Ten Albums

I'm not going to tell you about the awesome walk I went on this afternoon. A lap of the Tan in the cold rain. The Tan track was nearly empty. It was brilliant.

Instead, I'm going to reflect on some albums which have formed me, made me, and sit very deeply in my soul. As somebody who has eclectic music tastes and a tendency to listen to compliations and play lists, it was fun to look at the albums I love and some memories attached to the said albums.

I pity the milennials who don't know the joys of waiting for the cover art, or having to turn over a record / cassette or CD before going on. Or knowing that your favourite song is three songs in on the second side. Ah, they were the days.

Anyway, in no real order, some of my favourite albums.

Stoneage Romeos - Hoodoo Gurus (1984)



1984. Year Eleven. The school camp to Mount Hotham which put me off INXS for life because they played the The Swing album end to end over that week. I've never been able to stomach INXS since. But about the same time, Dolly Magazine had a guy called Stuart Coupe do their music reviews. He used to rave about this album. Okay, he manaaged the band - but they're awesome. The Hoodoo Gurus are one of the best things to come out of Aussie Rock in the 80s. This album is all about the dance, and the fun and the humour. Songs like, I was a Kamikaze Pilot, Leilani and I Want You Back. Guitars and drums. I tried to introduce the Hoodoo Gurus to friends in London. They thought I was mad. I still think they're wonderful.

Surfer Rosa / Come on Pilgrim - The Pixies (1988)


The Pixies are God! But this was not the first album I bought of theirs. I got Doolittle first - which is their next best album, but there is something just wonderful about the howls, the screaming guitars and the Loud/Soft/Loud of Surfer Rosa.

Having seen them three times in concert, they never disappoint. Surfer Rosa is my rainy day album. I like to dance around the kitchen cleaning up to this. It makes me happy. Where is my Mind?, Levitate Me and Nimrod's Son just get inside you. This is full of great memories over three decades - and still, people have to ask who they are.

Ten Summoner's Tales - Sting (1993)



London. My second year there. Two very inappropriate men, of very different natures (though strangely, both were Irish) were into this album. Both had favorite songs off the album. One loved, "It's Probably Me." The other loved "Fields of Gold." So many good songs on this.

For me, my theme song comes this album. "Shape of my Heart" is a glorious little ballad. Give it a listen. You'll understand. Good memories every time I play this, even if the memories aren't always sanctioned.

An Awesome Wave - Alt-J (2012)



I'd never heard of Alt-J when I found this album . It was a bit of a fluke. It was in November 2013.  I was in Wellington, New Zealand visiting a friend. My friend Geetangeli, who lives in Christchurch, told me to go to her favourite cafe in Wellington down Cuba Street. This album was playing in that cafe. It struck me then and there. I asked the barista about the album. It was bought and downloaded there and then. I adore the song Breezeblocks. Rarely does a month go past when this doesn't get played.

Stop Making Sense - Talking Heads (1984)



Another seminal album from 1984. Ask my step-sister what she remembers of me at high school, she will say it's listening to Talking Heads as we drove around Myponga. David Byrne is a showman. The songs are up there and out there. Their cover of Take Me to the River one of the best there is. Psycho Killer, Life during Wartime, Once in a Lifetime... it's all great stuff. The re-release has a couple of extra tracks. It's an album I can dance to, work to, relax to and just enjoy. It's New York and the 1980s at its very best.

Urban Hymns - The Verve (1997)



London, 1998. My 30th birthday. My cousin was over and staying with me. She was good at drinking all the milk during the night, only finding there wasn't enough to make a cup of tea with in the morning. It was great to bond with my cousin, but I don't think either of us can listen to  this album without remembering those carefree times, her job in a City bar and how offensively drunk we got on the eve of my 30th birthday (My cousin's birthday is the day before mine - her boss, who we were out with that night, was born the day after - it was a reason to really celebrate hard)

And it's still a lovely listen.

So - Peter Gabriel (1985)



Year 12. Required listening if you weren't into AC/DC, Chisel and INXS. Interesting and melodic. It's not an album to dance to - more to list to on winter evenings in front of the fire. I gave this a spin a few weeks ago. The remaster has an extra track which fits with the mood. It's a perfect ending. Very much an eighties soundtrack, but it still stands up to scrutiny. I miss Peter Gabriel.

Rum, Sodomy and the Lash - The Pogues (1985)



Another late find. Another bloke in London introduced me to this album. And it is awesome. This is my angry driving music. It's great for letting off a bit of steam, particularly down the Monash at 100 clicks late at night. There is a lot to ponder on this album. How is Shane McGowan still alive? How have they done the best version of "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda" that is as good as the original. Why, when you meet up with certain friends, as you leave, you start singing, "I'm sad to say, I must be on my way...". Few know about this album. It's a well kept secret amongt Gen-Xers.

Nevermind - Nirvana (1991)



Surely this is THE album of the 90s. The Pixies influence, with the loud/soft/loud verse/chorus sequencing, Kurt Cobain's edgy vocals, the hard edge drums and the whole Grunge effect is just incredible. So many good songs on this - so many tunes ingrained in our psyches. I think you'd be had pressed to find a person in their late 40s /early 50s who doesn't have a copy of this floating around in a shoe box.

Back to Black - Amy Winehouse (2006)



Oh Amy, Amy, Amy. Why did you have to go join the 27 Club. Good Jewish girl from North London with the voice of a whisky soaked angel. Rehab defined a generation. The rest of the album is just sublime.

Some say she died too soon. To me, sometimes you reach near perfection, then what do you have to go on for. She was incredible. This is testment to this. Soul at its greatest.

Noted others that nearly made the list:

• Hello, I Must be Going - Phil Collins
• Bookends / Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel
• The White Album - The Beatles
• Whatever People Say, That's What I'm Not - The Arctic Monkeys
• Transformer - Lou Reed
• The B'52s - The B'52s
• The Violent Femmes - The Violent Femmes
• Searching for Sugarman - Rodriguez
• Human Frailty - Hunters and Collectors
• Sidewalk - Icehouse
• Love Stuff - Elle King

Today's Song:

The New Weekend

I used to really look forward to the weekend. I know I will look forward to the weekends again. But for the moment, the weekend means more time at home, in the flat, with Lucifer. This is good. But there are some things which will just be missed while we self-isolate, remain at a distance, and generally stay on our own for the next few months. There is no gym. There are no cinemas and theatres. There's no getting together with friend for the foreseeable future. (I'm sick of writing those words - it sounds like such a long time.) 

So I need a plan for the weekend. What needs t get done by 9 am Monday morning when I fish out my work computer and start up the daily grind from my desk where  write from now.

So I need a plan. A lsit of what needs to get done. If I don't have a plan I'll lie on the bed with the cat and read all weekend, sipping on a necessary Negroni (Who knew I would finally own a bottle of Vermouth and a bottle of Campari to go with the gin. I thought these were something only my parents had in their collection of ancient grog). 

So here's my list.

1) A substantial amount of novel writing

Class is back on, even if I've lost a bit of impetus, bit it's time to get back to it. I've locked down a couple of hours of writing.

2) Attack the ironing pile

It's not too big - just needs to be done. 

3) The floors

As I now have a black furry house demon (Lucifer the cat) the hoovering and the mopping have to be done more often. Furry house demon sheds black hair everyhere. Lucky he's cute. 

4) Finish my book

I'm over 300 pages into American Dirt by Jeanine Cummings. It's a controversial book. I can see why - but it's a good yarn. I need to get my copy of Bruny by Heather Rose off of Blarney - but that may be next weekend as circumstances are a bit difficult at the moment. 

5) Complete April's Furious Fiction

500 words, 55 hour and a couple of parameters to write in the story. This month's criteria:

• Your story must begin on the side of a road.
• Your story must include the words APRON, PIGMENT, RIBBON, ICON, LEMON (plurals are okay).
• Your story must include a splash.

I can work with that.

6) Go for some walks

Jay and I are planning on going on a couple of walks. You can walk with one other as long as you kep our distance. It's going to be a wet weekend  - few will be out with any luck.  

7) Find the other half of the couch. 

It's buried under crap - time for that to change.

There we are, I think I have a plan. Will check in on Monday to see how I go.

There's half a chance I'll ahve watched a lot of movies and talked to the cat more than I should have. 

The Negroni has been drained. It's bed time. I have a plan.

Today's Song: 

Writing with Dev - Part Five

I had another day in front of the computer. On top of blogging, I'm trying to get at least half an hour of novel writing in a day, sometime it's  just good to get the blog done by writing along with another.

Fun fact: Gold FM plays Hotel California most days sometime during the days. And I'm getting old as I listen to Gold FM.

Dev's half hour classes are great for this.

So here we go. Lesson Five.

Five Minutes of Non-stop writing:

I played with the cat tonight. It's not something I've done since I've had him, but tonight, I got the stick with ribbons on it and played with the cat for about half an hour. He's not an all in type of cat, preferring to sit back and watch things happen, swatting at the ribbons, hanging on, then digging in a claw until I let go. He's not one to roll around on the floor with the ribbons - Maow Maow would do this. He's a little standoffish.

Then again, he's a small panther, there is a bit of dignity to this little beast. Even when he decides that he wants a cuddle in the middle of the day. He just climbs into my lap, then climbs up on my shoulder and stays for a few minutes. He's quite independent in that way. Likes his space - comes to you in his own time and on his own terms. But he still sleeps with me - which I love. He likes reading with me too.

I pay for him on Saturday. Finalise the adoption. He will finally be my cat.


Note: Writing helps the writer. the more you do, the better you get - ah, there is a reason I'm writing a blog post every day! Yay. Validation.

Genres: Write down Genres you love and hate - pick one of each, then write for ten minutes in each of these genres.

Love: Poem, Review, List, Sitcom, Prayer , Screenplay, Novel Speech, Drama, Fairy tale , children story, manual, Opinion, Limerick, Eulogy.


Hate: Erotica, Housekeeping, Code of Conduct, Group Email from a crazy person, Horror, Pitch, Memo ,

Write for ten minutes in each genre.

Erotica:

She doesn't know what he gets out of their sessions. She never really asked him. It just is. It's nothing overly sensual. It is what it is - their time together is unadulterated fucking. There is a rawness to their actions, yet a tenderness which she knows affects them both.

Their clothes come of first. There's not beating around the bush, it's a utilitarian action, easier for them to do the job themselves.  They aren't children, there are no bunnies that need to be skinned. They are not teenagers, rolling around in the back of a car with gay abandon. They are both middle aged. Clothes are clothes, bodies are bodies. In the early days they didn't see clothing as a hindrance - him taking lifting her skirt, removing her underpants - utilitarian cotton of course, bending her over the kitchen sink and taking her from behind. He barely took the time to see if she was ready. He was a bit of a barbarian in that respect. It was about him. It was about the cock. About his orgasm, not hers.

If she ever did come, he made note. She loved the self-satisfied grin that crossed his face as her cunt contracted around his hardened penis, as if it was sucking the life force out of him. 'I felt that,' he would tell her. She wasn't quite sure what he felt. She got more from clitoral stimulation. She'd tried to tell him over the years, but he never listened.

She would love him to to take her with his mouth - but this wasn't in his play book. When it came to sex, she was the adventurous one - he was more the base model, wanting the connection rather than the grasping gymnastics that her other lovers had provided.

It was the contact they both cherished - but neither would admit this to the other.


Poem:

Never

I never tell you I need you
Not that you want to hear it.
Not that I will ever say it,
For this is not the way things are,
And I think you don't want to know.

I've never told you I want you
For I doubt you would believe it
You don't think that I'm worthy
Or your worthy of these thoughts
It's just the way things are.

I never tell you I'm sorry
As apologies show weakness,
Well that is what you told me
When you came in late that night
Reeking of another woman and her charms

I've never thought to forgive you
For you actions or your comments
As you walked away that evening
Only to return in the morning
As if nothing ever happened, by they way.

And I'll never think I'll to tell you
Of my secret need for loving
For the fact I need so much more
But I cannot ask you for that.
And I know you'll ask me why.

And I've never thought of leaving
As in going I'd be lonely
I'd be miserable and frightened
And half of me would be missing
And I've nowhere else to go.

But I've never said I love you
I've never thought to tell you
As you've taken me for granted
For most of our couple time.

I've never said I love you
Because I doubt that I would mean it
And I know that I deserve better
And I doubt that you would care.


Today's Song:

Escape

I escaped for half an hour today. Just half an hour. It was necessary. It was needed. It had to be done in the name of sanity.And it was wonderful.

Who knew that running down the street to the supermarket could be so therapeutic?

Maybe because the day before I didn't make it out the front gate, I barely made it out the front door, only running down to the car to get something I'd forgotten.  Spending over eleven hours in front of the computer is far too much - on the good side of things, two hours were spent at school in the online classroom, another hour chatting with the girls from my book group. But still. Yesterday it was just me and the cat and my virtual world.

Maybe it was because this was a bit of a clandestine breakout which made it sweeter - a between meetings jaunt during work hours. Working from home you have a bit of leeway. Starting early, working later, taking breaks when you want. I snuck out just before 12. I drove down there. If I had a bit more time I would have walked, but just the act of getting in the car was enough to relieve some tension.

My shopping list was small, but necessary. Salad, veggies, hand wash if I could find it, Worcestershire Sauce (Basic staple when you have cheese on toast regularly - my old bottle ran out). But I needed fresh vegetables. This wasn't an arbitrary visit to the supermarket. The last time I was there was Saturday.

A visit to the cash machine so I could pay the personal trainer.

A visit to the washroom directly after to wash my hands - god knows who's been at the cash machine. God knows when the last time they were cleaned.

A quick chat with the Soap Guy. He's still there in the complex. Most of the other shops and half the food shop are closed.

A quick run around Coles. I didn't linger. People were keeping their distance. I watched with interest and the kid on the checkout wiped down the scanner. He was wearing gloves. I packed my own groceries - no issue there.

Bakers Delight beckoned. I found a bun. It's still not South Australian bakery culture, but a bun is never a bad thing.

A free coffee at my coffee shop - I had one on my coffee card.

Then home.

Out and back in forty minutes.

And for those forty minutes, things felt normal again.

(What was even better, I escaped again at the end of the day, walking back to the shopping centre, through the doors, and out to meet Cleo for a personal training session in the park. Somehow I managed 12500 steps today. It felt so good to be active for a change)

Today's Song:

March Check In - April Goals

Well, that was a month and a half it has been - it feels like so much longer than this - in may ways it feels like the world is no longer the world that we know.

Victoria is now on Stage Three Lockdown, so we can only go out to get some brief exercise, go to the shops for essentials, see a doctor and that is about it. I am very glad I have Lucifer around the house. I know he's just a cat, but he's very good company, even if he does wake me up demanding breakfast most mornings.

Anyway, it's goal setting time.

Here's the March check in and the April reset.


1) To take lunch to work every day (except when I'm meeting somebody for lunch. 

While I was at work in the office, this happened. Since I've been working from home for the last two weeks, this is a bit of a moot point as I make my own lunch - sometimes sharing lunch over a video call with friends. Fun, eh!

2) Continue on the elimination of dairy, gluten and sugar.

I've not been great. Changes in the environment have meant a bit more ice cream has been eaten in total despair - but this has been rare. Being at home, I don't buy in crap, so it has not been a complete waste of a goal. To be continued.

3) Write down everything I spend

I've managed to do this. I've had a few more outlays than expected e.g. an office chair, a monitor etc, but I'll keep doing this as it keeps me in check. I spend too much on Apple products and eating out. Mind you, in lock down, this should go down a lot.

4) Complete a Park Run.

Didn't happen as they shut down Park Run before I could go. I have done a couple of laps of the Tan track and done some bit walks. Nearly, but not quite.

5) Read four books.

I've read three and a half. I'm halfway through American Dirt by Jeanine Cummings. I also read:

• Foster by Claire Keegan (For school)
• 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World by Elif Shafak (Extraordinary book)
• Allegra in Three Parts by Suzanne Daniel

Nearly acheived.

6) Lose two kilograms (at least)

Didn't happen.

7) Get 10000 words of the new novel done.

Half done. Up until Friday we were unsure if school was going ahead, along with the rest of the turmoil which March brought us - it is - we're now doing it online over Zoom - first class tonight. Really looking forward to getting back to it.

Now for April's goals. And I'm scaling these down a little due to the lockdown - as we've been old we've got this for the next month at least - I say it will be two to three months.

1) Get 10000 words of the new novel done.

Now we have school back - and Easter, there are no excuses.

2) Participate in Writers Victoria Flash Fiction every day.

It's 30 words - its not going to kill me - good for the observation skills. I did it last year and loved it. It's done on Twitter and only takes a few minutes.

3) Get in a 30 minute walk in every day.

The gym is closed. Heaven knows how much longer I'll be able to see Cleo - and Jay is reticent to go for a walk with me, so walking by myself it is. I also have a fit ball, a theraband, a yoga mat and a few other pieces of gym equipment that I can use around here - but I need to make sure I get out of the flat. I'll go mad otherwise.

4) Read four books this month.

I like this goal. Will do it again - nearly made it last month.

5) Work on my flexibility. 

Something good to do while I'm stuck at home. I'm not very bendy in a physical way - maybe some yoga exercises / stretches and the like will get me moving a bit better

6) Write down everything I spend

The key here is to get the discretionary spending right down. This keeps me accountable. It's a good goal to do.


Today's Song:

Best Self Card: Arguments

Quick one today as I have council minutes to write up, pieces for school to critique and my own novel work to get on with.

So I drew a Best Self Card from the box. Today's subject to write about. What do you get into the most arguments about?

That's easy. Politics.

I prefer to call them discussions. Occasionally heated discussions.

Just because I'm on the left of things - preferring out money to be going into schools and hospitals rather than big business. I'd rather see us not pandering to millionaires, as opposed to not seeing that the little people are having their say and due.

I hate the march to the far right, which frankly, scares the fuck out of me.

I think the Church as absolutely NO PLACE in modern politics. Absolute separation between Church and State is tantamount to a democracy. We don't have that at the moment.

I really dislike 99% of the current Cabines. I'll say good things about Marise Payne, Foreign Minister, mainly because she doesn't fuck up as much as the rest of them.

I hope when their term is over Morrison, Dutton, Angus Taylor and that awful Michaelia Cash end up in prison for crimes against humanity.

I'm hoping that this Covid-19 might restore a bit of common sense and humanity to global politics, though I don't like my chances.

You can see why I get into arguments about this.

Ah well.



Today's Song:

Alec Clayton's Questions

I'm getting a bit sick of living within the walls of my flat, but it needs to be done. This morning, Jay and I went for a walk along the river. Not an overly long walk, but it was great just to be out in nature, keeping our distance, having a chat, watching everybody else doing the same thing.  It was pretty glorious along the Yarra.

Like everybody else, I'm stuck at home, for work, soon it will be exercise. It just is what it is.

I'm just pleased I have the small panther to keep me company. He really is the bestest boy.

And on the good side of things, school is back on Tuesday, albeit online - but school is back, thank goodness.

Questions, as always, from Bev at Sunday Stealing.


1. If there's a personal god, what quality would you most like that person to have (and why)?

If there was a personal god, I would wish them to be unfailingly kind.

2. What's your death-row meal?

Oh, that would be roast lamb, with all the trimmings and lashings of mint sauce, followed by creme brulee. Either that or a full degustation meal from Vue de Monde.

3. Assuming we make it through this outbreak with minimal loss of life, what do you think our big takeaway should be?

We need to be very grateful for what we have - and to be kinder to the planet and too each other. I also think we need to have a good look at our political systems and we should strive to make them better for all. (Even though we have muppets in charge here, I'm so pleased I'm not in America at the moment)

4. Whom do you find yourself missing more than you would've predicted?

I'm in contact with most of my friends virtually, but not being able to get to Sydney is stinging a bit more than I like to admit to.

5. What brings you the most joy? Not happiness, not contentment -- JOY.

Cuddles. Hence why I'm missing Sydney trips.

6. Do you find yourself regretting anything you've said or done on social media?

Not yet. I'm very careful what I put on social media, trying to remain fairly balanced and positive. I'm thankful for it as it's how I keep up with most of my friends now.

7. What are your favorite and least favorite things about your body and face?

Favourite things about me: My eyes and hair.
Least favourite things: That I look at food and I put on weight.

8. and your life?

Most favourite things: Writing, reading, friends, food, my small panther.
Least favourite things: Being locked up at home, having the gym closed, seeing my friends suffer under the current conditions.

9. How's the self-isolation affecting your libido?

I'm always horny so there's no change.

10. Which three places in the physical universe would you most like to visit?

• Japan
• Angkor Wat
• Seattle / San Francisco / Las Vegas / Colorado - Western America is high on the list
• Morocco
• The Bungle Bungles and the Kimberleys

This is a very short list. It is a lot longer. 

11. On whom did you have a crush years ago? Have you ever told them?

How can I tell Clive Owen that I've had a crush on him for over a decade - we've barely been in the same country for 20 years - but he did do that wonderful film, The Boys are Back, near where I come from:

12. How have your religious views changed since you were in high school?

In high school I would have called myself a Christian  - or more to the point a Methodist. I'm now no longer a Christian - gave back my Jesus ticket thirty years ago as it never made sense to me. I'm now a funny mix of Wiccan, Agnostic, Kabbalist, Hindu, Humanist. I like being a part of lots of things, not just one. Basically, I'm spiritual, rather than religious.

13. If you could change one law, what would it be?

I'd be making it illegal for Australia to run the concentration camps on Manus and Nauru which they have been running for nearly ten years.

14. If you could add one commandment to the original ten, what would it be?

Thou shalt think before you open your mouth.

Today's Song: