From Melbourne
31.1.86
Dear Alan,
It’s
hot here too. And it’s about time. We were beginning to wonder whether the heat
had by passed Melbourne for the summer. Then later arrive to appease the beach
bums… sometime in Winter!
The
wheels are in motion re employment in the services. I am currently liaising
with a dishy naval Lieutenant. It seems that you may officially apply yourself
directly to Canberra. Anyway the info is forthcoming.
At the
moment I am living with two friends in Carlton ( despite what I said one does
warm to the area – after moving most possessions, yet not sleeping there yet,
to a house in St Kilda the place was robbed). Most clothes and a treasured cane
chest, which was a recent acquisition, were taken.
It’s no
wonder Carlton is pleasant. Still it was a lesson. I didn’t wear at least half
the clothes!
The
friends are a couple (married) and very cosy. Bridget is pregnant – due in
about a month – so that’s exciting. The baby is still in a breach position – a
caesarian appears highly likely. Unfortunate for a first.
They
have allowed (not made me feel uncomfortable) our respective domestic habits to
coexist. A very satisfactory arrangement considering my erratic lifestyle –
particularly food.
Everything
is in limbo. I’m a ‘shit-kicker’ here and to think if I officially joined my
rank would be lieutenant.
It’s an
excellent time for films. Have seen four in the last month. Last night was
‘Turtle Diary’ with Glenda Jackson and Ben Kingsley. Screenplay by Pinter.
Almost perfect script based on Russell Hoban’s book of the same name. (I think
you have read it?) No superfluous words – at times it seems not enough. That’s
the beauty of it.
The old
adage ‘more with less’ comes to mind.
Another
film ‘Kiss of the Spiderwoman’. Another film based on a novel. Again
very rewarding – multi dimensional. A gay (very gay in the conventional prissy
sense) man convicted of sexual acts with a minor boy is intentionally placed
into a cell with a political prisoner somewhere in South America. The plan goes
awry.
Gay man
develops an emotional relationship with political prisoner. To while away the
days GM enacts a film of his imagination. Principally it involves a French a
night club singer during the German occupation (analogous to many a South
American country). She, who is loved by
the head of the German forces in France, is asked (if you love France you must
do it) to falsely return the love in order to acquire info valuable to the
resistance.
That plan
turns sour too. False love turns to real love in double crossing the French to
assist the German. The Spiderwoman is shot by the resistance.
Gayman
on release promises to contact his cell mate’s underground movement. He is
followed by police and shot by the people of the movement – to protect them blah,
blah, blah and it continues reading as a soap opera plot yet nothing could be
further from the truth.
Interrelated
and indistinct symbols and metaphors are the stuff of this film. Gayman is
obviously the Spiderwoman and yet he expresses a ‘strange’ attachment to the
androgynous attractive German officer.
The
perks of the public service. And the side benefits you would receive in the
armed forces too. Yet there are disadvantages. I have today off (Friday) and am
sipping a cappo in a ritzy café in the hub of Melbourne. The ‘office girls’ are moving in. their tans
supported by the proverbial stilettos.
Surprisingly
most are devouring main meals. One eats chips – washed down with diet coke!
Gelled spiky hair and talk of the coming weekend. One interesting looking woman
eats only fruit salad. Which seems appropriate.
Tailor
made cigarettes flick the pages of the latest weekly. Joan Collins et al
pontificating of their recent dietary success.
So much
of one’s wage can so easily be wasted on these mags, food and the item on sale
that one doesn’t feally need but because it’s a ‘bargain’…
I am
indeed interested in the baskets. Would you please give me a run down on prices
and what’s available. For instance a laundry basket?
With
love from Bev
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