The Big Pineapple Midnight Oil Experience

One wet October night….

The rain just won’t stop falling today even. One more day and perhaps Midnight Oil would have been cancelled, given the conditions. I’m glad it wasn’t, despite the fact we stood in the driving rain for hours, getting slowly colder and wetter, right up until getting home.

The organisation was a bit shit, with over an hours wait for the shuttle bus from Nambour, but in the end we arrived while it was still daylight and before the 2nd support act, The Living End. Being with friends there was a little bit of faffing around choosing a spot, and we started our night high up on the hill with a tiny view, which was a fun spot to listen to the Living End who I enjoyed quite a bit, especially their sense of humour about the weather. Phoebe loved their double bass and the insanity of the “pizzicato” and antics of the bass player. I think she’s suddenly found a new instrumental passion.

But then Midnight Oil came on and I can’t remember what came before! By then we’d moved to a spot on the side of the hill where we could see the whole stage and enjoy the full view of Peter Garrett’s dancing which has changed only by virtue of having slowed down in the past 25 years!!!! He looks like himself in slow motion 

I loved the political messages; it felt good to know my values matched the values they were singing about. I must admit that it was odd being uncertain if we were in a like-minded crowd! I was especially disappointed by the half-hearted sounding support when Peter talked about what I think was his crowning achievement as Environment Minister, which was saving the Mary River from a stupid stupid dam. I was cheering as loud as I could but it felt like I was the only one on the whole hillside shouting my support. That was uncomfortable and I felt embarrassed as here we were, in the heart of the country he’d saved from environmental stupidity and no-one voicing their appreciation. The sentiment wasn’t really helped when people seemed to leave after the big screens displayed huge “Vote YES’ messages. I would like to think it was the spate of heavy rainfall at the time, but the rain eased and I’m sure some of the crowd didn’t seem to return. It always amazes me when people say they are a fan of a musician but they don’t agree with their politics or world view. The concept challenges me. Not sure how you can listen to an Oils song multiple times and not ‘get’ it.

The highlight for me was the entire second half really. From the moment that they started playing “When the Generals Talk” I was in another place. It was just incredible when they played Generals, Short Memory then US Forces in a row.

My next big emotional moment was Blue Sky Mine. Although Peter gave an emotional speech about Adani by way of introduction, the reality of Asbestos mining is close to home for me. My Mum’s been gone for 15 years because of Asbestos cancer so the words “If the Blue Sky Mining Company won’t come to my rescue, who’s going to save me?” really means quite a bit. No-one saved my Mum. The Blue Sky Mining Company (James Hardie) certainly hasn’t saved anyone. They’ve avoided all compensation and Peter Garrett well knows this, hence the song. Rain hid a lot of tears but wonderful cathartic tears of enjoyment of the communion of great music.

I probably could have listened to their entire back catalogue all night had it not been pouring rain, so as the night wrapped up with the favourites and we knew it was soon to be over the timing seemed perfect, it was time to go home and get dry. The overwhelming sense of peace once on the dry bus (DRY BUS!!) really struck me. While Springsteen leaves you feeling energised and ready to tackle mountains after his performances, I feel that Midnight Oil left us feeling deeply at peace with the world. That is truly something special!

When it seems harder to get the family to pitch in

Every single day. That's how often it seems harder to get the family to do their fair share of the housework. I live with extremely reluctant domestic assistance. They are happy to take food cooked for them and happy to watch TV paid for by my work, but help out, that is painful.

And yet it is clear to me that I need to embrace how challenging it is to get them to get off their butts and do work and continually prod them into participating. On the odd occasion when I do get them to shuffle around helping the amount of work that gets done is remarkable.

So that is my goal for today, this week, the rest of this month. Get everyone moving & cleaning with me.

First I need to overcome the other challenges. Urgh.

What is "Organising Energy"?

After posting my holiday jigsaw pic on twitter, it occurred to me that Organising Energy has a considerable image problem, namely that it potentially seems totally disorganised! Although I'm the first to agree that my blogs and tweets  lack cohesion or structure, in their own way they remain true to the theme and intention of the purpose of my creating this blog and twitter account.

Organising Energy was born from my desperate desire to have a home that was less cluttered; however right from the beginning I realised that the concept of cluttered living wasn't as simple as having a bit of a clean out. My research and experience in my home had already showed me that my state of mind and health have a significant impact on how effectively I kept clutter at bay on a day to day basis. So health, attitude, wellness of mind all become part of the complexity. As I discover more about all thee facets of living I find that mental and emotional clutter impact on the state of energy - so much depends on a healthy mind and body!

Which leads me to the most rewarding discovery of 2013 - the incredible power of music. Both my husband and I rediscovered the positive energy created by enjoyment of live music.  Live music, and indeed other events that bring together humanity in a shared experience (footy grand finals, tai chi) serve a purpose in emotional regulation and spiritual refreshment.

I'm writing this piece now in 2016, three years later, due to an extended period of distraction in my life. The concept of 'organising energy' for me has not changed; it remains about the holistic reality of mind, spirit, body and physical environment coming together as the energy of my life.  I've been carrying on with these principles to varying extents in the past couple of years and the truism remains. One needs to regulate all aspects regularly to make progress.

So that is why my 'organising energy' can cover such a wide range of topics. The physical project for me is to live in a less cluttered, more aesthetically pleasing home, however the journey to that is not one that involves holding items to check for 'joy', or 'becoming minimalist'.

I hope you are interested in following along that journey as I pick up blogging again.

Happiness has at least 15 steps?

I was recently linked this article on facebook.  It struck me as such a truth that I needed to save it where I could find it again. I am also quite impressed that it was the final prompt to re-open this blog. Leaving it there for now.

The Big Routine - Part 2 only took 2 years!

I amuse myself. Someone has got to be finding this funny.  I decided to trawl back through anniversary posts - somewhat in disbelief that I've been blogging for 2 years!   Around this time two years ago, this was the post I came up with:

The Big Routine - What do I need?

Vegetable gardening week has thus far been an abyssmal flop.  I did have one day of planting, and managed to acquire some cuttings of Nasturtium, that are excellent for keeping away pests.  So instead of updating on the nonexistent veggie progress, I’m taking sometime out to review my month’s blogging to see what kind of routines that have been on my mind.  Hopefully it will give me some idea of a daily cleaning routine that I can then experiment with next week.

A personalised summary of routine cleaning and organising from previous blogs shows the features my cleaning routine needs to have:

1.       Using the electronic diary in the phone for all family commitments works

2.       I like to make cleaning fun, with games, aps and fun sounding things like 27 fling boogie.

3.       I can’t clean ‘all the things’ at night late, it leads to insomnia!

4.       Focussing on one area a week works well to remind me to prioritise cleaning

5.       It would be beneficial to have regular visitors to keep a level of cleaning frenzy going

6.       Whenever possible, always leave every room brighter (eg pickup rubbish/junk) throughout every day

7.       Regularly cleanout the fridge before bin day, pay bills as soon as they arrive (I’ve had some disappear into the paper piles!), upload pictures at least monthly, send greetings quarterly.

8.       Spend at least 2 hours everyday on cleaning until the chaos is controlled.

9.       Have 2 days in a row alone in the house to clean every fortnight at least, again until it is controlled.

10.   Keep on top of my teeth and hair care to keep me feeling presentable to the world

11.   Make effort to have some ‘emergency’ supplies to be prepared for changes.

 How to apply these criteria is coming up in part 2 of the big routine!

I find it incredibly funny and interesting to read this post. Some of these realisations have been such important mainstays in my life during the past two years, and others I am highly amused at the wishful thinking involved!

1. Using the electronic diary in my phone - this was a terrific thing, although I'm a feel it see it kind of person, so I reverted in 2014 to a funky paper diary that was heavy and annoying but didn't break when it was dropped. Right now I'm struggling by with day-to-day keeping it in my head, but I'm starting to fondly think of a diary system. I'm even considering giving all 3 children their own diary as my eldest's previous school did this from Prep and to be honest I think it teaches some excellent skills. You've got to remember what you're doing somehow.

2. Making cleaning fun - not only did I enjoy making cleaning fun, but it is an excellent way to rope in the children. We now have weekend competitions to go up cleaning 'levels' and I still occasionally use apps like "Unfuck my Habitat" and "Chore Wars". I constantly make a game out of small tasks that I ask the children to do and I have recently become very reliant on "27 Fling Boogie" by the Fly Lady.

3. Housework induced insomnia - still a real threat to my sanity. I rarely do any housework after 9pm, despite the need.

4. Focussing on one area and doing the cha cha at the same time - nope, that isn't happening. What is happening is that I do try to balance between de-junking or a deeper cleaning project and keeping on top of the laundry and dishwashing mountains. I don't take the concept of such balance very seriously.

5. Regular visitors - irregularly this is happening. In fact this is one area where it would be entirely sensible for me to make an effort. Life has happened. It is true that regardless of how I want my house clean and tidy for me, it is always easier when there are visitors coming to move more quickly. This is especially true for hubby who will do amazing things like mop the floor if he knows a baby is coming to visit. 

6. Pick up as I go along or 'leave it brighter' - this is incredibly powerful in my opinion. It is something that can be done a little, or a lot. I do it a little :P

7. looking back at this, I see number 7 as "Do ALL THE THINGS!", reminding me of the hilarious blog post about why the writer will never be an adult.  Breaking 7 down into its considerable parts....

• cleanout fridge before bin day - this is a great concept that is often implemented, yahoo!
• pay bills as soon as they arrive - *choke* what was I thinking? OK it is good in theory....
• upload pictures monthly - oh wow, what utopia was this I was dreaming of? In good news, what I have achieved is filing them according to the year and month they were taken. That is something.
• send greetings - obviously once this was written I immediately took to the idea that it was the thought that counted. I'd be lucky to have sent greetings at all in the last 2 years, let alone quarterly. 

8&9. From the same concept as number 4 I am simply not that kind of person who sticks to set chunks of anything. I don't even stick to blogging very well. While a very nice idea, right now I'd be happy to have a weekend alone in the house to tear through some things.

10.  Teeth and hair care - we have charts in this house. This is what they are for. 

11. Emergency supplies and preparation. Actually I'm doing well at this. It makes the whole household run more smoothly.   

And now I'm out of time for blogging and reflection. It was an amusing look back.  

There is no big routine, only many many small ones!

international women's day

I spent international women's day mostly contemplating domesticity - how I spend much of every day!  Interestingly this year I also spent the evening driving to Brisbane to see Jake Clemons with my good friend. While I was there, enjoying Jake's soulful performance I was still contemplating things on the home front. Jake's music leads itself to such introspection as he pauses during one song to remind us that the answers are inside of ourselves.

One of the hardest lessons that I am still struggling with is that you cannot change others, always the only changes you can make are within you.

So on international women's day, what is it that I want to change in myself that will improve things for myself and my daughters?

Typing while waiting for my child at school in a rare moment of "spare" time I am struck by how many things I juggle at the moment - and how likely it is that  many women experience similar levels of "juggling all the things"  at least the soundtrack right now is relaxing "I come from the Land Down Under" that the children are dancing to. 

Of all the roles I have at the moment the one I have resolved to improve on international women's day is that of wife. I've been concentrating on being a daughter and a mother for so many years that being a wife has taken a backseat.

Given that I'm juggling a gazillion things right now with family and household madness, my resolution is simple, despite finding a plethora of well-meaning advice of the subject of relationships.  I resolve to simply remember how much my husband devoted his time to supporting my Dad in the past few years. When my Dad needed an ambulance, he would call, when he needed an urgent doctor's script, he would arrange it. When Dad needed someone to stay with him overnight to make sure his oxygen stayed on while recovering from pneumonia, he would stay with him. He helped my Dad with all aspects of living, and was so deeply involved in his daily care.

So my IWD resolution this year is to remember the kindnesses that my husband gave my Dad.  I'll be remembering it when I disagree with his parenting, when I am picking up his clothes off the floor, when I am cranky that he 'forgot' to do a chore I asked him to help with, or when he's been home all day and not done the washing up.  I'll make my decisions from a place of love, not a place of fear.

I don't feel 'feminist' about this resolution, but I do feel very 'humanist'; that teaching girls to be strong is more about openly communicating about the challenges faced as a woman than demanding things from an individual than they may not be willing or capable of giving.  

A thank you for Jake Clemons

As I lie beside my restless little person, listening to the storm outside thinking about bringing us some rain I'm reminded of an August night last year, driving into Brisbane to the Old Museum Building in gentle misty rain to discover a little about Jake  Clemons' music.

That day I remember being pleasantly surprised by not only the mastery he has with voice and instruments alike, but how much the lyrics resonated with me, as did Jake's anecdotes about his journey to particular songs.

I've been excited about revisiting Jake's music since the Solbar wS announced as his tour start venue, so close to home for me!!  So much has passed since last August and I badly needed the time out that music brings.

The set did not disappoint - all my favourites and some new favourites now too!

We had a blast trying to make saxophone music as requested and I surprised myself at keeping a beat for at least half of one song!!!

 I was in awe of how a song about saying goodbye as a musician on the road can also hold true for the fraction of time and light that dementia allows you into someone's life - so often I was saying goodbye to Dad minutes after arriving to see him :(

I love Song for Hope, "a little hope will go a long way" such a simple concept but woven so cleverly into the complexity of human emotion and striking to the centre of human experience - I've spent the last few years living in that space, making the little hope stretch. Thank you for writing this song Jake!!!!

By the time Jake had finished introducing "bittersweet" I was already emotional at the parallels between his stories and my own. I think I spent a great deal of that particular song feeling all the feelings!

This was a particularly poignant set for me, a cleansing of the emotions and spirit, thank you Jake, you were such a gentleman tonight and I'm sure we all appreciated what a special night we were treated to!!!

Have a wonderful not at all bittersweet tour!