Emily Cat 176

I need some names.  I love the jazz from the 1920's, but, don't know much about the current jazz scene. If you are a jazz lover you must know who the current names in jazz. Please let me know who they are so l can look into them. That's half the fun; listening to all this wonderful music. Lot's of names please. Let's start a conversation.

I had seen this flyer a few days before.  I was in Frankston on Thursday and thought why not. As it was l was late because l couldn't remember the start time. So l crept in 15 minutes late. It was a good crowd and they enjoyed the show. This choir was a U3A choir which means that the singers are older, but, they still all sang in tune. The human voice does change as we age, but, the program suited the singer's voices. There's something wonderful about hearing voices sing in unison. There was even a small interlude from a jazz band. All in all a good performance. All this cost me a gold coin donation. That's all they asked.  Can l suggest to you that you get out and look in your suburbs. The arts thrive in Melbourne suburbs, but, l'm sure you will be able to find something where you live. Music, and the arts, are all around us.

Considered her masterpiece this book is 100 years old this year.  Agatha Christie may not have been the best writer, but, she came up with some great plots. This book starts with Hercule Poirot retiring to the country to grow vegetable marrows. He is neighbours with Dr Shepperd and his sister Caroline. Roger Ackroyd is the man who will be murdered. Ackroyd is a wealthy man whose partner has taken her own life. Dr Shepperd has been visiting Ackroyd, stayed for dinner and then left after the last post has been delivered. He goes to back to his house. He's not long home before he gets a phone call from Parker (Ackroyd's butler) telling him to come back quickly as Ackroyd has been killed. Shepperd goes back to the house to find that Parker made no such call and the library door is locked. When they finally break down the door Roger Ackroyd is lying in his chair dead. That's the start of the novel. It was the first time this style of writing had been done. When this book first c...

The wait is nearly over.  Melbourne's much loved State Theatre will be opening 6 months earlier than originally planned. Major renovations have been carried out. They were needed as the last renovations were done in 1984. It's going to be busy once opened and, am l going to a show there?  Yes l am.

I listened to some wonderful music on Sunday.  I went to McClelland Gallery and listened to the MSO Academy, with some guests, play an interesting program. There were 2 Australian composers pieces in the program and l had not heard of either of them. Composers from my own country and l didn't know them. It shows that when it comes to classical music l have a lot to learn.

I've found a new series to read.  This book is what l would call cosy crime. An enjoyable read with a good narrator. Julia Chapman is the pen name for Julia Stagg. She is an English author who lived in France for many years. The series l have started with is The Dales Detective Series and this book is the first one. I think these books are very popular in England and are set in the Yorkshire Dales. A local boy comes back to his hometown running away from something that happened in London. He rents premises from an old school friend whose many businesses are failing. One of them, a dating agency runs speed dating nights and the men who attend these are being found dead. It's a light read, but, an enjoyable read. Let me know if you have read this series.