Woah, It's Christmas already??
Yes, it's been an even longer while since I've blogged, and I don't apologise at all... when I haven't been working or studying, I've been collapsing from exhaustion! I worked 18 days straight between Dav's visit and my trip to Melbourne - and then, after flying to Melbourne and driving straight to Dav's dad's place in Birrugarra for the night (to store most of Dav's stuff, and collect some of mine), we got back to Melbourne in time for the SAFDi Basic level Stage Combat course. Which was fantastic - but exhausting! 8.30 - 5pm every day, 10 days straight. We started with short sword, and learnt some knife / dagger work, unarmed combat (kicking, punching, strangles, etc), and falling / rolling. The course was taught by Nigel Poulton, who was down from Brisbane, with a masterclass in falls by stuntman Robert Shook. Flic was assistant instructor as well. It was an awesome, and at times frustrating, painful, and annoying course - but I loved most doing it with Dav, and getting to perform our exam fight sequence together - to pass with flying colours. We have resolved to look up Martial Arts stores and order some boken, so that we can continue to practice our stage fighting here in Strahan. In fact, as I type, in one of life's little co-incidences, I see Dav is looking up supply stores right now!!
Stage Combat is just one of the many things Dav and I have on our list of 'things to do / pursue' together while working in Strahan. The list also includes guitar (which Dav's already started teaching me - I currently know - or roughly know - E, A, D, C, G and F chords... and B, kinda!! It's a whole new language, the guitar!!); singing (we haven't really started here at all); firetwirling; juggling; acrobalance (we've done one session! Fun!); drawing; poetry (ok, so both of these are my interests); writing; running; yoga; and of course, Dav's musical and editing work. Yes, I finally have Dav down here (dragged him all the way from Melbourne - yay!!) and while the adjustment period was a little rough at times (when I moved here I was exhausted the first two weeks, and that has been amplified this time around by having to jump straight back into work AND help Dav adjust as well) I'm getting very used to having him around. It's wonderful to have him here - am feeling very lucky at the moment. Especially as we get both Christmas and New Year together :) I realised again this arvo that I am going to miss him big-time when he leaves for Rocky - especially as we will have then had 6 weeks of living with each other, and (very happily) in each other's pockets.
We will be working together for Christmas - we are going up the river with the Gordon River Cruises - the only cruise operating on Christmas day, thank goodness. It'll be Dav and my first trip up the river together; and while we have to do a tour on the island on the way back, it should be a pretty enjoyable day. Hopefully the staff will be nice and relaxed too; despite also having to work Christmas Day!
We're currently taking full advantage of two days off before Christmas Day and then the craziness that January apparently is here to do not a lot!! Have spent today finally getting Christmas presents for the family organised and wrapped (sorry guys!! I've been soooo tired these last few weeks!!) - made doubly evil by the fact that mum's Christmas package arrived in the mail yesterday, in plenty of time for Christmas (thank you mum!!). I'll miss the family lots on Christmas day... it'll only be my second away from the family. Dav is also regretting missing Grace's first, and Finn's second, Christmas - especially as he was overseas for last Christmas. But I'm just feeling very lucky to have him here, and not be doing a completely 'orphan' Christmas. In fact, I'm planning a surprise 'picnic' for him on Christmas night... he's been wanting to try Crayfish ever since we saw them being sold on the docks last week when we arrived, so I've organised to pick one up tomorrow morning. Twill be my first try as well... now I'm really hoping he doesn't read this one til after Christmas at any rate!!
Spent yesterday handing out sweets (we made an amazing lemon slice! See photos, for those of you not here, to see what you are missing out on! plus coconut ice, and triple-decker fudge... mmm...) to everyone we work with in the town - fun to make, and always fun to give gifts. This morning, on our first run together (both Dav and my knees are playing up!! I think I must have damaged mine on my run on the first day back here... very annoying!!) Erin Morrison pulled us up outside the mill to give us a bottle of Ninth Island wine, and tell me I'm 'one of the best of them' :) That was a lovely, and at times well-needed, affirmation. I have lots of time for Snow and Erinn, they are lovely ppl, real friendly 'locals'. I have to admit that when we first got back here I was struggling to adjust to helping Dav learn his script, as well as work, and dealing with Richard almost seeming to ignore me in favour of Dav. Being the new employee, that of course makes sense... but things have settled down now, and in fact Dav did his first solo show with me last night, which (apart from the torrential rain soaking us up on the set!) went very well!! We were both happy with our efforts, and are suitably vague and holiday-like today as a result of the hard work over the last week. We're treating ourselves to dinner out at Risby Cove tomorrow night, and then maybe 'X-men 3' - the only movie showing at the theatrette there. We may even see if we can do some sea-kayaking during the day, as I ran into Kathi and Gary at the supermarket this afternoon (who's sea-kayak we borrowed a month ago...); or some fishing, as while neither of us have a clue as to how to go about it, we did manage to find a handreel in the laundry this arvo...
But for now, I'm going to stop rambling and go find another drink... this is, after all, as close to a holiday as we'll get in the next few months!!
P.S. Re the tour, Dav has given me some great constructive feedback - which, while I found it hard to accept at first, has given me more to work on there. He observed that I've been over-delivering a lot - and my challenge is now to find a less performative, and more chatty / truthful style. It's not easy... as I often felt 'flat' at first while trying to find it... but I have noticed that it's easier to do while relaxed, and with fewer time pressures. Time pressure is just about to increase though, with the double-cruises of January!! I am seriously aiming to have a long look at the script (it will take a lot of work!!) and re-write it more directly and more succinctly. Part of the problem is having to get through so much - and untangling it all to be able to cut it may take time and energy, which I haven't had yet. I hope to do some of this over the next few days, before it gets really crazy... we shall see!!
Stage Combat is just one of the many things Dav and I have on our list of 'things to do / pursue' together while working in Strahan. The list also includes guitar (which Dav's already started teaching me - I currently know - or roughly know - E, A, D, C, G and F chords... and B, kinda!! It's a whole new language, the guitar!!); singing (we haven't really started here at all); firetwirling; juggling; acrobalance (we've done one session! Fun!); drawing; poetry (ok, so both of these are my interests); writing; running; yoga; and of course, Dav's musical and editing work. Yes, I finally have Dav down here (dragged him all the way from Melbourne - yay!!) and while the adjustment period was a little rough at times (when I moved here I was exhausted the first two weeks, and that has been amplified this time around by having to jump straight back into work AND help Dav adjust as well) I'm getting very used to having him around. It's wonderful to have him here - am feeling very lucky at the moment. Especially as we get both Christmas and New Year together :) I realised again this arvo that I am going to miss him big-time when he leaves for Rocky - especially as we will have then had 6 weeks of living with each other, and (very happily) in each other's pockets.
We will be working together for Christmas - we are going up the river with the Gordon River Cruises - the only cruise operating on Christmas day, thank goodness. It'll be Dav and my first trip up the river together; and while we have to do a tour on the island on the way back, it should be a pretty enjoyable day. Hopefully the staff will be nice and relaxed too; despite also having to work Christmas Day!
We're currently taking full advantage of two days off before Christmas Day and then the craziness that January apparently is here to do not a lot!! Have spent today finally getting Christmas presents for the family organised and wrapped (sorry guys!! I've been soooo tired these last few weeks!!) - made doubly evil by the fact that mum's Christmas package arrived in the mail yesterday, in plenty of time for Christmas (thank you mum!!). I'll miss the family lots on Christmas day... it'll only be my second away from the family. Dav is also regretting missing Grace's first, and Finn's second, Christmas - especially as he was overseas for last Christmas. But I'm just feeling very lucky to have him here, and not be doing a completely 'orphan' Christmas. In fact, I'm planning a surprise 'picnic' for him on Christmas night... he's been wanting to try Crayfish ever since we saw them being sold on the docks last week when we arrived, so I've organised to pick one up tomorrow morning. Twill be my first try as well... now I'm really hoping he doesn't read this one til after Christmas at any rate!!
Spent yesterday handing out sweets (we made an amazing lemon slice! See photos, for those of you not here, to see what you are missing out on! plus coconut ice, and triple-decker fudge... mmm...) to everyone we work with in the town - fun to make, and always fun to give gifts. This morning, on our first run together (both Dav and my knees are playing up!! I think I must have damaged mine on my run on the first day back here... very annoying!!) Erin Morrison pulled us up outside the mill to give us a bottle of Ninth Island wine, and tell me I'm 'one of the best of them' :) That was a lovely, and at times well-needed, affirmation. I have lots of time for Snow and Erinn, they are lovely ppl, real friendly 'locals'. I have to admit that when we first got back here I was struggling to adjust to helping Dav learn his script, as well as work, and dealing with Richard almost seeming to ignore me in favour of Dav. Being the new employee, that of course makes sense... but things have settled down now, and in fact Dav did his first solo show with me last night, which (apart from the torrential rain soaking us up on the set!) went very well!! We were both happy with our efforts, and are suitably vague and holiday-like today as a result of the hard work over the last week. We're treating ourselves to dinner out at Risby Cove tomorrow night, and then maybe 'X-men 3' - the only movie showing at the theatrette there. We may even see if we can do some sea-kayaking during the day, as I ran into Kathi and Gary at the supermarket this afternoon (who's sea-kayak we borrowed a month ago...); or some fishing, as while neither of us have a clue as to how to go about it, we did manage to find a handreel in the laundry this arvo...
But for now, I'm going to stop rambling and go find another drink... this is, after all, as close to a holiday as we'll get in the next few months!!
P.S. Re the tour, Dav has given me some great constructive feedback - which, while I found it hard to accept at first, has given me more to work on there. He observed that I've been over-delivering a lot - and my challenge is now to find a less performative, and more chatty / truthful style. It's not easy... as I often felt 'flat' at first while trying to find it... but I have noticed that it's easier to do while relaxed, and with fewer time pressures. Time pressure is just about to increase though, with the double-cruises of January!! I am seriously aiming to have a long look at the script (it will take a lot of work!!) and re-write it more directly and more succinctly. Part of the problem is having to get through so much - and untangling it all to be able to cut it may take time and energy, which I haven't had yet. I hope to do some of this over the next few days, before it gets really crazy... we shall see!!
posted by Franki | 2:09 AM
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