It Might Get Loud

The film I'm hanging out to see. Doesn't open till August here (I think - I hope it's not later!!)
Anyway, there's the most wonderful review of it here at Peromyscus.

French overdubs but it doesn't matter....

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Divorce :: alimony


2. Napkin :: serviette


3. Camera :: Canon 5D


4. Leather :: trousers - Jimmy, Robert, Mr Mojo Risin'


5. Fractures :: breaks


6. Flip out :: lose it


7. Coroner :: has a job I wouldn't do for quids. And it's nothing like the TV portrays it.


8. Atomic :: Blondie


9. Liz :: Taylor


10. Leave :: depart

from here

Saturday Photo Hunt

This week's theme is "creamy".

Inside the lily, originally uploaded by jsarcadia.

Friday Fill-ins

1. All children alarm their parents, if only because you are forever expecting to be alarmed. Just relax, stop mollycoddling and let kids be kids once in a while.

2. Show me a good loser and I will show you a good sport.

3. Gluttony is like eating an entire box of chocolate liqueurs at one time.

4. Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are busy running it and, therefore, you can sit back, do nothing and just whinge about them.

5. I have yet to hear a man ask for advice on how to combine alcohol and more alcohol.

6. It is impossible to think of any good meal, no matter how plain or elegant, without food or drink in it.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to red wine and football, tomorrow my plans include cooking a big batch of lamb curry for my sister's b'day dinner and Sunday, I want to recover from said b'day bash!

Wordless Wednesday

It's Friday, I know. Just pretend....

Octagonal bokeh, originally uploaded by jsarcadia.

Tuesday Tune

Black Dog with didgeridoos

Still marching in

12 - 0. Saints beat Carlton last night to keep the unbeaten streak going. It was close though, only 9 points in it at the end. Carlton were 4th before the game so it was always going to be tough. But, the boys showed their class and pulled through at the end. Great game, exciting to watch.
The Saints will definitely play finals this year, they've already won enough games to guarantee that.
No game next week - this round is split over two weeks so that all teams get a week off, either this week or next. Mid-season break. They deserve it.

Friday Fill-ins

1. I grew up thinking and I'm glad I did.

2. This was the last website I was at before coming here.

3. Why don't you? Well, why don't you?

4. Photography helps me relax.

5. Thanks, Shirl, for the introduction to Flickr.

6. Bad weather is very off-putting.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to the Saints winning their 12th game in a row, tomorrow my plans include no plans and Sunday, I want to take it as it comes!
FFI

Home

House in a bubble, originally uploaded by jsarcadia.

The star of yesterday's game.

Justin Koschitzke 171051[1], originally uploaded by aitchsaflpics.

Justin Koschitzke #23 Saints

Saturday Photo Hunt

This week's theme is "advetisement". Here's the local butcher in Seville advertising his wares....

It's a team effort now., originally uploaded by jsarcadia.

Halfway through the season and....

... the Saints are 11 - 0.
5 goals down at quarter time, to North Melbourne, they didn't grab the lead till right at the end of the third quarter, then ran all over the top of the Kangaroos to win by 46 points.
11 wins in a row - a new club record.
I'm still not wearing the scarf.

Waiting patiently for August

Friday Fill-ins

1. Happy home.

2. My favorite thing for dinner lately has been lamb shanks. I've had a craving for them lately. Gonna cook some on Sunday.

3. The neighbour's dog spends all day going bark! bark! bark! How I wish it wouldn't!

4. A nice long walk is something I haven't done for a while.

5. It's time for some good news.

6. When all is said and done, you are what you are.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to football and red wine, tomorrow my plans include shopping for a new TV, maybe. And the Saints winning their 11th in a row :) and Sunday, I want to cook lamb shanks!
FFI

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen photos I've taken recently that I quite like.

Thursday Thirteen, originally uploaded by jsarcadia.

Wordless Wednesday

Open and closed, originally uploaded by jsarcadia.

A game of opposites

Saints V Demons. Top V Bottom. Heaven V Hell. Saints are now 10 - 0. If they win next week they'll break the club record for most games won in a row at the start of the season.
You know, I haven't worn my scarf, or any other Saints paraphenalia, (or changed my icon back to the red, white and black), all season. I so want to get out there and wave the flag but I'm too scared to in case I jinx everything.

Friday Fill-ins

1. It's cold and foggy in the mornings.

2. Cherry tomatoes.

3. My favorite health and beauty product is water.

4. I'd like a nice long ride.

5. Well, first of all there was this giant, monolithic thing in the middle of nowhere.

6. I'm not telling; those were the cast of characters in a recent dream and it was not telling that either.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to very little - glass of red, maybe some TV, tomorrow my plans include the Saints going for 10 in a row and Sunday, I want to take it as it comes!
FFI

9 - 0 and a Flickr contact

Very close game today, too close! Saints beat Brisbane by 16 points but it was touch and go for most of the game. Brisbane were in front for much of the third and fourth quarters. The Saints rallied though and finally won the day. Phew! Geelong are also 9-zip as well. The two teams are miles ahead of the rest of the competition. Round 14 is shaping up to be a real clash of the titans.

Today I also met up with a Flickr contact. Jube (Tim) from San Francisco, on a short holiday in Melbourne. We met up at Healesville Sanctuary and had a very pleasant afternoon strolling around, snapping pics of the animals. And snapping pics of our respective Flickr projects as well :)

Friday Fill-ins

1. Moving house is a pain.

2. Feel free.

3. My best quality is the best of a bad lot.

4. The bigger picture is often more important than the details.

5. In nearly 10 years, I've done bugger all.

6. To crank the stereo up is what I need right now!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Langy's retirement function, tomorrow my plans include not much and Sunday, I want to watch the Saints win their 9th straight game and maybe meet a flickr contact from the USA!
FFI

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Vex :: annoy


2. Relapse :: fall off the wagon


3. Twinkle :: twinkle little star


4. Crawls :: closer now, closer to the foot of the bed


5. Optimistic moment :: when the sun peeks through the clouds


6. Cage :: prison


7. Superwoman :: all women are superwomen


8. Personal :: up close and


9. Vapor :: steam


10. Grocery store :: shop

from here

8 - 0

Another win for the Saints. Only by 19 points this week - Essendon put up a good fight. Still, it's enough to keep them top of the ladder. Geelong are also 8-0. Round 14 is the big showdown! Bring it on!!

Saturday Photo Hunt

This week's theme is "painted". Here's Jimmy in front of one of Mum's paintings (one that she owns, not one that she painted herself).

Friday Fill-ins

1. If we had no winter we'd have no Spring.

2. Music is a perpetual astonishment.

3. If I had my life to live over I'd make a whole lot of different choices.

4. A lot, or nothing at all, can happen inside of four and twenty hours.

5. If you've never been thrilled then you've missed out.

6. To be interested in the changing seasons is to be interested in life.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to nothing special, tomorrow my plans include must do homework, must do homework, must do homework and Sunday, I want the Saints to win their 8th straight game!
FFI

7 - 0

And still top of the ladder. Saints smashed Collingwood by 88 points tonight. A win over Collingwood is always sweet and to crush them like that is the sweetest. Go Sainters!

Friday Fill-ins

1. Apples are to oranges as Coverdale is to Plant.

2. Jimmy rocks! and that's all I have to say about that.

3. I think I hear Jimmy (on the CD player)

4. Black flag.

5. Do what you want to do, but let me do what I want to do.

6. Jimmy led the way and behind him was a Radio Flyer wagon; in the wagon was a bucket filled with guitars from the also-rans, who just couldn't match it with the master.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a red or two in front of the telly, tomorrow my plans include a friend's 50th b'day bash and Sunday, I want to celebrate Mothers Day with my mum!
FFI

6 - 0

Saints beat the Bulldogs by 27 points yesterday. Still top of the ladder. Geelong is the only other unbeaten team now. The press are starting to talk of the Saints as the "real deal". Now I don't want to get ahead of myself here, but......WOOHOO!!

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Avoid :: ignore


2. Castle :: Windsor


3. Episode :: chapter


4. Limited :: access


5. Nail polish :: varnish


6. Dip :: in the road


7. Share :: and share alike


8. Damage :: brain


9. Improper :: wrong


10. Handle :: with care

from here

Friday Fill-ins

1. The first rule of working in an office and getting along is don't eat oranges.

2. Shells and clams.

3. When I think of carnivals I think of scary rides.

4. Blossom, of any kind, is my favorite spring flower.

5. Things on my desk include nada, I don't have a desk anymore.

6. Jimmy Page makes me wanna turn the music up LOUD.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to nothing much, maybe watch some football, tomorrow my plans include seeing my brother and his family for dinner and Sunday, I want to celebrate another Saints win!
FFI

It's a wonderful thing

to be connected to the internet properly. Finally.

Winners are grinners

5 - 0. Woohoo! Saints crushed Port Adelaide by 66 points on Friday night. In Adelaide too - especially good as our record against Port over there has been woeful over the years. Port were 3 - 1 before the game so they've been doing pretty well too. I'm impressed by the Saints' hardness at the ball this year. They are tough!! And kicking plenty of goals too. Yeah!

Friday Fill-ins

1. Apparently there's some sort of some sort of birthday here today.

2. It would be nice if it were a sunny day.

3. 2009 pretty much sucks so far.

4. And that was it.

5. For too long I've been drifting.

6. I am not obsessed with Jimmy Page; I am not!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a Saints win, oh and yeah, celebrating my birthday, tomorrow my plans include recovering and Sunday, I want to take it as it comes!
FFI

Cert IV TAA

Certificate IV, Training and Assessment. That's the course I started today. After 28 years teaching I didn't think there was much I didn't know about training and assessment. Seems I was wrong. I came home from the first session today with about 15 forests worth of paper - all acronyms and jargon mostly. So, by the end of the course I'll be able to train and assess people to train and assess other people.

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Lease :: rent


2. Dead :: parrot


3. Removed :: taken away


4. Broke :: me


5. Lips :: luscious


6. Flight :: of the Concords


7. Three hours :: is about how long an AFL match takes


8. Give :: and take


9. Technical :: drawing


10. Hurry :: up!

from here

Another win

Saints crushed Fremantle by 83 points to make it 4 from 4.

Friday Fill-ins

1. Join me in a singalong.

2. Put a little music in your day!

3. Happiness is a smile.

4. Dazed and confused for so long it's not true.

5. I'm waiting for the sun.

6. Temptation is hard to resist.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a quiet night in, tomorrow my plans include another Saints win! and Sunday, I want to take it as it comes!
FFI

Woohoo

3 games, 3 wins. Yesterday the Saints thrashed the West Coast by 97 points. 97 points!!! As of today they're top of the ladder :)
I know, only 3 games in and still another 19 to go - early or not, I'm excited by this season's start.

Friday Fill-ins

1. Anonymous...hides like a coward behind anonymity.

2. Life is a minestrone (10cc).

3. Let me embrace thee, sour adversity, or, just go away.

4. New life is what I look forward to most about Spring.

5. Who needs therapy when you have flickr.

6. Lots of stuff can, but there's nothing that MUST go into the Easter Basket!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to packing again, tomorrow my plans include moving again *sigh* and Sunday, I want to unpack again *sigh*!
FFI

Would have loved to have been there....

Jimmy Page inducts Jeff Beck into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, April 3rd, 2009.

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Log :: on


2. Plaything :: toy


3. Broom :: brush


4. Heels :: Cuban


5. Smoke in :: the sky


6. Guests :: are welcome


7. Attraction :: fairground


8. Shiny:: shiny


9. Risked :: gambled


10. Velvet :: Underground

from here

Friday Fill-ins

1. Angel or not I'll wing it anyway.

2. (Expletive deleted) me any way you want me.

3. As my mother used to say, you're full of bright ideas.

4. Things hurt after I'm done working out or doing something strenuous.

5. Even in the most crowded of rooms I hide.

6. Monday is a day fraught with peril.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to another Saints win, tomorrow my plans include babysitting my brother's kids and Sunday, I want to take it as it comes!
FFI

Lovely Bones

by Alice Sebold.
It's hard to believe that this is Sebold's debut novel, it's so well written.
It's the story of Susie Salmon who is murdered at 14. The murderer, an absolute creep, lives just a few doors down from her family home. Her father knows he did it but there's no evidence.
Susie narrates the story from her Heaven - she watches her family and friends as they try to deal with her death. She watches as her parents falls apart and then struggle to get back to some sort of normality. She watches her brother and sister grow from children to young adults. She sees her friends grow up. All of these people struggle to come to terms with Susie's death. It's not until they do come to terms with it that Susie is able to let go.
It's not a morbid book by any means and I found myself smiling quite a lot. Susie is a heart warming character and her observations are insightful as well as moving. At times I was also moved to tears.
The novel is a great examination of how people deal with the death of a loved one - the lows they sink to and the way they eventually rise from those lows to carry on.
Highly recommended.

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Road trip :: sounds good


2. Pool hall :: snooker


3. Extraordinary :: special


4. Jackson :: Browne


5. Heartfelt :: sincere


6. Wet :: water


7. Strangle :: asphyxiate


8. .com :: flickr.com


9. Touched :: felt


10. Insipid :: ineffectual

from here

First game of the season

And the Saints have started with a win. They beat Sydney (in a pretty scrappy game) by 15 points. Yay!!!

Friday Fill-ins

1. "In a hole in the ground there lived a Hobbit."

2. "She did like to natter but that ain't no matter."

3. "After dark the rain began to fall again, 'twas a dark and stormy night."

4. "Captain Jack Sparrow plucked the hair from his back, twisted it into a rope and escaped from the hold of the Spanish galleon."

5. "There was a hand in the darkness and I held it tight."

6. "Accidents ambush the unsuspecting, which is why it pays to be suspecting."

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to just a quiet night, tomorrow my plans include watching the Saints play their first match of the season and Sunday, I want to be celebrating a Saints win!
FFI

It begins....

Child 44

by Tom Rob Smith.
Three words: Stalinist Russia. Bleak.
The book is essentially a murder mystery but, set as it is in 1950s Russia, is also a 1984esque story of the individual's struggle against the totalitarian state.
Both Orwell and Solzhenitsyn did it better.

There are enough twists and turns to keep the story interesting - the finaland quite significant twist did, in fact, come as something as a surprise.
However, I got fed up with Smith constantly bludgeoning me with the evils of the Stalinist state. And bludgeon he does. Endlessly.
Still, the hunt for the murderer was sufficiently well told to keep me intrigued. Leo, who works for the State Security forces, the MGB, is sent to tell his friend that their child was not murdered, it was just an unfortunate accident (it happened near a railway line). The fact that the boy's stomach had been removed and his mouth filled with dirt was seen as irrelevant somehow. There is no crime in Stalin's Russia you see.
Meanwhile, Leo's wife comes under suspicion as a spy - which she's not but that's irrelevant too. An accusation is the same as a guilty verdict. (And I wish I had a dollar for every time Smith made that point.)
Leo is demoted and they're sent to a town out in the East. While there, another child is murdered in the same way. Leo starts to investigate. He finds that there have been 44 such murders across the country - following the railway line.
What follows is Leo's attempts to hunt down the murderer - against the orders of his superiors who have already convicted various undesirables for these crimes.
That part of the story is worth reading.

One other thing that annoyed me - this is a book in dire need of a decent proof reader!

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Studio :: recording


2. Meetup :: should be two words I'm sure


3. Ostrich :: feathers


4. Jokes :: can vary in funniness


5. Estranged :: alienated


6. Random :: haphazard


7. Slap :: slip slop slap


8. Hotel room :: sterile


9. Inscribe :: write in


10. Polar :: star

from here

Saturday Photo Hunt

This week's theme is yellow:

Yellow, originally uploaded by jsarcadia.

a big boy did it and ran away

by Christopher Brookmyre.
My brother recomended I read this author. At first I wasn't convinced it was such a good idea but, by the end, I was more than glad I did.
Ray Ash has recently begun his career as a teacher of English in a Glasgow school, where the kids give him the runaround well and truly. He prefers to play computer games and also had a brief career playing drums in an indie pop band - one hit wonders.
He has a wife and new baby and is wondering where his life has gone. He likes to go to the airport and dream. While there he sees Simon Darcourt, a major figure from his university/musician past. The only problem with this is that Darcourt has been dead for three years, killed in a plane crash. His body was never found though.
It turns out that Darcourt is the Black Spirit, a major terrorist. He has no cause, no beliefs. He just carries out terrorist activities for others, whoever pays. He is the most wanted man everywhere, except that nobody knows who he is.
Darcourt has Ash kidnapped (after a failed attempt to kill him) because he doesn't want Ash blabbing that he's seen him. Ash, of course, has blabbed to the police, but they don't believe him at first. While the kidnap is taking place a couple of smart-alec truants from Ash's class sneak into the baddies' truck and are also, inadvertantly, kidnapped.
What follows is a very entertaining action thriller. Darcourt is trying to blow up a major hydro-electric plant in Scotland. Ash and the detective who finally believes him are trying to stop him. The two kids also do their bit, mainly just by being naughty kids. They are hilarious.
There are lots of flashbacks throughout the book as Ash and Darcourt's back story is fleshed out. This back story is necessary to explain the motivations behind Darcourt's chosen career as a terrorist - ego has a lot to do with it. It also helps explain why Ash acts as he does.
Language warning - the f and c words are used regularly and most dialogue is in Glaswegian Scottish (a weird and very colourful language all of its own!).
Very entertaining.

Friday Fill-ins

1. Why do we have to grow old?

2. Flickr and FFI are now habits.

3. I have been out all day.

4. I had never heard the phrase "____ " and I still haven't.

5. I do everything the way I always do.

6. How was I to know what to write for #4?

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to starting a new book, tomorrow my plans include another family dinner for visiting relatives and Sunday, I want to maybe play some vinyl records!
FFI

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Sunburn :: avoidable


2. Aquarium :: fish


3. Otter :: sleek


4. Awesome :: the world's most overused word


5. LOL :: hahaha


6. Accordion :: squeeze box


7. Hot Pocket :: the money's burning a hole in it


8. Grandstand :: MCG


9. Shaved :: head


10. Upgrade :: computer

from here

Friday Fill-ins

1. When I look to the left, I see the view out my window.

2. Probably one of the rooms in the granny flat up on top of the rise is the room that has the best view in my home.

3. Let it ME work.

4. Dirty deeds done dirt cheap!

5. Paying taxes is a responsibility that all qualified citizens must share.

6. If you have any spare cash feel free to give it to poor impoverished me.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching the NAB Cup Grand Final, tomorrow my plans include family dinner for the overseas relatives who are visiting and Sunday, I want to take it as it comes!

First Casualty

by Ben Elton.
A murder mystery set in 1917, at first in England and then at the Western Front. As with all Elton's crime fiction, the book is not so much concerned with the crime and its solving, but with an examination of the society within which the crime occurs.
Douglas Kingsley, a London policeman and the central character, has refused to fight in WW1. His objections are based on intellect and logic and he is swiftly denounced as a traitor by all and sundry. He is sent to prison where he is nearly beaten to death for his "crime". Meanwhile Captain Abercrombie, a decorated soldier, celebrated patriotic poet, aristocrat and son of a leading parliamentarian, and also a closet homosexual, is murdered while recovering from war wounds in a Belgian hospital. It's announced that he was killed in action because it just wouldn't do to let it be known that such a famous member of society had been murdered in his bed.
Kingsley is spirited out of prison (and is announced as shot dead while trying to escape), is given a new identity as a military policeman and is sent off to the western Front to investigate Abercrombie's murder.
What follows is a thoroughly good read.
There are numerous references to the politics of the time - the domestic political situation, the question of Irish Nationalism, the threat of Bolshevism, the Suffragettes, the British class system. All get an airing as Elton weaves his way through the mud of Flanders.
The curious situation of Kingsley is central to his examination of the effects of that horrendous war on the people involved in it. Kingsley is utterly opposed to the war but finds himself forced to fight in it as he conducts his investigation. Elton's descriptions of the slaughter, the shell-shocked men, the privations they faced on a daily basis are detailed but not in any over the top way. He is very matter of fact about it - that's the way it was and men dealt with it as best they could. There are several passages where Kingsley ruminates on the treatment of these millions of men by the government that has sent them to fight on its behalf - the lack of decent food, the chronic shortage of fresh water, the way they are herded from place to place like sheep, the sheer senselessness of trench warfare in general.
Elton uses language that is highly appropriate to the times - he is very adept at that sort of thing I've noticed. He is also very adept at giving a realistic but entertaining snapshot of the society he has chosen to write about. This particular book is extremely ironic but not laden with the outright humour that other books of his have been. I guess there's nothing in the trenches of WW1 really to laugh about.

Wordless Wednesday

Last night, originally uploaded by jsarcadia.

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Mourning :: grieving


2. Approval :: go ahead


3. Lotion :: moisturiser


4. Perspire :: sweat


5. Language :: communication


6. Defection :: treachery


7. Play :: drama


8. Graphic :: novel


9. Spicy :: food, yum.


10. In love :: Friday I'm

from here

Piece of My Heart

by Peter Robinson.
Robinson is a British crime writer who's main character is Inspector Banks. This is the first Banks novel I've read.
Two murders - one in 1969, one in the present day (roundabout 2005). There is seemingly no connection between the two, until Banks works it all out towards the end of the book.
The first murder was of a young woman at a rock festival in Yorkshire. She was killed while, wait for it..... Led Zeppelin were playing. Well, any book that mentions the mighty Zep on the first page just has to be read. The band's name pops up regularly as the story progresses but, really, they have nothing to do with the plot. Lots of other names pop up too, all actual musicians/bands (except for the fictitious band which the story revolves around) - it's almost as if Robinson is trying to prove his musical credibility by name-dropping at every available opportunity.
The second murder is of a 30ish man, also somewhere in Yorkshire.

The story flits back and forth between 1969 and 2005 as two sets of detectives try to solve their respective crimes. Banks appears only in the 2005 sections. Initially, there's no rhyme or reason to this double story. It's almost as if Robinson has written two seperate murder mysteries and spliced them together at random. Slowly, however, the links between the two cases begin to emerge and eventually all loose ends are neatly tied off.
An easy read.

Saturday Photo Hunt

This week's theme is space. Here's 10 minutes of space....

10 minutes and 2 seconds of Venus, Mars and another. Best viewed large., originally uploaded by jsarcadia.

Friday Fill-ins

1. Patting a dog was my last random act of kindness.

2. Another place another time.

3. I am a failure in matters of the heart.

4. Coffee, tea or alcohol.

5. We are all on separate paths.

6. Our response to the bushfire crisis reminds me that there is hope for humankind.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching some football on TV and getting the new place sorted out, tomorrow my plans include family gathering for Peter and Clare's birthdays (27/2 and 3/3 respectively and Sunday, I want to finish getting the new place sorted out!
FFI

Status report

It seems that the fire danger is over for now. Rain overnight has eased the pressure. The big fires continue to burn but are safely controlled at the moment.
For the first time since that horrible Saturday - Black Saturday, as they're calling it now - I woke today to a sky clear of smoke. 'Twas a beautifully ordinary sight.

Settling in to the new place has been an interrupted process due to evacuations. I'm back here now and intend to try to stay here for more than one day at a time!

Internet access is intermittent at the moment. I'm tapping into an unsecured wireless network which may or may not belong to the main house. It probably does as there's nothing else around here for miles. I haven't had a chance to sit down and work it out with the owners yet as we all keep rushing off to safer destinations!

The signal is very weak and keeps cutting out. I'm going to have to do something about this!!!!

It is, as they say, all up from here.

The first thing I did was set up the stereo - can't believe I'm listening to David Coverdale though. He does have Jimmy Page playing guitar for him though so it's not all bad. Kind of what Led Zeppelin would have sounded like if they'd been a mainstream metal/heavy rock band. Makes me appreciate the sheer genius of the awesome unit that was Bonham/Jones/Page/Plant all the more.

Hope everyone's well.

Almost feel like I can relax

I think, finally, that the fire threat to this part of the world may be over. Friday's predicted "danger" weather didn't cause any fresh outbreaks - in the Valley, at least. There were several new fires that started in other parts of the state however. None are threatening communites though. There are about half a dozen large blazes still burning but the containment lines appear to be holding. This includes the Kilmore East-Murrindindi Complex South fire, which is the one that was threatening Warburton and the rest of the Yarra Valley. This, together with the North side of the fire complex, is a HUGE blaze. I'm amazed that the authorities have been able to control it. Really, you have to admire the fire fighters and other associated personnel. Most of them are volunteers. It's been over three weeks now, of constant firefighting and vigilance. They must be exhausted. Help has come in from other states and from other countries - more welcome than you could ever imagine!
They say that Tuesday is the next day to worry about as very strong winds are predicted. It's the wind that caused all that devastation on "Black Saturday" as it fanned the flames faster than anyone could believe. Or escape from.
But, because of what happened that day, now everyone just evacuates. The lesson has been learned at huge cost.

And....I've finally moved into my new abode. It's a smaller room than I've had but lots more space around the property. Of course, now I have to put everything away. I'm not sure what's more onerous - packing or unpacking.

And still it continues...

Another day of high fire alert today.
After a brief stint at home during the week, Clare has returned to Mum and Dad's. Everyone there is monitoring the situation and if it worsens they'll all leave and probably go to my brother's (who, btw, is having a birthday today. Happy Birthday Pete!!).

I heard a scary stat on the radio this morning - in the 3 weeks since this all started, there have been 3500 fires across Victoria. 70 plus towns have been affected in one way or another - the worst, obviously, being places like Marysville which has been completely wiped out.

And I'm moving to Hoddles Creek tomorrow.

From the CFA website, the latest update, posted at 10am this morning - about an hour ago.
Awareness Message - Yarra Valley, Warburton Valley and surrounding areas
27/02/2009

Incident Information

Local, national and international firefighting crews from CFA, DSE, Parks Victoria, Melbourne Water, NSW Rural Fire Service, Tasmanian Fire Service, Western Australian DEC and Fire and Emergency Services, NSW National Parks and Wildlife, New Zealand, Canada and the USA are deployed in anticipation of today's testing conditions.

Residents in the Yarra Valley including communities in the vicinity of Toolangi, Castella, Fernshaw, Healesville, Don Valley, Mount Toolebewong, Badger Creek, Woori Yallock, Seville, Wandin, Coldstream, Yarra Glen, Yeringberg, Gruyere, Dixons Creek, Steels Creek, Chum Creek, Arthurs Creek, Christmas Hills, Smiths Gully, St Andrews, Strathewen, Yan Yean and Whittlesea need to be aware that fire activity continues in the area. No properties are under threat at this time.

Residents in the Warburton Valley including communities in the vicinity of Launching Place, Yarra Junction, Wesburn, Millgrove, Warburton, Warburton East, McMahons Creek, Reefton, Gladysdale, Hoddles Creek, Yellingbo and Big Pats Creek need to be aware that fire activity continues in the area. No properties are under threat at this time.

DSE and CFA are reminding communities in the areas surrounding the fires to activate their bushfire survival plans. If you are going to leave, leave early.

Safe and sound

For the moment.
Yesterday's threat came and went without causing any more damage in the Valley. There was, however, another fire which started in Upwey and Belgrave, in the Dandenongs, which destroyed one house and caused a fair amount of panic. James and Rosie left their house, as it's quite close to Belgrave, and spent the night at his parents' (ie., Paula and Phil). They're able to go home today though as it's all under control now.
Clare is also going home to Warburton today. The fires up that way are staying within containment lines and the wind is posing no threat now. There is another threat warning out for Friday (it really does never end!) and she'll go back to Mum's then. The main problem is, if it's hot and windy, flying embers start spot fires outside the containment lines - it's the fear that these will spread and cause further havoc that keeps everyone on edge. The terrain makes it very difficult for firefighters to reach these outbreaks easily. The fire at Wilson's Prom, for example, is largely being left to burn itself out as, apart from aerial water bombing, they just can't get in there to fight it on the ground. (That fire is down on the coast and no threat to us up here.)
At this stage things seem to be quite calm so here's hoping they stay that way.

My main worry now is Mum. The stress of it all is really getting to her and she's not coping with that very well at all. She's extremely fragile at the moment.

I wish it would rain.

It never ends

Fire authorities are warning of dangerous fire conditions in Victoria on Monday.
Temperatures in the 30s, northerly winds and a late change are expected.
The Department of Sustainability and Environment and CFA are particularly concerned about the Warburton Valley, east of Melbourne.
They say residents in the valley are most at risk after the wind change due late in the afternoon on Monday and should have their fire plans ready.
ABC News
That's Clare's place.


And, I just found out, my best friend's daughter's boyfriend was killed today in a diving accident.


*sigh*

Friday Fill-ins

1. Give me money and I'll spend it.

2. Whenever whatever.

3. I wish yes I do, frequently.

4. Roast lamb was the last thing I ate that was utterly delicious.

5. To live in this world is our fate.

6. Other than this one, Peromyscus is the last blog I commented on.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Farewelling Holly who's off to the UK for 12 months, tomorrow my plans include packing and Sunday, I want to finish packing!
FFI

Devil's Brood

by Sharon Penman.
The third book in Penman's trilogy about the lives and times of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine.
The first book - When Christ And His Saints Slept - dealt primarily with the civil war between Stephen and his cousin Maude (daughter of Henry I) over which of them should have the English crown. After nearly 20 years of bloodshed Maude finally gave up the fight and struck an agreement with Stephen - that she would bow to him as King of England as long as he made her son, Henry, his lawful heir. On the death of Stephen Henry became Henry II, one of England's greatest kings.
The second book - Time and Chance - deals with Henry II's consolidation of his kingdom and empire, his marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine and his relationship with his trusted friend and Chancellor, Thomas Becket. Henry and Eleanor is one of the great love stories of history, encompassing soaring love, unbounded ambition, unrivalled power, and, ultimately, conspiracy and betrayal. Henry's relationship with Becket soured remarkably once he elevated his Chancellor to the Archbishopric of Canterbury. Becket transformed from a worldy, intensely political animal into a devout, though still highly political, man of the Church, who's main interest became preserving the independence of that Church. An enormous power struggle between the two men destroyed their relationship and eventually resulted in the murder of Becket at the hands of some of Henry's knights.

Devil's Brood continues the saga and focuses on Henry's struggles to hold his empire intact in the face of increasing rebellion on the part of his wife and sons, willingly aided by the kings of France.
Henry II had forged an enormous empire, due largely to his imposing will, charisma and military and political brilliance. He ruled over England, Normandy, Brittany, Anjou and, through his equally brilliant wife, Aquitaine.
His big mistake was to give his sons titles befitting their rank but no real power to go with them.
The eldest, Hal, is anointed as King of England (to take effect on Henry's death) but has no lands, income or real power of his own. He is portrayed as a rather vacuous, duplicitous show pony with no real understanding of what it takes to be a ruler.
Richard, the second son, is to inherit Aquitaine from his mother.
Geoffrey, the third son, is given the Dukedom of Brittany through his marriage to Constance, the only child of the dead Duke. He is promised Nantes and Richmond but his father never seems to find the right time to hand over the reins.
John, the fourth son, is left with nothing much - although he is made King of Ireland by Henry, with disastrous results. He too had no clue.

Hal is the first to openly rebel, becoming tired of his father's promises to give him real power. These promises are never acted upon as the time is never right. Ultimately it seems that Henry just didn't trust Hal to do the job properly and so kept stalling him.
At various times one or all of his sons are in open rebellion but Henry always seems to find a way to make peace. At other times the sons are fighting amongst themselves and it is Henry who manages to patch things up between them. He also manages to unconditionally forgive them each time.
Above all the intrigue and mayhem, Henry is a father who loves his children. He is constantly betrayed by them but each time the betrayal comes as a shock to him. He can never understand why they rebel. He believes he is doing the right thing for the long term future of his empire and cannot understand why they don't see things as he does. He is also a man who doesn't share power easily and is blind to the effects this has on the sons.
The only person he cannot forgive is Eleanor when he finds out that she has encouraged her sons in their various rebellions. As a result she spends the last sixteen or so years of their marriage as Henry's prisoner, under house (or castle) arrest in England - far from her beloved Aquitaine.
Both Hal and Geoffrey die while in a state of rebellion with their father. Henry does get the chance to reconcile with Hal but not with Geoffrey. Their deaths have a huge effect on Henry, both psychological and physical. His struggle then is centred around Richard and the latter's hostility towards his father, largely due to the treatment of Eleanor. Richard allies himself more and more with Phillipe, King of France, and this is almost more than Henry can bear. As a result he refuses to formally acknowledge Richard, his eldest living son, as his heir.
As he gets older Henry succumbs more and more to physical ailments. These lessen his abilities to impose himself and his support gradually diminishes. He is eventually forced to agree to a humiliating truce (almost a surrender) with Phillipe and Richard. He dies, at the age of 56, not long after.

This is a story of love, power, intrigue, betrayal, forgiveness, trust, distrust, war and family. At 736 pages it's not a quick read. But it's an immensely satisfying one.

I first fell in love with Penman's writing when I read Sunne In Splendour, many years ago. That book is her take on the story of Richard III. It is still one of my favourite books. She has also written a trilogy on the struggles of the Welsh to retain, unsuccessfully in the long run, their independence from England in Medieval times.
Her books are thoroughly researched and so well written. It's hard not to become personally involved with the various characters as their stories unfold.
Her next book will continue the story of Eleanor and Richard. I can't wait!

If you're a fan of historical fiction, you can do a lot worse than pick up a Sharon Penman book.

Fire and Rain

Fires are still burning across the state but most are under control now. The death toll has risen to 200 as they start searching burnt out houses (approx 1800 of those) - so far only open ground and cars have been searched. What a horrible job that must be! *Shudder*

Clare is still at Mum and Dad's - fires are still burning out her way but her house is not in any real danger at the moment. The reason she hasn't gone back is because her car broke down - I convinced her that it wouldn't be a good idea to be up there without transport!

On average, Melbourne should have had 77mm of rain so far this year.
Actual rainfall so far this year: 2.2mm.
*sigh*

Meanwhile, far north Queensland, parts of NSW and some areas of WA are flooded and completely cut off from the outside world. Crazy.

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Be mine :: be yours


2. Ecstatic :: over the moon


3. Orderly :: disciplined


4. Sebastian :: Johann Sebastian Bach


5. Sore :: hurt


6. Don’t need :: no thought control


7. Rockstar :: Jimmy!!


8. Tinfoil :: alfoil


9. Addiction :: heroin


10. Where? :: in the world is Carmen Sandiago?

from here

Half-time

Saints' first game of the year - NAB Pre-season Cup. They're getting clobbered. *sigh*


Full-time: a much better second half by the Saints but they lost by 9 points. They won this comp last year so not such a promising start.

The real season starts at the end of March.

Saturday Photo Hunt

This week's theme is "nautical". Here's a submarine exhibit in Holbrook, NSW. The HMAS Otway, an Oberon class submarine commissioned for the Royal Australian Navy.

IMG_1107, originally uploaded by jsarcadia.

Red sun tonight

Red sun, originally uploaded by jsarcadia.

Friday Fill-ins

1. It seems like Victoria will never be the same again.

2. Turn everything off when you're done, please?

3. If I thought you meant it I'd believe you!

4. Why are you reading this rubbish is what I think of most when I think of you.

5. To me, Valentine's Day means another day set aside for profiteering.

6. The sheer force of will to carry on shown by bushfire survivors gives me strength.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching football on TV - it's back, yay!!, tomorrow my plans include watching the Saints' first game of the year. Go Saints! and Sunday, I want to finish packing. But who knows when I'll be moving as the house I'm going to has been evacuated!
FFI

Some improvement

The threat has eased overnight. There was even some rain, believe it or not. Not a lot, but enough to help a little bit.
There are still fears that higher temperatures and northerly winds, expected next week, could see a resurgence of fire actvity - and once again, place Clare's place under threat.
I'm going out to her place today, with her, to check it all out. She's thinking of moving back home, at least for a few days. At the moment it seems safe enough to do so but she won't decide until we've had a look. If she decides to stay at Mum and Dad's then we'll just pick up some more of her stuff.
Keep your fingers crossed that the worst is over.

Fire update

To date there are 181 confirmed deaths and approx 7,000 people with no homes to go to. About 350,000 hectares of land are on fire. Some fires are under control, some are not.
The fire that was near Mum and Dad's, and Paula and Phil's, is no longer a problem so they are safe and well. The Valley is shrouded in smoke though, so it's not pleasant to be out and about.
The fires around Warburton are still listed as "going" - ie, not under control - and so Clare's place is still not safe to go home to. It's unlikely that her immediate area will be in any real danger but it's better to be safe than sorry. A wind change could change that situation at any time. Clare's house is not defendable so it's best that she's not there for the duration.
People I know in Kinglake, which has been all but wiped out, have lost their home but are alive and well.
The devastation is almost unbelievable. Whole towns have been destroyed, they just don't exist anymore.
God only knows what the animal, domestic and wildlife, toll is. I guess we'll never know that.
The worst aspect of all this is that some of these fires have been deliberately lit, particularly in Gippsland to the east. That is unforgivable. Totally unforgivable. I really hope the people responsible spend eternity in Hell, burning forever. It's the very least they deserve.
The positive aspect is the unconditional support the affected people are receiving from the whole Australian population. Donations are pouring in from everywhere, even from overseas. Millions of dollars have been donated already. Charities are overloaded with donations of clothing and other material goods and food.
That sort of spirit and sense of community is uplifting and gives some hope for the future.

The worst is probably over (I hope) but the bushfires continue to burn and will for some time to come. February is traditionally "bushfire season" and, with more hot weather forecast for the coming week, more fires are bound to occur. I can only hope that they do not add to the overwhelming devastation and tragedy that has engulfed Victoria in the last few days. It truly has been the most awful time.

Officially the worst bushfires in the State's history

There are currently 22 fires burning out of control across the state. 25 people are confirmed dead so far and there are plenty of areas where firefighters and rescue workers haven't been able to reach yet. Approximately 400 homes have been lost in the last 24 hours. Kinglake, at the western end of the Yarra Valley, has been extremely hard hit; Marysville, a bit further north, is reported to have been wiped out. The Kilmore fire, north west of Melbourne (and the source of the Kinglake/Yarra Valley fires) is still raging out of control. In Gippsland, in the east of the state, the Bunyip and Churchill fires are still out of control. Many communities are threatened by these fires. In the north east, a large fire is threatening Beechworth and other major centres. Bendigo, a major city in the state's centre, has seen extensive property loss. The list goes on. And on.

Mum and Dad, and Paula and Phil, appear to be okay in Seville. However, there is a fire burning on the south side of the highway at Warburton - as long as it doesn't jump the river I think Clare's place will be safe.

The cool change hasn't helped either - the winds have been so strong that, instead of bringing relief, they've just fanned the flames and sent them off in different directions.

God only knows what the wildlife toll will be.

Praying for rain....

Horrible horrible day

Copied from the Country Fire Authority website:

Yarra Valley Fire Alert, 5.10pm

Alert Message for residents of the Yarra Valley
07/02/2009

Incident Information

There is a fire burning in the Yarra Valley and residents are advised that they may come under direct ember attack.

Core Advice

* People in the area need to remain alert as there may not be a warning should conditions change unexpectedly. Continue to listen to ABC or local radio for updates on this fire.
* Be prepared to activate your bushfire survival plan if necessary.
* Decide now if you are going to stay or go. Remember that it is very dangerous to leave late with a fire in the area. Road use in the area will be extremely hazardous due to low visibility from smoke. Watch out for fallen trees, power lines, abandoned cars, wildlife and emergency services vehicles.
* If you plan to stay, remember to seek shelter from radiant heat. Should the fire reach your property, close all doors and windows and stay inside the house while the fire passes. Remain alert, extinguish any small fires and if necessary, move outside to burnt ground once the fire has passed.
* Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.

Clare and Georgia (and animals) are already at Mum and Dad's and the whole lot of them are ready to leave at a moment's notice. I've just had a rather panicky Mum on the phone - the sky is black up there and there's a real threat of ember attack. A cool change has hit here already - the temperature has dropped from mid-40s to about 30. No rain though. It hasn't reached the Valley yet though. Keep your fingers crossed, okay.

Saturday Photo Hunt

This week's theme is "bridge/s".

Puffing Billy's trestle bridge at Selby, Dandenong Ranges:



Swanston Street Bridge, Melbourne:



Pedestrian bridge over the Yarra, Melbourne:



Phillip Island Bridge:



Typical country bridge - this one over a (non-existent) creek at Tatong, north-east Victoria:



The bridge on my guitar:



London Bridge. Great Ocean Road, Victoria:

Friday Fill-ins

1. Please don't tell me lies.

2. Can you make me coffee in the morning?

3. The color of the ocean makes me want to float away!

4. I have a craving for nothing right now.

5. If my life had a pause button, I'd pause it about 30 years ago.

6. Eyes are the true indicators of intent, not words.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to trying to keep cool enough to sleep, tomorrow my plans include probably going to Warburton and soak in the river - it's going to be 43C and Sunday, I want to go to the family dinner to farewell Holly - she's off to England for 12 months!
FFI

Figures....

Your Energy Level is Very Low

You're so low energy that you don't even have the strength to be chill. There's a good chance that you're not naturally this way, but lately your resources have been drained. Relax, rest, eat well, and use the energy you have for some light exercise. It's all about building your mental and physical health up right now.

What's Your Energy Level?

But this is better...

There Are 0 Gaps in Your Knowledge

Where you have gaps in your knowledge: No Gaps! Where you don't have gaps in your knowledge: Philosophy Religion Economics Literature History Science Art

Do You Have Gaps in Your Knowledge?

Momentous news...

After days of procrastination I have finally done my laundry.
Not momentous enough?
How about - I have 25% disk space left on the hard drive.
No?
I just broke the law by watering the tomato plants.
Not that either?
I'm moving house. That's the one.
On, or about, the 14th of this month.
Since the landlord's girlfriend moved in about 6 months ago, this place hasn't been so much fun anymore. Somehow it's turned into her house and I'm surplus to requirements.
Kind of the story of my life in recent times.

I've found somewhere else, out in Hoddles Creek in the Yarra Valley. Quite close to Ma'n'Pa's and Paula's and much closer to Clare's. A bit out of the way in terms of job opportunities but places closer to town are just too expensive. The new place is affordable, just, and is on 5 acres so there'll be plenty of room to move.
I'll be renting two rooms that have been added on to the main house, which is occupied by a couple and one child. I'll have my own entrance and fridge but will have to share the bathroom and kitchen - I can live with that easily enough.
The couple seem nice enough - he's into photography and music, so there's common ground already. It'll be up to me how much I interact with them.
So, there you have it. Time to ramble on.
Now, if I could just find a job......

Aussie music #2 - (still asking the same question)

Once they stop playing and the MC starts talking - it's okay to hit the Stop button.

Aussie music #1 : Horror Movie

Some Aussie music for you - Skyhooks. A 70s band, local guys - I went to school with the bass player's brother (the bass player is the guy in the white suit). The biggest local band in Oz in the 70s. Yes, bigger than AC-DC.
Shirley (the singer) had a surname almost the same as mine, just a 'c' the difference, and people believed me when I said he was my brother - he wasn't. Sadly he died in a helicopter accident a few years ago.
Red Symons, the guy with the black Les Paul and red cape, was my fave. He does breakfast radio these days. I occasionally listen in.

This is from 1974 - the message hasn't changed at all!

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Take :: care


2. 350 :: is a number


3. Stand :: up and be counted


4. Raspberry :: jam


5. Turnstile :: entrance


6. Infomercial :: switch off


7. Dejected :: me


8. What’s the word? :: dunno, what is it?


9. Awestruck :: gobsmacked


10. Smashed :: drunk

from here

What a week!

Wednesday, 41C; Thursday, 44C; Friday 45C. 45C = 113F.
No wind, not even a breeze to move some air around. It was stifling. I've had so many cold showers I'm sure I've exceeded my water usage allotment for the next month! (We're supposed to be on a max of 150 litres per day.)

On Thursday I went to Mum and Dad's and just sat in front of their air-conditioner, because we don't have one here. Friday, I went to Clare's and we had a few dips in the river. That was lovely - a real life-saver!
Saturday was a relatively cool 39C and today is merely low 30s. Positively chilly!

The city has been in real meltdown mode, it's unbelievable.
100s of trains have been cancelled due to both lines buckling in the heat and the trains themselves breaking down. Up to half a million homes were without electricity on Friday due to the system being overloaded - all those air-conditioners running at full bore. Transformers, or whatever they are, on the power lines were just melting or bursting into flame. Mum and Dad lost their power on Friday and had to retreat to Paula's for the duration. The power's been out here too but, fortunately, I was up the valley at the time.

Bushfires are raging in Gippsland, in the state's east. About 30 homes have been lost so far but, fortunately, no human casualties. The lack of wind has been a blessing in that regard as it's helped contain the fires somewhat.

Total rainfall for January, for Melbourne, was 0.8mm. Hardly enough to brush your teeth in.

It's even worse in South Australia. Adelaide, the state capital there, has had (still has) 40+ temperatures for a full week so far.

The river - don't know what I'd have done without it on Friday!

Hot hot hot

The next four days are all forecast to be 40 or 41 degrees C (104-106F). Ugh!

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Unwanted :: me, by employers - or so it seems.


2. You’d better :: give me a job.


3. Woman :: yoooou neeee-eeed.......loooooooooooooove


4. Weighed :: and measured


5. Upright :: piano


6. I feel :: disheartened


7. Ill :: Licence to


8. It’s like :: this


9. Poor man :: recession


10. Great :: balls of fire

from here

Friday Fill-ins

1. Oh, I am so broke!

2. I'm going through changes, big and little.

3. During my holiday at Phillip Island, I took over 700 photographs.

4. Venus Williams lost in the second round!; are you kidding me??? It's true!

5. Right now I'd like to be back at Phillip Island.

6. My camera is my favorite gadget.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching Federer V Safin on TV (Australian Open), tomorrow my plans include watching the tennis and Sunday, I want to watch some more tennis!
FFI

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen beach and ocean shots from Phillip Island last week.

 

T13

Wordless Wednesday

Reflection, originally uploaded by jsarcadia.

One Shot - Lee Child

I used to sell a lot of Lee Child books in the bookshop so when I picked this up, down at Phillip Island last week, I was expecting something a whole lot better.
Five people are shot dead by a sniper as they leave the office to go home. Evidence is easily gathered and points overwhelmingly to an ex-military sniper. A seemingly open and shut case. Except it's a set up, of course. Jack Reacher, Child's main character in most of his books, smells a rat and follows it up. The way the accused is exonerated and the baddies dealt with is so unrealistic that I ended up not liking this book at all. The first half, as the story unfolds, is quite good, but the second half, as the story is resolved, is ridiculous. Pfft.

Phillip Island

I had a very relaxing time down on the island. The beaches down there really are fantastic. The surf beaches along one side are huge, especially at Woolomai where we were staying. They're not really suitable for swimming as the current is very strong but it's okay to get your feet wet on most days. The other side of the island is where the sheltered, swimming beaches are. It doesn't take much time to get from one side to the other so it's no problem.
The house we rented has only one bedroom and that was the preserve of Ma'n'Pa. The kids, Georgia, Holly and Georgia's friend, Soul, shared the little cabin on the property, except for when Paula and Phil were there for a few days. Clare and I had tents, though Clare ended up sleeping on the futon in the lounge most nights.
I nearly got blown away one night - very strong winds coming off the ocean. I was getting seasick :)
Most days consisted of a stroll along the surf beach - just a few hundred yards from the house - a trip to one of the other beaches for a proper swim, relaxing around the house reading or doing the jigsaw puzzle. In the evening we'd stroll the beach again with the dogs (allowed on the beach between 7am-10am and 5pm-8pm) and then settle down to a game of cards.
Thursday was mum's birthday. My brother and his family came down for the day and we all took mum out for dinner. I was cursing that I left the camera at home that night because there were half a dozen black swans on the water, just across the road from the restaurant. I went back the next night to see if I could snap a few pics but they weren't there :(
On the Saturday night I took Georgia and Soul to the carnival that operates on the island over the summer period. There was a great fireworks display as well. I didn't take the camera with me so, sadly, no photos of fireworks. I still don't understand what possessed me but Georgia and I rode the Kamikaze. A cage that holds about 12 people, well and truly strapped in, that swings up and back and then does a complete circle or sometimes just stops at the top and swings back in the opposite direction. I screamed. A lot.
I took over 700 photos for the week. Some are good enough to post. Unfortunately there were no spectacular sunsets like last year. But, I think I got a few reasonable pics that I'll share - mostly on flickr, but I'll put a few here too.

See you all in a week or so

See you all in a week or so, originally uploaded by jsarcadia.

I'm off to Phillip Island for a week and a bit. Catch up with you when I get back. Take care all.

Birthdays 9/1/09

Two people born on the 9th of January. Two people who are supremely talented and creative.

Holly turns 23 today - my niece. She's off to England at the end of the month for a 12 month stint.



Jimmy Page turns 65 today. Sometimes I'm amazed that he's still alive. So is he probably :) (Photo nicked from Ross Halfin)

Friday Fill-ins

1. It's January; it's summer!

2. The beach is what I crave most right now.

3. Cork and wine go together like bugger the cork, just give me the wine!

4. Food is so nourishing.

5. Let us dare to be ourselves.

6. I would like to have my own home.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to being packed and organised, tomorrow my plans include celebrating Holly's birthday and Sunday, I am heading off to Phillip Island for the week!

When Giants Walked The Earth

A biography of Led Zeppelin - Mick Wall.

I was given this for Christmas (thanks Paula). I'd already had a look at it in a shop but was undecided as to whether to buy it or not. ($35 is a lot of money to me at the moment!)
Mick Wall is a music journalist and has written quite a few music biographies over the years. This is his latest.
I was already familiar with a lot of the content, given that Led Zeppelin has been a favourite of mine since I first heard them back in 1969. A lot of the detail was new to me though. It's not a designed-to-shock book in the manner of Hammer of the Gods but it does dwell a fair bit on the more controversial aspects of Led Zeppelin - the sex, the drugs, the "black magic". It dwells mostly, however, on the music - the most interesting aspect of the band as far as I'm concerned.
Actually, the chapter on Jimmy Page's interest in the occult, and Aleister Crowley in particular, was the most interesting chapter in the book. I've never really understood what Crowley was all about and Wall presents his philosophies in a clear, concise way. What Jimmy Page's philosophies are is not so clear as he has steadfastly refused to speak about them, beyond the odd brief statement here and there which really shed no great light on the subject.
There's quite a lot of info on the formation of the band, none of which is new, and I found the book to be rather lopsided in that respect. The later years whizz by quite fast in comparison.
The quotes from the band members and various hangers-on, scattered throughout the book, are mostly of the short and sweet type. There's no real in-depth interview material, which is a shame. I would have liked to read more of that rather than someone else's interpretations after the fact.
The structure of the book is odd. At regular intervals Wall inserts italicised "first person" narratives (usually between one and three pages at a time). These are supposed to be presenting the viewpoint of a particular band member and are written in what one assumes is the particular spoken style of whichever person is "speaking" in that passage. What I found most odd about these passages was that they pretty much all go back to the days immediately preceeding the formation of the band. This makes the overall narrative quite disjointed as the reader is constantly being made to flip back to the mid 1960s, regardless of where the rest of the book is up to. I think Wall is trying to present some sort of psychological analysis of Jimmy, Robert Plant, John Bonham, John Paul Jones and Peter Grant (their manager) in these bits. Wall claims that these passages are based on thorough research but he also makes it clear beforehand that they are a product of his own imagination and are not to be taken as the actual words of Led Zeppelin. It's a strange strategy and one I found to be quite distracting after a while.
The actual story of Led Zeppelin is fascinating. A band that came from nowhere in 1968 to become the biggest band in the world by 1972. They did this without a publicist, without releasing singles to gain radio airplay, without following the "usual" path. They started with lots of small gigs across Britain, Europe and the USA to promote an album that was recorded in about 10 days. It sold in the millions (as did all of their records).
It was purely and simply the music and the fans which generated the phenomenon that was Led Zeppelin. Word of mouth was the driving force. It only took one tour of the US to see them headlining the next time around.
By 1975 the band was at its peak but it was all downhill from there. It was the archetypal story of sex'n'drugs'n'rock'n'roll. The drugs in particular had a negative effect after a while. Jimmy Page denies this, claiming the drugs were an integral part of the whole thing - creatively and recreationally. I don't think he was always really in a position to judge though, being a full-blown junkie by 1977. John Bonham seems to be the other one to have really succumbed. He was an alcoholic anyway and, supplemented with copious amounts of cocaine and heroin, he apparently became quite an unpleasant person in the later years. He ultimately died in September 1980 after a day of heavy drinking.
The band called it quits as a result. John Bonham, for all his faults, was an awesome drummer, probably the best there's been, and he just couldn't be replaced.
There's a brief, final chapter on life after Led Zeppelin which brings things right up to 2008.
Jimmy Page, it should be noted, no longer takes drugs, drinks only alcohol-free beer and doesn't even smoke cigarettes anymore. He turns 65 tomorrow.

What's on my bed

Saw this meme over at Kwizgiver's. It's a long one but I'm just going to do the first bit which is -
What's on my bed?
Well, apart from the obvious sheet, doona, pillows (4), dressing gown and pyjamas there is:
me
laptop
Jimmy Page (sadly, just the 7 inch plastic version, not the real thing)
Jimmy's two guitars (again, sadly, not real)
mobile phone - which is NOT ringing with job offers :(
car keys
cigarettes
camera (sans battery which is charging up over there)
3 books
my glasses
remote control
t-shirt

that's about it.

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Confirmation :: yes


2. Verse :: chorus


3. Authorize :: allow


4. Blog :: neglected


5. Thirty :: was a long time ago


6. Heir :: apparent


7. What are you doing? :: this


8. Complaint :: objection


9. Leave :: depart


10. Tune :: song

from here

Happy Birthday Shirl :)

Happy Birthday Shirl :), originally uploaded by jsarcadia.

Friday Fill-ins

1. The world is in need of some TLC.

2. "k, I'm off to do them now" was the last thing I said.

3. I wonder when will I get a job!

4. There's a whole new set of things at the end of all things.

5. There's something to be said for good manners.

6. Somewhere else, anywhere else is where I want to be.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to Warburton to visit Clare and Georgia, tomorrow my plans include having no plans other than to make my way home again and Sunday, I want to take it as it comes!
FFI

Boromir's journey from Gondor to Rivendell

A 30 day photography project for this group on Flickr.

Boromir's journey from Gondor to Rivendell, originally uploaded by jsarcadia.