That was 2013

01/01/14

It's strange when I think back on the year - my initial thoughts were that not a lot happened, but then i got my diary out and there has been quite a lot going on. So that makes it more interesting why I didn't feel that way when I reflected back. Having pondered that for a while, I think that the underlying sense I have is that there weren't many adventures - I mean in the sense that when I am usually out and about, I get talking to people and meeting new people is one of the things that I enjoy a lot - learning about a person and seeing what they want to know about you and the way we paint onto a blank canvas. But it feels like I haven't been out as much or lending myself to the situations that feed me. It may take more inner searching to see why it has been this way.

I also notice that there haven't really been any new projects - I just continued my photo diary and my fines - but nothing fresh. What is going on?

Hmmmm - food for thought.

 

 

Folk

I have certainly caught up with a fair variety of folk over the year - looking through my diary, ignoring people that I have bumped into, I planned and saw the following:
Afroditi, Bec, Charlotte, Deanne, Denise, Ern, Foxy, Francine, Frank, Georgie, Georgie S, Georgina, Jackie, Jo, Kam, Karen, Karen C, Karin, Lisa, Loretta, Mara, Matt, Murat, Nic, Robyn, Ruth, Sarah, Sharon, Steph, Terri, Tonia, Tommy, Trudi and Yvette.

It's a good list but something that is clear is that there are no new names on the list - all people I knew before the year started. I don't know whether that is how it usually works, but for me, that seems odd - another sign of something lacking.

Obviously, at work I have built relationships with new folk, but thought that is good, it isn't the stuff that I am talking about.

 

 

Music

As always, music plays a part in my world and a damn fine part at that. I still get a buzz from live music and enjoy discovering new things to listen to.

International gigs

  • Andrew Strong: I have seen him before and was pretty impressed. He made his name by being the main singer in the movie The Commitments - a great voice and the movie covered some great songs. This gig was him doing Commitments songs and the like - he had a great band and a crap backing singer. He and the band gave great dedication to all those soul classics, but despite that, it just didn't work for me - there wasn't really any soul - a great shame, but it wasn't a crap gig - it was just a disappointment based upon my expectations.
  • William Elliot Whitmore: my mate Jezz (in the UK) let me know that William was heading to Melbourne and that I'd like him. I decided not to listen to any of his stuff in advance of the gig and just went into it cold to see what he was like. And the answer is that he is pretty damn good - he played guitar and banjo wand was mainly playing blues and bluegrass - a great sound. The only down side was that I didn't know any of the songs - by choice - and therefore there isn't much that I took away from the gig other than knowing that he is good.
  • Mary Coughlan: I am a huge fan and used to see her fairly often in the UK over the years and this was the second time I've seen her in Australia - she sang many of my favourite songs of hers and the versions were great and she gave it a lot - it was great to be there. - Mavis Staples: I just adore her voice and lots of the songs that she does - she oozes soul and it was a great gig. She was actually doing the support for Bonnie Raitt, but I didn't stay for too much of Bonnie as I had seen and heard what I wanted and was satisfied with that - actually, more than satisfied.
  • Jake Bugg: I first heard him in 2012 and enjoyed his first CD, listening to it many times. He is clearly a great talent and I really enjoy what he does - based on what he does already at the age of 19, it is scary to think how good he can become. The gig was pretty much performing his one CD plus some new stuff - the songs were all true to the originals and he was pretty comfortable up there. He released his second CD a couple of months ago and I like that too.
  • Leonard Cohen: what can I say? He is fantastic. That says it all. The first gig (for there were two) was at a Winery near Geelong and the enjoyment was hampered by some arses in the audience who didn't seem to care about being there or anyone else who was there - some unbelievably disrespectful behaviour. We moved seats to escape them and it got better from that point onwards. Two days after that, I saw him at the Palais and it was a longer show and was the best I've enjoyed out of the 4 times I've seen him. So what is it that I like about him? The lyrics and great, the melodies are great, the arrangements are great, the backing singers are great and his delivery is great. Any questions?

Local gigs

  • I never tire of seeing Archie Roach and that pleasure occurred three times.
  • There were also three Chris Wilson gigs; one with Shane O Mara, one with Geoff Achison and one with The Crown of Thorns - all appreciated.
  • I also saw Geoff Achison a second time when he did one of his Classical Blue gigs with Adrian Keating.
  • Vika and Linda remain special to me and they never do a bad gig - I had the pleasure of seeing them twice as well.
  • Dan Sultan hasn't gigged too much this year, but I got to see him once in a solo show that was superb.
  • Another gig was to see a gospel choir performing Aretha Franklin stuff - it was so so - probably saved by having Emma Donovan as one of the soloists.
  • The only other Australian act that I saw was Women in Docs who were pretty average - a lesser version of The Waifs.

Shows with a musical edge

  • Flowerchildren: this was the second time I've seen the show. It is the story of the Mama's and Papa's with four very talented people acting and performing the songs. I first noticed the show when I heard that Casey Donovan was playing Mama Cass - I think Casey is superb, so that was all I needed - and yes, she was a sensation.
  • At Last: another show I've seen twice. This is a show about Etta James' life where Vika Bull plays Etta. As a show, it is just really telling Etta's story in between songs performed by Vika and the band. Musically it is great and Vika is incredible. The narration is pretty dull but that doesn't really matter as it the music that this is all about.
  • King Kong: Hmmm. What can I say? This was freeby that Carolyn got so I went along. Whoever came up with the thought of making King Kong into a musical? It isn't much of a story anyway so what is there to sing about? Anyway, I can say that I had no interest in it really but was very impressed with how they brought the ape alive and how well choreographed it was to incorporate such a puppet into the narrative etc. A great achievement, but not good enough for me to stay for the second half.
  • RocKwiz: another two episodes under my belt. I have attended over 30 recordings over the years and have always enjoyed myself. I got a table so that a few from work could go along and that sort of worked against it as half the stage wasn't visible so it was my worst experience with the show - but the others enjoyed themselves and that is what it is all about.
 

 

Holidays

This was a good trip, but not the best me and Carolyn have had - it's hard to my finger on why that is. We got to see Santa Monica, Las Vegas and Basalt for the first time - all good places. We got to return to two cities that we like; New York and San Francisco. The details can be seen in my blog, but the reason that I don't have it as a great holiday is that it was a bit non-directional. I like to have things lined up and ticking things off - a list or two to guide me. For this trip, we didn't really have that and I think that is why it wasn't as good (in my mind) as it could have been.

 

 

Work

Not much to say here. It was a busy year and, at times, quite stressful too. We had one big restructure that resulted in my job altering where the interesting bits no longer are part of my role, so that is disappointing. I also no longer have anyone reporting to me, which is a shame too.

The bottom line is that I am doing a job that no longer gives me much satisfaction. I have tried for another role, but no luck yet - I will persist - the time is right to move from where I am, but I still like the company and wish to remain there.

 

 

Events/Shows

Some interesting things this year including:

  • Women of Letters: I got to three different shows, each containing more good than bad letters and I also got to attend the launch of their third book which was a fine evening too.
  • Footy: Well, Hawthorn are my team they were champions in 2013. I saw four games; two wins against Collingwood and two losses (Geelong and Richmond). Considering that we only lost 3 games, it's a shame that I saw two of them. And for the final, I was sitting in a cabin in Colorado listening to it on the radio - not the best way to experience it, but a win is a win.
  • Comedy: I got to two shows as part of the Comedy Festival; Sarah Millican and Jack Dee - two shows that were better than I had hoped for - very amusing.
  • Father Bob: there was another book about him that was released this year and I went along - I really do enjoy listening to him speak - he is an interesting man and very funny. Other than the books, there was a documentary about him that was also released and Carolyn got tickets and we saw it in the City - also very interesting and something that that I'd like to see again.
  • Boris Johnson: another funny man but also very intelligent. He was invited to talk at the opening of the Melbourne Writers Festival. I was pleased to have got to listen to him and laugh a lot and then get my photo taken with him - one for the collection.
  • John Safran: I went to an interesting Q&A session with John where he talked a lot about his first book, Murder in Mississippi that was released this year. I listen to John's radio show with Father Bob each week that entertains me greatly.
 

 

Health

I started the year in quite a good way - my weight wasn't too far over what I'd like it to be. I had a medical and found that my blood pressure etc was all good. There was a small issue with my cholesterol being slightly over the ideal, but nothing to worry about. And then as the year has gone on, I have put on more and more weight and have done less and less exercise - I am not sitting in a body that I am comfortable with, so I intend to turn that around fairly quickly. I have the advantage of knowing that I can do it and knowing what I have to do - so I shall just do it.

 

 

Projects

coffee: 2011 - I took a photo of each coffee that I drank that year - honestly, it is better than it sounds.

faces: 2012 - I had a go with a that I enjoyed but lost intrerest before the yeaar was out.

doors: 2012 - another project with a limited life but one that I enjoyed.

fines: 2012 - this is where I fine people who annoy me are seem worthy of fining for whatever reason appeals to me - this seems to amuse people as well as keep me entertained - this is still going.

photo diary: 2012 - I decided to keep a diary in the form of photos that I'd take on any day. This is still going on and I may change how it works in 2014.

As you can see, I haven't started anything new in 2013, but I do have a couple in mind for 2014 - I'll see how I go.

Outreach van: through work, I got to assist the Outreach people with one of their food vans one evening - to feed the homeless - a moving experience and one that felt good as I rarely get to help people outside of work - it was scary to see how far and quickly lives can slip. I always appreciate how good I have it and this experience emphasised it further.

 

 

Lifestyle

I am still working four 10 hour days each week and thus have Thursday's off for my pleasure - whatever that may be on the day. During Summer, that often involves heading out on my pushbike and investigating new places to drink tea at. Or if the mood takes me, then on my scooter I get and off to the country I ride - just to enjoy the feeling.

During the week, I like to catch up with friends for lunch or dinner and enjoy good conversation and laughter - it still remains my favourite pastimes.

I also enjoy wandering around and I have a lovely walk hoem from work that takes me through Albert Park - always a pleasure. Whilst walking, I also enjoy catching up with podcasts and audio books - that is something I have enjoyed for years.

I have also regained my interest in reading, though I haven't read too much - it's just good that books are back in my world.

 

 
I have a good life and Melbourne provides me with an abundance of opportunities and options - I am indeed fortunate and I appreciate that every day. I enjoy my time and I intend for 2014 to be another sensational year