Griffin Playwrights

I've begun attending the Griffin Playwrights Introductory Course led by Hilary Bell. There are fifteen people at the course and they are a diverse group. We are actors becoming writers, a devised performance producer, two teachers, a stand up commedian, an IT consultant, a lawyer, some writers and retirees. We are learning about actions and consequences or motives. How not to waste writing on monologues and soliloquies at the expense of action. Homework this week is to write a synopsis for a 10 minute play about Betrayal.
ITs fun, thought provoking and I hope will smooth out the rough edges of my play scripts. See the blog list for the 7-ON Playwrights site of which Hilary is a member. Griffin support the creation and performing of new Australian works.

Castlecrag Walk

Houses on the north side of the street are built up on rocky escarpments
Houses on the south side run down to Retreat Reserve

Our bush care sign

Candle grevillea

Sailors Bay was awash with mud and storm water after the rain

Historical sign - Marion also gifted the site to Willoughby Council when she left for Chicago after WBG's death in Lucknow on the proviso that it would continue to be used as a community theatre. The beautiful stone work was restored by Bim Hilder.

A forest of tree ferns leads down to the stage

The stone tiered seating

A beautiful and natural amphitheatre perfect for performance

I had to post a letter between the rain showers on Sunday and took a walk around my suburb looking at the gardens and how well they fit in with the built landscape. Last stop was the Castlecrag Amphitheatre. It is always a favourite place to be in thinking of the live shows I have seen there and the myriad ways it comes alive creatively under the southern night sky.

The Fridge Post

On the inside you can see that we pretty much eat everything we buy each week
Condiments, juice and beverages

The top freezer drawer with homemade sauces and leftover spag bol

the outside of the fridge with magnets and notes to remember about scouts and school

My blogger buddy Blackbird (Blackbird's blogg is the one that got me started on blogging, I was so keen to read her blogg everyday that I eventually decided to start my own.) has responded to another blogger to take part in The Fridge Post. I thought this was a catchy idea so here is my take on this.

Cinema Italiano Style

NINE the movie version of the musical is saved by the creation of new material for the singing and dancing sensation, Kate Hudson. In the role of Stephanie, a US Vogue writer in Italy she sings the praises of Guido Contini's cinematic style. The costuming for this show stopping number gives Euro style a run for its money. Kate Hudson is extraverted and unconsciously the embodient of the style she is singing about. Cinema Italiano (Ron Fair Remix) (Copywright, NINE, Harvey Weinstein.)

Two Weeks of Rain

The rain is great and seems to always come at this time of year, just as school goes back. This has been consistent in Sydney for at least the last eight years. I have had washing on the line for the last three days, but I guess that it will have to come in and go through the machine again. Then it will be on with the dryer and use of the clothes horse for lighter fabrics.
Everything is a lush green and I have noticed that the humidity has brought out the baby Eastern Water Dragons which are so cute as they run ahead of one down the path. Last night Alex an Tom had a pool party at Youth Group. The rain held off for the night and they enjoyed pool play and meeting Kathryn's family dog, Mickey and cat. There is nothing more cheerful than a house full of children and pets.

What is important about today

Being in the present moment and making whole attention available to it is what buddhism calls Mindfulness. Over the last few years I have been able to practice and receive training in Mindfulness. Mostly I am able to use it when I want to breathe across the more difficult moments of my day and use a stronger perception of my actions to refocus.

Here is a mindfulness exercise to try:
Sit with your arms resting and your feet on the floor
Close your eyes and focus on your soft and present breathing in and out
As you feel and let go the tension in different parts of your limbs and torso
Begin to settle your visual imagination
Let thoughts come and go across your minds eye
Think of a place that has meaning for you
Allow your mind to look at the ways this place is good for you
Keep breathing and now allow your mind to focus fully on a task
That you bring into being in this place
Do not try to solve anything
Learn to sit with the task and to appreciate its fuller aspects
Slowly release these thoughts
Rebreathe into your body
Reawaken your sense and open your eyes

This exercise should take between 10 and 15 minutes to do fully

The 10th Year of Book Club

We are at the first book club for the year at Odette's
Odette discussing the interior redesign of her home

the Book we have come to discuss and its take on French existentialism

Catherine arrives - she always reminds me a little of Kathy Lette - stylish and witty

We discuss the book and our lives over some wine

The night is a success and we toast the 10th year of our book club