The sexy plie, the piston, and the pin-up...

For some reason every time I wake up the day after a show I'm always aching all over. I think the rush of performance blocks out any pain receptors and I'll push myself much harder on stage, resulting in my waking up with muscle aches. But it's a satisfied sort of pain and after a hot shower all that was on my mind was food (surprise, surprise).

Not much is open in Hobart on a Sunday in the city centre as Torsten and I found when we went exploring for food. We found one of those diner style places that looked like it never closes where they do a reasonable breakfast. Nothing mind blowing but we were hungry and I didn't have much time before I had to get back and put my stuff together for the afternoons dance classes and tutorials. Next time I'll head straight for North Hobart as I was reliably informed by the girls that that's the best place on a Sunday for food.

I was teaching a basics class at Tasmania's Pole Dancing and Burlesque Academy and was amazed how quickly the ladies of Hobart picked up the choreography. It was a very sexy tease to a bit of Screamin' Jay Hawkins and they were totally rocking out to it with their boa's and gloves.

Both Grace Cherry and Lucy Sky Diamond had one to one tutorials with me and I tell you what, I can't wait to see more from these ladies. Asides from being just the nicest girls you'll ever meet, they are extremely talented. I'll be watching with some interest at where their performances go.

So with a full afternoon and evening of classes finished can you imagine what mind was on? Before I left I got Grace & Sarah's recommendations on where the best fish & chips were and so that's how Torsten and I came to find Fish Frenzy down at the harbour. It was absolutely freezing cold in the loveliest way when we hopped out of the cab and bundled into the very laid back fish & chips restaurant. Glass of rough red, great chips, prawn cutlets, calamari & fish. One fish we liked, the other not so much but unfortunately I can't remember the names of them!

This was followed by an icy walk around the harbour to walk off our very full belly's. Having walked past the Art Hotel I made a mental note to stop in there next time. Their dessert menu looked wonderful.

Then all the way back around to Salamanca which at night time in the cold with the fairy lights in the trees reminded me so much of Berlin at Christmas. Followed by caramelized fig, green apple, lemon and peanut butter fudge gelato (2 flavours each - I would recommend the peanut butter fudge) at Cargo and I was feeling a strange sense of contentment as I trundled off to bed for another night's beauty sleep.

Hollywood (finally) Revealed

Bella with Lucy Sky Diamond in background.

Photography by Tor b551.com

Show time!

So we bundled into Tigerlily's car for the trip to Franklin. Thankfully Grace Cherry had taken my costumes and props the night before so I only had a pile of make-up and hair bits and bobs to cram in the boot.

This trip was to be our only opportunity to see some of the Tasmanian countryside and the trip to Franklin was absolutely beautiful. When we arrived at the Palais Theatre there was a mist rolling in from the hills our enormous dressing room overlooked the River. One other highlight was finding out that Chicken Feed is the place to get glue on crystals and Lady GaGa Cds. Thanks girls!

The usual preparations ensued, hair dramas, eyelash fixing, make up applying, etc, etc. Meeting all the other performers was wonderful and it was a real variety show. We had a magician, Bob Buchanan for an MC, Lucy Sky Diamond on aerials, Sarah Muir on pole, tango dancers, cabaret performer, all the girls of Miss Kitty's Meow including Tigerlily and Grace Cherry plus Scarlett Jezabel and the bestest stage manager this side of the equator!

Considering the stage was slightly raked I was concerned as when I did a sound check and run through earlier in the night it was tilted enough to put me off balance. That and my dress fell off. Which I appreciate is the point of the act but only when I've carefully timed it. So I was a little nervous going out for my first act. I needn't of worried. The show went perfectly. And I mean perfectly, which never happens! Usually you come off stage thinking, 'I could have done that move better,' or something of the sort but I was so happy with both acts and was on a complete high when I dashed into the wings to put my dressing gown on (a very pretty one mind you!) for final bows.

I was also lucky enough to be waiting in the wings for my final act when I was able to watch Scarlett and Grace do their duet fan dance. Fan-bloody-tastic. I know, groan, pardon the pun, but it was. The colour, the grace, the cheekiness. I just loved it.

Other highlights for me were Tigerlily's bubble act which was absolutely adorable with an excellent use of props and Lucy Sky Diamond with her trapeze act. She has inspired me to finally commit to creating a trapeze performance of my own, what a girl!

Torsten of course was snapping away which is where the shot above is from, preparing for the first act. I've also popped a couple of pics up on my facebook fan page and others are visible at his blog including a few lovely architectural shots of the theatre.

So feeling somewhat elated we all bundled back into Tigerlily's car for the scary ride home. That beautiful mist from earlier had turned into a fog so thick we had to crawl at 40km the whole way home. Some crazy cab driver shot past us like a bat out of hell while we were on one of the most impossibly thick spots where we couldn't even see where the sides of the road or lanes were. I don't know if he had x-ray vision or something.

Later we found out that Grace Cherry's cab driver was also driving like a maniac all the way back to Hobart. Seriously people, if you are paying for it, you have a right to tell them to slow down. Not a fun way to end a night thinking you might die at the hands of a kamikaze driver.

Anyway, a brief mar on an otherwise perfect evening.

I absolutely collapsed into bed with an enormous sense of well being and looking forward very much to a sleep in!

Soggy Salamanca

Soggy Feet

The next day was a planned trip to the Salamanca markets. But oh how the heavens had opened! Wishing bitterly that I had one of my beautiful coats and a good pair of boots, we gave up on the markets after my shoes filled with water. It just wasn't browsing weather.

Torsten bought an umbrella that broke the same day from a lady selling sunnies and umbrellas. All bases covered but I wonder if everything she sells is just as dodgy.

We did find Tigerlily manning one of the stalls, looking like she'd much rather be in a warm bar with a good cocktail. Also found a fabulous stall selling printed hoodies and t-shirts. If the weather wasn't so rubbish I might have tried one on and bought it. They had the cutest prints. One of my favourites was a black hoody with the characters from Where the wild things are.

I was also utterly charmed by one of the bartenders at a pub where I'd ducked in to find the loos. After shaking off the water and getting my umbrella under control I felt rather dishevelled, but he took a look and smiled, 'You look great'. Very kind, but I think perhaps a little white lie!

Anyway, Torsten and I gave up and went to get lunch. Usually there is simply no time to eat dinner before a show when I'm performing, and even if I had time I wouldn't. The nerves, excitement and concentration don't leave me with much of an appetite, so I figured I may as well have a decent lunch. Holy moly did we eat.

In this cafe we had memories of the kind of place our mum might have taken us, long before cafe's were trendy in Brisbane. The kind of cafe that old ladies went to in Myer. The food was great though, and very reasonably priced.

I believe it was called Bojangles or something similar, and was located in a mall. The menu was unnerving in its use of BJ as an abbreviated title for the store but nonetheless I would have recommended the place for a no-nonsense sort of meal.

After hauling our overstuffed bellies back to the hotel to get all our stuff together it was onwards to the show!

Hobart, how do I love thee...let me count the ways!

Here I come!

So...yeah I've officially fallen head over heels for Hobart. It was like someone blended the best bits of Germany, England and Australia and crammed them onto an island with every possible eco-system. Incredible.

On the first day after we flew in over the countryside with the most fantastic view. It's all coves and bays and rolling hills. After checking into our hotel, my brother photographer Torsten Baumann (of www.b551.com fame) and I did a walk around the center of the city. I was struck by the architecture...and the bitterly cold wind! But mostly the architecture, which wasn't difficult to spot as we had to stop every 5 minutes to take photos.

Brisbane has always had a habit of tearing anything with a bit of history. Anything interesting and beautiful is torn down to make way for a few more yuppie shops and apartments. Or historical buildings are left to decay until they are no longer salvageable. The people of Bris rally against this kind of insensitivity to historical beauty but it is often to no avail.

So to walk about a town where the architecture is so eclectic is incredible. Old stone, London style terraced, mock Tudor, cottage, mixed with 60s and modern buildings. But all different. The fact that the city is built on a big slope adds to the visual charm.

Friday night was dinner with the girls at Rain Check Lounge. The girls, and by that I mean the beautiful and talented ladies of Miss Kitty's Meow (headed up by Grace Cherry) made me feel right at home.

The restaurant by the way was a great Tapas place. Mixed crowd, very relaxed, professional service, interesting (in a good way) decor and fantastic food.

Anyway, asides from the giggling at blown up classified ads of the 'Busty Blonde. Very Friendly.' sort that decorated the restaurant walls the girls got me up to speed with a little shop talk about the impending show. When we finally faced the icy cold wind to head off to bed I felt completely assured that it was going to run brilliantly.

I also learnt with some jealousy that Tigerlily's boyfriend is a chef. The girl has the down-low on every eating spot worth visiting! Plus Torsten found a place called Pretzel World when he popped out for a fag, which pretty much sealed the deal on my opinion of Hobart.

Next installment...show night!