Yesterday on Gertrude Street– more new stores, more new cafés. Some longtime favourites caught my eye though. This nice blocky window at Industria (202) ... and Jethro (upstairs at 67), who regards me rather circumspectly.

This week: Emmanuelle Béart.

I took this image while trying to see what I look like when I'm asleep.

You: What?

Me: I know.

Y: I thought the reason you never attend to your blog is that you don't have time because you are doing many very interesting things.

M: I know.

A new project and a new site, thanks to Reuben.

And an older (much-loved) site, with a new format, and many new contributors (including me).

I live in the inner-city.

Somebody in my family turned ONE last year and there was a party, for which the guest of honour and I collaborated to produce the invitations.

I supplied the paper and trays of paint ...

... The artist stripped off and set to work, using all of his twenty little digits to create these masterworks.

All party attendees were duly impressed, and I enjoyed many congratulations for the idea.

Some weeks later I realised that it had no doubt been inspired by these invitations to a performance of 'new music' by Melbourne's Quiver ensemble.

Not only is my friend B. the group's talented flautist, she is an excellent sometimes designer whose work has a light, deft touch. She and another Quiver musician spent an afternoon sending ink onto large sheets of nice stock, that were subsequently cut to size and stamped with B.'s logotype.

I can't even take credit for the paint-splattered floor (seen here beneath the cards), although I did rip up the hideous carpet that had kept them hidden for who-knows-how-many-years.

Child: What's the film about? 
Adult: It's wonderful.

According to my friend Jo, according to the stars, my year really starts today. Bienvenue 2011.

C: I hope it's good this time. 
A: It's magnificent.

Accordingly, a new header.

And some pictures and lines from one of my favourite films - Victor Erice's, El espiritu de la colmena (The Spirit of the Beehive), which I'm championing again (after some relatively unsuccessful periods of championing in the past). It is a beautiful work. Years ago, when I watched it for the first and second times, I found a blank notebook for it - wrote 'The Spirit of the Beehive' on the opening page - and planned to make it into a ballet.

These illustrations, used in the opening titles, were drawn by the film's little star, Ana Torrent - who was seven years old at the time.

Speaking of bees ... A petition to aid their plight, here.