ROCKWIZ LIVE

RocKwiz is up there in the vault as one of my all-time favourite shows.

It is a perfect set-up, originally filmed in The Gershwin Room at The Epsy Hotel in St Kilda, Melbourne. The Espy is a grand old hotel, and mecca for lovers of music, specifically rock. You can almost feel the sticky of the floor, the ringing of your ears when you watch the show. You swoon over the red velvet, the atmosphere is palpable and very much your usual pub experience.

4 regular people/punters from the pub are chosen to sit on panels of 3 on the main stage to answer all sorts of questions about music. It is next level pub trivia!

There is a wonderful backing band, initially the 3 piece of Mark Ferry on Bass, Peter 'Lucky" Luscombe on Drums, and the genius James Black on keyboards and guitars, often together! They were phenomenal in terms of replicating the sound of well-known and beloved songs and new music too. 

The 2 big keys to the show's success are Julia Zemiro and Brian Nankervis. Julia is your hostess with the mostess. She keeps everything running smoothly, with grace and much humour. Always dressed in black and white with sometimes a touch of red, Julia fits in visually as a rock n roll chick. She is effortlessly cool, hilarious, quick witted, and utterly charming. Brian is a force of nature, he moderates the show, keeps time, does the warm-up, and helps with the selection of the audience.

The show starts with Who Can It Be Now, where Julia asks questions about a performer that is waiting backstage to sing a song. This is always a mix of prominent and well-known Australian singers and musicians, up and coming singers and musicians, and often visiting singers and musicians from overseas. This is always fun and exciting. Once they have sung their song, they join one panel, and the next Who Can It Be Now is up. So each panel has a real life musician sitting with them, answering questions. This is always fabulous, seeing the reactions of everyday punters when Martha Wainwright or Tex Perkins joins their panel!

The rounds of questions come next including the Million Dollar Riff, where the band plays a classic riff, that you need to guess. This is my area of expertise! Bloody love that round.

Throughout the show, Dugald, the roadie, comes out in his white singlet and grin, and shows us how each panel of contestants are going with pieces of cardboard and scores.

At the end of the show a winning panel is announced, there is no prize, just the glory of winning. The two singers join forces with the band and sing a duet. This is often the highlight with some amazing pairings and songs.

Here is a link to one of my favourite duets of all time from the show, Deborah Conway and Tex Perkins slaying the Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris version of Love Hurts. It smoldered so much, I got a text message from my Mum (My parents were huge fans of the show) asking how long they were married, lol!

The show was instantly a classic and a favourite, especially for those answering at home. Back in the hey day of twitter, a group of locals would watch RocKwiz and tweet, we became friendly online and ended up all meeting for a local 80s gig - despite never meeting before - and had a great night, most of them are still close friends to this day.

This show means so much to me.

It finished up some years back, sadly, but has had a reprieve this year, in a slightly shorter format. It is pretty good, not quite the same, but better than no RocKwiz!

And over the past decade or so it has toured. The touring show is pretty much the same at the television show except you often get more than 2 singers or musicians AND you get to see how they find the 4 panelists for the main show.

This show was a superb one, I have seen the live show a couple of times before, Andrew had not. We'd had a big week and were both really exhausted. And it was in the middle of the Newcastle Writers Festival weekend. However, once we got to The Civic Theatre the vibe was so warm and uplifting we felt immediately great.

Brian was outside in the foyer, bouncing about and getting everyone excited. We took our seats and he came into the theatre and was telling stories music and his childhood and so on. He had a soundtrack playing and then it happened.

He told a story about a childhood favourite song and played it.

The song was Snoopy Vs the Red Baron by The Royal Guardsman!

It was a childhood favourite of mine, we played it A LOT!

It was on a compilation called Goofy Greats, that Dad had brought us, with loads of cool bubblegum and groovy pop from the 60s and 70s.

I cannot begin to tell you the joy this song brought to me, hearing it again for the first time in many decades. It was a song I had forgotten even existed. But it took me right back to dancing around the lounge room with my sister when we were little. We loved that song. I remembered every word and nuance of the song, it was a glorious moment.

When I got home later that night I found Goofy Greats and the original 45, both part of Dad's vinyl collection he gifted to me some years back.

I also found the original video, which I had never seen, and it is great. The song itself is very catchy of course, but quite subversive if you listen to it, it is about WW2.

So after that, we couldn't not have a great night!

There were special cards placed around the theatre under seats, which gave a lot of people a chance on stage to answer questions and possibly be chosen as the final group of 4 for the main part. This was loads of fun and Brian did a superb job of running through this.

Once the contestants were chosen, Julia appeared. She is so very charismatic and just one of the best people. I am sure we would be great friends, if we got to know each other, lol! So much in common.

The first 2 guests were revealed, Wilsn and Chris Cheney.

The show went on and a third, Thando was revealed.

Julia had to have a wry chat to the audience about calling out the answers, as everyone was doing, lol. The contestants were to do this and we needed to answer internally and silently lol.

The night was full of music and comedy and laughter and joy. If you have never been to a live RocKwiz, I cannot recommend it enough.

I went home singing Snoopy Vs the Red Baron and it kept me smiling for weeks after.

Some nights are 11 out of 10!

(see what I did there!!)

BEN ELTON

Ben Elton is a National Treasure...someone some of us don't even realise is a National Treasure. He has lived here in WA for most of his adult life, and a naturalised Australian for 20 years.

He sometimes doesn't land well, but for me, The Young Ones, will make him one of my heroes regardless of the misses. 

And then you add Blackadder and Upstart Crow. We Will Rock You.

All perfection!

We got tickets to see him live here in Newcastle back in 2019, we were meant to see him in April last year but COVID got in the way.

Talk about a lead up.

Last week, I started to listen to his latest novel, Identity Crisis, on talking book, as read by the author himself. It is a busy novel with multiple storylines and a lot of characters. 

It showcases a lot of current issues, mostly surrounding identity, The Internet, and political correctness. The stories work on both sides and initially I was unsure what to think, it confused me, it seemed like Elton was maybe taking the piss on gender and similar issues. This didn't sit comfortably with me. 

However, it was interesting and challenging in subject matter and I was curious to know where it heads, so am continuing.

So this made me a little concerned about what to expect in this performance.

I should have known better.

Within the first 10 minutes he addressed these issues, he was/is a radical thinker. He totally gets and understands all the issues he is discussing, but he is still at times confused by them and feels a little left behind, and he wants to explain why and thinks a lot of us feel similarly. 

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

The crowd were mostly 50-70 year olds, which makes sense. I am always fascinated by who turns up to events, I love a good people watch.

We had excellent seats, and after a funny, self-deprecating voice over, out he came to thunderous applause. The first half was about 90 minutes, the second about an hour. This is a LOT!!! 

And he still talks super fast, moving around the stage in a jaunty, dancey way that only a 61 year old male like him can.

The show was about Identity, ageing, and The Internet, and everything in between.

It was fast, it was clever, it was intelligent, it was thoughtful, it was fucking funny.

I won't even try to emulate his jokes, it is impossible.

I loved his empathetic take on menopause, noting that whilst men really have no idea but they suffer too, eg being stuck in bed with someone who is running hot and cold all night and the doona on and off and on and off.

His long shtick about nursing homes and different generations and how they would be, especially future generations.

I cracked up at his take on hip hop music, and his son blue toothing his radio to hip hop music from the back at the car in what he initially thought was some kind of Harry Potteresque stunt.

This only tips the iceberg.

He delves into politics, gender, identity, cancel culture, and he walks a fine line perfectly. He does get all the issues and is quite 'woke' but also divulges he still feels like all these things are coming fast and thick and they are complex and makes him think. And he often feels uncomfortable about not being up with it all, but he's trying. 

His thoughts and insights are as edgy as he ever was, despite his 61 white cis middle age maleness. If only more (or all!?!) males that age and older were like that, we would have a hell of a lot less issues.

The time went too quick, I could have sat there for hours and loved that he seemed to be really enjoying himself.

It is always lovely to visit the Civic Theatre, but it is also superb to sit there and laugh for a few hours.

And it is great to see a hero, at 61, still at the top of his game.

APRIL/MAY REVIEWS

What I've Been Watching

The Mindy Project S1-3 - had a bit of a binge on this, and whilst it is a fun show, but the end of S3 I was a bit done. Good fun show with the adorable Mindy Kaling as a Dr and the stories around her work, but ultimately not compelling enough to binge. This is a couple of episodes every now and then pick me up.

House of Cards S5 - where do I start, I was becoming a little done with this show the season prior and this season, until the end few episodes, much the same. And of course we have the whole Kevin Spacey debacle. Where does one place all of this...on the too hard basket to be honest. Seriously no, I have thought long and hard about this and others I loved that have fallen from grace. It really is difficult to separate the person from the art when it is so full on. I remember I had bought almost every season of The Cosby Show and was really enjoying reliving a childhood favourite that actually held up well, and was up to S3 when the shit hit the fan there, they remain in my cupboard unwatched. 

But Kevin I really adored, not just as an actor but as an actor who seemed to hark back to the golden age of Hollywood. Anyone who has seen him interviewed would agree on his incredible intellect, his charisma and charm, and those remarkable impersonations. There was something special about him and yet he could play bad so very well, Swimming with Sharks anyone!?, that it kinda didn't surprise me. He is basically no one anymore, part of me is totally fine with that, and part of me is sad. And that is about as far as I have gotten. It's a rough one, for everyone involved.

Fortitude S2 - oh vey, the first series started well, intrigue and murder in a nordic, icy small town, but it unraveled into a really grotesque thing. I should have realised S2 would be similar, and indeed it started with great promise, but by the last few episodes, there were scenes so graphic and horrific I thought I would vomit. Simply too much!

Victoria S2 - I have really grown to enjoy this series. Jenna Coleman is just delightful and feisty as Queen Victoria, but it is Tom Hughes who plays Prince Albert, that I just adore. His performance is nuanced, and clever, and sexy, and melancholy. He nails what it must be like to adore the most famous woman in the world and also be a little in her shadows.

Halt and Catch Fire S1/2 - this has been around for a while and was recommended to me and I, in turn, will recommend it to you. Set in 1983 when computers and technology commenced it's real boom, the show follows a group of youngish tech heads, set on giving IBM a run for their money. A drama with great attention to detail of the era (has a sort of Mad Men feel) this is truly fascinating and compelling to watch. 

Here and Now S1 - I loved this at the beginning, but it fell away in the middle. The story of a mixed family, headed by hippy parents, Tim Robbins and Holly Hunter. It bordered on paranormal, but in a realistic way, with one of their children hallucinating strange things...but were they real. Too much time was spent on this particular storyline and it became a bit nutty, but it picked up towards the end. So I will hang on and see what S2 brings....nothing, it has been cancelled.

Genius S2 - Picasso - if anyone was born to play the great Picasso, it was Antonio Banderas. Oh my! Look Picasso was a bit of a challenging character but those paintings are simply my favourites. I adore Picasso. The show, much like Einstein before it, moves around from young to teen to older Picasso and for the most part that works, just sometimes the jumps are too quick. Also you do not always get to see the copies, that is apparantly a whole copyright thing. So the paintings used are fakes, that were to be destroyed once filming finished. Mostly you see him painting front on, hence no painting to actually see and people around the painting praising it but no painting...ahhhhhh. But in all, this is a great series.

Handmaid's Tale S2 - this continues to take my breath away. The acting is outstanding, especially from Elisabeth Moss, that woman doesn't need to open her mouth to convey her emotions. It is certainly intense and not one to binge watch, but it is good!

Alan Davies, As Yet Untitled - I love this simple comedy show late on a Sunday night on ABC Comedy. Alan has four comic guest around a round table and they talk about stuff and hope to come up with a title for the show. It's very funny and the guests - those you know and those you don't - are always a great mix. Worth having a look at.

Next of Kin - is a new british show I am enjoying. A middle eastern family living in London appears to have terrorists within, or do they. The female lead is married to Jack Davenport and he seems to be an innocent, or is he. Hard to explain without giving stuff away, but a thriller/mystery that has me on the edge of my seat. My theory is the Davenport character is up to no good...though I could be wrong!

The Beguiled - a lovely Sofia Coppola films about a group of ladies in the South who take in a Union solider (Colin Farrell) who is injured. Set in a ladies home, run by Nicole Kidman, only a handful of ladies remain due to the war. Lush and beautifully shot. But there's a twist, things go horridly wrong, when some of the ladies vie for the solider's attention. I did enjoy this to a certain degree, but found it a little melodramatic in parts.

Hampstead - this was a sweet little film with Diane Keaton, a ditzy widower, and Brendan Gleeson, a curmudgeonly character living in a shack on the Hampstead Heath. They strike up a relationship which exposes him from the radar he'd been living under, and his 'property' comes under attack. Based on a true story, I didn't mind this.

I Am Heath Ledger - this was a good solid documentary, with loads of great early footage where you can see his charisma and his darkness. Ultimately, nothing too new and just sad.

A Room With A View  - oh my goodness, how wonderful is it to relive old faves, I have to say not many movies grab me these days. And watching these older films really consolidate that. I love a romance done well, these are few and far between, this one is just lovely, but it is far more than that. It is romantic on a whole other level, the romance of life and living well and all that, my kind of romance. That first 30 minutes or so in Florence has got to be the most romantic ever set to film. Beautiful young Helena Bonham Carter and Julian Sands, the rest of the cast (Denholm Elliot, Rupert Graves, Maggie Smith, Judi Dench), wandering all through the beauty and perfection that is Florence and the Tuscan hills, in those flowing garments, and all that opera as background music. The return to England is equally as stunning, throwing a young, pompous Daniel Day-Lewis into the mix. If you haven't seen this, you are in for a treat, go now!!

Do the right thing - 1989!! I love this film so very much, I remember seeing it in a cinema and my mind was freaking blown, that opening shot, the hot summer in Brooklyn, the hip hop, the dancing, the coolness of the character against the stifling summer heat. A melting pot of angst and anger, race, hate and love. I knew this was a change coming. Almost overlooked at the Oscars that year with only a nom for Danny Aiello's Sal and Spike's original screenplay. No wins. It remains a masterpiece that I watch often. Great performances all round, Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Giancarlo Esposito, and a young trio of John Turturro, Rosie Perez, and Samuel Jackson, and Spike himself as the troubled Mookie. This film is a masterpiece and that is before it gets to its explosive last quarter. And don't forget Public Enemy's Fight the Power!!

What I've Been Reading

The Goldfinch - Donna Tartt - this is my first Donna Tartt. I have heard wonderful things about all 3 of her books. I need to read her first 2 soon! I've been in a reading slump and this 700+ page tome got my reading mojo working again! What an epic saga, a young boy has been suspended from school and on his way to a meeting with teachers his Mum takes him to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Whilst there a bomb goes off in an act of terrorism and the boy spends days trying to locate his mother. Prior to the explosion he sees a girl his age and is quite taken by her. After the explosion the old man she was with, passes on his dying wishes to the young boy, who also takes with him a priceless painting, The Goldfinch.

And so begins his journey, to old school money on the east side of New York, to Vegas, back to New York. The characters he meets, the girls he loves, a dog, a crazy friend, antiques, money, drugs, and the piece of art. This is the most wonderfully thought out story, I could picture every part of it in my head, it is a visual book. There were a few times I thought it could have been edited, but in all that is a very minor discrepancy. I just fell in love with this book, it is a must read, and a rare 5 out of 5 for me!

Danger Music - Eddie Ayres
The background to this book is interesting. I had purchased a ticket to see him talk at the Newcastle Writer's Festival, the name familiar to me as a Classic FM announcer. The book, had come through my hands at work and sounded intriguing, but I was yet to read it. I was in the festival bookshop and picked it up and noticed beside it was a book I already owned and had read, Cadence by Emma Ayres, oh I thought, must be his sister, and then looked at both books and realised they must be twins. How astonishing, and thought no more about it. Later I was lunching and it came back to me, and I googled Eddie and yep Eddie used to me Emma! The talk about the music that defined his (and fellow Classic FM announcer, Christopher Lawrence) life was fascinating.

So I finally got around to reading the book, and it was a wonderful must read that I cannot recommend highly enough. Eddie is actually Emma for most of the book, and she was feeling lost in her life, and decided to go to Afghanistan to teach classical music, specifically the cello (sigh, probably my most favourite instrument and one I'd love to learn) to children at a special school there. 

SHe tells about setting up house, the problems of being a woman and a foreigner in such a country, but mostly it is about the children and the music, the school, the struggles and classic music. Absolutely fascinating. There are moments of intensity, how can there not be, but it is written so beautifully and with so much hope you never feel dragged down by the sadness that does occur. It is a true insight into living in a war torn country, and it is honest and real, with tremendous heart. I loved the musicality of the book, I could hear all those songs in my head. And of course there is a small underlying melancholy thread layered through the book where Emma realises she must become Eddie. This is easily one of the best books I have read and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

The Music Shop - Rachel Joyce - I enjoyed this simple little book about a record store owner. He refused CDs when they came in and kept his record store going, with a group of regulars, all unusual and interesting. He could recommend the right record for people without knowing much about him. There is something about his past and when a mysterious woman faints outside the shop a connection forms. We follow these people throughout the years, and see where their lives progress. Loads of music references, a little bit of romance, and some mystery, this was a sweet book.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine - Gail Honeyman -  this is another sweet little book, one we read for our Bookclub. When we meet Eleanor it is very obvious there is something wrong. At first I thought possible aspergers, and that irritated me, there has been a run on those kinds of books and I hate pulpy stuff. But it was not that, she has gone through some kind of trauma and the author slowly reveals the trauma as we see Eleanor transform from a shell to a better version of herself. It wasn't a huge reveal, because to an astute reader you are always a few steps ahead of the author, or at least I was. And I found the whole make over a little irritating. But I did enjoy the book nonetheless. I guess if I were to be honest, early Eleanor reminded me of me in what I call my lost years. How lucky was her character to have the character of Raymond become her friend and help her out of her funk. This has won lots of praise and is going to be made into a movie. It is what you would call a feel good book.

A Woman looking at Men looking at Women - Siri Hustvedt  - Loads of essays about art, philosopy, psychology and life. Louise Bourgeois, Robert Mapplethorpe, Wim Wenders, Pina, and Susan Sontag referenced amongst many more. This was intense but an excellent read.

Wednesdays With Bob by Bob Hawke and Derek Reilly - Over a period of Wednesdays the author arrives at Bob Hawke’s home with a  cigar and they sit on his balcony and chat about everything from politics to death and love.

It is utterly fascinating, at times bawdy, and always intelligent with a little humour…as you would imagine. He also interviews other key people, Blanche, Gareth Evans, John Howard, Kim Beazley, John Singleton and more.

David Sedaris - I've been continuing to work my way through Sedaris in order. Finishing Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, When You Are Engulfed By Flames, and Let's Explore Diabetes With Owls. I loved re-reading these beloved and hilarious books. Not many books make me laugh out loud, but Sedaris always does, even more when I know the story. He moves around through his childhood (oh, that family!!!), his 'lost' years, the odd jobs, meeting Hugh, and becoming a writer. You feel you know this man so intimately, and yet he can surprise you in a second. He is sweet and kind, and also snippy and shocking. I have nearly finished his diaries and his latest book, only published this week, I have had for a while (due to a very good friend in publishing) and I am busting to read it, but I wanted to finish re-reading in order before I did that. I am mean to myself in that way! If you haven't read any Sedaris, you simply must. Also look out for spoken word or live readings online, even better!!! Listening to him read his stuff, I have seen him live numerous times, is absolutely the best. Also he is very generous with fans, taking time to speak to each and every one at book signings, he just loves it, and we love him for it!

What I've Been Listening To

Versatile - Van Morrison - Van is continually popping out these great little gems, this is an album of jazz and standard covers and is a sheer delight.

The Thrill of it All - Sam Smith - I know he is what I would normally classify as Kid's Music (which is my snobby title for stuff the kids are listening to, eg what's trendy and commercial - urgh, usually not my thing) but I like this a lot! So there!!

Belle and Sebastian - listening to it all, in readiness for the the concert! Not like I need to!

Muriel's Wedding: the musical soundtrack- Kate Miller-Heidke and Abba, what more can i say, it is brilliant and I must go and see the actual show.

Jeff Lynne's ELO, Wembley or Bust - this is the cd and dvd package of this concert and it is brilliant. I am such an ELO fan, I just played it over and over.

Conversations with Richard Fidler podcasts  - still listening to a chunk of these in the car and just loving it. Every single one a stand out!

Chat 10, Looks 3 Podcast - finally caught up with this delightful podcast by Annabelle Crabbe and Leigh Sales about books. Yes, as you can imagine, I am in heaven and listening to it whenever I can. Love their friendship, their humour, the talk of yummy sweet things, and musical theatre along with the books and other pop culture references.

DAVID SEDARIS

This was my second time seeing the wonderful David Sedaris and I think it was better than the first. 

How lovely it was to drive into my beloved Civic Theatre and see one of my favourite writers there...in my hometown!

Sedaris, for the uninitiated, is an American satirist who writes essay length pieces about his family, life and growing up in middle America. The stories are laugh out loud funny but often melancholy and sadness are found underneath the satire. I have been reading his books and articles and listening to him for years now, and his family is so familiar to me I feel like I know them...intimately.

 When Sedaris tours he usually reads new pieces that he wants to publish in a book and thus reads them for reaction. It is quite remarkable. He stands there and reads these lovely pieces, some being already published online or in The New Yorker or similar. He makes little notes as he reads them, subtle changes perhaps, or noting what got laughs and what did not.

 He told us his next book will be diary entries, he is a stringent diary writer. So much so, his family get nervous when he pulls his diary or notebook out to jot down something he has observed. He usually used his diary for ideas to build into an essay. This time he is working out what works and stands alone and will make up some kind of dialogue for a book. He was embarking on this 2 years ago when we saw him at the Sydney Opera House and I initially thought it was an easy way to make money! But two years later he is still working on it, so he really is all about getting it right. 

He read a couple of pieces that had been published, one about picking up litter on the highway near to where he lives in the UK. I had read this before, but listening to it in his sweet, nasally voice adds to its charm and amusement. He also added little titbits at the end regarding things within, which I love. He often gives insight into his craft, which is one of my favourite thing about any artist. How did they get there and create their art!? The other pieces were set at his family holiday home, and include his family and partner Hugh, all familiar to the fans. They were great.

 Finally he moved to random diary entries and they were what had us all in stitches. His view of the world is so incredibly unique and wonderful, but amusing and witty, it is superb.


He was on stage for about 90 minutes and genuinely seemed to love being there. 

After L and I lined up to get books signed, ones we didn’t own. He asked L if she was Greek and me what I did for a living. The exact same questions he asked us last time! Bizarre, he seemed taken aback like he remembered that. Especially when A, who is Greek, popped her head in to say she was and hello. He got sidetracked and made a bit of a mess of what he was writing in my book, but I loved that, made it all the more unusual. He apologised in that lovely voice and how could you refuse. We smiled and walked away.

 Next time, we must think of something highly bizarre to talk to him about...that’s what he loves, and why he talks at length to each fan, it gives him material...maybe we might make the next book!!!

OCTOBER ROUND UP

Well to say I was uber busy during October would be an understatement!!

I had everything going on and I think it's a tribute to how well I am doing with my mental health that I can sit here calmly and write all about it all.

Firstly work was crazy busy, I had a lot of Social Media one on one lessons scheduled as a follow up to last month's overview. And we embarked on Rocktober, a month of music in the library. It was a lot of work and mostly things were successful. Unfortunately the Open Mic Nights we wanted to run were a failure. The people who had promised to assist just didn't deliver and as much as we tried without their help the nights just didn't work. This was extremely upsetting and annoying, but not everything in life goes according to plan and not everyone in life is trustworthy. This was to become a theme of my month! However we did schedule a lot of School Musical Showcases and they were extremely successful with fun performances within the library that were very well attended. And at the last minute I came across a worthy collaborator for future musical endeavours, so not down and out, we shall try something different in the new year. This was on top of regular work, meetings, starting to organise two separate staffing recruits and the awful news that it looks likely we will amalgamate with Newcastle Council resulting in about 130 lost jobs.

In the middle of all of this I decided that my dwindling field of possibilities romantically needed to be broadened! Well actually that decision was made last month, it was this month that saw things get moving. I guess I don't talk much about all of this, there are some things you gotta keep to yourself. I do date but yet to meet, you know, the one. Or at least the one who feels mutually about that, lol! But in between these dates can be what I call dry periods. Anyway, I love my life and for the most part don't actually get too down about being single, it would just be nice to share those special moments with someone that is all. At my age there is no hurry, no ticking clock, and I know what I want, so it's kind of refreshing really. Having said that I do have moments of despair and longing...cause you know, I'm human! 

So the broadening of my net so to speak unleashed, well, a range of situations that I initially struggled to navigate. Far out, it's a nightmare out there, I thought I knew that, but I had no idea really. It's a wonder the world continues to populate itself with so many idiots out there I can tell you. I have had some very awful experiences this month, one in particular that still has me scratching my head, but I do think I dodged a bullet by getting out of that fairly early, but not without great upset. You would think by the time we get to my age, we'd be grown up and done with games but apparently not. Anyway, I have had good experiences that more than made up for the bad, and the amusement of observing some of the dreadful behaviour is sadly entertaining and given me MUCH material to write about, lol! No, I haven't found the one yet, but it's been interesting and kind of fun. And as I write I feel less anxious than I did at the beginning of the month. Huge shout out to my lovely close circle of friends who look after my wellbeing and love me, in particular C and J, who are my constants and sounding boards.

And if all of that was not enough, boy I got some socialising in!!!

The month started in Sydney for a Music Librarians Conference I was thrilled to take part in. I felt like a rockstar Librarian as I entered the APRA HQ where the conference was held. I mingled with proper Music Librarians, and other interesting related people like The Brandenburg Orchestra, ABC etc. Afterwards I finally checked out the Gehry at the UTS which I absolutely loved of course.

The October long weekend is the This Is Not Art (TINA) and National Young Writers Festival and we had a long day listening to loads of interesting people talk about a range of subject matter. We also checked out the premiere of a local filmmaker's movie, filmed in Newcastle and Transylvania at The Towers. 

There was a crazy night in Newcastle where A, L, & I double booked ourselves (purposely) to see Magda Szubanski and Barry Morgan on the same night. Squeezing in Bookclub and a meal prior we were on fire!

Magda was here to be interviewed by the wonderful Rosemarie Milsom about her memoir. It was an hour of sheer delight, we got to see Magda and what a beautiful soul she is. She spoke mostly about her upbringing, her father who was a sniper during the war, and her struggles with her weight and sexuality. She was intelligent, well spoken, and just a fascinating person. Yes she dipped into her comedy and told a few fab stories, but it was the other that had me - and I suspect the entire audience - in the palm of her hands. I could have listened to her all night. I've always thought of her as a national treasure, but now more so.

As soon as that finished we hightailed it to the Carrington Bowlo for Barry Morgan. We'd only missed a small amount of his show which was hilarious and camp, as you would expect. If you don't know who Barry is, google him, he's another national treasure. I've loved his shtick since I first saw him on Spicks and Specks years ago. He entertained the very full audience, with songs, tales, double entendres, and divine organ playing. Gosh we loved Barry's organ. It was one of those nights of laughing until your cheeks hurt.

I also saw two plays this month, one an amateur production of a hospital farce at St Matthews Hall at Georgetown with H, featuring some of her family and with superb catering by the talented J. The other at The Playhouse with A, after a lovely meal at The Clarendon, called Between Two Waves, about a climate scientist whose life is falling apart around him. Clever staging encompassing relationships, climate change, politics, and mental health. I enjoyed both plays.

L and I were also privileged to be part of a small group of people who were lucky enough to see The Doubleclicks, a cool duo from Portland, who sing geeky songs about Dinosaurs, Cats, being an introvert, and sci-fi amongst other very cool things. Huge thanks to S for pulling this together. Definitely a fan now!

Here is them singing Oh, Mr Darcy.

My personal favourite, Will they or won't they?

And The Doctor Who Theme as you've never heard it before.

I also managed to head to a small Tweet Up at The Lass, attend an ALIA meeting at The Press Book House Cafe, check out Newcastle Gallery, do a lot of second hand book and clothes shopping, celebrate my nephew's 13th birthday at Foghorn, and catch up with D at Qs.

But the highlight of my month, and possibly my year was seeing Fleetwood Mac with C and E in Sydney. They were absolutely brilliant and you can read all about our experience here.

Here are my few reviews from October too, didn't have much time left to read or watch many DVDs.

And as always some random photos:

Damage and the Needle Done at The Butterfly Club

Prior to heading to Melbourne I noticed a comedy show I'd seen some years earlier was being revived. Fiona Scott-Norman, a Melbourne comedienne, did this amazing show about bad vinyl and we saw it at The Playhouse back in 2009. I remember it as the funniest thing I had ever seen! I thought that if it came back I would definitely see it again. Well I was in luck, it would be on when I was in Melbourne, and at The Butterfly Club no less. A cult, cool club I'd wanted to go to, and now I had a firm reason to. I purchase the tickets online and on a cool Tuesday night I walked the whole 90 seconds it took me from my front door to the club front door!

 

The Butterfly Club is down the end of a dodgy looking laneway in Melbourne and in a multiple story old building - you know, the usual!

 

I climbed up the stairs with loads of posters filling the stairwells. It was dark but lit by fairy lights. First floor I collected my tickets, and made my way up to the next floor where there were bathrooms etc, then the next where there was a bar. It was small and hardly anyone there, still 30 mins till show time...sigh...kinda my worst nightmare to be in a cool bar by myself. But I fronted up to the bar and chatted to the very friendly hipster barman, who suggested a drink for me. Trevor's Load! A crazy mix of gin, ginger beer, lime, lemon etc. My favourite type of cocktail. It was dark, so I found a lounge chair and sunk into it. I then had time to take in the surrounding, every surface was chock-a-block of kitsch, I cannot even begin to explain it. Old toys, plastic animals, christmas decorations, fantasy photos, 70s memorabilia, fairy lights, headless dolls, you name it!

The waiter brought my drink over, got down on bended knee and offered me the drink from his tray with a flourish of his hand. Oh la la!!!! And the drink was divine.

 

By the time I was almost finished it, it was showtime.

 

We walked up a few more stairs to the little theatre, intimate but friendly. Fiona was at the door greeting us all individually. I sat in the second row and was pleased.

 

The show itself was much the same at I remembered it, with some minor changes, eg added albums by Bill Cosby and the Dad from Hey Dad!!!

 

Rather than re writing, here is my review from 2009, and it all still stands, bloody hilarious.

 

The only disconcerting thing was a couple had brought their, 9 or 10 year old son to the show and sat in the front row, right in front of me. It was a totally inappropriate venue for a child, let alone the show, which had profanity and awkward subject matter. The kid laughed at all the wrong points and it was super creepy. At times it did take away from the show, and I really felt for Fiona, it must have been very awkward. But she did well despite it all, and the show was indeed still funny.

 

Another highlight was Barry Morgan was in the audience, or rather the dude who is  Barry Morgan, this amused me no end and I was desperate for a photo with him on the way out, but he had gone already.

 

if you don't know Barry, shame, here he is in all his glory.

 

Yes, I have an odd sense of humour!