Roll Up, Roll Up

For All The Fun Of The Fair

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

No, there's no chance of making a grand entrance here - simply because, as the sign says, it's an exit! I shot these two images on Easter Saturday at Luna Park, during our holiday in Sydney this year. We've made several visits to Sydney over the years, but it's the first time we've actually been to Luna Park.

Let's just say a good time was had by all. Three Authorbloglets and three of their closest friends. Two fathers, both having a good time as well - ah, okay, so one of them had a camera around his neck and kept finding lots of quirky images to shoot.

Like this one. I remember thinking at the time, as soon as I saw this sign, that it would be perfect for my regular Thursday post. And just to bring you up to speed, yes, I've had a few queries over the past few weeks about whether I intend to turn "The Doors" into a fully-fledged meme. There is a simple answer. I just don't have enough time to launch and administer a meme.

I do this weekly post because it's fun. But if there's anyone out there who wants to adopt the idea and launch the meme, just let me know.


For earlier posts in this series, check out The Doors Archive.

Roll Up, Roll Up

For All The Fun Of The Fair

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

No, there's no chance of making a grand entrance here - simply because, as the sign says, it's an exit! I shot these two images on Easter Saturday at Luna Park, during our holiday in Sydney this year. We've made several visits to Sydney over the years, but it's the first time we've actually been to Luna Park.

Let's just say a good time was had by all. Three Authorbloglets and three of their closest friends. Two fathers, both having a good time as well - ah, okay, so one of them had a camera around his neck and kept finding lots of quirky images to shoot.

Like this one. I remember thinking at the time, as soon as I saw this sign, that it would be perfect for my regular Thursday post. And just to bring you up to speed, yes, I've had a few queries over the past few weeks about whether I intend to turn "The Doors" into a fully-fledged meme. There is a simple answer. I just don't have enough time to launch and administer a meme.

I do this weekly post because it's fun. But if there's anyone out there who wants to adopt the idea and launch the meme, just let me know.


For earlier posts in this series, check out The Doors Archive.

Pictures - and a meme

"Heron Eclipse"

The words have been used up today. I did think of sharing a short story I've been messing with but, well, just but... Maybe another time, eh?

"Floral Notes"

Instead I'll share with you some dabblings from the digital darkroom and a meme-thingy which I found over at Rob's Inushuk Adventures some time ago. I've been saving it up for one of these "wordless" days. Feel free to do it if you haven't already.

It's the 100 Things I Have Done meme - the things I've done are in blue. Those which I haven't are in black.

I HAVE...

1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (I've jammed with friends but I'm not sure that counts)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower (no, but I've wished on many shooting stars ie meteors)
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched lightning at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb (I've held a cheetah cub, does that count?)
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset (both)
31. Hit a home run (so long as Rounders counts!)
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language (we-ell, I've tried...)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa (was born there and still live there...)
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing (I always wonder how deep the sea has to be qualify to answer this sort of question - and I caught a great white, not a marlin...)
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (not to the top, only halfway up!)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud (you should have seen those mud pies!)
54. Gone to a drive-in
55. Been in a movie (does it count that I scripted and directed it and it was corporate video production and not a real movie?)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business (does starting a small NGO count?)
58. Taken a martial arts class (I'm hoping to start Qi Gong soon, if that counts...)
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (no, but I was a Girl Scout/Guide)
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp (no, but I have visited Yad Vashem the Jewish Memorial to Holocaust victims in Jerusalem)
67. Bounced a check/cheque
68. Flown in a helicopter (but I have flown in a light aircraft)
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London (never saw the point of that one)
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book (not yet!)
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible (just the New Testament)
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (do fish and shellfish count? If so, yes.)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life (does saving my own life count?)
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake (no, but I've paddled in the Dead Sea!)
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee (no, but I talk to bees and they sing to me...)
100. Ridden an elephant (no, but I've walked hand in trunk with an elephant!)

"Through Time"

And here's wishing all of you a very happy and loving Valentine's Day!

Gratitude Meme

Karen over at Border Town Notes tagged me for a thankfulness meme the other day – I think it was actually a thanksgiving meme, but across the blogosphere it seems to have morphed into different forms, yet all about the things and experiences we are thankful and grateful for in our lives. I think one is supposed to list seven “thankfulnesses” and then tag x number of people. We-ell, I think I’ll just run with this and see how it turns out. As for tagging, feel free to do this one yourself if you want, I know a lot of you have already done it.


I am thankful for the illness and near death experiences I have had in my life – they have taught me so much, given me insight, wisdom and awareness – and they have wiped away so much fear.

I am thankful for the abuse I’ve experienced in my life because it has shaped me, taught me and helped me to become the person I am today – and I like me, a lot.

I am thankful for two special furry angels who came into my life when I needed them most and taught me the meaning of love, particularly unconditional love.

My Golden Angels, always with me, yet resting in peace

I am thankful for the special human angels who have come into my life at times when I’ve needed them most.

I am thankful to my most wonderful, loving and caring husband, who knows how to love me, support me, give me space – and who is also my very best friend.

I am thankful for my talents, my creativity, my intellect and a good brain.

Two of my abstract "dabblings"...
above Tempus Fugit, below, Sublime Cosmic Fusion

I am thankful for the opportunities I've had to travel and live in other parts of the world, those experiences have shaped me and helped me grow. They've taught me that we are far more alike than we are different.

I am thankful for all that I have materially, for the food on my plate, the clothes in my wardrobe, my home, my garden and my little treasures.

A corner of my garden

I am thankful for the beauty and majesty that surrounds me – and I am thankful too for all that is not beautiful, for I learn from that and it informs me and helps me grow as a person.

My little corner of the world, for now, anyway...

I am thankful for all the unseen forces and angels who are constantly with me, who have guided, strengthened and saved me.

I am thankful for my intuition, my instincts, my awareness and my inner wisdom which help me walk every step of the way.

And I am thankful to you, my dear blog readers, who visit with me, share your views, teach me, support and embrace me. Being with you is like traveling; I learn, I grow and I know, more than ever, that we are all connected, all far more alike than we are different. Yet our differences create colour and interest and mutual respect. Thank you.

Writing Strengths Meme

(Image courtesy of a Google image search...)

On 14 September, Patrick at Writing Life created a meme. (Didn't you always want to know just who it was who started these things?) The instructions were as follows:

Make a list of five strengths that you possess as a writer/artist. It's not really bragging, it's an honest assessment (forced upon you by this darn meme). Please resist the urge to enumerate your weaknesses, or even mention them in contrast to each strong point you list. Tag four other writers or artists whom you'd like to see share their strengths.

The meme, as memes do, spiralled out into blogosphere (though I notice it's mostly writers who've been tagged...). I was tagged first by Bonnie and then by Canterbury Soul. I see that most of the usual suspects have also been tagged.

So, in no particular order, here are five of what I consider to be my strengths as a writer:

A passion for playing with words
This it might be something that was born from an overexposure to Scrabble and word association games at a young age, or it might just be the fact that words offer such wonderful opportunities for play. I particularly like playing with words verbally, which may account for the utter nonsense I am known to utter on some occasions, particularly around full moon time. Which is why I've left off doing this until full moon had waxed lunar and then waned...

A vivid imagination
My mother was known to lament, "I don't know where that child dreams these things up." And, "Who is she talking to this time...? What do you mean, no one?" As an only child I never needed company - I was perfectly capable of creating my own worlds, my own friends - and I still do. Which perhaps explains my preference for working in the fantasy, supernatural, paranormal genres. And certainly goes a long way to explaining a certain alien chicken who goes by the name of Atyllah the Hen...

Determination and a sense of humour
Some might call the former stubborness. But no Taurean ever believes they are stubborn, let alone bull-headed. No, it is all about determination! See, I know how to persevere. I know what I want and what I have to do to get it. Determination is, quite frankly, a prerequisite to being a writer. You have to keep at it - particularly in today's world where publishers like Bloomsbury can receive up to 500 manuscript submissions in a week... Competition out there is stiff, you have to be willing to stick to your guns. And if failure or rejection comes along, it's important to be able to laugh about it. This latter may explain why I am currently collecting rejection slips with a view to being able to wallpaper my entire study with them. When that is done, I may be doing some creative papier-mache work...

Ability to write dialogue
My very first job, which I landed entirely by accident and without intent, was as the scriptwriter (and director and producer) of marketing and training videos for a large corporate. The stuff that been going out was mind-numbingly bland, consisting mostly of talking heads and static slides of graphs and words. This didn't strike me as an optimal use of the video format - let alone an ideal method of training young minds. I decided to get creative - and scripted vignettes pertinent to the subject matter and employed local actors - all in order to bring the very dull business of life assurance to well, er, life. Writing scripts involves lots and lots of dialogue and writing like people actually speak - as any self respecting actor will happily remind you.

Ability to observe the world around me, learn from it and translate it into stories
In Terry Pratchett's Witches Abroad, Granny Weatherwax says, "People think that stories are shaped by people. In fact, it's the other way around." To that I say "Amen, Granny!" See, stories are all around us - it really just depends on how you decide to look at those stories. I see stories wherever I go - sometimes they even chase me down the street. And let's face it, if we are honest, our entire lives consist of stories, we are our stories. So, I'm one of those deeply irritating people who watch and listen. I love public places - they are composed entirely of characters and plots and ideas - but so are the wide open spaces - the stories and the characters are just different. So be warned, the next time you see me or someone else eyeing you - it's quite possible you will end up in a story...

If they haven't already been hit by this meme, I tag, Onipar, Struggling Writer, Rob at Loose Logic, and Steve at Blog from the Darkside, any artists reading this - and YOU!

Being Entirely Silly

(Image off the internet and from CartoonStock)

Jon felt yesterday's post was a tad on the serious side - so today we will be silly. Silly is good sometimes. Actually, sometimes you can't really notice silly amongst all the other silliness that goes on, on the planet... This is at least (I hope) harmless silliness... and was found over at Wanderlust Scarlett's place. (And it can probably all be put down to far too much intense editing, as is going on at present.)

4 things that should go into room 101 and be removed from the face of the earth.
• Prune juice - see below
• Baked beans - see below
• Mosquitoes (she said scratching furiously)
• Fast food (which is seldom fast or food)

3 things people do that make you want to shake them violently.
• Farting in elevators
• Queue-jumping (whilst farting)
• Talking to themselves and looking vague whilst shopping (oh! oops! I do that... erm...)

2 things you find yourself moaning about.
• Mould tap dancing on the cheese, again
• The rat in the compost heap playing the bagpipes at midnight (mind you, he may have been at the prune juice - it's hard to tell...)

1 thing the above answers tell you about yourself.
• I've been taking life too seriously, have smoked my socks (and I was wondering why I had so many stray socks...) and am now paying for my sins with a dose of inanity... or is that insanity...

I will attempt to be more serious again tomorrow - or perhaps not.

You've lost it, you have.
And you would know, would you?
As a keen of observer or humanity I would most certainly know.
Well, yes, I suppose you're probably right, after all, here I am having a conversation with a five foot four alien chicken - who probably doesn't exist anywhere else other than in my imagination.
Ba-kaaaak! Take that back!
No.
Now!
Make me! (oh oops, shouldn't have said that, should not have said that...)
Right!
Oooooooooooowwwwwwwwww! Atyllah, stop it! Ouch! Okay, I take it back, I take it back! Owwweeeeeeeee!
Ba-kaaaak! Ha! Humans can't take them anywhere, can't expect sanity. Mad, all of you, completely clucking mad! Ba-kaaaaaak!


Hmmm, she seems to have disappeared, so I will add one more item to things I find myself moaning about.... talking, interfering chickens!

I heard that!

Ooops! Gotta go! Aiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.....