Best News Story of the Week...

Vaccination against Covid-19 will be compulsory for about 75 per cent of Western Australia’s workforce, including in “high risk” jobs in teaching, hospitality and construction.

Premier Mark McGowan said anyone who does not comply could face hefty fines of up to $100,000 for employers and up to $20,000 for individual workers.

Mr McGowan on Wednesday announced the sweeping mandate for three separate cohorts of workers.

He said the policy was “proportionate and reasonable” and would prepare WA residents for the eventual community transmission of coronavirus when the state reopens its borders.

https://www.news.com.au/national/western-australia/sweeping-vaccine-mandate-for-75-per-cent-of-western-australias-workforce/news-story/3e0dc4e17968c1369b31466e969c531a

Well done Mark!

Here's #6

The best show I watched this week
Atypical. A great series about an autistic kid getting along in a neurotypical world. The family is troubled but intriguing. The writing is brilliant, entertaining, funny but serious when it needs to be. Great characters and probably the only time I've taken Michael Rappaport seriously as an actor. Give it a go. It's on Netflix.

The book I'm reading right now
Still going on Robbie Krieger's bio, but re-reading Places That Scare You – A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times by Pema Chodron and Myths of Greece and Rome by H.A. Guerber. The Pema Chodron book is one everyone should read.

Most interesting thing I read on Wikipedia
Samuel Pepys – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Pepys

Lately, I've been actively making daily 'journal' entries. Nothing like Mr Pepys, whose diaries kept from 1660-1669 are now historically important records of life during the English Restoration period and a first-hand account of the Great Plague of London among other major events. My aunty-in-law gave me the diaries and for some reason lately, I've been more interested in such works. David Sedaris is another now-famous journal-keeper. I've just got a copy of his latest book and I'll let you know what it's like soon.

Music discovery
This is not a new discovery but a rediscovery and one I want to share with you all. Antony and the Johnsons I am a Bird Now is a great album and this guy's voice is truly awesome. I love it. Again, this album and all the others go well with a glass of red or two fingers of Scotch or spiced rum, paired with a bath or dim lighting. If it's raining this weekend, you have the perfect opportunity to drown in this amazing album.

Best quote I heard or read this week
Again, not one I first heard this week, but my all-time favourite quote.

"What matters most is how well you walk through the fire." ~ Charles Bukowski.

What's the most poignant quote you've heard?

Food I most enjoyed this week
Luke's Special. I don’t expect you to know it, but it's a tiger banh mi with BBQ pork and pork belly roll with whole spring onion, cucumber, chilli, carrot, coriander, peanuts, and fried shallots. I'm eating one right now. So, so very good.

 

Favourite article on the YLC website this week
Well, I have to say Lucy Patarcic's article Masturbation – is it good for you? I especially enjoyed the history of guilt associated with the act. Interesting reading, indeed.

Best article I read on the web
How to be a man – by Andrew Reiner on Psyche
https://psyche.co/guides/how-to-be-a-man-who-has-inner-strength-and-emotional-resilience

Thing I am most grateful for right now
My studio. My retirement plan involves having a drawing room style 'studio' with four walls of floor-ceiling-bookshelves, the old desk, old drafting table, a chesterfield and standard planet lamps. I have been collecting books since I was very young and have managed to curate quite a collection. I love books. I've also ticked off the old desk – I have a WWII desk from the Fort Nepean and I have four desktop planet lamps but still need the standard lamp and chesterfield. Then once I retire, my aim is to read every book I own. Simple pleasures. Right now, my studio is my haven, my workplace and my creative space. 

What's your retirement dream? What's your favourite book? Or is that too tough to answer?

What I wish I could be doing that I can't do right now
Wondering in the city. Talking to a bartender. Sitting on the lawn in front of the State Library. Hoping to tick two of those off this weekend. We'll see.

What are you missing most right now?

Feel like sharing? Go on, I dare you!

 

 

Here's rap #7 – 22 October 2021

The best show I watched this week
Great British Celebrity Bake-off. I love the normal Bake-off but discovered this one during the week and have been hooked. I also watched Free Guy starring Ryan Reynolds and Jodie Comer. I like Ryan Reynolds. He's funny. And if you've watched Killing Eve (if you haven't, do), then you'll know Jodie Comer as the lead protagonist, Eve. Also great. Free Guy was a fun-filled fireworks and explosions fiesta. Enjoyable, but didn't beat Bake-off. And worth a mention was Superintelligence, starring Melissa McCarthy and James Cordon.

The book I'm reading right now
Finally finished the Robbie Krieger autobiography Set the Night on Fire. Loved it. I now know much more about The Doors than I did before, and that's a good thing, right? Anyway, a great read for Doors' fans or for anyone who loves a good bio.

Most interesting thing I read on Wikipedia
Liminality – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liminality

From Wikipedia: "[Liminality] is the quality of ambiguity or disorientation that occurs in the middle stage of a rite of passage, when participants no longer hold their pre-ritual status but have not yet begun the transition to the status they will hold when the rite is complete. During a rite's liminal stage, participants "stand at the threshold" between their previous way of structuring their identity, time, or community, and a new way, which completing the rite establishes."

Do you think this kind of relates to the transition to retirement? Keen to hear your thoughts.

Music discovery
Arab Strap. Scottish band that I discovered at the start of Lockdown 6.0 and have not been able to stop listening to since. I wouldn't usually share this type of music with you, but Arab Strap have a kind of 'Serge Gainsbourg' vibe to them which some of you may like. Try the new album As Days Get Dark.

This song The Turning of Our Bones is from that album. Listening to the lyrics, I think it might be about ageing – or zombies. Either way, it's dark and beautiful 'poetry'. Warning: There's an explicit lyric and the film clip is a bit gory in parts, but if that bothers you, close your eyes and listen. And yes, I'll admit, I'm taking a flyer here.

Best quote I heard or read this week
"Practice doesn’t make perfect. Perfection is rarely attainable and often a counter-productive goal. Practice makes progress." ~ Neil Strauss

Food I most enjoyed this week
Mexican Power Bowl. We recently traded takeaway for a Marley Spoon subscription and have been loving it. This is one of the recipes, and it's a ripper: https://marleyspoon.com.au/menu/44628-mexican-sweet-potato-rice-bowl-with-lime-dressing-and-avocado

Favourite article on the YLC website this week
Brad's article How to lose weight without running or changing your diet. It's in the title, really!

Best article I read on the web
Bernard Salt wrote a good one for The Australian called In praise of Gen X, quietly getting it done. Don’t often see a lot written about my generation. This one had some good points.

Thing I am most grateful for right now
My wife. She's amazing. Great mama, great partner, great friend. I must have used up all my karma scoring that wonderful woman.

What I wish I could be doing that I can't do right now
Playing guitar. Just because I've always wanted to but can't. I guess I need to re-read that quote above and note the 'practice' bit. I've dabbled, but gee I wish I was really good at it.

Do you play an instrument? Ever made any music? Let's hear it!

Feel like sharing? Go on, I dare you!

Food I most enjoyed this week or not

Celery, carrot sticks and avocado

Ordered by my  GP chef now that the lockdown is ending,

he also chatted about some food called exercise.

 

I always enjoy a raw small carrot, I stay away from the large carrots!

Celery sticks for sure, which brings back memories of the 70 putting cream cheese into the hollow of the celery!

Not a fan of Avos.

Sweet potato is definitely a big yes! 

Love Moroccan Chicken as a dish, it has a lot of sweet potato in!

Citrus I am highly allergic to!   Puts my blood pressure through the roof.  It seems to turn the adrenaline up!

My pet hate is coriander !!! 

Sweet corn yes, which reminds me I need to buy some more!

What I wish I could be doing but can't is driving my CAR it has not even got 20,000 on the clock when I had this dam stroke!

 

Best News I heard this morning

                                     

Litttle Cleo was found safe and well and is now with her parents

Congratulations to the police for their wonderful job.

Glad they have found her this morning at 1am!

Poor little girl, she apparently was locked up in a house in Canarvon.

It was a relief to hear this and I feel for her mum after all these days missing her.

Most interesting article I,ve read

 

Often go on Animal Chanel and watch Treehouse Masters. 

 

TREEHOUSE MASTERS : Programs : Animal Planet : Discovery Press Web

 

Great to relax and forget the world watching this programme usually set in forests and lush vegetation with immigration the guy gets contracts from families to build tree houses always something different to enjoy.

                                             

                                                   

Here's Rap #8 from 29 October 2021

The best show I watched this week
I finished watching Atypical – the one about the autistic teenager making his way through the world. It's also about his sister finding herself, his parents finding themselves, his best friend and girlfriend finding themselves – heck, it's about everyone finding themselves and (spoiler alert) they all seem to find themselves in the end. Great show. Very 'feelgood' but also 'real'. I give it a 9/10. 

What's a good show or movie you watched this week?

The book I'm reading right now
I finished Modigliani by Christian Parisot – a series of essays on a brilliant artist and his life in France and Italy in the first half of the 20th century. I am now also reading Jimmy Carr's 'self-help' book Before and Laughter. A great read from a very, very funny man.

Most interesting thing I read on Wikipedia
The Doors of Perception – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Doors_of_Perception

I read this after reading the Robbie Krieger autobiography and learning the The Doors were named after this Aldous Huxley book. Very interesting stuff, all about Huxley's research into psychedelics, philosophy and mysticism, among other fascinating subjects. I have actually read the book. The Wiki page has inspired me to re-read it.

Music discovery
Frànçois & The Atlas Mountains. A band with a bit of an 'Age of Aquarius', summer of love vibe, sort of ... With warmer weather this weekend, I reckon this should be on many a speaker. It sounds good and feels nice, like a warm bath for your ears. Try Banana Bleue then Piano Ombre.

Best quote I heard or read this week
"If you never did, you should. These things are fun and fun is good." ~ Dr Seuss (from One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish). I find so many gems reading Dr Seuss at night to my littl'un.

Food I most enjoyed this week
My porterhouse steak I had at my first pub meal in months. It took me two hours to book a table and we ended up on the rooftop of The Cornish Arms in Brunswick, sunny afternoon, cold beer, which all would have definitely added to the flavour in my meal. Anyway, for what it's worth, it was a 250g porterhouse cooked medium rare, with mushroom reduction, mash potato, giant asparagus and green beans. È stato delizioso …

Favourite article on the YLC website this week
I mean, it's difficult to go past the naked golf story about the Queensland town that hosts a naked golf tournament to raise money for the country club. But I think the winner, as far as one that made me feel like I learned something useful after reading it, was Researchers link greenery to slower ageing. Luckily, I'm surrounded by greenery at my home. Here's to plants and trees being the fountain of youth!

Best article I read on the web
Photos of Melbourne through the last 70 years: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9208251/Stunning-photos-incredible-growth-Melbourne-gone-70-years.html

I came across this when researching my Monday news story about how population expansion may not be the best thing for Australia. It's difficult to fathom urban sprawl from the ground, but when you get up in the air, it hits you much harder.

Thing I am most grateful for right now
That my house didn't blow away in the crazy winds we had on Thursday/Friday. Every bin in my long street was on its side. A huge gum tree out the front of my house came down. There are trees and debris everywhere. I was actually out there holding the trampoline down at one stage. Hellish winds, worst I've ever been in, that I can recall. I hope you all got through unscathed. I know it wasn't a tornado or hurricane, but it certainly gives you an appreciation of what people in those scenarios go through.

I'm also grateful for double vaccination and doubly vaccinated people. Thanks.

On a side note, the lockdown didn't lift for me until the announcement that the National Gallery was reopening on 3 November. If you read my weekly rap, you'd know how much I've been longing to get to a gallery. Suffice to say, I will be there next weekend!

What I wish I could be doing that I can't do right now
I'm only hours away from doing it. Going to spend the weekend with my parents and a night with some friends I haven't seen in months. Very excited! It's the little things you miss most. It brings me to a closing quote from Neil Strauss that I nearly used earlier: "When you lose a possession, you realise that you valued it too much. When you lose a person, you realise that you didn't value them enough." That's what the pandemic has been for me and many I know. Now that we can, we should say yes more often, because you never know when it will be taken away again.

That's a wrap for the rap this week. I won't be around next week, so there's a chance I'll miss an instalment. But I'll be back on deck for sure the following week. Thanks for reading the raps – I hope you get a kick out of it!

Feel like sharing? Go on, I dare you!

Nice story of the week, Bert Newton's state funeral and the touching moment when Patti and his daughter accompanied his coffin out of the church....

What I wish I could be doing that I can't do right now

Watch the Partial lunar eclipse will make Moon look almost 'ghostly' over most of Australia tomorrow night

I just hope we have a clear night tomorrow evening

Here's Rap #9 – 12 November

The best show I watched this week
Fleabag. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but then some people are coffee drinkers, others like gin and tonic. This show is like a jalapeño margarita. Hot, spicy, salty, a bit sour, packs a punch and puts a smile on your face. Brilliant writing and edgy characters, with a great story and arc, to boot.

The book I'm reading right now
Jimmy Carr – Before and Laughter. A bit of an off-kilter self-help book from the king of one-liners. Strange right? And yet it somehow works ...

Most interesting thing I read on Wikipedia
Pantophobia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panphobia

Bet you can't guess what it's a fear of? I didn’t know until I read it. Can you imagine being pantophobic?

Music discovery
A few weeks ago, I suggested Alabama Shakes as the music discovery for the week. This week, I'm sharing that band's influences. Think Ike and Tina Turner, Janis Joplin, Curtis Mayfield, The Beach Boys and more.

Maybe mix up one of those jalapeño margaritas and have a listen!

Best quote I heard or read this week
"Sometimes you climb out of bed in the morning and you think, I'm not going to make it, but you laugh inside – remembering all the times you've felt that way." ~ Charles Bukowski

Say what you want about the man; he had a way with words.

Food I most enjoyed this week
Sweet chilli wontons from Hu Tong. If you're in Melbourne (or visiting) Hu Tong is where you'll find the best dumplings in town (if you can get a table)!

Favourite article on the YLC website this week
Prudence Wade's article on why many people like to gossip – an interesting take (or positive spin) on what can often be a harmful activity.

Best article I read on the web
Have you ever wondered why your brain shirks at tricky tasks? This article explains it and what you can do to prevent it from happening. Some really good brain training tips in this one, certainly some I'll adopt!

Thing I am most grateful for right now
I had a week off last week and it was amazing. Good weather. Time with family and friends. Beach time, a day in the city and a day at the zoo. I was so grateful to be out and about. I was like a vampire. After spending a day in the city and feeling so amazing at the end of it, I reckon I must have unconsciously sucked in the energy of the hundreds of strangers I encountered. Maybe. Or maybe it was the fact that there were only about 50 people at the gallery that day. Or the dumpling lunch I had with my wife and daughter. Or maybe it was all of it. Whatever. It was great and I can highly recommend a day in town for anyone who hasn’t done it for a while.

What I wish I could be doing that I can't do right now
Hmmm… Sleeping? Or spending an entire day at the NGV. There is hardly anyone there at the moment. Like a dream come true. And quite a surreal experience.

What was the best thing you did last week? Why not share?

 

I keep forgetting to mention a programme we watch on the ABC   each SUNDAY MORNING at 9am.

 

It is a collection of journalists from around the country talking about politicians mainly.

Very interesting, according to them this morning Morrison has started his Federal Election Campaign on the sly.

I think it is repeated later in the day and may be later in the week!