I hate being sick.  It is the absolute worst feeling in the world.  I don't get sick very often so when it does happen it's always a horrble shock.  The other horrible shock is when the 'being sick' comes upon you at about 12:30am and continues ALL night.  Oh my goodness.  Thursday and Friday this week was basically all about being totally exhausted and feeling like absolute rubbish.  The other really bad part about it was that I felt dreadful about not going to work (don't laugh) because there was so much stuff that had to be done for the coming week that other people had to field for me.  I know it's not my fault and realistically I'm sure everyone will be much happier that I didn't come to work and inflict my sick, grouchy, exhausted self upon them but still.  It was bad enough that I inflicted myself on Euan, the marvelous and patient man who stayed home with me on Thursday and looked after me.

Thankfully by Saturday I was feeling mostly better and more human.  This was good since I had to go to work for a little while that morning (ewww) but was balanced out by a very very cruisy breakfast at Old Parliament House with Graham, Sharn and Mark.  Nearly 4 hours sitting in the sun - it was lurvely.  Euan was trundling off that evening to MC a trivia night and the thought of being cooped up at home on my own was not happy making.  The two days off sick in front of the tv helped get over the sickness but Jesus Christ I was bored stupid by the end of it!  So, I ventured out to the night markets at Federation Walk with Nick and Eliane.  It was actually really lovely.  Wasn't cold or windy (novel for Canberra winter I know!) and there were stalls and food and stuff. We also found the greatest thing ever - warm, spiced apple cider...ohhhh.  It was so very very tasty.

Today was a bit more wedding type stuff - picked up all the rest of the invitation stuff - yay!!  Now we just have to print stuff on them, put them together, send them....yep still a bit to do I suppose.  Most other things are pretty much under control though which is happy making for myself and Euan...and our respective mothers.

Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres

This was an incredible read.  It's set for the most part during World War II and on the Greek island of Cephallonia.  We meet Pelagia and her father Dr Iannis a well as some other colourful locals.  We also meet a variety of other characters including Carlo, an Italian soldier with a secret and of course Captain Antonio Corelli and his mandolin Antonia.  Though interestingly we don't meet the title character until almost half way through the book. 

The story goes through the occupation of Cephallonia by the Italians and the relationships that develop between the local population and the army.  It's told by several different characters throughout and so we get various perspectives. 

It's a beautiful and tragic story and absolutely adored reading it. 

5 mandolins out of 5.

It's a Thursday and I'm not at work.  Noice.

I am in fact travelling up to Sydney today with Miss Eliane so we can go and see the Shins concert - hooray!  The best part about today has been that I got to sleep in and am currently still in my PJ's sitting on my couch, listening to JJJ and playing on the computer.  I'm not at work.    Of course, the karmic balance of my universe will sort itself out when we get to the weekend when I will have to go into work on Saturday because I have so much on next week.  Damn it.   However, I reckon it might be worth it just for the joy of sleeping in on a Thursday.

I haven't done a review in a little while (the short blog going mental about Harry doesn't count), so I thought I'd do a bundle.  I've read a few books, watched some movies and seen some plays, so I thought I'd share.

Books.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - JK Rowling

I know I did a sort of mini review already - but here's a slightly more substantive one...sort of.

This was a perfect ending to a brilliant series of books.  I confess I spent a large portion of time while I was reading in tears - the body count is significant - but I thoroughly enjoyed it.  All the characters really come into their own and do things that we may not have imagined they could way back in the early books. Neville especially was a total joy.  It was a great read, travelled along nicely and didn't get you bogged down.  As usual, the book has its point of no return (and as a result I was late to a dinner party that night!) which was essentially the Battle of Hogwarts.  Once you get there you simply can't put the thing down!  It was absolutely wonderful and I couldn't recommend it highly enough. 

5 Elder Wands out of 5

The Last Witchfinder - James Morrow

I picked this book up off the shelf in a store by chance - it had an interesting cover.  Actually that's how I get books quite often - the interesting cover grabs me and then I have decent look at the story.  This was set back in the times when witchtrials were still occuring throughout America and Britain and concentrates on a particular young girl named Jennet Stearne.  Her father is a Witchfinder as is her brother.  She is educated by her aunt - a lover of natural philosophy and science, which inspires Jennet.  Unfortunately her aunt gets the wrong end of the Witchfinders needle and it all goes downhill from there.  Jennet spends her life trying to refute the idea of witches using science and nature and gets the assistance of a varied group of people including a young Benjamin Franklin.  The most endearing thing about this book was that it was told from the point of view of a book - the Principia Mathematica by Issac Newton to be precise.  The book tells the story of Jennet which every now and then going into bizarre tangents about it's own battles with other books and the like.  It also informs us that some of the most well known books of our time were actually written by other books, not by the authors we think....it's slighly kooky which I why I think I enjoyed it so much. 

4 1/2 witches out of 5

The Sandman (Ten Volumes) - Neil Gaiman

This is a series of comics that tell the story of Morpheus - The Sandman - who is one of the Endless (the others are Destiny, Death, Destruction, Desire, Despair and Delirium).  It is a collection of ten trades which begins with Preludes and Nocturnes and ends with The Wake.  It is beautifully written, beautifully drawn and coloured and it one of the greatest fantasy stories I've had the pleasure to read.  I was never a comic reader as I've always preferred novels.  Then I was given a copy of Midnight Nation by J Michael Straczynski to read after I found I was totally in love with his Babylon 5 TV series.  It was great - excellent story line, great drawing and wonderful characters.  My friend Nick then threw me the Sandman series and told me I'd love it.  He was quite right.  Gaiman is a genius - pure and simple.  He created a complicated and wonderful story in a totally believable universe that could be ours.  The Endless are wonderful characters and the supporting cast are sensational - especially the myriad of creatures in Dreams realm. 

So yourself a favour.  Find them and read them.

5 Dreams out of 5

Movies

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

This was always going to be the hardest movie to do I think.  It's the largest book and the densest story - loads of exposition.  However, I think they got it right.  Lots of people don't like it, think they did things wrong etc.  But I loved it.  The characters first of all are perfect.  Umbridge, Tonks and Luna the main new ones are excellent.  Exactly right.  They get the important elements of the story in and they don't sacrifice (in my opinion) anything vital.  Of course there are things I would have like to see remain - but ultimately they are things that were favorite scenes of mine from the book and weren't necessary for the movie.  I've heard criticisms of several particular aspects - like for instance the death of Sirius not being made enough of.  I don't agree - dwelling on things like that in a scene makes it far too meldramatic.  Death in those circumstances is quick, and it's not often heroic - I think they depicted it exactly right and just how the book seemed to describe it.  I can't wait for the next one!

5 prophecies out of 5

Transformers

I can't say much about this except - FUCKING AWESOME!!  I loved Transformers as a child of the 80's so I had high expectations for this film and it totally delivered.  Outstanding work.

5 Autobots out of 5

The Simpsons

This was exactly as I expected - an extended episode.  Now don't get me wrong, that's not a bad thing.  I laughed a lot, it was a fun story and it had a whole thing about family being tops in it.  Most of the supporting crew got a good run as well which was nice and it was hilarious.  It was the Simpsons, pure and simple, and I enjoyed it.

4 donuts out of 5

Plays

Waiting for Godot - Papermoon

This was on at the ANU Arts Centre and was staged by Papermoon Productions.  It starred my two old drama teachers.  It's a crazy absurdist piece by Samuel Beckett - and I mean absurd.  It's two blokes waiting around for another bloke named Godot (and no - it's not supposed to be God...at least that's what Beckett says).  They run into a couple of other gents - Pozzo and Lucky - and pass the time until Godot arrives.  Aside from being a little sleepy the night we saw it - it was brilliant.  I love watching my teachers on stage (epecially Geoff Borny - could watch him all day) and this was no exception.  Also, the lad playing Lucky was incredible - he gets one speech (which is essentially gibberish) and it was just captivating. I'm not usually a fan of absurdist theatre - but this was tops.

Pride and Prejudice - Free Rain

This was a 1930's adaptation of the script....it was very clunky.  Lets face it - it took the BBC 5 hours to get the significant parts in!!  Unfortunately the script was just a bit pants.  The performances were essentially good - the lass playing Lizzie was great and all the other cast did really well in their respective roles.  The set was also pretty cute - functional but there wasn't really enough room.  This wasn't bad but it wasn't great either. 

Room to Move - Canberra Repertory

I really enjoyed this.  There were a few opening night snags - cues not being quick enough and one or two lighting issues (minor only) but it was tops.  Great script and really lovely performances.  I thorougly enjoyed myself!  This one is actually still running - so if you get a chance and you live in Canberra - go see it!

I think that will do me - this post is quite long!!

I promised I'd give a proper account of my holiday so here we go....

I spent a glorious 10 days in WA a couple of weeks ago.  It was warm (actually warm - like walking around in t-shirts warm!) and it only rained once.  My brother tells me that it was storming like crazy the week before I arrived so I was pretty happy.  I spent the first few days with Michael and my cousin (who he lives with while off shift).  It was lovely to see them, however I'm SOOOO glad that I was only there for a couple of days.  You see, my cousin has a girlfirend who is...well...a huge pain in the arse.  She is clingy, silly and doesn't trust him as far as she can throw him (for no particularly good reason that I can see).  But she wants him to propose....WHY??  When Michael is home and my cousin isn't she bombards him with questions about what he does at work (Michael and my cousin both work in a copper mine in WA) and the poor child cops it every time!  The problem is that neither of them are happy!  It's really obvious - the tension was thick as custard.  I think she's essentially a bit of a spaz.  On top of that her mum and sister were staying as well - which was actually ok - but mum was one of those micro-manager types who has to be involved in EVERYTHING.  Essentially a nice lady, just needed to back off. 

On the Monday, Michael drove us to Freemantle and we saw my Kath.  I was so very very excited to see my lovely friend.  I miss her terribly so I'd been looking forward to my holiday for ages.  Michael stayed with us on the Monday night drinking beers at Cottesloe and watching the sun set....should say I got a bit obsessed with the sunsets - they were just so fantastic!!  I found it entirely novel to see the sun go down over the water - just beautiful.

So the Child left me on the Tuesday to go back to work and I was left with Miss Kath.  I also got to meet the boyfriend Ashlee for the first time (I had spent the months previous saying his name like Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind so I had to remind myself to say it properly when we finally met!).  By the end of the week I was totally solved - I really really like him.  He clearly adores my friend, is obviously completely in love and the feeling appears to mutual.  She adores him and seems so totally happy with him.  I was very excited to finally meet him and I left feeling content and happy that My Kath was being well looked after - just as well!!

So, just some of the things we got up to....went to Mandurah and did a cruisey thing down the canals and saw Dolphins!  We also went to Rottnest Island which was just beautiful.  We hired bikes for the day and cycled around all over the place which was tops. Once again a beautiful day and lovely way to spend my last full day in WA.  Plus of course, Kath and I went dress shopping....and found a dress for her - woo hoo!! I also managed to find shoes for the wedding which is very exciting. 

All in all, I really liked WA, it was warm, there were beaches and there were sunsets OVER beaches!  The only problem is it's kinda expensive to live there (a coffee was $4.60!!) and they don't open things on a Sunday....which I could probably make my peace there if I were to ever live there. 

I wish I got to spend longer...

I read Harry on Saturday.  Lined up, had it in my hands at 9:10am and started reading by 9:25am.   Finished at 6:30pm. 

Oh.  My.  God.  It was tops.  Written beautifully, finished perfectly, tied stuff up, threw in surprises and we lost dear friends. (I've never cried so much in a book before).  No more now...guess I'll just have to read it again!!  At least, once I've reclaimed it from my parents!

Also for finishing things on the weekend - watched the last 4 eps of Season 3 Doctor Who.  Wicked.  Talk about some surprises!  Also, I'll never be able to walk past statues again and not be slightly disturbed.....

I'm back in Canberra.  It's cold.  Really cold.

Minus 1 this morning and I'm told that it is actually only about 3 degrees outside right now and it's 3pm!!!! 

Stupid winter.

This is just a quick update while I have a few minutes.  I'm in WA!!  As the subject heading suggests, it's much warmer here.  In fact, it feels kinda like the early part of Canberra Spring, you know when it's still a bit chilly in the morning and the evenings but you can walk around through the day in a t-shirt. 

I've been here since Friday last week, caught up with my little brother and my cousin, his crazy girlfriend and her mother and sister, spent time with Kath and met the new (well, not so much new anymore - but new to me!) boyfriend and most importantly - WE HAVE A BRIDESMAID DRESS!!!!  Also, I finally found wedding shoes - awesome awesome shoes.  It's been a productive and fun holiday! 

We're heading off to Rottnest Island tomorrow which I'm really looking forward to.  So, there will be a further and better update some time after my return, as well as (hopefully) some new photos.

It's a tragedy.  A deadset tragedy.

But I still am and will remain a dedicated Blues supporter.