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Five Minute Friday: Song

I thought through this week's prompt just now in the shower; building up huge amounts of steam, lathering my hair and yes, if you must know, singing!

Now I'm in my soft, bright green robe, hunched over the computer with a towel around my head, tapping out my random thoughts about song.

One of my best friends in high school had this thing, based on the romantic notion of a couple's 'song' whereby he claimed that he had a song to represent each of his meaningful friendships, that listening to said song instantly reminded him of that person.

It's a fun thought experiment but sometimes this is not so easily predicted or contrived. Music is a funny and wondrous thing, how it weaves between and underpins and sometimes even creates our memories.

Sometimes song associations just seem kind of . . . wrong. For example, the aforementioned friend was my sister's ex-boyfriend and his song for her was U2's So Cruel. Lovely.

I myself cringe every time I hear Chris Isaak's Somebody's Crying, remembering a first love, some very awkward moments and a letter, thankfully unsent. I may or may not be blushing right now!

Paul Kelly's Bradman oddly reminds me of my dad and his bizarre (and very un-Australian!) antipathy toward 'The Don'.

But then, there are times when it's just exactly right:

Clare Bowditch's You Make Me Happy makes me smile and think of my beautiful younger sister.

That lovely old hymn Day is Dying in the West never fails to resurrect an image of my beloved grandparents, praying and reciting 1 Corinthians 13 together each evening of their 66 year marriage.

I feel a flash of pure remembered happiness when Crowded House's Four Seasons in One Day plays on the radio. I picture myself and a carload of friends barelling down Great Eastern Highway; all in our last year of high school, freedom like the open road at midnight stretching on ahead.

A disparate collection of musings on song, threads of melody woven through the fabric of memory. And with apologies to my old friend, picking songs for the moments and the people is not always so simple. The soundtrack to our lives is an unexpected one.

Linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker

 

 

Australian Television

 

This post is especially for Fiona Lynne who, during the most recent What I'm Into link up, said, "It’s funny that these British shows (Downton, Call the Midwife, Sherlock) are just going all over the world at the moment! Are there any Aussie shows we should be watching?!"

So, for my non-Aussie bloggy friends, here are my Top 5 Australian television programs (only includes those currently screening - wait for another post on past shows). This is by no means an exhaustive or 'Best Of' list; just my own favourites, in no particular order.

I've kept my descriptors short, sweet and spoiler free!

 

Packed To The Rafters

 

This family dramedy begins with Dave and Julie Rafter celebrating 25 years of marriage with their three grown children and relishing a newly empty nest. Of course it doesn't take long before that all changes.

For fans of Parenthood

 

A Place To Call Home

 

 

This new period drama opens in 1953 on an ocean liner travelling from England to Australia. A mysterious Australian nurse working on board crosses paths with the even more mysterious Bligh family. She discovers a potentially devastating secret about one family member but appears to be hiding a few more of her own.

Downton Abbey meets Revenge

 

Puberty Blues

 

 

Based on the bestselling coming of age novel by Gabrielle Carey and Kathy Lette, beloved characters are faithfully brought to life along with new and peripheral ones. The universal story of the treacherous path through adolescence is set in the unique and beautifully reconstructed era of 1970s Australia.

Mad Men meets Skins

 

Offspring

 

Equal parts hilarity and heartbreak, the story centers around thirty-something Melbourne obstetrican Nina Proudman, her colourful family and work colleagues, romantic misadventures and vivid fantasy life.

Ally McBeal meets Grey's Anatomy meets The Mindy Project - but so much better than all three!

 

House Husbands

 

 

The story of four men and four very different Melbourne families. From retired and twice divorced, Lewis, to hapless part-time worker, Mark, disgraced footballer and absentee father, Justin and stay at home gay dad, Kane; this show is less about gender stereotypes and more of a celebration of family, fatherhood and mateship.

Modern Family meets Married, Single, Other

If you don't live in Australia or New Zealand, some or all of these shows might be difficult to find but if you can, you know they have my stamp of approval - for whatever that's worth!

 

Comfort

This morning I took coffees and a boysenberry muffin to my best friend, stuck at home with her feisty, wriggly baby boy waiting for her leaking roof to get fixed after the last three stormy days.

We split a tin of baked beans on marmite toast for lunch and talked about baby food and sisters and our mutual disappointment in Downton Abbey.

The weather held off as I drove home. Swedish House Mafia and Macklemore and even Taylor Swift played on the radio and I didn't bother to change stations.

Now I am nestled in a comfy chair watching dark clouds scuttle across a still faintly blue sky.

'Scattered showers' - the weekend weather report sounds more like poetry than meterology.

I have a full-to-the-brim cup of Yorkshire Gold at my elbow and a sweet, soft cat that looks and smells like a tiny haystack (well, not so tiny, he could miss a meal or three!) in my lap.

I snort laugh through 10 minutes of Miranda before racing outside to yank the washing off the line when the rain starts coming down in earnest.

There are vacuum lines on the carpet and I think soup will do for tea.

Small comforts all. Today, they feel like enough. 

 

 

What I'm Into - April Edition

Read and Reading

Wolf Hall Hilary Mantel - I included this in March too because that's when I started; it takes a looong time, people.

In the Woods Tana French - on our lovely host for this link-up, Leigh's recommendation. This one took me straight back to the west of Ireland where I spent time the year after high school. So evocative of the place and community setting and the characterisation, especially the central relationship was so vivid too. But let's just say (without spoilers) I was a little ticked by how things ended!                       

Call the Midwife: Shadows of the Workhouse - the second in Jennifer Worth's Call the Midwife series of memoirs. More incredible, poignant, sometimes horrifying but always edifying stories.

Welcome to Your New Life - If anyone is familiar with Anna Goldsworthy's Piano Lessons they'll know that she is a brilliant memoirist. This one explored her experience of pregnancy and new motherhood. A beautiful, intimate read.

Surprised by Oxford Carolyn Weber - I loved the intelligence of this spiritual memoir. And for all the literay/poetic/historical references the constant U2 quotes were my favourite! Hey, Leigh recommended this one too!

Mended: Pieces of a Life Made Whole Angie Smith - more of a devotional book, so many entries felt like they were speaking to me directly and touched my heart deeply.

Playing With the Grown-ups Sophie Dahl - lyrical, coming of age novel by the great Roald Dahl's granddaughter. I enjoyed the shifting perspectives, quirky characters and by turns comforting and intriguing settings.

Bring Up the Bodies Hilary Mantel - the sequel to Wolf Hall. Here we go again . . .

 

TV

Now that My Kitchen Rules has finished (yay, Dan and Steph!) I've switched my attention to the only other reality TV show that I'll tolerate - The Voice Australia The battle rounds have just started - see this post for my favourites of the blind auditions.

House Husbands - back and better than ever.

 

 

A Place To Call Home- finally Downton Abbey has limped to its 3rd season end down here. Thank. God. So being now free from the weekly sisters watch date (and having made a pact not to bother with further series) I was free to watch the premiere episode of A Place To Call Home and quite enjoyed it; let's see how this one pans out. If they at least do the tired repressed-gay storyline (happy to see Michael Lucas confirm for me on twitter that this is sooo what's going on!) better than Downton I'll be satisfied.

Silent Witness - without Harry Cunningham? ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?! Enough said.

Mad Men - watching season 6 online. The premiere was truly awful (and my expectations were not unduly high considering an abysmal 5th season) but the last couple of episodes have shown a significant return to form so I'll persevere with Don & Co. for awhile longer.

 

Movies

None. :(

 

Music

Thanks to the adorable Ryan Tedder's turn as a mentor on The Voice Australia I have revived my obsession with One Republic. See also Ben Lee.

 

Really, what I'm into is best illustrated by this picture:

ie books, Norman and naps!

Hope you've all had a fantastic April.

The Best of the Blinds

Many of my twitter and blog friends are American, Canadian or British. Of course these countries have their own versions of The Voice but I think Season 2 in Australia is killing it and I feel bad that they are missing out! *

So for the benefit of my deprived friends, and just to keep a record for myself, here is my top 5 from The Voice Australia blind auditions. These are not necessarily the best, just my personal favourites. Enjoy. They are bloody awesome.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harrison Craig is the only audition that I have included with full back story and judging - he is worth it. I promise.

 

 

* Sidenote - people who have been exposed to my numerous rants on the subject, you'll be pleased to know I have forgiven Keith Urban for his defection to American Idol. Sometimes I have a twinge when a country singer auditions and no one turns but otherwise I barely miss him and it's Ricky Martin swoonage at all times! He's just too sweet for words.

What I'm Into - March Edition

Read and Reading:

I read/am reading some good stuff this month. Here's my list:

Instructions for a Heatwave Maggie O'Farrell - Love, love, loved.

Human Remains Elizabeth Haynes - technically a crime novel but also a moving meditation on loneliness and the human condition.

The Storyteller - surprisingly good return to form from Jodi Picoult.

Life After Life Kate Atkinson - best of the month. So clever, so rich in incident and detail, a fascinating concept.

Covet the third in Tara Moss's entertaining Makedde Vanderwall series (make sure you read Fetish and Split first)

Faith and Doubt John Ortberg - am listening to this on audiobook and it's intelligent, honest, thought provoking stuff.

The Snow Child Eowyn Ivey - utterly beguiling and magical.

Wolf Hall Hilary Mantel - I normally don't do Tudor England because I can't handle the constant scenes of torture and/or execution. But I like Hilary Mantel, she won the Man Booker and my sister recommends it so . . . here we go! Gulp.

 

TV:

Revenge - my rich, decadent, very guilty pleasure show. They're the most awful people but my Monday nights are incomplete now without a Victoria/Conrad epic slapdown.

Call the Midwife - best show on right now. After missing Sunday night's episode I watched it crowded around my sister's computer with her and my mum - very undignified, especially with mum sniffling all over the keyboard!

Movies:

Blue Like Jazz

I enjoyed this much more than I expected. I'm glad that because it was an independent rather than a 'Christian' film the creators could ask better questions, include more nuanced characters and stories and be free to leave some things a bit open for the audience. The ending was the best.

Wish You Were Here

  

Wow. Intense and quite terrifying but so well acted and beautifully crafted. I loved the incredibly layered, textured quality. You can absolutely never go wrong with a Hopscotch production. I worried about his character but my adoration of Joel Edgerton stands! Undiluted bloke that one.

Music:

Loving Ed Sheeran's Small Bump but I cannot listen without getting a big lump in my throat. (Warning for anyone who has miscarried or struggled with infertility - super triggering.)

  

 This post is part of the Hopefulleigh link-up.

Have a lovely Easter, everyone!

Monday musings . . . on Bon Jovi

Last night I watched the Jon Bon Jovi interview on 7's Sunday Night. Naturally I immediately had to dig out and dust off my old Crossroads CD and blast it. Apologies to the neighbours. "Feeling like a Monday but someday I'll be Saturday niiight!" When I began complaining about how hot and humid the night was, Lorena teased that I was getting hot flashes. Yes, listening to Bon Jovi reminds me that I am basically MIDDLE AGED!

Really the main thing Bon Jovi reminds me of is one of my oldest friends, Naomi. Arguably (scratch that - definitely) the world's biggest fan. In high school her walls were literally papered with posters and pictures of the band. She had framed pics of Jon on her bureau and bedside table, even carried some in her wallet. Little was new to me in the Sunday Night interview since I think I probably saw every live concert and documentary produced about them in Naomi's lounge room.

I love that I know this about her. To be fair, so does anyone she's ever met! (Well, maybe not the pictures in her wallet part) But it got me thinking about old friends and those quirky little intimacies and memories we share with them that are missing from our newer friendships, no matter how close or precious.

I love knowing that my brother-in-law bought, kept and listened to practically every lame 'Hot Hits' album released since about 1991.

I love seeing pictures of my friend Janette on facebook (now with toddler in arms and pregnant belly) and remembering how she would use real paint to colour her hair when 'hair mascara' was the latest craze. Also, texta on her nails when we couldn't afford or find the right polish shade. Needless to say, neither of these options was very effective!

I still tease my sister about that Dean Cain (aka Clark Kent aka Superman) poster that lived for years behind her closet door (and, I suspect, still does).

I love that I knew my friend Josh's 'list of 5 celebrities you're allowed to sleep with' - male and female versions!

Mostly I love that these funny, possibly embarrassing, memories mean other, more important moments are tucked away too. It means I remember when Janette's sister passed away from leukaemia; when another friend's sister tried to overdose; when Josh came out even though his dad was our church pastor. I remember my sister's early dramatics over the man she has now been with for 16 years (he lets her keep that Dean Cain poster and to my knowledge she never threw away his Hot Hits CDs). I love that these friends doubled with me on some of the most awkward dates. They knew me before anorexia. They helped babysit my younger sisters. They remember my dad.

So today I smiled when I thought about old friends, remembered camps and roller-rinks and disastrous makeovers; and hummed "Always . . ." under my breath.

 

To the boy in 'Lush' . . .

Well, at least I thought you were a boy when I first entered the store because you were tall, lanky, flat chested. But you wore a cute little black skirt and leggings.Your hair was in a neat ponytail but you also had an undercut. You wore sparkly stud earrings and your nails were more manicured than mine and pearly pink. I'm sorry. I did feel a little wrong-footed because I guess I wasn't sure. Maybe you're not really sure either.

I was poking around the bath bombs and bubble bars when you came over and asked if I needed help. I said yes please, I need something for my friend's birthday. She just had a baby. She doesn't sleep much. Do you have something really relaxing but, you know, not too relaxing - she kind of needs to stay awake?!

You helped me select the Avobath Bomb and the Karma Bubble Bar and I followed you and your fabulous leggings to the till. You wrapped up my products and rang up the sale. I admired your pretty pink nails and you chatted while you worked. I said how great the karma bar smelt and you told me you had the perfume. You told me about your boyfriend. He's an athlete who comes home sweaty and gets straight into bed without showering. I concurred with your ewww! You said I have to wash the sheets every day and I go through bottles of that karma spray.

I'm sorry that it bothered me a little that I couldn't be sure if you were a gay boy telling me about your macho partner or if we were two girls commiserating about men's bad habits. I'm sorry if you felt awkward, not knowing what I was thinking, whether I could see who or what you were. But you know what? You were pretty. You were sweet. You gave me great service. You brightened my day. Did it matter very much that I wasn't certain about that one thing? There's a million other things we didn't know about each other.

Occasionally I go to church or read things online and hear that people like you are destroying 'the institution of' marriage and families. I don't know about that stuff. All I know is that you helped me to buy the perfect, relaxing bath products for my tired mummy friend. I think because she felt fresh and delicious after using them her husband benefitted a LOT! I think because she felt relaxed and human again she was a better, kinder, more patient mummy to her baby. Not sure about the rest of 'society' but you sure helped one marriage and one family today.

So thank you. And I'm sorry. I enjoyed talking with you. Lush is my new favourite store and I'm coming back for that perfume.

Things that go crunch in the night

Yesterday started for me in the early hours when I was woken by weird yowling and crunching sounds. Switching on the bedside light I discovered Norman snacking on a cockroach. Lovely. After quickly extracting the dead roach from him and disposing of it in the bedroom wastebasket, I crashed back to bed and slept for another hour before being woken again. Still dark. More crunching. Norman had rummaged in the bin, reclaimed the cockroach and polished off the whole thing. Just FYI if anyone reading doesn't already realise this: Norman is not my husband (nor my companion for the night!) just a beloved feline friend. And apparently cockroaches are to cats what chocolate cake is to people. You know, something you wrap in kitchen towel and resolutely dispose of . . . only to retrieve and consume in the wee hours. Who knew?

Some hours later and there was more crunching going on, this time during creche morning tea and the crunches were punctuated by my colleague bemoaning that there's always that one child who comes with leftover McDonalds hash browns, a muffin and three biscuits; or nothing. Everytime, feast to famine. I know this little one is a terribly fussy eater and her mum is likely doing her best. But my heart breaks thinking of the years of problematic eating that could be ahead of her, and ahead of all our little girls and boys.

Just this week I saw a story on The Project about a state government that wants to put 'warning labels' on chip and chocolate packets similar to the ones on cigarette cartons. I've heard stories of failed gastric banding surgery. I've seen multiple promos for the new season of The Biggest Loser. I read an article in one of our top women's magazines about the newest fad: 'The Fast Diet' and in that same magazine an article taken from this book exposing the fashion industry's cover up of 'Paris thin' models on the brink of starvation in hospital. I've clicked onto blog posts like this one on mamamia and I've seen facebook status updates from young friends of mine who are currently inpatients in an eating disorder clinic. I've worked on cardiac wards nursing middle-aged men who've had heart attacks from years of greasy breakfasts and deep-fried lunches while in the next room there was a young girl being monitored for heart arhythmias because her weight was less than half what it should have been for her height. I have been that girl. I have both restricted terribly during the day, and, like Norman the cat, have scoffed down junk in the middle of the night.

Yes, the western world is in an obesity crisis and specifically a childhood obesity crisis. Many children are eating and drinking even more garbage daily than my little creche friend, sitting and watching more TV and playing more video games than ever. But eating disorders in both sexes are also increasing and starting at younger and younger ages.

Is the answer to the problem of childhood (and, for that matter, adult) obesity more extreme health promotion messages, arbitrary 'warning labels' on random snack food items, banning paddle pops, pies and hot chips in school tuck shops? The lunchbox police? When we are still bombarded by three ads for fast food giants and then three for diet-non-fat-extra-processed-pseudo foods each commercial break? When girls as young as seven and eight are putting themselves on diets and boys as young as eleven are being nasogastric fed on adolescent psych wards because they've been exercising excessively and refusing to eat enough?

My perspective is certainly a biased one. I've battled an eating disorder for nearly 10 years. I am no expert; but I'm sure that labels and bans are not the fix we're after. Pendulum swings and going to opposite extremes are not the solutions we need. Shame and fear based tactics are wrong and simply do not work. I don't have any easy answers to these questions because there are none. I keep writing and deleting and rewriting this paragraph trying to come to some impressive conclusions. But here's the thing: we don't need conclusions; we need new beginnings. Begin asking hard questions, making better choices, finding complex solutions to complex problems. We deserve better. Our children deserve better.

In the meantime let's start from where we are and try to make the next right choice. Whether it's nourishing yourself because you are hungry or stopping because you are satisfied. Getting up and active or resting and giving grace to yourself and others. Would that it were always this simple. But as for me today, I'm starting with a walk in the sunshine, a delicious dinner and maybe even a cheeky little midnight snack . . . just no cockroaches for me thanks, Norman!

 

What I'm Into (February 2013 Edition)

Read & Reading:

The Perks of Being a Wallflower Stephen Chbosky - nostalgic, poignant, beautifully crafted.

I Am Half-Sick of Shadows (Flavia de Luce Mystery, Book 4) Alan Bradley - old school whodunit set in an English country home with a delightfully macabre young heroine/sleuth. Good fun, Midsomer Murders style.

The Memory of Love Aminatta Forna - brilliant writing, a story of love and betrayal in the midst of and after war; fascinating insight into the conflict in Sierra Leone.

A Family in Paris: Stories of Food, Life, and Adventure Jane Paech - delicious memoir of an Australian family's sojourn in Paris; gorgeous photography.

A Year of Biblical Womanhood: How a Liberated Woman Found Herself Sitting on Her Roof, Covering Her Head, and Calling Her Husband "Master" Rachel Held Evans - I'm very conflicted on this one. I enjoyed Rachel's first book and read her blog regularly but my feelings after reading this were mixed and complicated. Maybe I'll work them out and write more about it.

Instructions for a Heatwave Maggie O'Farrell - Anything O'Farrell writes is wonderful. Just bought and started reading her latest and already I'm sure it will be no exception. If you haven't read The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox do so without delay!

Fractured Dawn Barker - I did end up finishing this dark tale of a young mother's experience of post natal depression, psychosis and its devastating result. Jokingly tweeted that I needed intense therapy after reading it and ending up having a fun twitter exchange with the author who also lives here in Perth.

The Rosie Project Graeme Simsion - a quirky romantic comedy, told with intellect and tenderness. Basic plot: I imagine if Parenthood's Max decided he wanted a wife in about 20 years he might go about it this way with similarly hilarious but touching results.

 

TV: It's been a bit of a low month TV wise. Consisting of the following:

Downton Abbey

God knows why but we keep going with Downton. My sister comes over on Sunday nights and we get paralytic at everything The Dowager Countess and Mrs Patmore say, snigger at Thomas and O'Brien's cunning plans and pretty much just merrily mock everyone else. Good times.

My Kitchen Rules - this is my one reality TV vice. Totally addicted. I love the food, the personalities, the melodrama and Pete's ever changing tan. My favourite teams are probably Mick & Matt and Sam & Ali (both from Tasmania - how did that happen?!) but of course the bitchy duos are the most entertaining! Everytime I have a cooking related meltdown now I'm waiting for Manu Feildel to come into my kitchen and give me a hug. Where is he?

Packed to the Rafters

Could this season get anymore disappointing? Nathan came back for one mediocre episode. Ben left. Still no sign of Rachel or Sammi. The show is basically devoid of Rafters, certainly not 'packed' with them. And story lines centred around Ted, Donna or Alex? Zzzzz.

Parenthood

I try and stay up for it but after yawning through extra long and boring Rafters episodes I usually only last about 20 minutes. Trying to catch up online but still falling behind. Can any American friends tell me if I should persevere?

Movies:

The Sapphires

 

Adored this absolute gem of an Aussie film. I loved seeing it pretty well sweep the AACTA awards. Deb Mailman is a goddess. Jess Mauboy too.

Not Suitable For Children

 

We laughed fairly consistently through this little beauty. As with all Michael Lucas's writing you start to become really convinced that things are not going to end predictably or happily at all and thus are totally relieved rather than critical when they do. Also, Ryan Corr is utterly wasted on Rafters, he is certainly the comedic heart here.

Silver Linings Playbook

Disappointing. Wonderful cast but the representation of mental illness was very average and the resolution not in the least believable. If I wanted to see a romantic comedy . . . I would've gone to a freaking romantic comedy!

Friends With Kids

Meh.

Music:

Imagine Dragons. Mumford & Sons. Both of these, on repeat.

Linking up with Leigh Kramer. Join us?