Why bother

Debating with myself whether to even get out of bed today.

Yes, I  will, but the news over the last few days about the virus and, in particular, the riots in the US, has just left me a bit shattered.

And on top of everything else I've realised how much weight I've put on. So things need to change. I might try to get back on the 5-2 diet, and wean myself off constant snacking.

Were going to Noel's for dinner tonight - I'm concerned about a few things, his safety and traveling by public transport and cab home. 

Another Thursday

It was in to 3MBS this morning you record Film Scores With Richard. But not before we'd got coffee and pastries from Cam's. Later I want too the Health Centre to get some medications.

This afternoon I finished off the articulations for the last movement of the Bottesini string quintet in A, which Brent alerted me to.

A second walk this afternoon to get provisions from the IGA supermarket.

Tonight I finished off the Nederland Oper Die Walküre I started last night. There production is interesting, with the orchestra on-stage and the performers working around them. The singing is good, but it's the orchestral playing and sound that impressed me. I'll start on Siegfried tomorrow.

This week's produce box

Mailout

Yesterday and today was mailout of June's On Air magazine, plus the renewals. Not as many renewals as last month's, but still quite a few.

We managed to get done by about 12:30.

Last night was a cold one (4°?) leading to a foggy morning, but once the fog lifted it was a stunning, clear day.

Tonight I discovered on YouTube a production of Das Rheingold from the Netherlands Opera. I was only going to watch a bit, but ended up watching to the end. Not only was it an excellent production, the cast was superb and the musical performances terrific.

Convent in the sun

Cooking

Yesterday was just like the one before, except I made another loaf of bread. Not my best effort. Not much on the telly, so as Richard has asked for his DVD of Looking back, I watched the movie. Not bad.

Today I got the paper and coffee on the way home. Managed the crossword reasonably easily, though there were a few tough questions. Later I made a casserole with the beef I bought on Friday, finishing up the bottle of Shiraz from Blackhearts and Sparrows. It's still cooking, long and slow.

Another Abbotsford cat

Dishwasher this time

Last night I put dishwasher on only to discover that it didn't want to work.  It stopped with the Done and Check Water lights on. Today I rang for a repair person, but they can't come until next Wednesday. So it's hand washing until then.

This morning I went into 3MBS to record Richard's program for Saturday. It was nice to have a reasonably normal social interaction.

Tonight I stumbled across The Encounter by Complicité, being streamed for a limited time. An extraordinary story about a man stumbling across an unknown group of indigenous people in the Amazon jungle. That's amazing enough, but the presentation, by a single actor on stage but worth an astounding soundtrack.  Audience members had to wear headphones.

Weather is cold and wet.

Thursday morning traffic

Plumbers, again

Yesterday I noticed that there was water on the bathroom floor. Again. When I checked in the cupboard under the basin it was clear that the leak which I had paid a significant amount to get fixed, wasn't. I put the plastic container back to catch the drips.

In the morning the container was just offer half full so I called the plumbers back. Two guys arrived in about 10 minutes and had a bit of a fiddle.  I think they tightened the connection near the wall. In truth, I think if the first guy had done that it would have fixed the problem. We'll never know.

Not much else notable happened today. 

Early sun on the Convent

Restrictions eased

Lovely cold, clear, sunny day today, the first weekend of eased restrictions, though in Victoria the easing is much less than in some other states. 

This afternoon I walked up to visit Brent.  Through the park, and in Peel St there were many people, too many of them in too close proximity. I don't say anything, just keep my distance.

Brent is well - we had a good natter and I even accompanied him playing some of his viola exercises. He's not bad.

Before I visited Brent my order from Mount Zero arrived - I only ordered it on Thursday and didn't expect delivery until next week.  I now have a 2 litre box of extra virgin olive oil plus some Mayver's peanut butter and a couple of slightly odd chocolate bars.

Not today, but similar weather

The plumber cometh

On Tuesday I noticed that there was water on the bathroom floor in front of the cabinets under the basin.

This had happened before and I'd put a plastic container under the pipe to collect the drops, but that had stopped, or so I thought. Obviously not. It was taking 6 or 7 hours to fill the container so I could avoid a flood.

So this morning I rang the local plumbers (just around the corner) and booked someone this come this afternoon.

I went into 3MBS this morning to record Richard's program for Saturday. We got coffee and cakes from Cam's and retired to the kitchen. Then it was up to Studio 3 to record. All went very smoothly and I was home before noon.

The plumber came just after 1pm - he assessed the problem quickly saying it was a fairly simple fix. When he was done bye told me that my water pressure was 800 (don't know the units) when it should be 500 and said he could fit a valve which would bring it down to the proper level. I said he should go for it.

All up it cost me $770 - not cheap, but if not done could cost me much more in the future.

Had a lovely chat with Stewart P this evening - we'll Zoom some time next week.

Pelargonium

Zooming

Today I spent quite a bit of time using Zoom.

First up was the Wednesday morning tea with colleagues at 3MBS. There was a good turnout, around 20, and, because I was using the desktop I could see everyone at once.

Then, at the usual time, Margaret and I did The Age quiz, though today we did rather badly  - only 9 points.

Around 2:15 I joined Dennis and his ESL class for conversation practice. Two women from China, two from Vietnam and a guy from Argentina. His was probably the best command of the language and the Chinese women barely said anything. We covers a range of topics and I think it went reasonably well. I wonder what Dennis thought.

Just before this session my latest produce box from The Farm Cafe arrived. Less kale this time (a relief), and a couple of pears (a pair) and an avocado.  And a few chocolates!

Later I  the afternoon Mariese arrived with a couple of cheeses for me - half a brie and some haloumi. We had a good chat.

Tonight I watched another episode of Hollywood. It's a video roman-a-clef and not a little soapy but it has a good helping of good looking, and sometimes naked, men in it so I'll probably watch the whole thing.

Banksias inn Marine Parade

Cool Tuesday

Top temperature today is 14C, but feels to me much colder. I started the day with a visit to 3MBS to catch up with Loretto and Stewart for coffee. I managed to help L solve one of her computer problems, but as I'm not familiar with Macs, couldn't fix her other problems.

Listened to the new CD of Benjamin Bernheim, a French tenor who was recommended by Doug B. He's very good. I have a few discs of French tenors, and the repertoire is a bit repetetive: "Pourquoi me reveiller?", "Ah, lève-toi, soleil!", "Salut, demeure chaste et pure" plus some Verdi and Donizetti. I suppose it's fodder for a comparison program.

Victoria's shutdown restrictions are being eased from midnight tonight (or more precisely, 11:59) - this will allow home visits for a total of 5 people, and a few other things.

Now it's probably time for another walk.

Autumn leaves

Masks

Another non-Daybreak Monday, so I was out the door when the cleaners arrived. It was a lovely clear, cold day.

Instead of the IGA I headed to Victoria St. First was in and out of Woollies for a paper, then to Chemist Warehouse for some face masks, finishing at the fruit and veg shop for some garlic, shallots and strawberries.  Yes, I know, an odd mix.

Wham I got home I used the pork I bought last week and some of the remaining veg from the last produce box to make a slow cooked casserole for tonight's dinner.

Had another walk this afternoon - it had clouded over, but still dry. Listened to some of the Kempe Strauss orchestral works box set - they stand up well.

The casserole was delicious.

Urban Autumn

Last few days

Not much to report: I spent some time on Thursday working with Loclan via Microsoft Teams, taking him through the processes involved in re-editing programs for broadcast editing the shut-down. Afterwards I wondered if I'd covered too much too fast, but he contacted me this afternoon and told me what he'd done.  It turns out he's done all programs for next Thursday, and it all sounds fine. Hurrah!

I was a bit naughty this week, visiting the radio station a couple of times to catch up with Stewart and Richard. We did observe the required distancing.

This afternoon I started watching the first part of Fritz Lang's Siegfried - it's actually quite impressive with some beautiful images.

I'm still sticking to my daily routine, the paper for puzzles and coffee from Mavis.

The weather has turned chilly, wet and windy - forecast low for tonight is 6°.

Autumn afternoon

And the beat goes on ...

... and on.

Not much to distinguish today from yesterday, or even the day before.

Got up, showered, went for a walk to the IGA, got the paper and a couple of other needed items, back home via Mavis to collect a coffee. Back home to have some toast with my coffee and read the paper. Then attacked the puzzles, which kept me occupied for a while.

Oh, while doing all that I was catching up with the latest Record Review, from BBC 3, which I stream every Sunday. Now I know which recording of Lakmé to buy - if indeed I were ever to buy one.

Finished off the leftover vegan stew for lunch before reading a bit more of the Alma Mahler book. Then out for another brisk walk, this time to Blackhearts and Sparrows where I bought another bottle of shiraz, and a little treat of a peanut chocolate bar. Then nap-time.

Early to bed tonight as tomorrow is my turn presenting Daybreak.

From May 2010

Opera and a play

This morning on my regular trip to the IGA I discovered that their Eftpos system was not working. Luckily I had some cash on me, enough to cover what I was buying there plus enough for a coffee from Mavis.

This afternoon was fairly uneventful except for another walk, this time to Victoria Street to get some cash in case the Eftpos is not fixed by tomorrow.  And also in advance for the next visit from the cleaners.

I also made a loaf of bread, which looks quite good - I mixed in a handful of oats.

I watched the Barrie Kosky production of Eugene Onegin, from the Komische Oper, Berlin,  which I quite enjoyed, despite not being a huge fan of the work.  I rather liked the production and the Tatyana of Asmik Grigorian (from the Salzburg Salome) was outstanding.

It was still reasonably early when the opera finished so I streamed the Frankenstein from the National Theatre. I chose the version with Benedict Cumberbatch as the monster. The National certainly delivers the goods in the sets and effects department. Overall it was quite food.

Doug B. emailed to alert me to the tenor Benjamin Bernheim and after checking out a couple of YouTube videos I ordered his CD from Readings Online. It might take a while to get here.

Oh, and yesterday I got an email from the bank saying that they'd deposited the remainder of the money I lost through fraud into my account. That's a relief.

Street scribble