Yet another year has sped by so fast. Where does it all go ? I hope you have had a peaceful and healthy year. I wish you a Happy Holiday season and a Fantastic New Year.
Luv from Karina.
General News.
Stage one of the monster wall unit was built and delivered by my neighbor Ron. I spent a weekend in January painting it silver. The door knobs are painted yellow, blue, red and green. Mum painted my front patio in Berger’s “Paradise” – a real nice purple, while I wielded the silver paintbrush a little longer and did the front door, the airconditioner and several coffee tables.
In March I had to have major dental work done under a general, made up for avoiding dentists for 10 years.
The Easter weekend was spent with my neighbours as we tore down an old picket fence and put up a new hardi fence together. We filled two huge skips with junk and rubble from our yards !
Mum flew out for her big cruise from Alaska and Vancouver to China via Japan, Russia and Korea on September 11th, they arrived in Hong Kong that very night as terrorists were destroying New York. Their trip was delayed in HK a few days while airlines across the world tried to regain some normality.
As with everyone – the events of Sept 11 shook me up. It was months before I could watch footage or read stories without crying. No one in my generation has experienced this kind of event and with technology meaning we watched these events live on TV, and the internet making the world so much smaller, it seems everyone was affected, even in the smallest way. I think it has taught us not to take things for granted anymore. I know I will never forget the footage of two of the most famous landmarks in the world crumbling to the ground in seconds, still filled with staff from nations all over the world.
WebSites
In June I started building a huge website devoted to the life and career of Aussie actor Tom Burlinson.
In July I started building one on Aussie actor John Waters.
In September I got an email from Tom saying how much he liked the Site I built and he asked me to call it the Official Fan Site, much to my excitement.
In October I got a letter from John Waters – he too was so impressed with the site I built for him that he asked me to make it the Official Fan Site. So now I am a part time web mistress. Actually – it’s hardly part time – I recently worked out I had spent approx 250 hours working on the construction of the sites !!!! so now you know why I never answer the phone. Still – you can always get me on karinajoy@XXXXXX.com
If you haven’t visited them yet, I hope you have time to as I am very proud of them. www.TomBurlinson.homestead.com www.TheAussieJohnWaters.homestead.com
and my own home page www.bajaclub.homestead.com
Entertainment.
In June I saw friend Sonni in the lead role of Little Voice. Sonni definately has no little voice – she was able to belt out numbers by Judy Garland, Shirley Bassey, Marilyn Monroe, Marlene Dietrich, even Lulu.
Also in June my friend Lisa stole the show in Nunsense.
In July I saw John Waters in Looking Through A Glass Onion.- front row seats – fantastic show.
In September old friend Gina as one half of Diatonic performed at Kulcha in Freo.
October – In Sydney I saw The Graduate twice. The first night I had fantastic front row seats. Two days later I went to the matinee and had 3rd row. Wendy Hughes and John Waters were fantastic. I also went to see Oscar winning actor Russell Crowe and his band TOFOG in concert. Again I enjoyed a front row seat. He was great, with a strong rock voice – but he really handled the ballads well.
November – time to see Sonni on stage again – this time in the lead role of Roxie in Chicago. Naturally she was great !
Movie wise I only had time to see Almost Famous – where Goldie Hawns daughter Kate Hudson showed what she had inherited from her mum in the talent wardrobe. Gladiator – which was far more surreal than I expected and I could definately see why Russell Crowe snagged the Oscar this year. And Miss Congeniality. Sandra Bullock was hilarious and Michael Caine as the gay stylist was simply gorgeous.
Holidays
In Feb I was visited by three internet friends from the USA. Sandy from Seattle, Kim from San Francisco and Teresa from Sacramento. We went on a trip to the South West, staying at Margaret River for three days, we stopped off in Pemberton for Kim and Sandy to climb to the very top of the Glocestor Tree. Then we had two days in Walpole, where we went on a river cruise, discovered pristine people free beaches, and went on the Tree Top Walk. In Perth we went to the Zoo for the day followed by a Latino concert in the zoo grounds. We had a day out at the Pinnacles, a day on Rottnest Island, a morning at The Maze and an afternoon at Underwater World. On their final day in Perth we spent the morning getting a tattoo each, mine is on my right inside ankle, followed by a day in Fremantle, just wandering.
In October I spoiled myself with a trip to Sydney. There were good airfare prices due to the collapse and mini rebirth of Ansett. So I got to spend a whole day with ex Perth friend Keith, followed by several shows/concerts which are detailed in the entertainment paragraphs. I spent a day with friends from a website group, and an afternoon with friends I have known for about 8 years but up until then, had never met ! Then my brother and I caught the train up to Coffs Harbour (an interminable 9 hour trip !). We were picked up by Bev and taken back to Dad’s house where we successfully surprised him on his 60th birthday. My grandfather Curly was also there so it was great to catch up with him. We had a sightseeing day the next day before catching the dreaded train back to Sydney – next time FLY !!!
RIP to a few special people this year.
In January we lost Ray Walston, Uncle Martin in My Favorite Martian. In June Jack Lemmon passed away after a short illness.
August was a bad month for Australian Music fans when we lost Shirley Straughan in a chopper crash then just days later Ted Mulray from cancer. My favorite Aussie painter Darcy Doyle also died in August.
Then on Nov 30 the world lost another Beatle - George Harrison, after a very long battle with cancer.
