I DIDN'T blog on Saturday because I didn't really do anything worth blogging about! After the working week, I often need a day to just sit back and relax. It kind of annoys me as there's always so much I could be doing. Oh, well. Guess I'll just have to retire :)

Today, I went with AM and AM2 to Eastern Creek International Raceway for the Tasman Revival vintage car meet. I'll post some pictures next week.

Until then, check out these snaps from the Perth leg of the Red Bull Air Race World Series. I'll be posting a video of the event...soon.

Work/Footy/Moustaches

I'VE been a bit flat today. I think it's because I finished an issue yesterday - it's hard to get motivated after the pressure of a deadline. It's similar to what pilots call 'adrenaline letdown', which sets in following an aerobatic routine.

Tonight, I'm off to the Sydney Football Stadium to watch Sydney FC hopefully beat the Queensland Roar. After that, I plan to pop in to the Movember Party at Fox Studios.

The only trouble is it's kinda cold, and it looks like a big thunderstorm is on its way...

Barcelona/Trains

I liked "Vicky Cristina Barcelona". It's not the greatest film ever made, but it is quite charming. Again, I'll be posting my review at TLC (my movie blog, not the 90s R&B group) soon.

Here's something random that annoys me: people who get up to exit the train LONG before their stop. Why do you they think they need five whole minutes to make it the few steps from their seat to the doors? Are they expecting some kind of obstacle I should be looking out for? A rabid wolf, perhaps? Or maybe a coil of barbed wire left over from the war? I know it really shouldn't bother me, but it does.

What little things annoy you? Leave a comment...

Another Movie

"Zack And Miri Make A Porno" was pretty good. I'll be posting my review at theleglesscritic.com soon.

Tonight, I'm going to another preview - "Vicky Christina Barcelona". It's Woody Allen's latest and stars - surprise, surprise - Scarlett Johansson.

Until tomorrow...

Apologies

SORRY I've been a bit slack with the ol' blog - a lot's been happening.

Here's a super-quick rundown:

SATURDAY

Bought a new phone - a Palm Centro.

Attended a colleague's 30th birthday party at the Annandale Hotel.

SUNDAY

Set up afore-mentioned phone.

Caught up on "Heroes".

Watched a lot of sport (Premier League, A-League, A1GP).

TONIGHT, I'm off to a preview of the new Kevin Smith/Seth Rogen film, "Zack And Miri Make A Porno". Gotta go now or I won't make it!

Overrated

I JUST watched Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange" for the first time. While the sets and camera angles are interesting - particularly in the first half - I found it overlong, boring and unnecessarily pornographic. If it hadn't been banned, it would not be considered a 'classic'.

New Music: The Sequel

SO, I listened to most of that new Dido record the other day...and it's not very good. I prefer her first two albums.

On a brighter note, I picked up the new Oasis album, "Dig Out Your Soul", on my way home from work:



I'm going to listen to it right now, so hopefully it proves a winner. I'm pretty confident I'll like it - Oasis is one of my favourtie bands.

Art

TONIGHT, I attended a nude-photography workshop at the Forbes Hotel. It wasn't actually 'nude', the model (a lovely French holidaymaker) only went topless. I wasn't there to brush up on my camera skills, though - I went along to meet the organiser, who I'll be profiling for a magazine article. Her husband was a famous French snapper, and she's had a lot of success in her own right.

But back to the workshop...

I'd never been upstairs at the Forbes, but I'd like to go back. The theme of the evening was 'Pigalle 1900', and the room was perfect - all red velvet and gold (OK, maybe brass) chandeliers. There was even an accordion player in period costume! Tres cool! My friend, who's a professional commercial photographer, really enjoyed it and got some great shots. It's almost inspired me to break out my old Praktica camera...

New Music

I SCORED the latest Dido album at work and brought it home today. It's called "Safe Trip Home". I just threw it into iTunes, but I haven't heard any of it yet. I have a rule: if I get a new CD, I listen to it on my CD player before I listen to the slightly inferior iPod version. Finicky, I know, but rules are rules!

What are you listening to at the moment? Leave a comment and let me know! Here's a cute photo of Dido to help you think...

Christmas Cracker

ANOTHER busy day at the office, but there was one bright spot. I got an email from my friend AP asking me to be part of a Christmas EP!

A while back, he and I - plus another mate - got together and performed a few songs at a birthday party. It was fun and we vowed to do it again. I'm thinking "Mele Kalikimaka" (Hawaiian for 'Merry Christmas') might be the song to do. Rehearsals start on Friday...

Sunday

I'VE been really busy this weekend, even though I haven't done everything I would've liked. Pretty tired now, so here's a quick recap in photographic form...

FRIDAY

Started the weekend early with a farewell party for a colleague:



SATURDAY

Went to watch my first W-League semi-pro women's soccer game. Sydney FC (my team) 1:1 Newcastle Jets (AW's team):



SUNDAY

Attended the Glebe Street Fair for the first time, even though it takes place right outside my door:

Saturday (and a little Friday)

JUST came back from dinner with AM and AW at the Baja Cantina - an excellent Tex-Mex place in Glebe. I had corn chips and salsa, followed by a fantastic enchilada. To wash it all down, I had a couple of Mexican beers (Tecate and Don Equis), as well as a Blue Moon Margarita and a shot of tequila, which only reminded me that I really don't like tequila.

Before dinner, the three of us went to watch a women's soccer game. More on that tomorrow.

Sorry I didn't blog yesterday - we had a farewell party at work and I only got home late.

Thursday

TODAY didn't start off too well. My train to work was delayed because of a 'track failure' and I developed a splitting headache just before lunch. However, a couple of pills and some food did the trick and I had a pretty good afternoon.

My dinner of steak and chips was followed by yet another cognac - this time Meukow. I know you probably won't believe me, but I don't usually drink the stuff every day! I'm just getting back into it after a bit of a hiatus. I also watched the latest episodes of "The Amazing Race" and "Bones".

As promised to LJT, here's a photo of the Sydney skyline (complete with moon), taken from my balcony:

Wednesday

NOT a whole lot to say, really. It was deadline day at the magazine, which always means a ridiculous amount of work. I only left the office at 7pm.

After some lasagna and a beer, I watched a new(ish) stand-up comedy show by British funny bugger Ross Noble on DVD. The show - entitled "Fizzy Logic" - was recorded in Canberra. I actually went to see it live in Sydney sometime last year. If you're unfamiliar with Noble, he basically makes up most of the show as he goes. The best bit I remember him doing involved a gnome hotel...which was just as weird as it sounds.

Think I might post a photo tomorrow...

Tuesday

IT'S Armistice Day, marking the 90th anniversary of the end of WWI. On my way to work, I bought a commemorative poppy pin from a soldier at Town Hall Station. I already had a silk poppy from a previous year protruding from a buttonhole in my checkered jacket which, in retrospect, probably made me look slightly like a clown. But a respectful clown.

At the office, a colleague asked how far I thought it was from Oxford Street to Cleveland Street, so I fired up Google and requested a walking map. But it didn't quite understand. The program promptly spat out a route originating from Oxford Street, Sydney, CANADA - a distance of 27,206km! Apparently, it would take someone exactly 224 days and five hours to do the walk. But hang on a minute...isn't there quite a lot of water between Canada and Oz? Indeed there is, but Google has a plan for that - kayaking! The step-by-step directions actually state: "Kayak across the Pacific Ocean - 6,243km." No, thanks.

When I got home, I had an excellent gin Martini (Bombay Sapphire, Noilly Prat, three olives) and followed dinner with a special edition strawberry doughnut from Krispy Kreme (almost too sweet).

Going to play some uke now, then it's off to bed. I haven't been getting enough sleep lately.

More tomorrow...

Monday

ALMOST forgot about the blog!

After work, I headed into the city to attend an iMovie and iDVD workshop at the world's second-largest Apple Store. I got a few good tips that should help me put together a little film about the recent Perth Air Race.

I listened to two 'new' albums today - "Wildflower" by Sheryl Crow and "Sawdust" by The Killers. I like most of both.

Just had another post-dinner cognac. Remy Martin XO Premier Cru this time. Yes, I like cognac :)

See ya tomorrow!

Sunday

THIS morning, I finally finished writing my third song! I'm slowly getting used to the process, but it takes me a LONG time.

In the afternoon, I wrote up my review of "How To Lose Friends And Alienate People", starring Simon Pegg, Kirsten Dunst and Megan Fox. You can check it out (the review, that is) at www.theleglesscritic.com.

I'm feeling a little bit guilty because I haven't left the house at all today. Hopefully, my dodgy back doesn't seize up as a result. To combat any possible ill effects of inactivity, I'm currently enjoying some Jenssen XO cognac. It's medicinal, ya know :)

See ya tomorrow!

NaBloPoMo

ACCORDING to my friend LJT, November is NaBloPoMo - National Blog Posting Month. I presume that 'national' bit refers to the US, but I reckon us Antipodeans should also give it a crack. So here I am.

Let's see... I'm currently growing a moustache for Movember. I've raised $60 so far for prostate cancer and male depression charities, and I kinda look like Snoopy's cousin Spike. I'll keep you posted.

Today, I went shopping in Sydney for new sunglasses. I like the Maui Jim range (not only because it sounds Hawaiian) but I couldn't find the perfect pair. The hunt continues. After that, I attended a free GarageBand workshop at the Apple Store. It wasn't great, but I did learn a few things. I really should start recording stuff before I forget it all!

Well, there it is - day one of NaBloPoMo. See ya tomorrow.