Squibblog

kids' latest obsession

Go Go Crazy Bones. I have no idea, but they are inexpensive enough that the kids can buy their own with money they earn doing odd jobs. 

musical revivals that should never be attempted

I am deeply ambivalent about going to see bands I liked in my youth. Especially bands that re-form for superannuation tours. Hence why the new Romantic of my teenage years managed to avoid going to see Duran Duran, and why the Countdown tours make me break out in a cold sweat. I have no doubt that my old age will be spent reviewing my youth with nostalgic self indulgence, but I am not yet ready to admit that I have reached that age.

Soy shares my horror of all musical backwards-looking, although we went to see the Jesus & Mary Chain last year because they influenced him so heavily in their time. That gig only served to reinforce his conviction not to see re-formed bands.

Still, last Friday night we were invited by Apple to witness their 'Aussie Legends' series of live gigs. We had a choice of seeing Jimmy Barnes or Mental as Anything. Not having listened to a Mentals song since the 80s we plumped for Barnsey. 'This will be a laugh,' we thought. How wrong we were. Barnsey (preceded by Mossy) played not a single recognisable note from his Chisel days, or even a line from his more famous solo albums. Instead he played covers of 50s rock 'n' roll standards. If I'd had the misfortune of paying for the ticket, I would have asked for my money back. As it was even the free iTunes voucher Apple gave us did not adequately compensate me for the time I spent sullied by Barnsey's nostalgic reverie.

Here's a hint to ex-rock stars:Play your hits. No one wants to hear the dross you've written in your dotage, and absolutely no one wants to hear you sing covers. 

Now this rant might seem to exclude me listening to anyone who was playing music in the 80s and 90s. Au contraire. Some of my favourite artists are bands I fell in love with in the 80s and 90s. But they have to continue to produce music that's worth listening to. So Nick Cave is still up there, Billy Bragg still gets my vote and They Might be Giants, who've moved right on to kids music as we had kids, are a firm family favourite.

Last night another favourite produced another new CD: Dave McCormack. Soy and I went to the album launch, sang along to his new old stuff, chuckled at his new stuff (Living Under The Flight Path With You, clearly written for us) and remembered what we love about live music: spontaneity, wit and a healthy dose of self-parody. None of which Barnsey possessed, but which our lovely Dave has in abundance. His new album Little Murders is available on iTunes.

Nell's second summer dress

A two hour dress, my first attempt at shirring. 

sultry beach day

Yesterday Nell and I visited Bondi. Despite initial pouting about my failure to bring sand-castle making toys, Nell had a fabulous time playing in the waves. The water is still fairly cold, but the beach was crowded with surfers, tourists and the usual Bondi sun bathers, even at midday on a Tuesday.

sew, a needle pulling thread

Nell and I spent Sunday at home. She was delighting in the profusion of flowers on the climbing rose (which meant that she pulled off as many as she could reach and 'cooked' with them). I sewed. Mostly I was repairing torn seams or shortening sleeves of shirts that still fit my scarecrow son around his middle, but are too short in the arms (now they are magically short-sleeved. FTW!).

But I also made Nell's first sun dress of the season - and my first ever dress made entirely without a pattern. You can see that it's pretty simple, but I am very happy with the finish, thanks to my overlocker. 

Nell is, of course, more interested in its twirlability. It scores fairly highly on the twirl scale, so all is well. (Also scores v. highly on the pink scale, also important indicator of goodness in Nell's clothes). 

a trip to Japan

Nell is lucky to have a Japanese teacher in her Preschool who teaches her origami (among many other things). Origami is an activity perfectly suited to Nell's character: she can make characters for her imaginative play and she's dexterous enough to fold, twist and press paper to her will. So she was bugging me to help her with origami, about which I know nothing.

well hello there

Yes, I know, no posts for a while. My apologies. I've been away.

Not physically away. Hardly left the house really. Just away from the blog.

Want a list of excuses? How about two essays (and an outline of the major essay, which I wrote today in 45 minutes and report here safe in the knowledge that my tutor is not a blog reader of mine), finalising the school recipe book in that volunteer project that got way out of hand and mothering the kids while Soy was away?

I've also been working. Fun work. 

speed, he is speed

Today Zac competed in the District Athletics carnival. Having won all the races at his local school carnival (which is a very small school), Zac and his friend R were off to compete against kids from schools across the inner west of Sydney. The playground discussions of what would happen 'at the Districts' have been revving him up, as have reports of Usain Bolt's new world records, so it was interesting to watch him compete against a range of kids he's never met.

All the kids from his school ran well, with Zac placing third in his heat, just missing out on the finals. Unfased, Zac then spent the rest of the morning playing tip chasey with the three other fastest runners in his school.

spring?

Today's unusually warm weather (28C in August!) got us out into the garden. We were inspired to pull weeds, feed plants and aerate the lawn by the prospect of warm spring days spent outside. It was a little disheartening to see how much we have been neglecting the garden since the torrents of rain this winter - we just sort of forgot about outdoor living for a few months there.

This morning we headed to a birthday party for two boys we've been friends with since they Zac and F were toddlers. We had a wonderfully pleasant time standing around in the faux-spring sunshine drinking coffee and discussing literature and good TV. Maybe it's the sunshine, but I am definitely feeling like cracking the covers on a new book. And maybe reading it in the unseasonal sunshine.

raise me up

As I said in my last post, 40 was looking a little daunting for me. But on Saturday night, when many of the people I love best in the world, gathered to celebrate, it all felt all right. I didn't get particularly drunk (although Soy spent a bit of time nursing a hangover on Sunday), I did feel suitably merry. I was showered with gifts, wishes and kisses. And the highlight for me were the speeches: one from my beloved who gave away the very few secrets I had left in my life, but he did it with love.