Tu Jardin Con Enanitos - Melendi (YouTube)

Melendi Tu Jardin Con Enanitos - YouTube (*) - Barcelona (Wed 07 Aug 2013)
, Melendi Tu Jardin Con Enanitos - live version - YouTube (*) - Barcelona (Wed 07 Aug 2013)
Heard this song today as Joanne was paying for some nice clothes she found in a Shop just off the main road. I asked the shop assistant what the name of the song was and she wrote it down, along with singers name:

Tu Jardin Con Enanitos (*) by Melendi (*)

It sounds very similar to another I've heard recently (will try to find it, though I am finding it difficult) and I thought this song was a Spanish version of it (or the other way around).

Searched for an English translation of the lyrics and found the lyrics to be pretty bold, direct, confident, with no holding back on the passion, that's for sure. The first line says it all :-) and there are other good ones as well. While some of the lyrics seem quite direct compared to what is the norm in Australia, others are quite thoughtful. But I guess that is passion.

Another random moment worth remembering.

Lyrics: Your Garden With Gnomes (English translation from the original in Spanish)

Today I ask my dreams, that they remove your clothes
That all my attempts to bite your mouth
Turn into kisses
And even though I understand that you
You always have the last word in this love

And today I ask your guardian angel, that he share
That he give me courage and bravery in battle to win it 1
And it's just that I don't want to pass by your life like fashions
Don't be scared Miss, no one has talked to you of a wedding
I only want to be the four legs of your bed
Your war every night, your ceasefire every morning
I want to be you medicine, your silences and your cries
Your thief, your policeman, your garden with gnomes
I want to be the brush that sweeps away sadness
I want to be your uncertainty and above all your certainty

And today I asked the moon, that it extend this night for me
And that this feeling light up with intensity
And that hearts dance
And even though I understand that you
Will always be that dream that perhaps I'll never be able to reach

And today I ask your guardian angel, that he share
That he give me courage and bravery in battle to win it
And it's just that I don't want to pass through your life like fashions
Don't be scared miss, no one has talked to you of a wedding
I only want to be the four legs of your bed
Your war every night, your ceasefire every morning
I want to be you medicine, your silences and your cries
Your thief, your policeman, your garden with gnomes
I want to be the brush that sweeps away sadness
I want to be your uncertainty and above all your certainty

And it's just that I want to be the one who never forgets your birthday
I want you to be my rose and my thorn even though you hurt me
I want to be your carnival, your beginnings and your ends
I want to be the sea where you can drown all your sorrows
I want you to be my tango by Gardel, 2 my octaves 3
My half honeymoon, my blues, my eighth wonder
The dance of my ballroom, the zip and buttons
I want you to wear your skirt and my trousers as well

Your astronaut, the first man who walks across your moon
Nailing in a flag of madness
To paint your life with colour, with passion
With flavour, with emotion and tenderness
Know that there's no cure for me any more
Without your love

Coaches & Coaching: The Art Form - Drew Ginn (Tue 24 Jun 2008)

Another Favourite Blog Post by Drew Ginn. This time about coaches and coaching titled Coaches & Coaching: The Art Form (Tue 24 Jun 2008) ..

[..] From directing, to coaching, to supporting and delegating. It's important to understand that coaches need to be adaptable and flexible in the style to best suit the athlete and the situation.

From what I have been exposed to over the years I have had coaches who have all been different and at certain times they have suited my needs and other time they have not quiet matched up to what I have needed. This has also played out in relation to the situation also.

Recently our coach, Chris worked on being more directed and coaching in his style. After we got back into things it was required that he shift his focus to suit our situation. It was a different energy and help us greatly in getting the ball rolling again. We have been good at working with him in a more supportive and delegating way which relates to our experience and willingness to be involve and responsible for our preparation and performance.

Years ago with the four, Noel Donaldson was great at managing the group and as such operated well in a supportive capacity. This did not mean at times he didn't shift into directing the group and coaching but it was often a quick switch and very effective in getting a response.

Now when I think of my development years at times I need a good kick up the ass. And well I had a few good coaches that did it perfectly. My only concern with this style of directing is that at some point the emphasis needs to shift and if it doesn't then problems and or confusion can grow.

In Australia right now we have a large variety of coaches with such a range of experiences and history in the sport. I am sure there is a different level of ambition and ego too. Surely they are no different to the athletes in one sense. They want to be the best they can be. They want to be the best. They I would have thought would want what is best for their athletes. Some times these two things can be in conflict which to me is the coaching dilemma.

This [leads] me to consider what it can be like in a crew also. In fact it goes to the heart of teamwork and why it can be so challenging to get it right. In a boat you want to do the best you can. You also want the team to do it best. You want everyone one to do there best. The dilemma then is what is the priority then? What are you measure by? What drives what and what can bring it all undone? These question like the coaches dilemma are very important in understanding why some times things work and other times they don't.

At this level everyone has ability and everyone has performed in a way to get to where they are. There fine line between wanting something for your self and wanting something for others is a fickle and often precarious position. You need to be motivated to be the best, but this need has to stay in check with relation to the motivation for the collective effort.

I mention all this because coaching like rowing is about balancing the influences, expectations and needs of all involved. Although the coaching view of things is some what objective if this is all that is focused on then the nature of the art form is lost in the numbers. The subtlety of shifting and adapting is needed with out being reactionary. A coaches view is often more comprehensive. They have to take in more information about performance on and off the water. This is the challenge and to honor all perspective is critical.

Coaches like athlete need to be masters of their art form to have longevity. When I say master I refer to the ability to stay even in their presence and maintain consistency while subtly shifting focus based on what the situation requires.

As an athlete I know I need a coach. I enjoy having a person who I can work with to enable the best outcome. I have been fortunate to have what I would say as some of the great coached from our sport. Noel and Chris have been a major factor in me getting this far and assisting in helping me to not only be a better athlete but better person.

This I am sure is not unique to me, I am sure many athletes have and will continue to feel this way about their coaches.

Lots to think about in this one.

On Photography - Leonard Nimoy - Photographs on the Brain | LENSCRATCH (Tue 20 Nov 2013)

Signs - Madrid (Sat 10 Aug 2013)
Leonard Nimoy (*) writes On Photography (*):

You must master (*) your craft and then put it aside and concentrate (*) on the more difficult aspect of the work.

• What is it that you want to do (*) with that craft?
• What do you want to express (*)?
• What do you want to explore (*)?
• What do you want to find out (*)?
• What do you want to present (*) to people?

Those are the issues that you have to search (*) for.

via Instant Connections: Essays and Interviews on Photography (*) by LENSCRATCH (*) from selected a quote (*) by Photographs on the Brain (*).

If You Want To - Seth Godin (Tue 19 Jul 2016)

I want to .. I am .. - Library / Glebe (Wed 20 Jul 2016)

Seth Godin on If You Want To:

anyone with a $300 laptop can use the very same tools as the people at the top of just about any industry. [..]

If you want to learn, do research, make a ruckus... your local library has access to the same tools as you'll find in a skyscraper in a big company.

via The very same software by Seth Godin.

I've realised this for a long time and now I have the opportunity to make something of it here at the Glebe Library. Really making some great progress with everything that Seth mentions in his post - The very same software - and I am excited about what I am creating.

Saturday Night's Alright (For Paddling) ..

Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting) (wikipedia) - Elton John and Anastacia
We all had to come up with a song for our 2006 HCC paddle. This video inspired my hopeless attempt, which follows ..

Saturday Night's Alright (For Paddling)

Music by Elton John
Original Lyrics by Bernie Taupin (Butchering done by Me)
Available on an album in all good record stores ..

It's getting late have you seen my mates
Steph tell me when the Windsor Start gets near
It's six o'clock and I want to paddle
Want to get a night full of cheer

Gav's funnier than a barrel full of monkeys
And Julia she does really care
Betty looks cute in her paddling suit
An orange scarf in her hair

Don't give us none of your aggravation
We had it with your discipline
Saturday night's alright for paddling
Get a little steering in

Run about as smooth as the best paddling boat
Gonna set this river alight
`Cause Saturday night's the night I like
Saturday night's alright alright alright

Well we're packed pretty tight in here tonight
I'm looking for the finish that'll see me right
I may use a little muscle to get what I need
I may sink a little drink and shout out "almost here"

A couple of the sound that I really like
Are the sounds of a smooth running paddling boat
I'm a product of the PD's paddling class
Whose best friend McGinty floats around in a paddling boat

Original Lyrics ..

Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)
Music by Elton John
Lyrics by Bernie Taupin

Available on the album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

It's getting late have you seen my mates
Ma tell me when the boys get here
It's seven o'clock and I want to rock
Want to get a belly full of beer

My old man's drunker than a barrel full of monkeys
And my old lady she don't care
My sister looks cute in her braces and boots
A handful of grease in her hair

Don't give us none of your aggravation
We had it with your discipline
Saturday night's alright for fighting
Get a little action in

Get about as oiled as a diesel train
Gonna set this dance alight
`Cause Saturday night's the night I like
Saturday night's alright alright alright

Well they're packed pretty tight in here tonight
I'm looking for a dolly who'll see me right
I may use a little muscle to get what I need
I may sink a little drink and shout out "She's with me!"

A couple of the sound that I really like
Are the sounds of a switchblade and a motorbike
I'm a juvenile product of the working class
Whose best friend floats in the bottom of a glass

On Risk and Failure - Quentin Tarantino (Wed 19 Dec 2012)

It's a Little Bit Scary - Glebe (Sat 24 Nov 2012)
Quentin Tarantino (*) talks On Risk (*) and Failure (*):

I’ve always been pushing that envelope.

I want to risk hitting my head on the ceiling of my talent.

I want to really test it out and say: O.K., you’re not that good. You just reached the level here.

I don’t ever want to fail, but I want to risk failure every time out of the gate.

via Quentin’s World (*) by Charles McGrath (*).

A thought to start the year.

On Imitation - Looking for Snapshots (Mon 13 Oct 2014)

Che 'Homer' Guevara (*) - Rialto Bridge / Venice (Thu 11 Sep 2014)
Looking for Snapshots (*) writes on Imitation (*):

We know that snapshots are mostly boring, but a found photo—a snapshot or other non-art photo given meaning by someone who didn’t take it—can be boring, too: finding a photo can be as thoughtless an activity as taking one. Both logic and experience suggest that the percentages are no better for found photos than for any other kind. One way a found photo can be boring is to be derivative.

[..] imitation is something you don’t want to get rid of: cultural transmission couldn’t happen without it. There’s no bright line between an artist who imitates and one who is (productively) influenced, or between an artist who isn’t doing anything new and one who is carrying on a tradition. An artist who imitates is probably one who loves, and love is a good thing.

via Imitation (*) by Looking for Snapshots (*).

Another great piece of writing and presentation. Writing seems to be easy if you know what you want to say. Rule 1: know the point you want to get across.

On Goal Setting - Making our Bests Even Better - Adam van Koeverden (Sat 30 Jun 2012)

Joanne, Jenny and Geoff - 2009 State Titles / SIRC / Penrith (Sat 21 Mar 2009)
On Goal Setting, Adam van Koeverden (*) writes (*):

my goal is always the same.

I just want to race my very best.

I want to cross the finish line knowing that I couldn’t have gone any faster.

I want to be sure my tank is totally empty, that I executed a perfect race with great, efficient technique and made all these thousands of kilometers in training worthwhile.

That’s why we train so hard, to make our bests even better.

[ I wrote the following late last Sat Night after observing the 3rd Anniversary of Jenny's passing. I decided at the time not to post it, but I figured I need to stop worrying about what people might think of my writings here. This is from my heart and I hope it shows. We are lucky to be doing what we are doing and I am thankful the opportunities and experiences that we make for each other. ]

Today we fly out to Hong Kong for the 2012 World Club Crew Dragon Boat Championships which start on Wednesday and finish on Sunday. This will be my 9th International Event and the third with my Club. So here are a few Thank You's and Observations.

Hong Kong has been a long term goal for many people in the Club. We virtually have everyone going, so to me that indicates we are a unified group that believes in and supports each other. This is true essence of a strong Team and being a Team Player.

It has been fantastic for us to train with purpose and intent with full crews for the last 11 weeks or so.

With a handful of our paddlers flying out yesterday, Thursday night was our last full strength session of the campaign - I was a little sad as we paddled in at end of the session, knowing that it will be a long time before we will train, as a Club, as we have during this Campaign.

I thank my coaches and team mates for their dedication to the Campaign.

The logistics of the campaign have been handled seamlessly and brilliantly from where I sit. Those involved know who they are and I thank them for their amazing job. To organise 60 or so people is no mean feat. Well done.

We have been coached brilliantly and we have trained hard on and off water. The squad is our strongest to participate at a World Club Crews since our first in Penang in 2008.

I hope for many, your goal for Hong Kong is to go and create a fantastic experience for yourself and ourselves. We are creating memories to last a life time.

For some it will be their first International event, while for others, it will another of many. We can all inspire and learn from each other no matter who we are.

There will be different experiences for each one of us and how we respond to them defines who we are and who we will become. Some things will go our/your way and others will not. There is a randomness to it all. There will be feelings of elation, disappointment and every emotion in between. This is what Dragon Boating is all about and big international events like this can magnify these emotions and their impact. My experience (and I have felt it all) and advice with all of this is to be mindful of others and to remember the Sport and our Club is based on the spirit of team work.

I can say that I go with an open heart and mind. For Jo and I, Jenny guides and inspires us from above and she is there for every stroke and moment along the way.

Finally, have fun and in the spirit of Adam's words above, lets put our best races on the water and make our bests even better, no matter what Team you are in. That would be just reward to all for the effort and sacrifice we (and our Families and Friends) have made to able to participate in our sport, against the best in the world, at such a high level event.

Go the Mighty PD's.

Pacific Dragons - State Titles - International Regatta Centre / Penrith (Sun 11 Mar 2012)
Pacific Dragons 500m Mixed - 2012 AUSDBF National Titles - Docklands / Melbourne (Mon 02 Apr 2012)
Pacific Dragons 2km Mixed - 2012 AUSDBF National Titles - Docklands / Melbourne (Tue 03 Apr 2012)

Trees and Water - Charles River Esplanade / Back Bay / Boston (Mon 22 Aug 2011)

Charles River Esplanade - Back Bay / Boston (Mon 22 Aug 2011)
One year today since I sat by the Charles River (*).

For some reason today, I am drawn to an inspired piece of recent writing (*) by Spencer Lum (*):

[..] if you’re willing to take a gamble, I’ll bet on you. If you’re willing to put it out there, if you’re willing to fail, if you’re willing to let go of it all, thumb your nose at the world, and do it your way, I’ll believe in you. You may not find what you want, but you’ll find what you need. Want is easily known, but need is a thing that only reveals itself in retrospect.

I have thought a lot about belief (*) and self-confidence recently, particularly after my little speech (*). Often it takes some time to have the confidence to believe in one self. Initially, more than not, the belief comes from others, those who support and love you for who you are.

It is only with time, experience and the support of those others who believe in you, that you can find your own self belief and you start say things to yourself like - yes, I can do that, you start finding reasons why you can, rather than you can't, and when you question yourself with why?, you are able to say well why not(*) - and it is then that things start to happen.

As time goes by, you become stronger, more independent and not afraid to give things a go, even if it means making mistakes or even failing. You know that the risk is worth the reward of at least trying, whatever the outcome. I think I even knew (*) this, one year ago today, when I sat beside the Charles River (*) - as I said back then, a week later (*):

I would still like to think that I am still a believer. After all three steps forward and two steps back is still a step in the right direction.

Thanks for believing Spencer.

On Fear (1 of 2) - Spencer Lum / Ground Glass

Untitled - Split / Croatia (Tue 30 Jul 2013)
Spencer Lum (*) writes On Fear (*):

Fear is a dark and menacing thing. It lurks in the shadows of our minds. Always hard to find, always waiting in the wings, never quite gone, never quite there.

But I’ll take it over security, any day.

Security is worse.

Fear accompanies all great things. It’s there in progress, change, and growth. It’s there when you shed your own skin. It’s there when you let yourself to become more.

You don’t own fear by forgetting it. Security is not fear vanquished. Security is settling for less.

Let fear be your guide. You fear when you care. You fear when you want. Really want.

Fear doesn’t tell you what to run from. Fear tells you what to run to. There is no fear that accompanies the unimportant. It is the most clear and vital indicator that something actually matters. [..]

via Multiple | Ground Glass (*) by Spencer Lum (*).

As always, thanks Spencer (*). You always make it so clear, and again have helped me make a decision (*). So it's time to start building up. Let all the risk taking (*) begin yet again.

On being You - The Story of Telling (Fri 22 Aug 2014)

Meditation - Green Park (*) / London (Sun 18 Aug 2013)
The Story of Telling (*) writes on being Yourself (*):

People don’t want another cheap imitation. They want to connect with and experience you and the meaning you bring to your work.

There’s no more effective way to be different than to be exactly who you are.

via How To Be Different (*) by The Story of Telling (*).

A Team is a Powerful Thing - Darren Lehmann / The Australian (Wed 26 Jun 2013)

Senior A Mixed 500m Final - Racice / Prague (Sat 29 Aug 2013)
Darren Lehmann (*) writes (*):

Sure, you are playing a professional sport and you want to be a success. But life is more important than any game or any sport. I'm really big on getting closer as a Bulls group - we are almost like a family - and we want to look after each other outside the game, not just within the game. I've told the players they can't leave the ground for at least an hour after play. We talk about a whole heap of things - it might be cricket but it might be something else. There were some players who used to leave within five minutes. It works well; we all just enjoy each other's company and that is probably the best thing we have got going.

via Headmaster of mateship (*) by Will Swanton (*).

As my Nephew, Thomas (*), told me when he was all of the age of three,

A Team is a Powerful Thing

Always make me laugh when I think of that. The wisdom of a three year old.

I have been involved in team sports all my life, so being and working together (*) is an important. It is something that everyone needs to recognise and work towards. Darren's approach of spending time together after play is one way, though I am sure there are more ways. It depends on the team (*).

Senior Mixed 500m Final Post Race Discussion - Prague (Sat 29 Aug 2009) (*)

If this is it (Solo Acoutsic) - Newton Faulkner / YouTube (June 2009)

"If this is it" (*) by Newton Faulkner (*) [YouTube (*)]
Live at Cheltenham Town Hall - solo acoustic gig June 2009.

If this is it: Lyrics

No one move,
No one speak,
Please don't say that it's just me, it's not just me.
And even though I wont forget,
Just don't want this to end just yet, not just yet.

And if I had one chance to freeze time
And stand still and soak in everything,
I'd choose right now.
And if I had one night where sunshine could break through and show you everything,
I'd choose right now,

If this is it, all we have,
I know I've done all I can,
If this is it.
And we can't stop, and start again
We can't fast forward to the end
This is it.

And if I had one chance to freeze time
And stand still and soak in everything,
I'd choose right now.
And if I had one night where sunshine could break through and show you everything,
I'd choose right now,

I can take the slings and stones and fire,
Because I know you’ll make it all worth while,
Every time I fold, dissolve, I’m lying on the ground,
You drag me up again, and again,

Before the fears that I once had start coming back... again.
Oh please come back again... again,
Oh please come back again,
Oh please come back again.

And I'm so scared I might forget,
Just don't want this to end just yet,
Not just yet.

But if I had one chance to freeze time
And stand still and soak in everything,
I'd choose right now.
And if I had one night with sunshine to break through and show you everything,
I'd choose right now,
Before the fears that I once had start coming back... again.

Jenny - St George Private Hospital [11:48am (*) / Tue 23 Jun 2009 (*)]

Getting the Glide Right by Drew Ginn (01 May 2007)

G get t THe g GLIDE R riGht by Drew Ginn (01 May 2007) ..

Warning: This may make no sense at all.........so be patient

"Get the glide right"

[..]

Rowing[/paddling] involves an in and out cycle that swings and sways. It also goes up and down, sometimes even side to side.

It’s cyclic and so with every revolution we have an opportunity to make the next one better.

With ever turn of the wheel we need to keep putting effort in which is natural, the flip side to this is in the moments of glide, recovery, reflection, pose, readiness, preparing and spaciousness.

It’s a time when you can decide what’s next and how you’re going to make the next cycle better. You get the chance to decide what you need and want?

So you see the glide is critical for achieving your best.

Call it what you want. You decide what to call it; you decide what’s next.

To me the glide is an opportunity to find that perfection, to create the links between the drive, the work and the effort.

The glide is the link between each stroke, every session, all the races; each and every one counts and needs to be accounted for.

It is through the glide that they become more than the parts.

The sum is in total an accumulation of much more than just effort; it is more because we allow our effort to be rewarded by allowing it to happen.

Trust the glide and make more of rowing[/[paddling] that just effort and grunt. [..]

Another Favourite Blog Post from Drew Ginn.

In dragon boating we have the Hit and Glide, so when I read this I definitely understood what Drew was saying, not only about moving a boat, but also life in general. Probably one of the best pieces of writing on rowing[/paddling] I have come across (there a few more Drew Ginn articles which are just as good and they will follow at some stage).

Pacific Dragons - AusDBF 2009 National Dragon Boat Championships - Kawana - 23 April 2009

Pacific Dragons - AusDBF 2009 National Dragon Boat Championships - Kawana - 23 April 2009

Pacific Dragons - AusDBF 2009 National Dragon Boat Championships - Kawana - 23 April 2009

A Warrior knows when a battle is worth fighting

A warrior knows when a battle is worth fighting.

He bases his decisions on inspiration and faith. He nevertheless meets people who ask him to fight battles that are not his own, on battlefields that he does not know or which do not interest him. They want to involve the warrior of light in contests that are important to them, but not to him.

Often these are people close to the warrior of light, people who love him and trust in his strength and who want him in some way to ease their anxieties.

At such moments, he smiles and makes it clear to them that he loves them, but he does not take up the challenge.

A true warrior of light always chooses his own battlefield.

From the Manual of Warrior of Light by Paulo Coelho - (more here)

Russion Embassy Perimeter Fence - Geneva / Switzerland - 20 Aug 2005 (picasa)

On Photography - the relationship between objects and people - Daido Moriyama (Summer 2005)

Traffic Barrier - Shinjuku / Tokyo (Sat 22 Sep 2012)
Daido Moriyama (*) gives an insight into his photography when asked What do you want viewers to take away from looking at your photos?:

Most of my photographs are taken on the street, of objects on the street.

I want to capture the relationship between objects and people.

I don’t ever think about what people are going to think looking at my photographs.

There are many things I can’t control.

That viewers see the photographs in a different way is really important, but it doesn’t influence the work.

My message enters the image, but I think it’s good if many messages enter the image, not just mine.

via Daido Moriyama Photographs His Beloved Shinjuku (*).

Angels on the Moon - Thriving Ivory (youtube)

Angels on the Moon by Thriving Ivory
Don't tell me if I'm dying,
Cause I don't wanna know,
If I can't see the sun,
Maybe I should go,


Jenny wrote ..

I have always said to all of my doctors "Don’t give me a prognosis". I believe the mind is very powerful and I don’t want it locking onto any sort of timeframe. My mother was of the same opinion and she didn’t want her doctors to put any time constraints on her life. I am not silly, I know my situation is serious as through my associations with cancer support groups I have seen others with a similar diagnosis to me not be so lucky. But everyone’s journey is different. Each time I see a new doctor I say up front "Don’t give me a time".

Jenny and Jodi (Jenny's Oncologist) - St George Private Hospital - Mon Evening 22 Jun 2009
Jenny's last sunrise (see photo's below) before her heart failed around midday on Tue 23 Jun 2009. She was revived and spent the last week of her life in ICU (more here).

The photos are by a friend Jeff Grant. I have photographed this beach with Jeff and another friend Leigh Perry. Some photos will be posted here in the future.

Solstice #2 - Turrimeta / Sydney - Jeff Grant (Sunrise Tue 23 Jun 2009)
Joanne and I both remember Jenny talking to us about watching the sunrise over Botany Bay that day from her hospital bed at St George Private Hospital. Jo and I were both supposed to be at a early morning base building Aus dragon boat session at Blackwattle Bay but we were both very tired from Jenny's hospital visit to remove a 4cm brain tumor a week earlier. Jenny said she thought of us as she watched this beautiful sunrise. Jo and I often talk about this and always feel a little guilty that we were not out there on the water that morning doing what Jenny would have loved to be doing.

Jenny was always positive about her cancer and never asked for a "prognosis". I know she knew how serious this situation was for her. Liz the Sutherland Shire Cancer Support Group Counsellor told me that Jenny actually cried at the Meeting the week before her operation, something Liz had not seen before.

When I heard this song for the first time (thanks again to Charlotte, we were always bound to meet) the above lines resonated with me instantly. It seemed to describe vividly Jenny's outlook and that last sunrise she witnessed ..

If I can't see the sun,
Maybe I should go

I have sat on this post for so long. Always feel like I can never capture what I am really trying to say. I think that is just about it. Time to watch Hell of the North. Life goes on, but it is important to remember.

Solstice #3 - Turrimeta / Sydney - Jeff Grant (Sunrise Tue 23 Jun 2009)

Touch - Noiseworks (youtube)

Touch - Jenny holding onto Life - Jenny, Joanne and Geoff - ICU / St George Private Hospital (*) (Sun 28 Jun 2009)
Though she could not move most of her body - she could not even breath unassisted, Jenny could hold our hands almost instinctively. Will never forget her touch.

Touch Lyrics by Noiseworks

Another day is goin' out, yeah
A sea of faces cryin' ou-out
With all we have today
You think we'd stop and take a look now, yeah-eah
All I want to say
Is maybe that we should reach out

Everybody - reach out and reach out and
Reach out and touch somebody
Reach out and reach out and
Reach out and touch somebody

In this old world we all can see, yeah
So let's take away the silent fear-ears, yeah-eah
With all of our mistakes
You think we'd stop and take a look now, yeah-eah
All I want to say
Is maybe that we should reach out

Everybody - reach out and reach out and
Reach out and touch somebody
Reach out and reach out and
Reach out and touch somebody
Reach out and reach out and
Reach out and touch somebody
Reach out and reach out and
Reach out and touch somebody

We'll find it, we'll find it
Reach Out
Ahh-ahh-ahh-ahh, Yeah

Everybody - reach out and reach out and
Reach out and touch somebody
Reach out and reach out and
Reach out and touch somebody
Reach out and reach out and
Reach out and touch somebody
Reach out and reach out and
Reach out and touch somebody-y-y...
I said reach out
I said reach ou-out

Touch - Noiseworks (*) (youtube)

On Success - kottke (Thu 02 Jul 2015)

tree - Canberra (Sun 05 Aug 2002)

kottke on Success:

success requires struggle, failure, and a bit of stupidity...or if you want to be nice about it, a beginner's mind

via Letters to your younger self by kottke.

Ever the Beginner in Paddling and Life. Always Learning to Fly. And you would not want it any other way.

Discipline - Fawzan Husain / Anahita Panicker (Thu 14 Jul 2016)

waterfall - black and white - Wentworth Falls / Blue Mountains (Tue 12 Jul 2016(

Fawzan Husain on Discipline:

I want to bring in the discipline of the art and essentially want them to include the five Ws (what, why, where, when, who) in their pictures. So many narratives are often overlooked in this frenzy of shooting unnecessary, mundane things. And many times we don’t concentrate on the things we should actually be looking at.

via Street-savvy photography by Anahita Panicker.