kjp

A few things while I remember:

Saw Pirates of the Caribbean 3 last Saturday. Was a bit of fun… not as good as the first one though… and you had to pay attention - the number of deals that were made / broken got a bit ridiculous. Anyhow, it was the 3rd in a series, so you can't really expect heaps… But the hanging out with the company (the “pizza gang” ?) was probably more the highlight of the evening.

End of April I saw Queensland Orchestra playing some Rautavaara (Finnish composer) pieces. Was really good - enjoyed it.

Apparently Russian Caravan and Arctic Fire are good teas to try sometime.

In between the second and third sets of my band’s gig in the mall earlier today, I visited Allans. It seems that their clarinet music (in shop) is mostly aimed at beginners. But, I did find Sonatina by Malcolm Arnold. I’ve played the first movement in the past (back when I was learning clarinet in Canberra).

The third movement is fairly… fast, you might say. You don’t put furioso as the tempo marking for the heck of it. Hadn’t actually heard a recording of it until this afternoon. Eeek. Anyhow, it will be good fun to play it.

At some time in the not too distant future I’ll order Weber Concerto (I currently have a copy on loan), and something from list A (need to sus out the later first though).

I'm now the owner of a mortar and pestle (ie: grinding stuff up for cooking). It's from Samoa!

Anyhow, if you've got any good recipes that make use it, let me know.

Last Sunday I went on my second rogaine. It a short 3 hour event on Sunday morning. It seemed to go pretty well, despite being eaten by mosquitoes. We did pretty well, coming about a third of the way though the pack. There's two events in June which I'll try an go on.

As a reminder to me, below are some of the things I have to take / do before the next one:

Take in pack in the field:
* hat
* sunburn cream
* first aid kit
* Panadol
* Leukosilk / tape
* insect repellent
* swiss army knife
* full Camelbak, barley sugars, Mars bars (get those smaller ones), chewy (not crunchy) muesli bars, maybe fruit (banana). Have some food on the outside of the pack, so the first nibbles don't require taking off my pack.
* camera??
* more food, depending on length
* jumper, depending on length / time of year
* rain jacket, depending on length / time of year / weather forecast
* spare headlamp battery (if at night)
* pen, pencil

Wearing / in hand:
* compass
* gaiters
* those gray, light quick drying shorts
* socks - inner layer and then sports socks
* sneakers are ok. Maybe try my brown walking shoes sometime. Boots would be bad (for jogging).
* taped heals
* taped toes / use vaseline?
* headlamp (if at night)
* watch

To Do:
* Cut toenails before hand

To have in back in the car:
* Towel
* Change of clothes to change into
* Sandals and slides (in case of bad blisters)
* Food
* Water
* Stool

To consider buying:
* Walking gaiters (able to roll / turn down).
* A good (modern) headlamp.

Talking to S from Canberra, the outdoor space issue is probably key. If I get a flat, then it has to have a decent (on the larger size) balcony, that looks out over something (and not into someone's backyard or into another apartment block). Or, if I get a townhouse, then having a courtyard for stuff (pot plants, etc). But too much will be a pain for me to maintain. I suppose, though, there is the option of a medium sized house on a smallish block of land (i.e.: not much garden to maintain). But this wouldn't be the best, I think.

I've always lived in places with a lot of space: Canberra - big garden growing up, then a small courtyard in a townhouse that I shared for a little bit, then a garden in the first and second houses I lived in Brisbane, and now a flat with a decent balcony that looks out over a field / trees. I'd probably feel restricted if I didn't have a decent amount of outdoor space.