This was a pretty good party!

The party theme was from the Australian TV series Underbelly Razor.  Underbelly Razor depicted the real events of the the two rivalled vice queens (Tilly Devine a former prostitute  turned Madame coordinating Sydney’s Sex Trade and Kate Leigh a bootlegging honcho) and Sydney’s underbelly razor gangs. You can read more about it here at Wiki  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underbelly:_Razor 

When Mr Useful told me about the party and that it was going to have a huge budget and the concept was going to be the “Underbelly” theme, well, I was pretty excited to go.  Afterall, as I’ve said before, I am a tad shallow and it was never going to be a huge stretch to dress up as a 1920s hooker, heh. Unfortunately, due to a family illness, I had only a few days to prepare for this one. It also clashed with a similar event in Sydney the Gangsters and Moles Ball so by the time I hit the costume hire shops they range of 1920s style clothing was pretty picked over.  Boo!  Anyway, there was still some stuff left and the helpful girl at ACE costume hire in Petersham assisted in coordinating a suitable outfit.  She explained to me my outfit was going to be more flapper than “Underbelly” call girl because the silks and fabrics of the era do not work well in a hire costume environment, they come back a bit wrecked looking and also that the TV show would have had a pretty good costume budget, not something most people are generally bothered investing in for a one night party. 
She also recommended thinking of a name for the character that you become. Naming a 1920s Ho alter-ego was always going to be fun.

Saturday night arrived and my character “Scarlett Love” was created. Mr Useful arrived to pick me up, he was looking pretty sharp dressed as a gangster/ hustler type crook and we met some of his friends for pre-party drinks and to share a taxi down to the Locomotive Workshop, Exhibition Centre at Eveleigh.  It was cool meeting Mr Us friends at their hotel all dressed up in 1920s costume, we all got a few sly glances from the more modernly attired guests.  I think we all enjoyed the attention.

Arriving at the party itself was a buzzy affair. Everyone had made an effort to dress up and the company had (given the party was held at the Locomotive workshop) organised props like 1920s cars that you could go and sit in and take photos etc. Drinks were flowing and everyone was chatting and getting happy, that was the cue for a 1920s policeman to enforce prohibition and we were all moved off to jail which doubled as the dining, dance and speeches area.

By now I was enjoying myself very much. I was talking to Mr U, Mr Us friends and the lady seated next to me who worked in a high level position in Health. an extravagent three course dinner was served, there were speeches and entertainment by the 12 piece ‘Big Ol’ Bus Band’  and the “Darling Diamond Dolls Show”.

The fund raising part of the evening was for the E.J.Whitten Foundation who do a stellar job raising money for prostrate cancer which it seems unfortunately has over taken breast cancer in recent times in fatalities because men do not like to go to the doctor. So if you are reading this and you are male and over 40 or have any history of prostrate cancer in your family, please think about getting checked soon, it’s important. The lady sitting next to me who worked in health backed up the statistics with impressive factual knowledge and also mentioned that brain cancer is another one coming through because of people talking on mobile phones.

After the sexy floor show by the “Darling Diamond Dolls” I was feeling pretty frisky, and I encouraged Mr Useful up for a couple of dances before suggesting we slink off to try out “Scarlett Loves” skill set. Mr U had taken advantage of the companys hotel arrangement and we made our way back to the Mercure for a fun night of “underbelly” inspired passion. 

Ah, I had an excellent time, what a great night!

I am thrilled to announce I am visiting the beautiful city of Hobart 7/8 – 11/8. 

Booking is easy just drop me a line at karenofsydney@gmail.com

or SMS 043 171 4069

It’s winter time and a wonderful season to spend time warming up.

Thrilled to announce
I am visiting the beautiful city of
Brisbane

23 – July – 27 July

Booking is easy: just drop me a line at karenofsydney@gmail.com

or SMS 043 171 4069

watch?v=KDFDLCd5IOg

Ahhg, this turns out to be a retrospective blog. Anyway I hope you had a Happy and Safe Easter. This year I was invited to accompany “The Country Gentleman” to the Easter Show and also spend a couple of days together. TCG and I have known each other for 15 years now and we have formed a pretty comfortable understanding of each others needs. So, yeah, it’s a good relationship with one of my oldest and loyalist supporters. Anyway, I’m a bit of a Town Mouse, I have always lived and worked in the city apart from six months in far north Queensland. This was a time when I clearly took leave of all my well honed urban senses and lived and worked up in the beautiful and *sigh* VERY remote Lizard Island.
I’ve been to the Easter Show loads of times but I was really looking forward to having someone with a country background as a guide for company. TCG is a bit of a posh character, he is also a rooster sign in the Chinese Zodiac and a Leo Sign in the Western Zodiac, all good fun with me!
So it was decided we spend most of the day looking around the animal exhibits and in the evening have dinner at the Members Stand. We started off at the dog obedience and that was pretty fun with different breeds of dogs running relays. We booked our window table at the members stand for dinner and caught the extreme motorbike rider trickers while we were there, that was pretty exciting. A fair bit of a practice and talent with all the funky manoevers those boys manage.

We spent a bit of time in the poultry exhibit, checking out the ducks, the homing pigeons, the batum hens, the rooster, the geese and in all the excitement a couple of chickens even laid eggs. Mmmm, ok.
We had a look at the sheep and I was impressed with the enormous appartus modelled by the rams. TCG mentioned that they can mate with 150 ewes a month. Wow *eye boggle* (check out the photo) TCG knows all about this kind of thing, lol.
We enjoyed a drink at the Cattlemans Bar this is where I observed the costume country people like to wear. So the men like to wear cotton blue and white striped shirts OR check shirts sometimes with hats and good walking shoes or boots. The ladies don’t seem to mind to wear check shirts either. There sure is a definative look about country people stylin.
[slideshow]We watched the bulls and the fancy paces set by the Australian Stock Horses. We spent a bit of time at the Woodchopping. I had a bit of trouble picking winners there though, as some of the woodchoppers were under different handicaps. For the most part we were watching the under 21 woodchoppers whose proud dads were giving them encouragement from the sidelines often time competing themselves in different events.
We made our way to the the Members stand for dinner and watched the presentation by R.M.Williams to the champion Australian Stock Horses and riders. There were a group of preppy country youngsters near our table. They looked rather sweet I thought. We saw a rodeo and every one stood up at Dinner moving presentation of the Australian National Anthem by a female singer of the Australian Police Band.
What a wonderful easter! Thanks very much to TCG and we spent a couple of lovely nights together having a really relaxing and sensual time.

There are lots of Jersey Boys but only one Frankie Vallie boasted a recent review of Frankies’ Australian Tour. The Masseuse (TM) invited me along to Frankies show at the Lyric Theatre the other night to see how true this statement was? It had been a show I had been looking forward to seeing for many months.
So, finally the day arrived and after TM and I got ready we decided to try out Sydneys Light Rail system from my place to the Casino.  It had been a gorgeous sunny day that had changed to a bit overcast. I checked the weather report, Mmmm 70% chance of rain. Ah no worries, no need for a brolly or so I thought. We just made it around the corner to Campbell St Tram stop before the first pitter patters came raining down on our heads, threatening to wreck my blow dry. Bah!
Anyway the light rail was a treat. Fast and easy. We sailed past the Capitol Theatre, Cyrils Deli, Paddys Market, The Exhibition Centre and finally to the the Casino. We had a bit of time so we had dinner and a couple of drinks there before making our way to the Lyric Theatre.
TM and I decided the Frankie Valli audience tended to be an older crowd than we had seen last month at the Opera House. Again, we were asked not to take photos so I don’t have any to show you. Now Frankie is 77 years old, that is quite an age for a performer and we wondered what kind of show we would be seeing?
The lights dimmed and the band took the stage.  Mmm impressive, an Australian six piece brass section. Ha! I LOVE horns! Two guatarists and a base player. One keyboardist who played other instruments and a drummer. Four backing singers and Frankie. Wow, this was going to be a great show with an rich sound.  Frankie himself is this tiny, frail, old guy but gee what a voice.  In the first couple of numbers, we wondered if he was lip synching because his style these days is that he scarcely opens his mouth but yet there is this incredibly powerful sound. In any case we saw him reach behind and play with his pick up a few times and we realised we were in fact seeing a live performance.
Frankie belted out all his old hits and told a few jokes too. No doubt about it he is an engaging performer! Frankie recounted that when Tom Jones is on stage he gets pelted with womens panties and then this little old guy takes a forlorn glance around his own barren stage ha ha.  I would have like to have helped out but had at the last minute decided to go commando. Frankie then encouraged the audience to throw cash and credit cards and buy his cd sold outside in the foyer ha ha.
We were treated to quite a show “Walk Like A Man”, “Rag Doll”, “Grease”, “Sherry”, “December 1963″, “My Eyes Adored You” and the 1967 solo hit “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”. It was a top performance by a real showman. Thanks to TM and we made our way back to Haymarket to once again thoroughly enjoy an intimate evenings entertainment.

In touch with the ground
I’m on the hunt I’m after you
Smell like I sound I’m lost in a crowd
And I’m hungry like the wolf
Straddle the line in discord and rhyme
I’m on the hunt I’m after you
Mouth is alive with juices like wine
And I’m hungry like the wolf

Duran Duran

Mr Groover invited me to take a trip down memory lane the other night to a time when I
was just a youngster and enjoying the sounds of the 80s and er, well *some* of the fashions of the time.

So, Duran Duran were back in town for a one off Sydney concert and I
was lucky enough to go.
The plan was to have a feast at the Nine Dragons restaurant an iconic China Town restaurant before heading down to the Sydney Entertainment Centre and that’s just what we did.

In order to avoid the crowds, we got to the Entertainment Centre early and caught the the support act. We were hoping for a great band or a top singer but it was a rather bizarre choice of opening act to support Duran Duran. Two DJs spinning vinyl donned the stage playing some funky mixes that became quite boring after ten minutes.

Mr Groover leaned over and reminded me of some of the way more fun activities we could have been doing instead of putting up with that dull *yawn, sigh & eye roll* duo.
Most of the details can be found here at www.karenthompson.com.au/services just in case you’re unsure of what we were talking about :0)

Anyway… to cut to the chase, finally Duran Duran appeared on stage and the old hits kept churning out mixed with some new tracks that were not too bad, I guess. I really enjoyed the commentary between songs that the various band members gave about their times in Sydney, they really connect well with their audience. So, it turns out that Duran Duran were the first act appearing at the Sydney Entertainment Centre. And they talked about going to various Sydney eighties venues like the Cauldron and the Manzel Room. I never got to those places myself, I suppose at the time, I preferred to hang out at slightly more cliquey places like The Hip Hop Club, Patches, The Exchange Hotel, Plastic Inevitable at the Playground, The Trade Union Hotel, The Site, The Taxi Club and Propaganda. That’s me in the black and white shot (c/- young S the fantastic photography student) in the late eighties in Paddington, have a look at the hilarious alcohol prices.

The Duran Duran audience were a mixture of young trendies, wearing some 80s revivalist fashions, think net and neon colours (thankfully we didn’t spot any bubble skirts or shoulder pads) *cringe*, middle aged flunkies, not to mention a brigade of blue rinse senior citizens that came along for the fun of it.
The band are still in top form and the lead singer Simon Le Bons vocals were just as terrific as in the year 1981. I loved the show and the encore was a exciting finish with the band performing the eighties hits “Girls on Film” and Rio.
As the song Rio was winding down the concert, Mr Groover wanted some winding down himself at my inner city apartment.

I have just made a new addition to my working tools, a rather good new playstation. Mr Groover had made it known he wanted to be my very first special guest to try it out. We made a speedy exit and headed off to feel our way around my lovely new equipment and I am delighted to report to you it all works out splendidly.

It had been with great anticipation and excitement that I looked forward to this show with ‘The Masseuse’ (TM) the other evening.

Now, I have been a fan of Olivia’s way back when she did mostly country music and TM who it turns out is the same fabulous age as me (Gee, he must come from the year of the cat too)

So, by now I’ve moved into my swanky new apartment in Haymarket which is my base for entertaining and the home of sensual experiences. I very much enjoy the company of TM so I’d been shopping for some sexy lingerie earlier to model for him later on in the evening.

I was the designated traffic monitor for the evening and we caught the bus the short trip down to Circular Quay. It was a steamy rainy evening so I grabbed my accomplices hand and we braved the elements, ok so I’m a romantic at heart.

We made our way through the crowds (it was a humid evening) and the rain at Circular Quay and on to an early dinner at The East.  It was a good thing we arrived early too as we got the best table for comfort AND people watching.  We knocked back a couple of drinks, a Blue Hawaii for me and a Bourbon for TM and some fantastically delicious Chinese food and chatted away.  The pre-show crowds started to arrive and pack out the restaurant so we took our cue and left for a bit of a wander around the Opera House.

Looking around, it turned out it was quite a dressy affair and I was pleased I got a new frock for the occasion to go with the new sexy smalls and TM looked pretty sharp as usual.

It is quite a curious arrangement they have at the Opera House for entry though.  So, they don’t allow the audience in until the show time, presumably to sell drinks, programs, t shirts and Cd’s so the crowds mount up and up and then there is this rather wretched and extremely unmusical ;-0 xylophone that warns you it’s time to enter, pretty quickly the xylophone gains pace and becomes almost this mono-tonal xylophone and all the while the frustrated mounted up crowds are trying to enter the auditorium (and get away from the dreadful din). Anyway, we found our seats next to some Americans and we took a few pictures. Unfortunately they ask you not to photograph or video the performance at the Opera House so I obliged and don’t have so many to show you this time.  The pre show act had a stellar operatic voice and which really showcased the SSO and the Opera House.

And then it was time for Olivia, who was in fantastic form singing like an angel hit after hit of her magnificently successful career.  There was A Little More Love, Magic, Xanadu, Suddenly, Summer Nights, You Are The One That I Want, Hopelessly Devoted To You. Sam, Jolene, Banks Of The Old Ohio, Please Mr Please, Have You Never Been Mellow, I Honestly Love You, If You Love Me (let me know), If Not For You, Let Me Be There. What a voice! I loved every minute of it! It was time to go and I am pretty sure I spotted Richard Wilkens again in the crush to leave.  By now it was cold and raining outside and TM and I hurried home and quickly peeled off our wet clothes and I reckon we did a pretty awesome rendition of “physical” ourselves …lets get animal, animal…

There is also a copy of this blog at WordPress. It’s probably my preferred blogging site as it’s more user friendly and allows for galleries and slideshows etc and we do love music and pictures do we not . Here is the link, Gaa! having so much trouble with basic html today. www.karenthompsonescort.wordpress.com

I suppose by now, I’ve been lucky enough to have been taken to many wonderful events including shows, concerts, corporate and sporting events.  When he was alive, my dad was a big fan of watching test cricket, English Soccer and Tennis and I have always wanted to go to a live cricket game. And it’s always more way more fun when an event also come with a few bells and whistles (hell, might have mentioned I’m a tad shallow before –just like the other 99% of the population).

So, my time finally arrived the other night when Mr Sports-Fan-Extraordinaire invited me to a 20/20 game of cricket at ANZ stadium.

It was a pretty happy event because it also turned out Karen Thompson Enterprises was persuasive enough on this occasion to organise her way into a lovely catered box with an awesome view of the proceedings.

However, it’s probably also fair to say there is no glamour in parking in P4 and busing it with everyone else to the stadium but this this was a big game with a huge crowd of 56000, and well, you tend to find your transport options are rather limited.

The god of weather (whoever that is) was not very kind on this occasion and the sky opened up with a downpour several times and my cricket education began as a very enthusiastic group of busy workers rushed out onto the field and quickly covered the wicket with massive and heavy looking tarpolins so the ground wouldn’t get wet.

I was impressed at the organisation of these guys, who worked very quickly and effectively in teams, getting the ground covered up. Unfortunately their services were required several times during the evening with the onset of  patchy rain.

The refreshments started to arrive and a fine array of wonderful food came out and around. I particularly enjoyed the Chicken Tikka Masala, the food was mostly Indian themed and even though it didn’t really resemble the food I had consumed in Goa last month it was a decent nod at it.

Mr SFE helpfully explained the rules of the game along the way and before I knew it I was getting into the flow of things.

The sounds of the Vintage Australian Super-group Sherbet belted out the cricket anthem “HOWZAT”.  Mr SFE explained that the term actually meant when someone is caught out in Cricket the term HOWZAT is called as part of an appeal, and the referee makes a decision but usually ‘They are then out’! Mm-mm recently I encountered a very negative force, a liar, cheat, thief, and ”it just isn’t Cricket”, mmmm, yup… ”HOWZAT!”

At this stage the box was buzzing and this shortened form of the game was intense and very exciting.  The Batsmen on both teams were just hitting the ball with everything they had and the competition was hotting up.

Perhaps Cricket Traditionalists would be shocked at this modern style of the game but it was fast paced and exciting.  Adding to the energy when fours and sixes were hit was the loud music blaring around the stadium, bursts of fire and hot moves by the KFC dancers (appropriately Bollywooded out for when India scored).

Half time arrived as did a great fireworks show that added to atmosphere, however the rain made it quite smoggy for a few minutes there. By now I’d had a couple of glasses of wine and was feeling quite light headed and flirty and was very much enjoying the company of Mr SFE

The best part of the game was the last few overs and India were desperate to catch the Aussie boys.  The atmosphere in the stadium was electric and the Indian fans made the night fun and really memorable.  I understand they take the sport of Cricket very seriously in India as every taxi driver I met over Christmas on finding out I was from Australia would want to talk about the Australian Cricket team.  Ten minutes before the end of the game it became very clear that the Indian team just couldn’t beat the high score set by the Aussies.

Mr SFE winked and nudged me as he pulled out his Pullman suite key.  Even though sport is his life he recognized that this part of the evening was reserved for some tandem intimate indoor athletics and we both quietly snuck out of the box and headed to the Pullman stadium, I mean hotel.  Once again the rain pelted down and by the time we got to the hotel we were both drenched.  It was a good excuse to get our clothes off very quickly.  A great strategic move that one.  Thanks to Mr SFE I learnt quite a few cricket terms that night.

I can’t wait until he takes me to my next sporting event and if it is a cricket match, well I’m practically now an expert.