MAGIC MIRROR

Linda Wood sings "Fire" by the pointer sisters

2011-09-28T13:04:00.000+10:00

Performed by request

Make Me An Offer - recorded live Valentine's Day 2011

2011-03-17T16:05:00.001+11:00

Webs GoldMail Player

2010-11-21T18:18:00.000+11:00

I'd love to do some house concerts. If you are interested in hosting please watch the following video about House Concerts Australia. There is also a network in Europe. Let me know if you want me to come and perform at your place!

Webs GoldMail Player

Brilliant address by Seth Godin at TED

2010-10-12T15:05:00.003+11:00

TubeMogul.com - Upload - Launch your video

2010-08-10T16:41:00.000+10:00

TubeMogul.com - Upload - Launch your video

Lost in the Woods

2010-07-17T14:59:00.000+10:00

I've recently written a song with a working title of "Caterpillar". It was about being at a point in my life where I felt that I had to start a lot of things all over again. It felt (and still feels) disappointing and frustrating.

Having a serious health crisis at the beginning of the year forced me to take some time out, step back and try and gain a distanced, broader perspective.

Now I feel like I've been off the wheel so long that I'm not sure if I'll be able to get back on so easily. I am referring particularly to doing some gigs. And of course, finishing writing and recording the next single and the next album (the single is actually getting close).

One of my difficulties is something that I feel certain a lot of mothers would relate to - feeling torn between the various roles we seem to play in our families and our work. Deep in our psyche we have a model 'mother' (and maybe wife) that we try to live up to. It's probably a little different for each of us. I think mine is a blend of:

my own mother
Carol Brady
the things I wished my mother could be
Margaret Thatcher
a couple of female youth leaders who were young mothers themselves when I was a teenager.

If I dug around for a little while I might possibly find a few more litte 'mother prototypes' in there, some of them likely to be rather fantastical (Mrs Beaver from "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe"?)

In any case, this 'psyche-mum' (do you like that little pun?) makes me feel very guilty or just plain annoyed with myself if

the washing isn't done,
the dinner is not a delicious, healthy, gourmet feast for the family,
I'm not helping my children with their homework (or at least making sure they're doing it),
I haven't rung all my friends this month to 'catch up',
The fridge and pantry have been looking bare for a day or so,
I haven't 'been there' to listen and commiserate with my child/ren on those days when school-friends just suck,
I've let my children sit in front of the computer or TV for several hours (sometimes so I can get some work done!),
I haven't done any work in the garden for ages,
There's a pile of unfinished projects in the craft/sewing room,
I forgot to follow up that phone call or email...

Well, the list could go on really. It seems there's always something more I could do if I just had enough energy and drive. I didn't even get started on the stuff I could feel guilty about not doing with my career.

If I were able to live up to my 'psyche-mum' I would have finished my 2nd album ages ago. I'd be touring with it. Plus my kids would be fed, clothed, nurtured etc. in such a way that I could win "Mother of the Year" award. Oh...mustn't forget that of course my husband would be 100% satisfied and happy and not feeling any stress from my work habits. And I'd be a model citizen when it comes to doing my bit for the environment and all. I'd walk instead of drive (or use public transport) and I'd recycle or re-use just about everything!

This is probably not even exhaustive.

I think you get the picture. Of course working from home primarily also means that many of these tasks, roles and obligations are constantly visible to me and therefore I can get easily distracted.

I haven't really come up with the answer to this conundrum yet, except to remember the wise advice of woman who just said, "To have a career and also be a wife and mother you must lower your expectations". I'm just trying to figure out now which exact expectations I can get away with scrapping altogether actually. ;D

The one thing I know is that I have barely scratched the surface of the life I'd really like to be living. I am looking for the way to move beyond disappointment and into purposeful and fruitful action.

In the meantime, I'd love you to listen to my little arrangement of "Caterpillar" (working title only) and let me know what you think - about the song, or my blab here.

Love pizza!

2010-05-31T17:15:00.000+10:00

My son helped me make pizza for my husband's birthday party

From Pizza party

Who doesn't enjoy kneading dough?

From Pizza party

And we made a lot. I used 10kg of flour!

From Pizza party

It wouldn't stop rising so I had to put it in the fridge

From Pizza party

Fresh pizza cooked on a stone smells sooooo good

From Pizza party

This is only a portion of the people who enjoyed eating the pizza.

From Pizza party

Showed up

2010-05-21T22:37:00.000+10:00

Okay. I showed up to my dance class this week.

And I did a couple of okay spins!!!!

(and some pretty lame ones...but my average has improved)

And I rather enjoyed myself too. But one of the teachers told me (with a cheeky tone) to not ask so many questions, just to 'follow' - that is follow the lead of my dance partner. You see, the male (or leader) is really supposed to do most of the work. The follower's job is to just respond. What that means is that you have to really concentrate on all the little cues they are giving you. It's all about body language and intuition. It's a great relaxer in some ways because you really can't think about anything else while you are participating.

That's my experience anyway.

One of the men in the class said to me, "you look like a woman who needs to dance." To which I replied, "I do!!"

Oh...if you get nervous about other people watching you, they don't. Everybody is too busy concentrating on themselves and getting their own footwork right!

So. Maybe next week I'll do a bit better still. Here's hoping.

;D

Return of the piker

2010-05-18T16:38:00.000+10:00

I piked last week. I was very tired after a late Monday night meeting and I had a glass of wine while preparing dinner. That was the end of me. I could have fallen asleep in front of the telly.

I'm trying out the old positive thinking method:
I can spin. I can.
I can spin. I can.
I can spin. I can.
I can spin. I can...

I will go to my dance class tonight. I'm not tired and I need to get out of the house after a gloomy wet day shut up in my little studio.

Let me know if you have any tips for great spinning.

Other than spotting...I know about that.

Spins and K-legs

2010-05-06T15:50:00.000+10:00

I had another dance lesson the other night.

I can't spin.

I can't spin. I mean, like double turns on the spot (or triple etc.)

The teachers say, "See, like this". They make it look so easy. Dang it. I hate that.

I can do the rest - sort of. Just not the spins. The top half of my body seems to go faster than the bottom half and before I know it I'm leaning out like a lop-sided spinning top. Eventually my foot must follow or I'll end up on my a--e.

I've been practicing my "K-legs" at home with a balance ball between my thighs to train myself to keep working my quadraceps. I'm not sure if it's working really. Dang it. I can't turn out. The way the teacher does her K-legs she looks like a ballerina. I look like a bricky. Yup. Stack another brick around behind you. Swing around and pick up another one.

The routine is this: one full basic, prep turn with double spin, open break, 360 sling shot, matador with 3.5 inside turns, followed by a cross body with 2.5 outside turns. Every time I hear the words "prep turn" now I hold my breathe waiting for disaster.

How do you overcome a negative mindset like that?

Oh that's right. The instructor said to breathe out while I turn. That means I have to think about breathing in first.

I walked to the car later in the evening, dragging my feet and hanging my head. I hope I'll get this eventually.

The Awkwardness of Beginning

2010-04-29T20:28:00.000+10:00

I recently took up Salsa lessons again after a year of no dancing. Previously I have had lessons in Cuban Salsa at a small and very social club in Salisbury, UK.

Now, I am attending classes at a Sydney suburban Latin dance school which is rather large. And they teach New York salsa which involves dancing in more linear patterns compared to Cuban circles. This particular school has a high standard of technical input as well (or so it seems to me) and I feel like a complete beginner all over again.

I reckoned I said 'sorry' once every 30 seconds on average at the dance class this week. I just couldn't get the hang of the prep turns and I my (only) pair of dance shoes are definitely too high given the height of all the men in the class, except the male teacher and one other student. Now I see why the women here tend to prefer jazz shoes! Where are all the tall men?

I'm not even that tall.

However, that's not the real issue. I just feel awkward. I feel like I know nothing. My body knows nothing. And it is a thorn in my pride.

That's right. A thorn in my pride... not my side.

As I drove home from class feeling like every man there must have thought, "Oh no, not the newby!" every time they rotated through back to me, I stroked my ego into a lull by telling myself I would improve. Just give it time!

No wonder so many people are too scared to take dance classes. It's easy to sit in a lecture room taking notes. Your ignorance or lack of skill is not exposed. Even singing in a choir provides some disguise if you don't have a great sense of pitch. But when you dance, everyone can see if you really have no idea of what you are doing.

I keep telling myself this is good for me, even though it is a painful exercise for my ego. I hope I'm telling my poor ego the truth. I hope I do get better.

Gossipy stuff

2010-03-25T16:08:00.000+11:00

My brother got me thinking about gossip because he made a comment about someone we both know as being a gossip.

And, to be honest, I didn't agree.

And then I wondered, well, what defines gossip?

Is it just repeating what someone said or did?

Or is gossip always somewhat malicious in nature?

Is it ever okay to tell others what someone else did or said?

Why do we tell others about what someone else might have done or said?

One of the reasons I think we do it is to validate our own opinions. Another reason perhaps is to entertain someone. Maybe it is to share an experience because it creates a common bond.

I certainly don't like it when I hear others muttering negatively about someone else. Any context in which it is creating a negative impression, particularly if it is undeserved, makes me feel very uncomfortable.

Women often 'gossip' (or so we call it), but it is not always 'gossip', if you know what I mean. Sometimes it is verbalized, conversationalized problem solving or reassurance-seeking.

I think 'slander' is a better word for the 'gossip' that destroys people's reputations (at worst) or just casts doubts amongst their friends. And, to be honest, if I hear someone muttering about the negative traits or actions of a person who they really have no right to belittle, I tend to think they would not make a trustworthy friend.

What do you think?

SHUT UP and DANCE!

2010-02-23T14:36:00.000+11:00

Announcing a fun project (with yet to be determined rewards) for you groovy moovy peeps out there!

Do you do a little dancing? Boogie-ing? Or are you a bit of a thespian?

Well, I have a proposal...and I'm not down on bended knee ;D

I would like YOU to create your own video clip to my song "Shut up and dance". It could be all choreographed. It could be acting. It could be puppets. Whatever inspires you.

I realise this will take a little while. Let me know if you plan to participate. And when you have completed it and uploaded it to youtube let me know and I'll include it in the blog!

If you don't already have the song, you can download it via the box on the right hand side of this page.

Now...
shut up and dance.

;D

"Lost my heart"

2010-02-23T12:54:00.000+11:00

Have you ever fallen off a horse?

It's a long way down isn't it?

I liken my emotional response to the "CD throwing incident" (Nov 6 2009) to falling off my horse. I was pretty bruised really. It wasn't just the CD throwing incident. Yeah, sure, I had a lump above my left eye and it was unsettling for the band, the audience and myself. But the lead up to that gig had been stressful.

I'd really worked hard to promote the gig. I managed to get an article in 3 newspapers. That's a big deal for me. There had been some misunderstandings with my drummer that I found necessary to address. I learned a lot, but it was stressful. I had backing vocals for the first time and rehearsing my own vocalists as well as the band was an experience I hadn't had before.

Plus it was my first 'single' launch. That in itself is a big deal. Add to that the fact that my audience had to put up with some unruly members of the audience. I felt badly for them.

I just don't want to put my audience through that again. Or myself. Or the band.

I was reflecting on these things a lot over the summer and the words of this song began to form themselves in my mind. I really needed to retreat, lick my wounds, get strong again. And to avoid the 'I told you so' brigade.

This little video clip is not a perfect version of the song. It's still a work in progress. But I wanted to share it with you as it is an indication of what my journey has involved over the last few months.

What they found inside me when I was in hospital

2010-02-09T19:17:00.001+11:00

No wonder I felt so sick!

UPS & DOWNS of being in hospital

2010-02-05T21:48:00.000+11:00

I arrived at the hairdresser’s in a sweat this morning. It’s only 10am but it’s been a rush. Between driving children to school, loads of washing, preparing dinner (yes, it’s already in the pot), exercising, eating, doing my morning journal, I’ve worked up a bit of a sweat.

But here I sit with goop in my hair ;D

In case you haven’t already caught up on the news, I’ve recently been in hospital. I’m not going to bore you (or gross you out) with details but while in hospital I compiled a list of upsides and downsides to being in hospital. Clearly I was beginning to feel better by this time!

DOWNSIDES of being in hospital:
You are usually in hospital because of pain of some other discomfort
You are in hospital because your life or quality of life is threatened
Staff have a propensity to jab you with sharp objects
You must endure certain indignities (enough said I think)
People keep turning up to take your blood
You are often inconveniently attached to various objects via plastic tubing. This makes all ablutions inconvenient. Movement in general can cause pain or mess (if the connection is disrupted).
Staff will ask you to collect specimens you’d rather not.
Tests are performed on you in cold, sterile laboratories on hard, narrow surfaces. You are asked to move or hold positions that are uncomfortable or painful whilst you are fed into spacey looking machines. And you are surrounded in machines that go ‘beep’.
It’s hard to get coffee that isn’t instant or just weak.
You are forced to endure long hours without food or drink…especially no cheese on toast L
They don’t serve cheese and wine and 5pm
You miss your childrens' school events
Your family worry about you and miss you
Just when you think you will be allowed to eat the doctor orders another test
Hospital décor is very bland
Sometimes you can’t get comfortable no matter what you do
The treatment can cause further problems
If you are admitted through the Emergency Department you usually don’t have a toothbrush, spare undies, a brush or hairdryer
You have to pay a lot of bills afterwards
You get a bit hairy after a few days

UPSIDES of being in hospital:

In hospital you (usually) get some form of pain relief
Someone else cleans the rooms and washes the sheets and towels
You don’t have to make your bed….or even get out of it
You don’t have to feel guilty about staying in bed all day
You are allowed to watch lots of TV without feeling like you should really be doing something else
People bring you flowers, magazines and little treats to satisfy your cravings (which you have to look at until you are allowed to eat)
You can flirt with the staff if you want to – no one takes it seriously
Hospitals are air-conditioned. When it’s 43°C outside that’s really nice!
You don’t have to drink to get your fluid intake
Someone else cooks the meals (which is great when you’re allowed to eat)
The food is better than sausages and 3 vegies (depends on the hospital of course)
You miss your children’s school events
Your family worry about you and miss you
Your parents treat you like a favourite child for a few days
You get to show off you gorgy paper-pants-covered butt while walking up and down the hallway with your IV stand
When anyone else is in your room YOU are the centre of attention
When you are not the centre of attention you are ALONE
Paper undies don’t need washing
You can practice pole dancing with your IV stand
You don’t feel bad about not flossing, waxing or shaving for a few days

Fleetwood Mac concert

2009-12-16T17:56:00.000+11:00

Some pics of me at the Fleetwood Mac concert on Dec 6 at the Hope Estate in the Hunter Valley.

FANTASTIC! Lindsay Buckingham has a very unusual guitar playing style, and I was really impressed at how good he was. (This is the first time I've seen them live). Mick Fleetwood made the best faces and did an awesome drum solo. John Mac (I think that is his name) on bass - the best bass sound I have heard in a long time. Really nice. And of course Stevie Nicks was magical. I just love her voice. It is so unusual. A couple of melody parts that she changed left me feeling a little unsatisfied because I missed them. Does that make sense? You know when you've heard a song so many times so you expect to here that particularly melody line and then she doesn't hit that note. I guess she was still warming up. Or maybe it's age finally catching up. That scares me. I don't want my voice to age too fast!!!!

My Paper Mache Christmas Tree

2009-12-16T16:36:00.000+11:00

Christmas Poem

2009-12-16T15:50:00.000+11:00

"Gypsy of the Celts" singer, Don Grieve, sent me this poem written by an Australian soldier who is on peacekeeping duty overseas.

T'WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,

HE LIVED ALL ALONE,

IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE,

MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY,

WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,

AND TO SEE JUST WHO,

IN THIS HOME, DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,

A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,

NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,

NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,

JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,

ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES,

OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,

AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,

A SOBER THOUGHT,

CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,

IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,

I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,

ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,

SILENT, ALONE,

CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR,

IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,

THE ROOM IN DISORDER,

NOT HOW I PICTURED,

AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO,
OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?

CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES,

THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,

OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS,

WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD,

THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,

AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE,

A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM,

EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,

BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,

LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER,

HOW MANY LAY ALONE,

ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE,

IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT,

A TEAR TO MY EYE,

I DROPPED TO MY KNEES,

AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED,

AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,

"SANTA DON'T CRY,

THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,

I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,

MY LIFE IS MY GOD,

MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,

AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,

I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,

I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,

SO SILENT AND STILL,

AND WE BOTH SHIVERED,

FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE,

ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,

THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR,

SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,

WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,

WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA,

IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,

AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.

"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,

AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."

Speechless

2009-12-14T14:08:00.000+11:00

Silence.

No response.

To my last blog entry.

So, I'm kind of not sure what to say next.

I'm feeling a lot better. Had to bite the bullet and increase the dose again.

I sure hope someone is researching possible causes of the current epidemic of depression. It seems like every 2nd person I speak to is on some form of anti-depressant. Don't you think that's a little scary? I mean, surely there's a reason it is so prevalent!

Throwing it out there, perhaps we could look at pollution (a handy scape-goat), radiation, additives in the water we drink (or subtractitives - that's a made up word for things we take out of the water), vaccines (and that could be the adjuvants, not necessarily the microbes), dental fillings, plastics...

On a completely different note, I did some singing practice this morning and began recording my seasonal series, "The Twelve Moods of Christmas".

I'll post the first one on youtube today.

Will tweet when it's up.

:D

See ya.

Closing the gap: public vs private.

2009-12-03T15:46:00.000+11:00

I was talking to Jen yesterday and she said, "Wow. You have this very big public persona that is quite different to who you are in private."

So I have decided - hesitantly, gingerly - to try and bring the public and private Lindas a little closer together.

I'd like to begin with an admission.

I've been battling depression for about the last 12 years. Although it wasn't diagnosed until 4 years ago. Sometimes I feel so stupid for being depressed because I have such a great life. My husband loves me. I have two gorgeous sons. I've had the opportunity to travel and perform and meet lots of amazing new people. I live in a lovely neighbourhood and have some really fantastic friends and neighbours.

Even my family are loving and supportive.

So how dumb is it to be depressed right????

Yup. I quite agree. It's been my shameful secret.

For years I tried various health kicks to 'feel better'. I went on various healthy diets with bucket loads of supplements. I did exercise. I prayed. And at times I seemed to be ok. Then I'd go downhill again.

I stumbled along not really being able to pinpoint what was wrong but knowing I just wasn't running on all four cylinders (so to speak). I had days on which I just ached and felt tired all day. I felt like I had lead inside my cells or gravity had suddenly increased and I couldn't hold myself or lift myself without great effort.

Looking back I would say it basically started after the birth of my second son. And when he was 6 months old my brother died, causing a lot of grief.

After several visits to my GP, blood tests and referrals to specialists nothing showed up that could account for my rather vague symptoms (which had been slowly worsening). In particular I began to get very achy restless legs. At the worst point there were nights during which I hardly slept and I had to go to the couch so my husband could sleep. I was also having a strange crawling sensation just under the skin in my thighs.

Decision making was very stressful and I struggled to be able to plan or organise anything. I avoided activities that required me to do so because I knew I couldn't cope.

When I was finally diagnosed by an older (not elderly, but probably nearing retirement) GP who had time to sit and ask me lots of questions and listen to a lot of emotional babble from me, my baby was 8 years old.

For 8 years now I had carried this weight. For 8 years I had known I was not myself but didn't know how to fix it.

For 4 years now I have been having treatment and that has made an enormous difference. However, each time I have tried to wean off the medication I have wound up back in a heap.

Unfortunately for me the incident in which I was hit in the head by a CD (and the aftermath) coincided with me once again gingerly, carefully, thoughtfully trying to reduce the medications. I'm not sure if it was a reason for me 'crashing' again or just coincidence. I suspect it was an 'aggravating factor'.

Whatever the case may be I am currently aware that perhaps I will be on medication for the rest of my life.

If you know me well, you know that I am very much in favour of natural health! So this is NOT a very happy thought for me.

However, if I consider the current alternative of living at about 10% of my potential (or perhaps worse) the medication option seems a far better choice. For me, and for my loved ones.

The only other thing I wish to say at this time is that since I have felt so broken and unable, I think I have been much more compassionate and non-judgemental. That would be a silver lining I suppose.

Husbands & wives & spirituality

2009-11-26T08:15:00.000+11:00

I'm reading "The trouble with Islam today" by Irshad Manji, amongst other things at the moment.

Her thoughts are enlightening and fresh.

I perceive that in Islam husbands 'beat' their wives for disobedience.

In Christianity wives 'beat' their husbands for not being spiritual enough.

I've heard several women say things like, "I just want him [their husband] to be the spiritual head!" Or "I just want us to pray together!"

Wow, such a failure. (Sarcasm)

Then, when husband and wife pray together, she says three times as much (she's a woman after all) and leaves him feeling like he's no good at praying anyway 'cause she does all the talking.

I know I'm simplifying the issues. But don't you think we should let people be who they are instead of trying to make them into something we (mistakenly) think they should be? And stop making it sound like we're right by spiritualizing our position? (In Islam, the man seems to do this, in Christianity it seems to me to be the woman.)

Personally, I am convinced that if God meant for the husband to be the spiritual head he doesn't have to necessarily 'do' anything. He just needs to be himself.

My plea: women, please stop trying to change your husbands!

(If I were Muslim my plea would be "men, please stop beating your wives.")

Thoughts after Emergenza Nov 6

2009-11-10T05:16:00.003+11:00

So here I am.

4.30am

Awake. Thinking about the gig on Friday night.

How do I feel about it?

A small bruised lump over my left eyebrow reminds me that it ended wierdly. What did I do? What did I not do? Two of my friends who were in the audience later told me they thought I was upset with an audience member because of something I said. I thought I was just being cheeky. I haven't yet had time to watch the video footage, but I shall do that this week and that will hopefully enlighten me.

Annoying really. What I want to think about more is how to do the songs better.

There's always so much to think about just before a gig. And so many questions. I realise now that I didn't give myself the best 'head-space' before I went on stage.

When I do solo gigs I have this little ritual that I go through in the car on my way to the gig. I have my affirmations and prayers and vocal warm-ups. Then I get busy setting up the PA. That warms me up physically!

And I'm ready for the audience. It's like there are two of us in the room. I've prepared my spirit, mind and body. We have a musical conversation, interaction, for a couple of hours. I can see and hear them just as they can see and hear me. And I am a single voice.

I had forgotten how different it feels to be on a stage with lights in my eyes, a band and singers. I love the theatricality of it.

I love the chance to go a little crazy with costume, hair and make up.

It doesn't work quite so well in a pub so I relish the opportunity.

Now I realise I need to have two different preparation routines for two different contexts.

I wanted to leave the audience FEELING GOOD and WANTING MORE. But when a CD hits you in the head just as you are finishing the very last note it's like a sudden blast of cold wind through the atmosphere that chills everybody in the room.

A million guesses at the intentions of the mystery pitcher may not be right and they don't help anyway. I just feel ripped off.

Ripped off about the fact that all of a sudden the time that the band and I would have been patting each other on the back and enjoying a morale-boosting 'feel good fest' back stage was spent with a stream of people coming and asking me if I was okay.

Well, yes. I'm not seriously hurt.

Well, no! I'm confused and angry.

Ripped off because now instead of just analyzing our performance and my arrangements, I am wondering if I am a bitch and my audiences hate me.

Ripped off because I don't want this to be about whether people like me or not. I want this to be about whether people like my music or not.

I want to be spending my time reviewing things with the band members from a positive light. Now I'm nursing my bruised ego and forehead and trying to restore a sense of confidence and trust that I can do this.

New post on my other blog

2009-11-02T14:40:00.000+11:00

I have put a new post on my other blog "Sensational". It has lots of gorgeous pictures from my backyard. If you like flowers you might enjoy it. :D
Linda.

Magic Mirror Podcast

2009-10-30T11:02:00.000+11:00

Magic Mirror Podcast

$50 on a pair of underpants Jen????!!!! Wuh!?

"My year without sex" (no, not my year without sex - it's a movie).

I took a break from chart writing and rehearsing to find out about Jen's $50 undies and watch a movie while eating Lindt chocolate with Jen.

Life's too short for cheap chocolate. Lindt is the best and that's that!

Now I can pat myself on the back. I published my October Podcast in October.

2009 even ;D

Linda.

Running late with Oct Podcast!

2009-10-29T16:26:00.001+11:00

I apologise. Many excuses could be expended here. But suffice to say. I'll get to it as soon as I can! In the meantime, I hope enjoyed the 'SHUT UP AND DANCE doll karaoke". ;D

Linda.

Shut Up and Dance KARAOKE DOLLS

2009-10-28T16:24:00.001+11:00

Hey do like this little promo I made?
;D
Linda.

Linda's Buzz: new single mixdown

2009-10-21T14:56:00.000+11:00

Notes from the day I sat in the studio with Andy

"Might as well write something while I sit here listening to Andy (mix-a-magician) make my track sound brilliant. He has to have a thick skin today because he has to listen to the words “Shut up and dance” over and over!

From A Day in the studio with Andy

As I listen, I can picture my salsa friends dancing. I think it’s a good track for bachata (not sure if I’ll spelled that correctly) and also cha-cha-cha. I haven’t learned bachata but I watched some youtube videos of it the other day.

Have I ever told you how much I love to dance? I finally found a local salsa club! I’ve been looking for it ever since I got home from England in January! But for some reason it didn’t come up in my google searches. Maybe I didn’t go through enough pages.

I wonder if anybody ever looks past the first page of a google search. I wonder if I’d be on the first page of a google search of “Linda Wood”. I know there is a body builder named Linda Wood, and there’s someone who’s dying of cancer called Linda Wood. What else did I find? I think there might be a reporter/journalist in the States called Linda Wood. I have a friend on facebook who lives in Portsmouth who is named Linda Wood. I think there must be millions of us out there. Maybe we should have a “Linda Wood conference”. I wonder if there are any temperament traits that go with the name. What’s in a name after all? When you are named does it affect who you turn out to be?

The following pictures are the sort of thing one gets up to when one is sitting in a studio for many hours not doing much more than listening."

A Day in the studio with Andy

Art and Poetry to inspire you

2009-10-16T14:31:00.000+11:00

Beware The Muses Kissing

When, after aeons of neglect, the muses get in touch, their kiss

To resurrect is a curse as much as bliss.

Swooping down to inflict on the genius derelict their passionate

And precious gift: unleashing powers which create

Or choose to desecrate the flowers of your soul

Unprovoked and suddenly.

When inspiration strikes, it never asks,

Can you handle this donation? Simply

Light both ends of your candle

Or receive the coup-de-grace!

Soon you realize the true

Agony is not the blow to the head you were hiding under the bed

Nor the jolt to the heart as it gets a kick-start

Out of the blue

But the long-avoided effort of trying to climb

The Everest of trivia and petty domesticity

Built up during what seems a lifetime

And obstructing the view on reality.

The hardest bit is fighting the losing battle to ignore

Everyday pathetic chores screaming and biting

Your hands like abandoned children.

It pains to face the awful truth

That while you believed you were playing it safe,

For a decade or two, all you achieved

Was dig your own grave

In pursuit of other people’s dreams for you.

Beware the muses’ kissing – they are apt to impose

An impossible mission. But should you choose

To accept their teasing offer, you might eventually discover

You had nothing left to lose.

A poem by Nur-Viktoria Frings

January 7 2003

New artwork by Kim Neil

Award winning artist - Kim Neil

2009-10-07T16:01:00.000+11:00

Apparently my previous link didn't quite work.

2009-10-02T11:57:00.001+10:00

Wonderful to discover I can post updates through skype-ping!

September 2009 Podcast - apoligies for layout!

2009-09-25T11:25:00.000+10:00

BEFORE I TELL YOU ANYTHING ELSE!!!

I now know the date of the Emergenza Semi-final in Sydney.

I haven’t had any dates with the whole band since March, so this is a very exciting event! The details:

LINDA WOOD AND BAND

FACTORY THEATRE Doors 7.30pm Show 8pm

105 Victoria Road Marrickville 2204

Tickets $18 pre-booked or $22 at the door - ORDER THROUGH LINDA NOW and receive a free CD!

Line up includes:

Linda Wood

Steve McNorton

the rest I shall let you know when I have the list. :D

(the order of appearance will be ‘drawn out of the hat’ on Friday afternoon).

P.S. The audience will vote to choose two bands to progress to the finals. If we then win the finals we will be flown to Germany to perform at a large international show and potentially win a recording contract. So I ABSOLUTELY NEED YOU ALL THERE (no pressure ;D).

ABOUT THE SEPTEMBER 09 PODCAST:

Jen and I had a very in-depth discussion this month stimulated by the book we had reviewed and the "Do you believe the hype?" discussion.

This month I suggested that all this overt sexuality in the media is just hype. You see, I read an article in the Sydney Morning Herald (March 3, 2009) written by Bettina Arndt about the problem of all these couples who are not 'doing it', or at least not enough to satisfy at least one of them. I also happened upon a youtube video titled "Sexless Marriage".

So, is all the sexiness and raunchiness just talk without any substance???? That's the question I'm asking.

If you have any comments to make I'd love to hear them!

On this episode you’ll also hear a song from Donna Boyd's debut album "Luckiest Girl Alive". Great country pop-rock. Donna is a superb human being and a recently aquired friend.

Ariel Levy is a contributing editor at the New York magazine. Her book "Female Chauvinist Pigs" provoked an interesting discussion between Jen and I. We’d love to know if you’ve read it and what you think about the book or just about our comments.

Some of my (Linda’s) buzz:

I have started attending (and soon to join) NSAI Australia meetings. No it's not like AA. It is the Nashville Songwriters Association International (Australia). I found a supportive, talented and enthusiastic community of songwriters gathered together and they made me feel immediately welcome. If you want to check it out the first two meetings are free and are held on the 2nd Monday of every month at the Unity Hall Hotel 292 Darling St Balmain. The next meeting is on October 12 at 7.30pm. This is also the first birthday of NSAI in Australia!

For songwriters who might be reading this (or would be songwriters) NSAI offers

A network and community of like-minded songwriters
Monthly meetings with high level industry speakers
Fortnightly object writing events
Quarterly co-writing days
Industry showcases
24/7 online teaching videos with free pro evaluations

If you’d like to find out more you can email Zelda Sheldon at zelda@artecsound.com.au.

To join up head to the MAIN WEBSITE

For local news see the SYDNEY CHAPTER

Or FOLLOW NSAI AUSTRALIA ON TWITTER

I want to know more about Linda's music

I really do have a red-belly black snake in my yard

2009-09-11T10:07:00.003+10:00

My 'pet' red belly

Salsa in Sailsbury August 2009

2009-09-10T22:59:00.000+10:00

On a Wednesday night between gigs and rehearsing on my recent trip to the UK I went back to the Salsa club I attended while living in Salisbury last year (2008). I want to show you. :D
YouTube - lindawillfindit's Channel

It's about sex (sshh...)

2009-09-09T13:35:00.002+10:00

Late last night as my brain was winding down but I was still reading blogs and looking at links etc. I stumbled across a program segment on Youtube called “Sexless Marriage”. Of course I watched it. Then I hit the “Twit-that” button in my browser and off it went.

At 3am I woke with a sudden flush of embarrassment thinking, “Oh no…what will people think of me? Will they think it’s about me? Will they be embarrassed? Etc. Etc….” For a moment I lay there feeling like an idiot. Then I thought, “well no, hang on. I’ve read articles recently about this problem and heard radio program hosts (such as Richard Glover on 702 ABC Sydney) discussing this problem. It’s obviously common and needs to be addressed.”

So, I’ve decided to go one further and bring this topic up for discussion in this month’s podcast (which is running a week late due to getting back from UK then getting a little sick for a few days, yada, yada, yada…).

Of course, I have no idea what a man’s point of view on this issue might be. Well, no, I’m sure I know what his point of view would be! More sex needed, right? Right? Well, is it right?

What do you think?

I’m going to do some research and find some articles and statistics if I can. Let me know if you can point me to some good online resources.

Linda.

Boran Drum and Wild Berries

2009-08-07T23:19:00.003+10:00

New podcast is up!

On the podcast Jen asked me about Celtic Music:

Here is a video showing a boran drum and penny whistle being played. These are common instruments in celtic style music, but not all celtic music uses them.

A quick clarification though, the festival was called "Celtic Blue Rock" for the blue rock found in the preseli hills used for such structures as Stonehenge over in Wiltshire.

It's not just celtic music. And I certainly wouldn't classify my music as particularly celtic.

Anyway, sunny day today. Dolphin Gig tonight. I've ironed my outfit and I'm running through the set.

I've breakfasted on wild blackberries and raspberries I found while out walking this morning. Mmmm. Yum.

Cheers, Linda.

Celtic Blue Rock Festival August 1, 2009

2009-08-05T06:34:00.002+10:00

Llanfyrnach Fields, Preseli Hills (from whence the blue rock at Stonehenge is sourced – hence the name of the festival).

Mud.

Mud.

More mud.

Driving through mud.

Walking through mud. Carrying gear. Trying not to let it get muddy.

Futile.

Yellow daisy dress hoisted up in each hand. Why did I think this dress was a good idea? A mini dress and thigh high wellies would have been more appropriate!

To a young man in a blue shirt labelled ‘Security’:

“Could you tell me where the folk tent is?”

He looks blank for a moment and says he doesn’t know where it is.

“Well, I see you have a walkie talkie (two-way radio). Could you ask if anyone knows where it is? Or better yet, ask someone to take me to it.”

No, he couldn’t possibly let on that he doesn’t know where something is. That would be too embarrassing.

Now I’m thinking “Bloody British bureaucracy runs everything here! Why can’t you just ask the question?” I think it, but don’t say it.

After about half an hour of trudging around in muddy circles asking various blue t-shirted men where the folk tent might be and being greeted by the same blank looks a realisation comes over me. “Oh! I’m performing in the folk tent at the Bloom Festival. This is the Celtic Blue Rock Festival and I’m performing in the Annwn Tent.” Dang! All this time I’ve been on a wild goose chase. Barking up the wrong tree so to speak.

Blue t-shirt men still give me blank looks. The tide of frustration is getting closer to my mouth now. My guitarist, Nick, is looking exhausted. He’s got the merchandise bag. It’s heavy. [Note to self: don’t bring the whole big box of CDs next time.] I want to say to blue t-shirt men, “Get off your fat asses and help us out here!” What comes out is, “Look, my guitarist is about to pass out from the weight he’s carrying around here. Could one of you please carry a bag (note: the ‘merch’ bag) to the Annwn tent (wherever that is) for us?” A brief non-verbal argument ensues in which two blue t-shirt men who had been pleasantly sitting on their fat back sides (ok, only one was fat) shove the bag towards each other in an effort to encourage an affirmative response from their neighbour. Fat blue t-shirt man wins and remains on his fat backside. Loser takes the bag with a reluctant smile and suggests we go back towards the main stage to seek the Annwn (how on earth is that pronounced?) tent. Clearly he has no idea.

Eventually someone asks if it has anything to do with the 24 Carrot Production Company. “Oh, yes, that’s it,” I reply. Dang. Another thing I wish I had remembered or written down somewhere handy. There, in the blue striped Big Top tent. Exactly where we had initially, but uncertainly, headed.

Loser blue t-shirt man looks very relieved to unburden himself of the ‘merch’ bag. I give him a CD as an act of gratitude for his reluctant helpfulness. He’s a winner after all.

Carrot introduces himself. He is the sound engineer and one half of 24 Carrot Productions. Have I just arrived?

No. I’ve been on a tour of the mud bath that is the Celtic Blue Rock Festival. Courtesy of the blue t-shirt men. Can I still play a set even though I’m now late?

Yes.

The stage is covered in mud. The leads are covered in semi-dried mud. My yellow daisy dress has mud all around the hem and a few mud splatters around the skirt. It reminds me of the back cover of my CD “Duel” wearing a long ivory silk dress and bluntstone boots. Only there was no mud in the studio.

The music (some people might argue with that definition) coming from the main stage was so loud that the classical guitar Nick brought could not be heard. The guitar microphone just squealed in protest as soon as the sound engineer turned the gain up high enough to pick up any sound from the guitar. [Note to self: festivals have loud music. Always bring a guitar with a pick-up.]

Although muddy, it is also intermittently sunny. British people are sun-starved so they don’t want to be inside the tent. They stand around the perimeter of the tent to hear our music but won’t be enticed into the darkness. Until I give them kazoos. [Note to self: always bring kazoos.]

Most of the set the guitar could not really be heard. It looks good to have it there though.

“One more song!”
“One more song!”
“One more song!”

The beer boys chant. They loved my kazoos and my ukulele. Perhaps the festival management will invite me back next year.

Tomorrow I will clean the mud off everything. I’m glad they have tractors to tow the cars out of the mud.

Linda's UK Tour

Stealth Seat Wars onboard VS201

2009-08-01T20:23:00.003+10:00

From: Onboard flight VS 201 July 28-29, 2009 en route from Hong Kong to London.

My dad loves to help. He particularly loves to help take people to and from the airport. In a lot of ways I’m like my dad and that makes me wonder if my kids will get irritated with me in years to come the way I often do with my father.

Maybe it’s because I was born a girl. Fathers are more protective of daughters aren’t they? But I really enjoy being a grown up. I like feeling independent. I like problem solving. I don’t mind help. But there’s something about the way Dad treats me that makes me feel like a ten year old girl again.

When I revealed my ‘plans’ to maybe sleep in the back of a car for one or two nights of my travel in the UK he acted like I was a young girl planning to camp out in a dangerous dark alley. OMG!!!! I’m nearly 40!!!!

What’s worse is that my father-in-law had a similar reaction!!!!!

For some reason this whole issue makes me think of one evening at Woolgoolga Caravan Park. It was already dark and I decided to go fishing off the breakwater with Dad and my brother Dave. I was about 7. David was 8, maybe 9. I had my little fishing rod and we all sat there waiting for bites. I felt a few tugs and David’s first reaction was, “It might be a shark” with a mischievous grin and giggle. Immediately I wondered what on earth I would do if I pulled up a shark! It was dark and I imagined a huge man-eating shark jumping out of the water at me as I bravely wound in my fishing line. This idea scared me so much that after a short time I decided I would leave them to their fishing and return to the shark-free safety of our caravan.

On reflection, I see that I was quite a frightened little thing. I imagined ‘boogie men’ behind every bush and didn’t need a lot of stimulation to imagine things that terrified my childish mind. Now I’m ready to explore the world and have my own adventure and my father and father-in-law (in particular) speak to me like augers predicting boogie men behind the bushes on my journey. If I let those voices in I might retreat from my future. They are probably somewhat mystified by the vehemence of my renunciations of their fears. But it is me shutting the door on fearfulness. But not shutting the door on wise caution.

No, really! Look, I don’t like feeling vulnerable or unsafe. And what I actually said was “In case I get sleepy with jet lag while I’m driving I can pull over and have a sleep”! And on the off-chance that I couldn’t find anywhere to stay I could sleep in the back of the car somewhere.

Aye aye aye…

From: CAFFE RITAZZA London Paddington Station 6.40am Wednesday July 29

First leg of flight (Sydney to Hong Kong) excellent. Lots of empty seats so plenty of room for people to stretch out a bit.

Second leg of flight bugged by a gang of economy demons, led by elderly Indian lady – the matriarch of the travelling extended family. Her methods of communication with her minions were quiet moans, groans, leaning forward and rubbing her knees as though in terrible pain (okay – she possibly was in pain) and such behaviours. Her methods of torture were mostly aimed at making me emotionally and mentally imbalanced. It began when I first reclined my seat. Immediately from behind I heard (through my earplugs which I was wearing to help me sleep) angry cries of protest from her family and I felt my seat being violently shoved from behind. Clearly they felt I was out of line in reclining my seat. I was annoyed and I couldn’t quite figure out why they were angry at me or if they had a right to be angry. The seats were designed to be reclined in such a way that the base of the seat moved forward as the back reclined, supposedly reducing the impingement of space for the person sitting behind. I think I would not have felt cross if they hadn’t all angrily protested immediately, but rather assertively but politely explained the problem and let me figure out a solution that was okay for both of us. (Why are people so rude?)

Feeling irritated but determined not to get in a tizz I tried to find another way to get into a position for sleeping. Fortunately there was a spare seat beside me and the other two people in the row were not indicating any desire to use it at the moment, so I leaned over on my side and attempted to sleep that way. I did manage a few zzz’s.

With approval of my ‘rowies’ I moved across a seat to eat my meal so that I could recline a little. After the meal came I decided to have a walk and do a few squats to assist my circulation. I wandered around for a few minutes and had a lavatorial visit then ambled back to my seat. The Moaning Matriarch was out of here seat and my rowies had reclined their seats as well so I surreptitiously sat back in my aisle seat and reclined. Nice. After a movie I started feeling sleepy again, so I put in my earplugs and put on my eye covers and positioned my neck pillow. In a reclined seat I was about as comfortable as you can be in economy class. I had that lovely heavy falling asleep feeling. Suddenly I found my chair had been hit from behind by a round of irritated turbulence. The Moaning Matriarch had returned and she was not happy.

I’m glad they make the seats so sturdy.

I managed to fall asleep for an hour or so despite several rounds of turbulence intended to make me move my seat. On this occasion I stubbornly dozed off.

That’s when the really sneaky methods began.

After my snooze I decided to get up and have a drink and exercise my leg muscles again. As I was walking away I looked back into the dimly lit aisle and I am sure I saw an arm and part of a body leaning around to my seat controls and retracting quickly under my glance. Not before I noticed a slight forward bounce of my seat back.

Aha! So that’s the way you’re going to play this game! Caught red handed!

I thought that having been caught she might have given up…but no! Just a few minutes later I returned to my seat to find it bolt upright. Given that the seat in front of me was fully reclined this rendered my attempts to work on my laptop a health hazard for anyone but a contortionist. So after 10 minutes or so of trying to work I gave up.

One of my rowies had now laid her head on the spare seat, so that wasn’t an option. I looked around me. Nope. All other spare seats were now occupied by various body parts. I wasn’t feeling sleepy at this time so rather than engage in direct combat I decided to lay low and bide my time. The Moaning Matriarch now got some rest leaning head first into the back of my seat. I have used the crash position for economy sleep arrangements myself on previous occasions and at this point she even invoked a little pity in me. Poor old thing. Stiff and sore. This is why my mother hates travelling. Be nice. Let her sleep. Maybe next time she’ll think to bring her own U pillow.

Besides which I didn’t fancy bringing down the wrath of aforementioned son and the rest of her minions. There seemed to be at least two rows of them behind me and I was alone. I didn’t like the odds. Nope. Best leave well enough alone. So I managed to get into a less than torturous position to watch another movie.

From that point on I tried to sleep when she was out of her seat. Then I would quickly recline my seat while no one could complain. She must have realized I was not going to cave in to her rounds of turbulence once I was already settled in and fortunately her son had snuck off to some other seat for a sleep and was not there to back her up.

The rest of my journey was characterized by a delicate equilibrium that in fact consisted of seats moving forwards and backwards and me occasionally changing seats. I wanted to give The Moaning Matriarch and her family dirty looks, but decided that really wasn’t nice.

Which made me think, “Gee, I’m not very nice.” I wondered how I would have behaved if family or friends had been there witnessing the stealth war that was going on. Or did I behave reasonably? It’s hard to tell when you are alone and all you have as a commentary on your behaviour is your own thoughts.

So, I leave you with this question I guess:

What do you think I should have done?

Hello UK!

2009-07-30T18:09:00.001+10:00

I will post again very soon. Just trying to get my modem working. I don't want to use up my generous host's upload/download allowance!

:D

See ya soon folks!
Linda.

Girlfriends

2009-07-17T06:52:00.010+10:00

Christine (featured in podcast) is one of a number of women (‘girlfriends’) who have enriched my life. I would like to tell you about a few more who are no less precious to me.

I almost feel like the host of Romper Room looking through the magic mirror. Through my mirror I see all the women who have been so important to me. Some of them may not even know it. You see, I’m one of those people who some might call ‘aloof’, others a ‘loner’, or maybe just not very ‘needy’. If you are like me you will understand what I mean when I say that although I enjoy being alone and don’t want to spend a lot of time with others, I still need friends. I may not seek constant company, but I can’t live without my friends. I used to think there was something wrong with me because I didn’t have a desire to be always ‘hanging out’ with my friends. When I moved to Darwin for six months in 2005 I came to understand that although I like to be alone I still wither in the absence of friendship. I became like a parched plant and every little kindness like a drop of blessed water. I remember longing for a phone call, an invitation, even just a cup of tea over a toy strewn floor was like the royal red carpet.

Although the loneliness was painful, it was reassuring to me that I had a normal need for people in my life. I know some people have suffered from a fear that they are not sexually ‘normal’. I have struggled with a fear that I am somehow socially abnormal. I now know I was not born a hermit. Phew! Nothing to come out about now!

Louise may not know (unless she reads this) that her invitations were like an oasis in a relational desert for me. Rosie may not understand how much her hospitality and sparkly laughter over bible study and chit-chat sustained me. Julie, I think, probably has an inkling that her physical proximity (being my next door neighbour) and warm honesty and welcome was my sanity.

But then, what of the friends who I left behind? Are they less important to me? On the contrary, the desert I was in was the very absence of these women. Helen’s cheeky humour and bold prayers (and those discussions – you know what I mean – nudge, nudge, wink, wink), Lisa’s quiet determination and wry wit, Tach’s enthusiasm and unwaivering belief and ‘have-a-go’ willingness. Liz’s generous smile – I love the way her eyes light up and become really wide when she’s excited about something.

Absence will test a friendship. Any friendship may change, but will it survive? My conclusion is that if a friendship is based on core connection between two people it will survive. If it is based only on common activities it probably won’t. That’s why some people are in our lives only for a while. They are connected with us in doing, but not in being.

Of course, I’m not writing from the perspective of a relationship expert. I’m writing anecdotally. I like to think I have good relationships. But others around me might say I have a blind spot. Shelley is a friend who can only be described as delightful, but she is also brave. She has been brave enough to point out a fault in me on rare occasions. She never tries to change me but she’s truthful like a mirror. Of course no one is a perfect mirror – thankfully! I’m not sure if I could handle unfiltered truth! It might hurt too much!

Moving interstate and overseas in the last few years has heightened my awareness of what precious friends neighbours can be. If ever I think about selling up and moving to a different house I’d want Jen and Cath to come too! On second thoughts maybe I’ll just stay put! Communication between myself and Marilou, one of my neighbours in the UK, may have been stilted because of language but to have a neighbour who knows your name, who smiles and says hello, who will have a cuppa with you…bliss, I tell you! (Big hugs to you Marilou!)

Although Tracey has moved to the far side of Australia, seeing her pictures on facebook still makes me want to do ‘the monkey dance’. Which friends have expanded your behavioural repertoire?

What about those friends you can really ‘chew the fat’ with? Vicky and Heidi are like mental stimulants. Better than caffeine. And for someone like me that’s not a luxury, it’s a necessity. If I can’t chew the fat with a friend from time to time my mood becomes rather morose. A synergistic meeting of the minds in conceptual and theoretical (sometimes even theological) exploration! i.e. the people you can have conversations full of long words and big ideas with. ;D

Some people invite you into their [already full] world because they see you are relationally parched and they have water to share. Rose, Denise, Sue, Sandy and Deb all drew me into their circle of love to give me some water. Investing in a pot plant some say is pointless. But when I’m the pot plant, I’m glad that some people see the point. I’m very grateful to these women for watering me with love, all the time knowing that I would not be staying.

I feel rich it’s true. Especially to think that my [once] arch enemy is now a dear friend. Perhaps our childhood fraught with hair-pulling and screaming made me grateful that my sister and I both grew up eventually and became hormonally sane! Crumbs! Even my sisters-in-law are all my friends! All six of them! You’d think I’d be able to pick a fight with at least one of them (or they with me). (Okay, so if you have a bone to pick with me girls I don’t want to know, ‘cause you’d prove me wrong.)

By the way, where should that last full stop be? Inside the bracket or out?

That was just a random question.

Back to friendship. Well, I reckon all my girlfriends would have had at least a giggle at my random question. You see, they like me, quirks and all. They might even like some of my quirks! :D That’s a nice thought.

And when the crows feet and withered hands get too bad to ignore any more I’ll have evidence that I’ve had plenty to laugh about and have washed up many cups from the teas and coffees we have shared along the way.

Well, I doubt this has been a journalist’s prizewinning article. But these have been my thoughts this week on the subject.

Time to hook up for a cuppa with a friend or two at the Bees’ Knees Café I think.
Cheers, Linda.

Girlfriends