Travelling songs

Appropriately enough, today's concert for the Morning Musical Masterpieces with baritone Jeremy Kleeman and pianist Stefan Cassomenos included Vaughan Williams' Travelling Song Cycle, as well as songs by Ravel and Schubert, a great concert. I said hello to 'our friend' Monica Curro beforehand. On the way, I got photocopies of our 'important' documents but the barber was shut so I had to go on the way home. A scratch lunch, then get packing. We had leftover corned beef for dinner, then got on with packing, meanwhile boggling at the revelations about One Nation apparatchickis and the NRA. An amazing confluence of Alan Jones, Mark Latham, Pauline Hanson and James Ashby. We're fleeing the country.

Nerves

I woke up for a pee around 5am this morning, then couldn't go properly to sleep as I normally would because I was thinking about my checklist of things to pack or do before going away. So I got up early, did the end-of-month accounts (a bit early so I could submit my Business Activity Statement before we leave) and my Smart Traveller registration. Now it's time to get out the clothes for packing. My night-time ruminations might prove useful. Meanwhile, P. went into town for secret phone business and some shopping. After a nap, we went up to join Frank at the Retreat Hotel at the end of the street. It has new owners, and, though the menu is standard pub food, it is of superior quality at a very reasonable price. Home again, after saying farewell to Frank, for normal Monday night teev.

Noel, lunch and packing

After finishing off the crossword with little or no fuss, P. and I bussed to the Royal Melbourne to drop in some stuff for Noel. The nurse said he would transfer to rehab. in Parkville in the next couple of days when a bed was available. We said our goodbyes before our trip in case we don't catch up before then. Home for salmon patties and leftover lentil soup for lunch, very filling. An arvo nap followed then I made not-bad corned beef with sauce for dinner, then Vera on the teev, sadly over for now, but season 8 is coming.

Shopping, brunch

We picked up Billy the Corolla and Frank the person, went to Victoria Gardens for shopping and dropped into Noel's to pick up some things to take for him in hospital. We then had a good brunch at Melvin (ex-Bluebird cafe). It is obviously meant for a very young clientele but the customers and staff are very picturesque.

Films, hospital and opera

This morning, Catherine emailed Noel's whereabouts. He has been in the Royal Melbourne since Monday after a fall after we left after dinner last Sunday. He has broken some bones in his leg. We visited him after the film course and he is likely to be in hospital another week and then in rehab for God knows how long. Before that we went to Teresa's U3A film course for Sassy Dames no.2, this time Barbara Stanwyck in Baby Face which provoked lively discussion (is it feminist or not?) which continued over lunch in the Red Bird cafe. Off to the hospital, then home again, then out to Richard Mills' lively talk on opera audiences at Horti Hall. Home again for leftover dinner and the last episode of Mad Men which kind of wrapped everything up.

More travel fun

I spent over an hour this morning fiddling with my travel card online. It took FOUR phone calls to their phone centre to sort it all out and rectify the misinformation I was given yesterday. A more opaque system you could not imagine if you tried, right down to a blue on black passcode printed on the back of the card, too small to be readable anyway. After that, I made up an address list to take with us. P. went off to lunch with Robin S. In the early evening, P. and I went off to Barre at the Arts Centre and had a good, though noisy, meal. Then to the Fairfax Theatre for Arbus and West, a play by Stephen Sewell about the meeting between the photographer and the actrine. It was beautifully performed by all three actors but the play faltered a bit in the second half. It was worth seeing though. Came home to find a message via Magabala about Noel being in hospital, but it was too late to do anything. We'll see in the morning.

Travel plans

I went into town this morning, acquired an international driver's licence from the RACV (a piece of cardboard for $39, what an earner). Then I went to the ANZ to get a travel card. The stripling who served me kept having computer freeze. This program often does this, he said, in between telling me his adventures in Argentina. It really inspires confidence. At last, I got the card, loaded up with pounds and euros then went and joined P. and Barry D. at Mario's for a good brunch. Home for a nap. Afterwards, I went into an orgy of shredding my old accounts (which contained my credit card number) and caught up with Carmel B. whom I've been playing phone pingpong with for days. She is settling in to her new flat. P. is making pork spare ribs for dinner and we now have only one more episode of Mad Men to go.

George plus Scandinavia

A few more travel things this morning (the super fund has paid in my money), then P. and I went in Franz to see George P. at Liberty House in Heidelberg. He is good, though I was shocked to find on his sign-in book that we hadn't been there since October. Guilt! He asked that when we come back from overseas that we go out to a cafe. On the way home, P. thought of Heide as a possibility. We'll have to get a wheelchair taxi which Liberty House apparently will organise. I also suggested George writes an article on living where he is with ms. He says he cannot write anymore (or key) but could record an article which I could transcribe. We had a good lunch in St George's Road on the way home, now for a nap. In the evening, P. and I went to the Recital Centre for a splendid concert of Scandinavian songs by Brenton Spiteri with pianist, Eidit Golder. We then had a quick meal at Yoyogi before coming home for more Mad Men. Nearly finished the entire series.

Much pharma

This morning, I went up to pick up the pills I ordered on Saturday, but needed to get an appointment to renew ONE scrip. This I did later in the morning, and Ruth the pharmacist produced a huge swag of pills which I now have to count to check I have enough for the trip. Meanwhile, the cleaners came and went, lickety-split and P. went off to staff the U3A office. In the evening, P. made lentil and mushroom soup for dinner (very filling) followed by baby cheeses and normal Monday night teev.

Quieter Sunday

Somewhat exhausted by all our recent cultural activities, we reluctantly decided not to go to the Gloriana concert today, in spite of interesting repertoire (one piece in Catalan). We just calmly completed the crossword and had lunch. I went off to get more shopping for Noel and P. tidied up the leftover honeysuckle vine. One of the consequences of the big cleanup is that the violets which date back long ago to Bron's little house in Ballarat have gone. I hope they'll come back. The honeysuckle will for sure. After a refreshing nap, P. and I went off to Noel's where we joined Frank, still on a high from his Gloriana concert, for a very good dinner. Noel seems okay and we brought some more shopping missed on Saturday. Home again for Vera, Hokusai and (sorry) Death in Paradise.

Busy, close to frantic (not really)

This morning P. and I joined Frank with Barnaby the Yaris and did the shopping, delivered some to Noel, then headed (just P. and I) to the Elephant and Wheelbarrow in town to have lunch with Ian and Julie. It was good to catch up. Then we headed for Minnie Ponds and the Clocktower Centre for the premiere of Alice in Wonderland, starring David Sims. It was great, except for some of the little prima donnas in the audience. After congratulating David (who was justifiably stuffed after a lot of heavy lifting), P. and I had dinner at a nearby Italian run by Indians. The food was copious and tasty. Home again.

Fixing day

This morning, Shane the computer man came and fixed the computer. It seems what might have happpened is that a few remnants of AVG on my computer might have interfered with the Microsoft upgrade process. Whatever was the cause the machine is up and running again. Grateful is not sufficient. Then, as he departed, the Richmond Gardeners arrived to prune, trim and garden. They were still at it while we had soup for lunch. After a nap, P. and I went to Horti Hall (near the Trades Hall) for a Victorian Opera talk/interview with Richard Mills on the history of the orchestra in opera. It was a revealing and absorbing talk with video and piano illustrations. We had a glass of wine to finish. Then home for fritatta and baby cheeses and more Mad Men, after Gardening Australia.

Offline, more music and David for dinner

When I switched on the computer when we got home from the concert on Wednesday night, it said it was updating and please be patient, then after a while it said it was taking longer than expected, don't switch off and then everything went blank. Next day, Thursday, I rang Shane the computer man and he said he could come on Friday morning. A Godsend. In the meantime, P. and I headed to ANAM in South Melbourne where we meet Frank for a winds and brass concert. It was a quirky one with works by Richard Strauss, Brett Dean and Joachim Raff. The two really quirky ones were by Berio and Globokar, with passing around wind instruments (a bit unhygienic I thought) and poking the oboe in the clarinet which had a flute poked in it (a bit erotic for mine). It was an excellent concert and P. and I had a good lunch at a nearby cafe, then headed to town to do money business before the trip. I had to defer my driver's licence as the RACV was very busy. I also visited my super fund to withdraw some dough for the same reason. In the evening, David S. came for dinner (soto) and to pick up his 'landlord's' reference. More Mad Men followed. It is getting madder by the minute.

Progress

This morning, I made some small progress on the non-fiction book towards finding a publisher and sent a report on the new (long) chapter on the memoir back to the author. P. went off to a U3A committee meeting. In the evening, after a nap, P. and I went to Parkville where we had a very good meal at the (new improved) Naughton's Hotel. It was very busy. Then we crossed the road to Trinity College Chapel where Van Diemen's Band put on a great concert with guests Hana Blazikova (a brilliant Czech soprano) and Bruce Dickey, cornetto expert. It was an amazing concert.

Feeling better

This morning, I replied on the non-fiction book and generally tidied up. P. went off to a U3A talk on China which he said was very good and we had avocado dip for lunch. In the evening, we joined Frank for a good, quick meal at Yoyogi then went to our old mate the Recital Centre for an excellent concert by the English group The Sixteen doing works by Tallis, Byrd, Gibbons, Tippett and Britten among others. It was good but a bit stiff. When doing Tippett's spirituals they might have relaxed a bit and why the white ties for the men?

Moomba

We're doing our best to ignore Moomba. I'm still not well so slept for most of the morning and afternoon, though still managed to finish the non-fiction book which I'll respond to tomorrow. Canned soup for lunch plus leftover smoked salmon, the last from Lilydale, and I finished off the main component of soto using some of the smoked chook from there. Only the fried potato and boiled eggs to go to make up the soto ayam for dinner.

Ill

Still not feeling too good but managed (with P.) to complete the crossword, then back to bed till lunch when we cleared the fridge of pastrami, ham and smoked salmon (nearly) now back to bed. In the early arvo., P. and I went to the Convent to see a Q44 play, Unsolicited Male, about a boss fucking a subordinate, or it looked more like raping. It was very well acted and very moving by Ron Elisha. Home again for Vera and leftovers.

Doctors and post office

Yesterday (Friday), when P. picked up the pills and told Ruth the pharmacist that I was crook, she recommended seeing a doctor, because of my immunosuppression. This morning, I rang up first thing and there was an almost immediate vacancy so I toddled off to Hoddle Street to see Dr Warren who said I have a fever (I knew that) and he gave me antibiotics. We'll see. I also went to the post office to collect a missed parcel. I'd completely forgotten that I'd ordered Helen Thomas' new book about the Easey Street murders, but there it was. Home again for a rest. In the end, I slept for nearly four hours and feel a bit better. Now it's oysters for dinner, then leftover chicken and vegies. Nothing on the teev tonight, so there's time for lot of Mad Men. Those ad people seem like part of the family now.

Shopping and so on

P. and I picked up Billy the Corolla and dropped our keys over to Danny the architect for when we are away. Then we went to Victoria Gardens for our and Noel's shopping, dropped it over to Noel's then picked up some pills from the Health Centre. Home for salmon patties for lunch then a very short nap after all that activity. In the early arvo, we went off to South Melbourne to have a final dinner at Salon de Sushi. It was very satisfying but sad to know they are closing. Thence to ANAM for works (winds and brass mainly) coordinated by Stefan Dohr of the Berlin Philharmonic. There were bookended works by Roussel (a mate of Ravel), Stravinsky, Zimmermann and Hindemith. It was a wonderful concert, though my cold/flu meant I didn't feel too good and I had to stay as far away from people as I could.

More bits

I started work on the non-fiction/memoir new chapter which is very long (46 pages). P. went off for lunch with the S. sisters. After a nap, P. made beef satay for dinner then we watched secrets of Henry VIII and Rolls Royce followed by more Mad Men. We should be able to finish the series before going o/s.

Bits and pieces

I sent off a blurb as requested for the fiction book I worked on late last year and sent the report on the large non-fiction book new chapters which I received over the weekend. Then a bit of administrative trivia (shopping, GoGet account) then back to the diary recording. It's slower than I thought but absorbing. We had smoked meats (some of which we bought in Lilydale on the way back from Healesville) for lunch. The man who does the smoking sure knows his onions. P. made his usually great roast chicken for dinner tonight then we watched Australia in Colour (for the first time!!!), more Mad Men plus a replay of Four Corners gets George Pell.

Tarrawarra

We picked up Billy the Corolla this morning but sadly Noel couldn't join us as he was not well. We'll have to do another excursion soon. Off to Tarrawarra to an intriguing combined exhibition of Patricia Piccinini and Joy Hester under the general rubric of 'Love'. Well, it didn't make a lot of sense but the exhibition was absorbing and interesting. We had a delicious lunch afterwards at the new Innocent Bystander in Healesville. Home again for a short nap then P. made beef satays for dinner.

The non-fiction book and contemporary music

Two new chapters of the non-fiction book came after I told the author I'd be away in April and gave a gentle boot up the bum. They are of the same high standard of accuracy but still a bit lifeless. I also started a rather large project of digitising the major dates in my diaries. Apart from the fact that I have needed to do this for years, it will also help unearth any relevant dates about Sasha for his biographer. After a nap, P. and I went for a cheap-and-cheerful at Yoyogi thence to the Recital Centre for Plexus again, this time with a two-hour feast of new music from composers all unknown to us, finishing with a rousing piece about the prison riot at Attica jail in NY. It was great stuff. It is hard to come down from a concert as good and intense as this. Late to bed.

Musical three days

The Sunday crossword was despatched quickly and without any errors this time (that I could find). More holiday tidying followed, this time including some details of Sally and Roger's travels especially where we intersect: in Hong Kong and Carcassone. In the arvo, off to the Recital Centre for the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra which gave a stirring rendition of Tchaikovsky's violin concerto in D major with Andrew Haveron (borrowed from the SSO), plus a rescored movement from his string quartet no 1 and Mozart's symphony no. 41. A very enjoyable concert. Home then for beer-battered fish plus Vera (the detective not the bolognese) and a smallish dose of Muddy Gras.

Shopping and galah concert

This morning, we picked up Billy the Corolla but not Frank the person and did the Victoria Gardens shop and delivered Noel's shopping to him, a miserable amount this week. We had salmon patties for lunch then a nap. We went off to Salon de Sushi for a good meal (P. and I) then met Frank and Peter R. at ANAM for their opening concert of the year after only five days of rehearsals. It was pretty impressive, encompassing brass, percussion, pianos and full orchestra. A very varied and ususual repertoire including Richard Strauss, Wagner, Fitkin, Saint-Saens, Grainger, Bloch, Ernescu and Glinka. Peter R. kindly gave us a lift home.

End of month

Today I printed off the bank statements for the end-of-month accounts, already! I don't know why I get such a sense of achievement when I finish the end-of-month accounts and Business Activity statements as they are so easy, but I do. P. went off to American Literature while I made leek-and-potato soup (overdue). Around lunchtime, I picked up Lowri the Kia hoping it would be big enough to fit David's stuff. P. came home from his discussion class and we packed the car although the painting was too big to fit. We picked up David from the Pentridge dance studio (I kid you not) and delivered him to his new flat and flatmate in Reservoir/Regent (off Spring Street). Home again through fearsome traffic then leftovers and leek-and-potato soup for dinner.