More of 'Somewhere Else'.

I can't stop thinking about this notion of EXILE. And for so many years I have been bothered about the sense of origin for myself and others. Now I find that almost each person I meet has a history of coming from 'somewhere else'. When I think of the Global shrinkage through our world communication and opportunities for travel all I see is what we have in common. We are not so different after all despite the personal histories we may have lost or left behind. Many of us have become used to 'living on the edge of things'. Yet our sense of National belonging is always in question. We question ourselves, the political parties we choose ignore or place strong emphasis of our country on the world stage. Wars are played out using our support.
Dallas J. Baker, Adjunct Fellow at Southern Cross University and writer for the '.conversation' recently gave us a quick overview of Australian History and this kept me thinking:
Ist Century after colonisation, Australia was seen to exist on the periphery of the British Empire.
World WarII to 1990 saw Australia positioned on the outer limits of USA's sphere of influence.
The year 2000 found Australia existing on the edge of ASIA, not yet a part of ASIA but existing apart from Asia.
In all these years the Indigenous Australians also experienced their sense of EXILE through dispossession of lands and kindred.
And so I am forced to remember Tolstoy's opening line in Anna Karenina, 'All happy families resemble one another but each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.'
AND, Susie Gibson, lecturer in English Literature at Charles Sturt University, 'Good writing is often created out of struggle, doubt and feelings of ineptitude'.
BUT, 'If you are going to write you'd better come from somewhere.' Flannery O'Connor.
The message is taken and my published books are worthy examples of this.

To Be or not to Be!! To join or to live in EXILE!

What an interesting word...EXILE! Dallas J Baker, Adjunct Fellow at Southern Cross University, writing in the CONVERSATION, has led me to understand why and what. What is the meaning of this amazing word EXILE! And why have most of us experienced living in Exile.
'For some certain people exile is the only tolerable condition.' The Ancestor Game by Alex Miller.
Somewhere else, living the experience of having lost or left, it is just this experience which has shaped us and how we think of ourselves. We practise aloofness, single ourselves out, show our unbelonging as a mark of uniqueness, keep our physical and cultural distance and so celebrate our national identity that in our mind distinguishes us from others.   If we understand who we are and who we could be despite our history of 'somewhere else' perhaps we could learn to welcome others seeking exile on our shores. Would this concept ring some bells for Mr Abbott (born in England) or Mr Joe Hockey, himself, the son of a migrant?

Australia is rapidly following in the footsteps of America...a population conglomerant of peoples from elsewhere! Let us try! Understanding is just the beginning....making it all possible.


 Sick of this rain?

Missing our summer?

You BET!!

Click on the photos to give yourself  a larger image.

Local Culture...well maybe 135kms from Perth

Sounds a lot but not so bad if you stop at Toodyay to have a quick look around or maybe have somewhere to stay for a few hours like us...do a few jobs...spraying the weeds early morning or....then the reward!
2.5kms East of Goomalling on the Dowerin Road you may find the Heritage listed, 1856 built Slater Homestead. Tea, coffee or lunch is possible but only on Friday, Sat. Sunday 10am to 4pm.
Two exhibitions of interest to photographers encouraged us to try out the short drive. A wild-life photographer...see below...has a permanent exhibition of her works in the 1856 building of the first school in Goomalling.

Only one teacher was employed to teach 25 students. And the attached building above was the only accommodation for the single teacher...single as in unmarried. It was not a Government run primary school but rather the first of 'private schools'.

The image above was not a photograph of the teacher rather an excellent example of the professional wild-life photographs on display.

 If you like her photography her details of access are printed...a touch of your finger will enlarge the image once this Blog is published.









Now to expand on the second exhibition we have helpful Baaarbaaara to show us the way. She is rather photogenic or so she thinks...on closer inspection her creation reminds you of your toilet seat at home. But on lifting the lid we find her hidden tongue...not something we would expect. She is very shy as are all sheep.
The Barn is featured if you follow Baaarbaaara's nose and here we find the second exhibition...a fine example of Astrophotography. Many photos influenced by the members of the GIN GIN space laboratory...another place worthwhile visiting.
This Barn offers accommodation should anyone be interested.

So on the way out of town you might be interested in visiting a Goomalling Icon...wheat bin? I think so however there are many more photo opportunities along the way through the township such as steel shaped animals etc. Give it a go!!




No the Goomalling council is not paying me BUT
www.visitgoomalling.com.au is an option....could have saved myself all this trouble...BUT...

I've run the MAD Marathon!

I can't believe it! I have come to the end of this marvellous book.I do love the cover: Mr. Catholic in his budgie smugglers standing in first position on the political podium and at center....between the insane narcissist KR standing in second position and our first female Prime Minister smiling knowingly at 3rd position. Yes this wast 'The Mad Marathon' (The story of the 2013 election) written by Mungo MacCallum.
But it was the introduction of Chapter20 which got to me finally.
'Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives. I think we are being run by maniacs for maniacle ends and I think I'm likely to be put away as insane for expressing that.That's what is insane about it.'
John Lennon ( the late...John Lennon) who should know...it was insanity of another kind which brought him dpwn but the message is there!!!!

The monthly morass! No not that one!

But the one of my own creation. Yes! My choice in books! How depressing the topics have been. I thought evidence of corruption was safely to be seen on Mother England's shores but now of all book choices I am wading through the political history of the recent election in my home country. Admittedly we were travelling again last September so it was quite rational to catch up on the background....who did what to whom....where do we stand politically? And....and....and...oh no! We should have stayed overseas. Captain Catholic and his band of arrogants have taken over the playground. But what next? There is a newcomer on the horizon! He his dragging his bag of money into Parliament and what's worse he is the mirror image of what we have already....more conservative thinking! But my battery needs recharging! In more ways than one I think! Then again this could be a metaphor for a good old country to have a rethink. Is that possible? No! Money speaks louder than words. Hold on tight we are on the backword slide! A country ready to be dumped from the world stage? What an idea? Who said that? And now the Indonesian election! Has anyone been listening in?

The week that was! A mother's disgrace!

No not my mother's...Rupert's. And he owns 70percent of the news sources in Australia...so the power of what? Change Governments? You bet! And, at the least, influence politicians, law makers and the gullible Australian voter. The process is called corruption and it appears it is endemic.
As I wrote in my Amazon review of the book 'Breaking News:Sex, Lies and the Murdoch Succession' by Paul Barry I wondered and still do wonder....how does a controller, a narcissist of companies be unaware of the activities of his staff? Why do we think of these people as entrepreneurs and not as social deviates?
Unfortunately his 'innocence' and the 'innocence'of his chiefs have been taken off the front page and replaced by another ex-Australian misfit Rolf Harris. In this case I feel for his diminutive and shuffling wife as well as his victims.
But what can be done to remove all trace of Rupert and his slippery fingers in our backward little country? We know how to wipe away all signs of Rolf's physical presence. But what of the emotional scars left behind Down Under? Yes I am one to have had my ideals destroyed by the activities of these misfits. Rolf swam just under the bridge I cross daily causing me to think of him. And I find that one of my school friends was a journalist and a board member of the idealised Mr Murdoch. But did he abuse the trust of his public? just to keep his job? Would he? I have my ideas but .....I'll never know.

What is it that makes hanging on to a Religion the excuse for acting corruptly?

There are so many people I know who think because they believe in God, God believes in them. But why test the relationship? Why behave like that? Is it the guarantee promised by some religions that a quick confession will cleanse their spirit and ON, ON, the subterfuge, the manipulation, the dishonesty, the greed, the destruction of friendships and relationships, the lying, the half-truths, the chasing of the idolatry by the masses and government officials, the positioning of themselves in the upper social circles, the purchase of the biggest boats, latest cars, biggest planes and biggest properties. All this may make these people the biggest money hoarders but how? At the expense of the small taxpayer/earner or/and the unfortunate Australian who happened to be born with a different skin colour. Oh yes but all these deceits are made better by bigger and bigger donations to needy organisations. And we feel a lot better don't we? Of course we can believe it all now. But No! We can't.
Reading 'The High Stakes life of Andrew Forrest' by Andrew Burrell has made me realise that whoever said that we are looking in the wrong places for the existence of SOCIOPATHS... is so right. No wonder the shooting down of the gilded lilly is such a popular sport for some Australians. But where does our interpretation of success and entrepreneurship stop? Has Capitalism gone to our heads? I think so.
We need to remember that we are all just passing through....So? Well, our maker will welcome those who have contributed society in such ways....oh really? Dream on!