Epilepsy Queensland turns 40!

Last night, I missed out on my favourite shows; but I missed them for a good reason. I was at the celebrations of Epilepsy Queensland's 40th Anniversary at Queensland's Parliament House Annex on Alice Street in the city. It was a lovely evening of beautiful nibblie food, drinks and great company of other people with this - at times - debilitating condition. I talked to people who were either suffering or handling their Epilepsy. And a professional photographer went around and took photos of everyone.

We soon had the AGM and it only lasted around half an hour and the awards ceremony was on then. Many people had raise either money or awareness in their community about Epilepsy. And we had two young girl under the age of 15 who had brought the awareness into not only their communities, but their schools as well; so that the stigma was quickly disappearing.
But it was the person who was on the stage before them who made the biggest impression on us all. Wally 'The King' Lewis took to the stage and talked about his experience with the condition and how he was ashamed of it; scared that nobody would understand him once they knew he had it. He thought that he was protecting himself. But it was the very public on-air sports report that made it too clear to him that he couldn't hide anymore and he had to do something about it. Life has become a lot easier for Wally Lewis and he says that he wants to talk to more people and meet more people about this condition. And last night, he announced that he is going to be Epilepsy Queensland's next patron. This is a wonderful thing.
After the rest of the awards were handed out, he stayed long enough to sign the books that anyone had bought there, photographs with people who wanted to have them and he even signed the back of painting that had been auctioned off during the night. I got him to sign my folder from the night (as I couldn't afford to purchase his book from there) and Mum took a photo of us together.

It was a lovely night of great food, celebrities and class. We even got to take home a little tea-candle with the symbol of Epilepsy Queensland on it - the flame - to represent people coming out of the shadows.

The Wet Season

I love rain. Really, I do. There's something about how the sound of it pattering on the roof of my house is just so soothing and beautiful and wonderful; especially at night when we're all trying to sleep and it's hot. Then, it begins to rain and a cool breeze filters in through the window. After that, we're done. Our eyes close and we off to the land of nod.

Rain isn't just something that cleanses our planet. It feeds our plants and makes everything turn from brown to green. The birds fly and screech as it pours from the gray skies and gurgles along the gutters of our houses, down the pipes and into the storm water drains of our cities. A gray, dreary day makes us all feel very sleepy and tired, but then maybe, it's a good day to stay inside and watch a movie marathon of your favourite movie star or read a good book, catch up on letter writing or computing and the internet; or cleaning the house.
There's plenty to do inside the house while it's raining outside it. I am never bored when it comes to a good rainy day. Even when I have laundry to do, I get in and put on a load of it, pull out the clothes horse and then read part of book, do some painting, wash up, tidy up part of a room in the house and then, I'll put on some really up-beat music. A wet day is never wasted at my house; even if it looks like I am whiling away the hours doing nothing; I'm not. All I'm waiting for is the time when I can get back outside for the few hours to do the rest of the laundry, mow the lawn and clean up the garden. Then, I'll wipe down one of the seats and read part of a book in the shade of one of the Lilly-Pilly's and enjoy the beauty of my garden after the rain.

But it's when the rain turns into flooding that it can become dangerous. I've been in places where rivers have broken their banks and we had to evacuate a few days early. However that was the easy part. Getting home was the challenge. That was years ago and I was very young.
I remember some years back - when I drove a car - I had to drive through a flooded road. Now, I had been trained by my Dad how to do it in theory. In theory I could do it; I knew how to do it in my head, but I hadn't actually done it in my little Celica. Now, for those of you who don't know, I used to own a 1981 Toyota Celica Liftback. They are low to the ground and are known as sports cars; and are not good when it comes to driving through flooded roads. I remember the policeman asking if I could was able to do this. I said Dad had taught me but I hadn't actually done it before. He nodded and reminded me to dry out my brakes once I was through. I turned off my radio and concentrated on driving through it. The creepiest thing about it I remember very clearly was the sound of the water gurgling under the floor! It nearly spooked the hell out of me! But I kept the revs up and got through it! I was so proud! And I remembered to dry out my brakes too... pity the guy behind didn't. He caused an accident not far from my workplace because he hadn't dried his brakes out (but I digress). Since then, flooded roads haven't been my favourite things to cross - whether I'm driving them or a passenger - but I know how it feels to be behind the wheel and need to stay calm about the whole thing.

So, while rain can be a wonderful thing in one form; it can turn in to a menace if it doesn't stop when we wish (or hope) it to. Storms are just as dangerous; but that's for another post another time.

Melbourne Cup Day 2009

Well, this day started out shockingly... and I don't mean the horse that won the race! I mean when I came downstairs and pulled the cover off my little bird's cage, I found her all wet! Then, she threw up all over the place. And when a bird is sick, they flick it all around! YUK! I recovered her and called Mum, then the vet. We made an appointment and took Stevie in by 10am. The lovely lady there told me - after a few tests - that Stevie had a bacterial infection; however she wanted to keep my little blue bird overnight to treat her. So, I signed on the bottom line as Stevie sat on my shoulder, then said my goodbyes to her until I could pick her up; scratching her sticky head and letting her know I'd be back the next day. Yeah, I had a cry even because I had never been separated from my little bird for this long for this kind of reason.

Anyway, my day had to move on. On the way home, I picked up my mail of two parcels. One of them was massive and when I opened it there was a big bag of Reece's Peanut Butter Cups in it! There were also books, teabags and postcards and bookmarks too! Oh! It really made my day that one of my friends online had sent this to me; and it arrived on a day when I really did need cheering up. I also received a Ray Bradbury book from another friend in the UK who was giving the book away.
But, I had volunteer work at the Logan Art Gallery and so I dressed up after making a bet at the TAB and then organising myself to get there early enough. I arrived and settled in. We all had a lovely lunch with plenty of laughs and watched the television with poor reception and then we watched the longest three minutes of our lives as the horses raced around the Flemmington Racetrack on Race 7. And what do you know? My horse won! It was Shocking... the horse's name that is, like I said. And I ended up with around $55. I always win on Melbourne Cup Day.
We cleaned up from lunch as the shifts changed at the Gallery and the afternoon moved on. I had won the monthly prize that the Logan Art Gallery puts on from August and so I sussed out my prize box and tried to read one of the books I received in the mail yesterday morning; but couldn't really get into it. Before long, it was time to leave and Mum took me home after collecting my winnings at the TAB at the Logan Tavern. Today, I can collect my little bird from the vet.

I'm so excited and happy to be able to bring her home!

All Hallow's Eve 2009

Well, I couldn't let this event go by without saying something about it. Yes, I celebrated Halloween yesterday; and last night, along with the rest of the world! What a great celebration of the dead. And who would know it, but this very night is the first of three days of celebrating the dead. The next day is All Saints Day and then November 2nd is All Soul's Day or better known as The Day of the Dead. It's all a big celebration of how the living and the dead are the closest to each other at this time of the year; beginning with All Hallow's Eve. And we don the masks and hand out the treats on Halloween night to scare away the evil spirits. The good ol' Jack'o'lantern even has a steeped history in himself; as does his colours. And there's a lot of things about Halloween that are linked with historical events; such as: it's the day that Harry Houdini died.

I totally enjoy the fun and spookiness that is All Hallow's Eve. I dress up the house, make lolly-bags and get into costume myself. It's all fun and games after the sun goes down. I even pull out the vampire and horror flicks from my dvd collection if there's nothing of the likes on television (which this year, there was 'Psycho' on ABC2! What a brilliant Hitchcock film!) and set a place at my table for the dead. In my case, I call on anyone who would care to join me for dinner and light a candle so I'd know they're there. There were only four kids, but they all dressed up really well; and I only got a photo of two of them (as the other two were new ones on the rounds; with a nervous guardian in the shadows. I didn't think it would be proper to ask for a photograph at night of their kids). But in the bags, I put in super-bounce balls, mini-mazes, yo-yos, glo-sticks, bubble bottles and only a couple of lollies from the Natural Confectionery Company (as they have no artificial colours or flavours in them; ideal for me to eat as leftover sugar fixes the following week!).

And once the movie was finished and kids were gone, I waited until midnight was upon us. Then, I went out into my back garden and performed a Halloween Circle to call in the Pagan New Year. And only 20 minutes later, it began to rain! Now, I call that good timing!

If you'd like to know more about this fun-filled holiday, you can google it, or visit this link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/30/the-history-of-halloween_n_321021.html

The Real Television Times

I love watching television at night; it's my form of relaxation. I don't turn on the computer as that's what I use all day and this is my way of connecting with the rest of the world, of seeing the news, finding out the weather for the next few days and being entertained. However, in the last few years, my familiar box in the corner has changed a lot. In fact, it's changed so much, I barely recognise it. I currently have a flatscreen television; however, it's still housed in a box, it's not a plasma screen. My reception has gotten really crappy, so I forked out around one hundred dollars for a HD box so that it would be improved - and it did. Little did I know I was going to obtain another five channels and upgrade my nightly viewing without having to pay anything else more. Pretty sweet if you ask me.

Then, the most interesting thing occurred. The television times I relied on so much (you know the one you get from the Sunday Mail each Sunday), became unreliable. It would have a show written down in there for a particular time, but when you switched over, another show you hated would be on. I've lost count of the times I've called one television station or another just to be told that they looked it up on the net and it was changed there! I've had explain calmly that I don't have my computer in my living room hooked up to the net twenty-four hours a day at my beck and call for when they decide to change the programming on a whim. I'd get an apology and a suggestion to call back during daytime hours.

Okay, I'll give you a good example. There's a new show that was supposed to be on air now on channel 10 called Three Rivers. The pilot went to air, then... nothing. They had the big advertising campaign with the very sexy Alex O'loughlin talking about Three Rivers and how it was 'coming soon'; they even put in a date and time slot (a Wednesday at 8:30pm). After the first Wednesday passed and I found the show pretty cool, I thought I'd give it a chance and watch the next show. The following week, it was in the TV times and I highlighted it remind me of it; but channel 10 put on a repeat of NCIS from last season without letting us know. Okay, they didn't advertise Three Rivers; that's a given; but what's with all the secrecy all of a sudden? What? We're too dumb to understand it might be given to another channel (the new channel 7?) or they just didn't think it would boost ratings? We're the public, not idiots.

So, now, when I look at the television times to check up on my programs, I really don't know what I'm going to watch... is it what's there? Or is it the luck of the draw? Honestly! We really have to make sure our favourite shows stay on the air and crap gets kicked off.

A Meet-Up With Like-Minded People In Brisbane City

Yesterday, being a Sunday, I normally clean the house or read the paper for a good part of the day and stuff around with a few books. But not yesterday. No, I went out into the city yesterday and met up with two other Bookcrossers who had travelled for some hours to meet me here in Brisbane. All I had to do was catch two buses and that was it; they had driven for three or four hours.
We met up outside the Treasury Casino; and they recognised me very easily as I wore a Bookcrossing t-shirt; and I said that my long red hair would be a dead giveaway! Anyway, after hugs and introductions -and exchanges of our RL names - we escorted the husband of one of the ladies into the Casino where he could while away his time playing Keno and the Pokies.
Meanwhile, I took the ladies out to the Pancake Manor on Charlotte Street for something to eat and coffee. They loved the place! Being from Tasmania, they love their old buildings; and thought the place gorgeous, the food was brilliant and we had plenty of laughs. Being Bookcrossers, we swapped books with each other; and I ended up coming home with more books than I went there with! Then, being readers and collectors and lovers of books, I thought a bookstore would be a good place to visit. And what other bookstore but 'Archives' right next door? Well, they had never been in such a big bookstore! Both of them agreed that they must come back and visit this one again for a proper look as it was just too big to have a good look and purchase. They were thrilled to know there was such a prominent store like this one in the center of Brisbane; which hadn't moved anywhere and was so well-stocked! I said it was one of my usual haunts when I came into the city.

Well, time marched on too quickly and we all had to go. I had two buses to catch to get home before the buses at Garden City stopped at 5pm. And Glenys and June had to beat the traffic on the freeway to Noosa before the same time. So, we said out goodbyes outside the Treasury - where we had met up - and we parted ways.

Volunteering... or not.

I'm a volunteer; and have been for some ten years now at the Logan Art Gallery. Even when I lost the use of a car, I found my way to and from the place to cover my shifts; and have been relied upon to fill in for people when they've called in sick or unable to make their shifts for one reason or another. I'm a very reliable person.

However, I've noticed a very disturbing trend of late in the volunteering arena; and it's not a good one. People will come in, sign up, do the training, then when they're on the roster, they'll either not show or they'll call in and say they can't make it. This causes big holes in the roster. Just yesterday, I was looking at the roster and counted up to ten names crossed out; and they were all new people! I saw the odd regular (but it's rare when that happens). Now, I'm disappointed that people out there take advantage of such a great place like the art gallery I work in and think it's okay to just not show or drop out all because of transport problems. I have transport problems but I have worked around them. There are buses, taxis and - if you're lucky like I am - family and friends who will help you if you ask.
Once you become a regular at the gallery, and you get in to a routine of busing it there or figuring out the trains, you can find other things to do before arriving. There's plenty of places around the the Logan Art Gallery you can hang out at in air-conditioned comfort before walking there; like McDonald's for example (it's just down the road). Now, it's not just this place I've seen that has had problems with its roster; it's everywhere. And it's the same problem. People signing up, then dropping out thinking that volunteer organisations will survive without them. I'm afraid to tell you, but the more volunteers we have on our books, the better the volunteer organisations run and more places can be around to help the less fortunate or raise more money.

So, when you sign up to be a volunteer, make sure you really can spare your time. No, you don't get paid in cash. But yes, you will be paid in the grace. You will see how much you can help people through giving your time for the good of the community.

It's My Party!

Yesterday was my birthday and I had a great day! Normally, it's a pretty quiet kind of occasion and I'm a little disappointed about how the day turns out; mainly because I have to entertain myself. But not yesterday.
Mum came around to my place with a large purple basket full of parcels from all over the world - mainly from my Bookcrossing friends who she had asked to help out celebrate my day; seeing I had organised a Love Bomb for hers. It was a lot of fun doing hers because I could easily get people together for it; however they didn't know her as well as they knew me. And boy! Did I receive some parcels! There were around 17 parcels all up! And would you believe it, there's more to come because some people were late in getting theirs out??? Wow! I really didn't know that I was that popular on Bookcrossing. I thought I was just another member who read a lot of books and hosted plenty of fun competitions and bookboxes and baggies.
I had fun yesterday morning opening all the parcels one by one; and Mum had a ball photographing me each time I opened one. It was wonderful. Then, I numbered them and photographed all the gifts individually for my 'thank you' blog on blogger. This gave me a chance to thank people on an individual basis all in one place so they can all see what each other gave me and comment on it. It's fairer that way. I've included photos and made sure the colour of the text is matching the present.

The day didn't end there, that night Mum and Dad took me out to Diggers RSL at Logan Central where we had a lovely meal. My pasta was a little undercooked; however, that wasn't anything to worry about, it was a minor detail. Mum and Dad gave me a paper shredder for my birthday and Dad gave me a PINK cd... so cool! Gabe has yet to give me his pressie as he has just returned from Melbourne with Katrina (his girlfriend). So, I'll be hopefully seeing him next weekend; or the next time we get together. What a birthday!

We finally cut the cake and had some of it and enjoyed it with a cup of tea early in the evening. It's been a wonderful birthday and I hope to have more memorable ones just like it.

My Cousin's Wedding

Wow! What a busy week! And yesterday was the middle of my week; from today onwards, I'm stayin' home. Yesterday, my cousin Joanna, and her fiance, Malcolm were married at Wynnum on the Lower Esplanade. However, what was supposed to be a lovely warm Spring day turned into an Arctic blast. It was an afternoon ceremony and so, we thought the day was going to be warm; were we wrong! A cold wind blew from the ocean as the tide came in buffeting us at the gazebo.
However, the bride didn't let that get in the way. She walked across the bridge, along the walkway and up the ramp of the little, crowded wooden structure after she was handed from her father to her fiance. The ceremony was lovely, short and well-organised; and I got some great photos (so did about 30 other people along with the photographer). As Jo and Mal walked around talking to a few people and waiting for the photographer to work on what was going on next, Mum, Dad and I ran into some neighbours who used to live next door to us. They were friends of Mal's and couldn't believe that we knew him as well. It was so good to see them again and they were happy to catch up with us.
The photographer was really great. He got us all into the picture; the Aunts & Uncles, the Grandfather, brothers and parents. Then, there was me - the token cousin (we have so many in the family, Jo picked out one to attend and it was me; I was honoured and didn't want to say no to the invite) - and so I was photographed too. Soon, we were all off to the warmth of our cars and away to have a cup of coffee until it was time to meet up at the restaurant for the reception.
And dinner was interesting. For appetisers, we had Fairy Bread (something thought up by the groom; and a favourite of his too), the dinner itself was delicious (being vegetarian, I had a pumpkin strudel; which had cashews, herbs and pepper in it! Yummo!). Then, dessert was a wine glass of green or red jelly with a freddo frog sitting up in it (another favourite of the groom's). Everyone thought it was unusual, but I thought it was quirky... but that's just my opinion. And what wedding isn't complete without a Wedding Waltz? Yep, the happy couple cut the cake and did that waltz. Jo being a ballet dancer knew the dance and she had married a guy who could dance (Wow! What a difference it makes when a guy can dance!). We left at around 10ish or so... after more photos. Mum got a good one of Jo and me; as we don't get to see each other - or catch up - on a regular basis. It was a lovely wedding and I'm glad I went.

Massive Dust Storm Hits the East Coast of Australia

This Wednesday just gone, we had the biggest dust storm in modern Australian History. First it hit Canberra (our country's capital) blanketed that place for the day. Then, it coated Sydney in a horrible red hue so bad the ferries were canceled, the airports were closed as were all the schools; and eventually, most of the cafes around the place just ended up closing up too. Then, it hit Brisbane here in Queensland. Now, we've had dust storms before; and that was around three or four years ago; however, this one was really bad!
I was sitting at my computer here blogging and surfing the net when I noticed the sky was that familiar weird golden colour, the wind had picked up and my bird (she's the one on my profile photo) going absolutely crazy downstairs. So, I got up and checked out her noise to find that the wind was dreadfully strong and dusty. Fortunately, I had picked up my camera before taking off downstairs and waited for the storm to get really bad before going outside to take these photos here at my place.
And that wasn't the worse of it: I was destined to go out to the lunch with my Mum, Aunt, Oma and brother and niece to Diggers at Logan Central. So, I armed myself with my camera and a bandanna and braved the haze to wait outside to be picked up. But once at the RSL, we could still smell - and feel - the dust inside the place. And we were told the air-conditioner was really struggling with the amount of desert dust that was being filtered through it. Have to say that was a lot better than being out in it. After lunch, I got my brother to take my niece and me to the Logan Art Gallery to show him ArtWaves (an exhibition of high school kids around Logan where they're judged and it's a competition too). Reluctantly, he took us and was amazed at the quality of work that was on display; wishing he had been encouraged at high school like kids today. But we could still smell the dust in the gallery too; however, considering how old the air-conditioner there is, it was a wonder that one didn't break down (we nick-name it Methuselah because it's been there since the gallery was the Woodridge Library; and that was a long time ago).
However, it was a lot worse in the Brisbane CBD area where people were caught unawares; and some ended up in hospital with breathing difficulties. And our massive dust storm made the World News.
But the outlook doesn't look good... we're in for another one; just not as bad as this one. In case you're wondering where all that top soil disappeared to and where it came from? It came from South Australia and ended up in New Caledonia and the North Island of New Zealand.

(The photo of Brisbane CBD is of Mary Street. Photo courtesy of João Paulo Horta.)