Time to get out the Knitting Needles

There's something about the beginning of winter that makes me dig out my knitting bag -usually to pull out something half-finished that I put away at the beginning of spring last year.
This year to my delight I had nothing unfinished, just a whole lot of untouched navy wool that I'd bought to knit school scarves for the kids.
So rather than just knitting a boring old stocking stitch scarf, I went online to find hundreds of free knitting patterns on some amazing craft websites.  I've listed some of them below:
 http://vickiehowell.com/projects-patterns/
www.ravelry.com
http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/free-scarf-knitting-patterns12.htm
http://cocoknits.com/knit/garments/accessories/mittenscarf.html
http://www.berroco.com/exclusives/adia/adia.html
http://knittingqueen2.blogspot.com/2005/08/manly-scarf.html

"Mum, Why Did You Make Me Go To School?"

My daughter Caitlin started school this year, Even though we're now into second term, she is still reluctant to go.   She clings to me while I unpack her bag, and buries her face on my sleeve when the teachers try to entice her into the classroom.  As I walk away from the school, feeling each day like I've betrayed her, I try to comfort myself with the knowledge that after a few minutes she'll settle into her school day and be happy to be there.

Until Monday.  After school when I unpacked Caitlin's bag, I found the above drawing.  Just about broke my heart.  'When did you do this?' I asked her. 'Was it in the morning, just after I left you?'
She told me 'No, it was in the afternoon, after lunch.'
I asked if the teacher saw. 'No,' she said. 'I did it and hid it in my bag so she couldn't see.'

Even looking at it now makes me want to cry as I wonder what kind of day Caitlin's having.  It isn't that she doesn't have friends - she's always complaining that too many kids want to play with her and she doesn't want to hurt their feelings by saying no.  It's not that she struggles with the tasks.  She already reads well, and all her teachers, from Music to PE say that she is well above standard.

Yesterday she seemed so depressed and exhausted I let her stay home.  She had a lovely day.  She had a meltdown that lasted half an hour because there was no cereal left for her breakfast, she got into my makeup and painted her face, she made a mess and didn't clean it up.

It hit me, as I compared the child I know to the impression Caitlin's school teachers have of her, that Caitlin is exhausted by school because so much of her school day requires her to suppress her real self.     At home she is feisty, outspoken, even aggressive at times.  At school she is polite, sensitive, co-operative, and quiet.  At school Caitlin never yells, never shows anger, has never been in trouble.  One teacher at my first parent-teacher interview said she wished every child was like Caitlin.
Caitlin's Chinese teacher apparently said on Tuesday 'Caitlin, you are always right and always good.'  Can you imagine how much pressure that puts on a six-year-old child who doesn't like to disappoint her teachers?  What is going to happen when that inevitable day comes and she does get in trouble, or her temper finally flares up?  My poor little girl is going to feel so disgraced and ashamed I'll probably never get her back to school.

Carole King and James Taylor Troubadour Reunion Tour kicks off in Melbourne and THANK GOODNESS I was there!

On Saturday night I had the great joy of seeing James Taylor and Carole King perform in their Troubadour Reunion Concert at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.  This concert was inspired by a performance they did together to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the Troubadour in Los Angeles, where they had performed together in the early 70’s.  Also playing with them at the anniversary concert were Danny Kortchmar, Leland Sklar and Russ Kunkel.  They enjoyed playing together again so much, they decided they had to take it on the road.

If you are a fan and you haven’t booked tickets, and the concert is coming anywhere near you -BOOK NOW! And make sure you buy the souvenir book too - it’s a fascinating record of the early years of their friendship and the story behind the tour.

This is the third time I have seen James Taylor perform 3 times, and every time I wish I could go back the next night and the next and the next…  But, I have to say this time was the absolute best.

The first time I saw James Taylor perform was in Portland, Oregon, September 17^th, 2001.  I didn’t even want to go.  Just a few days after the horrors of 9/11, I didn’t want to be anywhere that involved a large crowd.  It probably sounds ridiculous now, but such was the state of fear and uncertainty I was feeling about the world at that time.

When James Taylor came on stage he thanked the members of his band for being there, because many of their families had not wanted them to travel.  When he sang Fire and Rain, I don’t think there was a dry eye in the crowd. I’m always struck by the kindness in James Taylor’s face and his voice was so incredibly soothing, when he sang the line ‘Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground’ for the first time that week I was actually sobbing – a much needed release, as you can imagine.

  

The next time I saw him in concert was Feb 16^th, 2005, at the Arts Centre in Melbourne.  It was a much smaller venue and he had a smaller group, although I remember the divine Arnold McCuller was again singing backup.  It was a wonderful, simple informal concert and we were kicking ourselves that we hadn’t paid for better seats.

So, when we heard he was coming to Melbourne again, with Carole King no less, we booked the best seats we could get and ended up with second row seats, right in the middle. And was it ever worth it! (I may have got a little carried away with my camera, and got told off by security for using my flash, even though I wasn’t – it was someone behind me.)  They were just amazing on stage together. 

Leland Sklar, Danny Kortchmar, Russ Kunkel are on the tour also, as well as the amazing Arnold McCuller singing backup (I’m always so happy when I see him walk out on stage).

Their shared joy in performing their music together infected the whole crowd.  So reassuring in this world where so many concerts are more about a dance routine and lip-syncing, that Taylor and King can just bring it right back down to their instruments, their songs, their incredible charisma and the love they have for performing.

  

They were so relaxed onstage, bantering with the audience when someone called out.  For example, ‘Carole, do you love James?’  ‘Do I love James, was that the question?  Of course I do’ and another time a fan cried “I love you James Taylor,’ to which he replied, ‘Probably helps that we don’t know each other,’

For me, the stand-out moments were when they sang ‘You Can Close Your Eyes,’ and when King sang ‘Will You love Me Tomorrow,’  but what am I saying? Every moment was just wonderful. When they performed ‘Locomotion,’ as one of their encores, Carole King nearly brought the house down.  The energy of that amazing woman!

I’m  not sure who was more sorry when they finally left the stage – the crowd, or the performers.

Book tickets – and get the best seats you can! 

Has anyone else read Edward Rutherfurd's 'New York'? If you haven't, I strongly recommend it!

For anyone who loves New York, or a great historical read, this book is a must.

Before I read this book, the picture I had of the history of New York was no more than broken fragments.  As an Australian, we didn’t study American history in school.

Rutherfurd offers a look at the events and times of New York through the eyes of fictional characters, starting with New Amsterdam in 1664 with Dutch settler Dirk van Dyck and Englishman Tom Masters.  New York follows the stories of their descendents through the years up until 2009.  Whilst each section is on its own a wonderful story of the lives of the fictional characters themselves, the settings within the most significant events and times of New York make for fascinating reading.  Of course, most of the events were those that affected the nation, not just New York, but Rutherfurd’s focus is specifically on how the residents of New York were affected by those events and involved in them.

Particularly fascinating is Rutherfurd’s portrayal of historical figures – Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington to name a few and the way these figures influenced the lives of his fictional characters. Rutherford manages to show these great figures as very real, flawed human beings.

As I said before, my knowledge of American history is limited.  Perhaps American history buffs disagree with his view of some of the events in the book, but I don’t think anyone could say that this is not a fascinating journey through time. 

For more information about the books he has written in a similar style about some of the other most amazing places in the world, below is the link to his website.

http://www.edwardrutherfurd.com/edward-rutherfurd-books.html

I would love to hear what other people who have read New York think, especially those better educated in American history than I am.  

How can Kraft be so cruel? Boxing Kangaroo tormented in cruel show.

Click on this link to see what I'm talking about.  http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/1022195/us-festival-uses-roo-in-boxing-show.

A festival sponsored by Kraft is using a Boxing Kangaroo as entertainment.  The mindless performance spurs a live kangaroo  into boxing with a human, in a festival to 'celebrate' Australia.  Unfortunately, when it gets too heated the kangaroo is tethered.  How about tethering the clown who is tormenting it in the first place?

'Boycott Kraft,' I want to scream, but come on - how many Aussies can live without their vegemite!!  Not sure I can.

I'm guessing after the uproar the act will be cancelled.  I certainly hope so.

Why have I chosen pictures of San Fran when I live in Australia?

When I was looking through my photos, trying to find one that would inspire me for my blog, I came across these photos that I took at Pier 39, San Francisco in March 2002.

I remember that day so clearly - it was a crisp spring day and there was a tulip festival on.   I was 7 months pregnant and I was loving living in the States.  It was one of those days where life seemed so packed with beauty and potential and inspiration that I could barely contain myself as I marveled at the glorious arrangements of colour.   And later that day, back in the city, I found myself behind  a young woman, about the same age I was at the time.  She was wearing a pink backpack with a large smiley face on it.  This woman was blowing bubbles into the air as she walked, and as they wafted into the sky and dodged around office-bound pedestrians, people looked up at them and smiled and then smiled at the girl blowing them.  Such little things can create such long lasting memories.

When I look at those photos today, it reminds me of how inspired I felt that day and again I feel the anticipation of all the wonderful things in life still in store for me.

Why I feel the need to Blog..

I feel a little like an alien in an unfamiliar land.  Never thought I'd write a blog.  In fact a couple of years ago, while completing my masters, a girl in my class was talking about her blog, how we needed to visit her blog, how important her blog was to her creativity.  Everyone was nodding along while I was trying to work out if it was some kind of new breed of animal or something.

Now that my second child has started school and I'm trying to force myself to sit at the computer for at least a couple of hours a day to start making use of my MA in Creative Writing (and yes, I know I am a living cliche), I find that my blog is a lovely thing to think about.  It's like throwing my thoughts and opinions out into the universe, never knowing if someone out there will stop to read them, whether anyone will ever  know my blog exists at all.

Somedays lately when I'm at home I wonder the same thing about myself - all these hours at home, alone.  It's like, if no one sees me for such a period of time, is it possible I actually cease to exist for those six hours a day?  Does anyone else feel like that?

A bizarre day, when I find myself defending Pamela Anderson and agreeing with Victoria Beckham.

There are few celebrities I admire less than Pamela Anderson and Victoria Beckam, yet I feel compelled to write about both of them today.

Firstly, the storm of media criticism surrounding Pamela's NY Fashion Week outfit.  If you haven't seen it, check this out - but warning, it may offend some viewers.  http://news.ninemsn.com.au/entertainment/1014407/anderson-stripper-outfit-horrifies-critics

I want to know, what is the age cut-off for wearing such an outfit?   Do you think it's 25, 35, perhaps if she was only 40, not 42?

I challenge even a 20-year-old supermodel to look good in such a trashy outfit.  Let's blame the designer Richie Rich here, not the wearer!

Poor Pamela has  built her career on showing off those melon breasts to an adoring, largely male, public.    I get depressed looking at all the Sass and Bide outfits that I would love to wear, if I was ten years younger (I'm 38).   How much worse for someone who has made a career out of flaunting her body to be now mocked in the media, to be told she should be showing less flesh and more dignity.  I say, go Pamela, wear what you want.  Why should we all have to grow old gracefully?  We should all grow old in whatever manner will make us happy (within the confines of the law of course!).

As for Victoria Beckham.  She's gone on The View and defended Size 0 models.  THANK YOU!  She says no one should be criticized for their size, small or large.  This has long been a beef of mine.  For some reason, if you are slim, people think its acceptable to comment on your weight, or worse, on what they believe to be your eating habits.  Perhaps they think its a compliment, but I can tell you for the naturally skinny girl, it can be just as uncomfortable having people speculating on your eating habits as for a larger person.  I never thought I would find myslef applauding Victoria Beckham, but I am!  Go Victoria, champion of the Size 0 girl.

If we all spent more time looking inwards, instead of measuring ourselves against others, how much happier would be be?

Motown Gets Down, Down Under.

Dreamgirls sparked my interest in the Motown story. When I heard of the Motown 50th Anniversary event coming to Melbourne, I forked out $149 for a mediocre seat without a second thought. It seemed an incredible opportunity to be able to see some of these living legends of Motown history perform. 


Mary Wilson, from the Supremes, had the misfortune to kick the concert off. I say misfortune, because at first the quality of the sound was not good! And it didn’t just bother me, she was getting a lot of feedback through the monitor and repeatedly had to ask mid-song for it to be turned down. Despite being obviously bothered by this, she gave a great performance, although she wasn’t able to whip the mainly older crowd into the frenzy I think she had hoped. No discredit to her act, I just don’t think we were capable of it. Takes a while to warm up, you know, after coming straight from work on a Tuesday night, hiking from all sides of the arena after illegally parking the car as close as we could get. Add to that the irritation my blistered feet and I were recovering from, after limping past a car park right within the arena that I had no knowledge of… but I digress. It struck me, as I watched Mary Wilson strut around the stage in a slinky gown, that she must be around the same age as my mother. How is that possible? Ms Wilson looks incredible and sings with a voice as sexy and strong as a thirty year old’s. And when she came out at the end she was wearing a black mini! A mini! And she looked fantastic in it! 


The Miracles sounded great and looked fantastic in their gold suits with the long jackets, but their one original member, Bobby Rogers, sat on a stool for much of their performance and was clearly beyond many of the moves in their routine. He got left behind as they sang ‘The Tracks of my Tears' and ‘Second the Emotion’. I felt as if Mr. Rogers was there as a kind of club mascot, there so they could say ‘look – we still got one member, we’re authentic,’ rather than that we was up to the task of performing. But you know what? I would rather have seen him up on stage than a newcomer anyway. Again, a living legend in the flesh, and the fact that he was up there as all is to be applauded. 


At first I was obsessed with googling on my i-phone to see which of the original members of the bands would be performing, but by the time The Temptations and The Four Tops came out I was like, ‘Who cares?’ These bands were just incredible and got the kind of enthusiasm from the audience that you would hope. 


And Martha Reeves and the Vandellas – another great lady who had me marvelling at what can still be done later in life. (Sorry Mum, must stop comparing). There’s something about her confidence, the way she owns the stage that is quite mesmerising. I suppose that comes from a lifetime of performing. She had the crowd laughing as she joked about us helping her to find Jimmy - how we had to sing loud, because he was an old, old man now. And she had the audience on its feet as she sang ‘Dancing in the Streets,’ reminding us that it was her song first, before all the covers. 


Joan Osborne was phenomenal, especially when she sang ‘Midnight Train to Georgia’. As soon as I post this, I'll be downloading some of her music from i-Tunes. My partner, I kid you not, said to me, ‘Wow, she looks good doesn’t she? What band was she from?’ 


When Jimmy Barnes and Ian Moss sang ‘What becomes of the BrokenHearted’ with her I began to understand how Jimmy Barnes came to be there. I mean, Jimmy Barnes is, well, Jimmy Barnes. The crowd love him. But, I’m sorry to say, I found myself giggling as he screamed Stevie Wonder’s ‘I Was Made to Love Her’ through what sounded like a lungful of phlegm and flung the sweat from his eyes. I’m not denying he is an incredible artist; I just couldn’t quite put him with the smoothness of the other Motown performers. I imagined the Motown gang backstage saying ‘What the –?’ His daughter, Mahalia who sang backup throughout the concert came forward and performed a number with him that was just incredible. Now THERE, I thought, is a voice that goes with Motown.


I wonder if anyone else there found the MC as annoying as I did. After every act he came onstage shouting ‘Do you like it?’ In fact as he walked Mary Wilson off the stage, trying to squeeze more hysteria from the crowd, he was like a bad spruiker who makes his wares looks suspicious just because he’s trying to sell them so hard. And when he said that if we wanted to see more of Motown, we could travel interstate to see one of the other concerts, he sounded as if he was bordering on desperate.


Why is there such limited space for dancing at concerts? I think every concert should have a ‘mosh pit’’ where people who really feel the music and want to dance can do so without being told they are a safety hazard. The number of people who stood up to dance and were told to move off the stairs, or out of the aisles, and were sent down the back to dance in a tiny row on the ground floor against the wall, as if they would be a disturbance in any other place, made me think of mothers having to go to the cry room with their noisy babies during church. I mean isn’t that the point? Isn’t music supposed to make you want to dance? Shouldn’t the aim be to have everyone up and dancing? 


The absolute highlight of the evening was when all the performers came on stage and sang ‘I’ll be There’ in tribute to Michael Jackson, while images of Michael showed on the screens. It made me think how fantastic it would be if they recorded it as a single and donated the proceeds to Haiti or another charity. Then they finished up with ‘River Low-Mountain High’ kicked off by Jimmy Barnes, convincing me to think that he actually was a great fit after all. 


As we looked back into the foyer around the stadium at the end of the concert, we saw a section sealed off for the performers, and there was Mary Wilson, in her black mini, sitting there ready for autograph signing. If I had known in advance they would be signing autographs I would have bought a program. I’m really not an autograph hunter, but the autographs of those Motown legends would have been worth having.