tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154299022024-03-14T20:50:46.047+11:00heyrissRisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06268578942640324708noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15429902.post-53927731880259871182008-10-28T11:09:00.002+11:002008-10-28T11:17:05.325+11:00Hello, we're six months old<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BDVbf9qdSfU/SQZZDz1PNDI/AAAAAAAAAAc/2-vrTyBKIFY/s1600-h/20081008_04+Annabelle+and+Miranda.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261991136616985650" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BDVbf9qdSfU/SQZZDz1PNDI/AAAAAAAAAAc/2-vrTyBKIFY/s320/20081008_04+Annabelle+and+Miranda.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ccccff;">Aren't they cute? Baby #1 is a bit sick at the moment so with the extra sleep she's having I have a bit of time to type.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ccccff;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ccccff;">Oh, no, I was wrong. They're up again. It must be time for elevenses.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ccccff;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ccccff;">Best wishes to the Bevis family today - there's another cherub on the way...</span></div>Risshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06268578942640324708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15429902.post-56193897628550485262008-07-30T22:01:00.003+10:002008-07-30T22:27:37.165+10:00Meanwhile, back at the ranch...<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BDVbf9qdSfU/SJBZc65YYSI/AAAAAAAAAAM/5H6G6vUtOC0/s1600-h/Miranda+Rose.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228777520758284578" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BDVbf9qdSfU/SJBZc65YYSI/AAAAAAAAAAM/5H6G6vUtOC0/s320/Miranda+Rose.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BDVbf9qdSfU/SJBZdIVGcbI/AAAAAAAAAAU/C53TdIv_fBk/s1600-h/Annabelle+Leigh.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228777524364210610" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BDVbf9qdSfU/SJBZdIVGcbI/AAAAAAAAAAU/C53TdIv_fBk/s320/Annabelle+Leigh.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I have been very remiss in updating this site.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>In my defense, I have been very busy of late. About four months ago I became a Mum for the first time.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Yes, thank-you, we're all fine. All four of us. Mum, Dad and our new identical Princesses, One and Two.</div><br /><div>The girls are "sleeping through" the night on most occasions so I feel less like a zombie but I still don't know how often I'll be able to post something on here. It's hard enough keeping up with labelling the photos I take so that we know which one is which. I'm okay when there's a view of the face as I can tell them apart (now) but in some I have to remember which clothes they were wearing at the beginning of the day. Others are extremely difficult. How am I going to be able to tell them, when they're older, that I can't decide which one was in the photo? I probably am too worried about it.</div><div> </div><div>One of my sisters became a Mum six weeks after I did and she also has a Princess. Just the one. She's quite glad that I have the twins and she doesn't.</div><div> </div><div>It's quite easy for me to say that I do think I could handle just one baby more easily than two after this experience. I realised yesterday that it must have been my destiny to have twins and the reason I was given so much patience.</div><div> </div><div>The girls are growing out of the newborn nappies and are smiling, laughing and babbling. The babbling is limited to "goo", "hoo", "ga" and the silent "coo" but they are talking to their reflection in the mirror as well as each other and their parents. It's very cute.</div><div> </div><div>I'm on my way to bed as I will most likely be up again at 4am for feed time. Apologies if this post is in any way disjointed. My brain does not work as well as before and needs a bit more sleep.</div><div> </div><div>I leave you with a line from my girls' current favourite song:</div><div> </div><div><em>If you're happy, and you know it, then you really ought to show it,</em></div><div><em>If you're happy, and you know it, say "a-goo"...</em></div>Risshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06268578942640324708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15429902.post-11257027315428608122007-03-21T19:41:00.000+11:002007-04-07T12:44:49.289+10:00Das Leben der Anderen - and it's free!<em>Before the fall of the Berlin Wall, East Germany's Secret Police Listened to Your Secrets...</em><br /><br />I managed to score a free double pass to see "The Lives of Others" at Cinema Nova for Tuesday night (20/3).<br /><br />Not one to pass up a free movie if I can help it, I arranged to meet Logan in Carlton on Lygon Street after work. I drove straight in from work and Logan took a tram to meet me. We had a quick foccacia beforehand and then made our way up to the cinema. There was a good number of people already seated but we found ourselves two seats up the back so that we weren't craning our necks - the theatre was "cosy".<br /><br />There weren't a lot of "young" people at this thing. I'd say that they were mainly in their 50s and 60s, but there were a few people who looked about our age. We hoped that this meant that there wouldn't be any wrapper-rustling or commentary for the hard-of-hearing (which would be slightly superfluous as the film was in German with English subtitles), no mobile phone text messaging or calls, and we could just sit back and watch the film.<br /><br />We were about right. There was a bit of plastic wrapper crinkling but, on the whole, it was a pain-free experience. Having lots of loud laughers in the audience was sometimes a little disconcerting but maybe there were references in there that I just didn't understand. I was a wee stripling when the Berlin Wall came down and wouldn't have been aware of the existence of the sort of political oppression that was occurring under the Communists.<br /><br />Even though there were many opportunities for laughter, it still would have been a scary time and place in which to live. The film demonstrates that to survive the regime, people had to bury their own morals and that the price paid by these characters before the destruction of the Berlin Wall was soul-destroying and unnecessary. It wasn't only the Secret Police about which you had to worry; your neighbours could turn you in at any time for a throw-away comment. A joke made by one of the Secret Police staff ensured a mind-numbing demotion to steaming open intercepted letters in a basement and punishment for the general public involved torture before incarceration or being made to disappear.<br /><br />The coda to the film completed the story very nicely. After all the horrors, life goes on and can be beautiful.<br /><br />I give this movie 5 stars; I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it heartily.Risshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06268578942640324708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15429902.post-6073363567795608352007-03-18T10:55:00.000+11:002007-04-07T11:46:20.659+10:00Thou hast by moonlight at her window sung<em>With feigning voice verses of feigning love...</em><br /><br />I spent some of yesterday cooking a dessert for dinner that evening. Mmm, chocolate pavlova topped with whipped cream and crushed Peppermint Crisp (chocolate bar).<br /><br />I decided that I wanted to see the <a href="http://www.australianshakespearecompany.com.au/">Australian Shakespeare Company</a>'s production of A Midsummer Night's Dream for my birthday and invite my friends along. I discussed this with <a href="http://twotravellers.blogspot.com">Noshie</a> a couple of weeks ago and thought that I would arrange to have a picnic dinner in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens and then move into the "seating" for the show. That way people could join us for dinner and not necessarily be forced into paying to see a show that they didn't want to necessarily fork out the money for and I got to see everyone for a little while.<br /><br />It seemed to work. There were six of us who went to the show and about five others who just came for dinner.<br /><br />Usually I would arrange to cater for everyone at one of my parties but this time I asked everyone to bring a plate of food to share and said that I would supply dessert. It worked really well. <a href="http://ibloggedmyself.blogspot.com">Bevis</a> and his family came along and Wifey gave me a necklace she made for me herself, which is beautiful! <a href="http://twotravellers.blogspot.com">Noshie</a> said that she would contribute some money towards my ticket to see the <a href="http://rsc.org.uk/">Royal Shakespeare Company</a> perform King Lear later this year (starring Sir Ian McKellan) which she is coming to see with me - so exciting!. Another of my friends bought me an Asian cookbook which is very comprehensive and I immediately picked out a few recipes to try out - excellent! All I need now is to get myself a new wok and some bamboo steamers and I'll be ready.<br /><br />We had dinner and then I served the pavlova. Bevis tried to tell me that we needed thirteen slices - he started by counting himself, finished by counting himself and also included Sweetums, methinks so that he could have three pieces for himself? The ants had also discovered my sugary creation so we forcibly evicted them (hilarity ensued) before I plated the food.<br /><br />We said goodbye to Bevis, Wifey, Sweetums, <a href="http://alisonlarwood.com">Alison</a> and her partner, and Gerri. The rest of us moved our rugs and cushions into the seating area and got set up for the show (lolly bags open, drinks organised, fluff that cushion, ooh the wind's getting chilly - better put on that jacket).<br /><br />The performance was electric. High-energy acro-fairies (acrobatic fairies) buzzed, flipped and jiggled around the stage. The "rude mechanicals" performed their play about Pyramus and Thisbe with enthusiasm. There were pop-culture references aplenty and the minor deviations from the script added to the comedy and increased my enjoyment of the performance. "Dream" is one of the most understandable and oft-performed Shakespearian play which means that for some it can become quite stale but this troupe breathed fresh life into the bard's work.<br /><br />I had a lot of fun and I want to send a thank-you to my friends for helping to make it such a great evening.<br /><br /><em></em><br /><em>...So, good night unto you all.</em><br /><em>Give me your hands, if we be friends,</em><br /><em>And Robin shall restore amends.</em>Risshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06268578942640324708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15429902.post-41428026375309915992007-03-16T17:22:00.000+11:002007-04-07T10:54:45.624+10:00Houston, we have lift-off<em>I think she's got it...</em><br /><em></em><br />I think I've cracked it. Fingers crossed that it still works tomorrow once I turn off the computer and router at the wall and it forgets everything that I taught it to do today.<br /><br />Riveting stuff, I know.<br /><br />I have made our wireless system work. Yay! Logan was so excited that he immediately moved on to the next stage in the process and wondered when we could get our other computer connected wirelessly to the same network.<br /><br />That kinda took the wind out of my sails. I would have liked to enjoy the fact that I had managed to comprehend a manual written by someone of asian extraction with the same level of English as an 8-year-old.<br /><br />Why are all these computer manuals written as we we already have some idea of what is going on, anyway? Why do they only tell half the story? I followed the instructions that came with the router and it referred to items in such an obscure way that even when I'd found the right thing to do, I didn't know whether it was working or if I was breaking it so that it would never work again.<br /><br />The first trouble I encountered was the manual referring me to other manuals <em>that were on the internet</em> which is difficult when you are trying to <em>set up your hardware so that you can access the internet</em>! Hello? Anybody out there think that this might have been a bit silly?<br /><br />Sorry, I got a bit upset there. So, you can see why I wanted Logan to just enjoy the fact that we were connected wirelessly to the internet for a while before moving on and giving me something else to work on.<br /><br />Because it is my birthday he arranged to come home from work early to take me out for dinner and that was nice. And he stopped off at the shops to buy me a bouquet of flowers which was also nice.<br /><br />All in all, a pretty successful day, really.<br /><br /><em>Peace, out...</em>Risshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06268578942640324708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15429902.post-1170066399428112532007-01-25T20:47:00.000+11:002007-01-29T21:26:39.476+11:00"Hello, IT... Have you turned it on?"<span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">...Two out of Three ain't bad...</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">Australia Day tomorrow - bring it on. It's been a bit of a tough week at work. No air conditioning, level of busy-ness goes from crazy to background noise.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">I recently started chatting with an ex-neighbour on MySpace. Hi, Poss, if you're reading. All grown up to be a gorgeous-looking young woman. Of course with her extremely fit parents (ex-Commonwealth athlete for a Dad) she was always going to be athletic and slim and terrific-looking. I could never get my head around "going for a run" as an enjoyable past-time but she manages it, I'm sure. I probably should have tried harder instead of reaching for a good book!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">The only running I do these days is for the bus.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">So, the washing machine arrived without too many hitches. As a precaution I forwarded the home phone to my mobile (now why didn't I think of that before?) although the company doing the delivery did call the house at about 6:45am just to reconfirm everything. When was I leaving? Oh, in about five minutes. And I would be back again, when? After 8:30. I may be earlier but I don't want to say so and then get stuck somewhere. Fair enough.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">A lovely bloke dropped it off. I had the doors open and ready, again, and he wheeled it in, connected it up, had a chat about theatre and Cindy from Neighbours and the vet on McLeod's Daughters that he did a course with, as well as a bit of Shakespeare before he trundled his way down the drive again and my pocket is $30 lighter for the experience. (Have to say - $30 is a bit of a bargain to have a washing machine fixed.)</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">So guess what I'll be doing on Australia Day... I feel that it will need a good workout after its 10-day holiday and I think it's probably time to save up to buy a new washer in case this happens again.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">I've also given the new modem/router-y thingo a go with some support over the phone. Apparently it's my computer that's causing most of the trouble. The problem is intermittent though so I'm going to persevere.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">The next challenge is to go wireless.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">...I want the world, I want the whole world...</span>Risshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06268578942640324708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15429902.post-1169612632656235012007-01-24T18:10:00.000+11:002007-01-25T22:45:08.170+11:00Pear-shaped, it is<span style="color:#ccccff;"><em>...Isn't it funny how you never really screamed at my face...</em><br /><br />Well, the washing machine is fixed and it was due to be delivered back to me this morning. (This is my big news for the moment, sorry to be such a sad case.) Having to drive Logan to the train station I told the repair service people that I would be at the house by 8:30am to accept it back into the house, they confirmed that they would be there between 8:30am and 8:45am and I confirmed the amount I was to pay them and that, I thought, was that.<br /><br />My plan for this morning was to take Logan to the train station, drive back home, finish getting ready for work (I usually have breakfast in my office as I'm usually there before 8:00am), the delivery would happen and I could put all our laundry back in the Laundry before dashing out to the car and being late to work by only about an hour. Possibly could fit in a bit more tidying of the house depending on whether the delivery was a bit later than expected but ultimately wouldn't be too long at home.<br /><br />Ha!<br /><br />I arrived back home at maybe a little before 8:00am (I had left time for possible traffic snarls), parked my car on the street so that they would have access to our back gate, and noticed a strange looking watermark on the drive. The pattern didn't fit the one that my car air conditioning would leave but I didn't think much of it.<br /><br />So, I go inside, leave the front door open but the screen door closed so that I can hear if anyone knocks on it instead of using the doorbell. I dried my hair, had breakfast, put on my makeup, and it was 8:30. Great. I started doing the washing up from last night's dinner and Logan's lunch preparation. Hmm, 8:45. They're probably running a little late, I thought. I'll just go and open up the back gate and make sure there's a clear path to the Laundry for the machine when they do arrive.<br /><br />9:15am arrives and I called Logan to say that the machine hadn't arrived. Called work to say that I would be later than I thought I might. I gave the company a call and went through to a messagebank. Left a message with my details saying that I was expecting the delivery at 8:30 and could I please have an ETA on the arrival so that I could let my work know how late I might be.</span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;">Kept doing housework but kept running to the front of the house every time I heard a car door; still nothing.</span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;">I rang again at about 10:30am and was told that they had already been at <strong>7:45am</strong>, hence the water stains I had noticed on the driveway earlier, perhaps? They had hung around for ten minutes and had tried calling me but, of course, I was on the road and wasn't planning on them being there that early!!</span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;">Could they deliver at all today? I was thinking, maybe I could take the whole day off work if I needed. No, they only hire the courier once in a day. Right, fair enough. What about tomorrow morning? Again, I can only take delivery <strong>after</strong> 8:30am. We'll definitely be there. Delivering to someone else in your area at 10:00am so will either be before or after 10:00am. Okay.</span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;">So I locked up the house and left for work. Only took me 25 minutes to get there and happily found a free parking spot upon my arrival - bonus! I got to my office at 11:30am and I have to go through it all again tomorrow!!</span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;">At least I got the washing up done.</span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;">I could get used to a late morning start time...</span>Risshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06268578942640324708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15429902.post-1169205164970033692007-01-19T21:06:00.000+11:002007-01-19T22:12:45.463+11:00Would somebody turn on the wireless?<em><span style="color:#ccccff;">...That's just paperless office talk...</span></em><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;">Logan and I bought a new computer a little before Christmas. It was like giving ourselves an early Christmas present with all the boxes and wrappings and connecting up wires to the wrong spots and finding out you needed batteries of a peculiar shape and size before you can really switch the thing on properly and give it a red hot go.</span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;">Had problems with the screen first but eventually worked out that as I had installed a new operating system over the top of the one that the shop had used to do the testing I should reinstall all of the drivers for the motherboard, monitor, and all the other bits. It all worked a lot better after that; including the monitor which wasn't so good beforehand with the drivers you could download from their website...</span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;">The next mammoth task was to install our new modem. We didn't choose a plain and simple modem. We had to go with something fancy, didn't we? We got a complicated one that is a router and a wireless modem.</span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;">This took up an entire weekend.</span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;">Logan had to leave the room as he has not my patience (stubbornness?).</span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;">I had it going by Sunday night in time for a Skype call to the in-laws in the UK, but it wasn't perfect. Wouldn't turn on properly the next time we turned on the computer. Took me 30 minutes to connect to the internet. There's still something wrong (we have to reboot the router to connect although this takes only 2 minutes) and we're using an Ethernet connection to get by. We're not completely wireless yet. That's this weekend's task.</span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;">(Oh, and this weekend we're also having the washing machine fixed. Had to siphon out the water, as it wasn't pumping it out on its own, just in case we have to move it. Used a technique I learned by watching Scooby-Doo - Thelma sure had brains even if she always wore that strange orange confection of an outfit.)</span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;">Wish me luck - I'm not really an IT expert and it could all go pear-shaped.</span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;"></span><br /><em><span style="color:#ccccff;">...Where's a good sonic screwdriver when you need one?...</span></em>Risshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06268578942640324708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15429902.post-1166958980277429282006-12-24T21:51:00.000+11:002006-12-24T22:16:20.336+11:00And to all a Good Night<em><span style="color:#9999ff;">...'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse...</span></em><br /><span style="color:#9999ff;"><br />Well, it's that time of year again. Merry Christmas to everyone and especially my sister </span><a href="http://myspace.com/lausy"><span style="color:#9999ff;">Boo </span></a><span style="color:#9999ff;">who is still travelling the world and won't be home until some time early next year. Love you! Miss you!!<br /><br />We're wrapping the pressies ready for our family's Christmas lunch get-together tomorrow and will be ready to go with a slideshow of the photos we took at the family wedding a week ago (has it only been a week?!?!). I've promised my Nan I'll be looking nice tomorrow, ie will be wearing my new makeup (as suggested by my lovely friend and </span><a href="http://alisonlarwood.com"><span style="color:#9999ff;">makeup artist</span></a><span style="color:#9999ff;">). Apparently it looks like I'm not wearing any makeup but that I look a lot healthier which is fabulous for someone who hardly ever goes out into the sun.<br /><br />What else, what else. Aah, yes. We had a little party. We had the pleasure of catching up with </span><a href="http://twotravellers.blogspot.com"><span style="color:#9999ff;">Noshie</span></a><span style="color:#9999ff;"> although won't be seeing Adie until next Friday. The lovely bloke's been all over the world and then gets straight into work when he comes back - such dedication!<br /><br />The </span><a href="http://ibloggedmyself.blogspot.com"><span style="color:#9999ff;">Bevii</span></a><span style="color:#9999ff;"> were there and I made Wifey cry - but in a good way, I promise! I gave them each a framed copy of a Photoshopped photo I took when Wifey and Sweetums were over at our place a couple of months ago which made them both look absolutely adorable. One for Bevis to keep at work, one for displaying at home. Lovely. Can't wait to see them all again when they get back from their well-deserved holiday.<br /></span><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/7391/1428/1600/459241/Sweetums%2020061210.jpg"><span style="color:#9999ff;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/7391/1428/200/731527/Sweetums%2020061210.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><br /><span style="color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#9999ff;">Well, it's raining cats and dogs out there at the moment and we've gone from a respectable 37 degrees while I was working last week to expecting a miserable 16 degrees and more rain tomorrow. Personally, I think the rain is fabulous and there should be more of it and I really hope that it is also falling on the bushfires that have been raging out of control in Victoria for the past month or so. The forecast for this week is also for lots more rain which will be great for our parched-looking garden (our front lawn even looks brown on Google Earth!) and I hope it keeps in the people who are usually out in the parks near us lighting fireworks. At least things are less likely to catch fire when the ground is nice and soggy.</span><br /><span style="color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#9999ff;">Anyway, I have more presents to wrap as Logan has just informed me he has finished with mine and I am allowed back in to the lounge room.</span><br /><span style="color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#9999ff;">Stay safe, everyone, and enjoy the holidays.</span><br /><span style="color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><em><span style="color:#9999ff;">...that shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly...</span></em>Risshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06268578942640324708noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15429902.post-1164511893450677722006-11-26T13:55:00.000+11:002006-11-26T15:28:51.923+11:00More wedding bells<a href="http://www.sussan.com.au"><span style="color:#ccccff;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/7391/1428/320/863831/mock-wrap_dress_sussan.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#ccccff;"><br /><em>It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...</em><br /><br />I've been nicely busy at work for the last few weeks but can now draw breath again before preparing for next year.<br /><br />Of course it also gives me a bit more headspace to start thinking about Christmas and all the other social things we're planning for the end of the year.<br /><br />First cab off the rank is that my uncle is about to tie the knot. Wonderful news! He's about eleven years older than I and it's his first marriage. She is a lovely lady and pregnant with their second child. (Their first child I wrote about </span><a href="http://heyriss.blogspot.com/2006/03/should-i-forget.html"><span style="color:#ccccff;">here</span></a><span style="color:#ccccff;">.) It's about time that they had some good happen to them. The wedding invitation says that dress is "casual" but there's no way I'm turning up in a t-shirt, shorts and thongs (flip-flops/sandals/v. casual footwear) with my hair all frizzy (as demonstrated </span><a href="http://ibloggedmyself.blogspot.com/2006/02/heres-what-you-guys-look-like-in-my.html"><span style="color:#ccccff;">here</span></a><span style="color:#ccccff;"> - scroll to my "picture"). Thus, I decided that a new dress was called for and I have bought this one (but imagine it in bright raspberry and orange). Of course I also had to find a suitable cardi to go over the top just in case it is not a terribly warm day/evening (it will be Summer but this is Melbourne we're talking about), and the store had a "spend $100 and receive a $20 voucher to be used in January 2007" offer so I bought a pair of earrings and a necklace that I will also wear to the wedding, and another t-shirt to add to this year's collection which added up to over $200 and I now have two vouchers to spend. Yay! Did I mention that this is my current favourite store?<br /><br />Now all I have to do is find suitable shoes...<br /><br />Logan, my husband, has also been asked to be the semi-"official" photographer on the day which I think will be great fun. I will be helping to direct, of course. My first lot of "help" has been to organise to borrow some photographic equipment from the place I work. (Have I mentioned that a lot of the time I really love where I work?) Once we heard that we were going to be asked to be doing the photography we started worrying about our camera. It's only a little Sony CyberShot and it's taken a fair number of photos in its little life-span but it's not what you would call the best option for taking wedding photographs. We have a media and photography store at work and I had the bright idea of asking whether I could borrow something from them. They know I'm pretty good with that sort of stuff (I would hope) and would take care of it as best I could. They're lending me a 6 or 7 megapixel camera (photography department gentleman couldn't quite remember), tripod and bounce-board (fabric over a bendy frame that is used to reflect light onto your subject so that it can be back-lit). I am so excited! Now we'll look more professional and will hopefully have better photographs at the end of the day!! I'm also a bit happier that we'll have this fully-checked and serviced camera and only have to use our little one as an emergency. Logan's worried that we won't have enough time with it to be able to work out the best way to use it but I don't really think I would be able to request it for longer.</span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;">I'm also thinking some more now about the Christmas party I will be having soon with my friends - I love planning this sort of thing and I can't wait to catch up with </span><a href="http://twotravellers.blogspot.com"><span style="color:#ccccff;">Adie and Noshie</span></a><span style="color:#ccccff;"> when they're back in just over a week. Once this year is over I'm sure the time will fly until my baby sister, </span><a href="http://myspace.com/lausy"><span style="color:#ccccff;">Boo</span></a><span style="color:#ccccff;">, is back home again too.</span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;">If you see a bride in a hotrod in Bentleigh in a couple of weeks time, give a big friendly wave to my new Auntie!</span>Risshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06268578942640324708noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15429902.post-1161131777986716662006-10-18T10:05:00.000+10:002006-10-18T13:30:09.856+10:00Those wedding bells are gonna chime<span style="color:#ccccff;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">It's high time for me to reveal the reason for secrecy surrounding my trip to the UK recently.</span></span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The reason Logan and I went, and so quickly, was because Logan's brother and girlfriend had announced their engagement. They also announced that they were getting married six weeks later.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">SIX WEEKS!</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Those two have been together since before Logan and I ever met each other. They wanted to have it done quickly and quietly with the mimum of fuss. They wanted not to tell their friends about it and have only family at the ceremony and celebration. Small and elegant. So, to be able to keep the secret from their friends they wanted to do it as quickly as possible. They didn't want any noses getting out of joint because someone had heard or been invited and someone else hadn't, etcetera.</span> </span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Of course when we were told that it was all happening we were in a bit of shock as they had said that they would never get married, it wasn't something they wanted to do. They had declared their intentions and that was accepted. We were obviously very happy that they had chosen to marry as there had been a shift in their way of thinking about the relationship and there were no outside influences or pressure for them to be married. They had decided that it <strong>was</strong> something they wanted to do.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">After adjusting to the news my second reaction was to tell Logan that he would be going, of course. I was pretty certain with the lowered staffing levels and general busy-ness of my work that I would not be going. After I discussed with my supervisor and Logan discussed with his we were both allowed to take three weeks of leave (more shock!) and we immediately started looking at airfares and working out how on earth we were going to pay for it all.</span><br /><br />I was so stressed about it all that I found I was unconsciously clenching my jaw which was giving me face-ache. How were we going to get ourselves organised in four and a half weeks to get over to England???<br /><br />This was all while the restrictions on baggage started at Heathrow airport and there was television footage of people lining up outside in the rain and security? army? people walking around with nasty-looking weapons and flat-jackets.<br /><br />Intense.<br /><br />We needed new carry-on luggage and as luck would have it there was a 20%-off sale at Strandbags the day I went looking. Bonus!<br /><br />But this wasn't all about us. It was about the wedding.<br /><br />We touched down at Heathrow, hugged all the family, sat down for a drink and I handed over the care package from Mum to Boo. We then said goodbye to Boo and went with UK Mum & Dad back to Shrewsbury.<br /><br />With Logan's family we pottered around going to pubs, did some catching up with people and then went and collected Logan's grandfather from Towcester (pronounced "toaster") the day before the wedding. We stayed with Logan's brother, Crockett, and his fiancee that evening as we'd nearly run out of beds at UK Mum & Dad's house.<br /><br />I'm not sure whose idea it was but we were meant to be a calming influence on the bride and groom the morning of their nuptials. I think it worked. (?) We did help them sort out a few things (like remembering to have lunch) and I was ring-bearer and holder of the cheque with which to pay the celebrant.</span><br /></span><span style="color:#ccccff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;">The day went off without a hitch (except the one that was supposed to happen). One funny moment occurred when UK Dad realised after parking the car and while walking to the registry office that although he was wearing black shoes only one of them was part of the new pair that he had bought for the occasion. Oops! He and Logan decided not to share that information with the rest of us until the reception which is when we all collapsed into laughter.</span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;">The newlyweds flew to Venice for their honeymoon the next day. Awh, how sweet.</span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;">So by now they will have told all their friends and we hear on the family grapevine that so far everyone has been very supportive of their decision and understanding of their wishes to keep the ceremony small. Excellent!</span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;">So I now have another sister and she's absolutely wonderful.</span>Risshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06268578942640324708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15429902.post-1160346040403984192006-10-09T08:14:00.000+10:002006-10-09T08:20:41.783+10:00BEVIS has a BABYHi Everyone,<br /><br />In answer to the comments left on his page, yes, there is a baby BEVIS although I have been sworn to secrecy vis a vis any further details as my very dear friend would like to share the glorious event with you himself online.<br /><br />At least we know that he's looking at his blog because all your comments are appearing as he's moderating them!!!<br /><br /><a href="http://ibloggedmyself.blogspot.com">Stay tuned...</a><br /><br />Riss.Risshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06268578942640324708noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15429902.post-1157801865725848202006-09-09T21:03:00.000+10:002006-09-09T21:37:45.770+10:00How do you solve a problem like Maria?Apparently by having a reality TV show to choose the next one.<br /><br />I'm in London at the moment staying with Boo in her share house. Was staying with UK Mum & Dad for a while and UK Mum made sure that I got to see an episode of this show. It's about as horrible as every Reality TV Show I have seen (sorry) and added to it you have Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and guest singers who should be having words with their stylist. It's like an all-female Pop Idol show. These poor ladies are competing to perform as Maria in the new production of The Sound Of Music being produced, I think, by Sir ALW, hence his involvement in the judging proceedings.<br /><br />Fortunately, I've not had all that much time to be watching British TV as after Logan and I left Shrewsbury for London we have been out and about either walking or catching the tube to our next destination.<br /><br />We went out with Boo to her local pub which is staffed by Aussies (which is what you would expect from the Earl's Court/Shepherds Bush area) and on a Tuesday they have half-price wood-fired pizza. Because the weather had been so great (26 degrees) it was packed and we had a little difficulty grabbing ourselves a table. The pizzas took about 45 minutes to appear simply because of the high demand and they were definitely worth the wait.<br /><br />I went to see Wicked on Thursday night and you should have seen the crowd! There were people dressed in green - dresses, ties, shirts, tops - or who had green hair for the occasion. One pair even dressed up as the main characters - Elphaba and Galinda - complete with black witch hat and a blonde wig. They were very excited!<br /><br />The show was fantastic. It was fascinating to see how they dealt with the breakdown of some of the equipment - Galinda's "bubble" failed to appear and they brought down the curtain and started the show again, some furniture failed to appear for one scene (although I didn't notice) but that was insignificant and they kept going. It was full of references to L. Frank Baum's original Wizard of Oz as well as other musicals. It was funny, it had passion and great effects, the cast were wonderful (even a few Aussies in the leading roles!!), and I thoroughly enjoyed it. We stood hopefully near the Stage Door afterwards but it seemed that there was a bit of a booze and schmooze going on to celebrate the first show with an audience so as it got colder and we got more tired we decided to call it a night.<br /><br />Last night I went with Boo to see Jason Robert Brown's <em>The Last 5 Years</em> at a converted Chocolate Factory where, again, there was an Australian in one of the lead roles. Was impressed with the show and the staging. It was, obviously, different to the show I saw in Melbourne (twice). It was good to talk about the differences with Boo. Although I enjoyed this version I think they played it "angry" and it was a little more difficult to see why the two had developed and stayed in their relationship.<br /><br />We're off to a market somewhere today and will try to get to Greenwich tomorrow. And hopefully more musicals!!Risshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06268578942640324708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15429902.post-1156761528380446992006-08-28T11:24:00.000+10:002006-08-28T20:38:48.393+10:00Hiya!(Traditional English greeting.)<br /><br />I'm feeling a little more human today. The flight to London was fine and Boo was at Heathrow to meet us when we arrived at lunch time on Saturday. That meant I was able to hand over the care package (I laughed when I saw that there were six containers of hair mousse included!) from home and a big hug on behalf of Mum & Dad.<br /><br />Boo is looking for a housemate at the moment as one of the people in her share-house has just moved out. They haven't found anyone suitable yet so it may work out that we can stay there for the week instead of booking into a hotel. More time with Boo! Yay!!<br /><br />We managed to go to two pubs yesterday and are planning to go into town today once Logan's brother has finished getting organised for work on Tuesday (it's a Bank/Public Holiday here today which has worked out well). We neglected to remember that to use your credit card over here you need a PIN. Who remembers their Credit Card PIN when all you need to do in Australia is sign an authorisation slip? Of course, if we'd remembered this before we went away we still probably wouldn't have had time to get to the bank to get it all set up...<br /><br />Anyway, it's still good. We're being very well looked after by my UK Mum & Dad and it's great to catch up with Logan's brother, Crockett and his girlfriend. Logan and Crockett are very much alike and we all seem to be able to get along well.<br /><br />I was apologising in advance for any vague-outs as the jetlag is still having an effect - in fact, this whole post could be gobbledegook and I would have no idea at this point in time so apologies to anyone reading this!<br /><br />I think it's time for a nice cup of tea before my brain decides to go off floating again. Then it's off to Marks & Spencer!Risshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06268578942640324708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15429902.post-1155680893206254862006-08-16T08:18:00.000+10:002006-08-16T08:28:13.570+10:00We are familyNow that we're going O/S the wheels are turning and planned events are slotting themselves into our limited timeline. We are informed that on one occasion we will be eating at <a href="http://www.goldencrosshotel.co.uk">The Golden Cross</a> and we are to choose from the set menu. Looks pretty good. I'll probably need to add a restaurant review <a href="http://letmeeatnow.blogspot.com">over here</a>. Mental note to do that from somewhere...<br /><br />Boo messaged me to say that she found a great deal for Wicked tickets and a meal for the low low price of 20 pound. (Sorry, can't remember right now how to make this thing do a pound sign.) I'm in!!<br /><br />Choosing what to do in London is proving very difficult as Logan and I will obviously have different things we want to see. We do overlap quite a bit though so I'm sure we'll find a middle ground.<br /><br />More later...Risshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06268578942640324708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15429902.post-1155247825979585252006-08-11T07:50:00.000+10:002006-08-11T08:10:26.020+10:00Congratulations!Welcome to the world a new baby brother, Jeremy, for my friend Josie-Bean!! Well done to Mum and Dad who were looking very tired when I dropped into the hospital to say hello and have a little cuddle last night after work. Mum's going to be in hospital until the weekend so she'll be able to get some well-earned rest before returning home.<br /><br />He's gorgeous!Risshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06268578942640324708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15429902.post-1154263431314049452006-07-30T22:36:00.000+10:002006-08-11T07:50:19.566+10:00Well, now I've heard everything<em><span style="color:#ccccff;">We are not amused...</span></em><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;">Apologies for my silence of late. It is inexcusable, I know. There are a few topics that I need to write about however something has come up recently that I needed to get written down in cyberland so that my head can stop spinning.<br /><br />I'm going to the UK for a trip. It's happening too quickly for me to be able to fully comprehend. We have to leave very soon</span><span style="color:#ccccff;">. Totally unplanned. Can't say too much but it's for a nice reason that we're going and not for something akin to a funeral.<br /><br />I will get to catch up with Boo, my baby sister, as she is in London and currently nannying. I don't know whether I'll see </span><a href="http://twotravellers.blogspot.com"><span style="color:#9999ff;">Adie and Noshie</span></a><span style="color:#ccccff;"> but if they're in the vicinity then I'm going to try my hardest to meet up somewhere.</span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;">Boo and I have already arranged that we're going to go and see</span> <a href="http://www.wickedthemusical.com/"><span style="color:#33ff33;">Wicked</span></a> <span style="color:#ccccff;">at the West End and seeing as how I missed The Lion King in Melbourne I'm going to do my darndest to make sure I see that one as well. Ooh, and something at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.</span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;">I'd better get back to my Lonely Planet Guide to London and find somewhere to stay...</span><br /><span style="color:#ccccff;"></span><br /><em><span style="color:#ccccff;">Rule Brittania, Brittania rules the waves...</span></em>Risshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06268578942640324708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15429902.post-1151830148275779222006-06-18T17:53:00.000+10:002006-07-06T13:57:11.213+10:00He loves me, he loves me not...<span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#ccccff;">I went to the Ballet. Short version: It was fun. For the long version, read on...<br /><br />A friend of my husband mentioned recently that she had not ever been to see a ballet performed and although she was interested she wasn't quite sure what she should see as a first-timer. I mentioned that it would probably be better to see one of the more well-known productions that had lots of colour and brightness and a story that was easy to follow. The following week a Mother's Day special arrived for </span><a href="http://www.australianballet.com.au"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#ccccff;">The Australian Ballet's</span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#ccccff;"> production of '</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giselle"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#ccccff;">Giselle</span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#ccccff;">' at a discounted ticket price. After she agreed that it looked like a good deal I booked the tickets.<br /><br />On Friday night (June 16th) we met outside the Box Office in the </span><a href="http://www.theartscentre.net.au/Default.aspx?"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#ccccff;">Arts Centre</span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#ccccff;"> and walked the sumptuously carpeted distance to the Door nominated on our tickets. On the way I bought a programme because I hadn't done it in years and I was interested in finding out who was still with the company, who had been promoted, who had returned, and who were the new "crop" in the Corps de Ballet. Those programs are not cheap: I remember when they were only four dollars and now they're fifteen! Aah well, it was a special occasion.<br /><br />I used to go to see The Australian Ballet with my Grandmother. We had a Season Ticket and would go to every production. It's something special that we did together for years. I would have invited her along this time but she had arrived back from an overseas trip the day before and I didn't think that the jetlag would have allowed her to attend and be conscious. Sorry Nan.<br /><br />Our favourite male dancer was, and still is, </span><a href="http://www.australianballet.com.au/bios.asp?BiographyId=6"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#ccccff;">Steven</span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#ccccff;"> </span><a href="http://sunday.ninemsn.com.au/sunday/art_profiles/article_1605.asp?s=1"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#ccccff;">Heathcote</span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#ccccff;">. *sigh* But I won't talk about him here as he, unfortunately, was not performing. The beautifully athletic dancers who were performing on June 16th were:<br /></span><a href="http://www.australianballet.com.au/bios.asp?BiographyId=5"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#ccccff;">Lucinda Dunn</span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#ccccff;"> as Giselle,<br /></span><a href="http://www.australianballet.com.au/bios.asp?BiographyId=26"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#ccccff;">Robert Curran</span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#ccccff;"> as Count Albrecht,<br />Paula Baird (a Guest Artist and teacher at the Australian Ballet School) as Berthe (Giselle's mother),<br /></span><a href="http://www.australianballet.com.au/bios.asp?BiographyId=30"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#ccccff;">Andrew Killian</span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#ccccff;"> as Hilarion (a forester),<br />Colin Peasley OAM (Education Programme Manager) as The Duke of Courland,<br />Natalie Hill (Coryphee) as Princess Bathilde<br />Craig Cathcart (Coryphee) as Wilfred (attendant on Albrecht),<br />Miwako Kubota (Coryphee) and Luke Ingham (Corps de Ballet) performed the Peasant pas de deux,<br /></span><a href="http://www.australianballet.com.au/bios.asp?BiographyId=17"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#ccccff;">Annabel Bronner Reid</span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#ccccff;">, Juliet Burnett (Corps de Ballet), </span><a href="http://www.australianballet.com.au/bios.asp?BiographyId=29"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#ccccff;">Lana Jones</span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#ccccff;">, </span><a href="http://www.australianballet.com.au/bios.asp?BiographyId=23"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#ccccff;">Dannielle Rowe</span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#ccccff;">, </span><a href="http://www.australianballet.com.au/bios.asp?BiographyId=33"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#ccccff;">Leanne Stojmenoc</span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#ccccff;"> and </span><a href="http://www.australianballet.com.au/bios.asp?BiographyId=34"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#ccccff;">Camilla Vergotis</span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#ccccff;"> as Giselle's Friends,<br />Jane Casson as Myrtha, Queen of the Wilis,<br />Natalie Hill (Coryphee) and Laura Tong (Corps de Ballet) as the Leading Wilis,<br /></span><a href="http://www.australianballet.com.au/thecompany_ourdancers.htm"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#ccccff;">Artists of The Australian Ballet</span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#ccccff;"> as Peasants, Huntsmen, Court Ladies & Gents and Wilis.<br /><br /><br />Giselle is a ballet that I have seen before. It's a bit of a classic, really. A traditional "story" ballet with its beginning in France in 1941 at Paris Opéra and its origins in Germanic and other European folklore with its reference to "Wilis" or beautiful female spirits who are the ghosts of girls who died of a broken heart before their wedding day.<br /><br />Giselle is a young peasant girl with a weak heart and although she loves to dance this threatens her life. A local gamekeeper, Hilarion, loves Giselle and fiercely protects her happiness while Giselle's mother tries to protect Giselle from causing herself unnecessary heart failure.<br /><br />A Count, Albrecht, comes upon the village in which Giselle lives on the day of the wine festival. He is captivated by her and disguises himself as a peasant by giving his manservant his sword and cloak, which isn't hidden very well (note to Count Albrecht: Have that man fired) in order to charm his way into her heart without her being aware of his status. Being the trusting and gentle lamb that Giselle is, she falls in love with him and is ecstatically happy.<br /><br />All this work is undone, however, when a royal hunting party arrives in town. Albrecht makes himself scarce. The peasants put on a pretty Pas de deux (a dance performed by a featured male and female dancer) for the Duke of Courland and his beautiful daughter Princess Bathilde, to whom Albrecht is already engaged.<br /><br />Giselle is enchanted by Bathilde's opulent and stylish clothing and Bathilde by Giselle's sheltered innocence. They converse and find that they are both betrothed. Bathilde gives Giselle a necklace as a gift and Giselle dances to show everyone how happy she is with her beautiful piece of jewellery.<br /><br />Hilarion has been doing some digging and matches the insignia on the cloak he has found wrapped around a sword with the emblem on the hunting horn hung outside Giselle's house while she and her mother entertain the Duke and his party. Albrecht returns, Hilarion challenges him and Albrecht gives himself away by reaching to his side for his sword as a nobleman would do.<br /><br />Count Albrecht is exposed and Giselle is heartbroken. After dancing happily all day her health has deteriorated, she dances the famous mad scene and dies.<br /><br />At the beginning of the second act we are introduced to the </span><a href="http://www.australianballet.com.au/images/Giselle.gif"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#ccccff;">Wilis</span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#ccccff;"> and their Queen, </span><a href="http://www.australianballet.com.au/images/edu.jpg"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#ccccff;">Myrtha</span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="color:#ccccff;">. Myrtha is a vengeful sort and keeps her Wilis in line. Their mission is to haunt the forest at night and lure young men to dance with them until the men die from exhaustion before dawn. Giselle, a young woman whose heart has been broken by her intended's betrayal before her wedding day, has now become a Wili.<br /></span><br />Hilarion mourns at Giselle's grave and is enticed by the ghostly apparitions to dance until his death. Count Albrecht arrives also to mourn and although commanded by Myrtha to dance with Albrecht to his death, Giselle still loves him and, defying the Queen, helps him stay alive until dawn when the Wilis lose their powers. Giselle vanishes back into her grave and Albrecht is safe.<br /><br />According to the performers, this ballet is technically challenging for a modern dancer as a lot of the footwork is different to that choreographed today. I believe that it is also quite a favourite because of this reason but more so because it is one that potential dancers will have seen when very young and it is full of flash and colour and the traditional pointe-work and tutus making it memorable.<br /><br />It's certainly one that I remember...<br /></span></span></span>Risshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06268578942640324708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15429902.post-1149738869010310132006-05-22T20:23:00.000+10:002006-06-16T14:35:40.890+10:00Be Our Guest, Be Our Guest<span style="color:#ccccff;"><em>Put our service to the test...</em><br /><br />I have been to see the </span><a href="http://www.mtc.com.au"><span style="color:#9999ff;">MTC</span></a><span style="color:#ccccff;"> production of </span><a href="http://www.mtc.com.au/whatson.aspx?eventID=76"><span style="color:#9999ff;">'The Clean House'</span></a><span style="color:#ccccff;"> this weekend. The play was written by Sarah Ruhl, and this production is performed by Julia Blake, Daniela Farinacci, Wendy Hughes, Pip Miller and Deirdre Rubenstein.<br /><br />The house is a very Clean House. The expanse of white carpet is dotted with white furniture and its emotionally reserved inhabitant, Lane, is also crisply outfitted in a white ensemble. (Do we see a pattern forming here?) In contrast, her talkative Brazillian live-in cleaner, Matilde, dresses in a serviceable black and although paid to clean the house is not happy doing so and is struggling to find within herself the jokes she feels are her destiny to share with the world. Matilde's joke-telling parents have, after a bizarre series of events, died and although she is trying to search out the perfect joke in their memory she is afraid that her life will end once it is found. Lane's sister, Virginia, loves to clean, lives to clean, so offers her services to Matilde - she will clean house while Matilde cheers herself up and can work on her jokes... Lane is married to a surgeon, Charles, who reveals that he has fallen in love with another woman, a flamboyant opposite to the highly restrained Lane. Charles' revelation and the introduction of his new girlfriend, Ana, who is also Brazillian, breaks open Lane's cool, white facade and starts in motion the events that will resolve some of the characters' internal issues and bring the play to its chaotic conclusion. </span><br /><p><span style="color:#ccccff;">I do feel that I may have felt more involved with the play if I had understood Matilde's language. The play was spoken in English but some of Matilde's more lengthy jokes were told in her native tongue. I felt most of the actors inhabited their characters weill but I felt that Ana was possibly not comfortable in her role and was over-acting to compensate. Of course, this is only my impression, I mean no disrepect, and I saw one of the earlier performances so this may have been an "off night", who knows? It would be difficult to laugh convincingly at a joke you have heard many times before and to act out the last laugh of your life must be a great challenge.</span></p><p><span style="color:#ccccff;">The story was engaging, the use of the set to transport us in time and space was fabulous and gave the tale, at times, a mythical air. I enjoyed it very much and I don't envy the person who had to clean up after each performance.</p></span><br /><em>Tie your napkin 'round your neck, cherie, and we'll provide the rest...</em><br /></span>Risshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06268578942640324708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15429902.post-1148111482852415922006-05-20T16:56:00.000+10:002006-05-20T17:51:22.866+10:00A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Theatre<em>Something for everyone, A Comedy Tonight...</em><br /><br />I have to say that the nights that I went to the <a href="http://comedyfestival.com.au">Melbourne International Comedy Festival</a> I had a really great time. I know that I should have gone to more shows than I did but I am glad that I managed to see more than last year.<br /><br />I managed to organise a Friday night outing starting with dinner at Zampeli's Cafe Greco at Crown Casino - yum - and moving on to see <a href="http://3pod.com.au">Tripod</a> followed by <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/tv/spicksandspecks/txt/s1530152.htm">Adam Hills</a>.<br /><br />Even though it was a horrible night weather-wise, the mizzling rain didn't seem to be dampening anyone's spirits in the least. There were queues and queues of people in the central Comedy precinct around the Melbourne Town Hall and everyone was determined to have a good time.<br /><br />I am in awe of the talent that the members of Tripod possess. Not only can they sing wonderfully but they write their own stuff and perform with so much enthusiasm. I was a fan of the "Song In An Hour" segment they had on the radio station JJJ and I miss it. They were given three disconnected topics/items/genres to include in a song which they then had to write, rehearse and perform after just one hour. They never failed. They were brilliant. Topical and hilarious it was the highlight of my week. Their Comedy Festival show was a blend of old and new songs and did not disappoint.<br /><br />Adam Hills is the host of one of my favourite television programs - Spicks and Specks - and is so cute you want to invite him to a dinner party so you can ask him to tell more of his stories. He good-naturedly interacts with his audience so everyone feels involved and my only regret is that we missed the sign language interpreter he has with him at his Sunday performances because I've heard that their double act will have you in stitches. One to remember for next time. Until then, you can see him on the ABC as host of their music quiz show, Spicks and Specks, on a Wednesday at 8:30pm.<br /><br />I've also just realised today that I had a ticket to one of the MTC shows at the beginning of this month and totally missed it. Botheration. Not much I can do about it, it's my own silly fault. However, I am off to see <em>The Clean House</em> tonight so will have more to review tomorrow.<br /><br />I've also taken advantage of a special offer and am going to see The Australian Ballet perform <em>Giselle</em> in a couple of weeks. I've also arranged to see Lano & Woodley, who I missed at The Comedy Festival, in November when they return to Melbourne on their farewell tour. I'm really enjoying taking advantage of the cultural side of Melbourne this year. It's been something I've not really been able to afford to do before so it's nice to be in a place where I can do this sort of thing.<br /><br />Now I've just got to work out when I can go to the Gym...<br /><br /><em>Anything you ask for, Comedy, Comedy, Comedy, Comedy, Comedy, Comedy, Comedy, Comedy...To-night!</em>Risshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06268578942640324708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15429902.post-1146485644087156662006-05-01T21:58:00.000+10:002006-05-03T18:04:06.846+10:00I had to let it happen<i>I had to change...</i><br /><br />I've finally had my birthday party. It wasn't the big event that I thought it might be but then maybe having a wedding three years ago has taken it out of me. I didn't even advertise it as my birthday party but I did get a present from one of my high school friends on the day which was very special.<br /><br />So, officially, I am 30.<br /><br />It's not too bad, really. I have my health, all of my teeth, a wonderful husband and a d*mn fine group of friends, a healthy mortgage, a job I enjoy, and some spare cash to spend on myself every so often.<br /><br />I guess that's why when my Mum asked me what I wanted for my birthday I couldn't really think of anything spectacular to ask for to mark the occasion. Same with my sisters. My beautiful Nanna gave me a scratchie (a lotto or pools card where you scratch off a plastic-silver covering to see whether you have won a cash prize) and some cash (a modest amount) which I still have not spent. I was planning to use it to buy a ticket to see <i>The Lion King</i> in Melbourne but I really think I've missed the boat with that one. I'll just have to fly to Perth to see it now!<br /><br />I am happy to say that I have managed to catch a couple of shows at the <a href="http://comedyfestival.com.au">Melbourne International Comedy Festival</a>. I have missed out on tickets to see Lano & Woodley for the last time and I am kicking myself, but have managed to grab tickets to Tripod and Adam Hills next Friday night and I'm rather happy with that. I managed to catch the first taping of the ABC's <i>The Glass House</i> for free (no, I don't mean by watching it on television) due to having a friend in high places - I clapped so much that my hands hurt and smiled/laughed so much that my face hurt. It's what you want from a comedy show, really.<br /><br />I have to admit that Logan and I went to see "D-Cuppettry" as well. Not my thing, really, and I have no plans to ever see the male equivalent (despite an invitation from my parents one year to see it with them <i>*shudder*</i>) but it was entertaining and we had "Tight*rse Tuesdays" tickets so it was a good 'n' cheap night out. Logan said that his face hurt from laughing/smiling but I felt only that it was entertaining enough and not particularly laugh-out-loud funny. The ladies were consummate performers and their breasts were considered by the audience as merely an appendage, like an arm or a leg, which is down to the matter-of-fact atmosphere in which they presented their all-singing, all-dancing, topless puppettry. Good on them for doing the show and de-mystifying the female mammary glands.<br /><br />Another nice thing that has happened is that a Performance Bonus has arrived in my bank account with my regular pay this fortnight. Yay, me. It's great to be rewarded for doing a job well that you enjoy. <i>(<a href="http://ibloggedmyself.blogspot.com/2006/05/six-things-i-hate-about-me.html">Bevis</a>, take note...)</i><br /><br /><i>Couldn't stay all my life down at heel</i>Risshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06268578942640324708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15429902.post-1146484384376474882006-04-30T20:09:00.000+10:002006-05-01T21:53:04.386+10:00How many times do I have to tell you?You would be surprised at the number of visitors I have had in the past month considering that I have managed one post in the last four weeks.<br /><br />There are a lot of people in the world who come across my ramblings because they are looking for the lyrics to a particular song by The_Rogue_Traders.<br /><br />Now, having written that, I am, unfortunately, bound to move up the hit list.<br /><br />Having imparted the secret of my success, I bid you a good night.Risshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06268578942640324708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15429902.post-1144484830956596272006-04-08T17:31:00.000+10:002006-04-10T12:43:04.103+10:00When in DoubtOn Wednesday evening I went to see the Sydney Theatre Company production of <a href="http://www.mtc.com.au/whatson.aspx?eventID=75">Doubt</a>. Written by John Patrick Shanley, it is "the most acclaimed new American play of the year" (eight awards are listed on the MTC website).<br /><br />The play is showing at the Playhouse at the <a href="http://www.theartscentre.net.au">Victorian Arts Centre</a> in Melbourne.<br /><br />A priest, Father Flynn (Christopher Gabardi from Channel 7's 'All Saints'), delivers a sermon built around the concept of 'Doubt'. It is evident by his accent that Father Flynn is from The Bronx and from the content of his speech it is not long after President Kennedy has been murdered, placing us in a New York Catholic school in the mid-1960s.<br /><br />We are then introduced to Sister Aloysius, Principal of the school, who has called in Sister James, a younger nun in charge of class 8B, for a conference.<br /><br />Sister Aloysius (Jennifer Flowers, After The Ball) is convinced that the easy relationship Father Flynn develops with the male students is hiding something more sinister.<br /><br />Sister James is a naive and enthusiastic teacher who sees the good in everyone until the conference with Sister Aloysius makes her begin to doubt her rose-coloured view.<br /><br />The play is mildly unsettling. There is no definitive proof of any interference with a child and with Father Flynn protesting his innocence Sister Aloysius investigates and tries to hound him into an admission.<br /><br />Sister James is not convinced either way. Sister Aloysius is certain that a crime has been committed. Father Flynn explains the situation as straightforward. The boy's mother (Pamela Jikiemi) is not interested in the accusations made by Sister Aloysius.<br /><br />The answer is not clear cut. Either story is possible. Although not as powerful as the previous production presented by the MTC, <i>Ray's Tempest</i>, it will stay with you; a story to turn over in your mind.<br /><br />There is no resolution, only Doubt.Risshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06268578942640324708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15429902.post-1143716417123492742006-03-30T21:49:00.000+11:002006-03-30T22:01:08.266+11:00With a Blessing<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7391/1428/1600/lbc004.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7391/1428/320/lbc004.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><em>For the future of the world...</em><br /><br />On a more positive note, some friends of mine have announced that they are expecting their first baby. Hurrah for the <a href="http://ibloggedmyself.blogspot.com/2006/03/what-were-you-expecting.html">Bevises</a>, well done.<br /><br />I wish you three much joy, happiness and health.<br /><br />And I must be allowed to babysit if only so that Logan can learn to change a nappy.<br /><br />Boo, thanks for the memories. You know how Mum said that Kate Wis was her "practice baby", well, I got my practising in at seven years old when you were born.<br /><br /><em>For the future of the world is inside of me...</em>Risshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06268578942640324708noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15429902.post-1143496559307480592006-03-28T08:45:00.000+11:002006-03-28T12:50:12.906+11:00Should I forget<em>But if I could, then would you see...</em><br /><br />I have been expecting a new cousin this month.<br /><br />He was due to be born on the 6th of March.<br /><br />His Mum went to see the doctor on her due date and was told that the baby was, unfortunately, deceased.<br /><br />He had been alive the previous day but was now gone.<br /><br />I will not be able to give my baby cousin Riley Victor a cuddle.<br /><br />I will not be able to change his nappy.<br /><br />I will not be able to hold his hand and help him walk.<br /><br />I will not be able to make him smile, kiss his feet, blow raspberries on his tummy, sing to him, teach him to love musicals as much as his Dad would teach him to love cars...<br /><br />Or watch him grow up.<br /><br />To my Uncle and his partner, I hope you had the chance to cuddle him, put on his nappy, hold his hand, kiss his feet and tummy, and take a picture of his perfect baby face before you said good-bye.<br /><br />My heart is sad and my eyes cry for you all.<br /><br />I love you.<br /><br /><em>...Or would you go away... from me...</em>Risshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06268578942640324708noreply@blogger.com6