The Red House Concert

Well as you can see it's yet another sunny day. I found this free clipart image while browsing the NET. I think it describes my continued upbeat mood quite nicely.

Today I've been catching up on reading Peter Temple's 'The Broken Shore' (2005) which is capturing my attention to its fullest. I can recommend Temple as a crime writer - he was recently mentioned on ABC's First Tuesday of the Month Book Show, with the panel giving his work the full thumbs up, and I concur with their verdict.

Tonight I am wandering off to the movies to see Michael Winterbottom's 'Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story' (2005). I like Jeremy Northam as a period actor, and I noticed the rather silly David Walliams from 'Little Britain' fame is in it too - I wonder if this will be a straight role for him? I shall report whether I like this film or not a little later on.

I recently caught Chris Duncan's 'Red House' & 'Fyvie's Embrace' classical concert broadcast direct from Newcastle Conservatorium via 106.1 ABC FM. I'm a big fan of Duncan's Scottish music, as it is very upbeat and relaxing. If you want to try something a little different I can recommend these two albums released on the Australian ABC Classics label. Catherine Strutt on piano also makes it a grand performance to listen to.

Update on Tristram Shandy: the beginning started really well as they were making the film adaptation of the book, but by a third of the way through, the film lost it for me. I was more interested in the story with the showing of the film, than the making. It completely slowed the film down to a disappointing crawl. Now I know this film got rave critical review, but it didn't win me over at all. I felt Mr Winterbottom was being too clever for his own good, despite a promising start. Jeremy Northam was excellent, while Gillian Anderson was completely wasted in this film with nothing to do, no where to go, nothing... nothing... nothing... and why the Pacino Godfather bit at the end.... what did it all mean? Wasted Wasted Wasted.

Tomorrow I might watch an old classic like 'All About Eve', 'Mildred Pierce' or 'The Letter'.

Digital Delights

As of today I officially started holidays from study. I have a financial services assignment to complete which is basically basic Econ101. I'm hoping TAFE will call me in to do some administrative support work for them - holiday periods are generally very good because the campus is quiet with no students around.

I'm looking at doing some work for the university in their archives section, they need someone to digitise historical photographs and text documents to eventually be deposited in their digital repository. There's also a large indexing job which entails going through UniNews from when it was first founded and preparing a detailed index of significant items of the university's history. Then there is cataloguing to be done, something I wish to improve my skills in as I love a good challenge, and then finally a meta data project which again sounds challenging.

I'm hoping I might get to Sydney these holidays as I wouldn't mind visiting some art galleries, plays, and catching up with some friends. I have the time, so I should utilise it as best as possible before I return to full-time work or voluntary duties.

Yet another day of t-shirt and shorts weather - I surely hope it continues as Spring is my favourite season with the weather not being too hot nor too cold, just right in between most of the time. I am looking forward to more sunny days ahead.

Here Comes The Sun

It's another sunny day today with a rather strong wind but thankfully is still shorts and t-shirt wearing weather. I'm in rather good spirits today despite paying over $300 in various bills. I might actually go out and search for a new book to read - BIG W at Charlestown have a very interesting selection I find at an affordable price. I also feel like a coffee.

I really don't have a lot to ramble on about for today, so I thought I'd share my upbeat mood with you in the form of a short entry mainly about the sunny weather.

My Return

Well it's been sometime since I've posted. In the last 11 months I've been busy with work at TAFE and at the Uni providing administrative support to several departments. I've also been extremely busy with my studies which have been going well. It's difficult to make a steadfast commitment to publish regularly, so I'll attempt to log-in every now and again and write something up that hopefully appears to be interesting to those reading the blog.

Today I would like to discuss the issue of friendship. What people say and what they do, mean a lot to me. Sometimes you can get mixed messages from people, in that they will be nice to your face but say nasty things behind your back, or worse still, publish untruths about you on the Internet. I'm thankfully one of the very few who has encountered this appalling behaviour.

I have now adopted a "one strike and you're out policy". If someone appears to say something totally offensive to hurt my sensibilities, why let them back into my life? This is a mistake I've made with a couple of people in the past, and ultimately it has led to more stress than what it is worth knowing them. They may be apologetic and attempt to win favour, but I've decided to remain steadfast in my opposition to their behaviour, and they are unable to re-enter into any relationship with me.

Moving on:

As it is not my position to appear negative I'd like to discuss the current crop of US TV shows. New episodes of L&O: SVU, Prison Break and Heroes are available to watch. Prison Break hasn't really impressed me this series, in places it appears to be a rehash of Series 1, but only worse - the plot will apparently lead somewhere in the end, I can't see them languishing in SOMA for very much longer. Heroes was more substantial and rewarding but I still believe this show is a heap of hogwash most of the time, yet appealing on an emotional level. L&O:SVU's opening touched upon multiple split personalities and was interesting - it was nice seeing Munch being given extra screen time - for some reason he reminds me of Mr Spock from Star Trek - it must be those ears.

Anyway it's time to venture out into the sunlight with shorts and t-shirt.