AUGUST ROUND UP

August was insane, which was not really what I needed while I was still not quite myself, but I have realised that this year is some kind of perverse ride that I have absolutely no control of, which for a control freak is well, rather frightening, I guess that is the reason!?

At the beginning of the month I was 2 weeks back at work, still tired and my heart not quite 100% in it, so I decided to go back to choir. Get a little soul and life back into me. It was great but entirely exhausting, I think I went back too soon. As a Soprano singer, you put you everything into song, and it is a physical thing, which I love, but if you are not on top it is shattering, well for me anyway. So i had to put that on hold again.

Work also got very crazy, with huge change in me being seconded to a Research Project position for a year. It was what I need, something to chew on, something different, less responsibility and stress but same money, a bit more flexibility and closer to home, which will help my recovery. It is also in the middle of a huge restructure and it looks highly likely my position at Swansea will not be there for me to return to. This is very stressful, but I have to have faith in those above me and the new structure and hopefully there will be something appropriate for me to slot into.

So the skills and things I got out of being sick earlier this year continue to assist me to get through life day to day, week to week. Be in the moment, be present, give my all, don't overthink, have faith things will work out. Weirdly, getting through cancer feels easier than this, I guess I just need to try harder!

And so on the 17 August I had my last day at Swansea, it was bittersweet. I was excited for my new challenge and sad to leave my friends, colleagues, community after 12 years of extremely hard and rewarding work. There are no words to do it justice.

In that last week I assisted with a new exhibition opening, Dead and Buried, an exhibit on the history of interment and burials at Lake Macquarie. I was a guest at Blacksmiths school, one of my favourites, talking about the library and reading to the kids and chatting to the community. And I packed up 12 years of work and memories.

I finished at lunch, and went for a walk at Greenpoint and sat under my favourite tree and had a little cry. I am sentimental and silly like that.

After a Saturday morning at Maitland Region Art Gallery, I met Jenny at Morpeth pub for lunch and then watched Lachlan play soccer.

The following week I had 4 days in my new job, a huge learning curve, but exciting and much to do. 

I also got to see Bob Dylan again, you can read about it here. Prior I had a lovely dinner at Limoo, a Persian Cafe in Hamilton with Alastair and Alexandra. Highly recommend a meal there.

And then I had two weeks holidays, the first week I spent in Melbourne seeing my sister and catching up with friends and the usual exhibits. 

I ended the month, spending the afternoon with my other sister and niece, and quietly unpacked from a lovely week away.

As always, here are my reviews, and some pics:

DYLAN 2018

When I heard Dylan was touring again, I pondered, should I give him another go?

I saw him about 4 years ago and it was a great experience. Should I risk it again? His most recent albums have been covers of classics, and whilst ok, I couldn't sit through a concert of that. I looked at set lists of recent concerts and my heart skipped a beat. Not only was it full of greatest hits, he consistently played Don't Think Twice, It's All Right. This is the song, that made me not only love Dylan, but get him. It remains my favourite, and I would never expect to hear him play it live. Maybe I should give him a second go, throw caution to the wind, and when I realised he was coming to my hometown, the deal was sealed.

Like last time, I went solo, but on the night I had a few friends there to chat to prior the concert. Like last time, I kept my expectations low. Bob does what he wants to do, plays what he wants to play, plays them how he wants to play them, and that is perfectly fine by me. The man is a legend and I am just happy to be privileged enough to be in his presence.

So I take my seat, we were all warned heavily, no photographs, Bob doesn't like that. Who are we to piss Bob off, but I did manage a sneaky couple!

At 8pm sharp the band walked on stage followed by the legend himself, he sat behind the piano and got straight into the first song.

Things Have Changed, from Wonder Boys, which I love. It was a fucking mess, he was playing a totally different song to the band, the sound was off, the piano sounded untuned and he sounded awful. I sat there holding my breath, bugger, maybe this had been a mistake after all. By the end of the song the sound had improved slightly, so I then worried it might just be the venue and where I was sitting.

But I had nothing to be worried about, by the second song, It Ain't Me Babe, he was back on form and sounded great, as did the piano and the band. Who knows what happened with Things Have Changed, but the rest of the concert was bloody amazing. I was in awe. He was better than the first time I saw him. I wept with appreciation when he picked up the harmonica in Highway 61 Revisited. This was Bob. He may not have sung the hits as they sounded way back when, but they sounded great and recognisable and his voice sounded better than I had heard it in years.

The more jazzier and bluesy the version of the song, the better they sounded. His voice suits that style now, and he knows it, hence the versions. The band were tight, the drummer doing some magical solos which were worth price of admission. Dylan remained behind the piano the entire time, moving for a drink of water or standing for the more upbeat songs. The harmonica was used liberally, which was just brilliant. He just kept pumping the songs out.

Sometimes it took a few lines to work out what song it was, due to the style he played it in, but I recognised every song. Except halfway through there was one song, I could not make out the melody or words, it was a jumble, it sounded ok, but nothing like any Dylan song I knew. Now I do not know every single song of his, so I figured it was some obscure song, but it hadn't really been acknowledged by the crowd. About halfway through the song he uttered the immortal line, Tangled up in Blue, the crowd went wild, if only to acknowledge they finally realised what he was playing. It made me laugh.

And then he sang, Don't Think Twice, no it didn't sound like the original version, but it sounded enough like itself for me. I wept, I never thought I would ever hear this legend sing one of my all time favourite songs, I felt truly blessed.

He followed it with Thunder on the Mountain, one of my favourites off my favourite 'new' album, from Modern Times (2006). It was simply superb, easily the song of the night.

At the end of Gotta Serve Somebody, another fave, he disappeared off stage for all of a few minutes, then was back with the one two punch of Blowin' in the Wind and Ballad of a Thin Man. Both powerful and spine chilling, and then he simply lined up with his band, bowed, and left the stage.

It was not quite 2 hours of intensely amazing music; historical, important, and pure Dylan. I was thrilled. Not bad for 77 either!!

I left feeling joyous and lucky, I heard grumblings from many. I realised these people had no idea what they had experienced, didn't understand Bob, nor were they true fans, I felt sorry for them.

This may be the last time I see him, but you just never know, but it was a concert worthy of a legend.

Setlist 

• Things Have Changed (Wonder Boys ST, 2000)
• It Ain't Me, Babe (Another Side of Bob Dylan, 1964)
• Highway 61 Revisited (Highway 61 Revisited, 1965)
• Simple Twist of Fate (Blood on the Tracks, 1975)
• Duquesne Whistle (Tempest, 2012)
• When I Paint My Masterpiece (Greatest Hits Vol II, 1971)
• Honest With Me (Love and Theft, 2001)
• Tryin' to Get to Heaven (Time Out of Mind, 1997)
• Make You Feel My Love (Time Out of Mind, 1997)
• Pay in Blood (Tempest, 2012)
• Tangled Up in Blue (Blood on the Tracks, 1975)
• Early Roman Kings (Tempest, 2012)
• Desolation Row (Highway 61 Revisited, 1965)
• Love Sick (Time Out of Mind, 1997)
• Don't Think Twice, It's All Right (The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, 1963)
• Thunder on the Mountain (Modern Times, 2006)
• Soon After Midnight (Tempest, 2012)
• Gotta Serve Somebody (Slow Train Coming, 1979)
• Encore:
• Blowin' in the Wind (The Freeweelin' Bob Dylan, 1963)
• Ballad of a Thin Man (Highway 61 Revisited, 1965)

2014 REVIEWS

Top 10 Movies of the year

 

1. Boyhood - complete and utter masterpiece, hands down, best film I have seen in forever.

2. Grand Budapest Hotel - Easily the best film by Wes Anderson, great story, ensemble cast, and a visual masterpiece

3. Her - complex, compelling, and utterly beguiling plus Joaquin Phoenix.

4. The Trip to Italy - Funniest film in forever, great scenery and food.

5. Pride - best indie film of the year, poignant and funny with a great soundtrack, and human rights issues covered beautifully.

6. Inside Llewyn Davis - melancholy and lovely, black and white, great music and wonderful acting.

7. Wish I Was Here - funny and dramatic with a lot to think about, loads of heart, and also great music.

8. The Great Beauty - a perfect homage to Fellini, and so much Rome I thought my heart would explode.

9. American Hustle - sassy, great story, fast paced, fab music, excellent acting.

10. Nebraska - a beautiful stillness, stunning cinematography and superb acting.

Hon Mentions: Only Lovers Left, Rock The Casbah, and Under the Skin

 

Top 10 DVDs of the year

 

1. Bill Cunningham New York - I fell in love with Bill on the streets of New York and hearing him talk about his art.

2. Frank - quirky indie film, with a very odd story, excellent acting and great music.

3. A Band Called Death - I loved doco so very much about an punk rock band well ahead of their time, so much heart in it.

4. 20 Feet From Stardom - feel good movie of the year, another doco, about the women backup singers. Won the Oscar.

5. Crazy Heart - Loved Jeff Bridges in this great country music film.

6. Saving Mr Banks - took me back to my childhood, Emma Thompson was so very good in this.

7. Genova - reminded me a lot of Don't Look Now, lovely Italian scenes and Colin Firth.

8. Best Offer - creepy, art movie with Geoffrey Rush, but utterly compelling.

9. Senna - sad doco about the F1 superstar, if only it ended differently.

10. Labor Day - great drama with Kate Winslet,

 

 

Top 13 Television Shows of the year

 

1. Mad Men - for it's sheer perfection, stunning dialogue, use of music and history, and that scene between Don and Peggy.

2. Game of Thrones - epic storytelling heightened by complex and interesting characters and for, you know, killing someone truly horrid.

3. The Walking Dead - such desperate actions, heart wrenching deaths, and the way it keeps you on the very edge of your seat, oh and Daryl!!!

4. Fargo - turning a much loved film into a much loved television show and getting it right. Great characters AND Billy Bob!

5. True Detective - spine chilling storyline, existential and complex dialogue and powerhouse acting for both Woody and Matthew. 

6. Redfern Now - our stories in our cities that make you rethink everything you thought you knew.

7. Please Like Me - sheer delight and sweetness whilst tackling some very real and dramatic storylines with perfect humour.

8. VEEP - Julia Louis-Dreyfuss and Tony Hale are superb physical comedians in this great political satire.

9. Call The Midwife - such a sweet yet dramatic series set against the backdrop of the 50s, stunning stories and superb cast.

10. Orange is the New Black - Great cast of wonderful women, with vignettes of comedy against a dramatic backdrop.

11. Parks and Recreations - I love the ensemble cast and it's great comedy.

12. Arrested Development - I was so excited to see my favourite show back, but it just wasn't quite as good as S1-3, however the funniest thing I have EVER seen was the scene between Buster and his mother with the cigarettes, and that almost made up for the rest...almost!

13. Girls - as always mixed emotions, but love the writing and the characters, despite their flaws.

 

Hon Mentions: the shows that finished: Dexter (disappointing), The Newsroom (wanted more), Offspring (close to perfect) no words can express my upset over no more At The Movies.

Downton Abbey: a show I don't mind really amped it up for S4 and I loved every minute of it, here's hoping they keep it up!

Utopia: Working Dog just pump out classic hit after classic hit, and this was no exception.

Soul Mates: best new skit comedy, so very funny for the let's go back in time and stifle (kill) Russell Crowe storyline, let alone everything else (Fizzy Milk anyone!?!)

Rockwiz - you are still my favourite show on television, all these years and still fresh and fabulous.

 

Top 10 albums of the year

1. I'm not Bossy, I'm the Boss - Sinead O'Connor - stunning return to form, she's never sounded better and a lovely range of songs from pop to ballads.

2. Art Official Age/Plectrum Electrum - Prince - both stunning, both full of funk, sexy and pop. Immediately listenable and showcases the purple one's genius!

3. Blank Project - Neneh Cherry - long awaited new album didn't fail to deliver some hard hitting songs.

4. Morning Phase - Beck - great mix of funk and pop, his best in a long while

5. Gon' Boogaloo - C. W. Stoneking - love his authentic take on 20s blues and this is superb. I must see him live!

6. O Vertigo - Kate Miller-Heidke - love her voice and her lyrics and unique storytelling.

7. There There - Megan Washington - beautiful album of mostly ballads that fully showcase her stunning voice.

8. Exits - Steve Smyth - a mix between Jeff Buckley and Tom Waits with a 20s blues sensibility, this is a superb album

9. Dizzy Heights - Neil Finn - a mix of his usual style of ballads and some amazing avant garde pop, was great to see him live.

10. Acid rain and sugar cane - Wagons - Henry Wagons and his rough yet tongue in cheek rock is showcased perfectly on his latest album.

 

Hon Mentions to the new u2 (really wasn't that bad!), Passenger, Chrissie Hynde, The Pixies and the superb live album between Paul Kelly and Neil Finn

Top 10 + 1 Concerts of the year

1. Bob Dylan - finally, I got to see my hero and it was perfect, mostly newer songs, but I love everything Bob so I was blessed and happy.

2. Courtenay Love - She kicked arse, and sounded amazing.

3. Amanda Palmer - superb and sheer perfection, funny and dramatic, AFP is everything you imagined and more

4. Dan Sultan (with Stonefield who were amazing) - the consummate rock and roll performer.

5. Wagons - he punched the life out of every song he sang, rock and roll hero, outstanding.

6. Lloyd Cole - just Lloyd and a guitar, every song you hoped to hear AND I got to sell merch for him and meet him. He hugged me and bought me a beer, my teenage self passed out!

7. Beatles Tribute Show (Sgt Peppers and Abbey Road) - unbelievably brilliant!

8. Steve Smyth - a mix of Jeff Buckley and Tom Waits and an outstanding performance

9. Kavisha Mazella - on a cold winter's night Kavisha warmed us with her folk sensibilities and her Italian background

10. Tim Freedman -singing the songs of Nilsson, his accent was awful, but his interpretations of the songs sublime.

11. Bill Bailey - whilst not exactly a concert, he did sing, was genius funny and one of the best things I saw in 2014!

 

Top 10 Books of the year

1. We are all completely beside ourselves - Karen Joy Fowler - beautifully written, unique story, little twist and a gut wrenching finale.

2. Murder in Mississippi - John Safran -outstanding debut, a fascinating story told with great research, and a little bit of satire.

3. House of grief - Helen Garner - a rough subject made bearable by beautiful, kind and genuine heartfelt writing. Garner is perfection.

4. Gardener of Versailles - Alain Baraton - great story about Alain's life working and living on site as a gardener at Versailles.

5. Only in New York - Lily Brett - mini essays on life in New York, by Australian ex-pat and one of my favourite authors.

6. Questions of Travel - Michelle De Krester - slow paced, philosophical musings on travel, movement, and life.

7. As luck would have it - Derek Jacobi - the autobiography of his amazing life.

8. We need new names - NoViolet Bulawayo - stunning debut novel about tweens in Zimbabwe and one girls 'escape' to the US.

9. Simple Dreams - Linda Ronstadt - great autobiography about her life in music, no gossip, just pure music making and processes which was a delight.

10. After Dark - Haruki Murakami - great story set in Tokyo after midnight, showcasing the way some people drift in and out of other people's lives and what is left behind. Haunting, sassy, and intriguing.

 

Hon Mentions: Humans of New York the book, Mrs Dalloway - Virginia Woolf, Not that kind of girl - Lena Dunham, Dress Memory Lorelei Vashti, and the Gerard Durrell stories.

 

SEPTEMBER ROUND UP

September went by so fast I can barely remember it!

 

Work was insanely busy during the month, with a lot of staffing to sort through and I was involved in two projects that were very challenging and time consuming.

 

I helped M celebrate her birthday with a movie and dumplings at New Shanghai, and a visit to Max Brenner.

 

I headed to Sydney for a mini break the first weekend of the month. This was as I had tickets to see Bob Dylan at Sydney Opera House on the Sunday night. I arrived late Saturday afternoon and headed to my hotel in The Rocks, then set out for a walk and dinner. It was raining and a bit miserable but I had a good wander around the area and ended up at the Opera House Kitchen for a perfect Steak Frites and red wine. I ended up at the Dendy Cinemas on Circular Quay and escaped the weather by seeing the new Woody Allen, Magic in the moonlight.

Whilst I enjoyed the movie, it was a very light romantic comedy and lacked well, depth. I liked the storyline and the characters, but never bought Colin Firth's character being interested in Emma Stone's. Which is a shame, as I adore both, together they just didn't really work. But the costumes, set and music - as always - were sublime, and sometimes something frothy and light is ok. And as I always say a bad Woody Allen Movie is usually better than most of the crap out there!

 

The next day brought much lovelier weather, I spent the morning at The Rocks markets, wandering around the bridge, lunching at Circular Quay before walking around to Mrs Macquarie's Chair and back through the Botanical Gardens. That evening I dined on the most delicious meal at Steak and Seafood on Circular Quay before heading to The Opera House to see my hero, Bob Dylan.

I spent the Monday morning at the MCA before meeting my cousin D for lunch at the cafe there. I finally got to meet her gorgeous little girl now 3 months old before walking to the station to get the Shitkansen home, batteries all charged for this crazy month ahead!

 

L & I finally got to a French Friday, an ok comedy, Radiostars, about Radio DJs crossing the French countryside with their breakfast show. As always the eclairs from the French markets were divine!

 

The middle Saturday I travelled back in time for the Grebert/Crebert family reunion at Mayfield East Public School, Dad took part in the celebrations, on Mum's behalf, telling stories of her ancestors. I then went into Newcastle Antiques for a look before heading to the Museum for the Silent Film Festival. A good turn out for 4 Chaplin shorts, and laughs a plenty.

Later that evening J & I met M at The Lass for some drinks and Steve Smyth. I had seen Smyth on Rockwiz earlier in the year and was suitably impressed, he was better in the flesh. Rocking the most spectacular beard, Smyth sung his blues rock with every last ounce of coolness, his voice is a cross between Tom Waits and Jeff Buckley. Great evening indeed.

The next day I escaped to my sister and Brother-in-law's property. I arrived to find the kids in the newly cleared out and filled up dam, padding in kayaks etc. My sister and I sat in the sun chatting while they played in the water with their dad, a very relaxing afternoon.

 

Other gems during September were The Steampunk exhibit at Lake Macquarie Art Gallery, Hitchcock Movie night at work, celebrating V's birthday at Heng Loong Chinese, Mexican night with extended family (and fabulous Margaritas), and celebrating my beautiful niece's 7th birthday.

I spent the day with J in town, checking out Hunter and Gatherers Markets, wandering the mall, having lunch at Newy Burger Co, (oh the Pulled Pork burger is divine) and then just chilling in the park chatting.

Book club for September was the fabulous We are all completely beside ourselves, you can read about that and other things here.

I joined A & L at the movies for Wish I was here, the latest Zach Braff movie. I really enjoyed this dramedy, more melancholy than funny, but still most excellent. Zach is a little like a post modern Woody Allen. The script was great, touching, funny, clever, witty. The cinematography divine and soundtrack inspired. The acting, especially from Kate Hudson, was great. In fact, this is Kate's finest role since Almost Famous. The kids were great too. Go see this movie, it will make you cry, but it will also make you smile.

 

I also blogged about my breast check up

 

I ended the month with a lazy day in the park in Newcastle East before meeting A to see the wonderfully dark comedy, Le Petit Mort. If you have not seen this Australian gem about relationships, you simply must!

 

So another busy month and as always some photos...