A site I am drawn to for all the wrong reasons is Albino Blacksheep. They seem to specialise in Flash animation and if you follow the links you need the sound on. The first is one boynton sent to me some years ago. Seems harmless enough...
This next one has certain crass appeal but one of my particular favourites is Pie Hole. Browsing around Albino Blacksheep you'll find some bizarre animations not to mention the 30 second Titanic, The Shining and The Exorcist - starring bunnies. Most diverting - particularly if you've got broadband connection. I wish!

I had a particular reason for watching the telecast of this on Saturday night having got wind that important family members were going to be there. Chuh. I watched in vain. The telecast didn't happen due to bad weather but I hope they at least got to see some play. Of course we're all hoping for a Philippousis win today.
In the meantime I ignored the oncoming symptoms of a head cold (timed perfectly to coincide with the commencement of leave) to go and see a movie. Paying the price today-Ech-cough cough-but it was worth it!

Last night I bought a third class ticket to a first class performance of the G&S masterpiece 'The Mikado'. I was sitting in the State Theatre Box G which is as close as you can get to the ceiling without touching it. Acoustics up there were incredible, but it is no exaggeration to say that the performers play to the gold class seats approximately mid-stalls. Sitting up so high gave me a fantastic view of the machinations of the very clever set, but I missed the intimacy of being able to see the performers' faces. I know this because after the Interval or as I heard one punter ask: "How long is Intermission?", I moved to one of the marvellous vacant seats in A Reserve. Wow!
Not to put too fine a point on it, there were moments in both acts which were quite sublime and I felt tears welling with the familiar, nostalgic stirrings that music can often induce. Why are those Gilbert and Sullivan operettas so comforting? The rest of the audience seemed as overly familiar with the work as I was, yet the performances byAnthony Warlow (Ko-Ko) (a National Trust Living Treasure), David Hobson (Nanki-Poo) Judi Connelli (Katisha)and other cast members and chorus were as fresh, vibrant and exciting as you could hope to see. The synopsis is available here and if you want to try the sing a-long version there's a Karaoke site.
It seems that Opera Australia is once again having funding and sponsorship issues but the performance I saw was probably only two thirds of a capacity audience - a terrible shame for such a great show.

what kitchen utensil are YOU?
You are a fridge! You can keep your cool, even when faced with a heated situation. You enjoy being the center of attention, and people come to you for advice or when they want something. People also like to stick things to the front of your body.

once again via boynton

...and the good news is that the cook book turned up. Alas, no reference to Oysters. It was probably in the NMAA afterall, as was this diary quote: I walked home again with great pleasure; and there dined by my wife's bedside with great content, having a mess of brave plum-porridge and a roasted Pullet for dinner; and I sent for a mince pie abroad, my wife not being well to make any herself yet. Samuel Pepys 1662

It's one of those times when I really want to put my hands on something and of course it isn't where it should be. This time it's my copy of a nineteen sixty something version of the PWMU (Presbyterian Women's Mission Union) cookbook. You see a significant milestone has been reached by the PWMU this year. The publication of the 100th edition of what I consider a really useful recipe collection. It was in the currently misplaced book where I learned of the necessity (extracted from some colonial source)of boiling oysters for some hours before consuming - yech. It has a spiral binding and there are sections such as 'Chutneys, Pickles & Sauces' which are particularly stained for easy reference.
The current edition doesn't seem to have the spiral binding or a front cover straight from the gallery of regrettable food. If I don't find the missing tome I may be forced to cook recipe 3712 Baked Artichoke Hearts from the NMAA (Nursing Mother's Association of Australia)Cooks Again collection. First ingredient: 2 x 400g cans of artichoke hearts...

Norabone is a very rare female name.
Very few females in the US are named Norabone.
Be proud of your unique name!
source namestatistics.com

James and Mary Smith are looking smug - albeit a little common.
via boynton

Some weeks ago now, whilst visiting Zuerich I was given an Easter gift by my Swiss hostess - a Swiss chocolate bunny. It seems that this iconic figurine is not only a prominant celebrity in Swiss lore, it is now the subject of the Austro-Swiss bunny war! Now the day has almost arrived when I can eat it. She also sent one for boynton who has come close to eating hers every day since it arrived. I've had to distract her with other (inferior) chocolate treats and miraculously the other gold bunny is still intact.

An interesting French Easter legend:"...The flying bell--cloche volant--comes from an old French Catholic tradition holding that on Good Friday all of the church bells in France take off and fly over to the Vatican in Rome, hauling with them all of the misery and grief of those who mourn Jesus' crucifixion. Then the bells fly back to France on Easter morning, and in place of the misery and grief, they carry lots and lots of chocolate in the shape of rabbits, eggs and . . . bells!"

BTW Today is dog registration day.

I am the Natural Number e I go with the flow _

what number are you?

this quiz by orsa

via boynton

During my recent European adventure I couldn't help noticing the BBC was running a poll for the Top Ten British Sit Coms. Voting is now in and apparently tonight (local time) Jonathan Ross will announce the winner. Averil will be watching and I agree with her it is a very hard choice with so many sentimental favourites to choose from. Personally I'd have bumped Blackadder out to number 11 and brought Father Ted in. Waiting in anticipation for the final result but the program advocates were most convincing. I watched the recent Ronnie Barker tribute program and hope it gets a run here in Oz. It was extremely moving and had some hillarious moments from his career.

Are retrospective posts allowed? Of course! There was a day whilst in Umbria, our first with the hire car, when we set out in search of scenery and found it here. We drove around the lake, and found more medieval structures and dwellings as well as a hospital located with one of the prettiest views you could imagine. In the same village was a public toilet which, according to Averil and Ross was better avoided.

Melbourne in autumn is a wonderful place to be. Just got back from a swim at the Doncaster pool where the warmth of the sun and the water were about the same. It really is a lovely time of year.

Driving home from Tullamarine airport in a taxi I listened to talk-back commercial radio on the topic of the terrible taxi service in Melbourne. I was going to say "Hey mate can you turn this up" but thought better of it. The caller who rang in recounted this story.
Caller: Yeah I'd had a few so I hailed a taxi and said to the driver can you take me to Keysborough? He wasn't sure of the way so he took out his Melways and I showed him the street and he drew a circle around it. I fell asleep and when I woke up the first thing I saw was a sign 'Phillip Island 10 kilometres'. I said, "Mate where ARE we?" He said, " I dunno."
Talk-back host: What did you say after that?
Caller: I couldn't say on air.
TBH: How much did the meter say?
Caller: Over $250.00
TBH: Did you pay him?
Caller: When we got back I gave him $60. I said I'm not payin' for your stuff up...

Incidentally I shared a plane ride with Barry Jones from Singapore to Melbourne. He in 1st Class moi in economy. My shameless eavesdropping allowed me to glean in the transit lounge that amonst other things he had visited Reggio Emilio on a fact finding mission no doubt for educational innovations.

Lucky me! This is still on and no amount of curiosity will induce me to go and see it. My own inclinations tempt me elsewhere.

I'm sitting in the 'Chances' bar located in a hotel in a city somewhere in South East Asia. This is one of those spots where guests meet for drinks, rendez-vous or wait for their airport transfer. I was checking my emails (an obsession of mine as Ross and Averil will attest) with the added bonus of bar service and - happity hocks for me - it's happy hour. Or so I thought until the couple singing got into full swing. He plays piano and sings. She sings. Her name is Emelda. As I sat down it was "Unforgettable...dat's what you are, and forebber more..." quickly followed by "Wooden Heart" (including the German verse sung with a Chinese accent) played with the built-in rhythm and baby grand set on 'swing' beat. "Fernando" with a twiddly piano instrumental , "Please release me", "Killing me Softly" (and soooo slowly)...OMG there's more...'Spanish Eyes'. THIS IS TORTURE OF THE HIGHEST ORDER!!!!!!!!!! I'd almost prefer the sleazy internet caf round the corner with the sticky, dirt-coated keyboards. Mercifully the live music's been replaced by tapes now, so I can enjoy my G & T in peace. Mmm.

Am Dienstag sind wir zu Luzern gegangen. The destruction of the bridge by fire in 1993, caused by a ship's funnel moored beneath, robbed the world of a series of 14th century paintings. A couple survived, some charred boards and the rest - gawn. Mt Pilatus overlooks the city which is populated by men and women, like those in Rome or Paris who are simply the last word in chic. The men are not only extraordinarily attractive but have the most alluring aroma - a scent which is distinctively Swiss and sexy as! We consumed eine meiste typisch schweizerische Mahlzeit - Fondue! Back in Rüti, a Tina Turner standard was playing on the radio. My hostess informed me that she, like so many others, is a Swiss resident. My final purchase was some delectable, (again distinctly auf Zürich) macaroons from Café Sprüngli for the folks in Den Haag.

My trip to Zürich was mit Swissair, the first in my experience where snacks/meals had to be purchased in hard currency (Swiss Francs oder Euros). There was a complimentary choc just prior to landing which was pure bliss. Regrettably I had left my essential communication tool at home in Kew, so a copy was purchased in order to facilitate conversation with my affable Leipzig-born hostess. She is a most energetic woman who met me at the airport and whisked me straight to Zürich bahnhof where we deposited my bags in a locker. Then an alpen zug to Uetliberg, the nearby peak which overlooks the city. Early March is still a time for snowsports, so skis, sleds and snowboards were de rigeur. Tramping boots also, and luckily I was equipped with a pair. After a short hike to the top Wir hatten Hunger so we lunched, Swiss-style with Wurst, Rösti und bier. Es war sehr lecker.
Walking down again after lunch was not so successful. Was it the beer? My first slip was a spectacular arse over tit. Fortunately my jacket is well padded. HOW EMBARRASSING! Within ten minutes another - this time - the splits. I can only blame the norabonesque element because my hostess was zipping along in these, through snow and ice!
Once back in die Stadt we strolled around the city and Zürich See, listening to an Aryan band playing this then home to Rüti.

Today the sun came out, the snow was melting. What better pursuit when in the Hague than to hire some bikes and explore? We rode along many sludgy paths, through thawing, snow-covered parks and fields where deer were roaming and eventually ended up back at the beach. The only logical thing to do was buy some freshly cooked fish and chips and soak up the atmosphere. Like any bike ride though, you have to ride back again. This was when the thigh muscles started to tense up and just when it seemed impossible to rotate the pedals any further, our destination - Centraal station - loomed into view. Recovery then included some therapeutic ciders at the local before staggering home to a lovely hot bath. Ahhhh.

Remember not so long ago I spent some time in London? I stayed with my relatives Mile End Milly and co. and whilst there I was reintroduced to that marvelous institution The Archers. This radio serial is of itself a damn good reason to emigrate or should I say "go home to the old country"? It's positively addictive (as MEM will attest) and I know the depth of her addiction - The Archers calendar on her kitchen wall notes all births deaths and marriages of Ambridge and according to a text I read: The Archers are real - there is no cast! I even saw an Archers wooden spoon amongst the kitchen implements.

I didn't mention where we stayed during our Roman holiday/Assisi sojourn. Whilst in Rome we were at the Palladium - where else? Whilst in Assisi - eh! Seize the day indeed!! (by the throat and shake vigourously) I didn't mention that we've observed the shortcomings of BBC World TV from a number of countries now, where it is often the only English-speaking service available. One of their catch phrases begins "A little knowledge shared..." It should end with "results in all of us knowing even less of a very little bit." Sorry but it is such a load of shite we even find 3 handed cribbage more amusing.