The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 53,000 times in 2015. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 20 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.
There were 485 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 914 MB. That’s about a picture per day.
The busiest day of the year was May 4th with 428 views. The most popular post that day was Cocktail Frankfurts.
So there you have it. Despite all my world travels, my insightful posts, the busiest post for me on my busiest day was a post about whether or not it was safe to eat uncooked cocktail frankfurts, which I should point out, was actually a post from 2013.
Cocktail Frankfurts
For the rest…
See the fireworks James O’Brien created by blogging on WordPress.com. Check out their 2015 annual report.
This show was to feature Marianne Faithfull in the role of the devil. Having seen the show, I can really imagine her doing it. Although I think she’s a great singer – I have a number of CDs – I think it’s a role she could have pulled off at this point in the life because, aside from walking on stage with a devilish smile, saying a few lines and singing a couple of songs, there’s not much to the role. However due to ill-health, she was unable to attend which, although disappointing was not the end of the world.
In his review in “The Age”, Bruce Hallett provides a neat summary of the plot of this musical. In essence the story tells of the young clerk Wilhelm and his love for Kathchen, the daughter of the old forester Kuno, who demands that she marry a hunter. Wilhelm is anything but a marksman, but he soon gets the mastery and power he needs after making a pact with the devil Pegleg. But one of the “magic bullets” he is given, and later solicits, in the hope of realising his destiny and dream, turns out to be cursed and destroys the very thing he desires.
Although it’s classic stuff, the re-telling was modern in an 80’s kind of way. The music, the costumes, the themes were not quite contemporary, but very much “of their time” when I think the musical was written. I could imagine Deborah Harry or Laurie Anderson or someone like that having a role in this. There were times, though, when it sounded a little dated… such as the satirical line about how marijuana leads to heroin (boringly William S Burroughs in its irony, I thought)… which made me disconnect.
Musically, of course, Marianne Faithfull would have been well suited to the role. The music is “classic Tom Waits” with its range encompassing the soulful and beautiful to the crashing and dischordant. With lyrics by Waits and William S. Burroughs (who also wrote the libretto), there are shades of Brecht and Weill which, again, I really love. Often, though, the music moves at such a pace it was difficult to pick up what was being said. Although I really enjoyed the music, I’d be struggling now to remember any of the tunes.
Visually though, it was terrific, with good lighting and set design. I had to laugh, though, when the characters were brought on stage. There was the devil in white face and black. There were also characters reminiscent of the mentally ill patients of the Australian movie, Cosi. The combination of both made me observe, “Oh look, it’s Clover Moore and Sydney’s Homeless”, a reference to the distinctive and seemingly unchanging appearance of the Lord Mayor of Sydney who was sitting several rows in front of me.
I thought it was quite good, but not great. My opinion however, was far more generous than my work colleague who, on arring back after intermission, declared, “Oh well, here’s another hour of torture we have to sit through”.
It’s Sunday afternoon and I’ve just returned from the Peace March in Sydney. At the moment, a number of news websites are estimating the crowd at only 50,000, which is totally ridiculous. As the Mardi Gras crowd is usually estimated at half-a-million, I’d argue a more realistic figure is at least that, and probably a lot more.
The crowd is obviously much larger than the organisers had estimated, since many thousands (including myself) couldn’t actually get into Hyde Park and stood, instead, on neighbouring streets.
The speeches were long and some were unecessary, which led the crowd to call for them to cut short and for us all to “get marching”. There was also a strong anti-Israeli element in some of the speeches which I personally felt a little uncomfortable with. Although I’m a great supporter of the Palestinian cause, I don’t think you achieve much by attacking Israel (or perhaps I’m just a little naive?).
There were some good slogans, including “Somewhere in Texas a village is missing an idiot.” I also liked “Bisexuals For Peace”, commenting to Colin, “Well, at least they’re sure about one thing!” :)
Somewhere in Texas a village is missing an idiot.
Peace March in Sydney
Peace March in Sydney
Perhaps because of the immense size of the rally, the march took on a life of its own. At one point, we stood for about half-an-hour not moving at all. And although we were supposed to stop at Town Hall, the march continued on its own way, taking over many of the city’s streets, and was up near St Mary’s Cathedral when Colin and I decided to call it quits.
AFP is reporting up to 10 million people waving banners and chanting anti-war slogans jammed streets across the world today to oppose US plans to invade Iraq, in one of the biggest global peace protests in history. In London as many as two million demonstrators, according to organisers’ estimates, snubbed Prime Minister Tony Blair’s support of Washington, while Italians said a massive ‘no’ in a rebuke to Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s backing of the hardline US stance.
Going to the march I didn’t really think it would make a difference, because we’re already committed. But who knows… maybe I’m wrong… maybe this will make a difference… maybe it’s more than symbolism.
It’s Thursday night and I’m at home watching television. It’s been a reasonably busy week or so, having started work early on most days and having enjoyed a reasonably busy social life.
On the weekend, Yvette and I caught up for lunch at The Trinity. Looking over her shoulder I noticed a bloke who, after a few seconds I recognised as “Dickhead Ben” from Big Brother. Not the bloke who won… no it was the cop from Queensland who was studying law at Bond University. Although at first Yvette disputed my claim it was Ben, she agreed it was when I noticed that he was sitting with Reggie who had won Big Brother that year. It was a big reality tv day for us though, as later in the afternoon, I received an SMS from Yvette, telling me that another reality tv person, Shannon Noll from Australian Idol had been at the Lord Dudley where he lit her cigarette.
Monday, in particular, was a very busy day. After starting work at 4.30, I wandered home for a brief nap before heading off for lunch with John and James at Cafe Sel et Poivre. This was the fourth of fifth (or maybe sixth or seventh) time I’ve been to Cafe Sel et Poivre. On the first occasion, I was taken by Colin for my birthday, tasting snails for the very first time and loving the Braised Beef Cheeks with a Burgundy Sauce. It was so good that I invited Damien to come along to taste snails for the very first time and to savour the Braised Beef Cheeks with a Burgundy Sauce. He also loved them both so much that we returned once or twice more. Suffice it to say, I think I’m an expert on these two meals. The beef cheeks? Simply divine! Apparently they’re as cheap as chips to buy and they need a much shorter braising time than beef ribs. For my money, they are also far more tender and succulent. At Cafe Sel et Poivre, the beef cheeks are obviously marinated for a LONG time. By the time they arrive on your plate, they are well and truly ready for consumption. The accompanying sauce, a rich, thick, almost sickly sweet sauce, provides a terrific accompaniment. I have no idea what’s in the sauce, though, aside from a good red wine which appears to have been reduced several times.
After lunch I went to a birthday party for Merri-May Gill, a terrific singer-songwriter who comes originally from a place called Weilmoringle in far Western NSW. As it was Merri-May’s thirtieth birthday, she decided to celebrate in Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane with shows in each city. It was great.
From there it was off to The Pavillion for ABBAMAIL drinks and dinner to welcome Andrew Wilson to Sydney. Although originally from Melbourne, Andrew now lives and works in New York. In many respects he reminded me of an old schoolmate, Geoff… a little serious, but a really nice bloke and not the conventional thinker he might appear on the outside. Graeme observed on ABBAMAIL that James O’Brien noticed that Andrew “can put a few beers away”. Which is just as well when you’re hanging around the Sydney ABBAMAIL crowd. And the drinks were soooo cheap at the Pavilion. Pity they weren’t at the Star Bar. Jeez, what a take that place is. Still, the food eaters enjoyed the food and the fast service so can’t really complain.
Last night, I went to The Huntsbury Hotel in Lewisham for more ABBAMAIL drinks. A large number of people had arrived to make Andrew Wilson feel welcome in Sydney, including Greg Roberts, Judy Sawyer, Christian Deligny, Fiona Metcalfe, Mark Hannam, Grant Whittingahm, Ian Cole, Big Ian, Donna Glass, John “Frida” McKechnie and Trent Nickson. Surpsingly, Michael Kyriagis, an ABBA fan from London was also there. Although I didn’t really get a chance to speak with him, he seemed like a nice, happy kind of guy. As Graeme observed, Dr. Mike was looking tanned, taught and terrific. He only arrived on NYE and he’s already been to the beach more than once. Doesn’t take him long to shake off the sophistication of London and get down to Aussie basics ;-) He might be a qualified lawyer and doctor but he’ll always be a fish shop boy to us.
Tonight? Just a night at home. Earlier tonight, I watched on Pay-TV a reasonably new production of “Jesus Christ Superstar”. As a young child I remember the hit songs and remember vividly seeing the 1973 movie at the local cinema in the small town where I grew up. I love JCS. I also couldn’t help comparing this production, filmed in 2000 but which has just shown on Pay-Television in Australia, with the 1973 movie. Although I thought this was quite good, I thought the 1973 movie was better with far great raw emotion. I also didn’t think the actors and singers portrayed the characters with the same level of sophistication of those in the earlier movie production. For example, I didn’t think Glenn Carter as Jesus demonstrated the subtlety needed from the role. Unlike Ted Neeley, who in the 1973 film who portrayed Christ as someone clearly understanding of and in control of his fate, Carter portrayed an almost wimp-like Christ. Oh and Jesus looked like Michael Bolton!
For the last couple of years, you may recall my involvement in a local story-telling project called “Surry Hills and Valleys“.
There’s four of us involved. The main drivers are Tim (with his photographs) and Karina (reaching out to people for their stories). Astra and I contribute with text, ideas, and the website.
It’s a good program. The four of us think it’s really captured the essence of what the story was all about. Congratulations to all those involved in making it happen.
In stark contrast to some of the impressive mausolea at Liverpool Cemetery (in Sydney’s west), my great-great grandmother, Ellen Lang is buried there in an unmarked “pauper’s grave” (as they were called then).
She died 15 years before I was even born, so I don’t know very much about her. I don’t even have a photograph of her. But her life story has fascinated me for a number of years, and so for at least ten or fifteen years now, I’ve been “Searching For Ellen”.
One of the most significant things you need to know is that she had a relationship with, but never married, her first cousin, William Rixon, and they are documented to have had at least two children together, more likely four. But eighteen months after the birth of their fourth child, William went off and married another woman, moved interstate, and had four more children. What happened in the intervening period is unclear, though it appears Ellen may have raised the children with the support of her extended family in the area around Eden, Bombala, Towamba and Rockton in Southern NSW.
Even though she never married William, throughout her life, Ellen continued to use the name Rixon, although her death certificate refers to her as Ellen Lang. Ellen also appears to have lived a somewhat mobile lifestyle, as the electoral rolls record her living in places such Bombala, Sydney, Lismore and Brisbane at various times. There is no evidence that she ever married, spending most of her adult life in the company of her daughter, Ruby, who was known in my family as Molly.
Ellen appears to have spent the last few months of her life at Newington State Hospital, which NSW State Records notes in these terms…
Although the residents of Newington Asylum were predominantly elderly, Newington and the other Government Asylums also assumed the functions of hospitals for the “ordinary pauper population” and for those with incurable conditions, or who required convalescent care, at one third of the cost to the Government compared to Hospital treatment.
Ellen died on June 16, 1950 (1950/009885) and was buried in a “paupers grave” in the Presbyterian section of Liverpool Cemetery. The death record notes she suffered with Chronic Myocarditis (an inflammation or degeneration of the heart muscle) and Rhuematoid Arthritis.
Death certificate of Ellen Laing (Lang), Sydney 1950
Not just physically, but emotionally, you have to wonder if she died from a broken heart? How could you have four children with a man (your first cousin), only to see him leave, move to another state, and have another family? There are so many questions I have about this relationship to which I’ll probably never know the answers. It’s all in the realm of long-lost verbal history now I suspect. When contact was made with the “other family” a few years ago, they were genuinely shocked, with no idea “our family” existed.
For many years, fellow researcher, Kerrie, and I searched in vain for details of Ellen’s death. It was complicated by the fact she used so many different names, and spelling variations of her name throughout her life. But a few years ago I searched around and found her death certificate. Even there, you have to wonder if the exact details of her life and death weren’t deliberately given to mislead. Or maybe her children just didn’t know because she didn’t talk about it?
So for a few years now I’ve known about the grave, but always thought Liverpool was such a long way to travel to visit. As I was in the area today, though, I decided I’d make an effort. Even though I had the details of where she was buried – Presbyterian Section 16 G K – it wasn’t nearly so straightforward trying to find an unmarked grave in a cemetery where so much has happened since 1950. Unfortunately the layout of the cemetery made it difficult today without someone with specialist knowledge of the layout, and sadly, the office there only operates Monday to Friday. I chatted on the phone to the local historical society, and they were very helpful, but I think I need to do some more solid research for the next time in my efforts to locate her final resting place.
Back in 1950, Liverpool was a sleepy little place a long way from the heart of Sydney. I can imagine the cemetery was tiny then with literally only dozens of graves. In stark contrast to the sheer size of the cemetery and the impressive mausolea now found there, you might imagine Liverpool Cemetery was just the place where someone with Ellen’s life story might have found a final resting place – in a pauper’s grave, a long way out of the public eye.
“It could have come to blows”, I thought to myself as I watched two people I know have quite an animated conversation about an issue they both feel passionately about.
Well, that’s an exagerration I guess, as they’re both extremely polite people, and they both had the chance to state their case, without really wanting to get into a fight.
After all, we were there to celebrate a mutual friend and colleague’s birthday.
The issue which nearly brought us all into tears, though was our respective sense of humours.
I’d offered the opinion that an allegedly Australian comic genius was actually quite loathesome, and completely unfunny.
It’s not a popular opinion to express amongst a group of people in society who think he’s Australia’s answer to John Cleese. You know who I’m talking about don’t you?
I, on the other hand expressed the view that Tracey Ulmann’s new series was genuine comic genius, a view that went down like a tonne of bricks.
I had an allie, though, so I didn’t feel so bad as my sense of humour was universally condemned.
Anyway, this week I’ve also discovered “Beautiful People”, a reasonably new comedy series from the BBC about an English “window dresser” living in New York.
The first episode which I think is still available through the ABC’s Iview is about him growing up gay in a fairly suburban environment. There were lots of laughs, but also lots of touching moments. Highly recommended.
And I guess that’s what sums up my sense of humour. I like humour with humanity. I’m not much one for humour for comedy sake. I’ve never been one for slapstick or witty word-plays, though I can appreciate both. No, I like humour with a sadness tinged to it, and characters which show genuine humanity.
I guess that’s why so many of those Sunday night UK sitcoms currently getting a run on Foxtel are favourites of mine. Absolutely Fabulous. Yes Prime Minister. The Vicar of Dibley. Even “On The Buses”. All of the characters are actually quite believable.
And that’s why I don’t find the particular comedian we were talking about to be funny. It’s “clever humour”, not genuine humour in my view.
And don’t get me started about the impact he had on Seachange! I could barely watch it.
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Woo hoo! 3rd most active commentor!
I’m surprised I only left 7 comments – perhaps it’s all the years rolling into one ;)
Woo hoo! 3rd most active commentor!
I’m surprised I only left 7 comments – perhaps it’s all the years rolling into one ;)
Could be. We should have hello 2016 drink at some stage :)