2016

I've kept this blog, on and off, since 2006. In 2015 I used it to chart daily encounters, images, thoughts and feelings about volcanic basalt/bluestone in Melbourne and Victoria, especially in the first part of the year. I plan to write a book provisionally titled Bluestone: An Emotional History, about human uses of and feelings for bluestone. But I am also working on quite a few other projects and a big grant application, especially now I am on research leave. I'm working mostly from home, then, for six months, and will need online sociability for company!


Thursday, October 22, 2009

Off to Sydney

Have just cycled back from Italian class (starting the past tense; yay!) and about to throw things together for my quick trip to the emerald city.

Ci vediamo.
Posted by This old world is a new world at Thursday, October 22, 2009

3 comments:

Hannah Kilpatrick said...

E` fatta di smeraldo Sydney? Che strano - avrei detto lo zaffiro. I wonder how these tags get applied. If any Australian city was going to be emerald I'd have thought Melbourne, or maybe Canberra.

Friday, 23 October, 2009
frog said...

I think (?!) that it's a reference to the Emerald City in the Wizard of Oz, via an australian playwright, David Williamson.

Or am I exposing my Melbourne bias and ignorance?

Monday, 26 October, 2009
This old world is a new world said...

Yes, I've always thought it came from Williamson, though I haven't actually seen the play. Wikipedia says
"The term is used as a metaphor by the character Elaine Ross, describing Sydney as "the Emerald City of Oz", where people go expecting their dreams to be fulfilled, only to end up with superficial substitutes and broken dreams."

Now that's Melbourne bias, if ever I saw it!

I had a lovely time, though. Temperatures were balmy, the vegetation not so much spring-like, as sub-tropically lush. I had a lovely dinner with friends and a view of the coathanger; then an excellent day in the Parliamentary archives. My talk went well, I think, and we had a good dinner afterwards. But the actual CBD I don't like at all: it always seems grimy, and full of hustle to me.

Monday, 26 October, 2009

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