Wednesday, November 4, 2009
I have a job....
I was offered a position today at http://www.banalasta.com.au/. I'm very excited. I accepted and I start next Monday. Go to their website and you'll find the beautiful Body Care range they produce using the oils from the eucalyptus radiata and lavender. You'll also find the selection of prize winning wines available under the Blickling Estate banner. I already knew Banalasta produced these but I didn't know about World Forest 2000. This is going to be an interesting, different and exciting job and I'm so looking forward to it. You should see my office.....a huge window overlooks the plantation. Yes, it's going to be real hard going there every day.....NOT.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
The Nature of Mother Nature
I have had some free time lately and I've been thinking about where I fit in the big scheme of things. No answers yet on that one....
A poem I wrote about what we are doing and bringing upon ourselves...it's not good news.
The Nature of Mother Nature
We were graced with this earth and given the tools
To develop and exist, to abide by her rules
How cruel we can be to others on this sphere
Whose differences cause panic through ignorance and fear.
She guided us gently with love in her heart
She’d send us a warning when we strayed from her path
But we heeded nothing and continued, now comes her wrath.
Her hope is fading, her patience gone.
She’s sighing, her exasperated breath forcing our homes to rubble
She’s crying, tears flooding rivers, oceans rising
She’s trembling with anger, her ire shaking the land
Her heart is breaking, torn apart by her children’s malevolence.
Greed is the scourge that’s destroying our planet.
Wanting more, taking yours making it mine.
Adjusting the rules and history so we succeed.
The faces change but the deeds are the same.
Some have tried to show us the truth.
But they were slain for their honesty.
What is our future? How will this end?
We are answering to her now
The most formidable foe we have faced.
We need to grow up from the delinquents we are
Get on with the task of getting along.
Appease her, calm her, show her we are worthy.
It's a bit dark, but so are these times. I hope we can mend.
A poem I wrote about what we are doing and bringing upon ourselves...it's not good news.
The Nature of Mother Nature
We were graced with this earth and given the tools
To develop and exist, to abide by her rules
How cruel we can be to others on this sphere
Whose differences cause panic through ignorance and fear.
She guided us gently with love in her heart
She’d send us a warning when we strayed from her path
But we heeded nothing and continued, now comes her wrath.
Her hope is fading, her patience gone.
She’s sighing, her exasperated breath forcing our homes to rubble
She’s crying, tears flooding rivers, oceans rising
She’s trembling with anger, her ire shaking the land
Her heart is breaking, torn apart by her children’s malevolence.
Greed is the scourge that’s destroying our planet.
Wanting more, taking yours making it mine.
Adjusting the rules and history so we succeed.
The faces change but the deeds are the same.
Some have tried to show us the truth.
But they were slain for their honesty.
What is our future? How will this end?
We are answering to her now
The most formidable foe we have faced.
We need to grow up from the delinquents we are
Get on with the task of getting along.
Appease her, calm her, show her we are worthy.
It's a bit dark, but so are these times. I hope we can mend.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Chainmail - a new passion
This is my first attempt at chainmail. I am happy with the way it turned out. It took hours upon hours but once I got into the rhythm and knew what I was supposed to be doing I couldn't stop. I was going to make a focal piece to incorporate in a necklace, then it progressed to be a bracelet but I kept going and made it into a necklace instead...I added a piece of fine silver that I'd made out of silver clay a couple of months ago and used sterling silver wire to make the clasp.
Nearly 48 hmmm!
I have a big catch up to do here.....
Firstly and most importantly, I got an email from Bob Birch @ Through Australian Eyes today. I have copied a letter he sent to Ms Sally Begbie who is the Ombudsman at SBS Australia. My first thought after reading the letter was "why can't I write like that?" Bob is passionate, articulate and what he has to say is very relevant. I wish these were my words...
"Dear Ms Begbie,
It has come to my attention that you, in your role as ombudsman for SBS, have directed SBS journalists to not use the term "Palestinian land" to describe the occupied territories of East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
According to a memo from the Head of News the status of these territories "remains the subject of negotiation" and should be described solely with reference to their geographical location, for instance, "Israeli settlements on the West Bank".
May I remind you that the status of these territories is not the subject of negotiation. East Jerusalem and the West Bank (and thank you for having the good grace not to call it Judea and Samaria) are territories under military occupation by Israel. Their status is determined by international law, not by some Zionist whimsy.
Israel has carried out a sustained program of ethnic cleansing and dispossession of the native population from East Jerusalem and the West Bank under the military occupation since 1967. This has been accompanied by a media campaign to expunge the terms "Palestine", "Palestinian territories" and, in fact, "Palestinians" from the lexicon.
I wish to express my disappointment that SBS, a publicly-funded broadcaster, has seen fit to bow down to pressure from the pro-Israel lobby in taking this misguided and unethical stance."
Bob Birch.
On a more personal note ( it's all about me!) I had a visit to the dentist last week for the first time in many many years. Not much had changed that I'd noticed upon arrival...it was still frightening, the smell was the same aroma of torment and the pain was incredible. I had a tooth taken out. Well, first it was broken up into a thousand pieces while STILL IN MY GUM then the schrapnel was removed with what felt like the skill of a second year apprentice concreter. To the dentist's credit, she is diminuitive of stature, for a few moments I was sure she was going to put her knee on my chest for more leverage but she managed to rip all three roots out with the strength of someone 14 times her size. The sound was something that will come back to haunt me sporadically over the rest of my years of existence and never pale in intensity. My fists were clenched so tight I am sure I have transferred the prints from my fingers to the palm of each hand. I was dismayed to find that "please rinse" seems to have gone by the wayside but "you'll have to make another appointment" seems to have stood the test of time. New technology abounded...xrays done in the chair, computers recording all my dental data and while I got a stern talking to about smoking my bill was sent via cyberspace to the receptionist and was printed ready for payment before I got out there. Which was a blessing, because I just wanted to get the hell out of there, go home, self medicate and mope around feeling sorry for myself. And I have to go back next week......I suppose this confirms that I am not a 'prevention is better than cure' type of gal. I suppose it's all part of getting older......which I will be very soon.
I've noticed I don't have the patience to endure fools anymore, or people who believe they are mightier than most and think they have power. Maybe I never did and it's only now that I admit it. I also look at the bigger picture, the world, the unfairness, the beauty, the cruelty, the selfishness, the selflessness, how insignificant and how enormous some things are and I'm trying to find what is really important to me.
Ok, I'm putting it out there so there's no turning back....on Thursday, after 33 years, I WILL STOP SMOKING. Do I want to post this? It's a big call and a huge commitment. I think I'm ready though. My motivation is that with all the money I save I will go to Palestine for my 50th birthday. Wish me luck..
Firstly and most importantly, I got an email from Bob Birch @ Through Australian Eyes today. I have copied a letter he sent to Ms Sally Begbie who is the Ombudsman at SBS Australia. My first thought after reading the letter was "why can't I write like that?" Bob is passionate, articulate and what he has to say is very relevant. I wish these were my words...
"Dear Ms Begbie,
It has come to my attention that you, in your role as ombudsman for SBS, have directed SBS journalists to not use the term "Palestinian land" to describe the occupied territories of East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
According to a memo from the Head of News the status of these territories "remains the subject of negotiation" and should be described solely with reference to their geographical location, for instance, "Israeli settlements on the West Bank".
May I remind you that the status of these territories is not the subject of negotiation. East Jerusalem and the West Bank (and thank you for having the good grace not to call it Judea and Samaria) are territories under military occupation by Israel. Their status is determined by international law, not by some Zionist whimsy.
Israel has carried out a sustained program of ethnic cleansing and dispossession of the native population from East Jerusalem and the West Bank under the military occupation since 1967. This has been accompanied by a media campaign to expunge the terms "Palestine", "Palestinian territories" and, in fact, "Palestinians" from the lexicon.
I wish to express my disappointment that SBS, a publicly-funded broadcaster, has seen fit to bow down to pressure from the pro-Israel lobby in taking this misguided and unethical stance."
Bob Birch.
On a more personal note ( it's all about me!) I had a visit to the dentist last week for the first time in many many years. Not much had changed that I'd noticed upon arrival...it was still frightening, the smell was the same aroma of torment and the pain was incredible. I had a tooth taken out. Well, first it was broken up into a thousand pieces while STILL IN MY GUM then the schrapnel was removed with what felt like the skill of a second year apprentice concreter. To the dentist's credit, she is diminuitive of stature, for a few moments I was sure she was going to put her knee on my chest for more leverage but she managed to rip all three roots out with the strength of someone 14 times her size. The sound was something that will come back to haunt me sporadically over the rest of my years of existence and never pale in intensity. My fists were clenched so tight I am sure I have transferred the prints from my fingers to the palm of each hand. I was dismayed to find that "please rinse" seems to have gone by the wayside but "you'll have to make another appointment" seems to have stood the test of time. New technology abounded...xrays done in the chair, computers recording all my dental data and while I got a stern talking to about smoking my bill was sent via cyberspace to the receptionist and was printed ready for payment before I got out there. Which was a blessing, because I just wanted to get the hell out of there, go home, self medicate and mope around feeling sorry for myself. And I have to go back next week......I suppose this confirms that I am not a 'prevention is better than cure' type of gal. I suppose it's all part of getting older......which I will be very soon.
I've noticed I don't have the patience to endure fools anymore, or people who believe they are mightier than most and think they have power. Maybe I never did and it's only now that I admit it. I also look at the bigger picture, the world, the unfairness, the beauty, the cruelty, the selfishness, the selflessness, how insignificant and how enormous some things are and I'm trying to find what is really important to me.
Ok, I'm putting it out there so there's no turning back....on Thursday, after 33 years, I WILL STOP SMOKING. Do I want to post this? It's a big call and a huge commitment. I think I'm ready though. My motivation is that with all the money I save I will go to Palestine for my 50th birthday. Wish me luck..
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Another week...
Another week has passed by and in the comfort of my surroundings I am blasé. I worked, I fed myself, my husband and our dogs. I slept in this morning. I'll call my folks tonight and also talk to my sons later to find out what they got up to this weekend. I moaned about the cold and put some more wood in the fire to eleviate that inconvenience. And I ordered a heap of beads etc from America so I could make more jewelry. We had some friends over today for a visit.
This all seems so insignificant in the big scheme of things. I read about more arrests in Bil'in and that more families are being removed from their homes, to be relocated elsewhere, by the Israeli government and that illegal settlers are given these houses to live in. For the life of me I cannot fathom why the settlers would take these houses. A decent person would see the injustice in this and not wish to have a bar of it. How could you move into a house where the previous owner was forcibly evicted? How do you explain to your children that a family, just like yours, has been thrown out with indifference and contempt just so you can take over their piece of existence for the enhancement of your own government? This situation perpetuates the circle of mistrust, hatred and instability between these two peoples.
Set Emad Bortan, and all the other non-violent demonstrators who were recently kidnapped, free!!
This all seems so insignificant in the big scheme of things. I read about more arrests in Bil'in and that more families are being removed from their homes, to be relocated elsewhere, by the Israeli government and that illegal settlers are given these houses to live in. For the life of me I cannot fathom why the settlers would take these houses. A decent person would see the injustice in this and not wish to have a bar of it. How could you move into a house where the previous owner was forcibly evicted? How do you explain to your children that a family, just like yours, has been thrown out with indifference and contempt just so you can take over their piece of existence for the enhancement of your own government? This situation perpetuates the circle of mistrust, hatred and instability between these two peoples.
Set Emad Bortan, and all the other non-violent demonstrators who were recently kidnapped, free!!
Monday, August 3, 2009
My Poems
I have had comments about my poems and people have asked if I wrote them. Yes I did write them. I love writing poetry and sometimes a photo, story or thought just gives me the need to address it with words. The story of the children in Gaza who set a Guinness World Record for the kite flying inspired 4000 Kites-A Moment. I tried to imagine what it would be like for all the kids to feel so free and proud for this achievement. The first poem is how I feel sometimes when thinking about the plight/resolution for the Palestinian people: insignificant, small, powerless to help. I hope you enjoy them.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
4000 Kites - A Moment
4000 children with kites in hand
release them skyward above a land
drenched in suffering, plagued by spite.
The kites climb steadily into the light.
4000 kites tussle for space
elation, excitement show on each face
of the children who hold the string.
The kites ascend and start to sing.
4000 voices of air unite
flapping, laughing spirits in flight
soar over figures below who look up in awe
as the sky is blocked out by this colourful score.
4000 strings between kites and hands
struggle to do what the wind demands
but they hold fast, they do their best
to do what these tiny hands request.
4000 faces alight with glee
watch as their kites sail high and free.
In a window of time their hopes too have flown.
A moment to cherish until they are grown.
1000000 people watch from outside
in another world, tears of joy cried
because our hopes rise with every kite
today, my friends, freedom is in sight.
1000000 people towards you blow
to keep the kites aloft and show
that we are with you, though we are apart
and one day we'll touch...not just with our heart.
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