Not much plus concert

Apart from some computer stuff, after a hurkle-durkle, I didn't do much this morning. I had a welcome call from Alison F. who I hadn't spoken to for years. I was thinking only the other day that I must contact her. We had cheesy tomato soup for lunch. After a nap, we went to the Recital Centre where we had a good meal at Blondie then went to the Australian String Quartet who played a new work by Jack Symonds then Beethoven's 131 String Quartet brilliantly. Home again for news then bed.

Crossword

I had a little hurkle-durkle this morning but P. still got on with the crossword. It had one answer which seemed a bit dodgy but we'll see next week when the solution is published. I got on with some organising for Sydney, then we had vegie soup and the chicken salad for lunch. I put on the slow-cooking lamb for dinner. Now for a nap while it bubbles away.

Papers

We hit the jackpot today with the first time all three papers arrived in weeks. We consumed them eagerly although The Age arts supplement is now reduced to pamphlet size. I got on with some organising though had no success in contacting a couple of people. A message said: The area you are trying to contact is congested. Please try again later (!!!). We had minestrone for lunch, and now for a nap. P. made leftover chicken couscous for dinner. We then watched Paradise (they promise it's the end), Capture (which I love), then Boyer Lecture, then news, then bed.

Tickets and feet,

First up the morning, I went to the inestimable Jennie at Podiatry at the Health Centre. She redressed me and sent me on my way. I spent most of the rest of this morning buying tickets after amended dates were given for Selby and Friends last night and for other Recital Centre treasures in the first quarter of next year. Meanwhile, P. made chicken salad for lunch with beans, beetroot and cabbage and more. Now for a nap. P. made chicken couscous for dinner, then it was Gardening, Fran, Creatures (a bit limp) then news then bed.

Shopping plus concert

We went shopping today and dropped Noel's off to him, then went home to unpack ours and have salmon patties. After a nap, we went to the Recital Centre where we had a very good meal at Miss Pearl, who seemed very busy and understaffed. We then went to Selby and Friends at the PP salon for works by Ravel, Mendelssohn and Schumann. This time she was joined by Natsuko Yoshimoto (violin) and Richard Narroway (cello). Very satisfying. Home again for news.

Reading

Today, after normal computering, I got on with reading my Indonesian biography while P. had a U3A zoom meeting about their new computer system. We then had cheesy tomato soup for lunch, and now for a nap. We had leftover rakott for dinner followed by news, Hard Quiz and usual Wednesday night trivia.

Passport and photos

Frank sent a compendium of his photos of P., which of course included pics of me (and a couple of Frank). I completed my passport application form and now have to take it to a post office for lodgement. P. went off to Specsavers for a hearing test. Now for lunch and a nap. Sally visited late in the arvo before heading off to the hills. I made rakott krumpli for dinner, followed by Scottish trains, election news and more news.

Cleaners, passport and so on

This morning the cleaners came and whizzed through. P. went shopping and came back with sangos for lunch. I gave up on finding my passport and started applying for a new one. I came to a dead stop when I found I didn't have some vital info. like my referee's address and DOB. They seem to want to know everything apart from the ins and outs of a pig's arse. Now for a restful nap. I reheated the fish curry for dinner, then it was normal Monday night teev.

More shopping and other things

Yesterday (Saturday), I stored up treasure in heaven for myself by doing shopping for Noel T. and delivering the Vignettes to the author. I came home after dumping Rupert and had a nap, then P. and I went to Blondie Bar for a decent dinner thence to the Potter Salon for Vov Dyland (violin) and Clemens Leske (piano) performing vignettes (no relation to the manuscript) by Elena Kats-Chernin. I figured it was time to give her another go. The verdict (except for a couple of the 14 pieces) from me: a bit pastichey, from Peter, somewhat crueller: a bit Palm Court Orchestra. Home again for news, then bed. The newspaper saga continues with a lightning strike (real lightning, not industrial action!) causing The Saturday Australian to fail yesterday, but it arrived today (Sunday) as did The Age both days, but no Saturday Paper appeared. We finished the crossword, and with the aid of my new phone to provide a code, I used MyGov to complete my tax return and quarterly Business Activity Statement both of which will yield payments from the Tax Office. We had salmon patties (acquired yesterday) for lunch, and now for a nap. P. made leftover roast chook for dinner, then we watched Spooky Music and The Cry, before which was a very boring new series whose name I can't remember because NOTHING about it was memorable.

Phew!

This morning, I finally finished the Vignettes, which I will deliver to the author tomorrow. As well, Noel sent in a shopping list, so I'll do that at the same time. We also ordered our MusicaViva for next year. We had leftover anchovy pasta for lunch, now for a nap. P. made his delicious roast chook for dinner, then it was Gardening, Frankly (much better this week), Country Vets, Annika and news.

Vignettes nearly done.

This morning I waited for a wine delivery while P. went off shopping and to an eye appointment. I wrestled with MyGov and still have not succeeded. I also proofed the Vignettes and am nearly halfway through. P, rang having activated his phone at Victoria Gardens just after I'd deactivated MyGov. However, before my nap, I managed to conquer the ATO's barriers and got access to be able to (later) do my tax return and BAS (yay!). After napping, we headed to Trades Hall for our one bite at the Fringe Festival, a one-man show, Naomi. The performer/writer recounted stories from friends and relatives of his mother, who suicided. It was an absorbing and confronting show. We had a good meal at DOC in Carlton, then home again from Q&A and news.

Shopping and not much else

This morning, we picked up Rupert and went to Victoria Gardens for our shopping. We hadn't heard from Noel even though we sent a reminder. Worried, we dropped in, but he was okay. He went to Jack Charles' memorial yesterday and might need some shopping on Friday. Home again for the inevitable salmon rissoles, and a nap. I made fish-and-pea curry for dinner, followed by 7.30, Hard Quiz, Scotland and news.

Great Festival

Home again after a few days away in Port Fairy. We had a long drive to get there on Friday last after a couple of flood closures made us go back to Geelong to take the Princes Highway. We lunched in Camperdown (pies at the bakery) and made it to PF in time for a quick nap before the opening reception which was crowded as last time with awful wine (why did we bother?). We had a good meal at the pub opposite the drill hall, then an excellent concert in the same venue with Nick Dinopoulos accompanied by Andrea Katz singing South American songs. Home to Seacombe House to our spacious motel room. On Saturday we went to SIX concerts which I won't detail apart from to mention the highlights over the weekend including Anna Goldsworthy playing a Haydn concerto, and the Partridge Quartet playing some modern works plus Schubert's quintet. We had an Italian meal on Saturday night, then on Sunday some more concerts plus the 'gala', a work by Vaughan Williams, a locally grown chorale, then some well-worn opera choruses. It was all capped off by a splendid dinner at Merrijig Inn where we had a brief catch-up with Festival co-director Monica. On Monday, we headed for Colac via Schulz' dairy where we had lunch and were greeted by one of the Schulz's who recognised us as regulars at the Convent market. In Colac, we stayed at the 'ghost' motel where you check in remotely and had a meal at Porchetta's (very ordinary). Home again on Tuesday for anchovy pasta.

Splendid concert

This morning was mainly spent on tidying up and getting ready to go away. We had quiches for lunch, then a nap. We went off to the Recital Centre for the usual splendid concert by Syzygy showcasing six unknown composers in a show consisting entirely of trios. We went back to Carlton for a quick bite at Heartattack and Vine (noisy but okay) then home for Q&A, Big Esso, organ transplants and news.

You win some...

We went off shopping with Rupert this morning having not heard from the author of the Vignettes or Noel T. (for his shopping). We worried about both of them. Having shopped in Victoria Gardens (we didn't need much because of going away), we dropped in at Noel's to drop off some clean washing and found he was gone. A neighbour said he had been taken to hospital but didn't know which one. We retired defeated, though we dropped the washing. After lunch at home, the inevitable salmon patties, we had a nap, but not before I spoke to the vignettes author and explained that we were going away, and, third time lucky, found Noel in St Vincent's. As a reward for my virtue, I was there for a white wine delivery. P. made roast pork for dinner. We watched 7.30, Hard Quiz and Question Anything, which didn't do much for our intellect, then news, then bed.

Vignettes and Tuesday teev

I finished checking the vignettes this morning and printed them out but was unable to contact the author to take them to him. We had minestrone for lunch, then a nap. I made leftover rakott and roast lamb for dinner, then it was trains, religion, Japanese custody laws and news.

Cleaners, geek and vignettes

The cleaners came early this morning, lickety-split and were followed later by Mr Geek who, as I predicted, had a very simple solution to my printer problem. It should now be all right, cross fingers. P. went out for a haircut and earwax (!) and brought back sangos for lunch. After a nap, I made rakott for dinner. Then it was usual Monday night teev including 4Corners on DNA up to news then bed. I wish we still had the China and Indian programs as well as USA.

Crossword, vignettes and bookings

Though started with a hurkle-durkle, it was a busy morning: the paper arrived (miracolo) and the crossword despatched. I did a few holiday bookings and a bit on vignettes (not enough, as usual). We had cheesy tomato soup for lunch, then a nap. P. made a chicken vindaloo for dinner, then it was history, Savage River final, then Spooky Music.

Vignettes and G&S

Yesterday (Friday), I did some work on the vignettes while P. went off to American Literature. In the evening, he made roast lamb with all the trimmings for dinner, then it was Gardening and Fran Kelly's new show (a bit dull I thought). Today, it was more vignettes, vegie soup for lunch, then off to Monash in Rupert with Frank to see Yeoman of the Guard. It was not bad, though a bit longish, but we got back in time to deliver Rupert back and go for a quick meal at the Collingwood Hotel. Home again for Capture and a replay of the next episode of Savage River (quite good and hotting up).

Vignettes and concert

I started on re-ordering the vignettes this morning after a conversation with the author. We had leftover anchovy pasta for lunch and now for a nap. P/ and I went into Superhiro for a quick meal, thence to the Recital Centre where the MSO put its hair down in works by Hindemith (superb), Walton (s0-so) and Stravinsky's Soldier's Tale (overlong) plus songs by Meow Meow who also narrated in the Walton and Stravinsky. Not an entirely satisfying evening: a little self-indulgent. Home again for news and a wind-down.

Shopping and not much else

P. and I picked up Rupert and went to the mall. We did our and Noel's shopping and delivered his. He is not looking good but is going to Jack Charles memorial in about a week. Home again for salmon patties and a nap. I made prawn bizque for dinner, then it was Aust. Wars, Wil Anderson, nothing TV while I worked on my computer, then news.

Vignettes again

Today was an at-home day so I polished off the vignettes up-to-date, worked out an order for them and sent it to the author. P. got sangos for lunch, then a nap. I made anchovy, lemon and bread pasta for dinner, then it was trains, and old folks for seniors week, then news including The Point (always good).

Vignettes and Dan the Geek

This morning some more vignettes arrived and were added to the compiled manuscript. P. went shopping and brought back sangos for lunch, while I waited for Dan the Geek to arrive. He did and installed the printer though there were some glitzes I found after he had left, like not printing from web pages. We'll see. After a short, very short nap, we went off to Superhiro to meet Frank for a quick meal, thence to the Recital Centre for two operas presented by the Aust. Contemporary Opera Company. The first by David Lang was a bit relentless with a single baritone voice backed by a very minimal band. The second by Heggie and Scheer featured soprano and mezzo voices (superb performance by Dimity Shepherd) and a bigger band on the subject of domestic violence. It was a triumph. Home again for news and bed.

Crossword, vignettes and a play

The Sunday paper arrived today (I am starting to believe it will happen) and the crossword despatched without error. Lots more vignettes arrived and I did a tentative response to the author of the biography which has been coming midst a lot of turmoil at its source. We had cheesy tomato soup for lunch and a nap. We went to La Mama, our first visit to the new post-fire La Mama, to see an adaption of Cher Chidzey's novel, Ken's Quest. It turned out to be a splendid ninety minute play, superbly acted and directed in the very intimate space. We then had an expensive but good meal at Di Stasio pizzeria Carlton. We probably should have ordered one pizza between two. Home for Spooky Music and news.

Papers and vignettes

Yay! The paoers arrived again today and were eagerly read and are still going. The vignettes kept pouring in and sorted. We had minestrone for lunch, a nap, and P. made steaks with carrot, spinach and scalloped potato for dinner. Then we watched, Death in Paradise (yawn, repeat), Marriage (last episode), Tutaknamen, then news, then Daylight Saving bed.