Writers Island ~ 'EMPOWERMENT'

My Dad was born in 1913. The eldest son of five children living in the tiny lakeside township of Dora Creek, ninety minutes, by today’s travelling standards, north of Sydney. They lived in a slab hut. A dirt floor, hessian walls, no electricity, no sewerage, no running water, no refrigeration, not much of anything, except an open fire to cook on, keeping them warm and lighting the darkness.

My grandparents met in Sydney, in 1909, both employed ‘in service’. My Grandma a housemaid, my Grandpa a livery man at the very swank, Elizabeth Bay House. They were married in 1910 in Glebe an inner Sydney suburb, how and why they went to Dora Creek is baffling.

Dad’s father was an itinerant sign writer. He painted scenery and backdrops for theatrical and travelling shows. I suspect there were no theatres, shops or signs to be painted in the backblocks of scrubby Dora Creek.

My Grandma had a child every 2 years for 10 years. Can you imagine what that must have been like, in such poverty?

By the 1920s the family had moved to Sydney. Grandpa was sign writing. My Dad remembers the wooden paint case, full of brushes and paints his Dad carried. How his Dad did the first gold leaf sign on the window of the Botany Bay Hotel and how his Dad hawked his skills, painting Easter, Christmas and specials signs on butcher and chemist shop windows.

They’d lived in a rented a shop and residnece in Botany, right next door to the Botany Bay Hotel. Grandma baked and sold pies, in saucers … saucers were plentiful, cups and their handles always broke first.

On the weekends my Dad would go to the markets with his Dad. One precious pound was all the money they took to stock the shop with fruit and vegetables for the week. Dad said there was never any money.

My Dad was a lanky, larrikin who detested school and lived to fish. He kept the family in fish, oysters, crabs ... the food of the sea.

Grandpa died in 1932 from Tuberculosis. Grandma still baked pies in her wood oven and ran her shop … there’s much more to the story of this marvellous woman. We were born under the same star sign, she demonstrated an ability to make something out of nothing, she was a talented embroiderer, she lived a healthy life, she never remarried, she was a gentle woman, a survivor.

Is empowerment hereditary, is it genetic or is it learned behaviour?

Many women, no matter their beginnings, have survived with a natural ability to project power and authority, to hold home and hearth together despite … has such ability come naturally? Many women have used it wisely many women are still seeking empowerment.

Stories of my ancestral women empower me to be proud, to be positive, to know what a fortunate, wonderful, talented woman I am ... and to commit that my girls know the stories of their ancestral women too – that’s empowerment … isn’t it?

Photo Hunt ... PARTY

Driving off the Sydney harbour bridge today, near the eastern pylon, is this portable, sign advertising MARDI GRAS ... tomorrow March 1 is the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade - celebrating 30 years.

It used to be the most fabulous event. Now ... people from all over, sans kids, troop into the heart of Sydney, loaded up with a picnic, thermos's of tea, coffee, bourbon or the bev of choice, to gawk at the parade!

Sadly the parade's lost the political statement it was originally begun for.

Do people line up to see a parade or to gawk at the poofs - why doesn't someone tell them it's not a freak show?

Sunday Scribblings #100 TIME MACHINE

Sunday Scribblings #100 prompt is Time Machine!

Is it cheating using a previously submitted Writers Island piece on the same topic ???

No way - it's much needed respite to ogle my time machines and go elsewhere to do other equally worthwhile tasks ... Thanks Sunday Scribblings ... and a HUGE Happy 100th ... Yayyyyyyy!!!

Read my TIME MACHINE contribution here

MACCA'S, MACDONALDS, AROMATHERAPY = PUTRID STENCH.

MACDONALDS, MACCA'S, GOLDEN ARCHES ... THEY HAVE TO BE KIDDING!

THE AROMA PERMEATING THE AIR AROUND THIS JOINT ON PARRAMATTA ROAD, STANMORE, SYDNEY IS NOTHING SHORT OF PUTRID.

THE STENCH OF OIL ... TURNS YOUR STOMACH ...

DIRTY, OVERUSED OIL, COOKING OIL, REEKS AROUND AND BEYOND THIS BUILDING ... AND THEY HAVE THE AUDACITY TO PUT THIS SIGN UP ...

THERE HAS TO BE A LAW AGAINST IT ... MAYBE NOT THE SIGN ... BUT SURELY THE AROMA ... NO THERAPY HERE!!!

Picks of the week ... Feb 26, 2008.

Direct from New York ... Audrey never looked so good ...

Stunning dressing mirror -with drawers - covered in delicate, dainty jewels ...
Prints of luscious women of the 1940s direct from ... guess where ...
Pink everywhere, tea sets, soaps, reflections of what is waiting in Reclaim for YOU ...
A touch of retro, cute check bags, bold side tables in red and black ...

Manic Monday on Tuesday ...

Manic Monday for February 25.


How did you celebrate your last birthday? Finally, a low key event with three generations.

What's the last thing you bought yourself, just for fun? ... more T'shell jewellery.

What would the child you once were think of the adult you have become? That sad little girl would be impressed and flabbergasted!

What Art Movement Are You? I'm POP ...

You Are Pop Art

When it comes to art, you're definitely not a snob. You can appreciate the mainstream aspects of culture, even if you need to twist them a bit to make them your own. Whether you're into comics, retro pinups, or bold colors, you embrace what's eye catching and simple. As far as most other art goes, you consider it a little too elitist and high brow for your tastes!

Check out yours here

Two Queens on Sydney Harbour ... pre Mardi Gras?

Photo credit ::

As I write an historic moment is occuring on Sydney Harbour.

Two Queens are crossing, hundreds of thousand of people have crammed vantage points, no it's not Mardi Gras ...

QEII and Queen Victoria - two maginficent ocean liners are passing across the beautiful harbour in a rare historic moment. This is the last voyage of the QEII and the maiden voyage of the Queen Victoria ...

see photo's here ... more here ...

One day I'll tell you of my QEII experience, thirty years ago today ... another chapter in the book!!!

Unconscious Mutterings 264 ...

1. Protocol :: Etiquette.

2. Girlfriends :: Selective.

3. Shoulders :: Back.

4. Coming home :: Happiness.

5. Let it in :: New ideas.

6. Honor :: Truth.

7. Tyler :: Who?

8. Thriller :: No thanks.

9. Angela:: Lansbury.

10.The winner is :: Me.

Writers Island - Second Chance ...

Blossom May deserved and got one ...
Pre-loved jewellery get's one ...
Used fabric & sewing notions deserve one ...

Op shops jam packed with stuff seeking one ...
Old buildings waiting for one ...
Metal washers left out in the weather ...
Rusted and ready for one ...
Found ephemera will get one ...

... all deserving of a second chance !!!

Notice people aren't don't get a mention ? ... no second chance's ... life's too short to tolerate bad behaviour!

Fridays Feast ... Feast One Hundred & Eighty

Appetizer
Have you ever played a practical joke on anyone? If so, what did you do and who was your victim? Too many jokes, too many victims to choose just one!

Soup
What do your salt and pepper shakers look like? They're both store bought grinders - 'SAXA Mediterranean Sea Salt 30g & SAXA Four Islands Peppers' 90g... perfection.

Salad
Where is the next place you plan to visit (on vacation or business)? The denist on Monday ... does that count?

Main Course
What kind of lotion or cream do you use to keep your hands from getting too dry? Jurlique Rose Hand Cream - tried the rest, this is the absolute best!

Dessert
Make up a dessert, tell us its ingredients, and give it a name. Must be gluten free ... 'an Orange, Almond, Cranberry Cup Cake drizzled with Belgian Rich Dark Chocolate : served with a shot of Amaretto Liqueur ~ A Redness To Die For Experience'

Sunday Scribblings #99 - PASSION ...

I'll be bright, be brief, be gone for this one ...

PASSION ????

As I've said a kazillion times before, life is my passion.

Living this long, with the intention of living a lot longer, marvelling at my achievments, escapades, conquests and survival is my concept of passion. I have great passion for many.

No craving passion out of reach ... I create my passion.

Being is my passion ... says it all doesn't it?

Photo Hunt #98 - WOODEN - @ IKEA / i-ckier

Did you know, after months of research, the only place in Sydney, conveniently located, to buy a decent wardrobe, is IKEA aka i-ckier?

IKEA / i-ckier have shut all their Sydney stores except Rhodes - and what an experience that is!!

The distance around the store is one and a half kilometres, if you survive!

The 80s music, the stench of the plastic, the hardboard, the MDF, the chipboard, the melamine plus the pungent odour, the residue of the chemicals Australian customs must surely have sprayed on and over every item is, to put it mildly, TOXIC.

The staff are invisible or robotic.

Those you see all look unhappy, breathing in the crap that permeats the place, with the too loud disco music ruining their eardrums. One employee told us 'they have complained about the music but nothing is done, they get to the stage where they don't hear it, she thinks that's why the staff get tired later in the day.' We watched as these people unwittingly readied themselves for an early grave working in this hell hole.

By the time you're half way through the trek, eyes are watering, there's a dryness, a weird taste in your mouth as well as a tickle, a catch at the back of your throat ... I lost count of the people I heard sneeze, of the amount of times I thought 'Bless You.'

After you select your purchase you have to locate someone to computerise your order. They give you a print out and direct you to a warehouse as tall as a five story building, where you're to collect your chosen pieces. If you're patient and lucky you'll find someone to lug your goods onto a trolley ... a trolley surely related to the supermarket kind with a mind of it's own that moves only in the direction of its choice.

You queue at the checkout where you're ordered to lift the smaller items onto the rolling checkout watching bewildered as the checkout person leaves the checkout and scans the items too heavy to lift ... like ... WHY couldn't everything be scanned this way!

A sanity check is now in order as we look at each other, with furrowed brows, is it US or THEM!!

After parting with your cash you're directed to a counter to organise delivery.

IKEA has now got you !!!

They've got your money, your items will not fit into anything less than a semi trailer ... and there's 12 people in front of you with one, yes one, guy taking the delivery bookings!!!

I asked a passing employee is it possible to get someone else on the counter, she replies ...

Oh IKEA don't handle the deliveries, they're done by a private contractor ...

Being the demure little thing I am ... I go to the counter, as the frazzled guy looks up, in my bestest, silken honey tone, I ask 'is there someone else who could come and work one of the other work stations' ... he tells me 'There's only me, but there's two managers out the back!'

Sweet as apple pie I ask if I could speak to one ...

... and he appears ... I ask if he is able to work the counter, gesture back at the queue and he asks me to move forward ...

Not on ya nelly Buster I wanted to say - and what, be trampled by the horde behind me!

The guy opens another station, the crowd unanimously breathe a sigh of relief, the queue moves.

My companion shopper has, by this time, filled in a complaint form and as she goes to place it in the "feedback box" she finds it is jammed, chock a block full of written complaint / feedback forms. She wonders why she has paid so much for a wardrobe ... but, it is essential ... to add insult to injury the delivery fee is $110.00.

After 4 hours and 45 minutes in god forsaken IKEA, we leave ... and I remember I'd forgotten to take a photo for Photo Hunt.

Ta Daaaa ... I see the above on a wall - wooden IKEA / i-ckier pencils - Mmmm OK, I can use that ... as I aim the digi camera I hear a voice behind me 'Excuse me you can't take photo's in here' ... I was over it.

Photo Friday - ART ... Good Golly Miss Olley ...

Last year the Good Weekend magazine in Saturday's Sydney Morning Herald, featured this portrait, on the cover with the heading Good Golly Miss Olley - a tribute to one of Australia's finest women artist's and beloved living legend, Margaret Olley.

This portrait of Margaret Olley, painted by William Dobell in 1948 won that years ultimate Australian portrait award, the Archibald Prize , hangs in the New South Wales Art Gallery ... I snuck this photo of the portrait when visiting the gallery last year...

... this is ART!

Ta Daaaaa ... May I present ... Tallulah Belle

Remember "a new girl in the family" here ?

After much deliberation a name has been chosen ...

May I present ....

TALLULAH BELLE ...

... isn't she gorgeous ???

Wordless Wednesday ...

7am sun rising ... looking east from my front gate ...

Manic Monday on Tuesday ...

What do you order when you eat Chinese food? I haven't eaten Chinese for decades ... Thai or Vietnamese for me.

How much have you controlled the course your life has taken? No control during childhood - total control since 17.

Whose opinion do you value when deciding how to vote? My own.

View other replies here

Picks of the Week ...

Beautiful Japanese Tea Set ...
A chalk board to leave messages for those you love or lists to remember ...
Snappy retro magnets - make you smile or think ...
Gorgeous red ware - glasses ro fill with crisp, refreshing bev's ...
Magnificent chandeliers - to put light into your life - lavish at sensible prices ...

Unconscious Mutterings Week 263 ...

unconscious Mutterings - Week 263.

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Passport :: travel

2. Small world :: 6 degrees of separation

3. Radio :: jibberish

4. Marine :: ocean

5. Wall :: flower

6. Wanna be :: losers

7. Pigtails :: ink wells

8. Hyphen :: punctuation

9. 9.99 :: bargain

10. Unrated :: who says

Sunday Scribblings & Writers Island, TIME MACHINE

The often theoretical and much discussed definition of time travel as the concept of moving to and/or fro in different points in time through space, for me, in reality is too far fetched. Fascinating theory if it’s jollied up for kids stories as a some brilliant scribes have written in this episode of Writers Island …

My interpretation of time travel encompasses the journeys we take in life. To-ing and fro-ing, emotional wrangling, physical constraints, times of life, personal experiences, the listening and hearing of other people’s spatial perceptions make a conglomerate of accomplishments to astound, educate and delight. That’s my kind of time travel.

The rest is a bunch of gobbledogook derived by thinkers with too much time on their hands. Check out the grandfather paradox … what did that dude eat the day he made that one up? Worse still academics are arguing the hogwash … cynical, yep that’s me.

Cyber space is as close to the theorised perspective of time travel I’ll get!! To know it’s Sunday here, yet only Saturday on the other side of the world where someone is reading my writing is cool. That’s the kind of time travel I’ll contemplate knowing we’re all travelling in time from the now to the immediate … enough of that codswallop, enjoy your journey if you get in one of those new fangled time machines otherwise ... what’s for dinner … or is that breakfast for YOU???

Sunday Scribblings # 98 - SLEEP / TEETH ...

Let me tell you I was browned off when I read from the Sunday Scribbling gals for this week! The prospect of going to listen to (I first read it as Whoopie) Natalie Goldberg, I went bloody green. Have you read her book? If you’re a writer, of any calibre, do yourself a favour and read it.

Learning this at about 1am this morning turned my brain on just as I’m endeavouring to shut the darn thing down … then reading on … Sleep … the avenger that’s plagued my entire adult life, crikey how many more layers do I need to peel off this onion … and to top it off Teeth … I adjourned ... pulled the doona over my head, turned on the white noise, put in the ear plugs and took no pills.

Today I contemplated SS for this week, now almost twenty four hours on, heading towards the bewitching hour, the words are in order.

Over thirty years ago medical malpractice introduced me to benzo’s, no getting to the root cause, just pop these little things, they said. Take a half one a night for now, maybe a half a stronger one if you need … and so it went for decades. Benzo’s, along with a few buckets of beauj’ or some other enticing alcoholic beverage became a nightcap. Trust me it was not that simple, but we're not onion peeling.

Now I know how to sleep.

Sleep was never explained, never taught and I’ve wondered frequently what my childhood sleeping pattern must have been? But we won’t go there for now otherwise I’ll have to tell you how my mother had my top teeth removed when I was twelve years old and how I was able to gum granny smith apples better than any kid you’ve ever known while I waited for my gums to shrink before the dentures were fitted.

So ... was it OK to be browned off or fed up to the back teeth last night?

Sleep tight.

Friday's Feast - One Hundred & Seventy Nine

Appetizer
Name one thing that is unique about you. I've discovered there are lots of things in life better than sex.

Soup
Fill in the blank: My favorite day of the week is Saturday but I like the other six days too.

Salad
What type of wood do you have for your home’s furnishings? Cedar.

Main Course
Who do you talk to most often on the phone? My daughter.

Dessert
What level of responsibility do you have in your job. My life is my job, my responsibility is maintaining my own good health & well being ... heaven help anyone trying upset my equilibrium.

Photo Hunt - FREE ...

The Photo Hunt topic this week FREE

A neighbour planted a few Asian vegetable around the building this damn vine has taken over, the more it rains, the more it grows, Jack in the Beanstalk is expected to arrive any day! The grower of these monster's doesn't speak English, hence it's impossible to determine what these things are.

Growing to more than 30cms / 12 inches long, she's picking them by the truckload ... there's a huge crop of Taro as well.

They're FREE, but what are they ... any clues gratefully accepted ?????

Photo Friday ... INFINITY ...

Photo Friday - INFINITY.

Taken on June 29, 2007 - looking up through the back window of the car ... Infinite? ... a cloudy characteur? ...

The Break-Up Diet ... On Sale Today ...

Forget chocolate - this great book will take your mind off anything in a gold or silver wrapper ...

The Break-Up Diet: a memoir by Annette Fix goes on sale today!

The Break-Up Diet is the true story of a 30-something single mother/aspiring writer, working as an exotic dancer, searching for Prince Charming and trying to find a perfect balance between her dreams and her day-to-day life as Supermom.

Visit The Break-Up Story Forum
A place where women can go to read and share their break-up and dating stories. Check it out and join the fun!

Annette Fix is the Senior Editor for WOW! Women On Writing, an author and spoken-word storyteller, living in Laguna Niguel, California with her Danish Prince Charming, her aspiring photographer son, and two rescued dogs.

Order the Break-Up Diet from Amazon.

Book Website
The Break-Up Story Forum
Blog
Myspace

SORRY Day Australia Feb 13 2008 ... Reconciliation

After only eleven weeks in office Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, has said SORRY to the 'Stolen Generations.'

Between 1910 and 1970 100,000 Aboriginal babies and children, mostly under 5 years of age, were taken from the arms of their mothers and families. Most were raised in church or state institutions, many were physically or sexually abused, some were fostered and adopted. Federal and State Governments of the day called it 'assimilation', 'colonisation' it can best be described as genocide. Generations of Indigenous Australians suffered the consequences ... read more.

The degredation, separation and atrocities these children were subjected to had long ranging effects. Mental health, alcoholism, hopelessness all with a great feelings of loss plagued too many. Today surely must bring some kind of hope and peace to survivors and their families.

Sadly 36% of the population still agree that SORRY is not neccessary even after previous heartfelt demonstrations.

Former Prime Minister John Howard maintained his myopic attitude to SORRY by not participating in the ceremony, yet the now leader of the opposition Brendan Nelson opened his heart with aggreement.

The unfinished business of searching for great grandparents, grandparents, aunties and uncles, sisters ands brothers will continue ... may such gross human acts never happen again. Sorry.

A New Girl in the Family ...

... she doesnt have a name yet.

Wandering thru the RSPCA this beautiful girl was spotted. She was only missing two things - an owner and a leg!

It's thought she's a Blue Burmese but could just be a Blue Moggy, who knows or cares. She was in a car accident (she wasnt driving) and the owners surrendered her because they couldnt afford to have her leg fixed.

RSPCA obviously thought she was worth saving so here she is! Awwww....did I also mention she's a bit cross-eyed? Ya gotta love a cat with er...personality.




In only two days, she's moved in, taken over the couch and made her Mummy very happy!

Manic Monday Meme ...

In honor of Valentine's Day this week:

What is the most romantic movie that you've ever seen? A toss up between 'Hope Floats' or 'Bridges of Madison County'.


If you could be the lover of any person alive other than your current lover, who would you pick? Prerequisites would include ... have to have a huge bank account, one foot in the grave, no kissing and no touching below the waist permitted ... Haaaaaaa!!!


What scents remind you of a loved one? MJ & 'Jurlique Lavender Hand Lotion'

Home Baked Third Generation Choc Chip Cookies ...

I know, I know ... all Choc Chip Cookie's look the same. Not these. These are gen - u-ine home baked by the the third generation cookie baker. Especially clever if you saw the crap oven she's using. She's sweet, beautiful, clever, bakes a mean scone and a gorgeous roast ... Yummo!

Unconscious Mutterings - Week 262

Free Association ... read more here ...

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Score :: ten out of ten
2. Luxurious :: 5 star holiday
3. Party :: till you drop
4. Limited edition :: top shelf
5. Security :: safety
6. Betty :: Boop
7. Under construction :: still?
8. Pest :: exterminator
9. Director :: head honcho
10. Express :: post

If you're interested check other mutterings here ...

Writers Island - CHANGED

Throughout life I’ve constantly changed. Drudgery, monotony and routine were eliminated. The doldrums of life, for me, are few. Addresses, occupations, goals, addictions, phone numbers, education, fashion, appearance, challenges, friends, tolerances, diets, habits, likes, dislikes, relationships, opinions, myths, status, ideology, creativity, changed.

People who’ve put a foot out of line, lied, cheated, disrespected, thieved, embarrassed, belittled, and more were banished. Changed. The resolve that there are too many good people out there without having to tolerate bad behaviour still stands!

Sound normal?

Of course it is. Natural difference. Nothing stays the same. Attitudes, trends, values, mores, beliefs, traditions … everything from sunrise till sunset are intrinsic to life, yet the reluctance of people when things are changed baffles me?

Fear or apathy?

Look at the men you know … when was their hairstyle changed? Look at the women you know … when was their hair style, hair colour or appearance changed? Why are there more women’s hair salons than men’s? OK, OK, yes ... this is a shallow example, but think about it, haven't the women you've known, changed constantly compared to men you've known?

Hang on … I’ve changed my mind about writing more … momentarily I changed the blogging hat to the sociology one ... see how easy it can be?

Photohunt #96 HEAVY

Heavy, torrential, rain overflowing down the gutter in the street outside my home this week ... did I have a premonition of Photohunt topic? Nahhhhh I adore the rain as well as the drenching and laughing while taking this shot ...

Sincerest condolences to people who've lost loved one's, been unjured or lost treasured possessions during the crazy weather occurring world wide. Stay safe.

Sunday Scribblings # 97 FRIDGE SPACE

Frequently I refer to home " ... as like living in a fridge. In winter it's so cold you can hang a side of beef in the joint for days without fear of it going off." The winter heating bill is massive ... reminder ... check economic heating before winter ... I digress.

Sunday Scribblings prompt reminded me of times when there was no fridge space. Childhood days when we'd hear the clip clopping of the horses hooves on tar roads, knowing the ice man was coming.

In those days fridge space was never a problem, they were a rarity. Ice chests kept food cold. Shopping was done daily. Mother's cooked by the seasons, the weather and the affordability of ice. She's prepare accordingly so by the time father was due home his dinner to be on the table as he walked in the front door.

The ice chest was revered. A wooden cupboard about 15 x 15 inches by three feet tall. There was a top section, insulated with some kind of material that is probably illegal now, where a hinged door lifted up to hold the block of ice. Ice insertion could be compared to turning a fridge on ... NOT!

The door was only opened as needed, ice cost money. No standing in front of it with the door ajar, the light on, peering in, deciding on a cold treat. None of that. The ice chest held the milk, the meat, fish if Dad had caught any, butter if you could afford it and little else. Other food was stored at room temperature. If there was no ice chest a meat safe, a wooden cupboard, with the sides, top and door covered in wire mesh, kept the flies off the meat.

The days the ice man delivered we waited, jiggling for spots, yet scared to death of a hiding if our mother saw us on the road. As the clip clopping drew closer our hearts raced, round the corner came the huge thundering horse, our excitement level rose, we watched, temporarily mesmerised as the lithe, ice man, slung a block of ice up over his shoulder onto a hessian bag all the while, his feet moving, in step with the moving cart then running. As he took off we'd scramble onto the road behind the cart, scavenging for a slither of the glistening ice to suck on, to numb out lips and tongues, to saturate our sleeves.

The scrawniest kid was the lookout. As soon as 'the ico' reappeared we'd be the innocent, angelic Bondi kids, lurking, walking quietly in the gutters, not too close to the horse, waiting, wishing, willing, ice to drop to the roadway. The littlest kids took the biggest risks darting in and under the moving cart. The horse never stopped, it knew the delivery route, it ambled on, bridle and reins dragging, as deliveries were made, while mouths and hands jostled for the drips of freezing water, the nectar of the day. Small feet followed the cart, like a procession, to feel the cold, wet rivulets between our toes.

The naivety and bliss of it all ... enough ... I'm off to Google a heater price the temperature is only twenty degrees tonight ... winter's round the corner ... is that hooves I hear?

A Herb Urban Blogging Award ...

Humbled ... thats how I describe the feeling being endowed with a blogging award from the illustrious Herb Urban .

He churns out witty, topical, cynical, star filled, where are they now, prose from Herbsylvania day after day. Herb dishes it out, unafraid, undaunted, never disappointing, always enlightening, to many a forgotten nob of the upper US echelon ... frequently, deservedly!

I CAN GO FOR THAT

... no prizes but ... do you know who these dudes are ????

Photo Friday - WHAT is THAT?

Blossom, the watchcat in action ... "what is that" she asked, a mere second after this photo was taken!

It's been a week of firsts - Photo Friday - my first - I love a challenge?

Self Portrait Challenge - BLUE ...

My first week for Self Portrait Challenge where the topic is BLUE.

Blue has never been a favourite colour with the exception of the sky, the ocean and denim.

Here I am In & Above BLUE in 1987, courtesy of Qantas, returning to Sydney from Adelaide, the large beach in the middle of the shot is Bondi, then to the right is Tamarama then Bronte ... sensational memories.

Picks of the Week ...

A fabulous old case ... for a musical instrument or ... something more suspicious???

Delicate set of Limoge miniatures ...
Vintage hankies for Madame ...
... to top it all off a stunning Vintage feather chapeaux for Mamselle ... a one of a kind!

Wordless Wednesday

I got more than I paid for when after finding a piece of tile in a loaf of gluten free bread. The company organised the return to Quality Control ... I received a generous supermarket voucher ... satisfied!

See more Wordless Wednesday entries here

Unconscious Mutterings Week 261

Discovered another weekly exercise to keep the grey matter from fading!!

This could be an excellent writers resource as well as doing as intended ... read more about it here

I say ... you think ...?

1. What women want :: Peace
2. Epidemic :: Plague
3. Taxes :: Torture
4. Hello :: What's doing?
5. Confidential :: Secrets
6. Lights :: Ideas
7. Summation :: Summary
8. Hard feelings :: Enemies
9. Electric :: Flash
10.Fresh start :: New beginning

Manic Monday on Tuesday ...

Is there anything too serious to joke about? If so, what falls into that category for you?

Life is too short to get bogged down I try to see the funny side of everything - it's my sanity saving mechanism!

Would you rather be a tortured genius or a happy simple-minded person? Why?

I'm already a tortured genius ... being eccentric, outrageous, funny, modest and not boring is the absolute best!

A dear friend or family member has a terminal illness and is in agony. He/she wants you to help him/her die. What would you do?

Be there to the best of my ability!

Sydney weather - bucketting ...

The Bureau of Metereology reported that almost 90 mm of rain fell close to my front door in an hour yesterday ... this time last week the temperature was 32 degrees ... weather ... from the sublime to the ridiculous at this time of year!

Martha Stewart BIG IDEA = Food Allergies & Intolerances ...

After being chided and harangued listing what I don't eat, and there's plenty on the list, for almost a decade, I quietly smirk when hearing of a new gluten or allergy free food range in a supermarket or better still when someone acknowledges the existence of people like me.

Martha Stewart has launched The Big Idea ... a company wide competition giving staff members an opportunity to share their personal ideas for a future project. Forty entries have been narrowed down to seven finalists and the public have been asked to log on to Martha's blog to cast their vote - scroll down and vote here

Leading with 59% of the 52,3747 votes is the idea of a publication for people with food allergies and intolerances ... hip, hip, hooray!

Here in Sydney there's become a massive amount of products available, so us gluten free'ers are able to dine out without ordering a lettuce leaf and a glass of water ... witnessing the world wide awakening is like food for the soul!

Photohunt # 95 NARROW.

Travelling from north to south on the Sydney Harbour Bridge - Narrow - is the word with three lanes of traffic heading toward you.

The only indication of the lane you should be travelling in are overhead signs designating whether the lane you're in is correct by a blinking red or green X sign.

It's a white knuckle drive for those who don't cross the "coathanger" frequently!!

First time at Photohunt ... can't wait for next week!

Writer Island - MAGIC ...

I've been stumped with the Magic prompt this week!

Aussie's would know the lyrics of John Farnham's "Don't you know it's Magic ..." which embedded itslef in my noggin upon reading the prompt! Despite searching for a clip so the tune could drive you all nuts too - nope, you're out of luck!

I dawdled with the idea of that "Quick Change Act" (click to see clip) performed on both Australia and America's "So you think you've got talent" show - now there's some good old fashioned magic.

I pondered on preaching about the magic of life, health, how fortunate we are compared to ... but decided that's been done ...

Based on that, I've decreed Herb Urban to be magic ... mission accomplished!

An APRON challenge from Rice Freeman - Zachary

Searching for a new creative self was part of my resolve for 2008. As part of my quest I bought "Living the Creative Life" by Rice Freeman - Zachary.

As I devoured the book a new creative world emerged. Rice's blog, her Etsy store and Yahoo groups - plus I stumbled upon and rescued her "Wearable Art" book from the shelves of a dingy op shop - synchronicity at its best!!!

Yesterday Rice offered up a give -away, a challenge, an apron that you could have your way with ... I was the winner ...

Here's the apron that will soon be winging it's way to me from Texas ... Yayyyyyy!

From arrival to completion - will all be blogged - I'll keep y'all posted!!! Whooop - deee- dooo!

... and the apron is the right colour too ...

Sunday Scribblings # 96 ... FOUL ...

My brother used to tell this story ...

He used to go long journey's to the centre of Australia for his job. He drove thousands and thousands of kilometres in his Holden panel van and decided he'd buy a parrot for company. He found a parrot, fully grown, sitting in an outback general store, did a deal with the store owner and off they drove, man and bird.

BUT ... unbeknowns to my bro the bird had a foul mouth, a bad attitude with the worst vocabulary known to man. Every second word was an expletive.

My Bro tried to change the bird's language by quitting swearing himself, speaking politely, playing gentle music, nothing worked. When he chastised the bird the performance worsened.

Back at home he became fed up with the incessant foul language and late one night, after too many Coopers ale's, he put the parrot in the freezer. He could hear the bird swearing and squawking then nothing, dead silence.

My Bro thought he'd gone too far and raced to the freezer. As he raised the lid of the freezer the parrot stepped out onto my Bro's arm and said ...

"I'm sorry that I have offended you with my foul language I ask your forgiveness and from this day forward I will endeavor cease and desist."

Flabbergasted, before my Bro could respond the parrot continued " ... and may I ask what the chicken did?"

Friday's Feast .. Feast One Hundred & Seventy Eight

Friday's Feast is a meme of five questions cooked up by the chef each and every week ... I've signed up to savour the flavour. It's bound to be investigative, digging deep, taking the meat off more bones i.e. writing prompts ... perfect for a non fiction freak like Moi!

Appetizer
What is your favorite kind of cereal? Freedom Foods Muesli, gluten free, wheat free.

Soup
When was the last time you purchased something for your home, what was it, and in which room did it go? A small teak chest with 18 drawers.

Salad
What is the funniest commercial you’ve ever seen? Ohhh there's too many to even remember. It would have to have been starring a kid, aired for way too long, that inevitably became tedious.

Main Course
Make up a name for a company by using a spice and an animal (example: Cinnamon Monkey). Chilli Cat.

Dessert
Fill in the blank: I haven’t smoked since 1994.

OK the answer's are a bit lame ... stay tuned, practice makes perfect.

Stamped ... a $ 20.00 Bargain ...

Who's a lucky duck?
... $20.00 for all these gorgeous stamps in fabulous condition plus 7 stamp pads ... what a bargain ... perfect for my new creativity ... Mmmmmm !!