Oh how times change ...

How complicated life has become. Of course, it doesn’t have to be, but ours is… well… magnificently, gloriously modern.

In a nutshell (and you know how heroic that attempt at brevity is for me), last week the modem decided not to play ball. I rang our internet provider and spent a solid two hours conducting what felt like a small scientific symposium over the phone. The customer service officer — a truly lovely and infinitely patient woman — finally concluded that salvation lay in a brand-new modem. I matched her patience saint for saint.

Interim: no Wi-Fi. The phone had to suffice. And truly, it was not the end of civilisation as we know it.

Next morning? The modem was working perfectly. All lights solid and green. If you know modems, you know this is the equivalent of a choir of angels. A miracle. A happy day.

Naturally, less than forty-eight hours later the new modem arrived.

For two days I ignored it. Technologically speaking, all was well with the world. Meanwhile, texts and emails began arriving, gently — then not so gently — reminding me that installation had not occurred and the old modem had not been returned. I began to imagine representatives from the internet provider appearing at the door, clipboard in hand, accusing me of modem theft.

Deep, calming breaths. I set aside two hours for the Great Changeover.

I photographed the existing modem and its spaghetti of wires like a crime-scene investigator. Thanks to my earlier tutorial and copious notes, I even knew what each cable did — a heady moment. I installed the new modem. Eventually, the blessed green lights appeared. Easy.

Changed the Wi-Fi on David’s computer. Easy.
Changed the Wi-Fi on both our phones. Easy.

All was right with the world.

Then I went to print a PDF. Oh holy moment — no printer Wi-Fi. Reconnected.

Ah yes — the solar. Heaven forbid it stop reporting our virtue to the appropriate authorities. Reconnected.

I was feeling rather accomplished at this point. “Clever elder,” I said to myself.

Then I asked Alexa for a time-zone change so I could ring someone overseas. “I’m having trouble connecting to the internet,” she replied sweetly. At least she told me. Fixed the Echo. Fixed the pod. Positively brilliant now.

Oh no. The car.

So I sat in the car — in the driveway — reconnecting its Wi-Fi like I'm fully embracing the 21st century. By now I was technologically triumphant but spiritually depleted.

Cooked a beaut dinner (always restorative after battle). We settled down to watch a movie.

No Wi-Fi.

Of course.

I do so love being an elder and keeping abreast of the times.

Today I am returning to my 250-odd place cards on the drawing board. Ink behaves. Paper does not require passwords. This afternoon I shall speak about calligraphy on ABC radio — a realm where quills and quiet concentration reign supreme.

Bliss.

Apology to all Australians impacted by the Thalidomide Tragedy

"We are sorry.

We are more sorry than we can say."

The full manuscript.

 

A close up.

Two manuscripts were created. An original and a hand facsimile identical to the original.

Two originals in other words.

This photo was taken before I erased the lines to show the beauty of the gilded letters which were tooled, very softly, with a metal stylus. Hair follicles can be seen.

It is a privilege to be invited to create a manuscript that will remain in perpetuity for our future generations. We all hope that a tragedy such as Thalidomide never happens again in this country.

The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese MP has now signed this manuscript which is on display in Parliament House, Canberra.

To aid the longevity of such manuscripts my preference is to work on vellum which is calf skin. Such skins, calf, sheep and goat, have been used for centuries to create written artefacts in the form of books in codex form and earlier in some scrolls. Here you can see the soft yellowish tone of the skin which is like velvet to write on. Veins and hair follicles can be seen which add to the overall sublime nature of the skin. Other media used here are carbon stick inks, designers gouache, gum Arabic, gum sandarac, genuine gold leaf on a gesso based size and drawing tools, brushes and dip-in metal pens.

These documents, if cared for will last relatively well intact, quite possibly, forever. That in itself truly is a privilege.

Trinkets ...

 

It was a very special occasion to host friends from the Canberra Calligraphy Society at our home for a talk about, and show the body of work, “The Boats of Humanity” before it moves offshore to Stanford University Library. It was such a lovely day as we all talked things poignant, the importance of words and their presentation. Plus sharing insights into the script and the tools and materials used. Such fun! They all took home a “Boats” trinket. 🕊️☮️ 

Three little pieces ...

From the recent Canberra Calligraphy Society exhibition 2024:

three little pieces

 

Time out ... and time out!

 

Malua Bay June 2024

Do not be fooled it was bitterly cold on the beach today! Pam, Reta and I set off to the south coast to catch up with Ellen and Alan but both were so unwell we didn't get to see them. So, what do three friends do, we go for coffee at Mossy Point and shopping to Moruya and Narooma. We spent one full day at Mogo, visiting every shop, nook & cranny. The highlight was Amanda's art & craft emporium and lunch at Grumpy & Sweethearts!  Dinner at Raymonds, the Malua Club and on our third night we indulged in pizza!

The car went very well. Smooth and low on the mountain bends and a dream on the long country highway. We powered up again at the Super Charger in Narooma. Forty-five minutes from 53% to 100% ... while we shopped.  No worries!

Today I deactivated (not deleted) my Facebook account. I have wanted to do this for quite some time. I find that many of the posts thereon, no longer resonate with me. I am not finding common ground. The proliferation of adds rankle me and the unsolicited messages are truly annoying. So, no more scrolling for me but I will miss the real and genuine connections. My Instagram account remains and acts as a great visual network with friends and colleagues as well as my Messenger account. Anyone who would like may still contact me. I hope stepping away from FB improves the health of my mind. 

I am still unwell with the PMR and in fact I am not progressing on to a good place just yet. Walking is my only exercise at present and on these super cold and crisp Canberra mornings I try a little walk each day slightly undulating and sometime flat. Around about the 10,000 step mark. The absolute best thing though is I am very able to enjoy studio work so all is not lost. And again, with all my previous Government work and more coming back to my studio, I am simply delighted. 

And of course, there is pure enjoyment watching the kiddies sport!

A short excerpt ...

 

... from today's journal entry I would like to share this paragraph:

"And on that point of feeling blessed, I do feel blessed not in a religious sense but in a secular way of being fortunate. Faith, I believe comes in secular forms as well as religious. Belonging to community. Community that is already with us … all around us. And it is free, you don’t have to “join up” you just have to be brave and reach out. It all starts with two people having a conversation and moving on proactively from there … three people, four people … more."

And though presently my health is still under par the rheumatologist and I have a plan which is a huge step in the right direction. So, how about I share this very green photo of one of my regular smoothies. The ingredients here are: kale, apple, orange, hemp gold protein powder & mint. Mint is so underrated and gives the most heavenly taste to many recipes.

The bluebottle ...

... it is a beautiful and dangerous thing!

But ... once stung you will never forget the burning sensation that made you cry, scream and run up and down the beach. WHAAAAAAA!  As a child though, one got to know the nature of the beast ... such a little thing ... that sting.

Just like the jack jumper ants in Tasmania, the remedy is not far away. 

I noticed this bluebottle on Malua Bay beach, Yuin Country yesterday. If I had have encountered it in the water I may be telling a different story. As children we would be warned to watch out for bluebottles and on occasion we would be stung. The pain is immediate. The remedy: grab a handful of wet sand and rub the sand very hard and roughly into the raging red marks left by the long stinger tentacle. It was dreadful when they wrapped around your legs in the water ... you had to get out and get the sand to rub at the tentacles and get them off. Sometimes you could kick the tentacles off in the water but you had to be very careful. 

I am glad I haven't been stung by one of these in a while.

Oh, the jack jumpers ... grab the bracken fern growing everywhere in Tas ... rub the fern well into the bite and it will, eventually negate the sting!