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Each year, the NAB pays for each employee to spend two days on volunteer activities. Sometimes we try and do days as a team and sometimes we choose our own things. Earlier this year, I went out in the Outreach Van to help feed the homeless and this time, it was a day with 35 others from the larger team and it started with a bus picking us up and taking us down to Phillip Island where we spent the morning planting grass around where the penguins live and the afternoon building new penguin houses. So they gained from our help and we had a good day out and enjoyed some outdoor activities. Great stuff.
This was a different thing to do. I am not a great one for plays and even less so for musicals. So why would I go and see a musical version of King Kong. It's not exactly a great story and without adding songs, there is barely a play to be had. But there it was. Carolyn had tickets through work so why not see what it's about.
Well, I have to say that it was one of the most impressive productions I have ever seen - I mean in how it was put together and the effects they used to express the story. Incredible. King Kong himself was a six metre tall, one tonne creation that was moved by people dressed in black and ropes and motors - the ape and the choreography to move it in such a realistic way was fantastic - an incredible feat. The cast of 40 were there to sing and dance etc, but that didn't interest me really. The ape and the backgrounds and lighting and stage movements were fantastic.
Having said all that, I didn't stay for the second half as I'd seen enough and didn't really want to stay for the big death scene - not how I enjoy my evenings, so I popped over the road for a couple of coffees whilst Carolyn stayed until the end. It sounds like I saw the best half of the two, but she was happy for the whole experience. I'd recommend the show to marvel at how they bring it to life, but the story and music aren't high on my list of highlights.
Soon after arriving in Australia, I went to a few night classes just to meet new people and to entertain myself. One of them was to learn the blues harmonica and in that first (and in my case last) class, the teacher said that if we liked the blues harp playing, then we should go to see local artist Chris Wilson.
So I went to the Corner Hotel to see him and his then band (The Crown of Thorns) and it was one of the most energetic and musically astounding shows I had been to in a long, long time - Chris was fantastic - the voice is great and the harmonica playing was out of this world. On top of that, his band were excellent with Andrew Pendlebury playing the guitar with gusto. I was blown away and I have been to see him so many times since.
A CD of his that I bought soon after was called 'Live at the Continental' where he performed with Shane O'Mara on guitar and Jex Saarelaht on the piano. It's a great album and one I have enjoyed over the year.
On this night, Chris was performing with Shane again and revisiting that album - I didn't want to miss such a thing, so headed there alone as Carolyn is less of a fan than I am. It was a great gig and they seemed to enjoy it as much as the audience did.
I do enjoy watching footy particularly when it is my Hawthorn (Hawks) who are playing. Once a year, they play Carlton and mates Bec and Sharon are supporters of them, so we try and see the game together. This year we were going to be joined by Carolyn and Kathleen. So it was all set up until events took over and Sharon had to rush up to Townsville when her father suddenly passed away - sad news. Then Bec came down with the lurgy so she and Kathleen pulled out. As a result, Carolyn and I decided to watch from the comfort of my place with Luigi for company. Needless to say, it was another fine win for my boys, but a shame that we didn't share the evening as planned.
I arranged another catchup with the old gang - though these occasions are rare, they are always a pleasure. On this occasion it was a good start when Murat was early so I got to hang out with him for an hour and a half before meeting the others in another favourite place, The Panama Dining Room. Unfortunately Kam couldn't make it, but Ern did. As did Tommy and Georgie. And though Sarah didn't come along, Matt did. So another case of good people in a good place - my sort of night. I'll book another for a couple of months time - it is too enjoyable to let the times pass without these meetings.
Dan is another artist who always delivers - one hell of a singer, a great guitarist and a great song writer. He is a talent that I suspect will take him places, so I make sure that I take my opportunities to see him when he's around.
I have seen him quite a few times and in many guises and have always marvelled at how good he is - always a good show and usually entertaining too.
This particular gig was at Toff in Town which is a venue I rarely go to - they just don't seem to have gigs that appeal to me very often. Anyway, this was Dan so I was there. I was going on my own so it was convenient as I could just nip there on my scooter and then know that I could leave at any time.
I got there early and as such could park myself in one of the few seats that were available for the night - depending on the demand, they reduce seats and increase standing to support that. As it turned out, I was at the front and happily settled.
Well, it was just him and his guitar and he played lots of old stuff and some rather good new stuff. He was heading over to Nashville later in the month to record a new album so it means that there will be more gigs when the launch happens - excellent news.
I had a fine night and unusually stayed to the end - I have a tendency to bail out early nowadays on a work night - something to do with getting up at 4:30 each morning.
Steph, Francine, Yvette, Georgina. Matt, Terri, Karin, Murat etc, Sharon, Steph, Deanne
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