All This Time

I had a really full-on weekend, lots of fun, but was exhausted today and didn't get a whole lot done... I helped a friend to celebrate her birthday on Friday night, we're both massive karaoke fans so I'm afraid we rather hogged the mic!  I over indulged, so spent a lot of Saturday feeling a little poorly, but recovered enough to sing a lot more karaoke (without the need for sharing!)

I met a lot of my friends church pals on Friday night.  They were all talking about the launch of a new service at a central Melbourne cinema, so I decided to go along an check it out.  It was a very encouraging time and I made at least 5 new friends in the process... They're called City on a Hill (after Jesus quote from his Sermon on the Mount) and they have a cool ministry to the city's homeless called Many Rooms.  I'm thinking of getting involved in that too.  It's right up my alley really.

All these thoughts of serving are inflamed by a favourite album of mine that I was also listening to yesterday.  Although its not Wednesday I thought I'd share my current favourite track off the album with you.  It's called All This Time... hence the title of my post today.

All This Time

I'm a father and a son; I've been a lover with just one,
But this world can get me all undone,
And I'm frightened I'm the only one.
I wrestle with the thoughts I keep,
If I sow the seed of arrogance then it's loneliness I'll reap,
It's loneliness I'll reap.

Please don't leave me stranded here,
With a head of lies and a heart of fear.
My life's a show on Gods TV,
The world an audience, watching me.

So wake me, shake me, keep me sharp,
As I touch the power of Gods great harp.
And this world can fill your head with praise,
That steals me from eternal grace.
So how can I serve God and wealth?
I can captivate an army, but I can't control myself.
I can't control myself.

Ghostly figure out at sea, I hear a voice that's calling me,
To walk upon the waves of faith.
For in the arms of God, I am safe.

All this time, since the day that I was born,
I've never known a time like this,
I don't wanna let you down.

I will sing, sing for your light has come.

Written by Delirious? 2005 Curious? Music UK

This Album (Mission Bell) is a little dangerous really, it gets me all motivated to get out there and do something to demonstrate my faith.  I've been putting a lot of consideration lately into what I want to do with my life.  Like, do I want to study more, etc... I do feel like I'm leaving behind a period of exploration and finding out who I am and who I want to be, now it's really time to do something with all that.

Of course, I still need a job, to be able to support myself, but I'm also excited by the new directions that my faith is taking me.  I'll keep you posted!

Song of the week - On the Borderline

This week I turn to a new song... not sure I'll be able to get the lyrics so I'll just share the chorus that I like singing to myself.  Would make a good alarm clock song!  The song is by an Australian Independent Artist, Sally Seltmann, she used to be known as New Buffalo.

Get yourself up, get yourself up,
Get yourself out of it
This is a new day; this is a new day,
This is a new day today
Snapping your fingers, tapping your toes,
You were humming a tune
You know, you know
This is a new day; this is a new day,
This is a new day today

I like the upbeat tune and lyrics and it gets into my head, a pre-requisite for "song of the week" I guess.

I'm not fully enamoured with the current trend of female singers, they seem to share a breathy style that's not really my thing, but works here.  Sounds to me like a break-up song (a favourite category of mine!)  Not that I've had all that many break-ups, but they sure make for a good tune.  A lot of my favourite songs would fit into this category, and as I reflect I think the guys generally moan about their loss, while gals tend for a more optimistic note of moving on... I'm sure that's a grose generalisation, so feel free to prove me wrong!

I too feel a bit like I'm on a borderline... looking ahead to new horizons, not at all sure what is ahead.  There are many changes coming my way, some I look forward to, others, well... change and I have always had a fractious kind of relationship.

Today I'm putting a positive spin on things... getting myself up and remembering that it is a new day today.  How about you...?

Tschuss till next time xoxo

Down time...

Feeling a bit deflated as I begin this week.  I had a great time emerged in costumes for my friend's production of Midsummer Night's Dream for Melbourne's Comedy Festival.  It came on the back of Easter and time with family and friends.  It was all busy and a very new experience for me, so was all consuming.

I also had the opportunity to make some new friends, and you all know how much I enjoy that!  To hang out with like-minded people for a whole week was just bliss.  It reminds me how much of a difference common interests make to a friendship.

I have a few "hard" things to get through this week, so no doubt that's contributing to my cloudy mood.  I'll perk up though, never fear.  Melbourne's experiencing some lovely unseasonably warm weather too, so I'll ensure I make the best of it.

I'll try and find some pics of the production to share with you all, it sure was a hoot!

Ciao for now xo xo

All I Need...

I thought I'd resume my song of the week posts.  I've been thinking a bit lately about what I need (sometimes vs what I want!!) not always mutually exclusive...

Here's the lyrics from Air (a French duo)

All I need is a little time,
To get behind this sun and cast my weight,
All I need is a peace of this mind,
Then I can celebrate.

All in all there's something to give,
All in all there's something to do,
All in all there's something to live,
With you ...

All I need is a little sign,
To get behind this sun and cast this weight of mine,
All I need is the place to find,
And there I'll celebrate.

All in all there's something to give,
All in all there's something to do,
All in all there's something to live,
With you ...

The song is set to a really cute video clip of a young woman waxing lyrical about her boyfriend, I'm sure you'll find it on Youtube...

Now, I'm not saying that I need a man in my life.... I'd sure like one, but that's not the same thing.  In all my years of singleness I feel most happy at the moment.  I'm glad to be putting my tumultuous 20s behind me this year, keen to explore new options for work and things over my next decade.

I could really do with a job at present... Not quite sure what it is about me and work, perhaps a lack of ambition...?

Really all I need is a safe place to rest my head, friends and family to share a little love, and something to do each day that gives me a little joy and meaning.

This week I'm keeping very busy helping a friend out with her production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.  I've a to-do list as long as my arm to complete when the sun comes up so its time for the head to hit the pillow.  I was housesitting for two weeks and now enjoying being back in my own bed.

I'm so thankful to live in a free and democratic country, in a time when I can be on equal footing with my male counterparts, to be able to express and share my faith freely, to sing in the street if I want!  I'm so thankful to live in city that doesn't just tolerate diference but celebrates it.   To live among a people that don't take themselves too seriously and know how to build a bit of fun into their lives (It's Comedy Festival season at present!)

What do you need?

What are you thankful for?

till next time... xo xo 

coming soon....

Sorry I haven't been posting much of late.  I've not only been busy, but just found it difficult to put into words what I've been feeling... or maybe just not wanting to make it public!

I'll post early next week with my adventure in Canberra... it is sure to feature a big queue... always an opportunity for making new aquaintances ;)

Catch you all soon... xo

get me outta here!!!!

This is just too much for a Saturday morning... usually I can read/doze through my flatmate's piano lessons, but that's the LEAST of my narks this morning. 

The upstairs people are renovating their bathroom... basically demolishing it's 3 walls at present.  They did it till I asked them to stop at 9.30 last night and then started at 7.30 this morning... with loud radio accompaniment from 8am!!

I am not happy... maybe I'll get a haircut like this chick next week... less to pull out of headache frustration.

I should be tidying up and doing my chores but I can't stand another minute!  I'm off for a swim and catch up with the siblings... as far from here as I can reasonably get!

Addios!

PS please excuse all the spelling and grammatical errors... I've barely slept and so can hardly think!

Hot in the city

It's been a fairly relentless summer here... I have burnt my left arm and now my right, but at least that eases the pain of sleeping on my side.  Today heat had be dreaming.  I wrote one poem and a few short memoir/stories.  I'm trying to collect up lots of memories of Dad for all the future Grandkids.  He tells the best stories, and I don't want them to miss out.

I can remember the extended family gathered around the lunch table laughing histerically and demanding yet another story of Dad and Dave growing up in Japan.  Not everyone's parents had such an exotic upbringing!  I swear his US history still beats his Aussie!  He could name the USA's fourth president but would be pressed to name our's....  We're just not as proud of our short history in Australia.

I caught a little of a show about John Monash on Saturday afternoon.  He was a major of the ANZAC AIF during WW1.  He championed ANZAC day (which nearly died after the great war as everyone was so war weary) and helped to design our magnificent Shrine of Rememberance.  I walked past it with a friend on Sunday afternoon and had to reflect that it was so fitting.  It is neither a tourist attraction or glorifies war, but is a fitting testament to the sacrifice of our young men (and now women).  War is such a terrible waste (War, huh... what is it good for? Absolutely nothing, sing it again!)  Well, that's not completely true, many of our medical and scientific breakthroughs have come about as a consequence of war.  Even my profession, Occupational Therapy really kicked in as a consequence of rehabilitating the returned soldiers (that's how we got the tag "basket weavers")

Anyway, now I'm just rambling.  It's late, but its too hot to get an early night.  I guess I should at least try through.... I'm facing two straight days of meetings (coke will be required... of the liquid kind, that is!!)

Ciao for now, I'll check in again soon and may even share a little of my writing.  Must get onto Dad to start getting some of his tales down on paper! xo xo 

PS Below is a little pic of the Shrine with the eternal flame in the foreground.