for the first time in recent history, i voluntarily arose before nine on a sunday morning. in a last-minute decision, i booked a ticket to a session at the mwf, 'spotlight on helen garner' at ten. i decided i would be noble and go by myself, and not drag mark along with me. i had the best intentions - but as i walked out onto racecourse road, i saw that the train to the city was just pulling away from the station. then i got to the station and saw the next train was at sevsn minutes to ten and the next tram was at ten to ten, so i hoofed it back home and was rescued once again by personal super-man, who heroically roused himself from slumber and valiantly delvered me to the malthouse door in his golden chariot. the session was packed out - i got there just in time to join the queue. it was a moving session - i really respect the fact that helen garner puts so much of herself into her writing - and it ended with a reading from 'joe conque's consolation' which induced lumps in several throats, including mine. after the talk, i purchased a copy of the book and had a little chat with her, which was quite nice. i always get so nervous when talking to authors - i was left shaking like a leaf. afterward caught up with clare and set up a meeting for later on this week, then had a coffee with another friend. the rest of sunday was perfect - wandered back to the arts centre and browsed the markets (something i haven't done for ages) and caught up with marky for a late lunch. we then went to acmi and browsed some exhibitions, then ate ice cream and folded origami in fed square. a perfect day, though it was quite surreal to be sitting there and to look up and see tina's face smiling at us from the bond's billboard on the corner of swanston and flinders.