Fun with GUF

A date to see the Lion King was full of other pleasures and adventures:

• Riding one of the new trains to town;
• Battling claustrophobia seeking the surface through Melbourne Central;
• Exploring the State Library (from the shades of Planet of the Apes to the Chess room);
• Fish leaping at the Velcro wall in an oversize velcro suit - definitely wish I'd had a camera;
• Fantasising at MindGames - must remember Fish would like a lava lamp;
• Lunching at Maccas; and
• Viewing the city from the Rialto observation deck.

We're not sure how to review the Lion King. (and thankfully we don't need to when such as John Shand saw and heard it similarly to us) While Fish and Cricket were impressed with the opening scenes, particularly the mass gatherings, they lost interest through the middle. However GUF and I were both awestruck by Buyisili Zama's vocal performance. Indeed, that was THE highlight for me, yet I can't describe it. As I don't even know whether the African chants had lyrics, let alone how they might translate, it could only be the sounds that reached in to my chest and played my emotions as if they were harp strings. I cried with no idea why, because the story moments themselves aren't that heart-rending.

Titanic

In the car (as usual) Cricket asked how many people survived the sinking of the Titanic - and whether the ice was unusually far south for it to have happened.

We went to Encyclopedia Titanica for answers

Making friends with Black Cockatoos and a King Parrot

Cricket and Mum enjoyed the close company of Black Cockatoos at Ballarat Bird World.  We are grateful to whoever it was in Parents Without Partners who suggested the excursion because we have never been so up close and personal with so many lovely birds.

In the walk through aviary a King Parrot took a liking to cricket, grooming his coat. 

We'd love to go there again - maybe by then we'll have a digital camera to capture such pleasant memories.

Indoor Cricket

Cricket's team "Hot Shots" was only just beaten this week, but I was thrilled to see Cricket's 6, and an excellent four over partnership. Major League Indoor Sports (where they play) don't appear to have a website, but in looking for one I was surprised to learn and hope to remember that as RACV members we can save on mini-golf, snooker and ten pin.

Jedi Apprentice

Cricket introduced me to the Jedi Apprentice series. We're waiting for #5 to come back into the library. I've been impressed with Jude Watson's descriptions of Obi Wan's personal development and Jedi principles and philosophies.

Gymnastics

>> insert, if we ever get a digital camera: Fish at gymnastics <<
>> or, if we ever find a scanner: his performance as a baby <<
Fish is having such fun at the Ballarat Aquatic Centre gymnastics program we can at least link to their online window.