"Two Means Of Refuge From The Miseries Of Life: Music and Cats" - Albert Schweitzer

While I am not sure about the 'cats', Mr Schweitzer - I would have to disagree and replace this with a good bottle of the red stuff or chocolate, or both - I agree wholeheartedly with the former. To me anyway, music is as much a way of escapism as a good novel, and can get the emotions flowing better than the soppiest romcom. Music has been an ever present entity in my life, starting from the time I was born when, so I am told, I was played classical tunes to put me to sleep as a bub (which would explain my appreciation today of a good piano solo or string quartet playing Brandenburg concertos).

I grew up with the sounds of early Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, The Cure, Split Enz, The Bangles, INXS, Midnight Oil, Led Zeppelin, Crowded House, the list goes on; MTV (when Richard Wilde hosted), Young Talent Time, Molly Meldrum interviews, and history making music events. Here are my top picks so far:

Sound Relief 2009 - MCG
I was lucky enough to attend thanks to a few special helpers. This day was put together in less than a month to raise money for the Victoria bushfire appeal, with a concert being held simultaneously in Sydney also for the Victoria bushfire appeal and the Queensland floods. The event was extraordinary to say the least; the attendance was outstanding and even brought some of the world's best bands out of retirement to reform for the event.

We were treated to performances by Jet, KOL, Paul Kelly, Augie March, Jack Johnson, Crowded House (this one was special), Wolfmother, Paul Kelly, Split Enz, Hunters & Collectors, and Midnight Oil. The atmosphere was peaceful and pumped, the weather was terrible, but it was one of the most amazing musical experiences ever.

Crowded House Farewell to the World - Sydney 1996
I remember well the big fuss that was being made about this event, and it was well deserved. This was to be the last emotional performance by my one of my FAVORITE bands, with their
www.amazon.com
original lineup, outside the Sydney Opera House in front of what looked like the largest crowd ever to have gathered anywhere. At my house, not only was this watched on the TV from start to finish, it was taped on VHS which is still around to this day. Crowded House ended the night with 'Don't Dream It's Over', very fitting, and I don't think I saw one face on that TV screen that wasn't covered in tears. Crowded House have since reformed with a slightly tweaked lineup, their latest tour being last year. Something tells me they will be spoiling us (in a good way) with their music for a few more years yet.

Kylie X - Melbourne 2008
Ashamed to say my first Kylie show, getting tickets for any of her previous was near impossible. The Kylie X tour was music and theatrical masterpiece. The sets and costumes were amazing, and her voice is astounding for such a small person! She had every single person on their feet for the entire two hours and certainly put on a forever memorable show of her latest and greatest tracks, and those she may have wished we had forgotten about. Never!

www.kyliesplace.com

Robbie Williams Close Encounters Tour - Melbourne 2006

I like Robbie for his left-of-middle, non-sugar coated type pop. He put on a fantastic show for a one-man tour, though he did bring out Johnny Wilkinson for a couple duets....hmmm.
The crowd went crazy when he took his place on a stool and started singing Take That's 'Back for Good' (a finger to the then recently reformed band mates maybe?), and I can't say I will forget the look on his face - he looked like he was genuinely enjoying the moment - and it was at that point I got the feeling we may not see him tour our fair land again....well, not for awhile anyway.



The Darkness One Way Ticket Tour - Melbourne 2005
An indulgent evening of pure GLAM. The boys swung on stage in their catsuits and leather, and put on one of the most entertaining rock shows I had seen for a long time. They may be completely daggy in a glitzy/80's/theatrical way, but boy did they know how to rock! Lead Justin Hawkins blew the crowd away with his ridiculously high pitched vocals, and even jumped into the crowd during the show and crowd surfed his way throughout the whole venue, giving us all a very British little wave and smile as he passed. A fantastic, good old fashioned rock show.

rockpopsters.today.com

V Festival - Melbourne 2009
A total 'boutique' style festival this one, with only the best of the best asked along for the tour...The Killers, Kaiser Chiefs, Razorlight, Howling Bells, The Kills, Elbow, Louis XIV, even 80's fit outs The Human League and Madness...who to see first! Stand out act would have had to have been Kaiser Chiefs, or maybe I'm just biased. Ricky Wilson really knows how to work the crowd, and we were even witness to his infamous pogo stage jump and scaffolding climbing antics.

www.vfestival.com.au

My only criticism, if that, was the fact Ricky continuously referred to the $140 ticket paying crowd as "f@&*ers" on more than one occasion..."sing louder you f@&*ers" and "I can't hear you f@&*ers"...but being a rock star, he can get away with that!

Madness were fantastic fun and sounded no different to what they did in their heyday, and it was great to see the mix of the crowd there watching them - those who clearly followed them since day one, to those who looked like they completely missed out on the 80's, but enjoyed the music all the same. A fun, energetic and lively show.

And yes, I did go to watch Vanilla Ice, but couldn't see the show on account of the ginormous crowd crammed in the shed which housed the small stage. Although we did get to hear 'that song'.

I have been to a few music festivals in my time, but this would have had to have been the most well organised one of them all, with a really decent crowd unlike those of some other festivals.


Rock on!

Tripping Part III - Craic Addict

You can almost hear the patter of little leprechaun feet dancing around you wherever you are in the Emerald Isle. The magic in that country is undeniable being it's wrapped in ghost stories, legends, myths and abduction clubs...

The first of these special places I encountered in my travels was Blarney in County Cork, and given that I now posses blarney (eloquence, to the uninitiated), I will do my best to convince you of a visit.

Walking through the lushest greenest grounds you will ever see, Blarney Castle peaks into view showing itself a magnificent, towering middle age structure. King Cormac MacCarthy of Munster is the monarch behind the the castle, built over 600 hundred years ago, which is now basically hollow inside bar the smallest, narrowest and steepest staircase I have ever encountered which leads to the Blarney Stone at they very top. Neither the castle or the town has always been referred to as Blarney, a term which came about thanks to Elizabeth I, who told the Earl of Leicester at the time he was speaking a load of old 'blarney' when reporting back on the status on his delayed take over of the castle form MacCarthy. These days we might say he was simply talking bulls**t, but blarney is definitely more 'eloquent'.

The stone itself, which is placed in such a way that you must lay flat and lean back, dangling your upper body from a parapet in order to kiss it, is said to bestow the kisser with the gift of eloquence. Legend says the stone was a gift from the Scots in 1314 when MacCarthy sent thousands of soldiers in support of Robert the Bruce in order to defeat the English, although there are legends that go back even further to the crusades.

A fantastic story of mystery and intrigue isn't it, somewhat bringing you back down to earth when you spot the bottles of Tesco anti-bacterial spray sitting next to it!! ick! The town itself is adorable, the castle grounds being surrounded by the Blarney Woolen Mills and several little shops, but the castle and its grounds is the main tourist attraction around here.

North east of Cork is the country's capital Dublin. Expecting more of an old city not unlike Edinburgh, I was surprised by its modern buildings and surrounds. Mostly due to the fact that they were unfortunately tearing down aged structures up until the late 1970's.
If the first stop for you must be a pint of Guinness, head to the Temple bar district to the right off Temple Lane. Oh, and expect a bit of a wait when you order your Guinness which must be poured bit by bit and left to settle after each fill! By my watch my first order was 15 minutes in a quiet pub. Pubs, come to that, are abundant in Dublin and are probably the best places to get a good meal worth the euro.

'What about the Abduction Clubs' I hear you say? 'Whats that?' Back in 18th century southern Ireland, an association was formed - the Abduction Club - consisting of seconds sons, or 'squireens', of well off families. Back in the day law said it was the first born sons who inherited the family estate, while the second son had no choice but to marry an heiress or enter the church to make a living. The purpose of the Club, who rebelled this law, was basically to make googly eyes at heiresses and when they thought they were in, abduct them and persuade (not forced) them into marriage. After all, they were gentlemen, men of honor...

One such story which centres around the Kennedy girls - Catherine and Anne - who were abducted by squireens Garrett Byrne and James Strang, which was been made into a 2002 movie with dishy Matthew Rhys and Aussie Daniel Lapaine. Said to be based on true events and true characters, you can't help but to get behind these poor boys who eventually give up their quest to marry rich because they've fallen in love...sigh (the Kennedy girls revealing that their father is actually broke due to his gambling ways).

So all in all, it goes without saying (again) that the Emerald Isle is certainly a must see destination in the UK, full of wonder, magic and the black stuff. And if you manage to catch a leprechaun while you're there, you'll be laughing...

THE INTERVIEW - A Novel Idea (May 2008)

www.smh.com.au

The anticipation deepens as you raise your hands closer to your face; the eagerness to find out how it will all end makes your heart skip a beat and causes your eyes to dart even more rapidly from side to side. Finally you have approached the end, your burning curiosity has been satisfied and you ponder the final outcome as you turn over the last page.

Such is the thrill of devouring a beautifully written novel for many Australian book worms. The characters, the plots and the settings give your imagination an opportunity to stretch itself and escape the mundane busy nothings that can fill our lives.

“Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested,” Sir Francis Bacon, English Renaissance philosopher and author, couldn’t have put it better.

The popularity of the novel doesn’t seem to have ever wavered. From the much loved classics to the latest Bryce Courtney, no matter how much technology advances, it seems that Australians just can’t put down their books.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics books sales to Australian consumers totaled over $300 million last year, with just over 8,500 new Australian titles published in this time.

Australian book publisher Penguin, home to some of Australia’s best selling writers such as Bryce Courtenay, Maggie Alderson and Kaz Cooke, sell around 30,000 titles in total and boast on their website an annual turnover last year of $120 million; a far cry from the company’s humble beginnings in a tin shed in South Melbourne in 1946.


My Favorite Book, a television program which aired on the ABC in 2004 revealed Australia’s top 100 favorite books as voted by the Australian public. Taking pride of place was JRR Tolkein’s The Lord of the Rings followed by Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, and the first five novels in the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling made appearances in the top 100 beginning at number six. A host of Australian writers also made the list including Tim Winton, Bryce Courtenay, John Marsden and Norman Lindsay.

An interesting pattern of this top 100 is the number of classic novels Australian’s voted as their favorites including more works by Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, and Charles Dickens.

Associate Professor William Christie from the University of Sydney, who specialises in English Romantic literature, offers an explanation as to why the classics seem to be so relevant even today:

“It’s a combination of things. Part aesthetic, part ethical, part commercial conspiracy. No text is inherently attractive to all audiences, they need to be constantly rediscovered and kept alive in the imagination of a culture,” he says.

“This is done through adoption, through a teaching syllabus, through publishing and promotion. Having said that, however, only certain texts will repay the investment of time and attention that this involves.

“As Coleridge said,” (Samuel Taylor Coleridge, English poet, philosopher and founder of the Romantic movement in England), “it is not the poem we read with pleasure, so much as the poem to which we return with pleasure that we value the most!”

Professor Christie pauses thoughtfully before speaking; you can almost hear his mind carefully sifting through his wealth of knowledge of eighteenth century literature. So detailed and eager is he sharing what he knows it is obvious that he is someone who not only loves their job but also considers it their passion.

In May this year Christie was a recipient of the NSW Premier’s Prize for Literary Scholarship for his biography Samuel Taylor Coleridge: a Literary Life after entering the competition with the encouragement of a colleague at the University of Sydney.

He has been an expert in his field since the early 1980s and has been based at the University of Sydney for the past five months.

Christie believes for a novel to become a classic, it needs to “satisfy the new and different demands an individual makes of it on the occasion of returning to it and beyond the demands that each generation makes of it”.

He cites a dozen classics when asked to reveal his favorite novel, but admits his top two to be Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and George Elliot’s Middlemarch, the name being the pen name of true author Mary Anne Evans.

So much so have the classics captured the modern day audience, that cinema and television screens have been flooded with adaptations such as Oliver Twist and Vanity Fair, and virtually all of Jane Austen’s novels; most recently Pride and Prejudice starring Keira Knightly and Matthew McFadden, and BBC television’s adaptations of Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey to be broadcast on the ABC in June this year.

Professor Christie focuses part of his teachings on novels into film, focusing on the adaptation of the classics to the big screen:

“I don’t think any adaptations are inherently more successful than others, though some are more successful per se, some more ingenious and some more imaginative than others,” he says.

Novel to film adaptations cannot be spoken of without mentioning the Darcymania phenomenon that gripped many a nation after the BBC aired the 1995 television miniseries Pride and Prejudice in the United Kingdom.

British website Icons of England explains the term Darcymania as being the “near-hysterical adulation” of Colin Firth’s portrayal of Mr Darcy in the BBC adaptation.

Icons of England has reported that the series was watched by more than 11 million viewers when first aired, a figure the website states is greater than the UK’s entire population in Jane Austen’s lifetime, with around 100 million viewers worldwide. When released on video it sold out in two hours.

www.telegraph.co.uk

Female fans went into a spin over the broody and haughty Darcy whose appeal was attributed as the likely reason for the adaptation’s extraordinary success according to an article printed in British publication The Independent after the miniseries was aired.

But is the real appeal of classic novels today a result of their modern day film adaptations. A regular visitor to the local bookshops and avid classics reader, Lisa Trethowan, believes the appeal of the novel, and the reason she reads novels, is the escapism offered:

“I guess anything is possible in a novel. You don’t have to seek facts. Fictions stories bring out a lot of emotion in the reader.”
Lisa goes onto explain why her favorite novel, Pride and Prejudice, is significant to her as well as being an appealing read:

“Because it was written in the time that it was, the story is of an old fashion romance. With the language they use you sometimes have to really think about what they say, situations and characters explain things in a roundabout way; it leaves you thinking,” she says.

“The movie does play a big part in the story for me as it helped me to imagine the characters in a different way. It helped me understand the novel more.”


A more recent phenomenon of the magical kind, the Harry Potter craze, certainly cannot be ignored. JK Rowling’s novels, widely considered as the series that inspired children to reignite their passion for reading, became an instant success with millions of readers and critics alike the world over.

According to Bloomsbury’s website, publisher of the Potter series, the seventh and final book in the series Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows sold over 2 million copies within 24 hours of its release in the UK alone and was the nation’s fastest selling book of all time to date. The entire series has sold around 350 millions copies worldwide and has been translated into 65 different languages.


Reading novels may not only be a pleasurable pastime and a way of escapism for the reader, but it seems it can be good for you as well.

A study published in the Journal of Research and Personality in 2006, which looks at the link between reading a novel and increased empathy. The study found that the more fiction a person reads the more empathy they have and the more social understanding and awareness they posses.

The study found that the more fiction authors a participant recognised, the higher the participant scored on tests of social awareness and empathy. An example described in the study was the participants’ ability to recognise a person’s emotions from a picture showing only theirs eyes, and the ability to see another person’s perspective.

In contrast the study found that those who read non-fiction showed the opposite characteristics. These participants failed to “simulate such experiences, and may accrue a social deficit in social skills as a result of removing themselves from the actual social world”.


An empathetic person it may be who also spares a thought for the used, or rather pre-loved, books that are quickly becoming collectable hidden gems.

Kay Craddock, an antiquarian bookseller whose store is based in Melbourne’s CBD, caters to the publics interest in collectable texts and manuscripts.

Her inspiring store in Collins Street is a wonderland for book lovers and collectors alike. Set in a stone neo-gothic assembly hall, the shelves are stacked high with antique novels, manuscripts and illustrations, with ceramic owls dotted around the shelves keeping watch over the precious stock. As you tread the wooden floorboards and pass displays of centuries old manuscripts, the wealth of knowledge and history that surrounds you is almost magical.

Sourcing most of their stock privately, the joined venture between Kay and her parents Les and Muriel Craddock first began in 1965 selling a mix of second hand books, crafts and bric-a-brac. After the passing of her father that same year, Kay was left in partnership with her mother and still is today.

In 1996 Kay was the first bookseller in the Southern Hemisphere to be elected to the committee of the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers. From 2000 to 2002 she was the league’s President.

The stock Kay sources for her store ranges in age from the fifteenth to twentieth centuries:

“The most precious book we have handled would be the Schoeffer Bible, printed in Mainz, in 1472,” Kay shares proudly.

“The printer of this book, Peter Schoeffer, was an apprentice to Johann Gutenberg,” who she explains was inventor of the printing press in the 1450s.

The public’s obvious fascination with antique texts and manuscripts seems to be continually growing in popularity. The State Library of Victoria is currently holding a free exhibition of illuminated antique manuscripts from Cambridge in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and many European countries.

On display are over 90 medieval and Renaissance handwritten illuminated manuscripts and books dating from the eighth to sixteenth centuries including works such as sacred texts, music, law, history, literature and science. The exhibition is being held at the state library until mid June.

It seems a truth universally acknowledged that a person in possession of a novel, whether collectable, antique, classic or modern chic lit, hold the ultimate tool to escapism; a way to let go of the days stresses and indulge your imagination.

Jane Austen herself offers more of her wisdom in summing up the power of the novel:
“It is some work in which the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the liveliest effusion of wit and humor are to be conveyed to the world in the best chosen language.”

"If You Only Do What You Know You Can Do, You Never Do Very Much" - Tom Krause

We have all experienced the scenario of driving down a freeway, traffic is heavy but moving slowly, on our way to work or an appointment, when you see it; and something inside you deflates at the sight of it...'Road Works Ahead'.

Now this itself doesn't bother me; when you see road works the most important thing to remember is that they are being done to make the roads safer and easier for us to travel on, not because council just felt like ripping up the bitumen for the pleasure of it. What snoots me though, and I'm sure many of you, is when you see the road work sign with the new temporary speed limit attached to it and then....nothing. No works, no workmen, not even those bright orange witches hats blocking off part of the road.

I know these signs are warning drivers to slow to ensure the safety of workmen and other road users, but who are they slowing down for? Part of a main arterial I am lucky enough not to have to travel on has been under construction for 5 or so months and is now nearly finished. I don't think the interruption to traffic flow for that long is what is upsetting drivers who travel there, but the constantly changing speed limits leading up to and from the site of the works.

This is what drivers must manage when driving on this part of the freeway (no joke):

100km, 80km, 60km, 80km, 100km. Confused much?! Of course this part of the freeway (which is not even 2km) is littered with fixed or otherwise speed cameras, go figure! Coincidence? I think not. But that's a whole other story...

Ah, feel better after that vent. Now, I wonder at the price of the latest model vespa...

THE INTERVIEW - How Do You Picture An Art Gallery?

How do you picture an art gallery?

Do you imagine collections of portraits painted centuries ago, hanging in ornate gold period frames in huge galleries peppered with virtually empty corridors; unless a collection by Monet or Renoir is in town hauling in the crowds?

Or maybe a modern, avant-garde style gallery filled with minimalist designs and pieces created by an artist exploding paint cans over a canvas?

What about a charming, decades old white weatherboard cottage nestled on a sharp bend in the road, with stunning views of the sea on one side and hectares of vegetable crops growing in farmed land on the other; a cottage filled with imaginative, locally inspired paintings, glass art, and textile designs?

An unlikely setting maybe, but that’s exactly where The Gallery at Werribee South, an artist run gallery, is situated on the outskirts of Melbourne’s western suburbs, and it’s a true hidden gem.

Heading up the weathered wooden decked porch and entering the small front room of cottage, you are greeted instantly by one of The Gallery’s friendly members who are only too happy to show you around, talk excitedly about the resident artists and their background, and explain the inspiration and meaning behind every piece, generally making one instantly feel like an old friend.

The space has a true local atmosphere with paintings of the local market gardens of Werribee South and sea coast scenery decorating every inch of wall. Shelves displaying abstract glass collages and intricate embossed paper crafts are dotted around the room, and table sitting in the corner with little wooden carved men standing to attention in a row.

The Gallery was established in 1998 by Clare Bannatyne, gallery owner, coordinator, and resident glass artist, with the help of two friends Kathleen Vafiadis and Carol Rowlands, both painters and sculptors as well as exhibiting artists at The Gallery.

Now a co-operative venture, The Gallery is run by 12 members, all artists, who share the costs and benefits of running the space, and all exhibit and sell their creations at the site. Each member takes their turn opening and running The Gallery every Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

The unique idea of an artist run gallery came about because of the lack of space available for local artists to exhibit their work, with the majority of spaces around Melbourne and its surrounding suburbs being too expensive.

“I was having lunch with two of my friends and we were having a whinge about the lack of space there was where artists could exhibit locally,” Clare explains.

“Then one of them said we should stop complaining and do something about it, and one of them mentioned the front room of my house was a good space we could use. And that’s how it all started.”

Clare is not at all what we might imagine an artist to be like. A seemingly reserved woman with an assertive air, her presence appears more businesslike than one might expect of an artist. Yet her creative and unique fused glass designs are obviously the creation of someone with bucket loads of imagination and talent; and she is only too happy to share her experiences and background in art.

Also dabbling in wood designs and oil painting, Clare has been creating fused glass art for the past 30 years. She originally trained and worked as an architect before moving onto becoming a lecturer in exhibition design and promotion at RMIT University. She served on the Craft Board of the Australian Council for Arts in the 1970s and completed a mentorship with stained glass artist Gerry Cummins, one of Australia’s leading glass artists specialising in restoring historic stained glass windows.

In March The Gallery celebrated its tenth anniversary in style by exhibiting creations by its artists at Steps Gallery in Lygon Street, Carlton. Steps Gallery, a purpose built exhibition space operated by the Meat Industry Employees Superannuation Fund since 1989, was the idea conceived by those member of the organisation who had a keen interest in art.

The Gallery’s exhibition ‘Over the bridge and around the bend’ was great exposure for its artists according to Clare: “Instead of trying to bring the people to our little gallery, we thought we would bring our art to them.”

Textile artist Gillian Pearl, one of The Gallery’s members, praises the support shown to them by the local community, describing the Steps exhibition as great advertising for their work and public profile.

“The hardest thing is to create an interest in art and craft among the public,” she explains, and is hopeful that in passing on their knowledge and skills that this will generate more interest in art in the local community.

Gillian’s most beautiful creations include her delicately hand painted silk scarves with Australian flora and ocean themes. She also creates intricate quilted wall pieces mirroring the sea themes of her scarves. Her background includes teaching silk painting and machine embroidery at TAFE level and has also offered her knowledge and skills to the Embroiderers Guild and classes at various community centres.

Wyndham City Council’s Arts and Cultural Development Officer Emma Techritz says council is supportive of community involvement in the arts in general: “Support is offered through various programs initiatives such as August Arts and various awards and opportunities to promote through the Wyndham Arts Magazine ad Arts Register.”

Support and interest in art among Australian’s however seems to be strong. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics up to $670 million was spent in one year on arts and crafts in Australia. A statistic that Julia Dunn, also a member of The Gallery who specialises in the design and fabrication of stained glass art, is impressed with and hopes will continue to rise. She explains that community events are the best opportunity for an artist to sell their work: “Until I started exhibiting at The Gallery I had never done solo showings before. It’s great exposure. One of my pieces sold the night of the exhibition at Steps.”

Julia, who is quite keen to enlighten anyone on the art of glass collages, and does so with infectious enthusiasm, was one of the few artists approached by Clare to exhibit at The Gallery three years ago. The usual process in becoming an exhibiting artist is to submit a portfolio of designs and the decision is made by Clare, with the help of the other members, as to whether the work is suitable to be displayed.

Working with glass since leaving high school, Julia has trained with internationally renowned glass artist Klaus Zimmer and has worked on many of his commissions including fabricating his design of ‘The Glass Tapestry’ for The Church of the Sacred Heart in Croydon, Victoria, and a commission for St Patrick’s Cathedral in Parramatta, Sydney.

Most recently she was named a finalist at ‘She Who Explores’ competition for female artists at the Walker Street Gallery in Dandenong in March. “I was quite chuffed at that!” she adds excitedly, pointing to a selection of photos depicting her various creations.

She is also currently exhibiting a piece of work for Art in Public Places, an initiative coordinated by Hobsons Bay City Council which coincides with the Bayside and Williamstown festivals, in which the work of local artists is displayed at various businesses across the municipality. One of Julia’s creations is currently being displayed in a local picture framing store.

Art in Public Places has been running for four years, its purpose to promote small local businesses and artists, and their possible partnerships, within the Hobsons Bay region. In 2007 a record total of just over 12 000 artworks were sold according to the festival’s website.

In addition to her sculpturing talents, Julia is also accomplished in creating caricatures and talks of her experiences with a smile: “You have to learn not to be too kind when drawing a caricature. You just hope your subject has a sense of humor! I haven’t done anyone too famous, I think that they would probably prefer to stay away”, she chuckles heartily.

The inspiration for her latest work is drawn from a recent visit to Venice with her husband, which motivated her to create a glass collage sculpture which has been entered in the Toorak Sculpture Festival to be held throughout May. She explains the piece incorporates images symbolic of the Italian city: “I’ve included images of famous bridges, gondolas, the masks and the dome of St Mark’s among others.”

The inspiration of The Gallery’s artists does not seem to go unnoticed among the many visitors to The Gallery at Werribee South. Visitor and Werribee local, Christine, sums up what most locals might think of the community’s hidden gem:

“I just think that it’s refreshing to see a place like that, where the art displayed speaks for itself.

“Its also interesting to know what techniques are used to create the art and where the artists’ inspiration comes from. I also like the quietness of the place, it has a calming atmosphere.”

A visit to The Gallery at Werribee South must certainly inspire and motivate its visitors to unleash the creative within, and a conversation with any of the resident artists and a peek at their work would certainly start anyone’s creative juices flowing.

Stepping into a world of imaginative, innovative, and inspiring creations such as those at The Gallery must surely be the food of the soul.

Ostriches Let Us All Rejoice...

www.australiaday.org.au

Any Aussie bloke or sheila (cringe) would no doubt have dropped a slang or two during a chin wag. Is our slang, however, giving the world the impression the lot of us are unlearned bogans, talking in our own secret code that some surely would never understand? Do we really even care? It's the Aussie way I say, no worries!

I must say however, I cringe at some of the doosies that spring from some people's mouths. As you might have guessed 'Shiela' is one of these - cringe much! A word that conjures up images of a butch type figure with fag in one hand, stubby in the other, wearing too tight and too small a t-shirt. Add 'missus' to that list too. If I was ever referred to by some ocker (and there's another one, doesn't it feel unfinished?), as someone's missus within earshot, they would be dropped quicker than a hot snag straight off the barbie. I'm sure the other missuses and 'trouble and strife's' out there would agree with me!

On the whole though I think our special lingo is dinky di, be it head scratching to try and decipher for some. There are some Aussie words and phrases which should be apart of the Oxford dictionary they are so widely used. Some of my faves (with explanations for the foreigners):

Tall Poppy - A successful person the target of jealous comments by others.

Bris Vegas - Sounds like we have a city that is completely glamorous and 'sophisticated' in a ocean's 11 kind of way.

Best bib and tucker - Refers to your best kit. Oops I mean clothes.

Sanga - A sandwich. No not 'sarnie', 'sanga'. Now you Brits, what's a sarnie? That's just weird.

Tingle - A bell, a ring, a phone call.

Bingle - A car accident, usually just a scratch or a bump, nothing serious.

Chucking a sickie - Informing your workplace you are too ill to work today, cough cough.

Dead horse - Tomato sauce

Hit the Frog n Toad - Hit the road

There we go, some of our best. Although I'm sure I forgotten some classics.

Happy Australia Day!

Tripping Part II - 'Vedi Napoli e poi Muori' (See Naples Then Die) 10 Reasons To See Naples & Not Just Bypass It!

1. FOOD.
The food in the south of Italy does not even compare to other regions. The further down you go, the better the food. Pizza is REAL pizza - thin enough crust to fold in half, lightly covered in pomodoro Napolitana (napoli sauce) and a generous sprinkling of basil - cue dribble. Delicious, creamy Mozzarella di Bufala, or buffalo mozzarella, is made in Naples and used in almost every dish. You can smell the stuff driving through the fields of buffalo. The pastries are the best I have ever tasted. Baba (a soft doughy like pastry SOAKED in rum) tastes as good as it probably is bad for you, Sfogliatella (a soft or crunchy pastry filled with sweetened ricotta) goes perfectly with a freshly made espresso, and Pastiera, which is traditionally eaten at Easter and is filled with a mixture of ricotta and candied fruit.


2. POMPEII/ERCOLANO RUINS.
On the outskirts of Naples lies what I think is one of the most amazing wonders in the world. The ruins of Pompeii and the lesser known Ercolano are cities frozen in time after the eruption of Vesuvius in 79AD. The streets, the houses, and the temples are as they were way back when, and it is an amazing experience just to be walking through them. To simply call them ruins does not convey their enormity; they are whole cities, complete with floor tiling in the houses, frescoes painted on the walls and Roman graffiti adorning the space of what used to be traders and bakeries. Leave aside at least one day to discover these mind blowing sites.


3. PEOPLE.
Speak one word of Neapolitan dialect and the locals will treat you like la famiglia! Loud and proud, the Neapolitans are the most welcoming, warm and friendly people and will try their utmost to make you feel as comfortable as possible. Despite the troubles that have plagued the city for a long while now (pretty much all stemming from the Camorra), the Neapolitans are incredibly optimistic and happy folk and will tell anyone who will listen how they are lucky to be living in the best part of Italy. The main aims of Neopolitans (mainly the older folk) include, but are not limited to, force feeding you mozzarella and salami, insisting on finding you a husband/wife before you leave, never letting your glass of vino go empty, and telling you you are "too small, eat more!".


4. SHOPPING.
Hidden away in the back lanes of Naples are only the most expensive and famous boutiques concentrated on via Calabritto: Prada, Valentino, Cartier, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Versace, and Cacharel to name a few. The contrast of old Napoli and super expensive fashion is fantastic. The 'poash' of Naples swarm around this area called Chiaia. Then there is Via Toledo, the main street of Naples which is literally crowded with pasticcerias, cafes, many shoe, souvenir and leather shops, and the great European clothing store Zara. You name it, via Toledo has it!Then there is Piazza Dante, a haven for book lovers with store upon store crammed with new and used books, a real student haunt this area.

(right Piazza del Plebiscito at the end of via Toledo)


5. SCOOTERS.
A fun way to see Naples, from coast to historic centre. The city is full of them humming all over. Beware though, road rules are basically non-existent in any part of Italy and Naples is definatley no exception. Scooters will whip and weave all over the road to get themselves out of congested traffic or around crowds. Helmets should be worn by law, though no one does; but if you're scootering around Naples for the first time not wearing one is a death wish! Hoping I haven't scared you now, mounting a scooter to see the city is a thrill and you never feel more like a local than weaving in and out of traffic yourself. The drive along the coast, with Castel dell'Ovo towering over, is especially beautiful, and getting lost in the laneways around Spaccanapoli is just magic.


6. COFFEE.
Did someone say the best in the world? Absolutely! The most local way to enjoy a coffee, or rather an espresso, is to down it while standing at the bar inside the cafè. The flavor is perfect, sweet, smooth and robust, just how good coffee should be (yes they sugar the espresso for you without asking, beware non-sugarers!). Caffè latte or cappuccino is only really enjoyed for breakfast, if that. Espresso is the go, and you will get funny looks if ordering latte, cappuccino or 'cafè americano' from midday onwards. The best place for espresso and complementing pastry? Gambrinus, standing in the same spot on via Toldeo right beside Piazza del Plebiscito since the 1800s. Its opulent, plush interior is a little sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of the busy streets surrounding it.


7. WEATHER.
Summer is REAL summer in Naples. You will never be too hot long as you spend all your time at the beach, and in the evening enjoy the many beach dance parties popping up in coastal spots such as nearby Sorrento. A great time to see Naples is August to October. The weather in October, although technically not summer, is extremely mild and pleasant; probably the best time to laze about the beaches if you are prone to turning a shade of lobster.


8. THE COAST.
Just a relatively short drive from Naples takes you to the jewel that is the Amalfi Coast, home of Limoncello! (more on that later). Beautiful Positano is just how you would imagine an Italian beach and coastal holiday spot to be - cashed up holidaymakers relaxing on deck chairs on the pebbled beach in the sunshine, locals chatting loudly in the outside terraces of the cafes opposite, tiny stores selling everything 'lemon', clothing stores dotted around the area selling delicate, breezy pastel coloured shirts, skirts and scarves, and restaurants serving up seafood and vino - ahhh. Take a walk through the winding lanes leading you to more hidden shops - antiques, art, bags, shoes. Oh, and bring lots of cashola!


9. LIMONCELLO.
A fantastic treat when visiting Amalfi is the locally made lemon liqure. This stuff has a real kick to it, so the best way to enjoy Limoncello on a hot day is mixed with cold lemonade and lots of ice! Perfect!


10. LACK OF TOURIST HOARDS.
Probably scared away by the 'lonely planet' warnings of bag snatchers and Camorra. But if you stay alert as you would when visiting any big city and don't take silly chances, like carrying around a thousand dollar SLR or flashing your iPhone, you will be fine. Naples is great for the lack of the hords of tourists you encounter in Rome or Florence. You are completley immersed in the culture runing free with the locals and get to experience the REAL Italy.

Tripping Part I - "The World Is A Book..Those Who Do Not Travel Read Only One Page" - St Augustine

And what a book! I don't even imagine I'm half way through.

Traveling is the sort of experience you must have in your lifetime or you haven't really lived! That's traveling, not holidaying. The nervous lump in your stomach disappears as soon as you hit your first destination, even before while still on the plane, and excitement then takes over. Landing at Heathrow for the first time was exciting enough for me (I know, little things...), that's how pumped I was. The sight of a black cab outside the airport or 'the bill' walking around had me squealing with excitement. The best moments was those spent actually standing in front of those amazing places, buildings, parks and structures that you have seen for so long on the telly or in travel books.

Walking along Whitehall in London was one of those moments, passing number 10 Downing street and looking to my left too see the majestic Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. All the 'suits' walking around the place on their lunch breaks were doing so with their heads down! You felt like yelling out 'look at that beautiful sight behind you, how can you just pass it without a glance?!". To them though, that is work and they see it every day, nothing special. The same thing happened at Buckingham Palace during the changing of the guard believe it or not. Londoners walking past this spectacle without flinching.

The quieter (word used fairly lightly) areas of London are just magic. My favorite would have to be Notting Hill. No not because of Hugh Grant! Because roaming the markets at night with traders trying to sell you fruit, veg and fluro pink stockings is awesome, my new favorite bakery on Portobello Road makes THE best cupcakes, a free standing flower shop stall is right on the corner and the flowers still manage to look freshly picked at 5pm, and the whole town in general is just kittens and cuteness wrapped in fairy floss!

Being a huge reader/watcher of anything Jane Austen, Bath was a special place for me and it didn't disappoint. Walking through the small city you feel like you've been transported back in time, all that's missing is a chaise and horse drawns. The Pump Room is so magnificent, you could be in your best kit and still feel almost completely inadequate standing there waiting to be seated, and the Roman Baths are a slice of, well, Roman history plonked in the middle of the English countryside.
Words can't describe the English countryside but I'll try: breathtaking, beautiful, inspiring, lush, quaint, remote, free, and of course GREEN. The Lake District looks like the work of art on the front of a tin of derwent pencils, complete with hilly views, babbling brooks and a sprinkling of sheep.

Walking around medieval towns like Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon and York is like walking around in a fairy tale. Everywhere you turn you see ruins of abbeys, Tutor houses - often leaning, and cobblestoned lanes. And, as far as York goes, one of the best cream cake shops in England. And snaps for the accents!







What I am trying to say here is you just need to make sure you savor every moment, even the seemingly dull ones, to really experience travel (that's TRAVEL not holiday!).

"A Journey Of A Thousand Miles Must Begin With A Single Step" - Lao Tzu

...and then one foot in front of the other. This is my prac guide of dos and do nots when traveling. If you're the backpacking type you can pretty much ignore most of this as no planning is needed!

Do
Please do a little extra homework on your flights even if you have a travel agent looking after it for you. Better yet, just book it yourself. I booked through an agent who quoted me for a flight which I found cheaper online - same flight. The difference was just under $100 and I got the agent to match it. HA.

Get foreign currency BEFORE YOU LEAVE. The exchange rate at the airports are shocking, I know from experience (Amex at Heathrow exchanged 10 aussie bucks for little over 3 pound. But I needed water badly...). If you're more of a plastic person there are debit cards out there where you can fix a currency to the card, and credit cards that do not charge currency conversion fees. Even better, take both.

Pack light (I never thought I would say that in my life). Seriously, unless you plan to safari around the Savannah or go trekking in Nepal, you don't need all that crapola - the multitude of hair products, the stilettos (just in case), the 3 pairs of jeans (the good smart pair, the casual pair, and the 'round the house' pair), or the 3 different coloured beanies to go with different outfits. There are funny little things called shops in other countries; they sell goods, you give them money, you keep goods. Really it saves on baggage weight to do all this once you hit your destination.
As you might have guessed, I did pack all of the above, but I have now seen the light (and no I was actually never over the luggage weight, the travel fairies were on my side).

Keep your seat UNreclined during mealtimes in the plane. Please. Don't make me 'accidently' knee the back of your seat again.

Learn a little bit of foreign lingo when visiting a non-english speaking country - the locals will love you for trying. And yes they are laughing at you, not with you, but who cares :)

Bring a good book. Think again if you're thinking of bringing Shantaram or similar with 1000+ pages - while it is a fantastic, beautiful, genius read, you may as well be putting a brick in your carry on (maybe I should put this in the don'ts?).

Buy an Oyster card in London. Paper 'buy per ride' tickets are rips and alot of the machines at tube stations don't give change.

Don't
Over pack. Enough said on that.

Give your camera to anyone who asks if you want a photo taken, unless of course you think you can out-run them.

Go anywhere without a good map. You are not Bourke or Wills.

When traveling within some countries, don't buy a train ticket and expect first class means you will get a seat - sometimes it's first in best dressed! But traveling in the aisle of a train isn't so bad if you have a comfy bag to sit on.

Finally don't be too organised with your travel plans. One of the best things about traveling is the spontaneity, freedom and surprises. You want to be flexible, especially if you like a place well enough to stay longer.


Stay safe and happy travels!!