FEBRUARY DIARY

February was a delight. I really feel like I am settling into my new job, such things take a few months. We have made a few changes, the customers love them. My team are lovely, the customers are lovely, we have commenced our programming and whilst we are flat chat, it is fun. My health has been great, my love life is wonderful. (the cynic in me is waiting to fall over, but the Pollyanna in me is reveling in it all).

I have enrolled in an online course to complete Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. I have wanted to study something new in terms of work for a while now but between my health and work restructure it has been a bit difficult. I am sure it will take a while to get into the groove of study again, but I do a lot of training and I feel it will be a good skill-set to formally have.

Andrew and I met friends for dinner at Saigon Feast, one of my favourite restaurants. It is low key in decor but high quality in food. I haven't been there in a long time, cause COVID, and felt the quality had slipped a little, but still, it was pretty good. We all then headed to The Civic Theatre to see We Can Be Heroes: Bowie Orchestrated with the George Ellis Symphony Orchestra. The Orchestra were young and brilliant, with a fab Sax soloist. They all looked like they were having so much fun. The vocalists were well matched to various Bowie songs. Jeff Duff, Iota, Steve Kilbey and Chris Cooke. Iota, in particular killed! Robyn Loau was their back up singer and guest vocalist on Under Pressure, what a stunning voice and presence. We just loved the show, it was a great mix of Bowie's greatest hits, we danced in our seats and sang along. Such joy!

I headed back to choir for the year. We are still singing outdoors at the foreshore, which adds the chill and meditative atmosphere that is choir. Such a delight!

We also had the pleasure of seeing Julia Gillard in conversation with Rosemarie Milsom at NEX. What an amazing woman, so poised, so intelligent, so funny. She told stories of politics and feminism and had the huge audience in the palm of her hand. If you missed out, you can listen to the podcast here. After a group of us headed to The Edwards for supper, drinks, and chats and a great time was had by all.

I celebrated Valentine's Day for the first time in a long long time with a lovely lunch with my love at Emilios at Warners Bay. The long time Newcastle establishment moved to WB just before Christmas and I have been busting to try it out. We had the most amazing lunch, and we'll be back.

I caught up with a lovely friend I have not seen in ages for a mid week meal at the Lambton Park Hotel, always a great meal there we enjoyed ourselves with much catching up and chatter.

I headed into Civic Park mid month as part of the New Annual festival. The brilliant Catapult dance group had a new show called Acquist, which is basically the group dancing on water in the Civic Park Fountain! This was just as amazing as you can imagine, and then some. The park was buzzing on this balmy Friday night and we watched the show on sunset. Sadly we were not allowed to take photos, but I snuck a few in on the end. The grace and agility these dancers showed was awe inspiring, and the entire audience was mesmerised at the athleticism and beauty of the show. You can see a preview video from the group at this link.

My bookclub commenced it's 2021 season towards the end of the month, at The Edwards, we had a great turn out and wonderful conversation.

As usual I headed to my beloved markets, and did a few Book reviewing gigs at 1233 ABC with Craig Hamilton.

Here are my reviews for the month. 

And a little bit of photography.

FEBRUARY ROUND UP

February was a little bit challenging, I did lots of great things, but also felt the weight of the world piling onto me by the month’s end.

Work continued to be crazy busy with my second new staff member commencing her traineeship. We had our 10th Anniversary Party which was loads of fun, with a magician, party games, and fun for the kids. There were a few minor things to resolve, but nothing new there. But an unpleasant incident with an unstable member of the public, and the unrelenting heat in that huge non air-conditioned building did take it’s toll on me.

I also had a few dramas with boys I say boys cause they sure as hell were not men. This dating caper has not been great the past few months, so I have rejigged a few things, pulled my cranky pants up high and called out some childish behaviour, sleazy behaviour, and good ole liars!  But I do feel a change in the air, so onwards I go!

So between that, some minor health things, and a very long fight with Telstra over non service, Well, I ended the month feeling a little low. As I write this I am pleased to say my bounce back didn’t take too long and I am feeling well and happy.  I guess it is important to acknowledge life is not all fun, we all have our moments, low points, and time we feel that putting one foot in front of each other is too hard. Having people to talk to that can help you is key, and knowing to look after yourself at that point is very important. Please know I am here for everyone if you are ever feeling like that, I know what it is like, my shoulders are wide and my ears open!

So back to the fun, I started the month in Sydney totally immersing myself in art and the city, which you can read about here.

J, L and I saw The Incredible Feelzo: man of moderate talent for the fringe festival. This was a wonderful one man show filled with stories, humour, melancholy, death-defying feats, puppets, magic, and much more.

J, l, A and I headed to the Regal to honour Bowie in watching his Reality Tour from 2003 shown on the big screen. We were all still a little raw in our loss, so many tears were shed that night. It is still difficult to believe he is no longer around.

I continued Oscar Watch with Spotlight, Steve Jobs, Room, and Trumbo. And Brooklyn, 45 Years, The Martian, and Mad Max: Fury Road.

I finally caught up with my dear friend D, for a Christmas and birthday catch up, and to hear about her amazing overseas trip.

I began Yoga with C, it is not as relaxing as I thought, I am much more flexible than I thought, and it is a lot easier to do than I thought, but far more physical than I thought. Moral: don’t think so much and do!

I enjoyed Amy Dale and Candace Fox at our first Share the Story with Carol Duncan at Cardiff Library. Amazing evening, Fox is a star for sure, with her trajectory going through the roof as she is partnering with James Patterson in the near future. Both told many fascinating stories of crime and true crime, the genres they write about, not really one of my topics of interest, but Carol’s great interviewing skills and their vivacious chatter made it compelling.

I had a lovely walk exploring an area of Eleebana, and found a fab lookout hidden in the scrub.

I saw the new exhibition at Newcastle Art Gallery, Just Draw, which I highly recommend and a wonderful interactive play called Hello Stranger. Hello Stranger began on a bus, where we were transported to a secret location. We interacted lightly with the music, dance, and story as the evening progressed. At times it was a little confronting, but mostly it was thoroughly entertaining, and a really sharp, well produced play.

J and I ate at Saigon Feast, and I was back at Coal and Cedar with the gals and special guests, N and M.

L & I took a class in Crochet, which was much harder than it looks, but loads of fun. I am hoping to practice enough to commence a throw rug for my lounge room.

At Bookclub we chatted about Patti Smith’s M Train, which I loved.

And of course, the month ended on a high with The Academy Awards. Here are my predictions and how I went.

Here is what I have been reading, listening to, and watching this month.

And some random pics...