Un-fayre

We’ve had 63 mm of rain in Perth today. The wettest start of April which more than doubles the previous record set in 1964. 90.6mm. W00t. Not good news for those promoting the second desalination plant in Binninup - always easier to get those things through when the dam levels are low, and not good news for those planning today’s Medieval Fayre.

Today I woke up at about 10am… I heard the sports guys on the radio going on about the rain and how it would probably clear by the afternoon in time for the clash between the Dockers and the Eagles and I rolled over and congratulated myself for taking the washing off the line.

I got up briefly. Made myself a coffee and crumpet and slothed back to bed and read a bit more of my (unexpectedly racy) novel.

A girlfried called and we chatted for awhile…

And as we were chatting, there was a knocking at my door…

Another friend had dropped by. I LOVE the drop in, although it was slightly inconvenient as I was as I say, on the phone and in my pjs. I made plans with my friend on the phone to catch up tomorrow, pulled on some jeans and went to see my visitor.

I had a lovely morning. We ended up going to Spotlight where I’m considering buying a sewing machine. Yes yes I know I’m not the world’s most obvious dressmaker and lets face it - do I really have the time - but oh those machines… I just love them. The fancy stitches which I’d never use, the LED lights, the bobbin racks and pull out accessories drawer.

I said to my friend… “Hmmm the NS10 only has a single needle. Do you really need the twin needle option?”

She said yes.

Sigh.

I got home eventually and as I logged online remembered that it was the day of the Medieval Fayre. Hey nonny nonny and all that stuff. Having watched Gladiator (isn’t that a surprisingly good movie?) the night before I was even ready to watch a couple of geeks in armour throwing a sword around. I was.

Pulling the kids in the car we headed off to the city. “Isn’t this exciting!” I enthused as we passed the statue in the river, today sporting a towel and beach spade… “Something new to do together!”

Yes, full of the joys of spring we drove until reaching Supreme Court gardens where we saw the remnants of the fayre packed up. Stacks of white plastic chairs (oh so medieval!). The odd scattered tent. Puddles.

It was only 3.15 and the Fayre was supposed to finish at 5pm. It was so unfayre!

We went to see The Spiderwick Chronicles instead. Which was fayrely entertaining movie.

The Other Boleyn Girl

One of the great things about my job is I get to go to the occassional movie preview. Today as The Police warmed up at the Members Equity stadium nearby, I and a few privileged others - about eight of us in all - were invited to The Jaffa Room. It’s a bit like an oversized home theatre room, but with a proper projector and real films, not dvds, being shown. We knew it was film because a light broke and we had to restart the film and then when the reels were changed had to wait for them to change the film on the projector.

You feel special.

The film was one I have been looking forward to: The Other Boleyn Girl adapted from the book by Philippa Gregory.

If you haven’t read the book - and I do recommend it - this is the story of two sisters. Both desired by the King of England. Both desiring him… but for different reasons, one for love, the other for power. This is at a time when the King is at his prime. Masculine, sexy, handsome, young… well in his mid 30s anyway. His queen - played brilliantly by Ana Torrent - is aging - she’s slightly older than the king but worn out through multiple miscarriages and still births. The King’s eye is set to wander.

It’s a story of how young women are manipulated through marriage and sex for the advancement of families.

Sisterly rivalry.

Betrayal.

The thing with historical fiction is you know the ending, but this not often told tale is intriging.

I liked the way Eric Bana plays King Henry: bold, brooding, sometimes petulant, completely entranced and yes sexy.

Scarlett Johannsen is perfect as the younger sister Mary - just 14 when she first comes to court to be offered up to the king.

And Natalie Portman is stunning in her bitchy, scheming, frightened, unravelled girl-queen.

When this comes out late February - if you like historical films at all - it is worth a look.

King Henry does not come out of it well.

The Jane Austen Bookclub - Film and book

Coming home from Sydney the other day I picked up The Jane Austen Bookclub by Karen Joy Fowler. I had a five hour journey and I love Jane Austen so I figured it was the perfect match. :)

Settling into my upgraded business class seat (the best use for FF points about to expire) I started to read.

I was immediately sucked in. While you might think it’s a book about reading books it is more than that. It’s about life and love and generational conflict. About being married, about not being married, about relationships. In short it has the same themes as any of your favourite Jane Austen novels. No doubt intended.

Well into the second bookclub meeting, I noticed on someone else’s screens that one of the films showing was in fact The Jane Austen Bookclub, so I grabbed my headphones (sadly I’d forgotton my new noise cancellation headphones that I’d received for Christmas) and plugged in.

The film takes a far less structured form than the book - crafted around the six books as it were - and loses some detail - but still I thought it was a reasonable interpretation and quite a good film. Not a bad chick flick.

The book is easy to read and quite entertaining and has inspired me to read Northanger Abbey and Mansfield Park again.

I am smarter than MY fifth grader

And she is smarter than most of the contestants on Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?.

I can’t believe how not-smart they are.  Review?  It’s quite fun watching it as a family.

We saw Ratatouille tonight.  Great film.  But I still feel a bit icky thinking about rats cooking in a kitchen.  Any kitchen.  Even a cartoon kitchen.  Ewww.

Now, moving on to more important issues.

My Ugg Boots.

Mmmmmmmmm they are so yummy and warm on my tippy toes.  The wool is fluffy under my feet and I feel cosseted and loved…

I love my new ugg boots.

Made in Malaga, WA.  (and you get extra soles for later on when the wool goes flat)

Pirates of the Caribbean

We went to see the third Pirates movie yesterday and while it was beautifully filmed etc etc it was a most poorly put together movie. The story was all over the place. Scenes were inserted that just didn’t make sense… like the opener… what was all that about? And Calipso? What a huge lead-up to a very anticlimactic finish. What was going on there? And it took sooooooooooo loooooooooooong.

Actually, don’t bother answering the above questions, I’ve just checked my care factor and as I suspected, it is zero.

The only bit I really liked was the cameo by Keith Richards. Neat.

Read the book? Forget the movie.

Went to see The Da Vinci Code last night. Yes I’d heard the reviews but I wanted to see for myself. That’s the kind of girl I am. So it’s well made. And I’m sure if I hadn’t read the book I’d have found it quite mesmerising. But I had. And I didn’t. I suspect also that seeing the movie will spoil the book. And that is a pity because if you don’t know what is coming - the book is a good read. Not high literature by any means, but fun.

They did a good job of explaining all the history without you feeling too much like you were in a lecture. And it was really nice to see the places they were talking about and the art as they are explaining the Holy Grail theories. I imagine the Da Vinci Code in pictures does the same thing.

Tom Hanks was okay - once or twice I even thought of him as his character. The French girl was good. Sir Ian McKellen (is that how you spell his name) was very good I thought.

Yesterday I wandered down Oxford St - went to the Paddo markets (so expensive!) and window shopped. I found a groovy little gift shop called Via Alley which had opened only the week before. They are an online store - experimenting with being offline. Some very cute stuff from around the world. I now carry a Poketo wallet. Very hip.

Mike’s exhibition launch was very well attended. Perhaps too well attended - you couldn’t see the art and he didn’t make many sales. I think he was disappointed - it is his year’s income. To be an artist must be so hard. You put your soul on the line every time. He is being philosophical about it. Interestingly we went past another launch last night - the paintings were 5 times as expensive - and didn’t look like better art. It’s all about “the name” I suppose.

It was the gallery owner’s first night too. He is an artist as well. I’m not sure that really works. Artists are not salespeople and galleries are all about sales. So a few lessons to be learned. The gallery itself is a lovely space though.

Work on Friday was great. Shadowed my opposite number and found a few ideas to steal. We even came up with a plan which I hope will be adopted by the network. One can hope anyway. It was really beneficial to see how another station worked… well I think so anyway.

Well I fly back to reality tonight. I’m about to head down to Bondi with some friends for a coffee (I’m missing my coffee machine) and this afternoon… my mission is to by Groover a present. I’ve already found something for the small people.