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 ...