Happy Jar Entrant

Best Valentine Present EVA! Amen.

I love surprises and today I received the best one ever. Its something I never imagined. Something with so much meaning. Can you guess?

My Dad

My dad siad that " if Tony Abbott wants to shift people up to the Northern Territory then they should make Elliot the capital and then they would need to build 6 nuclear plants to accomadate the amount of BTUs they would need for air-conditioning". Love his wild imaginings.

Guzmah Old Son

These are the words my dad uses with his oldest friend. 61 years they were cobbers. Hes the bloke I wrote in the post Singing Him Home Saturday, 25 August 2012. Well he died yesterday and I feel so much hurt for my dad. This is what it looks like.

Katherine Vs Canberra

First Page of story. Would love some feedback.

New Way

I went to a funeral yesterday of my work mate Cathy who had been battling breast cancer for 15 years. I sat up the back coz I do unusual grieving, gets a bit loud and inappropriate at times. Cool work mates came in and saw me sitting there and keep walking and that was a relief. Next thing all the upper management came and sat right next to me and there was shuffling and stepping on toes to get the order right. Bummer, was wondering how I'm gunna hide the freak flag. The service was appropriate and beautiful (Duet by two sisters Acapella) in spots however I see now what is happening in society with out religious framework.  When it came to sing morning has broken together, only a handful of people sang. It was a huge church which could hold hundreds of people and it was full. They didn't sing because the majority of the congregation didn't know the song because they were too young or from an other country that does have that kind of music. This was the saddest part of the the whole day. We don't have repertoire of songs all the generations know anymore. That brings us all together at times when we need solidarity and community. The words "the day the music died" comes to mind now.  I'm shattered really.

Dads observations

 My dads observations after Jules announced the election date.  Have you noticed that Tony Abbott is not walking like a duck any more and must have had tuition to walk properly and Julia's wearing glasses whether they have glass in them or not. Its on for young and old!!!!!!  I hadn't even noticed till I found a clip of him walking.

My First Born Story Board Illistration

Funny how you know you are going up a level when you hit so many brick walls and the anxiety levels get out of control for days on end.  Tonight I will have a good sleep knowing I can take stick drawings and make them into something that illustrates the different seasons in Katherine and Canberra. That what I have been working towards for 3 years is with in grasp. Persistence pays off. Only 119 more to do. That will complete stage two. Godde is good. Stages are good. Mentor - PERFECT!

Annika Romeyn - Artist

I'm on a mission (hopefully not an impossible one). I'm doing a booklet to celebrate Canberra's centenary. Since the place is my new home, its the least I can do.

Over the last 3 weeks I have been doing sketches contrasting life as I knew it and the life I now live here in the heart of the nation.  To help me along the way Annika has agreed to mentor me. Its an arrangement that really suits my personality, learning style and fits around my other studies.

Today when I visited her in her studio I couldn't help take this picture below. Made me laugh because the pencil is so short and Id never seen someone use a pencil that short before. Says a lot about her as person really - doesn't waste anything to do with art.

Katherine South Pre School

Laughin - just found a piccy of myself at Katherine South Pre School c 1966 on Facebook that Id never seen before. As usual, not looking at the camera. With a clip in my hair. Fond memories of those times including wearing boys Y fronts so I could go swimming in the pool which was about 2 feet deep when I didn't bring my bathers.