March 2007 – helenthura.com

March 30, 2007

Rocky Road to Dublin Brisbane

Matthew, some of his friends and I went to see The Disables and Dropkick Murphys the other night. Damm what a night it was. It was a really, really great night. I mean how can you go wrong when you mix a Bagpipes, an Accordion, a Tin whistle or two with hardcore punk?

The last time DKM played Brisbane it was +18 only, this time however it was all ages and I saw at least one 6-8yr old there with ear muffs on, as well as quite a few young teen boys there with older brothers or their fathers. When I was waiting outside the show I saw one dad ask his son how he liked the show and the boy had a smile on his face as wide as Sydney Harbour. It was a fantastic night. We didn’t get a chance to see Mouthguard who played first as Matthew and his friends decided to have a few more rounds at Dooley’s leaving me sitting outside the show waiting for them with their tickets. Oh Well. Matthew didn’t think I was going to like The Disables but I thought they were pretty cool.

When I got in the car on the way into the Valley, a DKM song was playing on the J’s and then during the break between The Disables and DKM, Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show ( actually I am 99.9% certain it was a cover though because it sounds nothing like it does on my Old Crow CD, don’t know who was doing it though) was played (along with a whole heap of Agnostic Front). Wagon Wheel is a song that Women in Docs normally play in their live set. I thought this was all pretty cool 🙂 I was probably the only one in the room who was singing along to it, as I don’t think many of the other audience members would be up on Old Crowe Medicine Show. They are definitely not DKM 🙂 I had a great time people watching, checking out all the different mohawks and various other spikey hair dos.

The Disables

Lets go Murphys, Lets go.

Leave your worries at the door boy, they’re not going anywhere
Hail, hail the gang’s all here

I have to say I would love to see them at their annual St Paddyâ€™s day show in Boston, that would rock. Though the below Youtube clip is not from a St Paddy’s show but just them doing a super cool song.

March 25, 2007

Ordinary day, just like any

Mum is up at IBISCA this weekend having fun looking after a group of high school kids who were awarded bursaries to attend for the weekend. The house as a result has been quiet. Yesterday I worked all day and then went out to a local pub with a bunch of people at work to celebrate two of the girls turning 40. That was the first time I had gone out with people from work since most of the “old school” night fill people had left, it was a very different scene mainly in the reversing of the gender ratios, going from two or three girls and a heap of guys to a heap of girls and two or three guys.

Went out for a long bike ride this morning which was really good, it has been a while since I have gone on a long ride. I went out a bit later than I had planned to. I had planned on getting up at 6am and heading out but I didn’t get out of bed till 7ish and got out the (garage) door close to 8. I was dead tired from having a late night last night but it was a case of well if I don’t go I will never go and then I would be a slacker. Which is not something I want to be.

I made biscuits this arvo between watching a tape of Rockwiz from last night (I like Spicks and Specks for the comedy but as a music quiz show Rockwiz is way cooler). Deni Hines was a crack up! Before tea, I made a batch of mixed berry muffins which will be frozen and taken out one at time when in need of something for morning tea at work or a snack on the run.

It is stock take this week at work which means instead of only getting up one morning at 4:18 to start at 5am, I will be doing it twice maybe three times since I can’t remember my roster. I have nothing against starting work at 5am, the store is quiet with everyone hard at work and customer free till we open at 8am. The issue I have a problem with is the sun and when it decides to get out of bed. There are 52 weeks in the year and only 9 or so of those weeks does the sun decide to rise above the horizon before or as I start pedalling my bike to work. Riding to work in the dark whilst that does not worry me, it can be rather depressing when you are cycling to work and not even the birds have started their morning singing.

I picked up the recent Po’Girl CD yesterday on my lunch break. Po’Girl were one of those cool bands that I discovered at Woodford. I am really impressed with the CD, I have listened to it through a couple of times and I’m happy. Hearing those clarinet strains and those harmonies takes me right back to Woodford. sigh, Those were the days my friends lol.

March 15, 2007

a walk or two with a new friend

I have a new friend. Well I have a new friend by association of my camera. Last week I picked up a near new copy of a Sigma 30mm 1.4 off the camera board I frequent, from a guy who lives locally. I got it for a steal and a half. And by george it is a nice lens. Just about the same as the 50mm on a film camera as on my digital camera it comes to be about equivalent at 48mm.

I took it with me to The Farm on Sunday (well I took my whole camera bag because who wouldn’t?) when we went to have dinner with Grandad and Aunty Margaret who has been up looking after him after his most recent skin cancer removal and skin graft. I cooked tea for us all and Mum and Margaret provided desert (Chocolate self-saucing pudding, enough said). These are my two favourite photos from the little stroll I had.

I have always loved the Antigonon that covers the old tank stand, just such a pretty pink flower and it does so well in this climate (read it will climb anywhere it can) and well who can resist some tree fern goodness?

Today, it was my turn to cook dinner and earlier in the day I had spotted an ad in the paper that said Aldi was selling their salad leaves at half price for the moment. $1 for 120g is a very good buy. Since Aldi is just a stones throw from where we live, I picked up my camera and a $1 coin and went for a walk. This is what I saw.

The power lines overhead.

A rose peeking through the fence wire.

Weeds standing strong in the setting sun.

I must say I like this lens very much indeed.

Now for some music to share. Susan Enan. Sweet Music. I discovered her from watching Bones (see Clare MP, even though it might be far-fetched I found a cool artist. Bring on the Wonder was the song that was on Bones but I must say I like Monoplain thirty times more.

March 11, 2007

WhiteWater World

Mum and I spent the day at the new water park that has opened up down the coast. It is called WhiteWater World and is operated by and located beside Dreamworld.

Mum was going along for a Maths teacher briefing about the activities they run for senior Maths B students which use the rides as models for all sorts of maths stuff. As part of the briefing Mum got in for nicks and I got in at the child’s price :).

We had a blast of a day going on all the rides that we could fit on (eg those kiddie slides just aren’t designed for people with hips) and going on quite a few rides multiple times.

In terms of favourite rides, The Green Room as much as it freaked me out was probably the best ride there, as long as you managed to find two other riders to take you as close as possible to the 300kg ride limit, because the heavier your tube was the higher you went up the sides of the funnel. After that the Broken Headz run in the Temple of Huey. Which the photo below shows Mum and I coming out of.

It was a blast of a day and whilst there were times when I wished it was a hot sunny day, it was very enjoyable when it was slightly overcast as it meant that the concrete wasn’t hot 🙂

March 7, 2007

Do you know the way to Brisbane?

Or more importantly I sure as jaggery hope that Mr Bacharach does because I have a ticket to seem him when he comes to the Convention Centre on July 6 (the day before Karl turns 28!) and I will not be a happy chappy if he gets lost. Perhaps I should send him a map?

When I saw the advert that he was going to be playing in Sydney in Feb, I was ready to walk out the door and start walking to Sydney. It was going to cost me an arm, a leg, an eye and possibly even my soul but this is BURT BACHARACH we are talking about. However I decided that I really did want to keep my soul and two eyes are just so much better than one so I resented myself to not going to see Mr B this time round. Then Mr B had an accident and his daughter died which meant that the Sydney and Adelaide shows were canceled. Then there was a note saying he would be coming back in July and adding some more cities to the show. Yeah for Brisbane. Yeah for Helen having a ticket to see Mr B and The Queensland Orchestra. July 6 will be a total treat 🙂

Or do you know your way round Africa?
The other night Karl sent me this link – 53 African States. It has fast making the rounds of my family and friends either on the web site or on a piece of paper. When I did it this arvo I had 2 states that I couldn’t get 🙁 compared to the 13 so so I couldn’t get the first time I did it. The challenge now is to be able to place them all in the right place on the map. That will be a challenge. How many countries in Africa can you get?

March 6, 2007

Beechmont Launch

Well on Sunday I headed out with some friends to Natural Arch (Natural Bridge) to take some photos and take photos we did. I am not yet happy with my photos of the bridge or the creek in general. I was however happy with this photo of a Stinging Plant.

About 12ish we started to splinter off with people going home. I decided though that I had all day, some petrol and plenty of “film” left. I had thought of heading up to Binna Burra and taking a short walk but as I went past the Beechmont Launch on my way I stopped there instead and took some photos. Whilst the conditions for the hang and para gliders was not the best, there were still a handful up in the air.

Take off. This girl was lucky on her second time attempting to reach the clouds.

Paraglider and a model glider.

Looking across the top of the launch area.

Blowin’ in the Wind

Safety Floats.
I don’t think getting caught in these powerlines would be a wise life choice. Hence the big red balls.

I even managed to pick up my first hitch-hiker on that trip as well. Mum was quite shocked when I walked into the house and told her that. Well, that is until I explained the hitch-hiker. I had thought of driving home via Canungra but a km or so down the road from Beechmont I decided against it and did a uie, on my way back up the road I saw a paraglider lugging his big pack with his thumb out. I thought well I have just been taking photos of you all, so I may as well repay the favour with a lift back. I picked him up and a had a nice chat on the way back to the launch site about para-gliding and photography.