Take a closer look, before you vote

ByJames O'Brien

My democratic duty is done. I pre-voted today, as I am working tomorrow. (Why I’m working tomorrow is a good story which I’ll share later).

The people working at the booth were fantastic.

As I’m still hobbling around (post surgery) with a crutch, they showed me to the lifts, escorted me to the front of the queue, and directed me to the sit down booth.

The “disability booth” came with a magnifying screen which was awesome for my dodgy eyesight too.

My tip for those voting tomorrow.

Do some research. There are sooooo many parties I had never heard of before, and it was quite a challenge to work out which was the least desirable!!!!

Take a closer look, both literally and metaphorically.

This time around you need to number at leaast 6 political parties above the line, and believe me, it aint easy.

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Getting Chilly

It’s Saturday afternoon and it’s a bit chilly in Perth. Although the thermometer tells me it’s about 17 degrees, I think it’s colder. Imagine if you would a grown man with a knitted shawl over his knees listening to the Agnetha Faltskog CD, “My Colouring Book”. Do you really want to read any further?

It’s been a reasonably interesting week both for work and social pursuits.

Last Sunday morning provided me with a curious mix of cultural influences: going to Mass and then attending Buddha’s Birthday. No, I didn’t know Buddha had a birthday either, but I guess it stands to reason that he does. Although it was a wet day, it was a reasonably enjoyable celebration to go along to, since the food was yummy and there was lots to see, including a band called Tangled Reel who played Irish folk music.

When I arrived at work on Monday, I discovered that I’d made “Letters To The Editor” in The Australian for the brief note I wrote about the Danish Royal Wedding in which I commented that I hadn’t remembered getting teary watching the marriage of either Charles/Diana or Andrew/Fergie. One of my colleagues at work said, “I still can’t work out if you’re a Royalist or not by that comment”. I said, “I know”. I also made the local paper in Perth later this week in which I was asked to comment on the recent radio ratings.

It was also confirmed this week that my internet friend, David Delcroix will be visiting Australia soon which will be good fun. Thankfully it co-incides with my trip to Sydney in early June.

I’ve been doing a little bit of internet shopping this week, having purchased the CD, “Wild, Cool and Swingin'” by the amazing Mrs Miller who performs pop classics in an odd operatic-style of voice. Has to be heard to be believed.

The website also features a CD called Judy Garland Speaks. This “interim” volume in the infamous Celebrities series consists entirely of ultra-rare home voice tapes of “America’s Sweetheart” ranting and raving near the end of her troubled life. Super-agent Irving “Swifty” Lazar gave her a tape recorder and told her to dictate the autobiography which she never lived to write. At this phase of her career Judy has just been ripped off for the television show she never wanted to do, and plagued with ex-husband Sid Luft’s gambling debts and his trying to get custody of her children — and boy, is she PISSED! I actually thought it was pretty sad.

I also bought a little gadget called a Belkin Tunecast II Mobile FM Transceiver which allows me to listen to music from my computer in the lounge room, almost anywhere in the house. Now you can use your iPod, PDA,MP3, CD, cassette player, PC, or laptop to listen to your favorite tunes through any FM stereo receiver. The Belkin TuneCast II Mobile FM Transmitter connects portable music players to your car or home stereo quickly and easily using FM radio waves. Just plug the TuneCast II into the headphone jack of your iPod, PDA,MP3, CD, or cassette player; or connect it to your PC or laptop computer. Tune your car stereo or receiver to any clear FM frequency, and enjoy your iPod music experience with more sound and fewer wires.

On Wednesday night I went along to “Fruits In Suits”, which I call “Gay Rotary”. It was good fun since I knew a few people there from work and so we had lots of fun chatting and drinking. A couple of people gave me their business cards, telling me, “This is a great way to network” which is a concept I’m not entirely happy with since I’d like to think meeting people is not a means of furthering business interests. But anyway.

On Thursday night, a bloke from work asked me if I’d like to join him for a beer at the pub and so I did that which was good fun. Three or four pints later and it was off home to bed… but not before picking up some yummy pork takeaway on the way!

And then the last twenty four hours have been reasonably quiet. Nothing to report aside from the chilly weather!

Arlanda Airport from Stockholm-Arlanda

Travel Plans – Wanderlust and Stumpy: Charting My European Adventure

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Well here I am again, wrestling with the joyous puzzle of travel planning. If it all goes ahead, this would be my first international trip since 2017 – before COVID, and, more significantly, before my lower right leg amputation. I’m itching to explore Europe, but a few factors are adding a bit of spice to the decision-making process.

Stockholm: Less Clubbing, More…Scenery?

It’s been over a decade since I last attended Melodifestivalen, the Swedish finals for Eurovision. Even though I’m not as Eurovision-obsessed as I was back then, it could still be a fun excuse for a visit. In the past, I was also drawn to Stockholm’s vibrant gay nightlife. However, late-night clubbing might not be on the agenda this time around – I’m older now, and navigating those scenes with a prosthetic leg adds another layer of complexity. That said, I’m still curious about returning to Sweden for the first time since 2017, and I’ve even been brushing up on my Swedish lately!

Paris: Always a Good Idea

If I had to pick a favorite European city, Paris would be a strong contender. The romance, the food, the architecture – it’s simply magical. I first visited in 2008, and it stole my heart. A return trip is definitely calling my name. I’m also thinking about Berlin and London, but I’m also conscious I should try to avoid biting off more than I can chew.

Trains vs. Planes: The Great Debate

I’ve been using Google Flights to sketch out a multi-city itinerary, but I’m also seriously considering train travel. In the past, I loved those budget European airlines. But now that I’m not as mobile, trains seem like a more relaxing option. Plus, there’s no hassle with customs/security, and you arrive right in the heart of the city.

One reason Copenhagen is appealing as a central location is the possibility of taking that scenic train journey to Stockholm through the picturesque countryside.

The Stumpy Factor

Of course, a major factor in all of this is my trusty sidekick, Stumpy – my prosthetic leg – soon to be named “Albert”. My travel plans will largely depend on his progress and how he’s feeling.

Stay Tuned

For now, I’m keeping my options open and continuing to research. I’ll keep you updated as things develop!

In the meantime, feel free to share your thoughts and suggestions in the comments! Have you taken any memorable train journeys in Europe? Any must-see destinations you recommend? Let me know!

Saturday Discoveries

Governor Arthur Phillip
Governor Arthur Phillip

I saw a statue today of Governor Arthur Phillip I didn’t know existed.

I came into the Botanic Gardens via a different entrance – behind the Conservatorium – to which I normally use.

And there it was, a statue I’ve never seen before. And quite an attractive one too.

It’s hard to believe it’s May and still feeling this warm.

Although I’ve dragged out my track pants for wearing at home at night, I could actually do without them.

And there was one day this week with a slight chill in the air.

But it was only very slight.

Wandering through the gardens wearing shorts and polo shirt, I was surrounded by people similarly dressed, as well as those with light-pullovers and jeans.

Very, very nice.

I’d just spent a few hours in the State Library doing some family history research.

I love it that you can now take along a USB, scan the pages you need, and then come home and look in greater detail. A vast improvement from the days of sitting there squinting in front of microfiche readers.

That research, today and tonight, has taken up most of my day.

A bit of TV tonight… and that was my Saturday.

Warike Restaurant, Surry Hills

Warike Restaurant, Surry Hills

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After weeks and weeks in the hospital, and a couple of weeks at home, I was finally well enough to enjoy a “major meal” out with a friend at “Warike Restaurant” in Surry Hills. Though I’ve been out for dinner to some restaurants, this was a big night out at a hip restaurant with a reasonable price tag. Warike is a Peruvian restaurant located in the building on Devonshire Street that was previously “The Book Kitchen”.

When we arrived at 6:30 pm, the restaurant was already about half full. The entrance is wheelchair accessible, and we chose a table to the side, closer to the main serving area, mostly for accessibility. The crowd was youngish, with most people in their 30s and 40s. A family came in shortly after us, and my friend commented, “I’ll bet she’s a food blogger, and she’s with her mum and dad.”

I didn’t know much about the restaurant before we went, but we’d noticed it was popular when we walked by a few weeks ago. We chatted with a couple waiting outside for entry, and they raved about the place.

I started looking for online reviews, which were all very positive. I also wanted to learn more about Peruvian cuisine. The internet tells me that it’s “one of the most diverse and flavorful in the world, reflecting the country’s rich cultural heritage and diverse geography. It is characterized by its use of fresh ingredients, bold flavors, and unique cooking techniques.”

We enjoyed a delicious meal with a couple of glasses of wine.

Clásico : Fish of the day, tiger’s milk, sweet potato puree, Peruvian corn, white corn
Tuna Tartare : Cured tuna, truffle, rocoto butter, avocado sauce, rice cracker
Pulpo Anticuchero : Charcoal octopus, Anticuchera sauce, cauliflower puree, Peruvian corn, chimichuri, dry olives
Lomo Saltado : Charcoal Black Angus, Lomo Saltado sauce, cherry tomatoes, onion, potatoes

The restaurant has concrete floors, but it wasn’t overly noisy. My friend noticed that they had installed soundproofing, which she appreciated after a recent dinner at a noisy restaurant in Bondi. The restaurant was also well-lit, so we didn’t need to use our phone torches to read the menu. The price was mid-range to a little bit expensive, but well worth it.

The service was excellent, both friendly and efficient. We’ll definitely be back!

The view from The Gap in Sydney

Watson’s Bay and Luciatåg

There was a moment when I thought to myself “this is a pretty weird spot” to be taking some visitors from overseas.

The way we ended up at The Gap (the infamous spot where many Sydneysiders take their own lives) was quite accidental.

One of our visitors had been to Australia a few years ago (2009, as I recall). Four years later and she’s back with her partner to show him around the city. As the weather was looking a little grim, and as they were both in the early stages of fight recovery, we decided a trip to Manly was a little too far. Instead, we took the next available ferry, which was to Watson’s Bay.

The ferry trip to Watson’s Bay is a lovely trip, taking you past some really good looking Sydney real estate.

And of course, when you arrive at Watson’s Bay, there’s Doyle’s, a lovely park, and a fairly gentle walk up the hill to The Gap.

The view from The Gap in Sydney
The view from The Gap in Sydney

Things have changed a fair bit at The Gap since the last time I paid a visit which was (maybe) ten years ago. The pavement’s improved. The fencing seems to have gotten higher and been made sturdy. And then everywhere you look, you see security cameras which are, presumably, there to alert the authorities to people who may be thinking of taking their own lives.

Despite the tragic nature of the place, our visitors seem to really enjoy the trip.

It wasn’t long though until the impact of the flight from the US West Coast became a little too much. They were beginning to experience the moment when sleep becomes an inevitability. You hold off, you hold off, and then suddenly you’re speaking jibberish. We took them back to their hotel, and went off on our separate ways.

Lucia Celebrations at the Swedish Church in Sydney
Lucia Celebrations at the Swedish Church in Sydney

I ended up spending a few minutes later in the afternoon at the Swedish Church in Sydney, where they were celebrating the Lucia Ceremony. Lucia is a really important annual ritual in Sweden, where young men and women dressed up in white, and with a crown of candles sing traditional Christmas songs, and which I’ve written about previously. It was a really fun way to spend a bit of Saturday afternoon before when I, too, decided it was time to come home for a late afternoon nap.

Holy Pictures

Holy Pictures

As a child our house was full of “holy pictures” (as my mum called them). In fact, aside from my sister’s wedding photographs, and my ABBA posters, the only pieces of art that adorned our walls were pieces of Catholic iconography. “The Crucifixion”, “The Last Supper”, “Mary’s Assumption into Heaven”: that kind of thing.

While some Christians really freak out at this kind of iconography – equating it to idol worship, seeing it as something which gets in the way of a relationship with God – it’s something I’m quite happy with. And it’s soemthing I quite like, Last year, for example, when I was travelling around I spent a fair amount of time in both Catholic and Orthodox Churches marvelling at the works.,

And certainly tonight, attending the “Blake Prize” at the National Art School, there were elements of the iconography which I grew up with. The prize started in 1951 as a religious art prize, though more recently it’s become a prize centred around “spirituality, religion and cultural diversity”. As I’ve attended the prize over the last few years it’s been interesting to watch the evolution of the works involved. Each year, there appears to be fewer and fewer overtly religious works, though the theme remains.

My favourite work, this year, for example was of a life-sized statue of a black woman holding a loaf of bread. As I walked through the crowded exhibition, I thought at first she was someone who was blocking my way. But then when I realised, I too, found myself firm-footed, unable to move, as I took in the work. Beautiful craft, and wonderful conceptually. Another favourite was a piece called “Ladders” (in its broadest sense it could be a ladder to heaven, to spiritual enlightenment etc). For me it was probably the craft more than the idea which appealed.

I would have taken more notes, except the exhibition opening was incredibly crowded with a surprisingly – and encouragingly – large number of young people. I’ll revisit the exhibition over the weekend to take it in with a greater depth.

And besides, I’m feeling a bit tired tonight. This is my third night in a row where I’ve felt tired, actually. And I can’t decide if it’s because I’m coming down with something – I’ve been sneezing a bit too – or if I’m just feeling tired from working too hard.

So, after spending 45 minutes or so wandering around the exhibition, I’ve grabbed a bite to eat, and have come home to relax.

Over the next few days I’ve got a few things planned including (hopefully) lunch with Yvette tomorrow (though she was sick today), seeing a cabaret show tomorrow night, catching up with The Other Andrew for his birthday, and going with Grant to see “Sounds Like Teen Spirit”, a documentary about the Junior Eurovision Song Contest.

In the midst of all this, I have Swedish homework to catch up on, and I’m hoping for a few hours of relaxing on the couch doing nothing much at all.

And hopefully getting back to see those “Holy Pictures” in a less crowded environment.

    2 Comments

    1. I direct my preferences rather than follow a party ticket. At times party tickets can direct your vote to undesirables or deplorables.

      Reply

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