Each year I support a charity by donating a little of my hard earned moulla.
And that is pretty much the extent of it- a few dollars after a short spurt of research and conscience appeased for 12 months.
But I could do more I know. Perhaps, like me you may be inspired by those doing that little bit more- well a lot more actually.
First example, Belinda.
B is
http://rchfoundation.com.au/belinda_iatrou
"Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does."
William James
January 30, 2012
January 29, 2012
The Breath
I have been practising yoga off (regrettably) and on since I was 8.
It started watching my mum doing yoga in her bedroom before sleep.
I would go in to spend a few moments replicating the strange postures she went through in her ritual.
She explained to me that she had started yoga when pregnant to relieve the back pain.
For her it was more a physical therapy, there was no talk of the breath with each posture, it was simply a way to relieve the ache in her lower back.
I practise yoga, continue to come back to it, because it helps me to connect my mind, my breath and my body. And for a time during and after, these three parts are in harmony.
"As long as there is breath in the body, there is life.
When breath departs so too does life.
Therefore, regulate the breath."
The Hatha Yoga Pradipika
It started watching my mum doing yoga in her bedroom before sleep.
I would go in to spend a few moments replicating the strange postures she went through in her ritual.
She explained to me that she had started yoga when pregnant to relieve the back pain.
For her it was more a physical therapy, there was no talk of the breath with each posture, it was simply a way to relieve the ache in her lower back.
I practise yoga, continue to come back to it, because it helps me to connect my mind, my breath and my body. And for a time during and after, these three parts are in harmony.
"As long as there is breath in the body, there is life.
When breath departs so too does life.
Therefore, regulate the breath."
The Hatha Yoga Pradipika
January 18, 2012
Hidden Treasures
January 16, 2012
Step on
This is guaranteed to get you up and dancing like a crazy.
The Happy Mondays Step On.
Well maybe that is just me but I did spend about oh, I don't know... 5 years of my life at Chasers Indie night dancing to this stuff- without the aid of substances people!!!
All night then morning!
In fact it was a hard choice of which song to choose from the 'Madchester' movement. The Charlatans The Only One I Know. The Stone Roses Fools Gold. Inspiral Carpets This is how it feels. Northside Take Five.
Thanks to all my Chasers friends for waiting for me to finish dancing well past bed time. I just loved the music and could not be removed from the dancefloor, the absence of anyone I knew to dance with was not an impediment.
Have a little dance before bedtime. Well it is Monday after all.
The Happy Mondays Step On.
Well maybe that is just me but I did spend about oh, I don't know... 5 years of my life at Chasers Indie night dancing to this stuff- without the aid of substances people!!!
All night then morning!
In fact it was a hard choice of which song to choose from the 'Madchester' movement. The Charlatans The Only One I Know. The Stone Roses Fools Gold. Inspiral Carpets This is how it feels. Northside Take Five.
Thanks to all my Chasers friends for waiting for me to finish dancing well past bed time. I just loved the music and could not be removed from the dancefloor, the absence of anyone I knew to dance with was not an impediment.
Have a little dance before bedtime. Well it is Monday after all.
January 15, 2012
Longing for the higher altitudes
Because I am longing for the mountains I go to Rene Daumal for this week's inspiration.
There is one degree of separation between Rene and myself, he died on the same day I was born, 28 years before. He was a writer and poet, and I think in this short passage gives the best explanation of why someone might go through such discomfort to climb a mountain.
"You cannot stay on the summit forever; you have to come down again.
So why bother in the first place?
Just this: What is above knows what is below, but what is below does not know what is above.
One climbs, one sees.
One descends, one sees no longer, but one has seen.
There is an art of conducting oneself in the lower regions by the memory of what one saw higher up.
When one can no longer see, one can at least still know."
Rene Daumal, March 1908 - May 1944
There is one degree of separation between Rene and myself, he died on the same day I was born, 28 years before. He was a writer and poet, and I think in this short passage gives the best explanation of why someone might go through such discomfort to climb a mountain.
"You cannot stay on the summit forever; you have to come down again.
So why bother in the first place?
Just this: What is above knows what is below, but what is below does not know what is above.
One climbs, one sees.
One descends, one sees no longer, but one has seen.
There is an art of conducting oneself in the lower regions by the memory of what one saw higher up.
When one can no longer see, one can at least still know."
Rene Daumal, March 1908 - May 1944
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January 14, 2012
Climate watch
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| SH 131, Colorado USA |
As a child, like all my age, I was bored silly by the news but then the weather would come on and I would sit up studying the synoptic chart trying to understand how this would affect my part of the world. How close were the isobars to one another? How did land masses affect the front? And the biggest question- would we get a storm tomorrow?
Storms are incredibly exciting events for me. Not the petrifying extreme events- who enjoys those?- more the sorts that produce incredible cloud formations, lightning, fast changes in temperature that come and go in a manner of hours. The sorts of storms where you can stand outside and be immersed without fear for personal safety.
When I was working in the mountains I would notice when the barometric pressure was dropping rapidly. I would feel the pressure change in my bones particularly in my knees. Madness I know but I knew a lot of snow was coming.
Sorry fair weather skiers, but being on skis on a snow day is the best place to be in the world. Low visibility, snow falling dreamily past your eye line, no noise. Mother nature's padded room!
These days the storms I am witness to are not quite so white, more grey. But lovely none the less. Next time there is a storm, get outside, stand in it, feel the energy in the air and let it invigorate you.
January 12, 2012
January 11, 2012
Play List- Aussie garage bands
It is such a delight to rediscover tunes from days gone by. Like greeting old friends, I know every bar, breath and note of these songs.
1. Hunters and Collectors - The Slab (below)
2. Lime Spiders - My Favourite Room
3. Sunnyboys - Alone with you
4. Hard Ons -The girl in the Sweater
5. The Saints - Know your product
1. Hunters and Collectors - The Slab (below)
2. Lime Spiders - My Favourite Room
3. Sunnyboys - Alone with you
4. Hard Ons -The girl in the Sweater
5. The Saints - Know your product
January 9, 2012
Strange little rock
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| Mystery semi precious |
I am uncovering untapped wee potentials.
The name of these strange little rocks evades me.
Perhaps a necklace with small freshwater pearl will suit......
I adore the way each looks like a hail stone. Only the type that does not quite cause as much damage.
January 8, 2012
Self Importance- curse of the Western world
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| Nepal, Sagamartha National Park, on way back from Kalapatar III |
"By Breaking down our sense of self importance,
all we lose is a parasite that has long infected our minds.
What we gain is freedom, openness of mind, spontaneity,
simplicity, altruism: all qualities inherent in happiness."
Matthieu Ricard France 1946-
January 7, 2012
Walking on a hot day
Tollers tend to approach tasks with less gusto when it is hot. Their usual work ethic slowly slips to indifference.
Today we walked for 3 hrs starting at 8am in the cool of the morning, along the Diamond Creek Trail to Edendale Farm at Eltham and back.
Smudge is unsually frightened of bike bells. Apparently shot guns, lightening and fireworks are fantastic exciting things that one must get as close to as dogerly possible. But bike bells...terrifying!
Hence walking any trail like this one that is shared by cyclists and walkers is reason to stick one's tail between one's leg and look about as if a full onslaught might be forthcoming from any direction. One must be vigilant.
We also came across a running club doing interval training along the trail. Very impressive long distance runners clearly preparing for an upcoming race.
We did not break any land speed records and by the time we reached the farm a rest under a Peppercorn tree was in order.
Then once home a swim and retrieving a few sticks was
acceptable. The river's banks have been eroded by the severe flooding in Feb 2011 and Christmas Day 2011 so it is quite a muddy swim, but no less satisying for the Toller two.
Today we walked for 3 hrs starting at 8am in the cool of the morning, along the Diamond Creek Trail to Edendale Farm at Eltham and back.
Smudge is unsually frightened of bike bells. Apparently shot guns, lightening and fireworks are fantastic exciting things that one must get as close to as dogerly possible. But bike bells...terrifying!
Hence walking any trail like this one that is shared by cyclists and walkers is reason to stick one's tail between one's leg and look about as if a full onslaught might be forthcoming from any direction. One must be vigilant.
We also came across a running club doing interval training along the trail. Very impressive long distance runners clearly preparing for an upcoming race.
Then once home a swim and retrieving a few sticks was
acceptable. The river's banks have been eroded by the severe flooding in Feb 2011 and Christmas Day 2011 so it is quite a muddy swim, but no less satisying for the Toller two.
January 4, 2012
Tomato Sauce- as Aussie as the Meat Pie?
Apparently not!
Watching ABC News I was horrified to learn that the delightful stuff I pour with wanton abandon over my snags is likely to be made overseas.
Are you kidding me?
After a little poor research I have discovered the ugly truth. To my count there will be three...THREE...garden variety, mass produced, supermarket tomato sauces now manufactured in Australia and owned by Australians.
The Heinz Tomato Sauce Factory in the Goulburn Valley will be closing January 14th. While locals and a generous investor are attempting to buy and therefore run the factory themselves, this is still an idea yet to be realised.
This to me is part of a larger issue. I grew up with the television advertisements spruiking Australian Made. Where have they gone?
Perhaps these ads have been replaced with the brainwashing varities, espousing the cheap and cheerful virtues of options sold by powerhouse retailers. Does this alarm anyone?
Think about how many adds have the terms 'less' or 'lowest prices' coined as part of their copyrighted catch cry.
I know it is not probable that I would buy a product, for example, from a store that advertised "You get it for more". But what exactly am I 'getting' for myself and my fellow Aussies if I go to those stores offering the lowest prices and save those couple of bucks?
I get to buy imported Tomato Sauce, to put on my Aussie Meat Pie. No thanks- I'll make my own.
Are you kidding me?
After a little poor research I have discovered the ugly truth. To my count there will be three...THREE...garden variety, mass produced, supermarket tomato sauces now manufactured in Australia and owned by Australians.
The Heinz Tomato Sauce Factory in the Goulburn Valley will be closing January 14th. While locals and a generous investor are attempting to buy and therefore run the factory themselves, this is still an idea yet to be realised.
This to me is part of a larger issue. I grew up with the television advertisements spruiking Australian Made. Where have they gone?
Perhaps these ads have been replaced with the brainwashing varities, espousing the cheap and cheerful virtues of options sold by powerhouse retailers. Does this alarm anyone?
Think about how many adds have the terms 'less' or 'lowest prices' coined as part of their copyrighted catch cry.
I know it is not probable that I would buy a product, for example, from a store that advertised "You get it for more". But what exactly am I 'getting' for myself and my fellow Aussies if I go to those stores offering the lowest prices and save those couple of bucks?
I get to buy imported Tomato Sauce, to put on my Aussie Meat Pie. No thanks- I'll make my own.
January 2, 2012
Petals
Too hot for creative inspiration.
36 degrees here and a warm night ahead. Good drying weather for potpourri.
36 degrees here and a warm night ahead. Good drying weather for potpourri.
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| Rose petals, Beth's garden, Stratford |
January 1, 2012
Hosier Lane kitchen steam
Coming out of Federation Square after seeing the Eugene Van Guerard exhibition I noticed the smoke coming from the kitchen vents on Hosier Lane, attracting a number of happy snappers. I waited for a few minutes to get a shot clear of people.
The Killing Moon
The boys from Liverpool formed in 1978 after the explosion of the post-punk movement in the mid 70's (The Saints, Ramones, The Clash are names you may know). For all you younger varieties, alternative rock owes quite a bit to the post-punk era.
Echo and the Bunnymen were introduced to me I think when I was about 14 years old by Stephanie Papworth- god bless your cotton socks girlfriend!
The Killing Moon appears on the album Ocean Rain (1984). The song is featured on two of my favourite movies- Grosse Pointe Blank and Donnie Darko. The song has been covered by Pavement, Nouvelle Vague and our own Something for Kate.
Echo and the Bunnymen were introduced to me I think when I was about 14 years old by Stephanie Papworth- god bless your cotton socks girlfriend!
The Killing Moon appears on the album Ocean Rain (1984). The song is featured on two of my favourite movies- Grosse Pointe Blank and Donnie Darko. The song has been covered by Pavement, Nouvelle Vague and our own Something for Kate.
Escape from the heat
It is 34 degrees and the mercury will probably creep a little higher before the heat starts to leak out of the day for the cool of night.
So naturally I think of the many beautiful winters I have spent in the mountains.
The Snow Man
One must have a mind of winter
To regard the frost and the boughs
Of the pine-trees crusted with snow;
And have been cold a long time
To behold the junipers shagged with ice,
The spruces rough in the distant glitter
Of the January sun; and not to think
Of any misery in the sound of the wind,
In the sound of a few leaves,
Which is the sound of the land
Full of the same wind
That is blowing in the same bare place
For the listener, who listens in the snow,
And, nothing himself, beholds
Nothing that is not there and the nothing that is.
Wallace Stevens 1879-1955
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| Aspen, Snowmass Feb 2011 |
The Snow Man
One must have a mind of winter
To regard the frost and the boughs
Of the pine-trees crusted with snow;
And have been cold a long time
To behold the junipers shagged with ice,
The spruces rough in the distant glitter
Of the January sun; and not to think
Of any misery in the sound of the wind,
In the sound of a few leaves,
Which is the sound of the land
Full of the same wind
That is blowing in the same bare place
For the listener, who listens in the snow,
And, nothing himself, beholds
Nothing that is not there and the nothing that is.
Wallace Stevens 1879-1955
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