Moody Morning Ball

Jasmina and I get up early to take Zephyr for a walk on the beach. She loves chasing balls, and we like the fresh air, the exercise and the coffee in travel mugs. The sun rises here on an unattended tennis ball.

Jack Johnson in Concert

I went back into the city on Wednesday night to see Jack Johnson in concert outdoors at the Myer Music Bowl. Susan and Lisa came along too… and even though they didn’t know much about Jack's music, (??!!) they enjoyed the concert. It was very appropriate to see him this week. I’ve been surfing heaps on the Surf Coast, the Rip Curl Pro was on at Bells, and Jack’s good mate, Kelly Slater was competing in the last rounds and finals on Thursday. (He ended up winning the competition on a ridiculous wave, and rang the famous bell!) In addition to having a great voice, Jack is an accomplished surfer, and his concert was full of images of breaking waves and surf. (Can you tell we were some distance from the stage?)

Diamonds in the Water!

Yesterday Jasmina, Rose and I went out for an afternoon surf session at Fairhaven beach. We surfed a break called “The Spot”. While we were in the water, an electrical storm blew over the coast. The sky was dark grey, thunderclaps sounded around us and lightning strikes lit up the sky in the near distance. In contrast to all of this, the surf was glassy turquoise. And then it started raining. Hard. It was as if diamonds were jumping out of the water at us!
Forgive me, but it’s been 3 weeks since my last surf. Sunday evening was my awkward warmup session. Yesterday as it rained diamonds, it all came back to me and I had the best waves of my day!

HAPPY EASTER!

Looking out from the balcony on Barkly Street.Easter Sunrise over East St. Kilda and Elwood.

I hope everyone enjoys their Easter Long Weekend!

Susan and I went on a road trip to Daylesford, a little country town 2 hours out of Melbourne. Nearby mineral springs make this a popular Heath and Wellness/Spa destination for people from the city.

These are views of the Convent Gallery. It used to be a Convent, and now it is an Art Gallery. (I know. You sigh and say to yourselves: "She's a bit out of practice with this blog thingy! Please state more of the obvious, Paola!)
The Chapel remains as a place of worship.

Trash and Treasures

My friend Samara took me with her to the Camberwell Sunday market. It’s pretty much like a big garage sale. There's heaps of funky and uber-kitschy stuff for sale. Samara found herself a desk, and we both found some pretty great second hand clothing.

I would like to suggest that Buddha is happy because he is surrounded by shoes and handbags.
There's something for everyone here!
Vintage Shoe Forms anyone?

Brush with Fame...oops sorry!

I had two cool brushes with Australian actors this weekend. I brushed elbows with Andrew Upton (Cate Blanchett's husband; a director) at a preview of a play at the Malthouse Theatre....literally brushed elbows! I almost sent his glass of white wine flying! He was nice about it. Umm...when I apologized, he accepted my apology. In very Aussie fashion he was attending the theatre as just a regular guy...plaid shirt, khaki trousers and Birkenstocks.
Later that night, after the show, my friend Samara and I caught up with our other friend and fellow director, Nadia for drinks in the CBD. She was meeting some of her mates, among whom was her best mate, Rose Byrnes, an Aussie actress widely recognized for "having made it." You can see her opposite Heath Ledger in Two Hands, opposite Brad Pitt in Troy, and as Natalie Portman's handmaid in Star Wars, Attack of the Clones. I did my best not to talk too much. I played it cool, appearing appropriately disinterested.

IT'S HOT!

While it's a bit uncomfortable to sunbake for any length of time, 40 degrees will make anybody want to strip down and take a dip in the bay!Public Art (Iron Work) on South Melbourne Beach Esplanade.

Bush Fire

Jas and I were out on a drive last weekend looking for waves when I took these shots of a controlled bush fire between Anglesea and Fairhaven on the Surf Coast. There have been some devastating fires in recent history in this area. Days like Ash Wednesday in 1983 are still really fresh in the memories of residents. Concerned people were pulling over all along the road to get a better look.

Aussie Vocab Term of the Week: The Dunny

Definition: noun. toilet or lavatory, originally an outside toilet or outhouse, now a generic term for the toilet regardless of location.The approach to the dunny outback, behind my yoga shala...

Busy Week

This week, I’ve been working on my first paper, a presentation and on the analysis of the short piece I am directing. Despite the long hours at school, I still made it to my yoga class this week! The weather has been fine, and I have had a great time seeing some theatre around Melbourne with my fellow directors.
On Thursday night, a group of us saw a production of Platanov, an ambitiously modernized Chekov play. On Saturday night, another bunch of us went to see Tenderness, two new plays by the Platform Youth Theatre.

Buddy, The Koala

Buddy rocks up to the Great Ocean Road Cottages every couple of weeks. He hangs out in the gum tree outside reception for a couple days at a time.

His stats:
Height: ?
Weight: Ditto.
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Black
Hobbies: Sleeping, munching Eucalypt leaves, and yelling at possums in “Koala” late at night.

Cool Food #2

Passion Fruit is ripe when it is all wrinkly.








Cut the fruit in half and scoop out the center onto yogurt or ice cream. Exotic fruity goodness!

Happy Autumn!

March 1st is the first day of fall here in Australia. Summer is officially over, and the weather has certainly shifted in the last week. Cool in the early mornings and then fairly warm in the afternoons (23 degrees). There is the promise of some good weather (low-mid 30's) this week starting today, but you know what? I think I'm ready for some cooler weather.... I'll get to buy some UGGS.

Harvest Picnic at Hanging Rock

Last Sunday, Susan, Lisa and I drove an hour NorthWest of Melbourne to Hanging Rock. Hanging Rock was made famous by the book Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay about a group of college students disappearing during a camping trip. This is the view from the back of the Hanging Rock.

Every year, the Age Newspaper hosts a big market/picnic wine festival on the events ground just below the Rock. The Melbourne Food and Wine festival starts next week, and this event kicks it all off. We enjoyed some fantastic breakfast, lunch and libations throughout the day.
We left with fresh baked goodies, full tummies and a free Sunday paper in a showbag!The local pistachio roasting kiosk was popular because of the raw pistachio sampling station. The verdict: roasted and salted is better!
Coffee art is so big here in the Melbourne area. The coffee snobs are no doubt comforted by this sign.