As being uploaded on the train to Manchester this morning, by the inefficient but highly effective data collection form known as ‘reading’. The book in the background, by the way, belongs to my fellow Manchester academic Mike, whose surname I can never remember but who teaches English & American literature so reads things far more obscure than my relatively populist novel.
The weather isn’t exactly bad at the moment but the light is consistently flat and grey, hence the prevalence of interior shots at the moment. Little to add except to explain that I don’t normally frequent baby showers, but this one was held in a pub, so that drew me in.
In the 12th century we built castles. In the 15th century we built cathedrals. In the 19th century we built factories. In the 20th century we built shopping malls. We might not like them but sometimes you just end up there.
Went to Newcastle today for a training course. Spent 90% of my time there (including lunch) sat in a computer cluster on said course, 7% of it getting myself to and from Newcastle station through the drizzle, 2% of it in this bar at the station and 1% on the toilet. I think this was the best subject matter. The guy bending down gives it some interest I think.
I know there are plenty of you who read this and probably don’t think I do any work, but here you go, some evidence of it anyway. Not that anyone is ‘working’ right at this moment, except the Italian chap silhouetted against the window. There was a spectacular view of the Oslo hinterland from this venue (the well-named Soria Moria hotel), but this is the first interior shot since my return to Europe on 28th May. I know it would have been better to get all the lines on the carpet straight as well as those on the wall, but hey.
Here is my luggage awaiting what amounted to the second leg of my 9,000-mile journey home: the train journey from Circular Quay station to Sydney airport. Circular Quay must have one of the best views of any railway station in the world — accepting stiff competition from Durham in the north-east of England (look it up…) – so you’d think they might clean the windows now and again.
My last full day in Australia — for now. Spent the middle part of it at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney, lured in by the promise of a free exhibition (and this is one of the most expensive cities in the world, so freebies are to be welcomed). Felt inspired by some really good photography, if you’re into this particular medium and you haven’t seen the work of Jeff Wall I do recommend checking it out. He works on some projects for up to six months, to capture a single image — like this one, for instance, probably my favourite of the exhibition and visible here on the left of my shot.
A change of scene. Went on a guided trip today to the local village, having moved on from Waya Island yesterday but only to its neighbour, Wayasewa (a.k.a Wayalailai, or ‘Little Waya’). Both islands – which have no roads anywhere – have just one school, and the island’s children are taken here on foot or by boat at the beginning of each week and stay there in these dormitories. The island families take it in turns to look after them and cook their meals. All this is funded, in large part, by the resorts: on Wayasewa, indeed, the Wayalailai resort is 100% locally owned. This dormitory looks a little spartan but actually it was clean and colourful, and the school in an idyllic-looking setting with amazing views. Quite a place to grow up, I think.
I have seen a few real koalas: most in captivity, including at the Lone Pine zoo here in Brisbane (where I also saw the cassowary); the only one I have seen in the wild was spotted on Kangaroo Island. This toy looks far more awake and alert than most of the real ones do, they are such dozy beasts. Maybe it’s the beer, or the frigid pipe on which he’s sat.
A few days ago I laughed at this blog post – 31 Inanimate Objects with Secret Inner Lives – it’s well worth a look. Since then, I too have been seeing faces in ordinary household items. Like this mop, for instance. It’s been giving me the evil eye for days now.
Being 42 