- Yesterday was Aveline's memorial service, and a really beautiful day. We trekked to Leura in the Blue Mountains outside of Sydney, and had a picnic at a favourite spot of Aveline's. There was food, drink, lovely heartfelt speeches, tears, laughs, kids underfoot, and lots of fond rememberances. I took heaps of photos, and I'll post some in the next day or so with an entry about the day. [For the backstory, read my other entries tagged Aveline.]
- This sweetie left a comment on a previous post to let me know that there is a gay bloggers meet next Sunday, at 6.30pm after Mardi Gras Fair Day, at the Tilbury Hotel. Morgan, Stil, 'Pong, James, Billy, M-H, Craig & Andrew, wanna come with? I'm thinking posse.
- Did any of my fellow Sydney-ites watch the first episode of Around The World In 80 Treasures last night? Blew my tiny mind. I loved that they showed some places (like the abandoned city of Chan Chan for example) that were less well known. The series was made in 2005, so has probably already been shown overseas. Anyone else seen it? I'll be tuning in next week - it feeds the part of me that as a child wanted desperately to be an archeologist, and feeds that part of me that currently has wanderlust. *sigh*
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Snippets
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12 comments:
Oooh, I recorded that show! Haven't watched it yet, but your review has piqued my curiosity. I'll definitely be putting it on today.
Everything happens next Sunday: Fair Day, Trop Fest, Stink Water Short film festival and possible FBi screening. Fair Day is for sure and after that, we have a week to decide.
Was half watching the program last night, didn't see much of the visual. I wondered why the writer/narrator had to whisper all through the show since he was in the complex by himself. He must have been conscious about disturbing Incan ghosts.
80 Treasures was interesting but the guys was over the top in awe and fascintation and a little light on real facts.
Chan chan was brilliant though and I'm interested to see what he picks for the 80 treasures but I think I'll find a text book to find out about the places and objects.
Mousicles, I agree with your “awe and fascination” comment — but I think that tone of voice is compulsory with English archaeological documentaries. To me, though, it just says “You need to get out and about more, and realise that most of the world isn’t Britain.”
’Pong is right about the massive collision of events next Sunday. We’ll see how we go.
And curiously, part of me asks, “Why would I want to meet bloggers just because they’re gay?” I know it’s Mardi Gras season and all that, but hasn’t the world moved on from having to make A Big Deal about of being gay? I certainly don’t think my sexuality is anywhere near the most interesting aspect of my character.
Andrew, yes I'll be up for it, probably. Like 'pong, it seems that everything is on the same day. There's Chinese NY as well, and the terrific Hayden Tee is doing late night cabaret at the Statement. If I get the VERY glamorous invitation I'm expecting/hoping for, I'll dump you, but otherwise, very likely I'll be there. And, following on from Stil's comment, yes there are some real loser gays around, but Andrew's very nice, and so are lots of the other people listed, so the reason to meet up is because they're nice and interesting, not because they're gay.
James
Beautiful Andrew & i love the "fond rememberances" x
jlWow, you guys are a tough room.
I agree with you all on the "shock and awe" whispered narration, but it didn't really faze me. I was too amazed by the salt pans, Chan Chan, the 'spider necklace' and the other stuff I had never seen before. I know Attenborough was largely whispering so as not to spook the wildlife, but I think he set a tone that a lot of other documentarians have emulated.
As to the 'gay blogger' thing. Eh, I think your comment is unfairly negative Stil. I like the company of other gay people, (not exlusively of course) and a blogger meet with other gay bloggers sounds like fun to me. The original entry on the blog I linked to doesn't even call it an exclusively gay blogger thing, but it was posted by a gay blogger and the Tilbury is gay on a Sunday night - that was me filling in the blanks. I think criticising gay people for enjoying the company of each other is a bit cynical and insulting. I don't hang out with other gay people ONLY because they are gay, but it gives a certain degree of shared experience, and potentially shared points of view on some things, that makes hanging out with other gay people fun.
Besides, there might be someone I want to hit on...
I'm really enjoying around the world and very excited that St James, Kings St, Sydney features in episode three. It's a fantastic example of Greenway Georgian architecture with a spectatcular copper dome. And a funky place to worship, if that's your thang.
Oh cool, a local connection!
I’ve just read the responses to my last comment. Poor wording on my part has made me seem more negative than I’d intended.
OK, I'll tackle it from a different angle...
The tag “gay” can be attached to me, but so can many others: “cynic”, “eater of blue steaks”, “leftist” (for those still using that totally inadequate description of politics), “geek”, “right-handed”, “hedonist”, “manager”...
But the “gay” tag has a special status for many people: everything in their life has to be reflected through that prism, and their entire world is structured about what “gay people do”.
At Mardi Gras time I find this pressure for conformity unbearable. And I find it uncomfortable being in the company of so many sheep.
Generally, when I go to an event “because it’s gay” I get very, very bored.
Perhaps it’s a case that for many people, the coming-out process and labelling themselves “gay” suddenly ended that sense of “feeling different”.
For me, though, that sense of being different isn’t about sexuality. It’s about being a goat, not a sheep.
Oh well, time to head off Fair Day... [bleats, exits stage right]
Oh, and after all that, I’ve still put the details of the gay bloggers meet into my pocket... such hypocrisy!
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