Gnostic Wednesday

A picture of content at the Mana Café just after my one hour talk and discussion with twelve ladies on Spirituality and singing HU, which was an interesting event to say the least. I discovered some kindred souls, but also some very angryand unhappy women who want to cast blame wherever but on themselves for their situation in life. It's the same the whole world over, people do not take responsibility for themselves.

Mana bliss...

A break - through for women 

Clover accused of a junket tour of Green improvement.

Noah Taylor, a great expat Aussie actor, again in the limelight.

Well life has been too busy to write my blog so that is OK in itself!

Monday Delivery of Stuff

Today marks the final chapter of the arrival of the rest of my stuff from New Zealand, stuff which seems to validate my existence, but  do I need it all? It is too cumbrous and now my tiny cabin-home has no space for it all and I do not know where I will put everything. I am also organising a small shed to be built in front to take the overload. More downsizing, but more thinking about possessions.

Things are certainly happening on this front and people are slowly waking up, but they are not accurate here with the Gadigal peoples....

P.M.  becoming more and more unpopular..

The end of Communist Cuba perhaps....

Terrible story of gay boy suiciding at thirteen years old...when will this homophobia stop?

My favourite actor  Michael Fassbender...

More Black support but more needed....

Love this article and have written to this young student to congratulate him...

So much to do at home to unpack twenty big boxes and distribute my junk...it will make the place more interesting, but more cluttered!

Saint Saens at Narara Valley

The concert at Narara was a great one, with superb soloists and a wonderful original repertoire written by Chris Bowen the Music Director and conductor. I saw a few more old friends and it was really a rousing way to finish with some community sung Christmas Carols. The Central Coast Chorale is certainly the one for me to join were it not on the Wednesday night when I  Scottish Dance!

Donnatella Versace being honest and really quite refreshing given her crazy world of fashion, and she says all her friends are gay! Strange that   loll!

A coffee at Mana for a change.....

This young Perth actor of mixed blood was perfect to play Obama as a boy and it is a film I intend to see.

In OZ these days Aboriginal Art is at a premium and is finally given the majesty it deserves.

A cruise like this one with great artists performing is the only way I would even take one! I Love Kiri!

Another Aboriginal series by the great Rachel Perkins to see how the whites deal with our in-born racism. It looks like a  must-see.

Saturday Concert

It is a weekend of music culture, Central Coast style, with two choirs vying for my interest.

Malcolm has invited me to hear Bach's Magnificat at the Woy Woy Catholic Church where I will hear the Philharmonia with whom I sang many years ago. Some old friends to meet no doubt.

Well the concert went well and it was a full church with excellent soloists. I met PD who was an old friend of my mother's and who now lives in Umina so there is another coffee-mate for the future perhaps, or not.

The choir sang well, but I am not tempted to rejoin as the commitment is too great and I have other things I must do.

This is serious about the Barrier Reef.....

Ruby's is quiet on Saturdays

Sydney Dance Company always on the edge, now nude dancing at the NSW Art Gallery! Graeme Murphy would approve I'm sure.

The heritage of the Hordern Brothers...within my memory is their huge store in George Street.

More photos of the Trump Dynasty.....I watched a  film of his life on U tube and his ascent is terrifyingly true. He has unbelieveable confidence and ambition.

This man Evans is a Paleo freak and I wonder just how much he has got right... For him anyway? 

Settling in to Woy Woy is slow but sure and I am happy with my little cabin. Tomorrow we'll just see how much I can put in of my Wellington possessions or will I give it all away? Interesting culling decisions to be made.

Tomorrow is  my concert of Saint Saens in Narara Valley with the CC Chorale and my friend Andrew.

May also visit Thelma whose birthday it is, she is 95!

Movie repeat...

Today has been interesting to say the least and it's only just started. As Cherel was busy there was no walk with Penny so after a good sleep I jump on to Everest, my new push bike, and pedal down to our regular venue where we normally go. I get lost but not for long, just seeing all the homes in Umina is interesting.

Then on to Ruby's for a well earned coffee and I met a delightful lady from Pearl Beach who is 95.3 years old and lives in a granny flat like me. We were both angry at the news and lamented the fascist state of State politics in NSW in particular. We agreed that Premier Baird was lilylivered and even a crook, and he should resign. There is a good woman waiting who will be far superior.

This is the face of NSW politics, Italian mafia I'm afraid...

But happy news is this Aboriginal rap couple who are making big waves in modern music. Great news which made me feel much better. 

And her is Everest,as she is aptly called as it is like climbing a mountain each time I go out. I hope it will   make me much fitter and I will try to ride her every day.

Later this afternoon, I am meeting with Ian from The Laramie Project to see a great tearjerker movie, The Light between the Oceans and I hope I will like it as much or even more than I did when I saw it last week. I am sure Ian will like it too.

Out with the old...

Today I see myself as others do, an older guy, but I still don't feel it, except sometimes! Like when I nearly passed out out on the dance floor last night, and realising I needed more rest, I decided to forego the St Andrews Dance in Newcastle this weekend. Besides, Malcolm has invited me to the concert of the  Magnificat which will be be beautiful, to be held at the Catholic church at Woy Woy. The CC Chorale sings on Sunday as well, at Narara with Andrew's choir, so it will be a very  musical weekend indeed.

The Arias happened with 'Flume' in foreground winning many of them. Jimmy Barnes, in rear with wife, shows the older generation which is a stark remove from young Flume who does have a real name brw but it is long and double barrelled so he has wisely chosen a stage-name which is naturally ultra 'cool'.

Even Robbie Williams doesn't quite cut it with the young, although he is more up there than Jimmy!

This week the crimes Commissioner was just sacked by the Premier for being honest and for not agreeing with him on certain matters. The State politics here, as always, are corrupt to the hilt.

The lovely home Trish has bought with her daughter, and her son Matthew has decorated it impeccably. We had a lovely long chat and Trish is again off to Japan in five days for Christmas.

Another example of corruption at work, Eddie Obeid, a notorious crook, sweet talking a QC who is in  cahoots  with the underworld and has seen herself to be a bit crooked.

As this weekend is my last one without my 'stuff', it will be busy as I intend to buy a bicycle today. More exercise, less petrol, and it will be good for my soul to frequent the ocean more often. Hopefully every second day at least.

Yesterday was very hot indeed but today is cooler and quite beautful. It will be February where I may suffer in the extreme humidity but frankly the weather in Oz is only bad in full summer and that comes in the early new year.

Wednesday with Trish

Am continuing my catch-ups with old friend Trish this afternoon. Trish has retired to Terrigal and may even still have one son lodging with her, although I think she would prefer her solitude. We will see.

A great coffee at Mana, they certainly give a double shot here!

Another excellent movie for when it opens at Cinema Paradiso I hope!

A favourite author of mine who died in his sleep at home at age 88, what a perfect exit!

The new BBC series called The Crown has had great reviews, especially for the authentic costuming and here is Princess Margaret in all her fashion glory, reminding me of when I modelled Christian Dior in front of Her Royal Highness in 1973 - those were memorable days!

In Limbo - Dans le flou!

The Umina Men's Shed

Monday morning I had an unproductve visit to the local Dental clinic where X-rays showed no cavities which was good, but still no reason for my toothache. I will suffer in silence for a bit longer lol!

Tonight on the ABC is the examination of Parkinsons Disease from pov of sufferer Liz Jackson. A must-see.

At Ruby's was a man with his bird.

The man was Phil and the parrot was Funky. A very interesting couple solving the perennial problem of loneliness. 

Later I visited the Umina Men's Shed to seek help for building my shed. It was a hive of industry but no off-site work, and no Apple Mac info so it's really not for me unfortunately.

Saturday at Ruby's

This man Stan Grant now is set perhaps to take some public office. I really think he could be the first real possibility for an Aboriginal Head of State one day (you read it here first!)  which is what in an ideal country, would be the the perfect solution to our Aboriginal problem. Which is of course, a White man's   problem. Stan the Man knows it from both sides and describes it all in his new book.

Caught in an identity trap...especially for a 'half caste’ Aboriginal man.

Look at these four Rolling Stones, am I as old as they seem to be? I think so!

Below another contemporary of mine, Bob Ellis who has passed away already...critiqued by ex-Jesuit Gerard Windsor.

But this is the modern 'cool' young man, never any more socks to wear it seems.

Today is a day of coffee and catch-up as I am going to the Gyutu Tibetan Monks' chanting tonight at the Gosford Anglican Church which should be illuminating to say the least.

Central Coast Theatre in Woy Woy

I saw this article in the local paper and decided it was such a worthy event I should make a special point of attending, and it turned out to be just fantastic. Jessica is a great artist and her vision of presenting the amazing 'Laramie Project' is both exciting and challenging for the Central Coast in many ways.

This horrifc murder in Wyoming in 2004 left the state reeling and a writer in NYC saw the reasons for this happening in this quiet town of Laramie. Moises Kaufman made a move and wrote a play based on hundreds of interviews with local Laramie people and as well, the two men who were convicted of abducting this young gay man and hanging him on a fence till he died eighteen hours later. The story has now been brought to Woy Woy and its Little Theatre company 'Flashmob' is presenting it. In short, another local miracle.

I also discovered a local author who wrote this excellent book on his work in The Pilbara. I attended the launch and met the writer who did so much for reconciliation with the Aboriginal people up there. I subsequently bought the book and more power to him.

The Gnostic Cafe...still good coffee.

The PM casting aspersions on Human Rights Commissioner Gillian Triggs without obviously knowing the full story. Again Turnbull making a mess and he has also missed the mark.

Another gay murder goes unsolved.....

The great Aboriginal Dance Company NAISDA is in the news. The natural dancing of the Aboriginal peoples is the basis of this company and is highly laudable.

Saturday night was attending the Gyuto Tibetan Monks chanting at the Anglican Church Gosford.

It was organised by WOW, women of the world who are to be solidly congratulated for this great visit to the Central Coast for nine days of Buddhist teachings and the creation of a magnificent sand Mandala. A treat for all who are spiritual seekeers.