kissing elephants

Through the looking glass

As requested Sharon, here is photo of looking-glass glasses. You don't know how hard it is to do this without getting the camera in shot. I also have brown pair - better than the last lot?

One for the ladies

A bit of light relief after yesterday's post. This sight greets me for breakfast. Sorry fellas.

Crying in public

Feel all intellectually stimulated today following last night's talk on the role of drawing in design - yes really, I went for fun.....they were giving away Bombay Sapphire gin.

Richard Goodwin and others spoke. He describes himself as an Artist Architect (www.richard-goodwin.com - another poncy website for you to look at, RhinoMan). His art's pretty ropey but like some of his structures. Did you know that drawing is like sex? Virtual sex is never as good as the real thing etc. etc.

But what sticks in my mind about yesterday was the ferry journey back. I sat behind a beautiful girl dressed immaculately. As the ferry pulled out she started weeping as only someone whose heart is breaking can - trying to hide it by pressing her face up to the window but unable to stop. I desperately wanted to help her, I looked for a tissue but only had bedraggled bits to offer. I wondered if I should speak to her, but having been in her place before, I knew that asking if she was ok would make her, and our fellow travellers, more aware that she wasn't. I reluctantly got off at the next stop without speaking. I hope she'll be alright.

Sushi or sashimi?

Now I know the difference. Thanks Adie and Sophie - Enjoy Japan.

Tsukasa
http://www.miettas.com/Australia/New_South_Wales/East_Sydney/Tsukasa.html

Ladies who lunch

Yesterday I experienced Pilates Sydney style. Rather than the sedate 'lying on your back' activity (as Ben puts it), this involved a torture chamber style rack in which you tangle yourself up in straps, weights and pulleys while a stick-thin, smiling beauty presses down on your hips and cracks your shoulder blades. I'm sure this sounds like some deviant's idea of fun but I felt decidedly shaky afterwards. And now mum's booked me into the Advanced class tomorrow.....I may not make it back.

Strolling round the Mossman suburbs afterwards, I was struck by the species of human who populate the area. The have hair in high ponytails, sunglasses, all year round tans, smart velour tracksuits and white soft shoes. They hunt in twos, drink herbal tea and have fixed smiles on their faces. And they are everywhere. What do they do when they are not in cafes, power walking or having facials? Do their husbands lock them in a mahogany cabinet only to bring them out for cooking and bedtime duties?

Skyscrapers

From where I sit, Sydney is a city of skylines. A combination of American, Asian and European vistas around a watery roundabout. I'm bizarrely fascinated by skyscrapers. While they are crammed full of people's lives - hotel rooms, offices, shops, flats - they seem empty and hollow. Some are only stunning from afar, while others need to be held near. Their true impact for me is up close, standing underneath, looking up - as routes to the sky.

World Tower here is the latest one to be called Sydney's tallest. Started in 1974, its just been finished - how ridiculous is that. They kept running out of money, I think. Maybe they should have stopped in 1975. But I can't complain, I found two pairs of glasses in the opticians at the bottom for the price of one.

Talking of life in tall buildings, the wind is howling round the flat today. The place is shaking but I think I'm safe.

Fruit bat

Or Flying Foxes as they are otherwise known. Hundreds of these weird and wonderful creatures hang high above you in the botanical gardens in the city centre occasionally stretching out their leathery wings in the warm sun. Apparently they are biologically closer to us and other primates than they are foxes which is maybe why they are so happy to co-habit with joggers, tourists and monkeys in business suits.

A new talent

http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/stealth/

Coming soon to a cinema near you..... Stealth is out at the end of July featuring a suave UK professor playing a suave Italian professor (my dad for those of you not in the know). That's assuming the scene didn't hit the cutting room floor. He was also scientific advisor on it - I'm so proud. You'll get to see it long before me so let me know how it is.

Fear the sky...... inspired strapline.

War of the Worlds

No, not what's happening in the rest of the world right now, but the film. Last night, we watched it in this refurbished art deco cinema which was like stepping back in time. No dolby surround sound but velvet curtains raised as the film started and a hole in the floor for the Wurlitzer to appear.

I hate to admit that I really enjoyed the film despite Spielberg's fetish of the family and cute kids, and the presence of Tom Cruise (he plays an arse very well). There's very little wider context and jingoistic rubbish like in Independence Day, so the audience experiences the horror unfolding as Tom does making it it all the more sinister. Nice hand-held camera scenes too.

Morning Sydney

I made it. 21 hours of plane air which actually wasn't as bad as it can be. Glowing praise for Emirates. Reasonable food, nice people and good gadgets. Interactive entertainment so you can watch films when you want to, play chess and phone people in other seats. I got two phone calls from business class, nothing but heavy breathing but it gave me an idea for a new business proposition for the airlines - Mile High Dating. Like internet dating but only for 24 hours, then you can meet in the toilet later (sorry Mum).

Dubai airport was as vulgar as you'd expect. I sat among the plastic palms bewildered by the neon and multitude of ways in which you can expend your excesses on tat. It didn't give me much hope for the rest of the city.

Sydney is still here. Not much has changed except the temperature and a new addition to the skyline in a Norman Foster tower which actually adds little. My inspiring opera house still shines out, even though its usual glow is dulled in the autumn light. The city seems so calm and quiet without the tourists - even more so in comparison to the London I have just left - I hope the terrorists aren't getting in the way too much.

Sorry I didn't write yesterday - did you notice? I walked around in a haze of jetlag but did manage to get to an exhibition opening where I met the man who set up the gallery space. He was so enthused by what he was doing it was infectious. I was embarrassed by the fact I couldn't actually speak let alone engage in conversations about conceptual art. Although I probably couldn't have done that had I had my full faculties on me - but I might have had a go at making it up.