'OXYGEN' by Willy Mason
Posted November 30, 2012
When I first heard Willy Mason's song 'Oxygen', I felt it was written just for me, and was sung just for me. It is simple and heartfelt, and its message very powerful, and every time I hear it I feel happy and sad and optimistic and doubtful all at once. What can I say? It moves me. I often ponder its lyrics and their meaning, so I want to share it with you and hope you feel the same. Just read the lyrics or follow the links and listen to the song. There are actually two versions, one the studio...
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The summer of sorrow - My story
Posted September 30, 2012
In the Southern Summer of 2011 Australia copped a brutal hiding with the Eastern states experiencing some of the worst climatic events on record. This period in our history is now known as ‘the Summer of sorrow.’ This is my own personal account of the flooding of Brisbane and how it has impacted my life, so I’d like to share with you some of my experiences. I've done my best to maintain coherency and continuity when relating this story, but it was written in a disjointed fashion at the tim...
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A test of faith
Posted September 08, 2012
This blog was inspired by my artwork entitled "Crossing the unknown - a test of faith'. (see bottom of page) Having personally witnessed the annual migration of wildebeest on East Africa’s Serengeti Plain, this artwork reminds me of the perilous journey they must make, one that is fraught with danger and uncertainty, particularly their crossing of the Mara River which is infested with crocodiles. For me, this simple abstract photo captures the essence of that spectacle so perfectly, more so...
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Gawkers
Posted September 06, 2012
I still chuckle when I look at the photo shown below. During the floods in Brisbane last year, most of my neighbourhood was inundated and many of us were faced with the arduous task of cleaning up. What a filthy and tiring job that was. During that time, only a few houses down from my place, this door with it's very 'specific' message appeared and I must say it gave me a good laugh. Many of my neighbours, however, were not laughing and the one comment I heard from many in the weeks that followed...
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Our Insanity
Posted August 25, 2012
Madness is rare in individuals - but in groups, political parties, nations, and eras it's the rule. ~Friedrich Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil, 1886. I have heard of Nietzsche but must confess I am not familiar with his work. His statement though rings true with me and my own conclusions are that we, as a species, have gone INSANE! With all our knowledge, scientific know-how, technology and so-called sophistication in this modern age, we marvel at our achievements but in reality have become d...
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My favourite Australian poem - 'My Country' by Dorothea Mackellar
Posted June 13, 2012
I would like to share with you a poem that I love, a poem that moves me emotionally and stirs my soul. I share Dorothea's love and sentiment for this land, Australia, my homeland. MY COUNTRY The love of field and coppice, Of green and shaded lanes. Of ordered woods and gardens Is running in your veins, Strong love of grey-blue distance Brown streams and soft dim skies I know but cannot share it, My love is otherwise. I love a sunburnt country, A land of sweeping plains, Of ragg...
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Obsessiveness, angst and uncertainty - Living with epilepsy
Posted May 30, 2012
All of us like to think that we’re normal, but what happens when your health starts to fail and life starts falling apart? I lived with an undiagnosed mental illness for many years, but when it finally raised it’s ugly head it had a name, and that name is Epilepsy. I was diagnosed with Autonomic Seizures in late 2009. Of late I have felt a great compulsion to write about this condition so that I can not only inform and help others but also gain a better understanding of epilepsy myself. I...
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Living with epilepsy - My story
Posted May 30, 2012
All of us like to think that we’re normal, but what happens when your health starts to fail and life starts falling apart? I lived with an undiagnosed mental illness for many years but when it finally raised it’s ugly head, it had a name… and it could be treated. This is my story. In the latter part of 2009 I was diagnosed with Autonomic Seizures which is a form of Epilepsy, and it has changed my world. The angst and uncertainty of this condition, although frightening, has also been a ...
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