My holiday was actually a holiday! No working or volunteering for other festivals. A minimal level of running around to see as much as possible. There was reading in parks. One climb to the top of a volcanic island. A trip to the planetarium. Some napping. A massage. It was quite nice.



Auckland has fabulous parks. There's just pure green everywhere. I didn't realise just how much green is missing in Australia, our drought riddled country, until going to Auckland. The weather wasn't the most accommodating for daytime sun basking, but I missed a Melbourne heat-wave, so who am I complain?



I did try to do a few things in Auckland that I wouldn't do at home. But it seems no matter where I am I can't resist a bookstore, even homogensied, predictable as sin, Borders. What I wasn't expecting was to find plastic Kurt Cobain, ala Unplugged in New York (with beaded necklace swinging away from his throat), in a fitted plastic container, sitting on a shelf. Kurt Cobain was my big teenage crush. Poor tragic fool that he was. I still double-take when I come across Nirvana paraphernalia. It's instinct, almost, from a time when the band made up my world. Part of me scorns the commercialism that so ruthless exploits the memory of someone who, at least partially, killed himself because he couldn't resolved the conflict between his own success and his belief in the ultimate corruption of success. And part of me wants to have Kurt battle the Godzilla that our box office manager bought for me when I was house sitting for him earlier in the year. If we're going to cash in on stardom, then let's fucking do it all the way.

Excuse me, I'm about to go to sleep. I just wanted to share this cowl I made from faux fur that has been in my possession, unused, for the last decade (I have half a metre each in seven colour variations in two plastic bags - I shan't want for fake fur for a while my friends).



It's a little wonky and uneven. Hand sewing is a bitch. It's also a little bigger than intended. And not the most suitable item for the upcoming summer (is it worth taking to Germany?). Still, I think it's quite nifty.

Inspired by this cowl made by Malam on Etsy. I like this one more, but sadly don't have access to German mail bags.

In honour of Robot vs World, the first ever show that I didn't chicken out of, here's a robot army made of gingerbread. Robot shape courtesy of my housemate Clare. The giant octopus is for my own amusement.



I should flip the image, but I'm going to go to sleep.

But before I do - I have new gloves! They are purely decorative with no functionality at all.

Damn you giant robots and your allure.

Threadless are offering $9.00 for all t-shirts. I never realised I needed a juggling, clowning, maiming T-Rex riding a unicycle on a t-shirt until I happened upon it. Now I don't know where it's been my whole life.

Thank you to the anonymous person (or was it sent out by the festival organisers?) who sent a DVD of the 2008 World Puppetry Festival to me via work. It was a welcome surprise waiting on my desk the day after the festival. I've finally watched it and it's good.

I think that this week I will do research by hiring a bunch of films that include robots.

Haha! I thought my status as an artist was tenuous, but behold and tremble, I now have my very own Melbourne International Arts Festival Local Artist Card! Concession rates and $25 rush tickets! It's a whole new world.

I'll also have a volunteer and, I think, an artist pass for Fringe. When did that happen? To be sure I'll be living at the Fringe Hub to see as many shows (particularly circusy shows) as I can possibly manage. I love you Melbourne and all your festivals.

PS. Melbourne Fringe, that's a fine lookin' website.

It may be corny, but my favourite part of working for this festival, especially this year, is the people I've been working with. It's like a big family. It makes me sad that the contract staff almost immediately disappear once the festival has finished. I honestly didn't experience much of the program. But I had a radio for nine days (there was one day radio free) and felt part of something. I felt supported and respected. I'm glad to have worked with everyone I worked with this year, and I hope I get to work with them all again one day.