7 December, 12 Viewway, NedlandsAnother full on week.
Two highlights this week. The first was our bookclub Xmas party. Throughout the year, for each bookclub, I keep a record of how much of the book each person read, the predicted rating for each person (the person who chose the book does the predicting), people's initial ratings of the book, and then a rescore of the book after the discussion.
Then, at the end of the year, I put all the scores into a data sheet and do statistical analyses on them. Some years I do a quiz, other years I do awards.
This year we did a quick game of matching the books with the authors, and then I gave out awards. I spent FAR too much time on the analyses and awards (when I should have been working)!! But it was fun :-) My theme for the awards this year was Xmas characters (eg Grinch Award for most miserable scores, Mrs Claus for most pages read, Rudolph-the-red-nose reindeer Award for biggest outlier - you get the idea). As wel as awards, we had an amazing dinner cooked by Nas, and then Secret Santa where we steal presents off each other. All together a really fabulous evening! (By the way, I gave myself the "Santa's Naughty List" Award because I read the least pages this year, shame on me!)
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| Bookclub "girls" |
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| Nas - Mrs Claus award |
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| Sue and Jonathan. Sue got the 'Santa Claus' award for being the highest scorer |
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| Liz, not happy with her Oogie Boogie award for having the worst book (and inflicting pain on us all) |
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| Phil got the "Grinch Award" for lowest scores/ being miserable |
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| Jonathon's "Buddy The Elf "Award for spreadiing joy etc by choosing the highest rated book |
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| Saeed - multiple awards!! |
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The Bookclub members
The second highlight of the week was that we went to Pingelly for Mark to perform at the pub. So we go the campervan ready, filled up the fridge, and then headed off about Saturday lunchtime. I have never been to Pingelly before - its about 2 hrs southwest of Perth not far from Willians. Carol (Cheney) joined us, although she stayed in a motel (we were in the caravan park).
We had a lovely time and it was great to get out of the city. On the first night we went out for dinner in the very large and fancy Recreation Club house. Then Sunday, Carol and I went on a drive. After a stop in an old-fashioned craft job, we drove to a nearby nature reserve- famous for being a place where numbats live. Sadly we did not see a numbat but we had a lovely walk and picnic. Both of us are keen to come back and visit in the evening as there are night tours to see Woylies and other cool creatures that only come out when its dark. |
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| At the Rec club after dinner in front of lots of Xmas ginger houses |
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| Carol and I at the entrance to Drylands nature reserve |
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| Beautiful old bush. But no numbats! |
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| The Campervan with one of the 4 old churches in Pingelly in the background |
Then at 4pm we headed to the Pingelly Exchange hotel where Mark was performing. He did a terrific set. It was an interesting audience - an old 81 year old guy Tim who kept saying after every song Mark played "Good job son" and then to us "I taught him everything I know". He told us the same stories (eg his wife drinking herself to death) over and over so a bit of dementia, or too much beer, or both. But at least he was an enthuasistic audience member! In total probably about 25 in the crowd, which is decent. And Mark seemed relaxed and played really well.
Then Monday morning after a coffee enroute it was back home, and back to work... Monday afternoon we got the news that we could get the news about the Centre of Excellence application the next day.... It was a challenge to sleep, with intermittent weird nightmares about being at the Australian Research Council yelling at everyone because no decision had still been made....
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| Mark, Pingelly Exchange Hotel |
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| This was the old guy - chatting to Carol |
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