🍷 “I have a hunch you’re someone who enjoys a digestive or sweet wine after lunch” as he slips me the dessert wine list - waiter knows his stuff.

There are two 30 something women having a very deep and meaningful conversation, very loudly, in this small wine bar. I had to order another glass of red as I’m very invested.

🖊️ A 15% off sale = more notepads and a new rollerball.

🍿 My second MIFF film was Brief History of a Family (2024) ★★★½

A rectangular image with a review of the movie Brief History of a Family (2024). The movie poster is on the left and the review on the right side. Across the bottom is a rating of Poor Okay Good Great with Good selected. The review reads: Lots of reviews have mentioned the similarity with Saltburn and Parasite and they weren’t wrong. The motives of Yan Shuo as the new friend ingratiating himself into the family aren’t entirely clear and build up to an unexpected ending. A great score underpins this commentary on the former one child policy.

🍿 My first Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) viewing was Viet and Nam (2024) ★★½

Gorgeously shot on 16mm film, a queer romance set in 2001 with two young miners exploring their secret relationship while Nam prepares to leave Vietnam for a better life. A parallel story of the search for the grave of Nam’s soldier father shows the continued impact of the war 25 years later. A slow burn with a non linear timeline, more about mood than plot.

I do love a dimly lit little bar with knowledgeable bartenders who make a great drink. The blend of the three whiskies (Japanese/Scotch/Australian) in my first was almost sinful and the (can’t label it) bourbon and gin mix in my second most definitely was. A surprising taste I wasn’t expecting.

A marble top bar. In the foreground is a white plate with a bar snack and immediately behind it is a whisky drink with a large cube of ice. There’s a glass candlelight on the bar behind and in the background are the dimly lit bar shelves and bottles.A marble top bar. A glass with a slightly opaque liquid in it is on the bar. A spirit bottle beside it with the label “Melbourne Moonshine. Single cask barrel aged moonshine”. A second spirit bottle is behind the glass and in the background are dimly lit bar shelves.

Interrupting my holiday to help out at graduation ceremonies. Today’s badge was made by one of the casual staff. He does it as a hobby/small sideline.

An enamel badge pinned to a green and white check jacket. The badge is a black mortar board with red tassel and a rolled white parchment under.

I haven’t worn a watch this week while I’ve been on holidays and also turned off most notifications on my phone. It’s been so good to disconnect.

I don’t think winter is done with Brisbane yet but it’s nice for now to have 21°c at 4:30pm and being able to walk along the river in shorts and long sleeve T-shirt.

Whenever I give all my window and door screens a good wash and clean I’m reminded of how dad wouldn’t get screens on the windows growing up as “they capture too much dust”.