Icarus down under

Greetings from down under, as unexpected the tropical trip has sampled the tropical weather and so once again its hi from Australia in the rain. But I have to say Byron Bay has been a real treat. The 'keynote' was very well received, so too the gags, but the crowd were great, lots of intelligent talking around loads of laughs all round. But this is just a brief hello before I go on the long haul back to the UK. But the history of this land should not be forgotten - hence this wonderful reminder of a huge human tragedy - they took the children away...

Icarus has a haircut

In preparing to fly to Australia this Saturday I was advised to get my hairs cut as a sensible precaution. Working on the theory that lighter people make better flyers, I thought I should agree, and so I have. Short hair it is, though I long for that look, 3 weeks after the haircut when it all settles down again. Oh well, there are worse things to worry about I guess. But I was thinking again about the Icarus boy and how he is permanently trapped in youth and I wondered how I felt about that. I look at this worn face of too many lines and bumps and traces of age and wonder what it would be like to be forever young. I guess if we aged and gained experience without the physical signs of ageing we might satisfy at least an aesthetic view of ourselves - but do I really care. When I am an old bundle of rags, leaning on a stick with a hooked top, cut from an equally aged olive tree, will it really matter and will I still smile when I see the boy flying overhead, as he has done all these generations since his father cast him off, singing forever young.

Cats



Sonic

 


  

Mishka



What possesses us to let these animals into our lives?



Icarus with superheroes



DanDrWho

AbbiKarate

This posting is a very simple one to negotiate because it means that anywhere in the world I go, I can always access pictures of my two beautiful children - Dan as Dr Who for his fancy dress party and Abbi the Karate kid on a Jamaican beach - but more to the point, both very happy! Superheroes both!

Icarus preparing to fly # 1



It fits



Phew - this week was graduation at the University and many happy things were going on - and its great to see happy people being happy with learning an achievement and accomplishment. May they all lead happy-ever-after lives. Me, I am a happy bunny - because the suit fits again - yay to that, the belly has retreated and so its goodbye to all that. Now this may seem a wee bit puerile for a blog such as this - but no, no, do not give up because while I was wearing the suit I had a 'writing' epiphany - first time in ages. Now that the Bogeyman and Monster books are done and dusted I can start thinking with a creative head again - and what a joy to be able to do so. Although, the thoughts are with the 'Angelus Novus' and the 'grammatical future of nostalgia' - mt problem is this, 'can I begin a new children's book with a death?' Sigh, its good to be back. But first I must finish my AAWP paper because - yikes - I fly there next Saturday - woop-de-doo - I can't wait to fly over the Himalayas again. Today I picked up a wee book by Liz Lochhead in a second-hand book shop because I was intrigued by the title, Bagpipe Muzak - this appeals to me. Also the poem entitled, The Complete Alternative History of the world, Part One, which begins,

There was this man alone
In a  beautiful garden.
Stark bollok naked
(Scuse my French, beg your pardon)

But the lines that really got to me were,

(And if God meant men to be angels,
He'd have given them wings.)

I'm no angel - but soon I will be flying - see the symmetry. But time to visit Van and his Caravan, turn up your radio, switch on your electric light...

Icarus at home # 1

Blues in the garden

And so October gives way to November and at last - at last, never thought I would say that - but at last we are into autumn proper. Goodness, October was unseasonably warm, like a Melbourne spring only there was very little rain. But on the last Sunday in October, Dan and I, with Alasdair from next door hit the town to see a wonderful show by Steve Earle - fantastico. But Alasdair gave us the best laugh of the day - it was an odd audience, full of guys my age and older (felt veritably young). Anyway, the queue at the toilets was the funniest thing - first time I have seen the gents queue longer than the ladies. Imagine it though 3 toilets doors, Gents/Disabled/Ladies and Alasdair announced the middle door should have been labelled Prostate - you had to be there to see us. Once inside one struggling guy said to me, 'Keep the tap running in the sink on your way out, it helps!' But sigh, is this my future I see in front of me? Lengthy queues and struggling to pee - TFH! Here's the boy we went to see and he sang this song, just like this - note the Icarian ideas in 'waiting for the sky to fall':