
Author: yggdrasille
Trim the Cat
While looking for more cat-themed paintings, I came across what is considered to be Australia’s most famous feline: a black-and-white cat called Trim, who accompanied explorer Matthew Flinders on his voyage around the coastline of Australia. Trim was a true seafaring cat, born aboard the ship in 1799 and made a favourite for his grit, intelligence and cheeky personality.

The plaque at the Mitchell Library in Sydney has this moving dedication written by Flinders in memory of his cat:
The best and most illustrious of his race
The most affectionate of friends,
faithful of servants,
and best of creatures
He made the tour of the globe, and a voyage to Australia,
which he circumnavigated, and was ever the
delight and pleasure of his fellow voyagers
Top Ten Tuesday – Book Villains

Villains: you love them, you hate them, your favourite books wouldn’t be the same without them. This week’s topic from That Artsy Reader Girl is dedicated to the best of the worst.
As an aside, when making this list I had to separate the literary villains from their film versions. Someone like Hannibal Lecter from The Silence of the Lambs is memorable to me mainly because of Anthony Hopkins’ portrayal rather than the original novel, so these are my favourite picks based on books alone.
Candlelight: Best of Hans Zimmer @ Collingwood Town Hall

Though I went in with modest expectations, this string quartet tribute to Hans Zimmer turned out to be delightful, and the venue wasn’t too shabby either.
1001 Frames – Film Review

An experimental thriller shot in Iran, 1001 Frames feels universal as it explores the abuse of power that could have happened anywhere in the world. A good pick from the Melbourne International Film Festival line-up.
Top Ten Tuesday – Reading in Paintings

It is Non-bookish Freebie at That Artsy Reader Girl. I thought I’d still keep it somewhat bookish while branching out into the world of art, with ten paintings depicting reading.
The Night of the Hunter – Film Review

This 1955 Southern Gothic thriller turned out to be a lot more bizarre than I anticipated, an eerie blend of film noir and children’s fairy tale, with a villain for the ages.
Mr Mercedes by Stephen King – Book Review

Stephen King’s supernatural-free foray into crime fiction may not offer anything new, but I still enjoyed his take on a good old-fashioned thriller.
Marlon Williams: Ngā Ao E Rua / Two Worlds – Film Review



