jeremy.id.au

Last night I was bored and flicking through channels on the television, a few Christmas movies were on, most of them not worth watching. Though fairly late in the evening, Crackers came on.

It’s not the first time I’ve watched it, certainly it has even been on TV a few times before now, yet after all these years it is still hilarious. The story is about a dysfunctional family at Christmas time and it certainly has a number of intense moments. I’d have to say that the best thing though, is the way it portrays Australian culture, almost putting it in the same boat as The Castle. Nearly everything about it is Australian, there is even one point where Joey is eating Barbecue Shapes! The local aspect certainly makes it easier to relate to and it is certainly a film with moments that can be related to. Even some of the intense moments I can relate to my own childhood, of course, not to mention our family at Christmas as well. Because let’s face it, not everything is perfect on Christmas day, though it still usually ends up being a good day and one of the few times when we have most of the family under one roof.

Although filmed in Melbourne, there aren’t many recognisable landmarks, although a few scenes around Port Phillip Bay. So most of the familiarity is in the culture. Definitely a classic that has to be seen, I may even get it on DVD sometime if ever released.

Some other reviews:

• SBS: The Movie Show
• In Film Australia

The year is finally coming to an end. A week and a half ago I finally had my last class for tafe, though in the days after I had fun finishing off some of the work that I hadn’t completed in time. I had even more fun trying to track down the teacher, two phone calls, a few emails and then finally I went in on Tuesday and there was no one around. The place was completely dead though eventually someone from ITS let me into a lab so I could print my final work. I left all the work except for the final task which I wasn’t sure how to do, so hopefully they either won’t notice or they’ll let me finish it next year!

Yesterday I went to the fourth Christmas function this year. Fortunately I don’t have anything else planned for the silly season, except for family stuff on Christmas day of course. I haven’t done any Christmas shopping but fortunately I haven’t got a lot to do and who knows, the elves may do it for me again this year.

Today I cleaned up my room. For the first time in 3+ years I don’t have piles of junk and bits of paper staggered around on the floor. Though it was this time last year when I rediscovered carpet for the first time in roughly 2 years, possibly more. While earlier this year I was cleaning out the top drawer of my desk, to find notices dating back from 5 years when I was at high school. Among them was a notice about starting year 11 in early 2001 which is so long ago, it seems like an eternity. I’ve pretty much got through all the mess, though could do with cleaning out some of the large drawers and getting rid of some of the ancient computer gear lying around.

Among other things, went to see The Lion King broadway musical during the week. Mum wanted to take us and it was quite an amazing production.

Seems to be that Connex have taken to routinely closing the upward/exit escalator during off-peak times at Box Hill. Yet they open it up and have it running for peak-hour.

So what could the reason be? To save electricity? Or is it about to fall apart so they’re only running it in peak hour to get the maximum life out of it? Then why do they need to barricade it off?

So then what’s wrong with taking the stairs, isn’t the exercise supposed to be good for you? I’d have no problem taking the stairs if there wasn’t 50 other people being forced to take them at the same time. That and I get enough exercise walking to the station, that taking the stairs or the escalator (which I walk up anyway) is hardly going to make a difference. Not to mention that this is just one more thing to frustrate commuters, causing them to reconsider the prospects of driving a car instead. When you already have to put up with inferior off-peak frequencies ranging from 15 to 40 minutes, you don’t need this little extra annoyance.

No doubt the problem is that the escalator is so old that is is in need of replacement, though they should never have let it get beyond disrepair. It’s likely that they won’t do anything now, until the shopping centre is redeveloped and they finally overhaul the ‘transit interchange’ (railway station and bus terminal). Who knows when that will be….

It’s always amusing to look at the logs and find what search terms people find your site with, particularly if it’s a blog. Though the one that amuses me the most is this NineMSN one. Despite the fact that I’m no fan of MSN Messenger or even hotmail and the various Microsoft web sites, it still decides that it wants to make me *the* Jeremy from the land of Australia. And yes, some people have actually stumbled across my site through this search as that is after all how I found it by looking at the referral info in the logs.

While most people seem to find my site through Google which terms such as:

• Gosia Piotrowska, the actress from Spellbinder who played Riana, one of the main characters.
• Someone else was trying to find something on the frustration of city life. Unfortunately I don’t have any video clips to offer though I’m sure you wouldn’t have to go far with a DV cam to find some traffic congestion or overcrowded trains in this city.
• Finally we have someone looking for a ticket to mayhem, well our ticket inspectors right here in Melbourne may offer you that.

There are many others and I haven’t really checked to see which bring the greatest number of visitors just that these stood out after a quick look in the logs.