Messy Writes

and now for something completely different

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 14:51:00 +1000

Today was my last day working for the little country newspaper I have been at for quite some time. I cant be bothered going in to details about that, but lets just say that I am a rare breed of journalist who, now wait for it, is actually ethical- oh my! who would of thought hey? that ol’ chestnut- ethics!

I believe ethics, accountability and basic journalistic integrity are important and what should constitute EVERY journalist’s role and the company I was working for saw things a bit differently.

Instead of trying to push a rather large turd up a very big conservative hill of crap, I decided to leave… nuff said.

I have other things in the pipeline and until then, there is this other big event happening at the moment- a little sporting event in the Mother land called the olympics and if one was to watch the Australian free to air coverage of the games on Channel nine, well, one would think all that we give a toss about is black line fever!

Until my new things in the pipeline eventuate, Im waiting for seek to post the job of body waxer for the Australian men’s swim team.

Somebody has to do it, right? and I think it may as well be me!

Snake charmers....

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 11:23:33 +1000

Ok… soap box time folks!

Today I really want to talk about something that has been shitting me for quite some time and I’m talking about, well, there is not going to be any nice way to say this, so here goes;

effing mung-beaners, new age deadshits, goddess worshippers et al. who believe that cancer and other diseases are our bodies’ way of telling us that there is *something* wrong or missing..

OK then, allow me to elaborate, here are just some of the words of wisdom I have come across over the past few months-

Apparently, cancer is in fact cureable and its really only the big, bad ugly wolves in the Medical industry who are keeping us sick and not telling us this- shhheeesh!

You can read all about and watch the great little piece of emotive, subjective propaganda here:

Obviously these ‘snake oil’ merchants believe in their product or rather ethos so much that they have a pretty hefty disclaimer on their website which states;

“maxAwareness Pty. Ltd. is not responsible for the results of your decisions resulting from the use of the information, including, but not limited to, your choosing to seek or not to seek professional medical care, or from choosing or not choosing specific treatment based on the information”

and,

“Viewers should exercise their own care, skill and diligence with respect to the reliance and use of any information contained in the film. Viewers should not act or refrain from acting in the film without first taking appropriate professional advice in respect of their own particular circumstances.The film and the views and statements expressed in the film are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice.”

What a load of complete and utter bullshit and people are willingly believing this crap… come on maxAwareness Pty.Ltd. if you believe so vehemently in your ethos, then why do you still insist that people seek ‘professional’ medical help in relation to their cancer/s.

For every person who does manage to survive cancer of some sort due to changing their diet, positive thinking, not under-going stock standard chemo or radiation there are many, many more who try just as hard and still die.

I find the malaise afforded by these do-gooding mung beaners, who I would also like to point out seem to also love a good conspiracy theory too! are playing with peoples emotions and I do not understand why they cant accept that both western, new age, traditional and modern health practices can and do go hand in hand.

Simply saying that someone with a radical and aggressive form of cancer just need to change to an alkaline diet because cancer cells cant live in an alkaline environment might be right, but the person also needs other forms of medical help and really what is wrong with that?

As I have previously stated about a year ago, I have been living with a herniated disc which has at times been fucking painful and you know what, I tried natural rememdies, but then I realised that I needed pharmaceuticals and the technology that modern medicine has give the modern world.

No amount of positive thinking or being ‘zen’ was going to make my disc one day decide to magically ‘pop’ back into place and stop my pain and NO, my disc did not pop out because I was not bought a pony as a little girl and therefore I built up a wall of anger and malaise towards the matriarchal figure in my life and my L5/S1 disc popped out as that was my body telling me to get in touch with that subverted and respressed memory and feeling…

hmmmm, do you see where I am going here?

Illness is illness, cancer is sad, heartbreaking and these things happen to people who are good, bad, fat, ugly, christian, muslim, vegans, school teachers etc. etc.

I definitely believe in the power of positive thinking and of course eating chemical-free food and trying to just live a good, healthy and happy life.

I know many people who have done that and you know what? they have still become sick and some have died even.

I believe in using everything at your disposal, for eff’s sake, I have in regards to my back, in order to make yourself better if forced with a medical emergency but what I am sick of is the condescending nature of many of these alternative medicine believers an practitioners.

I would love to be a fly on the wall if they ever happen to be told they have advanced cancer and need treatment for that….

I wonder and until then, keep your subjective and radical opinions, beliefs and snake oil to yourself.

MY, HOW THE TIME DOES FLY BY! Only yesterday I checked my email...

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 21:40:00 +1000

MY, HOW THE TIME DOES FLY BY!

Only yesterday I checked my email to find a lovely letter from Aunty Meredith informing me that the ballot was open and this means one good thing….

Festival season is not that far away.

Yay! triple yay… *happy skips like a little lamb, whilst singing tra la la la!*

Im so happy, as I just love festival season and summer and getting to experience new music and making new friends and laughing and basically, just having a great time.

I absolutely love Meredith and can not wait to hear what the other additions to the bill will be.

So far Aunty has announced old school 80s pub rockers, The Sunnyboys and electro, indie, Canadian, waifette, Grimes.

In true Meredith style, the two could not be further apart musically, but that my friends is one of the things that makes Meredith very, very unique.

The dirty old alt rockers that are featured in the above clip from Meredith, Graveyard Train, were probably my stand out act from the summer that has just gone.

I saw them at Meredith and then had the pleasure to see them a few more times at the Woodford Folk Festival, where the ‘word’ most certainly got about as to how damn! fun and down right snarly and nasty they were to see live.

Watching Graveyard Train live was like rolling around in the mud and hay with the boy your Mum and Dad told you not to see on an erie full moon night.

Sounding just a little bit country and tiny bit soundtrack to the movie ‘Psycho’, I hope the Melbourne lads make it to the festys again this summer.

Its cold right now, but the summer haze of festy fun is starting to warm the fire in my musical belly with just the mere thought of what is in store in a few months time.

In the words of Big Kev,

“I’m excited!”

Never mind the bollocks

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 13:05:00 +1000

Im not going to trudge through endless amounts of statistics from the last census- Im really not that enthralled by stats, but it is interesting that there has been substantial evidence to support that it sucks to live on the Sunshine Coast if you happen to be between the ages of 18 and 35.

I moved away when I was 30 and in all honesty, I miss my friends and my Mum dearly, but it is pretty much them that keeps me going back.

I love the beach when it is nice and warm and not too humid, but at the moment, if you are my age, its a hard place to live and find a substantial way of life and jobs.

From the Sunshine Coast Mayor “Census data showed a “disturbing” dearth of people aged 18-35 on the Coast, which council hoped to address by adding diversity and resilience to the economy”

Gee, I wonder why there are no young people on the coast? Im sure Clive Palmer will make the Sunshine Coast more appealing to young people!

In all honesty, its such a shame that such a beautiful place is now so conservative and full of families and retirees. I remember when the Sunshine Coast was a great place to be. There was a lot more work and lots of events and places to go out.

Its a pity that this paradise is really only designed for the grey-haired brigade.

blatant mid 30's pathetic drool fest!

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 23:23:00 +1000

Sad, yes, I KNOW, I KNOW!

I know many other women share my opinions and are silently very sad at the moment with the thought of no more Dr Patrick gracing the celluloid for about another 10 months in Offspring… *insert BIG sad face, totes, reeeeeeeeal, BIG SAD FACE*

Stuff you ‘Mc Dreamy’ and the others of your ilk!

Even though I have never watched ER or Greys or any of those other Doctor-type, drama- type shows with apparent cute men in them, Offspring is actually a very good show. It is funny and has a leading lady in it who is my age and yes! like many other women in Australia, I wish I had her stylish and eclectic clothing flair and a quirky, but oh so cutesy pie family and honestly, I will feel a sadness and void on Wednesday nights now for some time.

Lamenting, the great soothsayer, Mr N. Dynamite, ‘goooshhhh!’ How pathetic does that sound?

The great characters, even if some are a little tiresome and annoying at times, (Geraldine, Jimmy) are all balanced quite perfectly by Nina, the brilliant Dr. Martin Clegg (honestly, if Patrick were not so yummy, I would watch this show if only for Martin and his, well, for just being him) and the fabulous surrounds of my favourite Melbourne suburb, good ol’ Fitzroy. However, just one side note when talking of Fitzroy- just where do they cart all of the hipsters off to when they are shooting? is it like the Sydney Olympics and what they did with the homeless? they ship them off to Richmond and let them return when Fitzroy is allowed to return back to normal?

I so swear, I have not seen one pair of ultra skinny black jeans, with canvas shoes attached at the bottom and a nice full sleeve tattoo rounded off for good measure; not one I tell you, not one, not even at the Union Hotel!

But, I digress and back to faaaar more important things, FFS!

Just like the cherry on top of an ice-cream, the gooey choc centre in a magnum, realising that Katy Perry really does have cellulite, the best thing about Offspring is Patrick.

DID I MENTION HIM YET?

If not, let me remind you;

Despite the intense brooding throughout the entire season, Dr Patrick lets a ripper smile unveil a full set of pearly whites to cap off what was a bit of a vomit fest of syrupy sweetness in the final episode of season three.

Now, I like rom-coms and chick flicks, really I do, but the finale was a bit sugary sweet towards the end and personally, I was expected an immense cliff hanger that would leave me agonising for some time. But, it didn’t happen. Everything worked out too effing nice and sweet and well, just too damned effing movie like and well, life is just not like that, really, is it?

However, despite all of this, if my heart of stone were to crumble and lets face it, one look at Dr Patrick in real life and that probably would happen, I too (now I am telling you this in secret) would actually melt and giggle in glee like a little girl if a scene like that was to play out in my own real life and it is what most of us gals want, even if we pretend we dont. Its a guilty pleasure being hopeless romantics and wishing for the same in our own life. It was sweet and corny and romantic, but not in a Bold and the Beautiful way, it was just great and Im so happy, really I am, for Nina and Patrick.

Ahhhhhhh! so loving, so nice, so beautiful …. *reaches for bucket to vomit into*

Man + v-neck = tasty!

Now, I can’t say that there may not be anymore posts of this type ever again. I don’t have a crystal ball and I can not see into the future and tell if Ryan Gosling’s bare chest may happen to release a movie later in the year. What I can say though, is that just like a good book is celebrated and a new tune, beauty too must be celebrated. I know Matt Le Nevez (Dr Patrick) is a NIDA trained actor, so that means that he can actually ‘act’ but at the moment, its purely physical and I am celebrating his brooding, good looks and I am willing to say that, because I too am weak and merely a poor female with wants and dreams and desires and well, you know!

'Can do' Newman!

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 12:05:00 +1000

So, the new premier in Queensland is currently set to slash a LOT of public sector jobs in the good ol’ sunshine state… you can read it here:

So far in Queensland there is a very conservative element running throughout the state and in my home town there is a more conservative, right aligned council in place and as a result a heap of jobs are being slashed there too.

I understand that there are many public sector workers who exploit the so called cushy nature of working in that system, however slashing jobs to make up for debt left by the previous government/council is not the answer.

The same thing is happening down here in Victoria with the Liberal government slashing LOTS of jobs just the same.

I dont understand why people’s jobs are the first thing to go when government’s need to make budget cuts or find ways to save money.

I know that down here in Victoria there is a huge amount of revenue being lost in the production of a de-salinisation plant in the Gippsland region. Yes, it was commissioned by the previous Labor government, but continuing it when it is clearly not needed, is wasting a lot of money and there are many more examples.

Now, back to Queensland. I for one think it is deplorable that jobs are being lost and I personally think that every state asset should be sold off before that is the first line of measure.

Looking at where I am from, the Sunshine Coast, the council would be one of the largest employers in the area and to take away much needed jobs from a region where it is already frightfully hard to stay employed is just not right.

Or if this is to continue and nothing is invested into creating new jobs and sustaining those that are already there, then the coast may as well just become the largest retirement village in Australia- a walk around the region will show that it is not too far off from being the permanent reality.

Young people, do not enter!

Only the orange hue and leathered faces of retirees who spend all day at the beach in their speedos and onesies shall be the permanent face of the region.

I can just hear my fave letter to the editor writer at the Sunshine Coast Daily, the amazing, Jeff Cass from Tewantin, salivating at the idea of more of his kind proliferating in the region.

Or maybe, mining magnate and number two dick wad behind that female behemoth from Western Australia, Clive Palmer, if he does in fact run in the federal election for the seat of Fairfax, maybe with all of his billions he might be able to fix the job issue on the coast…

I’m thinking of moving back to the region or even Brisbane, but as a journalist (another area where heaps of jobs have/are being cut) and someone who has worked in the public sector before in local government, I am very scared at my prospects of finding decent work.

Who knows what the future will hold!

ALTRUISTIC AUSTRALIAN? Last night the above documentary screened...

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 23:50:30 +1000

ALTRUISTIC AUSTRALIAN?

Last night the above documentary screened on ABC 2 and it has moved me profoundly.

It is just so moving to know that there are people out there in the world who actually do so much for others and do so selflessly.

The ‘English’ neurosurgeon in the film, Henry Marsh said throughout the film, “What are we if we don’t try and help others….nothing…..nothing at all.”

I honestly believe that is such a beautiful way to live life.

Whilst watching the documentary last night, I was so angry and ashamed of the injustice of wealth, health and access to care that prevails throughout most of the world.

So many people struggle and dont have access to things which I in my life in Australia, take for granted.

I have always wanted a career where I ‘help’ in more than a capacity such as just sponsoring a child and unlike Igor or Henry, I don’t have a hands on job where I can physically help. If I were a Doctor or Nurse or had other needed skills, I would make it my priority to be doing that.

I have often felt a great sense of malaise towards many Doctors who seem to work towards monetary gains, rather than what in my opinion is the true reason behind their careers, which is to help and to help even those who can least afford it.

Both of the neurosurgeons in the film epitomise the essence of what it means to help and sacrifice in order to help others and this is also a definition of ‘altruism’.

Today I was wondering, how on earth I can help, just by me being ‘Australian’? We truly are just so lucky, just so lucky and movies such as this, highlight that and I almost feel guilty to be so lucky when others are not.

Sometimes life is just not fair and I dont understand why so many have to suffer, when so many have the capacity and ability to be compassionate, are rich and have the resources to help others.

Im a journalist and today, one of the largest media organisations announced that they will be sacking 1900 people and basically with a lot of other things that have happened in print media; its not really a great time to be a journalist in Australia.

Add to this also, that the richest woman in Australia- billionaire mining magnate with a soul that Im sure is black, is set to take a board seat on the aforementioned media empire and is their largest shareholder…. im questioning, as I did 10 years ago, the very industry I work in.

It is so important to help others but for so many, the bottom line and exploiting others for ones own gain is more important. I agree whole-heartedly with Henry Marsh’s sentiments about helping others and by being so lucky to be Australian, I feel it is my duty.

Im not sure what I can do, or how I can do it or when I can do it… but I will make sure I find something to do or be part of this year that actively helps others.

I wanted to be at teacher once and I did volunteer adult literacy and numeracy tutoring about 10 years ago, which I loved and I understand to some extent, just how much one can get back by helping others.

The above film shows just how lucky we in the western world, even the poorest people are still so lucky, especially us here in Australia. The movie also gives great ‘hope’ for mankind when you realise that there are some truly amazing people out there who inspire others.

effffing winter!

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 20:44:13 +1000

yep, that’s right, it’s winter and you know what? it’s a lot of hard work.

Where I am currently living it’s cold and gets down to about zero each night and usually reaches a top of about 10 degrees and most mornings when I am going to work, my car is covered in a severe frost.

Im relying on a fire place for my warmth and heating is a MAJOR issue.

As a born and bred Queenslander, well, heating really isn’t that much of a major issue. It does get cold in Qld, there most definitely will be nights where it is very cold and where I used to live in the hinterland, it would feel very cold at night. This is mainly because Qld houses are ultimately designed to expel heat and I lived in a huge ‘Queenslander’ with exposed beams, polished floor boards, glass doors everywhere- basically, there was nooooo way it was ever going to be warm in winter! but hey, it was beeautiful in summer!

What I have come to realise is that heating is a huge issue for a vast proportion of Australians and as of July 1, the new carbon tax will be applied and the cost of electricity will ultimately go up, which it already has done so over the last couple of years.

Also, over the past two weeks, recipients of government payments such as pensions, newstart and students, all received a lump sum payment up to $250 from the government as a ‘clean energy’ payment. A bit of robbing Peter to pay Paul, but the payment was to soften the blow of rising electricity costs.

All my years living in Queensland, I never lived anywhere with A/C and only have one friend who actually owns an A/C. Hot and humid weather can be bearable without cooling or rather, just relying on fans, however, there is no way that one can live in a cold environment without some form of heating.

Just last week I spent $150 buying one cubic metre of redgum firewood, which honestly could last me only a month and that is being very conservative!

What this has led me to believe is that if I was buying or building a house in any environment, making it energy efficient should be more of a priority than the amount of bedrooms for example.

If I was to be living permanently in a cold environment, I would be investing as much as possible into the most sustainable and energy efficient form of heating that was available.

Energy costs are only going to go up and up and becoming less reliant on fosil fuels or maximising existing fuels, (such as solar or using the heat from a fire place to heat water for showers) should be one of the most important aspects of home living.

In an ideal world and if I were building, I would expect to use at least 25% of my total budget towards energy efficient heating and cooling.

Passive building design, as much solar paneling as possible, exceptional insulation and central ‘solar’ hydronic heating are in my opinion the most ‘green’ solutions and to do this would be out of this world expensive initially, but in the long, long, looooong end, worth every penny.

OR,

Instead of all that, one could just go and live in the sub-tropics where heating is not a major concern…….

cabinporn: Homestead in Montana by Clay Gruber. Via The Walking...

Wed, 30 May 2012 23:14:37 +1000

cabinporn:

Homestead in Montana by Clay Gruber.

Via The Walking Drum.

One day I want to visit Montana…. however though, this looks like a bit like where I live in the Vic High Country when it is in full on Summer! beautiful, scorched earth and dry.

The whole mama!

Fri, 11 May 2012 12:35:55 +1000

Anything wrong with this picture?

I’m not a Mum but I am a woman and I know of women who believe in what is know as ‘attachment parenting’ and usually those people are in the class of women who I at times just find a wee bit kooky.

Im all for breastfeeding and understand that it is a natural part of life but to what age that should stop is debatable and entirely subjective. For this group of parents to assert and claim that they are closer or have more of a bond to their children due to the length of time that they breasfed their child is just plain condescending and arrogant.

Many who follow these ways of life will claim that for those who find the issue offensive or wrong, have been conditioned by society to not follow something that is or should be natural.

To some extent I can follow this debate, but what feels natural for the individual should be the main focus. Honestly I can say that I have not been conditioned by society, I have my own independent thoughts and opinions and for me, breastfeeding a child that is able to come up and un-do your own bra, well thats just not quite right.

Remember, ‘Bitty’ from Little Britain?

Time magazine, it’s not a publication I really ever read; maybe I will flick few an edition when I am at the library, but usually I find it just too American and honestly, this cover screams to me- slow news week!

In all honesty, the image will do nothing positive for the ‘attachment parenting’ cause, it will however spark debate on the ethics and morals associated with breastfeeding beyond what is normally considered a ‘baby’.

From the ‘Attachment Parenting Australia’ website-

A strong and trusting relationship with your child can be developed by following your intuition; responding to your baby’s cries; “demand” breastfeeding for an extended period; carrying or “wearing” your baby; using gentle ways to help your baby sleep; co-sleeping with your baby and minimising separation from your baby during the first few years.

and this….

Breastfeeding helps you get to know your baby, provides the best nutrition for your baby, provides comfort for your baby, and creates a loving and nurturing bond between mother and baby. The Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) recommends that babies are breastfeed exclusively for six months, with continuing breastfeeding for 2 years and beyond. For many mothers the experience of breastfeeding is not easy at first. Mothers who are not able to breastfeed can practise attachment parenting by holding their baby when feeding and feeding “on demand”.

Im not sure If I really agree with the whole attachment parenting cause- what are we creating here?… little demi-Gods who are the centre of their parent’s universe or strong and independent little people who are capable of being unique and powerful?

Super Moon

Mon, 07 May 2012 22:09:07 +1000

Last night there was a huge moon about in the sky..

The super moon looked really big in the night sky and thankfully where I was, it was a clear and very crisp night and the moon just looked amazing.

The super moon is also known as a ‘perigee moon’ and happens as when the moon is at its closest point of orbit around the earth.

ABC radio regular and astronomer, Fred Watson had this to say,

“Even though the moon was closer to Earth last night, the real reason why it looked enormous was the “moon illusion.

“When the moon sits lower on the horizon, it looks three times bigger.”

One thing I have loved today is seeing all of the spectacular images that were taken in night skies across the globe.

cabinporn: Ski Patrol Cabin in Eaglecrest Ski Area...

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:08:56 +1000

cabinporn:

Ski Patrol Cabin in Eaglecrest Ski Area outside Juneau, Alaska.

Submitted by Bryn Estes.

Lest we forget

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 23:22:10 +1000

Today, April 25 is Anzac day.

This day seeks to pay respect to the fallen (and current) soldiers from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps and to all of those who have served in military campaigns over the years.

War in any shape is brutal, ugly and no scene captures this as eloquently and just painfully stark and tragically as the final scene in the movie ‘Gallipoli’.

I admire the naievity of the young men who gallantly went off to battle in the great war- doing what they thought was heroic and in the best interest for their country and I believe that the ideology or mythology surrounding war back then was far different than it is now.

I do not admire the war machine itself, that did and still does allow senseless killing to take place.

Korea

The Balkans

Somalia

Vietnam

Iraq

Afghanistan

WW 1

WW 2

I understand that my freedom has come at a price and for this I am thankful; to all the many men, women and children from all sides who have needlessly died as a result of war.

I wont forget,

not now,

not ever.

But, when I see that image, when I think of that scene, I always wonder…. why? why o why are we still fighting and killing ourselves.

There is soooooooo much more that I could talk about in relation to ANZAC day, but Im not going to, but I honestly urge anyone to watch or re-watch Gallipoli again and think about what it is to our history that we have this day of rememberance.

I have mixed emotions around this day and for that I am also thankful, that I live in a democracy where I have the luxury of that freedom and can willingly express that and again, I am thankful to those who have enabled me to have that liberty.

Ha! I told you so…. congrats Gotye. Number one in the U S...

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 02:12:00 +1000

Ha! I told you so….

congrats Gotye.

Number one in the U S of A!

Hook a brother up!

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 23:19:00 +1000

Alas!, after a nearly three month hiatus…. I’m back. I never intended it to be this way, but being incognito and with no fixed internet plan/dongle/wifi happening, well, it makes life a wee bit hard.

My lovely smart phone was and is great for basic surfing, but anything more substantial, well the smart phone just dosn’t cut it.

On the weekend, I did however get connected with a rather big internet company and now have my very own, shiny 4G dongle that I can use pretty much anywhere and surf the net, download and most importantly write.

Not only in the past few months was I internet-less, I was also very itinerant and trying to work out what the F I was doing.

I have just signed a contract with a rural paper to work as a graded journalist, where I will at least be put for a little while and I travelled back from Qld via the most beautiful and jaw dropping Blue Mountains.

I went to the Golden Plains festival out at the Meredith Supernatural Ampitheatre, I’ve been to quite a few Melbourne International Comedy Festival shows, I’ve been trying to find somewhere to live in a small regional community and most importantly, I’ve been trying to be ‘one’ with myself and be happy.

I think I’m pretty much there actually, sooo, stayed tuned peeps.

Im ‘connected’ ;-)

How's about the weather?

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:40:07 +1100

Firstly, I just want to say that I think Victoria, or rather Melbourne (where I have been living for the past almost four years) really does get a very unfair wrap when it comes to shitty weather, because let me tell you, south east Queensland, you take the gold star for crap weather right now!

Right now, much of the northern rivers region of New South Wales and south eastern Queensland is on flood watch after almost 72 hours of non-stop torrential rain. Where I happen to be staying in Nambour on the Sunshine Coast has received just short of 300ml in this time frame and most of the usual flood prone areas are currently bracing for water inundation.

Melbourne, on the other hand has had endless days of above 30 degree weather with blue skies, all of which has made for sensational Australian Open tennis viewing. That’s when the fabulous commentary can be heard above the deafening rain!

I come up to Queensland once a year usually and to be quite honest, if I didn’t enjoy the Woodford Folk Festival and going snowboarding, I would prefer to be visiting the apparent Sunshine state in winter.

Winter, from memory up here is endless days of about 20 degrees, blue skies, crisp nights and flat beaches. Sure, the water temperature is cold, so lazing on the beach is kind of out, but at least there is no humidity and usually little or no rain.

Winter in Victoria can and does suck. It can be blisteringly cold, dreary, grey but what makes it not so bad in my opinion are the big coats, scarves, open fires and snowfields! However when I try to think about what is honestly good about this crappy Queensland summer weather, well, I’m really struggling here.

Monsoonal weather is not fun, humidity is not fun and being couped up indoors for days on end is not fun either. Queensland is a great state and so much of what makes it great are it’s outdoor activities, but add a shit load of rain to this and things just tougher to do or get to.

This time last year, Queensland experienced some of the worst flooding in Australian history and Nambour recorded its wettest January on record with a total of 560mls falling from the sky and right now there are many people nervously hoping and praying that 2012 is not going to replicate last year… surely not?

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) is hopeful that this will not be the case, but they are still warning everyone to prepared and cautious.

As I sit here, I am remembering what it was like when I was younger and if it rained as much as it seems to now. I remember floods in the January/February months; 1992 when I was in year 9 and in 1999 during my very first week of work experience at the Sunshine Coast Daily, I was privy to a newsroom relishing an endless supply of hard, breaking news, courtesy of flood waters wreaking havoc.

I’m probably wrong, but it really does seem to rain more now or rather the monsoon seems to be lower, regardless though, I am making a very big mental note to leave Queensland next year on about the 4^th of January and hopefully avoid the torrential rain!

Post Woodford Blues!

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:34:04 +1100

Its been almost three weeks now and I’ve been to many a festival in my time and none really seem to have as big a come down as that of a great Woodford Folk Festival (WFF).

For me, WFF is many, many things but most of all its a place where friends and a true sense of home is found and I guess that if I was to have some kind of spiritual mecca, well the WFF would be the closest thing to that for me.

I was first introduced to it by way of my parents when I was young, maybe about 11 years old and back then the festival was held in Maleny and was nothing like what it is now.

I have experienced every emotion possible there and fallen most profoundly in love with some truly sublime and amazing music over the years with notable highlights being…

Jeff Lang’s ‘Throw it all’ at the blues stage- 97/98

The Toothfaeries yearly NYE countdown at midnight in the big top- mid to late 90s

Tribal Trance followed by The Bird on the night before the millennium NYE

Ani DiFranco at the Chai Tent- 95/96

Lyndsay Pollock’s ‘Bim, Bam, Boo’ opera- 97/98

The Dirty Three in the ampi- 05/06

Singing ‘where the lion sleeps tonight’ with Mundawuy Yunupingui at the Guinness Bar- 97/98

and geeeee, just too many more that elude me!

The WFF can be a hard slog and when you start the final day seems like forever away and then before you know it, you seem to be leaving that altered state and heading back into reality with the thought of a nice shower really being the only saving grace.

Whether it be the fact that the WFF happens at a time of the year when so much self reflection is contemplated or that its just truly a great experience when all parts of the puzzle come together, like all good things, what comes up must eventually come down.

Woodford is and can be so many things to those who inhabit the land for the period of the festival and for me, this year was one of the best in so many years.

A great campsite with colourful people, some of the best weather imaginable and most importantly, amazing music.

The WFF has a programme of enviable proportions with everything imaginable on the bill from theatre, art, comedy, every type of musical genre (albeit just a little bit lacking on the electronica!) and visual arts, children’s activities and so much, much more.

I had made a bit of a note to try and get to every second WFF, now that I don’t live permanently on the Sunshine Coast anymore, but gee, after this year, I will be back for 2012/13.

Woodford, you are a wicked temptress and you caught me by surprise this year and if you, (and I know you will), ask me to dance with you again, I will be only too happy to oblige and be merry in your wicked ways over the next new year!

SONG OF THE YEAR???? Im going to call this right now and state...

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:03:30 +1100

SONG OF THE YEAR????

Im going to call this right now and state that I think this song by Gotye aka Wally DeBacker, called ‘Somebody that I used to know (feat. Kimbra)’ will win lots of Arias, the JJJ Hot 100 and every other major award out there.

I really like the song and absolutely LOVE Gotye’s previous album, ‘Like Drawing Blood’ and was really happy with how the new album came out. I don’t personally think it is as good as his debut, but its still got some fine tunes on there and this song has managed to do what not many others can do- the great crossover!

Ive heard this song and others from the album on both commercial and community radio and TV and when that happens, well, that means prizes usually. Both Silverchair, Powderfinger and John Butler are other artists that come to mind that have had similar success in both avenues.

I personally think that first single (eyes wide open) off this album is the better of the two, but it for some reason didn’t have the same reach as ‘somebody that I used to know’. Maybe its the body art film clip featuring Kimbra that has helped push the single along or maybe its the lyrics. Like so many of Gotye’s songs, they deal with heartbreak and are made of the stuff that so many can relate to- Im sure all of us have someone that we either used to know or used to know us!

I apple, therefore I am!

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 01:24:00 +1100

Two rather ironic things happened in the last two weeks and both are related in a somewhat bizare way. Firstly, Steve Jobs, the creative visionary behind apple died from cancer and I finally joined the smart phone revolution and got signed up with a Samsung Galaxy SII.

I have an apple computer- a rather nice MacBook Pro that I love dearly and I own an Ipod and I am savvy with the other ‘I’ products out there on the market such as the IPhone and IPad.

For many years I have come to love the sophisticated and slick design that is associated with apple products and I have always known that they were the far more superior technical computing product on the market. Early on at uni, they were the preferred computer for all desktop publishing when I studied computer art and design and in the page layout suites when I did my first round of work experience at the local newspaper, it was apples that were being used by the ‘quarkers’.

When deciding to purchase a ‘smart’ phone, I went with the samsung product as I liked its design and the better camera, but I hate to say it, I really didn’t do my research that well and have almost needed a PHD to try and work out how to get the damn non apple smart phone to ‘talk’ to my macbook.

What I have realised though, is that something is in fact a little rotten in apple land and trying to use another phone, a non apple phone with their product is not easy at all and why is this the case?

Why is the whole phone/computer compatability issue just that? when or if I buy a new digital camera, I don’t have to first make sure that I can use it with my ‘apple’ product, so why is there a coke/pepsi, VHS/Beta war going on here between apple and android?

I am now somewhat bemused at my actions and now realise that if I do infact want to ‘apple’, unless I have a PHD, I need to ensure that all of my gadgets are apple friendly, in other words, only apple. Seems to me that apple are now doing exactly what Microsoft have done for most of computing history. That is, created a product that is useless working with any other system or product and therefore the dominant force and not necessarily by choice or better product but just becasue the other option is just too hard.

As an end note, I have spent countless hours on my computer of late, looking and trying to figure out how to get these two devices to communicate and every time I get online, I am greeted by Steve Jobs himself, his tribute page staring at me and I look at him and can tell that he is probably saying to me as he holds onto his chin, ”why did you get something other than apple?”

A conflict on interests...

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 12:04:06 +1000

For almost a year now I have been dealing with a herniated disc and PAIN, did you get that the first time?… if not, hear it is again- PAIN, pain, paaaaaaaaaaain!

I have felt pain that I honestly never thought was humanly possible to feel. Agonising pain that left me looking pathetic, devoid of all dignity and with tears streaming down my face as a result of sheer agony, hurt and PAIN!

These days, I am waiting for an operation that comes with an 80-85% success rate of alleviating my sciatica pain which is resulting from my herniated disc (L5/S1) bulging and pricking my nerve and therefore giving me all of the day to day pain that I now feel.

I find it hard to sit down for longer than an hour and whilst I sit down its as if I am sitting on a shard of glass and this shard of glass feeling makes it hard for me to feel comfortable whilst trying to sit normally, so, as a result I start to move the left side of my buttock up, in a pose that resembles someone about to eject a massive fart from one’s butt, but in reality I’m just trying to take the pressure off my left side. Then there is the constant pain that radiates down my leg. This starts from my butt and its a tight feeling which kind of feels like someone has kicked me really hard in my left buttock and then, whilst following the sciatic nerve the pain at any given time feels like pins and needles, sharp stabbing pains and other times I feel as if there is a hot liquid running down my leg.

The worst at the moment is probably the pain in my ankle. Nearly every morning I wake up with my ankle feeling like it is either broken or severely sprained and with a decent walk at the start of the day, this gets to a tolerable stage of management or rather, my body gets warmed up after a night of sleeping- blood flow moves and my joints start to move and feel a tiny bit better.

I am NEVER free of some kind of pain and at times, most of the time in fact, I look normal, I don’t state how much pain I might be in and one of the main things that makes me and probably every other person in my boat experiencing some kind of chronic pain manage are pain killers!

I have over the last ten months been living off various quantities of the following-

Ibuprofen

Codeine

Tramadol

Valium

Paracetamol

Cortisone

Non steroid anti-inflamatorys

Morphine

Vitamins

Im a vegetarian and I try to live a cruelty-free life and I do not believe that an animal needs to be harmed in order for me to live and yet I know that the drugs I am taking are and have been tested on animals and what do I do about this?

If I go on an airplane these days, I can ‘offset’ my journey by paying a bit more when I purchase my ticket and this whole carbon offsetting is making its way into to many other commercial transactions these days. I believe that these strategies are not really doing much to actually alleviate climate change on the whole, but people’s consciences are obviously feeling better about taking part in their indulgent exploits and ways of living.

Now, I ask the question…. can I have a way of alleviating my conscience with every pain killing drug I consume? Is there a child somewhere that I can give $20 to and they can go and buy a few rats to love and cherish and at the same time make up for the ones that are being killed in the name of research for the big pharmaceutical companies?

Or, should I be abstaining for my beliefs and living with the pain, trying to be ‘Zen’ and ‘one’ with my pain? is this really what a hard-core vegan does? If they are dying of cancer, do they abstain from any kind of treatment due to the medical fraternities reliance on animals for testing?

I don’t know what the answers are here, but I thought of this moral dilemma yesterday and I honestly would love to be great friends with ethicist, Peter Singer and actually ask him what he would perceive as the moral course of action for this quandry.

I’m not going to stop taking my pain killing drugs, If I were, well, life, honestly would not be worth living and I thank and respect all of the animals that probably died as a result of this and I really do wish that there was a guilt offset that I could participate in to alleviate my conscience.