The Neighbours

 Don't know if you can see them, but the little specks and blurs in the photo are FRUIT BATS flying over the city at Yarra Bend park, not far from our house. Some evenings you can hear them squealing and yelling at each other as they settle in the trees near the Merri Creek, just across the road from us.

If it isn't the bats making lots of noise, it's the RAINBOW LORIKEETS, beautiful little birds that swoop and play in the trees.

In the evenings and late at night, it's not unusual to hear a scuffling and crashing  that sounds like a four year old is somersaulting across our roof. It's not the kid next door, it's the fat BRUSHTAIL POSSUMS.

A slightly daintier and lighter scuffling -- like that of an underfed two year old -- can be heard when the RINGTAIL POSSUMS play tag across the rooftop.

Who are we waiting for?

I splurged and spent an evening at the theatre this week. I watched Sir Ian McKellen play Estragon in Samuel Beckett's WAITING FOR GODOT!

I had this strange feeling at the interval that it was over, and I was ready to go when I realized that -- of course! -- there was still another act to sit through. For a moment I was disappointed. Perhaps I'd had enough of that waiting business.... funny that. So... I discovered that it's probably not my favourite play, and I was a little bit over it. Like Vladimir  says: "Will night never come!"

...but what a treat to watch Sir Ian! He's very funny.... and he makes it look so easy up there.
In the original UK production, Patrick Stewart and Simon Callow were in the cast too. That may have been sensory overload for me...I would have had to see it three times just so I wouldn't miss anything --- and I don't think I could've done it!

This production? Worth every penny for me......especially to watch McKellen and Rees do a wry vaudevillian soft shoe at their second curtain call!

Ice Cream and Theatre

Sure, some people sip on a glass of wine or get a bag of little over-priced chips during Intermission at the theatre here in Australia. However, the majority of patrons get an ice cream treat known as a CHOC-TOP. It's a favourite treat at the cinema as well. They come in Vanilla, Mint Choc Chip, Berry, Banana --- and if it is a very fine establishment with a gourmet bar --- Chili Chocolate.

Quotes of the Week:

"So, do you know Justin Bieber?"
"Miss, have you ever seen a moose in real life?"

And so...

we are back on in July .... Come See This!

But it's backwards!

I still find it odd that Autumn is in May...
 Look out, Melburnians! A cold snap approaches with temperatures dipping down around 8 degrees and topping out at 15 degrees! That's practically freezing!  Get out yer toques... er... beanies!!

Flowers

Isn't it lovely when people give you flowers?! ...and say thank you?
It made my week.

My Entertainment on Trains

• Watch some beautiful sunrises over the city.
• Practice the fine art of folding a broadsheet newspaper to read while commuting so you take up the least amount of other people's personal space.
• Watch the many ways in which people sleep  -- or try to stay awake -- on the train. 
• Buy a coffee at the station from the sub par coffee kiosk while changing trains, and silently curse the barista at the good coffee kiosk for never being ready to open at 7.00 am.
• Prep for school.
• Count the different school uniforms. Keep a tally. 
• Enjoy the scenery as it goes by, supported by the soundtrack on my iPod.