I went for a walk today
and saw
a beetle as colourful as a bird,
a trail of bright bird feathers
like a rainbow - but
no pot of gold,
except
an old Baptist church
empty
waiting
to become the newest Mcdonalds in town.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Game on
The maniac in the blue Ford comes from behind me. He overtakes me and weaves between the cars from left to right lane like he has a death wish. No indicator, nor patience and no regard for anyone else.
I exit the Warrego highway at North Ipswich and stop at the stop sign behind a big old Council truck. It blasts the horn and startles me. What is his problem?
I follow the truck, both of us turning right. On the other side of the overpass is a car with the driver door open. The truck misses swiping the door off by a dog’s tail. The car door closes and the car takes off behind the truck, dust and gravel spitting out behind the tyres. Then I realise it is the maniac in the blue Ford.
The Ford is swaying back and forth on the single lane, trying to pass the truck. The guy is insane. I want to get his licence plate, but I can’t read it from this distance and my self preservation is telling me not to get closer.
At the T junction, the lights are green.
The truck stops in the left turning lane.
The car stops in the right turning lane.
They are stopped side by side at the green light.
Finally the truck lurches forward. The car burns out smoke and screeches in front the truck. They both turn left.
The light is yellow; I stop and watch the vehicles curve up the hill. The car is dancing back and forth in front of the truck. The truck is hemmed in. The truck pulls over and the car stops in front of it.
The truck driver gets out in his orange fluro workvest.
The Ford driver gets out, dressed entirely in black.
I turn my CD off and pick up my mobile phone.
They step toward each other.
The light is green and I turn left. I have lost sight of them.
I curve up the hill.
The two men are on the footpath shaking hands.
Did I see that right?
I look in my rear vision mirror. They are leaning against the front of the truck, arms crossed casually over their chests, chatting.
I exit the Warrego highway at North Ipswich and stop at the stop sign behind a big old Council truck. It blasts the horn and startles me. What is his problem?
I follow the truck, both of us turning right. On the other side of the overpass is a car with the driver door open. The truck misses swiping the door off by a dog’s tail. The car door closes and the car takes off behind the truck, dust and gravel spitting out behind the tyres. Then I realise it is the maniac in the blue Ford.
The Ford is swaying back and forth on the single lane, trying to pass the truck. The guy is insane. I want to get his licence plate, but I can’t read it from this distance and my self preservation is telling me not to get closer.
At the T junction, the lights are green.
The truck stops in the left turning lane.
The car stops in the right turning lane.
They are stopped side by side at the green light.
Finally the truck lurches forward. The car burns out smoke and screeches in front the truck. They both turn left.
The light is yellow; I stop and watch the vehicles curve up the hill. The car is dancing back and forth in front of the truck. The truck is hemmed in. The truck pulls over and the car stops in front of it.
The truck driver gets out in his orange fluro workvest.
The Ford driver gets out, dressed entirely in black.
I turn my CD off and pick up my mobile phone.
They step toward each other.
The light is green and I turn left. I have lost sight of them.
I curve up the hill.
The two men are on the footpath shaking hands.
Did I see that right?
I look in my rear vision mirror. They are leaning against the front of the truck, arms crossed casually over their chests, chatting.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
If your surname is Potter, you would be brave to call your son Harry. It would be like calling your child Jesus, or Elvis if you were a Presley – or Elvis at all really. I have never met an Elvis in real life.
So what of the newest movie, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince? It is one of the better ones, exciting and relatively coherent. I don't think it is as dark as some the past ones, but it looks lush especially the signature scene of Harry and Dumbledore on a rock in the ocean.
But by necessity, the movies are merely summaries.
When you have read the books you can fill in the gaps. I wonder if a person without the details is left confused.
In the book, Harry is obsessed with who the Half Blood Prince is, in the movie this is not strongly depicted. When the identity of the Half Blood Prince is revealed it falls flat. Ho Hum, who cares? (I won’t say who it is in case you’ve successfully managed to live under a rock)
The familiarity we have with these characters, and the extra snogging, mean some laughs in the right places. If you do not end in tears...well you have a heart of stone and are probably a deatheater.
We saw this movie at the Regent in the Brisbane mall. The life of the elegant Showcase Cinema is hanging by a thread. Read about the Save the Regent Campaign
I’ll be pulling the book out for a reread soon. Testament to a good tale is that you enjoy having it retold. Is that not how every good myth and fairy tale continues its life?
So what of the newest movie, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince? It is one of the better ones, exciting and relatively coherent. I don't think it is as dark as some the past ones, but it looks lush especially the signature scene of Harry and Dumbledore on a rock in the ocean.
But by necessity, the movies are merely summaries.
When you have read the books you can fill in the gaps. I wonder if a person without the details is left confused.
In the book, Harry is obsessed with who the Half Blood Prince is, in the movie this is not strongly depicted. When the identity of the Half Blood Prince is revealed it falls flat. Ho Hum, who cares? (I won’t say who it is in case you’ve successfully managed to live under a rock)
The familiarity we have with these characters, and the extra snogging, mean some laughs in the right places. If you do not end in tears...well you have a heart of stone and are probably a deatheater.
We saw this movie at the Regent in the Brisbane mall. The life of the elegant Showcase Cinema is hanging by a thread. Read about the Save the Regent Campaign
I’ll be pulling the book out for a reread soon. Testament to a good tale is that you enjoy having it retold. Is that not how every good myth and fairy tale continues its life?
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Transformers, Revenge of the Fallen
Boring, boring boring...the good guys are going to win so get on with it already. Not that I have a problem with the good guys winning, I just like the journey to engage me.
The "Transformers" were probably cool but they move so fast it was hard to tell.
Of course, what I think means squat and the movie will make masses of money and they'll make another one and my kids will want to go and see it. I will stay home and watch Dr Who reruns. You see I don't mind when the good guys always win.
Miriama - 9.5/10 humour, action, excellent animation
Tama - 8/10 cool, funny, exciting
Wayne - 8/10 cliched escapism
Kathryn - 2/10 please don't make me watch it again.
http://www.transformersmovie.com/
The "Transformers" were probably cool but they move so fast it was hard to tell.
Of course, what I think means squat and the movie will make masses of money and they'll make another one and my kids will want to go and see it. I will stay home and watch Dr Who reruns. You see I don't mind when the good guys always win.
Miriama - 9.5/10 humour, action, excellent animation
Tama - 8/10 cool, funny, exciting
Wayne - 8/10 cliched escapism
Kathryn - 2/10 please don't make me watch it again.
http://www.transformersmovie.com/
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Thunderbird Park, Mt Tamborine
Thunderbird Park is unpolished. This is not a slick tourism establishment. There is no gift shop with overpriced Koalas.
We stayed in a 'lodge' just metres from a running creek. We sat by the fireplace and watched the water bubble past. There is also a pleasant shady campgrounds that allows dogs.
Thunderbird Park is a hub of outdoorsy activities. More than we could do in our short stay. It a
ll started years ago with mining. You can pay for a mining license to look for Thundereggs. Thundereggs are a mystery. A round grey rock, which cut open, may or may not reveal hidden beauty. It is fun hacking in the dirt with a pic, but we would have appreciated more detail on what to look for. We ended up with four buckets of rubbish.
There is also laser skirmish, horse riding, abseiling, bush walking and of course mini-golf. I think this course was built by a local farmer after he finished some fencing. I came so close to beating Wayne. In 20 years I have never won a game against him that required physical coordination.
The highlight, the reason we went to Thunderbird Park, and the reason I have rope burn is Adv
enture Parc. This is a high ropes course, which starts off cruisy. No problems, just a bit of walking on ropes and wood blocks. By the end of the course we had all reached our physical limits. Wayne was the only one to finish, but the kids and I did almost all of it. Just for the record, I hate flying foxes. How can I enjoy hanging upside down, go fast, not knowing where I am going?
Too much like real life.
All in all we recommend Thunderbird Park as long as your kids are upper primary or older, and you don't mind spending some money on the activities.
We stayed in a 'lodge' just metres from a running creek. We sat by the fireplace and watched the water bubble past. There is also a pleasant shady campgrounds that allows dogs.
Thunderbird Park is a hub of outdoorsy activities. More than we could do in our short stay. It a
ll started years ago with mining. You can pay for a mining license to look for Thundereggs. Thundereggs are a mystery. A round grey rock, which cut open, may or may not reveal hidden beauty. It is fun hacking in the dirt with a pic, but we would have appreciated more detail on what to look for. We ended up with four buckets of rubbish.There is also laser skirmish, horse riding, abseiling, bush walking and of course mini-golf. I think this course was built by a local farmer after he finished some fencing. I came so close to beating Wayne. In 20 years I have never won a game against him that required physical coordination.
The highlight, the reason we went to Thunderbird Park, and the reason I have rope burn is Adv
enture Parc. This is a high ropes course, which starts off cruisy. No problems, just a bit of walking on ropes and wood blocks. By the end of the course we had all reached our physical limits. Wayne was the only one to finish, but the kids and I did almost all of it. Just for the record, I hate flying foxes. How can I enjoy hanging upside down, go fast, not knowing where I am going?
Too much like real life.All in all we recommend Thunderbird Park as long as your kids are upper primary or older, and you don't mind spending some money on the activities.
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