Monday Too Far Away
As I write this Toby & his missus, K, are off swimming in the ocean baths off Newcastle beach. It’s October but it feels like summer, except the breeze is still nice & cool and the mossies (Hexham Greys) haven’t swarmed, yet. T & K have come up for a break from work & the big smoke and to see the film screen at the TINA festival this arvo at 3pm, upstairs in a small old disused shopping arcade, which is appropriate. Because of the festival Newcastle is full of bright young hippy things who don’t seem to care that “culture” & “creativity” are unfashionable in this clever country. (Relaxed & comfortable, anyone?). J’s been cooking great food all weekend, as usual, and we’ve shared a few good beers & coffees, of course. Don’t know how many will show up at the screening today. Toby’s been to every screening, bar one, so far & it’s been a roller coaster of emotions: poor quality picture & sound doesn’t help. Just this second got a message from Jzhonnie, video split operator during the shoot (& the most fashionable filmmaker in town), who has missed every screening so far and has now informed me that she’s gonna miss this one too, apparently she’s on her way back from a music festival in sunny Qld & they’ve underestimated the travel time (never believe anyone who says Brisbane is only 8 hours & Sydney only 1.5 hours from Newcastle, they’re bullshitting &/or speeding motorists who are far more of a threat to your safety than those other …..ists). Okay, sick of wait’n for the city slickers to emerge from the surf, gonna eat lunch now…. Nm
