No coincidence... just a talented bro.

This is no coincidence...

 Although perhaps it will be for one of you out there reading this? 

You never know your luck in a big universe... or a big city... say, for instance, Melbourne. 

Speaking of all things Melbourne... My bro, Grant, is quite the talented artist... He certainly is one of those admirable and charismatic folks following their personal legend.

Tonight, he has a new show, 'THIS IS WOVEN PIPER: PAINTINGS FOR THE FUNNEL', opening at Anna Pappas Gallery in Prahan.  Exhibition open through to May 7.

If in the area, do drop in and check out his AMAZING work. 

Now I'm feeling the creative urge... might have to crank out the acrylics myself.

Friends Friday - I mean, Family Friday...

Children in my life is a relatively new concept.  The first I was re-introduced to little people was my now niece, Piper.  I met her on Micko and my first date (Dave and Krabes wedding)... She was around 18 months old, bald as a badger and proudly pushing her own stroller along.

Ned was to follow... then the surprise arrival of the little bundle of joy that is Gidget.  And now, I'm a proud aunt of 3 of the best looking little fanta pants you ever did see!

Jack (my brother-in-law) has recently started shooting professionally.  His work with children is incredible - in fact, his photographs all round are not just technically fantastic but visually awe inspiring!  And just to show off how adorable my little relatives are... Here is some of Jack's handy work:

First came the lovely Piper...  Now 7 years old - freaks me out that she's not in nappies, stringing a couple of words together...

And Ned followed a couple of years later - he looks like an angel...  Now 5 and heading off to big boys school next year - it seems like just yesterday we were sitting around Jude's dining table, Lu with her chair pushed right back to make way for her watermelon of a belly.

And the happy, delightful Gidget...  Wow how time flies!

Granted, Lu took this one... 4 in the bed and the little one said... 

This is just so adorable I couldn't help myself!  One of the times I like children the most - when they are sleeping!

Gidget recently celebrated her 1st birthday and Micko and I picked her up an adorable little dress for summer.  Jack emailed this through this morning...

I'm thinking perhaps I want kids just so I can give them cool names, dress them in rad outfits and play games.  What?  You say it's more work than that?  Huh, well forget it!  I'll just take the cuddles I can steal on visits thanks very much!  Oh and of course buy them presents!

Check Jack's work out here:  

www.stardustphotography.com.au

If you're anywhere from the NSW North Coast to north of Brisbane... give him a go!  You know what they say... blink and you'll miss it!  And looking at these pics... I'm glad Jack's philosophy seems to be  'click or you'll miss it'.  

Up shit creek

Another adventure during Dale & Kat's visit was a boat outing we took on the Sunday.  It was something Micko and I had wanted to do since we moved here, but hadn't gotten around to yet.

Judging by our previous experiences with the canoe, while living in Bruns, I really should have thought harder about taking out a boat.  When I say that I really should give you a brief run down...

Some good friends of ours gave us a canoe to use while we lived in our rad pad on the Brunswick River.  They had just had a baby and had no use for it.  Most weekends, I'd take the canoe out for a couple of hours... I loved it so much!  I'm not a big 'relaxer', I like to be on the go, at least doing something.  Canoeing became an outlet for me.  There is some kind of comfort I get from being on the water... floating along, taking in the passing landscapes.  One such day, I decided to take Micko out in the canoe with me.  Not the most pleasant experience... Lets just say Micko is a strong character and has his way of doing things... As do I!  Sometimes our ways differ and we butt heads.  This was one of those times!

So, I had some prior warning to what was to follow in the boating outing. But, hey... you gotta try these things.

Micko heads into the boat hire place and sorts out payment and the details of where you can and can't go with the lady.  We all pile into the boat and the old bastard says, 'Right, so who'll be driving?', Micko and my bro, in unison, say 'Karly'.  The old guy looks me up and down, mumbles to himself, then says 'Don't you think perhaps it would be best to have a bloke in the back?  I reakon it's a bit tough to start if you're a sheila'.  What the?  Is this guy fucking serious?  Did he magically transport himself from the early 20th century to stand before me?  I find myself just looking at him with bewilderment spread all over my face.  I really wanted to say, 'I'm pretty sure I can pull a fucken cord!  You might be surprised but, I've started a lawn mower before and even mown the lawns!'    But, I didn't... I just stared at the guy with contempt while my brother fought my battle.... 'She's a gym junkie and has driven heaps of boats'.  Thank you Dale!

Of course, now I'm mad and unfocused... I've also not driven a tinny in quite sometime, so I was a little all over the shop to start.  Took me a couple of minutes to get used to moving the motor the opposite way to where I wanted to go.  Didn't help that I was frazzled... Plus had Micko in the front yelling which way I should go.

At gym, I did my rotator cuff sometime ago.  Besides boxing, I've been quite kind to it since and I really haven't done my weights work in the past 8 months or so - my guns look more like plumbers piping at the moment.  Driving the boat was niggling away at the prior injury... the vibration on the motor on my arm, which was basically placed behind me, was doing me no good at all.  Micko yelling at me like I was partly deaf and a six pack short of slab, was also doing me not good... at all!  A combination of my short fuse, inability to be told what to do, the sexist prick and rotator cuff niggling pain bought it all to an abrupt head.  I snapped, "Fuck this!  Someone else drive the fucking boat', and handed the reigns over to my bro.

We stopped at a beach along the riverbank and drove the boat in.  It was a beautiful spot and seeing dolphins swimmingly past eased my frayed nerves.  Billy was loving it!  Swimming out to grab a stick, almost as big as he, and dragging it back in for us to throw back out.  Watching the houseboats bob along the river... The other boats passing by... Soaking in the sun, then taking cover in the shade... Wading in the water... And all round having a relaxing time.  Then it came time to brave the boat again.

This time Dale was skipper... Only problem was that he'd keep starting the boat in gear.  This was making me nervous.  I was yelling at Dale that he needed to have the engine in neutral before starting it... At the same time Micko was trying to tell Dale which direction to go... Then Dale snapped.  The rest of the trip back was pretty quiet. Everybody looking out of the boat, not willing to look at each other.  We were all on edge and really just wanted to back on dry land, have a beer and forget about our boating ordeal.

As we pulled up back at the boat house, Dale tried to stop the engine (by hitting the red button) it wouldn't work - but I didn't realise this yet.  So we all start screaming and yelling (actually it was mainly me)... Then I tell Dale to move out of the way.  I jump in and put the engine into neutral, to try to turn the boat around.  Then I hit the red button, it does nothing... I push on it again... nothing.  Then I start looking at the button, more than where we are headed.  I'm pushing the button again and again, but the engine won't stop.  Everyone in the boat is yelling at me now, 'Look where you're going', and I'm yelling back 'I can't stop the fucking boat'.  The sexist old prick comes out just as 'cruuuunch', I drive into the rocks.  Just then, with another hard punch at the fucking red button, the boat stops.  The old prick says 'use the oars... if it wasn't for you boys, you'd be out in the ocean right now'... Ooooooooh!  You've gotta be fucking joking me!  I grab my shit and stumble out of the boat with a big scowl on my face.

Micko goes to deal with the woman inside and I march over with Billy to the car.  I was ropable!  We all jump in the car, sat in relative silence... all just wanting to get home as quick as possible.

Then someone splurts out, 'Well that was fun!'.  With that, we piss ourselves laughing and head straight home for some emergency beers and plenty of banter about the boat, the bastard... and the bitch (being me).

Grantis...

Y'all!  So I mentioned Dalos in yesterdays entry, so I thought it only fitting that todays be on Grant - my other favourite brother.


But first things first... Let me introduce you to my spunky brothers... This is me, on my wedding day (I know what you're thinking.... get yourself a bra girlfriend!)  Dale is the one in the blue shirt and Grant is in the vest.  We make a good looking sibling group, eh? 

Grant isn't much younger than I.  There is one point each year, for about 3 months, where we are only 1 year apart.  In terms of personality, we are at opposite ends of the spectrum.  He is quiet, shy and reserved... I, on the other hand, am definitely not.  When we do get together, we always have a great time and some good laughs (so we do share the same sense of humour - I think it must be 'bred' into us).

As a youngster, I was always super jealous of young Grant.  You see, my little bro (actually both of them) was born with a 'gift'.  Well, having said that, I'm not so sure he was born with it...  Grant was relatively accident prone as a kid.  At kindy, he was whacked over the head by another kid with a shovel.  He didn't even realise he was hurt... just waltzed in, with blood pissing down his face, and said to the rather shocked and distressed teacher 'There's a fly on my head that won't leave me alone'.  A trip to the Doc and some xrays later, Grant's head was stitched up good as new.  And we had a permanent reminder - an Xray of Grant's skull with him noticeably grinning from ear to ear!  Then, there was his first day of school.  He was pushed over in the tan bark and a nice big was lodged into his knee... Off to hospital he went again!  

The last 'accident' was the one that proved quite worthwhile.  Grant was playing in a mates backyard on the monkey bars.  He fell, broke his right arm (he was right handed at this time)... Then a couple of week later, bang, there goes the left one.  As luck would have it, his left healed first and he became left handed.  This... is when the serious talent started to appear.

Grant is an artist... no doubt about it!  As a kid he'd do these rad cartoon character of his favourite Richmond players... the old 80s style with the super big head and little body.  He was amazing... you'd not believe he was under 10 when doing this stuff - I'll try to find some examples next time I'm in Melbourne. 

So... Here are some examples of his recent work.. I'm sure you'll agree, the Grantis is one talented little freak!

What can I say... I'm just one member of a truly remarkable and talented family!  Go bro's!

The Awesome Foursome

Yay!  I'm big kev excited!

Two of my favourite peeps are coming to visit!  My awesome youngest broski and his wonderful wife!

Dale is about 5 years younger than I... Due mainly to this age difference, we'd had a relatively strained relationship when I was in my teens and early 20s.  I was crazy - no doubt about it - and living with your older, crazy sister can be detrimental to your development!


During my late teens and early 20s I was a little wilder than I am these days.  I'd come home drunk as a skunk (these days I stay home drunk as a skunk)... perhaps with a fella or, even worse, with a bunch of mates.  We'd party at my place before we'd head out, on our return or both.  These parties involved loud music, dancing on the kitchen bench and plenty of super loud talking.  Poor old Dale would be trying to sleep and I couldn't have cared less.  The young fella was anywhere between around 12 and 20 whilst all this was going on.  My folks were always away... so my place was open slather.


One such night, when I was 17, I had a bunch of mates round (as usual).  There was probably around 10-15 of us... Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Soundgarden and the like were blaring out the stezza and we'd all consumed a little more than out quota.  Dale was attempting to sleep - he was 12.  Every now and then he'd pop out and say 'Karls... can you guys be quiet, I'm trying to sleep!'... I'd just blow him off and send him back to bed. 


Each sink in the house had someone spewing in it... In the main bathroom, one of my ex's was lying upside down in the shower with his clothes on, rinsing the spew off... While I tried to push his previous mess down the sink hole in the bath, resulting in me spewing.. and then madly trying to shove that down too.  Both toilets were occupied, the ensuite and the laundry trough - occupied... in fact, the only sink not being utilised was the kitchen - and that's probably only because it was full of dishes.


Once we'd all emptied our stomachs... the fun times continued.  All except for my best mate - she was sitting on the lounge, bucket in hand, hair lovingly pulled on top of her head by one of us to keep it out of the way.  She wasn't in a good way... not a spewer and stayer.


Blissfully unaware and enjoying myself tremendously I missed hearing a knock at the door.  It was the best mates Mum.  Let's just say she wasn't at all happy!  She ripped my mate out of the couch, started shaking her and screaming... 'What's wrong with you?  What have you taken?'  Then the phone rang... It was my Mum, checking in on Dale.  He came out of his room to answer the phone and what a sight he saw!  One of my girls was on the Mum's back, trying to pull her off my mate... Everyone was screaming and shouting and pissed beyond belief! 


Needless to say, when I moved away at 26,  Dale - I can only imagine - would have been more than happy to see the back of me! 


On a trip to Melbourne, I asked Dale if it would be alright for Micko and I to crash at his place after we'd been out with mates in town.  He seemed very reluctant.  He told me he didn't really want me to stay because I would make too much noise and want to party the whole time.  I assured him that I had done some growing up while living in Byron and I promised not to disturb the peace - which I didn't.  But it did come as a surprise to me that he thought like that... Until, on the next trip, I asked my other bro, Grant and got exactly the same reaction!


The best thing I've ever done was move back to Vic for that stint... Although I hated the weather and sometimes felt very isolated, it certainly solidified my relationship with Dale.  He and Micko get on like a house on fire... we all love Kat to death and Dale and I, surprisingly, are the best of mates.  The truth is that Dale and I are very similar in many ways... although fortunately he missed out on the teenage drunken angst stage.  Over the years we've discovered we share our sense of humour, we are both loyal to the death, enjoy a beer and most importantly, we are not only siblings but friends.


So bring on the next few days.. I say!  We'll be having a fun packed time... enjoying each others company!  I'm super keen for beers and banter on the back deck overlooking our rainforest... Plus beach time, barbies, beer and banter...Good food, perhaps a few cocktails, shitloads of laughs, music blaring (possibly throw in some PJ and Soundgarden for old times sake), singing, dancing, some reminicising (much to Dale's disappointment), dinner's out on the town and a good feed for breakfast at the Jaaning Tree.  Could life be any better?


Bring it on bitch!  Bring it on!

In the name of balance - pet loves

For the sake of balance I thought I should get out there my 10 pet loves... 

1. Closet hippy - not much is better than staring out at the ocean and mountains, walking through a rainforest or sitting on the ground. I can feel myself 'earth' when I do any of these things (and that is very important to a person who never knew how to stay still).   Indigenous Australians are 100% right... Australia, and our land, is a very special and powerful place. 

2. A good sense of humour, a great joke or story... and even better, laughing hysterically to the point when tears are streaming down your face and you need to have a few minutes rest to catch your breath.

3.  A good hug from a friend you haven't seen for a while.

4.  Entertaining friends at my place... putting on a good feed and drinks galore, good conversation, reminiscing and listening to great music!

5.  Catching up with friends that you might not have seen in years, but when you do, it feels like you just saw them yesterday.  Oh, and making new friends.  Especially those that you feel instantly comfortable with.  I totally believe you are a reflection of the company you keep - obviously the company I keep is fucking awesome!

6.  Family... the most important people in my life!  Mum, Dad, bro's, cousins, aunties & uncles and grandparents.  The people who make my life so fantastic - and it totally is!  Christmas day is always the best day of the year.  I love eating and drinking far too much with the people I love most.

7.  Working hard... and reaping the benefits of a job well done.  I love what I do and would continue to do it even if I won lotto and was set up for life!   I'm very lucky, but I have created my own luck.  Once you know what you want in life, it's as easy as taking the necessary steps to get it.  I look at my business and how well it's going and know that it's only because of my hard work, dedication and persistence.

8.  Summer days in the sunshine at a music festival, in the back yard, at a mates place or the deck of the Suffo, sinking a few schooies with awesome folk.  

9.  My wonderful husband, Micko, who has enriched my life greatly.  Although I know I could live without him, my life is better with him around.  Finally I found the healthy relationship I was searching for.  A mutual respect, an understanding of our differences and encouragement to be the best people we can be.  He has taught me so many things... Patience, unconditional love and balance.

10.  Billy... The newest addition to my happy life.  Billy represents all the things that make living so worthwhile.  Loyalty, contentment, cuddles, love and loads of energy.

Oh and last but definitely not least, every single person in my life, right now.  You guys complete the picture!  Each of you bring something special to the table!  You rock the casbah!

Till next time we meet... my friends!