Incompleteness Round Two

The two Steves are back at it! They organized a 2 week season for our show,  Incompleteness in Melbourne at the larger LaMama venue, the Carlton Courthouse. They've been rehearsing in a church hall deep in darkest West Brunswick with a revamped script and more boxes  I've missioned into the city a few times this month to watch rehearsals and give feedback. I'm delighted to be a dramaturg again!!

Next week is tech week  in the theatre and we open on Wednesday night!

A good day starts with....

Surfing before work.......

Night Duty

For the next 5 nights, I'll be working for Alex as the Night Duty manager at the cottages and hostel. He'll be hang gliding in country Victoria and I'll be enforcing the All Quiet curfew.

Serenity Now

It's been a bit hectic this week as I cross all my t's and dot all of the i's  on my Permanent Residency visa application. (Immigration Australian doesn't appreciate bubbles or hearts on top of your i's.)

I've made my parents search through all of my boxes in their basement for my framed copy of my BFA degree. Apparently that is the only thing standing between me and a rubber stamp of approval. Bless them, they found it in the last box they looked in!

All going well, that will be in the mail and in my hands within the week, I'll certify it and then send it off.  Then, I'll wait.

Let's hope they don't deport me when they find out my Canadian passport is due to expire in 14 days.

(It's okay, I've renewed it this week too!)

Gold, Silver and Bronze

It may be summer here, but Aussies are really into watching the Winter Olympics. So many of them have travelled to BC to ski and snowboard on Whistler, Big White and SilverStar. Some of the people I've spoken to prefer watching the Winter Games because they are more "downbeat" than the Summer Games.
I'm sure Vancouver is anything but "downbeat" right now! It's pretty cool being a British Columbian abroad right now and enjoying all the positive press our province and nation are getting.

Some excerpts from some recent conversations I've had while watching the Olympics:

Alex: "So what's wrong with Canada? Why aren't you raking in the medals?"

Me: "I don't think Olympic athletes in Canada have as much financial support from local and federal  governments as Australian athletes do."
Alex: "That'd be right. (pause) Unlucky. (pause) .... but then, you guys have world class health care. 

                   

Guy in Pub: "Are you Canadian? What part of Canada are you from?"
Me: "British Columbia"
Guy in Pub: "Oh wow! I love Canada. I've never been, but I'd love to go. Do you ski?" 
Me: "Not very well, no."
Guy in Pub: "Do you luge?"
Me: "Um. No. Not at all."
Guy: "People luge though, right? Where you're from?"

Pig Pen Lives

So, 2 weeks ago, I moved to a room upstairs in Waverley 13 - the rickety beach shack in Lorne.
The Pros: lots of big windows, an oven and a lounge room.
The Con: I have to share the house with this man. The dirtiest, strangest, most selfish man ever.


Doppelganger, but less cute.

Quiet Days Off

The summer season is slowing down in Lorne. Yesterday I spent a day off on the beach, well protected with 30+ spf.  Today is another day off .... chore day: laundry, errands, immigration paperwork and cleaning.  (I share a house with pig people.) Tomorrow is yet another day off. I might live on the wild side and go into Torquay...

Painless Moving: An Oxymoron

Yeah, that'd be right! When is moving house ever painless?
This is a view of my worldly goods here in Melbourne. (you can't see the shitty couch and the retro wardrobe.)

Actually, this time round, moving was pretty painless.  I didn't have much to pack up, I hired 2 men with a van to do the grunt work and driving for me, and the cleaning wasn't that bad.

It's still fricking tiring, though. When I'd finished, I lay catatonic on the floor of the clean, empty flat on a hot, stuffy, Melbourne afternoon.
It was just cooler on the floor.

.... and it was damned satisfying. There were no dust motes floating in the beams of light coming through the venetian blinds.

Staff Party

Matt and Jasmina hosted the first and last "End of Season Staff Party" for the Great Ocean Road Cottages and Backpackers last Sunday evening. We played lawn bowls and had drinks, and then had supper at the Lorne Lawn Bowls Club. 

St. John and Bev own the properties. They joined us for lawn bowls and drinks. 

The Lorne Bowls Club is one of the best places in town for big, good food. Generous helpings,  and entertaining service. This shot was taken before the place got packed out, and does not do the busy clubhouse justice. It is THE place to pick out the "who's who" in Lorne society.

Alex Flies

My friend Alex surfs when the wind is offshore, and he hang glides when the wind is onshore. I watched him fly for the first time last week, and filmed his flight for him.  I didn't get a photo of him airborne on my own camera, so here's some pics of some of the setup and packup.

Alex's glider is super sleek.

After the flight.

Goodbye Little Buddy

My Canon Powershot has packed it in. Yesterday, it just stopped working. I've had it for 5 years, and it has served me very well.  It has had heavy use in the last 2 years, accompanying me everyday and documenting everything from beaches to Vegemite on toast.

Before I head back to the coast this afternoon, I'll buy a new camera. New pics will be posted soon!

Moving out of Westgarth Checklist

1. Book removalists and carpet cleaners.
2. Reserve storage locker.
3. Pack up worldly goods.
4. Leave rickety chair and book shelf on curbside for bargain hunters.
5. Wake up early to sunshine, the call of neighborhood magpies and the rumble of city traffic.
6. Fuel up with coffee and fruit toast.
7. Clean. 
8. Lie catatonic on the floor of a dark, empty flat for a while before handing in keys and completing paperwork.
9. Relax in the company of friends.
10. Blog in blue because you can.