Hi folks. Yes, I'm still alive. I've been super-busy in my post-Darwin state - almost too busy to blog - and to convince you that I *have* been busy, and not just lazy, I shall give you an super-sized post this evening.
So, what have I been doing in the past two weeks, since my last post on the 25th?
1. I left Darwin. This was the last that I saw it...
2. I visited Sydney. Compared with Darwin, Sydney is BIG. Mind-bogglingly so. I stayed at a friend's place in Newtown, and did something that I'd been meaning to do ever since reading
Justine Larbalestier's
Magic or Madness a couple of years ago; I visited the Camperdown Cemetery, located in the heart of Newtown.
In particular, I was searching for the grave of Eliza Emily Donnithorne, who many believe to have been the inspiration for the character of Miss Haversham in Dickens'
Great Expectations. I found her, after an hour of gravely reading the stones (and dodging scary spiders):
Also, walking down King Street, I saw this piece of pro-Moomintroll Propaganda:
3. I flew to Melbourne. There may have been Snakes on a Plane.
4. Moved into my new place, a couple of blocks away from
Little Audrey the Skipping Girl... except that she wasn't there!
(Fear not! She has been taken away for fixing-up, and will soon be illuminating Victoria Street, as she did once upon a time...)
5. Acquired furniture. Much of which was delivered in assembled form (ie. a bed and a desk), at which point I needed to completely disassemble it to transport it up a narrow staircase to my bedroom.
Then there was my Ikea furniture, which only required two screwdrivers, a hammer, and a basic knowledge of rocket science. Fortunately, I played with lego a LOT as a child.
6. Revisited my old stomping ground at Melbourne Uni. I met up with people for coffee, and saw one of my favourite Melbourne bands,
Martin Martini and the Bone Palace Orchestra.
7. Started some casual work as a relief librarian at the
City of Boroondara Library Service.
8. Saw a
bunch of comedy. It was all good. However, I'm already starting to avoid the front of the Melbourne Town Hall as I wander down Swanston Street in the afternoon/evening. I totally understand the need for performers to spruik their shows - goodness knows that I've done it enough! However, there's a subtle art, and some people don't quite get it. (ie. be pleasant)
9. Caught up on
Dollhouse and
Gossip Girl. It's important, you see.
10. Started my second job, at the
State Library of Victoria, with the wonderful folk in the Learning Services Division, doing some research / project work with Reader Development. I really am quite excited about this, as it's an area of libraries that I'm particularly keen on, especially in state and public libraries, and it's an area where Australian libraries have plenty of potential for growth. There's no point in being adept with the technology, with a desire to bring about "Library 2.0", unless we first have the skills and knowledge to actually relate to and engage with our library communities, and keep them connected with our collections.
So, now we're back up to speed. It's good to be busy. It's good to be in Melbourne.
