Friday
30 December
The year that was
It is common knowledge that the older you get, the quicker time flies. The next birthday, Christmas, Easter or other special occasions that seemed to take forever to arrive, now occur in the blink of an eyelid. And there we are, another occasion, another year, older but not necessarily wiser. I don't make new year's resolutions; they are too stressful to achieve. Also, I like to go with the flow and see what opportunities present themselves.
This year also brought the passing of some special
people. Gail's beautiful and talented son Christopher. No mother should have to
go through what she had to, and of course, Ken. My memories of our trip to
London for the Aichinger Reading, the camaraderie on stage there and at UQ, Christopher's wit and enormous knowledge, are very preciously embedded.
Sunday, 25 December
'Great idea, let's do it, Soph!'
Soph spent more time than Alistair choosing PJs, but they got everything they wanted and left the crowded Christmas-jingled shopping centre.
'Alistair, somehow, the Trifle didn't turn out as trusty as in the past. Maybe it's because I used custard as the first layer instead of pudding?'
'Looks are not everything, as long as the taste is right.'
'Ah, well, only one way to find out. We could have a taste; after all, it's only us. It might go off by the 25th, so why not indulge four days before.'
'It's delicious. The fact that it's all melted into one multi-coloured mass doesn't bother me, Sophie.'
The morning of the 25th was humid, grey clouds hung heavy above the roofs, but the couple's mood was relaxed. They enjoyed the bacon, eggs and spinach Alistair had cooked and allowed themselves a second cup of coffee. Excited about her new PJs, Sophie showered and dried herself. She generously lathered her arms before realising she had used foam soap instead of body lotion. Damn, just got to rinse my arms again. Doesn't matter, no hurry. Where is Alistair? Probably pulling out weeds in the garden?
Finally, they were ready and set for the chilled bubbly and binge-watch.
'Hello, dears; we just thought we'd drop in, seeing you, too, are all alone at this special time of the year. And you got the bubbles ready, fantastic.'
'Hi, Ros, hi Walt, that is indeed a surprise. Alistair and I were just having a quiet one.'
'You can't have a quiet one today. We got Amy and Roddy in the car. I'll go and get them.'
Well, so much for planning a tête-à-tête on Christmas Day. To top it, the couple had to put up with Walt making fun of the colourful blob of a Trifle.
I managed to get a trip in to Darwin to spend my birthday with Markus and family. It was great. On my special day we went to a Korean restaurant in town, which was a treat. My gorgeous granddaughters are nearly as tall as I am. It was just so lovely to spent my time with all of them.
Our next planned trip is to Alice Springs with trips to Uluru and the West Macdonnell Ranges. I am looking forward to that. Ever since our trip to Longreach and Winton I have acquired a special bond to the land outback.
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| Red Bowler Coffee Lounge West End |
Geoff, Sally and I went to the fabulous 'Red Bowler' Cafe where vintage movies screen Wednesday nights. We saw the 1961 American romantic comedy ‘Breakfast at Tiffany's'. How could anyone who saw it, ever forget stylish Audrey Hepburn’s elegant silhouette, gowned by Givenchy, and being oh, so chic.
Based on Truman Capote’s eponymous novella, and disregarding the political incorrectness of the era, the film has a few flaws such as the miscasting of Mickey Rooney. But Audrey, in the role of naïve and eccentric café society girl Holly, holds the film together, enchants and is a sheer delight to watch. Audrey actually sings the theme song, which according to our lecturer was special. We were privileged to listen to his introduction before the film and during interval.
The Café serves various delicious meals, we opted for moussaka and indulged in some naughty, calorie-adding desserts. The evening was perfect for mid-week. Something to be repeated for sure.
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spot the #FREE ASSANGE poster |
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| couldn't miss the poster |
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| the march began |
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| the march continued... |
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| cool Jazz on the lawn |
As part of the International Day of Jazz, my friend Sally took me to West End Park, where we were treated to a live performance by an ensemble from the Jazz Music Institute (JMI). The sound of uplifting traditional jazz radiated over the juicy green lawn of Bunyapa Park in Vulture Street.
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| getting into the swing... |
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| and the lady sang |
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| a view to die for |
Imagine the setting of a sumptuous Italian movie, wonderful company with inspiring conversation topics. A magnificent entree with chilled Prosecco, followed by lemon chicken, yummy beans, delicious rice and Italian salad accompanied by Pino Grigio. An out of this world view over the tops of the Brisbane skyline.
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| a lunch to die for |
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| shall we? |
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| yes, let's do it! |
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| and why not eat cake? |
Writing Challenge
Today's creative challenge by the Writers of Seville is: Find a quote that inspires/intrigues you and write about what comes from that.
300 words
Man kann nicht immer gegen den Strom schwimmen,
aber man muss stets genug Charakter haben,
sich nicht mitreißen zu lassen. - Curt Goetz
You can't always swim against the current,
but you always have to have enough character,
not to get carried away.
I find this quote by Swiss German writer, actor and film director, Curt Goetz, who was also a distant relative of the Irish writer George Bernard Shaw, to whom he was often compared, timelessly appropriate. So much so, that I have used it before the prologue of my novel sepia.
Tuesday, 1 February
Covid binge buying
I was watching a German movie about the spread of COVID. It was noted that while the citizens of a number of countries stock up on food items and toilet paper, the French stock up on red wine and condoms. Guess what I am stocking up on.
World wide - toilet paper
Throughout history as well as in present times we are all too often confronted by human behaviour that ought to abide by Curt’s quote.
Who are the lawmakers that support the suppression of individuals and groups who have been labelled as inferior due to race, colour, religion, gender, or simply being different to perceived normality? This suppression has happened, and is happening now, here, and around us, every day, and every minute. You read or see the news, attesting to this deplorable universal situation. Going back in history you read about the subjugation of indigenous people from Africa, India, Australia and other continents. Sadly, this oppression of seemingly subordinate groups of people is still pervasive. The brave people who do stand up, are often a minority and are often subjected to punishment.
To stand up and not be part of what is an enforced and/or universally accepted inhuman and immoral behaviour, takes great courage. To be aware and conscientiously take a stand for a just and fair treatment of all humanity is aspirational and achievable.
I have used Curt’s quote to demonstrate that two characters in sepia are exposed to the same extremist political indoctrination. One obeys; one sees beyond. One lives; one dies. Life is not always fair. What is important though, is to have enough character to not get carried away with the current.
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| Sauerkraut and Original Spreewald Gurken |
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| yum yum |
What will this new year bring? How much can we control that?
I am playing one of my Oscar Peterson CD's Round Midnight. As the sleeve says 'nothing, and nobody, has managed to render his style unfashionable; his playing is the synthesis of a whole section of the history of jazz piano seen through the prism of his undeniable personality.' I was lucky enough to see the great artist perform twice, once in Hamburg and once here in Brisbane, in the City Hall. Though gone for some years now, my collection of Oscar's CD's still fills me with immense delight. I also reflect on the limited time of our existence.
I hope that the COVID situation will become more manageable. My other hopes are humanity will become kinder to each other and thus to those less fortunate. People will vote for a government that plan for the future, a cleaner planet; that spend money looking after people instead of corporations; that show compassion, in particular towards asylum seekers and that brings Julian Assange home.
On a personal level I am hoping that this is the year that will see my printed manuscript on the market. I also hope that I will be able to visit Uluru and spend some time immersed in indigenous culture. And I am longing to see my granddaughters this year.