British comedian Ben Elton made the first of his two Concert Hall appearances last night, giving the audience a big night of comedy that's hilarious, thought-providing, confronting and rude. His targets on his first standup tour in nine years include intelligent design, conspiracy theorists and, reflecting the change in his personal circumstances, the hassles of bringing up children. Follow the podcasts link if you want to hear my interview with Ben recorded last month.

I know this sounds crazy, but at Monday night's Helpmann Awards ceremony I felt I was being stalked by John Wood. everywhere I went - in the foyer, the toilet, the after-party - the ran into the Gold Logie winner. We didn't exchange words, because we've never met but he seemed to recognise me each time. Yesterday, while I was waiting for my plane at Sydney airport, what should be on the television screen in the departure lounge? Rafferty's Rules - starring John Wood.
Having thought about this for a day, I realise he's not following me. He's simply ubiquitous.
PS: I did chat to a number of people, including the wonderful Amanda Muggleton who introduced me to somebody a little like this: "This is Brett; he's a critic from Brisbane who likes some of what I do and doesn't like some of what I do."

My flight to Sydney this week was delayed because a person went missing. She checked in herself and her baggage, then failed to board the plane. "The procedure," the captain announced as the plane remained on the tarmac well past departure time, "is that we look for her in the terminal while simultaneously locating her luggage." In the end, the woman was a no-show, they removed her bags from the hold and we set off. The question that remains unanswered is: How can someone simply vanish at an airport? My theories: a sudden onset of fear of flying, violent illness or alien abduction.

No rest for the wicked ... Following my lightning trip to Sydney for the Helpmann Awards on Monday and the Walking with Dinosaurs launch yesterday, and Ben Elton's Brisbane gig last night, I'm off tonight to the official opening of the Brisbane International Film Festival (which has actually been running for more than a week). The opening film is Robert Altman's A Prairie Home Companion, starring Tommy Lee Jones, Lily Tomlin, Meryl Streep,Lindsay Lohan, Woody Harrelson and John C. Reilly.