Saturday 30 September 2017

South Africa bound

If flights are on time, at the moment of this posting my flight to Johannesburg should be taking off from Sydney Airport. This will be my first visit to the African continent.


At Johannesburg I transfer to a flight to Cape Town. Brief visits to Botswana, Zambia and Namibia will follow over the next fifteen days.

Photos will be posted during this short holiday subject to internet connections.

Thursday 28 September 2017

To my surprise they all said no!

To my surprise they all said 'no'.

The current marriage equality survey has huge swathes of the country thinking about 'yes' or 'no'. I'm firmly in the 'yes' camp for fairly obvious reasons and to my relief most people I know appear to be of like mind. That is to be expected, I suppose.

So who surprised me by saying 'no'? Well, it was nothing to with marriage equality. I'm about to depart for a holiday in South Africa and neighbouring countries. In preparation for the trip I visited my usual foreign exchange outlet to purchase some South African Rand. I wasn't expecting any problem. After all, the Eastern suburbs of Sydney has a very large South African expat community.


To my surprise the outlet said it doesn't sell the Rand. I tried a nearby outlet and they were the same. 'No' we don't sell Rand. A third and fourth outlet were the same. It took the fifth outlet to find one who could sell me some Rand. Even they do not usually sell Rand, the cashier told me, but a customer had ordered some Rand from them but then cancelled the order. Basically they were keen to offload their holding on me. 'Would I take it all?' the cashier enquired. She offered various inducements but I simply did not need that amount.

So, it is a bit like marriage equality. In the currency world, love is love but there is nothing so unloved as the unloved.

Monday 25 September 2017

In Real Life

(Darlinghurst Theatre Company)

Some date in the near future the CEO of a top global technology company is engaged in an extensive search for her daughter who disappeared following an argument between the two.

'In Real Life' takes the 21st Century setting of the pervasive effects of modern technology into every aspect of personal affairs and applies it to the world of women. These are women comfortable in the world of business and technology.

The play is an interesting look into the future. It dispenses with gender stereotypes and ignores any temptation to depict whizzbang techno effects.

✮✮✮½

Saturday 23 September 2017

The HIV Monologues

(Sydney Fringe Festival)
Four monologues linked by characters is the structure for 'The HIV Monologues'. Limited performances have been staged as part of the Sydney Fringe Festival an independent arts festival staged around Sydney each September.

The four characters are HIV sufferers and their carers and they discuss life with the illness. This is a more entertaining 75 minutes than that synopsis might suggest.

The four performers - Les Asmussen, Daniel Ross, Edward Skaines and Bishanyia Vincent - are to be commended.

✮✮✮

Thursday 21 September 2017

Dinner

(Sydney Theatre Company)
'Dinner' is a play and a different work from the film 'The Dinner' which I saw and commented on a few days ago.

In 'Dinner', Paige (Caroline Brazier) is hosting a dinner to celebrate her husband's newly published philosophical book. But Paige has other intentions beyond celebration and it isn't long before the dinner and her guests enter hellish territory.

There are some very funny moments in this play. I like Brazier's acting style and she is in good form here. Aleks Mikic, a newcomer to me, is very impressive as an uninvited guest and is an actor to watch out for.

My main problem with this play is the number of problematic staging decisions. There are unexplained pauses, a strange stage intrusion, odd sound placements and sightline shortcomings.

✮✮½

Wednesday 20 September 2017

The Project


It has been decades since I visited a television studio and I can't recall the last time I saw a program being filmed nor even remember what that program was. I suspect the last time was way back in the 1950s when my parents took me to see Captain Fortune; a children's show that was broadcast live on Saturday mornings.

Last weekend a friend arranged for three of us to be in the audience of 'The Project'. This is a popular news, current affairs and comedy program which has been screened every weeknight for years out of Melbourne which has now added a Sunday edition which is screened out of Sydney.

Although the show is presented 'live' it is interesting to see how they seamlessly blend pre-recorded material with live conversation. I was particularly impressed by the extent to which the panel members spent time chatting with the audience directly during the plentiful advertisement breaks and again at show's end. It was an enjoyable evening.

Tuesday 19 September 2017

Victoria & Abdul


Queen Victoria takes an unexpected interest in an Indian prison ledger keeper much to the concern and distaste of members of the Royal family, the Royal household and her own advisors.

'Victoria & Abdul' makes no pretence to be an accurate representation of the meeting and connection between the Monarch and the very much 'alien' commoner. Judi Dench is her usual appealing self as she expertly balances a playful and sympathetic underside to the unhappy, unapproachable Queen.

The film occasionally drifts into predictable over the top moments but it remained entertaining to me throughout.

✮✮✮½

Monday 18 September 2017

Sydney's Harbour Bridge

This Government produced video about the construction of Sydney's Harbour Bridge has some fascinating images from 1920/30s Sydney.

Sunday 17 September 2017

The Dinner


'The Dinner' opens with a voiceover. A man is speaking about which parts of history interest him. Voiceovers turn out to be a feature of this film either as streams of consciousness or indications of mental health.

The setting is a faddish dinner in an expensive and pretentious restaurant. A setting of 21st century Western civilisation that contrasts with the moral dilemmas including racism, violence, human disregard and health which preoccupy the two couples that have met at the restaurant for dinner. The events that concern the individuals are revealed slowly and at times obliquely. In that respect the film is hard work and be warned that the ending is left completely open.

Although Richard Gere is given top billing it is Steve Coogan's character that is central to the film. The performances are excellent. I always love watching Laura Linney and she does not disappoint here.

This will be one dinner that is not to everyone's taste. A knowledge of the American Civil War; in particular the Battle of Gettysburg, would be an advantage.

✮✮✮½

Saturday 16 September 2017

That sinking feeling

Two weeks tomorrow I will be in Cape Town, South Africa and on the eve of visiting Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for decades.

I woke this morning to the news that 68 people have been rescued overnight from a sinking ferry whilst en route to the Island.

(National Sea Rescue Institute photo)
Could be an interesting trip!

Friday 15 September 2017

Talk, talk, talk


A friend once told me that I am a great - maybe he said, 'good' - conversationalist. It was a generous comment but I don't see myself that way. I'm often stuck for words in social situations. Conversely when I think I have something to say I can barely hold my tongue and often end up speaking over the top of someone else. It is not an attractive quality.

To compound that shortcoming I have tendency to speak without thinking of the consequences. I must learn to bide my time and consider my words.

Thursday 14 September 2017

Hot and cold

Yesterday Sydney's temperature reached 34ºc (93ºf). The hottest day the city has experienced at this time of year (Spring) in 158 years.


Today the forecast top is 18ºc (64ºf). A short time ago the temperature had reached 15ºc (59ºf) but the apparent temperature was 6ºc (43ºf).


An effective variation of 28ºc. Crazy.

Sunday 10 September 2017

Weekend break

A weekend break at Ballina in the north-east of the state.

Lighthouse Beach, East Ballina
Lighthouse Beach, East Ballina

Wednesday 6 September 2017

Sunday 3 September 2017

Fasten your seat belts

Returning to Sydney this afternoon we were treated to particularly scenic views of Sydney as the flight was positioned from its northern flight path to a southerly approach into Sydney Airport. It was a little bumpy during the descent and the plane's windows weren't the clearest but I managed a few reasonable photos of my gorgeous looking home city.

The airport runways intruding into Botany Bay at top, Sydney Harbour across the middle with the Harbour Bridge centre, just below Sydney's central business district. The Botanic Gardens left of the CBD with the Opera House at water's edge
Botany Bay & the Airport at top. Randwick Racecourse middle left. The four bays on the harbour from left; Double Bay, Rushcutters Bay, Woolloomooloo & Farm Cove.
Royal Sydney Golf Club at left, Rose Bay centre, Double Bay upper right. My apartment building is just above Double Bay
Airport is upper right, Randwick Racecourse in the centre, the sand of Coogee Beach (left) and (right) the narrow Clovelly Beach. The parklands at right are Centennial Park (above) and Queen's Park (below)
About to turn sharp 90º to descend onto the lower of the two north/south runways. The sand of Maroubra Beach.

Saturday 2 September 2017

Brisbane inception

I'm in Brisbane over the weekend for a quasi family get together. They are not technically my family - sadly my only immediate blood relative remaining alive is an ageing aunt with severe dementia amongst a cocktail of mental and health conditions - but they are such good friends that they have 'adopted' me as family, a relationship I contentedly reciprocate.

I attempted a panoramic photograph of Brisbane city. It didn't work but the product is reminiscent of a scene from the science fiction flick 'Inception' famous in part for its computer generated images of crumbling cities.


I might have a future in Hollywood?