Hi all,
Sorry for the absence of any updates - its been a huge week..
I will just keep it short and sweet atm..
Icypole went to the specialist on Tuesday, who X-rayed him and did a 45 min examination on top of that. He was sent home with us that night, with medicines and directions to keep him rested. (Thats not hard - normally he sleeps most of the time anyway!)
After having a nervous day or two at home, not wanting to have him back in hospital sicker than before, he went for back to the main vet hospital where he has been treated perviously to have 4 infected teeth removed. This happened yesterday evening (Fri).
Icy is back at home, and aside from a moderately nasty cough, he is back to normal!
My thanks to everyone for your support, whether that was messages/emails/comments/calls/sms's etc etc..
Im so very happy my little boy is back with me..
A trip to the Coogee beach is on the cards for Sunday arvo! Hoorayy!
Shelley
xxx
06 October, 2007
01 October, 2007
UPDATE: From the hospital..
Hi all,
Thank you all so much for your love and support these past few days. Many people who have met Icy, seen pics (and even some who have never even knew I had a dog!), have sent their best wishes.. Thank you all so much..
Saturday evening was awful, with my partner and I crying at home, wishing our little boy was back at home. In fact late Saturday evening I ended up crying myself to sleep in my partners arms.
But come Sunday morning we were back at the hospital and my little boy was looking slightly brighter and alert when we walked up to his cage. That was all the good news though. His breathing was coarse and labored, and we found out he was not eating all his roast chicken meal (which he LOVES), and sometimes vomiting his food back up. The vet advised he was still stable, but not improving much more at the moment. We however were sure that, at least to our eyes, his body language was brighter and that he felt better in himself. My partner and I felt much happier after the morning visit due to this. I just hoped it wasn't some wishful thinking..
We then visited him not long before the hospital shut it's doors for the evening. Icy was still much the same, which disappointed me a little. The previous half day had shown him brighter, but the 10 or so hours of care did not seem to make an impact on his health this time. We stayed with him for about 1.5 hours, hand-feeding him chicken. While we did this, we checked with another new vet who was on duty over the long weekend, to get a general run-down of his health since the morning. She again said much the same as the last vet - no marked improvement. In fact his temperature had come up again, even with the antibiotics in his IV.
His little cough was also becoming more frequent, though it seemed to me that it was his little body attempting to clear his chest/lungs of mucus etc. My assumption is that this is good, as it means his body is fighting any infections he has in his lungs. I should really check if that is true..
We left the hospital, being advised to come back around lunchtime on Monday (public holiday) to visit him and speak 1-on-1 with the vet (the original one who we saw Thursday). The hours of the hospital were reduced to 9am-6pm, making our lunchtime visit, the only one for the day.
So today we had a small visit with him. Again he looked brighter still, his breathing better, but the cough worse. His walking has come back a little too - now no longer swaying and walking "drunk". My partner and I discussed last night that we should try to take him across the road from the hospital for some fresh air and sun in the park, and so asked if he could do so. She said he could go out for 30 mins only, so he was taken off his IV and we took our little boy out.
He enjoyed the park - in fact when we placed him down, he ran a 1 metre or so, pee-ed on a tree, scratched the ground with his hind legs, then sat down. We were a bit astonished by this, as he was being so lethargic in the hospital. But admittedly, he very quickly ran out of steam, and was soon lying on a blanket, sniffing the breeze and watching the passers by.
My partner had to leave for work, so I spent a little more time with him back in the hospital in a consultation room. We had a cuddle and curled up together on the floor. His coughing was terrible, but I noticed when I rubbed his back a little, with a gentle pat, his coughing seemed to improve. The vet came in to advise he should get back on to the drip and have some rest in his cage. I mentioned that his coughing got better with the gentle pats to his chest. She said its quite a common way to help lungs loosen the mucus and it was obviously helping him. So I will be doing some more of it next time I see him!
After settling him in to his new cage, I headed home.
Im so glad he will be heading to the specialist animal hospital tomorrow. Its been horrible keeping him as is, while we wait for the long weekend to finish. Anyway, here's hoping that things will start looking up with the new day and new working week..
As always, I will keep you posted...
Thanks again for your support everyone!
Shelley
xxx
Thank you all so much for your love and support these past few days. Many people who have met Icy, seen pics (and even some who have never even knew I had a dog!), have sent their best wishes.. Thank you all so much..
Saturday evening was awful, with my partner and I crying at home, wishing our little boy was back at home. In fact late Saturday evening I ended up crying myself to sleep in my partners arms.
But come Sunday morning we were back at the hospital and my little boy was looking slightly brighter and alert when we walked up to his cage. That was all the good news though. His breathing was coarse and labored, and we found out he was not eating all his roast chicken meal (which he LOVES), and sometimes vomiting his food back up. The vet advised he was still stable, but not improving much more at the moment. We however were sure that, at least to our eyes, his body language was brighter and that he felt better in himself. My partner and I felt much happier after the morning visit due to this. I just hoped it wasn't some wishful thinking..
We then visited him not long before the hospital shut it's doors for the evening. Icy was still much the same, which disappointed me a little. The previous half day had shown him brighter, but the 10 or so hours of care did not seem to make an impact on his health this time. We stayed with him for about 1.5 hours, hand-feeding him chicken. While we did this, we checked with another new vet who was on duty over the long weekend, to get a general run-down of his health since the morning. She again said much the same as the last vet - no marked improvement. In fact his temperature had come up again, even with the antibiotics in his IV.
His little cough was also becoming more frequent, though it seemed to me that it was his little body attempting to clear his chest/lungs of mucus etc. My assumption is that this is good, as it means his body is fighting any infections he has in his lungs. I should really check if that is true..
We left the hospital, being advised to come back around lunchtime on Monday (public holiday) to visit him and speak 1-on-1 with the vet (the original one who we saw Thursday). The hours of the hospital were reduced to 9am-6pm, making our lunchtime visit, the only one for the day.
So today we had a small visit with him. Again he looked brighter still, his breathing better, but the cough worse. His walking has come back a little too - now no longer swaying and walking "drunk". My partner and I discussed last night that we should try to take him across the road from the hospital for some fresh air and sun in the park, and so asked if he could do so. She said he could go out for 30 mins only, so he was taken off his IV and we took our little boy out.
He enjoyed the park - in fact when we placed him down, he ran a 1 metre or so, pee-ed on a tree, scratched the ground with his hind legs, then sat down. We were a bit astonished by this, as he was being so lethargic in the hospital. But admittedly, he very quickly ran out of steam, and was soon lying on a blanket, sniffing the breeze and watching the passers by.
My partner had to leave for work, so I spent a little more time with him back in the hospital in a consultation room. We had a cuddle and curled up together on the floor. His coughing was terrible, but I noticed when I rubbed his back a little, with a gentle pat, his coughing seemed to improve. The vet came in to advise he should get back on to the drip and have some rest in his cage. I mentioned that his coughing got better with the gentle pats to his chest. She said its quite a common way to help lungs loosen the mucus and it was obviously helping him. So I will be doing some more of it next time I see him!
After settling him in to his new cage, I headed home.
Im so glad he will be heading to the specialist animal hospital tomorrow. Its been horrible keeping him as is, while we wait for the long weekend to finish. Anyway, here's hoping that things will start looking up with the new day and new working week..
As always, I will keep you posted...
Thanks again for your support everyone!
Shelley
xxx
29 September, 2007
Your Thoughts/Prayers Needed!
Hi all,
This Thursday morning, my little dog "Icypole" was admitted to the pet hospital. He was feeling down, moving lethargically and had some involuntary head shaking that sometimes shook him so hard he was being shook off his paws.
After some IV treatment to keep his fluids up and some oral antibiotics, the vet, my partner and I felt that we had got on top of his illness. We were able to collect him from the hospital on Friday afternoon, happy that our little boy was home with us. For a few hours things looked promising, but soon his shaking was much more severe, he accidentally wee-ed on our bed (Icy felt so bad for doing so), and his temperature went up again. He was restless all night and could not get comfortable in any room of the apartment.
Saturday morning he was due for another blood test, so we took him back to the hospital. The vet agreed that he should remain at the hospital for observation, while reverting back to the IV but this time with intravenous antibiotics. Xrays were to be taken in the afternoon as our little boy was also developing a cough. We went home worried that he had gotten worse, and I wished we did not remove him from the hospital so soon..
Halfway through the afternoon, my partner contacted me asking to call him immediately. I got him on the phone and he said that the vet at the hospital wanted to speak to us about Icypole ASAP. As my partner was about to start work, I quickly hopped a bus (train was 25min wait-time) to the hospital. Once I arrived I was immediately taken to the Xray room, quiet and away from the animals and the noise of the hospital.
The vet explained that Icypole has a number of issues with his health. Xrays showed that he has problems with his lungs, possibly fluid or a an viral/bacterial/fungal infection. Basically the x-ray of his chest was cloudy white - not a good sign, but not surprising having heard his breathing. The x-rays also showed the right side of his heart looking swollen, but this could have been due to his slight heart murmur he has always lived with. Another x-ray also showed a possible collapsed disc in his back. The vet explained it however did not really explain his head shaking due to the way a pinched nerve normally reacts. Also Icy's trachea was not sitting correctly, due to either the swelling of the heart, or the swelling of the lymphs. Further, his blood tests showed his white blood cells , critical for fighting illness, were very low, and while his body is still producing them, not enough to be improving his health.
Seeing my eyes swell with tears, the vet handed me the closest thing to a tissue he could find, a medical swab. Immediately once he gave me it, I started to cry streams of tears down my face. My little boy has brought my partner and I so much joy its hard to put it into words. I guess for anyone who has a human child, I guess this is how you feel when they are in hospital. Some people might say a dog is a dog, but seriously, I have kept a number of pets over the years, but none have ever formed such a close connection with me as this little white dog. He truely is my little adopted "boy" from "Doggie Rescue"...
The vet then took me to sit with Icy. He was still a little sedated from the medication that was administered to keep him still for the x-rays. I sat with him, and just let tears down my face as I patted him. I didn't want him to be distressed by me moaning and crying and out. One of the staff came by and gave me some water and tissues, and I sat there on the floor next to Icy's cage until my partner arrived. I asked the vet to speak with my partner about Icy if he had the time, just so he knew everything - I figured I would forget to mention some things while I remained upset.
After what felt like an eternity, my partner arrived, and we were invited to take Icy into a private consultation room to spend time with him. We moved him, with his IV's attached, and spent time patting and chatting to him. The vet took the time to again chat with us. (This man is brilliant! He knows what he's talking about, and has the most beautiful bed manner. I'm so very glad he took on Icy's case for the day.)
With a quick blood test before we left, it was then time for us to move Icy back into the hospital area for the staff to monitor him. With him almost guaranteed to spend the next few days at the hospital, we felt better in the knowledge that he will remain stable until then. Unfortunately it does not look like he will get better alone, so we need to wait for the long weekend (it's a Monday public holiday in Sydney - Labour Day) to finish before we can use the vet's referral to see some specialists.
Through this evening, we had contact with the hospital twice. Around 7pm the vet confirmed that the blood test they conducted at the hospital showed his white blood cell count had gone up to just under the "low" range - which he said is good news. He did say that the standards/techniques that the Lab will do may produce slightly different results, but that at least it was a positive sign. We then spoke to him around 10:45pm to find out the Lab results and for a general update on Icy's condition. Unfortunately the results were not in yet, and Icy's condition had not improved.
Basically that's where we are up to with him this evening. With many tears shed and tissues sacrificed, we will be there at the hospital first thing Sunday morning to visit him in person. We have planned not to stop fighting for his little life. Many people, I know, feel that a dog with illnesses like his should be "put down".. it's the most humane thing to do apparently! I strongly believe however, that if a child was in the dog's place, there would be no such discussion. I will not take away his life due to any inconvenience it may cause me, financial or otherwise.. This little creature means so much to us, and us to him - I will not take his life away.. He has given so much to us, he deserves whatever it takes from us to make him better..
Now, many of you know I'm an atheist. I don't believe that prayer helps a sick person or animal, but since the dog has not declared his faith (at least to me!), I ask that if you're religious, you say a prayer for my little dog Icypole, or if not, that at very least you could send some positive vibes that he gets better.. (that's what Im doing!)
We will take anything that will make him better - I will not turn anything away..
I will keep everyone posted of course..
My love to you for reading this (novel!)...
Shelley
xxx
This Thursday morning, my little dog "Icypole" was admitted to the pet hospital. He was feeling down, moving lethargically and had some involuntary head shaking that sometimes shook him so hard he was being shook off his paws.
After some IV treatment to keep his fluids up and some oral antibiotics, the vet, my partner and I felt that we had got on top of his illness. We were able to collect him from the hospital on Friday afternoon, happy that our little boy was home with us. For a few hours things looked promising, but soon his shaking was much more severe, he accidentally wee-ed on our bed (Icy felt so bad for doing so), and his temperature went up again. He was restless all night and could not get comfortable in any room of the apartment.
Saturday morning he was due for another blood test, so we took him back to the hospital. The vet agreed that he should remain at the hospital for observation, while reverting back to the IV but this time with intravenous antibiotics. Xrays were to be taken in the afternoon as our little boy was also developing a cough. We went home worried that he had gotten worse, and I wished we did not remove him from the hospital so soon..
Halfway through the afternoon, my partner contacted me asking to call him immediately. I got him on the phone and he said that the vet at the hospital wanted to speak to us about Icypole ASAP. As my partner was about to start work, I quickly hopped a bus (train was 25min wait-time) to the hospital. Once I arrived I was immediately taken to the Xray room, quiet and away from the animals and the noise of the hospital.
The vet explained that Icypole has a number of issues with his health. Xrays showed that he has problems with his lungs, possibly fluid or a an viral/bacterial/fungal infection. Basically the x-ray of his chest was cloudy white - not a good sign, but not surprising having heard his breathing. The x-rays also showed the right side of his heart looking swollen, but this could have been due to his slight heart murmur he has always lived with. Another x-ray also showed a possible collapsed disc in his back. The vet explained it however did not really explain his head shaking due to the way a pinched nerve normally reacts. Also Icy's trachea was not sitting correctly, due to either the swelling of the heart, or the swelling of the lymphs. Further, his blood tests showed his white blood cells , critical for fighting illness, were very low, and while his body is still producing them, not enough to be improving his health.
Seeing my eyes swell with tears, the vet handed me the closest thing to a tissue he could find, a medical swab. Immediately once he gave me it, I started to cry streams of tears down my face. My little boy has brought my partner and I so much joy its hard to put it into words. I guess for anyone who has a human child, I guess this is how you feel when they are in hospital. Some people might say a dog is a dog, but seriously, I have kept a number of pets over the years, but none have ever formed such a close connection with me as this little white dog. He truely is my little adopted "boy" from "Doggie Rescue"...
The vet then took me to sit with Icy. He was still a little sedated from the medication that was administered to keep him still for the x-rays. I sat with him, and just let tears down my face as I patted him. I didn't want him to be distressed by me moaning and crying and out. One of the staff came by and gave me some water and tissues, and I sat there on the floor next to Icy's cage until my partner arrived. I asked the vet to speak with my partner about Icy if he had the time, just so he knew everything - I figured I would forget to mention some things while I remained upset.
After what felt like an eternity, my partner arrived, and we were invited to take Icy into a private consultation room to spend time with him. We moved him, with his IV's attached, and spent time patting and chatting to him. The vet took the time to again chat with us. (This man is brilliant! He knows what he's talking about, and has the most beautiful bed manner. I'm so very glad he took on Icy's case for the day.)
With a quick blood test before we left, it was then time for us to move Icy back into the hospital area for the staff to monitor him. With him almost guaranteed to spend the next few days at the hospital, we felt better in the knowledge that he will remain stable until then. Unfortunately it does not look like he will get better alone, so we need to wait for the long weekend (it's a Monday public holiday in Sydney - Labour Day) to finish before we can use the vet's referral to see some specialists.
Through this evening, we had contact with the hospital twice. Around 7pm the vet confirmed that the blood test they conducted at the hospital showed his white blood cell count had gone up to just under the "low" range - which he said is good news. He did say that the standards/techniques that the Lab will do may produce slightly different results, but that at least it was a positive sign. We then spoke to him around 10:45pm to find out the Lab results and for a general update on Icy's condition. Unfortunately the results were not in yet, and Icy's condition had not improved.
Basically that's where we are up to with him this evening. With many tears shed and tissues sacrificed, we will be there at the hospital first thing Sunday morning to visit him in person. We have planned not to stop fighting for his little life. Many people, I know, feel that a dog with illnesses like his should be "put down".. it's the most humane thing to do apparently! I strongly believe however, that if a child was in the dog's place, there would be no such discussion. I will not take away his life due to any inconvenience it may cause me, financial or otherwise.. This little creature means so much to us, and us to him - I will not take his life away.. He has given so much to us, he deserves whatever it takes from us to make him better..
Now, many of you know I'm an atheist. I don't believe that prayer helps a sick person or animal, but since the dog has not declared his faith (at least to me!), I ask that if you're religious, you say a prayer for my little dog Icypole, or if not, that at very least you could send some positive vibes that he gets better.. (that's what Im doing!)
We will take anything that will make him better - I will not turn anything away..
I will keep everyone posted of course..
My love to you for reading this (novel!)...
Shelley
xxx
09 September, 2007
Shelley does APEC.. Well the Protest March!
I always love a good protest march, but this one I was disappointed in.. The police presence sucked big time! They were completely rude and intimidating. The speeches could hardly be heard for all the helicopters and the mass of Police Lockup Buses was inappropriate and completely out of proportion. Don't get me wrong, I love the fact it was non-violent and that if it did get violent there were Police to protect people and property, but why the rude and intimidating police force against people who had not shown any such signs of violent behaviour? (BTW, I say people and property, but I don't think that in the event of a crazy protester wielding a knife, that they would allow us refuge behind their lines!)
No one was causing trouble, in fact I'm sure there is much more trouble each year at Mardi Gras. At least there the police politely wave you off on the right direction.
The thing that also really pissed me off was the fact that the march limited to a length of 2 blocks! I didn't care if we had to march away from the APEC security zone to Central! I felt my right to protest was squashed - it was pathetic!
The police funnelled the 10,000 strong crowd into Hyde Park via a pedestrian footpath. We had no choice, a bus on one side, a shoulder to shoulder police line on the other... what was completely stupid is that once I made it into Hyde Park, I walked around and stood behind the Police line.. what was the point of not allowing the protesters on Park St through Hyde Park when they can walk around the edge of the Police line to stand in almost the same spot? Who knows!
Eventually the Police line was moved back when they realised the stupid plan they had made. Clearly the flow of protesters off the road was hampered by their funnel effect. This was eventually done of course, but not before the water-cannon and police force pushed the march on from the back.
I understand the need for protection of the 21 world leaders of APEC. What I don't understand is why our city has been turned into a police state, with laws that can be used at any time the government wants! These laws have no sunset clause! This should be our real concern!
No one was causing trouble, in fact I'm sure there is much more trouble each year at Mardi Gras. At least there the police politely wave you off on the right direction.
The thing that also really pissed me off was the fact that the march limited to a length of 2 blocks! I didn't care if we had to march away from the APEC security zone to Central! I felt my right to protest was squashed - it was pathetic!
The police funnelled the 10,000 strong crowd into Hyde Park via a pedestrian footpath. We had no choice, a bus on one side, a shoulder to shoulder police line on the other... what was completely stupid is that once I made it into Hyde Park, I walked around and stood behind the Police line.. what was the point of not allowing the protesters on Park St through Hyde Park when they can walk around the edge of the Police line to stand in almost the same spot? Who knows!
Eventually the Police line was moved back when they realised the stupid plan they had made. Clearly the flow of protesters off the road was hampered by their funnel effect. This was eventually done of course, but not before the water-cannon and police force pushed the march on from the back.
I understand the need for protection of the 21 world leaders of APEC. What I don't understand is why our city has been turned into a police state, with laws that can be used at any time the government wants! These laws have no sunset clause! This should be our real concern!
KRAVE
Krave was a heap of fun as always on Friday night - not to mention a welcome getaway from the constant helicopters flying over my house for APEC (They are still doing it now as I type! Grrr!)
I even had some work colleagues from Ticketmaster (my day-job) come up to watch the show. It was fab to see some friendly, albeit mildly shocked, faces in the audience!
I performed "Stronger", and old Britney song, in honour of her attempt at re-launching her career tonight at the MTV Music Awards. Second show was "Viva La Diva" (Dana International) after the Krave Krew announced my DIVA win to the crowd, followed by Taylor Dane's "Can't Get Enough of Your Love Baby".
After a drink or two and a chat with my friends, we headed back to Sydney for a spot of rest before the APEC Protest March the next day!
(Read my next blog for the details!)
I even had some work colleagues from Ticketmaster (my day-job) come up to watch the show. It was fab to see some friendly, albeit mildly shocked, faces in the audience!
I performed "Stronger", and old Britney song, in honour of her attempt at re-launching her career tonight at the MTV Music Awards. Second show was "Viva La Diva" (Dana International) after the Krave Krew announced my DIVA win to the crowd, followed by Taylor Dane's "Can't Get Enough of Your Love Baby".
After a drink or two and a chat with my friends, we headed back to Sydney for a spot of rest before the APEC Protest March the next day!
(Read my next blog for the details!)
Rock Eisteddfod - Sydney Open/Premiere GF
** WARNING **
Shelley is very passionate about Rock Eisteddfod and the blog below shows just a little how fanatical she is about it!
***************
This week I watched the Rock Eisteddfod Open AND Premier Sydney Grand Finals!
How much fun do those kids have!
I am a "rocka kid" from way back.. 93-96' to be exact! (oh I'm old!!!) I remember the excitement of being on such a big stage, with thousands watching and cheering, big sets, lights and complex dance routines... It's like a Mardi Gras Show experience really - just a lot less gay of course!
The Open GF was obviously not as top quality at the Premier Division, but had some great performances in it. The stand out for me was Woolooware High School! Their performance of "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" was well above the standard of the rest of the other schools in their Division. It was like chalk and cheese.. It's like putting Cathy Freeman (for the non-aussies, she is our gold winning Olympic runner) against a line of Drag Queens in heels for a sprint race - the difference in standard was staggering! (Boom Boom!)
However, as per last year's Premier Division, the judges wouldn't know a good show if it f**ked them up the arse! (i.e. Northmead's placing!) Woolooware High School was judged as 3rd place. This fortunately now allows them to enter the Premier Division next year, but really, they got 3rd place??? At any other time, this is a wonderful position to attain, but there is absolutely no doubt that they were completely deserving of 1st place. No one came close to their professionalism, their extremely high production values - sets, costumes, soundtrack, choreography - all exceptional! Woolooware should clearly have won the Open Division competition. Full stop.
Calming down and moving on..
The Premier GF was awesome - as to be expected! The most complex and magical set changes I've seen in my life! Oh how I long for the chance to use sets like these guys! And just think - Mardi Gras shows would be the most awesome ever if we had sets like some of those schools' entries!
Now I have a few favourite schools I look for ever year in Sydney...
Pymble Ladies College
Rooty Hill Senior High
Randwick Girls/Boys High (Combined)
Northmead Senior High
With Pymble and Rooty Hill only entering the competition every 2nd year, it left me to drool over Randwick and Northmead's performances..
Rankwick Girls/Boys High Schools combined did a show titled, "Tank Girl". The heroine, in a future Sydney which resembled a dry wasteland, fights the authorities to give water back to the people in need. It was innovative, exciting, dramatic and colourful. They had incredible sets, used a cartoon styled "biff" and "ka-pow" for fight scenes which were fun. The general feel of the show you could describe as "tom-boyish", and was an all-around favourite to take the title. In the end it was the first place winner of the night and certainly deserved it - an awesome show - they should be very very proud!
Northmead - Well I fell in love with this school last year when it blew me away with one of the best live performances Ive ever seen in the Rock Eisteddfod competition. In fact when they only got 4th place, I wanted to walk out of the Sydney Entertainment Centre!
This year they did a story on Al Capone. Starting with a very funky scene on a lamp posted street, it followed the lead character through his dealings and killings in Chicago, from diners to casinos! Eventually the authorities catch up to him and he is jailed. As I expected, the choreography was the tightest, funkiest and best of the night! The sets were awesome - delivering quick and dramatic changes to scenes.. This schools rocks! I wish I could go back to high school just to do Northmead Rock Eisteddfods!
I'm getting worked up again... Calming down... breathing slowly...
Now they came 3rd, which was ok this time - it was a tight finish for the top 3.. so the judges are safe this year!
I can't wait for next year now! It will be amazing! I'm thinking - see Sydney and Melbourne this time! That way I can see one of my longtime favourite schools of all compete, multiple National winner St Columbus College! That would mean next year I would see all 4 of my top Sydney schools, plus my all-time favourite in one year LIVE!
Oh I'm about to pee my pants! Gotta go!
21 August, 2007
I'M ENGAGED!
I'M ENGAGED!
My boyfriend of 5 years surprised me a few weeks ago by dragging me (no pun intended) into a jewelery store and picked out an engagement ring. He officially popped the question on the evening of Sunday 19th Aug, with my little dog, I.C.Pole, as the ring bearer for the ad lib engagement ceremony!
It was beautiful!
The question is - do we wait for our backward country to change it's laws? Or just fly over to Canada and get it properly done?
Hrmmm so many things to think about now...
Kisses!
Shelley
xxx
D.I.V.A. 2007 (Drag Industry Variety Awards)
Hi all,
Those that didn't attend the DIVA Awards last night in Sydney, you missed out on a fun night!
I was lucky enough to have 4 nominations for awards:
1. Choreographer of the Year
2. Best Show - Cast 4 and over (Masquerade: A Dirty Masked Affair)
3. Costume Design of the Year
4. DIVA Variety Award (Pink Street: Live and Gay)
I was not expecting to be nominated for 4(!) awards, so it in itself was a wonderful surprise! While performing as a "Drag Dancer" in the background of the awards ceremony however, I was surprised as my name was called out as the winner! I raced - shocked! - to the podium to receive the DIVA for..
*** CHOREOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR for 2007 ***
Hooray! My first individual award! Very special...
This was very exciting and completely unexpected - so my speech wasn't prepared at all! My thanks to the girls and guys that I work with, the venues I work for, my dance teachers and lecturers over the years, and of course to my partner for putting up with me creating my dance sequences for shows in our bedroom!!
I'm looking forward to working hard again this next year with my fellow performers.. So come along and support our new DIVA year 07-08!
Those that didn't attend the DIVA Awards last night in Sydney, you missed out on a fun night!
I was lucky enough to have 4 nominations for awards:
1. Choreographer of the Year
2. Best Show - Cast 4 and over (Masquerade: A Dirty Masked Affair)
3. Costume Design of the Year
4. DIVA Variety Award (Pink Street: Live and Gay)
I was not expecting to be nominated for 4(!) awards, so it in itself was a wonderful surprise! While performing as a "Drag Dancer" in the background of the awards ceremony however, I was surprised as my name was called out as the winner! I raced - shocked! - to the podium to receive the DIVA for..
*** CHOREOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR for 2007 ***
Hooray! My first individual award! Very special...
This was very exciting and completely unexpected - so my speech wasn't prepared at all! My thanks to the girls and guys that I work with, the venues I work for, my dance teachers and lecturers over the years, and of course to my partner for putting up with me creating my dance sequences for shows in our bedroom!!
I'm looking forward to working hard again this next year with my fellow performers.. So come along and support our new DIVA year 07-08!
19 August, 2007
The last BIG week..
The last BIG week.. Oh my goodness!
What a ride these last two weeks have been!
Previously I was asked to perform in Show 2 at DIVAs this year. Then on Saturday 11th Aug, I was enjoying the start of my holidays when I had a call from the DIVA Show Director, Chris Pinder, out of the blue. Within a minute of answering the phone, I was locked in to choreographing and rehearsing the 2nd show of DIVA... and oh, did I mention, it needed to be ready in under 20 hours time?!
OMG!!! With a show that night at Mr Marys, plus needing some time for mandatory beauty sleep, I was nervous in being able to pull it off within time.. First thing first though - Get the soundtrack and a diagram of the stage!
Chris, was already on to it and had the soundtrack and diagram delivered by another Diva Member, Stafford, within the hour.. Then I was off like a rocket!
Fortunately all the creative juices flowed and I managed to completely choreograph the whole show within 30 mins of the 1st rehearsal at 12pm the next day!
Phew!
But then the next task of course was to teach the show - a more time consuming part of the task!
With showgirls Farren Height, Tora Hymen, Miss Tiffany, Charisma Belle, Wyness Mongrel-Bitch and myself as backup dancers to Sydney's glamour Drag Queen, Vanity Faire, we started rehearsals - pushing through as much material as possible. In the end we managed about 2/3 of the show taught - which was well done.
Monday I had rehearsals for the "Pirates of the Cube-bbean" show in Canberra. All went well with the rehearsal, and we were looking forward to performing in later in the week..
Tuesday was back to DIVA rehearsals. This time I finished teaching the show and we started on the little dance sequences we perform as a group in the background of the award ceremony. (I won't spoil the concept of we are doing anymore, but it's going to be camp!)
Wednesday was my birthday, and it was a big day! After a lazy breakfast at Tropicana, my partner and I went to the movies (The Simpsons) and had dinner at a gorgeous restaraunt in Darlinghurst. We then scooted off to the Sydney Opera House for the opera "The Barber of Seville". It was a beautiful day and evening - and I had the most wonderful birthday. Thank you to my gorgeous partner for looking after me so well - you made my day truly special!
Come Thursday there was another DIVA rehearsal, but as half the cast had varying schedules, it proved to be a long and not as productive one, with never a full cast together at any stage! Nevertheless, we still ran over the show and small dance sequences over and over again to drum them into our little drag queen brains..
On Friday Charisma Belle, Ru Bella and I were on the bus to Canberra, having a ball and giggling like little school girls making jokes all the way to the country's capital! We even managed to brainstorm a plan for an entire show ! (Stay tuned, as I'm are currently in talks with a venue on a show.)
After arriving in Canberra, we had a short rehearsal at the nightclub, took our gear to our serviced suite, and went off for some dinner. After that, it was time to get girly, so we put on makeup (and I tried my new hairline wig for the whole evening!), got dressed into our "Cube Pirate Uniform" and joined the other scally-wags at Cube. It was heaps of fun.. The show went well for it's opening/closing night! I will post pics as soon as I get a copy..
At the end of the show I got a cake and candles and it was awesome having the large crowd sing Happy Birthday to me! Thanks to the Cube staff and the patrons for making it a special night! Next was a chance to party the night away! And that I did - once again there til closing, we were driven back to our suite by the owner and after some packing and a short nap, it was time to have a shower and hop on the 1030am bus for the ride back to Sydney.
Fortunately the bus was only half full, so we each had 2 seats to ourselves.. we quickly spread out over the seats and were asleep for most of the ride home.
Once we were home, my partner picked us up at Central Station, and took us home. It was then time to head off to DIVA Voting Day, held at the Columbian Hotel.
After catching up and chatting with a number of people, I headed home for a much needed sleep.
Come Saturday, I was back in drag to perform "A Dummer Shade Of Blonde" at Mr Marys Hotel in Redfern. After our big night out the night before, and without a dresser to help, the show went a little crazy, but the audience loved it anyways. My favourite was when Ru Bella was in such a hurry, she put her finale wig on sideways and didn't know until the end why the hair was falling over her face! It was a kack!
The special part of the night was to come though.. The PR/Marketing Manager of Cube's girlfriend, Lucy, with my help, wanted to propose to her girlfriend Candice. She wanted to do it onstage in front of a crowd and on thier anniverary (Sunday), so we took off to Stonewall Hotel and after speaking with Candy Box and Portia Turbo, we had Lucy up on stage at 1:30am proposing to her girl to an enthusiastic crowd!
it was a gorgeous moment, and there were tears and hugs everywhere!
Not long after they went back to their suite in World Square and no doubt tried to make babies - the lesbian way of course!
That brings you up to speed.. Big week huh!??
Well there is a DIVA blocking rehearsal on stage at Randwick Racecourse Pavilion tonight from 9pm-11pm, then a lighting/blocking rehearsal tomorrow 10am-12pm.. Then of course is the BIG NIGHT!
I have a full table of 9 guests (plus myself) right in the front middle table for the night.. We will be arriving by stretch limo (all in the same one!) and leaving to the after-party in it too! It is going to be soooo cool!
OMG!!! I'm gonna wet my panties!
Gotta go calm down by looking reading something crap on the net... hrmmm - John Howard's Website anyone? (ahh that did the trick!)
Will report on DIVA 2007 next Sunday and will try to get some fab pics..
Until then, look after your family, your friends and yourself!
Luv Shelley
xxx
What a ride these last two weeks have been!
Previously I was asked to perform in Show 2 at DIVAs this year. Then on Saturday 11th Aug, I was enjoying the start of my holidays when I had a call from the DIVA Show Director, Chris Pinder, out of the blue. Within a minute of answering the phone, I was locked in to choreographing and rehearsing the 2nd show of DIVA... and oh, did I mention, it needed to be ready in under 20 hours time?!
OMG!!! With a show that night at Mr Marys, plus needing some time for mandatory beauty sleep, I was nervous in being able to pull it off within time.. First thing first though - Get the soundtrack and a diagram of the stage!
Chris, was already on to it and had the soundtrack and diagram delivered by another Diva Member, Stafford, within the hour.. Then I was off like a rocket!
Fortunately all the creative juices flowed and I managed to completely choreograph the whole show within 30 mins of the 1st rehearsal at 12pm the next day!
Phew!
But then the next task of course was to teach the show - a more time consuming part of the task!
With showgirls Farren Height, Tora Hymen, Miss Tiffany, Charisma Belle, Wyness Mongrel-Bitch and myself as backup dancers to Sydney's glamour Drag Queen, Vanity Faire, we started rehearsals - pushing through as much material as possible. In the end we managed about 2/3 of the show taught - which was well done.
Monday I had rehearsals for the "Pirates of the Cube-bbean" show in Canberra. All went well with the rehearsal, and we were looking forward to performing in later in the week..
Tuesday was back to DIVA rehearsals. This time I finished teaching the show and we started on the little dance sequences we perform as a group in the background of the award ceremony. (I won't spoil the concept of we are doing anymore, but it's going to be camp!)
Wednesday was my birthday, and it was a big day! After a lazy breakfast at Tropicana, my partner and I went to the movies (The Simpsons) and had dinner at a gorgeous restaraunt in Darlinghurst. We then scooted off to the Sydney Opera House for the opera "The Barber of Seville". It was a beautiful day and evening - and I had the most wonderful birthday. Thank you to my gorgeous partner for looking after me so well - you made my day truly special!
Come Thursday there was another DIVA rehearsal, but as half the cast had varying schedules, it proved to be a long and not as productive one, with never a full cast together at any stage! Nevertheless, we still ran over the show and small dance sequences over and over again to drum them into our little drag queen brains..
On Friday Charisma Belle, Ru Bella and I were on the bus to Canberra, having a ball and giggling like little school girls making jokes all the way to the country's capital! We even managed to brainstorm a plan for an entire show ! (Stay tuned, as I'm are currently in talks with a venue on a show.)
After arriving in Canberra, we had a short rehearsal at the nightclub, took our gear to our serviced suite, and went off for some dinner. After that, it was time to get girly, so we put on makeup (and I tried my new hairline wig for the whole evening!), got dressed into our "Cube Pirate Uniform" and joined the other scally-wags at Cube. It was heaps of fun.. The show went well for it's opening/closing night! I will post pics as soon as I get a copy..
At the end of the show I got a cake and candles and it was awesome having the large crowd sing Happy Birthday to me! Thanks to the Cube staff and the patrons for making it a special night! Next was a chance to party the night away! And that I did - once again there til closing, we were driven back to our suite by the owner and after some packing and a short nap, it was time to have a shower and hop on the 1030am bus for the ride back to Sydney.
Fortunately the bus was only half full, so we each had 2 seats to ourselves.. we quickly spread out over the seats and were asleep for most of the ride home.
Once we were home, my partner picked us up at Central Station, and took us home. It was then time to head off to DIVA Voting Day, held at the Columbian Hotel.
After catching up and chatting with a number of people, I headed home for a much needed sleep.
Come Saturday, I was back in drag to perform "A Dummer Shade Of Blonde" at Mr Marys Hotel in Redfern. After our big night out the night before, and without a dresser to help, the show went a little crazy, but the audience loved it anyways. My favourite was when Ru Bella was in such a hurry, she put her finale wig on sideways and didn't know until the end why the hair was falling over her face! It was a kack!
The special part of the night was to come though.. The PR/Marketing Manager of Cube's girlfriend, Lucy, with my help, wanted to propose to her girlfriend Candice. She wanted to do it onstage in front of a crowd and on thier anniverary (Sunday), so we took off to Stonewall Hotel and after speaking with Candy Box and Portia Turbo, we had Lucy up on stage at 1:30am proposing to her girl to an enthusiastic crowd!
it was a gorgeous moment, and there were tears and hugs everywhere!
Not long after they went back to their suite in World Square and no doubt tried to make babies - the lesbian way of course!
That brings you up to speed.. Big week huh!??
Well there is a DIVA blocking rehearsal on stage at Randwick Racecourse Pavilion tonight from 9pm-11pm, then a lighting/blocking rehearsal tomorrow 10am-12pm.. Then of course is the BIG NIGHT!
I have a full table of 9 guests (plus myself) right in the front middle table for the night.. We will be arriving by stretch limo (all in the same one!) and leaving to the after-party in it too! It is going to be soooo cool!
OMG!!! I'm gonna wet my panties!
Gotta go calm down by looking reading something crap on the net... hrmmm - John Howard's Website anyone? (ahh that did the trick!)
Will report on DIVA 2007 next Sunday and will try to get some fab pics..
Until then, look after your family, your friends and yourself!
Luv Shelley
xxx
05 August, 2007
Last minute shows..
This week I was called in to do some last minute shows.. Krave on Central Coast, and Mr Mary's in Redfern.
Krave on Friday night was, as always, lots of fun, and barring the spotlight malfunction, went well. I performed one of my favourite songs, "Sexy Is The Word", then "I Will Go With You" followed by the song "I Drove All Night (To Get To You)". The final song was for one of the "Kravey Bunch" (as I affectionately know them), Craig, as a special birthday dedication.. Happy (early) Birthday wishes to you Craig!
After what felt like a very short sleep (in fact I think it was!), I was up the next morning, unpacking the show "A Dummer Shade Of Blonde" for Mr Mary's. We were invited to perform at short notice last week after what I guess was a cancellation of a show already lined up.. In any case, we performed our spots to a tough crowd, but they warmed up for the production show which went down very well.. "Dummer" is always such a popular show - a crowd favourite.. And the girls and I had a ball dusting it off and performing it again..
Well not much else to write about atm.. I have my DIVA frock fitted, my hairline wig on order, Cube Pirate show rehearsed, and awaiting the busy DIVA show rehearsal schedule.. Today feels like the calm before the storm..
Hope you have a fabulous week and until next Sunday, look after you friends, family and yourself!
Luv Shelley
xxx
Krave on Friday night was, as always, lots of fun, and barring the spotlight malfunction, went well. I performed one of my favourite songs, "Sexy Is The Word", then "I Will Go With You" followed by the song "I Drove All Night (To Get To You)". The final song was for one of the "Kravey Bunch" (as I affectionately know them), Craig, as a special birthday dedication.. Happy (early) Birthday wishes to you Craig!
After what felt like a very short sleep (in fact I think it was!), I was up the next morning, unpacking the show "A Dummer Shade Of Blonde" for Mr Mary's. We were invited to perform at short notice last week after what I guess was a cancellation of a show already lined up.. In any case, we performed our spots to a tough crowd, but they warmed up for the production show which went down very well.. "Dummer" is always such a popular show - a crowd favourite.. And the girls and I had a ball dusting it off and performing it again..
Well not much else to write about atm.. I have my DIVA frock fitted, my hairline wig on order, Cube Pirate show rehearsed, and awaiting the busy DIVA show rehearsal schedule.. Today feels like the calm before the storm..
Hope you have a fabulous week and until next Sunday, look after you friends, family and yourself!
Luv Shelley
xxx
29 July, 2007
A busy time ahead.. & another Drag Queen?
This week, I started rehearsals with Charisma Belle and Ru Bella for the "Pirates" show I've created for Cube Nightclub in Canberra for Aug 17th.
Things have been coming along well. These girls are quick learning choreography, and that makes my life so much easier when I try to bring all of the show elements together. Costumes, soundtrack, choreography and props don't magically appear, and it's taken me a lot of prep-time to get it all organised, but we are getting to the home stretch now, so things are coming together quite fast - which is a HUGE relief!
Added to all this, I am creating a MASSIVE pirate flag to hang as a backdrop, which I think will really add to the show and to the theming of the club on the night!
Tied in with my birthday and DIVAs - the few days of the 15th-20th Aug are going to be long, exciting and fabulous!
I'm bursting to get to the start of that week.. so excited....!!!!
Now, I also came across online a fab personality "Queen Miss Left Titter", Sydney's camp drag PUPPET! My love for puppets and drag has been combined with this gorgeous creature and I immediately had a brainwave - contacted DIVA, and now she is presenting the Showgirl's Choice Award at DIVAs on 20th Aug! Can't wait to see her in action! She is an absolute cack! Search for her on Youtube, or myspace.com/queenmisslefttitter.. (I've, very generously, been invited on to her show, so watch out for that in the near future!)
Until next week, look after you friends, family and yourself!
Luv Shelley
xxx
Things have been coming along well. These girls are quick learning choreography, and that makes my life so much easier when I try to bring all of the show elements together. Costumes, soundtrack, choreography and props don't magically appear, and it's taken me a lot of prep-time to get it all organised, but we are getting to the home stretch now, so things are coming together quite fast - which is a HUGE relief!
Added to all this, I am creating a MASSIVE pirate flag to hang as a backdrop, which I think will really add to the show and to the theming of the club on the night!
Tied in with my birthday and DIVAs - the few days of the 15th-20th Aug are going to be long, exciting and fabulous!
I'm bursting to get to the start of that week.. so excited....!!!!
Now, I also came across online a fab personality "Queen Miss Left Titter", Sydney's camp drag PUPPET! My love for puppets and drag has been combined with this gorgeous creature and I immediately had a brainwave - contacted DIVA, and now she is presenting the Showgirl's Choice Award at DIVAs on 20th Aug! Can't wait to see her in action! She is an absolute cack! Search for her on Youtube, or myspace.com/queenmisslefttitter.. (I've, very generously, been invited on to her show, so watch out for that in the near future!)
Until next week, look after you friends, family and yourself!
Luv Shelley
xxx
22 July, 2007
DIVA Launch 2007
Well it is that time of the year again.. the last few weeks in the lead up to DIVA!
For those who don't know, DIVA is the Drag Industry Variety Awards. It annually recognises and awards the work that the drag personalities in Sydney do each year as part of their profession. It could mean awards for best show, costume design, fundraising.. and well, for even being a bitch!
It is the one night of the year you can be guaranteed a fun-filled night - with catty bitchiness ensured throughout the evening of course!
The Awards were launched on Monday night at Stonewall Hotel to a packed crowd.
Courtney Act, together with DIVA Chairman Paul Croft, filled the crowd in on all the important details of the night - such as the theme (Disco Fever), the hosts, how to purchase tickets, the venue, how the night will run.. etc.
Of course the biggest part of the launch night is the Poster reveal. This is always a hot topic! Which showgirl is on the poster? How does it compare with previous years..?
Well, former Entertainer of the Year, Miss Minnie Cooper was the poster girl this year and looks FABULOUS on the poster! I would describe the poster as a mix of Madonna meets Ms Ross and it is a very hot look and theme for this year's DIVA!
Right away after the official proceedings of the launch of course is the discussions about what shows are lined up for the night, who is sitting with who, and most importantly, what to wear!
To those who have asked, I repeat... this year I will not try to take back the Belle of the Ball crown I won last year - I plan to keep a lower profile this time around. Besides, the creation that Abbey Rhode made for me last year (Flower dress) is a very hard one to top! I LOVE that costume! (See www.shelleylegsdiamond.com for pics!)
I'm pleased that I managed to get a table front centre again for the night, with the owner of Cube (and guest), friends Grant and Kelley (and guest), Kath (and guest), and work colleague Rochelle joining the boyfriend and myself at the table! A full and fabulously placed table with some gorgeous friends will mean an awesome night for sure!
I also have been asked this week to be part of one of the shows for the evening, and am VERY excited about it! It sounds awesome and looking forward to the start of rehearsals!
Well I guess that's all to report so far.. I will certainly update with more details as we get closer to the night! If you are in Sydney for the Monday 20th August, get your ticket to the DIVA awards through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com.au or 136 100).. You will not regret it!
Take care..
And until next time, look after you friends, family and yourself!
Shelley
xxxx
15 July, 2007
My (grumpy but productive) week!
This week I have still been recovering from my cold/flu, but tried to make use of the time working on shows and such..
I started the week OK, managing to make it to work on Monday morning, after being sick for days already over the weekend before. However, after vomiting at work on both Tuesday and Wednesday, I left work an hour early on the Wednesday arvo to go see the doctor. Mind you, not that anyone at work seemed to care one bit that I was leaving early sick that day - pricks! (I hope you're reading this so you know how rude you were!)
Anyways, after seeing my doctor and getting some medication, I settled in at home for a warm night in. This gave me a chance to work on the new show I've created for Cube, for their special themed night on 17th August! (I won't reveal the theme until they do.. but it's lots of fun of course! I love dress-up nights!)
The soundtrack has turned out brilliantly - in fact I think it's one of my favourite soundtracks for shows I've ever done! I'm very much looking forward to doing some choreography and getting into rehearsals ASAP - as even that process is going to be fun!
I had a quick meeting with Charisma Belle and Ru Bella on Thursday evening and they are excited about the show and soundtrack, so will keep you posted how everything turns out!
I've also been working on my myspace site - so there are more pics, videos and new layout etc - If your not on my myspace friends list yet, hurry up and contact me - the more the merrier!
I have not spoken about greeny stuff lately, but I did watch the (appalling) "The Great Global Warming Swindle" on the ABC on Thursday night... Apart from the pathetic mis-informed and proper gander-ish documentary that it is, I was surprised about the cold reception Tony Jones (reporter/presenter) got from a number of the guest panelists! To single out one particular wench, Michael Duffy, a columnist at the SMH, could only contribute his bitchy comments about Tony's interview style rather than any meaningful comments on the topic at hand. Hence why he thereafter sat idle through the discussion. That'll teach you Mikey! A little respect goes a long way..
Anyways, jumping down from my soapbox, my week ended with the 1st birthday of Mr Mary's in Redfern last night.
After having a glass of champagne on entry, I got to chat with a few friends and watch some fab line-up of entertainment. For the birthday night, Mr Mary's showcased each act that is to be held there each Saturday night on a rotating basis.. Hugh Monroe, Rose Hancock (Lesley Hancock), The Frocks and J Bear.
My fave by far is Rose Hancock, the camp impersonation of Rose Porteous - married to the late mining tycoon Lang Hancock. Lesley does a fabulous job and it's a high camp, bitchy sing-fest. She will bring me back to watch her - LOVE HER!
Make sure you head down to check out the different shows over the weeks.. it means there is always something new whenever you turn up during the month on a Saturday night!
I'm finally on the mend now, so I'm looking forward to a return to a normal week of work!
I'll catch you next week babes!
Take care..
Shelley
xxx
I started the week OK, managing to make it to work on Monday morning, after being sick for days already over the weekend before. However, after vomiting at work on both Tuesday and Wednesday, I left work an hour early on the Wednesday arvo to go see the doctor. Mind you, not that anyone at work seemed to care one bit that I was leaving early sick that day - pricks! (I hope you're reading this so you know how rude you were!)
Anyways, after seeing my doctor and getting some medication, I settled in at home for a warm night in. This gave me a chance to work on the new show I've created for Cube, for their special themed night on 17th August! (I won't reveal the theme until they do.. but it's lots of fun of course! I love dress-up nights!)
The soundtrack has turned out brilliantly - in fact I think it's one of my favourite soundtracks for shows I've ever done! I'm very much looking forward to doing some choreography and getting into rehearsals ASAP - as even that process is going to be fun!
I had a quick meeting with Charisma Belle and Ru Bella on Thursday evening and they are excited about the show and soundtrack, so will keep you posted how everything turns out!
I've also been working on my myspace site - so there are more pics, videos and new layout etc - If your not on my myspace friends list yet, hurry up and contact me - the more the merrier!
I have not spoken about greeny stuff lately, but I did watch the (appalling) "The Great Global Warming Swindle" on the ABC on Thursday night... Apart from the pathetic mis-informed and proper gander-ish documentary that it is, I was surprised about the cold reception Tony Jones (reporter/presenter) got from a number of the guest panelists! To single out one particular wench, Michael Duffy, a columnist at the SMH, could only contribute his bitchy comments about Tony's interview style rather than any meaningful comments on the topic at hand. Hence why he thereafter sat idle through the discussion. That'll teach you Mikey! A little respect goes a long way..
Anyways, jumping down from my soapbox, my week ended with the 1st birthday of Mr Mary's in Redfern last night.
After having a glass of champagne on entry, I got to chat with a few friends and watch some fab line-up of entertainment. For the birthday night, Mr Mary's showcased each act that is to be held there each Saturday night on a rotating basis.. Hugh Monroe, Rose Hancock (Lesley Hancock), The Frocks and J Bear.
My fave by far is Rose Hancock, the camp impersonation of Rose Porteous - married to the late mining tycoon Lang Hancock. Lesley does a fabulous job and it's a high camp, bitchy sing-fest. She will bring me back to watch her - LOVE HER!
Make sure you head down to check out the different shows over the weeks.. it means there is always something new whenever you turn up during the month on a Saturday night!
I'm finally on the mend now, so I'm looking forward to a return to a normal week of work!
I'll catch you next week babes!
Take care..
Shelley
xxx
09 July, 2007
Ship Ahoy!
Sorry that I did not make my deadline of Sunday for my blog, but I was on a sailing ship for most of the day - and sick too at the same time!
As my present to my boyfriend for his birthday, we had tickets to sail on the "James Craig" on Sunday. This very old ship has an amazing history - which I won't get into here, but you can read up on it at the Australian Heritage Fleet website... http://www.australianheritagefleet.com.au/JCraig/JCraig.html
Now this was an AMAZING ship.. I don't know much about these massive sea-going vessels (the bf does!), but all I can say is there is lots of sails (21 in fact!) and an incredible amount of of rope... a kinky boy's paradise!
It's hull is metal, but pretty much the rest of the boat is wooden. Three large masts dominate the ship, and as you would imagine, is impressive under full sail.
We boarded the boat just after 9:30am to an accordion player jigging away - little did I know he was starting what was to be the longest musical gig I've ever seen someone do! I thought is was actually a delightful addition to the trip, giving an old-time feel. (Oh.. *MOAN* I sound like an old biddy!)
We were looked after well with coffee and tea, biscuits, fruit, cheese, all provided for the morning and afternoon tea breaks, while for lunch we were each given a packed paper bag full of goodies.. Being vegetarian, our lunches included two small vegetarian rolls, a quiche, muffin, fruit juice and a nut/fruit bar. (I wondered why bother serving them in paper bags.. but then I guess the paper bag could double later to store the food if it came up again with sea-sickness!)
All this was nice, except on such a COLD day on the water, and with your truly with a cold/sore throat already, I wish we had maybe something warm for lunch. The warm tea though really did help to keep the insides warm.. I will have to remember that next time!
As far as the route we took, as of the time we left, we were told we would simply be taken where the winds blew. For this reason, each cruise route is obviously different every time. As most passengers, let alone the crew, are there to enjoy the ship when in full sail, we were at mercy of the weather. We used the propeller engines to clear the harbour, and after a quick "man overboard" emergency drill in Watsons Bay, we were clear of the heads and had the sails down.
For this trip we made our way south only a short distance, to be in line "The Gap" and then made our way almost steadily East - straight out into the open ocean.
All while we travelled, we watched the volunteers run about the ship pulling and easing ropes as the Captain ordered. As passengers, we were even encouraged to get involved with all of the action. I declined, as I was under the weather.. plus I have girly arms anyways!
It was an interesting cruise, ranging from a sunny day at the start with sheltered and almost flat waters, to some rainy weather with a little bit of a squall later on. With a brief view of a whale and of course the American Fleet (particularly the "Kitty Hawk") in the harbour, it was a cruise with much to see and experience.
By the time we got off the ship at 4:30pm - we were completely exhausted, but happy. The bf certainly enjoyed his present - he had a smile from ear to ear. (I love you baby!)
It is something that would be wonderful to do again - preferably when I'm not sick with a cold! I'm not a water/ship sort of person at all, but I had a wonderful time, and I encourage anyone to go along and experience a cruise on a Heritage Ship - it will be like nothing you have ever done before!
Until next time, take care sweeties!
Shelley
xxx
01 July, 2007
Cube Crew in Sydney..
Well my part of my week was spent with the Cube Crew who travelled to Sydney (arriving Thursday eve, leaving late Friday night) to check out the clubs and pubs. Of course Charisma, Ru and I were happy to show them around and hang out with them again.. So much fun! They had a ball too which was fab to see!
While out, we caught the closing night of the Thursday show at Imperial Hotel. It was sad that the new drags (with so much talent!) had their first show come to an end so soon, but then that is showbiz! You never know whats gonna happen.. Not much stability and security in Drag Shows!
In any case, well done to Summer Salt, Millie Poppins and Carmen Geddit for the fab version of the now classic Thursday Night shows with Mitzi MacIntosh. It was strange to see different people in the roles of the original casts, but they bought their own magic to the show and I look forward to their next shows.. maybe I might even poach them and put them in my new shows.. Hmmmm... (BTW girls, the spot numbers were CAMP!)
Then after Imperial we went to Arq.. OMG! "Drag for dollars" was a completely bizarre experience - well to what I expected! The drags were few in number, so there were some courageous patrons who got up and danced for the $100 bucks on offer.. In the end the drags lost to the two lesbians who came a draw for 1st place. What was strange was that they simply danced to music - as if there were surrounded on the dance floor. No specky moves.. No real entertainment value... Though there was something strangely entertaining about watching someone wasted dance that makes you wanna keep watching.. It was pointed out to me however, they obviously needed to win - the money would have helped get them something to bring them back to Earth! *wink*
But the real surprise of the evening was the Arq Divas show.. AWESOME! The girls had so much fun performing their boxes off and the crowd ached for it! Well done to my girl Charisma Belle and to Minnie Cooper, Kitty Glitter and Miss Tiffany.. It was inspiring!
(A quick mention about Miss Tiffany.. I have mentioned previously here, that she won the talent quest to join the show and she has fit in perfectly with the cast! She did an incredible spot number - such a pleasure to see, and danced beautifully with a very experienced cast! I didn't realise how small she is... In fact she is SMALLER THAN ME! I'm not the only cross-dressing midget in town! Hooray! - [I say that with love btw!])
After a long night partying at Arq, the next night we were at Stonewall, catching the end of Ru Bella's cabaret show, then headed back to Arq, this time to the girls only (not quite!) night - which was great fun.. Well except for the lesbian that didn't like my shoes.. Who would have thought they would care about shoes???!!! And honey, just for the record, I didn't like your "chair-print" sneakers myself!
We stayed for a while, then headed to Midnight Shift, checking out the club upstairs before I walked the Cube Crew back to the Hotel in time for their scheduled drive back to Canberra.
It was nice to take people around to our different pubs & clubs.. It reminds me of the variety of venues we have - and that I even take for granted.
There are some great shows happening around the place - and lots of fun to be had watching them! DIVAs is around the corner too don't forget! Make sure you support the venues as if you are not around, they won't be anymore either!
Until next week, take care sweeties..
Shelley
xxx
While out, we caught the closing night of the Thursday show at Imperial Hotel. It was sad that the new drags (with so much talent!) had their first show come to an end so soon, but then that is showbiz! You never know whats gonna happen.. Not much stability and security in Drag Shows!
In any case, well done to Summer Salt, Millie Poppins and Carmen Geddit for the fab version of the now classic Thursday Night shows with Mitzi MacIntosh. It was strange to see different people in the roles of the original casts, but they bought their own magic to the show and I look forward to their next shows.. maybe I might even poach them and put them in my new shows.. Hmmmm... (BTW girls, the spot numbers were CAMP!)
Then after Imperial we went to Arq.. OMG! "Drag for dollars" was a completely bizarre experience - well to what I expected! The drags were few in number, so there were some courageous patrons who got up and danced for the $100 bucks on offer.. In the end the drags lost to the two lesbians who came a draw for 1st place. What was strange was that they simply danced to music - as if there were surrounded on the dance floor. No specky moves.. No real entertainment value... Though there was something strangely entertaining about watching someone wasted dance that makes you wanna keep watching.. It was pointed out to me however, they obviously needed to win - the money would have helped get them something to bring them back to Earth! *wink*
But the real surprise of the evening was the Arq Divas show.. AWESOME! The girls had so much fun performing their boxes off and the crowd ached for it! Well done to my girl Charisma Belle and to Minnie Cooper, Kitty Glitter and Miss Tiffany.. It was inspiring!
(A quick mention about Miss Tiffany.. I have mentioned previously here, that she won the talent quest to join the show and she has fit in perfectly with the cast! She did an incredible spot number - such a pleasure to see, and danced beautifully with a very experienced cast! I didn't realise how small she is... In fact she is SMALLER THAN ME! I'm not the only cross-dressing midget in town! Hooray! - [I say that with love btw!])
After a long night partying at Arq, the next night we were at Stonewall, catching the end of Ru Bella's cabaret show, then headed back to Arq, this time to the girls only (not quite!) night - which was great fun.. Well except for the lesbian that didn't like my shoes.. Who would have thought they would care about shoes???!!! And honey, just for the record, I didn't like your "chair-print" sneakers myself!
We stayed for a while, then headed to Midnight Shift, checking out the club upstairs before I walked the Cube Crew back to the Hotel in time for their scheduled drive back to Canberra.
It was nice to take people around to our different pubs & clubs.. It reminds me of the variety of venues we have - and that I even take for granted.
There are some great shows happening around the place - and lots of fun to be had watching them! DIVAs is around the corner too don't forget! Make sure you support the venues as if you are not around, they won't be anymore either!
Until next week, take care sweeties..
Shelley
xxx
26 June, 2007
Pix - Leather & Lace Night @ CUBE, Canberra. (22/06/07)
Charisma (Platinum hair), Ru (Short Blonde) and I (middle of course!) wore black leather for mingling..
We then wore lace for the shows which, strangely, happened to all be in red/pink colours!
Eerily, we did not mention to each other what we were wearing prior to arrival in Canberra..
It could have been a coincidence..
But we agree that the most likely explanation, is that we all are on the same menstrual cycle..
How Gay!
We then wore lace for the shows which, strangely, happened to all be in red/pink colours!
Eerily, we did not mention to each other what we were wearing prior to arrival in Canberra..
It could have been a coincidence..
But we agree that the most likely explanation, is that we all are on the same menstrual cycle..
How Gay!
24 June, 2007
Leather & Lace Night @ CUBE, Canberra
I have been to Canberra once before, about 7 years ago, so I had a rough idea of the city layout. But 7 years on, things were a bit fuzzy in my mind - partly because of all the hairspray fumes I have breathed in since then...
My boyfriend was to drive us down to Canberra for our Friday night gig in a Tarago-styled car, but had work come in over the weekend at the last minute, so we three drag queens decided to jump a bus for the A.C.T!
(Yes, yes - very Priscilla of us I know! Well, Priscilla minus the bus breaking down and the hot heat of the outback - but 3 drags on a bus to a interstate gig nonetheless..)
We did have a ball on the coach though, giggling as Ru fell asleep (dribbling onto her chest! LOL), sharing so many sugar-filled lollies,Tim-Tams and drinks. It was our own little party on the bus! We did have some quiet time at one stage within our sugar-filled high - Charisma reading her gossip mags, Nanna-Ru sleeping and me reading my book "The God Delusion" (Yes I know I have had that book since Xmas! What can I say? I'm not much of a reader!).
Before heading down for our gig at Cube Nightclub, I refreshed my memory of our nation's capital on Google Earth. It's an amazingly designed city - you should jump online and check it out (or go in person!).
The bus trip (only 3 hours) went so quickly for us - a fast bus trip is always a good thing! Before we knew it we were right in the heart of Canberra, delivered right from the heart of Sydney!
The PR/Events manager at the club, Candice, picked us up at the terminal and took us straight to the nightclub to drop off the show costumes and props and to show us the stage, backstage area and club in general.
Cube is such a great venue! It has a sunken dancefloor with different levels to dance on , which is something I always love. A hot addition to the dancefloor was the poles - obviously installed for those who need to test out how sexy your trade can move before you take him/her home! There are some lounge/beds with personal stylish lockers for your valuables on the sides - and an amazing floor near the toilets that reflects rainbow colours! Very cool! In fact there are so many little things in the club's setup that's sensible and stylish - the kind of things that makes a place and give it it's own character.
Now the VIP room, which was our exclusive dressing room for the evening, had comfy couches and a big long aquarium along one wall - gorgeous! It was so secure, we needed swipe passes to come in and out the door, of which of course all three of us were issued with. (We don't get that security in Sydney!)
Candice did an amazing job with our poster, blowing it up to an enormous size and putting it up on prominent display. I even got my name scrolled on an electric billboard in the club! It was all incredibly humbling, but at the same time quite camp! Big pictures/advertisements of us.. my name finally in lights! LOL
After meeting the owner/manager of the club, Morris, and some more of the staff setting up the club for the night, we headed off to the hotel suite we were booked in to. It was nice and close, just 2-3 blocks away..
Candice dropped us of in a gorgeous and spacious 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom suite with a large balcony.. What I couldn't believe was it was all ours! We were being looked after so well!
We ducked out for a quick bite to eat back at Petrie Plaza, then headed home to have a short rehearsal and to take our time getting ready for our 10:30pm arrival at the club.
Morris collected us personally at 10:15pm, taking us straight to the VIP room in the club. We went out to mingle right away, and were met by a friendly crowd who were eager to see our show. Shortly we went back to the VIP room to find 3 large cocktails waiting for us on the glass table! We were certainly being spoilt!
We performed our 3 spot numbers to a very responsive crowd! Charisma performed "Boogie 2nite", Ru sung live "Dancing in the Street", and I closed with "I Will Survive". (I accidentally wrote "I Will Survice" on the CD after I burnt it on my laptop at the hotel - damn Ru Bella was asking about room service at the time! LOL)
After another quick mingle, we were backstage getting ready for the main show, my award winning production, Rough Trade Hers. With Candice's girlfriend Lucy helping us change cossies, we performed the show without any hitches. The crowd loved the show. We took our bows (I sprayed water on the crowd when I did! *giggle*) and headed backstage to quickly pack our show up into our bags.
With the packing done, Charisma and I changed back into our boy clothes while Ru stayed as a girl. We settled in to a fun night chatting and dancing with the patrons and staff of Cube.. That went on til the not-so-wee hours of the morning! We made it back to our hotel suite by about 7/7:30am where the girls decided to stay up until the bus trip home at 10:30am. Needless to say, mindless chatter filled the suite.
After a shower and a fresh change of clothes, I walked the girls to the Terminal just up the road and sent them on their way back to Sydney. From there, I stayed in Canberra and met one of my dear friends Nik, who took me back to his place to do a photo shoot. In the end we didn't do the shoot though, as we got chatting about old times and playing dress-ups in some costumes that we ran out of time. It was good to catch up with him and to meet his sweet boyfriend though! (He later so very generously gave me the costumes to take home - thanks so much Nik!).
Now time in Canberra must be about 5 times as fast as it runs in Sydney, cos every time I looked at the clock throughout the trip, hours had gone by in what I felt was minutes! Before we knew it, we only had a short time to get me to the Bus Terminal for the trip home! So we sped back into the city to arrive just in time for me to board the bus for the 4 hour trip back to Sydney (The bus stopped at Liverpool and the Sydney Domestic & International Airports this time which took an hour longer! Yuk!)
It was an awesome trip to Canberra, and seriously one of the best gigs I have ever done.
My thanks to our Sydney contact, Penny, for asking us to head down to the club, to Morris - the best owner/manager of a nightclub ever! Thanks for treating us like celebrities!, to Candice - for your hard work advertising us at the club and for looking after us at all points in the day & night, to Lucy - for helping us with costume changes and for also looking after us, and of course to the other staff and patrons at Cube for a fun-filled night and a warm welcome to the VERY COLD city of Canberra!
My boyfriend was to drive us down to Canberra for our Friday night gig in a Tarago-styled car, but had work come in over the weekend at the last minute, so we three drag queens decided to jump a bus for the A.C.T!
(Yes, yes - very Priscilla of us I know! Well, Priscilla minus the bus breaking down and the hot heat of the outback - but 3 drags on a bus to a interstate gig nonetheless..)
We did have a ball on the coach though, giggling as Ru fell asleep (dribbling onto her chest! LOL), sharing so many sugar-filled lollies,Tim-Tams and drinks. It was our own little party on the bus! We did have some quiet time at one stage within our sugar-filled high - Charisma reading her gossip mags, Nanna-Ru sleeping and me reading my book "The God Delusion" (Yes I know I have had that book since Xmas! What can I say? I'm not much of a reader!).
Before heading down for our gig at Cube Nightclub, I refreshed my memory of our nation's capital on Google Earth. It's an amazingly designed city - you should jump online and check it out (or go in person!).
The bus trip (only 3 hours) went so quickly for us - a fast bus trip is always a good thing! Before we knew it we were right in the heart of Canberra, delivered right from the heart of Sydney!
The PR/Events manager at the club, Candice, picked us up at the terminal and took us straight to the nightclub to drop off the show costumes and props and to show us the stage, backstage area and club in general.
Cube is such a great venue! It has a sunken dancefloor with different levels to dance on , which is something I always love. A hot addition to the dancefloor was the poles - obviously installed for those who need to test out how sexy your trade can move before you take him/her home! There are some lounge/beds with personal stylish lockers for your valuables on the sides - and an amazing floor near the toilets that reflects rainbow colours! Very cool! In fact there are so many little things in the club's setup that's sensible and stylish - the kind of things that makes a place and give it it's own character.
Now the VIP room, which was our exclusive dressing room for the evening, had comfy couches and a big long aquarium along one wall - gorgeous! It was so secure, we needed swipe passes to come in and out the door, of which of course all three of us were issued with. (We don't get that security in Sydney!)
Candice did an amazing job with our poster, blowing it up to an enormous size and putting it up on prominent display. I even got my name scrolled on an electric billboard in the club! It was all incredibly humbling, but at the same time quite camp! Big pictures/advertisements of us.. my name finally in lights! LOL
After meeting the owner/manager of the club, Morris, and some more of the staff setting up the club for the night, we headed off to the hotel suite we were booked in to. It was nice and close, just 2-3 blocks away..
Candice dropped us of in a gorgeous and spacious 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom suite with a large balcony.. What I couldn't believe was it was all ours! We were being looked after so well!
We ducked out for a quick bite to eat back at Petrie Plaza, then headed home to have a short rehearsal and to take our time getting ready for our 10:30pm arrival at the club.
Morris collected us personally at 10:15pm, taking us straight to the VIP room in the club. We went out to mingle right away, and were met by a friendly crowd who were eager to see our show. Shortly we went back to the VIP room to find 3 large cocktails waiting for us on the glass table! We were certainly being spoilt!
We performed our 3 spot numbers to a very responsive crowd! Charisma performed "Boogie 2nite", Ru sung live "Dancing in the Street", and I closed with "I Will Survive". (I accidentally wrote "I Will Survice" on the CD after I burnt it on my laptop at the hotel - damn Ru Bella was asking about room service at the time! LOL)
After another quick mingle, we were backstage getting ready for the main show, my award winning production, Rough Trade Hers. With Candice's girlfriend Lucy helping us change cossies, we performed the show without any hitches. The crowd loved the show. We took our bows (I sprayed water on the crowd when I did! *giggle*) and headed backstage to quickly pack our show up into our bags.
With the packing done, Charisma and I changed back into our boy clothes while Ru stayed as a girl. We settled in to a fun night chatting and dancing with the patrons and staff of Cube.. That went on til the not-so-wee hours of the morning! We made it back to our hotel suite by about 7/7:30am where the girls decided to stay up until the bus trip home at 10:30am. Needless to say, mindless chatter filled the suite.
After a shower and a fresh change of clothes, I walked the girls to the Terminal just up the road and sent them on their way back to Sydney. From there, I stayed in Canberra and met one of my dear friends Nik, who took me back to his place to do a photo shoot. In the end we didn't do the shoot though, as we got chatting about old times and playing dress-ups in some costumes that we ran out of time. It was good to catch up with him and to meet his sweet boyfriend though! (He later so very generously gave me the costumes to take home - thanks so much Nik!).
Now time in Canberra must be about 5 times as fast as it runs in Sydney, cos every time I looked at the clock throughout the trip, hours had gone by in what I felt was minutes! Before we knew it, we only had a short time to get me to the Bus Terminal for the trip home! So we sped back into the city to arrive just in time for me to board the bus for the 4 hour trip back to Sydney (The bus stopped at Liverpool and the Sydney Domestic & International Airports this time which took an hour longer! Yuk!)
It was an awesome trip to Canberra, and seriously one of the best gigs I have ever done.
My thanks to our Sydney contact, Penny, for asking us to head down to the club, to Morris - the best owner/manager of a nightclub ever! Thanks for treating us like celebrities!, to Candice - for your hard work advertising us at the club and for looking after us at all points in the day & night, to Lucy - for helping us with costume changes and for also looking after us, and of course to the other staff and patrons at Cube for a fun-filled night and a warm welcome to the VERY COLD city of Canberra!
17 June, 2007
A Week Reminded of "Respect"
The last week or so has all revolved around the word "Respect". It has entered my life in a number of ways...
Firstly, RESPECT to my former employer, Dawn O'Donnell who passed away on the Queen's Birthday long weekend . She was the owner of the Newtown Hotel back when I started my first ever weekly production show gig back in January 2001. I only met her a few times while working there, but she was always so supportive of me - she said many times that I was doing a fabulous job for her Hotel.. The memorial service was held at St Canice's Church in Elizabeth Bay on Friday. It was an emotional experience, as such events inherently are, but with the various key speakers from different parts in her life, there was a lot of crying, not-to-mention much laughter in the air as well! She lived a dynamic life, and took many people along for the ride - including our community here in Sydney. As Mitzi MacIntosh said in her speech - "When we wanted to come out of the closet, Dawn gave us somewhere to go".. Well said.
Secondly, RESPECT to the Dalai Lama who gave a wonderful talk to a small and wet gathering of people in the domain on Friday. Heading straight there after Dawn's memorial service was a strange experience, but we had other things to worry about once we got there - the rain! We managed a spot on the lawn relatively close to the stage, but when the Dalai Lama arrived were surrounded by people standing up. Needless to say this little drag queen didn't see anything at all, but I did hear much of his talk. It was interesting to hear him speak about the environment and war/peace, and on the way home, I informed the boyfriend we should go hear him speak in his 3-4 day conference (usually in Melbourne?) next time he visits Australia to get an even broader understanding of his considerable learning.
Thirdly, RESPECT for the environment. Whether global warming, or whether just freak storms or 30 year floods, the damage, loss of life and pain suffered by the wild weather of the last week on the NSW coast is a reminder we should be RESPECTING Mother Nature just that little bit more..
Lastly, RESPECT to my friends (and the general community) on the Central Coast and Hunter Valley. My thoughts were with my friends up on the Central Coast, who continued to experience wild weather again this weekend. I was asked to perform at Krave Friday night and was nervous about how the community would feel. Everyone had a story to tell, but what came across the most was the strong spirit and determination of the individuals and the community as a whole. My admiration to them all..
Firstly, RESPECT to my former employer, Dawn O'Donnell who passed away on the Queen's Birthday long weekend . She was the owner of the Newtown Hotel back when I started my first ever weekly production show gig back in January 2001. I only met her a few times while working there, but she was always so supportive of me - she said many times that I was doing a fabulous job for her Hotel.. The memorial service was held at St Canice's Church in Elizabeth Bay on Friday. It was an emotional experience, as such events inherently are, but with the various key speakers from different parts in her life, there was a lot of crying, not-to-mention much laughter in the air as well! She lived a dynamic life, and took many people along for the ride - including our community here in Sydney. As Mitzi MacIntosh said in her speech - "When we wanted to come out of the closet, Dawn gave us somewhere to go".. Well said.
Secondly, RESPECT to the Dalai Lama who gave a wonderful talk to a small and wet gathering of people in the domain on Friday. Heading straight there after Dawn's memorial service was a strange experience, but we had other things to worry about once we got there - the rain! We managed a spot on the lawn relatively close to the stage, but when the Dalai Lama arrived were surrounded by people standing up. Needless to say this little drag queen didn't see anything at all, but I did hear much of his talk. It was interesting to hear him speak about the environment and war/peace, and on the way home, I informed the boyfriend we should go hear him speak in his 3-4 day conference (usually in Melbourne?) next time he visits Australia to get an even broader understanding of his considerable learning.
Thirdly, RESPECT for the environment. Whether global warming, or whether just freak storms or 30 year floods, the damage, loss of life and pain suffered by the wild weather of the last week on the NSW coast is a reminder we should be RESPECTING Mother Nature just that little bit more..
Lastly, RESPECT to my friends (and the general community) on the Central Coast and Hunter Valley. My thoughts were with my friends up on the Central Coast, who continued to experience wild weather again this weekend. I was asked to perform at Krave Friday night and was nervous about how the community would feel. Everyone had a story to tell, but what came across the most was the strong spirit and determination of the individuals and the community as a whole. My admiration to them all..
*****************************************************************
Just a reminder that anyone in Canberra this coming Friday 22nd June, CUBE has their own "Leather & Lace Night"! Make sure you come dressed up! Charisma Belle, Ru Bella and I will be there performing our show "Rough Trade - Hers" there, not to mention checking out the punters and their costumes! Make sure you pop in and say "Hi" and support the Premier Canberra G&L Nightclub. See you there!
Just a reminder that anyone in Canberra this coming Friday 22nd June, CUBE has their own "Leather & Lace Night"! Make sure you come dressed up! Charisma Belle, Ru Bella and I will be there performing our show "Rough Trade - Hers" there, not to mention checking out the punters and their costumes! Make sure you pop in and say "Hi" and support the Premier Canberra G&L Nightclub. See you there!
10 June, 2007
Birthday time..
Today is a short entry as it is my boyfriend's birthday.
As with all partners of performers such as myself, they are a massive support - in every way!
And with that in mind - I won't spend anymore time than I already have on this today, rather I'm leaving all my time for celebrating my man's birthday how he wants..
I hope you have/had a wonderful Queen's Birthday Long Weekend.. (bit sad we don't celebrate it on the old duck's actual birthday... but then I'm a Aussie Republican - so do I really care? No.)
Til next week..
Be safe..
Luv Shelley
xxx
As with all partners of performers such as myself, they are a massive support - in every way!
And with that in mind - I won't spend anymore time than I already have on this today, rather I'm leaving all my time for celebrating my man's birthday how he wants..
I hope you have/had a wonderful Queen's Birthday Long Weekend.. (bit sad we don't celebrate it on the old duck's actual birthday... but then I'm a Aussie Republican - so do I really care? No.)
Til next week..
Be safe..
Luv Shelley
xxx
03 June, 2007
On the road again!
Last Friday night, I had the pleasure of returning to Krave.
Krave recently has moved to Gosford on a Friday night and had asked me back again this last week. What I like about Krave is the gay and lesbian patrons mixing with gay-friendly straights to make a wonderful atmosphere. None of the Peel Hotel stuff from Melbourne up there!
Always responsive and friendly, it's great to catch up with friends I have made on the Central Coast over the years I have been working there.
The big thing I love about Krave is the the "Kravey Bunch". The Krave committee, is a small group of volunteers - yes volunteers! - who organise the night known as Krave, to run in a regular nightclub every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month. They have become my good friends, and that is certainly part of the reason I love performing there too!
They have a great security force, who are of course gay-friendly. And yes, I can prove it too! I have footage of me "integrating" the nice muscly security man on the side of stage into my show.. He was happy to oblige!
Since Krave's move from The Entrance to Gosford, there is even more reason to grab some friends and head northwards on the 1 hr trip to Gosford.. If for no other reason than the cute Central Coast boys and girls!
**********
On the topic of road-trips, Charisma Belle, Ru Bella and myself are heading down to Cube Nightclub in Canberra for their Leather and Lace night, Friday 22nd June. The three of us are looking forward to the patrons dressing up.. (yum!)
We are performing our award winning show "Rough Trade Hers" to the crowd and can't wait to check out our nation's capital over the weekend!
If only we were allowed to climb (in drag no less!) the grassy slopes of the New Parliament House.. How camp would that be! Well I'm sure there is other mischief to be had there, so no doubt there will be stories to tell when we get back! I will try to take pix the whole time for the blog! Nothing too incriminating of course - at least not of me!
Until next Sunday, stay safe..
Luv Shelley
xxx
Krave recently has moved to Gosford on a Friday night and had asked me back again this last week. What I like about Krave is the gay and lesbian patrons mixing with gay-friendly straights to make a wonderful atmosphere. None of the Peel Hotel stuff from Melbourne up there!
Always responsive and friendly, it's great to catch up with friends I have made on the Central Coast over the years I have been working there.
The big thing I love about Krave is the the "Kravey Bunch". The Krave committee, is a small group of volunteers - yes volunteers! - who organise the night known as Krave, to run in a regular nightclub every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month. They have become my good friends, and that is certainly part of the reason I love performing there too!
They have a great security force, who are of course gay-friendly. And yes, I can prove it too! I have footage of me "integrating" the nice muscly security man on the side of stage into my show.. He was happy to oblige!
Since Krave's move from The Entrance to Gosford, there is even more reason to grab some friends and head northwards on the 1 hr trip to Gosford.. If for no other reason than the cute Central Coast boys and girls!
**********
On the topic of road-trips, Charisma Belle, Ru Bella and myself are heading down to Cube Nightclub in Canberra for their Leather and Lace night, Friday 22nd June. The three of us are looking forward to the patrons dressing up.. (yum!)
We are performing our award winning show "Rough Trade Hers" to the crowd and can't wait to check out our nation's capital over the weekend!
If only we were allowed to climb (in drag no less!) the grassy slopes of the New Parliament House.. How camp would that be! Well I'm sure there is other mischief to be had there, so no doubt there will be stories to tell when we get back! I will try to take pix the whole time for the blog! Nothing too incriminating of course - at least not of me!
Until next Sunday, stay safe..
Luv Shelley
xxx
27 May, 2007
Holding The Man
I had the luck of making it into one of the packed performances of "Holding The Man" last Monday evening at the Sydney Opera House. (Yes I know - I'm probably one of the last gayboys/queens in Sydney to have seen it!) After three seasons in the last year or so, this has been an incredible hit - and not just with the gay audiences! So after so many times talking about going - my partner booked us in for what would be an unforgettable night.
In a nutshell... What a wonderful show! Not only was it performed exceptionally, it was written and staged beautifully too.
Now a bit of background first.. For those who do not know of the book "Holding The Man" by Timothy Conigrave, you must not be a gay Australian male, or you live overseas! I seriously do not know a single person who has not read the book.. It's almost required reading for all gay boys in Australia! (Mind you, those of you abroad, I have heard it's been translated into several languages... I wonder where?)
Anyways, it basically is an autobiographical book about Timothy Conigrave's life, from his teenage years, through to it's emotional end during the AIDS epidemic in Australia. It primarily follows his long-term relationship with his partner John Caleo, but also his relationships with close friends, and of course, his family.
I had the pleasure of meeting Tommy Murphy, a resident writer for the Griffin Theatre, at the Opening Night Party of "Priscilla", and spoke with him about the stage adaption. It was wonderful to see the script move to the stage so brilliantly.. Well done Tommy!
With suitably perfect lighting and staging, it is a stirring account that always leaves the audience emotional, to say the least.
The actors all did an amazing job - there was never a time they were not committed to the character, pulling the emotion from deep inside, and by doing so, were completely genuine and engaging. Special mention to three of the cast in particular - Guy Edmonds (Timothy Conigrave), Matt Zeremes (John Caleo) and Brett Stiller (multiple characters). These three were superb! I wouldn't question what the show was if they were in it.. I would just say - "When are we going?!"
The play was a roller-coaster of emotions, as is the book. I remember reading it when I was attending WAAPA, finding striking similarities between myself and Timothy when he was attending NIDA. When discussing this with people, I find that they feel the same - even though, from outside, it would seem their two lives are poles apart. I believe this has been the reason for the book's/play's success.. It really translates well to every human being.
The book even caused a bit of concern with my lecturers at WAAPA, as I would sometimes turn up to my dance classes with tears streaming down my face! I never thought a book could do that too me!
It really is an amazing story, put beautifully into a book, then re-written, equally as beautifully, this time for the stage. I truly hope this show gets to tour Australia - everyone should see it. It is well deserving to make it into festivals the world over. Of course there are many of these types of stories told all around the world as it is, but this story in particular seems to resonate so strongly with so many people..
A must see!
9.5 Diamonds out of 10
In a nutshell... What a wonderful show! Not only was it performed exceptionally, it was written and staged beautifully too.
Now a bit of background first.. For those who do not know of the book "Holding The Man" by Timothy Conigrave, you must not be a gay Australian male, or you live overseas! I seriously do not know a single person who has not read the book.. It's almost required reading for all gay boys in Australia! (Mind you, those of you abroad, I have heard it's been translated into several languages... I wonder where?)
Anyways, it basically is an autobiographical book about Timothy Conigrave's life, from his teenage years, through to it's emotional end during the AIDS epidemic in Australia. It primarily follows his long-term relationship with his partner John Caleo, but also his relationships with close friends, and of course, his family.
I had the pleasure of meeting Tommy Murphy, a resident writer for the Griffin Theatre, at the Opening Night Party of "Priscilla", and spoke with him about the stage adaption. It was wonderful to see the script move to the stage so brilliantly.. Well done Tommy!
With suitably perfect lighting and staging, it is a stirring account that always leaves the audience emotional, to say the least.
The actors all did an amazing job - there was never a time they were not committed to the character, pulling the emotion from deep inside, and by doing so, were completely genuine and engaging. Special mention to three of the cast in particular - Guy Edmonds (Timothy Conigrave), Matt Zeremes (John Caleo) and Brett Stiller (multiple characters). These three were superb! I wouldn't question what the show was if they were in it.. I would just say - "When are we going?!"
The play was a roller-coaster of emotions, as is the book. I remember reading it when I was attending WAAPA, finding striking similarities between myself and Timothy when he was attending NIDA. When discussing this with people, I find that they feel the same - even though, from outside, it would seem their two lives are poles apart. I believe this has been the reason for the book's/play's success.. It really translates well to every human being.
The book even caused a bit of concern with my lecturers at WAAPA, as I would sometimes turn up to my dance classes with tears streaming down my face! I never thought a book could do that too me!
It really is an amazing story, put beautifully into a book, then re-written, equally as beautifully, this time for the stage. I truly hope this show gets to tour Australia - everyone should see it. It is well deserving to make it into festivals the world over. Of course there are many of these types of stories told all around the world as it is, but this story in particular seems to resonate so strongly with so many people..
A must see!
9.5 Diamonds out of 10
20 May, 2007
Back..
Well I have not written an entry on my blog for a while now - and haven't I been well and truly reprimanded for it?! Absolutely!
A number of emails have come in.. What the motivation for these emails is varied - some people write that they been interested in what was going on in my life, while some worried that I had some personal problems after my family visited Sydney and saw me in drag for the first time... One person simply wrote: "Where are your blogs? R u dead?"
But one person in particular though, gave me a kick up the pants when he sent an email saying he always read my blog every Monday night, and further added: "I'm very disappointed that you didn't keep your own commitment to those who read your blog weekly".
Well I really didn't know people cared about whats happening in my life, or cared about holding me to my own commitments.. My thanks to those who sent emails..
Well, don't worry, I'm back to my blogging (though with my tail tucked under to avoid any more smacks on the bum..!). And I have a lot of things to say about the idea of "back"..
Rough Trade (Hers), is touring again! This time we will be down at Cube Nightclub in Canberra on Friday 22nd June. Charisma Belle, Ru Bella and myself are looking forward to the new faces and a new venue. If your in the ACT, please come along!
I'm also working on a special one-of-a-kind solo project. It's all very top secret atm, but will be developed on the side of the usual hustle and bustle, until it is ready to be performed. I wish I could tell you more, but that would ruin the surprise!
Of course the show he has just opened in Sydney showcases his iconic characters, Dame Edna Edveridge and Sir Les Patterson, with the lesser known character, Sandy Stone. With all 3 characters appearing in the first act, it was a marvel to see the change in physical characterization get completed so quickly. Makeup, clothes, hair, body language - all changed in (almost) an instant. One thing however was quite starkly obvious to me - the vocals of Dame Edna and Sandy Stone sounded remarkably the same..
In any case, the over-the-top characters of the Dame and Sir Les were a hoot, being crass, sly, witty and left no one in the audience safe from spit and gladdies!
However, the one greatest disappointment about the evening was Sandy Stone. As with his other characters, Humphries turns a mirror on society to make commentary on the community at large. This fun and outlandish commentary is what Australians tend to like with their humour, which Dame Edna and Sir Les provide in bucket-loads!
Sandy, however, is approached from a different place as far as character development. He is based on a person in their 70's/80's and is a character who talks about his life, particularly his wife and WW2, all from a lonely ratty old couch set in a neglected nursing home.
Sandy is portrayed as such a genuine character, as we start to feel sorry for him, his wife, and all he has been through in his life. Sandy even spoke on the quality of care at nursing homes - a quite topical point as of late here in Australia. But Humphries wanted to put some jokes in there - so instead of some typical bumbly old man jokes, he resorts to offensive racist remarks to get a laugh. Few people bellowed with laughter, others embarrassingly giggle, many didn't find them funny at all. I was one of them.
Now we all do know people who talk about "Japs, Koreans, Wogs, Abbos, Yellow People, Asians and Muslims" etc, believing that there is nothing wrong with the way they think and talk. Communicating such a horribly racist mentality to others is for me not acceptable. We should be trying to educate people against this discriminatory and racist mentality whenever we see it..
Humphries set up this character Sandy to a dear old man, genuine and the kind you have compassion for. If that set-up is to communicate his racist views for another "White Australia" (and he was around at that time when that was common accepted belief) - then I wish him luck overseas, as I'm not encouraging anyone to attend/support his shows here in Oz..
The seats next to me were empty after interval - it was a co-worker of mine. When I saw him at work the next day I asked him why he left. Not surprisingly, he told me that he was not interested in listening to "crap racist jokes that crossed the line".
Here, here!
I will ever attend another one of his shows, or even show any interest in the man..
As the famous quote goes: "Never again.."
As for the federal election later this year.. Vote Labour ahead of Liberals at all costs! (ie. I'm voting Green, with my preferences to Labour..)
Go Ruddy! Go the Gillard!
A number of emails have come in.. What the motivation for these emails is varied - some people write that they been interested in what was going on in my life, while some worried that I had some personal problems after my family visited Sydney and saw me in drag for the first time... One person simply wrote: "Where are your blogs? R u dead?"
But one person in particular though, gave me a kick up the pants when he sent an email saying he always read my blog every Monday night, and further added: "I'm very disappointed that you didn't keep your own commitment to those who read your blog weekly".
Well I really didn't know people cared about whats happening in my life, or cared about holding me to my own commitments.. My thanks to those who sent emails..
Well, don't worry, I'm back to my blogging (though with my tail tucked under to avoid any more smacks on the bum..!). And I have a lot of things to say about the idea of "back"..
- BACK to shows..
Rough Trade (Hers), is touring again! This time we will be down at Cube Nightclub in Canberra on Friday 22nd June. Charisma Belle, Ru Bella and myself are looking forward to the new faces and a new venue. If your in the ACT, please come along!
I'm also working on a special one-of-a-kind solo project. It's all very top secret atm, but will be developed on the side of the usual hustle and bustle, until it is ready to be performed. I wish I could tell you more, but that would ruin the surprise!
- BACK with a Vengeance - Barry Humphries
Of course the show he has just opened in Sydney showcases his iconic characters, Dame Edna Edveridge and Sir Les Patterson, with the lesser known character, Sandy Stone. With all 3 characters appearing in the first act, it was a marvel to see the change in physical characterization get completed so quickly. Makeup, clothes, hair, body language - all changed in (almost) an instant. One thing however was quite starkly obvious to me - the vocals of Dame Edna and Sandy Stone sounded remarkably the same..
In any case, the over-the-top characters of the Dame and Sir Les were a hoot, being crass, sly, witty and left no one in the audience safe from spit and gladdies!
However, the one greatest disappointment about the evening was Sandy Stone. As with his other characters, Humphries turns a mirror on society to make commentary on the community at large. This fun and outlandish commentary is what Australians tend to like with their humour, which Dame Edna and Sir Les provide in bucket-loads!
Sandy, however, is approached from a different place as far as character development. He is based on a person in their 70's/80's and is a character who talks about his life, particularly his wife and WW2, all from a lonely ratty old couch set in a neglected nursing home.
Sandy is portrayed as such a genuine character, as we start to feel sorry for him, his wife, and all he has been through in his life. Sandy even spoke on the quality of care at nursing homes - a quite topical point as of late here in Australia. But Humphries wanted to put some jokes in there - so instead of some typical bumbly old man jokes, he resorts to offensive racist remarks to get a laugh. Few people bellowed with laughter, others embarrassingly giggle, many didn't find them funny at all. I was one of them.
Now we all do know people who talk about "Japs, Koreans, Wogs, Abbos, Yellow People, Asians and Muslims" etc, believing that there is nothing wrong with the way they think and talk. Communicating such a horribly racist mentality to others is for me not acceptable. We should be trying to educate people against this discriminatory and racist mentality whenever we see it..
Humphries set up this character Sandy to a dear old man, genuine and the kind you have compassion for. If that set-up is to communicate his racist views for another "White Australia" (and he was around at that time when that was common accepted belief) - then I wish him luck overseas, as I'm not encouraging anyone to attend/support his shows here in Oz..
The seats next to me were empty after interval - it was a co-worker of mine. When I saw him at work the next day I asked him why he left. Not surprisingly, he told me that he was not interested in listening to "crap racist jokes that crossed the line".
Here, here!
I will ever attend another one of his shows, or even show any interest in the man..
As the famous quote goes: "Never again.."
- BACK to a Labour State Government
As for the federal election later this year.. Vote Labour ahead of Liberals at all costs! (ie. I'm voting Green, with my preferences to Labour..)
Go Ruddy! Go the Gillard!
- BACK in Australia TODAY - David Hicks
17 March, 2007
Family Trip - Day 4 (Final Day)
Well Sunday was my day of rest. After arriving home from the Mardi Gras party, I was resting up from the long and tiresome day before. But not my family!
They took off to the Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour. They told me that they had a fantastic time looking about at all the boats and particularly the submarine... Go figure..!
They were already packed up before they left for the day's activities, so when they arrived home, we chatted for a little while, let them get refreshed, then half popped into a taxi and the other half into my boyfriend's car, and we headed to the airport. (Note to self: Holiday groups should be a maximum of 3 so they can fit in the one car with the boyfriend and I!)
We did the self-checkin in the Qantas terminal, and headed through security.
To my surprise a good friend of mine from Perth was coming through the security at the same time and I got to catch up with him also! Such a small world sometimes..
My family sat down for a short time and had a coffee and cake together. Before we knew it, it was time to board the plane. My boyfriend and I were given "thank you" gifts and within 5 minutes we were waving them goodbye as they disappeared down the airbridge.
It was such a quick trip here, with so much packed in. It was a shame they didn't relax more than they did. As this was our wedding present to Matt & Jessie, we originally wanted them to stay for about 2 weeks with us, seeing things slowly and staying in and out of the city, but they couldn't take the time off work. Although, with my Dad and Jessie's sister Anna wanting to come along too, it turned out to be a great family holiday for them.
Well they did have a great time in Sydney, and have talked about coming back again - so I'm looking forward to it!
Now it's back to work..!
They took off to the Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour. They told me that they had a fantastic time looking about at all the boats and particularly the submarine... Go figure..!
They were already packed up before they left for the day's activities, so when they arrived home, we chatted for a little while, let them get refreshed, then half popped into a taxi and the other half into my boyfriend's car, and we headed to the airport. (Note to self: Holiday groups should be a maximum of 3 so they can fit in the one car with the boyfriend and I!)
We did the self-checkin in the Qantas terminal, and headed through security.
To my surprise a good friend of mine from Perth was coming through the security at the same time and I got to catch up with him also! Such a small world sometimes..
My family sat down for a short time and had a coffee and cake together. Before we knew it, it was time to board the plane. My boyfriend and I were given "thank you" gifts and within 5 minutes we were waving them goodbye as they disappeared down the airbridge.
It was such a quick trip here, with so much packed in. It was a shame they didn't relax more than they did. As this was our wedding present to Matt & Jessie, we originally wanted them to stay for about 2 weeks with us, seeing things slowly and staying in and out of the city, but they couldn't take the time off work. Although, with my Dad and Jessie's sister Anna wanting to come along too, it turned out to be a great family holiday for them.
Well they did have a great time in Sydney, and have talked about coming back again - so I'm looking forward to it!
Now it's back to work..!
Family Trip - Day 3 (Mardi Gras Day)
Today was to be the biggest and longest day of them all..
As any gayboy knows, Mardi Gras day there is a lot of running around preparing for the evening, and so with showing my family around Sydney, it was always going to be a long slogg..
First thing the family ended up doing was head down to Darling Harbour to walk around the general area. While they were doing that, I went to Fox Studios to get my pass to the Mardi Gras party from the box office. Then I joined the family and we had brunch at the Paddys Markets before jumping on the monorail and heading to the Sydney Aquarium..
The Aquarium has changed a little since I was there last, primarily as they have added the Sydney Wildlife World to the site. It was great to be back there again, as it's always so magical..
After a quick bite to eat, we moved on to the Chinese Garden of Friendship. I was stuffed by that stage, and the family went on through without me.. Now I have seen the photos though, I wish I went in!
I have been in there before with my boyfriend during the day on a weekday, so that it would be at it's quietest. There were 3 wedding parties taking pictures in the Gardens, but you wouldn't even know from the pictures.. Looks so quiet and peaceful..
It was now time to head home.. Clearly, as you can see below, my brother was tired! In fact we all were exhausted! We jumped on a train to Kings Cross from Central and went home for a rest.. Well some of us!
Once home, I started to get ready for the 5 shows I was to do over the night. First was Stonewall Hotel, 10pm/11pm/12am and then Imperial 1am/2am.
Realising there was too little time to get ready before heading to the parade (I was informed the parade route crossings were closing earlier than expected), we headed off, with all costumes and bags in tow, to Stonewall Hotel. And so from there my family were looked after by the boyfriend while I got transformed..
I missed most of the parade, but listened out for some key floats going by and watched the footage on the large plasma screens in the venue when they did.
Coming out and saying hello to the family was the big moment! My brother and his wife, Jessie, were fine as they had seen pictures and some footage from my shows when I visited Perth for their wedding last November. Anna was great about it too.. All my worry was about my Dad..
I was not sure what to expect with my Dad's reaction. I left some photos up of me in drag (among others) in my studio where they were staying as a test. Dad did not say anything to me about them, but certainly looked surprised by the pictures when he was taking a look. After talking with my brother, I found out that my Dad didn't have an inkling that I was working in drag... Great!
Anyways, back to Stonewall..
My Dad seemed to be fine with me in drag and didn't treat me different at all. It was such a relief!
The family were getting a bit freaked out with gayboys and gaygirls falling all over them kissing and having simulated sex. Admittedly for the first night in a gay pub, it was a bit confrontational. I considered getting them tickets in the Glamstands, but I wanted them to see me perform - so I made a call on it. I think they enjoyed the parade, what they saw of it..
So now I had to do some great spot numbers for them.. After all they had been so great with me in my second "coming out". I performed "Can't Get Enough Of Your Love Baby", "Don't Rain On My Parade" and "Last Dance". They were in the front row, right at my feet the whole time watching - and seemed to have a good time.
Dad said that I did really well and that was all I needed to hear.. Phew!
Unfortunately they were really tired (and probably too scared to go to the Imperial), so they went home when I had to leave for the Imperial shows. It's a pity cos I wanted them to watch a production show, not spots.. Oh well..
As far as the rest of my night was concerned, the Imperial was packed of course and the vibe was really positive. The shows went down exceptionally - much to our delight. Charisma, Ru Bella and I had a ball - then all headed off to the Mardi Gras party.
Next was the final day for my family in Sydney, before the plane flight back to Perth..
As any gayboy knows, Mardi Gras day there is a lot of running around preparing for the evening, and so with showing my family around Sydney, it was always going to be a long slogg..
First thing the family ended up doing was head down to Darling Harbour to walk around the general area. While they were doing that, I went to Fox Studios to get my pass to the Mardi Gras party from the box office. Then I joined the family and we had brunch at the Paddys Markets before jumping on the monorail and heading to the Sydney Aquarium..
The Aquarium has changed a little since I was there last, primarily as they have added the Sydney Wildlife World to the site. It was great to be back there again, as it's always so magical..
After a quick bite to eat, we moved on to the Chinese Garden of Friendship. I was stuffed by that stage, and the family went on through without me.. Now I have seen the photos though, I wish I went in!I have been in there before with my boyfriend during the day on a weekday, so that it would be at it's quietest. There were 3 wedding parties taking pictures in the Gardens, but you wouldn't even know from the pictures.. Looks so quiet and peaceful..
It was now time to head home.. Clearly, as you can see below, my brother was tired! In fact we all were exhausted! We jumped on a train to Kings Cross from Central and went home for a rest.. Well some of us!
Once home, I started to get ready for the 5 shows I was to do over the night. First was Stonewall Hotel, 10pm/11pm/12am and then Imperial 1am/2am.Realising there was too little time to get ready before heading to the parade (I was informed the parade route crossings were closing earlier than expected), we headed off, with all costumes and bags in tow, to Stonewall Hotel. And so from there my family were looked after by the boyfriend while I got transformed..
I missed most of the parade, but listened out for some key floats going by and watched the footage on the large plasma screens in the venue when they did.
Coming out and saying hello to the family was the big moment! My brother and his wife, Jessie, were fine as they had seen pictures and some footage from my shows when I visited Perth for their wedding last November. Anna was great about it too.. All my worry was about my Dad..
I was not sure what to expect with my Dad's reaction. I left some photos up of me in drag (among others) in my studio where they were staying as a test. Dad did not say anything to me about them, but certainly looked surprised by the pictures when he was taking a look. After talking with my brother, I found out that my Dad didn't have an inkling that I was working in drag... Great!
Anyways, back to Stonewall..
My Dad seemed to be fine with me in drag and didn't treat me different at all. It was such a relief!
The family were getting a bit freaked out with gayboys and gaygirls falling all over them kissing and having simulated sex. Admittedly for the first night in a gay pub, it was a bit confrontational. I considered getting them tickets in the Glamstands, but I wanted them to see me perform - so I made a call on it. I think they enjoyed the parade, what they saw of it..
So now I had to do some great spot numbers for them.. After all they had been so great with me in my second "coming out". I performed "Can't Get Enough Of Your Love Baby", "Don't Rain On My Parade" and "Last Dance". They were in the front row, right at my feet the whole time watching - and seemed to have a good time.
Dad said that I did really well and that was all I needed to hear.. Phew!
Unfortunately they were really tired (and probably too scared to go to the Imperial), so they went home when I had to leave for the Imperial shows. It's a pity cos I wanted them to watch a production show, not spots.. Oh well..
As far as the rest of my night was concerned, the Imperial was packed of course and the vibe was really positive. The shows went down exceptionally - much to our delight. Charisma, Ru Bella and I had a ball - then all headed off to the Mardi Gras party.
Next was the final day for my family in Sydney, before the plane flight back to Perth..
Family Trip - Day 2
The second day of my family's visit to Sydney was to be another busy day.
Firstly, after waking up, they wanted to go to Bondi Junction to do some window shopping. So we hopped on a train from Kings Cross Station and headed there. After a while there we had some brunch and then headed off to the next pit stop, Luna Park.
It was a beautiful day to be outside, and with the Pride flags flying above the Luna Park face, it was another smiling and proud welcome to the city for them!
As you can see however, a Friday day-time (no school holidays) means it's quite dead in the Park, but I guess that means no queues too!
Anna was dying to get onto the bumper cars with my brother, so that was the first ride they went for..
Next was the wild mouse, of which Anna, my brother Matt, and I went on.. You can get a picture of yourself on the ride at the end, and my bro got one.. I will have to get a digital copy and post it.. It was very funny! Below is my camera shots of us before the ride starts..
After an exhausting day walking about and having fun, we headed home for a sleep..
We woke them up a few hours later to get dressed for the theatre - in particular, Priscilla! They were very excited about the show, which excited me - I knew it would be the most amazing thing they have ever seen and was dying to see their reaction..
My family, boyfriend and I headed off to Star City for food at the buffet before the show. To our surprise the buffet was actually quite good, and for vegetarians such as myself, plenty to choose from!
None of my family visiting Sydney had ever seen a musical, and although they had seen the movie, were blown away completely by the experience. We were third row centre (I think I wrote in a previous post we were 2nd row..) and they were fantastic seats! They were only too close for one moment - the shoe on top of the bus/opera scene.. apart from that it was the best place to watch from EVER! My experience in selling the tickets is most people say it's too close.. I'm here to say, after watching it now 8 times, it has been the best position by far!
During the show, I got to be part of the audience interaction scene, and had an absolute ball! Thank you to Cleo Coupe (Trevor Ashley) who pulled me up there..!
After the show, the family went up to the Priscilla Bar for a few drinks, and to meet some of the cast. They had a great time, and even got in the spirit by jumping into position for the above picture!
I'm so glad that they loved the show and that, especially for my Dad, that the whole Drag Queen thing was not a put off - cos if it was, it would be an interesting night the next night when they were to watch me perform in drag for the first time ever!
After a hug with Trevor, who plays (among other characters) "Miss Understood" in the show, we headed home for some sleep before the biggest day of them all.. Mardi Gras Parade Day!
Firstly, after waking up, they wanted to go to Bondi Junction to do some window shopping. So we hopped on a train from Kings Cross Station and headed there. After a while there we had some brunch and then headed off to the next pit stop, Luna Park.
It was a beautiful day to be outside, and with the Pride flags flying above the Luna Park face, it was another smiling and proud welcome to the city for them!
As you can see however, a Friday day-time (no school holidays) means it's quite dead in the Park, but I guess that means no queues too!Anna was dying to get onto the bumper cars with my brother, so that was the first ride they went for..
Next was the wild mouse, of which Anna, my brother Matt, and I went on.. You can get a picture of yourself on the ride at the end, and my bro got one.. I will have to get a digital copy and post it.. It was very funny! Below is my camera shots of us before the ride starts..
After an exhausting day walking about and having fun, we headed home for a sleep..
We woke them up a few hours later to get dressed for the theatre - in particular, Priscilla! They were very excited about the show, which excited me - I knew it would be the most amazing thing they have ever seen and was dying to see their reaction..My family, boyfriend and I headed off to Star City for food at the buffet before the show. To our surprise the buffet was actually quite good, and for vegetarians such as myself, plenty to choose from!
None of my family visiting Sydney had ever seen a musical, and although they had seen the movie, were blown away completely by the experience. We were third row centre (I think I wrote in a previous post we were 2nd row..) and they were fantastic seats! They were only too close for one moment - the shoe on top of the bus/opera scene.. apart from that it was the best place to watch from EVER! My experience in selling the tickets is most people say it's too close.. I'm here to say, after watching it now 8 times, it has been the best position by far!During the show, I got to be part of the audience interaction scene, and had an absolute ball! Thank you to Cleo Coupe (Trevor Ashley) who pulled me up there..!
After the show, the family went up to the Priscilla Bar for a few drinks, and to meet some of the cast. They had a great time, and even got in the spirit by jumping into position for the above picture!I'm so glad that they loved the show and that, especially for my Dad, that the whole Drag Queen thing was not a put off - cos if it was, it would be an interesting night the next night when they were to watch me perform in drag for the first time ever!
After a hug with Trevor, who plays (among other characters) "Miss Understood" in the show, we headed home for some sleep before the biggest day of them all.. Mardi Gras Parade Day!
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