Little Lord Fauntleroy

This is what I sometimes call Hamish. When I send him a present in the mail that's how I address it.

Hamish has just started high school and the night before he went he requested from his parents that his bed time be changed from 8:30 to 9pm. The reason he gave is that he is in high school now and that means he has to take on extra responsibilities. His father pipes up and says that if we decide that your bed time will be changed to 9pm it doesn't mean that you will sit on facebook after school and leave your homework for later.

Im smiling at the little gentleman.

VW Combi - Wobbly Wagon

1973 saw the make over of the VW combi van dad had purchased with the idea of doing a long trip around eastern half of Australia. He worked on it with Martin Challenger who was the spray painter. On the front lawn they sprayed it a beige colour, dad decked it out with a sleeping platform and extra windows. The sleeping platform was very innovative as you could push it back in the day time to use the bench seat in the back. We all slept in the van and thought it was a motel on wheels. I remember bits and pieces of the trip, the funny bits and the horrific bits as we ended up being stranded in Hughenden, Qld for a number of weeks. All up I think we were away from home about 3 months. In those days the road south past Alice Springs was not bituemised, not many roadside stops along the way and no air-conditioning. We left in the wet season so it must have been a pretty hot trip, but I don’t remember that heat at all. It was exciting to be going on a long trip dad made a huge tuckerbox and mum had her wig sitting on its stand at the back of the combi. When we pulled in to Oodnadatta mum opened the side door for us girls to get out and at the same time dad opened the back door. Well that wig decided it had a life too and blew out the side door into the spinifex and sand in the 30mph wind, tumbling and showing off. Mum said “Kim - quick get my wig” and because I was a fast runner back then I went off after it. I finally caught it and picked it up. It felt like a gutted rabbit real limp. I gave it a good shake and mum took care of it from then on. We all laughed so much. That night mum washed it in some boar water at the same time she washed her own hair. Both lots of hair looked unusual, to say the least. However, mum was not giving up on looking beautiful for the next stop and managed to get it into some kind of shape and the wig was perched on the usual stand at the back of the car when we set off in the morning. Looking back she must of thought it still looked better than her own hair, which is confusing. The next stop was Parachilna and just before we pulled in to the service station mum asked me to pass the wig over so she could put it on. It wasn’t until we all got out the car that I noticed mum had the wig on back to front. Like it was really low over her eyebrows and high up on the back of her head. By this time mum was talking to the attendant and I said “Mum, you have got your wig on back to front” I think it was the slap followed by the “Insolent Little Bitch” which made me realize that there was a right time and a wrong time to discuss wig issues. Love you mum.

Hair Clips

Subject: hey girl u bin work or wah?

Serena: Nah I bin in big smoke that one Sidknee. Big mob days with my man and that other one mother. That sista one and man coming to Canberry for holiday soon and me thinking maybe u wanna bit tucker at my donga one night. That other sista girl Janet and her man might be commin too. U wanna come same time or other time?

Gammon Cus
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Kim: You bin stylin up good girl… na matter, I bin lonnga nuther night otherwise act like nuther kind. I bin gettim biggest mob pannickin an johnnycake from one white lady at the NGA, she bin tellem me I gotta come real soon or she bin givem some other bulla. you wanna come getim on sunday before that other mob bin eatim up? I bin see that flash movie now, bran nau dae, I bin lafin longtime good girl
**********

Serena:

What ya talking bout – I gotta go to your donga on Sunday or we meeting at that flash joint picture place for some real proper tucker?

Where you seen that flash movie? I think that it not in cinema yet.
**********

Kim: That girl bin kessem that muliga on screen two weeks now. shame job. everybody watcher now. you bulla come big picture place overdat ay not far away your donga longa riba gottim totem there. we do secret womens camp there that white lady said hurryup eatem proper tucker talk talk. sunday 2pm way like miglou talking tic toc, kudjina ………………you budjigari or wha, those ears been paintem on

Love that Kriol talk. Miss it.

"Dont Let Any Teacher Try To Change What You Do "

ok, I wont. Advice given to me today (by Jenny Sagesm at the back of the room in the white top) at the National Portrait Gallery while drawing this lovely harpist. I bawled when she played the "Star Of The County Down". Ive asked if she might be available for my 50th, thinking of her playing while we eat breakfast. Here's what I reproduced and what was actually there for your amusement.

No Problems; Exhibitions!!!

My niece, sister and I are having an exhibition in K-town very soon and would love as many people as possible join us in our first family display. Please feel free to distribute the invitation and print the flyer.

Hair

I love clean healthy hair any colour any shape. Ive been know to ask people if I can touch their hair. Recently Ive been hearing and seeing allot about Judy Watson, seems everywhere I go shes there. I was listening to a podcast just now and she was on there and talking about her book blood language, which Ive ordered from the library. In the book there is a quote from her countrymen "let me touch your hair and I will tell you where you are from" I like it. When you think about it, that's one of the easiest way to have DNA tested.

Slow Talker

Yesterday I went to JB Hi-Fi to order some DVDs for birthday pressies. Confronting for me was the noise the lights and the multitasking of the young ones behind the counter while serving me. I asked the girl who finally took my money, "how much is Lord Of The Dance" she asked me twice to repeat the question. When she finally got it she said that she finds it hard to understand people who talk slow. I'm thinking she probably finds it hard to concentrate with all that is going on and the interruptions of the other staff joking with her. But then again, I may be getting slower as I approach 50.

Haiku Presentation

Ive been itching to get my words out on display at home and today at Bunnings I saw this fab worm farm mat and decided to have the poems printed out on photos and edge them with hesian bag. Its still got a few bit to add to it and the urgent feeling has passed.

Last Nights Work

Temperature for overnight low 25 C. It wasn't the heat that kept me awake but the blinds flapping around, so at 3am I decided that's enough and put the air con on. I still couldn't sleep so I sat up making these brooches. I really like the fish one and wonder now if 3am is the time of best creativity for me.

TAA Junior Flyer - Survival Of The Fittest

These are some of my memories this little badge evokes

My eyes bulging out of their sockets because Jimmy Lockhart used to light a cigarette then rest his foot on the baggage trolley waiting for the plane to come in and all the family jewels used to hang out the bottom of the trousers.

The thick cigar, cigarette and pipe smoke on the last plane out of Katherine (red eye) before Christmas.

The smell of grog and spew on peoples breath.

New closed in shoes for the trip – patent leather of course hurting like hell.

The feeling in your gut when you hit an air pocket.

Mum hanging on to the seat with Tarzans grip the whole way, even though she had vallium and grog before she got on. The possessed look in her eye from fear.

The smell of aviation fuel in the heat. Which I liked.

New clothes to fly south with that were so tight and uncomfortable on the way home.

The drunken men pinching the hostesses bum.

The wavy mirage of looking out along the airstrip in the heat.

Richard Morris calling out “Great Scott” when dad come out of the plane.

The story of how I got my arm caught up to the elbow in the hole where the ashtray used to be, when I was three, and it took them over an hour to release it in flight, with me streaming the whole time.

When we finally stopped using Fockers and went on the 727s.

This badge is made out of pure 100% plastic, which was a relatively new material back then.
ALWAYS TAA – THE FRIENDLY WAY! Kudjina

Feng Shui

After following the instuctions from the interior Designer more closely, Ive comments on my new updated soft furnishings and room arrangement. "It doesn't look so sterile now" "This feels nice, I like it" "I love the way you have surrounded yourself with beautiful things" the funny thing is Ive only purchased 3 new cushions and 2 small plants. The Feng Shui is flowing. Luv it! ..... and the new preacher Im following quoted me in his Homily today from an email I sent him last week, which made me feel welcome.

Words Heard

Over the past few days I have heard and love
"Happy Birthday to my best girl"
"Miss Scott Hope you have a great Christmas and new year down in Taree with all the family and no running a muk whilst your there either. Control your self"

And this little story...
An EL2 who is not very nice to work for, on the last day before the Christmas break put on their out of office message "I will be out of the office until 4/1/2010 due to the Christmas Shitdown" instead of Shutdown.

Reports I had today is the person only found out today what they had written and that they were giving the staff hell for not telling them about it. Locked them selves in the office for most of the day. Staff feeling satisfied and happy. This story kept me awake for most of the day.

Last night about 2am I finally woke up with what that dream was all about. The empty chair was me not going to my brother in laws for Christmas lunch and Holly represented Christmas. The not knowing - I was only told an hour before lunch that we were not going to the in laws for lunch. Thank Godde no one had to die!

Back To Work

First day back and it wasn't too bad. I'm the only one in for the whole of January so I think Ill just be really easy on myself and not let the power go to my head and start giving myself a hard time. I even started back at gym today as well and I forgot to take my gym clothes and fought with myself all day long about reasons why I could go to the gym. Took the healthy food to work and only busted out and had a cappuccino at 10am so it was a good start to my working year. Ive been thinking about a video on you tube I saw showing how to make things out of recycled plastic bags by ironing them together. I tried it out tonight and got all inspired. The light green and white brooch is the one made from the plastic bags and the other two are made from an old ice cream container. I quite like the feel of the moulded plastic bags because they are easy to sew through. I'm being ridiculous now - the earring can wait till tomorrow coz its almost 11pm. *YAWN*

Vincent IS A Genius

For my birthday I thought I would wait to see the Masters from Paris at the National Gallery. I went with these two lovelies, Tracey and Angelika. I was not disappointed with the exhibition. The star was Vincents Starry Night. Of all the paintings I saw there the originals looked warn out compared to photos and cards that they were selling in the shop outside, except starry night by Vinnie. Its a hundred times better than any photo or print Ive ever seen. It looks like its a painting suspended in water. Cant tell you how unique it really is. Had lots of calls and wishes and breakfast and lunch out with friends. I'm struggling to eat the box of chocolates tonight so might have to pace myself on that one.
Ive been praying for guidance to find my right church and today I found it. Both the priests do great homilies and today the African guy, with his gorgeous voice, said in his homily that if it had been 3 wise women instead of three wise men, they would have known the directions, arrived on time, assisted with the birth, cooked a casserole cleaned the stable and brought some disposable nappies as a gift. That's the bit that sold me. And he is very laid back and humorous. Thanks be to Godde.

* BRIGHT STAR *

I don't know where to begin. Ive seen this movie twice in the last 48 hours and sure to go back for more. The first time I felt like it was too slow and I was agitated in my seat on a number of occasions. There is so much to see, the beautiful light filled scenes, the textiles, the landscape, the dimness of those times. The hanging close to windows, the clothing, the knitting and crochet, the POETRY, and of course the lovely faces. I missed alot of this the first round but caught some on the second. I believe Ill still get something more out of it another two times minimum. I love the way it is slow because that's how those time were, you had to wait for stuff and things to happen. Its a more gentle way to live, on the whole, well except if you waiting to get your appendix out. Its like the movie soaks in to you.

Speaking of poetry, the Canberra Times published this poem by a girl I know (Melanie Bosato)who grew up in K-Town. And I smiled. Im proud of her.

Happy New Years

I wish for you and all those you love and those that love you, a great 2010. May it be full of peace love and harmony. And if any of you can provide another human being to this world that would be awesome. Let me know how you go with this one.....

Thoughts for the new year
*travel
*creative writing course
*exhibitions
*fitness
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