My husband opened the papers on Wednesday morning and exclaimed, "you see", he said, "If we had gone to the football last night, you would have had something to write about this weekend". It's true and it's my fault, if I had gotten into gear on Tuesday night, according to the papers we would have witnessed what sounds to have been a superb advertisement for the re-established DST National Premier Football League.
The local news reports of the game that we missed describing how QAF FC beat Tunas FC 5-4, in a high scoring 9-goal football fiesta! Apparently there was dramatic winning goal scored in the dying minutes of the group stage match, and passionate, noisy fans.
So instead of a nice piece on the depth of interest, organisation and talent in local football now what do I have to write about?
Well, in the overseas online papers, Ms. Adelle Neary, 3rd secretary at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta appears to have gone above and beyond the call of duty in advancing the cause of Australian foreign policy in Indonesia. The Australian papers have gone so far as to say that she has done what the Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has failed to do, that is win the hearts and minds of the people of Indonesia.
Adelle has become a singing sensation on the show 'Asing Star' or 'Foreign Star', a singing competition where foreigners living in Indonesia sing Malay songs in front of a live studio audience and get judged by a panel of celebrities. Alongside the Australian diplomat, there is a Korean youngster, a leggy blonde from Brazil, a man from Chile, a Japanese lady, and a South African teen, amongst others who go on stage and sing and perform various Malay songs in some alternate American Idol.
I think what got Ms. Neary into the finals of 'Asing Star' is that she chose the famous Indonesian folk song, "Bengawan Solo" and performed it in sixties style tempo, dress, hair and make-up. There is a must watch YouTube clip of Adelle singing Bengawan Solo, gamely jiggling away for an appreciative crowd.
From someone who is fluent in the Malay language, I must say that she is not half bad. Apart from her perfect Bahasa Indonesia, she seems to be really enjoying herself. It is especially endearing to watch Adelle and all the other contestants attempt to break down stereotypes. The stereotypical Aussie in Indonesia invariably being intoxicated and/or unable to speak Bahasa!
Speaking of stereotypes, there is an excellent British television series about the inner workings of the upstairs and downstairs lives of the pre-first world war residents of the fictional stately manor in Yorkshire, Downton Abbey that has captured the hearts of my husband and I.
Downton Abbey recounts the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants in Edwardian England. I think what many people find interesting is the studied elegance of the characters amidst a world of strict social decorum and hierarchy.
All the while, with the impending World War and other upheavals, there is a sense among the inhabitants that they understand that they are living in a golden age that may not last forever. The actress Dame Maggie Smith, who plays the elderly Dowager Countess Lady Violet has the best lines, and sums it up best when she meets the youthful heir to the title, who (shock horror) has a job. She looks up timorously and asks in all seriousness, "What is a weekend?" as naturally those who don't need to work don't need a weekend.
I hope you've had a nice weekend folks.
@emmagoodegg
No illustration this week, Cuboi's tied up.
For the online version click here.
Comments