Alpines

When I was 9, mum and dad brought a car from the Katherine Show for $1500.00 brand new. Its the first brand new car they had ever owned. Its pictured here out the front of the home I lived most of my childhood in. In that car was a cigarette lighter which was a rather new invention. We're talking 1969. Mum used to smoke Alpines and thats all I can remember her ever smoking. Im certain the packet looked like this. The funny thing is she always tasked me with running down stairs to the car to light her smoke if she had run out of matches. I hated it. She probably done me a favor though because Ive always hated the smell of tailor mades, as they used to call them.

Silver Holden

About 3 months ago when I was walking home from work on a Friday night, this car pulled up in front of me and an old (80ish) Greek man walked around the other side of the car and opened the door for me to get in. I said no thanks and kept walking. He took off and did a lap of the block then drove past again beeping his horn. Until now he still drives past beeping the horn and stopping occasionally and I immediately cross the road to walk on the other side. It only twigged to me tonight that I should cross the road and walk against the traffic that way he wont be able to surprise me or talk to me. Drrr slow learner.

Songlines - Moustafa Fathi Painting

The songlines are invisible pathways that run across Australia. Every Aboriginal tribe has its own line with its own song; each represents an ancestor of that tribe. A songline can stretch across the desert. They are sung poems that tell the story of an ancestor. When sung aloud, they can guide a tribesman across the desert by following features of the landscape that figure in each story. A dipped hill might be the place where the lizard ancestor sat down, a group of mounds might be where the ancestor ate dingoes and buried them. These are oral maps of the Outback.
The songs figure heavily in much indigenous Australian art. The galleries dedicated to works by artists from the tribes in and around the northern, central and western deserts of the country – the Papunya, the Yuendumu – are often full of works with titles like ‘Honey Ant Dreaming’, ‘Water Dreaming’, ‘Emu Dreaming’. They are each representations of the ancestor stories that feed into the songlines. The works are often complicated, geometrically inspired compositions. Undulating, swirling patterns – infused with movement, they quite often bear the marks of nature in some way: the paths that veins in a leaf might take, the precise rivets found in dust. By Chris Lord

"I derive my inspiration from shapes. Shape has taken a long journey until it took its final configuration. Tools are a form of human thought. They are the trace of the human being. They are human being themselves. I like a tool and it always captures my attention, not because it is a scene, but because it is a living thought. Paintings, on the other hand, are an accumulation of the images and shapes of tools and stones in my head." Moustafa Fathi (1942-2009)

Airquarium

Ever since I have met Paul at work he has had water issues. First off he had a rather large plant next to his desk that he brought in from home and it looked really lovely for about a week. After about 3 months it was basically a dried arrangement. Then one day it disappeared and was replaced by an imitation climbing plant that looked quite chirpy for a year or so. Just before our branch moved I saw that plant totally bowed down to the dust and spider webs and scraps of paper and a few platstic leaves scattered on the floor. I noted that he had ditched it in the move. However, the fish tank in this picture did have a live fish in it during all that time and that came to our new accommodation too. It only lasted 1 week in the new position. So Paul had the tank filled just with stones and the one plastic plant and I decided that every time I went to Darwin I would buy him something for his "Airquarium", which I also labeled so people would know what it was. Please note the fish, which is also a candle, so Paul can light the fish if he feels the need when he is having a bad hair day. After 9 months I added the croc which took over a week for him to notice, even with me coaching him by asking him had he seen any crocs lately. Some times I asked him twice a day. That's when he gave me my nickname "Crikey". From then on I called his team the croc spotters team. Then in March this year I added the Platypus and that took about 3 days of me and his team talking about platapie till he twigged.

Interview Excitement

Yesterday I went over to Woden on the work bus for an interview with Raynah and Arun. I had already been over to interview Raynah and when I left her office a couple of weeks ago I just felt like I was walking on sunshine and felt good about myself. She called me back again for another interview with Arun who is looking for people who have my skills. (falling over in public, peaking too soon etc) When I walked into her room and said HI she looked stunned. I thought to myself some people have no time management skills. Any way she redeemed herself and got up straight away and went to get Arun and we had the interview. Though the interview she was encouraging me with smiles when I said something good. Any way I just left feeling really good about myself again. This morning I woke up at 3am thinking now I know why she looked stunned, its because I was an hour early for the interview and thats why the bus took so long to come and why my boss looked at me then looked at his watch.



I seriously hope that she chooses me. She asked if I had any preference of what work Id like to do and I said I want to work with her. Especially now she knows some people have no time mangment skills....

Near Death Experience

On Monday at the gym after work I had the place to my self. At the end of the work out I used the leg extension machinery to stretch a muscle that is very difficult to stretch in a normal position. So Im laying on my back with my leg pulled back under the bench and my foot wrapped around the leg stretching for at least two minutes with my eyes closed. Just before I finished the stretch I opened my eyes and a man was bending over me with his face about 6 inches away from my face. I SCREAMED!!! He reeled back and I sat straight up and he said "thank Godde, I thought you were dead". It was so funny I fell over and he was holding his stomach and I was laughin so loud and being out of control. He was probably thinking - fat bastard over done it and died. I'm still laughing at this as I'm writing it. Any way I saw him today and smiled and he had this supercilious grin on his dial as he went by and I let out a chuckle.

Fresh Faced Fillies - Mostly

Katherine Races, an excuse to style up! Oh to be young and beautiful. oh and Hamish told me the only reason Lauren didnt get best dressed was that she was walking around with a can in her hand.

Edoardo Ponti

"the more time you save, the less you invest in something; the less you invest emotionally." and "Ceremony through technology is being lost."

Trendy At Last

Been noticing grey hair on young girls for a while now. I must admit I was a bit confronted with it. Still I think the young should enjoy their natural colour as long as they can because youre a long time grey. When I recently had my hair cut shorter the apprentices all came over to the wash basin to feel my hair when wet to feel the softness of unprocessed hair. Their comments were that it is so soft and silky compared to the over bleached and dyed locks they normally handle. There is nothing more attactive than a young girl with her thick unaltered and shiny hair hanging down her back. Well thats my blurb for the day.

Smiling Brings Happiness

Today it was the quiet day "The risk of love". Really enjoyed it even though I went for lunch and couldn't find my way back there because NavGirl threw in the towel. Maybe she was over all the risks Ive been putting her through. So I made my way home and went shopping for groceries. Nuthin like a Meniers attack to get you straight on to behaving food wise. Anyway as I was coming out these two trolly guys wheeled in front of me Indian music blaring and started hurling trollys around. I smiled at the young Siek man because they looked so energetic and happy doing their work. Went over to the car and unloaded the groceries and was waiting for a number of cars to pass when the young Seik came running between the cars and took the trolly from me and put it in the trolly bay. I was so happy I got all tingly and started crying. MEN O PAUSE

And I love this photo of these sad eyed girls.

58 Rows To Go

On Hamish 13th Birthday blanket.

I Cried

When I read that Gough had been moved to a nursing home recently.

Of course I don't know what the circumstances are and that may be what he has requested.

As a former PM, you'd think ( no, Id think ) that 1. his family would care for him or 2. they could find the money to hire home help or 3. move them to a more age care friendly place to live with help.

A man like him being put into a "zoo for humans" is not sitting well with me.

It just shits me!

But Margaret makes me laugh..

It was reported in the same paper -A great supporter of the arts, Mrs Whitlam, 90, and the couple's daughter Catherine Dovey stepped out together on Monday night for the NSW Premier's Literary Awards. Despite requiring two walking sticks, Mrs Whitlam maintains she is "in rude health for a 90-year-old".

0-17C

At the lights I spotted a big brave territorians number plate, on a frosty morning.

New Hobby

I gave up ironing in the early 80s because it was too dangerous, physically and mentally for me. However, after completing a nice hour of ironing lovely linen shirts tonight, I'm feeling more confident. Ive worked out that if you iron with clothes on you dont tend to run over your belly with iron as much and you remember to turn the iron off because you have to walk past the board and iron to get to the bedroom. Cuts out the OCD tendencies I had in the past where Id get to work have to go home to check if the iron was off, everday.

My Aunt

About 18 months ago my aunts (80) husband died and dad and I went to the funeral. We have had some concern how she might get on with out him. She has a son living with her who has a drug problem, but it must be working out because shes still going quite well. Simmone recounted this story to me just now. Simmone rang aunt and our cousin (oldest son) who lives here in Canberra answered the phone and Simmone is talking to him and he gives her a serve for not waving when he saw her walking to work (it was me he saw) but was so pissed that he thought he was talking to me. But the funny thing is he was telling Simmone that my aunt has started wearing her husbands Y fronts because its easier for her to go to the toilet with out taking her pants off.

My Dad - Lout

Dad turns 72 today and I haven't been able to talk to him on the phone to wish him happy birthday. Im very agitated about this, but finding this picture of him (c 1955) with his best mate Milsy made me smile. This was taken during his apprenticeship as a motor mechanic, which was still a very "new" industry in the 50s. I think it taken in the back yard of Dowling Street. Love the strides.

Crochet Garland

I really have the yearning for garlands at the moment. These lovelies are made by Emma Lamb. Must be something about connection, linking, stages or family....

Artist Angst

Im having alot of frustration on my new series of paintings. some of the ink is bleeding when I try to seal it. Im trying to seal with a more robust sealer and up grade the hardware quality to give a more professional finish.

Having It All

Today I learned another ART lesson. Id visited it before but didn't take notice, now there is no way I can ever let it happen again. When I don't have all the items necessary to begin and complete an idea, it makes be irritable until I can get started. Big HUH?

Happy Mothers Day Mum

This photo was taken around 1972, I love it because mum looks so happy and natural and it has all my best girls in it. My darling great aunt Carrie and little sis. It was taken in the depths of winter at the Katherine Gorge, when we were showing our relations from down south around. This was a really nice time in our family life and it was mostly calm may be it was because everyone was on their best behaviour because of the visitors.

WWW Smackdown Part 2

This time outside the shopping centre. Looking for my phone in my big girls bag and didnt see a small ledge in the pavement. SMACKOOO! This time I have bark missing off me as well as bruised. And, amazing a lady come over to see if I was alright. This time I got straight up swinging.... na gamin. But it was a quick recovery and only laugher by me. Gravity is pickin on me something shockin lately. What with everything drooping and wrinkles? I might as well take up wrestling again.

Autumn In My Lounge

I'm ashamed to say that I have been taking the first 6 weeks of autumn for granted. I'm now making up for it by frolicking through the leaves in the mornings and lunchtimes when ever I can. Sorry Autumn.

Todays Highlights

• Will did a spot of cleaning for me (some slow cooking got stuck on my ceiling!!!)

• Will took a risk on reaching the ceiling by standing on the chair with wheels on it. (Hes getting over his autism)

• I got to keep my rice cooker, when Will said his family don't need another rice cooker because there are 15 in the garage at home "just in case"

• We got thanked for just walking past a coffee shop by the owner. (must have thought there was another group of people as distinct as us in his shop)

Walking And Texting

This morning I went for my usual cuppa and reading of the newspaper in Woden. On the way out I though I would text a friend and ask if I can come for a visit. Was really busting so I walked and text on the way to the loo. Hit send and squat. Ahhh all is good. I open the door and there are no mirrors and these funny bid ea things on the wall and I'm wondering where I am, as in country and time. First thought was that they want us to back up to these things then went NAAH! then I realised I was in the men's toilet and there was a bloke in the next cubical. I took of with out washing my hand to the women's next store to wash. Then when parking at my friends I accidentally parked a couple of houses up and went knocking on the door. Hearing kids inside and noticing the station wagon, I decided I was at the wrong house. So I'm wondering if tonight when I go out for dinner to a place I haven't been before - WILL I FIND IT!!!!