Eisteddfod update
The Albury Eisteddfod went well this year. I was really happy that some friends came to add to the crowd on the Tuesday night, otherwise I would have been playing alone! My performances went really well on Tuesday but I need to work a bit more on my Black Note Etude for the Wagga Eisteddfod (haven't played there in years!). So now that there's a bit over a month until then, I can get back into my fitness, which is pretty much just for tennis. Anyone know of some good Fitness News sites for me? Every time I think about exercising these days, I think back on when I would find ways to lose weight the easy way - quick fix solutions like tablets or simply go to the gym but eat Maccas afterwards haha! I never would have looked at changing my diet back then...the HCG Diet would have looked interesting though. I'm sure there would be some skeptics that are against the HCG diet, just like my Powerbalance band too (another story about that later 
)
July Update
The last few weeks of July and early August brings the eisteddfod to Albury-Wodonga. I've noticed that my contemporaries has slowly faded away from the competition (everyone getting older or I just don't want to grow up?). I still enjoy playing because it's probably the only time in the year where I get to perform what I've been working on. I'm going to enjoy listening to the others in the Chopin Piano comp though. The age bracket for the section I'm in is 14 years and over, I think there are about 4-5 other competitors. So anyway, apart from the practise and my nervous wait for next week, I'm also entered in the Wagga eisteddfod. I haven't been there in a while so it will be great to here what other talent and hardworking musicians are out there in country NSW.
July also brought my 1 year work anniversary. The place is awesome and I've good people. I even managed to score an invite to the social club function last week. Meeting colleagues outside the workplace is always fun and gives you a chance to interact in a different environment. So anyway, I leave you with a few photos of the evening and my eisteddfod pieces (along with youtube links to my favourite performances).
Bach BWV 848
Chopin Trois Nouvelle Etude No.1 in F minor
Gershwin Prelude 1
Khachaturian Toccata
Chopin Nocturne No. 20 in C # minor
Chopin Etude Op. 10 No. 5
Social Function
I love Paddies!
I guess we were tired?
World’s most powerful flashlight
I was just reading the OCAU frontpage and I saw a link to the world's most powerful flashlight. The torch is unbelievable. With a battery of only 15 minutes, you'd think it would be hardly worth the money or effort getting one. But wait until you see what this baby can do. It can fry eggs, burn paper, light matches...anything destructive really as well as turning night into day. Take a look for yourself.
Get A Grip On Tennis American Coaches
My brother Andrew told me that an American couple will be working with GetAGripOnTennis for a year. They are such a lovely couple from Seattle, Washington if I can recall correctly. We have been having regular hits of tennis which has also been good for my game also - more so for exercise than anything else! I hope they enjoy their time here just as I enjoyed my time in the US. You can visit their blog here.
Kristen and Dylan
Stuck in San Francisco
So this morning I got a call from my auntie telling me that they had stayed overnight in San Francisco. Apparently stupid United Airlines delayed their flight in Denver so they missed the connecting flight back to Australia!
They are currently on standby for a possible flight back tonight at 10:55 PM local time depending on seat availability. Otherwise, they have a guaranteed flight at 10:55 PM local time tomorrow (Saturday!). Everything is kind of messed up right now because now they will have to re-schedule a flight from Sydney -> Albury.
I hope things get sorted out soon and I will keep everyone posted.
Nikki Blonsky and Zac Efron in Australia
I only just realized that the Hairspray Premier in Australia was last week. Pia actually was on George St when Zac and Nikki were at the cinema there. I've posted some youtube videos of an interview from Rove - I was in tears laughing from this one, Rove is just the epidemy of sarcasm! And also I've posted a Sunrise interview which I'm yet to watch because I've got class in a few minutes. I've just posted these up for my reference and for any Hairspray fans out there!
Rove Interview
Sunrise Interview
Nikki holds on for a "short" one