MyOccasion

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For several days I have had a persistent nose bleed, which is a bit of a worry.

There is this news item about eels found living at a submarine volcanic vent. I heard it mentioned as a coming report, several times yesterday on ABC radio. For various reasons, I did not actually hear the item. Last night I did a quick search on-line, but could not find it. I shall try again, but perhaps not until this weekend.

Almost by accident late tonight, I watched "Dead Ringers" on ABC TV. It was the first I had watched it this year, because in the past it had not enthralled me by any means. However, I was pleasantly suprised to find it very amusing. Things change. Some even improve.

1.17pm - There were several Rainbow Lorrikkeets eating the blue berries. This was in the second of the these trees, the one west & downhill of the 30 Crows Nest Road letterboxes. The other tree is east & uphill of these letterboxes [you guessed it!], between them and the Morton Street T-Junction. I presume, that despite their close proximity, the eastern tree must fruit slightly earlier than the western.

This morning I watched the first two epidodes of "Assignment Two" of "Sapphire And Steele" [which are episodes seven & eight overall]. These two I have seen on the previous two sundays. Despite a real cliffhanger ending, at the end of the second of these, I felt like watching them again before I go on; thus going on only when I have completely absorbed the ideas in the story. Assignment One was good; Assigment Two even better from my point of view. This could well be the best story in this fairly short-lived series, and I wish to wallow in it.

As to why I find this series so compelling, when there is a lot of dubious "physics" that one must accept before one can appreciate it, is a mite mysterious.

Well, I thought it was wonderful, despite the melancholy overtones regarding mortality. In the support cast, Zoe Wannemaker was wonderful, in a role in which one had to recognise her from her voice, and all her acting abilities had to come likewise.

So very tired I feel. Nothing mysterious in this, as it is simply the case that I have not had sufficient sleep. Indeedit is fortunate I have no pre-booked concert tonight.

There were no Rainbow Lorrikeets at the tree with blue berries, near the corner of Crows Nest Road and Morton Street, in Waverton. This is at least while I was there. But there were severla of these birds there yesterday.

This evening, I attacked the Correspondence Chess games. They were building up again. Five I completed. This leaves just two in hand, with one more mail delivery for this week. I was hoping to have them all cleared, including whatever arrives tomorrow.

Doctor Who - "The City Of Death" - began tonight on ABC TV. This was a rare pleasure form, as I saw Part One for the first time. Part Four I have seen at least twice; but not parts One nor Two; while Part Three I am not sure of at this stage. This is a Tom Baker Era story, the second with Romana Two [played by Lalla Ward, after Romana's regeneration]. In this we have been skipped "Destiny Of The Daleks", as the ABC has reverted to Dalek aversion mode in its scheduling of the "Classic" Doctor Who.

Schapelle Corby is obviously innocent, proven beyond doubt. In Australia, such a case would never even come to trial. But Indonesia has an injustice system, with bent Soharto Era Laws, designed to facilitate corruption.

Naievely I imagined that the seven Correspondence Chess games which I cleared on saturday, would mean all but no arrivals today. But there were eight! Well, I posted off five tonight, just leving the three trickier games; one of which seems a probable loss.

Helen and I were in the Domain this morning. She wanted some photographs of Rainforest Figs with large buttress roots and low hanging branches parallel to the ground. We moved across the Domain, coming towards the NSW Art Gallery.

There I saw a half grown Noisy Miner with an injured left leg, perhaps broken, & possibly an injured left wing as well. It was in this two metre wide circle of bark chips, which surrounded the trunk of an Auracaria. When I first saw the injured bird, Amy, a girl of about four years of age, was annoying & chasing it. She was laughing at this "fun". I protected the bird, by the finesse of placing myself in such a position to keep Amy distant, while not actually ever approaching her closely. Sometimes her father, who could see what she was up to, called her away, but the adults had more interest in their picnic and glasses of wine.

The Noisy Miner was slowly moving round and round the trunk of this Auracaria. It seemed to be eating something, which was either from the fallen cones, or insects amongst the bark chips surrounding the tree, or possibly both. I went away to buy something for it. The only thing the kiosk had which seemed appropriate was Banana Bread. When I returned, Amy had been inching closer once more, but I despatched her with a single glare. I tossed this food to the injured bird, but it did not eat it. Instead it continued circling the trunk within the bark chips, seeming to feed as it circled. The Banana Bread attracted others: Royal Ibis; Topknot Pigeons; Indian Mynas; Noisy Miners. They all took their fill.

Then one of the Noisy Miners came close to the injured Noisy Miner halfling. The injured one called with considerable intent, and after some hesitation, the adult fed it pieces of Banana Bread. It ate greedily and soon was getting stronger and moving more freely. Its left leg was less splayed out, and it was walking almost freely, moving more easily. Amy and family left, which was a blessing.

Then a war broke out between five Noisy Miners and two Indian Mynas.The latter were driven off after about a minute. Next the Noisy Miners squabbled a little amongst themselves. One dive bombed the feeding adult briefly, but the bird under attack just ducked and held its ground. It continued to feed the injured young, which must have been its child or younger sibling. With Noisy Miners, it is common for a nestling of the previous season to stay and help the parents raise the next generation.

If it finds safe refuge tonight, this injured half-grown Noisy Miner has a good chance of survival. It has a whole afternoon to build up its strength. If it can fly up in to low branches at dusk, then it can perch safely & the propects are good. If not, it still might survive if it can huddle next to the trunk. Its family had probably abandoned it at first, feeling that it was injured beyond hope. That one adult began feeding it once more, means that it assessed that the younger bird could survive. I hope it will.

6.40am: I was up at The Cross, near the corner of Basswater Road & Darlinghurst Road. The streets were aswarm with Silver Gulls [Sea Gulls if you prefer]; cloaking the air with flappping & shrieking & descending on unsuspecting morsals of food, both large & small, as they lay on the streets, in the gutters, and scattered the pavements. They outnumbered the resident Common Pigeons, which, in a much more relaxed manner, scoured the streets, removing even the smallest food scraps with an efficiency close to that of a vacuum cleaner.

On my return, down the hill with shopping, I saw a dozen Sulphur Crested Cockatoos resting awhile in a mature Eucalypt tree, as they chorused the rising sun in their way, which is more Crow like than parrot like, albeit without that characteristic descending mournful finale. After all, it is perfectly Parrot-like to be raucous, but would be utterly out of their character to be melancholy!

Currently [~7.30am] I am playing a CD of Johann Sebastian Bach's Violin Concertos. I have had some six days and yet this is the first I have played it. The delay is inexplicable! Kolja Blacher's playing is exquisite.

[Font is ''Paris''.][---Gianluigi Gelmetti directs Gustav Mahler!! ---][Font is ''Paris''.]

The Sydney Symphony Orchestra [SSO].

"Mahler's Symphonic Farewell".

... ... ... ... ... ... ...

8.00pm at the Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House.

Conductor: Gianluigi Gelmetti.

... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Liza Lim - "Immer Fliessender".

I first heard some of Lim's composition last year, performed by the SSO. It was not to my taste, if I recall correctly. Tonight's work, however, I liked rather better. I noticed that a five minute section of this short work, just after halfway through, reminded me of Pink Floyd's "In The Narrow Way" from "Umma Gumma", but without the heavy bass-line.

So, yes, I did like it; albeit not enough to wish to buy it. But then, I am trying to not buy many CDs, as I already possess hundreds.

Gustav Mahler - 9th Symphony.

The final Mahler Symphony, which, as the programme says, he was at great pains to avoid calling his 9th Symphony, as composers had a habit of dying after completing a Symphony of that number. But it is, to my ears, a refreshingly modest & inspiring work. The Orchestra is large, but justifiably so, with the excesses of some of his earlier Symphonies removed. Gelmetti's direction produced a memorable performance by the SSO. It was very good; flowed its length, rather than hanging at times.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The new Doctor Who began tonight on ABC TV, with the initial episode "Rose", which I enjoyed very much. [I recorded it & watched it on returning home from the Opera House.] The ABC put in on with priority, having seen how good the production values are, and how well it rated in the United Kingdom. It will rate less well here I suspect, as it always seems to do. The new series differs in that the episodes are 45 mnutes rather than 30 minutes, and it has returned to the original Hartnell Era format of each epidoe having its own name. Howver, with the new series, the episodes do not make up a continuing story, except occasionally, as with epidodes four & five, respectively, "Aliens of London" and "World War Three" being a two part story. Russell T. Davies, who wrote the first two episodes, "Rose" and "The End Of The World" was the special guest at the meeting of the ADWFC on 1st May 2005, and provided lots of information.

It was good to see the Nestene Consciousness make its comeback. It has not been seen since it double outing in the Pertwee Era: "Spearhead From Space" - the first story in Pertwee's first season in 1970; "Terror Of The Autons" - the first story in his second season in 1971.

The English FA Cup is on tomorrow night, Greenwich Mean Time, in the Millenium Stadium in Wales. But that tustle between French Arsenal and Manchester No Longer United is merely the curtain raiser to the main game on 29th May at the same venue.

This is the English League One Promotion Playoff Final between Hartelpool United & Sheffield Wednesday. Hartelpool's purchase in 1997, by Aberdeen-based Increased Oil Recovery Ltd (IOR) has lead to steady & persistent upward progress by this old Northern Club, who usually claim to fame has been through their previously persistent poverty. As to why IOR regarded the Hartlepool United Football Club as a good investment; well that is a mite mysterious.

Be that as it may, they gained this final through beating Tranmere Rovers on 6-5 on penaties at the latter's Prenton Park ground. Hartlepool had won 2-0 at home in the first leg, but lost 2-0 away; their being no goals in extra time, it went to penalty shootout.

The hero was Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, Hartlepool's Greek Goalkeeper. He made a number of point blank saves to keep them in the game, and then his saves in the Penalty Shootout made the difference. Why this 26 year old, former Greek Under 21 International Goalkeeper, is playing for Hartelpool United is yet another mystery.

12.35pm: In a tree next to the corner of Crows Nest Road & Morton Street, which was sporting a whoesome covering of winter blue berries, a dozen Rainbow Lorrikeets were feeding, giving little warbles of gourmet delight, and apparently oblivious to several human admirers of this middle sized Parrot's gaudy feathered apparel: in red, yellow, bright green & metallic blue.

1.00pm: A duo of Rainbow Lorrikkeets flew over my head, only just over my head due to thier precision with flying, even when nectar intoxicated. This was as I appoached 30 Crows Nest Road. It was what they had planned to do, I am sure. One does not accidently startle these unperturable birds.

[Paris Font.]Paris Font.]Paris Font.]Paris Font.][Paris Font.]Paris Font.]Paris Font.]Paris Font.]

I lay down to rest a few minutes; fell asleep unexpectedly, for a half and one hour; woke to the radio saying: It's 6.22". One can be confused upon awakening. My first thught was that it was am. Merely mild annoyance. The I realised it was, of course, 6.22pm. Panic. Doctor Who starts at 6.04pm. So, despite my desperate leap to my feet, I had missed "The Armageddon Factor", Part Three. Affecianadoes of the good Doctor would know, quite instinctively, that this is the Tom Baker Era, with Romana One [played by Mary Tamm]. Lalla Ward, who went on to play Romana after her regeneration in the next story [of the new season], appears in this story as Princess Astra of Atrios.

Now I may seem flippant & relaxed about this, but I am not so. The missing the episode is a technical thing. I have a PDF copy of the original paperwork of the whole story [downloaded from the BBC website]. Also, I could borrow a recording of this from various sources; no doubt remaindered Videos are still available; plus their is an American DVD release, opies of which may well have entered Australia, and by private transaction, such an obtainment is thoroughly legal.

No. What really annoys is that the timer of my VCR was set, and by the easy, both timewise & energywise, effort of putting a video in to it, and making sure that the ditital box was switched on and the VCR switched off, I could have slept to mdinight without any ill effect on my Who-viewing. My failure, as so often, to follow simply procedure is what so irritates me.

Six Correspondence Chess Games completed: moves found or confirmed; written; posted.

Actually, like last night, I had planned to write letters. But these five Chess Games arrived, adding to the one of yesterday. The "Chess" part of my mind was working; the "Writing" part still played the somnambulent. So, I did go with the flow.

Earlier, at morning tea at work, Helen was asking about those red fallen leaves. I explained that they were London Plane Trees. Usually the leaves simply go yellow, then brown, and fall. However, in some streets in North Sydney, like Edward & Carlow, they often go red. Smething in the soil I guess.

1.45pm. There were these two Top Knot Pigeons [also called Crested Pigeons] in Tunks Street, Waverton. They walked down the street, about ten metres in front of me, as I walked down the street. After a few minutes, one became suspicious and took to the air. When one of these birds takes off vertically, it always makes this curious noise. It is difficult to describe. The closest I can suggest, is a string of quickly paced staccato notes by an Oboe, in the middle higher range of its register. That is, higher pitched, but by no means shrill.

The Battle Of Stratton; 16th May 1643.

Where: The Iron Age Fort at Stratton, in the Cotswolds, to the east of Gloucester.

Whom: English Civil War. Sir Ralph Hopton's Cornish Royalists advanced towards Stratton, where the Earl of Stamford was established with a parliamentarian force, twice his size.

Why: Essentially the same dispute as at Lewes, some centuries before. King Charles Stuart I thought that he should have absolute power with his realms. Parliament disagreed.

Result: Hopton's attempt at a surprise attack was foiled. Then, after a series of charges & countercharges, Hopton's smaller force had an unlikely victory, when Grenville's pikemen advanced up this steep hill and drove their enemy off the field.

Consequences: Essentially NIL. Hopton went on to win several more battle over the next few years, but a shortage of ammunition restricted his power to use these wins.

Sapphire And Steel: Assignment Two; Episode Seven [which is the first epiosde of this assignment]. Finally I move on to a new story, and it is a good one. I may play it again. But I will hold to my oath, and not move to the next episode, until next sunday. This way I make it last; for there were only six Assigments in this series. Sadly so!

Felix Mendelssohn - String Symphony Number 10 in B Minor.

Mendelssohn composed this String Symphony when he was only thirteen years of age. It is a perfectly charming and enjoyable work. Indeed, far older and more experienced composers have created much inferior work. And Felix went on to rather impressive heights of composition. It is interesting also, that the qualities which distinguish the mature Mendelssohn from other Composers of this period, are less apparent in this juvenile work. Even so, its performance on its own merits is well justified.

Joseph Haydn - Violin Concerto in C Major, Hob. viia:1.

This Haydn Concerto, on the other hand, is a mature work. It displays the considerable skill which he developed through years of hard work: a delight to hear. Kolja Blacher has indeed a fine touch with the Violin; from the delicate flick, to the brusque slash across the strings: both are needed to create a truly great Violinist.

Franz Schubert - Rondo For Violin And Strings, D438.

Composed by Schubert when he was nineteen years old. A single Movement, but one which begins with three minutes of almost melancholy Adagio; which then explodes into a soaring and demanding Allegro gusto. Very enjoyable! It displays well the Classical feel of his earlier Chamber works, with their strong imprint of Mozart and Beethoven. The distinctive later Schubert Chamber sound, culminating in the magnificent "Death And The Maiden", was yet to come.

Arnold Schoenberg - Transfigured Night, Opus 4.

At interval, an elderly man who sat in the row behind me, was telling us how he heard this work in a live concert during World War II, and found it a most wonderful experience. However, recordings he had heard over the radio since, had never come close to matching it. He said after tonight's performance of this work, that it was again a wonderful experience! And this was the opinion of all involved in this conversation.

The reason for the problem of recording it, has much to do with the way the work is scored. Cellos 1 and 3, have a completely different score from Cellos 2 and 4. Likewise with the Violas: 1 and 3 scored quite differently from 2 and 4. And there were other factors in the scoring, which add to the difficulty in correctly recording this work.

Kolja Blacher - Director & Soloist.

I imagine that Blacher is not the easiest Director to work with. The Orchestra is prone to exchange smiles at times, when Tognetti directs, but they appeared all very serious with this German as Director. It was noticeable that Blacher moved several of the musicians, to positions different from what they usually occuppied. For instance, Helena Rathbone was First Violins Leader when Blacher was Soloist. But when Blacher was First Violins Leader, Rathbone was Second Violins Leader, rather than the second player in the First Violins, as usually happens. Blacher's tendency to a late entry before each half of the performance, also suggests his staunch perfectionism!

After the Concert, I bought his Naxos recording of J.S. Bach's Violin Concertos, which he duly signed. I was surprised at what a gentle, polite & humble man he was. When two young Japanese women asked to have thier photo taken with him, he quite cheerfully agreed.

Postscript, 28th May 2005: Only now, have I finally played the Violin Concertos
of Johann Sebastian Bach, with the Soloist, Kolja Blacher. This is a wonderful work!

I went to the Sydney Writers Workshop, formerly the WEA Writers Group, albeit an hour later. There was one walk out. But that is that. Fiction often causes friction.

The Battle Of Lewes; 14th May 1264.

Where: Lewes in Sussex, on the River Ouse on the South Downs.

Whom: The second King Henry Plantagent, with 10,000 soldiers, versus the rebellious Barons lead by Simon de Montfort, with 5,000 soldiers.

Why: King Henry wished to centralise power in his hands. Many Barons naturally objected.

Result: Despite the massive numerical advantage, the Royalists lost. Crown prince Edward ignored his father's plans and lead an impetuous cavalry charge. He won a short term advantage, routing those immediately opposite him. But he lead the Royalist's 3,000 cavalry off the field of battle. The remaining Royal infantry were routed by the smaller mixed cavalry & infantry opposing them.

Consequences: Simon de Mountfort's overlordship of England was short lived. At Evesham, on 4th August the following year, he was killed as his army suffered a heavy defeat.

But the long term consequence was profound. The Crown Prince Edward, as effective Regent and later King, acceded to the complaints of the nobility, and effectively reduced the power of the Monarchy. Despite the best efforts of Richard Plantagent II, both Henry Tudors and the first two Stuart kings of England.

A block of land one metre above high tide level my be worth millions of dollars.

1.50pm: I was passing 7 McKye Street in Waverton. As I walked uphill, I glanced to my left & saw what caused me to look with more purpose. There were dozens of Leaden Flycatchers feeding above the opposite footpath, from 4 Mckye Street to the carpark of 10 McKye Street. They were circling and feeding in an open swarm, under the storm threatening skies. The whole flock moved in their feeding towards the east some ten metres, then just as quickly back to the street. Clearly, a vast cloud of very small flying insects attracted them.

These insects swarms tend to arise preferentially before a storm, but I know not why. It is impressive, the way the Leaden Flycatchers, who are clearly possessed of excellent sensory perception, just appear from nowhere in such numbers.

"The Power Of Kroll" continued. The penultimate story of "The Search For The Key To Time" reaches its penultimate episode. The idea of an exceedingly large & long lived animal, who is worshipped as an all-knowing & all powerful God, but it is just a blind creature which senses vibrations and eats anything which moves, is indeed interesting. The High Priest, however, manages to subscribe each and every incident to the wrath or magnamity, respectively, of Kroll. I believe this Priest gets eaten during the final episode.

Part Two of "The Power Of Kroll" was on tonight. I like this Doctor Who story. It is set on this Moon of the Planet, Delta Magna. This Moon is awash with Tall grassed Marshes, populated with green skinned Humanoids, which gives the whole a delightfully saturated ambiance. Living as I do in that Desert named Australia, I have a fondness for wetness. The actual location may well have been Essex, well known for this kind of environment.

This story is the penultimate in the famed sixteenth season of Doctor Who [1978-79]. It was Tom Baker, the Fourth Doctor, who was in his fifth season in this role. It was the first season with Romana as his companion, who is unique, in that she is the only Time Lord to be a companion; and the only companion to regenerate. Mary Tamm played her in this season; but Lalla Ward played her from then on. The sixteenth is also itself unique, as all six stories are connected into a superstory: The Search For The Key To Time.

Helen's cat, Ricky died today, at age seventeen. He was failing, being essentially unable to eat & drink, and giving the impression of being in persistent pain. It was euthenasia, by the Vets on a house call. They checked him first & confirmed that he had not long left, and no chnac of recovery. I would have liked to see him before the end, but was just half an hour too late.

The cottage flower, beneath the Port Jackson Fig, long appreciated by me for its mauve flowers, has, I noticed today, died. It had done what it was to do, I suppose.

Helen phoned to say that Ricky the cat was very ill. I askd to speak to him, on the phone, and while he did not reply vocally, I was shortly told by Helen, that he had sniffed the phone, which is recognition.

I did watch "Sapphire And Steele"; Assignment One, Episode Six.
Final! It all turned out completely fine, at least this time.

...

"Ode For Saint Cecilia"

The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra.

7.00pm at the City Recital Hall, Angel Place.

...

George Handel.

Concerto Grosso in G Major, Opus 6 Number 1, HMV 319.

Look Down Harmonious Saint, Cantata for Tenor HMV 124.
Angus Wood [Tenor].

Ode For Saint Cecilia's Day, for Tenor, Soprano, Choir and Orchestra,
HMV 76, Part 1. Angus Wood [Tenor]. Sara Macliver [Soprano].

Concerto Grosso in E Major, Opus 6 Number 1, HMV 321.

Ode For Saint Cecilia's Day, for Tenor, Soprano, Choir and Orchestra,
HMV 76, Part 2. Angus Wood [Tenor]. Sara Macliver [Soprano].

... ... ... ...

A programme, where all the works are by George Handel, has no fears for me. The Saint Cecilia's Ode enabled me to hear the pairing of Angus Wood, a very fine Tenor, who has been outstanding with Pinchgut Opera, as he was here; and the magnificent Sarah Macliver, a Soprano, whom I have long admired! But even without the Soloists, we have those two Concerti Grossi, with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra in fine fettle. Yes, a marvelous melodious evening.

...

Excellent once more. I must add it is lovely having all those meadows & forests, rather than the alien planets so often looking rather like quarry somewhere in England.

It is a shame that Mary Tamm only appeared in this one season, for whatever reason. Her acting ability is certainly considerable, especially since she gives a consitently & persisently high standard of performance, and her ambiguous attitude to the Doctor is well crafted. her ability in this story is shown by the way, when she plays the Romana look-a-like of Princess, whe gives her a quite distinct personality; quite neccessary too, when she is playing the only two charcters in a scene.

The Battle Of Tewkesbury; 4th May 1264.

Where: Tewkesbury, near the River Severn, north of Gloucester.

Whom: Edward of York, a King regaining his English throne, with 5,000 soldiers. The former King Henry's wife, Margeret of Anjou, & their son Edward Lancaster, with 6,000 soldiers.

Why: There were two former Kings of England, but only one throne.

Result: Edward's superior generalship and leadership enabled him to competently & consistently outmanouvre his enemies. The victory was complete.

Consequence: The previous month, Edward of York had defeated and killed the Earl of Warwick, at the Battle of Barnet. Now he had crushed the Lancastrian main force. The former Queen, Margaret of Anjou was captured. Her son, Edward of Lancaster was executed, as were almost all the leading Lancastrian nobles who had been at Tewkesbury. The imprisoned former King, Henry Lancaster was later executed in the Tower. This was truly the end of The Wars Of The Roses. That later Tudor thing was quite different.

This is th only episode which I am seeing not for the first time. I mind not.

Also my first viewing. Also very good. The supporting cast is vey profficient, especially Peter Jeffrey as the evil Count Grendel. Named for the female monster who hassles Beowulf?

This is one of those "The Search For The Key to Time Stories", which I never saw when they were first shown, and were not repeated in the afternoon or pre-dawn morning time slot during the 1990s. I did see Part Three of this story at a Doctor Who Fan Club meeting [DWFCA] at some stage, probably in the 1980s.

So this is the first time I have seen Part One. I loved it: well scripted; well acted.

This morning I noticed that there is no blossom on the mauve cottage flower. It still has its few leaves, and seems healthy.

I attended, most of the day, the meeting in Drummoyne. This was dominated by learning about the new Doctor: Christopher Eccleston. The series does seem to be impressive.

And in the evening, I watched "Sapphire And Steele"; Assignment One, Episode Five.

With the DVD of 1980s adaprtion of Jane Austen's "Sense And Sensibility", a more recent purchase than the above, I have been flying through the episodes with alacrity, but have now been held up, as I wish not for the DVD to get ahead of my reading of the actual book. Unfortunately my reading of any books has become vey spasmodic; even "Sense And Sensibilty", which is a delight to read. Finding a receptive mental state is difficult, with all my stresses, both external & self-induced.

...

DISCUSSION

This series of three Concerts over succeeding nights, is quite breathtaking in its musical daring; well worthy of Ludwig van Beethoven himself.

Freddy Kempf is an astonishing talent. It seemed to me that his variation in touch, his changes of pace, were exactly what each of the Concertos demanded. As the man three seats to my left said to me, after the Fourth Concerto plus encore: "How can one play any better?".

My view from my position in the front row [seat] was interesting. I could not see his hands, as I was to the right of the Pianist. Nor could I see much of the Orchestra, as the placement of this large black Steinway was dead centre in front of me. But I had a perfect view of the reflection in its raised lacquered board, of the hammers as they hit the strings, which view I found most fascinating. So close I was that the soft wooden sound of the damper, as it stopped the strings vibrating, was clear in my ears. Once during the Fourth Concerto, when the damper was not applied, I heard a mass of strings, other than those actually hammered, singing with light consequent vibration, which had a curious ambient magic all of its own! This sound was so faint even to me, that it would have a silence to almost all the audience.

The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra were magnificent. The only problem, with the piano afront me so directly, being that the Bassoons became a touch blocked. Why they alone were effected, and not the Oboes beside them, is one of those curios of acoustics. The First Violins retained their magnificent co-ordination, which I recalled so vividly from my previous viewing of them two years ago. The Orchestra is close to the same size as that, which was used in the original performances of all the works played over the three days. However, especially in the case of the Concertos, it is, no doubt, a much superior Orchestra in talent and ability! Beethoven's problems with Orchestras is infamously well known. However, this TSO adventure into Sydney, to go head to head against very staunch opposition - the Sydney Symphony Orchestra performed Tchaikovsky's Sereanade For Strings over the same period, a performance I chose to miss, but with much regret - most have been on the minds of the musicians, as they seemed to take a greater interest in the audience size than musicians usualy do.

The audience was enthusiatic, especially in those A Reserve seats behind me, which are famous for the wildness of their appreciation! On the second night, after the Fourth Concerto, the repeated demands of the applause, caused Freddy Kempf to play his one and only encore. The word about this event, clearly had spread through the community, and it was noticeable on the final night, as to the crowds queueing up for last minute tickets at the booking office. However, I was in that privilaged minority which luxuriated in all three Concerts.

Sebastian Lang-Lessing is the young and athletic conductor, who often left his feet during the more dramatic parts of the works. At times, I hoped the stage was strongly constructed. He has kept this Orchestra up to its high standards. As he is Artistic Director, it was his view that they could perform this demanding trio of concerts, in venues such as Sydney, in the teeth of quality competition.

Hearing the Five Piano Concertos of Beethoven over three days, is the best way to appreciate the development of this series. They are all very fine, but one appreciates that Beethoven was right in his view, that he had the formula correct by the time of his Third Concerto. This was by a simplying of the number of the themes, but a mutiplying of the number of variations within them: resultant is a cleaner, more directed work; and a better supportive & opposing sound from the Orchestra. Then the development is more direct, with the utter magnificence of the Fourth and Fifth Concertos.

Schumann has never been my favourite composer, and I admit to an unfamiliarity with the two Symphonies and several Overtures performed during this concert series. It is clearly more Romantic and less Classical composition than Beethoven's; the energy is more muted, and travelling is smoother, whereas I am fain to some degree of roughness. Yet Schumann's ability is considerable and I enjoyed very much all of his works played, especially the Symphonies One & Two. One noticeable feature, is the effect of the addition of two Trombones to the Orchestra, when moving from Beethoven to Schumann. They give a greater strength and depth to the crescendos, which was well noticeable.

In conclusion, one could not hope for a better performance. And to play such a programme over three consecutive nights is an astonishing feat. My mind often dwelt on how phenomenal the musicians' memory and concentration must be!

The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.

Sebastian Lang-Lessing - Conductor.

Freddy Kempf - Piano Soloist.

"Beethoven - The Compete Piano Concertos".

...

---Night The Second---

...

Schumann: Manfred - Overture.

Ludwig Van Beethoven: Piano Concerto Number Three.

---Interval---

Schumann: Genoveva - Overture.

Ludwig Van Beethoven: Piano Concerto Number Four.

---Finis---

So very tired I was after this excellent concert. It was following a day at work, so this is not surprising. At the end of the three concert series I will collect my thoughts as a whole on this fantastic exercise in Van Dieman's Land entertainment.

On the way home, in Bayswater Road in Rushcutters Bay, I stopped awhile to watch the Sulphur Crested Cockatoos; realised that they were, oftentimes, intentionally feeding the Pigeons.

At home there was a letter from Jan Kurac, with his resignation of one of the two games I we are matched in with the CIF Cup.

Beginning at 6.00pm I saw an excellent Doctor Who episode: "The Stones Of Blood" [Tom Baker Era with Romana 1. Later, starting at 7.14pm, I watched a DVD episode of The Persuaders: "Greensleeves". Also very entertaining.

But my underlying malaise is such that while all these things did cheer me, it was but a passing phase. Soon I settled back to exhaustion, tiredness & inertia.

Today I had to hasten, but without undue risk, to catch the train from Waverton to Saint Leonards, after delivery. It being humid & warm, I perspired a bit, and the adrenelin & such were flowing. So when I arrived home, I was alert, despite the long day. I looked at the Correspondence Chess games that arrived today, and immediately worked on the moves, developing what I wanted in each of the four games in less than half an hour.

However, I felt a need to lie down. And when I did it was hard to arise; this only really happened after an hour. Then to get the Chess moves written out & posted was an excruciately slow process, contimuing to a late hour. Even later when they wer posted.

But this done, I was impulsed to tackle all wanting housework, leaving nothing left outstanding for tomorrow. Done! Yes! But the Witching Hour fast approaches. It is interesting that when I finally forced myself to start & persist - a task of Sisiphus - the flow did eventually take place, and all became easier. Thus I had a Good Inertia, rather than the Evil, Procrastinative Inertia. The real trick is to be able to do this every day. My motivation tends to suffer rapid decay.

Very very early this morning, like between midnight and one ante matin, I was watching the concluding stages of the Anzac Memorial San Marino Grand Prix. The last ten or so laps were illuminating, with Fernando Alonso just ahead of Michael Schumacher.

Not only did Alonso have to stop Schumaher's faster car from passing; to avoid complications, he had to avoid catched the two Red Bull cars which were only a little in front of the dueling duo, and in normal circumstances would have been easily lapped.

Some times, one just feels an aural need. Early this morning I have played, in close succession: The Beatles' "Rubber Soul"; "Revolver"; and now [just beginning with the first track: "Come Together"] their last recorded album, "Abbey Road".

Early this evening I watched "Sapphire And Steele"; Assignment One, Episode Four. They are 25 minute episodes, but this one took an hour. There were some replays & pauses, and then I played the entire episode a second time. I was actually changing from one television set to another: there is one for DVDs, and a second for digital television & video. The reason for the change is to see if those white lines were flaws in the medium, or a problem with a television set, or a case of electrical interference. In the end I decided it was in the medium: more likely the original film stock, rather than the DVD itself.

The other result was that I switched the televisions over. I think it works better.

Long pondering seemed useless. Then my mind switched on and it finally came to me:

[8] ... Nb8 - d7, which I have now played against Peter Wark, in the 2005 Qualifying Tournament, is better than the [8] ... Ng8 - f6, which I played against him in this same line, in the 2003 Candidates Tournament. It is a fairly obscure variation of the Caro-Kann Defense, and the few games on my extensive database are not indicative by their course or results, as to which move is better. My own mind must do the analysis.

Despite this variation's obscurity, Archie Macnab is playing the same line against me in the 2005 M. Sendak Memorial Class Three Championship, which game is a few moves behind the Wark game in progress. It is a good plan in Correspondence Chess, as in Crossboard Chess, to play as far as possible, the same opening in a whole clutch of games.

Any who were in doubt, as to the Papafuehrer's overwhelming conceited pride, take note of that facial expression which so contradicted the words of humility, that he was mouthing.

"Mozart In The City" - The Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

... ... ... ... ... ... ...

7.00pm at the City Recital Hall, Angel Place, Sydney.

Director: Dene Olding.

... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Giovanni Batista Pergolesi - Sinfonia For Cello And Strings.

Cello Solo: Catherine Hewgill.

Pergolesi is not a name with which I am familiar, so it is strange to learn from the programme, that although he was died very young, at age 26, Pergolesi was for decades of immense postumus fame, as an early Galant Composer. This Suite is very charming; pleasant and beautifully played; although I could not rate it as a great work.

Igor Stravinsky - Pulcinella Suite.

The programme accords this Suite with Stravinski's conversion to Neo-Classicism. He borrowed & reworked a series of Baroque works, to create it. The first Movement, Sinfonia, certainly shows its close borrowing from the previous Pelogesi work; albeit it is still a different composition. The whole feel of this Stravinsky Suite is clearly Neo-Classical, as it borrows Baroque ideas, but the result of the reworking is not Baroque in itself, but something different. Very refreshing & pleasing.

While he conducted the Pergolesi from the Violin, Olding conductor the Stravinsky from the podium. The arrangement of the Strings was unusual, with the leader of each of the 1st Violins, 2nd Violins, Violas & Cellos placed in front of the the other three or four players. These others sat in a line, except for the 1st Violins, where it was two and then two behind.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Symphony Number 41 in C, K551 [Jupiter].

Olding was back to conducting from the Violin, and the 1st and 2nd Violins were now facing each other, the Violas and Cellos behind them respectively. The winds & brass had a row of one Flute, one Oboe & one Clarinet; and behind them a row of two Horns, two Bassoons & two keyless Trumpets. An unusual arrangement, but effective.

What can I say about this work which I know & love so well? It was exquisitely played, I thought. The others in the audience seemed to think so to, as the applause was thunderous & enthusiastic. It was very prolongued, bringing Olding back to the stage twice. This is unusual for this series, which goes for the sharp & strong, but short appreciation. It is a boutique concert, after work & before partying!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The audience seemed to me to be ~70% capacity; perhaps being slightly more than the first concert in this series. It surprises me it is not more. The quality of the SSO in Chamber Mode is certainly not lacking!

The Elders of the Church Of Rome gather together, and seemingly oblivous to the realities of existence on this Earthly plane, make the worst choice possible, if a Cardinal is to be chosen.

His intense intolerance is such, that he has been instrumental in driving two million Germans from the Catholic Church, through his narrow minded & shallow vindictiveness. This "work" is a point of pride with him; and pride is his chief virtue.

There will be trouble in the Most Ancient Polis of Roma. Shoving a chimney through the roof of the Cistern Chapel, without proper planning permission, is just not on.

[ ... Yes, I am aware of the correct name of the Chapel, but with what nonsense goes on their now, my variation of the name seems appropriate. ... ]

For some days I have known that there were Caterpillars on my Cardinal Mint and Sage. Late this afternoon, as the early winter shade of that tall building cast its shadow across my balcony's day, I happened to look out, to glance upon my Herbs and Ferns, and there they were: one upon the Sage; and after some searching, one upon the Mint. Each I removed to the tree which abuts my balcony. Whether they can eat it, I know not; yet all the leaves on the two plants have disappeared down their gullets. The young Parsley would be killed by them & not sustain them for any time at all. The mysterious plant with broad leaves could, if it did not already bar caterpillars of the same kind, which I am leaving in situ.

This morning, via compact disks, there were Chopin's Waltzes [piano]; a Schubert Sonata [piano] & Trio [piano, violin & cello]; then Saint-Saens's Third Symphony [full orchestra, with even a piano & a pipe organ]. It encourages me to achieve, and so I have!

Well. One certainly expected something somewhat different from the ACO this afternoon. On entering, the Concert Hall was much darker than usual. There were chairs and microphones, music stands with desk lights. The ACO rarely play seated. There were numbers of large speakers, like a Rock Concert. There was this screen above the seating. As it turned out, it showed a series of photographic images by Bill Henson. The word, I suppose, is "Installation".

This all came to fruition in my head after the Concert, as I attempted to explain what it was that had gone on. As I understand it, in an Installation, the sound and images are supposed to blend to be a single form. If that is so, then it did not quite gel in this case, but then it very seldom does. An Installation is an interesting concept, which it is almost impossible to successfully execute in practice. The images were good enough in themselves, but the connection to the sound was incomplete.

There was Sound Sculpture, inserted at the beginning of each half, and also between some of the musical compositions. I have never been a fan of Sound Sculpture, and am stll not.

The music was interesting - the best part. The first music was Alfred Schnittke's "Trio Sonata For String Orchestra". I have not heard of him before, but while the word "atonal" was in the programme near to his name - and it is a word which can spread fear through my soul - the work did prove pleasant, and not anywhere near to white noise. His work was followed by Benjamin Britten's "Corpus Christi Carol". The words being intoned by Paul Capsis. He is credited in the programme as "voice", but it is essentially a recitative, and very impressive. "Lullaby For Cain" by Gabriel Yared, I did not manage to differentiate, although I certainly heard it. AWake I was, and alert. The Astor Piazzolla, "Oblivion", was as good as Piazzolla always is! The REM, and then the following George Crumb, which ended the first half, were not much too my liking. C'est moi.

The second half had this Violin Concerto by the Latvian, Peteris Vasks, who was previously unknown to me. It was at times high and shrill; at other times, with a Romantic smoothness; yet it all held together as a coherent whole. I thoroughly enjoyed it, although the woman behind me thought it was a bit too long. This may be so. The finale was a short piece by Leos Janacek called "Good Night!", which was all Romantic, and very pleasing.

And in the evening, I watched "Sapphire And Steele"; Assignment One, Episode Three.

This battle is where the Jacobites were finally ended. It is a sure sign of the limited resources of the Jacobites, mostly from the Scottish Highland Clans, compred to the comparitively unlimited resources of the Hannoverians, that all there numerous victories came to nothing. But one clear defeat wiped them out.

And what a disaster! The field of battle was not good for the Highlanders' tactics, so they marched all night through chill drenching rain, only to get lost and having to return back to where they had started. The Hannoverian forces were well rested, well fed & fairly dry; whereas the Jacobites were tired, hungry & saturated. To make matters worse, they had to stand there in the continuing rain, being mutlitated by cannon fire, while their commanders tried to determine what to do. In the end, they charged of their own accord. What else could they do? And then it was just target practice.

A strange battle. Edward IV had returned to England after two years for his revenge of the Earl of Warwick, who had dethroned him by switching sides to the mad Henry VI. Warwick had 15,000 against Edward's 10,000. But then came an error; an inspired use of it; welpded by an error by the othe side.

The Error: Edward had misaligned his forces in the dark. So although Hastings faced Oxford; Edward faced Somerset, with Warwick in the rear behind him; Gloucester was beyond Exeter's forces.

The Serendipidy: Edward was facing an attack by both Somerset & Exeter, with Warwick following behind; potentially calamitous! But Glouceseter swung his force around with a fearsome flanking attack on Exeter.

The Other Error: Oxford having routed Hastings, followd in hot puruit. This leftthe infamous earl of Warwick in a losing position in diffiuclt terrain. As he tried to mount a horse and flee, he was recognised by his enemies and knocked to the ground. His visor was torn off and his throat was cut. Edward was hardly likely to be forgiving.

Conclusion: Much of warfare is making the best use of errors, ones own & others.

For the last two days, there have been significant numbers of articles coated in aplastic which causes my sinuses to become severel inflamed. Most of this covering plastic has no effect on me. The ones that do are only of a few kinds, but the numbers are high enough to make things very unpleasant for me. Irritated sinuses tend to lead to headaches.

Part two of Doctor Who's "The Ribos Operation" this afternoon. The whole story runs from monday to thursday in four parts. I missed the original broadcast long ago, as with almost all the Tom Baker [the Doctor] + Mary Tamm [Romana - First regeneration] epiosdes. I cannot recall exactly why, although it may well have been that I was living off campus in Townsville, in a shared house without a television. Later, in Sydney, I saw part of them at Doctor Who Fan Club meetings & Whoventions. But this will be the frist time I have seen the entire "The Ribos Operation". It is very good - quite intellectual in its synopsis and ideas.

At ~12.30pm today, at the top end of Tunks Street in Waverton, I saw a Crimson Rosella. This was most unexpected, as this species is not native to Sydney. It called a few times, in bird language, then flew off towards the east. My immediate thought was, that since it almost certainly was an escaped pet, would it survive?

That is: Did it have survival skills? Could it find the food it needed? Would it roost safely from cats & dogs? As an only Crimson Rosella, would the loneliness cause it problems?

This morning I watched "Sapphire And Steele"; Assignment One, Episode Two.

Later, in the afternoon, I watched "The Third Man" DVD. It is that rare kind of movie, which I could watch many times. Most movies I cannot even bare to watch once.

Sapphire and Steel: The three volumes available on DVD cover the entire series. I had volumes one and two. So naturally, I had to buy volume three, which was $14.95 at HMV, the same as the other two volumes. Curiously, if I had bought the box set of these same volumes, it would have cost me significantly more.

Sydney Writers' Workshop, formerly the WEA Writers' Group: At long last I made close to a full afternnoon meeting. I was a little late, but that was unavoidable.

Concert by Sydney Symphony Orchestra [SSO]: 8.00pm. I was overlong at the Writers' coffee after, and only just made it. It was the one I was in most doubt about, of those on my three SSO subcription series.

What was on offer: [1] Dean - Ampihtheatre [2] Brahms - Violin Concerto [3] Wagner - Prelude to The Mastersinger [4] Schoenberg - Pelleas und Melisande.

That is where the trouble begins. Dean, Brahms & Schoenberg oft bring me to doubt, but tonight: [1] The Dean was quite alright, with nothing too strident. [2] The Brahms Violin Concerto, as I learnt with the recent Australian Chamber Orchestra performance, is a work which is pleasing to my psyche. Arabella Steinbacher is an excellent Violin Soloist too, which des help matters! [4] The Schoenberg had surtitles, to tell one as to what part of the story of that the said Pelleas & Melisande. Again, a pleasant surprise! I rather enjoyed it.

This leaves the penutimate work: The Mastersinger Prelude. What I like about Wagner is the drama, the passion, the angst, the essential hatred of humanity. It is not here, his one attempt at a comic opera. It is more Humperdink than Wagner to my ears! Yet I said to myself before it was performed: just go with the flow. So it was pleasant enough. A confection does not ire one, if one does not test its depth. Shallow water is not proved to be shalow, unless one insists on diving in to it.

Halftime Epilogue: Arabella Steinbacher was signing CDs. But the only one of hers there was here recording of Khatchaturian's Violin Concerto and Violin & Cello Concerto. Now many people would have said Who? Which is, of course, unfair, as they would have heard his work, even if they knew not the composer. So some woman were buying nothing but asking for their programmes to be signed, which I think, by her body language, peeved her rather somewhat. So I bought the last Khatchaturian-Steinbacher CD, had her sign it [a relief perhaps for her] and then the programme as well [which I think irritated her]. A mix of teutonic stoicism & lack of English language both restrained her from saying anything.

This one mauve-purple bloom on the cottage flower on my northern balcony, which shares a pot with a Port Jackson Fig, finally has dropped its petals. But just before it did, a very patient bud on the same small plant, finally opening its own mauve-purple flower. So this little herb has kept up a continual blossoming for half a year.

Helen gave these possibly Parsley seedlings on the 21st March. I planted them out in a pot, a few days later. But they only each had their first two leaves, and a diocotyledon leaf is very generic. One of them looks quite the same, irrespective of the species.

Finally, two of these seedlings now have the all telling third leaf. Each of these third leaves is small, but clear in form. Parsley it is.

Early evening: I was listening to Geminiani's Concerti.
They were performed by Capella Istrapolitana.
This music relaxed me.

Late Evening: I trained to Martin Place, posted a letter near Wynyard,
then walked to Town Hall, training back to the Cross.
I had need of the walking.

I like all my versions of them. In his compositions,
there is that which struggle worthy.

I have adopted the practice, started today of one 25 minute episode of "Sapphire And Steele" each sunday. This is starting with Assignment One, Episode One. It will not hurt me to see it again. The idea is that this 1979 television series is slotted in to my viewing as if it were free to air. That way it lasts; and I enjoy it the way it was intended to be enjoyed.

Carried away with DVDs today I was. I watched all of "Time Bandits", and not that long afterwards, all six episodes of Assignment One of "Sapphire And Steele". I did enjoy all. But these things should be paced. My mind gets carried away with conceit, at my ability to judge whether I will like a DVD or not, simply by looking at the cover!

I was running only a little late, but then I just missed the train, by about half a minute, due to the long wait to cross Darlinghurst Road. The next train was running late, not due for twenty minutes. So I adopted to go by bus. Again the Darlinghurst Road lights were unfriendly, and again I missed the transport by half a minute. The buses were promised by the timetable to run in a few minutes, so I waited. It was a thirteen minute wait. There was some luck, however, as we rode green lights and moderate traffic almost all the way. This bus service did not quite go all the way to the Quay, but stopped short by two blocks at Gresham Street. I went to cross Bridge Street, but the bus I alighted from was turning up the street. Then I headed for the corner, but seeing the traffic was light, saw I could cross. The near double lane was empty, and the far double lane allowed me to cut it easily at a walking pace, behind one car on the inside, and in front of a van on the outside. But as I reached the centre line, the car slowed down and the van speeded up. This left me trapped. When the van was past, both lanes had fast traffic, including a bus. I had no time to look around, so I ran across the road in the direction I was heading, and thus to safety. It was bad luck, but I will not do that again. At least, after all, I was on time for the concert.

The quiet beginning; opening with that slow walking of chords, which after two minutes of patient pacing, suddenly erupts with a bang, and a racing tempo! The Second Movement is quiet & angelic; while the Third & Fourth Movements race away once more. All were superbly played, bringing out that quality of light-hearted joyfulness; which, unusually for a Beethoven Symphony, begins a mere two minutes in, and then contuinues to the very end.

The Fourth is not that often played, perhaps because its classical innocence seems slight against the dramatic innovation of the Fifth & Sixth Symphonies. Yet it is a wonderful work; its inner joy being certainly needed by me at this smudge in time, after my recent experience. Conductor Gelmetti seemed well satisfied too.

Dvorak is one of these new fangled Romantic composers, of one of those new fangled nationalities, a Czech I believe. While I have none of his compositions on CD, he is a composer with whose work I have never had much complaint; and certainly not with the New World Symphony, which I have heard a few times. It has this dramatic import! Ironically, as the programme so aptly mentioned: it is a work about Europe, and not the Americas. He just happened to be in the latter continent, as he composed. The Bohemian & Moravian folk tunes which he wove into the fabric of the Symphony, were unlikely to have been heard by Dvorak in the streets of New York.

That is all by and by. The New World Symphony is an excellent work and it was exellently performed. Conductor Gianluigi Gelmetti did seem rather fatigued at the end of the evening, yet again, and I do wonder as to his state of health.

But today, at least, I collected the prints of the photographs
of the Three Budgies, all twenty-four, which Helen Harmer took.

Almost all of today, I suffered from a most unpleasant & unusual headache. The pain was right across the back of my skull. And I mean right at the back, for I felt it where the brain actually touches the bone. It was not acute pain, but it was very unpleasant & persistent.

Why? I am not sure. I could have had more sleep, but I have had rather the less sleep in times past, and yet felt much more the better. I cannot perceive it as tension, nor stress, as that pain, I get in the forehead, the temporal lobes. I have had sinuses badly reacting since late saturday; but again, I have that rather often, and yet not this strange headache.

I suffered all day at work. On the way home, I bought some aspirin. Two aspirin and then at home, a shower. After this I lay down, falling asleep for half an hour. On awakening, although my head was still far from perfect, I felt much improved to a fair extent.

My Occasional Thought

For The Day