Kalangadoo...Just the Other Day

WELL I HEADED OFF TO CAMPBELLTOWN
JUST THE OTHER DAY,
I WAS DRIVING THROUGH KALANGADOO
WHEN I NOTICED A SIGN TO SAY
“ ROO BURGERS AT THE ROADHOUSE
EAT IN OR TAKEAWAY “,
SO I STOPPED OFF AT KALANGADOO
JUST THE OTHER DAY.

THROUGH THE SWINGING DOORS I STRODE
JUST THE OTHER DAY,
THE SMELL THAT ONE COULD SMELL
WAS ROASTING ROO.....I’D SAY,
“ TWO ROO BURGERS TO GO
OR... MAYBE I SHOULD STAY,"
YES, I STOPPED OFF AT KALANGADOO
JUST THE OTHER DAY.

THE BLOKE BEHIND THE COUNTER, HE SMILED,
JUST THE OTHER DAY,
HE INTRODUCED HIMSELF AS MIKE
SO I SAID G’DAY,
HE SAID THE ROO HAD NO WORMS
THEY HAD COME FROM DOWN THE BAY,
YES, I STOPPED OFF AT KALANGADOO
JUST THE OTHER DAY.

THERE WAS ALSO A LADY THERE
JUST THE OTHER DAY,
I RECKONED SHE WAS THE BOSS
AND I’M SURE I HEARD HER PRAY,
“ GEEZ’’S, I HOPE THESE ARE THE LAST
OF THESE BLOODY BURGERS TODAY ",
YES, I HAD ROO IN KALANGADOO
JUST THE OTHER DAY.

SO, IF YOU EVER HEAD FOR CAMPBELLTOWN
ON ANY OTHER DAY,
WHEN YOU PASS THROUGH KALANGADOO
YOU WON’T FIND A SIGN TO SAY,
“ ROO BURGERS AT THE ROADHOUSE
EAT IN...OR TAKEAWAY “
CAUSE YVONNE’S TURNED THE GRILL PLATE OFF

AND IT’S PIES AND PEAS TODAY.

My Boomerang Shot

I once played a bit of golf, back in my younger days..
I could hit that little ball in so many different ways,
Right to left – left to right, I’d give it a mighty whack
But when I played my boomerang shot…the ball would come rebounding back.

My balls, they took some punishment, they rarely survived a round,
No doubt caused by the time they spent rolling along the ground,
Yes, I carried more than one or two; my pockets were fully stuffed;
With every known brand of ball…awaiting the scrubby rough.

I’d been to every Pro Shop attempting to squarely hit the ball
But there was not one left in this town who would even take my call
I had offered twice the going fee but they refused to meet me on the track
They were concerned about my boomerang shot… and the ball rebounding back.

No, I could not find a colleague who would play and score my card
And now I have been banned from playing, any improvement will be quite hard,
Yes, when they saw me on the tee they would cringe and stand well clear…
When I play my boomerang shot – their hearts fill up with fear.

Yes, it was my boomerang shot that caused me much anguish and pain
Injuries to fellow players caused blight upon my name,
Now I have moved to Kalangadoo where I can give the ball one mighty whack…
And not be concerned one iota…should the ball come rebounding back!

My Tassie Tiger Angel

I was driving down the mountain …heading into town,
There was no sign of the morning sun and a mist was coming down,
John Laws, he joined me for the trip, he kept me wide awake,
But maybe, tuning into him…was one mighty big mistake.

In the gloom of the dawning, a shape appeared before my eyes,
No way was my vision…telling me lies,
There it was! A Tassie Tiger, in the middle of the track,
I knew it was a Tiger…because I could see the stripes upon its back.

So I hit the brakes and swerved a bit, then down the mountain side,
The old ute hit the bottom, and I almost died,
I was hanging by the seatbelt…yeah, I was upside down,
At the rate I was progressing, I would never get to town.

My head lay against the window, which allowed me to see,
And through that early morning mist, I saw the Tiger stalking me,
No doubt I was in shock…and then my heart began to race,
When the Tiger’s jaws came through the window…and it began to lick my face.

Well, I was going nowhere; I thought this was the end,
But I had no need to worry because the Tiger was my friend,
He said, “Don’t you worry mate, I’ll soon have you free”,
“You just hang in there, and put your trust in me!”

The Tiger chewed into the belt as flames leapt from the engine bay,
I prayed to God in Heaven,”Please don’t let me go this way”,
“Should you see fit to save my life, the rest of my days are yours”,
“I’ll take up the fight to make things right, and uphold your flamin cause!”

It was not long before the Tiger had done the job at hand,
I struggled from the wreckage, but was unable to stand,
So I crawled back up to the track, with a story I could hardly wait to tell…
About how I’d met a Tassie Tiger…and had been saved… from the gates of hell!!

Where Life Itself Begun

ONCE AGAIN I’M SITTING ON MY VERANDAH
WATCHING THE CLOUDS RACE ACROSS THE SKY,
SOMETIMES I ENCOUNTER THE WRATH OF THOR
AND THEN THOSE CLOUDS BEGIN TO CRY,
QUITE OFTEN THEY CAST A SHADOW
AS THEY FORM A VEIL AGAINST THE SUN,
YES, ONE CAN FINE TUNE HIS IMAGINATION,
IN THE PLACE…..WHERE LIFE ITSELF…..BEGUN.

ONE CAN GAZE ACROSS VERDANT WATERS
AND OBSERVE THE AUGUST SWANS UPON THE LAKE...
AUDITION THEIR SERENADE OF HORNS
AS THEY ENDEAVOUR TO ENTICE A MATE,
ONE CAN LISTEN FOR THE WEATHER REPORT
AS THE KOOKABURRAS FORCAST FROM ATOP THE GUMS,
YES, YOU CAN BEGIN TO READ YOUR SOUL
IN THE PLACE…..WHERE LIFE ITSELF…..BEGUN.

ONE CAN TRUDGE A VIRGIN CORRIDOR
THROUGH TOWERING FORESTS AS OLD AS TIME,
AND MAYBE…..WHEN FATIGUE SETS IN
REST AGAINST AN ANCIENT HUON PINE,
YOU MIGHT EVEN LOCATE THE LOST FALLS
THAT RECENTLY VANISHED IN THE DRY,
PERHAPS YOU WILL FIND THE MISSING LINK
SHOULD…..THE KNOT OF EVOLUTION…..YOU UNTIE.

NOW SHOULD THERE BE A MOMENT IN TIME
WHEN YOU BANISH YOURSELF TO THIS MYSTICAL PLACE,
WHEN YOU UNROLL YOUR SWAG AND SWING YOUR BILLY
AND LAY YOUR HEAD BESIDE THE LAKE,
YOU CAN CLOSE YOUR EYES AND CONCEIVE AN IMAGE
OF JUST HOW IT WAS BACK ON DAY ONE,
AND ASSURE YOURSELF... THIS IS AS CLOSE AS ONE GETS
TO NATURE…..AND THE PLACE…..WHERE LIFE ITSELF BEGUN.

Saturday Farrmers Market

The day dawned quite beautiful here along the sunshine coast, brisk, mmm, might I say "bloody brisk", but sunny with cloudless skies looking down upon us early risers heading off to the local farmers market. A morning to browse and hopefully find that bargain that will make our visit worth the effort.

Upon entering the showgrounds where the market is situated, I searched the grounds for the usual stalls that normally greeted me, but alas today the number of stalls was depleted, I felt a sense of loneliness, where was everyone?, surely the artic conditions had not deterred the stall holders, surely they were not still at home in there castles rugged up in front of the fire.

Well, I was not deterred by the lack of interest and began to wander through what was on offer.

I found a beautiful little beanie to suit little Lilly, may be a tad big, but she will grow into it over time. The price was most acceptable to me, much better than some of the leading dept stores where we have been trying to find beanies of late. And home made it is too.

Then I hit the food stalls, and of course I could not knock back the apple and blackberry pie, (family size of course) mum and I will knock that over very quick believe me.

I also found some red pears which looked interesting. never seen those type before, so a couple of Kgs I was able to barter for, the stall holder did advise me not to put them in the fridge, they will simply ripen in a dark space, so into theback of the cupboard they have gone. I might try to stew them, he maintined that they would keep their texture and not go mushy, will see if he was giving me good info later on.

Yes, I was a little disappointed today, the market was not it's usual bubbly scene, maybe the winter blues has kept people away, but I left with a sense of let down, but will be back for another browse in a fortnight, just something that I do on a cold, frosty, saturday morning.

Just a Thought

" Imagination is second only to sight"

the weaver

Moods of Kalangadoo

Sometimes... a white carpet

Lays deep upon the ground,

Replaced... in the summer

By gales southward bound,

Sometimes... the sky cries

And the hail tumbles down.....

But...peace in Kalangadoo

Can always be found.

Just A Thought

" When you awake each morning you instantly feel the benefits of breathing"

the weaver

It's just another day afterall.

Howdy...yes , 21st June, 2007, the shortest day of the year, and it will be the longest night of the year, but you would all be aware of that, no need for me to remind you, the night that remains darkest for longest.

I think the sun disappeared around 4..45pm today, and will not reappear until about 7.42 am tomorrow, not quite what the Inuits have to put up with, but we are getting there, maybe with Global Warming we will make it by the year 3000.

My celebrations began early, I hit the shopping centre at around 8.30am, and the benefit of getting an early start means I could get a car park right at the front door of Woollies, and no, I did not park in the disability car park, so there!

After maneouvering the trolley through the aisles without doing any damage to fellow customers or store fittings, I was quickly through the check out and back to the car. Oh, I did stop off at the Lotto Agency , I had to pick up a lotto ticket which was the result of a lost wager at golf on Tuesday, thankfully all will not be lost if there is a divvy, the ticket will be shared between four of us. I also secured myself one for this coming Saturday, yet to see a divvy, but I hear all good things come to those who wait, but just when does the waiting period end? hopefully before the casket goes out of sight into the pyre.

Unloaded the groceries into the pantry, mother could not believe the amount of tucker that has found its way into the cupboards since I have been living with her. ( she is always trying to make room for the stock, every day she revamps the pantry)

Morning tea was a beautiful Mocha Bomb, as the name intimates, an cream filled, merangue encrusted storage bin swathed in Mocha cream, buddifull!!

Mother had a slice of Butter Chocolate Slice, and of course , she consumed the entirety without any pressure from me.

By now I had received one or two birthday wishes, so thanks to those who found the time to express their love for the Weaver, even my sister from Sydney shared her good wishes, ahh, all good things do come to those who wait!

By now it is lunch time and I promised mother an outing. So off to the Bluff we went, mum's rug in tow, just in case the breeze coming off the Strait was more of antartic force 10 intensity. happily I can say that the rug was not needed to warm the thighs.

So, here we were , feeding ourselves on fish and chips on the beach on my birthday, god! could I have not found a more appropriate place to spend my birthday lunch? apparently not, otherwise we would have been there.

The peace and serenity of this place had to be lived to be believed, a man detecting along the beach, but regretfully I did not see him pocket anything in this time, hundreds of seagulls dancing amongst the rocks and the sand attempting to derive something from the environment to fill their craw, and of course once we opened our lunch box , there they were , waiting for the toss of the chip, how could we not answer their appealing cries, yes, we did the unthinkable and tossed a few chips, well a few more than a few, until the box was empty and they moved on and found another unsuspecting takeaway.

All this might be rather strange to some, but overall such a lovely day was had, the soft sound of the waves rolling in to shore, the swark of the seagulls, the brisk clean air trying to penetrate deep under the soft armour of our skin, it all made for a day to remember, a day to embed deep within the library that is my mind, something to look back upon when my mother is no longer with me, thankfully technology has reached the stage where there are such things as camera's, and yes, I did take a few pics for you. Enjoy!

21st June....yaaaaaaaa

WOW, the 21st June already,. Yes, today is the shortest day of the year, it will not be long and we will laying atop the sheets whilst waiting for Santa to drop through the roof with all his goodies. (most of us anyway)This day of the year of course has special meaning for me, sixty one years ago I burst forth into this circus called the world. I guess I should be thankful for being fertilized and eventually arriving all in one piece, with all eight fingers and ten toes. (some might say I left some brain matter behind, but we will not go down that track today). Yes, of course I am thankful, thankful for what has gone before me. Would I change anything? probably not. Why change anything, I am happy with who I am, happy with what I have achieved (hang on whilst I list all that I have achieved....No 1...........hmmmm how far away is No 2?), and anyway, if I had not taken the particular paths I have , I would not have met all you/those wonderful people, or been to all those beautiful places, or experienced all those marvellous experiences that make up the library that is my mind. Yes for my life I am thankful, and what better day of the year to celebrate and be thankful..... yes, its my birthday!! happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me.

Up Kalangadoo Way

Well I’m boiling the Billy by the stars of the night
Under ghostly grey gums with the moon shining bright,
Yes, I’m up at Kalangadoo where the black devils play…
So come join me around the fire and warm to a new day.

We can ramble about the old days, the good and the bad,
The price of Blue Capstan and the women we’ve had,
We can listen for the splash as a fish takes our bait…
A giant Rainbow or a Brownie you make no mistake.

We can search for the Cross in the great Southern Sky
We can reach for the stars as they twinkle up high,
We can wonder at the night sounds, was it a possum or a Roo?,
Or was it the footfall of the Phantom… of Kalangadoo.

We can take in the dawning as Old Sol lights up the sky,
We can marvel at it’s splendor through smoke reddened eyes,
So come now and join me up Kalangadoo way,
Join me around the fire and warm to the new day.

Yes, I’m boiling the Billy by the stars of the night,
Under ghostly grey gums with the moon shining bright,
Yes, I’m up at Kalangadoo where the black devils play…
So come join me around the fire and warm to a new day.

Activity day

Howdy, I played golf today, well I guess I should say I walked the course and swung the club back and forth, the golf was not too good, the result that is.

The 10 ks that I walk ( ever played submarines, well that is how I walk a golf course, from one side of the fairway to the other) sure is a wonderful way to get the heart rate up, get the blood flowing on these colder winter mornings. Today was simply quite stunning out there, not a cloud in the sky and with just a gentle breeze teasing the leaves of the giant gums that form a guard of honour along every fairway.

At least as I came to end of the round I was able to score a couple of pars , which in turn then gave me the confidence to race to the starter sheet for the coming Saturday's competition and inscribe my name alongside three unsuspecting members, hopefully I will fit into the group and have another enjoyable day "smelling the roses". "Stuff the roses, I want to play well!!"

Kalangadoo Bay

THE WIND WOULD BLOW THE SENTRIES OFF EASTER ISLAND
THE RAIN WOULD FILL SYDNEY HARBOUR IN A DAY,
BUT THE PEACE AND SERENITY.....ONE OFTEN SEEKS.....
CAN BE FOUND AROUND KALANGADOO BAY.

WHERE THE WHITE CAPS ON THE LAKE REACH AN AWESOME SIZE
WHEN THE WESTERLIES BLOW THEIR GALE.....
WHERE SILENCE IS HEARD WHEN THE FOG CREEPS IN
SHROUDING THE LANDSCAPE IN AN EERIE WHITE VEIL.

WHERE ONE CAN AWAKEN TO FROST SO THICK
THAT OLD SOL NEEDS A HELPING HAND.....
WHERE SILKY SNOW COVERS THE CRAGGY GROUND
LIKE A BEACH IS COVERED IN SAND.

WHERE THE BIRDS THEY TRILL THEIR SONGS OF JOY
AS THEY PREPARE TO MIGRATE AWAY.....
WHERE THE DEVILS, THE ROOS, AND THE POSSUMS
LEAVE THEIR SPOOR ON THE GROUND EVERY DAY.

WHERE THE SCENT OF THE GUMS AND THE WATTLES UNITE
AND MELD INTO AN ESSENCE SO SWEET.....
YES, IT’S KALANGADOO BAY.....UP KALANGADOO WAY.....
WHERE THE LORD.....AND ONE’S SOUL SHOULD MEET.

Dazza

dazza enjoying a cuppa after a hard day on the golf course

A Night With Irish Mary

YES ITS FRIDAY NIGHT DOWN AT THE PUB
AND ALMOST EVERYONE IS HERE
THE’RE HERE TO SEE IRISH MARY
AND TOSS DOWN A LOCAL BEER
YES HERE WE ARE AGAIN
AT THE PUB ON FRIDAY NIGHT
IT’S THE ONLY PLACE IN KALANGADOO
WHERE A BLOKE CAN GET A FIGHT.

NOW THE MOB IS CALLED TO ORDER
BY THE LANDLORD BILLY STEERS
AS THE FIGHTERS STEP INTO THE RING
THERE’S THE SOUND OF MANY JEERS
“WE WANT IRISH MARY”
THE MOB BEGIN TO SHOUT
BUT THEY’LL WAIT A LITTLE LONGER
CAUSE SHE’S IN ANOTHER BOUT.

FIRST UP IT IS THE FEATHERWEIGHTS
YES LITTLE DICK IS LOOKING KEEN
BUT MAD MICK THE MIDGET
IS LOOKING FAR MORE MEAN
HE’S BEEN AROUND A LOT LONGER
THEN MOST FIGHTERS WOULD ADMIT
BUT A GALLON OR TWO OF THE LOCAL BREW
HAS KEPT HIM PRETTY FIT.

NOW THE FIGHTS THEY DON’T LINGER
AND THIS BOUT WENT MUCH THE SAME
MAD MICK THREW A RIGHT HAND
AND DICK’S HEAD WAS REARRANGED
NO ONE THERE COULD QUITE BELIEVE
THE MIDGET WAS SO QUICK
NONE EXCEPT THE BLOKE ON THE FLOOR
NOW KNOWN AS LIMP LITTLE DICK.

NEXT UP IT WAS THE MAIN EVENT
IT LOOKED A BET IN TWO
ONE WAS JOE THE BUTCHER
BUT HE HAD A BOUT OF FLU
IN THE OTHER CORNER
STANDING TALL AND QUITE CONTRARY
WAS THE FIGHTER WE ALL FAVOURED
SHE WAS KNOWN AS IRISH MARY.

NOW WHEN THE BELL IT SOUNDED
JOE CAME OUT A RAGING BULL
LEFT AND RIGHTS WENT FLYING
BUT MARY HADN’T LEFT THE STOOL
WHEN JOE PULLED OUT A TISSUE
TO BLOW THE MUCOUS FROM HIS NOSE
HE DID NOT SEE IRISH MARY
SPRING FORWARD ON HER TOES.

YES MARY TOOK FULL ADVANTAGE
WHEN JOE CLOSED HIS EYES
THE TOP OF JOE’S BALDY HEAD
REACHED MARY’S SHAPELY THIGHS
SO WHEN MARY LIFTED HER KNEE
SQUARELY UNDER THE BUTCHERS CHIN
THE COUNT SOON WENT FROM ONE TO TEN
AND THAT WAS THE END OF HIM.

SO ANOTHER FIGHT IS OVER
WITH BLOOD AND GUTS UPON THE FLOOR
ST. JOHNS AGAIN WERE NEEDED
AND THE SALVO’S TOOK THE DOOR
IRISH MARY TOOK THE WINNERS CHEQUE
THEN RETURNED TO THE RIDGE
TO GIVE HER NOW ACHING KNEE
AN HOUR IN THE FRIDGE.

YES HERE I AM AGAIN
AT THE PUB ON FRIDAY NIGHT
IT’S THE ONLY PLACE IN KALANGADOO
WHERE A BLOKE CAN GET A FIGHT
I’VE PLUCKED UP THE COURAGE
TO DON A GLOVE OR TWO
AND HAVE A NIGHT WITH MARY
AND TASTE HER IRISH STEW.

The Knock Upon Your Door

If love should knock upon your door
Don’t’ send it away…
Turn the key to your heart
And invite it in to stay,
You never know when you will hear
That knock upon your door….
If you don’t turn the key you’ll never find….
What you’ve been waiting for.

I knew I’d found someone special
The day I came upon your smile,
When I looked into your eyes
They caused me to linger for awhile,
But the door to your heart it never opened
You would not let me step on through…
The sound of the key I never heard
So I disappeared from view.

As time went by I could not forget
Those lonely eyes of yours,
Behind the façade… an Angel I’d find
If I could unlock the door,
So I came back to find you
And your smile was still waiting there for me,
When I knocked on the door to your heart…
This time you turned the key.

So now you have opened up the door
What lies ahead for you?
Will you seek to hold… onto me
Now you’ve allowed me to step on through,
Have you found happiness and contentment?
Since I walked into your life that day,
Will you close the door upon my love?
And throw the key away.

Yes, if love should knock upon your door
Don’t send it away,
Turn the key to your heart
And invite it in to stay,
You never know when you will hear
That knock upon your door,
If you don’t turn the key, you’ll never find…
What you have been waiting for.