Monday September 17th 2007

What an action-packed weekend, dear Reader! A blissful hour of pampering at the hairdresser (just lurv those scalp massages!) so now my shagpile carpet 'do is restored to its former spikey (edgy! for a mature woman - now don't think mutton dressed as lamb......please!)coiffure. Feeling refreshed I not only attacked the customary domestic chores but also carried out a very inspired campaign of Spring Cleaning - minimalist kitchen benchtops (no more clutter!), tidy storage room shelves.......such bliss! Sad really and tragic too how such small things can amuse small......(you get the picture!). Between the washing, ironing, grocery shopping, scouring of bathrooms and toilets I did actually get time to read The Age and watch a little TV. There was a great article about Ann Patchett the author of "Bel Canto" one of my favoutite novels. Her approach to writing was refreshing - a wistful exploration of human relationships - and I'll have to look out for her novel "Run" which sounds good. I've finished "Perfume" and felt a little let down by the ending. The main character didn't inspire any empathy and once you finish the tale of his exploits you don't really care any more. It certainly made me appreciate my Chanel No 19 much more! Anyway, I ironed in front of ABC TV's Sunday Arts program and caught the end of an interesting doco about Pamela Travers. She raised her own son in the style of Mary Poppins - stern and a little unapproachable - and was dogged in how she wanted "Mary Poppins" portrayed by the Disney studios. Apparently she gave a rave review after the opening of the film and spent the rest of her life denouncing the differences between her books and the Disney characters. She would never admit that sales of her children's books soared because of the film. And she hated to be referred to as a "children's author". It was about this stage in the ironing that I attacked the M&Ms and Skittles. Non sequitur or a sanguine attempt to restore the high from Spring Cleaning???? This post is declining into the annals of the navel gazers..............Sorry, dear readers. Adieu for now - it's back to work!