A friend and I went to the opening of this year’s “Message Sticks” Film Festival, which features the works of Indigenous film-makers at the Sydney Opera House.
This year’s opening night film – “Here I am” directed by Beck Cole – managed to combine what appeared to be fairly grim circumstances for the main character – Karen – with some room for future optimism for her personal circumstance .
Shai Pittman as Karen is just wonderful as the young woman who comes out of prison and moves into a half-way house with a group of other Indigenous woman. The night before, however, she has a one-night stand with a bloke she met at the pub, revealing that she hasn’t always made the best choices in her life. Soon it’s pretty clear, however, that she’s keen to get her life back on tracks and, in particular, to regain custody of her daughter who remains with her grandmother, played beautifully by Marcia Langton.
It’s this central relationship of mother, daughter and grand-daughter that I found particularly touching and which on occasion made my eyes well up slightly. Afterwards, a friend told me she’d seen a couple of women in the toilets crying afterwards because they were so moved by the film.
The film is set in Adelaide and surrounds, and for that reason I found myself looking at the scenery to see if there places I recognised. The photography is really good. The film has a GREAT soundtrack, and is about the right length.
I’m not sure how well the film will do at the cinema – Australian film often struggle at the box office – but I can imagine it will do well when it’s shown on television.
On ABBAMAIL today, one of the members declared Earlier this week I had an ABBA dream … very unusual because as far as I know I don’t dream much and most of the time I forget it straight away and usualy I don’t dream about “them”.
Throughout my life I’ve also had recurrent “ABBA Dreams” and it wasn’t until I read his email that I wondered about what they might mean. So I surfed the net and this is what I found…
Dream Doctor: Dreams of friendly interaction with celebrities reflect feelings of increased social status – a celeb treats us “like an equal.” Attempts to contact a celebrity reflect needs for recognition, attention, and validation in our lives. If we experience difficulty reaching the celebrity, this may reflect unfulfilled desires for status and approval.
Sleeps: To dream of celebrities shows that you are letting too much pomp and circumstance convince you to act certain ways that are against your better nature, this could be to your downfall in the area of the heart. To dream that you are a celebrity denotes that you desire to fly higher then your social life and means allow. To dream a loved one becomes a celebrity shows that you have a secret fear of losing this person to the world.
Newspaper Article: As the media continues to create stronger icon status for people in the news, it is not surprising that lay people are dreaming of them as well. It is not at all unusual for people to think they ‘know’ particular public figures and so to experience them in a dream. Dreaming of any particular celebrity often reveals a fantasy for friendship or romance. These dreams may also show a sense of being a peer or equal to that celebrity, as if to say, ‘I can do that, too.’ A second aspect of this phenomenon is living vicariously through a celebrity. In this instance, people will assume a peculiar sense of participation with a public figure’s success and notoriety. Another variation of this is becoming a celebrity yourself. This may include performing with other celebrities while achieving your own icon status. This kind of notoriety may be showing you your own talent (or sense thereof) in a particular area, or it may be intended to encourage you to pursue a higher ambition for yourself. Of course, because today’s media completely inundates the public with images and rumours of celebrities, they may appear in your dream simply as extraneous static.
Weirdest of all though is…
http://www.celinedreams.com: celineDreams.com is analyzing (sleep) dreams of Celine Dion’s fans. Send us your dream involving Celine Dion, and it may be interpreted online. It’s free!
There are lots of different theories underpinning dream analysis. So behind each of these interpretations is something much deeper… and they all say the dreams need to be analysed within a broader context blah blah… but anyway…
As I sit down on New Years Eve to think about what’s happened in my life this year, there’s so much to reflect upon: overseas trips, new adventures at work, and the death of a close family member.
I ended last year feeling 2009 had been a year of treading water: I hadn’t really done all that much exciting in either my personal or professional life.
I began 2010 with a renewed sense of anticipation: in March I was returning to Sweden in significantly different circumstances to the last time in 2008. and I was to be on a panel at the Radio Days Conference in Copenhagen.
After my trip there in the summer two years ago, I was keen to go back and experience Sweden at a different time of the year. “Could I cope with the long, dark cold winter months?”, I asked myself. Probably not is the answer, but I gave the end of winter/the start of spring a try by visiting Sweden during March. When I arrived it was snowing and the waterways around Stockholm were frozen over. I went out on a ice-breaker and walked on ice for the first time in my life, nearly escaping plunging to my death by walking too close to the edge of a wharf. It would have been a dramatic way to go, though, wouldn’t it?
Stockholm winter ice tour
As well as experiencing the delights of a Swedish spring, I also went to Melodifestivalen, the Swedish finals for Eurovision, attended quite a few pop concerts, met some interesting people, and generally had a fine holiday.
I was also lucky enough to be invited to be a panelist at the Radio Days Europe Conference held in March in Copenhagen, and got to meet some people working in similar jobs in different parts of the world.
Captured on video at Radio Days Europe
My second overseas trip this year was to China. My friend Kate has been living there on and off for a few years, and I’ve been thinking of going for a while. As she had an exhibition opening in November, I asked when she had a window of opportunity and grabbed it. I loved Beijing. Seriously the best food I’ve ever eaten consistently on any holiday ever. And there was a lot to see and do, includng all of the obvious tourist spots. It was great to hang out with Kate and with some of the artists she was looking after while there. A return trip to China? Yes possibly.
My last trip was very much a backpacker’s adventure, whereas this was a more grown up holiday experience. Deep in the back of my mind throughout was the question about whether or not I’d like to live in Sweden for a while, or whether this was a short-term obsession that would pass with time. I’ve concluded the answer is yes, I’d like to live there, and have 2012 as the ball-park year I’d like to do it, though that may go back a little depending on what happens with work.
My second overseas trip this year was to China. My friend Kate has been living there on and off for a few years, and I’ve been thinking of going for a while. As she had an exhibition opening in November, I asked when she had a window of opportunity and grabbed it. I loved Beijing.
Thats me and thats the Great Wall of China
Seriously the best food I’ve ever eaten consistently on any holiday ever. And there was a lot to see and do, including all of the obvious tourist spots. It was great to hang out with Kate and with some of the artists she was looking after while there. A return trip to China? Yes possibly.
James O’Brien, Phil James and Guy Maestri on the Great Wall of China
On the professional front, I enjoyed the challenges of a new “acting” position throughout most of the year looking after nationally networked content on ABC Radio. And then towards the end of the year, “acting” in the role of Network Development Manager which looks after a range of special event programming and other associated “development” work. Many aspects of the job are pretty sexy, and I loved acting in the role, and then securing it in the days before Christmas.
On the personal front, I went on a couple of dates this year, though nothing long-term came from either. I’ve yet to come to grips with how I feel about the idea of a relationship. Sometimes I feel like it would be nice to have someone there in a different way to close friends. Other times I feel like it may be all too much, and that deep down I know that I’m probably still too selfish to share my life with someone else and vice versa. I’m also reminded of advice several years ago which was “don’t leave it to late”.
Sadness struck our family this year with the death of Gloria, who plays a special role in my life. After several years suffering with both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s she died in June this year. In many ways her passing was a relief as she had been in a lot of pain for quite some time. Her death has affected her immediate family of Sharon and John deeply, as they had also lost son, John, three years ago. On the positive side, I’m hoping it’s lead to a renewed closeness between all of us.
Gloria Pepper, James O’Brien
I spent the last ten days of the year at home with my family in Lismore. Usually I just come home for a few days and then head back to Sydney, but I think I got the mix right this year. I was allowed to work from the office in Lismore which meant I could spend daytime at work, but night-time and weekend with my family which made for a very happy combination for all of us.
This time last year I felt as though I’d spent the year “treading water”. A year later, I feel like I’m happier, healthier (I’ve also lost weight this year), and generally feeling quite good about myself and my life.
Looking ahead to 2011, there’s a lot to anticipate. I have a new job, and hopefully the capacity to do some interesting work. Our art group, Hawkesbury One, winds up with an exhibition at the Newcastle Regional Gallery. And although I have no firm travel plans for the year, I’m sure something will eventuate. But overall, looking ahead to 2011, I’m feeling pretty good about life.
There was a moment in the fitting room when tears welled up in my eyes. I had just tried to put on a pair of long pants over the shoe on my prosthetic leg and they wouldn’t fit. “Am I ever gonna wear long pants again?”, I wondered to myself.
It was like that moment when you’ve been out for a really big night, and in a drunken stupor, you think it’s possible to remove your pants without taking off your shoes first. Except this was in reverse.
I’ve been wearing a prosthetic leg for about a month now, and I’m still getting used to it. I’m especially struggling with the idea of wearing long pants.
I also needed a new pair of shoes.
Getting ready for a big night.
Currently, I have no proficiency in taking shoes on and off my prosthetic limb. For about a month now, I’ve been wearing the same pair of shoes, the ones fitted by the prosthetist, Carl.
I dropped him an email last night, and he returned my call earlier today. I explained the situation of wanting to attend the annual formal dinner, the Andrew Olle Media Lecture and needed advice about shoes. He explained the key thing was to have a heel that closely matched what I already had. If I couldn’t find that, he could make me some adjustments.
Today, I decided to go shopping for a new pair of shoes and pants. I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on shoes that I would only wear once or twice a year, so I headed to the discount stores at Market City, Haymarket. They had a pretty good deal of a suit plus shoes for $199.
Getting the pants off over the shoe was a little more of a challenge than I thought it would be, but my support worker was able to help me. I’m hoping that I won’t need to ask for help after the dinner.
The Pants Solution
I shared my dilemma about getting pants over my shoe/prosthetic on a Facebook group, “Amputees – Limbs 4 Life Australia”, and received some wonderful replies.
I reckon you can get most pants over the prosthetic foot, especially ones with a normal cut. Needs a little more care , but I still just buy pants I like for the most part. I can’t get skinny leg jeans up over the knee but that’s ok also
Bruce
When I’ve bought a suit, I’ve always asked for an extra lining over the knee or prosthesis area that bends. Always been accommodated
Mark
I use a lady in king st Newtown , St. Peter’s end who charges $70 a pair to put a zip down the leg . She has done 4 for me to date on jeans and work pants . Happy to pass her number on if you like
George
The beauty is as your stump sheiks and you get a skinnier socket you can wear your skinny jeans again, don’t throw them out!
Clay
In reply, I joked, skinny jeans will eventually come back into fashion.
I buy jeans, chinos and casual trousers that aren’t too tight. Trousers with a suit are best bought or made with a lining down to below the knee, this protects the trouser leg cloth from wear and also allows the material to hang looser. I have never yet owned a pair of trousers/jeans/chino’s that I couldn’t get over my foot. Slim style pants thank goodness are on the way out and straight legs are back in …. just not too wide
Christopher
And finally this…
I have issues in cold weather with my prosthetic arm sometimes tearing up sleeves. I now heat-shrunk a PET bottle part over some protruding parts, that helped. I always make sure I buy sufficiently large jackets without particularly thin inner lining. So I can get in and out without problems. But long sleeve shirts, eww. I also started to add reinforcement fabric to shirts and shorten some sleeves. — I guess you could put the prosthesis on after the trousers?
Wolf
Put your pants and shoe on the real leg… then put your shoe and sock on your prosthetic, put your liner etc on your stump. Put pant leg onto prosthetic and then stump into socket, pull up pants. Works a treat! I do this for tights and skinny jeans.
If your formal shoes are the wrong ankle height, check if your prosthetic clinic can help measure and make an insert for your shoes to even up and walk well.
There was quite a crowd tonight in Sydney at the National Art School.
As part of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras for 2018, currently underway, there’s a terrific exhibition called, “The Museum of Love & Protest”, which commemorates forty-years since the first ever Mardi Gras.
These are some of my favourite photographs from the exhibition.
“They’ve been playing for twenty minutes and nothing’s happened”, I heard the five year old sitting next to me say to his father at today’s soccer match at Gosford. I was reminded of the episode of “The Simpsons” where there’s an off-field riot due to the lack of on-field activity at a visiting soccer match in Springfield.
His dad was one of those blokes who you just know could have done a much better job than the referee if given the chance. The referee was clearly an idiot without anywhere near the level of experience or insight as the bloke sitting next to us.
Unfortunately his level of interesta and enthusiasm seemed to be washing over his son. Although I discovered the son was playing soccer at school, he seemed far more interested in trains. “Can we catch the XPT back?”, I heard him ask. Peppering his conversation with words like”Countrylink”, the son seemed far more interested when he saw a freight train go by than with anything to do with what was happening on the ground before us.
I was reminded about my own similar lack of interest in sport as a child. “They’re running away from the ball more than I did”, I commented to Damo, at one point about the team from New Zealand. “They’re phoning it in”, Damo responded with a laugh, noting the lack of activity in the match between Central Coast Mariners and Wellington Phoenix (NZ).
As Damo was born in Wellington, and then settled on the Central Coast in his teenage years, I asked him who he was going for. At the end of the day I think we both hoped Wellington would win (and they did, undeservedly in a Stephen Bradbury-like contest). I don’t know about Damo, but I kinda felt sorry for Wellington because in the vast sea of yellow and blue (I could have worn my Swedish shirt) of Central Coast supporters, Wellington seemed have just one sole supporter in the audience, sitting in the row in front of us. Given his response to the sole goal scored during the match in favour of Wellington, I suspect he’s still celebrating now.
I don’t remember the last time I’ve been to see a soccer match, but when I got the invite last night, I said yes instantly I thought it would be an interesting and different way of spending the afternoon. And it was.
I caught the train to the Central Coast around lunchtime and it was reasonably quiet, meaning I could read the papers (the most interesting thing was the Madonna-Guy Ritchie divorce stuff), and even have a sleep before arriving at Gosford station.
Mariners vs Phoenix at Gosford Stadium
We both enjoyed the match a fair bit. In the boring bits, Damo had his new camera to play with while I enjoyed the father-son commentary with a sense of familiarity and amusement.
We left just before the end when the result was clear, to avoid some of the crowds. As we walked towards the car, we passed the now infamous Iguana Joes where Belinda Neal and John Della Bosca met their Waterloo. Unfortunately it was closed, which we both thought unusual for a Sunday afternoon. So we hopped in the car and just came back. As it was, the trip back to Sydney was fairly smooth sailing, aside from a few snarls here and there.
Back in Surry Hills, we had a bite to eat an old favourite, the Dhaba Restaurant. A pretty good Sunday, eh?
I hope this is helpful if you’re ever planning to visit Stockholm. I appeared earlier tonight on ABC Local Radio’s “Nightlife” with Tony Delroy, in his “Travel Spot” talking about Stockholm.
