b r a v e c r e a t u r e s

After a dip into the personal, its probably about time to focus back on the rest of the world for a bit.Australia’s North and Central Queensland has just been hit by a cyclone, a hurricane in northern parlance that has devastated the cost and a surprising distance inland. Cyclone Larry was a cat 5 storm, which puts it on a similar scale to hurricane Katrina, the storm that left New Orleans devastated late last year.

Now its important to note that the Innisvale region of central Queensland where Larry made landfall is nowhere near as populated as coastal Louisiana, nor is it as low lying and exposes as New Orleans, but none the less there has been no loss of life, the emergency services swung into action before the storm and within two days the Little J’Ho was announcing comprehensive support packages for the farmers whose entire crops were whipped out.

I am not blowing Australia’s trumpet overmuch on this, I think that the response to Larry is appropriate, well sized and timed. I think the US reaction to Katrina was and continues to be appallingly slow. It seems like the majority of the money being spent on Katrina was by the media outlets covering it. If the money it cost to get those reporter all over the gulf states, if the transport had been used for food and medical supplies, if the energy had been used helping rather than to feed the voyeuristic desires of the American people, perhaps things would not have gone so amazingly badly.

Run, run, run, run. Lordy its been a month of travel. But I am home again in my little cupboard in leafy Armadale and about to go to bed, but I thought I would scratch something down first.

Narnia

I saw The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe on Boxing Day like a good little boy and eh - its ok. I kind of agree with David and Margaret, but I was not blown away by it. Its been played with a very straight bat -I am sure C.S. Lewis would have approved, as will no doubt the god botherers. The effects are ok, but not exceptional, apart from the Beavers and Aslan. An indication that I wasnt carried away by the story is that I spent some time wondering if the head centaur was actually kind of hot, or if its just that I havent had sex in a loooooooong time. I think its mostly the later.

Tilda Swinton, who I usually adore, is a little wooden and not that scary as the Witch. I have to say I remember the character being a little more interesting, in a petulant, demanding sort of way. This kids however are excellent as are the voice talent for the animals.

Certainly its worth a look, and benefits from the big screen, but if I had to choose, I would pick Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang.

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Fruity Tooty

Next stop on the whirlwind tour is Queensland again to see that my mother is ok, and maybe just to visit my friend Tony in Byron Bay at New Years. Rumor has it there is a party there and Tony is trying to get me to go.

My-oh-my summer has come a gang busters here in Melbourne. Phew-ey. Even on the days they forecast as being overcast and showers have been TER-RIF-IC!!! And I love it.

Growing up in Queensland, I was raised to think that a tan was normal so the last few years where I have been careful of my skin, SPF 45’s and moisturized like there was no tomorrow have been good for my skin, but have felt weird. So this year I am kicking it to one side (a little). My friend Joe says I am tan-orexic, but its nice to be brown again.

The weather has been great and in the seven years since I moved to Melbourne (yes folks, 7 years) I have really seen a change in the weather patterns. Its warmer and dryer here, the summers are more consistent and a little hotter. The days of four-seasons-before-lunch are fewer and further apart and Melbourne’s reputation for shitty weather is rapidly fading into (just) sour grapes from the northerners.

There is something about Australia. The sky is bluer, the sun is warmer and the people move at a gentler pace, not so much slower, but taking the time to enjoy the beauty of the summer around them. There is much to enjoy here. So the dwindling weeks of my freedom from serious employ are being well spent reclining in the sunshine.