She’s a Mil

Too sick to think about what to blog, too sick to actully blog and all I would probably blog about anyway is how sick I am. And that like this post isn’t very interesting.

when a weather forecast of 36 degrees brings waves of relief and delight
when you start drinking more iced coffee than normal coffee
when the idea of travelling more than 20 minutes for anything seems absurd
when you read the local news more than the world news and you know people in it (and you’ve even been in it)
when you have at least one conversation a day about indigenous issues
when you start referrring to yourself as a “white fella” or “black fella”
when you say “aw true” as a response to almost anything
when a few drops of rain is a news worthy event
when you get used to showing ID every time you buy alcohol
when you bump into someone you know at almost every event you go to

Yesterday I went to the PO Box, a task that still amuses me as I have never had one before. Anyway it was especially lovely as my Grandparents has sent me a card and a little gift and Jess had sent me second season of Brothers and Sisters. Woo Hoo. Big thanks to my Grandparents and Jess. You are lovely.

Once of the good things about Alice is there is always lots of things happening. This weekend was the writer’s festival and I attended a couple of events. It was good to get out and do some stuff in the local community. And much of the conversations been had and the readings been read were about local issues so that was good. Some things were great and others weren’t but that’s okay, that’s part of the deal.

One of my favourite things was a book launch of anthology of short stories and poems by students from Batchelor, an indigenous tertiary education institute. It was a surprise event, the best things usually are. We were just having a coffee at the cafe between the big events and they came on. A well known author said some things about it and then the student’s read some of their stuff. Most of them were really good. Not always totally polished but they seemed less self-conscious than some of the other author’s and they really wanted to be there. One of the things that annoyed me about another presentation was a really disorganised facilitator. It made me feel disrespected as an audience member. These guys on the other hand were very organised and had practiced a lot. This made me feel valued.

I also attended a workshop to get some tips for my book. As I am currently unemployed it seems like a good time to get it happening. The guy started the workshop by telling us that he writes to get published. Only then does he feel like he’s achieved something and only then does he get money. It kind of put me off as that is such a different place to where I am coming from. But I guess I got some tips and it is good I suppose to hear from people coming from a different place.

I should also say that I heard Kate Grenville. I think she was the most famous person here and she was very great.

If you venture into Chatswood at the moment all the people in the shops buying up big certainly leaves one a little confused about all the concern and drama that people won’t be spending enough money this year. If this is what an economic crisis looks like I don’t think we have much to worry about. Well only that nothing seems to stop us from spending and consuming in a time where we really need to. And that a slight downturn in our incredibly luxuourious lifestyles cause such anxiety.

Learning to sit with pain. Knowing you can’t fix it. Knowing you can’t make it go it away. Feeling so helpless, knowing all you can do is just sit with people in it. And hope and pray. It’s not easy.

I am sitting in a tattoo place. It is Martin’s birthday today and he wanted me to get him a tattoo so I am. He seems to be coping thus far. I am not really so I am distracting myself by writing this. I am writing on the Iphone so it is going to take me awhile.

We have had a nice day. Went to church in the morning and then after we headed to fish markets for some garlic prawns kebabs. From there we drove across to Balgowlah for a picnic on one of the headlands overlooking the harbour. It was very beautiful but there were a whole bunch of magpies which were making me a bit nervous. After the picnic we came to Manly for icecream and now Martin’s tattoo. Scary but happy birthday my lovely.

I am so over middle class families earning $100 000 or over complaining about how much tax they have to pay and that the government doesn’t give them anything. And I am over newspapers giving their whinging and whining air time with a picture of a usually quite attractive couple (looking so hard done by) and their two kids.

Now I know I don’t have any kids but Martin and I live on half that amount (maybe just over) and we still live fantastic, pretty extravagant lives really. If they would just start focusing on what they do have, rather than what they don’t maybe they’d be a lot happier.

In Tamworth right now visiting the family. We are staying in my dad’s new place. I really like it. Small but not ridiculously so and quite homely. It’s right on the river, under the tress and cause it is in a caravan park it’s got heaps of front yard space. As housing gets harder and harder to find I think this may be the way to go. Not much else to say about Tamworth really. The weather is good. I like it.