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ARCHIVE 10

27th July 2004 to 30th September 2004

Circa Dawn, Herbert Street in Saint Leonards - A half-grown Brushtail Possum was heading for home across the ground, a little late. It may well have been confused by the easterly overcast sky. As it hurried, two Pied Currawongs were verbally harassing it with dedicated persistence, although they were not actually resorting to physical violence.

Then the Brushtail saw me in its path, looking at it. It stopped for a few seconds, rising up on its hindlegs, then dropped to all fours and ran up a nearby Casuarina tree. This was not a very tall tree, and hardly suitable for a Brushtail's safe slumber. But the canopy of this tree touched with another slightly taller & larger Casuarina, whose canopy in turn touched with a thicked trunked mature tree [whose pedigree I know not]. While I did not see its final ascent, this last tree for sure is where it went.

Pied Currawongs have this habit of verbally harassing Brushtail Possums & Ringtail Possums, which linger later after the nocturnal hours, which I have personally observed several times. Why these Birds should fine those herbivorous Marsupials so offensive is something of a mystery to me. Perhaps Brushtails & Ringtails do eat eggs as well, if they happen to stumble on them. Pied Currawongs have purpose in their aggression.

In today's Canberra Times, there was a comment that the Australian electoral opinion polls are showing up to a quarter of respondents "undecided". But, despite this, all the newspapers are publishing poll results which ommit the "undecided". They are just excluded in giving the results. But it is wrong to ignore them, as it is hard to imagine that there are many in Australia who have not formed a firm opinion regarding Prime Minister John Howard.

This ignoring of the "undecided" was why the polls got the wrong result when Jeff Kennett lost power in the 1998 Victorian State Election. The undecided respondents were consistently running in the teens. The compere for the ABC Radio election coverage put the view as to "how could anyone be undecided in their opinion of Jeff Kennett?" before the vote counts came in. He was derided by the "electoral experts", but was proved very right on the night.

The Pigeons are clinging to what remains of the front of 44B Baywater Road, which has been reduced by continuing demolition from two storeys to one storey. One pair, early this evening, were doing a small mutual dance in their hollow. I am sure I heard chicks calling from the same place. There is some small squabbling among the "tennants" over the reducing space. But if these incredible birds are feeling much stress, they are not overtly displaying it.

Today I bought a DVD of "Lord Of The Rings - Return Of The King" for a mere $20.00 at the new CD place at the corner of Baywater Road and Kellett Street. This is the one I managed not to see at the cinemas, somehow. Certainly it was available enough.

As I lay down resting at ~1.40pm, I heard this strange bird call. I rose and searched for it amongst the leaves of the tree, close by to my bedroom balcony. It was an unremarkable brownish-green bird in the shadows, except for one astonishing feature. Ringing its eyes was brilliant scarlet, almost painful to my eyes in its intensity.

Barbara Bonney sang the Richard Strauss songs very well, and in her éncore, sang Grieg's "Solveig's Song" even better.

After interval, it was Gustav Mahler's 5th Symphony. It was well written, well played, but it is so long that I was wondering as to whether the Audience or the Orchestra would collapse first! At one of the inter-movement pauses, a stand was knocked over, followed quickly by an unintentional drumming of some instrument. But Gelmetti was patient, albeit when the Symphony ended he looked relieved. The Mahlerphiles in the Premium and A Reserve seats apllauded with wild enthusiasm, such that my suspicion that the Orchestra had done well was confirmed by those who should know.

I was glad to be able still to walk and think, if not the most clearly that ever I have.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stamford Bridge - 25th September 1066.
On the River Derwent, a few miles east of York City.
Quite possibly, this was the worst ever Viking defeat.

The Norwegans under King Harald Hardraada had defeated the Northern English Earls of Edwin and Morcar at Gate Fulford, on the southern edge of York City, on 20th September 1066. York had agreed to surrender in a few days time. The English King, Harold Godwineson, was generally believed by those in the north, to still be in London.

So, as they marched in relaxed mood, without armour, the Viking host must have been stunned to see the approach of a full army under the English King. The battle must have been all but decided, even before the armies actually came to blows. The English were battle ready, while the Norwegians were psychologically unprepared.

At Stamford Bridge, the English won two victories in effect. Firstly, they drove the Norwegians from their positions on the eastern side of the River Derwent. The English negotiated with difficulty, the crossing of the Stamford Bridge against some stout resistence. This allowed the Norwegians to reform their ranks. But the second English charge destroyed Hardraada's Army. They were unable to withstand the assault and their position this time, allowed them no real chance of retreat. Harald Hardraada and most of his soldiers were killed. It was an especially brutal rout, as the English were unwilling to allow any quarter against their famous foes, until they had all but ceased to exist.

Always be prepared for anything, when on hostile territory. Always march in your armour.

These were the famous lessons which the Romans showed in their days of early empire. They forgot as their empire aged. The Vikings made the same error outside York in 1066.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Powick Bridge - 23rd September 1642.
A simple skirmish near by Worcester City.
But it started the English Civil War.

A thousand Parliamentarian Horse & Dragoons under Colonel John Fiennes versus a thousand Royalist Cavalry under Prince Rupert of The Rhine. The former were better armed. The latter were better lead. Prince Rupert won a short sharp victory.

This superiority in Mounted Horse in action, should have lead to an early Royalist victory. But they failed to use this advantage to gain battle victories.

[I am indebted to "British Battles - The Front Lines Of History In Colour Photographs"
by Ken & Denise Guest. This is a most excellent and informative coffee table book.]

It is possible, in this most contrary of Australian Election campaigns, that Labor will win Wentworth, which they have never won and should never win; but not win Lindsay, which they should always have won, but where they have failed on the last three occasions.

Blore Heath - 23rd September 1459.
Just to the East of Market Drayton,
on the Road to Newcastle-Under-Lyme.
Wars Of The Roses.

The Lancastrians under Lord Audley had a two to one numerical advantage over the Yorkists under the Earl of Salisbury. There was a second Lancastrian army only ten miles away. But there was also the Queen's order for Salisbury's head "quick and dead". This command had a dreadful unxpected consequence,

Audley ordered attack, down the slope, across the narrow but deep waters of Hemphill Brook, and up the slope to Salisbury's well chosen position. All this had to be achieved under a murderous rain of Yorkist arrows.

The Lancastrian Cavalry charged, but were beaten back with heavy losses. They charged again and were again beaten back with heavy losses. Then, in desperation, Lord Audley personally lead a thousand Infantry in the same futile charge. He was cut down and killed, which caused his forces to flee for their lives, leaving behind 2,000 of their own dead.

Postscript: If ever there was an apt name for a bloody battlefield, it is Blore Heath!!

There is perhaps one thing only, which is generally agreed upon as to the forthcoming Australian election, which is due in just two and one half weeks. The vote for the "Greens" will almost certainly be the highest it has ever been.

Hours, seconds and minutes
are a way of dividing a concept,
which concedes no real divisions.

There was this unseen gliche within my PC, late last evening, and I lost about a month of "Thoughts". Most of these I quickly recovered from various little nooks & crannies, but I had to add the the following message, in tragic black. It was really my fault for not backing up in full, no matter how tired I am. But blaming Microsoft for everything comes so naturally!

But thanks to a Google cached page, which I found through a search with precise terms, I was able to find all the missing "Thoughts". Thank you Google!! I am Very Grateful Indeed!!

So there is an hour gone in this small catastrophe, at a ridiculous point of the night when I should be long since in the quiet slumbers of an innocent soul. Be that it may, as a piece of "precious" prose, importantly, nothing was lost, and I have learnt valuable lessons about backing up, and finding lost pages.

Auracaria of Crows Nest Road. It was, in the first full week of September, on a most unfortunate day, cut into pieces by a woman of questionable sense. Auracarias grow slowly, and one that is three metres tall is of significant monetary value. The next day I took a cutting of a side branch from one of the hacked pieces of straight trunk. I have had it in a vase ever since, recutting the stem every couple of days, so that the naturally forming scar tissue does not stop it drinking. Today I plant it, but without much hope, for:

[1] Auracarias are not friendly to propogation from cuttings.

[2] This is a side branch, not the preferable growing apex.

[3] While I am using root hormone dust, it is probably out of date.

[4] I should have done it sooner, but I was tired day after day,
and Auracaria leaves give this appearance of seeming much alive,
even when they are most likely not so!

I was wandering from shop to shop in Town, in George Street & Pitt Street, around the middle of the day. Mainly l looked at DVDs, comparing prices and seeing how they were dropping. But what I bought first was two CDs at Fish Fine Music: a double CD "Lute Songs Of Purcell And Dowland"; plus a single CD "Chopin - Complete Piano Music - Volume 13". The latter I played first on arriving home. But I lay down and just fell asleep. So I played it again, on awaking. It is is Dances, mostly Waltzes. The composition is inspired, and the piano playing by Idil Biret is exceptional.

The Purcell CD of the first mentioned purchase, which is CD2, is now playing. These songs are song by Michael Chance, a Counter-Tenor who has a very fine voice. The backing instruments vary from song to song, but in total include Viola Da Gamba; Arch-Lute; Theorbo; Harpsicord. I have not listened to the Dowland CD, which is CD1, as with sleep and all, I have had no time.

As to why I was suddenly so tired, I am not completed wise to. Perhaps my blood sugar was low, but it is not easy to know.

After buying the CDs, I meandered back to the west end of town, and purchased a DVD: the BBC's 1978 television production of "Hamlet". This I have not yet watched, not surprisingly, as it is 3 hours & 34 minutes in length.

I would fain have gone, tonight, to the Conservatorium of Music, to hear the Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra perform Poulenc's Organ Symphony, Rachmaniov's Slavonic Dances & Stravinsky's Rite Of Spring. Yet I am slow to move and have much to do, which I do not do with any passable haste. However, I have had the DVD of "Hamlet" [BBC - 1978] playing, and the words are most splendid indeed. Perhaps I will be so inspired to write, possibly, some of my own, which might just may in some small part approach what his are.

No doubt Cher's "Farewell Tour" will be followed in a few years, by her "Hello Again Tour".

In truth, my respect for Cher has never diminshed over the years. It has always been nil.

Three days running I have seen Deadcat outside 5 Crows Nest Road in Waverton, at varying times of the afternoon. On Tuesday & Wednesday he was resting on the grass verge, albeit his head was alert and moving. Today he was on the concrete next to the fence. And his head was more than usually active, although his legs remained firmly immobile.

Deadcat does move by use of his legs: to wit, walking. But he does not do this with any alacrity or sense of fun.

I seem to spend an inordinate amount of time not doing things. It is very frustrating, but I have yet to find that psychological key for breaking this impasse.

Tonight was the Quarterly Meeting of the Correspondence Chess League of Australia [CCLA]. This is the one meeting I enjoy going to, since it runs effectively and efficiently, with a maximum of enterprise and a minimum of ego.

It is also the anniversary of the Battle of Homildon Hill in 1402, where the greed of Henry Bolingbroke was exposed. He unfairly seized the wealhy Sottish hostages that the Percies had captured. This sowed the seeds of the later Percy rebellion.

Now I have the 2005 programmes for the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Opera Australia & the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. An embarassment of riches this is indeed. It will be a major enterprise, to work out what to watch, and what I will have to decline. Sadly, my money only goes so far.

The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra.
Directed by Canadian Baroque Violinist, Marc Destrubé.

Baroque, of course, with compositions by Jean-Marie Leclair, Marin Marais & Georg Handel. But the evening's finale was a work of the last decade or so.

And even before that, one could detect half-time environmental change, such that Theorbo & Archluke impressario, Tommie Andersson, left at interval.

The audience as a whole seemed to prefer the final work: "Concerto Tango" by Renato Duchiffre. This is a Concerto for two Viola Da Gamba, which is a big ask for this "quiet" instrument, even if you do have two! Methinks the "backhand" bow technique of the Viola Da Gamba is the main impediment to increased volume. It was obvious, at times, with what ferocity Daniel Yeadon & Anthea Cottee had to bruise the bow across the six strings, to get the volume that the composer demanded.

Myself? I prefered the Georg Handel "Overture and Dance Suite from the Opera Rodrigo". Mais, c'est moi!

I must have been impressed, as, despite some confusion due to low blood pressure & low blood sugar, I purchased his double CD [with the City Of Birmingham Orchestra, under the baton of Sakari Oramo]. This CD contains the complete "Piano & Orchestra" works of Camille Saint-Saëns.

The purchase I made at interval, after hearing the "Piano Concerto Number Four In C Minor". The two sans-Piano works of the evening which sandwiched this, were Claude Debussey's "Images For Orchestra Number 2: Iberia" & Robert Schumann's "Symphony Number Four In D Minor". Here was a Classicist like me, being borne away by the passionate but sinful slowness of the Romantics!

Ilan Volkov is a young Israeli born British conductor. He has a very clear & expressive manner of conducting, and impressed very much.

1.10pm - I put the pack down at 30 Crows Nest Road, leaning against a low brick wall, as I do. A skink, which had been sunning itself on top of the wall, took fright and leaped into the nearest darkness it saw. This was my pack. I tried to carefully scoop it out, but it slipped right down; quite out of sight. Initially I continued on my way, but aboute ten metres down the road, I stopped and leaned the pack against the continuation of this same wall. Some concern I had that the skink might be crushed, but my greater concern was that it would be out of its territory, which could cause it serious trouble. Everything I took out of the pack, and at last, as I picked up one of the depot bags, there it was. My attempt to gently dislodge it worked, except that it was now on my left leg. It ran up the leg of my moleskins, across my belt to my right side, then around to the back of my shirt. My attempts to gently brush it off failed. It was not on the ground. So I knew it was at the top of the back of my shirt, where I could not easily reach.

There was only one thing to do. I took off my shirt. As I did, it dropped to the ground. Now I gently persuaded it to move off the concrete on to the grass. Twice during this short journey, it stopped and tried to hide under a leaf fragment, which in both cases was but a fraction of its size. Fortunately during this curious process, there was no-else about, so I was able to put my shirt bacjk on without curious attention.

The absurdity of this incident registered later as humourous; but at the time it was a case of disbelieving frustration. Be that as it may, I at no time lost my temper with the temper with this misguided skink.

[Flodden is by the River Till in Northumbria,
just south of the border, which follows the River Tweed].

Thirty-Five Thousand Soldiers under the Scottish King James IV
versus Twenty-Six Thousand under the English Earl of Surrey.

This was the first truly united Scottish Army, with men from all parts of that country, as well 5,000 French mercenaries. The English army was recruited from all Northern English Counties. It was common for an English King to leave the defence of the north in the hands of the Northern Nobles, but the second Henry Tudor, like his father, seemed to prefer to put as great a distance, between himself and a battle, as was diplomatically possible.

After crossing the River Tweed, and upon the approach of the English Army, James Stuart arrayed his forces in a strong defence position, and declined to advance against the English. The artillery duel which followed, proved much in the favour of the English. The Scottish left flank became unwilling to endure this any more, and against the Kings order's, they advanced under Lord Home and the Earl Of Huntley. This disciplined & determined march quickly crushed the opposing force of Edmund Howard, causing them to flee.

Emboldened by this success, Stuart ordered a general advance. The Scots were using five metre pikes supplied by the French, but as they were inexperienced in their use, they were unable to effect a successful advance up the muddy slope. At close range, the English found they could use their shorter pikes to cut off the ends of these long pikes. The English superiority in archery was also telling. So the battle turned deciscively their way. Stuart lead a desperate counter-attack, but was killed, which lead to a Scottish rout. Along with him died twelve Earls and 9,000 soldiers. The English lost 4.000 men.

.
Loss Of Loved Sons And Brothers, Fathers And Lovers, Is The Inevitable Price Of War's Folly.

An interesting point: there were major forces of Borderers in both armies, who made an important contribution on each side, fighting with great loyalty, bravery & determination. And this, despite the fact that every single one of them could, with full justification, have fought on the other side!

[I am indebted to "British Battles - The Front Lines Of History In Colour Photographs"
by Ken & Denise Guest. This is a most excellent and informative coffee table book.]

I was up on the roof tonight, trying to work out why the ABC TV signal is so erratic. Last night it was excellent, but tonight it kept disappearing at frequent intervals. The viewing showed nothing obviously wrong with the aerial. So, I can only presume that aerial's low height leaves it susceptible to atmospheric changes, not helped by the fact that there is a taller building between our building and the transmission direction.

During the Italian Renaissance, the Venetians were not blind to the window of opportunity, which the Dalamatian Coast offered. Hence Ragusa, now Dubrovnik, was founded.

The election for the
Australian Parliament
is a tawdry thing,
a second rate auction.

"King Arthur"! A pleasant surprise this movie proved to be. Not only was it most beautifully filmed; but the dialogue was unusually well written; there was considerable attention to period detail; the battles were wonderfully realistic, except without the original & inevitable gore; and there were subtle depths & counterpoints in the plot.

They did move things about a bit. The battle of Baden Hill was in the south east of England, not near Hadrian's Wall. Merlin was indeed a Scottish dark ages Pagan, but at a somewhat later period than Arthur. Most of the Sarmatian Knights had very un-Sarmatian names, taken from the Mediaeval Arthurian legends. But all these, I consider, are allowable, as they give the story a framework which makes it easier for the audience to understand it.

This morning I noticed that my Native Wysteria has flowered again. It seems not concerned to keep to a specific seasonslot. Also, there are buds on my Red Flowering Gum. I grew it from seed about six or so years ago, and it has not flowered before. So if the buds do come into bloom, which one would expect, barring unforeseen disaster, it will be auspicious.

Thirty Thousand Parliamentarians under Oliver Cromwell
versus Twelve Thousand Royalists under King Charles Stuart.

It is fitting that the final battle of this long campaign should be fought on the very same meadows as the first, the Battle of Powick Bridge. The Royalists, in this return bout, were effectively obliterated, and this is by no means surprising, if one considers the numerical advantage their enemy possessed.

Oliver Cromwell ordered Lieutenant-General Charles Fleetwood to conduct a surprise attack from the south-west, crossing the River Severn using pontoon bridges. Despite the surprise of this assault, the Parliamentarian forces were initially stalled, until Cromwell personally led three brigades of enforcements across the pontoon bridges.

Charles Stuart saw this manouvre from a Tower in Worcester Cathedral, and then, in a last desperate effort to forestall disaster, he personally lead what reserves he could muster, out of the Sidbury Gate of Worcester City, in an attempt to rally his forces. The fighting raged for about three hours, but as David Leslie gave no support with the Royalist Cavalry, who were already outside the City, it was hopeless, regardless of any amount of valour. Apparently Leslie was so depressed by the turn of events with the earlier attack, plus the series of lost Battles in this War, that he could do nothing but ride up and down aimlessly!

Inevitably, the outnumbered Royalists retreated back into Worcester. Stuart arrived with them on foot. He tried to rally his forces again, but this was futile. He was provided with a horse and finally persuaded to flee. The Royalists who were trapped in the City were slaughtered in the streets, by the victorious Parliamentarians.

With such a vast superiority of Men & Weapons, and without major error on the part of the superior force, such a battle is merely a slaughter of the weaker side.

[I am indebted to "British Battles - The Front Lines Of History In Colour Photographs"
by Ken & Denise Guest. This is a most excellent and informative coffee table book.]

The Aurcaria, mentioned yesterday and the day before, has been pushed upright by some kind and strong person. It now sits, apparently quite contentedly, on wide grass verge beside the kerb. Hopefully someone will give it a good home

On the Upside - The notorious Deadcat. - I saw this relcutant mover, this afternoon, relaxing on the grass verge near the kerb outside 5 Crows Nest Road in Waverton, where this seriously relaxed feline now resides. The legs were immobile, but his head was in action: looking at me, albeit without any haste; and slowly preening as much of himself, which can be reached without moving legs, or rolling over, or even stretching a little.

On the Downside - The unfortunate fallen Auracaria is still as it was yesterday.

10.40am - Saint Leonards Railway Station. A Rainbow Lorrikeet was amusing itself, by flying between a high window sill on the western side and a high window sill on the eastern side, at frequent intevals. In between flights it would perch and look out at the outside world. During this activity, it kept up a frequent vocal correspondence with another Rainbow Lorrikeet, which was also in the shopping centre, but outside the Station itself. The whole demeanour of the Lorrikeet in the Station suggested that it was not trapped, but merely enjoying itself!

12.40pm - Someone has dumped a sizeable Auracaria, possibly a Norfolk Island Conifer, on the grass verge beside the kerb, outside 45 Crows Nest Road in Waverton. The tree is about three metres tall, and despite lying along the ground, as the pot has fallen over, it appears to be in good health.

In mid-afternoon, as I was waiting to board a southbound train at Saint Leonards Station, Sue Hicks alighted from that same carriage. This was a surprise. And I expressed it verbally. "I thought you were in England." Sue explained that she was back in Australia for two months. She also said that she was reading at the next Live Poets at Donbank. This is on the fourth Wednesday night of September.

There was one inexplicable omission from the Athens Olympic results - Tiddlywinks. I would like to know the Gold, Silver & Bronze for the Men's Singles; Women's Singles; Men's Doubles; Women's Doubles; & the Mixed Four-Tiddlies-Best-Wink.

Opera Australia - Sydney Opera House, Opera Theatre.
Conducted by Luke Dollman.
Directed by Neil Armfield.

This performance I thoroughly enjoyed. My previous experience Of Figaro, was in January 2001, which was also an Opera Australia production. I saw this earlier performance with Helen Harmer. We were in the back row, so while the singing was clear, the performers looked distant, and their facial expressions were hard to judge. As well, Helen had problems with the length of the performance; due to the time one spent seated.

Tonight I was close to the front, at the audience's left hand margin. So I could see the expressions clearly. The cast were universally strong in both singing and acting. It did seem to me that this production had more drive and devilish sense of fun than the earlier one. My legs suffered significant pain, but this this was over-ridden by my pleasure in the performance.

This Bach composition, when well played, is most wonderful; and indeed it was wonderful tonight. Brückner is a composer of whom I had had no opinion, one way or the other, as I had heard but little of his work. But I certainly enjoyed this Symphony, even if he lacks, perhaps, a certain variety in the way he starts a Movement.

The night's performance was dedicated to Eva Kelly, a former vionist with the Orchestra, who died recently from cancer. One of her daughters, Fiona Ziegler, was Concertmaster. Another daughter, Léone Ziegler, was also in the First Violins tonight.

Thus endeth "The Green Death". It is not a Doctor Who story that I really enjoyed at all; not now, and not as a Uni Undergraduate, which was more years ago than I care to remember. The Giant Maggots had a lack of conviction in the Monster Stakes! There is, however, one story which I have more problems with: "Invasion Of The Dinosaurs". I shudder to think of the "special effects" used in the latter. But oddly, in between these two is "The Time Warrior", which is where the Sontarans make their debut; and it is a very good story indeed.

If Australia put the same effort into Science & Technology that we put into Sport, we would be far Healthier, Wealthier & Wiser. We would be a Technological Power of considerable note, rather than a second rate Nation with a third rate Prime Minister.

My Dwarf Silver Wattle is fast being covered in a blanket of golden flowers.

Little Bush continues to spurt forth the same homilies & assurances, quite in contradiction to the reality on the ground in Iraq. Honestly, you would have to be the most complete of idiots, to believe anything that exited from his mouth. If he told you that the sun would rise in the east tomorrow, you would still want a second opinion.

In the current times, there is no greater disciple of Joseph Goebbel's ideas, regarding the dissemination of propaganda, than George Bush the Junior.

The first flowering spike of my Dwarf Silver Wattle was out today: a blaze of bright yellow. Wattles, depending on the species, may flower at almost anytime, but Winter and Early Spring are most common. I recall that in that brief time, when I lived in the Blue Mountains at Leura, I woke one morning to see snowflakes nestled softly on a Wattle's Yellow Flowers.

If we are forced to use the absurd & clumsy name:
"The Former Yugoslav Republic Of Macedonia".
Then surely the country to its south should be:
"The Former Turkish Province Of Greece".

2 x [Lang] played the piano for that Concerto, which was the first Tchaikovsky work.

However, there was a pre-Concert drama. I had suffered too little sleep last night. So on coming home from work blessedly early, I showered and to bed, with two alarms set to wake me, firstly at 5.20pm, plus a backup at 5.30pm. Yet I managed - "the best laid plans of mice and men" - to switch off both, without waking up at all [to the best of my memory]. Then I finally awoke at 6.28pm, in a state of minor shock! Yet I made it to the venue far earlier than I usually do, with ages to burn. Ironically, my late waking assured me being early.

This correspondence chess game arrived today, in which I have fought to retrieve a draw from a difficult position, which had occurred as I was doing what Emmanuel Lasker had said of Janowski: Following "the wrong path with more determination than anyone else I have ever known." But now, whilst playing my already planned move, I realised through some quick analysis, that while I can definitely force a draw by repeated position, I may also force a win if I wish. Fortunate indeed it is, that the draw, and the previously hidden to me win, follow the same path at this point in the game, and for another two moves. "Chess Blindness".

The USA Olympic Basketball Team. They are called the "Dreamy Team", I believe.

Meanwhile, back in God's Own, the rain pettered out after sunrise. The apex of the day saw bright sunshine overhead in North Sydney & Waverton, while dark cloud masses hung patiently over the Tasman Sea to the south east. Then after dusk, the land cooled and the clouds moved inexorably across the coast, drenching the land with solid significant rain!

We have been blessed by periodic rain-storms, in the early morning and in the evening. During the apex of the daylight hours it was mostly sunny, albeit there were dark clouds hovering at various sky-places towards the horizon. Rain becomes increasingly special.

I adjourned towards town, in the middle reaches of the day. It was a slight spending spree. Firstly, at HMV in the Pitt Street Mall, I saw and bought a DVD of "Till Human Voices Wake Us", for ~$32. This film I saw with Helen Harmer at the original Dendy in Martin Place, which is now no more. Indeed it was the last film I saw there. There were just a trickle of people in the audience; and I believe that all of them bar me were women. It was a film I thought exquisite: honest and deep and very moving. So it was not popular, having all the wrong attributes for success. Then I moved along the Mall to Angus & Robertson, where I obtained four discounted Wandsworth Classics, for a total of some fourteen dollars: "The Collected Short Stories Of Saki"; and three novels by Jane Austin - "Sense And Sensibility"; "Pride And Prejudice"; "Persuasion". Next I traversed Hyde Park and spent a brief time in the Australian Museum, where I was most interested in the "Goniometer". I could not fathom its use by just looking at it, so I read the explanation, to learn that it measures the angles within crystals. After this, I walked home through East Sydney & Darlinghurst.

p.s. - The DVD did not disappoint! Of the books, I began today "Sense And Sensibility", which I have not read before. And the final two correspondence chess games, the tricky ones, have moves completed!

Long slow struggle. It seems I have achieved nothing. But on refection, looking back in the evening through the lost departed daylight, perhaps it was something. After all, there were those five correspondence chess games posted; plus the unfeeling drudgery of housework.

William Tecumseh Sherman. I took to his Memoires once more, whilst lying down, somewhat fatigued. He is still in California, as I have yet to clear the first century of pages. My progress is languid. I read for enjoyment, when the moment is right for that particular book.

The Leaden Flycaychers always call before dawn, regardless of the time of year. But for the last 2 to 3 weeks, they have also been calling during daylight hours. The calls have more variety during the day, and to my ears at least, they seem to be more insistent. This is called courtship, I believe. In this, as in all matters, Leaden Flycatchers apply themselves with a very determined intensity. Small short lives lived at a fast pace.

Doctor Who continues, with the Pertwee Era's penultimate season. "The Three Doctors", which began the season, finished yesterday; while "The Carnival Of Monsters" began today.

The former story has clever use of the dialogue, which results from having three Doctor Whos - Pertwee, Troughton & Hartnell - together at the same time & place. We also get to see Troughton & Hartnell in colour; or to be precise, in more colours than black, grey and white! The physics in the story is very dodgey; but that is not the first time, by any means.

The latter story likewise has good dialogue and an interesting storyline; especially in the first episode. It also has the charm of cameo appearances by various creatures, including the Ogrons and Cybermen. And of course, there are those delightful "Functionaries", who are always attempting to "take to the heights".

An interesting morning: I became dizzy, just when leaving for work, so I did not go, instead lying down for over an hour; but later, I went to an appointment with a Medical Specialist, although by then, I felt rather better.

Among other easily paced activities, this afternoon, I listened for the second time to two CDs, which Eric Dabas lent me.

[1] "Acid Daze - 18 Psychedelic Classics From The UK Underground". There are tracks here I already knew and liked: Syd Barrett - "Octopus"; Status Quo - "Ice In The Sun". There are others I did not know, but like: The Move - "I Can Hear The Grass Grow"; Nirvana* - "Rainbow Chaser"; Kevin Ayers - "Clarence In Wonderland"; The Purple Gang - "Granny Takes A Trip'; Dantalian's Chariot - "Madman Running Through The Fields". Most of the rest, I regard as ranging from nothing exceptional, on a sliding scale to forgettable. That "Green Circles" by The Small Faces, and "The Thoughts Of Emerlist Davjack" by The Nice, appear on this CD, I find odd. In both cases, the song in question is far from being the group's best, as Music in general, or as Psychedelic Music, more specifically.

[2] The Charlatans - These are 23 tracks from a 1996 reunion, of a 1960s San Francisco "Psychedelic" band, which I previously was quite unaware of. I question here "Psychedelic", as they strike me more as a Jugband. The first two tracks did not appeal to me at all, but then it improved. When the songs are more Bluesy, or alternatively, more Ragtime, I like them; but when they veer towards Country & Western, they lose me. My favourites are tracks 3, 4 & 6; respectively "I Always Wanted A Girl Like You"; "I Saw Her" & "32/20". The last is an interesting slowed down version of the Robert Johnson classic.

[This Nirvana is not to be confused with the later Seattle Band, who were rather more gutteral in style.]

Computers teach us self-control and patience,
for losing your temper with them does no good.

Today I had hoped to be at the Schubertiad in Town, at Theosophy House at 2.45pm. I missed the previous Schubert Society event in June, due to the late arrival of the newsletter. It was redirected from my previous address, as it had not been updated on the address list. Still, this is really my fault, as the disorder of my papers is such, that I have not been able to locate the newsletter previous to the june edition, which listed all the events od the Society for the year.

It is a point of curiosity that I should be a member of the Schubert Society, but not the Beethoven Society, nor the Mozart Society. After all, Beethoven's isolationism, which was oft bad tempered, is surely far closer to my personality than Schubert's social philanthropy. And yet, Schubert and Beethoven were the best of friends!

My blood pressure today was higher than I expected; likewise my blood sugar. Exactly why this is, I am not quite sure. My best guess: an unintentional reduction in my salt intake. Perhaps I have placed too much faith in Quinine. Be that as it may, I have resolved to increase my salt intake once more.

Sydney Opera House. Concert Hall.
Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: James Judd.
"Once more unto the breach, dear friends ..."

Of all the concerts I booked in January, this one I hesitated the most over. What won me in the end was the presence of John Bell, narrating lines from "Henry V". In this I was definitely not disappointed, for John Bell was in fine form. The William Walton incidental music, for Lawrence Olivier's movie of "Henry V", was collected and arranged with Shakespeare's words by Christopher Palmer. This work proved to be more interesting to me, than work by Walton which I have heard previously. His compositions are far too often, unintentional self-parodies.

The first half was less to my liking. Aaron Copland's "A Lincoln Portrait" is a fair enough work, and was certainly well played; yet I found it rather less than its American reputation. Naturally, this could merely be a matter of taste on my part; or even one of prejudice.

The new work: "Fix", by Barry Conyngham [music] & Janis Balodis [lyrics], was certainly well song by the marvellous Kiwi Baritone, Tedu Tahu Rhodes; and well played by the Orchestra. However, whilst I am not as critical of this work, as I overheard from certain passing tongues at interval, it still has some problems for me, in both the style and instrumentation.

Quinine, I also learnt last night, when taken through the mouth is mostly just passed out with the fibre and such, via the bowels. Today, I discovered through experience, it is also excreted by the kidneys, if the body deems there is too much. The strange sweet smell of Quinine is both a very strong odour, and very characteristic. So my nostrils were made well aware, that I was passing Quinine in my urine.

Quinine has long been known for its treatment of low blood pressure problems, such as cramps. This I discovered in that most convenient of encyclopedic resources, the world wide web. It is also most dubious and erratic of such sources, although in this case it does seem to be truthful. Shame it is that the medical fraternity did not see fit, to mention this quality of Quinine to me several years ago.

Sex is not so much an obligation to the continued existence of the human species, as an obligation to the demands of the human body's hormonal continuum and balance. There is oft the claim, through a plethora of magazines, that sex is done for pleasure; but I expect it is all rather a driven need. It is clear, for sure, that sexual atrocites are hardly a matter of demanded pleasure, but rather due to a knotty twisting of a massy web of unrequited needs. Naturally, this is not the necessary outcome of such. Most men are really quite sane.

Yesterday, on a whim, I bought a one litre of generic brand Indian Tonic Water, which cost a mere sixty-five cents, and I consumed the same that day. And over the next the forty-eight hours, with several more of these bottles, I discovered it to be an excellent antidote for chronic low blood pressure.

Quinine is the active ingredient here, which seems to make the critical difference.

Last night I did not go to bed, since it was a Blue Moon: that is the second Full Moon in a calendar month. For reasons which are rather too inexplicable to explain with any consistent coherence, I prefer not to sleep when the Blue Moon is aloft in the sky, which is all night of course. So I was up inside, until about 3.30am, doing nothing of consequence. Then I left home and went walking until 7.08am. Just walking. I started off walking slowly, around Elizabeth Bay, Woolloomooloo, East Sydney and Darlinghurst. Then I increased footspeed, as I headed across the eastern edge of Paddington, coming back by way of Woollahra and Edgecliffe. it was like a long slow pirouette around Rushcutters Bay. Unlike the said Moon, there was no clear direction nor purpose to my night transverse!

Soon after arriving home, I lay down on the floor, as I watched a personal video of "The Twin Dilemma" - Doctor Who, Colin Baker Era. There was this understandable need I felt to lie down, and it seemed rather late to go to bed. During this short sojourn, I fell asleep for just ten minutes, which, odd as it may seem, has proved so far to be sufficient. It is now 6.42pm.

This afternoon found me at the Sydney Opera House, for a 2.30pm concert. For once I was early. Perhaps this anomaly is due to my lack of sleep? This concert was by the Australian Chamber Orchestra, under the Direction of Violinist Richard Tognetti, with Soprano Emma Matthews as the guest Soloist. It was all Mozart and it was all most wondrous: "Mitridate, Re Di Ponto" Overture; "In faccia all'oggetto" Aria from "Mitridate, Re Di Ponto"; "L'ameró, saró costante" Aria from "Il Re Pastore"; Violin Concerto No. 3, the "Strassburg"; "Exsultate, Jubilate"; Symphony No. 41, the "Jupiter". I know all these works well, and so despite my musical illiteracy, I have some concept as to the quality of the performance. And it was quality indeed!!

At interval, and again at the end, I was talking with great enthusiasm about the concert with people whom I knew not, who just happened to be near me and needed to thus talk themselves. Humans being chattering creatures, it is hard to keep silent after such an experience.

This afternoon I saw and heard the Opera Australia production of Claudio Monteverdi's "Il Combattimento Di Tancredi E Clorinda", which lasts only some 20 to 25 minutes; and Henry Purcell's "Dido and Aeneas", which lasts barely an hour. This is early Opera, Baroque Opera.

The Monteverdi was curious: no overture; a cast of five, two of whom were dancers; and of the three singers, the narrator sang well over half of the work, it seemed to me. The plot was a little unrivetting; but the music was of a high quality.

Purcell's "Dido and Aenias" just blew me away! What wonderful music! Despite there being very fine arias, this is an Opera where the Chorus is the star. Purcell's long experience in writing Choral music stands him in good stead here. The sheer joyfullness of much of the Chorus' outpourings does seem a little odd, given that this is a tragedy: Dido kills herself at the end. Yet one is perfectly willing to forgive the composer, as the music is sheer beauty.

Simone Young is back in Sydney, albeit temporarily. Tonight I witnessed her conduct the Sydney Symphony Orchestra: Bartok's "Concerto For Orchestra" & Brahm's "Piano Concerto Number One". My judgement was effected by tiredness, plus a cotterie of minor illnesses, which are unpleasant rather than life-destroying. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed the evening. My only concern was that I make it safely home without falling over at some point. I did.

It mystifies me as to why this proposed agreement between Australia and United States of America should be called a "Free Trade Agreement". It clearly has nothing to do with free trade, and only allows Australia to increase exports to the USA, of those things that we are not in a position to export to them. Whereas the USA large corporations get to destroy our Quarantine Regulations, take over the running of our Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme to their finanial benefit, and essentially, to effectively annex our country.

No patriotic Australian can possible be in favour of this. Sadly, we are ruled by Quislings!

Killiecrankie - 27th July 1689. First Jacobite Rebellion.
[It is in a Narrow Pass at the Southern End of the Grampians.]

Five thousand Scottish Government forces under General Hugh MacKay
versus two and a half thousand Jacobites under Viscount Montrose.

[3] McKay, with his right flank, was left in control of the battlefield, as the Jacobites were chasing a rout down the mountainside against greater part of the Government Army, the left and centre. McKay did then, however, withdraw from the Highlands, albeit in good order.

[4] Montrose was killed. So after this battle, the rebellion soon dissipated due to a lack of inspirational leadership. The only further fighting was two skirmishes of little consequence: at Dunkeld later the same year, and at Cromdale in 1690.

[1] The Highland charge in to a disciplined musket volley was no longer at all wise. One third of the Jacobites were killed in that opening volley at Killiecrankie. It is the consistent improvement in firearm technology which brought this to pass.

[2] Also, while the original two handed Claymore [a Broadsword] was useful in the rout, its wielding did leave the swordsman exposed to shots and cuts to the body. After this battle, it was completely replaced by the more convenient one handed Claymore, which was also in use at Killiecrankie. One could say that the Higlanders were able to compare the two kinds of sword in a serious test.

[3] Plug Bayonets were a disaster [which should have been obvious in the design stage]. It was the attempt by the Government soldiers to follow the order to screw these in, that allowed the surviving Jacobites of that fateful charge, to so overwhelm the Government centre and left. The Plug Bayonet gives the Infantry no option of a reload, and as this was the first that these men had used them in action, things were always likely to go wrong.

[4] Cavalry must be disciplined to have effect. Like, how many lessons does it take before this simple and obvious fact was put into some strategic effect! The Government Cavalry retreat through their own Infantry made a bad situation worse, turning it into a rout!. The Jacobite single troop of Cavalry leaving the field to join in the rout, left their Commander dangerously isolated within musket range of the remaining Government right flank. It thus was directly responsible for Viscount Montrose's death.

[5] The importance of discipline, calmness and precision of those using firearms. The Earl of Leven's Division calmly shot Montrose down with a massed volley; then reloaded and fired again to prevent the still breathing Montrose from being rescued by his retainers. They saved the day for their side. They destroyed the First Jacobite rebellion.

[6] It is telling of the high spirited nature of the battle temperament of the Scots, that two Commanders in Montrose & MacKay, who were both experienced and well respected by their men, should have such inordinate trouble in getting simple direct orders obeyed. The Scottish armies of this period were an ironic combination of both discipline and indiscpline; such that a well earned victory was oft frittered away.

[I am indebted to "British Battles - The Front Lines Of History In Colour Photographs"
by Ken & Denise Guest. This is a most excellent and informative coffee table book.]

27th July 2004.
The Battle of Killiecrankie .
The reality obscured by
misplaced patriotism.

My Occasional Thought

For The Day