Pills and quiet new year's eve

On this last day of the year, I went up to the Health Centre to collect pills, the last in my safety net freebies. Home again for some housekeeping, tidying etc. preparatory to Nick and Mark's arrival on Friday. We had leftover prawn and pea curry with dahl for lunch, then a nap. We had leftover polpette for dinner followed by baby cheeses and bubbly. We also watched a bit of the doco. on Freddie Mercury which was an odd NY Eve choice from SBS then watched the magnificent Imitation of Life from Douglas Sirk on DVD. I think we might not last till the New Year because seeing fireworks seems vaguely disrespectful but we did and watched the Melbourne fireworks from upstairs, same old, same old.

Morning walk, movie then at home

I got up at my normal time this morning and went for a short walk through the Convent before it got too hot. I did a little on the big novel, then P. and I went up to the Nova in Carlton to the aircon and Almodova's Pain and Glory. I enjoyed the film though it used a few tricksy devices like being about old age then using three of the handsomest actors he could find! Not to mention Penelope Cruz as the idealised young mother. Never mind! It was fun, if deceptive. As Carlton was too full for lunch, we brunched at Addict, then home for a nap. We had the gaspacho that P. made yesterday for dinner, very good for a hot day before the change, then moderately interesting teev including Backroads in backblocks Queensland and NZ travelogue, finishing with Benjamin Law on his family's relationship with China.

Crossword plus reading and work

This morning we finished the Sunday crossword earlier than ever, I started a new regime of having a daily walk then I settled in for a bit of work on the big novel. We had quiches for lunch, then I had a nap. P. has been making gaspacho for the hot day tomorrow. And now, during the umpteenth re-run of The Cook and the Chef, from the ABC things-that-are-free cupboard, he's making polpette for dinner. He'll be able to catch up on his nap during tonight's new Midsomer Murders. After that, we watched Fritz Lang's Scarlett Street on DVD, which was a thrilling triumph, starring Joan Bennett and Edward G. Robinson, with great sinister support from Dan Duryea.

Busy day then quiet weekend

Yesterday (Friday), P. and I picked up Harriet the Corolla and Frank the person and shopped at Victoria Gardens, then delivered Noel's shopping, dropped all of ours and Frank's at home then had a good brunch at Addict (too much for me). After a short nap for me (P. went off to buy cakies), Roger and Sally dropped in for arvo tea and gave some advice on the new bathroom, proposed. Then P. and I went into town for dinner at the Barre speakeasy. Guess who we met up with: Cathy Lowy again. We can't keep meeting like this. She was off to Songs for Nobodies while we went to Chicago. I'm full of admiration for the cast and orchestra. I can't imagine how they do it twice, two days a week, but the end result is almost meaningless, like performing seals, full of talent but signifying very little beyond skill. Home again for a goodnight drink. The rest of the weekend is much more laid back with nothing much on at all beyond eating and drinking. Even the weekend papers are a bit thin. We had salmon patties for lunch, then a nap. I'm making new prawn and pea curry for dinner with leftover dahl. P. has made peach melba for dessert. We'll be watching old Veras on the teev, then probably some film noir on DVDs rather than endless reruns of Call the Midwife or maybe some i-voo.

A quiet Boxing Day as well

I stayed at home all day today except for a brief foray to get the Thursday Age (for the Green Guide) and some naan to go with P.'s dahl curry for dinner which was very nice with some Indian condiments. I managed a small amount of reading for a report on a new novel (another one) and we had leftover fritatta for lunch. Again, I had an all vego day, not by design. Otherwise it was very lazy though fortunately tonight's not-so-Christmassy teev was not bad. Later in the night, the absurdity of Midwives reached new heights. Miriam Margolyes is the new boss nun, Mildred. Shades of Funny Girl's 'Would a convent take a Jewish girl?'.

Christmas Day, a very quiet one

P. and I exchanged presents this morning: books, surprise, surprise, and I gave him some chokkies. What was interesting was that Frank and I gave him very similar books. Great minds. We then settled into a warmish but very quiet day, starting to read our new books. I also had the very unChristmassy thought as Phil the Greek was released from hospital and his 'pre-existing condition'. Perhaps that condition is being married to Betty Battenberg? Kit thought it might be foot in mouth disease but perhaps both? It is very quiet in Abbotsford as everyone seems to have escaped elsewhere. Defying Christmas dinner, we had tinned minestrone for lunch. After a nap, I made rosemary and onion fritatta for dinner, then fairly indifferent teev. But we have had a totally vegetarian Christmas Day, quite unintentionally.

Good lunch

I did some tidying up this morning and sent some emails and made some phone calls, some of which worked and most which didn't. We'll see after Christmas. Then David S. rang to say he would miss lunch but come late this arvo. P. and I went to the Farm Cafe anyway and had a very good lunch on this sunny day which is not too hot. Home again for a nap. P. made delicious roast pork for dinner and David arrived by bike. He has to work a long shift tomorrow (Christmas Day) so it was good to catch up. His jobs are going well enough though his dancing is on hold a bit pending the fate of his new company. We'll see him again next week when Nick and Mark arrive. He cycled off into the gloaming and we retired to not very good teev.

Work, cleaners and Pope Joan

I did a fair bit of work on the big novel today and got to the end of this pass. I still have to go back again and check for flab. The cleaners came for their Christmas visit, lickety-split. We had soup for lunch and a nap (what's new?) then went into town to join Julie and Ian for European Christmas at Pope Joan. We had a good meal and mag then home again. The meal was good but not as good as others we have had at Pope Joan. Guess who was next to us before going to the movies: Cathy Lowy.

Crossword plus quick trip

After starting on the crossword, I made a quick trip into town for some last-minute Christmas shopping. While I was away, P. finished the crossword for all but two clues which I finished, lickety-split, on return after a successful expedition. We had soup for lunch and then P. went off on his expedition for last-minute shopping. I've also done a bit on the big novel, but not enough yet. Now for a quick nap. After a bit more on the novel, P. and I toddled round to Frank's place for homemade pizzas, delicious, then chokkies, and, of course, Midsomer Soporific Murders. Home again for the demise of King Harold of 1066 fame.

At home

After the usual Saturday deluge of papers, I settled into the big novel and got to the end on this pass. Now I have to go back to the start for some judicious pruning. I really like the novel but it does slow down and drag in a few places. We had soup for lunch, then a nap. We're having oysters and garlic prawns for dinner then part three of The Godfather. I know, I know, but I'm a plot junkie and I have to see what happens and as compensation we started the night with a rerun of Vera for some real drama.

Hot shop plus good dinner

We got under way quickly this morning (after I did a bit of work on the big novel). We picked up Harriet the Corolla but not Frank and went to Victoria Gardens, then delivered Noel's shopping and Chrissie/birthday prezzie. Home again before it got too hot and had salmon patties for lunch, then a nap. We then joind Lesley P. for a great dinner and catchup at Daughter-in-Law in Little Bourke. We had very good food and a good mag. Home again for Friday night teev including Endeavour.

Novel plus specs for P.

I did lots today on the big novel. It should be over this phase soon. P. went off to have his eyes tested. After a nap for both of us, P. made a pork curry for dinner which was again yummy and spicy. Teev is not very good tonight (very schmaltzy, Midwives etc.) so I did other things.

More novel then the burbs

An early start this morning led to lots of work on the big novel. I am now about two-thirds through on the first pass. Then P. and I got Harriet the Corolla and went to Sunbury for lunch with Robin and Elaine S. Their new sunny and spacious flat is looking very good, some three months after moving in. It was a good lunch at a quasi-Italian joint, made a bit easier by going with Harriet rather than the train on such a hot day. Home again in time for a nap, then P. made duck curry for dinner which was delicious and delightfully hot. Then some Christmas teev, some good, Hard Quiz and Charlie Pickering (so so) and some English stuff, appalling. Who said I was prejudiced?

Novel halfway

This morning I worked very hard and got halfway through the big novel. P. and I had leftover fried rice for lunch, then a nap. I made salmon fillets for dinner, then rather indifferent teev.

Into town then drugs

This morning I went into town to do some banking and get Haigh's chokkies for a few people. It all happened lickety-split then I got to the Health Centre to get some pills and had a long wait because pharmacist Ruth was on her Pat Malone and the joint was quite busy. Home in time for prawn bisque for lunch, then a nap. No work today so far, sadly. However, I did my civic duty and went to a meeting with our local councillor, Steve Jolly, but it was mainly about a parking issue in surrounding streets. Not owning a car, it was a bit irrelevant, though I did ask a couple of unrelated questions about carsharing and infrastructure contribution by developers. I'll get back to him on that, as both issues are a bit complicated. I didn't get to mention the hopeless planning department. Home again, where P. had made delicious fried rice, a version of nasi goreng. We settled in for tourism teev now that the ABC holiday period has started.

Crossword and gangsters

The crossword was despatched a little later than usual after a bit of a sleep-in, then I did a bit more on the big novel, then salmon patties for lunch. There was a doco on RN about Nancy Pelosi in which the Democratic machine sounded very much like The Godfather last night without the machine guns but 'bang-bang you're dead' just the same. Time for a nap. Then P. and I went to our nearby Convent for a Corelli extravaganza. All 12 of his Concerti Grossi with a break for dinner in between. When are two many Corelli Concerti too much? Well, not really. With wine available for purchase and cheese on offer and Genesis Baroque in very good form it was most enjoyable. And where else can you walk home after too much Corelli to have more baby cheeses at home with Midsomer Murders. What bliss! Afterwards, docos on English history (King Harold, Bayeux Tapestry, we've seen you) and Mary Beard. What could be more perfect?

Shopping plus double Noel

After the deluge of Saturday papers, P. and I collected Harriet the Corolla (without babyseat) and shopped at Victoria Gardens after collecting a parcel at the post office and buying coffee beans. We delivered Noel's shopping then I went to Carlton to buy much-needed new runners. Now for a nap. Then Frank joined us for dinner chez Noel. It was delicious and we had a good mag. Home for part two of The Godfather.

Work and work

This morning I worked on the big novel while P. went off to The African Queen at the film course. After naps, he made a delicious cheese souffle for dinner followed by Endeavour on the teev. Earlyish night, preparatory to shopping tomorrow.

Books, building and Barbara of Seville

I sent off the 'novella' this morning and got a thankful reply from the author, then started on the big novel which will prove challenging in both length and content. Then Danny the architect turned up for a talk about down-scaling the renovations to include the bathroom only plus a few bits of fixings-up. We had a good chat and he's gone off to do some more drawings. P. went off to do Noel's banking and I had a nap after a snack lunch. We met Frank in town for a good meal at Superhiro (ex-Yoyogi) thence to the Recital Centre for a joyous Barber of Seville, conducted ably by Richard Mills with a very even cast who sang and acted very well. It was a delight.

A not very busy day

This morning, more on NZ, now very nearly finished on the bare bones, though the detail needs finishing. At least we've now got somewhere to lay our heads and get from point to point. Then a bit on the 'novella'. P. went off to the U3A committee meeting clutching his mountain of papers. After naps, I made anchovy pasta for dinner which wasn't bad, then we reviewed the last episode of Years and Years which was worth doing. Otherwise the ABC was running fatuous quiz shows.

Lotsa work, U3a and Ensemble Three

Yesterday (Monday) I got lots of work done. I sent this stage of the biography (2) back to the author and sent the poetry anthology back to the author. Still the novel and the 'novella' to go. After the cleaners came, P. and I had soup for lunch, then P. did roast chook for dinner followed by usual Monday night teev which is closing up for the long ABC summer. This morning, P. made lotsa sangos for the U3A Christmas breakup and quiz while I did a bit more NZ planning. We then went to the library where quizmaster Wenday did a superb job showing sites in the City of Yarra and we had to answer questions about them. Our group came second, mainly because we scored zero on churches and full marks on pubs and nearly full on rotundae. Home to do more on NZ while P. had a nap, then we went to the Recital Centre for more weird but rewarding music by Ensemble Three, the unusual combo of trumpet, trombone and guitar. It worked better than four guitars with electronic help to increase the sound frame with all new works from 2019. A bracing concert but good. Thence to Trotters for a good meal then home for more work on NZ, now almost completed.

Action packed

This morning, we finished the Sunday crossword earlier than ever, then, after a bit of organising for our NZ holiday, P. and I went into town to have lunch at the Elephant and Wheelbarrow with Julie and Ian. We had a good lunch and mag, then went to the NGV International for coffee and cake at the Tea Rooms. Thence to Homo Hall for Colin Davis' arrangement of The Messiah. He gave it away when he said that Eugene Goosens' version verged on the vulgar. Nuff said. But it was enjoyable, sleigh bells, marimbas and all. The soloists were good including Siobhan Stagg and refugees from Hansel and Gretel a few days ago. The two women had to try to conceal their mirth when almost the entire audience stood up for the H. chorus. Some treated it as if it were 'Sing Along With Mitch'. Home again for soup and salmon patties and (shock, horror) new Midsomer Murders. Is it possible? It was and the usual soporifics apply.

At home then shopping

A fairly boring couple of days for me. P. went off yesterday (Friday) to American Literature for the poetry session. I stayed home and did some work on the poetry then in the evening made not very inspired or inspiring snags from the freezer which were tasteless with tough skins. I used up old roast vegies and fresh peas. Very uninspiring teev as well. This morning (Saturday), we tried out the new GoGet car (Harriet the Corolla) from round the corner in Trenerry Crescent. Now we have two cars available there, Harriet and Davo (from Flexicar) both Corollas. I've booked flights to NZ (Te Waipounamu) for next year. Now I have to fill in the gaps with another Kiwi Corolla among other things. We shopped with Harriet but not Frank, then dropped Noel's shopping off and had a bit of a mag. We went home for leftover soto for lunch. It's now finished. Tonight, we're off to the Torres Strait for their fish curry and rice which turned out to be less than delightful, probably because of my modifications, but The Godfather part I to follow was worth watching.

Busy working and Castlemaine

On Wednesday (yesterday), I spent a bit of time on the biography and the Chinese poetry. I took a break and P. did some preparation of his material for American Lit., then we had a nap. We went off to Yoyogi (SuperHiro) for a good meal thence to the Recital Centre for an excellent concert with the ACO collective (the young ones mentored by older players). It was an entire program of modern works, some world premieres including a concerto for violin and strings by Nico Muhly with soloist Pekko Kuusisto. Today (Thursday), we joined Frank at the Collingwood Station and headed for Castlemaine. There we were met by David G. and went to Fig for lunch where we were joined by Ann de H. After a good lunch, David took us to Lot 19 gallery where we looked at his exhibition and then caught the train back to Melbourne. I made leftover frozen soto for dinner.

Steady as she goes

I sent novel number 1 back to the publisher and got a response this arvo late. We'll see! Also did some work on the biography though not enough. P. went off to the U3A talk of the month. In the evening, we had delicious leftover lasagne for dinner followed by a surprisingly good Micahel Moore movie, Who Next to Invade.

Monday tidy

As usual. it takes a long time to get organised on Mondays but at least I made some progress on several fronts like the novel, the biography and some personal matters. P. has gone off to do some shopping for Noel, thence to the U3A office. I've enrolled for Teresa's film course again. After a nap, P. and I went to the Recital Centre for Latitude 37's tribute to Correli no 3. It was superb, followed by a good dinner chez Tiamo. Then home for Q&A, a good one about the South Pacific.

Crossword and accounts, very boring

It took a while to do the Sunday crossword mainly because of a fiendish clue about a Peruvian village. When I finally found it, it was a dump but in a very picturesque location. Then I did the end of month accounts which didn't take long at all. November was a fairly quiet month except for concert and theatre activity. We had lentil soup for lunch then a nap. P. made delicious lasagne for dinner followed by a good doco. on Margaret Attwood.