Johnblog

Lots of things have been breaking down and going wrong and I’ve been fixing them or organising for them to be fixed. The garage door opener jammed solid and the man had to fit a new one. Jan’s office phone system broke down and I had to buy a new magic box of tricks (IPPBX router) then spend days of frustration setting it all up.

The pump on the water feature kept tripping the earth leakage safety switch on our mains power board so I replaced that. That also meant having to take up some paving and relay the wire in the conduit underneath – that was fun (not!)

Then a PC in Jan’s office died and needed a new power supply.  Then Jan’s car fuel gauge stuck – but luckily it mended itself after I filled the tank full. Then one of the toilets started leaking water from the cistern into the pan. I fixed that with a new washer after much fiddling. I’m turning into a full-time maintenance man.

We must have been cursed by the gremlins. Luckily it has been so rainy that there’s not much else to do!

We drive to Bondi to see Sculpture by the Sea, the annual festival that plonks huge artworks along the Bondi-to-Tamarama coastal path. We park by the beach ($26 for four hours) and wander past Bondi Icebergs club to the start of the walk. We buy a catalogue ($10) that tells us all about the art.  Example: “By compressing or expanding different forms of actual and pictorial space a separate world can exist that is mercurial and tangible at once.”

There are big welded chunks of metal, some with price tags of $50,000. Bronze and granite can run you up to $150,000. Hmm, maybe there’s a new career for me here. Colour is important: “Aurora was painted red to identify it as a sculpture.” That’s a really good tip for budding sculptors. A lot of the sculpures are red, but what about the other ones? Are they not proper sculptures? This experience is challenging my perceptions of reality in actual and pictorial space.

I read out the descriptions to Jan but she complains when I exclaim loudly about the prices.

We see one of the artists rearranging her big inflatable tubular sculpture. I say hello and tell her I get the subtle references to a deconstructed bouncy castle, but she just gives me a hard stare.

Even on a Monday, the path is crowded with sculpture-starers, some tourists, some school groups. Many people want to have their photos taken with sculptures, some primitive urge driven by the need to interact with object in space – and to put something on Facebook.

It’s hot and humid but a wonderful experience, with the sea and cliff views as good if not better than the artworks. After a refreshing chicken burger and ginger beer, we walk back the same way and discover some other hidden gems.

I’m now off to Bunnings to get a welder and some red paint.

My life as a Wizard has ended. After 18 months editing at the City of Sydney as a freelancer, they decided to make the job a permanent post. There was a long-winded application process, 137 applicants, an interview, a subbing test for the final three and – I didn’t get the job!

They chose a younger woman for the position who, I was told, performed better in the subbing test. I came second. What can I say? I was robbed! My former colleagues were a bit shocked and amazed. I was shocked and amazed as well. There may be some casual work for the Council in future. I’m regarding myself as semi-retired and I’ll probably seek some light casual work editing or writing.

My colleagues took me out for a drink last night on the roof bar of a nearby pub (pictured) and said nice things about how they’d miss me. I shall certainly miss them. But now I can play more golf!

A fine barbecue at Eunice’s place at the weekend with me, Jan, Viv and Chris. We braved the cool swimming pool which was a rude shock to the system at first but not too bad once you were in it. Eunice fired up the sauna and we heated up in there before once again taking the plunge. Very Scandinavian, but without any snow for us to roll in. Went to see Anonymous, the film that pretends that Shakespeare didn’t write all those plays. Excellent film, although the premise seems a bit ridiculous.