Festival Life

Well the Darwin Festival has well and truly opened... so much so that we're into our final week of shows! It's been an amazing time up here and really great to see so many people coming to see the shows.

Photos of the venue would have been posted (along with more regular posts) had my laptop's hard-drive decided to die on me. So as a result there are no pictures and yet another fortnightly update.

The Santos Concert on the Esplanade was our big opening night. We had over 6,000 people attending which is not bad given the population is estimated at 71,900 people (in 2006). Excellent music although I did miss the final act to go and paint a set.

I was lucky enough to operate three performances of Play Play which was a physical theatre show from Singapore. It was quirky, occasionally morbid but balanced with a great sense of humour. I wish that more people could have seen it! It was also great to get to know the company who taught me how to play "paper, scissors, rock" in a group. An excellent way to pass some idle time!

There hasn't been much sleeping since we opened. Partly because we're busy through the day doing the office work. Partly because we're busy at night at shows. Also partly because SoCo Cargo is a two minute walk from my doorstep and as such it seems almost rude not to drop in to say hi to the crew there...

In other news I had a minor accident in a truck and was bitten several times by a spider at the same time. It was a rather boring 5 minutes of my life but all is well!

Today I had a little R&R with the crew from the Star Shell when we spent the morning at Berry Springs have a swim in both the main & lower pools as well as the actual spring. I must say I'm a little sore having spent four solid hours swimming in the water but I'd do it again in a flash.

Tonight I'll be back at the Star Shell to say hello and soak up the atmosphere. Not to mention the great food that's down there... Why cook and create dishes to clean when you can have excellent food on site?

Well, I thought I'd just say a quick hello before I run away to Festival land again.
See you soon!

A Good Night's Rest

Sometimes it's best to just go with the flow and deal with the consequences later. Last night I had a fantastic time at Al Bayti where some of the crew are staying. I'll only go for an hour or so because I have to be at work this morning somehow turned into oh is that the time... I have get up for work in just over four hours if I want to make my shuttle bus. It was all worth it though. I had one of the best, if shortest, nights of sleep and feel fairly refreshed!

It was also good to see Gene last night (while we were both awake). I hung around work catching up on my filing until the 00:30 shuttle to Al Waab, where we live, to change out of the day's clothes. Jack kindly gave us (and Rick) a lift to the party where there was the perfect mixture of music, beer, dancing, cocktails and, most importantly, conversation that didn't revolve around work.

I must admit it was particularly wonderful to put faces to the voices and names that I'd heard on radio. It's amazing how different people can look without a high vis vest and hard hat too...

All in all a good night was had by all. Gene & Jye arrived at our house around 07:30 talking rather loudly. I ended up trotting downstairs and making "please keep it down" motions in a half state of consciousness before heading back upstairs to make the most of my last hour of sleep.

It's gatherings like this that you end up remembering after the shows long over. I was originally planning to head home for another attempt at a good night's sleep. I'm glad I didn't. I don't think I would have slept as well as I did and I would have missed out on a great party. It's funny being social outside of work can be almost as refreshing as a night in when you're working. I look forward to doing it again some time :)

Busy bee

Morning after the Wrap Party (number 2... or is it 3?) and I'm amazed that I've seen the morning to be honest! Didn't drink that much. Only had a couple of cosmopolitans, a glass of white wine and a glass of champagne but having not drunk very much recently, it doesn't take a great deal. That and I'm little! Ended up getting a lift home with a guy who I'd been introduced to at he party who had ummm, I'm not sure how he was involved. I think his company did something. Yeah, anyway we had a great chat on the drive about how funny the industry is and also how great Melbourne is. He's just moved down from Sydney and is loving it so yay!

Yesterday was my first ever visit to an osteopath and oh my god he rocked my world! Yes bits of it were a little uncomfortable and a little painful (stupid tense muscles) but he managed to realign the lower part of my back and pelvis a fair bit. Apparently my muscles were so tense that they weren't letting my bones move back into place, so a bit of massage and stretching then a couple of oh-so-relieving back cracks and I felt so much taller after he did that! Friday sees me back again for shoulders, neck and further lower back treatment. I felt like such a clutz while trying to remember all the terrible things I'd done to my body (netball, kayaking, desk work, heavy lifting, falling of rostra, falling flat on my back mid-show, spraining my ankle, bad cartilage in my knees). The only "good" thing that I'd done in the past was swimming. He suggested that was a good idea for the next couple of weeks. Then in two weeks time I should be looking into a pilates program to help strengthen my abs to help support my lower back. So any one want to join me? *hopeful look* Some gentle cycling is also allowable but no running (gee damn).

Well, I'd best get going. There's a shower and a job interview awaiting before I get to work today. Gene's off to Geelong tonight so I think it'll be a quiet night in front of the TV. Or probably back in front of the computer blogging...

Blah-di-blah-blah-blah

My sleep deprived body is currently voting against both blogging and me playing with my PDA but apparently that's just not enough to stop me!

Saturday night's End of the World party was great and allowed me to get all gothed up and generally have a good time with my friends who I am unlikely to see for a month or two.

Sunday's swing dancing was excellent! Definitely inspired to go back when I get some free time again. Am still a tad sore after playing with the few aerial tricks that Gene and I remember but all in all it was a good alcohol filled night for all involved. Perhaps a little much alcohol as it was a smidge difficult to drag myself out of bed on Monday for work, but still good.

Saw Mum at the airport on Tuesday which was lovely. Had a McBreakfast with my folks before heading back to the grindstone (hamster wheel?).

Work is still good although the paperwork system is driving me a little nuts at the moment... Have to be up early but for some reason can't stop typing.

Gene got me "Bejewelled 2" which is a very addictive game where you make lines of same coloured "jewels". It's a little like Columns but not. While I'm now sleeping even less thanks to the game, it makes the tram ride home pass really quickly!

Okay bed now.

Festively Fatigued

The holiday season has treated me well this year. So yay for that!

Gene and I started early with the whole gift giving thing on Christmas Eve (at about one in the morning when he knocked off work) because we were heading our own seperate ways this year for Christmas. He seems to like his crazily bright LED torch, but he would, and we're looking forward to playing the "cheap-ass board game" that I got him from Of Science & Swords. Gene got me the Sims 2 on XBox after having to listen to me sulk about not having a fast enough graphics card or processor in my laptop to play the game so you can imagine how I passed Christmas Eve night...

I actually got to spend Christmas Day with my parents this year, although I was a little antisocial during Christmas evening playing the Sims 2 on their lovely rocket-ship of a computer. In my defense, they'd gone out to visit a friend of theirs who's fairly sick with cancer to try and cheer her up so it was just the dogs who got received little attention. I swear my parents read my mind this year. I got given a manicure/hand cream set which I was actually thinking of getting at some point soon so that was great. Mum also gave me some gorgeous Noro yarn which is a blend of silk, mohair and lambswool. Mmmmmm it's so pretty!

Gene came back from Geelong to my folks place on Boxing Day with a swag of assorted goodies which were most appreciated. Unfortunately he had to work that night so we lost him for a little while. Nick C came to join us for Boxing Day which was lovely. Just our luck that his parents had also gotten him a Leatherman for Christmas! He still made excellent use of it opening our beer for us though. He brought a book called Vellum which I'm looking forward to starting tonight and two of those wooden puzzles to entertain us all. Gene's combined them both (one was a star and the other a sphere) and they look pretty cool now.

Today was the last day we spent out with my folks just trying to eat the last of the Christmas food and making the most of the cool toys they have. Dad gave us some movies to watch and very kindly swapped iPods with me so I'm currently importing music to iTunes from our CD collection so that I can listen to it all at work tomorrow. Well maybe not quite all of it as I've passed the 24 hours of music mark... but I'll give most of it a good shot!

I'm happy to note that I should be able to attend the NYE pool party so I'm looking forward to seeing all the crazy Monash kids again.

Until then I don't think there's much else to report!

Where'd November go?

Feeling rather guilty about the lack of novel writing that has taken place thus far... haven't really gotten much further on paper with my novel... thinking 10,000 is looking good for this weekend's goal...

Work is great. Nice and busy (hence very little novel writing). Gene had to sign a confidentiality form so that he can come to my Christmas party. How cute!

Tassie was great. We're referring to the trip as the Mini-Golf PGA weekend. Lots of mini golf...

Okay. Must make dinner now and get back to the holiday season gift making (which is the other reason for the lack of novel writing... figure I can always write the novel throughout the next year but have only 5 weeks? before I don't get a social life).

Bzzzzz

It feels like years since I've been online and posted and I love it. Not the lack of posting - that's just slackness on my part I'm sure - but I love how busy I've been lately. I'm thinking that I can only get busier.

I've started my new job and I'm still at the Fringe for one more week (hint hint to all who said they'd come and didn't). So sleep is a luxury being facilitated by my taking public transport to work again and hitching a lift home with other techs.

We went pretty hard last week. I can't even remember what I posted last. Just felt like giving a bit of a wave to the few people who read this because I miss them. So I guess the update will have to wait until Sunday when we're all Fringe partied out and recovering from an enormous Saturday.

Yesterday's Post

So much for writing again later! After getting distracted by Gene during his hour and a half home for a "nap" I ended up lounging in bed finishing off the last half of Kushiel's Chosen.

That took up the majority of my night before I ran out of the house to meet Gene at the Mudfest Festival Club. I was surprised to see the band still going but they apparently ran overtime. Good to see they had an audience too.

We ended up going to Felix Club for one of Gene's boss' farewell drinks as he's going overseas for a few months. It was okay but the drinks seemed a little watery. Maybe that's just because I pour strong drinks. I'm willing to leave it at that. There was this old guy at the bar who had rather a bit to drink that night and he was making friends with everyone - including the floor at one point. He was actually really lovely though and completely harmless. Just kept asking if you were having a good night. After that it was off to McNicks for food.

Home at 2:30am and slept about a couple of hours later. As a result today has been rather unproductive but will largely consist of catching up on my history homework and a bit of pilates and a bit of chocolate. Moderation is the key :)

Sleepy Still

What a great, if somewhat sleepless weekend! Saturday night was great fun. After a short nap in Geelong we got ready for the party. It's always odd going to a 21st when you only know a few people. Being the small world that it is, it turned out that one of Loz's friends used to go to high school with me! So there was a bit of catching up that night and a little dancing. We're a little (okay a lot) out of practice with our swing dancing so we're planning to rectify this by going to class tonight. Hopefully there's room on the dance floor for the class! I've heard they're packed right now.

Sunday morning saw us watching old videos of Gene when he was two, not sure how that came about... but he was such a cute two year old! Then we had lunch before heading off to my parents house to catch up with Mum & Dad. Picked up my pretty new Palm and have been playing with it almost non-stop since I've synchronised it with my computer. Tee hee hee... pretty. So I'm slowly updating addresses, birthdays etc. It's great.

This morning has been less fun so far, although I've managed to achieve one thing on my to do list today. We'll be able to recycle plastic and glass in 48 working hours according to the lady on the phone. Gene & I decided to trial the alarm on the Palm this morning as we woke up to the tune, can't remember the name of it, that you hear played on a bugle before a hunt.

I'd write more but I'm too distracted with trying to find software for my Palm so perhaps I'll have to write later.

A Pinch & A Punch

One month down, eleven to go...

I promised myself this year to have a break from my various study attempts, yet I found myself carefully studying and planning out a BA(Communications) through Open Universities. I think I'm hooked... I think I'm also learning to work out what I want to study and why I want to study it and make sure that next time I start that it's definitely studying for my sake. Not my folks.

Physically I'm still not feeling so good, but I'm planning on seeing a doctor about that soon. Just need to get an appointment.

Tomorrow sees my three year anniversary with Gene and I'm pretty excited. I have a feeling much of the day will be spent sleeping - as he finishes work late tonight - but at least we'll get some time together. Besides, we've got the weekend for that!

I keep meaning to send out the Chinese New Year Party invites but I've been slack. I wanted to do a little design and put some effort into it, but I think I'll have to settle for a multi-coloured email.

On that note, I'm off to write the invite and then I can run it past the others.