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Stand And Deliver

You will all be thoroughly sick of me posting about about my National Folk Festival (the Australian one) soon.  I post about the Nash like a mother posts about a new baby.  All. The. Time.  Have I told you it is my favourite place in the entire world?  Anyway, this post is about my favourite place within my favourite place —  The Stock Camp.

The Australian bush and the characters that inhabit it have become the stuff of legends;  they’ve entered into our folklore.  The traits of these pioneers – an independent streak, larrikinism, mateship, egalitarianism, belief in the fair-go, toughness, stoicism and courage – immortalised by poets such as Banjo Patterson and Henry Lawson, are meant to embody the Australian spirit.  If it all sounds to be good to be true, then it probably is.  Nevertheless, this spirit oozes from the Stock Camp at the Nash, and I love it.  Read more

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Beam Me Up Folkie

WordPress Daily Prompt  —  Radiant

I’ve just returned from five days in a perfect world, my National Folk Festival (Australia).  I want to write lots about it, and I will.  But in the meantime, here are a few photos that convey the daily prompt, ‘radiant’. Read more

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Sounds of Zen – A Parody

In honour of the National Folk Festival (Australia), which opens tonight (Thursday), I have written a little parody that I thought I would test out on you, dear Readers.  I have no idea whether I will be brave enough to recite it at any of the poetry workshops.  I never have before.  It depends on your feedback.   If you are really brave, you can try to sing along to the tune of the Sounds of Then, which was written and performed by Ganggajang (you’ll have to sing over the top of their words).  I won’t be singing come performance time.  I’ve provided a link to the original song below.  Aussies may find this fun, but others will probably be completely flummoxed.  Please note there is a certain amount of hyperbole used in this poem.

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Book Review (Poetry) – Night Music by Andrew McDonald

Apparently today is World Poetry Day 2018.  I didn’t know that until I read it on someone else’s blog.  That being the case, I thought I should hasten my review of Andrew’s McDonald’s latest book of poems, Night Music.

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On the Road Again

WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge  – I’d Rather Be…  On the Road Again

A few years ago, I suffered from a serious depressive episode – you know, the kind where you just want to run away.  I’m not ashamed that even though I was nearly 50 years old at the time, I still needed my mum.  So I packed my bags and headed out on the road for the 1,500 kilometre trip north to mum’s.   Read more

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Snow White and the Two Coos

WordPress Daily Prompt   –  Captivating

I’ve never been much of a camper.  Until recently, I could count the number of times I’ve been camping on one hand.   For something different, and to save money, my love and I decided to take a driving/camping holiday en route to visit family in Queensland.  We had no excuses because my big boy worked in a camping store so he could kit us out.  I now realise what I’ve missed out on my whole life.  This is the story of our first night camping. Read more