Some Ebonies and Ivories.

Last week was a bit of a downer for the Aussies; we lost the Ashes cricket series to England, the Bledisloe cup (rugby) to New Zealand, and came in 4th at Miss Universe. Obviously some sorrows needed to be drowned in some extra-curricular activies, so last Friday my dear Matilda, Naomi, and I decided to go on a bit of an adventure.

Instead of hitting up the local pub after work, we trekked all the way out (via a few buses and a few more trains) to the remote suburb of Castle Hill to hear David Helfgott play the piano.

If the name doesn't sound familiar, maybe the movie will:

(The film made about David's life, which Aussie actor Geoffrey Rush won an Oscar for in '96.)

The first we saw of the man himself was this sight:

Between each piece, he would run off the stage, disappear behind the curtain for a minute, then race enthusiastically back out, give everyone a thumbs up, sit down, and start playing again.


Never in my life have I heard the piano the way he plays it - delicately, flawlessly, and humming along the whole time.

Epic night.