a good book!

You cannot fully read a book without being alone. But through this very solitude you become intimately involved with people whom you might never have met otherwise, either because they have been dead for centuries or because they spoke languages you cannot understand. And nonetheless, they have become your closest friends, your wisest advisors, the wizards that hypnotise you, the lovers you have always dreamed of.
~Antonio Nunoz Molina, The Power of the Pen~

ATP ROCKED!!!

oh my goodness... mt buller was so bloody awesome. rolled back into the city earlier this afternoon so i'm a wee bit tired at the moment. but i have to say, for those of you who like music - get your butts to all tomorrow's parties next year if you get the chance, and they also put on another. curated by nick cave and the bad seeds, the event had a strange art exhibition by louis wain and his cats, movies galore, bingo, trivia, a fondue party and best of all, the music. wow!! through some strange twist of fate (or itinerary malfunction) we didn't quite make it to the friday part of the gig, but saturday's lineup completely made up for it.

walking the hill between the two stages got easier as the day went on, surprisingly enough. i'll list the lineup we caught: from bridezilla, to small knives, robert forster (think the go-betweens), harmonia (70s german experimental), the reels, rowland s. howard, the laughing clowns, psarandonis, spiritualized (really enjoyed) and nick cave & the bad seeds (really really enjoyed). no band pics - having way too much fun.


what was amazing were the views behind the stages. the mountains were breath-takingly beautiful and we were also graced with a new moon and a sky full of stars. ahh... the good life.

to and from the city

wandered into the city this afternoon. luckily i walked in - there was an accident on the 96 tram line, not sure what actually happened but there was a long delay. i watched a movie then walked home. a beautiful afternoon in carlton gardens. pictures courtesy of my phone.






lights in a store on rathdowne street.


another thing i love about melbourne - the gutters and alleys are cobbled. i don't know why i like it, do i have to have a reason? i just do.

ten months ago

i drove into melbourne. over the westgate bridge, through peak hour traffic and into a brave new world. well, maybe not so much a brave new world but an absolutely fun and friend-filled one.

ten months went by really quickly (except today which seems to be an incredibly slow slow wednesday at work).

the below photos are from a lane just off bourke st mall in the city. did i tell you how much i LOVE melbourne?? ;)

me, franz ferdinand, nat and steve

it was a bit of an effort to drag myself off the couch last night and onto a tram into the city, but once the music started it was all good. nat and i crashed the line where steve was waiting to get into the palace. i like the venue - reminds me a little of thunderdome. ha! first support band was red riders which were as supportive as an early training bra, though maybe not as pretty.



the second support band was temper trap - which i really enjoyed. i'll have to keep an eye/ ear out for them. between songs the lead singer kept saying "we are not the cribs" - you would think they've got a bit of a complex about that.



i'm going to have to remember to take my camera to gigs from now on - the camera on my phone just doesn't cut it. the next series of photos are from steve, who is quite the happy snapper. yah!



we were standing pretty much centre of the floor - and at times when franz played felt as if we were jumping on a trampoline. Honestly the floor moved that much, i could've got motion sickness.




we ended on a silly note. :)

sigh....

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come...
- W.H. Auden -

back to work. a short week for me though. yah to a weekend escape to music and mountains.

p.s. it's 29c outside today. outside being the opposite to where i am.

7.5 books in 2 weeks

i'm slipping i know and need to up the ante but i have been doing other things in the last two weeks besides reading. there has been plenty of sleeping and a wee bit of afternoon napping as well. :) a holiday well spent i would think, at least the kind of holiday when you don't leave the country. perth doesn't count as a different country (it comes close but no cigar). i didn't do any writing of substance, only scribbling which i don't think i'm going to get funded for, so i need to get something good going in the next few weeks. motivation + inspiration is required.

and i'm still not thinking about the work i have to return to tomorrow. there is still no such thing as work. honest.