More resolutions

I am having serious problems with my knitting and have ripped out all the final lace panel again, actually for the 4th time.  Missing one stitch is a disaster,  still, just keeping at it is the task in hand.

But, on the upside I got to go to my first concert for the year, and it was here on the island.  My friend has a beautiful property and when she was landscaping it she installed an area for concerts, a small ampitheatre.  What a great place for a recital?  Most people brought their own seating, food and beverages of choice, some even brought their dogs.

Tidal Moon is a duo from the island, although Barbara played harp with one of the Symphony orchestras and also plays numerous other instruments. 

I didn't really think about the music I would be hearing, and for the most part it was made up of original music that Barbara had written.  (We have some seriously talented people living here.)  In the second part of the recital another group performed, Green Gratz.  I was blown away with the 'fiddle' playing.  Mainly Celtic, but lots of other genres as well.

Overhead the Southern Cross shone from above, the night birds called and you could hear the sea lapping on the beach.  It was a most enjoyable night.

Then, I picked up my chair and walked home, which was a bit hairy as we have very few street lights on the island.  I trod carefully on one section of the walk home where it was pitch dark and I was frightened I might step on one of those animals that come out at night.  Namely a snake!  But, I got home in one piece.

So, I have started on my journey for another resolution, to attend concerts.  I see an advertisement for another one I want to attend coming up in February.  If I can afford the tickets I would like to attend one a month.

Getting to some of those New Year Resolutions

I took myself off to the Art Gallery last week and really enjoyed my day.  This was one of my resolutions for 2023.  To do this I also took myself right out of my comfort zone and travelled to and from the city by train.  I used to travel by train to and from work when I was in my teens and early 20's, then I was single and living in Sydney, then I moved and bought a car and have travelled by car since then. Trains in Brisbane are a whole lot more comfortable than those and I was able to park my car, for free, at the railway station.  I am now quite confident  that I will be able to get to and from the Embroiderers' Guild during the week.  (That's another resolution I will be able to fulfill.)

It was interesting comparing the view from the train, then and now.  Different cities, different style of houses, big walls so people have privacy.  The train has to travel through the wet lands, over mangroves, rivers, streams and bogs here. In Sydney there were a couple of major rivers, lots of suberbia and industry.  The big difference is that the train I travelled on wasn't crowded and was air conditioned.

I walked from the train station to the gallery, which is just across the intersection. 

My first stop was for a cup of coffee. 

Now, I haven't been anywhere since Covid struck and I find I am way behind the times, they no longer have loyalty card in the coffee shop.  Should have seen the look I got!!  And in the meantime we had a flood which trashed all the water features.  Some are still trashed but others have been restored. 

I sat in the coffee shop courtyard and soaked myself in the beauty of fountains and ponds.

It was hard to tell what is up an what is down.

The water dragons are still there and came out to say hello.

I got lots of inspiration from the exhibition titled "Air" at the GOMA gallery.  I am still processing it all.  It was very thought provoking.

But I am so glad that I have ventured out again.

On Rejection

Rejection is something I find very hard to deal with.  It is like a physical blow to my body and my 'flight or fight' response is immediately triggered.  But I came across this post from Cindy Sherman, on Instagram that made me think again.  (Cindy is famous for her ability to make herself look like anything she wants to portray.)  

If someone so acclaimed is not recognised for what she is most famous for all those other rejections that I have experienced and will experience in the future, are really about the person doing the rejecting!  (It has taken me a life time to work this one out.)   Why am I wiritting about this?  Well I'm putting together a display of my work and I can hear the rejection of it in my head.  I have never been able to fit the 'norm'.  Maybe it is time to embrace it?

WIPW

I have been busy lacing my current lot of portraits onto boards.

I am about to start the final lessons from Sue Stone that I started a few years ago but life got in the way.

I have to put together a display for the Embroiderers' Guild of my work and I am finding choosing what to put in it difficult.  Most of the traditionally stitched pieces of work I have done I have given away as gifts over the years, although I have held onto a few, most of which need to be assembled

or are really large pieces.

  What I have the most of left is the experimental pieces.  Oh well, I will just have to put in what I have.

Schools Back

Yes, the holidays are over.  My grand daughter started at high school yesterday after a 3 year break where I helped home schooled her.  I thought I might be called on to help get her home in the afternoon but her parents have arranged with their employers that they will do this.  Things have changed so much since I had my children.  By the time the eldest was 7 years old and his brother 6 I had them travelling on their own.  They had to catch a bus from outside their school, get off in the busy Fortitude Valley, which wasn't a very savoury place for kids or any one else for that matter, cross a very busy road and then get another bus home.  If they walked home from the Valley the old Italian men who sat in the pub, which was on the way home kept an eye out for them.  They were accosted once and all the men came out of the hotel to their rescue, which they thought was very exciting.  Then I insisted they had to get that second bus, no walking.  But they learnt how to look out for their own safety and be responsible for themselves.   I also took the time to teach them how to be safe on their push bikes in the traffic in the inner city suburb.  My parents had given me similar lessons when I was 5 and 6 years old out in the country where the risks were different but still real.

Today those little boys are in their 40's and the eldest is responsible for his own family.   I know it is easier to take the children in the car to and from school.  There is more traffic and we are more aware of the risks.  Up to 12 years of age it is against the law to leave a child alone, although I'm sure there are plenty of parents who do.  I believe, learning how to look out for your own safety is something that should start early.    I got a call from my son to tell me that my grand daughter had a great day at school today.  Well now this grandmother has more time for stitching