Yesterday Colin connected up the VCR. This wouldn’t be very significant if it weren’t for two videos which are fairly important to me. I have two videos of performances (and performance exams) from year 12.

For my entire pre-Melbourne existence, music was my life. I had lessons in four instruments, I took part in 5 (at one point 6) extra-curricular music groups. I was preparing for my Amus (advanced diploma of music) in voice, 6th grade AMEB piano and had an organ scholarship. Now, I play guitar when the fancy takes me, cello rarely, and I no longer have a piano (something which is driving me crazy).

At school I practically was my voice. Everyone knew me because of it, I was a fucking celebrity to the prep kids after my role in Dido and Aeneas. It seems weird that no one in Melbourne thinks of me as a musician None of them have heard me sing. Not even Colin has seen me perform.

I no longer have the effortless control of my voice. I don’t remember developing it but in those days if I could think it I could sing it. I never considered a piece to be difficult to sing, I never encountered a piece I couldn’t master in days. Now, I attempt to sing the same music and my voice falters, I don’t have the high notes, the diaphragm control, the vocal stamina.

I want to start singing again. I want to work towards the Amus I never completed; get back into performing.

Everyone thought I would be a professional singer. It would be a shame to throw away the one thing I was the best at.

I headed over to Bourke St Mall this morning to check out Buy Nothing Day. It was a bit of a non-event. Two people handing out fliers at a table and a bunch of bored passers-by throwing them into the bin.

I did spot Cam though. He’s quick for an old bloke. I spotted him on my way back from Dick Smith (researching not buying) chatting to the people at the Buy Nothing Day table and was heading over to say hi. Turned my head away for a second and he’d buggered off! Couldn’t see him anywhere. Strange, strange man!

So other than an excuse for not unpacking boxes at home it was pretty much a waste of time. Nothing exciting happening at all! Except that apparently the Myers Christmas window display is already up. Something to do with wombats… Christmas wombats…

One thing I’m trying to figure out is why Cam hasn’t made mention of the G’day World birthday bash yet. Its like a week away… Some people actually need notice of these things… Also booking a table would be advisable given there’s probably a reasonable number of us attending.

Anyways I guess I’ll go back to unpacking boxes… Fun fun!

Btw Cam looks somewhat less sophistimicated in a black tshirt and baggy jeans rather than a suit.

Tags: Cameron+Reilly, Bourke+St, Melbourne, Buy+Nothing+Day

As seems to be tradition for my exam periods I have managed to develop a nasty addiction to caffeine. So now if I don’t get a caffeinated beverage by 12pm I have a pounding headache. Fortunately I’m used to this so I’m pretty good a kicking it. There are two options

1. Go cold turkey: 48 hours is enough to rid yourself of the addiction. Unfortunately you tend to feel like shit for 40 of those hours so its not exactly a fun way to kill the addiction.
2. Gently, gently: the approach for those of us who aren’t masochists. Step down the intake of caffeine daily until you don’t have any at all.

Given I’m not in a particularly masochistic mood (well not when it comes to headaches anyway) I think I’ll go for the second approach.

Now where did I put my coffee…

Tags: Caffeine, Addiction, Coffee

Finally I can relax, get on with some of my projects and get the house sorted.

Three months on my own schedule… Bliss!