Happy Birthday Pooey

This one's for you, Pooey. I baked some hot shoe cakes just for you-la. Yummy yum.
Or you might like this one better?

Two Thumbs Up!!!

I'd just like to give Miss Pooky TWO THUMBS UP for biting the bullet!!! It took bravery and you pulled through!

From here on end, you can sit back. Your part is now done.

Don't ask me what she did, that's not my story to tell.

Yummy yum Yum Cha

Ma & Pa didn't remember Spuey's birthday this year. I wasn't there but I can imagine the conversation going something like this:
"So Spuey, how old are you again?"
"I'm 25"
"So old. When do you turn 26?"
"Next year"
"Hold on, when was your birthday?"
"Last month"
"........(shit)......"

Anyway, what matters now is that they decided to make up for it by going to yum cha.
And we took plenty of photos for Pooey to see.

Spuey yums some cha, I chi some fan, Ma & Pa dig in and wipe out

Mum goes for the deep fried tofu vegie wrap over the little lemons

Dumplings, dumplings, eggplant, fung zao, siu mai, lemons and some really strong tea

Har cheong, TENDONS!!!, and wontons

There may have only been four of us there, but we still needed six har gaus

Yes, mainlander in the khaki shirt is rubbing his gut (hand in pants?) in full view of restaurant

Hooray for mango pudding!

That Other Kind of Talk

Now that we are of a certain age, Ma & Pa have decided to drop all subtlety and start asking us flat out when we're going to start procreating because they want grandchildren. Not that they were ever that subtle to me because, hey, I'm a female PhD student who's educating herself out of marriage range. Being the youngest son, they never really did it to Spuey until in the car on the way to birthday yum cha, this exchange occurred:

(Mum) "When are you kids going to go out and get married? I want grandchildren!"
(Me) "Hold on, didn't we have this conversation on Thursday? And wasn't the solution I was going to move to Singapore and get myself a teo chew husband?"
(Dad) "Oh Mooey, be serious...Spuey, do you want to meet a girl? Auntie Footsegay (think about it, Pooey) wants you to meet this girl she knows!"
(Spuey, highly amused) "Who is this girl?"
"Well she's from Vietnam and works in Auntie Footsegay's shop"
"Viet? How much is Auntie getting paid?"
"She's not getting paid anything! Auntie does it for her own amusement."
(Laughing) "Ok, do it"
"She's not pretty"
"What?!!?"
"She's not pretty! She's got big glasses and small eyes...."
(We piss ourselves laughing in the backseat while Mum outlines various signs of asian female beauty.)

Yes Pooey, just be glad you're on the other side of the world.

Opera pimp

As part of my ploy to get more people to appreciate the art form that is Wesern Opera, I was very much helped along by Opera Australia deciding to perform Bizet’s The Pearlfishers (Les Pêcheurs de Perles) free at the Bowl! I wasn’t planning on going because, lets face it, while Au Fond du Temple Saint was apparently voted best moment in opera, its not exactly my favourite opera or one that I’d use as an introductory course. But since it was free, I used it as an option for people to go to if they wanted to know what they were getting into before shelling out. That and the fact it was supposed to be raining.

However, I did not count on the enthusiasm of Nickyliou, Dancing Hula or Kt for wanting to go check it out. And so some haphazard planning of blankets, rugs and picnic food later, we four had a marvelous night out in the park! Although the performance wasn’t supposed to start until 8pm, we rocked up at 6 to stake out our patch of lawn, only to find the place was already packed with people. We managed to get at place where we laidout two rugs that, while not affording the best view of the stage, sure gave us a nice view of the giant screens. Lovely.

In any case, everyone seemed to enjoy the performance immensely despite several points:

1. The guy playing Nadir was cock-eyed and when you’ve got the close up, it’s mighty distracting!
2. Makeup! Lay off the fake tan! I understand the need for all the eyeliner but it made the wonky eye all the more obvious
3. The guy playing Zurga looked like George Michael! The beard, the haircut, the mandarin collar…

But as Dancing Hula said, nights with haphazard planning are often the best and Opera in the Bowl sure was a highly enjoyable night out.

Stupid things

This post is mostly for Pooey cos me and Spuey were talking about stupid things we did and we thought Pooey would enjoy them.

Spuey's stories
1. I was walking down the street and I had my golf umbrella open. The streets in Richmond are kinda narrow. While I was walking the umbrella got caught between a wall and street sign but I kept walking and got smashed in the face with the handle.

2. While I was at work, I lifted up a metal chair and somehow smashed myself in the face with it. My arms went too far!

Mooey's story
I was running for an elevator and the doors started to close. I had a water bottle in my hand and waved it between the doors to keep it open. The doors just closed on my bottle instead and it got stuck there.

Damsel mentality

I do not advocate being a weak female preying on feelings of chivalry that years of training have resulted in deeply ingrained responses in men. No-siree.

Having said that, I'm not above taking that help when it's being offered for free!

About a fortnight ago, I forgot to turn off the carbogen and so had to order another huge cylinder of gas. Huge. Well the cylinder finally arrived and it was delivered to the basement. I had to fetch a trolley and exchange the full cylinder with the empty - both of which are bigger than I am. I also happened to be wearing a nice aqua singlet with frills around the shoulders and a little skirt so you can imaging the pathetic picture I made trying to figure out how to do it. After a while some random guy took pity and got it onto the trolley for me before going back to his own work. And then some more randoms held doors opened, pushed elevator buttons etc etc. I'd just like to take the time to thank them all now.

And I'd also like to take the time to ponder just what I'm going to do when I get older and lose the cuteness. Eeep.

New shoes

Once upon a time, at a terrible time in my life (when I was working at the florist from hell), I walked into a shoe store and fell in love. No, not with a boy, with a pair of Le Coq Sportif ballet flat-style runners. Not only were they incredibly cute but they were also 50% off! Our relationship started off rocky - they used to hurt me every time I wore them. But then we came to an understanding and I soon got to wearing them regularly.

Alas, nothing lasts forever and love is no exception. After years of adventures and experience and good and bad times together, I finally had to say goodbye. We parted on sad terms in London, city dear to my heart, as chronicled by Pooey. I was too upset to take one last look, she did it for me.But someone new has come into my life.

I met up with Roxy who was shopping with her brother in the Galeries Lafayette basement rip-off when my attention was captured. The combination of white with lilac detail. It was like my former partner but with development! But what was even better was the fact that they were 75% off!!!
And so I declared myself and resolved to take them home.
Love,
Mallymoodle

The Don

About three things I'm absolutely positive.
1. I enjoy opera
2. I have crappy eyes
3. Washboard abs rock!
When you combine the three, you get our night at our last opera of the year, Don Giovanni, and when you consider that Teddy Tahu Rhodes and his knee high boots were reprising the role, you know it was going to be a good night. There was a measure of concern that given our luck with leading men that Teddy and his washboard abs wouldn't be there but that was laid to rest!

The story is of legendary lover (rapist?) Don Giovanni as he freewheels from girl to girl, accompanied by his increasingly disgusted servant Leporello, and pursued by various people wanting revenge against him - Donna Anna and her fiance Don Ottavio, spurned lover Donna Elvira, and peasants Zerlina whom he tried to seduce on her wedding day and her bridegroom Masetto , and the ghost of Donna Anna's father, the Commendatore. And then he gets dragged down to hell while everyone else sings the moral of the story. *cough*

When we got into the theatre, there was some confusion as we each found a little leather bag on our seats containing a pair of opera binoculars. We were sitting in the Circle - it wasn't as if we couldn't see what was going on...were they presents or did we have to return them at the end of the night? Confusion! But we all spent our time trying to focus them and finally found out why. This production opens with Don Giovanni escaping from Donna Anna's room dressed only in leather undies, knee high boots and a cape, and I tell you, every set of opera glasses were focusing on TTR's abs! (Below - looking a bit rougher than usual from Dead Man Walking)

Singing and acting-wise, all was fine. I always feel a bit sorry for Elvira - and she really gets the short stick here being tricked and manhandled - and Fiona James did a great job showing her wavering rage and despondence. I kept thinking it would be nice if she went off with the long-suffering Leporello (John Pringle) but I suppose it wouldn't do for a lady to marry a servant in those days. Tiffany Speight has the right flowing voice for Zerlina, nice and sweet especially when she induces Masetto to beat her as proof of her innocence...Laulita thought Masetto (Richard Anderson) was hot. However this was again the Teddy Tahu Rhodes show and he played the role with all the bastardy, narcissistic glory it requires. His performance really does show the Don's unrepentant depravity, especially in the dinner scene - and Kenny is now an unavowed fan of the way he just doesn't quit! (Yes! We've turned Kenny into an opera-lover!) A suggested change would be to lay off on all the make up though - TTR's much better looking without the black wig and fake Latin tan.

Don Giovanni is an enjoyable opera made all the better by the performances. Not as good as Figaro in my opinion, but with more shirtlessness here, I can see broader appeal to the less regular opera audience. Veruschka, I'm looking at you.
(Picture sources here and here)

Movie review - Hairspray (The Musical)

What?!?! I can't believe I forgot to review this movie considering how good it made me feel! And it made me feel like going out, put on a puffy dress and high heels then going out to swing dance! Adapted from the Tony-award winning stage musical based on the 1988 John Waters movie, Hairspray the Musical is an enjoyable cheering ball of fun!

Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky) is a 'pleasantly plump' teenager from Baltimore who only sees good in the world. She dreams of being a dancer on the Corny Collins Show and that her crush Link Larkin (Zac Efron) who dances on the show will notice her. Auditions are held after a dancer leaves the show, but Tracy is ridiculed by the leading dance queen and Link's gf Amber Von Tussle (Brittany Snow), and Amber's mother and Corny's producer, Velma (Michelle Pfeiffer), but manages to get chosen with from her best friend Penny (Amanda Bynes) and new friend Seaweed (Elijah Kelley). Then she decides that its not fair for black kids to dance on the show once a month and decides to help them escape oppression. And then everyone has a big dance-off in the end!!!

A big part of what makes this enjoyable is Nikki Blonsky's performance. She seems so genuine in her joy and enthusiam. And then the musical numbers are so upbeat and moving, I did catch myself at some points bouncing along with the beat. Michelle Pfeiffer is also excellent as the EVIL Velma! Still hot at 40-something years, it's been a while since she played comedy and even longer since she sang! At the same time, there are so many wrong moments. Every scene with John Travolta for one - he played Tracy's mother Edna and the sight of him in a dress is one I could have lived without. I was always slightly scared that we'd see him kiss Christopher Walken during their love duet.

I originally didn't intend to see this movie because, quite frankly, as much as I love musicals, this one didn't appeal to me and I wasn't impressed by the presence of so many teeny-bopper idols. But after being told by many people how fun it was, I'm glad I did. Seriously. Even though I saw this on a Tuesday night, I just wanted to go out and dance my time away. So if you want some light and fluffy and happy times, Hairspray is good for you.
8/10

Ooooh, I do like Milo

He looks mighty good in a suit. And if you've seen Fergie's clip 'Big Girls Don't Cry', he looks pretty good out of one too! (Source)

Movie review - Paris, je t'aime

Ooh la la! J'aime beaucoup Paris et j'aime aussi le film Paris, je t'aime! Ce film s'agit l'amour sur 18 des 20 arrondissements de Paris. Les 18 courts-métrages sont réalisé par des réalisateurs et joué par des acteurs différents. J'ai regardé ce film avec Spuey et je suppose si vous savez et vous aimez Paris, vous l'aimerez autant que nous. Je ne peux pas expliquer pourquoi - juste comme l'amour, quand vous savez, vous savez.

Pour moi, le meilleur partie était Le 14^e. Une vieille mademoiselle americaine est lecture son compte de sa première voyage à Paris à sa classe francaise, et quoique son accent est horrible, sa grammaire est parfaite. Elle la raconte ses tentatives de decouvrir le vrai Paris, d'abord à travers à tous les clichés mais puis vient à la réalisation que bien que c'est une ville pour des amoureux, elle parvient à trouver exactement de ce qu'elle a besoin. :) Genial!

Ah oui, c'est fantastique. Pardonnez-moi pour mon pauvre francais.
7.5-8/10. (poster source)

Ooh la la! I love Paris very much and I also love Paris, je t'aime very much! The film is about love in 18 of the 20 Paris neighbourhoods. The 18 shorts are by different directors and played by different actors. I watched the film with Spuey and I suppose if you know and love Paris you'll love the film as much as we did. I can't explain why - it's like love, when you know, you know.

For me, the best part was the 14th arrondissement. A middle-aged american woman is recounting her first trip to Paris to her French class and while her accent is terrible her grammar is perfect. She tells her her attempts to find *Paris* initially through all the cliches, but eventually comes to the realisation that while Paris is a city for lovers, she manages to find exactly what she needed. It's great!

Oaks Day

Well it was back to the public lawns when ACB went to the Oaks this year. We decided to do the same as last year and convene at the Bat Cave before trying to stake out a patch of lawn near the 300m mark - any closer to the finish line and it's more like the public mosh pit. Here's a selection of pics.

Adey, Nickyliou, Ash, Dancinghula and yours truly.

Turdy girls it up while John IT lets out his inner gangster.

Nickyliou and Dancinghula give Turdy some girling advice.

A beautiful view!

A not so beautiful view :(

...and some people thought my hat was big!

I didn't know leprechauns came that size.

Adey gives the day his thumbs up.

In terms of gambling, I sucked big time this year. Impressed by Zarita's strong finish in the Wakeful Stakes on Saturday, I decided she was a sure bet in the Oaks. How wrong she proved me. Despite Thommo's pleading, I could not be persuaded to put money on a horse in race 8 named 'Let Go Thommo' which turned out to be a good decision because he turned out to be a donkey. And then my namesake horse in race 9 was scratched. Signs!

For my photos of Oaks, go to http://mallymoodlespics.shutterfly.com
password 12345

Its the ONLY way to go!

I wasn't planning on going to any racing meets other than Oaks but when I got the msg from QQ that she may have had some marquee tickets, Spuey said I better bloody be accepting that invite!

So what was it like? Well you can probably tell from my title that General Admission may forever be spoiled for me. Such comfort, such convenience...it was a revelation! Nothing like having your own bathroom facilities with L'Oreal beauty bar - no Kenny-like happenings! Ok, QQ and I may have been the youngest people there but all the old gamblers were very nice.

This was the view from our marquee balcony seats

QQ enjoys some fingerfood

OMG, look at the mess on the public lawns!!!

With QQ's friend Raphael

Proof that I did manage to see some horses!

So there we go. Back to the masses on Thursday for Oaks (sigh).
EDIT - photos can be seen here! http://mallymoodlespics.shutterfly.com/action/
Password - 12345

Pasha from Russia

(This one's for you, Nance!)

I know So You Think You Can Dance 3 is a few months old in the US now, but I still think Pasha from Russia got ROBBED!!!

What is it with Russia and dancers? First Dmitri from last year and now Pasha? Pasha's not as chest-tastic as Dmitri but he has a goofiness Dima doesn't - and that makes him all the more cuddly!

These *tribute* clips have some of the same scenes in them but it just makes you know - he was robbed.

Movie review - Saw IV

For Hallowe'en, Laulita wanted to go out and watch a horror movie so we and Veruschka went to watch Saw IV. I saw Saw I years ago and while I thought it was pretty twisted, it was pretty clever at the same time but I didn't bother to go watch the other two sequels. It might have helped to have watched them.

Anyway, the movie opens with one of the squelchiest post-mortems me and two neuroscientists have ever seen. We debated whether a brain could be scooped out like that considering we didn't see them severing the brainstem. Oh well. Anyway, what followed was your basic 100 minutes of blood-soaked gore interspersed with trying to figure out why and how Jigsaw went so crazy as well as who is committing all those murders considering that Jigsaw died at the end of the third movie - it's his PM we were watching at the beginning. The plot then is basically police and the FBI trying to find *Jigsaw* while Riggs, head of the SWAT team gets dragged into Jigsaw's game.

But then some things happened that made me think, WTF?! So here's the spoiler:
Jigsaw is dead - but this movie occurs in parallel at the same time with Saw III.
The Cop Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) has been carrying out the murders in this movie. Why he's been doing it isn't explained.
So there you go. I'm pretty ambivalent about the whole thing. As a basic schlock horror, it's entertaining and anyone expecting anything else is a fool. *shrug*
5/10