August 14. Day 226. Foaming at the mouth

There is a reason banker rhymes with wanker. I try to avoid all human contact with banks (and let's be honest they try even harder to avoid contact with us mere mortals) but today I had no choice. My neighbour Margaret lives in a world where bank books with a signature in the back are a thing. She does not trust plastic. She certainly does not trust Internet banking. Normally she can just about survive in a cash economy but when your term deposit falls due and you are in hospital there are issues. She was stressing. I went to the Commonwealth Bank to see what could be achieved. Easy, I was told. It can be done over the phone. Except it couldn't. Without a Netbank authorisation number you are not a person. So after a very long wait in a phone queue and an even longer argument with a thoroughly "unhelpful"human I gave up. I was furious. If anything Margaret was more angry especially since she's been banking with the Commonwealth for more than 80 years. Of course upsetting an old lady in hospital didn't seem to bother the bank. Rules are rules even if you are just wanting to put your money from your account into the same account again. Sigh. Tomorrow we try again.

August 13. Day 225. Careful, he might hear you

Like just about everyone my age Get Smart was compulsory viewing in my childhood. I didn't know it at the time, but it was my introduction to the genius of Mel Brooks. It was also my introduction to fashion and style thanks to the wonderful Barbara Feldon. Anyway, Get Smart fans will know immediately what I'm talking about when I mention the Cone of Silence. When there was information that should not be overheard Max Smart always insisted the Chief enter the cone. It was always an epic failure. Either everyone could hear or no-one. As often as not they would get stuck in the cone. Anyway, during my visits to my neighbour Margaret in hospital I rather wish I'd had an operational cone. It's as though she thinks the thin curtains between the four beds in the ward absorb all sound. If that's her plan well she "missed it by that much" (another Get Smart reference where that in this context mean a huge margin). She talks about the other patients, their visitors, their ailments, their moods, their showering routine, their meals and even the volume of their televisions as though they somehow can't hear her.
"Would you believe that woman only ate a spoonful of Weetbix this morning," she'll say. But on the upside she's looking well, she's enjoying the attention and she may be allowed home this week. Hospital is treating her well ... and she's loving it (another Get Smart reference).

August 12.Day 224. Have I got a story to tell

Winners are grinners: Karl Stuifzand accepts  Jennifer Blocksidge Memorial Award

 After the final bows of tonight's performance of Breaking The Code at QUT's Gardens Theatre, a most respectable looking lady sitting next to me stood up and unleashed a tirade.
Her F Bomb-laden outburst was about homophobia and how angry she was at the prosecution and persecution of gay people.
It was a quite reasonable response to the story of Alan Turing. While the Academy Award-winning film The Imitation Game told the story of Turing's work in cracking the Enigma Code this play is about the man.
In many ways it is far more interesting unless you happened to be a Maths nerd which I am most definitely not. Turing was convicted of gross indecency for having sex with a man which set of a chain of events that ultimately lead to his suicide. It was a tragically sad story so beautifully told.  I may or may not have cried (I did.)

Jonathan Blocksidge who presented the award on behalf of the family

Breaking the Code was one of two plays performed by the final year QUT Fine Arts Acting students this month. Half he graduating students performed in Blackrock at La Boite with the remainder in this production. Both finished today and after the production the annual Jennifer Blocksidge Memorial Award was presented. The award is presented to an outstanding final year student and comes with a sizable cheque to be used for personal professional development.  Karl Stuifzand, who played Ricko in Blackrock, took out the prize. In his speech, Karl said that Blackrock and Breaking the Code both tackled important issues that needed to be exposed. His plan is to use his bursary to create theatre that shines a light on issues such as domestic violence, misogyny, racism and homophobia. I can't wait to see what he comes up with. Theatre has a unique power to expose these issues. It can move people (not just me) to tears and in that way change minds, hearts and votes. Here's hoping
You can hear our review of Breaking the Code here
And because you can never get enough theatre talk, the podcast review of Blackrock is here 

August 11. Day 223. Games people play

Friends are precious.
 I don't subscribe to the notion of "absence makes the heart grow fonder".
Nor do I subscribe to the parody version "absence makes the heart go wander".
Distance can test all sorts of relationships but for the most part a good friendship will withstand the test of time.
So it is with Drama Teen and his mate George, who has lived in Sydney for more than two years.
When they get back together the conversation takes off without a lost beat ... I can't say the quality has improved but the flow is maintained.  That's what friends are for

August 10. Day 222. Beautiful people

Of course I would say journalism is a pretty awesome thing to study. Of course I would say that a degree in journalism can open many doors. I'd be mad if I didn't given my day job. But the truth to me is where I see the people I studied with, the people I have taught and those I have had the pleasure to work with over the years. It's a game of where they are now? Some are in newsrooms. Many are not. Their names pop up in politics, big business, public relations and marketing. They write books, they are in the Creative Industries, in travel, in the charity sector. It's a case of make your own career. One of those whose career has taken her on a path unimaginable not all that long ago is Nikki Parkinson. We worked closely together at the Sunshine Coast Daily. She is now an incredibly successful  professional blogger, author and social media influencer. She is talented, passionate and ever so stylish. But she is also generous with her time in mentoring the journalists of tomorrow. Many will have no particular interest in fashion and style blogging, but Nikki's tips about personal brand building, social media use and self promotion are vital to anyone studying journalism. And she did it all for the price of a latte on almond milk. I had a hot chocolate and managed to get cocoa on my face. That's why she's the style blogger and I'm not.

August 9. Day 221. Bird's Eye View

 I feel like I am being watched. There are little beady eyes on me when I leave the house. Actually there are little beady eyes watching me while I am in the house. The birds are not happy. The fly-by restaurant next door is temporarily shut for business what with Margaret in hospital. As a result there was a line-up of butcher birds on the back deck when I ventured upstairs this morning looking expectantly at me. This afternoon when I went to the mailbox it was the magpies. I feel mean but I do not fancy the same level of bird poo around my place as I see at Margaret's. Also, I know the birds are quite capable of feeding themselves and what they catch is doubtless better for them. So glare at me all you want birds, there's no food coming from this side of the fence.

August 8. Day 220. Bold and Beautiful

I know when I'm not wanted.  This morning the hospital called to say my neighbour Margaret was requesting new batteries for her hearing aids be brought up. I know where they are kept. I have a key. That's easy. However because of #life it was 4pm by the time I arrived. Margaret was most pleased to see me. I was given a detailed - and far too loud - run down of the other patients in the room, a description of everything on the menu and laundry instructions. I helped put in the new batteries and then it was time to leave. No-one or nothing interrupts Margaret's viewing of Bold and the Beautiful. I respect that. Everyone is entitled to at least one guilty TV pleasure. I have many of them but at least Foxtel allows me to rewind and replay the good bits. She was far happier and more settled than when I last saw her and she's giving orders which is a good sign. Unfortunately exactly how long she will be there is unknown. There were no batteries in the hearing aids when the doctor called. Hopefully we'll know more tomorrow.