My mind isn't cold and bare, in fact it's got all sorts of pictures going on in it, but here's a problem: where do I hang the damned things in our new house? THERE ARE NO HOOKS! And moreover, I'm not allowed to put up any hooks (or at least, not without incurring a huge replastering and repainting bill at the end of our tenancy, which, as we'll hopefully be building a house soon is likely to be one of the points in my life when I have least money). Perhaps this says that our absentee landlord has a cold and bare mind?
I'll have to make do with creating lots of inspiring art in the studio to make up for it, and selling it for thousands of dollars, thus expediting the construction of our house!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
And I quote
Two quotes for you since we're on the subject of moving house and I've been absent for a couple of weeks:
"Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam,
Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home"
John Howard Payne, US actor & dramatist
(1791 - 1852)
"A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner, so if one's life is cold and bare he can blame none but himself"
Louis L'Amour, US novelist of westerns, from 'Bendigo Shafter'
(1908 - 1988)
Quotes found on The Quotations Page
"Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam,
Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home"
John Howard Payne, US actor & dramatist
(1791 - 1852)
"A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner, so if one's life is cold and bare he can blame none but himself"
Louis L'Amour, US novelist of westerns, from 'Bendigo Shafter'
(1908 - 1988)
Quotes found on The Quotations Page
Coming up for air
This evening I feel as if I've cracked our recent move: virtually all of the boxes are unpacked and although we may not know exactly which cupboard something is in, it is in its designated cupboard. If you can't find it, that's not my problem, right?
I should have remembered: the process of moving takes most of a month! First there's the packing, then the loading (in our case about 30 car's worth of boxes shifted between the two houses so that we could start off with food and crockery, computers and bedlinen, each in the right place). Then there's unpacking... and if you're me, this is a mountain that needs to be climbed as soon as possible in order to avert the depression that sets in almost immediately when I'm confronted with a large pile of boxes. I think I was some sort of cat in a former life as I seem to need to turn around several times and get everything right before I can settle down. Things aren't entirely perfect, but they're pretty good. All the stuff that belongs in my studio is actually in the studio, and in the world outside I have my computer set up properly and connected to a printer, the washing machine is plumbed in and there is no longer a mountain of unwashed clothes and sheets hanging around the floor of the laundry, my clothes are all in the wardrobe and the wine cellar is unpacked.
Now I am very, very tired.
I should have remembered: the process of moving takes most of a month! First there's the packing, then the loading (in our case about 30 car's worth of boxes shifted between the two houses so that we could start off with food and crockery, computers and bedlinen, each in the right place). Then there's unpacking... and if you're me, this is a mountain that needs to be climbed as soon as possible in order to avert the depression that sets in almost immediately when I'm confronted with a large pile of boxes. I think I was some sort of cat in a former life as I seem to need to turn around several times and get everything right before I can settle down. Things aren't entirely perfect, but they're pretty good. All the stuff that belongs in my studio is actually in the studio, and in the world outside I have my computer set up properly and connected to a printer, the washing machine is plumbed in and there is no longer a mountain of unwashed clothes and sheets hanging around the floor of the laundry, my clothes are all in the wardrobe and the wine cellar is unpacked.
Now I am very, very tired.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Happiness is...
Having a pool party to say farewell to our swimming pool! We'll be moving closer to the beach so the plan is to have fun at the seaside instead of around the pool.
Now why didn't I photograph a champagne flute? I drank lots of champagne at the party...
Now why didn't I photograph a champagne flute? I drank lots of champagne at the party...
On the move
A brief post to say that we're in the middle of moving house. You know the scenario: lots of boxes waiting to be filled, and a looming deadline with the packers coming to take some of our stuff off to storage on Friday and then returning on Monday to move our furniture into our new rented house. In the middle of all the fun our phone lines will be transferred... now this should mean little interruption, but who knows? I started to say that of course there'll be problems but I decided I sounded too pessimistic and I'm trying to be positive, aren't I? So I'll simply say that I may not be able to post much for a week or so, depending on how things turn out. That's fair, isn't it?
Meanwhile I'm looking forward to moving my creative stuff into a nice, light room at the new place, with a sink and my very own toilet! My printing press will live in the garage which is only on the other side of the wall from my 'studio', and this arrangement will give me room to make things.
Talk to you soooooon....
Meanwhile I'm looking forward to moving my creative stuff into a nice, light room at the new place, with a sink and my very own toilet! My printing press will live in the garage which is only on the other side of the wall from my 'studio', and this arrangement will give me room to make things.
Talk to you soooooon....
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Good news
We got the house! We haven't signed the lease yet (we're planning to do that on Tuesday, when I get a day off from my residency and will be in Coffs Harbour) but the property has come off the market, the owner is busy installing a new first-floor deck to make the most of the sea views from the upstairs living areas and we've booked a removals company with a provisional date of February 16th for actually shifting furniture from one place to the other. We have a mountain of work to do now, packing, re-packing, labelling and re-labelling boxes old and new so that our belongings can be split between our newly-built shed and the new house. I can't say I'm entirely looking forward to the process but I am looking forward to the result.
Here's to our first evening sitting on the balcony, sipping something cold and admiring the seascape!
Here's to our first evening sitting on the balcony, sipping something cold and admiring the seascape!
And I quote
"The main things which seem to me important on their own account, and not merely as means to other things, are knowledge, art, instinctive happiness, and relations of friendship or affection"
Bertrand Russell, British author, mathematician, & philosopher (1872 - 1970)
Quote found on The Quotations Page
Bertrand Russell, British author, mathematician, & philosopher (1872 - 1970)
Quote found on The Quotations Page
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Lazy Sunday mornings
As a treat we went out for brunch this morning to the Beachstone cafe, which is a few kilometres outside Coffs Harbour in the middle of a new housing development, very close to Sapphire beach. E loves it because there is an excellent playground, and we've got to know the people who run the cafe and own the development. I managed to creep out of bed this morning leaving M to snore while I sneaked into the office to get a head-start on the quarterly business accounts, so brunch - as well as a general feeling of smug superiority - was my reward for hard labour!
Anyway, over two large cappucinos, a plate of lamb cutlets with roast beetroot and puy lentils (M), pancakes with sugar and lemon for E, and eggs, bacon and bubble-and-squeak (me), M and I got talking, had an argument, sorted things out and basked in the glow of mutual support before peeling ourselves out of our chairs and heading back into the world.
What did we argue about? Well it boils down to having fundamentally different approaches to life which, if held suitably in tension with each other, provide us with a good relationship and balance. But boy, if either approach gets the upper hand we end up in trouble, and this time I'm the guilty party. We were talking and I was thinking hard when a metaphor for my approach to life occurred to me. I continually act as if I'm edging around the outside of a building, many stories up, with my back to the wall, hanging on tightly and trying hard not to look down. If I hold on tightly enough I'm safe as I move gingerly from ledge to ledge but woe betide me if I relax my grip. M, on the other hand, moves forward in his life as if striding over flowering meadows with lambs frolicking around him and birdsong on the breeze. My 'internal weather' is a bit like the set of Bladerunner, all apocalyptic shadows, gloom and clouds; M's 'internal weather' is definitely predicted to be sunshine.
This all works, most of the time. As long as we're moving forward I tend not to notice the yawning crevices just in front of me, and as long as M moves forward he basks in sunshine and doesn't pay attention to clouds on the horizon. I don't mean to make this sound as if either of us has a simplistic approach to life: it's much more complex than it sounds and has to do with the life experiences that bring us both to this point, as well as what is psychologically necessary to us in order to do our jobs. Introspection and gloom have often been corollaries of an 'artistic disposition' (look at Van Gogh), so that's my excuse sorted out. M, quite differently to me, has to be positive and optimistic and must project that towards his clients, otherwise they'd have little faith in his ability to achieve his targets. Who wants to spend money with an Eeyore?
Recently, however, I've been very gloomy and depressed and the balance has shifted. M and I needed to talk in order for me to realise how difficult I sometimes make it for him to be as positive as he needs to be in order to produce the goods at work. I've spent weeks shooting down every little bit of sunshine and I've got to stop. Moreover, by making a conscious effort to stop I might facilitate some of the things I want in life too... So that's what I'm going to try to do.
Anyway, over two large cappucinos, a plate of lamb cutlets with roast beetroot and puy lentils (M), pancakes with sugar and lemon for E, and eggs, bacon and bubble-and-squeak (me), M and I got talking, had an argument, sorted things out and basked in the glow of mutual support before peeling ourselves out of our chairs and heading back into the world.
What did we argue about? Well it boils down to having fundamentally different approaches to life which, if held suitably in tension with each other, provide us with a good relationship and balance. But boy, if either approach gets the upper hand we end up in trouble, and this time I'm the guilty party. We were talking and I was thinking hard when a metaphor for my approach to life occurred to me. I continually act as if I'm edging around the outside of a building, many stories up, with my back to the wall, hanging on tightly and trying hard not to look down. If I hold on tightly enough I'm safe as I move gingerly from ledge to ledge but woe betide me if I relax my grip. M, on the other hand, moves forward in his life as if striding over flowering meadows with lambs frolicking around him and birdsong on the breeze. My 'internal weather' is a bit like the set of Bladerunner, all apocalyptic shadows, gloom and clouds; M's 'internal weather' is definitely predicted to be sunshine.
This all works, most of the time. As long as we're moving forward I tend not to notice the yawning crevices just in front of me, and as long as M moves forward he basks in sunshine and doesn't pay attention to clouds on the horizon. I don't mean to make this sound as if either of us has a simplistic approach to life: it's much more complex than it sounds and has to do with the life experiences that bring us both to this point, as well as what is psychologically necessary to us in order to do our jobs. Introspection and gloom have often been corollaries of an 'artistic disposition' (look at Van Gogh), so that's my excuse sorted out. M, quite differently to me, has to be positive and optimistic and must project that towards his clients, otherwise they'd have little faith in his ability to achieve his targets. Who wants to spend money with an Eeyore?
Recently, however, I've been very gloomy and depressed and the balance has shifted. M and I needed to talk in order for me to realise how difficult I sometimes make it for him to be as positive as he needs to be in order to produce the goods at work. I've spent weeks shooting down every little bit of sunshine and I've got to stop. Moreover, by making a conscious effort to stop I might facilitate some of the things I want in life too... So that's what I'm going to try to do.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Happiness is...
Happiness is unexpected presents!
I did a very small favour for some friends recently, when we were in Brisbane, and today one of them called round with a lovely handmade gift: three small notebooks covered in a painting on paper and some beautiful card, with an instruction sheet.
Just lovely. I feel very happy and very touched at the thought and effort that went into them. Thank you.
I did a very small favour for some friends recently, when we were in Brisbane, and today one of them called round with a lovely handmade gift: three small notebooks covered in a painting on paper and some beautiful card, with an instruction sheet.
Just lovely. I feel very happy and very touched at the thought and effort that went into them. Thank you.
A new home?
There's no deadline being held over our heads but our landlord put the house we're living in up for sale last year, and recently he appointed a third agent to try and sell it for him. No-one ever thinks to consider the uncertainty any of this might cause the tenant! We sit on the sidelines wondering if our home is about to be sold out from under us, and trying to make sense of the changes we detect in the overall situation. What we deduce from the appearance of a third agent is that our landlord is getting quite serious about selling the property, and as the third agent hasn't even bothered to talk to us about things and is just sending people through with greater frequency, our suspicions seem to be accurate.
We've been "looking" for a while, but now we're really looking, in much the same way that our landlord is now really trying to sell the place, and today perhaps we found our next rented home. We went to see a 4-bed place in Korora, which is the suburb of Coffs Harbour that we used to live in before that landlord sold the house out from under us last time. This house is very near the sea: a track at the end of the road leads down a cliff-path and onto the beach, and it's all far enough from the highway that the only sounds in our ears as we fall asleep will be the wind and the waves. The yard is OK: not huge but not tiny and with a wooden under-cover deck area where we can put our outside dining set and the barbecue; there's a storage shed and a huge double garage where we might actually be able to park both cars. Inside the house is upside down so that the main living areas take advantage of the sea views and the breeze. Downstairs are two small-ish bedrooms, one of which would be E's, plus two large tiled rooms that would become my studio and M's office, together with a kitchen area, a large bathroom and a huge laundry. Upstairs is a large open-plan living/kitchen/dining room, a WC and the master bedroom/ensuite bathroom. Today was a stinking hot day and there was a lovely breeze and the views were fantastic. Now we're down to just three people in the family the house is a great size and I think it would suit us. All we have to do is jump through hoops and persuade the landlord and the managing agent of the same thing.
We've been working out the money, too, and it seems good. We'd be saving $120 a week in rent (because it doesn't have a pool or a tennis court!), plus about $3,000 a year in pool maintenance costs, plus the extra electricity costs of an ageing pool filtration system, and we'd save petrol as well as it's about 6km closer to town so all our journeys would be shorter. Even though it will cost us a fair amount of time and money to move I think we'd save over a year, and as the house is a long-term investment for its owners we aren't likely to be chucked out.
This sets the agenda for the weekend: we're going to be working out our cash-flow forecast for the year, trying to envisage a calendar for moving, and putting together all the documentation we need to go with our rental application. It's a long weekend here so M won't be able to put the application in until Tuesday morning (I'll be away all next week), so my fingers are firmly crossed.
A lovely glass of water because it's hot here at the moment
We've been "looking" for a while, but now we're really looking, in much the same way that our landlord is now really trying to sell the place, and today perhaps we found our next rented home. We went to see a 4-bed place in Korora, which is the suburb of Coffs Harbour that we used to live in before that landlord sold the house out from under us last time. This house is very near the sea: a track at the end of the road leads down a cliff-path and onto the beach, and it's all far enough from the highway that the only sounds in our ears as we fall asleep will be the wind and the waves. The yard is OK: not huge but not tiny and with a wooden under-cover deck area where we can put our outside dining set and the barbecue; there's a storage shed and a huge double garage where we might actually be able to park both cars. Inside the house is upside down so that the main living areas take advantage of the sea views and the breeze. Downstairs are two small-ish bedrooms, one of which would be E's, plus two large tiled rooms that would become my studio and M's office, together with a kitchen area, a large bathroom and a huge laundry. Upstairs is a large open-plan living/kitchen/dining room, a WC and the master bedroom/ensuite bathroom. Today was a stinking hot day and there was a lovely breeze and the views were fantastic. Now we're down to just three people in the family the house is a great size and I think it would suit us. All we have to do is jump through hoops and persuade the landlord and the managing agent of the same thing.
We've been working out the money, too, and it seems good. We'd be saving $120 a week in rent (because it doesn't have a pool or a tennis court!), plus about $3,000 a year in pool maintenance costs, plus the extra electricity costs of an ageing pool filtration system, and we'd save petrol as well as it's about 6km closer to town so all our journeys would be shorter. Even though it will cost us a fair amount of time and money to move I think we'd save over a year, and as the house is a long-term investment for its owners we aren't likely to be chucked out.
This sets the agenda for the weekend: we're going to be working out our cash-flow forecast for the year, trying to envisage a calendar for moving, and putting together all the documentation we need to go with our rental application. It's a long weekend here so M won't be able to put the application in until Tuesday morning (I'll be away all next week), so my fingers are firmly crossed.
A lovely glass of water because it's hot here at the moment
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