JANUARY ROUND UP

January flew by, I commenced the year still on holidays which was great. It was a pretty chill week as it was way too hot to head out and do much. And I am still in recovery mode. So I pottered at home, online, read, watched tele and movies, and napped, and that was a-ok by me.

You can read my reviews here.

I headed back to choir and we worked on Fragile by Sting for the month's One Song Sing at Newcastle Library, which - as always - was a blast.

I returned to work and back into my projects, loads to do, and equal parts fascinating and challenging.

I headed into Queen's Wharf to meet friends to see Trancemission, who still sound good despite having a new singer. It was a stunning day.

Later in the month Cathy and I headed to Lake Macquarie Art Gallery for a jewellery making course and brunch prior. It was a fun day.

Spent some time with the family, checking out my nephew's 'new' car, and their cute addition to the family, Vixen.

Jayne and I had a girlie night out at Maryville Tavern before visiting Lee in her new digs. Great meal, and great conversations on a stinking hot night.

Will this heat ever disappear...oh vey!!!

As part of my Oscar Watch I saw a few films, The Favourite (well half of it, before we were evacuated by fire alarms), A Star is Born, Vice, Green Book, and Juliet Naked. Stay tuned for reviews soon.

Also the usual markets and photography.

JUNE ROUND UP

June was fairly quiet, still recovering from radiation treatment which finished up the week after the Queen's Birthday weekend. Things were fairly laid back and I did spend the middle part of the month in a huge amount of pain. But by the end of the month, I was starting to heal properly.

In the midst of the pain, I did head out to Lizottes with Vince to see Martini Lounge. I had gotten the tickets earlier and not thought about how I would be feeling, but I dressed up and tried to put the pain behind me and had a good night. The show itself was great, but not exactly what we had in mind. It was a mix of jazz and blues with some Burlesque thrown in. We wanted more lounge music, of which there was none, and I thought - while tastefully done - there was a little bit too much Burlesque. 

Mum and Dad took me to lunch at The Gunyah at Belmont for an amazing Seafood lunch, highly recommend.

Friends came to visit, I attended our bookclub, and we celebrated Mum's Birthday.

On a good day, I headed into the beach for lunch and some sunshine.

I also headed to the cinema to see Jurassic Park and Oceans 8. I saw Jurassic Park solo, and just loved it. OTT, big Dinosaurs, a little Jeff Goldblum, what more do you want! I saw Oceans 8 with Belinda, and we had a blast. This was sheer fun, The Met, jewells, amazing costumes, and a great cast!

There was the usual soccer and markets when I felt up to it!

I read and watched a lot!

And took a few pics.

APRIL ROUND UP

April was huge, busy, crazy, amazing, and everything else. 

My mental health has been spot on, black dog at bay, but my physical health has been something else! I've always had issues with my right knee, I fell over a lot as a kid, I have always been clumsy. And it was playing up more than usual, and rather than going to my Osteo, I kept on going on as I was busy and this pushed nearly every other muscle out of whack. So mid month, finally finding some free time, I hobbled along to my Osteo and let him weave his magic. I'm getting there!

I took some leave early April, and had a blast, with a while range of fun.

First up I attended the always fabulous Newcastle Writers Festival, and you can read all about it here. What a busy but wonderful few days it was.

The Monday after the festival I headed for a mini break in Sydney. I'm more a Melbourne gal, but I don't mind time in Sydney. I stayed at the lovely Hyde Park Inn. 

During my time I walked a lot, took pics, did some shopping, ate some lovely meals. But the reason I was there was to see the sublime Patti Smith at The State Theatre and to catch up with family and see the Andy Warhol exhibit at NSW Art Gallery. What a blast it was, and a nice little break.

I was home in time for a quiet period of reflection, reading and writing, and time with family to celebrate Easter.

Linda and I headed to Lizotte's to see Bob Evans, which was great.

The family also celebrated my sister's birthday at the Maryville pub, excellent meal and service, highly recommend.

And then I was back down to Sydney to see Patti Smith again, this time a spoken word concert at the Sydney Opera House with Athena, and it was glorious.

Continuing with family celebrations, Mum and Dad took me to lunch at the Sunnyside Tavern, where we had a great meal.

Jayne and I had a meal at Foghorn before catching up with Linda and others at The Towers for French Friday. The film shown was Monsieur Chocolat, based on a true story about a black clown at the turn of the century. Funny and melancholy, this was a mostly dramatic film, despite the clowning around.

I started and finsihed the month with out lovely Bibliotweeps Bookclub, reading Jasper Jones and Goodwood.

As always plenty of reading, watching, and listening.

And some pics.