Ready for juicing...?!

I'm so excited!

Only one more sleep and The Emerging Writers Festival begins here in Melbourne.  The first week is peppered with activities in and around the city - forums, workshops, book lauches, etc... Then the piece-de-resistance... The Town Hall Program!  Two full days to soak up all things writing, and the best bit... the cost is kept low to accomodate poor emerging writers (like me!).

Another plus will be that I'll have a friend this year, not that I won't make a couple along the way like last year, but this year I have my good friend Cheryl joining me from Adelaide.  Us two have long held a common interest in arty, scholarly kind-of-things.  I'll be joining her in Adelaide next month for more festivals (of a more frivolous nature!  I shall reveal more in time...)

Ready for juicing means that I'm ready to get my creative juices flowing.  I've already started to put a bit of a business plan together (to enact when I return from the continent in a few months time.)

I've got a really good feeling about this year.  I'm not going to let the flame dwindle to a pilot light, but keep the gas connected in a steady stream.  I hope to make enough connections that the motivation will keep on coming.

I just can't wait!!! tootles xo

Happy Birthday Dad

It's really quite hard to describe how I feel about my Dad today.  There's quite a lot of pain associated with the word at the moment.

Ever since I can remember we've enjoyed a special understanding.  I guess its because we think in a very similar way.  We're both dreamers, idealists, thinkers, creative.  We both love to sing (I remember trying so hard - in vain- to sing louder than my Dad as a kid!)  I think it was Dad that first showed me how to sing in harmony.

We both seem able to irritate Mum in the same way!

I also remember sitting on the back of his bicycle and cycling around Melbourne (fast)

I remember snuggling up to his snoozing form on the couch late at night... and quizing him on the program on telly.

My Dad is such a special man.  He's sure had his share of ups and downs over the years, especially in this decade, but he seems to face it all with optimism and determination.  Its a constant inspiration and reminder to keep on keeping on.  It reminds me of the lyrics from a favourite Christian artist, Michael Card:

From you I learned the kind of faith

That looks up to the mountains

From you I learned just what I'd like to be...

I hope you're having a great day Dad, you deserve to feel so special!

All my love, Joce xo xo

...Baby it's cold outside!

Well our delayed-Autumn has hit it's stride this week with a wintry kind of bite to the air and cloudy, soggy short days.  It puts me in mind of a few tunes... (nothing new there)

Autumn Leaves is one of my favourites and among my standards, I'll sing it at any opportunity, but it is pictorial present at the moment.  Especially as I took a little trip up to the hills last Sunday.

My mood seems to have gone the way of the weather.  Too many unaswered job applications, and not enough to keep me busy.  I have a plan... but not the funds to put it into action - grrr... the frustrations!  Maybe I'll buy a lottery ticket this weekend... nah, still, what I couldn't do with a cool couple of mill.... dreams!

Now it's Friday, and as I listened the an inspiring "conversation hour" on the radio another of my favourite Jazz standards punctured the conversation between guests... Baby It's Cold Outside... so cheeky!

I'm feeling a little more chipper as the week ends and the weekend approaches... mmmn, questionable sentence structure there... sorry, but you get what I mean, I'm sure.  It's shaping up to be another fairly busy one with catch-ups, parties and churchy activities.  I also had a lovely evening with friends last night, always helps. 

So, rug up, don't forget the umbrella and enjoy your weekend (If you're North of the Equator, perhaps a hat is more de-riguer!)

I'll post some pics next week, promise!

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