what a crack up

I'm gonna change the topic soon, but before I do I just have to say, there's only one thing worse than showing your undies (see cover up). And that's showing your undies AND your crack. Ewww! I had the misfortune of seeing it today and it looked something like this...

punkin patch

Here's something to be afraid of on Hallowe'en

cover up

I'm not exactly known for my fashion sense, so perhaps I shouldn't criticise, but what's the deal with wearing undies that stick out over the top of jeans? It's ridiculous - unless you're a superhero (and you don't see many of those around these daze). I know I've made some fashion faux pas in the past, but even I can predict the visible undies syndrome is something people will be embarrassed about down the track. What next? Will we all be wearing our socks over our shoes?

fine art

As the deadline for submitting this year's tax return looms (Tuesday 31st) I'm too preoccupied with doing Google image searches to get my shit together. Besides, my room's so messy I'm not sure it'll be easy to find all my paperwork (anyone wanna volunteer for position of financial advisor? Anyone wanna clean my room?). Every year it's the same, I leave it to the last minute (ahh, the fine art of procrastination). Anyway, enough about that, on to more important issues. Here's a picture of Witchie-poo from HR Pufnstuf (inspired by Miss Litzi's recent post)

it's a heartache

I can't believe Bonnie Tyler is coming to Australia (she's actually performing tonight), but only doing shows in Melbourne. What a crock. I love Bonnie Tyler and have done since her first hit single - Lost in France - in 1977. I'm sooo disappointed she's not coming to Sydney. First time in this country and all she's doing is two shows in Melbourne n then she buggers off. She must be getting paid a lot...

I guess she's best known for her work with Jim Steinman and the classic 1983 hit Total Eclipse of the Heart. Whilst I like this song and others, my favourite is It's a Heartache, which went to number 1 on the charts in 1978. I'd like to sing it right now as my heart aches for Bonnie, the "female Rod Stewart" (as she was dubbed when I was a teenager). I hope she gets an inkling of how popular she is in Australia (surely I'm not the only fan) and decides to return to do some more gigs, next time in Sydney

It's a heartache, nothing but a heartache
Hits you when it's too late
Hits you when you're dowwwwnnnn

It's a fool's game, nothing but a fool's game
Standing in the cold rain
Feeling like a clowwwwnnnn

Here's a pic of Bonnie (aka Gaynor Hopkins) as she looks these days

winning streak

At the start of the month I scored an invite to the launch of a new dvd release - Prisoner: Cell Block H - Volume 1 and Volume 2 - the first 32 episodes of one of my favourite soaps (Prisoner, set inside a women's prison, was produced from 1979-86. The Cell Block H part of the title was added for international audiences and to avoid confusion with an earlier British series called The Prisoner). To secure the invitation (one of 15) all I had to do was be one of the first people to respond to an email. Because I didn't recognise the name of the sender I nearly missed out. If I'd taken a friend's advice I would've deleted the email (unread) and been none the wiser. Curiosity obviously got the better of me and in this instance I'm glad. A return email informed me I had been one of the lucky ones. The best thing about the launch was the screening of a previously unseen doco on the series - and the free booze. Val Lehman, who starred as Bea Smith in Prisoner was there to introduce the doco and answer questions afterwards. A fun night...

I've already posted about winning one of 5 double passes to see Holding the Man. Once again it was a simple case of being first to respond to an email.

Now, I don't sit at the computer all day long. Often I'm out and about - especially when I'm working, so timing is everything. Yesterday I picked up a copy of SX magazine (a free, weekly, gay, street paper), which I brought home and started reading. There was an interview with Val Lehman promoting the new Prisoner dvds (and an in-store appearance she's making tomorrow afternoon). At the end of the article I saw SX was giving away copies of both dvd volumes to the first 5 people who emailed the magazine with the answer to a question (Q: Name the prison Bea Smith was transferred to when she left the series. A: Barnhurst. Easy for fans like me). It was late in the day by the time I discovered this latest competition, so I wasn't all that confident of success, but this morning I had the good news. I'd been lucky once again. With the Melbourne Cup coming up, I hope this winning streak continues!

still holding the man

If you've checked my profile you'll know that I list Timothy Conigrave's memoir Holding the Man as one of my favourite books. Sadly, Tim died in 1994 with his book being posthumously published to much acclaim the following year. As well as being a popular seller, Holding the Man received the 1995 Human Rights Award for Non-fiction. I've read the book a couple of times and what I love about it is the gutwrenching love story between Conigrave (who went on to become an actor) and his partner of 15 years, John Caleo. The pair met in high school during the '70s and their story has become a watershed in Australian literature, being described recently as "our version of Romeo & Juliet." Tragically they both contracted HIV/AIDS with John dying two years before Tim.

Before I'd read the book myself (and based on reviews and word of mouth) I bought Holding the Man as a Christmas gift for a friend (my first boyfriend actually - though our days of being lovers were long gone by this stage). The day I bought it I was returning home on the tram when I saw a girl sitting opposite me reading her own copy of the book. I asked her what she thought of it, telling her I'd just bought a copy for a friend. She said she couldn't put it down. My friend's reaction was the same. I remember him telling me he blubbed his way through it to the end. That's how I reacted when I read it (each time). It's such an engrossing, moving account of first love.

Fast forward to 2000. A friend was performing in a play at the Opera House and invited me along to see the show one night. After that evening's performance we sat having drinks with a few cast members as well as an actress I'd never met before, Veronica, who was performing in another play in the Opera House's other theatre. At one stage Veronica and I got talking and I asked her who she'd gone through NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art) with. She mentioned the name of an actor I'm familiar with (who I'm a big fan of actually - and the object of yet another crush). Now this actor gets a decent mention in Holding the Man as one of Conigrave's fellow students, so I realised Veronica must've gone through NIDA with Tim Conigrave as well. I asked her about this and it turns out not only were they in the same year but they were also very close friends. In fact Conigrave writes about her a lot in the book. This was a great discovery to me and gave me a feeling of somehow being one step closer to... I don't know - the book, the author? Whatever it was I was pretty impressed to meet a character from arguably my favourite book. And now for some kooky twists...

Like me, Veronica was a huge fan of Number 96 when she was a kid. In fact I don't think I'm skewing the facts when I say it influenced her decision to pursue an acting career. Ditto.

A short while after meeting Veronica I met Laura, also an actress (though our meeting was not connected to the theatre at all). In conversation one day Laura told me she'd interviewed Tim Conigrave and Veronica for the Equity magazine - so here was another connection to the book and its author.

Lo and behold I'm looking through a box of my memorabilia one day when I come across the one copy I have of the Equity magazine (a memento from my time many years before as a paid up member of the Union). I flick through the old magazine and there's THE interview Laura had done with the two up and coming NIDA graduates. I was thrilled with this discovery.

In December 2001 I was out drinking with Carole (another actress who unbeknownst to me had worked a lot with Laura) when I met Scotty, my now ex-boyfriend (see Still Standing - my original post). I've written about Scotty's cousin before - an actress (see I've Heard It All Before). She is, in fact, Veronica.

We're coming to the end, I promise!

Now, more than 10 years after Holding the Man was first published, Griffin Theatre Company has recently announced plans to adapt Tim's memoir for the stage. Holding the Man will have its world premiere next month.

Being on Griffin Theatre Company's email list I often respond to give-aways, but have never been successful. An email came through earlier this afternoon offering a chance to win one of 5 double passes to see Holding the Man and I replied straight away. I was overly confident I'd win this time - and I did! I'm so grateful, I'm still over the moon. My first choice for a date was Laura because lately she's taken me to see so many great shows as her guest. Although she's the obvious choice, it wasn't until she accepted that I was reminded of her own connection to this wonderful book, soon-to-be play and author.

As far as I'm concerned it's all about the workings of the marvellous Universe. And I can't wait to see the play!

wicked women

Australian TV has a fine tradition of bitches - in this instance I'm talking about the two-legged fictional ones (yes, from soap operas) - those nefarious characters we love to hate. The trailblazer was Maggie "bloody" Cameron, played so brilliantly by New Zealand born actress Bettina Welch in Number 96 (1972-1977). Bettina was an original cast member of the sex 'n' sin soapy and as Maggie Cameron she couldn't help but wreak havoc on the residents of the apartment block where the series was set. In 1975 she committed the ultimate act of evil when she planted a bomb and blew the building (and four of its' occupants) to smithereens. Maggie Cameron set the trend for other bitches who followed in her wake - Judy Nunn as Vicki Stafford in The Box (1974-77), Cornelia Frances as Sister Scott in The Young Doctors (1976-83) and subsequently as Morag Bellingham in Home & Away (1988- ). Then there were others like Fiona Spence as Vera "Vinegar Tits" Bennett in Prisoner (1979-86) and Rowena Wallace AND Belinda Giblin both unforgettable as Patricia "Pat the Rat" Hamilton (aka Alison Carr - it's soap, of course it's complicated) in Sons & Daughters (1982-87), Vivean Gray as Nell Mangle in Neighbours (1985- ) and lastly Christine Stephen-Daly as Amber in Pacific Drive (1996-2001). It must be great for these actresses to play such meaty, memorable roles. Cornelia Frances has often said how much she enjoys playing nasty.

Unfortunately I never met Bettina Welch, who died about 14 years ago, but I've met a lot of people who worked with her. She was adored by her colleagues and they all say the same thing - she was nothing like her on-screen persona. (The same is true of the other actresses I've listed, the ones I've met at least)...

bonus coincidence file > bettina welch

The other night I was trapped in cyberspace 'til the wee hours of the morning when I came across a reference to Bettina in the 1965 TV adaptation of the classic Aussie novel My Brother Jack. The next night my housemate Tom informed me (un-prompted by me) that he'd borrowed a copy of... My Brother Jack from work. I didn't even know it was available on DVD. Unfortunately it was an overnight loan and he's already taken it back, but I've asked him to borrow it again so I can watch it. I can hardly wait!

no any ols allowed

In a very early post I mentioned how I discovered Bernard Fanning one night when he was the guest programmer on Rage. Another recent discovery I made watching this music video show is a band called Augie March. Once again I feel like a late bloomer - I'm sure everyone else heard of them ages ago. Their music's great, amongst other attributes it's very poetic and refreshing. I checked out their website and it turns out they record in a little country town where my family holidayed for nearly 30 years. Anyhoo, quite a few weeks ago I bought two tickets to go n see lovely Bernard when he plays here in Sydney (next week) and guess who the support band is? That's right - Augie March! There's just one slight problem... you can't go to a concert with any ol' person, it has to be someone who gets into the whole thing as much as you do, but time is running out and I don't know who I'm gonna give the spare ticket to...

quiz

I love those quick lil question/answer sessions you find in newspapers (and more and more frequently on blogs). They offer you an insight into other people's views of the world and in turn, allow you to reflect on your own. So with thanks to the latest edition of Good Weekend magazine I offer the following:

My earliest memory is... hard to pinpoint, but it's either singing nursery rhymes, eating dirt or dreaming of Santa arriving in his rocket on Christmas eve

At school I... was easily distracted

My first relationship... was with Television

I wish I'd never worn... stretch denim jeans and moccasins to school on free dress day

My mother and father always told me... to clean my room

I wish I had... all the answers

I wish I hadn't... divorced my wife

My most humiliating moment was... when I realised people weren't looking at me because I'm so hot, but because I'd gone down the street with little bits of toilet paper stuck to the shaving nicks on my face

My happiest moment was... one of many, but playing with orang-utans in Jakarta was pretty damn good

At home I cook... very, very rarely

My last meal would be... prepared by someone else and consist of mashed potato, followed by rhubarb & custard

My favourite gadget is... yet to be invented, but it records your dreams. I'll choose toothpicks instead

I'm very bad at... ball games

When I was a child I wanted to be... older

It's not fashionable, but I love... farting... and the fact that I grew up in Croydon, Victoria (hmm, do you think there's a connection?)

Friends say I am... a good listener/giver of advice

The song I'd like played at my funeral is... obvious - Baby I'm Burning by Dolly Parton

If only I could... fly

The hardest thing I've ever done was... come out to my father (ultimately one of the most rewarding things too)

What I don't find amusing is... being stuck with effing John Howard as prime miniature

I'm always being asked... for money and "did you just fart?"

If I wasn't me I'd like to be... Noah Taylor

My favourite work of art is... Starry Night (1889) by Vincent Van Gogh

At the moment I'm watching... repeats of Sons & Daughters (but you knew that)

If I were a car I'd be... one of those environmentally friendly ones

I often wonder... where my home is

So, there you go. Interestingly, the hardest question to answer was "I wish I hadn't..." followed by "My happiest moment was...". They were difficult because I don't have any real regrets (what's the point?) and I've had so many moments of happiness (often from very simple things).

If you've never done this sort of quiz, why don't you give it a go?

coincidence file > divine intervention

Almost directly in front of where I'm sitting I have a picture of the fabulous Divine. It's there amongst something like 50 other pics of various performers, animals and hunky shirtless men. Yesterday I noticed it'd come a little bit unstuck from the wall (none of the others had) and was hanging a bit skew-whiff.

Also, during the day (yesterday) when I was out n about I saw the word "DIVINE" written somewhere. I didn't think too much of it, but sitting here tonight I just looked at that Divine picture again and intuitively checked IMDb. Yesterday was October 19th and according to IMDb that just happens to be Divine's (aka Harris Glenn Milstead) date of birth. He would've been 61!

please don't call between 10 - 10:30am

There have been a couple of comments recently about my preoccupation with soap operas. My favourites are the classic Aussie soaps from the '70s and '80s. The current crop of local soaps - Neighbours and Home & Away - just aren't in the same league (though I do watch them when the mood takes me, or if I know a favourite actor is appearing). About five weeks ago I was delighted-and-excited to discover the 7 Network had started screening repeats of Sons & Daughters, which comes in at number 3 on my list of all-time favourites (behind Prisoner at #2 and Number 96 in the top spot). Sons & Daughters is a tale of two families - the rich Sydney-based Hamilton clan and the working class Palmers from Melbourne. The initial storylines centred around twins Angela Hamilton (Ally Fowler) and John Palmer (Peter Phelps), who had been separated at birth and knew nothing of each other 'til a chance meeting (this satisfied my love of soap and my fascination with all things twin).

Sons & Daughters runs for half an hour each weekday morning from 10 o'clock and so far we've seen about 10 episodes (for some idiotic reason they took it off during school holidays). Despite having seen nearly all the episodes when they originally screened, I'm reluctant to start my day without a dose of the miscreant behaviour of Pat the Rat et al. Now, the series ran for 972 episodes and after quickly doing the maths, I figure it's going to take 3.7 years (minimum) to screen the entire series. So, I'm just warning you, if I don't answer the phone between 10 and 10:30 in the morning you'll know why...

And now, here's part of the theme song:

Sons and Daughters
Love and laughter
Tears and sadness
And happiness

We will find out
Our sons and daughters
Are what we two
Were once about

They don't write 'em like that anymore

promises promises

I mentioned in an earlier post, pace be with you, how on my last visit to Melbourne I bumped into an old friend and mentor, Brian. I wrote about a promise I made to Brian many years ago, to continue acting...

I'm happy to announce, today I enrolled in an 8 week acting workshop run by three of Sydney's top young directors. I'm really excited by the prospect of working with them. Here I am taking yet another leap of faith. Maybe I'll be a crap actor. Maybe I won't. Maybe I'll just enjoy the experience.

part n parcel

Despite never actually declaring myself part of a partnership I can now report I'm single again. Jon and I have parted ways. It wasn't easy and he took it harder than expected, but I had to tell him I didn't see a future for us as lovers. We're attempting to be friends and so far so good. We speak on the phone from time to time and have seen a couple of films together.

Funny, but the night after I broke up with Jon, Scotty turned up unannounced on my doorstep. It was his first visit in years! And he wasn't pissed. He came in and we smoked a joint and one thing could've easily led to another, but I told myself, if I could pass the test and not have sex with Scotty I was allowing someone new to enter my life. I'll keep you posted...

crush (here we go again)

When I was about 7 years old I asked my Mum if I could join the local soccer team. My brother and 3 or 4 neighbours played and I had the bright idea that I'd like to play too, but Mum said no. She said I'd get sick of it in a few weeks and not want to play any more. At the time I thought she was probably right and it wasn't a big deal...

Mum was right about me losing interest. It didn't take long. That is until last night when I watched my first ever televised soccer match from start to finish. And the reason? Allow me to introduce my latest crush, Lucas Neill. Woof!