christine says:

hi shah

just hit the wrong button on the laptop. i'm balancing it on my chest and typing with one finger. and i have the wrong glasses on to see at the correct distance. how's things with you? we had hailstones and buckets of rain last night. you'll be back for the cold weather. 3am i was cleaning up after having friends over for dinner. had alovely time and both alex and sam came to help out and meet friends. i'm thinking of sending an abstract to the uni of melbourne for a conference in july - based around a performance piece i wrote a while ago -- antithesis. i have my paper written for conference in two week's time at newcastle. only problem is presenting in powerpoint. sam is going to help with the transfer since it's my first attempt.

how is your work coming along? have you managed to collect all the data you require? i'm interested to know the outcome of your research. it should be very enlightening about viewing patterns. has your teaching gone well? There is a picture in today's paper of the autumn leaves at mt lofty botanical gardens. mylor, too, is very beautiful. the leaves are deep red and crispy brown this year. very little yellow. a product of the water shortages over summer, i think.

hope you are well. cheers, christine

-------------------------------------------

Dear Shah,

Thank you for the beautiful postcards. I am pleased to hear about your project and never doubt that your network of subjects will prove very interesting. Persist and you will find what you are looking for. Do your best with the teaching and all will be well. You will find that nothing of substance will have slipped your brain when you need it. Yesterday I spent the day in Melbourne. So sorry you were not there, but I caught a 6am flight, the Skybus to Southern Station, walked up Bourke Street and turned left into Swanston Street, had breakfast at the State Library, spent four hours in research on a text in the rare texts reading room, then reversed the travel and was back in Adelaide by 5-15pm. A wonderful day and I learnt heaps. Thank goodness for cheap flights.

I must go. My brother and sister-in-law have a week of their holiday left. I must be sociable.
Cheers, Christine

--------------------------------------

Dear Shah,

I was wondering about the crossed emails, but did not take it too seriously. You are doing well with your research, to have come so far.I like the new statement you have finally nutted out with your supervisor. My research has stalled, for various and complex reasons. At the moment I am concentrating on getting my paper for the Newcastle Conference down to twenty minutes. It "hurts" to cut my beeyooteeful composition (about 5,000 words), cut out my "darlings" and leave nothing but fish-bones (3,000 words). But I must be ruthless.

("Ruthless" that is an inadvertant play on words because my supervisor is called Ruth and we are not doing too well together at the moment.) In effect, I have talked to the Literature Department and I am thinking of transferring there, but I have until the end of May to weigh my decision. I am thinking of sending an abstract for a conference called "Antithesis." I think it's in July at Melbourne Uni. Also will be happy to see you when you come to Adelaide. We have a spare room now, if you need a bed for a few nights. Frisky finally passed away peacefully a few days ago. She hung on with good appetite much longer than expected. A good innings. When the warmer weather comes, we think we will get another puppy for Molly, another kelpie. They are such smart dogs.

Tomorrow I am going to a wedding -- the daughter of very old friends. Sonia was born just before Sam. Alex escorted her to the Year 11 and 12 formals. It is a very grand affair at Ayers House. I spent today looking for something dressy to wear. I hate shopping and I am going to hate even more teetering around in stupid court shoes. But the speeches should be fun and the bride and groom (Jason), no doubt, exquisite. Val is fine, and the boys. Mum is coming for a meal on Sunday because it is Mothers'Day. She has a cataract operation on Tuesday. I go to Newcastle from Thursday to Monday next week. I am looking forward to the workshops and everyone's papers.

Cheers for now,

Christine

christine says:

Hi Shah
Good to hear from you. Off to Malaysia already? Good luck with your plans. Of course you are welcome whenever you come to Adelaide. I've been meaning to contact you, but it is Writers'Week in Adelaide, and I am spending my days in the tents by the Torrens near the Festival Centre listening to authors talk about their work. It has been extremely interesting so far. Last night I heard Peter Carey, Paul Auster, Siri Hustvedt and Ian McEwan at the Town Hall. I did enjoy the occasion.

My work proceeds slowly. However, I know what I am doing (I think) and it is just a matter of hanging in there and doing the work. I have had an abstract accepted for a conference on "Art and the Real: Creative Nonfiction" in Newcastle in May. I must work steadily towards that (with other things) and do the best I can. My brother, his wife and my nephew came last week but have gone again, touring around the coast road and then on to Canberra to my sister. Alan, my nephew, wants to visit Sydney where he has a friend to see. They will be back anon (to use the old Shakespearean word).

Again, all the best for your research.
Cheers,Christine (Val and the rest)

PS It is very hot but maybe we will take Molly for a walk when Val gets back from squash.

--------------------------------------------------------

Hi Shah,

Is your boss-lady still keeping your nose to the grindstone? In other words: How is your research coming along? And your teaching responsibilities? I hope all is going well. March was a wipe out with Writers'Week (great culture) and my family from Scotland being here. They went home to cold and snow and my brother emails that they all have colds. My nephew, Alan, had a good break. He is twenty-three now, in fact three weeks separate him and Sam in age. This was his first holiday in four years, since he started working at Lairhillock, a posh restaurant near Aberdeen. He is a fully qualified chef now and did some reconnaisance in Adelaide, Canberra and Sydney for work as a chef. He's gone home to apply for a two year working visa with a view to immigrating, if he likes it here. Nice lad, with a broad Scots accent, as have my brother and sister-in-law. Look what I escaped!

My mother is getting older. At the moment she is trying to decide whether to stay in Adelaide or move to be near my sister in Canberra. She is going in for a cataract operation in May -- nothing dramatic. I went to see a play last night, at the Dunstan Playhouse -- very funny. By Joanna Murray-Smith, "Female of the Species." I would swear she's been sitting in on my computer and pinched my notes on Lacan and Freud, not to mention Joni Mitchell and turned them into hilarious archetypal characters. I've also had a great time listening to old albums, from "my era" -- the late Sixties and early Seventies. Couldn't afford to buy music then, so I'm catching up now. When are you due back in Melbourne? You'll be just right for winter coming. The weather is fine and cool right now. Just come back from walking Molly on the Mylor Oval. Someone said: "that's a good looking dog you have there." And she is.

Take care. Cheers, Christine

selepas jer melantak McD untuk kali yang ketiga dalam minggu ni aku pun bertapa semula kat dalam office..mula-mula ingat nak siapkan saringan soalan untuk kumpulan fokus tapi rasa malas-malas kucing laa pulak..so aku menghabiskan masa membaca berita semasa dalam dan luar negara..kang tak update rasa macam tak best laa pulak kalau berborak dengan rakan-rakan yang sewaktu dengannya di Malaya nanti..esok pagi aku nak pergi bayar itu tiket flight..aku harap kali ni boleh clear semua bayaran tersebut..kalau tak dapat tarikh yang sesuai terpaksa laa aku beli tiket sehala jer...senang siket keje aku..at least, balik Malaysia nanti bleh dapat discount kat travel agency dalam kampus nanti..kih kih kih...bijak tak aku..

esok apa aku nak buat..? oh aku inga tnak kemaskan meja aku siket..aku rasa meja aku laa yang paling teruk dalam ofis ni penuh dengan barang-barang pameran...nasib baik che temah, kura-kura plastik yang aku beli kat Brunswick tu menjadi penyeri mejaku ini...dan juga che mek molek, replika burung kiwi yang dihadiahkan oleh si Tawakal sewaktu dia pi merayap ke NZ tahun lepas..kalau tak dengan sudu, kotak biskut, kertas note sana sini, menambahkan lagi kehodohan mejaku ini...oh ya, aku nak beli apa ek nak bawak balik ke Malaya? aku ni bab shopping paling lemah sekali...rasa macam nak tido jer bila dengar perkataan shopping..kalau boleh nak shopping online jer..takde laa nak menyusahkan aku nak pergi sana-sini lepas tu kena angkut berat-berat...aku ingat nak beli benda-benda simple jer laa kot..atau aku bawak nota atau artikel ilmiah sebagai buah tangan..baru laa nampak akademik sikit..keh keh keh...

Kalau aku dapat tiket 5 Mac ni aku ingat nak pulang ke Kota Tinggi sekitar 7 Mac..tapi ada tiket bas ke nak balik kampung? jangan sampai aku kena naik Airasia pulak...tak larat laa...harap-harap si Miss boleh dapatkan tiket balik kampung tu..tapi rasanya ada banyak bas tambahan kot..kalau tak dapat tiket maka punahlah impian untuk pi mengundi kat Sekolah Kebangsaan Bandar Easter tu...hehhehe..sebut pasal SKBE ni rasanya dah hampir lapan belas tahun kami tinggalkan sekolah..teringat waktu kami lumba lari setiap kali balik sekolah sekitar tahun 1985 hingga 1990. Dan juga aktiviti yang boleh membuatkan kami terbahak-bahak ketawa sebab memang kelakar giler bila jadik budak Felda ni...sebenarnya ada perbezaan antara kehidupan sebagai anak Felda dengan anak kampung..apa pun aku tetap gembira dan bangga jadik anak Felda...

Isk...berdebar-debar pulak aku nak balik ke kota tinggi ni..mesti ada banyak perubahan kot...tapi perubahan macam mana? mana tahu dah ada LRT ke kat kota tinggi tu..eh mengarutlah..kalau nak ada LRT pon rasanya kena tunggu sepuluh tahun lagi...itu pun kalau ada...tapi bak kata Miss acara yang paling mendebarkan ialah bila bertemu rakan-rakan lama waktu sekolah dulu ketika membuang undi..masa tu laa semua sibuk bertanya khabar (soalan bonus - bila nak kawin - rasa nak cepuk jer sapa-sapa bagi soalan cepu emas ni) dan aktiviti yang dilakukan sekarang ini..ceh, macam betul-betul jer aku ni dok bercerita...walhal bila habis jer mengundi terus jer balik rumah buat taik mata..sama seperti aktivit yang aku sering lakukan kalau balik beraya..kih kih kih...

yer laa nak buat apa lagi kan..semua member dah ada family dan aktiviti khusus yang depa nak buat..so aku pon taik mata laa disamping melakukan kerja-kerja pembaikan yang lain..contohnya, menonton televisyen, membaca komik Dragon Ball, mencari album-album gambar lama (kononnya nak menyingkap memori semalam, lepas tu kena marah dengan mak aku sebab buat sepah kat ruang tamu), membaca surat-surat dari rakan-rakan ketika bersekolah di Muar dahulu, mengira balik berapa banyak pen dan trofi yang aku terima setiap kali majlis penyampaian hadiah berlangsung (riak laa siket, keh keh keh), dan banyak lagi laa...

lepas tu makan sekejap and then tido balik...dan perkara yang sama berulang-ulang sampai laa hari aku nak balik semula ke Malaya...nak buat macam mana kan..nak pergi shopping kat Felda tu mana ada tempat pun..takkan laa aku nak melepak dengan pakcik-pakcik kat warung kopi kat gerai-gerai yang dekat dewan raya sana tu haa...lain laa kalau aku nak masuk politik..boleh laa aku jadik mesra rakyat siket...tapi kan, nak tak nak aku kena jugak jadik mesra rakyat tapi di kalangan wanita ajer laa kot sbb kajian aku lebih berkisar kepada wanita dan media..cis, ni penyelia aku ler punya pasal sibuk suruh aku kaji pasal wanita...tapi yang lawak, president/VC uni tempat aku belajar adalah wanita...boss besar tempat aku keje di Malaya pun wanita...

begitu juga ketua di Jabatan aku kat Malaya pun wanita...school tempat aku study sekarang pun diketuai oleh wanita..begitu juga dengan pengarah penyelidikan dan ketua unit pengajian Asia (yang juga merangkap penyelia aku)..pendek kata start aku belajar waktu first degree dulu sampai laa sekarang semuanya diuruskan oleh wanita...that's why aku selalu confuse memanggil erwan sebagai erwanita....(kih kih kih kutuk siket)..dan sebab itu jugalah tema aku sekarang ini ialah 'wanita sumber ilham selalu'...alamak, lapar pulak laa ...apa aku nak makan? walhal aku baru jer makan banyak benda..teruk betul laaa.....okay laa kita sambung nanti....bye :P

~ hujan turun rintik-rintik

Hari ni hujan turun...dah lama aku menunggu saat ini...musim panas macam ni seronok betul kalau hujan..teringat kat kampung...tapi hujan kat sini takde laa selebat macam kat kampung aku...masa aku perabih zaman kanak-kanak dan remaja kat Kota Tinggi dulu waktu hujan laa paling tak seronok..sebabnya tak boleh keluar bermain...tapi bila dah meningkat dewasa waktu hujan laa paling seronok sebab ada masa untuk berhenti seketika dari berbuat sesuatu..contohnya tengok tempias air hujan kat tingkap...

pagi ni aku bangun awal betul...rasanya dah hampir seminggu aku tidur awal...rasanya kalau kat KL mesti aku orang yang akan bangun paling awal..masakan tidak, kalau ditukar waktu maunya aku bangun pukul 4 pagi...tapi okay laa tu kot..bangun pagi pun seronok apa..mujur bilik aku takde air-condition...kalau tak mesti aku bangun pukul 10 pagi....hai tak sabar betul aku nak balik Malaya...jumaat ni aku ada appmt. dengan Brian..harap-harap laa pakcik tu bagi respon baik sikit...kalau tak terpaksa laa aku delay flight aku lagi....

The summer days are gone too soon...

Dear Shah,

Great to hear from you. Summer seems to have disappeared from Adelaide too. We've used our heater for the last three days; it has been cold. However, not much rain. It pelted on Thursday in the city. The carpark at Target was leaking with sheets of water on the top floor, but it did not rain at Aldgate. More rain would be good. I had been at uni in the morning returning a script to one of my colleagues from creative writing (I saw Katie C and John McConchie in the Plaza). Then I went into the Barr Smith to read a book in their rare book collection because the copy that was a Flinders has gone missing. While it rained I had lunch at Knoodle -- very tasty.

I sympathise with your supervisor problems. At least you are well ahead. I have yet to define my project and present my proposal. I am cross this milestone has not yet eventuated and would feel happier and more secure about what I am doing if only... Still, I am working towards an absract for a Creative NonFiction conference at the Uni of Newcastle in May, and hope it comes to pass -- focused work at least. Two nights ago I went to see the Bangarra Dance Theatre at Her Majesty's Theatre. It was a brilliant experience. The work is based on Indigenous Culture and the dancers seemed to breathe at one with the Land -- recreated with a wonderful set and lighting effects. The performance was at the same time deeply traditional and ultramodern in style and movement. The contemporary music score is superb. The outing put me in the mood for The Fringe and Festival of Arts, and of course Writers'Week here on the Torrens River by the Parade Ground.

I had a great holiday and enjoyed my stay in Canberra with my sister -- civilised kind of city. But I've come back to many admin and working chores -- concentration required. My brother, his wife and my nephew are arriving from Scotland at the end of Feb for a month's stay, mostly to see my mother who is growing frail. Val and Sam are busy clearing the middle room of Sam's stuff so we can make a spare bedroom. So if you do make it to Adelaide for a break, remember you are welcome here. The washing machine is also on its last legs. It is funny to see it hopping about the laundry and whining like a jet engine. The smell of burning wires is appalling. Val has ordered a new front-loader which arrives on Monday.

Molly is pleased I am home; I think the "boys" have not bothered to walk her properly. Frisky is holding her end up well for her age. Yoyo and Merry are cuddlesome and adorable as usual. Alex is moving to a house near the Ashford hospital and sharing with two friends. He will be much closer to his work in the city, have more space and be closer if we need to fetch him for anything (he still does not drive). Gotta get some work done now.

Cheers, Christine

greeting from Amina ~ Scotland

Hello Shah,

thank you for the greeting e-mail. Australia might be so far away, but once you test it and you meet those wonderful friends you can never forget them. Sorry to hear you are not going to UK to study, but I am sure your time Down Under will be more rewarding and enjoyable. So, the very best of luck with your new position. Everything here is going ok, in my free time I travelled to some places in Scotland, there is the megabus, a cheap bus that gets you everywhere. I attached some pictures of Edinburgh. I hope to get some good results for my project, so I would like to present in Australia. How is Deljian doing? Please give her my greetings.

Take care, amina

an e-mail from Peter Kemp ~

Hi there Shah
I like your list and LOVE your pithily cryptic captions...OK, here goes my list:

1) Meet Me in St Louis: for Judy Garland at her heart-tugging best, and because it's about the family I never had.

2) The Night of the Hunter: the age-old battle between utter Evil and benevolent Good, as witnessed by the fairy-tale-like innocence of children.

3) Mary Poppins: the most philosophically profound film ever to emerge from Hollywood: magical. mysterious, joyous, politically subversive, and genuinely sad.

4) Notorious: Hitchcock's glamorously sexy, emotionally complex suspense classic with Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman at their peak.

5) La Belle et la Bete / Beauty and the Beast: Versatile Jean Cocteau weaves a visually sensual cinematic spell around a classic 17th Century children's-fable-for-adults...

6) The Awful Truth: the supremely talented Cary Grant once more, matched every step of the way by gifted co-star Irene Dunne in Leo McCarey's witty, giddily romantic, deeply meaningful screwball farce.

7) Rio Bravo: Howard Hawks's almost transcendental 'chamber Western' about the heroic potential of friendship and 'making negatives into positives'.

8) Une Partie de Campagne / A Day in the Country: Jean Renoir's sublime and sensually charged adaptation of a 18th Century Guy de Maupassant short story into what can be justifiably claimed as 'a perfect film': idyllic, benignly good-humoured, pantheistic, unbearably poignant.

9) Happy Together: Wong Kar-Wai's iridescently hued psychodrama addresses many different kinds of love between three different kinds of men, who also, incidentally, symbolize three different kinds of 'China-ness'. An existentially tuned post-modern classic, superbly lensed.

10) Topsy-Turvy: Mike Leigh frames the story of Gilbert and Sullivan staging 'The Mikado' around a richly observed, wonderfully funny, humanly bitter-sweet, musically splendid portrait of life in the theatre, life-as-theatre. theatre-as-life. One of my favourite endings to any film.

Cheers, PETER KEMP

Canberra ~ another postcard from Christine

Hi shah,

Just thought I would show you an aerial shot of Canberra. I'm impressed with the city. Yesterday I swam in the Murrumbridge River at Casurina Sand ~ lovely. Today up early and looked at the City Centre, before walking around Lake BG to the National Museum ~ brilliant building. Bus travel so efficient - if you have a bike, easy.

Cheers, Christine

Canberra - a postcard from Christine

Dear Shah,

Canberra is a beautiful city ~ vey clean and excellent bus service. I've been doing the sighst in the morning and working in the Chiffley Library at the ANU in the afternon. The Australian national Film and Sond Archive was very interesting. I went to Old Parliament House yesterday and the Bushfire Memorial. Today visited the Bus Market.

cheers, Christine

penatnyer

selepas berhempas pulas selama lebih 3 minggu akhirnya aku berjaya juga siapkan struktur kasar ulasan susastera utk tesis...hehehe..sukanya aku..walaupun aku tak jamin tepat atau tidak mengikut keperluan school tapi aku rasa macam okay..keh keh keh..apa laa...tapi not bad laa..at least aku dah tulis sekitar 10k...cuma aku nak menyuntik ayat-ayat menggoreng bagi nampak ayu siket...cuaca hari ni sedang elok..tak panas dan juga tak sejuk...aku ingatkan nak pergi ke Melb. Central beli baju tapi aku melencong ke bookshop...hari ni sheryl takde..selalunya mak cik tu laa yang sibuk tolong aku tempahkan buku....rasanya dia off kot...aku dah tempah empat buah buku...nasib baik dah dapat elaun untuk beli buku..at least berguna jugak buku-buku yang dibeli tu nanti...

laptop aku dah meragam sejak akhir-akhir ni..mungkin dah terlalu banyak virus yang kurang ajar menyerang beliau dari segala sudut..hehehe...takpe..tunggu laa rosak...nanti boleh beli Mac...ceh perasan..macam ada banyak duit nak beli Mac...nak tak nak kena la kumpul duit dari sekarang...aku inagt nak pergi merayap ke rumah Rosya laa esok..tapi tak tahu pulak mak cik tu ada ke tak..kalau ada boleh laa aku ajak si zam pi merayap sekali...bosan betul akhir-akhir ni..rasa macam nak balik kampung ajer..harap-harap Chris balik cepat dari Thailand..aku nak suruh dia baca jugak ulasan susastera yang aku dah buat tu....kalau tak lambat laa nanti..aku nak semuanya selari dengan pelan yang aku dah rancang....

Thanks Christine for cheering my life :)

Dear Shah,

Thank you for your e-mail. Sorry the weather is getting to you and your literature review is a pain. It will get better when you can talk to your supervisor. We are at Falls Creek just now. I can receive e-mails but cannot sned them - so a postcard. We move on to Thredbo on Tuesday. After a forthnight there, Val is goping home and I go on to my sister's in Canberra. I return to Adelaide in early February.

Keep cheerful, Christine

summer's words from Christine

Dear Shah,

Thank you for the short story: I will read it shortly. I have also finally downloaded the attachment you sent about supervisors. I can't do it from my laptop inside but I have done it now in the "study." There are many useful tips there. Hot here also. Fortunately, we are air conditioned because I have been cooking and cleaning today. Some of my old school chums, teachers with me from 1975 to 1983, are coming tomorrow for a small celebration. We meet three or four times a year and all have children about the same age. It is good to relax and chat with friends.

Yesterday, Val, Alex, Sam and I went to see "The Golden Compass." I was disappointed. It is nowhere near as satisfying as the books. The script is pretty awful, although the mise-en-scene is rather lush. None of the characters were well rounded, nor did they grip my heart. Some nice special effects and some terrible repetitious ones. It's a pity Miyazaki Hayao did not get a hold of the rights and animate the story. That would have been stupendous. Phillip Pullman's polyvalent trilogy could be done justice to in anime. However, we did have gourmet woodoven pizzas beforehand in O'Connell Street -- very tasty. We've eaten lots of icecream to counter the heat, not durian, though. My favourite is vanilla.

Cheers, Christine

The Famous Five

Dear Shah,

I probably learnt to read on Enid Blyton. When I was at primary school in Nairobi libraries were non-existent. I remember a "collection" of books contributed by parents and friends from various sources, to keep children busy when set work was done. "Five at Smugglers' Top" was my first chapter book and I smuggled it home and finished it under the bed covers with the aid of a torch. Subsequently I discovered the kids next door (a family with five or six children), had most of the author's books. I begged and pleaded to borrow them, until I had read them all. Both my brother and I adored Enid Blyton.

I also used to devour my brother's "Biggles" books, about the ace World War pilot and his adventures. These days the 'political correctness' of such stuff is suspect, but I didn't care. Appalling maybe, but such fun reading, like the "Harry Potter" books. I read all of Enid Blyton's books to Sam when he was small. Both Sam and Alex also enjoyed Arthur Ransome's "Swallows and Amazons" series, about the adventure involved in messing about with sailing boats. Blyton created two sets of children's adventures. The Famous Five -- Julian, Dick, George, Anne and Timmy the Dog -- and another set of children who went to more exotic places abroad than the Famous Five.

I forget their names, but the books were "The Castle of Adventure," "The Island of Adventure" and so on. Kiki the Parrot is the main non-human character, adding more than a touch of humour. You told me the names of the children have changed for the Malaysian version, and for Uncle Quentin the 'do not disturb I'm busy' mad, bad-tempered scientist. Somewhere I still have Sam's box of Blyton books. He liked collecting them.

Cheers, Christine

summer days gone too soon....

At last, my task in Adelaide is over.

I went to adelaide last week for my delayed graduation ceremony and I have had so much fun for the entire six days with Christine and Tristan. After twelve months since I left Adelaide, everything still remained the same as it was. Yeap, the smell of summer scent and windchime sounds in Adelaide hills. I've seen a lot of awareness growing inside myself about emotional sphere. That dynamic of structure of feeling will lay beneath inside me and it will not gonna be changed forever.

summer greetings

Hi Shah,

The weather is great at the moment, but it will be hot by the end of the week. I'll meet you at 12 noon on Thursday in the Plaza. I'm happy to take you to Raffles House afterwards. I remember the Raffles Hotel in Singapore. Not that we ever went there -- too posh. But I think you could see it from an oval near a big swimming pool where we went to watch a tattoo -- once upon a time, a long time ago. Cole has been in touch about the get together on Tuesday, after your graduation.

See you on Thursday, Cheers,Christine

Christine says:

Dear Shah,

I've just had an email from Cole saying he has some spare time 17-19 December. That is a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. Would you like to come to my place on one of those days for lunch? I think I can manage something in accordance with halal customs. Of course your friend is welcome too. Let me know what you would like to do and do not be afraid to speak out. Whatever suits you. Ask. I'm happy to pop up to uni anytime, if you would like to meet for coffee. Time and place is up to you. And if you would like to go on an excursion somewhere let me know, but there is no pressure if you are otherwise occupied. However, I have other obligations on Saturday 15 December, so that day is taken; otherwise it's up to you.

Looking forward to seeing you, Cheers,

Christine

Cole says:

Hi Shah,

Very good to hear from you. It would be great to catch up. I'm not sure about Thursday because I have interviews with students, Friday-Saturday 14-16 december I am on a film shoot, but 17-19 december I can certainly meet you! I would be very pleased to see you and talk, and hear more about your life in Melbourne. I really like Melbourne as a city, my favourite Australian city. Yes, I have been researching for my PhD. The major work will start next year and run 2008, 2009 & 2010. I have Christine's DVD, can you let her know I will bring it with me when we meet.

Cole

Summer scent from Christine

Hello Shah

Great to hear from you again. I am very glad your presentation went well and you have your conversion to PhD with no problems. I am putting theory on the back-burner for a while and beginning writing for my creative piece. I'm going ahead independently because I will have a new primary supervisor in creative writing when staffing is sorted out in the department for next year (many regular staff will not be there). Nick Prescott is still my second supervisor. I have only seen Cole in passing this year. In fact he has a DVD (Werner Herzog) of mine that I must remind him to return. It will be lovely to get together when you are in Adelaide, excursion, meal, whatever -- you say and I'll oblige. I would like to see you graduate, so be sure and reserve me a ticket if you can.

Asian Cinema is finished now and I miss the lectures and films. I loved some films by Zhang-ke, Zhang Yimou, Hou Hsiao-hsien, Kim Ki-duk and we finished with a most amusing Bollywood movie by Farah Khan called " Main Hoon Ha" (unless I have my titles muddled). But best of all I enjoyed the work of the Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami. I've watched " A Taste of Cherry", " The Wind Will Carry Us" and " White Balloon" (which he scripted but was directed by another young director, I believe). I am waiting for the library to receive more of his films, and I have put them on hold. Gotta go now and do something like work.

Cheers, Christine

entah kenapa

satu-satunya perkara yang paling tidak menyeronokkan hidup di perantauan ni ialah bila rasa sunyi dan bosan. Bila bosan satu kerja pun tak boleh jalan. pulak tu bila masuk musim summer. dah ler panas. bertambah-tambah laa kebosanan ku ini. rasa macam nak balik kampung jer. tapi nak balik pun kena fikir tiga empat kali juga. kalau setakat nak balik tambang macam dari KL ke JB tu hari-hari pun boleh. alahai, apa laa aku nak buat lepas ni. soalan interview dah selesai. proses identify responden pun dah nak hampir selesai. proposal dan approved. ethics clearance dah submitted. begitu juga dengan research permission ke EPU. satu lagi yang tak selesai. litt review.

aku jumpa terry last friday. saje nak korek siket ilmu beliau tentang litt review. kalau aku tanya chris bertambah pening kepala otak aku. dah ler rosya pun sibuk tanya benda yang sama. lagi laa bertambah berpinar-pinar bijik mata aku. nasib baik terry bagi a few tips. nampaknya aku kena ke library esok. oh, dah pukul 2.30 pagi. dan aku tak boleh tidur. susu dah segelas aku minum tapi tetap tak boleh tidur. dah dua filem aku tonton. mr bean dan in the mood for love. best. tapi bila rasa diri keseorangan semua jadi tak seronok. tiket ke Adelaide pun dah ambil. tak sabar nak jumpa cole dan christine. pasti banyak perkara yang boleh dibualkan.

berborak dengan miss sepanjang petang musim panas. sekurang-kurangnya dapat menghiburkan hati. satu-satunya member baik yang jauh di mata dekat di hati. membesar bersama-sama di kawasan luar bandar. sama-sama berjalan kaki ke sekolah sampai kulit pun naik rentung. tapi itu semua cerita dulu dan cerita itu kami kekalkan untuk dikongsi segala rasa pahit dan manis. jika masa boleh diputar semula mahu saja kembali ke zaman itu. belajar betul-betul dan menjadi seorang profesional di usia yang muda. walaupun tak praktikal apa salahnya pasang angan-angan. oh cepat betul masa berlalu. dah pun hampir 22 tahun. masa yang begitu panjang hanya untuk belajar.

dan dalam jangka masa itu kejayaan dan kegagalan silih berganti. ke mana pergi semua rakan sepermainan yang lain? itu kata-kata miss pada satu petang di musim panas 2007. soalan itu tidak terjawab dalam satu hari. sayang aku hanya menulis diari bermula pada tahun 1994 sehinggalah 2003. jika aku mula menulis pada tahun 1985 mungkin aku dapat menyimpan semua kenangan tersebut. tak apa. untuk generasi baru keluargaku nanti biarlah mereka bertatih menulis diari pada usia yang muda. sepatah kata Ella, "pasti aku abadikan zaman riang kanak-kanak"

selamat malam.

leganya!

hey hey hey...

GRC dah selamat....sekarang ni kena fokus utk post-GRC plak...perhaps, Chris will ask me for meeting sometimes next week to discuss another steps further in this research. Anyway, I am very happy as I did very well presentation, even though speechless sekejap in the q & a sessions. Apa pun depa puas hati, esp Dr Stephen dari NUS...siap sebut nama aku and point his finger on me waktu dia present keynote...oh bangganya...riak laa sekejap....keh keh keh...walhal research aku bukannya hebat sangat pun...mungkin it seems very ethnographic and the way I conceptualised the theoretical framework yang buat dia excited tanya lebih-lebih...

Ok lupakan GRC...aku baru jer dapat name list dari Azah - iaitu insan-insan yang digelar wanita yang menggemari televisyen drama...ada lapan orang semuanya dan rata-rata dari perlis...mak cik normah, mak cik rafida, mak cik fauziah, mak cik rokiah, mak cik misah, mak cik pura, dan mak cik Asma....alahai...nama pon tahap mak cik2 semuanya...ni yang buat aku exciting nak berjumpa dan bertentang mata...harap2 laa semua mak cik2 ni boleh bercakap dan ramah-tamah...bimbang jugak aku nanti jumpa semua jadik patung cendana tak bercakap-cakap...

Oh ya sebelum aku lupa, waktu GRC dengan tak sengajanya aku terjumpa Allison Wootherspoon, bekas penyelia sewaktu aku study kat Flinders dulu...memang lawak sampai dia pun terperanjat tengok aku study kat sini....apa lagi dia terus peluk cium sebab terlalu excited...memang lawak...terus aku teringat Cole dan Helen...Al beritahu aku Helen mengandung lagi untuk anak yang kedua..Cole pula semakin sibuk sekarang...dah lama rasanya aku tak e-mail Cole dan Helen....Al tanya sama ada aku akan buat filem lagi sepanjang aku di Melbourne...sorry laa Al, aku dah tak larat ler....dengan timbunan buku yang boleh membunuh sesiapa kalau jatuh kat atas kepala ni, macam mana laa aku nak buat filem?

tak sabar aku nak terbang ke Adelaide...walaupun ramai yang marah kt aku sbb tak pergi ke benua lain, tapi aku rasa selesa kat OZ...other than that, I learn a lot of things here and I will never stop....Kak Mira will be here somewhere around end of this year and Puan Liza plus Kak siti as well....hmmm...what would you think if we build another school of thought in term of cultural and media studies in the dept? this time an australian school of thought - that would be fun, hey! Ok laa..cukup laa takat ni...letih ler...nak rehat jap..ta!