Pole-Land and Totems

There's an ongoing connection to Lithuania that I'm so grateful for. Gosh I hope to go back someday soon. Anyways, last night we meandered to an exhibition of photos by Arunas Klupsas, which was gorgeous, inspirational and a good excuse to see some lovely peeps, say 'labas', and discuss abstraction.

Early Days, Sorry Daze

Charlie got a Style Guide which has the land rights flag with the top colour as a very dark purple. Is that right? Everyone's gone ga-ga with this sorry business - broadcast at Fed Square and here at my work. Not sure how I feel about this sorry business. Though I remembered this morning one Christmas Day, years ago, down by the river in Eltham, hearing a story from Milly, who was taken from her family, about the revolting food they were given at the orphanage or whatever they called those places where all the kids were institutionalised.

Thinking about the flag.

"I wanted to make it unsettling. In normal circumstances you'd have the darker colour at the bottom and the lighter colour on top and that would be visibly appropriate for anybody looking at it. It wouldn't unsettle you. To give a shock to the viewer to have it on top had a dual purpose, was to unsettle... The other factor why I had it on top was the Aboriginal people walk on top of the land. It's an obvious fact as well. So it had - that was the reason why the black was on top was visibly unsettling and because of how I was trained at art school, not to make things too obvious but to have a bit of a shock but also to say that the people walk on the land."

So said Harold Joseph Thomas, who designed the flag in 1971.

Straw Widow

The lovely receptionist at my work told me this morning that she's a 'straw widow' - her partner is away for two days. So far my life as a straw widow has been good - not much time at home, most time spent out and about with girls. Yesterday a big drive up to Tarra Warra to check out a mogul's art collection. Oh, and scones on the way, at Monsalvat.



Donated blood this morning and was asked to consider donating plasma instead. Although it looks a bit creepy, I think I'll try it. No one ever said donating was fun anyway.

Did I Mention?

I saw Billy Bragg last night. On stage, not quite rocking out, but definitely doing his thing.

The busy girl buys beauty
The pretty girl buys style
And the simple girl buys
What she's told to buy
And sees her world
Through the brightly lit eyes

Lacquerware

Just had my first delegation visit in my new job - a group of eight administrators from a big private university in Japan. They gave me a nice pen. I was very nervous talking about my work. This job sometimes feels like such a leap - up.

Today's Charlie's last day before his professional life begins. This has been long awaited and neither of us are sure what to expect. Funny, cos we have dealt well with a lot of big changes over the past 19 months. Hopes and selfish fears.

Big blue skies here and great plans for the weekend. A drive to the country on Sunday with a good friend, plans for a gallery visit and scones. Catch ups tomorrow with a great friend who I've somehow managed to only see twice in the past year.

Happy Anniversary

Today marks one year since I returned to Melbourne from Korea and settled in the Manor with Charlie. On this day last year I was met at the airport by my Mum and Charlie and we went for breakfast at Ici. Jack strolled down Napier Street from his work to join us. The rest of the day is a blur.

Australia Day was huge. Out to Eltham for a pool party and drunken time in the scorching sun, then a taxi ride back to the Manor, losing my red bikini somehow on the way. Then headed to a wedding party in Brunswick. I remember how cute Charlie looked.

It's been a massive year, a whole chapter of life at Swinburne open and close, plenty of activity in friends' lives, a few trips and adventures. Things have changed a great deal and I think I have changed. I'm healthier than I've ever been and this means a lot. Money worries that used to consume me have disappeared.

Another year of growth and change is ahead, I'm sure. More discoveries about myself and many more occasions of true happiness and peace lie ahead. Yum.

A brief questionnaire

MENTAL HEALTH
Is stress a major problem for you?		Yes		No
Do you feel depressed?		Yes		No
Do you panic when stressed?		Yes		No
Do you have problems with eating or your appetite?		Yes		No
Do you cry frequently?		Yes		No
Have you ever attempted suicide?		Yes		No
Have you ever seriously thought about hurting yourself?		Yes		No
Do you have trouble sleeping?		Yes		No
Have you ever been to a counselor?		Yes		No

Glocalisation

I like this idea of glocalisation. I think it explains where we're at with our reactions to globalisation very well. I think it's important people to not overlook the local effects of globalisation. Globalisation is not something happening out there, away from us. It's here, in our words, our heads, our choices. And it's not just something we buy with money.

Pomo

"If the work of the city is the remaking or translating of man into a more suitable form than his nomadic ancestors achieved, then might not our current translation of our entire lives into the spiritual form of information seem to make of the entire globe a single consciousness?"

So says Marshall McLuhan, a master of postmodernism. I'm reading up on e-learning, trying to get a handle on it - it's part of my work here, you see.

Some Things are Out of Date

In the acquisitive phase, much changes. Things are rearranged. Perhaps they make more sense this way.

Christmas Day

Yesterday I went to the old hood and shopped for Christmas tree with Ma and Jack. First we went to the Scouts' and they only had three left. Then we went to the rugby club and they were $80 so lastly we went to the stall behind the florist where there was a great range. And they were all $50.
Decorating was as fun as I remember, all the ancient silly decorations, the random baubles, that canary that I made when I was three. Near the top, I hung three little white angels, like seraphim below the star.
Then I came home and listened to NIN and made marmalade in the breadmaker. Yum.

The Aquisitive Phase

Second day riding to work today. Yes, I'm loving life.

Got a new couch. Goes with my new painting. And so yesterday JCW assisted in the new arrangements for the back room to accommodate these showpieces. Stacked the magazines and art books differently. Moved the computer. All this while Charlie cooked, smirking. He was smirking because he began to suspect the dinner might be a success.

I'm a Giant

Santa brought me a bike.

Bemused

Here I am. My new job starts today. The holidays were just long enough that I feel I have forgotten how to work. I've been in this industry for a while but things truly are very different here.

My mode of transport to work is by foot - how lovely is that? Ok, it's not around the corner but a 45 minute walk feels good. Charlie came part of the way and as we went through the park, we laughed at a puppy chasing a bird flying high high.

Mum came over yesterday and gave me my birthday present - potting mix, planters and little baby herbs and lettuce. We potted them together and carefully poured water around the seedlings. Hopefully I don't kill them too quickly.

Wish Me Luck

Heading back up ito the capital on a Vietnam airlines flight. We say goodbye to the friendliness and peaceful pace of Hoi An. And goodbye to the floods and smell of damp, heh heh.

Home Tuesday morning to inspect my lost and found corockinrolla.

Still Raining

The view from our hotel window... Rain rain rain. Now we've had our first breakfast, we'll don our raincoats and hop step jump to town to examine the rain damage from overnight.
We stayed in last night, did the tourist thing and ordered in dessert and a facial, drank beers from the mini bar.
Yesterday we visited the local market, where you can buy a live duck, a bag of marinated tofu, endless greens, as well as pyjamas and pottery. We did the good cop bad cop routine when bargaining for a hairclip and won a grin from the ajumma selling socks and hairties.

Happy Birthday to Me

It's raining raining today. The whole town is flooded as as we walk around Hoi An, locals are raising their belongings to higher ground and mopping mopping mopping. The hotel we wanted to stay at was right by the river and our driver said, sorry but that hotel isn't really available... We're back from the coast and it's so peaceful...

No real plans except relaxing here until Sunday when we'll fly back to Hanoi. We took the train down the coast to Danang and it was pretty hellish. As we waited at the train station for our 2300 train, tiny mice scurried around our backpacks. I thought I'd booked us sleepers but instead we had seats for the scheduled 14 hour trip.

After a long long time the train finally came to a halt; women with dried squid approached the train windows. Thinking we must be close, we optimistically start planning our arrival. The train stayed still; the women wandered away; so roosters came pecking along the track.

A few hours later, we are all hearded of the train and into some buses; the track was cut due to the floods. Buses, then back on a train for one stop. The trip has so far taken 20 hours.

6 Hour Blocks

I have a little collection of coins and notes from other countries. Mostly from Asian countries, brought home by Dad back in the day when a pocket of change was exciting. I rummaged through and found about 5 pounds, as well as Italian lira. And 20 Singapore dollars. The notes seemed old and I guess they must have been in my collection for a decade. Well, this morning, as the light crept across the tarmac at Changi, I bought Charlie and I Continental breakfasts with that currency.

We arrived from Melbourne at 9.30 last night, and were faced with a 13 hour layover. Yuck. Already tired, we approached the Transit Hotel - fully booked - both terminals - waiting list - come back at 12 midnight... Finding a quiet corner, we ate muesli bars and kissed. After a while we headed back to the Transit Hotel, and they gave us registration cards and sent us down the hall to room 19. A huge clean bed yawned at us... We yawned back...

Firstborn Will Be Named Sabine

Highlights of my recent holiday include:

• Lots of scones
• Shades of green on a lovely tree
• Charlie's jokes
• Sculptures on the Lorne pier and meeting the artist
• Chalet up the hills...
• Massages

A Button Found on Jessie Street

The lament continues.
In Melbourne's sweet blustery days, life is on the up.

Soon I will take a rest, then, when summer starts to hit, when I'm 27, I'll start a new job over yonder at the University of Melbourne. Exciting.

Means I won't be going to China. Whatever.