What do I do here again?

Above: Mountain Mocha Kilimanjaro at Martin Place

Ah yes, it's that time of year. The First Day Back At Work. While I've been doing the odd task for work during the holidays, it was nothing like being in the office from 9 til (7.30, but you didn't hear that). Am feeling surprisingly buoyant considering how much I have to do. I'm sure it'll hit me later this week but for now I can just focus on ripping through this to-do list one item at a time.

My last week of freedom, as I mentioned, involved bits and pieces of work, but actually generally consisted of uploading photos into (onto?) my new online photo album, including never-before-seen pics of Melbourne in August/September 2009, and watching old movies like 'The Goonies', 'Laputa Castle in the Sky', and 'The Princess Bride'.

Three notable things from last week:

Saw a preview of Bran Nue Dae, the Aussie comedy/musical out later this week. My response to it actually relates to an article by Louis Nowra in the Dec/Jan issue of 'The Monthly' on the bleakness of Australian cinema. I think 'Bran Nue Dae' may combat some of the problems he outlined, being primarily a comedy/musical but also very much focused on faces (female singers steal the show in this regard with Missy Higgins and Jessica Mauboy being the most charismatic of the cast). Sure, the acting is not top notch, but the movie is a fun one and goodness knows we need more fun in Australian cinema, eh Louis?

On Friday I went to Tetsuya's, which I believe was once one of the top five restaurants in the world. Well, I liked the food and most of the wine-matching, but I'd like to eat at other restaurants in the top 10 as a benchmark to see if the reputation is deserved. The restaurant is fairly unpretentious (this is Australia, after all) despite the number of staff, and diners can get away with smart casual attire and not feel out of place.

To be honest, I don't really know why I was paying $300. The service was discreet and informed (mostly friendly but sometimes bordering on coolly polite), the food was excellent and, as I mentioned, most of the wine-matching worked a treat, but $300? I mean, that's more than my monthly food bill. It's almost two week's rent. But it was Ness' friend Maria's birthday and I was with others who were there to enjoy the experience. I might consider going back to try their vegetarian option without the wine (a mere $195!) but will have to save up again.

Over the weekend I started my Sydney Festival outings. The first gig was Barely Contained, a Circus Oz show that had plenty of mayhem to keep Sir and I amused for 90 minutes. While Circus Oz don't have the polish or awe-inspiring acrobatics of something like Cirque du Soleil, they certainly have a lot of humour and irreverence, which I greatly enjoyed.

Afterwards I went down to Harry's Cafe de Wheels near Central for a Tiger pie (pie, mashed potato and peas and gravy) a la the episode of Anthony Bourdain's show where he goes there after eating at Tetsuya's, then headed up to Hyde Park to see Seekae, followed by Mountain Mocha Kilimanjaro, a funk band I'd only heard of that morning when FBi radio played a track and I rang in and won a copy of their album.

I returned to Hyde Park to see Bobby Singh and friends (including Circle of Rhythm) and The Manganiyar Seduction, an Indian group of some 40-odd musicians who sing and play instruments while encased in lit boxes (no kidding... that's the best way I can describe their show). I was supposed to meet with Alison from writing group but she bailed because it was really hot, so I left after that and went to eat ice cream at Passionflower, foregoing Al Green in The Domain.

Yesterday I saw the Australian debut of The Arrival, based on the Shaun Tan book of the same name. Very interesting production, more interpretive dance than a play. It's mostly wordless, so I don't recommend going with or sitting near a kid who asks lots of questions about what's going on. Keen to buy the book when I get some money.

This week I have the Handsome Family at the Spiegeltent on Friday, followed by A.R. Rahman (he of 'Slumdog Millionaire' music fame) on Saturday. Rahman's playing at a free gig in Parramatta Park so I am combining a trip to The Hills with that.

Last week, my uncle contracted dengue fever and was rushed to hospital for a blood transfusion (he was thankfully released yesterday so he's okay) so my dad went to Malaysia a bit earlier than the Chinese New Year trip he'd planned. Guess who has to look after the house?

I can't wait for February when the things I do for other people subside.