate with left hands. By Friday it appeared to be on the road to normal again. Counting down the days now (7) till I am in Sydney at the opening night of We Will Rock You. Looking forward to seeing the show and cast again and hoping to get some great piccies of red carpet arrivals.
The Isaak Has Landed: The boy has arrived in Sydney and performs at the Rugby Grand final tomorrow. He hits Perth on the 11th. No round the country concert holiday for me this year - WWRY used all my money up ! Have put a piccie up to remind me of that brilliant holiday in 2002. Darn that double chin ! Must learn to pose without one.
In The News: a huge sting across the country this week saw the arrests of hundreds of men involved in creating, viewing and sharing of internet child porn. Always so disgusted to find out that the people who thrive on this muck are school teachers and child care operators, along with doctors, lawyers etc. People in positions of trust. The papers named and shamed them yesteday and already 4 have suicided - good riddence to bad rubbish I say - saves everyone the time and money involved in courtcases and saves my taxes having to pay for their jail cell.
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October 4 2004 Monday - Queens Birthday Holiday
Ugh - seriously who needs birthdays. I am officially closer to 40 than 30 now. And there I was thinking I would have a nice sleep in on the public holiday until I found out I had to wake at 6am to wait for Chris to appear on the Today show with his fave aussie host Mistress Tracy.
I love how she is a totally normal person 364 days a year and then there is that other day - the day Chris is due to be on her show ! She starts to ooze a wanton aura and goes all girly and blushes !! Love it ! He sung Wicked Game to her so here is a pic I took off the telly.
Other news - well Mt St Helens in Washington US is threatening to blow its top again - hopefully not as violently as back in 1980.
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October 7 2004 Thursday
Off to Sydney tonight so no updates till I get back as I have yet to work out how to create a blog I can update on puters other than my own !!
2 sleeps until the big We Will Rock You opening night and 5 sleeps till a Mr Isaak fix. he was a crack up on The Panel last night - as if he just discovered the "F" word !!
So I will hopefully do an update next week with lots of new piccies to share.
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October 10 2004 Sunday
Thursday Oct 7 I took the dreaded midnight horror to Sydney and got not a single week of sleep. Arrived 6am in a zombie like state and it took 2 hours for the shuttle bus to get to the hotel - serious amount of roadworks going on there at the moment and mixed with peak hour traffic it made the journey endless.
Checked in and crashed into a deep deep slumber for a few hours. Went and had a great steak with pals Keith and Shane.
Saturday I slept all day - preparing for a night of no sleep !! Got my hair done - straightened in fact - how strange for me. Then I dolled up and caught a cab to the Lyric Theatre at Star City Casino. People were setting up the red carpet and ex cricketer tv presenter Mike Whitney was preparing to do his live coverage. I sat around people watching for a bit then realised I had the chance to take up a possie on the steps at the end of the red carpet - so the celebs would be walking towards me. Was able to capture some Idols, Bardot's, a Nicki Webster, a Roy or HG, the coma guy from Home & Away, Reg from Mentals Ben Elton, Brian May and Roger Taylor - all on film. Also saw Anne Tenney from A Country Practice, many of the All Saints cast, and a lot of familiar faces that I couldnt put names to !
After the red carpet we raced inside to take our seats down the front. The Idols were sitting directly behind me and a few rows back were the judges from Popstars, Nicki and the Bardot girl. Obviously I knew that lines in the show would be taking the piss out of all of them so I kept turning around to capture their reactions.
Ben, Brian and Roger walked to their seats to a standing ovation. Then it was time for the show to start. Ben of course has been busy rewriting it as usual and so it was extremely topical on the day of the national election - Pop added to his monologue "300 years since the day of an important election of the 51st state of America". And Justin Trousersnake became Peter Garrett for the night (not sure if its for the season) - stated that "I'm for the power, the passion, and the safe labor seat in Kingsford Smith" then broke into an utterly perfect leg shacking dance impersonation of Garrett!!
I felt the crowd took a lot of encouragement to actually participate in yelling and hand clapping. During "I want it all" the first three rows were well into the clapping and Amanda really had to yell at the rest to make them participate. Same with WWRY clap clap punch.
As several of the cast said to me later - when the crowd is filled with folk who didnt pay for their tickets - its never as responsive.
After the standing ovations Ben, Brian and Roger came out for a speech and more ovations.
As usual I felt exhausted by the end of the show - how do the cast do it ! I'm stuffed just from rocking in my seat and clapping !
Then we mingled in the foyer - mostly waiting for loo queues to subside. Had a chat with WA Idol hopeful Courtney Murphy. Saw last years winner Guy - nice to see while everyone else dressed to the nines - he stuck with his ridiculous dress sense and woollen beenie. Get a suit kid. Chatted with Wil Traval from All Saints while his co star Tammy Macintosh banged on the windows from her smoking possie outside.
Then we followed the folk to the ballroom where the party was being held. I didnt have the valuable wrist band to get in. Ran into Annie, Rob, Kate, Amanda, Micheal & Ross (basically the entire lead cast) and said I would try to get in later. Seconds later the opportunity arose when a man and his little boy left the party early. I asked for their wrist band and low and behold they gave it to me so off I ran !! Walked into the lobby and ran into the cast again. Annie gave me a big hug and said she was glad I got in. Chatted with Rob and Kate. Then headed up the stairs to the ballroom. Grabbed a drink and made my way down to the stage where the WWRY band was already playing. Found a posse right against the stage.
Around 11pm Ben came on stage and did a great speech and declared the place an election free zone - to a huge cheer. Amanda came out with Adam Lubicz and they did Good Times. It rocked and she had a fab rusty red dress on. Then Robert Grubb came out and rocked us with Unchain My Heart. Kate hit the stage and rocked the house with River Deep Mountain High. She had a totally hollywood siren white gown on.
Then out came THE BOYS. I seriously thought I would pass out !
First up Amanda sung with Brian on vocals and guitar and Roger on drums with the WWRY band – Tie Your Mother Down. Then Roger sung I’m in Love With My Car and Rock n Roll. Brian hit the mike for Little Wing, WWRY drummer Andrew Swann did Johnny Be Goode while Brian and Roger rocked it up with the band, then out came Kate Hoolihan to join them with “With a little help from my friends”.
From 12.15am onwards the cast entertained us with huge numbers. Highlights for me were Michael Griffiths Satisfaction, a hilarious in costume Elvis Medley by Tamlyn Henderson. Peter Puff Diddy Michell doing Revolution. Kate rocking us again with Take Another Little Piece of my Heart. Sarah Harlow oomphed it up with Proud Mary. A Beatles band - The Beatnix - took over the entertainment after that to allow the cast a chance to party.
Had the chance to chat with many of my favourite cast members and even a former one when I ran into ex Brit Jason Chong who is now in All Saints. Also danced with Sam from Idol and drank with the coma guy from Home & Away (really must find out his name! done - Nicholas Bishop) and Wil from All Saints. Plus guy about to star in new show The Cooks.
Picked up the courage to go and meet Roger from Queen with the immortal and embarrasing line "We share a surname" DUH ! Around 3.30am I went and introduced myself to the legend himself - Brian May. Had a lovely chat - what a nice guy - and got a big hug and kiss from him. Ran into Ben everywhere so had lots of mini chats with him - got a great pic of him and Mondo Thingo host Amanda Keller.
No idea what time it was when there were about 20 diehards left - Ben and Brian the most die hardest of them all ! Not that you could understand Ben thru the slurring !!!! Decided to leave when the cleaners arrived !
Think I got back to the hotel around 6am and was way to hyper to sleep so I just waited for breaky to be delivered instead.
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October 13 2004 Wednesday - I think.
God so much to catch up on - its been a HUGE few days. Scroll down a bit to the big WWRY story from Oct 9. I spent Sunday arvo and evening with Cowgirl Manda - we dined in a nice german restuarant in The Rocks - wonderful to catch up with her again.
Monday I awoke to a revolting flu. Decided not to do all the running around I was planning to do - instead found a net cafe to catch up on news and discover the tragic news that Superman Christopher Reeve had died aged just 52. What an inspirational man, he spent the last 9 years just fighting to breathe. I hope he is at peace and that the fight he started for stem cell research is continued by others on his behalf.
Grabbed some flu pills and doped myself up and went to a movie to use up some time. Saw Suddenly 30 - cute chick flick which had some great fun scenes.
Went to the airport and took loads of pills to prepare myself for the flight home. Flu kicked in well and truly and it was not a comfy flight.
Last night it was time to dope myself up again in order to enjoy a Chris Isaak concert. As usual he was the effortless performer. Looked great in a black sparkly suit and of course the mirror suit made its appearance. There was a lovely acoustic set featuring some of the Baja hits which I really enjoyed and would one day like to see an entire concert in that style - in a much smaller intimate venue like the Regal or His Maj.
Had the chance for a chat with Kenney, Roly and Hersh afterwards and a very quick hello with Chris. Told them I wasnt following the show around the country this time round and Roly agreed mortgages got in the way of a social life sometimes !
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October 19 2004 Tuesday.
Ugh - I cant believe I am stil home sick - its been over a week and I am driving myself nuts. I cant sleep at night because I am choking and coughing, I am sick of snot - specially that bit that stays at the back of your throat to choke when you you least expect it. My ears wont pop so I feel like I have been deaf for a week. I have sat here building websites and watching dvds (yeay for the Star Wars release). I have even taking up cooking just to interest myself. Yesterday I baked a pie ! yes me - gimme a break !
I have joined about 30 new message boards just seeking new conversation and to stop me from the temptation of watching a day time soap.
I saw clips on myself on Idol the other night - they showed the Idols going to the WWRY 'do' and I saw myself near them. Woohoo.
If you are having probs accessing my karina.id.au website and email address - never fear - some stuff up with the company I was registered with has meant they have deleted me. I am sitting here watching the domain registry to see it become available again and then I will reregister with a Perth company instead of some backwater father son operation in the east that loses visa card payments.
Seriously sick of snot !
Still getting use to the haircut I got in Sydney. I dont think its been this short and layered since hmmmm 1988 in America. I go to grab it at th back and there isnt enough to even get into a scrunchie ! Freaky. People say "oh it must be so much easier to care for etc" but really - when it was bum length all I did was wash it every 3 days, blow dry it upside down for a few minutes and that was it. Now I need "products" to get some life and curl in it and it needs washing every second day or it looks lifeless. Anyway - here is a pic of it blowdried straight for the WWRY party - scary indeed.
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October 23 2004 Saturday.
God how long can a flu last - seriously I am sick of this one. Its been 12 days - enough already.
I am sitting here looking out my window watching pretty gay marching boys rehearse their moves for tonights Pride Parade. Handy that it starts right on my street as I can just pop down at 8pm to watch it. If I get any decent piccies I will pop them up later.
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October 31 2004 Sunday.
Well I returned to work last week - to find my whole team sick - so I have avoided breathing in near them ! Right wrist, elbow and shoulder blade starting their famous RSI ache by wednesday so I stayed off line all week except at work.
This weekend I have been reminiscing. Needed to find the date of an occurance in the 80's - so sat there reading diaries galore, even after I found what I was looking for as it became addictive !
Found this pic of me tucked inside one of them. I havent seen any of my photo albums for over a year - they are still packed in the shed ! So its so long since I saw this one and it was always one of my faves - taken in 1992. Check out all that BIG hair !!!!
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November 1 2004 Monday
Well after a month offline in the wildnerness due to silly damain name companies - my homepage - the bajaclub - has its domain name again - all you have to type to find me is karina.id.au MEMORISE IT KIDS !!!! its also the email address.
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November 14 2004 Sunday
Not much going on other than work over the past few weeks. I finally got off my butt and started building the long promised website on my 80's obsession Brian Mannix and the Uncanny X-Men. Just as I get accustomed to the scrapbooks and posters etc being out of their boxes for the first time in 16 years - Brian turns out to be coming to Perth next weekend for a gig!
How funny !! Anyway - half the site is ready for a visit - so go tell me what you think - the addr is www.uncannyx-men.com.
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November 21 2004 Sunday
Well its late so I wont do a run down of the Idols Of The 80s gig last night - instead I want to say a huge
CONGRATULATIONS
To 16 year old Casey Donovan - tonights winner of Australian Idol 2. I am so glad I contributed to the vote count - it was so worth it to ensure a girl with an amazing heart and a stunning voice and an even more stunning ability to interpret a song.
Had to put pics of both her outfits - the red one was for the red carpet walk - stunning. And the black mediaeval one was for the finale and announcement.
You totally rock girl !!
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November 27 2004 Saturday
Thought I would add my review of the 80's gig from last week.
Well its a week since the gig and there is this strange ringing in my ears.
I think the "Idols of the 80's" thought they were in a stadium and needed the volume for 40,000 people - what they didnt realise was they were in a small pub in front of 100 people !
The sound was way beyond loud - it was at that uncomfortable buzzing stage - where every lyric and everything they said between songs was just "buzzzz bissssss busssss buzzzzzzz" and the crowd just laughed as it was assumed it must have been something funny and clever. I love a good loud gig - but only when the mixer knows what he is doing - and this guy didnt.
Brian Canham from Psuedo came out first - with his original keyboardist Pierre Pierre and they did the standard Psuedo hits. They seemed to be a lot more sober than the gig 2 years ago.
Then Brian Mannix from Xmen - along with his original guitarist Chuck Hargreaves - came out and joined the rest of the band for X-mens biggest hits Work, 50 Years, and Party. Still skinny - but with that wee bit of middle aged spread starting - and with the blonde mullet it was hard to tell where Brian Mannix ended and Rod Stewart started ! He still does all his hilarious 80's dance moves - tho he was knackered after each one !!!!! geez - I remember when he could dance thru a 2.5 hour gig !!
Then Dave Sterry from Real Life came out and did Send me an Angel and Catch Me I'm Falling and another one I missed cos I went to the bar after some guy stepped on my toes while dancing badly - I was about to tell him off when I realised it was Brian Canham. Dave has aged well and still has a nice voice. Then Scott Carne from Kids in the Kitchen came out and did all his hits - he still knows how to rock the house and his voice has become so strong 20 years on.
Then Pseudo did a few more of theirs - then everyone came on stage and Brian M did Billy Idols's Rebel Yell, they all did Models Outa Mind Outa Sight and a couple of Duran songs - including Girls on Film where Scotty dragged girls up from the crowd to dance on stage - he came up to me and was saying "come on get up here" - but gee - my 36 year old dignity thought better of it !!!!!
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December 5 2004 Sunday
Sandy - if you read this HAPPY BIRTHDAY !
A quiet week - bit of a shock tho - realising it was suddenly December. Seriously - I know everyone says it - but where the f**k do the weeks go ?
Ratings season ended and so I spent the week channel flicking and screaming in agony at not being able to find anything other than crap yank sitcoms that were cancelled in their own country for being so crap, decade old Seinfeld reruns that were awful the first time around - now they just look horrendously dated, and a sudden plethora of one hour teen drama's. When did teens suddenly get the markets share of 7.30pm to 10.30pm viewing ? Gimme something with grown ups in it and some realistic grown up humour.
Teen angst - who needs it ?
Thank gawd for reality TV. Survivor and Amazing Race in particular. Getting into the Trump you're fired show and the new Richard Branson Billionaire "leaping off planes and balloons like a looney" show.
That and my Friends DVD collection. Have been watching them all in date order for most of the year - great to pop on between other shows as they are a nice 20 minutes without adds. Am now into Season 8 - the Rachel being pregnant year. This was about when ch9 started f**king around with the schedule and putting a new ep on about every 3 months and the rest were repeats - so I missed a lot of the new eps. Its quite refreshing to actually see an ep you have never seen before.
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December 15 Wednesday
So far December is a let down ! My battle to find decent TV to watch continues - especially now that Survivor has finished. Now all I have to look forward to is Trump and Branson. Oh and a show on ABC about a group of poms being trained to be spys - quite enjoying that one. Have had a few nasty hot days in the high 30's and yesterday was over 40 - yuck yuck yuck. Thinking it must be nearly time to archive this page and start a fresh one for 2005. Looking forward to xmas and new year in Sydney - lots of friends to catch up with and am hoping for a reprieve from Perthlike temps. Can I put a request in for nothing over 25 degrees please !!
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December 23 Thursday
Well this may be the last time I am online this year so I will take the time to issue my compliments of the season to you all. I hope you all celebrate in your own special way and to those who also have birthdays coming up - Many Happy Returns !!
I am off to Sydney for christmas dinner with friends, the boxing day sales, catching up with pals, a 40th birthday, and the fabulous NYE fireworks !!!!
See you all in 2005.
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