Archive for 11/02/2009

Madeleine Peyroux – Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go

27/02/2009 Joh home, music

I love this song. Interesting film clip. Could be relevant!

The handyman has finished my kitchen and I’m very happy with it. I’ll be even happier when I clean it properly as all the dust has highlighted to me many fine spiderwebs I didn’t realise existed and most of the contents of my cupboards are dusty. At some point over the weekend I hope to correct that. More interesting activities are calling to me lately and my housework isn’t going anywhere, so I leave it for later.

On the bright side I’ve eaten some good food this week with my kitchen out of action. I’m not sure if it’s tasted better due to the company I’m keeping.

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Weddings

25/02/2009 Joh family, reading, relationships

Tonight I watched ‘Four Weddings and A Funeral’ again. I haven’t watched it for years and I forgot the ending, which was kind of a bonus. It reminded me of the youtube clip that has been mentioned on Twitter and some blogs in the last week ‘Brian and Ellen’s Wedding ‘Music Video’. It’s quite watchable for a wedding video. I’m curious about whether it was taken at the actual wedding though and how much the filming impacted on the day or whether it was as casual and fun as it appears.

Popularity: 6% [?]

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New Moon in Pisces – February 25th 2009

22/02/2009 Joh astrology

My natal moon is in Pisces. I wonder if having a new moon in it will aid and abet my goal setting? Must investigate that one day. The full moon in Pisces is one of peace and compassion. Mystic Medusa brilliantly and briefly describes the energy of Pisces in her latest post: Understanding Pisces; The Short Version. Based on what she writes I hope (even if only emotionally) I have some of that!

I saw the slimming moon last night when I was on a late night (early morning to be precise) pick up of offspring,  and it was down to a slither. Very beautiful it was. 

I really need to have a think about the goals I am going to set on this moon, because I have lost the plot as far as progress and goals are going. I have to refocus. There is so much to do. I’ve had to let go of the deadlines I initially set when planning my big change. I have a fair amount of flexibility though so all is well.

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Meeting new people

21/02/2009 Joh gratitude, learn, relationships

This year, for the first time ever, I have a student from England in my English class. He has arrived at a very good time for me since I am planning to go there and teach later this year. I’ve been asking lots of questions about school there. I am learning a lot from him. He reassures me I will be fine.

Isn’t it amazing how things happen like that?

I’ve had a good week this week. I have met someone I am quite interested in and the feeling is mutual…. which is always fortunate. We have spent quite a bit of time together. I feel most content and grateful this evening.

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Need a Tradesperson?

19/02/2009 Joh home

I’ve been getting stuff done around my home lately. I almost feel like I want to stay and enjoy it all. I am getting it ready to rent it. I have moved a fair bit of my furniture out to a building I have in my backyard, which is not fit to live in, but weatherproof enough for my belongings to live whilst I am away.

I hadn’t even thought about moving towards my goal for a week or so. I had booked the electrician to fix the electrical things. He came last week. He is great. If you are in Melbourne and need an electrician I can recommend Denis, he’s very reliable and easy to deal with. His number is 0419 558 617. He was my first boyfriend so I’ve known him since I was 16 (I think), although usually I only catch up with him when I need some work done.

Have someone coming to fix my benchtops soon. In a fit of inspiration, I ripped up the island bench tiles. I was planning to mosaic it. I love mosaics, but it is slow and time consuming the way I do it and I’m not sure someone renting would appreciate my taste. So I’m getting laminex for now. That can be a mission when I come back.

My old business partner is making my window coverings. She was a bit quiet during January, but now… guess what… flat out! I am glad for her. I am not in such a great rush. I have a little while yet. She’s another person I would highly recommend. She was in the business 1o years before and has stayed in for the 20 years since I got out, so she’s very experienced. Email me if you need a great recommendation for curtains and decorating services and I would be glad to pass on her details.

Popularity: 5% [?]

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Generosity

18/02/2009 Joh gratitude

People are so generous. At our staff meeting tonight, our Principal told us that schools from Adelaide and Canberra had been doing fundraising for our students who have lost their homes. Local suppliers have made generous offers of school uniforms and books and this money we are receiving from other schools will also contribute to this and be distributed to the families if there is a surplus. The teachers at our school have voted to put the money in our school budget for the mid year and end of year functions to covering those families school fees. 

Frogdancers post about both her own and her communities generosity is a detailed insight into the things that are happening all over the state I imagine. I rang my handyman last night and he was out at Traralgon South organising a BBQ to raise funds for the people there. Tonight I got an email :

Monash Gippsland Auditorium,
Monash University, Churchill
Saturday 21st February @ 7p.m.
 
All those involved, including sound technicians and artists from Australia and even one from the U.S.A are donating their time and talents, as are many organizations with fantastic items that will be auctioned throughout the evening.
Much loved Australian country singer, SARA STORER, is foregoing her birthday party in Sydney to fly to Churchill to perform at the benefit. TONI CHILDS who has just arrived in Australia to do a National Tour has also donated her time to perform at the benefit, whilst Australian musicians MIA DYSON & LIZ STRINGER will join forces to perform a unique set of music.
From Gippsland, The Monash Sinfonia and local musician Brodie Young will perform.
And there are still more artists to be announced.
There will also be an auction of a variety of items at the benefit to raise money.
The HAWTHORN football club have donated some signed football jumpers,
Taasha Coates from ‘The Audreys’ was unable to change prior commitments to come to the benefit but is sending over from South Australia some personally signed posters.
There will be CD’s auctioned and special T-Shirts available for purchase. And more….
 
Ticket prices are $25 and are on sale NOW,
online at www.wgac.org.au
Tickets will also be available to purchase from;
Leading Edge in Traralgon and Sale
Monash University Auditorium.†
 
Stay tuned to ABC Gippsland Radio or their website (www.abc.net.au/gippsland) for all current information or
The Lyrebird Arts Council website (www.lyrebirdartscouncil.com.au)
ABC Radio will broadcast live from the benefit.

Everywhere I go there are events and people doing all kinds of creative and generous things to ease the burden of people they have felt compassion for. Tonight a lady came to the school gate after bus duty. She was a crossing supervisor and had made a patchwork quilt for one of the girls who crosses her road on her way to school. When I went to the supermarket recently, I asked the cashier why it was always so busy every time I came. He said that so many people are buying trolley loads for the bushfire survivors. Every day, they come in and buy things to donate. All these random acts of kindness, given freely and with love.

Tomorrow I promise I will talk about something else.

Popularity: 7% [?]

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This Weekend

15/02/2009 Joh friends, relationships

I have been an absolute sloth this weekend. I have slept a lot. I just haven’t been able to get motivated. I went to see ‘He’s Just Not That Into You’ on Friday night. I was hoping to get some tips! It was ok, but not that funny really to me.

I did get to see Reuben last night who I was worried about last weekend. He and his family and home are fine. It was great to see him in person. We laughed because lots of people were asking Tom about him and he’d said he’d call us if something went wrong… but how would he? Funny now though.

I notice in the news the fires are still burning at Wilson’s Prom. I didn’t get there this summer. I intended to. I was hoping to take a friend from overseas there, but it just didn’t happen. We cancelled our year 7 camps there this week. There were fires there only 4 years ago.

Last night I was thinking about the last time I drove to Inverloch around New Years Eve. I drove through Mirboo North and remember thinking how beautiful it all was and appreciating all I saw. It was still green at that time. I was thinking about how I’d likely be overseas next summer and was really making a conscious memory of this area that I know so well and love. I’m not sure I want to see it burnt and devastated.

I talked to Andy on the phone on Friday night. We looked at properties at Carrajung a few years ago. They were beautiful places. I have no idea if they are still alright. I hope so. I haven’t been out of town. The news never tells me what I want to know… so I’ve given up on that earlier in the week. Some kids at school mentioned on Friday they had been to look at Jeeralang, but I don’t think I could. They are best left to the people who need to be there I think.

I went to Revver to find some of my old clips of these areas, but I think Revver is on the blink again. I could get to my newer clips, but not the old ones. I hope I have backups! Now I am posting my clips through tubemogul and posting them to a variety of sites, but I have only been doing that in the past year or so, so I may have lost all those old ones. A bit unfortunate! Small things though compared to what many have lost and I feel pathetic mentioning it.

Popularity: 7% [?]

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Blue Skies with Clouds… not smoke

13/02/2009 Joh gratitude, work

Today was a better day. It was Friday of course, which always has an effect. We made frappes in the staff room at lunchtime and had a morning tea provided. Food always helps. I think we are all ready for a weekend. This has been a surreal week. When I was on yard duty at lunch time I realised I couldn’t smell smoke… and I enjoyed that.

Our school delivered a truckload of donated goods to the Red Cross today. The generosity of people is so heartening. My son and all his friends have donated bags of clothes and spent time helping to sort stuff. I think everyone in the state seems to be offering whatever they have. I read Frogdancer‘s generous response to her friend. I’ve heard some amazing stories from people this week of generosity and luck and gratitude.

I got my hair cut tonight and realised as I was discussing the local events with the hair dresser how fortunate I have been to be with kids this week. We did talk a bit about their experiences of fires at school, but mostly they just wanted to get on with normality and that is what we did. Going to school each day has been a break from it all. There are some shattered kids, yet they seem also to want to sit in the classroom and have life appear normal for that little while. Most are being kind and gentle with each other.

One of the things I have noticed is that everyone reacts differently. You can’t weigh up who has suffered the most in terms of what they have lost or seen or experienced. Some of them want to talk a lot about it and some want to not mention it. Some can only stay for part of the day and some haven’t returned yet.

Even teachers respond to the students differently. I don’t have all the answers that’s for sure. I awkwardly approach those students and have little chats with them and check in as regularly as possible. Yesterday I had a conversation with a teacher who was complaining about a student and I gently reminded her that he’d lost his home on the weekend. That didn’t seem to be a consideration for her. I was a little amazed at that.  I thought she must have forgotten, but no, she just felt that was his nature and he shouldn’t be allowed to get away with it. I listened to her as well, and had a quiet yet reassuring word to the young person in question. I’m not sure what’s best either.

I think this article is quite accurate, people need to talk. We all have to be there for one another.

Popularity: 6% [?]

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Perspective

12/02/2009 Joh work

Today we had a conversation at lunch about perspective. The art teacher was talking about the first exercise she gives year 7 students to do. They draw their hands and she commented about the kinds of details that are drawn. Some students draw what she called fingerless gloves with the fingernails a straight line drawn across. We all remember those drawings of the blue sky a stripe at the top of the page and the green stripe at the bottom and in between there is air. I think it would be facinating to teach art and see perspectives appear before your eyes.

I see perspective in others behaviours. It doesn’t matter what we say, it’s what we do and who we are that demonstrates to the world what our perspective is. The experiences we constantly relive are indicators of what it is we believe to be true.

The events since Saturday have created a shift in our perspective around here. Suddenly a whole pile of things seem petty. When pitted against the loss experienced by people surrounding us, the daily concerns we had last week have become not even worthy of thought. I find myself feeling impatient with some things and having infinate patience with people around me. More than I had last week. I was in the supermarket tonight and the lines were long. No one had that stressed jittery stance that demonstrated to the world they were cranky about waiting. We all just lined up in and waited calmly. We speak softly to one another. The students in my classes have all been very co-operative and engaged. Generosity is pouring forth, when a week ago people were talking financial downturn. It’s quite amazing to watch.

Popularity: 6% [?]

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Doing Something

11/02/2009 Joh gratitude

Tonight I had the opportunity to do something to help. At last. Thank goodness. Our school had a couple of teams volunteer for the Red Cross and when I arrived at school this morning I was told that I’d be required after school. I know everyone wants to help. Our school has received emails and offers of help from other schools. They have been offering and offering, blood, money, food, tears, ears and anything they have to make the people around them get through this toughest of times.

I’m still avoiding the news. I just want to be able to listen to the kids stories and to let them tell me what’s happened for them without any graphic sensational images or figures clouding me. A couple of kids returned today. It was still subdued and a sense of dread about what we don’t know lingers. The sky was blue today though and the last spoken news I received at the Relief Centre in Traralgon was that there were no current threats in our area and roads were opening up. I haven’t checked again since then.

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