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I must prefix this entry with a note of appreciation to Kate R., for looking after "mes animaux de compagnie", Mayhem and Mayday, during my first recent trip to China and Rafe EC for the second. It's good to have such excellent neighbours in my life. My companion ratties are now approaching an entire year of age, which, by a rule-of-thumb, is about 30 years on a human scale. As always, I prefer to let my rodent friends a free-range lifestyle and in this case the study is their home. Poor Mayday, however, is currently in protective custody as his larger brother has power-groomed him a little too much, and his back has too many bite marks. Whilst he disagrees, I assure him it's for his own good, and he seems to be recovering in his relative solitude, spending most evenings snuggled up on my shoulder; it's good to be a rat in my home.

This week, after returning from China, I have, as can be expected, caught up with a lot of work-related business. But I have not neglected my social life either. Kate took me out to the "Ballet of Lights: Sleeping Beauty". It was a very family-friendly affair and, as Kate described it, "P-plates for experiencing ballet". But it was at the Capitol Theatre, a venue I adore, and the costumes with embedded lights were attractive and effective. The following day I caught up with Mel during the day, whom I haven't seen for too long, and then Liza D. for dinner and discussion about her forthcoming performance. The following evening I found myself at Carla BL's Winter Soltice gathering where conversation was vibrant and diverse, but spent most time with Julie A., who joined me today at the Australia-China Friendship Society meeting which was addressed by Dr Fiona Swee-Lin Price on bi-cultural experiences, history, and understanding. Frankly, the presentation was nothing less than glorious, and all attendees thought very highly of the presentation and insights.

It has not been all smooth sailing on this return week, however. I have, unfortunately, experienced a couple of disappointments, one in the form of an otherwise knowledgeable person who stubbornly refused to accept a descriptive error on their own part that was objectively wrong. This occurs more often from political partisanship and typically results in increasingly aggressive responses as the cognitive dissonance kicks in. The other, which I look upon from the benefit of extensive lived experience, is a somewhat sub-optimal life-choice for the person, assuming they care about their future success, but normatively it's their prerogative. In situations like this, one can only offer future support, and then we will remember ("memories in future tense", as "The Church" described it decades ago).
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My Muse, a terribly driving and demanding daemon, has taken hold of me in the past days, demanding that I write, and I have succumbed to its temptations. In the past few days, I have composed not only a short (c3K word) story for an American literary journal on an abusive relationship, I have also written two reviews for Rocknerd. The first is close to a thousand words on "Slipknot and Knotfest 2025", an incredible day out which I have deep gratitude for receiving a ticket from the Isla Bell Charitable Fund. The second is a review of New Order's concert at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl which I attended in a more surreptitious fashion with Robbie and Eddie K. on Saturday evening which was a good concert at a ludicrous price at an inappropriate venue. To engage in a bit of compare and contrast, I have also transcribed my review of New Order at Canterbury Court from 1987, which includes the now amusing and memorable line: "A well spent $16”.

Apropos, on Friday evening, Erica H. and I finished our viewing of the three seasons of "Loudermilk" a comedy of a music critic turned alcohol abuse counsellor. Recently, someone described me as "like Loudermilk but nice", and I can certainly see some similarities; he's annoyingly opinionated and blunt to the point of abrasive, but his knowledge is exceptional, and his often unorthodox methods work. On a second event with Erica H., and in a different style, on Saturday we attended the Australian Ballet's performance of "Carmen" at the Regent Theatre, a rather delicious venue whose palatial and baroque styling is stunning. With superb central seating in the middle of the dress circle, the performance used a great deal of modern dance rather than classical ballet, and the story was very well executed. Much gratitude and thanks to Angela L., for the generous provision of the tickets.

It was not just Erica, whom I shared company with twice this past long weekend, but Robbie as well. As an impromptu act, Robbie quickly organised a table of ten at Shimbashi Soba for Jade N's, birthday without even telling Jade that she would be in the company of people whom she has known for fifteen, twenty years and more (as I have I for the most part). Apart from a delicious meal and absolutely wonderful company and conversation, the party continued as we made our way to the Northcote Social Club. I spent a rather good portion of the afternoon in deep political conversations with Jade's partner, Richard OB, who is rather known for his incisive commentary on such matters and his absolute commitment to the betterment of the lives of working people. We share not only this as part of our core personality but also an utter loathing of the disingenuous, hypocritical, and opportunistic among the wealthy. Unsurprisingly, we have a great deal of examples among such people to discuss in detail.

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Diary of a B+ Grade Polymath

September 2025

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