Thanks to my friend Helen, I spent a lovely afternoon in the Sydney Opera Concert Hall listening to the Australian Chamber Orchestra; wonderful Schubert and a rousing Brahms symphony which brought tears to my eyes.
It's amazing how humans can make music and that it can arouse such emotion. Also during one of the quieter passages I found myself developing some aspects of one of the characters in my novel. Maybe I should make a habit of listening to classical music before I begin writing each day. It might open up my mind.
Thankfully the wild weather that is predicted for later today held off. We had lunch and a wander round the Rocks Market beforehand. I managed to resist the temptation to buy a couple of tops but I've got the online address!
It's the last day of May tomorrow. Where has this year gone? My cactus is flowering late this year, I wonder if it's because of the unseasonal warmth. My neighbour says all the rain is because the ocean temp is about 23 degrees celsius, warm enough to swim in but too rainy to sit on the beach.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Got to get this off my chest.
I called dad this morning. He's got a date with a surgeon for a knee replacement at the end of June. We discussed a range of issues then I asked him how he voted in the recent British election. Big mistake.
'BNP' he said. At first I thought he was joking. But he wasn't. I screamed at him in disbelief. He used to be left of centre. I got my ideas of social justice especially in the workplace, from him. Now he's siding with the party whose members have swastikas tattooed on their bodies. It is an act of betrayal.
He wants Britain to be British. When I asked him what that meant he started raving on about immigrants. I pointed out that half of them were probably British born. I was so disappointed I couldn't speak for a while, even felt like putting the phone down on him. When he talked about someone in the family who is living on welfare under false pretences I reminded him that it was alright because they were BRITISH! I shall be making those kind of digs at him till one or other of us dies. UUgh!!!!!
On a much nicer note Skye visited the mini Hewers' home for the first time. The living room and play room are newly painted and carpeted, looking lovely. Of course Annika and Mathew wanted to hold the baby right away but when it came to Mathew's turn he buried his head in the settee. He is so shy that boy. Eventually we settled Skye on his lap but he kept his head down the whole time. In other ways he's very outgoing but every now and then the shyness bug hits him, and woe betide you if you hurt his feelings. After taking it all in, Skye rewarded us with her big beautiful smiles.
The roast pork was a success, especially the crackling (a la Masterchef) and Melissa's boyfriend's mum sent over a lovely Tiramisu. Skye was awake on the ride home looking at the world go by quietly content, an angel baby.
'BNP' he said. At first I thought he was joking. But he wasn't. I screamed at him in disbelief. He used to be left of centre. I got my ideas of social justice especially in the workplace, from him. Now he's siding with the party whose members have swastikas tattooed on their bodies. It is an act of betrayal.
He wants Britain to be British. When I asked him what that meant he started raving on about immigrants. I pointed out that half of them were probably British born. I was so disappointed I couldn't speak for a while, even felt like putting the phone down on him. When he talked about someone in the family who is living on welfare under false pretences I reminded him that it was alright because they were BRITISH! I shall be making those kind of digs at him till one or other of us dies. UUgh!!!!!
On a much nicer note Skye visited the mini Hewers' home for the first time. The living room and play room are newly painted and carpeted, looking lovely. Of course Annika and Mathew wanted to hold the baby right away but when it came to Mathew's turn he buried his head in the settee. He is so shy that boy. Eventually we settled Skye on his lap but he kept his head down the whole time. In other ways he's very outgoing but every now and then the shyness bug hits him, and woe betide you if you hurt his feelings. After taking it all in, Skye rewarded us with her big beautiful smiles.
The roast pork was a success, especially the crackling (a la Masterchef) and Melissa's boyfriend's mum sent over a lovely Tiramisu. Skye was awake on the ride home looking at the world go by quietly content, an angel baby.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Rain
Heard today that we've had all May's rainfall by now, and it's still raining. This thirsty country needs it, not sure about Sydney though. One can only hope the rain is falling in all the right places.
About 9 15 am yesterday I heard helicopters circling for about 20 minutes, a pretty unusual occurrence round here. I found out later there had been a shooting in Campsie right in the middle of the main street. Turned out they were gas guns police were firing at a stolen car apparently bent on a robbery. It made its escape down the sidewalk. As far as I know they're still looking for the suspects. No one was hurt. I couldn't help thinking if I lived in certain sections of LA and such places I would be used to the noise. I don't know how those people stand it. No wonder they get het up.
I don't know about where you are but World Cup fever is brewing here. The Australian team, the Socceroos played a friendly against NZ, now there's a misnomer that ever was. Nothing is ever friendly against our rivals across the ditch. We won but only at the last minute, and it was not pretty. Their first game is against the powerhouse Germany. They'll have to play better than they did last night to beat them.
Must get ready for my 'Better Than Chocolate' talk this morning. Fortunately it's not far away. Hopefully I'll sell some books.
My cactus is bursting in bud. I'll be seeing flowers any day soon. It always reminds me of Alan, an ex neighbour, who gave it to me. He died in May a few years ago. RIP
About 9 15 am yesterday I heard helicopters circling for about 20 minutes, a pretty unusual occurrence round here. I found out later there had been a shooting in Campsie right in the middle of the main street. Turned out they were gas guns police were firing at a stolen car apparently bent on a robbery. It made its escape down the sidewalk. As far as I know they're still looking for the suspects. No one was hurt. I couldn't help thinking if I lived in certain sections of LA and such places I would be used to the noise. I don't know how those people stand it. No wonder they get het up.
I don't know about where you are but World Cup fever is brewing here. The Australian team, the Socceroos played a friendly against NZ, now there's a misnomer that ever was. Nothing is ever friendly against our rivals across the ditch. We won but only at the last minute, and it was not pretty. Their first game is against the powerhouse Germany. They'll have to play better than they did last night to beat them.
Must get ready for my 'Better Than Chocolate' talk this morning. Fortunately it's not far away. Hopefully I'll sell some books.
My cactus is bursting in bud. I'll be seeing flowers any day soon. It always reminds me of Alan, an ex neighbour, who gave it to me. He died in May a few years ago. RIP
Monday, May 17, 2010
A better offer
In the middle of creating my new 'writing' blog on Saturday morning I received a better offer in the form of a phone call from Ed. 'We're going to see Jessica Watson arrive in Sydney. do you want to come?' Took me two seconds to decide.
Sixteen year old Jessica has spent 210 days at sea circumnavigating the globe alone, non stop. Some claim it is not a true world record, (Eddie, and Maxine's ex amongst them) since she did not dip into the Northern hemisphere far enough. It was a great achievement nevertheless.
We got a glimpse of her as she stepped off her pink boat, and wobbled on her land legs up the pink carpet to be greeted by thousands of people including the prime minister and the premier of NSW Christina Keneally, who I thought gave the better of the two speeches.Jessica is a cool young woman who looked a bit bemused by all the hype.
It was a beautiful day. Cristina got to see inside a bit of the Opera house for the first time. Mathew and Annika expended energy running up and down the purple clad steps until they moved us out. Thank you for the call Ed, I had a great time.
I managed to work on the novel yesterday, not as much as planned, and I will finish getting the new blog together today, Polly's notebook. This afternoon I do a stint on 2RPH,reading Features. It will be the first time of reading without a cough from the post nasal drip so I'm looking forward to being in better voice.
Sixteen year old Jessica has spent 210 days at sea circumnavigating the globe alone, non stop. Some claim it is not a true world record, (Eddie, and Maxine's ex amongst them) since she did not dip into the Northern hemisphere far enough. It was a great achievement nevertheless.
We got a glimpse of her as she stepped off her pink boat, and wobbled on her land legs up the pink carpet to be greeted by thousands of people including the prime minister and the premier of NSW Christina Keneally, who I thought gave the better of the two speeches.Jessica is a cool young woman who looked a bit bemused by all the hype.
It was a beautiful day. Cristina got to see inside a bit of the Opera house for the first time. Mathew and Annika expended energy running up and down the purple clad steps until they moved us out. Thank you for the call Ed, I had a great time.
I managed to work on the novel yesterday, not as much as planned, and I will finish getting the new blog together today, Polly's notebook. This afternoon I do a stint on 2RPH,reading Features. It will be the first time of reading without a cough from the post nasal drip so I'm looking forward to being in better voice.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Only a few lines
Who would believe that four lines of prose would take so much work...then there's the synopsis!!! I'm trying to get the novel Getting in Deep ready for publishing. Writing the novel is a doddle compared with trying to explain it in a few sentences. But this part is so crucial for getting a toe in the door, it has to be right. I've lost count of how many versions I've written. Thank goodness for my writing buddies to show me the error of my ways.
It's time to reward myself with a big cup of coffee before heading for aqua aerobics.
The cold weather has come at last, in the early mornings and late evenings at least. I got the heater out for the first time last night and am currently huddled in my favourite garment, the fluffy white dressing gown Kathie gave me. I live in it and, like my recliner which I also live in, it shows. Food spots and grime accumulate necessitating frequent washes. Can't do that with the recliner of course, I've got to call the professionals in for that, I've left it too long. I will call them soon!!!!!
Baby sitting Skye tonight and tomorrow then back on the radio on Monday. Will spend the weekend WRITING...unless I get a better offer!!!!
It's time to reward myself with a big cup of coffee before heading for aqua aerobics.
The cold weather has come at last, in the early mornings and late evenings at least. I got the heater out for the first time last night and am currently huddled in my favourite garment, the fluffy white dressing gown Kathie gave me. I live in it and, like my recliner which I also live in, it shows. Food spots and grime accumulate necessitating frequent washes. Can't do that with the recliner of course, I've got to call the professionals in for that, I've left it too long. I will call them soon!!!!!
Baby sitting Skye tonight and tomorrow then back on the radio on Monday. Will spend the weekend WRITING...unless I get a better offer!!!!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
A few days away
Got back from Brisbane at the weekend after my 'nanny' stint with Skye while the parents partied on at a friend's wedding. That baby is a star traveller; she slept through her feed and nappy change at Sydney airport, on the plane, in the hire car and to the hotel. Easiest gig I've ever had! Got some film to work on now as Skye met her cousins and second cousins in Brisbane.
Given that our hotel overlooked the church I saw the bridal party arrive, and a colourful one it was too. The bride in white of course but she took so long to get out of the car I thought she'd changed her mind. Two bridesmaids were in red and two were in the same colour as our hire car, bright orange. Took me right back to the seventies.
The piece de resistance was the bride's mother. Not wishing to overshadow the blushing bride she donned silver sequins from head to toe with matching shoes and handbag. I thought she'd raided the aluminium foil dispenser.You could not take your eyes off her. I was temporarily blinded when the sun came out and hit those sequins full on. What was she thinking?
I returned to Sydney Saturday night, then on Sunday had Mother's Day lunch with Ed, Cris and the mini-Hewers at Wollongong golf club. Ligia and family plus Cris's mum were there too. Then Melissa showed up with boyfriend Mark who seems very nice, not too intimidated by us en masse. Lovely setting overlooking the golf course and the food was enjoyable, although we were envying Mark and Melissa going home to Mark's mother's home-made Tiramasu. It was a lovely day.
I've taken great pleasure in cancelling the op I was scheduled for in June, a sinus clean out. Ever since they told me about the post op care I've been freaking. Mercifully the little problem is clearing up on its own so I don't have to do all that washing out etc. Thanks to my immune system for getting on top of the situation, even though it has taken many months, and it aint over yet completely.
Got writer's group tomorrow. My buddies are going to pull my synopsis to bits and make my novel attractive for a publisher. Like its author, it needs a ton of Botox and drastic cosmetic surgery but between us we'll get her nice and sassy and irresistible. Who am I kidding!!!! We can but try.
Given that our hotel overlooked the church I saw the bridal party arrive, and a colourful one it was too. The bride in white of course but she took so long to get out of the car I thought she'd changed her mind. Two bridesmaids were in red and two were in the same colour as our hire car, bright orange. Took me right back to the seventies.
The piece de resistance was the bride's mother. Not wishing to overshadow the blushing bride she donned silver sequins from head to toe with matching shoes and handbag. I thought she'd raided the aluminium foil dispenser.You could not take your eyes off her. I was temporarily blinded when the sun came out and hit those sequins full on. What was she thinking?
I returned to Sydney Saturday night, then on Sunday had Mother's Day lunch with Ed, Cris and the mini-Hewers at Wollongong golf club. Ligia and family plus Cris's mum were there too. Then Melissa showed up with boyfriend Mark who seems very nice, not too intimidated by us en masse. Lovely setting overlooking the golf course and the food was enjoyable, although we were envying Mark and Melissa going home to Mark's mother's home-made Tiramasu. It was a lovely day.
I've taken great pleasure in cancelling the op I was scheduled for in June, a sinus clean out. Ever since they told me about the post op care I've been freaking. Mercifully the little problem is clearing up on its own so I don't have to do all that washing out etc. Thanks to my immune system for getting on top of the situation, even though it has taken many months, and it aint over yet completely.
Got writer's group tomorrow. My buddies are going to pull my synopsis to bits and make my novel attractive for a publisher. Like its author, it needs a ton of Botox and drastic cosmetic surgery but between us we'll get her nice and sassy and irresistible. Who am I kidding!!!! We can but try.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
catching up
Got a bit to catch up on given the time that has elapsed since I last posted.
First of all baby Skye is plumping out nicely and she can hold her head up with all the other North shore babies and their fancy prams. Her smooth-action red buggy is not out of place with the other designer carriages jockeying for position in the elevators of Chatswood Chase shopping centre.
I'm sure there's a breeding program in full swing in the area. Must be the baby bonus set up by the Howard government to encourage a 'baby for the country.' Ed and Cris did their bit with Mathew and my suburb is obviously busy working on it. Mind you the strollers are not so fancy in my neck of the woods.
Thanks to Tizzie Hall's settling techniques, Skye gets herself off to sleep beautifully. She has started to smile although she gives them out sparingly and after some encouragement. Is this a sign of the nature of her personality I wonder or is it early days of practising something new? We will see.
On another note two of my writing buddies and I had a successful day selling copies of Better than Chocolate this week to a delightful group of women of the Chicken and Chablis set. More money for needy children's education,, thanks everyone. I wore my pearls for the occasion but they shrank in comparison with the big orbs strung around one woman's neck.
Have sent three short stories to competitions this week but now I really must get down to re-reading the latest version of my novel and finishing it once and for all.
Annika and Mathew spent the night with me last weekend, the first time I have had both of them stay over. I thought there might be an argument about which bed each would want but there wasn't. Mathew had the single bed, and after a reading session about Bullwinkle the Fire moose, and clutching a moose ornament I happened to have he went to sleep without fuss. Annie and I watched Masterchef Australia together then she went quietly too.
The next day we went to the pool, tried the Aquatic centre at Homebush first but it was closed for ANZAC day so we ended up at my aqua pool with a promise of McDonalds afterwards. 'But grandma you said you would never take us to McDonald's' pipes up Annika. 'I know but you've had a disappointment so it's a treat,' says I. She'd been so excited about showing Mathew the Olympic pool for the first time, I felt sorry for her when we couldn't go. But it's back to the 'No Mcdonald's rule now, same as I did with Melissa.
April has been one of the warmest on record and it has been beautiful. This weekend is promising to be pleasant again after a rainy day yesterday.
I booked my o/seas trip this week using frequent flyer points: Sydney - New York on Sept 8 returning on Oct 24 with a month in UK and a visit to Graceland thrown in. It is my 70th birthday treat to myself. Before then I have the Darwin - Broome trip which will be pretty tropical. After this I really must settle down!!!
I'd better quit. I want to get to the grocery store before the hordes converge. Campsie is becoming overcrowded and unpleasant, all that breeding I suppose! I will make a concerted effort to attend to my blog more frequently from now on.
First of all baby Skye is plumping out nicely and she can hold her head up with all the other North shore babies and their fancy prams. Her smooth-action red buggy is not out of place with the other designer carriages jockeying for position in the elevators of Chatswood Chase shopping centre.
I'm sure there's a breeding program in full swing in the area. Must be the baby bonus set up by the Howard government to encourage a 'baby for the country.' Ed and Cris did their bit with Mathew and my suburb is obviously busy working on it. Mind you the strollers are not so fancy in my neck of the woods.
Thanks to Tizzie Hall's settling techniques, Skye gets herself off to sleep beautifully. She has started to smile although she gives them out sparingly and after some encouragement. Is this a sign of the nature of her personality I wonder or is it early days of practising something new? We will see.
On another note two of my writing buddies and I had a successful day selling copies of Better than Chocolate this week to a delightful group of women of the Chicken and Chablis set. More money for needy children's education,, thanks everyone. I wore my pearls for the occasion but they shrank in comparison with the big orbs strung around one woman's neck.
Have sent three short stories to competitions this week but now I really must get down to re-reading the latest version of my novel and finishing it once and for all.
Annika and Mathew spent the night with me last weekend, the first time I have had both of them stay over. I thought there might be an argument about which bed each would want but there wasn't. Mathew had the single bed, and after a reading session about Bullwinkle the Fire moose, and clutching a moose ornament I happened to have he went to sleep without fuss. Annie and I watched Masterchef Australia together then she went quietly too.
The next day we went to the pool, tried the Aquatic centre at Homebush first but it was closed for ANZAC day so we ended up at my aqua pool with a promise of McDonalds afterwards. 'But grandma you said you would never take us to McDonald's' pipes up Annika. 'I know but you've had a disappointment so it's a treat,' says I. She'd been so excited about showing Mathew the Olympic pool for the first time, I felt sorry for her when we couldn't go. But it's back to the 'No Mcdonald's rule now, same as I did with Melissa.
April has been one of the warmest on record and it has been beautiful. This weekend is promising to be pleasant again after a rainy day yesterday.
I booked my o/seas trip this week using frequent flyer points: Sydney - New York on Sept 8 returning on Oct 24 with a month in UK and a visit to Graceland thrown in. It is my 70th birthday treat to myself. Before then I have the Darwin - Broome trip which will be pretty tropical. After this I really must settle down!!!
I'd better quit. I want to get to the grocery store before the hordes converge. Campsie is becoming overcrowded and unpleasant, all that breeding I suppose! I will make a concerted effort to attend to my blog more frequently from now on.
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