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Seasonal Festivities
Dec. 29th, 2024 10:18 pmMany years ago, I was influenced by Erica H. to start celebrating Heiliger Abend, Christmas Eve as the "real Christmas". In that sense my own enjoyment started with Anton W., visiting after a work function late in the afternoon for some good cheer. Erica and I then went out to an event hosted by Liza D., which was attended by a great variety of people from Melbourne's arts community. Apart from the host, we spent a good portion of the evening chatting to Anthony Negus, who has been brought in from Wales to conduct Wagner's "Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg" at the Royal Exhibition Building. His partner, Carmen, is also visiting and has a role teaching operatic performers the subtle sounds and grammar of German, of which she is a native speaker. Also had the opportunity to meet Northcote-based artist Eugene von Nagy in person.
On the day itself, Mel S. came to visit, bringing me a glorious back massager that's designed to strap behind backed chairs and which works wonderfully. In a very bittersweet manner, three paintings that I collected from the estate of Bruce T. also arrived: a Picasso (from his abstract period) and two Friend's. Slowly and surely, my home is becoming an art gallery as well as a Wunderkammer and a library. Afterwards, Erica and Nitul D. arrived, and we ventured forth to visit Anthony L., and Robin M., for dinner, who could proudly display recent renovations in their home. Nitul and Anthony had met in public before, but this meeting of minds was quite a joy to observe.
Extending the season just a little, last night I went to Sarah-Jane W.'s fiftieth birthday party; there was a great collection of old friends from Melbourne's goth scene and "IT security" (*cough*) communities. A number of people dressed up for the occasion and were looking quite fabulous, especially the host! I spent most of the evening chatting with people whom I hadn't seen for quite a while, including Tony P., Carla D., Amy C., and also with workmate Dan T., all of whom I have known for more than two decades. With of us in fairly important roles these days, there was a lot of discussion on (a) "how did we end up as subject-matter experts?" (education, experience, and a hint of intelligence, I'd venture) and (b) the fine line between corruption and incompetence in various organisations.
Christmas has never really been a joyous time in my mind. The blithe cultural norm as presented by our media over the decades didn't really sit well with my own childhood experiences, and in my adult life, I have consistently found myself thinking on the day of the poor, the homeless (up 22% in the last three years in Australia, did you know?), the lonely, the addicts, and all those who struggle: where's their Christmas? It is one thing, and a good thing, to give to charities to alleviate these symptoms. It is an additional and requisite level to change the system that has created such a number of lost and harrowed souls.
On the day itself, Mel S. came to visit, bringing me a glorious back massager that's designed to strap behind backed chairs and which works wonderfully. In a very bittersweet manner, three paintings that I collected from the estate of Bruce T. also arrived: a Picasso (from his abstract period) and two Friend's. Slowly and surely, my home is becoming an art gallery as well as a Wunderkammer and a library. Afterwards, Erica and Nitul D. arrived, and we ventured forth to visit Anthony L., and Robin M., for dinner, who could proudly display recent renovations in their home. Nitul and Anthony had met in public before, but this meeting of minds was quite a joy to observe.
Extending the season just a little, last night I went to Sarah-Jane W.'s fiftieth birthday party; there was a great collection of old friends from Melbourne's goth scene and "IT security" (*cough*) communities. A number of people dressed up for the occasion and were looking quite fabulous, especially the host! I spent most of the evening chatting with people whom I hadn't seen for quite a while, including Tony P., Carla D., Amy C., and also with workmate Dan T., all of whom I have known for more than two decades. With of us in fairly important roles these days, there was a lot of discussion on (a) "how did we end up as subject-matter experts?" (education, experience, and a hint of intelligence, I'd venture) and (b) the fine line between corruption and incompetence in various organisations.
Christmas has never really been a joyous time in my mind. The blithe cultural norm as presented by our media over the decades didn't really sit well with my own childhood experiences, and in my adult life, I have consistently found myself thinking on the day of the poor, the homeless (up 22% in the last three years in Australia, did you know?), the lonely, the addicts, and all those who struggle: where's their Christmas? It is one thing, and a good thing, to give to charities to alleviate these symptoms. It is an additional and requisite level to change the system that has created such a number of lost and harrowed souls.
