Thursday – “Wicked”
Last Thursday we went for the musical “Wicked” at the Regent Theatre on Collins Street. Earlier, work turned out to be very busy and I was struggling to finish essential work before leaving the office. I scrambled once the clock showed 4.30pm, and pegged away with tunnel vision till it was about 6.15pm. Tress and Kiddo had already emailed and texted me after 5pm asking what my plans were.
I scooted out of the office and raced to the tram stop. Once on the tram I texted my ladies saying I was on the way. We had dinner on Bourke Street and then took a short walk to Collins. While walking, I suddenly felt really tired and thought I might actually fall asleep during the show (God forbid, I know).
I had nothing to worry about. The show was spectacular and there was little risk of me falling asleep. After all, while the tickets we got were considered cheap tickets, at $86 each they weren’t exactly coffee money either. We finished just after 11pm and by the time we got home (after dropping Tress friend off) it was past 12am.
The images were spectacular – beyond picturesque.
Friday – Joe Hu
We still had to be up at about 5,30am the next day. Thankfully it’s a Friday. The day was nevertheless still very busy at work. That night I was too bushed to do anything except stay home and sleep early. Kiddo would have none of it and insisted on being in church for Joe’s bible study.
We went, reluctantly at first. Because of a wedding the next day, the bible study was moved to a different building. There were also far less people. We finished around 10.30pm. We got home and I was really glad to be in bed.
Saturday – Weeding and Wedding, Beauty & The Beast
Well sort of. Our front lawn and driveway was just filled with fallen leaves so after coffee with Tress, she went about with the laundry while I raked the leaves and put them away in the garden bin.
The leaves covering the ground were to me, quite picturesque.
Tress took Kiddo to get a coat for the wedding, and I finished up, washed and changed and got ourselves to the church on time.
The bride wasn’t on time however and we waited for just over 45 minutes before it finally started.
We left, and went to do a bit of shopping in the arvo – kiddo for some school stationery and I stocked up on some wine. We got home, changed and headed to the train station to get into the city for kiddo’s date with a schoolmate for yet another musical production. We stopped by in a house on the street after ours for an open inspection.
We took the train into Melbourne Central, had a bite to eat and waited with kiddo for her friend. When she showed up Tress and I jumped on a train and went back to Blackburn. Kiddo and her mate proceeded to Melbourne High for the Beauty and the Beast. She later raved about how good it was and how, dollar for dollar and talent for talent, Beauty and the Beast a la Melbourne High and MacRoberson girls’ was comparable to Wicked at the Regent. I believed her, having seen West Side Story at Melbourne High last year.
While waiting for her we went to David and Lee Leng’s. They have moved into their new home earlier that week so we thought we’d drop in. We picked up a cheesecake and some grapes on the way.
United’s 18th
While there Alex and his family also showed up so we chatted for a bit. I left just after 9, to catch United’s title winning match against the goners.
Just before half time however we drove to South Yarra to pick kiddo up. There was some confusion about the finishing time so by the time we picked her up she was alone – at 11pm in a dark school yard. We were worried and were grateful she was alright and relatively calm about it.
We got home for the final 15 minutes of the game and I poured myself a very good glass of red to toast the achievement.
Now for a bottle of Barolo in anticipation of a Roman victory on the 27th. Meanwhile, the pictures of Neville, Carrick, Ferdinand etc each taking turns to lift t he trophy made for great pictures.
Sunday – a new experienceSunday we had a speaker who facilitates advocacy work for persecuted Christians in the middle-east. I want to keep in contact with this worker and seek to come alongside.
Form over substance
The church was still resplendent with the deco from the wedding. It was still a beautiful building, but it came at a price.
Those who did the job were totally spent and were absent from church on Sunday. There was no Kids Church as well and a few confused parents weren’t pleased.
This emphasis on the beauty of physical objects is totally consistent with the increasing trend of letting photographers dictate proceedings. Instead of having photography capture moments of the proceedings, we have allowed it to dictate the proceedings.
A photographer can stop an entire wedding while he snaps away. Somehow everyone has to toe his line, just because he wants to deliver a perfect picture. It should be a beautiful occasion and it is for the photographer to capture the occasion. He should not be manufacturing the occasion for the photograph.
Ah well, what do I know… it was a picturesque weekend…
Ante 