(as i write this crowds are gasping and screaming and ahhhing at every move in the state of origin game. i can hear each dramatic moment of play, as it ripples through the neighbourhood. i watched the last game, and it was fun, you can't help but be swept up in the excitement; people dress in blue and maroon and have their faces painted - stays on for days, not so nice - you sit down with 2 others and 20 turn up, you become part of a crowd, in that way you can with sport)
(anyway, whenever i watch the team i go for loses.)

but i skipped sport tonight to watch 'ripley's game'. i've seen some good dvds lately; 8 1/2 (beautiful, whatever else); the thin red line (which makes it how many times..and i could watch it again); and ripley's game. i wasn't actually too keen on seeing the film - dying man faced with moral challenge? reeks of sentimentality - but the movie is excellent, clever, unexpectedly complex, and obsessed with ripley: everything really only happens to draw out another feature of his character, every event revolves around him; and you become sucked in, amused and fascinated and obsessed. and that beautiful, stylised world. monday i wanted to return to the czech republic (amadeus); today i wanted to haunt italy.

but in goroka? it's been warm here lately; nudging 26 degrees at the peak of the day, even.