Numbers

Hey ho.

I have posted for a while. I've been very busy, but then I was bound to say that. ;)

So what's been happening that's interesting....hmmmm.

*Number One is that my mother had her operation, was out of hospital after four days, got the all clear (doesn't need chemo) and is recovering bloody amazingly. I'm so impressed. Her tolerance for pain and ability to recover are comparable to those of Wolverine. I wish I'd inherited that! She's a legend. Mind you it means I will have to get regular colonscopies - starting soon. D'oh!

I should say I was amused by the fact a day after I'd posted last - about the London Olympic win - the London tube got blown up. Ah, if there is a God, he has such an ironic, bastard-y sense of humour. But I was working when it happened, so I was doing nothing but London on Thursday 7 July - the very night my mother was going under the knife!! That was fun telling her the next morning.

*Number Two is "Interesting Times" which just auditioned yesterday at the Brisbane Arts Theatre. Greg is directing, and he'll do a bloody good job I reckon. There won't be very many past Pratchett cast members in this one - but that's probably a good thing. A whole new facelift for the style.

*Number Three is work, which is going quite well. Sure I complain, but hey, doesn't everyone with a job? And everyone WITHOUT a job? ;) My rosters are entering a period of 5 days on, 2 days off (yes, it sounds weird to everyone else, but believe me after doing 7, 8 or 9 day weeks it's a luxury), and I've got a new role as a reviewer for the afternoon show. It means I'm getting invites and free passes to HEAPS of stuff - movies, plays etc. I saw "Tap Dogs" two weeks ago, and last Thursday saw "Look Both Ways" a new Australian film coming out soon. If you get the chance to see it, definitely see it. It's really great. It's various linked stories, kind of like "Love Actually". But as opposed to be schmaltzy and over-rated, this movie is under-stated, acted beautifully by everyone, and touchingly moving. William McInnes is it, and he's great. Especially after he told Australian Story that acting was just getting dressed up and playing make believe. Well done that man!

*Number Four is last but not least- HARRY POTTER and the HALF-BLOOD PRINCE!

Got it on Saturday afternoon, had finished it on Sunday afternoon. That's despite working 4am-12 noon shifts and Pratchett auditions on Sunday. I'm impressed with myself - finished it in about 6 hours I reckon.

What a story! Loved it, totally loved it, but was left DEVASTATED by the ending. Shocked, appalled. I loved the teenage hormones running rampant - all that snogging! Very cute. Harry is just becoming a wonderful, wonderful boy. After being so dislikeable (in a likeable way) in Order of the Phoenix, he really matures here. Well, he has his moments. ;) The history of Voldemort, which we find out more of in this book, is illuminating, and simply serves to show HOW different he and Harry are - even though they're inextricably linked.

We're being very Potter-pampered this year - a book and a movie. I hope it will be enough to get us through next year, as J.K. Rowling's not likely to finish the final book for a while!

So, that's about it for now. I hope everyone's having a good winter. Please somebody have a party on a night I can come. I haven't seen anybody (apart from the long-suffering Greg) for ages!

Cheers all, Natalie.

London Calling

As if I NEEDED a reason to go to London.

I hate sport normally anyway...but damn, the city will be party central!

Rock on!

Photo time!

Hello again.

Blogger is now letting me upload images when I post. After all that energy I spent working out how to download and use the Picasa software they previously had for putting up photos.

Sigh.

Anyway, this a photo of the Anonymous Scribe. It's in Budapest. I can't remember the name of its location - but it's like a mini-castle, with each building featuring an architectural design from the last few thousand years - Roman, Gothic etc. From memory, it was built to mark the turn of the century in 1900. Anyway, the point is, visitors are supposed to rub his pen. I can't remember why. Luck perhaps?

Whatever it is, it's a cool statue. ;) Cheers, Nat.

The laughing disease strikes

Hey ho everyone.

My mum's going into hospital on Thursday to have an operation. She's got early stage bowel cancer. It's been a bit of a shock, but not too bad.

She had the colonoscopy in the first place because two of her sisters and one of her brothers ALL had similar things. One of her sisters had to have chemo - but she's now been given the all clear. Doctors were able to remove all the cancer from her brother's bowel, so he luckily avoids chemo. Her other sister in Ireland is still being diagnosed etc - but it seems she will also be having an operation.

So because it seems there's a family history - and because they thankfully caught Mum's cancer early - I haven't yet collapsed into a blubbering mess. ;)

And it looks like I will be next up for the "Big Brother: Natalie's Bowel Eviction Special" - Mum's surgeon has recommended my brother and I both start getting colonoscopies. My friend Carly also has a family history, and she's suggested we have a girly day out getting our "bumscopes"together. ;)

So if anybody actually reads this page, and has a family history of bowel cancer, think about having a check-up.

If you're in Brisbane, you can check out www.qldcancer.com.au

Cheers to all, Natalie.