Up, not so early then Canberra and beyond

Because I did most of the packing last night, I lingered in the warm bed a bit longer today. Then it was into breakfast and pills and the last of the packing. Off to the airport and to Canberra, where we picked up Carol the Corolla, who was meant to be a hybrid, but because we were taking her back to Melbourne we got a conventional petrol vehicle. We made it to our very nice hotel, QT, where we had a very good dinner. Next morning, we went of to Lilitu's shop, Crystal Chalice in Gold Creek Square, Nicholls, to say hello. Thence to the National Gallery in the rain for the Indigenous Triennial which was well worth seeing, though most of the rest of the gallery is in the throes of renovation and repairs. We had a light lunch under brollies outside (the main eatery is shut as part of the building) then back to the pub for a nap. We went across the road to the very trendy Rebel Rebel for dinner. On Saturday we went to the National Portrait Gallery for some real treats. There was not only the borrowed exhibition from the English National Portrait Gallery but also the Darling Australian Portrait Competition and the Australian Photography Exhibition. We are obviously getting old when people you know are in these kind of exhibitions: David Menadue, Barry O. Jones and Alex Miller. We had a slightly chilly lunch at the Gallery, then went to the National Film and Sound Archive to a vaguely interesting exhibition supposedly about Australians in Hollywood. The most interesting parts were interviews with Rachel Perkins and Warwick Thornton which had nothing to do with Hollywood. Back to the hotel for a short nap then out to the burbs (Casey) to meet Lilitu for dinner at a Myanmar restaurant, a new one for the books. We had a good meal and a mag, then home again through the sprawling Canberra burbs to the hotel. On Sunday, we had brekkie at Rebel Rebel for a change from our hotel, then went to the Museum mainly for their Songlines 'immersive experience' which it was though had little to do with Songlines and was more a collage of paintings and landscapes (earth, water, sky) with musical accompaniment. We had lunch at the museum, then went to the National Archive for a jolly exhibition on motels, then back to the hotel for a nap, then another good meal at Rebel Rebel, our home-away-from-home. On Monday, we left the hotel somewhat sadly and went for breakfast at the Arboretum with the still-not-very-big trees but a great view over Canberra. We then headed out of Canberra via Yass (sorry, Barry D.) to Tarcutta, where we had a cultural experience of an old-style motel to tally with the exhibition at the Archives. We had an old-style meal at the motel (there's not much in Tarcutta). The motel also has a horse-o-tel adjoining on one side and a chook and turkey farm on the other. It was a very rural experience. We went from Tarcutta to Beechworth, breakfasting in Holbrook by the somewhat oddly placed submarine. We were staying behind the Provenance restaurant which doesn't serve till weekends, in fairly quiet and lush premises in the heart of Beechworth. We had dinner at Tanswell's Hotel, recently refurbished, which was very good local produce with lots of local colour to watch in the eatery. Next day, Wednesday, we toured Beechworth, visiting nearby Stanley which in its heyday had three suburbs, Irish, Scottish and Chinese. Then we did the Gorge Drive and went to the Woolshed Falls and had lunch at the Old Gaol. In honour of country towns everywhere, we had dinner at 'The Chows' with more locals. On Thursday, we headed off, stopping at WaWa-Wangaratta for brekkie at a very trad cafe, then for lunch at the Benalla art gallery which has a very good permanent collection, plus a show by Peter Wegner of sketches of centenarians and over. The main temporary exhibition was impenetrable. We arrived chez Liz Tregenza in Seymour, where we had our first home-cooked meal in a week. It was very good to catch up, and in the morning we toured the Goulburn River and had brekkie in an Italian joint in the main drag. Home again, then an easy return of the car to Mr Hertz.

Novel off and haircut

This morning there was a bit more trip organising (dinner in Beechworth). I finished the first quarter of the big novel and sent it off to the author for comment. Then I went up to Smurf Street for a haircut and beard trim and, while there, got passport photos for renewal when we return. We had the last of the French onion soup for lunch, and now for a nap, then packing. P. made chicken curry for dinner and it was on with the packing while intermittently watching Gruen, Pickering etc.

Canberra and novel

Tinkered a bit more with the Canberra trip but I think we're pretty much ready. I then went on with the big novel and am nearly ready to send the first 100 pages to the author. P. went to the shops and got pills and sangos for lunch. After a nap, he made beef stroganoff for dinner and we watched Myf Warhust, penguins, Soul in Australia (only part), the last episode of The Feed, then news, then The Point (part).

Back to 'normal'

Feeling more or less back to normal today. So after routine tasks, on with a bit of the big novel, which I haven't a hope of finishing before Canberra. I'll tell the author, whom I suspect won't be too fussed. And I should be getting on with planning for Canberra which has caught up with me. We had leftover French onion soup for lunch, then a nap. P. wrangled the plumber who returned to check the heater after the power panel was tripped. The saga goes on. We're now off to the Recital Centre for an Affinity quartet concert. It included works by US composer Caroline Shaw, Haydn (played as if it were composed yesterday) and Bartok. A glorious concert. Then we had a good dinner at Superhiro, booming on Monday, then home for India, news and repeat of Q&A.

Two papers

I hurkle-durkled rather badly this morning, feeling not very well at all. I stayed in bed till lunchtime (which I didn't have) then went back to bed after completing the crossword. We got two Sunday papers today. Lord knows why. I don't feel well enough to go to the Melbourne Youth Orchestra this arvo but P. will still go, unable to find a starter after a couple of tries. I went back to bed, then emerged as P. returned for Phrynne Fisher (very silly) especially so as it depicted Palestine via Morocco and England via Werribee Park. Then quite good programs on Elizabeth Taylor and part of one on uranium by a Canadian/Australian so rather more balanced than usual. Then earlier to bed.

Papers then soup then concerts

The papers arrived today, yoo hoo! After a quick peruse of the plush real estate, the only place we can move to is Kalorama. A long way to the shop if you want a sausage roll. Then I got on with finishing the French onion soup which we had for lunch. Then we went over to the Convent for the next two instalments of the chamber music festival. We joined Frank for these ones which included works by Saint-Saens, Russell, Beethoven, Mozart, Martinu (who seems to be having a revival), Farrenc (Louise who had a feminist spruik at the outset), Bartok and Gade. It was superb. Home again for a mushroom omelette constructed by P. then a new season of Split, an SBS rerun of Maxwell the evil, part two. then news then bed.

Lunch at Mabu Mabu then concert

After the usual morning things, P. and I went to Fed.Square where we met up with Kit B. for lunch at Mabu Mabu. It takes an interstate person to know about things in our own backyard. I hadn't heard anything about this splendid Torres Strait Islander eatery but we had an excellent lunch. Home again for a short nap. Then it was over to the Convent for the first of the ANAM mini-chamber music festival concerts. The very talented ANAM musos played chamber works by Stravinsky, Janacek and Messiaen, some with very unusual combos: lots of trombones, euphonium etc. It was an absorbing and moving concert, then we came home for the final of Faith (a bit weird because of having a psycho villain) then news then bed.

The gasman cometh plus play

I was hurkle-durkling this morning when the gasman arrived. Fortunately, P. was up and showered. The gasman cleaned out the gas heater and rendered it fit for use. He warned though that if it breaks down it can't be repaired as that kind of heater is being phased out. I went on with various administrative things while P. went shopping and brought back sangos for lunch. After a nap, we went into town for a good, and entertaining (because of our fellow diners), meal at Superhiro. Thence to the Playhouse for Picture of Dorian Gray. Kit's critique of it was spot on: a very shouty production, which was a good production, but not acted with great subtlety or empathy. Worth seeing though. Home for DI Ray (hotting up), news then bed.

Shopping

A normal day's shopping with Murdoch the Picanto (no trace of last night's hit-and-run). We delivered Noel's shopping then had an 'incident'. The postie had delivered a box and jammed it into Noel's letterbox. It took a mammoth effort to get it out. What a stupid act. We went home for the inevitable salmon patties, then a nap. We had oysters then leftover rakott for dinner, then baby cheeses and normal, fairly lacklustre ABC Wednesday teev which is why I am blogging instead of watching.

At home then concert

These winter mornings, I'm inclined to hurkle-durkle a bit. P. went off to get Noel's watch fixed and I spent the morning on various administrative things. Now for a nap. P. and I went to Blondie at the Recital Centre to meet Kit B. for dinner. We had a good mag over dinner, then went to the Murdoch Hall for Andrea Lam and Paul Grabovsky do an unusual thing: Lam played Bach's Goldberg Variations, then Grabovsky did an improvisation based on the founding aria. It was an absorbing concert. Kit went back to her hotel and we came home. Unfortunately, there was a police incident which we later found was a hit-and-run of a woman crossing Johnston Street and our bus was halted one stop short of home. As the police said the delay might take ages, we walked home to news etc. then bed. We saw the woman go off in an ambulance with 'non-life-threatening injuries'. The blue sedan disappeared down Nicholson Street.

Concert plus not much

Yesterday (Sunday), the paper arrived late and was deposited on the pavement out the front of the house (not on the veranda) but at least it came. The crossword was done with despatch and no mistakes this week. Then I did the makings of rakott ready for dinner and we lunched on sangos which P. got shopping. Then it was off to the Recital Centre for a very good concert with the Melbourne chamber Orchestra (two Dvorak, one Feld). Home again for the Rakott, then a rather disappointing Miss Fisher and the conclusion of Why didn't they ask Evans which was okay, then news, then bed. Today (Monday), the cleaners were scheduled very early (9am) and turned up more or less on time. P. went off shopping. I have received a novel in translation for checking and have started on that. It's another biggie. I'm having some correspondence with the proofreader on the BIG biography, quite amicable so far. P. brought home sangos for lunch, then a nap. He made crumbed pork steaks for dinner, with zucchini fritters and mashed sweet potato (a lot of work), then it was normal Monday night teev including India.

Another busy day followed by a quiet one

Yesterday (Friday), it was another busy day. In the morning, we went up to the Old Colonist's for Teresa's film screening, Brief Encounter, a very engaging film, marred at the end by waiting three-quarters of an hour for a taxi that didn't come. We caught two buses and arrived home an hour-and-a-half after the film finished. We had leftover pea-and-ham soup for lunch and I had a nap. P. got roast chook ready for Brent and Frank before we went to the ANAM concert in the chapel at the Convent (we didn't get married). It was a stunning concert finishing with Diana Doherty leading Strauss' Happy Workshop. Home again for Faith which finishes next week (will the boy with cancer live or die?), news and bed. Today, the papers arrived. Yay! After a quick perusal of the papers, Sally S. dropped in for a bit of a mag. P. and I had chicken and mayonnaise sangos for lunch (which he made). Now for a quick nap. We got takeaway pizza for dinner, because we were lazy. Then watched Bavarian railways, Royal Gardens, Gardening (from last night) then world, local and regional news, then bed.

Quiet Thursday

Arriving in the inbox this morning is the first instalment of the proofreader's work on the big biography. She has gone a bit further than proofreading and has embarked on a fairly brisk (and pedantic) re-editing. The author will have to decide which way to go and will probably decide down the middle. P. went up to the shops to get some coriander for my ceviche and something for lunch (and some gin). I did some beginning on a trip to Brisbane later in the year. We had sangos for lunch; now for a nap. I made fish chowder for dinner, followed by Peruvian fish ceviche which turned out okay. Then coastal walks, Kazakh eagles, evil Maxwells and DI Ray, then news then bed.

Busy Wednesday

This morning is normal shopping with Rupert the Picanto. After shopping at the Mall, we dropped Noel's shopping off, went home for salmon patties, then a quick snooze. Then off to Brunetti's to meet up with Carmel B. (down for a movie) for a coffee, then to Tiamo for a VERY filling meal, then back to the Nova for Leah Purcel's The Drover's Wife, a tour-de-force of a movie. Very teary at the end. Then home for regular Wednesday night teev which is pretty average.

More tidying

Still free of work (temporarily) so went on with tidying on screen and in real life. Also read the reviews Teresa P. sent for Friday's film. We had vegie soup for lunch. Now for a nap. P. made delicious okonomiyaki for dinner, then it was standard Tuesday teev, trains, Insight, Dateline, The Feed, news then The Point. A good SBS night.

Free

On this Queen's Birthday holiday, I'm temporarily free of the big biography, so can get on with some tidying and cleanups. Not to mention examining the Queen's honours to see if there's anyone I know. It is my regular twice-yearly recreation. So far, there is not a single writer that I can recognise apart from FOUR of the Coodabeen Champions. What's going on? There were a couple later, both Indigenous. Congratulations to Anita Heiss. We had cheesy tomato soup for lunch, then a nap, then pea-and-ham soup for dinner, as P. was not feeling very well with a cold. Then usual Monday night teev.

Off it goes

This morning, the Sunday Age arrived and the crossword was despatched with only one minor error (one down should be singular not plural). I then finished off my end of the big biography and sent it to the proofreader. I am not quite finished yet, but nearly. Phew! We had pea-and-ham soup for lunch, then a nap. P. went to the shops for milk, then I heated up the fish-and-pea curry for dinner. Then it was news, renos, the (thankful) last of the surfers, some tedious Agatha Christie, then Footscray then bed after a glimpse of biking.

Sigh then phew

After one week of success, the papers did not arrive today, so I had to go through the tedious business of informing Schwarz, Nine and Murdoch. Now back to the big biography after breakfast. After I had a look later I found that the papers had been delivered but late, between 8 and 9. At least they came but I had to go back to the three papers to tell them. I have got fewer than 100 pages to go on the biography, and we had minestrone for lunch. There was a bit of time taken up with dealing with the sad death of Brian Matthews at 86. Now for a quick nap. I got up and put on the roast lamb for dinner with Frank before an ANAM concert at the Convent with Erin Helyard. It was pieces from Dresden and was extremely good value. Home again for royal gardens, ABC John Bannon, Scottish rivers then a bit of cycling.

'Final' big biography

This morning I got halfway through my final pass on the big biography so I should finish it tomorrow or Sunday. Then it's off to the proofreader. We had cheesy tomato soup for lunch. All day P. was making pea and ham soup (from our new Margaret Fulton reprint book) which turned out very well. We then watched Gardening, Greek archaeology, then Keeping Faith, then news then the cycling to the end of stage 6. Two more to go.

Shopping plus not much

The big biography has returned but I won't get to work on it till Friday because today we went shopping. The usual stuff with Rupert the Picanto but this time including coffee (which has gone up quite a bit) and pills from the Health Centre for me. We couldn't stay long at Noel's because there was a wine delivery expected. We had the usual salmon patties for lunch, and now for a nap. I made fish-and-pea curry for dinner. then it was Northumberland walks, Q&A then new series DI Ray, then news, cycling (a bit) then bed.

Concert

We went to the Recital Centre for the ANAM/MRC Mostly Mozart. Coffee and cakes (plus savoury wraps) are back but the ravenous audience make short work of them. We met up with Sally and had a short mag. The concert directed by Erin Helyard on harpsichord was excellent, with a Mozart overture and dance music plus symphonies by Rosetti and Kraus, rarely heard but quite impressive. P. and I then had lunch at the tea rooms at the NGV (crustless sangos after a long break). Home again for a nap. P. made vera bolognese (from the freezer) for dinner, delicious. Then we watch Gruen, The Weakly, You Can't Ask That with gays, then Teddy Pendergrass on NITV (thanks Carmel), then a bit of cycling.

Salvos and the silver screen

After usual morning stuff, P. and I went to the Salvos in Bourke Street where (courtesy of the Melbourne Friends of the National Sound and Film Archive) we had a tour of the Salvo Heritage Museum and the old Limelight studio responsible for early filmmaking in Australia. We were glad we only got half of the Salvo tour (though it was interesting and I didn't ask awkward questions about homophobia as our guide Lindsay was very affable). Especially interesting was the material on the films and coloured slides etc. Groundbreaking for its time and a world leader. Home again in the rain for lunch. After a nap, I reheated the rest of the Rakott for dinner, then it was news, trains, Assange, young surfers, then a bit of cycling in France after some more news.

Cleaners and filing

The cleaners came early this morning, P. went off shopping and I went on with the filing of business and work papers and concert programs. I am not sure the last is worth it as we never refer to them. On the other hand, I have always regretted ditching my old programs some years ago as they were historical relics. I am nearing the end of the filing as P. arrives back with sangos for lunch. Now for a nap. P. made leftover chook with red pepper and spinach for dinner and we watched news, Aust. Story, 4Corners, Media Watch, India, then a bit of cycling (Dauphine) then bed. Oh, and the filing is finished. Phew till next time.

Crossword then more filing

The Sunday paper came, miracolo, except it was delivered on to the pavement this time. Our new fence includes a newspaper slot but no one seems to notice that. We did the crossword, lickety-split, a bit later than usual as we both hurkle-durkled a bit on a cold morning. Then I found it is going to take more than two mornings to finish the filing, though I am making good progress. We had vegie soup for lunch, and now for a nap. I made rakott for dinner, followed by news, renovations, surfers, and Agatha Christie.

Papers plus filing and tidying

Yay! Today all the papers arrived after three weeks of absence. They might have been delivered badly, in the front garden rather than the veranda but at least they came. While waiting for the big biography to return I've taken the time to do some filing and tidying. I've already backed up my computer files. I'm finding all sorts of goodies in the filing but it will take more than one morning to finish it. We had cheesy tomato soup for lunch, and now for a nap. We went over to the Convent for a 'sunset' concert by ANAM alumni which was pieces for violin and viola by Mozart and a magnificent quintet by Martinu, interspersed with a rather silly sitting on the floor meditation. Home for Father Brown (yawn) then a Sidney Lumet film, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, then news then bed.

Relax

As P. said when I said I had no new work at present, while waiting for some things to come back, take a holiday. So I have. I just spent a morning tidying up, but not too hard. P. went off to American Literature class and it's time for lunch then a nap. Yawn. The author of the big biography says she will have it back soon. P. is making roast chook for dinner and David S. is coming after work. We had a good dinner and a mag then watched Gardening and Faith, news and bed.

Accounts and play

This morning I did the end-of-month accounts which I didn't have time for yesterday. I also saved my conputer files to my backup. We are having baby whiting fillets for lunch. After a nap, we went into town for a good quick meal at Superhiro thence to the Malthouse for The Return, a very good play about the return of Aboriginal remains from museums worldwide. The play by John Harvey had been heavily workshopped by directors and cast and was a superb example of what theatre is all about. Home again for Irish drama and news then bed.

Shopping as usual

Rupert was on deck this week so we did normal shopping in the pouring rain, went to Noel's to drop his off then had the inevitable salmon patties (good as always). Our concert tonight with bass Furnaletto is cancelled because of illness. A pity, as I was looking forward to the bass's greatest hits. However, it's a lousy day to go out. After a nap, P. remade the chicken curry with some new chicken pieces (it was quite hot after the sauce rested a few days) then it was Wednesday night teev plus Thatcher/Regan and news then bed.