Brokeback

Saw Brokeback Mountain on Aus Day (26 Jan for all 'foreigners'). It was not at all a bad movie. There were bits that I couldn't understand though, particularly that Heath Ledger's voice + accent. That combination just makes it so hard to understand what exactly he was trying to spit out! A bit of a thinking movie, so I found the short story online & read it late last night/early this morning. Not very long (thus the 'short' part of 'short story'. Nothing Harry Potter like), so even for a slow reader like me I finished it in an hr & a 1/2. Having now read the story, I can only say that the movie pales in comparison, even though the movie itself is quite a good one already. Highly recommend watching then reading in that particular order.

Other movies on the list, not necessarily in any order:

1. Capote
2. Memoirs of a Geisha
3. Munich
4. Producers, the
5. Walk the Line

Damn, I only got 1 free ticket! That means I'll have to shell out for the other 4!?!?!

Pigeon funeral II

Ok, I've had a better look this time. We were driving back from the other direction and I was on the passenger side so I really had a good look. The white fluffies were actually pigeons but cockatoos. They all somehow seemed smaller the other day.

Pigeon funeral

Unfortunately I was driving when I saw this, plus the fact that I didn't have a camera with me, so there isn't a picture for show & tell. But it was a pretty unusual site; well, at least unusual for me. I was on my way down to see Brokeback Mountain, & just ahead of the corner where I usually turn right there was a school of white pigeons standing on the other side of the road, looking right, towards a freshly squashed pigeon (white again. I'm pretty sure they weren't cockatoos since they were a bit small, so let's just call them pigeons). Next to the squashed pigeon there stood a galah, facing left towards all the other, still alive pigeons, as if giving a sermon or eulogy or something. I've never seen anything like that before. On my way back from seeing Brokeback there was still only 1 squashed pigeon, so I guess no more got run over. Wish I had a camera with me :(

BlackBerry 7230i

BlackBerry 7230i
Originally uploaded by ragde2507.

Luv it! I was out searching for archiving boxes around Parramatta to re-file the WESTIR library when I came across the PDA display in OfficeWorks. After a bit of looking around & research I've finally decided to buy this BlackBerry 7230i. It doesn't do all the web search but I don't really need all those 'complicated' functions anyway. I wanted an organiser, & if it came with a phone (liek the BlackBerries) then even better! No camera, yes, but I don't think I'd ever want a camera on my phone. I need my photos to be of higher quality. But anyways, after playing with it for a good while last night & for some time today as well, it's just so gd with syncing with your PC/laptop, keeping track of appointments/deadlines, updating contacts, wkday/wkend alarms, reminders...... & of course you can send & receive emails from it also. Oh so loverly :)

Happy camper

Garnier goody bag
Originally uploaded by ragde2507.

Day 1 of Aus Open 2006 & Rae & I bussed it up from Geelong to Melbourne early this morning & headed straight to the hotel on eastern end of Lonsdale to drop our bags before heading down to Melbourne Park. A bigger queue for tickets than I had expected, so we didn't actually get in until close to noon-ish (after an hr or so queueing). Pity neither of us had an AmEx otherwise we could've taken the Express Lane & got in ages quicker! And, rubbing salt to the wound, we found out we were missing out on more freebies just because we didn't have/use the products of the official sponsors (AmEx cardholders were entitled to complementary AO commentary radios & free freshly-squeezed juices all day long, while Optus customers could have their SIM card backed-up for free (for frequent phone losers) as well as enter daily draw for 3G mobiles whorth over a grand each!)!! After some loitering in & around Vodafone & Margaret Court Arenas watching some tennis matches, we lined up for the Garnier marquee to get the free goody bag. They also offer free hair styling/hand massage/mini facial, so of course the line was bloody long. We both eventually settled for the mini facials because a lot of ppl in front of us were holding out for the longer services. But definitely conned. That mini facial was so mini that it was just a dapple with a wet nap & quick massage with a get/cream from a small tub. It did the cooling that we so desperately craved in a humid day like today, but it was simply too short to be even called a mini. Ah well, I guess when they're free you can really complain! Plus, everyone gets a free goody bag that probably adds up to $40-$50, so that's the ticket price back plus more! Happy camper indeed :)

Hmm, mussels

Hmm, mussels
Originally uploaded by ragde2507.

Geelong, Day 3. Well, Day 1 didn't really count seeing that we took a 5pm flight & arrived almost 6:30. The long weekend officially started on day 2 (Friday) when, after breakfast, Trish, Rae & I had a nice stroll up Pakington Street & did some light shopping. Rae & I diverted off to op shops & other funky locals, & I managed to find 2 (!!) Snoopy soft toys + 1 soft toy of Moomin. But the real highlight of Geelong was of course the freshly-cooked mussels off the pier. Not only were they freshly caught that very morning, they were also perfectly cooked on the spot as you order. 2 varieties, & I chose the white wine/garlic/parsley option (other being red wine/chilli). I don't know if it was the freshness, or just the setting (Eastern Beach), it was simply the most delicious mussels that I've ever tasted. And cheap too!! Only $5.50 for box of 16! Must have another go before heading to Melbourne on Monday.

Medibank International

Martina Hingis
Originally uploaded by ragde2507.

Tuesday was our annual 'pilgrimage' to Homebush for the now renamed Medibank International. I wasn't planning on going, but after hearing that Hingis was attempting a comeback & that Sydney is one of the first stops, naturally I had no choice but to stalk her out (a bit). Busy packing at WESTIR all day Monday so had no idea that she lost (to Henin-Hardenne, which is not that big a surprise) in 1st Round until late arvo. We all thought that she'd go straight down to Melbourne & practise there instead, but to our surprise she stuck around & practiced, not once but twice on Tuesday!! We were there for about 7 hrs, & we spent probably more than 2 hours just watching her practice, taking photos & videos & of course seeking autographs. From memory I think hers this time is my first and only (thus far. Hopefully my Aus Open trip will change that) repeated autograph. All in all, the Syd tournament has really gone downhill a little bit. The atmosphere (along with the crowds) has gone a fair bit since they reduced the draw from 64 to 32, i.e. cutting out 1 Round. With new tournies popping up in Canberra & Hobart it is understandable that Tennis Aust would want a more even atendance, but Syd has suffered as a result. Maybe this time I'm really going to stay awya from it for a little bit before going again.

Flying down to Geelong this arvo. Rainy again today, but it looks like it'd be fine in Melbourne & surroundings. As long as it doesn't rain on Monday I'd be happy, cos that's the only day I have to go to the Aus Open. 1st repeat Grand Slam, & a 7-yr break. That's a big break. Must attempt to go more often :)

Must get back to writing. Looks like I'm a long way off from finishing Ch 4 by end of month with all the tennis-watching coming up. WESTIR is also relocating today so there'd be a fair bit of unpacking & cleaning up after I come back up north. Groomsman duties late April, so assistance & rehearsals before then. Busy busy.

Still sun-burnt from tues.

New Year's Day

Hot 1
Originally uploaded by ragde2507.

Stupidly hot on New Year's Day. After a lovely afternoon at Vaucluse the day before (nice warm weather, cool sea breezes) New Year's Day was inextricably hot. By mid morning it was already well over 40'C outside, with the inside temp approaching the same mark. Our thermometer outside only reads up to 50, & by mid afternoon it was so hot that it exceeded the 50 mark. It wasn't much better inside. It went over 40'C for the first time inside (see below), even though we had all the fans cranking. Alas air-con didn't help much. I'm pretty sure it's at its dyign stage, seeing that 1 of the 2 fans was stationary even though we had it on high, & it didn't really get any cooler anyways. The only bit of significant cooling only came when the cooler night breeze finally came some time after 9pm. I, having spent the day drenched in sweat while watching Hopman Cup on TV & reading HP5 (finally started 5 on Boxing Day after finishing 4 almost FOUR years ago!!) at the same time, resorted to dunking myself into a nice, cool bath in the evening to bring my body temperature back down normal. Luckily yesterday (Jan 2) was signficantly cooler (mid 20s) & so is today (so far). Either way, am indoors in AC-ed office most of the day, so not that big a difference to me :P

Need to seriously put my head down & refocus on doing real work. Have given up on the BOCSAR job that I got interviewed for (have yet to hear about the outcomes, but not very likely a success I'm guessing) so now I can put most of the mental energy back to writing my chapters. Have not done any writing since early Dec, & have forced myself to finish the 1st draft by end of month, so must do some serious refocussing. Otherwise, looking forward to Geelong/Melbourne!!

Happy New year

Happy New Year everyone! 2005 has come & gone so fast, probably because I spent a big chunk of it travelling overseas as well as just burying my head into various things for short periods before & after I got back. It has most certainly been a very interesting year for me personally but at the same time unsettling. As I approach the end of my studying days, I must now contemplate on my new move(s). No more coasting by. But before all that, I've got an office relocation & a Geelong/Melbourne trip to look forward to!!

Let's have a quick recap since last blog. Xmas thingo @ the Mo's was kinda fun. Was not as hot as espected. Even a little cool towards the evening. Not as much food as last time either, but ended up being just the perfect portion. Since then I've been roasting at home, reading 20th Century Speeches & Harry Potter 5 (after a 4-yr break since last reading HP4) while watching the cricket. Today was spent seaside at Vaucluse, at Strickland House. Picniced from about 3-ish until the 9pm fireworks, before some continued partying back at the Dan/Will's. Scooted out of that after a little while & came back home drained & exhausted. Must sleep now to regain strength...