Interstellar

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It seems like years since I have seen a movie in a cinema. I was put off by pushy people and the over enthusiastic air conditioning. After lunch on Sunday we braved the Palace in Leichhardt.

Armed with popcorn, wine and a generous cheeseboard we took our pre-booked seats to see Interstellar. To my left, a space claimer (no pun intended) sat down in the chair next to me. By the way he behaved I think I must have been in his seat. This immediately set me into overcompensation “not to make a noise” mode.

I found the film spectacular, believable and the music awesome. I did not dare to break the spell of the the silence of space by munching on a brie loaded cracker. The only hiccup was me creating a constellation on the pristine black carpet at my feet. The contents of the box on my lap tipped as I reached for the wine bottle on the floor. I managed to hold it together as the space-rancher next to me jumped as he felt light balls of corn tumble down his right leg.

No one was harmed in writing this post.

Picture Credit: Fornax Galaxy, ESO/Digitized Sky Survey 2

Alien encounter

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I went into a discount chemist shop today in the suburb we moved to just over a week ago. Inside, the shelves were sparsely stocked. There weren’t any other customers and on first glance, members of staff were absent too.

While looking for the item I wanted to buy, I noticed a man wearing a white jacket behind the prescription counter. Assuming he was a pharmacist, I walked over and gave him the item. He walked around me to the cash register. I gave him $10, he gave me $2.05 change.

Behaving contrary to normal I consciously did not thank him. No words were exchanged; upon leaving the shop I decided I wouldn’t go there again.

Backache, headache; tomorrow is the day

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Moving house is an opportunity to lift some of the weight of possessions from our shoulders. I knew this before we started packing 70 crates, why wasn’t I more ruthless? We have so many items that we have trailed with us from place to place.

Today we gave away three pieces of furniture to a man that restores things, in the hope that they can find a new home.

My mother’s 1950s Singer treadle sewing machine that she could never use because of the callipers she wore. During my childhood it sat under the window of the spare bedroom in my grand parents house. Topped by a potted aspidistra; years of water damage led to the slow degradation of the veneer beneath. I inherited the sewing machine in 1972, using it to alter clothes and make soft furnishings.

Our bed for the first ten years together; an early 20th century slatted oak head and foot boards. It had lain in the loft wrapped in polythene for the last three years.

A momento of one of our happy excursions to the southern highlands of New South Wales. A small Art Deco side table with a diagonal grain veneer top.

This represents the start of releasing the pretty things from our nest; a new chapter.

Purple

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Over the last few weeks I’ve been admiring the regal colour of the flowers of the jacaranda trees.

This one is located on the upper campus of UNSW, Sydney, Australia. One of the Faculty of Medicine’s buildings provides contrast in colour and form.

A perfect day

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Receiving this bouquet was the first of many happy surprises on our wedding day.

On 24th October 2014 we entered the British Consulate, Sydney, Australia as bachelors.
We were the twelfth couple to be married.
We left the Consulate as bachelors.
We have been married in our hearts for the last 20 years.