I wasn't sure if I should have panicked

Choosing a play to see at the Fringe when you have a mind boggling choice of about 300 comedy acts to see, rather makes for some difficult decision making.  I almost feel as though I should do only comedy, but isn't the Fringe exactly that, shows that are edgy and on the fringe of society; arts for all, theatre, art, comedy, mime, burlesque, circus, music, but all just a bit quirky?! Would I be turning Adelaide's, no actually (fact)  Australia's largest "arts" festival into that of simply a comedy festival if I didn't attempt to attend shows that were in fact "arts"?! Well in my view yes.

On procuring my copy of the Fringe guide, which could easily be mistaken for a small countries phone book, I propped myself up on the couch, fresh pad of paper and pen handy to peruse the guide from cover to cover.  Several hours later, several pages of much hastily scribbled notes around times and dates, which also involved working out when I could fit in toilet and food breaks, oh and some sleep - possibly - between shows; I realised the list had to be whittled, from tree trunk to matchstick. Humm, dilemmas.

Comedy did feature heavily, both local and international, new and old. I love a good side tweaking giggle fest, and I don't mind to admit it, but I knew culture would have to be added.  A burlesque show - its tasteful, yes really - then some circus - Cantina, some music - Take me back to Paris (somebody please..... no really, its been too long) and of course some theatre. 

Theatre, now that was a hard choice.  I chose a play called Low Level Panic, the introductory lines were as follows;

"“Maybe if I was wearing trousers it wouldn’t have happened.” Mary, Jo and Celia are three women. Their gender defines them. In fact, it consumes them. Join them in their bathroom and try and find the answer to the question: "What does it really mean to be beautiful?""

Sounded interesting, am always fascinated, what does it mean to be beautiful? Seems not many people care, as me & my lovely friend Sap discovered, we were to be given a private tour in this theatrical journey. 
 
A story of two women, with a third annoying flat mate (or rather one who just wants to take a bath!), who you could say is a middle ground. She seems happy, gets a bloke and her issues, if she has any, are made redundant by those of Jo and Mary with their opposed ended views & issues.
 
Mary is at odds with being a woman, after we are taken back in her memory for a recounting of what could have only been a rape, she blames herself for wearing a skirt. She's also feeling like she is trying to look beyond the face to find out the true feelings & emotions of a woman - one on a billboard - to see if there should be some emotional response in being treated like an object. She is hollow inside, an empty shell, removed from herself. She loathes & struggles to simply wear a sexy revealing dress because of what it might mean to others and her quest to find comfort in being herself.
 
Whilst Jo is busy daydreaming and fantasising about the perfect man, car & body, envisioning what her life should look like, while gloomily staring at her scales declaring war on her "fat" body (something she berates further after an evening out, not eating and failing to lose an ounce).  Her issues are with what she is expected to want, without considering getting or giving love, as her fantasies go no where, and she feels she is going no-where too, and not for trying to be something for someone.
 
It wasn't an amazing play, but it wasn't boring or tiring, or badly done.  The acting was superb and it certainly was thought provoking, it made me realise that we've become a world of instant gratification, thus the over kill on comedy (we want it funny and we want it now - fast food).  Theatre is to be seen, mulled over, discussed in depth, and if there is a moral - which there usually is - it will be something you will be thinking of hours and weeks later. I think I might have to sort out my Festival of Arts tickets, more theatre, here I come.... its slow food for the mind.

Its like meeting the Queen... sort of

Well I was having a happy night, he Kevin Rudd (our Australia Former PM) could have been too, he looked a bit dazed and confused. But its was the Fringe opening night, its all a bit random.

See below for a few more from the night...

The Garden of Unearthly Delights

Emcee for the Strong Man Midgt & me...

Becs & I, happy after a bit of Bird in Hand sparkling bubbles

Er to do about nothing!

And er nothing it would be is what I have to do around on here.  Alas I would love to blog more, but what about?

I no longer while away my hours in pubs drinking cider, in London theatre venues and out at restaurants or hoofing it around to exotic locations on the Continent. Humph. Then I might have more to write about, though lordy knows how I actually had the time to write!!

Though for the bigger trips they missed out on blogs as there just was no time to remember and relay the exiting times that were had.  I even think I only got about half our our Egypt trip on here, and that was about 11 months ago now. My time flies.

No you'd think here I'd have more time, which I do, but what to write about, am caught up in the world of work, family visitation and the mundane dullness of things like food shopping and housework.  Though its not Adelaide that's dull its me, my dull activities have nummed my brain into being dull even when I am not or shouldn't be. 

I joyously await the weekends for all the things that I am going to get done, all the events that are on, then for some reason I find myself 5 loads of washing down and cheering that I will get to watch 4 episodes of season 3 of Houswifes of NY - WTF!!!!!. Sleep? Getting plenty. Feeling rested? Ur nope not me. 

However, I have planned much to do about something for the Adelaide Fringe festival and have booked myself out solid for the 2 weeks it is on (that and WomAdelaide & the Adelaide Film Festival). 

So within the next couple of weeks, I may not have slept, the washing will not have been done and I will have most of season 4 of Housewives of NY to watch, BUT I will have been out there having a fantastic time, feel totally refreshed, AND that my friends is how it goes ... piles of unwashed washing is a sign of the living!!

Row, Row, Row.... your houseboat!

The boat at the first base camp!

What a gorgeous day!

Sunset and Fishing - girls and boys happy!

River view

Sunsets.... perfect one day

Even better the next

Me in the gorgeousness of it all

Pretty desert succulent

Bonfire - all the better for marshmallows

Yabbie...such a poser

Red cliff reflection

And the cliffs

Post cooked Yabbie

Not so photogenic now are you Mr Yabbie

Oliver's Royal Adelaide Show Day

The Royal Adelaide Show is an Adelaide icon, that rain hail or shine, Adelaidians get themselves and usually their entire families to at least once every couple of years during its 8 day long Spring showing.  For those non-Aussies, non-South Australians, the Royal Adelaide show is a massive family event that encompasses a huge variety of fun for all families, young and old. 

Entrance to the show

On arriving off Rose terrace, the massive iconic Ferris Wheel awaits you beyond the gates, with which you'll need a $20 ticket to pass through.  First there is the childrens fair ground the the left and the adults to the right, with rides and carnival features galore, including a sling shot and other gut spining/slinging contraptions.

Towards the centre its fun fair food, complete with dagwood dogs (a hot dog bread battered on a stick dipped in tomato sauce), fairy floss (candy floss), curly fries, hot dogs, chips, toffee apples, donuts, ribs, corn cobs, pizza, pies, icecream and pancakes..mmmm.  Mouth watering just to think about. 

There is the poultry shed where prized chickens and pigeons hang out, the car pavillion containing the latest and greatest, the cow shed, the dairy (lots of yummy food to try out in there), theres pigs, a childrens farm with mini tractor rides for the kiddies and where they can pet piglets, chickens, lambs and baby cows.  There is the reptile display, tractor display, a cat pavilion, dog pavillion (with dog showing/competions daily), bunny rabbits, a flying pig display, wood chopping competitions, pie eating competitions, minature trains, wine and cheese tastings.

Meeting and greeting Mr Scarecrow

Towards the back is a large oval with seating for the grand parade, car dare devil displays (Ford and Holden utes battle it out), motor bike stunts, dog agility displays and the evenings grand finale of a massive fireworks display which is scheduled every night. 

Whew...but there is more, the other side of the show grounds, contains yet more food stalls, Italian, Thai, Chinese you name it and two large pavilions with everything from fashion parades, Banana's in Pajama's , a fire truck, ambulance, orchid displays, wood carvings, photography, home wares (like a massive home show too), and many more stalls selling everything from rain water tanks, to jewellery, to cards, candles, bubbles, make up, garden features, even canoes were on offer. 

Delighted with his showbag

The other massive hall contains show bags. Show bags, contain any manner of good things - bags and bags of sweets (candy) and chocolate and bad things, rubbish toys that break after one use.  But they range from $2 for one with just a few chocs and sweets up to $60 with branded Coopers beer paraphernalia.  Its mostly aimed at children with Hot Wheels, Toy Story, Dora and Wiggles all having a branded bag at the show with toys and sweets.  This was always my favourite part of the show and had much delight in saving up as much of my pocket money as I could to ensure that I could get as many showbags as I could hold to take home.

Well that is the show, but what about our day at the show.  Firstly it was possibly a the most hideous Spring day that I've seen in while, with lots of rain, torrential rain at that, gale force winds and even power outages.  Rides were stopped, show attendance was down, but it didn't stop us. 
On arrival after easily getting a park at my work, which fortunately is just nearby, Oliver kept asking "are we there yet...", every 20 metres only to be completely delighted on seeing the Ferris wheel and proclaiming that he simply must go on it.  Too cute. 

We waited for the other family members to arrive then headed on in, to stuff our faces with dag wood dogs before heading round to check out the cars and chickens first.  We didn't want to get too far away as Oliver was keen to get to see Banana's in Pyjamas in the main pavillion, after then we wandered around, chatted with Scobby Do, checked out the Ambulance ( the card board cut out of which Oliver would not let anyone touch) and started the Yellow Brick road (its a show bag that takes you all over the show to collect goodies and food along the way). 

Tractor rides

On heading outside we noted the weather had turned, it was just grey when we arrived and we were fighting heavy rains and whip you down winds to get around the show.  We rugged Oliver up in Mark's rain coat and plodded on.  We picked up chocolates and honey, yogurt and bread, we watch snakes in the reptile hut, we patted the lambs, drove on tractors (Oliver did), patted bunnies and saw the dogs.  We ate some more - toasted cheese sandwiches, before deciding that it was nearly time to call it a day. 

View from Ferris Wheel

The most important bit then was the show bags. Super exciting for Oliver who wanted to go a bit nuts in there, but on getting his Hot Wheels show bag, and several toys was suddenly much more delighted to stay longer, so while the others went home we wandered some more. We watched an amazing show of clothes made to look like flowers, ate donuts and went on the Ferris wheel finally.

The weather had cleared a little, but unfortuately when it was our turn on the ride the heavens opened and we went spinning around in rain, all in good fun. One final go on sideshow alley for Oliver and we headed towards the exit loaded with our goodies. Who says you cannot have fun in the rain!!?

Awaiting B1 and B2

and there they are...

Flower costume...humph, interesting

The sandcastle dinosaur

"Ohhh can we go on that!" The Ferris Wheel

Oops and down came the rain on the Ferris wheel

Sideshow Alley...

Checking out the Ambulance

Yo Scooby!

"Does this celery make my head look big?"

British bulldog in the Dog halls

"Look how big I am.... not"

Bella's First Day at the Beach

Since Mark's Mum has now moved to Seaford, mere minutes from one of South Australia's finest beaches, well actually they are all pretty good, but Moana is a particularly nice one. Aldinga and Seacliff are my favourites....whoa getting off topic.

Anyway, we were down there for lunch - delicious by the way Mum, fantastic homemade lasagna - and since it was a gorgeous and warm Spring day we popped over to the beach so Bella could have her first beach day. Unprepared as we were, there was no puppy swimming, though of course as Bella only under went surgery for her girly bits to be removed on Thursday, it wasn't an option anyway.

She was a bit hesitant at first, you could just see her little face go, "what is this squishy stuff, its not solid how do I walk?". I totally understand, I myself simply cannot walk on sand to save my life. She loved it, tried to escape and run along the beach too.

 

Car Trip... she slept most of the way there and back..

Moana from the car... almost there

Ah water, let me at it....

Family, Mark, Saroeun, Scott, Jess and Chris (much to his dismay)

Mummy and Bella

Looking windswept...

Longing look down the beach, "how far can I go..."

Lisa Luyten - Photographer...

Yep that's right, I am proclaiming myself officially a photographer.  A part time professional photographer.  Is that too premature? Well possibly but you know what if you try and don't succeed you at least tried.  I now have a facebook fan page too and I am definitely going to do more work.  Above are photos from my most recent shoot, and I am very chuffed by them.  Yeah me!

The next step is to advertise for a model, make up artist and stylist for a shoot.  Baby steps still though, just need to keep taking photos, that is the only way to improve.

Wish me luck and cross your fingers....

Ps at least you know I have been busy in my gross misconduct of severly failing to keep this poor blog update, I promise to be better.

What I lack for with words....its here in pictures...

Norton Summit

Mist through the trees, near Norton Summit

Norton Summit

Norton Summitt, must say this is a fav...

Cyclists on the road up to Mt Lofty, Adelaide

PS All photos are for sale, prices on application