These are our stars

So much for an early night.

The ShakespeareRe-Told A Midsommer Night's Dream is on.

Need to get out The Collected Works of Shakespeare again and go through the plays, as it's been a long time.

The comment in the version about these being our stars reminds me of something once said to me a long time ago, too, while my head was tucked under his chin and our arms were wrapped around each other. Mostly bollocks, but it's a nice sentiment.

And now Dickens in America is on. The impression that comes across from Martin Chuzzlewit isn't all that favourable to America, particularly with all the spitting out of tobacco. On his second tour of the country, he saw changes that were for the better. By that, perhaps fewer people were showering the ground with tobacco spit.

Nyarrrgh, must sleep.

Pretend it were a dream. It works every time.

NGV

Hmmm... The Remaking Fashion exhibition at the NGV is strangely disappointing. But the Galliano gown was mostly worth it. Next time I go, I have to see the Gursky exhibition. As for Order and disorder: Archives and photography, it was laughably miniscule, but had its own highlights.

The rest of the gallery with its permanent displays was much more enjoyable. I particularly liked the ladder to heaven piece (it was vertiginously fun) in the modern art section. Oh, and the furniture. I may just have squeaked, "Eames!!!" when I saw the lounge chair and footstool. Drooled over excellent paintings and ceramic/porcelain items, coveted a mosaic, said "meh" about a fair few of the modern pieces (as well as a number of the older ones...) and had the overwhelming desire to crawl into a modern piece that was basically a big aluminium cube with blue plastic inside.

Also, seeing the portrait that's thought to be one of Lucrezia Borgia was great.

And in writing this, I've had a sudden memory from my early childhood. When I was much younger, we used to visit my Uncle who lived here in Melbourne and one thing that stood out in very early memories was the wall of water the gallery has at the entrance/exit. I'd kind of forgotten the memory of liking that and seeing it as being "Melbourne" as a child until now.

The NGV: extending my love of Melbourne.

And my Aunt's partner died today.

^ Took this today while out and about and I liked the way the reflections in this look kind of ghostly.

Other things that took my fancy today included the following overheard conversations:

Small child on peasant wagon, excitedly: Yay! We're going to Centrelink!

Bogan Corey Worthington type: I've got like 10 months of community service left, 'cos I had the option of that or jail. Although I woulda seen some mates who are in for like life. But I wouldn't want my butt raped.
Equally bogantastic stoned friend: Yeah...

Lackey one in Starbucks line: We got an email today that, as of next week, we have to wear our Christmas t-shirts. The only thing I want to do is take a sh!t on a pile of Christmas t-shirts.
Lackey two: *laughs* Should film that, put it on YouTube.
Lackey one: Mate, don't tempt me.

The rest of the day was equally interesting. Melbourne seems to like raining on me whenever I go on random adventures. But it was so nice to smell the fresh rain on warm earth when I got out of the car in the afternoon. Open road, grey skies, reflective silence. Perfect.

Plus it also involved nattering away about cricket with a random shop guy for ages, which was oddly enjoyable. And reminded me I'd forgotten to check up on scores all afternoon. Oops.

I *heart* Melbourne.

Et le film Embrassez qui vous voudrez se jouera ce soir. Très bien :) (Excusez-moi pendant que je massacre la langue française.)

^ Sunset from a few months ago out in the countryside.

^ My first ripe raspberry!

I'm in love with them. Bought the plant earlier this year - May or so - and it's been growing merrily since then. Although I need to get a new pot for it. I get inordinately excited by the prospect of raspberries and literally ran outside the other day to pick this one when I remembered it was ripe.

It was luscious.

There have been two more ripe ones since then and I ate them this morning before leaving for work. There couldn't be a better way to start the day. I even did a little dance.

More of them are ripening, so I should get a net or something to cover it so the birds don't take it to be their personal feasting plant like they do with anything else that has edible fruits around the place. I let them eat all of the loquats and have a go at the plums, apricots and blackberries. But if they touch the raspberry, I'ma punch them in the beak.

Moskau!

This is the funniest thing I've seen today.

*happy sigh*

Billy is a handyman!

Also, this is all kinds of awesome. If you've ever wanted to translate Taming of the Shrew into German while driving, there's probably a couple handy hints.

Weekend things

^ Some of the things from the weekend.

This weekend past was insanely busy and put an end to my plans to update my blog with something sensible any time soon. Was out and about on Friday being all adult about house stuff, investments, superanuation, etc and felt rather surprised by it all. Not that anything's going to change, but it was interesting to see what options are out there.

Had a surprisingly not-awful coffee at a greasy spoon on Friday and possibly the worst coffee ever from Gloria Jeans on Sunday. I don't know why I even bothered, but it was obviously a moment of insanity. It taste burnt and I wished they'd bring back Starbucks if there's going to be chain coffee stores. At least their stuff didn't taste like death removed from the soles of shoes.

Also found stick-on nails with the skulls on them.

Tacky, ridiculous and skull-y. I had to buy them, obviously. They amuse me and I'll probably never end up using them. Unless I start on random acts of piracy.

^ A rose by any other angle would not look so sweet...

Frog to Prince

Verdict: Frog princes in fairy tales are overrated. And kind of creepy.

This frog prince was much more amusing.

Things that have interested me so far today:

> 100 hand-painted chairs

> A Telegraph article about wandering apostrophes.

> Turning Tiger all Warhol.

> Reading articles I've written that are edited by others to see what's there, what's not and what words they put into my mouth. Kind of amusing really.

> Looking at the thermometre on the windowsill this morning and turning the aircon up higher when the thermometre says it's 42 in the sun. Delightful.

^ Random photo from Schmitchy's birthday party the other weekend. Found it on the camera when loading the images to my computer, didn't remember taking it at all and yet somehow it amuses me. There's also a great photo of BB somewhere I've got to edit up and send to him. Might post it at some point.

Update: Got permission from BB to post the photo :) I now call him Saint BB.

^ Remembrance.

I saw his round mouth's crimson deepen as it fell,
Like a Sun, in his last deep hour;
Watched the magnificent recession of farewell,
Clouding, half gleam, half glower,
And a last splendour burn the heavens of his cheek.
And in his eyes
The cold stars lighting, very old and bleak,
In different skies.
[I saw his round mouth's crimson] - Wilfred Owen.

^ Leaves found on the way to work.

Bondage Santa

Oh-so-disturbing Santa figurine in a shop window that I saw while out with friends on Saturday. Much wrongness. Therefore I had to blog about it.

Really didn't know that Santa was all Rocky Horror. Or so buff and elderly. Or that he was into red suspender stockings and carried cuffs around in his sack. Better watch out indeed.