Youtube awards

Youtube has just launched some new awards for some of its' videos. One I particular like has been embedded in this web page for your enjoyment :)

Weekend in the Hunter Valley

My friend Jay has been to the Hunter many times and last weekend 24/25th March he organised a cosy group of 14 people to travel up early on Saturday and stay one night. Since my website project was being delayed yet again, it was good timing for me to go.

Although he somehow misbooked a minibus hire that he was going to use to drive us around, the weekend was great. We had a number of Australians, three Americans, a German, a South African, three Brits, and an Italian Dane! Having driven up early on Saturday morning from Sydney (7.45am) we arrived around 9.45am and unpacked our stuff into the log cabin we had and then swiftly left in convey to carry out tastings in about 6 or 7 wineries. Purchased Scarborough Chardonnay 2004, Margan Verdelo 2006, Peterson sparkling red and a Tamburlaine Chambourcin 2005.

Although the weather was 34C on the Saturday a quick rain session at 5.30 meant the temperature dropped swiftly to low 20's.

Going to this massive tourist wine region reminds me of the funny film Sideways which you must see if you haven't seen it already.

French Film Festival 2007 in Sydney

Every year in Sydney there is a French film festival and I try and go to see as many films as I can and in previous years I try to organise a group to have dinner beforehand and then see the film in either the Paddington cinema (trendy area) or Leichardt (Italian area) cinema venues. However I also like the freedom to sometime go and see films by myself which I think a lot of people find a bit strange.

My answer to this is that if you go with someone to see the film you spend 95% of the time in a dark room absorbed in the film so is "going to the cinema" really a group experience especially if you don't have time to chat before/after? Anyways, on Saturday (17th March) I was checking out what was on and two films that I wanted to see (the later one was the festival opener) were showing one after each other in Leichardt with the first one starting in 30mins. Well this cinema is actually 30mins away (in Saturday afternoon traffic) and so I thought I'd chance it. I would just go to see if I could make the first film and if not then I'd just have lunch and then see the second one.

I wouldn't have made it if it wasn't for the cross city tunnel that was recently completed last year and after finding somewhere to park too I was luckily standing at the pay counter 40mins later (1st 10mins are always adverts). Annoyingly of course when you're in a hurry there's always some slow moving person in front of you and they were trying to book a ticket for the second film I wanted to see - I thought she was told they were sold out so when buying my ticket for the first film I checked with the girl at the counter who confirmed they had all gone since this was a popular film (Seven Cesar nominations!). Anyways, I hadn't eaten so I went to the next counter to grab something to eat and she comes up to me (I thought to serve me) but she tells me that someone has just handed in a ticket for the second film - How lucky am I?!

Anyways I head into the full cinema for the first film called "Mon meilleur Ami (My best friend)". It's a wonderful film starring one of my favourite French actors (Daniel Autiel who stars in "Jean de Florette" which is one of my top 10 films - the Florette film also stars Gerald Depardieu who's in the second film I'm about to see!).

This film is about a guy (Auteuil) who realises at a group dinner that he doesn't have any friends and for some reason, since I've conspicuously arrived late, (by myself!), to this film (where I have to sit in the front row (entering from the rear), I initially feel like a lot of people must think I am someone who doesn't have any friends especially since most people I am sure you've noticed as well arrive rarely go to the cinema by themselves. In fact the film makes me wonder if I do in reality have any true friends or whether I inhabit just a world of colleagues and acquaintances!

I remember hearing recently that an experiment or study was done which involves brain scans of people playing a simple social game with others. Then at some point they are deliberately isolated from the others and apparently their brain activity corresponds to that of someone is in physical pain.

On reflection now, as I write this, on my recent round the world trip, I had cause to ponder this question about whether a person I arranged to meet on this trip was a real friend or not. For me it's not really what someone says or doesn't say but their actions which speaks volumes. On this trip I was happy to reconfirm at least three firm friendships but in this one case I guess I had to realise that I just wasn't that important to them. I actually wanted to contact them about it and let them know but decided against it. Who knows, by chance they may read this blog and find out but like my decision to see this film I'm going to leave that to fate.

Getting back to the film, "My best friend", it invoked real emotion for me and but I found some of the earlier scenes a bit contrived but overall and I would say that this was an enjoyable feel good film and I would give it 7.5 out of 10. The next funny thing that happens is that straight after the film I jump up and head to the exit before anyone else (since I'm very hungry) but this again highlights my "friendless" state) and then there's an usheretter blocking my way who points to the exit at the front of the cinema on the other side to where I sat. Most of the cinema by this stage is standing up to go now but again I feel I have this sign on my head saying "I've got no friends!!" or "Billie No Mates". Funny how a film can do this to you!

Heading out during this break between films I go across the road to get an Italian panini and coffee but the weather had changed. It was raining really really hard but I still felt uplifted by the film and my chuckle at my luck at seeing it and securing a ticket to the next highly rated film - Quand j'étais chanteur (The Singer). However my bon chance (good luck) had also changed, this next film was as terrible as the first one was good - don't see it! Very disappointed but ce la vie!

Kurnell triathlon - Sunday March 11th 2007

Some people have asked me how I can enjoy doing triathlons and all the training, early starts and physical pain that goes with it. Last Sunday (11th March) after a 5am start to get to Kurnell to register at 6am to race at 7am and after a swim (750m), cycle (20km) and the end of the 5km run (see photo), I was probably asking myself the same thing! It's an interesting question but my immediate response is that triathlon is for me not a physical challenge - it's a mental one. The challenge is pushing your body to do things it is capable of doing and more but when your whole body is screaming why?!! The benefit is the feeling of accomplishment and of physical well being afterwards when the body recovers.

This photo was taken towards the end of my race. I say my race because essentially that's what I'm competing in - I'm racing against myself and my last time when I did the race in November. Forget the elite athletes who do the same course and former olympic/country/state/club champions - I want to beat me four months ago! The good news is that I made it by 14minutes but of course that means I have to go even faster next year!

The company sponsored BRW triathlon in Sydney harbour (400m/8k/4k) race should be a walk in the park next month but I want to keep training to beat my time from previous years - will let you know if I can get my mind in gear to get my body to do it!

PS I think the variety of sports in triathlons makes it interesting too and means you get to see and enjoy the beautiful parks and beaches in and around Sydney as part of the training. Nothing beats having breakfast/coffee on a beautiful sunny Sydney morning after training. I take my hat off to athletes in for example the UK and other countries who must make a bigger mental effort to get our there and train in the cold and the rain. Here, when that happens, a lot of people just decide to give the session a miss!