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Touched that two of the lovely Australian femmo women I met when I went to the big UK conference have both contacted me to catch up while they're in Syd for AWGSA and CSAA.

One said "it wasn't as fun without you", the other said I was sorely missed at the conf. Awww. Big loves. I've only met them both a couple of times, really.

Caught up with Erica last week. Brief but lovely. Trying to catch up with Juliet this week, by going on campus for the CSAA conf. There are heaps of talks I'd love to be able to go to. eg. One of the plenary talks is given by a woman who writes about postfeminism. Ros Gill. And there's Bev Skeggs.

But I kinda have different priorities now. My school pal, Peggy, is coming over on Wed morning because she's expecting a baby soon and I have some books she might like.

Anyway, I'm going to try and get to Usyd for afternoon tea. Not sure if I really wanna gatecrash the conference as such, (particularly as conf is being organised by certain academics who have treated me like shit in the past) but at least I have an excuse to be heading in there now... catching up with Juliet. :D

Now I just have to get over my fear of public transport with pram. Actually, maybe I'll take Ev in the carrier. I was carrying her around the house in it today facing outwards and she quite liked it. So much easier having both arms free to do stuff. :)

( ... )

Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone.

Parrot and Olivier in America by Peter Carey

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was underwhelmed by this book. I made it to the end, but I must admit there were times when I felt like giving it away. I think my main reason was because one of the lead characters had almost zero redeeming features. Olivier has got to be one of the most obnoxious, spoilt, arrogant character ever created. I much preferred the Parrot chapters, but was not completely absorbed into either of their worlds. The female characters were disappointingly lacking, too. On a positive note, the period in which it is set is fascinating, and I was provided with some insights into post-revolutionary France and the early history of America. There were times when I got swept up in the story, but there were plenty of times were I was cursing Carey's overly wordy descriptions and complicated similes and metaphors. Maybe just not my style. Much preferred Tsiolas' "The Slap", which I read just after this one.

The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed The Slap. I had heard negative things about it so I was pleasantly surprised. I whipped through it, engrossed from start to finish. Many of the characters are unlikeable, but Tsiolkas paints them with such detail and humanity, that they felt very believable and I could empathise with just about all of them, despite their faults. The story revolves around a set of interconnected family and friends in suburban Melbourne. I enjoyed how each chapter was told from a different characters' point of view, and the way the tensions, loves and squabbles between the characters were played out. Now looking forward to checking out the recent ABC adaptation of it.

View all my reviews

Current Mood: thoughtful

Saw Gomez last night. Kel bought me a ticket for my birthday. :) I think I've seen them about seven times now.

They weren't as energetic as previous performances, but they still sounded great. I think the crowd was a bit lack-lustre too. I suppose Wednesday night will do that to you.

They always do a good show. They played a good mix of old and new, even stuff from their very first couple of albums.

I was particularly impressed by Ben Ottewell last night. He's the one with the gravelly soulful, typically 'gomez' voice. Alongside his usual lovely voice, he pulled out some awesome guitar solos. Nice.

Some the songs from last night below:

Official version that I can't embed: How We Operate

Current Mood: pleased
Current Music: gomez

What Do I Do (Lanie Lane) from Lanie Lane on Vimeo.

Current Mood: happy

That was pure perfection. Thanks Dandy Warhols, for making the last night of my twenties truly memorable. What a fantastic show. Wow!

Current Mood: ecstatic

Fri night: impromptu BBQ and a game of 'Articulate' with Suzy+Ben.

Yesterday: Morning walk, reading the weekend Sydney Morning Herald, lunch in Newtown, failed boot shopping attempt. More papers.

Last night: Saturday night in watching Pen and Sasha favourites: Office Space and The Big Lebowski.

Today: avoiding most of the house chores and going to get a coffee instead. :)

Current Mood: humid

Current Mood: amused

cheeky Django
Originally uploaded by redserenade.

I came into the study earlier to discover this cheeky little critter, stretched out across the keys of my laptop!

As I got my phone ready to take a photo he curled around and did his "aren't I cute?" pose. Naughty cat!

Day 16. A song that you used to hate but now love - Coin Laundry, Lisa Mitchell

Coin Laundry by Lisa Mitchell

At first I didn't like this song because the video clip really annoyed me. But then it grew on me and now I think it is sweet and catchy, if a little overplayed. She has some other great songs too. :)

( The songs so far... )

Current Mood: ditzy

In reference to that old "boat people" image with the tallship from a few years ago, I'd like to propose a new t-shirt:

Some photos from the last few weeks.

On a morning walk, my last day of being 28.

Laneway

Outside the church:

Bird on a wire

Graff art

Around the house

After the rain

I'm a little teapot!

(One of my birthday presents. If you look closely, you can see me.)

Django with peg and flowers

The giant red peg was the other half of my birthday present from Sasha. Love it.

Handsome cat.

Sunset yesterday

A 'drive-by' shooting. :)

( bigger )

I've got some more lovely photos from a trip to Balmoral yesterday - including some snaps of gorgeous little April. Will upload soon. :D

This morning I'm off to see an exhibition about Florence and some machines. :)

Slideshow at my flickr: La Perouse

Last weekend Sasha and I went for a drive down to La Perouse, or "LaPa" as it was called by the project I used to work on, which was based not far away, in Matraville and Maroubra.

LaPa has a long and interesting history, and it's an absolutely beautiful location. It was especially lovely last weekend. The sky and clouds were spectacular over the sparkling Botany Bay.

I discovered that La Perouse is named after a man who has possibly the longest name in French history, Jean François de Galaup, comte de La Pérouse. I knew it was named after him already, but I didn't know his name was actually de Galaup. In further admission of how anglocentric my understanding of Australian history is, I didn't realise that his landing at Botany Bay was the last time his country knew where he was. His ship was wrecked after leaving Australia and he never returned to France. It wasn't until 1826 (!) that some other French explorers pieced together the mystery, after finding some evidence of shipwrecks near the Solomon Islands. I find this so amazing. It was lucky La Perouse had sent his journals and letters back to Europe with a British ship, or else even less would be known about him and his voyages.

Anyway, enough history lesson. Onto some pictures. :)

And we're bound for Botany Bay

The entrance to the bay:

The man himself.

The Barrack Tower, La Perouse

The first building in the area was the round stone tower constructed in 1820-22 as accommodation for a small guard of soldiers stationed there to prevent smuggling, and the tower still stands today. (from wikipedia)

A monument to La Perouse (with industrial Port Botany in the background)

Erected in the name of France

The Museum is located in the historic 1881-1882 Cable Station on the headland at La Perouse. The building originally provided accommodation for Cable Station staff. At different periods it provided a home for nurses and soldiers. From 1944, it was a Salvation Army refuge for women and children. (from mgnsw.org.au)

This beautiful big old building houses the museum:

( some bigger photos under here )

Rock.

\m/

Current Mood: rock
Current Music: Bandoliers - Them Crooked Vultures

This is one of my favouritest songs ever.

LOVE IT.

The clip's not really a clip, but you can hear the music:

Current Mood: working
Current Music: Electioneering - Radiohead

Haven't heard this in a while, but I still love it.

Nirvana's version of The Man Who Sold the World:

(cross-posted to

australian_left)

Seems like the emails Fielding got from the campaign last week made him re-think his vote a bit. He still hasn't decided, so the vote was delayed, but it means all our emails made a difference. Lets keep encouraging him to vote yes on this bill. See GetUp suggestions below. You could also just email him or write him a letter.

Last Tuesday we wrote to you about a crucial bill that was on a knife's edge in the Senate - Senator Steven Fielding had the deciding vote. At stake: whether nearly half a million Australians would vote this coming federal election.

GetUp members responded immediately - you were among over 9,000 people who emailed, called or faxed Senator Fielding that afternoon asking him to pass the bills. Thank you!

When the time came to vote later that night, Senator Fielding was still undecided - so the Government have delayed the vote until the next Senate session (starting May 11). Many expected Steven Fielding to vote the bills down last week, but thanks in no small part to your efforts, he's still considering the issue.

The vote is in 6 weeks, but we must act now. The next Senate session will be dominated by the Federal Budget - so if we want to influence Senator Fielding, right now is the time.

Here are the 3 most important things you can do:

1 - Are you a member of a youth, community or faith group? Ask your group to send Senator Fielding a signed letter. His mailing address, and some talking points for your letter can be found here.

2 - Post a forum message. The Senator is very active on his forum so he's sure to see it, and so are his key supporters: www.stevefielding.com.au/forums

3 - Make a phone call. The Senator's electorate office number is (03) 9802 1922. You can find talking points here or read our GetUp blog for more information.

Your action could be the difference between voting and not voting for hundreds of thousands of Australians this year. Young and Indigenous Australians are affected most.

This looks like it'll be really good. :)

Why Feminism Matters
Monday 22 March, 6.30pm start
Seymour Centre, University of Sydney

Compared with 30 years ago women are now better represented in politics but there is still more to be done. Hillary Clinton and Julia Gillard are examples of women gaining important leadership positions, but not the top job. So how far have women come in terms of political leadership and shaping the public policy agenda? Do men and women do politics differently? Do women have different interests to men and how should these be incorporated into political decision-making? How might contemporary feminism contribute to improving women's position in politics.

This forum will include leading international political scientists along with Australian academics and researchers in a robust discussion on the state of contemporary feminism. They will debate issues of women's representation in politics in leading Western Liberal democracies including the US, UK and Australia.

The Sydney Ideas forum titled "Why Feminism Matters" marks the month of International Women's Day.

In what promises to be a fascinating and robust discussion, the panel will debate the different approaches taken by men and women in politics, the impact women have had in shaping public policy and the political agenda in recent decades, and the role feminism plays in politics today.

The panel includes top commentators and political scholars including: Professor Mary Fainsod Katzenstein (Government at Cornell University ), Dr Fiona Mackay (Director of the Graduate School of Social and Political Science at the University of Edinburgh), Professor Karen Beckwith (Department of Political Science at Case Western Reserve University), Dr Sue Goodwin* (Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Sydney) and Rebecca Huntley (Australian social researcher and Sydney alumni). The panel will be chaired by broadcaster and former Olympic swimmer Lisa Forrest.

Cost: $20 Adults/$15 Concession
(free for Sydney Uni staff, I think!)

* Sue is one of my colleagues and she was telling me some of the things she will talk about and asking for my opinions. Fun!

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:: penelly ::

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Recent Entries

feelin' the femmo love

Book recommendations?

goodreads mini reviews

songs I like Thursday

songs I like Monday

dandys rule, ok?

the weekend

do-do-do do-do DO!

cheeky Django

Music Meme: Day 16

election day!

boat people

some photos

Perusing La Perouse

songs I like thursday: Bandoliers

songs i like: electioneering

songs i like: Cream

songs I like: "The Man Who Sold the World"

campaign update re: electoral rolls closure

Sydney Ideas Forum: Why Feminism Matters