Saturday, December 31, 2005

New Years Eve


Well its going to be a quite one this year.

That's Ok though, its not that much fun out with all the hoards anyway. Been there, hated that. Plus I just don't think I could ever top the fun Chris and I used to have at the hand in hand dance parties we used to go to when we where in Sydney and took drugs (not that you need to take drugs to have fun kiddies)... so why be disappointed I say.

We have a good life here and we have little animals that need our love and attention. I've got a few good DVD's and some beer in the fridge and my boy friend who will always be hot no matter where we are. At least I know I'll get a new years kiss and probably laid too :)

So happy new years all, have a good one. This is a photo of Chrisopher and I in our city apartment just about to go off to a dance party at fox studios in Sydney 2002.

Friday, December 30, 2005

Fence Building


Yep even a ex-city gay boys can build fences, in fact we are positively butch now-a-days.

This fence replaced the old wire one and doubled the size of our veggie garden and our little orchard. The sheep had started to push one old one down, they do love fruit trees.... yum.

We still have a bit to go yet but its looking good so far.

Thursday, December 29, 2005

Weather


Well its finally warm in our little mountain village. and I'm a very happy camper. Shorts, no shirt, sandal's, warm nights, its great.

Have you every noticed how people love to talk about the weather (look I'm even doing it) of course the middle aged and elderly are complaining and can't help but ask you "is it hot enough for you" or "oh its going to be a hot one" or " oh its just so humid, couldn't sleep it was so hot".... well I LOVE IT. Its the cold I hate, and by the way its not really that hot here, max of about 32 degrees c, and we only get a couple of days that warm, down the mountain in Penrith its like 43 - that's a bit warm I must admit. Anyway if one more person mentions how hot it is, I think I'll just scream or maybe just burst into flames...

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Photo of the day


ADSL been down, lightening stuck us in the middle of the night and fried the modem... Scarred the fu8k out of me.... anyway brought a new modem today and its all good again. This is my favorite photo I took this week.

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Pottery Studio


Have not blogged for about 2 weeks now... too much bad stuff happening in the world and race riots in Sydney - I though writing about it would only get me more upset and pissed off then I already am about the whole state of affairs. What are we doing people... for fu*k sake get over it and get along... Violence achieves NOTHING, never has never will. I feel a great sadness wash over me when ever I turn on the news now-a-days... might have to stop watching.
Anyway enough of that... up here on our mountain top everything seems calm and we are very blessed to have a safe place live. Christopher and I have been very busy doing up the pottery studio in our back yard. We have painted it yellow and blue, very beachy and happy. Put in a work space for the pottery wheel and lots of shelving + fixed the roof and connected the power. I'm a very happy camper, it looks really great - thanks Chris for helping me. Its a really nice space and is demanding me to use it - I'm feeling very creative.

Thursday, December 01, 2005

Universal pain


It is never ok to take another life, never.
Each and every one of us is a product of the society that we live in. We must take responsibility for every soul.

24-year-old Nguyen Tuong Van from Melbourne will be put to death by hanging tomorrow at sunrise for drug trafficking.

We'll probably still be asleep, warm in our beds - safe.

How do we know he's not capable of becoming a better person, how do we know that he's not already a better person than you and me. We all make mistakes, especially when we are young.

Is he not a product of our own culture and if so then surly we all stand responsible. Taking Nguyen Tuong Van's life will not fix the drug problem. Killing has never fixed anything, it only brings more pain.

We need to find the root of our problems. Why are people driven to drugs to crime to hate. I belief its a universal pain. Something that's deep inside us all, It seems that man is the only animal that does not know his place in this universe. We have become lost.

While in my garden I was thinking about the times I have taken recreational drugs. At first I thought - well I just did it because it was fun and as a young city guy - especially a gay one - its almost a right of passage - massive dance parties, sex and ecstasy. I had some great times.

But was I doing it just for fun? When you take drugs like that at a dance party, everybody's your brother and sister, you feel loved, you feel joy... the universal pain is masked by the drug. And that's it, the pain is temporarily gone - everyone feels free of it. And that's why the come down is so bad and that why it can be additive.

We spend our whole lives hiding from the pain deep inside us all. Masking it with drinking, with drugs, with busy-ness. No body wants to really look at it - not even me.

unfortunately I have no answers today. But I do know this, we are all connected and the pain won't go away until we stop and listen to our hearts, let go of our fears, our distrust our hate.

I am your brother, I'm not perfect, but I love you because we are all one.

Nguyen Tuong Van is our brother, his life is yours and its mine and tomorrow we'll have to try harder to mask that pain deep inside us all.

Blessed be.

SUN SUN SUN

The Sun finally shines again and my mood has lifted with the dark sky's and all is good again on the Alex show. I was going fu#king stir crazy indoors... Oh and Gus (the dog) is much happier too... outside laying the sunshine :)
Below is my photo of the day of our Broad Beans and Lupins in flower.



Tuesday, November 29, 2005

6 days of rain

Some days I feel so restless.
Become bored with everything.
A problem that has always haunted me.
Sometimes I get a strong urge to do bad things.
There not so bad really.
Contentment with my life fades away.

Other people are starving.
Other people are facing death.
Other people are lost.

How dare I complain.
About nothing really.
Just feelings.
Gone tomorrow.

A million thoughts in my head.
So many creative ideas.
So many stories.
It's hard for me to keep track of them all.
Am I crazy?

My life is so blessed.
I have all I could want.
Why want more.
Be happy Alex.
People love you.

Monday, November 28, 2005

Ten dollars and it's art


Went to the local markets. Picked up this really cool pot. Handed over $10. Put it on an old stump amongst the ivy. Filled it with water and whalla it's art!

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Our Pet Sheep




Today we had our pet sheep Blossom and Lucy shawn. This is there second date with the shearer and they are not big fans of the whole shearing day thing. They did a awful lot of squirming and kicking when Don the shearer was giving them their hair cuts.

Don said most sheep run a mile when they see him coming, so from today's excitement Blossom and Lucy will probably do the same next year... we'll see.

They will be much cooler now though as I'm sure they get very hot in those big wolly jumpers now summers on it way.

They transform from great big wooly balls into thin little vulnerable waifs. I love our sheep, they are so sweet.

Thursday, November 10, 2005

Growing potatoes in a bag


It can be difficult to find a new place to grow potatoes each year in a small garden. You can't use the last spot you grew them for another 2 years.

This year I'm trying some Toolangi potatoes in a large bag from a tree we brought at the Nursery. (you could also use a large pot) I figure this way I can change the soil each year, they will be really eazy to harvest and there is no chance of damage from the shovel which I won't even need. They seem to be going great, in fact they are twice the size as those in the normal garden beds.

You could use this method in the smallest of gardens or even on a balcony and you can't beat home grown organic potatoes.

HINT: Start with only a small amount of soil - just enough to cover the seed potatoes about 10cm deep. Every couple of weeks add more soil, covering the bottom leaves but leaving the tops to poke out of the soil. This way you'll get heaps more potatoes come harvesting time.

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

Make a bush star

I had some much fun making this bush star for our house, I though I'd inspire others to get out in the wild and be creative too.... It's really eazy and you can do it in an hour.


Materials:
12 branches about 70cm long similar thickness.
Thinner branches for decoration
Pruners & some reel wire

STEP 1
Trim branches to the same length
STEP2
Make 2 triangles, joining ends with wire
STEP 3
Place the 2 triangles on top of each other to form a star, wire together at all points of intersections
STEP 4
Twine lengths of smaller leaved branches around star to decorate

Monday, November 07, 2005

Fractal Romanesque broccoli


It's amazing the beauty that I find in our humble vegie garden... my old maths teacher would be very pleased with my current observation about our Romanesque Broccoli we have growing. Its is exquisitely symmetrical, sporting dozens of knobbly florets, each a miniature version of the entire structure, and each built from even smaller copies of the whole its just so cool. I showed my boyfriend Christopher and he had just one simple word... Fractals.

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Government denies climate change


The Howard government says it is committed to reducing greenhouse pollution to tackle climate change. But, in a recent Queensland court case, the federal environment minister stated that climate change doesn't exist, isn't caused by human activities and just isn't important enough. Call me crazy but I just can't see how an intelligence person can actually think this.

The Liberal government seems to have an all important quest for wealth at the expense of people and environment... It's a bloody crime, I wonder what history will say about it.

Thursday, October 20, 2005

Vegies in the Rain



I know we need the rain, with the drought and all... but would it stop already! I so desperately want to get out into the garden, I'm going stir crazy cooped up in the house! I feel a bit like a poor old battery chicken, over fed, bored and just a bit cranky. Its true the vegies are all growing into huge monsters, but I fear soon they will be water logged if the sun does not show its face soon, its been almost 2 weeks of constant rain.



We harvested the first of our Turnips this week... never really had them before, not a fan we've decided. They actually taste better raw, the same as radish, the leaves are good in stir fries and spring rolls but all the same I think I'll save the space next season for something else.... (Hey Maria, I'll send you some in the mail, I know you love them.)

Sunday, October 16, 2005

Power of change in your wallet


Did you know that it takes 90 years to grow a box of Kleenex? That's right, every time you use a Kleenex tissue, you are blowing away ancient forests. That's because Kimberly-Clark, maker of Kleenex and other toilet and tissue products, all but refuses to use recycled paper in its products. Instead, Kimberly-Clark is clearcutting some of the rarest and oldest forests on Earth - just to create disposable paper products.... Is there any alternative you can buy.... we have a great power for change in our wallets.

Thursday, October 13, 2005

Happy Birthday to me


Just like to say a BIG thankyou to all of you who traveled from all over the country and overseas to come along to my Birthday Bash. I had a great time and it was so cool that some many people came along.

A special thanks for Maria who helped out in the kitchen (as she does) and made the brownie Birthday cake with all the little farm animals on it - we are still eating it. Your Fabulous Maria :)

Deb and Matt for coming from New Zealand.... how cool was that!. Mum and Dad for leaving all their farm animals for a couple of days, I know Mum worries when she's not there to watch over them all.

And every body else... (Sounds like I'm accepting a MTV award)... anyway thanks I love you all, I'm so lucky to have so many beautiful people in my life.



Wednesday, October 12, 2005

Its kinda funny



Kim Jongs Shoes. For the first time, Kim Jongs “Heightening Shoes” of which there have been many rumors, have been caught in photographs. Kim Jongs height is known to be around 165cm but many assume thats with his shoes on... a probably overstated.

President George W. Bush in his presidential boots... good for stomping on the evil ones.

SOAP BOX May those without sin cast the first stone


Which brings me to my first SOAP BOX session, they may be a few of these... but its my soap box and I'll stand on it as much as I like....

I was reading some Blogs and I came across this little gem from one of our loving Christian friends.

(Since PM Lee announced that our Gay/homosexual/steretypically up the butt friends would also be hired in SG's Civil Service Sectors, there has been an outcry of disapproval/rage/anger amongst many in Singapore. (Yes, at church I have heard this mentioned many times, comparing SG to Sodom and Gomorrah - a city where doing it up the butt was a norm...) i-love-eclipse

Its certainly not the worst thing I've read about Christian views on the Gay community, at least he doesn't want me dead. (see godhatesfags) But still it never ceases to amaze me how hypocritical Christians can be, note the blog name... i-love-eclipse... then love dude. (*9. Love thy neighbor.) You know if we all show each other some compassion and love we just might leave some room to understanding each other. Give me some guidance, a caring word, lets try to understand each other - don't just say I'm a stereotypically up the butt friend, because I'm not and they aren't either. Don't throw that stone - are you without sin?

10 Commandments lets just recap shall we:

1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
3. Thou shalt not worship fake gods
4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5. Honor thy father and thy mother
6. Thou shalt not kill. (note the words 'if' or 'but' do not appear)
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8. Thou shalt not steal.
9. Love thy neighbor.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, wife, ox, ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's.

My boy friend Christopher always says he won't preach what he believes until he is living it. (he says some cool stuff). It might be nice if we all did that, myself included. There endeth the lesson.

So this is my first Blog.


Its a rainy day and I'm staring out my window, as I do. Our front yard always looks so lovely to me no matter what the weather. I have a million thoughts running through my head, but thats not unusual for me. It can be difficult when there is so much stuff in your head, I end up so distracted jumping for one thought to another I often end up with nothing or I just miss the moment. Something to work on.

I've been really inspired by lots of other Blogs I've been reading... Ethan Grey brought me to tears 3 times in just an hour. I've found myself curled up on the couch 3 nights in a row just reading his stuff... I'm a sucker for a love story. So much talent in the world, you'd think we'd be doing a better job.