Arts For Old Pharts

They're touting this series of books to be the next HP for young adults - the 4th book was released today...saw bec this arvo and she was 'disturbed' looking, she was dying to tell me all about it but I told her to zip it...

Making my way thru We Need to talk about Kevin - very intense...gripping, just wish I could hurry up and finish it!!

Have started The Painter of Battles by Arturo Pérez-Reverte. It's about a war photographer who has to confront the reality of his job when a past subject of his returns to challenge him. Seems good so far...

Seeing/listening to William McInnes tonight at the swan brewery re his new book. Will be interesting to note who will be there...hordes of menopausal women??
Still reading WNTTAK...nearly there...

drool, slobber.....

really Mary, all that drooling and slobbering, it's a wonder you haven't passed out through dehydration...which is why I had two glasses of shiraz, an orange juice and a glass of water for some balance (wouldn't want anyone to think I was a lush..)whilst listening to Will's dulcet tones...When he signed the books i bought - his latest being 'that'd be right', I asked when he was going to play John Proctor as he'd be perfect for the role, he replied that there's too many lines to learn, although he had been asked before. Gorgeous man - couldn't believe i didn't take my camera with me - sigh...great night and I especially like the the scallop dumplings....

*liked
spring rolls were scrummy too, as were the risotto balls...oh yes, ratio of women to men, 10:1

Billy, you put 4 desserts and WM together...what's a poor girl to do!!!

Overheard this on a London bus:
First Woman: "I don't know what to get Fred for his birthday."
Second Woman: "Why don't you get him a book?"
First Woman: (after a moment's thought) "Nah, he's already got a book."

Wow....have just found another interesting forum site to visit.... don't know how I haven't found my way to this one before seeing as I am an old phart who loves the arts.....

Thanks for reminding me that I was going to buy William McInnes latest book for hubby for fathers day...that way I get to read it to....did you see his interview on Denton a few weeks back? Very entertaining chap.

and not bad on the eyes either!!!

I thinks so Mary.... a comment that he would find totally bewildering.... part of his charm!

Been on hols reading 2 wonderful books...The Children by Charlotte Wood, an Aussie author writing about families and siblings with some great insights, and Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri, a Pulitzer Prize winning collection of short stories about people trying to bridge two worlds, the immigrant experience. Both are excellent in sparking identification and revealing truths.

Sebastian Faulks' "Engleby" is s'posed to be a good 'un, let me know if anyone gets to read it.

Saw Animal Farm performed in Oxford by real people - yeah, I know - incredible! Made all the more memorable with sweet bertie sitting next to me. great production done on a shoestring in the grounds of Oxford castle.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2008/jul/26/theatre.centrallistings

Also saw An Ideal Husband at the Theatre royal/Windsor. Love the play, still always amazed at OW wit.
http://www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk/event.php?id=116

Saw Animal Farm performed in Oxford prison ground by real people who made surprisingly good animal noises. There was this funny looking lady next to me wearing quite a few fleeces whilst I was wearing just a T-shirt... and then I looked and thought OMG it's billy... that girl off the telly? no, was it the sudoku site?... Of course I'm lying a tad... I was wearing jeans as well. I particularly liked the wine we bought earlier too although I spilled/spilt a bit on the table, what a waste... but what an evening lovely lady x

hey Billy, I admire your dedication to GO, that's an awfully long way to go to the theatre...I see you took some woolies...can't be too careful these days...

ok I'm confused now (well, not just now...how about most of the time? but MORE confused now) was it in the grounds of the castle or the prison? I think you may be right bertie...the cold had perhaps numbed my brain, the fleeces came in bloody handy though(good thing the sheep didn't notice they were playing their parts naked)....ah yes...the spilt wine..."Limited Release" if I recall...well the label was at eye-level when i was licking the table of its puddle of grapejuice...so I do notice some things of importance...I also particularly liked the vino we had later...
Mary, there are just some things in life one has to do in order to appreciate good theatre: 1, is to accept the fact that to go to the theatre in England it is inevitable that one shall be frisked several times through security checks en route in Brunei and Dubai - it's a good thing I enjoy the experience AND 2, make sure when seated that you're not too pi$$ed that you slide off, luckily bertie was there to prop me up...my eyes are welling up now thinking of such fond memories...and how about the platform-waving-train-leaving scene? Brief Encounters doesn't come anywhere close to such a heart-breaking scene as that...xxx

your devotion to the Arts is commendable Billy....

OK, for Perthites the PIAF programme is now out...for 'eastern staters'...it's only a hop, skip and a jump....for overseas visitors? perhaps not...

Just read a fabulous book A Beautiful Place to Die by Malla Nunn. It is a crime novel set in South Africa in the 1950s just as Apartheid and the Immorality Acts were being enforced. The author grew up in Swaziland and she has a wonderful feel for the place and the times. All characters are well-developed, the plot riveting and all up a great read

PS the post before last should have read 'overseas sudokoists'...of course if you ARE visiting here you are welcome to attend

Saw Wicked on a recent trip to Melbourne. Musical Extravaganzas are not really my thing, but when in Melbourne.....The 'Ozmopolitans' were great and we have the glowing cocktail glasses to prove it.

Leonard Cohen...what can I say....

"he's old"?

Any Perthites into books...the Writer's Festival is on this weekend at UWA - always worth a looksee.

OLDxxx!!!!
x!!!!!!!
The Man is a LIVING GODx!!!!!!!

don't know where the xs came from...I had an ENORMOUS string of exclamation marks...

hehe Mary.. !!!!!!!!!!

Billy am away this weekend.. with friends and ( Peter of course ).. taking advantage of the long weekend !!

Saw Coldplay on fri night after being given an hour's notice...of course I stepped up to the plate and fulfilled my duty and sang along with the songs i knew although having seats was not the same as being in the mosh pit (which is where i was at their last concert)- somewhat distant/disconnected...Superdome accoustics were still pretty crappy and why bands continue to perform there is beyond me...

Sat...perth writer's fest...listened to a few authors - Robert Hillman (the rugmaker of Mazar-e-sharif) and Libby Gleeson - talk about their books which dealt with two Afghan refugees who end up in Oz but not before enduring atrocities along the way (torture/Taliban/Woomera Detention centre)...Najaf Mazari was actually in the audience. Deeply moving.

Then saw Mike Daisy - All Stories Are Fiction...a wonderful story teller - he held the audience spell-bound with his hilarious tales of his first visit to Oz but he also wove into his story his experience with a Cargo cult (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8185483439557323668 )- a term i had never heard before...a magical evening...

AND THEN...(after seriously hurting my ankle jumping off a surfboard no less) I had 10 hours at the Theatre watching War of the Roses with cate Blanchett playing Richard 11 (as well as other roles)...it was amazing theatre, I felt privileged to be a part of it all...
(btw - my ankle is now the size of a balloon and i can't walk without looking like an ostrich).

Hey Billy, sorry to hear about your ankle. I thought the point was to stay ON the surfboard?
Glad you enjoyed the Writer's Festival. I had too many family/study commitments to see the ones I wanted, but I did take the opportunity to read some of their books and found some amazing writing.
I did see Fragments and The Year of Magical Thinking. Both very good.
Look after that ankle or you'll be looking like an ostrich for a good long time to come.

I went to see Cirque Du Soleil - Quidam, on Friday. The show was so, so good. The dancers were so sensual. A wonderful show. Amazing feats as always, and the costume design just brilliant. I saw them at the NIA arena here which is an excellent venue, not as good as their own tent but...Go if you can...worth every penny. The local pub nearby served delish food too, to add to the enjoyment.

Cirque Du Soleil are always magnificent. They seem to transport you somewhere magical. My daughter got a job as an usher when they were here about 4 years ago and couldn't believe they were paying her to see the show. They were here for 6 weeks and really treated their local staff well. She has lots of souvenirs and great memories.

The last Cirque du Soleil show we saw was Varekai - beautiful, lyrical, magical! We were entranced.

Went to see Lionel Richie last night at the LG Arena. He was superb...over two and half hours of singing and entertainment, just wonderful. His voice is still as strong as ever. It is amazing how I could still remember all the lyrics after so many years. The guitar playing was great as well, and sitting in the audience was The Drifters who had come to watch him as well. I was only a few rows from the front and I almost got the urge to run to the front but controlled myself...just.

Has anyone seen Le Grand Cirque? They are touring the country at the moment and it would be nice to know if it is worth going to see them.

Anybody read any good books lately?

I'm still working my way through The Almost Moon by Alice Siebold, my reading head is not on at the moment...sigh, the book isn't the same as The Lovely Bones but she writes wonderfully.

And of course I have been watching The Ladies Detective Agency on the good old Beeb, it has been wonderful to watch, not violent, no swearing and just a delight to see. The characters are so true to the books. I wish more series were made like this. I can't believe they were going to cancel the series in the beginning.