Happy Easter Everyone! I am taking 2 weeks off for the holidays so this #Allseasons runs for 2 weeks!
Take care, stay safe and enjoy the break for those heading off somewhere.
#Allseasons linky runs from Thursday to Wednesday each week. But this linking will run until the 15th April.
Link one post that shows something seasonal. Traditional weather wise, a seasonal nature marker or a seasonal celebration or event. Please link relevant posts only.
Make sure you link back to this #AllSeasons post.
Please comment on the post before yours and the host. Don't dump and run.
Gullivar's Travels for the online podcast. I took this to be a satire on Colonialism, so read it with that frame of reference. Some of it is very funny - especially the fire part. I did enjoy the reversal of position when he changed in stature. However, I lost interest by the end. I found the satire on learning and education (and school systems) interesting, but more for the conservatism we see today, almost the gate keeping to discourage others from benefiting from it. I don't think a child would be interested in reading this at all, which is interesting as I loved the movie and the story as a child. I think the fantasy side is why the movies and 'story' is so popular, but if you read the book, it's the humour in human nature that makes it relevant. The pride and ego in politics is as much a part of today as it was then. Interestingly, there were attempts to ban it for all the public urination in the book, among other reasons. Glad I read it but not sure I'd put it in the must read pile. The online book club chat is here. I like to read along and then listen to their discussion.
Alpine Divorce. I had to read this after it kept popping up in these dreadful murders. I was genuinely suprised it's not what people say it's about. It's clever and cute (though meant to be horror or thriller or something). I could only find it on Audible, paid $3.99 and it's 10 mins long.
Destination Unknown - I booked my husband's trip around Morocco and as I'm now very familiar with all the locations, I thought I'd read this spy novel by Agatha Christie. I really enjoyed it. Different to her usual work in many ways, it was clever and fun. It had the most brilliant line, which came out of nowhere after a minor character we just got introduced to made a speech annotating the action “And with long graceful steps Mademoiselle Maricot walked out of the small salon and out of the story.” It really was a fun read and a change from her usual style. Written in 1954, it was funny to have the cold war themes as I think of her as much older time periods for her stories. This felt more modern.
Flesh - I only read it because Zadie Smith said he wrote it with the aim of readers shortened attention span and it was excellent. So that was enough to make me curious. I will admit it took me a little time to get into the rhythmn of it. But I enjoyed it. I won't say I thought it was excellent but I'm glad I read it and I think I'm seeing him at the writers festival so will be interested to hear what he as to say. It's very interesting in the style and pace.
The Commendant for book group - I really wanted to love this as I love Tirra Lirra By The River but I found it a little slow to get started. I was 100 pages in before I began to get interested. It does pick up and the characters and politics of the early days in Australia become more interesting. So worth a read, thought it is out of my usual style. I am however looking forward to our book club discusssion as I think most of the group will have really enjoyed it.
Lastly, I walked past this on a running trail. I thought it was a great title and a great way to capture a relevant market, but not for me....
I can not believe this month has flown past! I've done a bit less than normal because of commitments at the school but still been a pretty great month!
ReadI read this book and learnt a few brilliant terms and phrases. My favourite being:
Kummerspeck - the German for Grief Bacon - excess weight gained by emotional eating
Huftgold - Hip Gold - love handles (weight on hips)
and one that takes on a more powerful meaning in Australia, though still meaning the same thing:
Ej bekot - Latvian for Go pick mushrooms! - to mean Leave me alone!
I came across this wholesome post on Instagram and learnt that sharks are older than trees! They predate fire (Fire requires a minimum of 16% oxygen to burn and Earth only got that 350-400 million years ago - I guess because of the lack of trees. Apparently they were also around before the North Star - not before it's discovery, but before it came into being! Sharks are older than Saturn's rings!Sharks have existed long enough that the solar system has completed a galactic orbit twice! They also mentioned grasshoppers are older than grass and wait for it, whales and dolphins were once land animals! Seriously, I have no idea how I didn't know any of this - and I did biology for the HSC. I've no idea what we learnt but nothing memorable!
I'm also enjoying reading my fortune whenever I have a sweet treat - left overs from the Lunar New Year lunch...still going strong. I felt this one was a push to get me back into the Torschlusspanik list....
Watched Hail Mary which I enjoyed and Wuthering Heights which I really don't understand the pushback against. I think it's because Margot Robbie has a very successful production company AND is ageing but staying beautiful enough to star in lead roles. THe film is sumptuous and grotesque, there's a lot of money hiding the bad behaviour, or people with money behaving badly - reminded me at times of Epstien and that crew of wealthy people keeping their perversions secret behind a facade of wealthy dignity. I think she managed to shock a fairly unshockable audience, as the book did at the time too. There's a really touching bit at the end that I'm so surpirsed no one has mentioned it. I really FELT it. Anyway, I say ignore the naysayers and give it a go. Even my sister who is older and more conservative than me, asked at the end "Why does everyone hate it? I thought it was really good."
Heard I went to a silent disco at the Museum so heard some 80s-00s songs, went to Alok so heard some Brazillian songs, and went to a jazz club and a Frank Sinatra night so heard some old songs, went to a drop in choir at the Opera House and sang some African songs (from different countries)....otherwise musically, didn't get out so much this month. Which is sad for me, especially as 4 of my gigs in April cancelled - 3 for Bluesfest and 1 for personal reasons...must remedy! So I'm going to share a song that popped up in my iTunes (I've decided to work thru my collection and listen to all the songs I've forgotten about in the car). I used to have this on high rotation....
There is nothing better than getting out dancing with friends!
MadeMe so happy to see the Mardi Gras decorations at Spice Alley. I was complaining to people that I thought they were missing around the city (though they do have to compete with Lunar New Year and Valentine's Day) and was wondering if we are broke as a country (that Aukus deal and the COVID hangover) or if that Anti LBGT campaign funded out of another country was gaining ground. So when we went out in Spice Alley, I smiled and thought "This is my Sydney that I love!". I know it's tokenism, for just 3 weeks but I think it's important that we show we are Allies. Sadly now more than ever. I did think it was funny the reuse of the Valentine's Day decorations - environmental to boot!
Wore My friend gave me this beautiful turquoise purse. It's so lovely and weirdly turquiose reminds me of my day - he really liked it and got me a necklace as a child. So it really fills me with a warmth.
I also got the white ikea bag because I need a waterproof crossbody handbag for Parookaville, incase it rains and I need my passport with me....I've been testing it out and I think it will work fine. From a groovy shop in Newtown, not Ikea...
My Top Three Moments from the Month Gone By I wrote 2 stories - they weren't great but they were written and submitted, which is the first in a long time so very happy with that. Had a lovely lunch at Lumi with good friends (all the food pics are from there) and our very lovely anniversary celebration. But as always, there's really too much good to narrow it down....
As an aside, it was the first time I'd been to Lumi with the doors all opened. It's so lovely with the outdoor vibe. If you haven't been, it's the best restuarant in Sydney, if not the country. Everything is equisite. And delicious.
And a quick downer for me - but not for you!I've been waiting and waiting for Jeremy Loops to announce his tour - he finally does, he's playing up the road from me BUT on the night I fly out! I tried to see if I could change my flight and fly out of Brisbane to see him up there the night before, but no go! So now I need to madely get enough Qantas points so I can watch him in Auckland and great inconvenience to all my family. As I just spent ALL my points booking Dark Mofo, this is unlikely. SO you should all go, you lucky people and tag me in clips. He's sooo good live!
Hope April is as good for everyone - for Australians on School Holidays, have a great time, take care and may the petrol prices keep you safe from double demerits - and for everyone else, as the Germans say 'Auf einem Bein kann man nicht stehen' (there's no standing on one leg), or 'One drink is not enough - you need to have two!
I'm also linking with #GardenAffair because there's flowers on the food and in the drinks, and leaves as well as garnish. I thought this was an interesting use of garden items....the garlic flowers on the pasta were so strong - I loved them, my Italian husband found them too strong to eat, which I found interesting.
Sydney seems to be in the rainy season - while I shouldn't complain as other parts of Australia are dealing with floods, cyclones and other severe weather events, like a true Sydneysider our daily downpour is doing my head in.
We've needed an electrician to come and deal with a leak that sent water into a light fitting, which will also mean we'll need a roofer.
I'm trying to give away stuff so I'm endlessly bringing stuff in and taking it back out so it doesn't get damamged.
It's impeding my ability to walk everywhere.
And just general annoyance.
However, I guess in a country where drinking water is always under threat, and we seem intent on building data farms everywhere, I guess more rain is preferable.
And it's not all bad, it makes for some pretty pictures.
"The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain". Dolly Parton
I have no idea how we are here again already, and yet, here we are. It is almost April.
something we loved: It was our wedding anniversary and we splashed out at the Chefs Table (Omakase) at Ora. We have spent many of my birthdays or our anniveraries at Sushi e and later Ora with the chef Nobuyuki Ura. The food is sensational every single time and it is my favourite restuarant in Sydney. For a cheaper option, look at the fixed lunch offering from time to time. It's so delicous and so beautifully presented. We had never done the chef's table so it was a very special occasion for us. However, I felt even though we were the oldest, the other 8 guests seemed more blaze about it. Not sure if that's to do with some young people having more wealth, so it wasn't a big deal for them, or if Sydney dining scene has changed and people don't dress up like they used to and merrily look at their phones during dinner.
I have not been loving the weather of late but I have loved the spectacular light and reflections it's given us.
Pink clouds, rainbows, firey skies all come out along with the rain and the humidity. It may not be a silver lining per se, but it's something pretty spectacular.
obi UraNobuyuki Ura
Something that sustained us: Twice this month my husband and I popped out on a Wednesday to see Clayton Doley play at small venues. Once at Butcher's Brew and once at Bar Torino. It was great to have these easy, laid back date nights. It was great to see live music, and such a talented musician. Both nights we were home by 9.30 so it was equally great not to be tired on a weeknight, nor the next day. I hope to carry it forward....but nothing planned as yet. However, how it sustained us, in the demise of Bluesfest that has hit us quite hard. We loved it, and it was a great way for us to enjoy music together and find new bands we both like as our taste in music is very different. All our sideshows cancelled, which as I feared is an indicatior that without the festival to help their costs, they just won't tour here anymore. Australia is very expensive to tour in, and a lot of smaller bands or independant musicians can't make the costs work for them. So seeing Clayton Doley, who we discovered at Bluesfest many years ago, was at least a reminder that were were still artists we could see and enjoy. So last Wednesday, while lamenting the loss that Bluesfest will prove to be, there was still a little joy to be found.
something we're carrying forward from this month to the next: See above. I wrote 2 stories this month. They were short and not great but they were written. I have 2 more lined up to write so I'm hoping I can get that creativity back up and running, and begin to execute it a little better....the COVID years really stopped me in my tracks in a lot of different ways.
I also read you need to hand write for 20 minutes a day to help with brain function and avoid dementia (more complicated than that, obviously but it helps). So I am back to hand writing my short stories. I'm nowhere close to 20 minutes daily but it's still more than what I was doing. So I want to continue and increase that practice.
something we're making space for: Exercise. I really need to keep movement up. Whether it's walking distances or weights and stretches, plus dancing, a lot of dancing, my body seems to stiffen up without it so I really need to make the time every day.
