No Drone Zone

Remember that theatre group I mentioned last week? A Slightly Isolated Dog? Well, I went back to see their next show, Jekyll & Hyde, and it was excellent too (same deal with the dodgy photos).

Jekyll & Hyde in a London fog

Evening walks are lit up with fairy lights. I'm not sure whether these are left over from the festive season or whether people just light up their houses all year round.

We're nearly at the end of the football season and there was a lot of pressure riding on Liverpool to finish in the top four so they could qualify for the Champions League next season. Added to the drama, they had to play Burnley in their penultimate game, and they had to win. The tension in our household was palpable, as you can see.

The next day, however, Melantho decided to make things interesting from a kitten perspective, by trying to climb on the range hood. She slid down it and fell off; she's fine with only greasy paws to show for her adventure. Perhaps she was making a comment on my domestic cleaning skills, or lack thereof.

I need sticks for the play I am directing, The Penelopiad, so we collected some on a morning walk. Some people have dogs to carry their sticks for them. I've got Him Outdoors. 

The Eurovision Song Contest has come around again. It is an odd thing, but Australia loves it and even participates in it although they are clearly not in Europe. (Don't ask). We enjoy the kitsch and the camp as much as anyone so we join in with the consumption of edible representatives and wearing of vaguely themed outfits.

Eurovision food

The Lithuanian outfits were all yellow, so...

For this week's stroll with the Walking Crew we visited the National Arboretum on a bright sunny and very cold morning. Canberra is beautiful away from the drones!

Wild Life

I'm as surprised as anyone that it has taken me this long to finish the ginvent calendar. This was delicious. I had it straight and also with soda, as recommended. I preferred the former. It is mellow and fruity with notes of sweet cherries and almonds.

I went for my usual run and came to this obstacle very near the end - there had been no indication that there would be a detour (the only way to get where I wanted was to turn around and retrace my steps). If this were a road and cars were involved, there would definitely have been a notice posted at the start. It is annoying proof that councils care more about drivers than cyclists and pedestrians.

But there was good news when I cracked open a pomegranate and came across a wealth of seeds. The little crunchy red jewels add taste and texture to many a meal, particularly this one that I made.

Roast cabbage steaks with tahini dressing

As winter approaches, the evenings lengthen and so do the shadows, creating interesting photographic opportunities.

The season also brings visitors to the garden. This pair of kookaburras came to say hello and I think they are adorable, as is the fact that the collective noun for kookaburras is apparently a riot.

I went to see a great play performed by A Slightly Isolated Dog. An ensemble of five extremely talented actors interpreted the tale of Don Juan with improvisation skills, audience interaction, humour, music, precision timing and excellent sound and lighting effects. The team encouraged us to take photos to share on their social media (a great idea for marketing purposes), and I wanted to highlight their fresh approach to my networks. Hence I took these photos, which are not very good, but they might help to offer an idea as to the energy and commitment of the cast.

 

Bandits! Bandits! Bandits!

You, you, you oughtta know

Regular readers of this blog will recognise the following images from the weekly walk around Lake Burley Griffin with the Walking Crew. This is a beautiful time of year with blue skies and crisp, still mornings, which lead to viewing wildlife and reflections.

And my other current form of 'relaxation' is also research - exploring different interpretations of The Odyssey and the women therein. This is one of the many stacks of books to read.

Tales of Gold at Remarkables Market

The Remarkable Theatre's latest production will be Greed, Glamour and Grudges: Tales of Gold to be performed in the Queenstown Botanic Gardens on 27-29 April. To help advertise the show, some of the cast performed a couple of sketches and song at the Remarkables Market at the weekend.
 

Some apricots are Central Otago's natural golden fruit



Lisa Moore performs a poem



David Cantwell as Gabriel Read talks of how he first found gold in the region



"You can see why people travelled from all over the world to get their share; all because of my discovery"

Lisa Moore returns to the stage as Mrs Beeton to share some tips from Mrs Beeton's book of Household Management. 


"It is important to keep an organised home and provide quality food for dinner guests"



"Are you listening, madam?"

David Cantwell re-introduces himself with a a poem, The Spell of Otago.

 



"There's a land - oh, it beckons and beckons"



"And I want to go back - and I will"

If you are in the area, come and see what promises to be a great show.

Greed, Glamour and Grudges: Tales of Gold, Queenstown Botanic Gardens
Friday 27 January - 6pm & 8pm
Saturday 28 January - 2pm, 4pm & 6pm
Sunday 29 January - 2pm, 4pm & 6pm
Entry by gold coin donation

Week 30: You are my sunshine

The sun came out this morning and it was beautiful to see. We went for a walk to make the most of it, before spending the rest of the day in a school hall in Khandallah performing two back-to-back shows of Twelfth Night.

Our 'dressing room' is a school classroom decorated with artwork and instructions.

Viola and Sebastian are practically identical - see, you can hardly tell them apart. 'An apple cleft in two is not more twin than these two creatures.' It's called suspension of belief - truely amazing what matching green tunics can do.

Feste plays the fool - in more ways than one. 'Foolery does walk about the orb like the sun, it shines everywhere.'

Olivia - 'You are too proud. But if you were the devil, you are fair.'

Malvolio is 'sick of self love' and 'most villainously' in yellow stockings.

Sir Toby Belch - 'That quaffing and drinking will undo you.'

Fabian - 'If this were played upon a stage now, I could condemn it as an improbable fiction.'

Olivia bestowing slightly more favours on Sir Andrew Ague-cheek than usual. 'You are now sailed into the north of my lady's opinion; where you will hang like an icicle on a Dutchman's beard.'

Orsino is the true Renaissance Man - 'Of great estate, of fresh and stainless youth, in voices well divulged, free, learned and valiant, and in dimension and shape of nature a gracious person.' Even if ours does support Arsenal...

Antonio stands proud - 'Only myself stood out.'

'Haply your eye shall light upon some toy you have desire to purchase; and your store, I think, is not for idle markets.'

'What's that to us? The time goes by. Away!'

And the stage manager is overseeing all- and drinking cups of tea. At least, I think that's tea...