Ron is here

The sad news is we have withdrawn our appeal against the building of the 8 units next door after planning advice that we were unlikely to win and to proceed would cost thousands more.  So I have been trying to adapt with help from the New York skyline sent by Sandrine.

possible future outlook from my bedroom window

it was quite exciting early this morning - thank you Moon

I have started using other gifts that I was saving for later,

including the set of coasters from the Floosie that I intended to use sometime when I lived in small accommodation.  The time is now.  And I had not noticed previously the pointy eared black dog.

I have been basking in culture now that it is a short bus ride away.  I have a season ticket to the Van Diemen's Band lunch box series.

last week it was the excitement of the baryton - the only one in Australia

This week it was a pianist from Melbourne.  She played gentle music but  it still seemed a bit shrill to me.  Perhaps it's the piano.

note the bare feet.  She was the sort of person you wanted to befriend

A friend had told me about an exhibition of aurora photos in Salamanca Place, so seize the day.

They were amazing photos but I can't really accept them as real.  I need to be there bathed in those improbable colours.

being a balletomane I was enchanted by this

and Miss Haidee Millinery

just a photo to show the Floozie the wedge shaped building

then to the waterfront

remembering some people have to work...

 and get ready to catch the ferry home

This is  not the Bellerive Ferry.  Last Thursday I met the Weily Fox for lunch at the Eastcoaster and then cruised on to a soiree at Anne's.  The Foxy One has just returned from cruising Iceland and is finding the concept of night difficult.

Of course, there's more to life than gadding.  There's reading.

To be honest I haven't started this one yet but I have seen the film!!!  It's got a dog in it and its set in NY so of course I enjoyed it but I didn't quite get the friendship and suicide themes.  Perhaps they'll be stronger in the book.

I have also seen Bride Hard with Rebel Wilson which I thoroughly enjoyed, despite the corny American sex jokes.  I expected to see a send up of the tough boy movies, and that is what I saw.  It's been panned by the critics who, apparently, rate Ballerina highly.  Well I think they're pretty line ball in being ridiculous but Bride Hard is fun.  Ballerina seems out to destroy everything in her path - though I have  no idea where her path is leading - whereas our Rebel is out to save a rich American family and her best friend, all the time wearing her bright red bridesmaid dress and still eluding and defeating hundreds of bad guys.  Far more noble and edifying.

These books I have read:

a good read set in places I know

wordy and overly descriptive but clever idea to have Julia Child as part of the team

This I found a difficult read and am still not quite sure of some of the storyline.  But it is hugely thought provoking and presents a view of the community of people who are deaf which I've read about previously but had not seen it so strongly championed.

And now I'm off to seize another day.