When the Cheshire emerges...

Ok, so if we go on Sydney time that means the working day has started. 8 hours to go until my fate is sealed. Worst thing is I'm expecting another important call so I'm going to be on edge all day.

Can you imagine if I get a call from the ABC at 5 to 5? Now that would be the most brilliant thing in the world. Either way, after today I can't worry anymore. But fingers are still crossed!

Ok, so there's only a few days left to anxiously wait for a phone call/email from ABC3 if we were considered to be suitable as new presenters. I'm getting more and more nervous. It's unlikely we'll be considered because of the sheer enormity of interest - over 5000 people applied!!! But there's still a glimmer of hope. It's only Tuesday night. Have just under 72 hours!

It's cool that they keep our details on file for two years after though, I'd love to work for the ABC in just about any capacity. But the op to work on ABC3 would be amazing. At least Penny and I can say we gave it a red-hot go. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, so I guess what rejects you gives you more experience doesn't it?

Last day as an official teenager ('twenteen' is a debatable term but one I will stick by) and really wasn't sure how to go out with a bang. Was cold and wet outside so couldn't reeeally do much. Biggest idea was throwing toys around at Toys 'R' Us to get a kick out of trashing the old workplace... That's fairly mean though, most of the order's changed by now.

Managed to watch the rest of Weird Science, a John Hughes offering that while not as good as The Breakfast Club et al (but really, how can you beat THAT?) managed to be less serious about teen tribulations and more about the laughable side and the ludiocrity of growing up. By the way is ludiocrity actually a word?

That at least managed to cheer me up; before I read about the 17 year old guy that beat Aussie Jesse Martin's record of sailing around the world solo youngest. He said that teenagers should be looked at within a better light... Well, at least those not on World's Strictest Parents should be anyway. But I never did anything adventurous like that. Heck, I never threw one of the typical house parties, it just wasn't how I rolled. Have achieved a lot but there are some things I'll never know.

Does being 20 mean I have to grow up? Hope not, I'd like to think there'a still plenty of childishness in me for the right moments! Think one of the things that's useful for is being excited about birthdays. Why do we fear it more as we get older? Why do we let the fear take control? Humph, not sounding like a carefree teen there am I?

So we come to Sunday. The trip home. I had moved out of my room on Saturday night to accommodate for family friends who were passing through to Melbourne; Tigger's looking at me probably knowing I shouldn't be in Mel's bed. Felt sad as I left the house, it had a real homely feel and I'd enjoyed my stay. Glad they kept the food from the care package I brought up, otherwise Mum would've killed me!

The road trip with Mel ended up being an awesome day. Took our time for a safer trip, Mel had promised we'd go through Penola so we stopped to see Mary Mackillop's school. We'd gotten there during mass (being a Sunday morning) and as such was the only time the tour wasn't open. Pity, but I did get a few photos through the window. This is the chick they want to consider a saint. She taught in country SA. That's unreal. Penola's lovely, I got coconut roughs from the sweet shop that I can feel rotting my teeth and we encountered a headless bride that moved and talked. It was almost lifesize; she was holding her head by the hair and if you pushed the button on her hand she moved from side to side saying some weirrrrd shit. "I just wanted this day to be... perfect *sobs*". It was so loud, and in a secluded part of the store it was the creeeepiest thing in the world. Wish I took a photo...

Passed a lovely cottage just outside Padthaway, Mel had always wanted to have a look. We turned back and went in the estate. It was for Padthaway Wines and we ended up spending an hour in their cellar on a wine tasting journey. The woman was amazingly knowledgable and we learnt a lot. Not to mention that the wine was incredibly good. They sell their stuff at the Ed's cellar so think there will be a trip there in the near future.

Weird guy in Tailem Bend's Subway that spilt Coke all over the door was the only other major thing. Lotta singing, lotta chips and almond bread consumed and some hours later we were back. Still feel weird being home. Although I was excited to see that my tickets for My Sister's Keeper had come in the mail. And as I was alerted to by Mel I've never been away from my family this long. Good to see familiar faces. Missed everyone. Found myself back at Macca's with the girls just before (minus Nav who's left for Singapore. Major sadness.) and it almost feels like I never left. Just feel I had a lot of stories to tell and something to show for it. Great experience, so so happy I went down there for my internship. Would gladly go again. Hope Erin has a good week for hers this week! Feel a bit worldly having travelled a bit more than normal in 2009. Although that only stretches across two states I've learnt different things on every trip and it helps me grow. The trip to the Mount most certainly did.

Nelly Furtado put it so well! I'm going to try and condense this into the shortest nutshell possible so it's not too much of a windy bore.

So I'm home now, still awake after a long day. My weekend was awesome and I can't believe my Mt Gambier trip is all over. I was slack writing last night because there wasn't enough time! However, I did the following:

Went to the community markets they hold every Saturday morning... bought a 'lucky rock' for $1 (!) but was shattered that the stall I would've spent a fortune at was closed. It had a selection of 300+ movie posters and one of Charlie Chaplin's 'City Lights' was displayed. Was practically in tears. Total jip. Mel took me to their main op shop and was heavily tempted to buy a dress but stopped myself. Discovered I was on the hunt for a beanie (to watch the hockey later on) and Mel found a vodka Cruiser one that was so classy. Er, not. Bought Mel a Wicker Bear collectable to add to her collection from an antique store, bought myself my souvenir pin (yay!), and then there was the Cave Gardens...

Mt Gambier has numerous sinkholes, this one in the middle of the town. A real shame that someone had dumped a rubbish bin off the lookout, it's such a beautiful form of nature. These male tourists with kids were also there but wasn't really paying attention to them until the Scottish accent asks me where I go after I die. Uh, what? I thought you were mocking preachers when you gave Mel the pamphlet. Got to be kidding me. Said I hope there's an upstairs, gives me the pamphlet too and we skidaddle right outta there. How uncomfortable.

See Mel's bridal dress, no time to try it on because a chick Mel happens to know was being helped and gave us daggers... must've heard Mel saying she'd hate to be a pregnant bride. As I found out, that's the Mount for ya. Met fellow bridesmaid Petra for the first time with her bf, 4 of us went shopping in 'the mall' (their Centro) and I found a beanie! Well, one of the cool hat-beanies from Just Jeans, it's awesome. Lunch was at Sorrento's, chicken risotto = amazing. Great great food.

Other sights included the Centenary Tower (but only the base, it was raining so we couldn't make the trek up for the view), Valley Lake and surrounds (in which we were inside a VOLCANO!). Mel was the most knowledgable tour guide, she told me about the lava rocks, the lake, the histories, it was so great. Even personal stuff like her schools kept me occupied. Sat night was James' hockey game - WestPort vs Redbacks (in which came his first goal in 3 years - to say both he and us went nuts was an understatement). Quite fun although we were in the minority of supporters and the score was 3-3. Would like to see more hockey. Found out the whole Kelly family's played for West at some point, it's in the blood!

Ended the day losing my American Pie virginity. Not enlightened or proud but now I don't have to face people who can't believe I haven't seen such a generic film. Thought it'd be funnier - Sex Drive was hilarious. I thought AP started the trend...

I'm done. That's it. And I happen to be really sad about it. Last day at Win today was filled with excitement, gossip and major last-minute drama.

The rest of yesterday proved quite insightful. Said my thanks to Stuart coz he wasn't there today, he specifically said I was 'refreshing' because the 2nd yr Melbourne journo student was a disaster - had no idea and didn't want to be there. On the other hand I structure stories and handle myself well and he was impressed. Excellent. Grey's finale was SO sad, still managed to cry although I knew what was happening, but that was balanced by the hilarity of my host family who are very entertaining.

Last night's minimum was -1 degrees. So waking up to 2 degree cold and ice on Mel's car was to be expected. Get to the newsroom and newsreader Sharny is acting Chief of Staff. Talk about a lot on your plate. She also did three stories for the day... MY story was on the Blue Lake BMX Club who have 16 ppl going to the World Champs, which are being held in Adelaide next week. It was pretty neat, I spoke to a guy in his 30s and 2 11 yo girls - most of them are kids. Did a really cool stand-up with the bikes whizzing past me on the track bumps and got a decent story. Sharny didn't change any of my structure and was impressed with how I work independently. I was repeatedly told how impressive I was, surprised my ego didn't go into overdrive. Mel and I have been the best of the lot so far! But it's a good thing, means if I keep in touch I won't be such a pain in being persistent for a job.

Got my DVD with the stories on it so I'm pretty chuffed. But my goodbyes to a few of the crew were a bit awkward because the bulletin was going to air with fear of a possible lawsuit. One story had a supposedly defamatory shot but the whole bulletin would've had to be pulled if it had to be edited. So major drama. In the middle of my day was lunch (hot dog w/cheese and a dim sim for $3 a steal) and another wander past the Blue Lake where I met a solo Brazilian traveller. Took a photo for him. He was friendly. On my walk back a guy was scrubbing the golden arches that were spray painted on the footpath. Yes, I'm talking the Maccas logo here. My day ended with meeting some of Mel's extended family over dinner and a broken vodka bottle...

Not that anyone cares, but my dressy shoes are making my toes sore. Pain is beauty in looking glam for the cameras. I'm not actually going to BE in front of the camera in tonight's bulletin, but you have to keep up appearances! Although my mug is invisible, I am involved in TWO of the stories. That's one whole story more than yesterday!

Had an abrupt awakening this morning when I felt some weight suddenly on my bed. Open my eyes to see these big eyes looking at me. Casey had decided to become my personal alarm clock - I half screamed and both Casey and Tigger scurried out of the room. How the hell did the cats get in my room when the door was closed?! And not to mention it was 7am - but that ended up being a blessing in disguise, I needed that extra time up. Found out later that Tigger can actually reach up and pull the door handles down. Smart bugger. Thought I was getting used to living with pets...

So to my stories! Went into the main street of Mt Gambier this morning to get some vox pops (general public opinions in front of the camera) on what people think of the proposed laws to crush hoon drivers' seized cars. Wasn't too hard actually, most were keen on speaking to me and I got a good mix of people. Some little kids missed out on their TV opportunity because their mum flat-out refused to go on camera. Poor buggers, they just wanted to be famous. All the story is is pretty much these voxys... I just say 2 pars before and after them to tie it all up. Got some good quotes though, and I apparently did a good job!

That was in between my sports story (!), covering hockey results from the weekend because Kristy was away again today. They spread it out here because there's not much mid-week sporting news in these parts. Stuart asked me if I liked sports (uh, YES!) and I was set to do a netball story. Mentioned I'd done Sports Journalism at uni and after I admitted I wasn't keen on netball he switched me to hockey! I had fragments of footage from the WestPort v Tigers Div1 men's nail-biter and a contact number to find out how the game went down. I didn't even know where the teams were based! Turns out the contact was WestPort's manager and they lost the game (3-4...) so I felt bad when I asked him about good players in the opposition... awkward.

There was only one of the goals caught on camera so I was struggling to find good footage. The info I got on WestPort's best player being sent off twice was awesome but we had no visuals!!! So I did the best I could with what I had and I'll be seeing how it all turned out soon... got good constructive criticism as well, I had made it more print and less TVish by not having it chronologically. He kept practically all my wording though, just switched it around.

Final of Grey's tonight, can't wait to sit down and have a glass of wine and enjoy it! I'm shocked that it's Thursday already though, that means I only have 1 day of story-making left! And Lennon's! Sadness. I'm really having fun here. Lennon's is a great foodie too - $2 Chiko roll for a late lunch hit the sweet spot!

And that is the best compliment I can give in these Edward-obsessed times. HP6 was amazing. The best yet. Funny with the increase in romance, a total prat in Cormac McLaggen who I'd forgotten about until rediscovering the book last week, and a really well condensed and flowing plot.

A sold-out session in front of the Oatmill Cinema's biggest screen meant we had to line up for good seats the old school way. No allocated seats, it's all about the dedication in these parts. Wasn't long ago that city folk were the same...

I swear every single person sighed at the end because they wanted more. Best one yet. I for one can't WAIT to see it again. I want my chance to be an extra in The Deathly Hallows dammit!

On a different note, went to get late dinner at the Red Rooster, we thought it was closed and almost had a fit. I'm talking 8:30pm here. We got in to order though and because they had just mopped, Mel thought the slippery floor would be useful to recreate the moonwalk. We must've looked so cool for the teenage kids that had walked in, doing the slick moves and ruining their cleaned floors in one go. Ahahaha. Oops.

Oh btw, I DID see a possum last night at the sinkhole. Just one. But it could well have killed us for the apple pieces we were feeding it. Anyway, so I'm in the newsroom atm, this is usually the boring part of the day because journos are writing up their stories. I only had one to do so I'm done. Could have a late lunch but I'm lazy and don't wanna ask if I can actually venture out. The point is that I've done a story!!!!! Sure, it's not hard-hitting news but it's hopefully still awesome.

Knew today was going to be productive. Parkinson was interviewed on Sunrise and his journalist tips were a good omen. Plus I was entering day 3 and figured it'd just be cruel if I hadn't had a chance by now. Get here, Kristy (sports chick) hasn't shown up. We find out at 2 or so that she's been in the hospital waiting line all day, poor thing. I should do an investigation into that, why the system's a load of crap...

While I didn't replace her with the sport, my story was on a firefighters assessment where they use breathing apparatus in smoke-filled situations. Couldn't film much inside the house they used - couldn't see more than 6 inches ahead! Their task was to get the dummies to safety and dinner plates stood in for holes in the ground... The masks were huge and they had thermal imaging cameras too. Simple fluff piece but interviewed the Regional Training Co-ordinator (yes, important) and a firefighter.

Took me 2.5 hrs to pick the footage and write it up, which is from lack of expertise/practice, but I had time. Stuart (chief of staff) looked it over, chopped and changed it but said my piece-to-camera was really good and the story was excellent. His words! Reckons he only shuffled things around and didn't have to do much. I thought he was doing a lot...

Did the voiceovers fairly quickly and that went fine. Was surprised my p-t-c went okay, did freak out to myself because I struggled when trying to write it at one point and on the field there's limited time. Glad it wasn't too important a story otherwise there would've been a different effect. I won't see the final product until I watch it back at Mel's later (yes, I'm taping it but will get it on DVD after the week) so I have no idea how it looks.

Seeing Harry Potter tonight... what a perfect way to end the day. It's been pretty a cruisy intro to TV reporting, but am hoping by Friday to get much better at structuring my stories. Practice makes perfect!

I've seen more of Masterchef these past few days than throughout the past 3 months but I can totally see how people are addicted to it. Tensions are certainly high, think I've picked the right time to tune in.

No story for me today, am hoping for tomorrow. Saw more of what I'll be doing though so I feel slightly more prepared. The system makes the scripting easy, and the editors actually do all the cutting so I don't have to sit there and do it.

Went to a farm outside of Naracoorte to see a Field Day for Prime SAMM - sheep. Their specialty was Merino sheep imported from South Africa that are primarily bred for meat instead of wool. Some of them weighed over 130 kgs and one was bought for something crazy like $5000. A family had travelled from the Mid-North to see these sheep, people were coming from all around. Also met a 12-yr-old kid in Naracoorte who's been selected for the national u-13 baseball team and is going the Cal someone world championships. Naracoorte's an hr away from Mt. Gambier so there was a lot of travelling again today.

Lunch was a quick stop at the Naracoorte bakery on the way home, awesome steak and mushroom pie. Pastry was amazing. Masterchef made us all hungry so we just had ice-cream with Ice Magic. Mmmm... But importantly on today still, saw the bulletins filmed from inside the actual studio. Sat in the sports seat for most of it, the autocues are so cool. The cameras are robotic so its only the presenter in there and they communicate through earpieces. Bit disappointed that I didn't get to read off it. Would've been fun.

In other news, the ABC3 application was SENT! I'm yet to see the final product but I trust that Penny has shown PK as an awesome duo - really, we're too cool for school. So excited since I found out about the presenting opportunity, got me through exam period and the fact I got up off my bum and did it makes me happy. Won't have to wait long to see if we were considered, will know by the 31st. Think we're going to the sinkhole again to suss out the possums. It's called the Umpherston Sinkhole!

Well, day 1 has now come and gone and I can reveal that I'm in for a lot in the next few days. Stories are definitely happening, and another chance to experience the country life has given me added interest. Win-TV at Mt Gambier cover stories as far as Kingston, Keith and Robe and they also do the newsreading for the Loxton bulletin which covers the Riverland...

My day today was fairly breezy. Went to a property in the Bray district outside of Robe where the dirt road off the highway led you nowhere for at least 5 minutes. Talk about the longest driveway ever. There'd been storm damage over the weekend that uprooted 40-yr-old pine trees and ripped a huge shed apart. This ended up being the top story (just quietly I think it was a slow news day)... It was great to see something in action though, gives me a well-deserved reminder as to why I want to do this. TV's always been up there so I'm hoping that this'll give me my best practise yet.

So the place was over an hr away. Yeah, that means I spent 2 hrs in the back of the Win van. Bumpy ride, but I became so tired I started falling asleep. This continued well into the afternoon in the office and in the control rm as i watched the newsreading. I wasn't bored though I swear!!! It was just really tiring.

Lunch was good, I navigated my way thru the streets and I ate my chicken salad roll with the Blue Lake in front of me. So peaceful. Attempted to upload a photo but that didn't work because the file was huge... Mel took me to the famous sinkhole before too but there were no possums! They were hiding, but the place is beautiful.

Ok ok, so that's all for now. Mum tried calling me only six times before so I figured I'd give an update. Until tomorrow...

I've seen more of SA this year than I have my whole life... first Kadina for the work experience at their paper and now to Mt Gambier where I'm doing my internship at Win-TV. Have a 5-6hr bus ride ahead of me. May update this again if I'm bored. But I'm kinda excited. And nervous. Still have to get ready...

Michael Jackson's ghost is roaming around Neverland. That is the freakiest shit ever. I reckon there's gotta be some truth to this - it was captured on CNN cameras live. Why would Larry King lie? And why is there another ghostly image behind Jermaine in his interview on NBC?

The most watched version (link provided) has stuff added in that adds to the creepiness of the whole thing. You don't know whether to laugh or cry. Oh man, this is not going anywhere, huh?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Am67-Sew7k

Audrey Tautou is not the only young French actress around. This is Virginie Ledoyen. So I saw three films of hers this week unexpectedly and as she has been at the forefront of well, everything, I've found out that she's one classy actress.

Oddly enough, not one of these three films was 'The Beach' (yes, the one with Leo DiCaprio). I will watch that one day though, if only for the reason of seeing how All Saints' 'Pure Shores' is used in it...

Tuesday: went to the media screening of My Friends, My Loves for CPR and didn't realise who she was until she popped up on screen. The frustration of her character was good, but I also saw a hint of a comedic side.

Thursday: saw Shall We Kiss? because I had free tickets (boo-yah! Thanks AFI!)... it's a screwball comedy, but she played it so straight! So so cool was she, seems to have a down-to-earth elegance about her, even if her hair is sometimes not that great.

Thursday night/Friday: 8 Femmes happened to be on SBS, figured 'why not make it a hat-trick?'. Now, this film has a stellar cast including Catherine Deneuve and Isabelle Huppert, and is a very kooky musical-mystery, but Ledoyen just pulled it off, no dramas. She does serious in strange environments very well and comes off differently each time. Plus her singing turn is the highlight of the solos. Not necessarily voice-wise, but fun nonetheless.

Don't get me wrong. I love Audrey Tautou. And I can say now, having seen a decent amount of French cinema, that I enjoy their films for all its love-focused stories. But it's good to discover more, and Ledoyen is great. I don't like to use the word 'classy' too much, but she really is. Think I said in one of my reviews that she typifies the strong-yet-fragile Frenchwoman. Still stand by that.

The French will probably think I'm stupid for not knowing this already, but hey, to Australia it's foreign cinema and we don't get too much of it -but we do get more French films than any other non-English countries...

I'm all Frenched out for this week. Major movie swampage indeed. But I can never stay away for too long.

Thought I'd try mobile blogging so I can blog on the go, linking everything together seems to be the key to smooth sailing! What's essentially a diary entry published to the world through an email on the phone... Alexander Graeme Bell would be astonished at how his invention has evolved and what it's created. I'm astonished by all this cool integration as it is and I live in this age! Hm. I'm keen to see how this turns out on the computer screen now...