'tis the eve

and another year is at the very end of it's tether... the years keep passing by faster, and i'm managing to fill them with more and more adventures. i wonder what 2010 will bring us all? great big wonderful things. happy new year y'all.

highlights of 2009

franz ferdinand
all tomorrow's parties (way too amazing)
the saints
throwing muses
the 39 steps
leonard cohen (best ever)
woyzeck
primal scream
complexions
robyn hitchcock
the who
comedy festival
the magic flute
de la soul (strange freaky crowd)
perth
kangaroo island
sydney writer's festival
emerging writer's festival
optimism
datarock
dali
melbourne international film festival (i was a glutton)
the flaming lips
rockwiz @ the espy
fringe festival and frassy's show
melb international arts festival
the trocks
lloyd cole
perth (yes, again)
meow meow
one man's star wars
hillevi
a day at the polo
jarvis cocker (awesome)

plus the usual movies, local bands, dinners, parties, friends, dancing, driving, adventures, frappacinos, exhibitions, trivia. i guess i can't really complain about having nothing to do this year. it's been incredibly full. wow!!

summer holidays

today's heat reminds me of 1978. when over the summer i'd lounge on my nanna's couch with a glass of sparkling cola, watching gentle ben and the beachcombers.


met ed at crown for avatar 3D. i really enjoyed it - i was swept along with the story and the visual effects. the banana choc top was pretty good too. :)

i love

25 dec 2009

a quiet christmas this year. by choice. there was still presents to unwrap, a chicken to roast, movies to watch, naps to be had. all in all, a good day.


part of the parcel of gifts from my mum....


pre-requisite chocolate almonds. i get these every year in memory of my dad.


and face painting. what's a celebration without it?

merry christmas.

bonbon silliness

ms natcam kept me entertained texting a multitude of cracker jokes, so here they are:

what does the word minimum mean? a very small mother
what's the most popular garden magazine? weeder's digest
what do you get if you cross a skeleton with a famous detective? sherlock bones

but wait, there's more...

what do they sing at a snowman's birthday? freeze a jolly good fellow
what kind of sweet goes swinging through the jungle? tarzi pan
what school subject are snakes best at? hiss-tory

i know... what's christmas without the bonbon jokes. :)

aussie christmas colours

happy xmas eve

dancing up a storm in these magical boots? maybe... ;)

it's official

we've been leased. there's this sign out front of the house proclaiming "For Lease". not to be mistaken with, "for leis" which would be me, which would be nice, but not so.

plans & adventures

yes, i am absolutely looking forward to having 10.5 days (i am including weekends) off. when i say off, i mean not having to go into the office. i will be loading my days up with other things, mostly writing and sewing. i seem to have lost time during this year so i'm going to try and make up for it now. i know, all the best laid plans etc...

so in the thinking stage i wandered around the net to collect a few sites i've previously missed - this being one...

and what with the move in the next few weeks i figure i'll have to get back into the swing of sewing and op shopping because i'll be poor. well, not really but it's something i've really missed this year. i'll just have to try and balance things a little better in 2010. learn how to juggle with two hands perhaps?

the postie

today i wondered if the mail would be delivered and then considered whether the mail i sent the day before would reach their targets before christmas and then i realised that i still haven't posted the only gift i really should have posted by now. yes, my mom's. i'll mail two parts of it today... honest... and hope that there'll be a christmas miracle and it arrives tomorrow. or the next day. at least prior to xmas. i'm not holding my breath and i didn't exactly forget, i just lost track of the days. christmas came upon us stealthily this year. one moment i was happily attending a writer's festival in may and then WHAM! it's december. i'll remember that for next year and perhaps set traps.

(p.s. sorry mom - i'll make it up to you)

a very natty xmas

dinner in northcote with nat and a sharing of gifts.

started watching the first series of spaced after work. a uk show from a decade ago (eek!) written and starring simon pegg.

ahhhhh!

i know that everyone thinks they're evil but i can have one damn vice can't i? i don't really drink coffee, so my usual is a venti mocha frappacino with no cream. i don't even need to ask for it anymore. i walk into the starbucks on the corner of bourke and swanston and it's "morning lisa, (yes, i've realised i've spelt my own name wrong, but these guys say it like this because they don't know there's that added e) the usual?" it's nice, them knowing my preferred beverage with a side of bagel. mmm... then i tramp upstairs to a couch and sit for a while, reading the paper before attempting to write. it doesn't always happen, that writing thing, but i give it a try each and every time. things might have to change in the new year, but there will always be a frapp in my future.

coming to an end...

and starting anew in some other form.

night on the tiles under the stars...

a mini rooftop pub crawl. mini because we only ended up at two. madame brussels where we sipped on pimms and lemonade, my favourite summertime drink from now until eternity. then moved onto the supper club. the group varied in size but was forever jovial. a lot of fun was had. thanks to mark for introducing the sports visor and it's various uses to the world.

view from the supper club.

the week so far...

monday was dancing and baking for the last lindy at brunswick for the year. took along custard powder cookies, just like mom used to make. mmm... tuesday was a walk into the city for trivia with jamie and jenn (the two jc's). then we headed up six flights of stairs to the rooftop cinema for chinatown with mark, eloise and andrea. i hadn't seen the film before and i had expected something just a little more from it. beautifully shot and set but it was just a little slow and kind of so what? and i didn't really empathise with any of the characters. it was nice seeing parts of l.a. though. echo park lake in the early 70s was lovely. when i was living in the nearby suburb of silverlake, not so much. ;)... wednesday i went on my first home inspection in richmond. let's just say NO to that one. then picked up trish on the way to elsternwick to watch george clooney's latest, up in the air. it was so so. company was super though... moving onto thursday. a three hour work lunch. then fighting through traffic mayhem. yes it was raining and with only 8 sleeps til christmas, people were a tad feral. had a look through another apartment, really nice but on the second floor and the living area needs to be a larger to fit my table and chairs. i'm not giving those up. a quick dinner at raffles with dave and clare before dave and i schmoozed at the offices of a whole group of producers/ directors/ writers. so i didn't network that much, but i showed up and smiled a bit. give me a break. i'll get there.

children's television workshop

not to be mistaken for sesame street - though that would be quite alright. attended a workshop run by robert greenberg through aftrs. 10am til 6pm - and it really could've been a full weekend. met some interesting people, found some useful contacts and picked up a thing or two. a long day. mind melted by the end.

the view from the aftrs balcony. overlooking the forum and fed square. so very lovely.


will be submitting the concept doc to filmvic by the end of january. this is my promise to you!

jarvis and jamie

at the forum. had the best time listening to jarvis cocker. now racing out to buy his latest creation, further complications.

and then there was flood...

late afternoon it felt as though someone was trying to drown us melbournites. honestly - the rain was coming down in big fat plops, heavy and fast. amazing. had i not evening plans it would've been perfect walking without umbrella weather. ;)

as it was i met cheng at the deco bar in north fitzroy (p.s. this is the suburb i want to live in). i could easily see the deco being a regular haunt. cheng mentioned a few other cool places to try - i'm keen. hand is up, take me, take me.

i love you!

whoever you are.

we have a christmas tree

real trees smell amazing. and it was so much fun decorating with sophie and listening to xmas music. best of all, she cooked me a fabulous dinner. roast chicken, potatoes... oh yeah. pretty much heaven.




then the pretty lights are in my bedroom window.

tally ho!

got all gussied up in my new frock this morning and took the 96 tram down to albert park. time for brunch before heading to the polo field. yes, it is that time of year again. can you believe it?

even watched the first game in full - understood most it even. no one caught the $1000 ball though. and things got a little more raucous between the games, the stomping of divots, capturing of the corks and a whole lot more drinking of champagne. yes, i was drinking champagne. it was a wonderfully fun afternoon.

but... silly enough i forgot to screen myself from the sun and by the end of the day, yep, i was red in colour. even my ears got burnt. lesson learned.

another new month

and i have myself a new dress. it's pretty and has blue roses and i'm very happy.

last days of spring

sunday was a lazy day. there was starbucks and writing and watching the rain. there was a wasted two hours watching "the invention of lying" - a disappointing film. and then there was the walk home through carlton gardens which is always beautiful.


i bought my first pg wodehouse book today and look forward to reading his others.

welcome to the world

i received a text from inga as i walked out of the revue. "what a surprise. it's a little lady. we have called her hillevi. she's not bad looking either. obviously takes after me. x" what wonderful news.


the theatre was full to the brim, the lights dimmed and with no announcement the curtains were raised. the dance extravaganza had begun. it was a fun evening of watching the history of jazz dancing. shaz, as always, was my favourite. brilliant show by all.

winnings...

off to the aviary to have a celebratory drink with dave for getting filmVic funds to take one of his features to the next draft. fantastic news that.


i had won tickets to one man's star wars trilogy at the forum, so took nat along. very simple and to the point, no introduction but one man in overalls reciting the rolling titles that we all know and love. hilarious and gob-smacking.

WOOHOO!!

dave just texted he got filmVIC funding to take his feature draft to the next stage. how exciting. very happy for him. me next.

i concur!

"A chief event of life is the day in which we have encountered a mind that startled us," wrote Ralph Waldo Emerson.

the sunday before this day

there was starbucks that morning. this announced i'm home, if nothing else. ;)

i was invited over to trish and stuart's in the afternoon for a bbq with a few friends. i think there were around 20 of us crowded into a tiny space in the backyard. a whole lot of fun and i was introduced to pimms. which is my new favourite drink ever and will have to start requesting it when out. yum.

then back into the city in the evening for chris's birthday dinner at the chocolate buddha. a lot more laughing and eating. food, will it ever end?

back to it!

after catching up with some sleep i managed to drag myself out of bed around noon. unpacked, laundered and grocery shopped. yep, i got myself organised. i've got a life to get back too. it's true. whenever i go on holidays from melbourne as much as i enjoy myself i look forward to coming home again. i think this is a good sign, don't you? maybe found somewhere to put down roots. nan would be proud. "at last" she'd say. of course it would be followed with, "there's nothing wrong with boulder". ha!


the evening had me tramming (sigh!) into the city to meet jamie, jill and mark for japanese before heading to the fairfax studio and MEOW MEOW. marija and i caught her act almost two years ago on the esplanade in perth so i was keen to see her again. definitely didn't disappoint. a performance and cabaret artist, she sings in russian, english, french, spanish, german and there's insane crowd surfing, rose throwing and deliberate wardrobe malfunctioning so people can undress her then dress her again. it's all about the love of a good audience and we all definitely loved her.

jamie and i stayed around to walk through the free ACDC exhibition in the arts centre. have i told you how much i love melbourne recently?

p.s. left my ring in the airport bathrooms. lost and found aren't open til monday. it's probably lost forever. i'll let it go after calling qantas.... :(

leaving on a jet plane

friday.... is here. i made it. it's been relaxing and fun catching up with everyone but i reckon i'll be glad to get home. ;)

down to fremantle for the much needed reflexology session. i nearly went into conniptions when i couldn't find them in their normal locale. everything's moved around in the last 6 months, but i managed to track them down. yah! "the usual, thanks".



down to visit mom at work to say fare thee well before dropping the hire car off and hitting the streets. wandered through the city, which is kinda the same even though the shops seem to be changing. it still feels empty and quiet there.





a couple of hours spent in a king street cafe before meeting melis and finding our way (via BUS - oh my goodness) to leederville and the garden. joined by mike, al, marija, inga, tim and brad. lot of talking, laughing and eating. there was even a harpist accompanying the dj which was just a little bit strange. and also belated birthday presents from marija and melissa. mad women, both of them. but yah to presents anytime.




marija dropped me off at the airport around 10.30. redeye and homeward bound. yah!

the accidental sleep in

my room was so quiet and so dark that i didn't realise the passing of time in my dream state. so waking at 9.30 was a bit of a surprise. i thank telstra for that well-timed sales pitch text. eek!!

i caught up with inga for a couple of hours. supposedly she's giving birth on saturday but everyone thinks it's highly unlikely. inga is taking bets she's at least 10 days overdue. what fun!

then a trip down to bicton to catch up with sean, claudia and douglas. sean is my little brother. seen in the photo below, he's 11ish. a fabulous few hours spent with them and he's growing up way too fast. stop it!


then a night of treats, as al created a splendiferous mexican meal for the three of us, we watched UP! and then melis opened a tin of peaches and icecream. oh yeah. good times.

the wonderful world of wednesday

i LOVE sam rockwell. a bit too quirky to be traditionally cute, but cute nonetheless and a fabulous actor. true, i also like tim roth and gary oldman - but there you go. :) enjoyed moon. and have spoken to a few people about it, and not many a sure why we like it. just do. directed by a younger bowie.


spent a few hours in greens and managed to avoid the heat as well as catch up on emails, as well as a bit of writing. you can't tell by the photo but it has couches, just like other cafes in civilised cities do. wonders.


the lime brulee there was just what i needed.

the evening had me staying with my beloved melis and al (formerly and on the odd occasion, known as the wee brown man). then a few of the galpals met at the ellington in mt lawley. a newish jazz club where the headliner was nina ferro, originally from melbourne but now living in the uk. when i saw galpals, we were invaded by one michael gray when he found out that inga wasn't able to make the roundtable. a fun evening.

gail & leisa do cottesloe

the forever country pub, the obh for lunch before walking along the beach for icecream. mmm...

stompin' at subi

dropped in for a lindy class tonight with swing it. fantastic fun. caught up with a couple of familiar faces, who in turn will be hitting the dance floor in melbourne in a few weeks time for MLX. yah! i have some techniques to work on as well. it's interesting how different each city dances.

saturday with the girls

the birthday schnitzel on the cappuccino strip in fremantle. hanging out with ainsley, mum and larissa.

go west!

at last she packs!! just before the shuttle picks her up. quick flight and sleep to adelaide. hanging out at the airport for a couple of hours before more flying and more sleeping to perth.

damn the heat and flies as she steps out of the terminal.

she is picked up by her bogan sister, ainsley - who turned 30 this day (ains is proud of her bogan-ness. yes, i know it's scary, how are we related?) a white ford boom box and they have a red commodore in the backyard - i may disown her yet.

a drive down south to kwinana, henceforth known as bogan-ville (not to be mistaken for the island off the coast of papua new guinea), to see mum. then to her couch for a nap. ahhh....

perth=time to catch up on sleep. ;)

ready or not??

an insane day at work. one campus for one meeting, another campus for more meetings. haven't packed. hair appointment. still haven't packed. pizza in thornbury. and then lloyd cole at the thornbury theatre. a strange venue for this gig - more suitable for a dinner dance. i've not really listened to cole's music before. recognised a couple of songs. he was great. exactly what i needed. sitting on the floor on the balcony listening to a man play an acoustic guitar. good times. and still no packing.

shocking, i know

the melbourne cup winner. i even watched it this year, on the tube at trish and stuart's place. a bbq and a good laugh. maybe one year in the future i might even get to flemington. hold your breath. ;)

oct 31

almost forgot it was halloween. but minutes before i walked out the door i was trick or treated by 4 mini witches and i had a mad panic of what crap i had in the way of treats to give them. thankfully i managed to scrounge up enough to appease the tricksters.

then off to meet alex and chris for dinner and a movie.


or as it's better known, im staub der sterne. an east german sci fi made in 1976 - spouted as their version of barbarella. oh my. it was indeed outlandish and lurid with a hint of nudity but just a bit eh. not entirely bad, just odd.


and i missed my tram by 2 minutes and couldn't be bothered waiting, so walked home at midnight.

the trocks in frocks

an evening at the state theatre watching Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo. fabulously fantastic and funny.