I know I shouldn't laugh ...

... but I just can't help it.

Goodbyes

Today we had a lovely lunch at Mecca Bah at Docklands to farewell three of our staff members who have taken redundancies. It was a tasty meal, but a sad occasion, saying goodbye to three colleagues who have worked with us for a long time.

This follows on the huge farewell last week for around forty editorial staff who've taken packages - Friday was a rather strange day, saying goodbye to some friends I've known for thirty years.

Plumbing double

Last night I woke to a strange noise which at first I couldn't identify. After making sure it wasn't the dishwasher playing up again I finally opened the front door to be greeted with the sight of a geyser in the park - a water main had burst.

I called City West Water and, after first saying she thought it was the council's responsibility, the woman on the phone said she'd send someone to check it out. About three quarters of an hour later I heard them arrive and eventually the water (and the odd noise) stopped and I drifted off to sleep.

In the morning I headed off to Mum's where I was meeting a plumber who was there to fix her shower. He fixed the hot tap and added a pressure valve to the cold tap - now it's a lot easier to adjust the temperature on her shower. There was a bit of a hassle finding the tap to turn off the water for the unit, but we worked it out eventually, although there might be some further work to be done.

When I got home I took the jeep up to Smith St for lunch and shopping. The guys were finishing up in the park when I passed through - they said they'd been there since 4am, poor buggers.

I'm back ...

Sorry all, I've been neglecting you. I'm back now and will try to post more regularly.

Over the past few weeks I've spent a bit of time going to Mum's twice a week changing the dressing on her leg. She's fine and the ulcer is healing remarkably well - the last time her doctor saw her he was surprised at how well it was doing and doesn't want to see her for a while.

Last week P&B and I went to Melbourne Opera's performance of Bellini's I Puritani. It wasn't bad; Joanna Cole managed the coloratura well although her top notes had an unfortunate tendency to shrillness. Roy Best (he of Operatunity Oz) made quite a good fist of his role although the voice is a lot smaller than I expected. He fluffed one of his top D-flats quite badly, but managed the written top F (!) with a good falsetto. The rest of the cast were excellent, particularly the men. Overall the performance was musically good, the orchestra playing well under the baton of Richard Divall.

Gloriana rehearsals have started - we're performing the Rachmanninof Vespers, a wonderful work which I think will be enjoyed by all of you.