Biography and concert

I hurkle-durkled a bit this morning, so after the usual tasks, I was late to the big biography but should finish this stage tomorrow. My ordered books by an Indonesian gay man arrived from Giramondo. P. went off to get the paper and sangos for lunch. Then we went to Blondie on the chance of getting an outdoor table, and we did, and had a pleasant meal and several drinks before seeing Robyn Archer (after three Covid deferrals) in Mother Archer's Songs for Hard Times. It was a splendid performance. Home for news and bed.

Busy shopping

After picking up Rupert, we went for coffee beans. Jasper's has been sold and the new owners are putting up prices but not by much. Ours might go up 50 cents a kilo. Then to the bank to get Noel some cash, and then for shopping at Victoria Gardens, then to the pharmacy for Noel's medicaments. We dropped Noel's shopping to him and told him about our Bourke trip. He says he can manage. Home again for lunch: chicken sangos from the leftover chook that keeps on giving. Then a nap. We had sardine fillets and prawn bisque for dinner, then Hard Quiz, Micallef, then The Responder (which seems a bit drawn out), then news, then bed.

BIG biography and Bourke

I did some more on the Bourke trip this morning, then made good progress on the BIG biography. Unfortunately I don't think I can finish it before we go to Bourke but I might get half of it checked and proofed. We had laksa for lunch and Ian the gardener arrived. Now for a nap. As I emerged from the nap, Ian was still going weeding the backyard having done the frontyard earlier. P. is preparing leftover roast chook for dinner.

BIG biography and much activity

After the usual computer routines (Luminosity etc.), I got onto the BIG biography and am making good progress. The cleaners came, lickety-split and P. went off and got sangos for lunch. We got a wine delivery (minus one case, still pending) and Ian the gardener came to inspect the weeds. He returns tomorrow. Naptime. P. cooked a good chook for dinner, then it was Scottish wildlife and normal Monday night teev. As usual Stan Grant's China program is splendid. We should havee more similar things instead of Boris Johnson (why so many grabs of him?).

Crossword, biography and a movie

We finished the crossword lickety-split then I did a chapter of the biography. We had bacon and eggs for lunch and are now off to ACMI for the second of our Australian Gothic films, The Hunter. It had its faults but was very absorbing starring William Dafoe, Sam Neill and Frances O'Connor, with beautiful Tasmanian landscapes. Then we went for a quick bite at Chocolate Buddha which is getting impossibly popular, then home for Troppo and Killing Eve, then news.

Big novel off and dinner and a show

This morning I finished the BIG novel and sent it to the author. P. went to Noel's to deliver his clean sheet and collect a cheque (for the bank). After a nap, we joined Frank at Superhiro for a good meal (delivered by robot!). Then we went (rather early) to the Arts Centre Playhouse for Dead End, a rarely seen Brecht/Weill play/musical/opera. It was part funded by the NY Weill Foundation. It is fairly obvious why it is rarely seen, but it was good to have the opportunity to see it. Home again for news and then bed.

Bit of big novel

Because of a bit of a hurkle-durkle this morning, I only got to a bit of the BIG novel but I did lots of other organising. We had cheesy tomato soup for lunch, and now for a nap. I reheated the slightly mangled rakott for dinner with steamed spinach. We watched the usual Gardening, then pulled ourselves through Teacher (I have to know what happens), then we i-vooed tomorrow night's Unforgotten (whch we'll miss because of being at the VO) which was very good and intriguing.

Novel, tickets and TWO concerts

I spent a bit of time today sorting tickets for Bourke and the opera, then got onto the BIG novel again. I should finish it tomorrow, I hope, or at least over the weekend. Meanwhile, P. went off to get the paper and sangos for lunch. Now for a short nap before tonight's marathon. We went to Blondie at the Recital Centre on spec (we couldn't book). and had a quick snack meal before a Syzygy concert which had FOUR world premieres. Then we moved from the PP salon to the Murdoch for the MSO led by Sophie Rowell in a Bach and Beamish concert with soloist James Crabb on classical piano accordion (!). What was interesting through both concerts was the impression that contemporary composers are becoming more melodic, perhaps in line with the more conservative tenor of the times. We exited the concert to eat our pizza (ordered beforehand) and drink a wine as the musos gathered outside for a drink. Home again for news and bed.

Usual shopping (almost)

We were late with the shopping today because we picked up pills from the Health Centre and wine from the post office, where the friendly staff wheeled the two boxes out to the car for us ('We know you,' the man said.) We did our shopping at the mall, delivered Noel's to him, then it was back to the salmon patties. Now for a brief nap. We had oysters then sardine fillets for dinner. We then watched usual Wednesday night teev (Hard Quiz, Micalef) and the last episode of L'Opera, almost satisfying, then part of The Responder, improving. Then news then bed.

Novel and lunch

After a bit of work on the BIG novel, P. and I joined my sister Julie and Ian at the Elephant and Wheelbarrow where we had lunch and a catchup. P. left early to meet up with the wasp catcher and I followed later for a quick nap. I made rakott krumpli for dinner then we watched Ukraine, Portillo, Dogs, then Malta. What a pot pourri! Then news, including the marvellous Point, then bed. Next morning, P. discovered in the washing up that I had used yoghourt in the krumpli rather than sour cream. It tasted okay (I thought) though it was a bit runnier.

Back to the novel

I hurkle-durkled a bit this morning, so was late getting to the big novel after the routine morning tasks. P. went up to Smurf Street for a haircut and some shopping. He brought back sangos for lunch. Now for a short nap. We then went to the Recital Centre for a splendid concert by quartet Quartz of works by Dvorak and Schubert. Wonderfully controlled. Then a good meal at Superhiro, then home for Media Watch, and ABC news.

Crossword then BIG novel

The crossword was despatched easily then I went back to the Big Novel after a few checks on the Bourke trip.. We had vegie soup for lunch, and no nap, because we're off to the Convent for an ANAM concert of contemporary composers plus a rerun of Bocherini's symphony with Timo-Veikko Valve. It was a great concert with in addition music by composers Jessie Montgomery (US), Melody Eotvos (Melbourne) and Andrea Tarrodi (Sweden). Everyone concerned seemed to enjoy themselves. We certainly did. Home again (round the corner) for leftovers. Then we watched NZ mad houses, Troppo to catch up, Killing Eve (?). then L'Opera, second last episode.

Papers plus BIG novel

After perusing the papers, I went on with cutting the BIG novel which now doesn't need 40,000 words cut as it has a new publisher. However, having started I will persist and cut any redundancies which will be a lot fewer.I'm now about halfway through. We had cheesy tomato soup for lunch and now a nap. P. made mushroom stroganoff for dinner then we watched Death in Paradise, new Forgotten, then Troppo re-run which we hadn't seen before.

Film course then lunch

P. and I went off to the Old Colonists (Rushall Crescent) for Teresa P.'s film course. After a few technical difficulties were overcome, we watched Dreyer's Joan of Arc, a rivetting silent film. After a brief discussion, P. and I headed for the nearby Terminus Hotel where we had a quick lunch. Home again for a nap. We had leftover pea-and-fish curry for dinner followed by gardening, Teacher (a bit paint by numbers), then on-demand two more episodes of L'Ópera which were gripping.

Exit David and concert

This morning David went off to his new home, with any luck, and P. and I went off to the Recital Centre to hear ANAM perform in Mostly Mozart, pieces by Mozart and Boccherini, directed by ACO cellist Timo-Veikko Valve. It was an uplifting concert which altered my mood considerably upwards. We then went to Milk the Cow in Carlton and tried a cheese and wine platter with two pates. Now for a quick nap. P. made a lamb casserole for dinner then Q&A, and an I-voo of Troppo then bed.

Shopping as usual

Shopping this week was with Rupert who thankfully is back in his pod. We delivered Noel's shopping. He seems a bit better. Home again and it's back to salmon patties again. And now for a nap. I made pea and fish curry for dinner.

The endorsement is over (I hope)

David went off to work this morning (yesterday was a holiday, Labour Day/Moomba). I went on and finished the endorsement for the novel. I hope it's okay. The author is 100 and could die at any moment like her heroine in the novel. P. went off for lunch with Margaret Noonan. After a nap, we went to the Arts Centre for a so-so meal at Barre, but then to the Fairfax Studio for a superb production of a new version of Yentl. I'd go and see Evelyn Krape read the phone book, but in this she was brilliant with a good cast and an absorbing drama. I'd like to say that we were the only goys and gays in the audience, but I doubt that we were. Home again for news and bed.

Busy time

Yesterday (Sunday), we despatched the crossword quickly, then Sally dropped in for a good mag. We had quiches for lunch, then a short nap. P. made fozen vera bolognese for dinner and David S. turned up to stay for a few days. We had a good mag over dinner then watched Eve, news and bed. Today, I've gone on with the novel (which I have to do an endorsement for). David has gone off for a bike ride and the cleaners came (lickety-split) and P. went off for a walk. After a nap, P. made a chicken casserole for dinner, then we did the usual Monday night (4Corners, Media Watch, China) then news then bed.

Papers and a movie

After perusing the papers, there was a bit of tidying up to do after our Shepparton trip. We had salmon patties for lunch then a brief nap, then into town for our free screening (as members) at ACMI of Red Hill, a very good outback noir film I'd missed before. We then had an excellent meal at Hero next door (Karen Martini's joint) and went home for the last episode of All Creatures (this series, yawn), then caught up on two more episodes of L'Ópera, not bad but a bit black and white so to speak, then news then bed.

Shepparton

We were up early on Monday to pick up Rupert and head to Shepparton. We paused at Tahbilk to have a very pleasant lunch overlooking their wetlands. The food and service were good. On to Shepparton and our hotel/motel the Carrington which didn't quite match its description (the rooms didn't overlook the lake for instance) but was comfortable enough for our three night's stay. We rested with local fish'n'çhips for dinner. Next morning we went to the very informative Information Centre (including info. on local barbers and wetlands) then we headed for the rather brutalist new art gallery, after a very filling breakfast. The Lin Onus exhibition was excellent as was their 'permanent' collection and other bibs and bobs. The cafe was closed till Wednesday so we went to the motor museum which was interesting though hardly very informative. We had an equally filling lunch at the Milestone cafe nextdoor. Then we went to the Secret Shepparton history museum which, in common with many country museums was really a repository of disorderly junk. As well, they had a less than inspiring exhibit of dunnies. We had dinner at the hotel which was also less than inspiring. On Wednesday we headed for the Australian Botanic Gardens, a revitalised tip turned into wetlands and a variety of habitats. It is a wonderful idea and a very pleasant place to view birds. We then drove to Tatura to another wetlands at Cussen Park. I took in the view while P. went for a walk and saw lots of birds and a swamp wallaby. After a bakery lunch and an excellent pie, we went to the Tatura Museum which has a good video and display about the internees and POWs housed in the area during WW2. The local history display lacked a bit of context. We went back to the motel for a nap, then had a fairly indifferent meal at the nearby Parklake Hotel. Shepparton is not a culinary destination when the best things we had to eat were fish'n'çhips and pies. On Thursday, we said goodbye to Shep. and headed for Broadford, where we caught up with cousin Wendy and had a good mag over a cafe lunch. Home again for takeaway Vietnamese and the final of Hidden Assets. On Friday, we rejoined Rupert for the shopping, delivered Noel's, and then had lunch at Dr Morse with Barry D. and another good mag. Home for a quick nap, then fish chowder for dinner, followed by Gardening and a new series Teacher, which looks a bit paint-by-numbers, then news then bed.

Crossword and tidying

The crossword this week had a tiny glitch (islet). Then I spent the morning tidying while P. took Noel's washing off to Hawthorn. When P. came back we headed to the Recital Centre for the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra headed by Zoe Black and Stefan Cassemenos, who did Viennese pieces by Haydn, Mozart and others plus a three-minute piano concerto by Stefan himself (zippy eh?). It was a joyous concert going aways to repair the departure of William Hennessy. Home again for leftover chili con carne and P. made guacamole to accompany. I have started packing, then we watched Troppo, Killing Eve (getting very silly), then distressing news then bed.

Papers and the usual

After a quickish peruse of the papers, I went on with the biggies, now about a quarter through each, though they'll have a hiatus during our trip to Shepparton which both authors are more or less happy with. I was intrigued to read that Merkel told Obama that Putin was mad. Poor thing: she had to deal with two two-year-olds, like some kind of preschool teacher, Putin and Trump. Perhaps Vlad the Impaler waited until Auntie Angela had gone before he invaded Ukraine. We had sangos for lunch now for a nap P. made leftover roast pork for dinner, then we watched some Muddy Gras until we got bored, then watched the excellent L'Öpera on SBS on demand on the recommendation of Keren L..

A very quiet day

P. went off to the U3A American Literature class while I unashamedly just relaxed with the house to myself, a rare thing in these Covid days though often P. and I spend whole days hardly seeing each other because of the layout of the house. P.'s class went moderately well, and he's now making roast pork for dinner, followed by Gardening Australia and Van der Valk (last episode). Then it was news and cooking shows, then bed.

The usual

After a short hurkle-durkle, I got back to the BIG biog. and the BIG novel but didn't get very far as I was distracted by other internet demands. We had minestrone for lunch and P. got on with his U3A novel. After a nap, I made chicken kyiv in 'honour' of the fighters. Then we walked through Yorkshire, Q&A, then news then bed.

Shopping

I picked up Merly from near the station and P. and I went to Victoria Gardens did the shopping and delivered Noel's to him. Home again for cheesy tomato soup for lunch (no salmon patties this week!). Now for a short nap. I made panfried sardines for entree and P. made chili con carne for mains. Then it was Wednesday night usual (Hard Quiz, Mad as Hell) before Hidden Assets, a hidden gem, then more bad news of floods and Ukraine.

End of month, lunch and concert

As it was the end-of-month, I started the day on accounts and finished the monthly accounts and this month's BAS. Then we picked up Manon and Jane N. and had a very good lunch and mag at the Indonesian near Queensberry Street. We returned Manon and had a nap. We then went to the Recital Centre for Musica Viva with the Partridge Quartet doing a short concert including Schubert's Quintet then had a quick meal at Superhiro, and home for the awful news about Ukraine and floods.