At Ezra Pound

by Cellobella on Friday, April 1, 2011 · 3 comments

Drinking shiraz and enjoying the atmos

I discovered a new bar in town last night.

A bar that made me feel like I was in Melbourne.

Maybe it was the street art vibe…

street art

Maybe it was the fact I was out on in Northbridge with friends for the second night in a week.

Ezra Pound was of course a famous American poet at the turn of the previous century – I’m not terribly familiar with his work – a quick read of Wikipedia makes me think he wasn’t all that pleasant a chap – although in his favour he did convince people to publish one of my favourite poets - TS Eliot.

Do not move
 Let the wind speak
  that is paradise.
Let the Gods forgive what I
  have made
Let those I love try to forgive
  what I have made.
— from Canto 120, Ezra Pound

 Anyway, the man himself aside, it’s a great little bar.
Loved the exposed brick, the couches and chairs inside, the outdoor seating, the decorated fence.
I missed it completely the first time – it’s down a little alleyway just a few doors down from The Bird on William Street if you’re heading towards the Brass Monkey.
Oh and speaking of monkeys… or rather Great Apes… we had a very lively discussion of the play we’d just been to see at The Blue Room – Wish.
If you’ve read the book by Peter Goldsworthy you’ll know why.
When JJ – the hearing son of deaf parents – agrees to teach Sign to the mysterious Eliza, he embarks on a voyage of discovery that takes him to the outer limits of language, science, nature, ethics – and love.
For me the play was about living in two worlds but fitting in in neither.
And it also raised the question:  Does love justify your actions?
I’m not sure it’s the get-out-of-jail-free card that the romantics would have us believe.
Have you read the book?  Seen the play?
What do you think?

Happy to be at this bar

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My first time in Bali, told live without notes

by Cellobella on Thursday, March 31, 2011 · 2 comments

So The Bird was a revelation.

What a great venue.

Small, intimate – yet with quite a lot of seating.

Cute bar.

Great acoustics.

(a little warm – but hey it’s winter soon… please tell me winter is happening this year)

It was the first night of Barefaced since the Blue Room season ended and we were all pretty hyped up.

Would anyone come?

What would the venue be like?

Would our stories be any good?

Can I remember my story??

No notes remember.

And how would the “out of the hat” idea work?

Well it was a great success IMHO.

First, the venue was packed, and thanks to those of you who came along to support me, and the other story tellers of course.

The venue was great.

Our stories were good – and I remembered (most of) mine.

And the out of the hat idea where two wildcard storytellers were drawn out on the night to tell their stories worked too.

Highlights – Shirley’s reaction when she wins the blue ribbon, Andrea’s Chooky Fowler (OMG hilarious!), Alison telling how she wagged school and was sent to hospital was classic and George’s trekking tale brought back some memories – I related!

The next session is last Tuesday of April – which is the day after Easter – and the theme is Heroes and Villains.

If you want to have a go – go to the website – and come along to our workshopping sessions – the more the merrier!

You can hear my first story here.

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Not whining about the endless summer

by Cellobella on Wednesday, March 30, 2011 · 2 comments

My two as the sun goes down

How can you complain about the weather when we can head down to the beach and enjoy a sunset like that?

Warm enough for my son to go swimming

It was my parents who suggested it – and what a good idea it was to go down the beach for fish and chips on a Saturday evening and watch the sun go down.

It made me wonder why we don’t go down the beach for twilight meals more often.

We even live closer to the beach than they do.

I’m not really the beachy type.

Maybe that’s it.

And once I’m tucked into my house of an evening it’s akin to winkling a barnacle off a rock to get me out.

Not easy.

Still it was lovely and if invited I’d go again.

I think.

Depending…

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Baring all at The Bird

by Cellobella on Tuesday, March 29, 2011 · 4 comments

Don’t get too excited – the clothes are staying on.

Artwork by Matt Cipov

What am I saying?

Get excited!

This is stage two of the story-telling project I’m involved in.

You remember part 1 don’t you?

Barefaced Stories.

Part 1 was me doing the course and then telling my nude beach story at the Blue Room in February.

There is a lot more detail in the story that was told on the night and you can listen to that below.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Did you have a listen?

Well that gives you a good idea of what we are doing – true stories told in front of an audience without any notes.

Tonight I’m telling a story about my first time in Bali.

It’s a gentler story.

Not quite as racy but I hope will be entertaining.

After my first experience I’ve been dying to have another go.

It was so exhilarating!

And we’re opening the floor up so if you think you might want to have a go, come along to our fortnightly Sunday practice sessions.

Or just come along tonight and enjoy the party.

It’s all happening at The Bird, a tiny little pub on William St, Northbridge, just opposite the new State Theatre Centre.

And come up and say hi!

Here’s the official blurb:

Perth’s newest underground storytelling night.

Barefaced Stories recently featured as part of The Blue Room Theatre’s Summer Nights  and is moving to The Bird in Northbridge.

This exciting new regular storytelling series features trained solo raconteurs, from comedians to prowrestlers, who will take the stage with nothing but their true life tales – some humourous, some sad, and some downright perverse.

Join Barefaced for an entertaining night of intimatedisclosures and heartfelt anecdotes.

“Storytelling has exploded into a thriving genre all itsown.” – New York Times

Last Tuesday in March, the 29th.

Show starts at 8pm

Tickets: $10 at the door.

The Bird, 181 William St, Northbridge

Barefaced Stories website

Barefaced Stories on Facebook

Barefaced group on Facebook

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Perth Airport does something right

by Cellobella on Saturday, March 26, 2011 · 3 comments

Perth Airport

Photo thanks to M Munns

I’ve been known to slag off Perth Airport from time to time but on arrival last Monday I felt so welcomed that I have only praise.

I know.

I can’t quite believe it either.

I only took carry-on – which in itself is quite impressive for a four day weekend, plus conference, plus dinner dance - so I was able to waltz straight past the baggage retrieval thingys – what is the proper term for them anyway? – past the growing taxi rank – which is always ridiculous – and out to the general vicinity of where the shuttle collects you for the long term parking.

Except the shuttle was just leaving.

I made eye-contact with the driver and did that little moue of disappointment crossed with hopeful smile and gestures of where I need to stand to get a ride – you’ve seen me do it before I’m sure…it’s similar to the look I give at the bar when I finally get enough of your attention to order a crisp Sav Blanc or cheeky Pinot Noir… that look.

Anyway, instead of driving past me and off to the long term carpark, instead of pointing behind him, instead of ignoring me, the driver smiles… I kid you not… smiles, and pulls across the lane into the drop off zone and opens the door.

Off to the long term carpark love?

Thank you so much, I gush.

I turn on my phone to tweet my appreciation – still having a post-conference lovefest with twitter - and before I know it we are pulling into carpark A and I get out to pay the $62 bucks I owe for four days parking (short term would have cost $140 – which is outrageous) and I don’t have a credit card because I’ve had to cancel it again due to the number being on my daughters’ mobile that got lost over the weekend so I have to pay with wads of cash which fortunately I remember to get out of the bank while I was in Sydney.

Thank you I say sweetly to the kind driver and I make my way to the pay machine where a young girl in a high viz vest is smiling at me.

Hello, can I help you?

I’m struggling to find the ticket which I’m sure I’ve put somewhere safe in my wallet/mini-bag but of course it’s been four days and anything could have happened to it but eventually I find it and she puts it in the machine for me, and even though I’m perfectly capable of managing a pay machine as I am a grown up and tall enough to reach, it’s nice to be looked after.

Then she points to the bit where the money goes, and that’s good because I’m used to paying with credit cards which are SO much easier, and I only have a $100 bill because that’s what the bank gave me, but she assures me that the machine will accept such a big note and that I will get notes in change, which is also nice.

I get a cheery farewell and I’m off to my car patiently waiting in S row.

Now I didn’t really need a person helping me with the pay machine but I walked off feeling a bit special – it doesn’t take much.

I felt looked after.

And I’m sure it must be a pretty boring job but the girl was so cheery and sweet and made you feel as if it was her pleasure to be standing around a pay machine at 7.30 on a Monday night, as if there was nothing better she would want to be doing.

And that’s a skill.

So, Perth Airport people, please go and give the driver and the pay-machine girl at carpark A a pat on the back from me, they were great, and you can feel good about yourself too for employing them.

Well done.

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Navigation fail in Sydney

by Cellobella on Thursday, March 24, 2011 · 5 comments

It's iconic

Gotta love Sydney.

Well I do.

I guess it’s because I spent a couple of months at a critical age in this fair town… and because I consider Sydney to be to Perth’s somewhat brash teenage self an…

Older, gay uncle?

Worldly, confident spinster aunt?

Or is that Melbourne?

Whatever… I love Sydney.

I love the water, the casual confidence of its inhabitants, the fact you can find scrambled eggs and toast for $7 on a Sunday morning.

I know that Perth people are weeping  into their $4.50 coffees right now.

Seven bucks.

Perth prices are outrageous.

But I digress.

What was I saying?

Oh yes, Sydney.

City crush.

Loved this

Gotta love a city with grafitti like this

Loved this memorial to women who came out because of the Irish famine

She looks determined doesn't she... the new St Mary...

So I’m completely in love with Sydney again and I stay with my friend who I lived with way back in the day when I lived and partied in Sydney.

She lived in Greenwich and she still does so I figured I’d catch the ferry over for old times sake.

Those following me on twitter would have seen how the story unfolded:

Cellobella At circular quay waiting for the greenwich ferry. Life is good. :-)

Cellobella Forgot how much I love the ferry service in sydney. #wanttoliveinsydney :-)

Cellobella @deeleea totes. It’s such a nice way to get around. Feels like a treat not public transport. :-)

Cellobella Lol just discovered I’m on completely the wrong ferry. It’s back to circular quay for me. #whatanidiot

Cellobella Bored of being on ferry now #navigationfail

My friend had texted me and when I said oh I was just at Watson’s Bay, rang me to tell me I’d caught a ferry going in completely the opposite direction.

It’s been twenty years since I lived in Sydney.

So I changed ferries…

Me on the RIGHT ferry

And I spent the night in Greenwich and we reminisced about old times…

Going to Rogues…

On our way out to Rogues back in 1991...

OMG yes… check out those clip-on earrings… oh dear me… such glamour.

We drank wine and discussed how we met the drummer of Air Supply and he told us that Mariah Carey was the next big thing.

We talked more about Rogues… well it was our favourite nightclub.

Hey that was a designer dress... stop laughing!

Thought you might like to see the full look.

We haven’t changed a bit!

Okay maybe a bit.

Don’t you love the tassles?

Not enough dresses these days have tassles IMHO.

This was my outfit of choice for going to the casino back in Perth – but I wore it with a waist length wig.

And then it started raining.

And I fell asleep to the sound of rain on the roof and actually I didn’t sleep well because it was soooo noisy.

Such a novelty to hear rain though.

*slaps self* This is not going to be a weather post.

Next morning I waited patiently for the rain to stop.

But it was torrential.

And, with a coffee date in the city I had to get going.

‘sif a Perth person is going to have an umbrella!

Monday morning was... wet.

I could feel the rain slide off the back of my jacket, through my top and slip down the back of my jeans.

Cl-assy.

I was wet wet wet.

But still happy to be in Sydney.

Even though I was a little over the rain.

I dried out about 3pm.

Ahhh my dear Uncle Syd.

See ya next time.

Peeps… Gay uncle?  Worldly older cousin?  What do you think?

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Finding Nigel

by Cellobella on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 · 1 comment

Alison with her newly discovered vagina

So we found the sculpture (pictured above) and now Narelle wants to find Nigel.

Narelle being Alison, or at least Alison when she was 20, and fresh born into the city.

The back story.

The search.

Anyhoo the thing is that Alison is in Sydney this week – and so is the artist that sculpted her veejayjay back in the day and she wants to find him.

She has an mp3 of the story she told at our storytelling sessions and a photograph of… well… herself to give him.

(get your mind out of the gutter – its a photo of the sculpture)

It’s just for old times sake (she is in a relationship at the moment) so she isn’t stalking him or anything.

Promise.

:)

So if you know where the artist is – please let us know!

We have a twitter search going on – have a look on http://twitter.com/cellobella

Oh and his name isn’t Nigel.

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Tweets, peeps and hand-dryers: observations from the first ever Aussie Bloggers Conference

by Cellobella on Tuesday, March 22, 2011 · 14 comments

At the dinner dance

So this is me and allconsuming at the dinner dance which followed the first ever Australian Bloggers Conference.

Note the tweeter in the background.

OMG everyone was tweeting.

Except me because my stupid phone stupidly ran out of batteries and then I took it upstairs to charge but stupidly forgot that when you take your passcard key out of the little slot all the electricity is turned off and so the phone ran even further out of batteries. Belief!

Anyway, I tried tweeting during the conference discussions and it was too distracting… so I stopped and then I got told off by Kelley (so glad to have met you even though you scolded me for not replying to your tweets).

Kelley's tattoo

What a biatch.

But I was glad I stopped because I was missing out on some gems because I was too busy coming up with witty comments or trying to, and reading the chatter.

So what did I learn?

Well in the social media part I quite liked the “Twitter Formula” for successful twittering:

20% me

30% flogging your blog

50% retweeting and interesting links

That sounds quite good don’t you think?

Because what I’m liking more and more about twitter is the personal recommendations for other good stuff online… you expect a bit of self-recommendation so that’s okay and I do love a little small talk but a mix is best I think.

And I am now a twitter whore!

I blame Deeleea.

Which is fair because she blames me for getting up to dance the nutbush when she CLEARLY wanted to.

‘Sif she wanted to just sit at the table, drink wine and chat. :)

Anyway in the space of 24 hours I found myself tweeting all sorts of rubbish:  The price of scrambled eggs, the navigation fail on the ferry, the wet wet weather… why does it always come down to weather with me?

And I was checking in to #ausblogcon2011 every few minutes checking in on my new bloggy friends.

Today I’ve noticed that the behaviour has continued.

Facebook?

Oh yeah I remember you.

One of the things to come out of the Social Media section was the thought that creating a page for your blog was better than using your personal profile.

And if you’re using it to add value to your blog well maybe it is.

Do I want to go there?

Maybe. Once the twittermoon is over… *cringes at dreadful mash-up of Twitter and Honeymoon*

So I learned a few things, was inspired to blog some more, and met some fantastic people.

People I hope to keep up with in the future both in person and of course on Twitter.

Hey I met River!  A regular commenter on this blog!

sorry the photo is a bit blurry

And shout outs to Kelly who sat next to me and had magnetic cards (very sexy), Ally who came up and said hi (yay!) and Rebecca who convinced me to have one too many cocktails at the open bar welcome drinkies. But weren’t they delicious!

There is a full list of attendees here.

I can also see myself going to the 2012 conference.

I think the organisers have learned a lot.

Personally, I’d like to see sessions on “form versus content”…  maybe a debate?, “must have widgets”, “effective graphics/banners/images” to name a few.

It would be good to get some concurrent sessions looking at various blogging platforms – blogger, wordpress etc so you can ask questions,  maybe get some tips and tricks, news, how to get the best out of your chosen platform.

Maybe something on cool apps – for both iphone and android.

Maybe there could be breakout socialising sessions for various blogging niches – mummy bloggers, personal bloggers, craft bloggers, dads, food, reviews, fashion – that might also encourage a greater range of bloggers to attend.

Yep I reckon you need two days.

The dinner dance was a revelation.

I thought goodness, whose going to want to go to a practically 100% female dinner dance?

But it was so nice to dress up and chat with all these lovely women.

And to be honest, you bloody blokes don’t dance anyway.

And we did dress up.

Which goes to show that we don’t dress for men.

I wonder if next year there’ll be a more even gender balance?

Gawd I’ve waffled on haven’t I?

Well one last observation for now:

Hand dryer

Have you had a go drying your hands in one of these?

I’m not sure they are as effective as the slogan suggests but they are SUCH good fun!

Tragically your correspondent was seen wetting her hands just so she could dry them again.

So yay.

Great conference, great city, great stories and great fun.

Read more here from Aussie Bloggers

[note that the makers of the hand-dryer did sponsor the dinner dance but this mention is not sponsored at all. I don't have one of their vacuum cleaners and am very happy with the one I have... especially as Groover does the vacuuming anyway]

 

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Ausblogcon2011

by Cellobella on Sunday, March 20, 2011 · 6 comments

image

So the conference is over and a better organised conference I don’t think I’ve been to.

This btw is really a holding post.

Written from my phone.

Today my plan is to catch a ferry to greenwich to stay with a friend.

Then tomorrow catching up with a few work friends before heading back to perth in time for the first night of the women’s teams.

Bridge of course.

And it’s raining in sydney town!

Remember rain perthites?

I love not being hot so much I am not even going to take a taxi to circular quay.

I certainly won’t look hot after that.

More on the bloggers conference when I get to a computer but for now love to my new bloggy friends.

You are amazing.

xxx

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Blogging that conference

by Cellobella on Friday, March 18, 2011 · 1 comment

image

How does that saying go… It’s as pretty as an airport?

Well I made it.

Packed this morning so probably forgot something important.

Certainly concerned that haven’t brought “right” clothes for the event.  What does one wear to a bloggers conference anyway?

Too late to worry about that now.

Should board shortly. Do I have time for a quick wee?

Not if I keep blogging.

Exciting club!

Sydney here I come!

Ah. Ten minute delay. Excuse me while I powder my nose.

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