Festival Fun

At the beginning of the week I met little b for coffee. We were meant to be watching a film, but we got sidetracked by talking so we missed the film and continued our conversation over lunch at Parlour.

Steps up to Monster

little b and her massive hands

Olives at Parlour

Grilled Octopus Salad

Saltimbanque by Tim Kyle (Basically Manspreading)

This week was the Canberra Comedy Festival and we tried to get along to a few events. There was a great line-up but I confess I am still very tired from performing every night myself.  I ended up seeing Rich Hall, Shit-Faced Shakespeare, Stephen K Amos and Ross Nobel. I reckon that's a pretty solid representation.

Waiting for Rich Hall

The No-Expense-Spared Set for Shit-Faced Shakespeare

The somewhat bizarre set for the truly bonkers Ross Noble

At the weekend Him Outdoors was having his first public appearance as a commercial brewer at The Canberra Craft Beer and Cider Festival. The night before we went to the pub to do some quality control.

Wignall Brewery Cole Porter

The day of the festival itself was bright and clear. It was a well-organised, fun day out and, while we were exhausted at the end of it, I think it was considered a success. 

Wignall Brewery

The Brewers and Me

Canberra Day and Other Celebrations

We had a lovely time with the Kays at their annual Canberra Day curry lunch. I only managed to get a picture of one said Kays but they, and everyone else, were in fine fettle.

Calamity Sue, Design Diva and Lovely Bonkers' First Born

It seems that hats worn at an extreme rakish angle are all the rage, according to the Box Officer and Lovely Bonkers' Second Offspring. But, as they say in the gossip magazines (apparently), who wore it better?

And for the latest in the 'thinking while we're drinking' series, we have Barbara Erskine's Hiding from the Light matched with Him Outdoors' Cole Porter. In this instance the booze is much better than the book. 

Thinking while we're Drinking

I went to see Oedipus Schmoedipus at The Canberra Theatre Centre featuring a cast of 25 volunteers acting out multiple death scenes from the classics of drama. Here are two of the culprits.

8% of the volunteer cast of Oedipus Schmoedipus

Design Diva told me about a show to which she is currently addicted called Nailed It in which contestants try to copy perfect baking with hilariously bad results, a bit like a drunken Generation Game contestant. In honour of that, may I present my own version of Nailed It with these pumpkin and cauliflower samosas.

For my first free Friday night in what feels like forever, we went out to a new-ish bar, To All My Friends. It has a decent tap list (including Modus Operandi Silent Knight Porter) but Calamity Sue is all about the bubbles. 

Arts and Entertainment

I watched The Duke of Burgundy. The film was perturbing, but supplied a great example of nominative determinism.

We came to the end of Oh, What a Lovely War, so here are some photos from front and back stage, including a couple of the posters displayed on the Proscenium Arch. 

 

This sculpture appeals to me. Donated by Cuba, it is called Patria es Humanidad, meaning 'Our Country is Humanity'. Rising from its base of gravel and stone, the peg symbolises the connections, unity and solidarity of the human family. Supported by the peg is a planet where ethnicities, cultures and religions, despite their differences, merge together in the essence of our human existence.

Patria es Humanidad (Our Country is Humanity) by Nelson Dominguez Cedeno

I like this sculpture too. It is simply called Kangaroos.

Kangaroos by Jan Brown

Post-show breakfast bruschetta at Rocksalt in Hawker - feeling pretty healthy all things considered (a bottle of bubbles and three hours sleep).

Breakfast Bruschetta

In the evening I went to the Canberra Symphony Orchestra concert in the park, made free to all with the support of the ACT Government as part of the Canberra Day celebrations. We arrived early and spread out a rug, then sat watching the sunset and the bats until the music began. 

 

Calamity Sue and Me being photobombed by the Minister for the Arts and Community Events

The CSO Killer Queen Concert featured the tribute band Killer Queen Experience. They were entertaining and fairly polished - they looked the part but no one has the energy and charisma of Freddie. Everyone had a good singalong, however, and a few tears were shed during the Under Pressure video montage/ homage to David Bowie.

Mr and Mrs Lovely Bonkers

Are we having fun yet?

Healthy Break

The lovely violinist in the Oh, What a Lovely War! band brought in some summer squash, so I made an alarmingly healthy salad with them, green beans, chick peas, red onion, Kalamata olives and coriander. It was delicious, especially served with pan-seared salmon steaks.

Healthy dinner

This image is the result of playing around with the cork picture I took last week. 

Cork board

And this isn't taken by me at all. It is the picture for March on the Joe Cornish calendar that Scarey Sis gave me. I love bringing the memory of English woodlands into my home.

Wild Daffodils, Farndale by Joe Cornish

A hearty breakfast is required to get me through a full day. I tried to make an omelette... I am aware of the expression 'you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs', but it seems that I just can't make an omelette. The scrambled eggs, however, were very tasty.

Scrambled eggs and beans

The white clown-face make-up we wear for the show is neither becoming nor good for the skin. Also, applying make-up cannot be considered one of my artistic talents.

Dressing room selfie

But after a week of work and performances, this was my Sunday night reward.

Suffragettes and gin