Don't be afraid...

Don't be afraid to take a big step if one is indicated.

You can't cross a chasm in two small jumps.

DAVID LLOYD GEORGE

Anzac Day 2010

At the going down of the sun,

And in the morning,

We will remember them.

*Photo by Jacinta

Morocco, Anzac Day, 1989.

Lovely bloggy surprises in the post today...

I won a prize on Cathy's blog a couple of weeks ago and today it arrived in the post!

How exciting. I love getting post (well, not the bills, but good post).

And it was choc full of lovely surprises. 

Beautiful original Tinniegirl artwork and a mix cd (which I love by the way, as it has a few classic 80's tunes and a few newbies as well)

There was a copy of MixTape zine...

With an article about The cadence of Crafting, by Cathy herself. 

And lots of other bloggers I recognise too... 

Kate James of Total Balance and her blog Everyday Calm,

 Alison from Lark,

 Holly from Two Cheese Please 

and lots of other crafty and arty people and interesting articles to read too.

Thanks Cathy, it was an absolute treat. Love it.

Drawing on the right side of my brain...

Some years ago, I was introduced to the Betty Edwards book, "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain", you may have heard of it.

It's an extraordinary book that promises to "unlock the artist within and open up a new world of creative enjoyment."

Through it's tasks and lessons, you will soon discover that drawing is a skill that can be learned by every normal person with average eyesight and average eye-hand coordination-with sufficient ability, for example, to thread a needle or catch a baseball. Contrary to popular opinion, manual skill is not a primary factor in drawing. If your handwriting is readable, or if you can print legibly, you have ample dexterity to draw well.

The results in the book certainly show some incredible results, and whilst I have loved the book and done a few of the exercises and tasks, I have barely moved further than the first few chapters.

Just recently I read a post on Kate's blog about some classes she has been taking and it has inspired me to start... again...

Sophie Balchin has studied with the son of Betty Edwards, is a teacher in Melbourne, and she runs regular evening classes and workshops. Her evening classes are a combination of Betty Edwards' methods and her own tips, tricks and lessons that Sophie has learned along her own artistic path.

And so I have decided to pick up my drawing pencils again and do one of her classes.

It starts on Monday May 3rd and runs for 6 weeks (3 hours a week) and is $240... and I can't wait. I have spoken to Sophie on the phone and she sounds lovely and I am really looking forward to meeting her and doing the class.

She's looking for extra numbers, so go visit her website - drawing potential - give her a call, and take the plunge. Come join me.

Hang on in there...

It's nearly the weekend...

One Little Acorn...

Image by Malcolm

(Thanks Mal)

Biting my tongue till it hurts...

When someone says something that's rude or offensive about someone else, I have no problem speaking up in their defense.

I don't like racism, disrespecting people less fortunate than ourselves or unjust behavior. Basically, I believe we all deserve to be treated fairly and as a result I will often stand up for the underdog.

And yet, when someone says something insulting directed at me, I am usually so speechless I say nothing in response. Mostly I am in shock that anyone would say something so incredible. And because I am in a state of disbelief they don't get a response. And they get away with it.

Later it just makes me angry. And whilst I hate confrontation, I just wish I was capable of responding at the time and calling the offender on their behavior. Saying something witty and sharp. To put them in their place.

I wish I could put them on the spot and confront them.
And tell them they suck.
Either that, or give them a quick sharp slap across the face.

Anyone for a game of darts...

I need a holiday...

For months now, I have been talking about taking a holiday. An escape of some sort. I know I have spoken about it before. But I am still here, and my annual leave has barely been touched.

I never wanted to be one of those people that had 2 weeks away each summer, only to begin to plan my next summer holiday, to the same destination, the moment I returned. I wanted to be adventurous. To go to new places, experience new things. Spread my wings and see a new part of the world each time I went away. I had travelled broadly for the 8 years I lived overseas and planned to continue to do so.

As it turned out, it didn't quite go as I had hoped...

It occurred to me just last week, that the last time I took a holiday, a proper, more than one week away type holiday, was January 2007. Before that it would have been a one week trip to Darwin, I think in 2005. Before that, maybe 2003 or even 2002. It's 2010 already!

Seems in avoiding what I saw as 'ordinary', I have somehow managed to go without a decent holiday altogether! What the fuck have I been doing?

For whatever reason, even though a holiday well and truly beckons, I can't seem to make my mind up as to what to do, when to go, or even where to go. There are any number of excuses for not making a decision, most of them in no way logical or sensible. And my passport remains unstamped. The furthest I have travelled in the last 2 years is Canberra, a mere one hour flight from home!

I am driving my friends mad.
I am driving my family mad.
But most of all,
I am driving myself mad.

I have considered...
Thailand
The UK
Cambodia
Vietnam
India
New Zealand
The USA
A caravan on the coast of NSW (Aus)
A road trip around the coast of Australia
Cairns
Darwin
God help me, I have even considered the Gold Coast!
I have considered
Camping in the backyard!
Camping in the front yard!
An artist retreat
A health retreat
A retreat from the world...

Right now, indecision is my biggest problem.

I know it's not a problem of epic proportions.
In fact, I can barely call it a problem.
Not in the true sense of the word.
But I need a holiday.

Help me.

Easter break...

Wishing you all an eggs-ceptional Easter break. Hope it's eggs-citing and above all your eggs-spectations. Maybe even a little eggs-cessive!

May you be surrounded by eggs-traordinary and eggs-travagant friends and family.

Please eggs-cuse my terrible attempt at humour. It's been an eggs-hausting week (no eggs-aggeration) and my brain is feeling quite scrambled!