the hills are alive with the sound of sirens

outside, the wind is on a rampage. Tree branches fall clumsily from trunks, the water from the Kings Cross fountain sprays magnificently over passing pedestrians and filthy plastic bags swirl spectacularly out-of-tune. It's like there is something ominous in the air; people furiously scurry by, blotting their watery eyes with old tissues, and the near sound of overlapping sirens bleats loud and furious. I walked home from the movies tonight; i now sport tangly hair and dust has settled on my eyelashes and in the crooks of my ears. I also fear that i may have inhaled a tree-worth of pollen in the process -- but i don't mind; somehow the wind makes things more exciting, more alive. the world does have a pulse!

With the weather wild, i thought i'd go and see The Duchess, do some book shopping and lose myself in the day's papers over a long black. The movie was really lovely; nothing world-altering but certainly entertaining and definitely an eye-opener to how women (and the less-fortunate) were treated back in the 18th century. I also agree with all of the recent reviews that this is probably Keira Knightley's best performance to date. For the first time -- since Bend it like Beckham anyway -- i forgot that it was Keira i was seeing on screen, and really got involved with her character. She still had a lot of her throaty mannerisms but on the whole, she was very good. Definitely improving.

There are so many good films out at the moment; I'm also dying to see Brideshead Revisited, Towelhead and Bitter & Twisted. Just not enough free time (or money!) Yes, i think I would like a public holiday once a month, please. 

My book shopping was successful too, there's just so many that i want to read right now. I bought America America by Ethan Canin, The Zookeeper's War by Steven Conte (partly cos i'm reading it for a book club, and partly cos i was intrigued after it picked up the 2008 Prime Minister's Literary Award) and Krueger's Men: The Secret Nazi Counterfeit Plot (the recent movie The Counterfeiters was based on this; i missed out on seeing it at the movies, but the book looks just as good). 

It's funny that i qualm at spending $60+ on a shirt or a pair of shoes but have no hesitation at spending that kind of money on books. Maybe because books don't remind you that you hate your thighs, or that your feet are ugly and oddly shaped. Instead, they talk to you and educate you, make you laugh and cry and think and dream. They take you to worlds you can only dream of going to, or places in time that are now obsolete. 

Before i head off to indulge in some new words, nibble on some pita bread+humous and watch Denton; i want to share with you a website that i came across a couple of days ago: www.beforeidieiwantto.org. It's a polaroid project started in 2008 by two girls from the US. They ask strangers what their goal before they die is, take their photo and get their contact details. The site is updated weekly with new polaroids. Then, as the years pass, the girls will contact their subjects to see how their goal is progressing. It's completely fascinating, and not as morbid as i thought it would be -- i really urge you to check it out.

Before i die i want to write a novel. How about everyone else?

ness x