"forget what we're told, before we get too old"
I have had the busiest yet most academically unproductive week - the two are probably connected somehow...
Avenue Q!
This was so funny. I particularly enjoyed the songs 'If You Were Gay' and 'Everyone's A Little Bit Racist'. I thought the second half was a bit slow, though, but all in all a very funny show.
Ben Folds
This was my first time at The Sydney Opera House, which is so beautiful but it a bloody rabbit warren to navigate. I was sat in the choir seats, which was actually a pretty good way to see a soloist. Ben Folds was, of course, amazing. A lot of my favourites are from his Ben Folds Five stuff, but his solo stuff, a lot of which I hadn't heard, was really fun. I am particularly looking forward to his next album which is a collaboration with Nick Hornby, and the songs he played from it were amazing.
Meeting with Peter Minter
It's not every day you get to meet with someone whose writing inspired your PhD project. It was so cool to finally meet Peter and have a chat with him, and so validating to hear that he thinks the project is a good one and that my ideas are interesting. He might be able to get me a meeting with Melissa Lucashenko, so fingers crossed about that.
Indigenous Literacy Day
Went to an event at the famous Gleebooks for Indigenous Literacy Day and got to meet another legend of mine, Anita Heiss, who is so lovely. I even got a book signed and picked up some useful info on Oodgeroo Noonuccal for my PhD.
Ghassan Hage Book Launch
How amazing is it that I get to meet three incredible and inspirational academics in one week? Ghassan Hage gave a great speech on how the act of enjoying your job is a political statement in today's academic sphere, and it was so apt to how I'm feeling at the moment. I really love what I do these days and have no time for people who moan. He said it better than me though, of course!
Punk!
A friend of mine plays in a local punk band and they've played twice this week so went along as both occassions were only down the road. There seems to be a good alternative music scene locally, so I should try and get out to gigs more as a lot of them are free.
Food
Food at IH is so bad. I have managed to avoid it for over a week now, mostly by going to Sappho Cafe down the road in Glebe which does awesome toasted sandwiches and lovely big pots of tea. Been to a few restaurants in the harbour too. It's been an expensive and drunken week. I have really had too much to drink. Lots of free alcohol at book launches. Lots of glasses of wine with dinner. Lots of vodka at gigs. No wonder I've not written anything! Bad Lizzy!
Star Trek Musical Highlights played by The Sydney Symphony Orchestra
Another night at the opera house. I have never heard so many Star Trek jokes in one night, or seen such a relaxed orchestra perform. In one piece they cocked up half way and the conductor stopped them and made a joke about it and they started about. They were good, and the conductor was really entertaining, but I think one of the second horns or trumpets kept messing up and it was a bit annoying, and some of the pieces were played just slightly too slow for my liking, but all in all a fun night.
The Hunt for Wine and The Birds
Ended up back at IH with a few people who weren't going out, unlike our entire building it would seem, for a birthday do. You can't buy alcohol to take home after 12 in Australia, which is an odd law, so we hunted around for about an hour trying to find somewhere to purchase some alcohol. Ended up in a bar down the road pretending to order wine for friends who hadn't yet arrived, then waiting ten minutes, then making up some sob-story about them bailing on us and would it be ok if we took the wine with us. Success! The Birds was amusing, but not the best Hitchcock. It also just kind of ends.
Tea Odyssey
I was very hungover this morning so headed into Newtown for brekkie and to stock up on tea. Got a lovely new red tea-pot and some amazing passionfruit tea - it is so gorgeous! I also got some new books. Been reading so much, it's great.
Books and DVDs
All this time to myself has meant I've done so much reading. Really enjoying the new Batwoman series - yay for lesbian superheroes! Read the funniest most touching book I've read in ages, and I usually hate books about kids and families and all that, but this was great: 'Breakfast with Scot' by Michael Downing. The film is also good, but a bit too straightened out for my liking. Been enjoying a collection of critical essays on Battlestar Galactica (new version).
Work
Ok, so I have done some work in amongst all the revelry. Done loads of photocopying and been through all relevant journals from 1988 to present day so got lots to be getting on with. Back to work tomorrow, I promise...
My plan for the evening is to finish one of my knitting projects, eat lots of fresh dates, drink lots of tea, and maybe watch a french film I picked up today second hand, oh and read the short story collection I found and have a bath! I really need to chill out and get myself ready to get back to research tomorrow.
Plans for next week:
- Seminar with Sara Ahmed
- Film showing about Indigenous Sexuality
- Underground Film Festival Opening Night
- Verdi Requiem at The Opera House
- Documentary about lesbians in the 60s
Avenue Q!
This was so funny. I particularly enjoyed the songs 'If You Were Gay' and 'Everyone's A Little Bit Racist'. I thought the second half was a bit slow, though, but all in all a very funny show.
Ben Folds
This was my first time at The Sydney Opera House, which is so beautiful but it a bloody rabbit warren to navigate. I was sat in the choir seats, which was actually a pretty good way to see a soloist. Ben Folds was, of course, amazing. A lot of my favourites are from his Ben Folds Five stuff, but his solo stuff, a lot of which I hadn't heard, was really fun. I am particularly looking forward to his next album which is a collaboration with Nick Hornby, and the songs he played from it were amazing.
Meeting with Peter Minter
It's not every day you get to meet with someone whose writing inspired your PhD project. It was so cool to finally meet Peter and have a chat with him, and so validating to hear that he thinks the project is a good one and that my ideas are interesting. He might be able to get me a meeting with Melissa Lucashenko, so fingers crossed about that.
Indigenous Literacy Day
Went to an event at the famous Gleebooks for Indigenous Literacy Day and got to meet another legend of mine, Anita Heiss, who is so lovely. I even got a book signed and picked up some useful info on Oodgeroo Noonuccal for my PhD.
Ghassan Hage Book Launch
How amazing is it that I get to meet three incredible and inspirational academics in one week? Ghassan Hage gave a great speech on how the act of enjoying your job is a political statement in today's academic sphere, and it was so apt to how I'm feeling at the moment. I really love what I do these days and have no time for people who moan. He said it better than me though, of course!
Punk!
A friend of mine plays in a local punk band and they've played twice this week so went along as both occassions were only down the road. There seems to be a good alternative music scene locally, so I should try and get out to gigs more as a lot of them are free.
Food
Food at IH is so bad. I have managed to avoid it for over a week now, mostly by going to Sappho Cafe down the road in Glebe which does awesome toasted sandwiches and lovely big pots of tea. Been to a few restaurants in the harbour too. It's been an expensive and drunken week. I have really had too much to drink. Lots of free alcohol at book launches. Lots of glasses of wine with dinner. Lots of vodka at gigs. No wonder I've not written anything! Bad Lizzy!
Star Trek Musical Highlights played by The Sydney Symphony Orchestra
Another night at the opera house. I have never heard so many Star Trek jokes in one night, or seen such a relaxed orchestra perform. In one piece they cocked up half way and the conductor stopped them and made a joke about it and they started about. They were good, and the conductor was really entertaining, but I think one of the second horns or trumpets kept messing up and it was a bit annoying, and some of the pieces were played just slightly too slow for my liking, but all in all a fun night.
The Hunt for Wine and The Birds
Ended up back at IH with a few people who weren't going out, unlike our entire building it would seem, for a birthday do. You can't buy alcohol to take home after 12 in Australia, which is an odd law, so we hunted around for about an hour trying to find somewhere to purchase some alcohol. Ended up in a bar down the road pretending to order wine for friends who hadn't yet arrived, then waiting ten minutes, then making up some sob-story about them bailing on us and would it be ok if we took the wine with us. Success! The Birds was amusing, but not the best Hitchcock. It also just kind of ends.
Tea Odyssey
I was very hungover this morning so headed into Newtown for brekkie and to stock up on tea. Got a lovely new red tea-pot and some amazing passionfruit tea - it is so gorgeous! I also got some new books. Been reading so much, it's great.
Books and DVDs
All this time to myself has meant I've done so much reading. Really enjoying the new Batwoman series - yay for lesbian superheroes! Read the funniest most touching book I've read in ages, and I usually hate books about kids and families and all that, but this was great: 'Breakfast with Scot' by Michael Downing. The film is also good, but a bit too straightened out for my liking. Been enjoying a collection of critical essays on Battlestar Galactica (new version).
Work
Ok, so I have done some work in amongst all the revelry. Done loads of photocopying and been through all relevant journals from 1988 to present day so got lots to be getting on with. Back to work tomorrow, I promise...
My plan for the evening is to finish one of my knitting projects, eat lots of fresh dates, drink lots of tea, and maybe watch a french film I picked up today second hand, oh and read the short story collection I found and have a bath! I really need to chill out and get myself ready to get back to research tomorrow.
Plans for next week:
- Seminar with Sara Ahmed
- Film showing about Indigenous Sexuality
- Underground Film Festival Opening Night
- Verdi Requiem at The Opera House
- Documentary about lesbians in the 60s