Weekend
Actually - and against all odds - had a good and rather too busy weekend. Friday night I hadn't intended to go out, but got dragged out with the gang for Japanese. Stopped off at a pub, where we won a meat tray, leading to drunk dialling from the resturant to BFF to let her know "We-won-a-meat-tray-wanna-do-BBQ!!!-and-I-have-a-PUMPKIN-to-carve-and-it's-all-good!!!!" She had to dial back later to try and get me to give an intelligible version of what I was trying to say. Then out to her place on Saturday, where we had old friends visiting from NZ. Rather adorably, they invited my folks along for a Saturday night performance of Broadway hits by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and some stage and operatic performers at the Sydney Opera House.
I was reminded all over again of how much I love music and how crashingly ignorant I am, but at least I had a couple of my Cole Porter favourites in there (I adore Cole Porter). No Les Mis, but something from "Love Never Dies" - even the singer introducing it took the piss out of the musical, so I've no idea why it was included.
But best of all was Dad.
He was blinded in one eye by a sporting accident as a boy (spent six months with his eyes bandaged, as they thought he might lose both). Over the years, the sight in his one good eye has deteriorated to the point that he was almost blind - he had trouble walking everywhere as he couldn't see any unevenness in the pavement, and could hardly see the TV or read...devestating for a former journalist. Psychologically, he was feeling very isolated and frustrated.
Last week, he finally had surgery. There was the possiblity that if anything went wrong, he'd be fully blind. But they inserted a plastic lense in his eye and...well, he's almost instantly had his sight restored. He's a bit long sighted and will need reading glasses, but for the first time in his life is going without glasses.
The difference when we went to the Opera House was amazing. He was so much brighter than I've seen him in so long - powering ahead (more so than he should physically do) and, as he adores musical theatre, he was completely in his element. Mum turned to me after the first song and whispered "I knew it wouldn't take long - he's already singing along under his breath". Best of all, I saw him take my mother's hand and hold it for most of the performance. They were, both of them, just so absolutely happy that all of us there were just as uplifted.
Sunday was a general party at BFFs...we were going to go out for lunch, but were having such a riotous time we just ordered in take away. It all culminated in pumpkin carving.
I'm tired and a bit overwhelmed at work today, but it was nice to see some happy things for people in my circle.
I was reminded all over again of how much I love music and how crashingly ignorant I am, but at least I had a couple of my Cole Porter favourites in there (I adore Cole Porter). No Les Mis, but something from "Love Never Dies" - even the singer introducing it took the piss out of the musical, so I've no idea why it was included.
But best of all was Dad.
He was blinded in one eye by a sporting accident as a boy (spent six months with his eyes bandaged, as they thought he might lose both). Over the years, the sight in his one good eye has deteriorated to the point that he was almost blind - he had trouble walking everywhere as he couldn't see any unevenness in the pavement, and could hardly see the TV or read...devestating for a former journalist. Psychologically, he was feeling very isolated and frustrated.
Last week, he finally had surgery. There was the possiblity that if anything went wrong, he'd be fully blind. But they inserted a plastic lense in his eye and...well, he's almost instantly had his sight restored. He's a bit long sighted and will need reading glasses, but for the first time in his life is going without glasses.
The difference when we went to the Opera House was amazing. He was so much brighter than I've seen him in so long - powering ahead (more so than he should physically do) and, as he adores musical theatre, he was completely in his element. Mum turned to me after the first song and whispered "I knew it wouldn't take long - he's already singing along under his breath". Best of all, I saw him take my mother's hand and hold it for most of the performance. They were, both of them, just so absolutely happy that all of us there were just as uplifted.
Sunday was a general party at BFFs...we were going to go out for lunch, but were having such a riotous time we just ordered in take away. It all culminated in pumpkin carving.
I'm tired and a bit overwhelmed at work today, but it was nice to see some happy things for people in my circle.