Screeeeching....

Tight,
tension,
walk softly,
burst into truth.
Quieten the noise in the mind
Screeching.

Aching
back teeth,
gritted for peace,
disparate people trying
Quieten the noise in the heart
Screeching.

Love
Abounding,
coming from here in me
Trying to stay clear in mind
Quieten the noise in the heart
Screeching.

Reaching
touching,
Stroking the egos, oh so fragile
making do with any proffered look
quieten the noise in the heart
Screeching.

Soft
But softer still
memories float through
their mother, is the only mother
within striking distance, not for them
Screeching.

To love,
to forgive,
to grit the teeth in hope.
To leave it be, to allow,
accept and move past the
Screeching.

(So what was Christmas like for you?)

Christmas for Women!

Christmas in Oz.

We in Australia have always been able to have that ability to switch our hot, steaming summers to the concept of snow, cold, fires in fireplaces, 'stockings' hanging on the mantelpiece, 'Jack Frost', snow men on cards, 'ear muffs' and such.
In reality our Christmas comes in the centre of summer, when children have their longest break from school and when the heat of the day sizzles your feet and your hair sticks to your face and the last thing yo think of is a hot English meal.
For all my grandparents life, my parents and my own thus far we have always celebrated Christmas like it was mid-winter. Hot roasts, hot vegetables, egg nog and all.

Now slowly we can see the change in attitudes as we are 'encouraged' ( through the power of advertising and capitalistic/materialism) to change our Christmas family meal.
Barbeques, prawns, salads and cold meat are all being touted.
In actual fact I know of not one family who do a barbeque as a Christmas meal.
We started a few years ago to opt for cold lamb, pork, chicken and beef with salads of all descriptions..which still meant I did a lot of cooking but now on the day or evening before.

So this year, being a little empathetic with my daughters partners mum who hails from Canada who will be missing her son dreadfully, I have volunteered to buy and cook a turkey. I have never done this. I have gotten little hints from the mum herself and other people so am hopeful that I will do right by the the turkey and by the Canadian.
I searched for 'cranberry sauce' and found that there are three types. They are all imported from Yankee land so had to guess at what I should do.

So we will be having a hot meal in the hot southern summer, turkey no less, which is not a tradition in either parents history but am making a statement on behalf of our 'ring-in' from the Northern climes.

And so to our Christmas carol.

Early one Christmas Day, a joey Kangaroo,
Was far from home and lost in a great big zoo.
"Mummy, where's my mummy, they've taken her away"
"We'll help you find your mummy son. Hop up on the sleigh."
Up beside the bag of toys little Joey hopped
But they hadn't gone far when Santa stopped
Unharnessed all the reindeer and Joey wondered why.
Then he heard a far off booming in the sky.
Chorus:

Six white boomers, snow white boomers
Racing Santa Claus through the blazing sun
Six white boomers, snow white boomers
On his Australian run.

Pretty soon old Santa began to feel the heat
Took his fur-lined boots off to cool his feet
Into one popped Joey, feeling quite OK
While those old man kangaroos kept pulling on the sleigh.
Chorus;

Joey said to Santa, "Santa what about the toys
Aren't you giving some to these girls and boys?"
"They've all got their presents son, we were here last night.
This trip is an extra trip, Joey's special flight."
Chorus;
Soon the sleigh was flashing, right over Marble Bar
"Slow down there," cried Santa. "It can't be far.
Come up on my lap son, and have a look around."
"There she is that's mummy, bounding up and down!"
Chorus;

Well that's the bestest Christmas treat that Joey ever had
Curled up in mother's pouch all snug and glad
The last they saw was Santa headed northward from the sun
The only year the boomers worked a double run.

The Beginning of the End

There is hope in the air.

Our new Minister for Indigenous Affairs (Jenny Maklin) is working hard, connecting with our native peoples already and it has only been a few weeks since the massive drubbing of the previous thoughtless mob who were finally and deliciously chucked out.
She is aiming to organise the 'wording' of the 'official apology' to our nations 'Stolen Generation' in concert with input from our many brethren, finally!!

We have several great and patient song writers, artists, actors, social justice workers and more within the aboriginal community. We are fortunate that they are working and waiting solidly for the day when white-fellas come to the understanding and acceptance of what is needed by them so we can feel united, strong and proud as a true community, Australia.

One of those song-writers, Kev Carmody has been writing, singing and playing for 20 years, about protest, struggle, wishes and justice.

His body is aching with arthritis as he strums his guitar. I feel for him for my back and knees are beginning to sing this song as well. My fingers and hands are squeaking their promise that I have inherited my grandmothers complaint.

So when I read this piece about Kev and his life, his music and his travels around this land I needed to repeat some of his words. "From Little things Big Things Grow" is his most well known verse, but here he talks about his aging.

"The older I get, the more I seep into this land." "Death", he says "is a final wrapping in Mother Earth. Death is easy business".

In true aboriginal traditional respect for the dead he says in his rendition of
"Eulogy for a Black Man":
"Let me face the rising sun Commend my spirit to the wind Make no monuments or mortal crowns or speak my name again when you lay me down."

He speaks for me.
(BTW This is the grave site of my great great grandfather, most probably an indigenous man. His grave alongside his wife, is facing due East on the Estate where he worked.)

..And I lived to See the Day!!!

Congratulations!
What a lucky country we are becoming once again!
I am indeed chuffed!

Gillard becomes first woman in top job

December 11, 2007 - 6:52AM
Source: ABC

Acting PM: Julia Gillard is in the top job while Kevin Rudd is in Bali. (File photo) Photo: AAP

Deputy Labor leader Julia Gillard will make history today when she becomes the nation's first female Acting Prime Minister.

Ms Gillard will take over the top job while Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is in Bali for climate change talks.

"The face of politics has historically been a male face," she said.

"Obviously that's changing, [with] Anna Bligh in Queensland, and we've had Joan Kirner and Carmen Lawrence and Kate Carnell and Clare Martin in the past.

"But I think at the Federal level, seeing more women's faces really matters."

Ms Gillard will hold the role until Thursday night, and has told Channel Nine that she is likely to spend most of the time sitting at her desk in Canberra.

"I'll be working from Parliament House today making sure that we're implementing all of our policies and plans," she said.

"I've obviously been working particularly hard on our education plan so it's kind of an exciting day, but it's also business as usual.

"I'll be in a lot of meetings with a lot of paperwork."

Ms Gillard says her elevation to the top job is proof Australian women can aspire to be anything.

Hope

The days are steamy and long.
The birds wake me each morning.
There is hope in my life,
for my children will be returning,
Soon.

So it was not only my country
That is returning to me.
It is also my family and (I thought)
A long lost friend
Again.

With steadfast Jack
and deep songstress Bird,
I know Blue is out there
But it was the Scotsman
I lacked.

Slowly, ever slowly
the pieces are being put to right.
From the ashes, and all that
rises my hearts feeling
Again.

Kitchens and Other things.

On soft dim wet summer mornings as the humidity rises to fill the air I am reminded of the days when I heard my mother moving busily around the kitchen. Knowing I had to soon rise and busy myself in putting on uniform and packing my port for school I would devise a reason to stay home.

Mum would come in and say,: "Ready darling?"
I would moan and say, pleadingly; "Can I stay home with you today?"
Sometimes, knowingly, she would agree as long as I had not not done homework or didn't have anything important to hand in for school.

Snuggling back down under the quilt she would bring me toast and milk and a colouring-in book.

The sound of the rain would hush down outside and mum would turn on her radio to listen to her serials and polish the floors. At first she did it by 'knee', kneeling down on an old towel and with the chairs up on the table would apply the floor polish by hand.
Just as 'kindergarten of the air' was starting she would have waited long enough for the polish to dry then back on her knees again she would start to buff off the polish.

This morning was such a morning.
Soft intermittent rain sighed down onto the ground and I turned to hubby and told the story of my mum. I realised then that there is several generations now and into the future who will not experience such a feeling of comfort, reassurance and surety that I had. One where a darling mother moved hummingly, deftly around a home doing her work...cleaning, cooking, caring firm in her belief that a woman's work is never done. That which is should be done well and constantly.

The feeling arose once again that I as her daughter was cared for, loved, considered, put first.

An overwhelming understanding hit me.
Al these young'ns out there self serving, demanding, spoilt with 'things', hankering after the materials that money can buy, are dismal in their place in their mothers heart.

Hubby had a working mum. She never stayed home to care for her sick children. It was a matter of putting them to bed and going back out to earn her $5 an hour. There was no unconditional care, humming worker in the home, smells of baking wafting from a warmed and bright old kitchen. It was rush and go and hurry and pushes asides.

Looking back now I can see I did the same for mine when it was no longer fashionable to do so. We were a stuggling couple on one wage, just making the payments for the mortgage and cutting corners whenever wherever we could. No new things, no keeping up with the neighbours, the school mates of the children, no holidays, no expensive, expansive Christmases..just plodding, fiscally tight, closely watched budgeted times.

I tried most days to make sure before I drove out to pick the kiddies up from school, to talk to the teachers, to run through their day with them, that I had been cooking something, anything, so that they would enter our run down house that was filled with smells of baked apples, floured pastry or stewing meats and veges.

The snuggly, warm, smells of home, the gentle arms of an accepting mum, the cooing noises from the hub of the house, the murmurs of the radio, music rising with her heart are still with me.
And now I have been told that I have filled that niche in a little boy so long ago who needed that too. He grew into a loving and dedicated dad who picked me, a woman without ambition except that to love, nurture and dedicate to family and whatever hovel we managed to acquire.

I wonder how my children will interpret this in their own lives.
One has said; "I can't have children because I can't do what you did".
Another said; "I don't think it is possible, is it , anymore so will you be there for my children when they come?"
And the third; "I don't want to give anything of myself like you did. It seems too hard."

Still.
I thank my mum.
I miss her like you do your own loving thought.
She was my guide, my giving, loving, sweet, strong, gentle, smelling mum.

Ta, dear lady.

Right Brain v Left Brain | Herald Sun

Right Brain v Left Brain Herald Sun

Life is Fragile.

A Message by George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray ('wish') too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We're cleaning up the air, but polluting the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

George Carlin

And as Matt Price said in his last written piece;

Life is fragile. Hug your loved ones.

(I don't agree with this totally, but feel the sentiment is appropriate. I would only change without reservation the part where 'prayer' is mentioned. It does nothing for anyone except for the person praying...so I would substitute 'wish' instead).

The Only Cats acceptable

After caring for an orphaned lion, having it grow up and too large to care for alone, one lady gives it to be cared for to a zoo.
She visits it regularly.

Good one!