STERN

So I was chatting to a work colleague the other day, and our conversation turned to some of our other workmates (surprise, surprise) and I mentioned that a particular person was giving me attitood. My workmate said that it might have something to do with me being "stern" on occasion.

Um, ME? Stern???

Their comment sort of took me by surprise, but after thinking about it I realised that I MIGHT come across as a bit bossy at work. However, I'd like to use the terms "no-nonsense" or "focussed" ;)

My dear Sister said she could see me being "stern" at work and that I probably inherited that trait from Dad.

*sigh* I will try to laugh a bit more at work...

I *heart* Sigur Rós

Last Wednesday I saw the best gig EVERRRRRRRR - I have to roll the R's because this band is from Iceland, regarded as one of the strangest countries.

My alltime favourite band Sigur Rós came back to Sydney - they were here last August and I missed them :( - and I saw them last Wednesday night. They were fantastic, so much so that I was almost in tears. I'd read reviews prior about their effect on audiences and was sceptical about reading people who were reduced to crying or curling up into foetal positions at their shows. Hmmmmmm, but guess what happened to me!?

Firstly, they had a string quartet, also from Iceland, called Amina supporting them. They were pretty good too. Their music was quite lovely, a nice introduction to Sigur Rós in terms of their delicate, lullaby-like quality....The group consisted of 4 women, all whom looked very pixie-like.....one had big, fluffy hair like Janet Frame in "An Angel At My Table". They all wore red dresses, looking kind of nerdy-like and bookish. I said to Ang that they were possibley the geeky girls in high school who practiced their violin and glockenspeil during lunchtime.......I bought their EP afterwards and it's really good! Looking forward to their album...



Well, when Sigur Rós finally came on stage, Ang and I were upstairs trying on the hoodies at the merchandise stall. As soon as we heard them we raced down to our seats (4 rows from the front behind the dance-floor). I felt shivers up and down my spine. The band appeared behind a white mosquito-net-like fabric which was drawn across the stage. The lighting was amazing as were the video projections thrown across the netting. It was like watching a show from another universe or planet.

Onto the music - which was so beautiful beyond words....Jonsi, the lead singer - well his voice is heartbreakingly beautiful. He sings mainly in falsetto, in Hopelandic (an invented language) and plays his bass with a cello bow. The combination of his sweeping, alien-like vocals with the eerie notes made from his unique way of playing his guitar are just glorious. I've officially got a crush on Jonsi now, which is allowed because he's gay. He's also blind in one eye, and in need of a good feed but I still admire him *heart*

They played a good setlist I thought - mostly from their latest album "Takk.." and a few songs from their earlier albums "( )" and"Agaetis Byrjun". They did however miss 2 of my favourite songs off "Takk..." which I was a bit disappointed with but oh well. It was pretty much a perfect evening. It has taken me days to come down from the high of the night so that I could even write this blog entry.



(photos not from my camera...nicked from the official website)

Little Saigon

funny. i write a blog entry during the week which mentions the film "Little Fish" which was set in Cabramatta, and then I end up spending most of today there on the invite of a friend.

Waz, his girlfriend Tash, and another friend Melissa and I drove out to Cabramatta this morning for yum cha. Actually, Waz drove us, which was wonderful so I could sit back and enjoy suburbia in all it's glory. The drive took about 40 minutes, so we were there around 11ish. Having finally found a space in the carpark (good spotting Tash!) we wandered over to the restaurant which Warwick had been to several times before. There was no numbering system to getting a table, so after 10/15 minutes and several people pushing in, we eventually got our table (communal on a larger table) and sat down to some of the best yum cha I've ever had. Yumcity!

We feasted on the usual yum cha fare, but also discovered some new things. Perhaps Viet-Chinese hybrid dishes? After gorging ourselves on so many wonderful things, we were handed the bill of $43. *shock, horror* ONLY FORTY-THREE BUX??? If we had dined in the city, or more "classier" restaurants, I am sure we would have paid at least 10 dollars more.

Waz, in his email invite to us said we could do a bit of Cate-Blanchett-spotting at lunch, and apparently he wasn't joking. The Blonde One has apparently been spotted eating yum cha at the same establishment we were in, no doubt having discovered the suburban gem whilst shooting (up) the film "Little Fish".

After the lunch, we ventured outside into the crisp autumn air and walked towards the plaza. Mmmmmm, the smells reminded me of Saigon and I felt a comforting sense of security.....SECURITY?????? Afterall, this was the place from my childhood which everyone seemed to fear. I remember Mum, going out to Cabramatta to buy food when I was a young teenager and Dad freaking out. Granted, back then things were different I suppose and I remembering feeling frightened when I went with her. Today, I felt no fear because the plaza seemed no different to any other suburban shopping district, albeit filled with Vietnamese faces and shops. It felt good to be there - again I seemed to blend into the crowd I suppose...I think....

We wandered up and down the shopping strip, occassionally venturing in to any shop that took our fancy. Melissa bought some new jeans at a clothes shop and a blue (not white) salad spinner at a discount variety store. Waz and Tash bought various bargains at the aforementioned shop. I remembered I needed to buy an 18th birthday present for my cousin, but couldn't find anything in the shop that didn't look CHEAP :(. Waz and I discovered $70 mens suits on sale, and sequiny or see-thru men's shirts which "could" look good at next year's Mardi Gras.....

I ended up buying some delicious custard cakes ($3 for 15!) fresh off the hot plate. OMG yum. I also bought a HUGE drink of fresh sugar cane, mixed with orange and ice. 2 bux is all that cost!!! they don't sell 'em like that at fucking Boost Juice!

All in all, a good day.....