The Prodigious Talent Of The Late Michael Callen

20 years ago (20!) I accompanied my then boyfriend Simon, who was a research scientist working in AIDS (specifically education and its effect on gay men), to an international AIDS conference in Hobart, Tasmania. It was an amazing trip. I met some lovely people, learned heaps from the conference sessions, booed Wilson Tuckey (along with everyone else), participated in a civil disobedience act by informing the police I had committed (the then illegal) act of sodomy on Tasmanian soil, and even had dinner with a then very closeted (but now not) leading judge. 1988 was an amazing year, I was 24 and very much in love with Simon, it was the same year I backpacked around Europe and a year before I came to live in Sydney from Adelaide.



One of the highlights of the conference though was meeting the American singer Michael Callen. Even then Michael was considered a long term survivor of AIDS. Sadly, he passed away 5 years later in 1993 at the age of 38, but he left a legacy of fab work behind him, including cameos in the films "Philadelphia" and "Zero Patience".

Tasmanian activist (and part-time tour guide) Rodney Croome gave us a homo-tastic tour of the colonial penal institution at Port Arthur, and while we were on the bus there Michael very sweetly gave me a cassette of his latest album with a beautiful inscription in it. Basically saying that he wished he had had young role models like Simon and I when he was growing up. Here's his cover of "Where The Boys Are" from the very same album:

(Slightly NSFW, if you're watching this at work that is, in that the Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name calls out the f-bomb in the beginning.)

Sweet Babbie Jebus, that Michael could hit the right notes!

[Updated: I dragged out a couple of old photo albums last night to show Tall & Handsome some pics of me at the Berlin Wall in 1988, an lo there in the back of the album were some snaps from the conference and a couple of Michael. Awwww. Made me all nostaglic, it did.]

Cafe Society

LiveJournal-ist and vintage photo fan "Orchid Thief" has posted a fantastic journal entry with a collection of vintage cafe photos. Café des Deux Magots. Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Doesn't it make your toes curl?





Now I'm so jonesing for an espresso and a Gauloise... and I don't even smoke.

Yes, I Would Like To Help You Buy A Goat

I've been fascinated by the concept of microfinance for some time now. Comparatively small loans that are made to the working poor and low income entrepreneurs, for small business projects that have the potential to vastly improve their lives. Money for merchandise, seeds, even goats. Low income and subsistence workers rarely meet the criteria for lending from banking institutions, so a number other institutions have risen up to link these entrepreneurs and potential lenders together.




Deb over at freakgirl wrote a blog entry about an organisation called Kiva. I've just spent the past few hours wading through the website and I'm blown away. Kiva personalises the activity of microfinance by profiling each entrepreneur, and by having the volunteer field workers (who are posted with local micro-lending institutions that administer the Kiva funds) write regular blog style updates on the activities of the entrepreneurs in their area. Repayments by the entepreneurs are tracked, usually over a period of 6 - 12 months, and repaid to the lenders. Lending amounts are made in increments of US$25, and you choose who the loan goes to.

Rather than donations, the money is lent and eventually repaid so that the lenders can elect to retrieve their outlay or lend it to another entepreneur. The default rate on the loans seems really low at around 1.3%, but as Kiva warns it is often due to the nature of local unstable economies or even nature (such as crop failures) and so often out of their control. I had a quick look at some of the lender profiles, and some of these people are amazing! Like one retired couple who's portfolio of loans made runs to 5 pages! I love the idea that the money has a life, one that cycles through the lives of these people, helping them achieve new levels of independence, and then can be recycled to help others.

Currently US$25 is a little over AUS$38. Thirty eight bucks! Not such a big amount at all. A trip to the movies and a couple of drinks afterwards. A paperback novel or two. The price of a little indulgence. When I get paid tomorrow I'm going to sink that $38 into a loan instead. Maybe it'll buy a goat or two.

Undercover Lovers

I say old chap, I can see your ball.

Move along Jones, give us all a shot!

Welcome! Cory and Chad here will help you get settled in and out of those things.

I tell you old boy, it was most strange. I did this and "You're nuts!" was all she could say.

[All pics via Vintage Skivvies.]

Done And Dusted

Resignation has been handed in, and pleasant 'no fault' discussion has been had. My agency has been informed, a replacement requested, and a likewise pleasant conversation had. (My temp agency consultant's 'off the record' view, getting a permananent job in the current financial situation is a wise move.) Confirmation of my start date at the new job in 2 weeks has been emailed to my new employer.

I'd say I'm good to go!

5 Things About The Weekend Past: House Guest Edition

• House guest weekend! Tall & Handsome was here for a flying visit, before taking off to do some work committments and coming back on Wednesday for another round of hot & sweaty sexing visit. Yay. It was so nice to hang out together, and as free of weirdness and awkwardness as I hoped it would be.
  
• However, 2 light sleepers who both snore equals a recipe for sleep deprivation all round! Judicious napping (and occasional use of the sofa bed) was a help.
• Friday's new job celebrations carried over into the weekend, with a special dinner treat at one of my favourite Thai restaurants.
  
• Knitting! After skipping a week because of the Newtown Festival it was so nice to be back at the pub, hanging with my peeps and knitting on Sunday afternoon.
  
• Speaking of knitting, Tall & Handsome and I made a trip into the Kinokuniya bookstore in the city on Saturday, and I found one of the few men's knitting books where I would wear just about everything in it. This one's definitely going on the wish list.

Och Aye!

I found this thistle growing as a weed in the street the other day. It quickened the Scottish blood that runs through my veins.

Cirsium Vulgare, aka the Roadside Thistle. Invasive weed or not I was still happy to see it.

What A Difference 3 Days Makes

Well. Hey all!

Last Tuesday I was stressed and feeling quite strung out, mostly about work and finances, but a little bit about...well, life in general. Daydreaming about closing the door on some things in my life, dropping the key in the gutter and just walking away. You know? Put on your walking shoes and just go? Even if only as a metaphor, rather than literally. I didn't. I didn't quit my job or do any of the other impetuous things I felt like doing, but I did give myself a break.

Not just from blogging, but from my computer in general, from trying to get everything done, and from working too hard. I think there are few things more stressful than feeling like you don't have options, or options that are all bad. Taking some time to review and take stock was a good idea.

I had a frank discussion with my current employer, telling them that the workload was unmanageable on my hours (no overtime allowed), that I was considering leaving, and that the secondary issue was the three weeks they will be closed over Christmas and the New Year. Three weeks I wouldn't get paid for. To their credit they met me most of the way, agreed to overtime (although not to a reduced workload, sadly) and to allow me to work part-time over the Christmas break.

Straight away that was a relief. A nice fat overtime pay just before Christmas would be a real help, even if the thought of working more hours wasn't that appealing. Then that same afternoon I got a phone call I had been waiting for, a request to meet with the financial controller of a business I worked for about 6 months back.

So, this afternoon I had that meeting and I scored myself a new permanent job. Yay. One with sick pay, holiday pay and a manageable workload. It's working back at this business that I temped at about 6 months ago, and encouragingly they came looking for me because they were so happy with the job I had done.

They also let me open negotiations about the pay. I based my suggestion on a figure we had discussed 6 months ago, one which they thought was a stretch, but the ease with which they said yes makes me think I could have asked for more. Farging icehole buggering goddamn. Oh well. It's a figure I can live on a bit more comfortably and get ahead from where I am now.

And if anything is a stress reducer, that certainly is.

In other news, I missed not blogging over the past few days even as much as I enjoyed the break. So there is a bit of re-invigoration in the air! Plus, I have a house guest at present who's providing quality cuddles and I'm really enjoying spending time with. Tuesday feels like it was a long time ago!

Break Time

I'm having a tough week chickens, and I need to put my energies into finding another job and digging myself out of this situation I find myself in. Consequently, time for a blogging break.

Not for long, I'll probably be back next week. Check back then and in the meantime have fun!

5 Things About Tuesday, 11th November: Mean Reds Edition

• I think the stress of the uncertainty about work and income over the next couple of months has started to get to me. Wound up and snappish is my mode du jour.
  
• I need to take some deep breaths, and stop listening to the doom and gloom about the economy and the job market on the nightly news. Srsly.
  
• On the upside, house guest this Thursday! Woo hoo! At least staying in bed is free, right? (Well, under most circumstances.)
  
• Thinking of which, I can't imagine what it would be like to pay for sex. I mean, it's a turn on for some people but I just don't think I would want to be with someone that didn't want me back, you know? (Even if it's just because they're looking at me through a pair of beer goggles.)
  
• I guess there are issues of power and control in there for some people. Not my scene.

30 Years

Yesterday was the day of the Newtown Festival, the 30th annual Newtown Festival to be precise. It was a bright and quite warm day, but thankfully less savagely hot and humid than in recent years past. Still definitely 30+ sunscreen weather though.

Temporary shade on sale.

It was as crowded as always this year, although it did feel slightly less of a crush than last year. Last year was incredibly hot and humid, and I wilted quite fast. This year I stuck it out for a few hours, but the crowds and heat stopped me from really buying anything this year. Except a bucket sized cup of homemade lemonade and the ubiquitous Turkish gözleme that is. (I swear, gather more than 6 members of the public together in Sydney, and someone will put up a gözleme stand.)

Crowd crush. Curious fact, the guy on the right in the black tee is the ex of a friend, I didn't spot him until I checked the shot afterwards.

Retailer numbers didn't seem to be down on previous years, and there seemed to be plenty of retail therapy being exercised. What recession? If there is one it hasn't dented the cheap sunglasses, ironic tee shirt and cotton fishermen's pants markets.

Jackie Jackie Jackie!

I met up with my friends Ian and Steve, and their Jack Russell terrier Jack. We wandered, ate, cooed at lots of gorgeous dogs and I perved (hot weather + pretty men, what's a boy to do?). I avoided sunburn and dehydration, which had been one of my aims.

Fantastic bellydance troop that were perfoming to a sort of electronica meets Indian music fusion.

In the afternoon I had an invite to join James for his birthday drinks, so I headed home for a much needed disco nap. It's amazing what 20 minutes of shut eye can do for the elderly! An hour later I had cleansed, groomed and polished and was on my way to drinks with James. Drinks turned into more drinks, turned into a bit of a pub crawl, turned into dinner with James, Sam, Patrick and myself. Lovely! (Some pics to come.)

There wasn't much breeze to get these windsocks doing their stuff.

James has written a blog post about his birthday drinkies, a surprisingly large percentage of which is about men's toilets. Make of that what you will.

Revisiting

I saw the movie remake of Brideshead Revisited last night with my friend Judy, and loved it. Not unreservedly I must say, but then I have such fond (and distant) memories of the tv series that this poor film is always going to suffer by comparison. Second Boyfriend syndrome, in a way.

I did enjoy it though, and I especially though they captured the style of the era so beautifully.



OMG. I have whittered on about vintage clothes and the 1930s before, so it's a given that this movie was already halfway to being my BFF. The fact that they captured it so well though makes me want to tongue kiss it too. (OK, agreed. That's weird, but you get my drift.) I like.



The clothes. The vintage bathing costumes! OMG, the knitwear! I missed the entire dialogue from one scene because I was so entranced by Greta Scacchi's hat. Such is the power of good millinery. Every time Charles appeared on screen in another Fair Isle vest I was thinking Wait a second! Slow down! Give me a look at that pattern! Le sigh. Definitely a DVD purchase coming up.



I enjoyed the performances. Sebastian is more doomed and less jolly than in the tv series, Charles is still a bit of a tit (albeit one that stirs my nethers, yum) but cast a little less as a potential social climber I thought, and Julia still needs smacking, hard etc. Greta Scacchi and Michael Gambon add some much needed warmth. That Matthew Goode (far right) is a stunner, and I later realised he was the handsome guy I had been so taken with in the other period piece My Family & Other Animals about Gerald Durrell and his family.



But I think I need to see it again to get past the distractions of millinery and really watch the story.



While I was exercising my Google-fu looking for pics I found a fab blog called The House In Marrakesh, about a couple who lived in a 500 year old house in Marrakesh. After seeing the movie they realised that the hospital scenes in Morocco were shot at the crumbling Bahia Palace, which they had taken many pics of. It provides a nice bit of backstory to the locations, and even though they are no longer in Marrakesh the archives make for a great read.

So. This morning was Haircut Day and I decided to jump in and do something I've been thinking about for a while. Given further impetus by the film, I'm changing my Generic Short With A Kicky Fringe style and going for something a bit more retro. Short back and sides, with longer floppy layers on top and the option of a side parting. I let it go 7 weeks between cuts, so the top is already quite long but it will probably take one more cut before the layers are really long enough to fill in the shape properly. I already love it though, and once it grows in properly I might post some pics.

No matter how hard I try, even with a fair isle vest and swishy linen scarf, I won't be a Charles Ryder... but I can dream.

[Updated: OK, I decided to share a pic of it after all. The new haircut, a work in progress.



Once the layers on top get a little longer I'll be able to side part it if I want, and hopefully get some floppy haired retro action happening. At least that's the plan!]

Friday Thoughts

I made the mistake of taking a good close look at my computer keyboard at work. Gross. There's all sorts of nasty under those keys. Anyone lose anything? I think I might have it.

I'm a bundle of stress today. Too much work, too little time to do it in, and deadlines missed. I keep telling myself to just effing chill the effing eff out, man! But then I hate getting yelled at, so that's just making me more stressed. It's a skill.

Haircut day tomorrow!

I'm going to a movie tonight, for the first time in ages. A real, gen-u-ine talking picture. In a movie palace! I'm seeing "Brideshead Revisisted" with my friend Judy, so it's winsome boys, longing looks and Ms Emma Thompson getting all up in their bidness.

You know you're a comfort eater when you're having a rough day, it's not even 11am, and already you're planning lunch.

"Newtown Festival" this Sunday. It's a fun day, although the crowd numbers have been steadily building to the point where it's a bit cray-zay. I'll probably pop in early-ish avec camera, and then hightail it outta there as the crowds and public drunkenness amp up. Then off to Mr O'Brien's birthday drinkies. Speaking of public drunkenness...

DIY Blankie

[Pics via the mighty Thom, Benevolent Dictatrix of Fabulon. Grazie bella!]

Change Is Come

As an outside observer I'm happy about the outcome in the US elections. I think a change in perspective, life experience and energy is well overdue. Perhaps this can overturn some of the cynicism the rest of the world feels towards the US these days.

Me, I'm working up a whole new batch of cynicism. In amongst all the joy it's worth noting that for a number of people, Mr Peeneee and his partner of 27 years for example, who 24 hours ago were married are now not. Proposition 8 (actually, that's Proposition H8 to be more accurate) overturned the right to marry for gays in the states where it passed, and those marriages are no longer recognised. Yes it's excellent that the US was progressive enough to grant that right in the first place, but it seems the battles are far from won.

5 Things I Love: An Incomplete And Changeable List For Wednesday, 5th November

• My Friends. I've become a lazy friend over the past year or so, but recently I've reconnected with a couple of my friends and it remainds me just how much I love them. (Note to self, get off your ass and keep in touch with people.)
  
• Blogging. You know, comes and goes, but I'm feeling the love again.
  
• Making things. Knitting is still going strong, but I'm itching to either repair my old sewing machine or buy a new one, because I'm feeling the need to put the treadle to the metal again.
  
• My camera. It's official, we've tired of each other every now and then, grown distant and cool, but the passion is reignited.
  
• A good cry. Currently I'm tuning in every week for a scheduled sob watching "Find My Family", the adoption reunion show. OMG. ::sniff::

The Dress-Ups Box: Part The Third

4 blog posts in one day? Chatter. Box.

So I showed you things from the Dress-Ups Box in Part The Second and Part The First. Time for Part the Third.

First up a silk suit I made in a purple-y brown mushroom coloured silk. This baby has meters and meters of hand applied gold cord and gold metallic braid. I based the design on a russet coloured suit worn by Robert Dudley in 1565.

When I found out that I was going to be elevated to a peerage in the Society For Creative Anachronism, as a member of the Order of the Laurel (just nod politely if this sounds like gobbledy gook), I decided it needed a special outfit. In shorthand, in the SCA it's the equivalent of getting a Knighthood, but for service and excellent in the arts & sciences instead of the art of the biff and bash. Mine was for costuming, and it basically recognises excellence, research and sharing of your skills (I taught quite a few costuming classes), but also 'peerage qualities'. (ie: not too much of a prat.)

Because I was working to a deadline, I sensibly decided to hand sew the individual little scale shaped tabs at the shoulders, neck and waist, and sew on the meters and meters of couched cord and braid by hand. A period I think of as the Marathon of Madness.

This looked fab on the day, and when I stepped up for the King & Queen to perform the ceremony there were gasps and cheers. Alrighty then, that's called Making An Entrance.

Handsome Robert Dudley, the original inspiration. He's a bit of alright, don't you think? No wonder Liz thought he was sex on a stick.

~~~~~

Next up is a 16th c Spanish travelling cloak I made from thick fulled wool (ie: like felt, but actually woven). This is an authentic reproduction of a travelling cloak pattern in a facsimile reprint edition of Juan de Alcega's tailor's pattern book from 1589.

I cut it to the exact pattern, and after checking his measurement guides I didn't even have to scale it down. 16th c Spanish were hobbits I think. The decoration is based on the same sorts of cloaks shown in engravings from the period. Lots of braid, and lots of tassels. Tassels! A definate selling point, don't you think?

The design is really clever. When the collar is undone and the hood flipped back, the collar sits nicely like a regular wide collar.

When you do up the collar though, and flip up the hood, it completely protects the face from the elements and leaves just a slit for the eyes. Some versions of these cloaks were made in thick felt, like the underlay that goes under carpet, and so the conical hood stood upright and helped the rain and snow slide off the thick felt. Plus it made you look kind of funny. Love that!

So there you go. Believe it or not there are some more bits to come, but we're on the home stretch now.

With Harry's Own Particular Taste In Fashion

It paid to be able to move fast.

Harry Cook. Clitheroe, Lancashire, England. 1910.

[Pic via Shorpy.]

Whinge Loud Enough On This Blog And The Universe Will Provide

At least, that's my new theory.

I've been severely stressing about the work and finances situation, about having the possibility of 3 weeks over Christmas with no income. Thinking about rent paying, gift buying, food buying even. So, I just got a phone call with a job offer. A permanent one.

The large car distributor I did some temp work for some months back told me they were sad to see me go at the time, and asked me to leave my details with them in case a permanent job offer came up. They've now merged and expanded, and have a me shaped opening. I told them the dollars I want, and that I'd need to give a couple of weeks notice where I am now, and they have gone off to do their sums. The immediate verdict was that it was entirely possible.

I've become disenchanted with where I'm working at the moment, they never came back to me with an offer when I told them about another possible job offer I received last week and they don't seem to care about my Christmas employment situation. While the environment at the other place is not as young and fun as this one, the workload is more manageable and the permanency is what I need. I won't have accrued any leave in time for a Christmas closure at this other place, but I would at least get paid for the public holidays.

So now we wait. Cross everything please!

Chart Toppers

I've become a little obsessed with oobject just of late. The curators of the site put up strange lists of things, and people vote on the 'best' (or sometimes worst). That simple. What makes it though is the bizarre collections of things that they post. I'm not so into the whole voting for the best thing, but if you're a collector of the strange and curious like me (and I'm not just talking about my friends or exes), then check it out. Here are a couple of examples.

Oobject's list of the world's top 15 modernist gas stations:



Or maybe the top 10 buildings made from old planes:



Or the 12 worst iPhone cases, like this blinged-out diamond encrusted carbon fibre monstrosity: