Tidying

I'm making progress on the filing/tidying and went up the street to get the paper and milk. P. went off to U3A at the Library to compere the monthly talk (on aerial photography no less), and then moving on to the AGM which I thought I could miss. I had an invitation to join another committee but I had to decline as I'm feeling too busy already. Plus I have to be relatively free to work, when it comes, as part of my schtick is to be able to do things promptly, if necessary. P. came back after the meeting and the talk with both going well. He is re-elected to the U3A committee. We had leftover roast chook for dinner. Yum!

Trips up-to-date

At last, Singapore Airlines has confirmed our flight so we can get back to Australia from Europe. The only things remaining to be booked are the Lake District (requires more study of the Dorling Kindersley book), the operas and trains (both not open yet). The experiment of booking the whole trip without a travel agent has proven a bit more difficult than I thought, but the proof of the pudding... It now seems possible that we can meet up with Sally and Roger in Carcassone. Wonders will never cease. Now for some more tidying and filing. Yuk! but I made some progress, more tomorrow. In the evening, we had leftover soto ayam for dinner and usual Monday night teev including Q&A on theatre. I just wish one of the panel had said to Toby Schnitz (or whatever), you're an irritating pretty young man and you should just shut up.

Sunday crossword and tidying

We did the Sunday crossword this morning and very nearly finished it before 9am, but not quite. Better luck next time. Then I started one of my most hated jobs, filing and tidying. After lunch, pork pies, we had a nap then P. made his usual delicious roast chook for dinner, hampered by a recalcitrant gas stove. But it turned out well, with baby cheeses and Vera to follow. Pine Gap continues to intrigue a little though full of plot holes as is Line of Duty. I could get a job pointing out plot holes, if anyone would pay for it. Oh! that is what I do for my day job.

Papers plus even more opera

This morning the mountain of papers arrived (it is getting consistently correct, yay). We had leftover French onion soup for lunch and P. got bread and pork pies from the nearby market. We then went off to the Malthouse for the Australian Opera Metamorphosis. It was hardly a cheer-up but was quite rivetting with a good score. Sadly, unlike Otello last week, also in English, there were no surtitles. Soprano-sung English is often quite hard to decode. We met up with Margaret G. and had a glass afterwards to recover. Home for salmon dinner.

Great concert

Yesterday (Thursday) was spent mostly at home planning our November trip away. P. went into town to pay bills and shop. In the evening, we had a quick meal at Yoyogi then went to Homo Hall for a Melbourne Symphony Orchestra concert, mainly Stravinsky (Firebird complete and his Funeral Song, in honour of Rips-her-corset-off). It was conducted by Finn, Jukka-Pekka Saraste (these Finns sure have funny names). I've always thought Finland was very like Australia, a small country of no account at the edge of the world. Our main advantage is speaking English which a lot of other people do. No one else speaks Finnish. They also had a Croat, Dejan Lazic, who made a fine showing in Bartok's (easy, said the program, but it didn't sound it) piano concerto no.3. Today, P. has got U3A office duties, so I'm off to do the shopping alone (sob). However, it turned out to be fairly easy, juggling our shopping with Noel's, then delivering his to his flat, and still having time to go to the Health Centre for top-up of some pills. We had salmon cakes for lunch.

More travel plans

Late last night, I got a reply email about our car hire in the south of France. I am pleased to report they confirmed overnight that we now have an AUTOMATIC Citroen C3. It is quite hard to get an automatic car in France, I'm told, and it sure was. It was almost as if they didn't want to book a car for you. I hope it will all work. We had quiches from Parisienne Pate for lunch, as well as their coffee eclairs for dessert last night. They are worth a visit in Lygon Street, just near the University Cafe and the now-closed Lygon Street Foodstore. Their mustard is not cheap but very good. I also started planning for a few days away in late November. P. made a delicious chicken curry for dinner.

Medico plus Baroque

This morning, I headed off to see Genie the Nephrologist. My blood tests, blood pressure and breathing were all perfect just like my mother told me. Thanks Genie, see you in four months. After a quiet time at home (P. was off at a U3A regional meeting), we went to the Recital Centre for a Latitude 37 performance, minus it's main violinist down with the flu. The new program for trio rather than quartet was splendid and afterwards we had a very good meal at Blondie next door.

Quiet day with cooking

Today, I did a bit of work this morning (not much) then made French onion soup for lunch as well as marinating the leftover pork for sweet-and-sour pork for dinner, this time with pineapple rather than lychees. It all depends what's in the cupboard.

Sunday unusual

We started as normal with the giant crossword which this week had the usual one mistake (Llom instead of Blom). I got up early so we finished early but now I need a morning rest. We also watched Insiders which we don't usually, but the Phelps victory was worth recapping. Scummo was described as an 'advertising man', which is inaccurate as he failed at that. I prefer the SMH formulation as a 'door-to-door salesman'. After leftover soto ayam for lunch, we had a nap, then went on the train to Windsor and Red Stitch theatre's production of Tennessee Williams Suddenly Last Summer. It was beautifully directed and acted in a slightly mannered performance which was rivetting. Afterwards, we had a very good Armenian dinner in Chapel Street down the road.

Saturday usual

Yesterday (Saturday), P. and I picked up Franz the Corolla and did ours and Noel's shopping, delivered it to Noel, then came home for the usual salmon patties for lunch. In the evening, we had oysters followed by garlic prawns and baby cheeses while we watched Kerryn Phelps victory in Wentworth. We cracked a bottle of champagne (French) in celebration. It was a good night, but who knows how it will all pan out. But it's a good start.

Sunday too far away

This morning, P. and I went round to the library to Teresa P.'s Aussie film course with Sunday Too Far Away, which holds up very well after forty years. It was interesting to hear how the film was re-edited in the UK because they (the English investors) didn't like so much union content, so it was reduced to the minimum. Given the context, it couldn't be ignored altogether. We followed with a good lunch at Mavis around-the-corner. My scrambled eggs with chilli and crab were delicious. Home again for a nap then P. made roast pork for dinner (with crackling).

Vampires plus

This morning, I went early to the Health Centre to have Mary the Vampire do a splendid job in extracting blood before my appointment with Genie next week. Home again to unravel Memory Train which is now in train and an appointment the week after next should resolve everything. Believe that, and you'll believe anything. P. went off to have lunch with Robin S. then we had leftover soto ayam for dinner. A fairly quiet day on the whole. Meanwhile, crisis-a-day Scummo, masquerading as our prime minister, lurches from disaster to disaster.

At home plus opera

Today, P. has gone off to the Health Centre for the results of his colonoscopy while I try to find out what's happening with Memory Train. P.'s news was all good (or nearly all). I still haven't made contact with the researchers at Memory Train. We had leftovers, anchovy pasta for lunch then in the evening went to Bistrot d'Orsay for a very indulgent three-course meal. Everyone who was almost anyone was there for the opening night of Otello. The production, by Melbourne Opera, was very ably directed by Bruce Beresford. The cast were excellent with a whole brace of tenors, all in ringing voice. They could perhaps have cut the second act a bit, as it had a few longeurs and the whole lot, with intervals, took three-and-a-half hours. The whole youthful opera was exhilarating though.

Quietish day

After a very busy day yesterday, it's a quiet one today with just a few administrative things to do plus a bit of reading. P. has gone off to host the U3A Tuesday forum on ageism. He's not speaking, just organising the AV and introducing. In the evening, P. and I joined Sean W. at Noel's place for another excellent dinner. All are more or less okay, except Noel is still not sleeping well.

George P. and other things

After getting the house clean for the cleaners this morning, we went off to pick up Barnaby the Yaris outside the health centre. We went off to see George P. in Bellfield (Heidelberg) who was quite chipper and cheeky as always. We then went to an audio joint in Bell Street where P. got headphones which he wanted/needed. Then home for lunch after I dropped off Barnaby after muscling out a white van in his spot and falling foul of the dunnies in the health centre which were flooded. P. went off to learn how to be a AV tech. at a U3A meeting tomorrow. We had soto ayam for dinner then usual Monday night teev.

An adventure

This morning after a quick completion of the crossword, we headed in the train for Dandenong. It took longer than usual because track work (on the new over-the-top rail) between Caulfield and Westall (where?) meant buses were used. However, when we got there we had a very nice lunch for Julie and Ian's fortieth anniversary at Belleti's Italian. They dealt with several large parties very well. All credit to the staff and thanks to Julie and Ian for such a nice lunch with nice people. Home again on the same route. Having had a very good lunch we're just having fish soup for dinner.

Shop then Fires in the Garden

This morning the bulk papers arrived providing lots of entertainment. Before picking up Franz, I finished off Memory Train (yay!) though I am not sure the last three 'trials' actually worked correctly as they were all the same. Perhaps that's the idea. I'll check with Aimee on Tuesday. P. and I went to Victoria Gardens where I ran into Sally Morrison in the veg. in Coles (as you do). We'll drop in to see Robert soon. We dropped Noel's shopping off to his place in Hawthorn, then repaired home for salmon patties for lunch. Early in the evening, we took the bus and the tram to the Botanic Gardens for Fire in the Gardens which involved a walk around the gardens to view various fire installations. It was quite spectacular, though very crowded. It was ingenious but, strangely, didn't give credit to the creators anywhere I could see. As the food stalls and bar were very crowded on exit, we went of to Taxi in Fed. Square for a very good late dinner.

Resting day

P. was still feeling the after effects of his colonoscopy, so we didn't do the shopping today. Instead we stayed at home where I was therefore able to make progress in Memory Train and now blessedly have only one more day to do before I am finished, apart from a debrief session at the Australian Catholic University (hastily crosses himself with the wrong hand). I performed disastrously with Luminosity, at least partly because I was tired from a late night at the opera. We finished off the French onion soup for lunch then had a much-needed nap. I made anchovy pasta for dinner which was not bad, even if I say so...

Hospital for P.

This morning, P. went off to St V.s for his colonoscopy. I've stayed home doing new Memory Train and old Luminosity (badly). As well, I've done more booking for arts events next year and this. Frank has left Naples and is now in Roma, near the Colosseum. With P. snoozing off his anaesthetic, I headed off to Acland Street for a quick meal at the Grapevine Cafe (it wasn't bad) then to the Palais for Debussy's Peleas and Melisande put on by Victorian Opera. Siobhan Stagg made as good a Melisande as you'd ever get (singing and acting) and the rest of the cast was very strong. A simple production worked well and it was good to see the opera that revolutionised opera, post-Wagner.

Prep day plus filing

Today is P.'s 'prep' day for his colonoscopy tomorrow. He can only have fluids, like clear stock, all day and has various medicaments as well. Meanwhile, I am back on the LAST week of Memory Train. Yay! Only three days to go and I'm finished, apart from the debriefing at the Australian Catholic University. In fact, the six weeks have gone remarkably quickly. Telstra's agents are out the front of the house at the telecom pit but it turns out they are not fixing my phone line or installing NBN (ha!) but putting in cable for a business down the road. Lucky them, although I'll bet they paid for it. Now it's time to gird my loins and get on with some filing. If I can persuade myself that a little bit every day will get it done, or make hay while the sun shines or a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down or some rubbish like that, it might make a very tedious task easier. Of course, I got diverted as soon as I started filing by finding a book about 60s Australian pop songs so immediately had to Youtube 'Telephone to Glory' and 'My Old Man's a Groovy Old Man'. At this rate, I'll finish the filing in about three months. P. continued with his punishing regime, whereas I was able to have leftover Hainan chicken for dinner. (Incidentally, P. found that Hainan is the district in the southern part of China which 'administers' all those contested islands in the China sea.)

Off to Naples (in music)

Yesterday (Monday), I made a start on tidying and filing by cleaning the books and other detritus off the stairs. Now they are sorted and have to be filed along with masses of programs for concerts and theatre. I'll get on to that soon. We had leftovers for lunch (curry and rice and shepherd's pie) then in the early evening, P. heated up leftover chicken and veg. Off then to the Recital Centre for Van Diemen's Band performing barocca pieces from Napoli. It was a thrilling concert with a guitar quintet by Boccherini: Ritrata a highlight. Today (Tuesday), I'm making a start on the filing (sigh!). Sal came around and stayed for a French onion soup lunch. She had a look at our renovation plans and made some useful suggestions, some of which we will follow and some not. After a nap, P. made delicious Hainan chicken (David Herbert) for dinner.

Another quiet one

The crossword arrived and was done late as we both slept in. There seemed to be ANOTHER mistake in one of the questions. We had salmon patties for lunch, oysters and garlic prawns for tea. I also read a bit more of Lucashenko's Too Much Lip which is very rewarding (and funny as well).

At home

This morning, I did Memory Train (passed one, failed one) and Luminosity (lousy result, worst in ages). P. went off to the U3A American Literature. Frank left for Europe. This morning (Saturday), P. and I picked up Billy (the Corolla) after getting our pills from the Health Centre. We went off to Victoria Gardens to get Noel's and our shopping and after delivering both had a nap. P. went off to a Go-Betweens concert at the Arts Centre and I stayed home.

New book and Lakes

Yesterday (Wednesday), I started week five of Memory Train. P. went off to a Koorie U3A walk around town and Fitzroy, then had a U3A meeting. Meanwhile, Barry D. popped by for a visit and a chat. I've also got a new book for review: non-fiction this time. We had leftover curry for dinner. Today, I'll start on the new book. I've reached the end yesterday of all the booking I can do before train bookings and car-hire bookings open for April, as well as some opera bookings which are still closed. Meanwhile I can start thinking more seriously about the Lake District using the DK book which tells me far more about the Lakes than I probably need. P. has gone off to buy a new phone for Noel. Good luck! We had a quick meal of shepherd's pie (this one I made earlier) then went off to the Arts Centre for an exceptional show, My Name Is Jimi, about the Torres Strait Island of Mabuiag. It was cleverly devised to let you have a glimpse of TI culture and why it is important. Three cheers! Home for the end of Loch Ness. I guessed right. It wasn't the teacher or the doctor.

Six (not so) easy pieces

This morning, P. and I went off to the Recital Centre (again) for a Musica Viva coffee concert. It was Romanian violinist, Ioana Cristina Goicea, with Russian pianist, Andrey Gugnin. They played trios by Schubert, Debussy and Enescu expertly, then an encore by Tchaikovsky. As Ioana said, a piece by a Romanian then one by a Russian, to accommodate both of them. Home for soup lunch, then a nap then back to the Recital Centre (P. said we should set up a tent there) after a quick pit stop at Yoyogi. There the Australian String Quartet played works by Schubert, Ledger and Shostakovich. It was a great concert. Both were well curated and balanced. We are very privileged.

Still busy over not very much

It's the end of the month so it's doing the accounts time, including a quarterly Business Activity Statement for the ATO. P. went out as the cleaners are coming which they have (lickety-split). I forgot to mention that I failed my last two Memory Train Virtual Week tests (sob), so I'll have to do better when I restart on Wednesday. I am curious to see how I finish up with it in a couple of weeks. I don't think these i-pad tests are actually testing memory, but rather testing multi-tasking. I'll make that point to the researchers who will probably think 'What does he know?' This evening, P. and I joined Frank at the Park Hotel, under new management, for a quite good dinner. I had fish schnitzel which was tasty, with mashed spuds and mushy peas, but, in common with most meals these days, too big. We wished Frank goodbye on his overseas trip but, of course, we might see him tomorrow night.