anyresemblance

On the road again

It looks like I am heading to Silicon Valley at the end of the week.  It has been two weeks of dithering due to office politics but seems like I need to get my act in gear.

Of course, this is the week my assistant is away but as my daughter scoffed "you booked your own travel for 8 years so why are you being a prima donna now?".  She is right, and the skill of gaming the travel tool to choose a window for travel that nets you the flight you want (and not the cheaper one with 4 stops and twice as long) has not been lost.  I was supposed to also be in Melbourne this week but I think I am going to have to do that as a day trip.

Anyway, last week was a whirl of work stuff and I came home on Friday night, ordered take away, had a bath and was in bed by 8.30.

I am trying to finish off a few unfinished books which have not been capturing my attention so have been trying to keep off tv and the socials.  That said here is what I am watching:

• Slow Horses
• The Outlaws
• Russian doll series 2
• Selling sunset series 5
• Luxe Listing Sydney series 2
• Our flag means death

I am thinking of downloading AJLT to rewatch on long haul as I think I need to revisit it with a few months distance.

The weather has been delightful with glorious sunrises and sunsets of morning.

Hiatus

1. Loving I haven't been to the cinema in ages but I was talking to my friend on speakerphone in her car as she was driving with her 18 year old son who is socially awkward and not prone to unsolicited conversations and he said he had just seen this film and that everyone was going to be talking about it.  So yesterday evening I dragged myself off the sofa and went to see Everything Everywhere All At Once.  If you've heard anything about it, it is really hard to categorise but at its heart it about family love and strength in kindness.  Michele Yeoh is astonishing as is Ke Huy Quan and Jamie Lee Curtis is obviously having a ball and so at home in her later middle aged body.  I hate a long movie but this moved at such a break neck the time sped by and the audience laughed out loud constantly and cried.  I can't recommend it highly enough.
2. Eating I am cooking slow cooked lamb with garlic and oregano, roasted tomato with yoghurt and roasted carrots with harissa.  I'll probably make some rice as well.  I've really fallen off the cooking band wagon and have to do some better meal planning.
3. Drinking I bought a ton of cheap limes so am making margueritas.
4. Hoping that I don't have to have a knee replacement.  I had a MRI on Thursday as it has become really sore.  I actually went to see my GP on Monday to get a routine cervical smear but due to a mix up by the receptionist it didn't happen.  He said "I haven't done one for 20 years and you don't want me to practice on you".  Since I was there I talked about a few minor ailments and he send me off to get the MRI (no longer covered under Medicare, thanks for nothing stupid government and costing me $385 which thankfully I am able to cover but really)
5. Watching a few things - Minx, which I adored and watched over a couple of days, Slow Horses which I am liking having loved the book series.  I think Gary Oldman is a great Jackson Lamb but I am not so keen on some of the manufactured love interests but telly innit? Also, The Outlaws which is tremendous fun - Christopher Walken is always a bonkers presence.  I am late to this but the Parisian Agency which I thought I would dislike but it turns out to be about family not houses at all.
6. Feeling angry about media coverage of the election campaign.  I hope people are motivated enough to look at the government's chaotic record and not fall for a few weeks of shiny campaigning.  
7. Listening to Backlisted and once again reminding myself of the need to keep reassessing things.  I wrote an essay on the Crying of Lot 49 and entropy in grad school and understood only 5% of it.  (what business did a 22 year old have trying to write about entropy?) I have never read a Pynchon again and yet after listening the Backlisted episode am drawn to go back and read it again.
8. Planning what I want to when I go to the UK.  I have a small list, part of which I discussed with ganching so hope a few things come off.  First on that list should be "sort your fecking passport out" otherwise I am going to have to arrive on my Aussie passport which might be torture.
9. Appreciating the stunning autumn weather.  It is cool at night but brilliant sun in the day with leaves turning red.  
10. Liking visits from the small and naughty kitten.  He really loves the company and wears himself out here but he is such a minx climbing screens and getting into everything.