tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76568586134007035292024-03-06T10:00:18.108+11:00in her own writeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05972285659958872775noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656858613400703529.post-5544796850508156552008-12-31T13:18:00.001+11:002008-12-31T13:18:50.684+11:00HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nqIkL3mDyjTsMCilDOfb6BHhtUIVfV2SVxiYoYXcbZqsDMC3UVEVURl_03l6q6tkUNqMSUkSICpilukqPXvBx1Y-_VQSjYsA0jjh7w8gDvYA2RdEKCdCyPQUUQqYpO5tZu13e0AX-xMA/s1600-h/2009+Dawn.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285772430761887186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nqIkL3mDyjTsMCilDOfb6BHhtUIVfV2SVxiYoYXcbZqsDMC3UVEVURl_03l6q6tkUNqMSUkSICpilukqPXvBx1Y-_VQSjYsA0jjh7w8gDvYA2RdEKCdCyPQUUQqYpO5tZu13e0AX-xMA/s400/2009+Dawn.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a target="_blank" href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85702/miss_eagle/977c63a995913ddaf1bc5154cc5f8aa2.png" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05972285659958872775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656858613400703529.post-57494011864430367542008-12-21T08:35:00.002+11:002008-12-21T08:42:18.162+11:00It's not funny....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iZF66ccuYP8kIaZYsrUw_Ok88NU9Pqq-2yIsO80hIDQZ2l3GbDonsw7nOJCLN85PLYfNlnWJtW3wzezJ78lWDGmvUFiCW2iV_s6UtJK_xDVmbXEZ6d8_0vSITDOUBe5oCS8ZCRuHBjyL/s1600-h/Smile.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 370px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281990736003847122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iZF66ccuYP8kIaZYsrUw_Ok88NU9Pqq-2yIsO80hIDQZ2l3GbDonsw7nOJCLN85PLYfNlnWJtW3wzezJ78lWDGmvUFiCW2iV_s6UtJK_xDVmbXEZ6d8_0vSITDOUBe5oCS8ZCRuHBjyL/s400/Smile.bmp" /></a><br /><div align="center">...but you have to smile. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div align="center">I am posting about <a href="http://news.theage.com.au/national/woman-shot-by-police-injured-in-hospital-20081221-72s9.html">this article</a> before it is picked up and changed.</div><br /><div align="center">Please note last sentence:</div><br /><div align="center"><em>"A critical <span style="color:#ff0000;">indecent</span> investigation team is now investigating."</em></div><br /><div align="center"><em></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em></em></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05972285659958872775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656858613400703529.post-24162654924151807042008-12-19T08:28:00.003+11:002008-12-19T08:35:17.102+11:00Building....stone upon stone<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTzWsHqlbSyjwLWx50FNRSDz4425afltkugQSZzck3ozv-vCvO5aYECTO1r9V65hIS8Y3R8_QCSvpFR30Szltk-tjdacHQYspN35-ijMQCXRUHB6pwalg6PnF3PsoVGquBcvGIrpA_s5LN/s1600-h/Stone+building.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 357px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281245906896891058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTzWsHqlbSyjwLWx50FNRSDz4425afltkugQSZzck3ozv-vCvO5aYECTO1r9V65hIS8Y3R8_QCSvpFR30Szltk-tjdacHQYspN35-ijMQCXRUHB6pwalg6PnF3PsoVGquBcvGIrpA_s5LN/s400/Stone+building.jpg" /></a> Our own small stone of activism, </div><div align="center">which might not seem to measure up </div><div align="center">to the rugged boulders of heroism we have so admired</div><div align="center">is a paltry offering toward the building of an edifice of hope ... </div><div align="center">For we can do nothing substantial toward </div><div align="center">changing our course on the planet, a destructive one, </div><div align="center">without rousing ourselves, individual by individual, </div><div align="center">and bringing our small, imperfect stones to the pile. </div><div align="right"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>- <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Walker">Alice Walker</a>,</em></span></div><div align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>The Impossible Will Take a Little While: </em></span></div><div align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>A Citizen's Guide to Hope in a Time of Fear.<br /></em></div></span><div align="center"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05972285659958872775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656858613400703529.post-27625913692877879702008-12-16T14:03:00.004+11:002008-12-16T14:21:18.458+11:00Of shoes, liberation and ceiling wax!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgctWhAl1ZugqDr5vvc3kvQ5njINxJ6ghSFz6rj-pfMILsZFfwHYALqCITNNL75XQgLPF2lu0K2atx1gCVygZzwL-Ef0_CEiPRc8h9xmF_-kk9FBWTfdzFt5BixOdVvHoZovFXQC1zUAeRC/s1600-h/Stiletto.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 286px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 279px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280218384442400898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgctWhAl1ZugqDr5vvc3kvQ5njINxJ6ghSFz6rj-pfMILsZFfwHYALqCITNNL75XQgLPF2lu0K2atx1gCVygZzwL-Ef0_CEiPRc8h9xmF_-kk9FBWTfdzFt5BixOdVvHoZovFXQC1zUAeRC/s400/Stiletto.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germaine_Greer">Our Germs </a>is stirring things up again. <a href="http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/fashion/article5320503.ece?print=yes&randnum=1229325235937">In The Times Germs is discussing shoes</a>: well, very high heels to be specific. Do they liberate us or are they a modern or post-modern form of foot-binding?</div><div> </div><div></div><div>One thing I want to have a whinge about, Germs. You mention your childhood and the New Look of the 40s. You mention Marilyn Monroe and the 50s and go whoosh right by the 60s except to say that in the 60s and 70s people were wearing boots. </div><div> </div><div></div><div>Now, I grew up north of the Tropic of Capricorn which wasn't exactly boot country even in what passed for winter. Except for jillaroos who worked on cattle stations. You see, I remember my stilettos very well. Let me tell you about two pairs.</div><div> </div><div></div><div>There was the white pair. Not expensive and nearly every time I wore them I used to knock off a heel protector which was the size of a threepenny bit (this was before decimal currency, Germs) on the highways and byways of Bowen as I traipsed to the dance on Friday night and the pictures on Saturday and church on Sunday.</div><div> </div><div></div><div>But the pair I loved - and wish I had to-day with stilettos back in fashion - were expensive for me. A pair of tan Paragons. Very high. Very pointy. And oh so comfortable. And, Germs, very 1960s.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05972285659958872775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656858613400703529.post-64045202958042601982008-12-13T06:14:00.004+11:002008-12-13T06:21:29.279+11:00Til death does whom part?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNksSUrmk_7Ij3kab_zShqMFeOeW9Gw_X03hNaMIYUq15_xP7HcdM5RUDab9Q7fjcJJ_oq88ncQ21zK2mu4BnYchNDuVWHQJ-xOEOi1Bi8rg7QZYbHkmqL0127WKr1EraBTC9ykTHWNxA/s1600-h/Biblical+marriage.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 344px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNksSUrmk_7Ij3kab_zShqMFeOeW9Gw_X03hNaMIYUq15_xP7HcdM5RUDab9Q7fjcJJ_oq88ncQ21zK2mu4BnYchNDuVWHQJ-xOEOi1Bi8rg7QZYbHkmqL0127WKr1EraBTC9ykTHWNxA/s400/Biblical+marriage.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278984205843852322" /></a>The crew at <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/12/10/12118/336/767/671488">Daily Kos</a> are on the case. They quote a post about marriage demonstrating how things would be if we did it the way the Bible seems to indicate. They say that if the Biblical view of marriage prevailed in the USA then American marriage laws would look something like this:<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; "><p style="margin-top: 0.64em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.67em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">A. Marriage in the United States shall consist of a union between one man and one or more women. (Gen 29:17-28; II Sam 3:2-5)</p><p style="margin-top: 0.64em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.67em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">B. Marriage shall not impede a man's right to take concubines in addition to his wife or wives. (II Sam 5:13; I Kings 11:3; II Chron 11:21)</p><p style="margin-top: 0.64em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.67em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">C. A marriage shall be considered valid only if the wife is a virgin. If the wife is not a virgin, she shall be executed. (Deut 22:13-21)</p><p style="margin-top: 0.64em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.67em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">D. Marriage of a believer and a non-believer shall be forbidden. (Gen 24:3; Num 25:1-9; Ezra 9:12; Neh 10:30)</p><p style="margin-top: 0.64em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.67em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">E. Since marriage is for life, neither this Constitution nor the constitution of any State, nor any state or federal law, shall be construed to permit divorce. (Deut 22:19; Mark 10:9)</p><p style="margin-top: 0.64em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.67em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">F. If a married man dies without children, his brother shall marry the widow. If he refuses to marry his brother's widow or deliberately does not give her children, he shall pay a fine of one shoe and be otherwise punished in a manner to be determined by law. (Gen 38:6-10; Deut 25:5-10)</p><p style="margin-top: 0.64em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.67em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">G. In lieu of marriage, if there are no acceptable men in your town, it is required that you get your dad drunk and have sex with him (even if he had previously offered you up as a sex toy to men young and old), tag-teaming with any sisters you may have. Of course, this rule applies only if you are female. (Gen 19:31-36)</p></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05972285659958872775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656858613400703529.post-9651176416718540712008-12-11T11:09:00.003+11:002008-12-11T11:15:06.645+11:00Vale, oh wonderous one<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3mmgNyRj-XM9D9eBqh10iDnJXnCC3p2dlTHwoYeFho4SlaOIHsrLWfLppeJgB0vxRLU3ASPZkC1WBg1LeUsq4Kl24pGVqwNKmib45SBe4NYsEh0lnRt5JwPqmd9YaGelHkCk8hjHnvgK/s1600-h/Dorothy+Porter.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 397px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278318360485489922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3mmgNyRj-XM9D9eBqh10iDnJXnCC3p2dlTHwoYeFho4SlaOIHsrLWfLppeJgB0vxRLU3ASPZkC1WBg1LeUsq4Kl24pGVqwNKmib45SBe4NYsEh0lnRt5JwPqmd9YaGelHkCk8hjHnvgK/s400/Dorothy+Porter.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.austlit.com/a/porter-d/index.html">Dorothy Porter</a> (1954-2008) died yesterday.</div><div align="center">Killed by breast cancer.</div><div align="center">Sadness and tears.</div><div align="center">Sympathy to her partner and her family.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05972285659958872775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656858613400703529.post-8159852900763258542008-12-09T15:07:00.003+11:002008-12-09T15:49:06.195+11:00A very merry blogging Christmas<div align="center"></div><div align="center"><em></em><em></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNy8JLj4Fc8nXvREmZ_FqZRmrwRvefEUaAnC6c93q0glSFEVoTiOUsR2PChlR49STJVIjq4b0PiKiiYCe0i55TGwuMNULjn9iA32YXd2hj5QQv83OZ1JcUfeibu3otdCuieExyud8TtHs/s1600-h/Gina+and+Topsy.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 355px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277639715381829010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNy8JLj4Fc8nXvREmZ_FqZRmrwRvefEUaAnC6c93q0glSFEVoTiOUsR2PChlR49STJVIjq4b0PiKiiYCe0i55TGwuMNULjn9iA32YXd2hj5QQv83OZ1JcUfeibu3otdCuieExyud8TtHs/s400/Gina+and+Topsy.jpg" /></a> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Gina with that famous and unique being - Topsy</span></em></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">We do this every so often.</div><div align="center"><a href="http://patrasotherplace.blogspot.com/">Gina</a> rounds us up and we are happy to be rounded up.</div><div align="center">There's Val who used to write Val Has Her Say </div><div align="center">but unfortunately she does not have her say anymore</div><div align="center">and is busy with hand-made books and travelling and</div><div align="center">has just returned from Waikiki and San Fran.</div><div align="center">Then there's <a href="http://wolfgirlkitty.blogspot.com/">Connie</a> who does clever things with pictures and music</div><div align="center">and Helen, Gina's neighbour and now our friend.</div><div align="center">of <a href="http://barnesresidence.blogspot.com/">Helen's Haven</a></div><div align="center">and<br />that <a href="http://tradpad.blogspot.com/2008/07/and-are-tables-set-for-tea.html">Queen of High Teas</a> and Cup Cakes all the way from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kyneton</span></div><div align="center">Leeanne of <a href="http://xmastree2.blogspot.com/index.html">Pear Tree Cottage</a>.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">It was a warm sunny day and we sat in Gina's lovely courtyard under the gum trees and lunched, and gossiped, and laughed and caught up.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">I do have to say how wonderful Melbourne <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">bloggers</span> are.</div><div align="center">They meet up, they share, they are social beings.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Thank you Gina for your generous heart, spirit and hospitality.</div><div align="center">My turn in the New Year <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">everyone</span>.</div><div align="center">Perhaps for <a href="http://www.fisheaters.com/customstimeafterepiphany2a.html">St Brigid's Day on 1 February</a>.</div><div align="center"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsiAekQwXiIyGU4eUDhz4PcbPvY8ghoRsL48RzIS1N0lj4wksSvqPdEp9O-Kfp_JyWQHmaTSamRelJgI7HzKnhh1T8O0BWfssqTrcjIYopNNjXlZXRGwugHiQqWu5I0OpmUbnHwvqSxts4/s1600-h/Leeann'es+cupcakes+-+081208.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277639713895303346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsiAekQwXiIyGU4eUDhz4PcbPvY8ghoRsL48RzIS1N0lj4wksSvqPdEp9O-Kfp_JyWQHmaTSamRelJgI7HzKnhh1T8O0BWfssqTrcjIYopNNjXlZXRGwugHiQqWu5I0OpmUbnHwvqSxts4/s400/Leeann'es+cupcakes+-+081208.jpg" /> <p align="center"></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Leeanne excelled herself. </em></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Giant cupcake made in special tin from the USA </em></span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUqRlkRv6Vo_iNDvPHjQK0alM8DRA2iygGJkLvI-SBUeFZyT-JVhwKu2ZgDywxv12BtwHV4LfZmzHznrCAIRfVKuqXbfu35hoyMmrYuuqX9wIR9LYvpFmty623VAgq5ehyphenhyphenpVIQ66myfa1j/s1600-h/Rice+salad+081208.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277639713420144866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUqRlkRv6Vo_iNDvPHjQK0alM8DRA2iygGJkLvI-SBUeFZyT-JVhwKu2ZgDywxv12BtwHV4LfZmzHznrCAIRfVKuqXbfu35hoyMmrYuuqX9wIR9LYvpFmty623VAgq5ehyphenhyphenpVIQ66myfa1j/s400/Rice+salad+081208.jpg" /> <p align="center"></a><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><em><span style="font-size:85%;">We all brought a plate each. My contribution - Rice Salad.</span> </em></p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7mijn8iiTssahAcWYdDbfpC5YAOcvLWOdjYRoe0xzyAcQZwVUw-0s9GsC0PPWZpnkUuVMHbkdRpB4VRLQ1tBzipoqg4S2deMNgoBl-6x1tWAgvKKKN14PU6q95z0P3XZcJB0doH9Medh5/s1600-h/Pressies+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 317px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277639707320147826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7mijn8iiTssahAcWYdDbfpC5YAOcvLWOdjYRoe0xzyAcQZwVUw-0s9GsC0PPWZpnkUuVMHbkdRpB4VRLQ1tBzipoqg4S2deMNgoBl-6x1tWAgvKKKN14PU6q95z0P3XZcJB0doH9Medh5/s400/Pressies+2.jpg" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;"> Gina's present to me: a wonderful cook book that you will hear more of over <a href="http://oztucker.blogspot.com/">here</a></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">and a card with a cross-stitched reindeer. Thank you Gina - and what clever fingers.</span><br /><br /></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFVRq06JCi2tWn7wrxFOaPlBJZgB8dG0GC25aiPQiboWPAmkwvG6tTBbWO0jGsgDhNlLgEaZOfOkJ-Eos_tU_RjPEkEZpfkXmZOXCxs4ScIsosaR2lkJoT_51y35dNQy_8G4rhA600q7c6/s1600-h/Pressies.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 315px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277639701529546050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFVRq06JCi2tWn7wrxFOaPlBJZgB8dG0GC25aiPQiboWPAmkwvG6tTBbWO0jGsgDhNlLgEaZOfOkJ-Eos_tU_RjPEkEZpfkXmZOXCxs4ScIsosaR2lkJoT_51y35dNQy_8G4rhA600q7c6/s400/Pressies.jpg" /></a> <em><span style="font-size:85%;">And there were other goodies too numerous to fit on the scanner.</span></em> </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05972285659958872775noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656858613400703529.post-4482712687059443142008-12-09T14:02:00.003+11:002008-12-09T15:05:34.798+11:00I'm just letting you know.......<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzmQb7aD6Eb-dYlhlYVC57_rtVEwGRKt_HKck2ZlQ592K6RWV90PwCH6sHnLWDx9ftmyP_lXtU9RPYv9ekxmDZVPbALZiOjug1S5bT2ZNQZzuFn9SsjjLEnzXrC7e3g6vbSzRgrpHpr3ve/s1600-h/i+op+banner+2.png"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 168px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277620632030926306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzmQb7aD6Eb-dYlhlYVC57_rtVEwGRKt_HKck2ZlQ592K6RWV90PwCH6sHnLWDx9ftmyP_lXtU9RPYv9ekxmDZVPbALZiOjug1S5bT2ZNQZzuFn9SsjjLEnzXrC7e3g6vbSzRgrpHpr3ve/s400/i+op+banner+2.png" /></a><br /><br /><div>Yes I mean you. You know who you are. The frequent flyer...er, I mean shopper. The one who is in and out of Op Shops all the time because you can't miss that find, that bargain, that special something. And somehow you have missed this <a href="http://melb-opshopping.blogspot.com/">fount of information</a>. And they are having a garage sale at Greensborough on Saturday followed by everything half price the following week.</div><div> </div><div align="center">And if you are in line for some Rudd Money for Christmas - </div><div align="center">it sure will go further in an Op Shop.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05972285659958872775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656858613400703529.post-56368184441563743342008-12-09T10:21:00.001+11:002008-12-09T11:03:04.249+11:00Nostalgia<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_pfJ1RElBONroMAEf35V7mGjqh7g1w31E1fH99rbENaSk1iYfo_CtE-nNsFqwHcJCUJ8rO6zHZZO3WiNZdmiPVzvuyZEu8BbwZVdSIOMg5zXlI1bYJeUmuOsr4rXSeJ3uxydgOtX1xhh/s1600-h/Stamps+nostaligia.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277563858537040610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_pfJ1RElBONroMAEf35V7mGjqh7g1w31E1fH99rbENaSk1iYfo_CtE-nNsFqwHcJCUJ8rO6zHZZO3WiNZdmiPVzvuyZEu8BbwZVdSIOMg5zXlI1bYJeUmuOsr4rXSeJ3uxydgOtX1xhh/s400/Stamps+nostaligia.jpg" /></a> I haven't meant to turn into a wordsmith but Roger Cohen has set me off with his piece about <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/08/opinion/08cohen.html?_r=1&em">Paris v Havana</a>. He contrasts the packaged history and nostalgia of Paris with the crumbling authenticity of Havana.<br /><br />I was surprised to find that this <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nostalgia">definition and history of nostalgia</a> gives what I consider to be a relatively recent attribution of the word. 1688 in fact. The reason I find this "recent" is because it seems to me that there is one always-present factor basic to nostalgia and that is age. Why did it take until 1688 to 'discover' it.<br /><br />Nostalgia is a process related to time: looking back, re-thinking, re-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">membering</span>, re-living, re-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">flecting</span>. It seems to me that nostalgia is really the province of those of greater age. Surely, those in their 20s can be nostalgic for their teen years - but the older one gets there is certainly more to be nostalgic about. Or perhaps it just seems that way because one indulges in it more and more.<br /><br />Nostalgia emerged in a longing for homeland and landscape - a quite Aboriginal feeling for country. This brings to mind the opening lines of <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Go-Between">The Go-Between</a>: </em><br /><div align="center"><em>"The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there."</em></div><p>One could challenge <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._P._Hartley">Hartley</a>, though. Why am I challenged so often with the feeling that I am living in a foreign land and things are done differently here? Why is nostalgia so indulgent and luxurious - and, above all, so familiar? Why do I find so many things have got worse or become degraded or gone down-hill - in spite of acknowledging that some other things are much better? Why is <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">nostalgia</span> so comfortable and so warm?</p><p>Roger Cohen's Paris v. Havana does admit the price that has been paid for the nostalgia and authenticity of Havana. I went once, many years ago, to drive past the home of my paternal grandparents. I came away in tears and I have never returned. The wonderful old <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Queenslander</span> which was the site of so many happy holidays and joyous family Christmases had been turned, insensitively, into flats and covered with pink stucco. Conversely, the more modest home of my maternal grandparents has been renovated sensitively and it is a joy to see the old home so fondly liberated and loved.</p><p>That is how it is with nostalgia. It is a bitter-sweet experience. A return to reality never matches remembrance. The world does not stand still on its axis. There is change and decay; restoration and new life. We must seek the wisdom to act wisely, intelligently, sensitively, and lovingly to-day, in this minute. Future generations will always find that even when we do all we know how to do, we haven't got it quite right. But, perhaps, the good spirit of our actions will infuse even an imperfect reality.</p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05972285659958872775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656858613400703529.post-88432062031147207112008-12-08T09:43:00.000+11:002008-12-08T10:16:19.008+11:00Somebody had to say it...and this one is not a little boy<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQM8RXOUrDh02CL4Ljd1y-HnzZ89Mj4RrpDjmokaXab0xbyvfZmjU2XfurEfeHohnukJm1K_CnDvYmUH6sDBouwRE5Cry2KXSu9QVf32RITcPA7T9EgCSenQLOUnB5GjHwG1qP985CtTQ/s1600-h/The-emperors-new-clothes.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 398px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277183876795306930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQM8RXOUrDh02CL4Ljd1y-HnzZ89Mj4RrpDjmokaXab0xbyvfZmjU2XfurEfeHohnukJm1K_CnDvYmUH6sDBouwRE5Cry2KXSu9QVf32RITcPA7T9EgCSenQLOUnB5GjHwG1qP985CtTQ/s400/The-emperors-new-clothes.jpg" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;"> The Emperor's New Clothes</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Picture from </span></em><a href="http://www.jpmclaughlin.net/"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">here<br /></div></span></em></a><div align="center"></div><div align="left">Do you remember in the long ago - way back early in 2008 - there was <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.australia2020.gov.au">Australia 2020</a>. Kevin Rudd wanted our "best and brightest" to come forward with their bright and good ideas for the nation. Well, doesn't language get misconstrued. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">It's like the phrase "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucky_Country">the lucky country</a>" that is much overused to describe Australia. People toss it around in the manner of - oh, we are so lucky to live here. This may be quite true - but it is not what Donald Horne intended. He was thinking of all the mistakes we had made; all the things that had been done wrongly and yet we had come through it in such a way that it could only be attributable to luck. Irony - much misunderstood.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">So, it seems, is the term "best and brightest" which, as <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/07/opinion/07rich.html?_r=1&th&emc=th">Frank Rich in the New York times tells us</a>, is actually attributable to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Halberstam">David <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Halberstam</span></a> and his book "The Best and Brightest".</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>IN 1992, David <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Halberstam</span> wrote a new introduction for the 20<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span>-anniversary edition of “The Best and the Brightest,” his </em></span><a href="http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0B12FA385E127A93C0A8178AD95F468785F9"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>classic history</em></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><em> of the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">hubristic</span> J.F.K. team that would ultimately mire America in Vietnam. He noted that the book’s title had entered the language, but not quite as he had hoped. “It is often misused,” he wrote, “failing to carry the tone or irony that the original intended.”</em></span></div><div align="left"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em> </div><div align="left"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em> </div><div align="left"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em> </div><div align="left"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></div><div align="left">Are there goes that trickster "irony" once more. Pop over here to get <a href="http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&rlz=1T4GGLL_en-GB&pwst=1&defl=en&q=define:irony&sa=X&oi=glossary_definition&ct=title">the definition</a> clear in your mind. A word of warning, though, be careful when you wish to indulge in irony - it is frequently misunderstood and comes back to bite you in the you-know-where.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">But isn't irony just crying out to be used so often and how often do we allow ourselves to be hoodwinked one way or another - just as in the Hans Christian Andersen story of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Emperor">The Emperor's New Clothes</a>. This is what Frank Rich points out in regard to some of Barack <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Obama's</span> appointments. Is what should, with all common sense, disqualify them more than the "attributes" which qualify them?</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Which brings us back to Kevin Rudd's Australia 2020. As we all now know, a lot of good ideas did not make the cut and languished out in some dimly lit room somewhere. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">While so many people were happy to apply and happy to attend, in our heart of hearts did we not know that this was really window dressing? Did we not know that this is the sort of thing a government does when first elected? Did we not know that, later on in government, when the inflow of bright ideas becomes a descriptor of the law of diminishing returns no Prime Minister has ever been known to call for an all-and-sundry summit of the best and the brightest?</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">What is the status of the Australia 2020 ideas now - the ones who got a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">guernsey</span> and the ones that remained on the bench? </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">We are experiencing the greatest crisis of governance in a very long time and - if the term "the best and the brightest" is too ironic and value-laden to use - where are the genuine, intelligent, practical, common-sense minds who can bring wisdom without vested interest to our deliberations in this critical period?</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05972285659958872775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656858613400703529.post-4159827153898435272008-12-07T17:50:00.000+11:002008-12-07T18:15:18.135+11:00The Sustainable Renter<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tLgNOPLBptPK6yMaxyZhWKCshZDWy-0C-QwcDm8bF-ROvpRtkaijzGG8LlkaJh6payIe-EMzD_DcHsfj8iUNAYHzJMEi-NYjg0n_0ww3GfB81KLxnhICpPo72oltQCYk3n4OBjntYo5V/s1600-h/080929105.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tLgNOPLBptPK6yMaxyZhWKCshZDWy-0C-QwcDm8bF-ROvpRtkaijzGG8LlkaJh6payIe-EMzD_DcHsfj8iUNAYHzJMEi-NYjg0n_0ww3GfB81KLxnhICpPo72oltQCYk3n4OBjntYo5V/s400/080929105.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276937534516507938" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This is my galvanised iron washtub full of oregano</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">This houshold of next-of-kin independent adults are renters. We have just moved house from one rented property to another. I am into growing my own herbs and vegetables and when moving into an established garden which is all roses and camellias everywhere there are difficulties. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">What's the solution? Pots, pots and more pots. We were in situ in our previous property for four years and half-way through that time I decided I would dig up some ground for the stuff that was not best in pots - the broad beans, the silver beet, the cabbages, the caulies and the pumpkin. But we have had to move house in spring and leave much behind - but some has been able to come with me. All the herbs - and some vegies: leeks, schallots, choko, kipfler potatoes - because it was all in pots. <br /></div><br />Back in spring I also revitalised my hanging baskets - renewing, replacing and adding pansies, petunias, and alyssum - which was a good idea because the courtyard at the back of the new house as well as the front verandah are just the thing for hanging baskets.<div><br /></div><div>So it is quite clear that thoughtful and determined renters can grow food and flowers - and take them when they go. Water is a major consideration and a lot of the water saving and harvesting methods used by those who own their own homes are not so available to renters. However, help is on the way from the people of <a href="http://www.sgaonline.org.au/">Sustainable Gardening Australia</a>. They have published a whole section on water in <a href="http://www.sgaonline.org.au/info_renters2.html">The Renters Guide to Sustainable Gardening</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thanks SGA for leading the way.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now if the Victorian Government made tanks compulsory - </div><div style="text-align: center;">renters could save even more water.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05972285659958872775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656858613400703529.post-29512496638166585442008-12-06T18:44:00.000+11:002008-12-06T19:10:20.975+11:00Just perfick!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRUdKX_hgRTB3KBteAPr6bF0Jk_7IY5eAoGTQpPeT8O5jj-8OUmPmZmphx8RIxFcIzblkCXsxrBVgDxSvc3q9sHUCQvhPkWrDvPSNKJWTfF2stfW89IZgWmAZ5tC-u5h7oy4We0pQrONr8/s1600-h/darling.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 395px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRUdKX_hgRTB3KBteAPr6bF0Jk_7IY5eAoGTQpPeT8O5jj-8OUmPmZmphx8RIxFcIzblkCXsxrBVgDxSvc3q9sHUCQvhPkWrDvPSNKJWTfF2stfW89IZgWmAZ5tC-u5h7oy4We0pQrONr8/s400/darling.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276581460189843682" /></a>Searching the TV program at 6.30pm on a Saturday night is for optimists only. One doesn't hold out much hope. But joy, delight! I have been so fortunate! <a href="http://www.ovationchannel.com.au/">Ovation</a> has begun <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Darling_Buds_of_May">The Darling Buds of May</a>. Episode 1 started to-night.<div><br /></div><div>I had read the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._E._Bates">H.E. Bates</a> novel decades before it became a wonderful television series. A marvellous storyteller, he - and I have spent many a delightful hour in his novels and short stories. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the long ago, when I was a teenager, the Americans made the story into <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053054/">The Mating Game</a> starring Debbie Reynolds and Tony Randall. Now this was good fun but it in no way compares with the television series starring <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pam_Ferris">Pam Ferris</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Jason">David Jason</a>, and the fledgling <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Zeta-Jones">Catherine Zeta Jone</a>s. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Perfick!!!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">One absolutely incredible thing I have discovered watching this re-run: the striking resemblance of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Franks">Philip Franks</a> -who plays Charley, the taxman - to our very own <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Rudd">Kevin Rudd</a>.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Somehow, while we all know that Kevin "is here to help", I don't think he will help me fill out my income tax - but then I'm no Catherine Zeta Jones either.</span></span><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05972285659958872775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656858613400703529.post-31388823385365744502008-12-05T07:32:00.000+11:002008-12-05T07:39:16.795+11:00Odetta: the voice has been stilled<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuq-NmFniC8OUxsXprbYNO-xXty_OcON-PIGvUGHVp_lhECJ2dR-vz-foynO-4lsb1arVhqtEEBJx-RISXdzlo6D548rBs-qrFUqIcSx2bGufSir5MPpX6be5t8dx3m4q4hyphenhyphenAQ2HWsJp9/s1600-h/Odetta.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 220px; height: 307px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuq-NmFniC8OUxsXprbYNO-xXty_OcON-PIGvUGHVp_lhECJ2dR-vz-foynO-4lsb1arVhqtEEBJx-RISXdzlo6D548rBs-qrFUqIcSx2bGufSir5MPpX6be5t8dx3m4q4hyphenhyphenAQ2HWsJp9/s400/Odetta.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276036461147980946" /></a>That strong, clear voice has been stilled. It has gone from us - gone home. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odetta">Odetta</a> has gone. Now, if some of you were not paying attention, you may only recall her famous performance with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Belafonte">Harry Belafonte</a> of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There's_a_hole_in_the_bucket">There's a hole in my bucket, dear Henry</a></span>. Farewell, <a href="http://www.sojo.net/blog/godspolitics/?p=4364">Odetta</a>. You take with you much love and affection. You enriched our lives and our times.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05972285659958872775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656858613400703529.post-79664842774824243932008-12-02T13:22:00.000+11:002008-12-02T13:44:04.816+11:00Gardening at Home Beautiful 1<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4TDkol3AL1v9iEUyLU-7-SMmO7GEyreKdtJQP9eMnPI5cuODqS_jhDsILX9xXdbrv6jmZC7JGF-LSQxVrEgddLRcAyEdTVWsw-5UtZWCeXapAlOk9-iJc6S2aYbTaCGvwwePJjDknJBn/s1600-h/Community+Garden+1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 253px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275012904827214130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4TDkol3AL1v9iEUyLU-7-SMmO7GEyreKdtJQP9eMnPI5cuODqS_jhDsILX9xXdbrv6jmZC7JGF-LSQxVrEgddLRcAyEdTVWsw-5UtZWCeXapAlOk9-iJc6S2aYbTaCGvwwePJjDknJBn/s400/Community+Garden+1.jpg" /></a><span style="color:#009900;"> <em><span style="font-size:85%;">Home Beautiful</span></em></span></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;">(click to enlarge and see more detail)</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;"></span></em></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;">Here is Home Beautiful. Unlike <a href="http://tradpad.blogspot.com/">The Trad Pad</a>, HB comes complete with gardener. At least that is what the real estate agent said. Not untrue - but, when reality arrived, it turned out that the </span><span style="color:#000000;">gardener is the mother of the owner who is overseas. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;">The garden is spoken for - for the most part - except that we are responsible for turning on the watering system. Even signed a clause on the lease owning up to this onerous responsibility. The garden only has a fig tree, a lemon tree, and a nectarine tree in the way of food plants. Not really any space for veges - but, aside from my herbs, I did bring some in pots (kipfler potatoes, leeks, shallots) leaving behind broadbeans, cauliflowers, beetroot, and sugarloaf cabbages. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;">The back yard is paved and, such garden as there is, is mostly spoken for. There is a small area that is unplanted and I have placed a miscellany of pots there including Herself's succulent collection. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;">When the plants were unloaded in the removal, the wheelbarrows were placed on the footpath for the time being - but we loved the cottage-y look with the gum tree so left them there. I have added other herbs and plants plus the red toadstool with Aboriginal dot-style frogs and the cute little gnome. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;">Now Herself thinks I have gone too far and that all this shows that The Mad People live here. She promises to sort it out herself. We shall see what happens. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;">For me, I hope to get to know the neighbours well enough to ask them to bring their scissors and help themselves - my very own Community Garden on my doorstep!</span></div><div align="center"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05972285659958872775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656858613400703529.post-10918308599856803912008-12-01T21:19:00.000+11:002008-12-01T22:05:14.023+11:00A laugh, a fuss and a great actress<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9YkOIK6H7NhJakwmzfsJQzacAWV8LSDatfZcahVhWAboL4lj5KWQjCBSWqnO2D0EP1QTF6P_8hSmTLL0GMQUQKwaP1zopjoEFlEzqyHLVfV_Ksbp-0CT2zZiahM6yE4jaG14YnjfVBR0g/s1600-h/Kerry+Walker.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 120px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9YkOIK6H7NhJakwmzfsJQzacAWV8LSDatfZcahVhWAboL4lj5KWQjCBSWqnO2D0EP1QTF6P_8hSmTLL0GMQUQKwaP1zopjoEFlEzqyHLVfV_Ksbp-0CT2zZiahM6yE4jaG14YnjfVBR0g/s400/Kerry+Walker.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274767207118585426" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Australian actress, Kerry Walker</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">It is sometimes the small, the little, the less significant things or places or people which capture one's interest and attention. And so it was last week. Monday and Friday turned out to be bookends of entertainment for the week.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Monday night, I was at The Playhouse at the Arts Centre to see <a href="http://http://www.australianstage.com.au/component/option,com_events/Itemid,187/task,view_detail/agid,3955/year,2008/month,11/day,18/">The Hypocrite</a>. Truly, a memorable production. <a href="http://http://www.writers.net/writers/5127|">Justin Fleming</a>'s reworking of <a href="http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molière">Moliere'</a>s timeless <a href="http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tartuffe">Tartuffe</a> is superb and brought the house down. The key players in an entertaining ensemble cast are <a href="http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garry_McDonald">Gary McDonald</a>, <a href="http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kym_Gyngell">Kim Gyngell</a>, and <a href="http://http://www.marinaprior.com/">Marina Prior</a>. But there, right in the beginning was the ubiquitous <a href="http://http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemdetailpaged.aspx?itemid=239931">Kerry Walker</a>, one of Australia's great female character actors. This production ends soon - and you shouldn't miss it. It is entertainment plus - even if, the night I was there, Kim Gyngell himself got the giggles!!! Marina Prior, however, managed to remain composed.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Come Friday night, I was over at The Palace at Balwyn for a charity showing of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0455824/fullcredits#cast">Australia</a>. It is as big - and as interminable - as Ben Hur and a lot of fuss which is questionable. If you love creative cliches; one dimensional characters and overdone scene tweaking with <a href="http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer-generated_imagery">CGI</a> then this is the movie for you. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I do have to say that Hugh Jackman was wonderful. ALL the Aboriginal actors were superb. <a href="http://http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0920992/">David Wenham</a> did another nice characterization of evil. <a href="http://http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0139898/">Brett Sprague</a> has gotten older, gone bush and changed his name to Neil Fletcher. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But there, in it all, was Kerry Walker. Our wonderful character actor did go to the ball in Darwin. I enjoyed her twice in a week - but needless to say her more substantial stage role was the pick.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05972285659958872775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656858613400703529.post-74339665171652120162008-11-30T06:30:00.000+11:002008-11-30T06:31:22.822+11:00Seasons of the Soul: Advent 1 2008<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKImuS9Zqk9d6FUPtnxd8b_FhRQH-dyMsbLtbcgxB4gwoJn13uAMFNRY1GLM5IX7xllrtUUvqV5eKjhroHGTjq8FZMwPQqRpKQ_C9EeaV3uNcEbM9uSzksHVCpLYSJMCkWMzDEbD_elYSk/s1600-h/earthsongjpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 388px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKImuS9Zqk9d6FUPtnxd8b_FhRQH-dyMsbLtbcgxB4gwoJn13uAMFNRY1GLM5IX7xllrtUUvqV5eKjhroHGTjq8FZMwPQqRpKQ_C9EeaV3uNcEbM9uSzksHVCpLYSJMCkWMzDEbD_elYSk/s400/earthsongjpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274161438097437298" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family:Arial;color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">From website,</span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-AU" style=" ;font-family:Arial;color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family:Arial;color:black;"><a href="http://www.earthsong.org.au/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#074D8F;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">www.earthsong.org.au</span></span></a></span></span><span lang="EN-AU"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We are being called into a new place<br />and our creativity is being placed<br />at the service of Earth,<br />in a new millennium and a new moment.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">There is an awakening of deep energy,<br />for embracing the interconnectedness of the whole life community<br />and finding the place of the human within this community.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Living within the Divine Mystery,<br />we celebrate the sacredness of all beings<br />and the integrity of all creation.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Drawing on the wisdoms of our past,<br />we are moving into new expressions<br />of our response to the creation:<br />'groaning in one great act of giving birth'.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We seek to learn new ways,<br />widening our horizons,<br />believing in a possible dream,<br />touching into our deepest experience<br />to give and to receive life.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e106/Miss2544Eagle/Avatars/?action=view&current=Brigidscross.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e106/Miss2544Eagle/Avatars/Brigidscross.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05972285659958872775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656858613400703529.post-90817291772015269992008-11-26T22:13:00.000+11:002008-11-26T22:37:16.915+11:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_U0BDjnZgZYyAwinjuDfKjGNOpThOqkhyrATMSgCG7oBtK2gIU9WxnC3Cj0-oT9SEk6Uo-IDl_fcnXYAZgAYbpOCr-PKl1OGHzBNW8CepBFCNbA7DotZ4YGkuy8LHjQv7IeQCniaop9Zl/s1600-h/Clogs+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 343px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_U0BDjnZgZYyAwinjuDfKjGNOpThOqkhyrATMSgCG7oBtK2gIU9WxnC3Cj0-oT9SEk6Uo-IDl_fcnXYAZgAYbpOCr-PKl1OGHzBNW8CepBFCNbA7DotZ4YGkuy8LHjQv7IeQCniaop9Zl/s400/Clogs+1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272923182386013618" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Oh, the paths one's feet take! </span></span><br /></div><div>I started blogging over three years ago with <a href="http://eaglesplace.blogspot.com/">The Eagle's Nest</a>. My views are quirky, diverse, and often political. It seemed to me that I should separate my taste for the lovely things from my penchant for the controversial and so the beautiful things got discussed on <a href="http://tradpad.blogspot.com/">The Trad Pad</a>. Controversy was kept for The Eagle's Nest. Two other blogs came along: <a href="http://oztucker.blogspot.com/">Oz Tucker</a> which began with putting the handwritten recipes and clippings into some sort of order and <a href="http://eaglesnestcompanion.blogspot.com/">Desert</a> to have somewhere to put the spiritual resources which undergird desert spirituality.<div><br /></div><div>Blogging has taken a back seat - except for Desert and, occasionally, Oz Tucker and, even more occasionally, The Eagle's Nest. I do want to have somewhere to discuss doings and talk turkey so I will no longer update The Eagle's Nest nor The Trad Pad. It will all happen here at <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">in her own write</span>. Hopefully, this will simplify things - and, perhaps, it may mean a different voice, a different viewpoint.</div><div><br /></div><div>Which brings me back to the paths of one's feet. Four months ago a meeting was held in Melbourne with the purpose of establishing a multi-faith environmental organisation. I have never actually joined an environmental organisation before - but when I heard about this I was moved to action. You see, while I don't deny the science of climate change and I don't wish to ignore technology in finding solutions to problems, I am tired of the never-ending rationalism involved in the science, technology, economics and politics relating to climate change and environmental matters. My view is that human communities and the Creator of the planet need to be more clearly acknowledged in the debate. </div><div><br /></div><div>From that very first meeting in July, GreenFaith Australia has been established and I have finished up its Secretary. In the four months since all this began, our landlords told us that they needed to come back and live in The Trad Pad at Upper Gully and then, in the midst of the house-hunting, I was ill for five weeks including two trips to hospital. Then, when the house was found there was the shifting - to a different suburb altogether. So, I am sure you will agree, there is little wonder that blogging took a back seat.</div><div><br /></div><div>At this time, GreenFaith Australia has been launched - with a series of three seminars under the heading of Water for Life and 2009 looks like being an activity-filled year. We are settling into Home Beautiful and the house is getting into order. And there are new paths to discover and explore....</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05972285659958872775noreply@blogger.com0