Welcome to my regular Friday song/tune day, ladies and gentlemen, where I pick a piece of music that reflects my mood or the times, to share with you.

Like many cities, Canberra’s daily Covid case numbers continue at high levels. Across Australia, many more have died in these last six months than the previous two years combined. For thousands of others, long Covid has left its mark and some have died prematurely due to the mental and physical damage that a Covid infection caused. Most people want to carry on as best they can but it is hard, exhausting work. They can do no more but they can’t do enough either to meet the huge ongoing need for, well, everything. There are often two or three courier vans servicing our street at any given time. In other jurisdictions of Australia, essential workers are striking for better pay and conditions. Their workload is not sustainable.

Meanwhile, my youngest son hasn’t been able to crack a job yet. He is in a difficult position where he gave up an exploitative job that underpaid him, so that he could concentrate on finishing his studies. [I did offer to picket the bakery but my son didn’t think that would be such a good idea.] Unfortunately, he doesn’t yet have any work experience in his profession of choice, so winning a job is proving tricky. Further afield, other employers seem unwilling to hire him because they think he might soon leave them for greener pastures. I am confident that my son will get a job eventually. However, that will have to wait because, right now, he has Covid after I sent him out to buy a decent shirt so that he would look prettier at his next interview. Thankfully, although he is quite unwell, he seems to be doing okay. In other positive news, the rest of us in the family have not succumbed to the virus. Not yet, anyway. I’m a bit wary about going into the shared bathroom and had a shower yesterday with my mask on.

But enough of my musings, it is time for a song. Today I’ve chosen an Aussie classic, Chained To The Wheel, performed by The Black Sorrows. The song was written by lead singer, Joe Camilleri, together with Nick Smith. Can you believe John Denver did a cover of this hit? Anyway, here is the original. I hope you enjoy it.

Take care, everyone. Work hard, stay as well as you can, and make ’em pay.

Kind Regards.
Tracy.