Tuesday, November 25, 2003

Parental Visit

When we visited the Gold Coast in August, my partner and I had discussed catching up with my parents who are based in Toowoomba. Time constraints (and lack of a car) meant the 2.5 hour drive to Toowoomba was not an option. Cheap airfares meant we could make a flying visit to them later in the year, and lateral thinking meant we could get them to visit us - and my NSW-based brothers and their families. That was last week. It was good to see them and spend time with them doing touristy things, in our beautiful Harbour city, and just hanging out.

Carolfest is a-coming

We spent Saturday and Sunday at rehearsals for Carolfest, a traditional program of carols and readings to celebrate Christmas. Performances are 8pm Saturday 6 December and 6pm Sunday 7 December. The venue is The Great Hall at The University of Sydney. Tickets are $15 concession or $20 adult. The program includes traditional pieces as well as not-so-well-known compositions from around the world. Bundurists will accompany the choir in the Ukranian Carol of the Bells. If you're in the area - come and sing along with the congregationals! It's a great way to start the Christmas season.

Thursday, November 13, 2003

Royal Rumours

Rumours and speculation are rife about the English Royals, palace scandal and Charles' sexual preferences. Does it matter? Should his Mother ever relinquish the Throne, which seems unlikely in the short term, would Charles' regal service be different were he found to have fondled more than a footman's feet? Perhaps the question ought to be whether people's perception of his ability to do the top job would be different. What is the measure of a man? Who decides the imperial yardstick?

Tuesday, November 11, 2003

Longer evenings

Even though it takes a while to get used to the jetlag of daylight savings, it is wonderful to catch the bus home in daylight at the end of a long work day. It will still be light at the end of the 30-minute ride, and the 10-minute walk home. Getting home when you can still see the yard makes the work day seem much shorter, even though it's still as long, and perhaps even longer for those who use the windows method of time telling: it's getting dark, it must be time to leave.

And on the gate post, visible
where it may not have been an hour later a couple of weeks ago - the first cicada shell of Spring. (Global warming or the drought seems to have fooled said Cicada into a pre-Summer showing.)

Lingering dusks are perfect for long walks by the sea. An added bonus (until 16 Nov) would be the annual Sculpture by The Sea on the path from Bondi to Tamarama. I haven't been yet this year but I am eager to see this year's winning entry - No. 23. No. 23 is the title of the sculpture - I'm not sure if that is also it's catalogue/position in the exhibition number. It is a large carved stone brown paper package (tied up with string) - so lifelike in the photograph of it being craned into place that I actually thought it had been wrapped for transport - and an unveiling in situ.