MAY ROUND UP

May moved fast, almost half the year has gone.

I was busy as usual, but had a slower paced social calendar which gave me more time to catch up on reading and viewing.

I've had a bad foot (which in turn threw my entire right side out of whack) and this made getting out and about to walk or exercise a little difficult, but I started seeing an Osteopath and that really helped. I also decided mid month to get a new car before the rego on my old one ran out, so that took some time and organisation for the delivery mid June.

Work has been busy with training, projects, and Library and Information Week where we had schools visit for stories and raised money for the Cancer Council with the Biggest Morning Tea. And we entertained the oldies with Brokeback Mountain at our After Hours Movie Night, and they loved it. And it goes without saying we celebrated May The Fourth.

The month started with the new Carl Caulfield play, Where Late The Songbird, a dramedy about the life of Shakespeare upon his retirement, and dealing with family and life away from the theatre. It was well acted and an interesting premise, but could have been a bit more evenly distributed with comedy and drama, as the words really shone when witty. The play was preceded by the most amazing lamb risotto at The Clarendon, and the company of M.

C, E and I headed to the Civic for the second year running to see the APIA concert. This time Joe Camilleri, Kate Ceberano, Brian Cadd, and Glenn Shorack. I've seen Camilleri many times and he was good as always. Ceberano was lovely but should definitely stick to the jazz/blues side of her repertoire rather than the pop, as it suits her voice better. Cadd was surprisingly good, but it was Shorack I was there to see, and he was outstanding. A consummate performer, he treated us to a range of Little River Band songs and I went away smiling. We also had a lovely meal at The Clarendon prior.

I watched my niece and nephew play soccer, went to the markets, caught the Oils Exhibit at the Newcastle Museum, Art Bazaar at LMAG, celebrated P's 40th, had lunch at MoneyPenny, SoulFoods, Cazador, Caves Beach Hotel, and Awaba House. I also did back to back morning teas with C and T at Qs Cafe and Caves Beach Hotel on a rainy Friday morning.

I saw When We Were Young and A Chance Encounter (as part of the French Film Festival) at the movies.

When We Were Young was the latest film by Noah Baumbach. About an older couple, Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts, who become friends with a young, hipster couple, Adam Driver and Amanda Seyfried. It was an amusing look at lifestyle today, young versus old, hipsters, and keeping things fresh. As both Stiller and Driver were documentary film makers, the underlying theme was truth verus reality, and it was all fascinating to watch and see unravel on screen. Baumbach always nails people, and as usual he was on the money. All performances, especially Stiller who I find shines in these melancholy roles, were great. This is a fun film, but it will also make you think. Which, to me, is the perfect combination.

A Chance Encounter (also called Quantum Love) starred the fabulous Sophie Marceau and the debonair Francois Cluzet. The film was very interesting, and had you squirming as the married Pierre keeps running into the single Elsa, and they have quite the chemistry. But will they disturb their lives and go for it...or not. The film keeps you guessing and was incredibly clever with a killer soundtrack! It's difficult to say more without giving away what happens, but it's a very French film and worth seeing.

The highlight of the month was seeing Daniel Johns at the Opera House with A, L, and K. It was crazy driving into Sydney but we got to see a bit of Vivid before hitting the Deep Purple Pool Bar, a pop-up bar at the back of the Opera Bar. But it was Daniel we were there to see and when we found out we had scored fourth row seats we were pretty excited. Daniel and his amazing band arrived on stage behind a mesh screen to much fanfare. Most of the songs were from his new album which I love and it's clear (to me) he has been inspired, at times, by Prince. He also did a few Silverchair songs but it's also clear he's very keen to leave that image behind.

The mesh screen dropped in the middle of the second song which was a relief. Knowing how shy he can be I was a little worried we would have to endure it the whole concert. And what I loved the most was how relaxed and pumped he was to be on that stage delivering to us who he really is...it was a joyous thing to behold and he really is the consumate performer. He talked to the crowd and sung directly to us in such a way, you felt appreciated and loved by him. I wouldn't have called myself a fan before but i think i might now. He played guitar, various electronic machines, and a theremin. And the final song of the night was an amazingly haunting yet rocking version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow!!

I also popped up a couple of stories on ABC Open for the subject of Grandparents, one on my maternal grandparents and one on my paternal grandparents.

And some pics for the month.