Merry Christmas everyone!!! I hope you have just the best Christmas day ever. Lots of great presents, lots of great company, lots of great laughs, lots of great everything all day.
This is a quick entry, but I wish every single one of you who reads this, and even everyone who doesn't read it, a fantastic Christmas and New Year, and bring on 2010.
I can't wait for 2010, bring it on, it's going to be awesome.
Have a great one, and keep living the dream.
Stay Gold.
Wally
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaack.
Hey. Check me out! Only a couple of weeks between posts! How good is that? Pretty doggone awesome I reckon, if not still a little bit too slack. It's okay. I am working on it. Who knows, if I keep getting better I will be doing a post every day ... well, maybe not that often!
Anyway, this week is an exciting week indeed. I am going to be a guest speaker/presenter type person at an illustrating competition award night in Hobsons Bay, at the library. How cool is that? Very very VERY I reckon. I am really looking forward to it, and have written up a little speech for the night. I am on for about ten minutes, there are other speakers, and the winners will be announced, should be extremely very great.
Aside from that, what's been going on in the world of Wallace? Welllllll, life in general! I have been going out to markets, and almost getting washed away yesterday at Flemington. I went out to Ruthven primary School, to do some drawings with the Prep, 1 and 2 classes. Ummm, what else, aside from watching the new Twilight movie, New Moon at Gold Class! I love Gold Class. If I could have a loungeroom that was like Gold Class, including being able to push a button and order food and drinks, that would be ideal I reckon. Anyway, the movie was alright but Gold Class kept up to its reputation. One of the friends I went with even fell asleep the chairs were so comfy!
So not much else to report today. Christmas is coming up fast, so I am going to have to start thinking about presents for people other than my niece soon.
Have a great week everyone, and keep living the dream.
Stay Gold.
Wally
Anyway, this week is an exciting week indeed. I am going to be a guest speaker/presenter type person at an illustrating competition award night in Hobsons Bay, at the library. How cool is that? Very very VERY I reckon. I am really looking forward to it, and have written up a little speech for the night. I am on for about ten minutes, there are other speakers, and the winners will be announced, should be extremely very great.
Aside from that, what's been going on in the world of Wallace? Welllllll, life in general! I have been going out to markets, and almost getting washed away yesterday at Flemington. I went out to Ruthven primary School, to do some drawings with the Prep, 1 and 2 classes. Ummm, what else, aside from watching the new Twilight movie, New Moon at Gold Class! I love Gold Class. If I could have a loungeroom that was like Gold Class, including being able to push a button and order food and drinks, that would be ideal I reckon. Anyway, the movie was alright but Gold Class kept up to its reputation. One of the friends I went with even fell asleep the chairs were so comfy!
So not much else to report today. Christmas is coming up fast, so I am going to have to start thinking about presents for people other than my niece soon.
Have a great week everyone, and keep living the dream.
Stay Gold.
Wally
Sunday, November 8, 2009
In a land far, far away!
That's right, I went to Star Wars ... well not quite that far, but almost! A coupld of weeks ago I spent the entire, that's right, all of it, the entire week out in East Gippsland. So I was in places including Sale, Bairnsdale, Lakes Entrance, Orbost and Yarram ... and when I say including, actually that was all the places I went to!
It was awesome fun. I spent time in libraries at the various places, and kids from the local schools came and visited and we did the readings and the drawings and the writings with one group as well. Really varied groups of kids, but all really, really good fun. I met loverly people, I stayed in some nice places and, wait for it, I had one of the best chicken schnitzels ever. it was a cracker, bolognese sauce on it and all. It was at the Gaslight Bistro in Sale. If you are ever in Sale, go to this place, there are like 15 different schnitzels you can have, it is awesome, very tasty, and nice big serves.
So that was great, and I still have a story I need to write about Spots the monster, so I must get onto that.
Aside from that I have a had a few markets going on, some no money but fun, some money and fun also! I also went to a wedding of one of my great friends from Uni. The wedding was at Ripponlea, as was lovely, complete with one of the most intense downpours of rain I have ever seen, just as we were about to head to the car! We didn't head for the car ... there was clothes and hair and no umbrealla to worry about!
One of my other uni friends got married over in the USA, y'all, so unfortunately we couldn't get to that one, but our thoughts were over there.
And then in a few weeks one of my oldest friends (as in known her for a long time) is getting married! It's wedding season people! This wedding should be great too, not least because I'm doing a reading at the ceremony ... I have been given free licence, and have written a cracking poem, so am looking forward to reading that one.
Melbourne Cup has come and gone. I lost money. Betting on horses used to be something I knew about, now it's a case of "I'm going for the third favourite!" So I have no idea, and apparently neither do the third favourites!
That's it, I am done. Time to go and pay for all my horse and rabbit books I had printed.
Have a great week everyone, and keep living the dream.
Stay Gold.
Wally
It was awesome fun. I spent time in libraries at the various places, and kids from the local schools came and visited and we did the readings and the drawings and the writings with one group as well. Really varied groups of kids, but all really, really good fun. I met loverly people, I stayed in some nice places and, wait for it, I had one of the best chicken schnitzels ever. it was a cracker, bolognese sauce on it and all. It was at the Gaslight Bistro in Sale. If you are ever in Sale, go to this place, there are like 15 different schnitzels you can have, it is awesome, very tasty, and nice big serves.
So that was great, and I still have a story I need to write about Spots the monster, so I must get onto that.
Aside from that I have a had a few markets going on, some no money but fun, some money and fun also! I also went to a wedding of one of my great friends from Uni. The wedding was at Ripponlea, as was lovely, complete with one of the most intense downpours of rain I have ever seen, just as we were about to head to the car! We didn't head for the car ... there was clothes and hair and no umbrealla to worry about!
One of my other uni friends got married over in the USA, y'all, so unfortunately we couldn't get to that one, but our thoughts were over there.
And then in a few weeks one of my oldest friends (as in known her for a long time) is getting married! It's wedding season people! This wedding should be great too, not least because I'm doing a reading at the ceremony ... I have been given free licence, and have written a cracking poem, so am looking forward to reading that one.
Melbourne Cup has come and gone. I lost money. Betting on horses used to be something I knew about, now it's a case of "I'm going for the third favourite!" So I have no idea, and apparently neither do the third favourites!
That's it, I am done. Time to go and pay for all my horse and rabbit books I had printed.
Have a great week everyone, and keep living the dream.
Stay Gold.
Wally
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Gippy, here I come!
That's right folks, as of Sunday I will be way way way away from my little town of Ivanhoe, heading down the Princes Hwy to Bairnsdale for a few days, then up to Sale after that for a couple of days. All of this is to give workshops to the kids out Gippsland way, and I am hanging for it, it is going to be a real adventure.
The car's been serviced, I have a whole truckload, well carload of books ready to take down for some sellin', and I am all good to go.
In between now and leaving on Sunday, however, there are still some times to be had.
First up I am out to Bangholme tomorrow for a school market, and then out to Ringwood Church on Saturday for a church market.
Then, after all that it is time for a little time out, and I have a big partay for one of my friends who will be getting married to one of my oldest and favourite friends in November.
So all very, very good stuff!
In the last few weeks I had a couple of school visits, heading out to Mount View Primary School, courtesy of my Aunty-in-law who teaches there, and I had a ball with all the grade 3s and 4s. They were awesome, and we had a whole heap of laughs.
I also went out to Haileybury College in East Brighton, which funnily enough is actually where I went to Kindergarten many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many years ago. But I spent an hour learning about creating eBooks, something I am seriously looking into, and then 50 minutes with a very cool group of grade 6 girls, who drew my pictures better than I do I think . Again, we had some great laughs and a really good fun time.
So that is me to now, and next week I will be out in green Gippsland having even more fun. That's what it's all about people. If you aren't having fun, it may be time to look for something else to be doing.
Have a great week, and keep living the dream.
Stay Gold.
Wally
The car's been serviced, I have a whole truckload, well carload of books ready to take down for some sellin', and I am all good to go.
In between now and leaving on Sunday, however, there are still some times to be had.
First up I am out to Bangholme tomorrow for a school market, and then out to Ringwood Church on Saturday for a church market.
Then, after all that it is time for a little time out, and I have a big partay for one of my friends who will be getting married to one of my oldest and favourite friends in November.
So all very, very good stuff!
In the last few weeks I had a couple of school visits, heading out to Mount View Primary School, courtesy of my Aunty-in-law who teaches there, and I had a ball with all the grade 3s and 4s. They were awesome, and we had a whole heap of laughs.
I also went out to Haileybury College in East Brighton, which funnily enough is actually where I went to Kindergarten many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many years ago. But I spent an hour learning about creating eBooks, something I am seriously looking into, and then 50 minutes with a very cool group of grade 6 girls, who drew my pictures better than I do I think . Again, we had some great laughs and a really good fun time.
So that is me to now, and next week I will be out in green Gippsland having even more fun. That's what it's all about people. If you aren't having fun, it may be time to look for something else to be doing.
Have a great week, and keep living the dream.
Stay Gold.
Wally
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
I AM SLACK!
But I am here now. You can all relax, breathe easy, untense those shoulders, and get to reading this post!!! So much has happened since my last post, not the least of which was International Talk Like a Pirate Day! Did you do it? Did you talk like a pirate on September 19th? Yes? No? Well, it's every year so you have another chance next year, and I will be checking, me hearties, I will be checking!
What else? Well, I had a couple of great days out Werribee way, at Collins Bookstoer in Werribee Plaza. I did some drawing workshops and they were great fun, although one time I thought the evil laugh when I was reading Valerie's Vomit may have scared a few book browsers ... it was great fun though, and I am probably going to be back out there again next year to do some writing.
What else? Well, I had a few cool markets around Victoria, from Federation Square to Healesville and Murrumbeena, all of which served up nice people, great sales, and occassionally a downpour of rain!
I also spoke at RMIT Bundoora, to the graduationg class of 2009 teachers. A whole group of potential 2010 Primary School teachers, and I had a great time there too. I only spoke for around 15 minutes, but got some good laughs (always good when you're doing a talk on humour!), made some amazing sales, and met some amazing people. It was all organised by Erin (my step-niece!), Leigh and Liz, and they organised a fantastic day. Good luck to all of you next year in your very own classerooms! The kids are lucky to have you.
That's about it. We also remembered, on the 30th of September, a year since Bryan Portingale (my step-dad and Erin's Pa) passed away from cancer. He was a great man, and an inspiration to me in many ways, the most important to me being facing life with a smile and positivity, even in the face of crushing circumstances. I miss Bryan and it was nice to spend a day with family remembering him.
So I am done. I will try and get back sooner next time.
Have a great week, and keep living the dream.
Stay Gold.
Wally
What else? Well, I had a couple of great days out Werribee way, at Collins Bookstoer in Werribee Plaza. I did some drawing workshops and they were great fun, although one time I thought the evil laugh when I was reading Valerie's Vomit may have scared a few book browsers ... it was great fun though, and I am probably going to be back out there again next year to do some writing.
What else? Well, I had a few cool markets around Victoria, from Federation Square to Healesville and Murrumbeena, all of which served up nice people, great sales, and occassionally a downpour of rain!
I also spoke at RMIT Bundoora, to the graduationg class of 2009 teachers. A whole group of potential 2010 Primary School teachers, and I had a great time there too. I only spoke for around 15 minutes, but got some good laughs (always good when you're doing a talk on humour!), made some amazing sales, and met some amazing people. It was all organised by Erin (my step-niece!), Leigh and Liz, and they organised a fantastic day. Good luck to all of you next year in your very own classerooms! The kids are lucky to have you.
That's about it. We also remembered, on the 30th of September, a year since Bryan Portingale (my step-dad and Erin's Pa) passed away from cancer. He was a great man, and an inspiration to me in many ways, the most important to me being facing life with a smile and positivity, even in the face of crushing circumstances. I miss Bryan and it was nice to spend a day with family remembering him.
So I am done. I will try and get back sooner next time.
Have a great week, and keep living the dream.
Stay Gold.
Wally
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
International Talk Like a Pirate Day
Yaaaaar, me hearties!!! It be great to be here again, on the rollickin' seven seas of the the internet, writing me thoughts for all ye scurvy landlubbers to read.
That's right folks, it's almost here again. International Talk Like a Pirate Day is on Saturday, the 19th of September, 2009 ... well it's on the 19th of September every year, just happens to be a Saturday this year.
Ah, talking like a pirate, it's just so much fun, although it can be harsh on the throat after a little while. I don't know how they did it, maybe that's why they had to drink so much rum, because their throats were a little tender from all the pirate talking they did. Makes sense to me!
So that is the excitement coming up this weekend and, happily for someone who loves talking like a pirate, International Talk Like a Pirate day just happens to fall on my birthday! How cool is that? I think very is the appropriate answer.
So what else has been happening in the life of Wally? Well, I almos tgot blown away at Werribee Market, which was more fun than it sounds, I went and saw NOOLLLLLSSSSY (aka Shannon Noll) perform at Crown Casino and he was absolutely the champion I thought he would be, it was a great night, and I am sure I have done lots of other really interesting and exciting stuff that I can't remember. Maybe if you just make up some cool stuff you reckon I might have done, then imagine me doing it, and that can be what I have spent the last few weeks doing.
Yeah.
That would be good.
Have a great week everyone, and keep living the dream.
Stay Gold.
Wally.
PS Check out www.talklikeapirate.com
That's right folks, it's almost here again. International Talk Like a Pirate Day is on Saturday, the 19th of September, 2009 ... well it's on the 19th of September every year, just happens to be a Saturday this year.
Ah, talking like a pirate, it's just so much fun, although it can be harsh on the throat after a little while. I don't know how they did it, maybe that's why they had to drink so much rum, because their throats were a little tender from all the pirate talking they did. Makes sense to me!
So that is the excitement coming up this weekend and, happily for someone who loves talking like a pirate, International Talk Like a Pirate day just happens to fall on my birthday! How cool is that? I think very is the appropriate answer.
So what else has been happening in the life of Wally? Well, I almos tgot blown away at Werribee Market, which was more fun than it sounds, I went and saw NOOLLLLLSSSSY (aka Shannon Noll) perform at Crown Casino and he was absolutely the champion I thought he would be, it was a great night, and I am sure I have done lots of other really interesting and exciting stuff that I can't remember. Maybe if you just make up some cool stuff you reckon I might have done, then imagine me doing it, and that can be what I have spent the last few weeks doing.
Yeah.
That would be good.
Have a great week everyone, and keep living the dream.
Stay Gold.
Wally.
PS Check out www.talklikeapirate.com
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Hawks up North, Westgarth Vader and a pasting in Hastings
Well helloooooo! Once again it's been a little while since my last visit here. Why? Because I am slack slack slack! I think about writing, then think Oh, I'll do that tomorrow, which as we know is the day that never comes. So my blog never gets written. And you, dear readers, never get to read the wisdom that flows from my mind ... well, something is flowing from my mind, but I doubt that it is wisdom!
So. What's been going on in Wally's World then?
Well. I headed back down the Calder Highway to Bendigo a couple of weeks ago for a visit to Eaglehawk North Primary. I had been out there last year, and it was awesome, and they asked me to come back again! So I did. And once again I had a great time. The kdis remembered me which was nice ... I remembered them, which was also nice. And I got to hang out with one Anthony Bortolot, my old friend from Uni, where we did our teaching degree together. He's a champion, and it was great to catch up with him again.
Then I popped back to Westgarth Primary. This was another revisit, although last time was the garde 5/6s, and this year it was Prep to 4, so the rest of the school. It was great fun again, and we had lots of laughs drawing and reading.
Finally, in school terms, I spent two days out at Hastings earlier this week as a presenter for the Hastings Literacy Festival. This was a thing where kids from about 5 or 6 different schools all converged in the one place and swamped us! There were a number of authors and illustrators there, and we all did three sessions a day with the kids in small groups ... except for Doug Macleod, who scored three groups of 75 kids at a time! In a squash court! It was nice meeting different authors too. It was interesting sitting around and listening to them talking about festivals and things they had been to, and hearing the names of people they knew and hung out with ... names I have only ever seen on the front of books! Interesting.
So that was that. Phew, it's been a busy few weeks, combined with waiting for the reprint, that's right, REPRINT of Better Out Than In to arrive ... was supposed to be here weeks ago but only got here yesterday, so that was a little stressful, as I had heaps of orders from the various schools. But it is here now, I go and pick up some boxes today, and all is well. Yaaaaay.
And now I am done. Footy finals are here which is just AWESOME, as the Pies' season continues on.
Have a great week everyone, and keep living the dream.
Stay Gold.
Wally
So. What's been going on in Wally's World then?
Well. I headed back down the Calder Highway to Bendigo a couple of weeks ago for a visit to Eaglehawk North Primary. I had been out there last year, and it was awesome, and they asked me to come back again! So I did. And once again I had a great time. The kdis remembered me which was nice ... I remembered them, which was also nice. And I got to hang out with one Anthony Bortolot, my old friend from Uni, where we did our teaching degree together. He's a champion, and it was great to catch up with him again.
Then I popped back to Westgarth Primary. This was another revisit, although last time was the garde 5/6s, and this year it was Prep to 4, so the rest of the school. It was great fun again, and we had lots of laughs drawing and reading.
Finally, in school terms, I spent two days out at Hastings earlier this week as a presenter for the Hastings Literacy Festival. This was a thing where kids from about 5 or 6 different schools all converged in the one place and swamped us! There were a number of authors and illustrators there, and we all did three sessions a day with the kids in small groups ... except for Doug Macleod, who scored three groups of 75 kids at a time! In a squash court! It was nice meeting different authors too. It was interesting sitting around and listening to them talking about festivals and things they had been to, and hearing the names of people they knew and hung out with ... names I have only ever seen on the front of books! Interesting.
So that was that. Phew, it's been a busy few weeks, combined with waiting for the reprint, that's right, REPRINT of Better Out Than In to arrive ... was supposed to be here weeks ago but only got here yesterday, so that was a little stressful, as I had heaps of orders from the various schools. But it is here now, I go and pick up some boxes today, and all is well. Yaaaaay.
And now I am done. Footy finals are here which is just AWESOME, as the Pies' season continues on.
Have a great week everyone, and keep living the dream.
Stay Gold.
Wally
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Rising to the occasion
Well hellooooooo. It's been a busy couple of weeks since I last thrilled you with my writings and thoughts and blabbings on. Let me fill you in. Hold on to your hats, it's going to be an exciting read. Woooo, you may just explode from the excitement. Are you ready? Okay.
Well ... first off there have been a couple of birthdays. Yay. My very cool sister had her 40th, which is a very impressive achievement I reckon, and scarily enough it isn't actually all that long until my 40th ... only a few years ... oh my god, I am almost 40, that means I am almost old! I shall have to remember to grow up one day.
At the other end of the age scale my amazing niece Makhala turned 7 yesterday. We had a party here on Sunday for it, which was a very quiet, calm affair with 15 six and seven year olds running around. It was awesome though, and even the 6 million blows to the head with helium balloons couldn't wipe the smile off my face. Great fun. We gave Mak a keyboard for her birthday, so can't wait to use, I mean hear her playing that.
I also went to the Eltham Craft Market last weekend for a workout. What's that? A workout at a market? Surely I jest. But I jest not, there were gale-force winds and rain and there was little old me clinging on to my tent in the hope that not only would it not break or fly off, but if it did that it didn't take me with it ... and if it did take me with it, hopefully it would come down somewhere near my house.
Than earlier this week I went out to Mulgrave to visit Albany Rise Primary School, which was great fun. The kids gave me a wonderful reception when I went into the classrooms, which always helps in me getting straight into fun mode with a little bit of the crazy. So I had a ball out there, and once again some amazing drawings were done by the kids. Even one dog I think it was with his eyes popping out of his head. Awesome.
So that is it from me for now. My bathroom is just being painted ... for the third time since we have lived here ... I think someone in the house needs to stop farting in the shower and making the paint peel off the walls.
Have a great week everyone, and keep living the dream.
Stay Gold.
Wally
Well ... first off there have been a couple of birthdays. Yay. My very cool sister had her 40th, which is a very impressive achievement I reckon, and scarily enough it isn't actually all that long until my 40th ... only a few years ... oh my god, I am almost 40, that means I am almost old! I shall have to remember to grow up one day.
At the other end of the age scale my amazing niece Makhala turned 7 yesterday. We had a party here on Sunday for it, which was a very quiet, calm affair with 15 six and seven year olds running around. It was awesome though, and even the 6 million blows to the head with helium balloons couldn't wipe the smile off my face. Great fun. We gave Mak a keyboard for her birthday, so can't wait to use, I mean hear her playing that.
I also went to the Eltham Craft Market last weekend for a workout. What's that? A workout at a market? Surely I jest. But I jest not, there were gale-force winds and rain and there was little old me clinging on to my tent in the hope that not only would it not break or fly off, but if it did that it didn't take me with it ... and if it did take me with it, hopefully it would come down somewhere near my house.
Than earlier this week I went out to Mulgrave to visit Albany Rise Primary School, which was great fun. The kids gave me a wonderful reception when I went into the classrooms, which always helps in me getting straight into fun mode with a little bit of the crazy. So I had a ball out there, and once again some amazing drawings were done by the kids. Even one dog I think it was with his eyes popping out of his head. Awesome.
So that is it from me for now. My bathroom is just being painted ... for the third time since we have lived here ... I think someone in the house needs to stop farting in the shower and making the paint peel off the walls.
Have a great week everyone, and keep living the dream.
Stay Gold.
Wally
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Scoping out Mt Scopus and visiting Lily and Dale
Well helllooooooooooo! I'm back, haha, I'll be back. You have to read that in an Arnie accent, or it makes no sense at all, well the last bit at least. All of it in an Arnie accent might sound a bit weird, especially the well helloooooooooo bit!
Anyway, it's great to be back. I've been away from typing here for a while, and it's great to see such a huge crowd waiting to see me again ... Hi Mum, how are you? Actually, I don't think even my mum reads this. Oh well, it might make her think I am even weirder if she did!
It's been a great couple of weeks since I last wrote. I visited two schools, Mt Scopus College and Lilydale Primary School.
Mt Scopus was first. I visited there last year, as the Grade 4s were doing a unit of work on Humour. i thought it was just the best thing ever. they look at all different types of humour, at different senses of humour, and more. They go deeper than just looking at funny movies or spending the day on You Tube like I do ... whoops, I have said too much. Anyway, they are doing the unit again this year with the new Grade 4s, so I was invited out again to do my thing, and I had an absolute ball again. Those kids are a great audience, and they offer as much as they take humour-wise, so it was a really great experience.
Then last week I was out at Lilydale Primary School for a couple of days, drawing with the kids out there. Again I had a great time. On the first day one class in particular was perhaps the best audience I have ever had in terms of response. I'm sure they laughed when I breathed one time, and it wasn't even with a whislte nose or anything, just a normal breath! It wasn't really like that, but they did have some great laughs, and as a consequence I upped the crazy a little bit more as I fed off their response.
It's an interesting point actually. I find that two things get me acting more "out there" and a little bit crazy. One is when I get a great response. It spurs me on to get more laughs. The other is when I get no laughs at all. My response is I'm going to get you guys laughing one way or another and I up the crazies. One of the things I am working on is just having the crazy there no matter the response, just because I let go of my inhibitions and go for it without worrying about looking silly. That is when I am at my best and most relaxed and probably funniest as well.
This is one of the great things about performing in one way or another. You always learn, and can always improve on what you do. If you rest on your laurels you won't get anything out of it. You should always be looking for new and exciting ways to get your message across.
The other thing to remember, and I have found this out, is that the same jokes and routines won't always get the same response. I guess this follows on from the Mt Scopus different sense of humour focus. I can do one thing in one class and get a great response, and in the next the kids will sit and look at me like I'm some kind of weird boring guy. This doesn't mean the material is bad, it just means you need more up your sleeve, more ways and means to entertain. It may even mean you strike on something brand new in that moment. I am learning to not be afraid to try things as I go along. All that can happen is that I don't get a great laugh, and I sometimes get that anyway!
So go for it. Take risks. Fall flat on your face sometimes, but have a great time doing it, get up, and go for it all over again.
Have a great week, and keep living the dream.
Stay gold.
Wally
Anyway, it's great to be back. I've been away from typing here for a while, and it's great to see such a huge crowd waiting to see me again ... Hi Mum, how are you? Actually, I don't think even my mum reads this. Oh well, it might make her think I am even weirder if she did!
It's been a great couple of weeks since I last wrote. I visited two schools, Mt Scopus College and Lilydale Primary School.
Mt Scopus was first. I visited there last year, as the Grade 4s were doing a unit of work on Humour. i thought it was just the best thing ever. they look at all different types of humour, at different senses of humour, and more. They go deeper than just looking at funny movies or spending the day on You Tube like I do ... whoops, I have said too much. Anyway, they are doing the unit again this year with the new Grade 4s, so I was invited out again to do my thing, and I had an absolute ball again. Those kids are a great audience, and they offer as much as they take humour-wise, so it was a really great experience.
Then last week I was out at Lilydale Primary School for a couple of days, drawing with the kids out there. Again I had a great time. On the first day one class in particular was perhaps the best audience I have ever had in terms of response. I'm sure they laughed when I breathed one time, and it wasn't even with a whislte nose or anything, just a normal breath! It wasn't really like that, but they did have some great laughs, and as a consequence I upped the crazy a little bit more as I fed off their response.
It's an interesting point actually. I find that two things get me acting more "out there" and a little bit crazy. One is when I get a great response. It spurs me on to get more laughs. The other is when I get no laughs at all. My response is I'm going to get you guys laughing one way or another and I up the crazies. One of the things I am working on is just having the crazy there no matter the response, just because I let go of my inhibitions and go for it without worrying about looking silly. That is when I am at my best and most relaxed and probably funniest as well.
This is one of the great things about performing in one way or another. You always learn, and can always improve on what you do. If you rest on your laurels you won't get anything out of it. You should always be looking for new and exciting ways to get your message across.
The other thing to remember, and I have found this out, is that the same jokes and routines won't always get the same response. I guess this follows on from the Mt Scopus different sense of humour focus. I can do one thing in one class and get a great response, and in the next the kids will sit and look at me like I'm some kind of weird boring guy. This doesn't mean the material is bad, it just means you need more up your sleeve, more ways and means to entertain. It may even mean you strike on something brand new in that moment. I am learning to not be afraid to try things as I go along. All that can happen is that I don't get a great laugh, and I sometimes get that anyway!
So go for it. Take risks. Fall flat on your face sometimes, but have a great time doing it, get up, and go for it all over again.
Have a great week, and keep living the dream.
Stay gold.
Wally
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
BALI!
Hellooooooooooooooo everybody! Wow, what a wild few weeks it has been ... relatively at least, compared to the usual stuff that goes on. Anyway, here it is. I have just got back from Bali! That's right, yesterday morning, at around 5:20am, after exactly ZERO hours sleep, I walked off the plane at Tullamarine Airport in a bit of a daze. And it was freeeeeeeeeeezing! After a week in Bali, where the temperature went from a low of around 25 to a high of about 30 every day, Melbourne's kinda chilly!
It was good though, swam at the beach, sat around the pool, went to a market where 5 million people try to sell you their stuff at the one time, got driven around by the coolest, most laid-back guy in the world, and basically chilled out. It was great. I did want to meet Boss Monkey, my nemesis from 25 years ago, but he was nowhere to be seen, the coward!
Also, I applied for the new ABC3 channel, which is taking applications for people to be hosts and presenters! How cool would that be? Very, I will answer for you if you didn't say anything, very cool indeed. So now it is wait and see. Everything is crossed, which is kinda painful, but apparently brings you good luck.
So that is really that for the last couple of weeks. Now I am just gearing up for the next few months which will be nice and busy with markets and schools and Mac O'Beasty launching and all sorts of other cool stuff.
Have a great week, and keep living the dream.
Stay gold.
Seeya.
Wally
It was good though, swam at the beach, sat around the pool, went to a market where 5 million people try to sell you their stuff at the one time, got driven around by the coolest, most laid-back guy in the world, and basically chilled out. It was great. I did want to meet Boss Monkey, my nemesis from 25 years ago, but he was nowhere to be seen, the coward!
Also, I applied for the new ABC3 channel, which is taking applications for people to be hosts and presenters! How cool would that be? Very, I will answer for you if you didn't say anything, very cool indeed. So now it is wait and see. Everything is crossed, which is kinda painful, but apparently brings you good luck.
So that is really that for the last couple of weeks. Now I am just gearing up for the next few months which will be nice and busy with markets and schools and Mac O'Beasty launching and all sorts of other cool stuff.
Have a great week, and keep living the dream.
Stay gold.
Seeya.
Wally
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Der Wally!
Okay, so it has been a month since I last posted anything on here, and there is good reason for that. I am a bit of a der. I have a new email address, and last time I posted I changed to the new email address for my blogging account. All well and good, except since then every time I have tried to log on to blog I have used the old address, and have wondered why I couldn't log in. Well, again, there was a very good reason. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN USING THE NEW ADDRESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I tried different passwords, everything, and only tonight I was like, "Oh, hey, like, maybe I should try the new email address and see if that works." Lo and behold, it did, so once again I will have to give a month run down of my activities.
Here we go.
I went to Kew Primary over a couple of days and saw the Grade 3/4s, and had just a sensational time. It was great fun at a great school, and was close to home, so the regional tour stopped for a couple of days.
I also started out as ambassador for the Boys, Blokes, Books and Bytes program at the Reservoir library, for Ruthven Primary. This has also been fun, and finishes next week, although I have struggled a bit with what my role should be. I hope I have done okay, but aim to finish well next week.
I did a session at my niece, Makhala's school. Mak's teacher asked if I could go in so I went and we drew and read and they asked a lot of awesome, awesome questions. It was so much fun, and one of the absolute highlights of my year. It's actually one of the highlights of my writing career.
I appeared at the Emerging Writer's Festival, which was great fun. I did a reading and then a short interview, which I really enjoyed and learnt a lot from.
What else? Well, the regional tour continued with a drive out to Newborough East Primary. I got to stay at Mum's for a couple of days, which meant bread and butter pudding and a roast yeah! It also meant a couple of awesome days out at a really nice school. Again, the kids and teachers were so welcoming, and made me feel right at home over the two days I was there.
Then last week I was out at Mossfiel Primary in Hoppers Crossing. I had been out a couple of years ago to see the older kids, and this time it was the Grade prep/1/2s I saw. Fun? Yep. I was even rapping and being called DJ in one class, it was very funny.
And that pretty much brings us to now. OH! And I have How to Draw a Shark. That's right folks, How to Draw a Shark!!! Very exciting, I almost fell off my chair I was so excited.
Check it out on the site, and hopefully I will be bacj with a new post in less than a month!
Tomorrow is haircut day, and then Thursday I am off to see Pink! I love Pink, she's great.
Have a great week (or month) and keep living the dream.
Stay gold.
Seeya
Wally
Here we go.
I went to Kew Primary over a couple of days and saw the Grade 3/4s, and had just a sensational time. It was great fun at a great school, and was close to home, so the regional tour stopped for a couple of days.
I also started out as ambassador for the Boys, Blokes, Books and Bytes program at the Reservoir library, for Ruthven Primary. This has also been fun, and finishes next week, although I have struggled a bit with what my role should be. I hope I have done okay, but aim to finish well next week.
I did a session at my niece, Makhala's school. Mak's teacher asked if I could go in so I went and we drew and read and they asked a lot of awesome, awesome questions. It was so much fun, and one of the absolute highlights of my year. It's actually one of the highlights of my writing career.
I appeared at the Emerging Writer's Festival, which was great fun. I did a reading and then a short interview, which I really enjoyed and learnt a lot from.
What else? Well, the regional tour continued with a drive out to Newborough East Primary. I got to stay at Mum's for a couple of days, which meant bread and butter pudding and a roast yeah! It also meant a couple of awesome days out at a really nice school. Again, the kids and teachers were so welcoming, and made me feel right at home over the two days I was there.
Then last week I was out at Mossfiel Primary in Hoppers Crossing. I had been out a couple of years ago to see the older kids, and this time it was the Grade prep/1/2s I saw. Fun? Yep. I was even rapping and being called DJ in one class, it was very funny.
And that pretty much brings us to now. OH! And I have How to Draw a Shark. That's right folks, How to Draw a Shark!!! Very exciting, I almost fell off my chair I was so excited.
Check it out on the site, and hopefully I will be bacj with a new post in less than a month!
Tomorrow is haircut day, and then Thursday I am off to see Pink! I love Pink, she's great.
Have a great week (or month) and keep living the dream.
Stay gold.
Seeya
Wally
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Busy boy
April 22nd was my last post, and not the trumpet thing, but the last time I wrote anything on here. Speaking of the last post on the trumpet, that really is one of my favourite bits of Anzac Day, when they play that.
So what have I been up to this last few weeks? Well you may ask, as I have been mightily busy. I have visited Williamstown North Primary (awesome, awesome day), Bacchus Marsh Grammar (great day, drove past a lot of apple shops), and Kew Primary (was out for one day of writing, and am back for drawing next week, and can't wait!).
I have also spoken at the State Library, been the feature poet at O'Sullivan's poetry night (and I even sang an original song! Yes I did!), shown a couple of groovy Americans around town (including some real live in the wild kangaroos, which was very exciting), and went up to Clunes (which is just out of ballarat and turns into a book town once a year. Good fun. A lot of books. Smelt a little musty).
So that is that. Today is a day off, and it all starts again tomorrow, but that is another story for another time. For now, I believe I shall either go and enjoy some sunshine, or go and have a nap, or both!
Have a great week, and keep living the dream.
Stay gold.
Wally
So what have I been up to this last few weeks? Well you may ask, as I have been mightily busy. I have visited Williamstown North Primary (awesome, awesome day), Bacchus Marsh Grammar (great day, drove past a lot of apple shops), and Kew Primary (was out for one day of writing, and am back for drawing next week, and can't wait!).
I have also spoken at the State Library, been the feature poet at O'Sullivan's poetry night (and I even sang an original song! Yes I did!), shown a couple of groovy Americans around town (including some real live in the wild kangaroos, which was very exciting), and went up to Clunes (which is just out of ballarat and turns into a book town once a year. Good fun. A lot of books. Smelt a little musty).
So that is that. Today is a day off, and it all starts again tomorrow, but that is another story for another time. For now, I believe I shall either go and enjoy some sunshine, or go and have a nap, or both!
Have a great week, and keep living the dream.
Stay gold.
Wally
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Writer's Relief and a great Share-a-not story
Well helllloooooooooooo! How's it going everybody? We here in melbourne are enjoying some of the most awesome days weather-wise you could imagine. I looove Autumn. Maybe it's because I am a golfer that Autumn is just the best weather. Not too hot, still, blue skies, birds chirping, birdies being scored, it just doesn't get much better ... now I just have to actually get out there and play some golf!
To other news. Writer's relief is a website bloggy thing I follow, and highly recommend to other writers. It has great tips, advice, websites to look at, just all very useful really, and covers all genres. They just put up these cool buttons which I can use, to advertise them and I also think it applies to all us writers ...
To other news. Writer's relief is a website bloggy thing I follow, and highly recommend to other writers. It has great tips, advice, websites to look at, just all very useful really, and covers all genres. They just put up these cool buttons which I can use, to advertise them and I also think it applies to all us writers ...
To another story, and this was just so cool, like a perfect crisp Autumn morning. I was out at Mak's school yesterday, and was doing some reading with the kids in there. That was great enough, but while I was in with one of the kids, I could hear the teacher in another class about to read a story. "That's right kids," she said, "It's called the Share-a-not." Well my ears pricked up, and it turned out one of the kids had brought it in to show everyone and they were reading it! How cool is that? Very I believe. When they found out I was there I got to go in and say hi and answer a couple of questions as well, although a couple were disappointed as I didn't have time to answer their questions. I will have to go in again and answer those another time.
So anyway, that was just the best thing to happen. A great day.
Have a great week everyone, and keep living the dream.
Stay gold.
Wally
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
What's been going on?
Wow, well it has been almost a month since I last posted anything on here. I have an excuse though. I was grounded. I mean, I was out of town. I mean, I had to visit a sick relative. My dog ate my homework? Okay. Fine. I have been slack. Busy, but slack, if that makes any sense. I have been doing lots of stuff, but there was still time for me to get on here and write something, surely. So I will give you a quick rundown right now on what has been happening in the last almost month since I last wrote.
I visited Warragul Primary School, with a loverly drive down the freeway to get there. I had an awesome day, and even showed the kids my new shark picture, which only one other school had seen before.
I went to a friend's wedding, which was awesome. It was a guy I had been to uni with, and it was a really nice day. Perfect weather too, and I ended up rolling around playing in the grass in my suit with one of the kids who was there. We were doing crazy falling downs. It was crazy, all the craziness.
I worked at the Arty Farty Fest. A fun day, but really I just wanted to say arty farty.
The Share-a-not missed out on being on the short list for book of the year, so that was a bit of a kick in the pants for me. I was down for a little bit, but moved on fairly quickly as I hear so many nice stories on how kids are liking the book. That is why I write, although I would love kids to like the book and win awards too! That would be extra cool.
I got told I say the word cool a lot when I speak. It's true. I have no argument.
I've been to Red Hill, Bendigo and the Botanic gardens for markets and festivals, all great fun.
And finally, last night, I went and saw STOMP. i tell you, if you ever get a chance to see them, do not miss out. It is one of the greatest shows I have ever seen (I have seen them three times now!). They are absolutely amazing.
So that is it for me.
Have a great week, and keep living the dream.
Stay Gold.
Wally
I visited Warragul Primary School, with a loverly drive down the freeway to get there. I had an awesome day, and even showed the kids my new shark picture, which only one other school had seen before.
I went to a friend's wedding, which was awesome. It was a guy I had been to uni with, and it was a really nice day. Perfect weather too, and I ended up rolling around playing in the grass in my suit with one of the kids who was there. We were doing crazy falling downs. It was crazy, all the craziness.
I worked at the Arty Farty Fest. A fun day, but really I just wanted to say arty farty.
The Share-a-not missed out on being on the short list for book of the year, so that was a bit of a kick in the pants for me. I was down for a little bit, but moved on fairly quickly as I hear so many nice stories on how kids are liking the book. That is why I write, although I would love kids to like the book and win awards too! That would be extra cool.
I got told I say the word cool a lot when I speak. It's true. I have no argument.
I've been to Red Hill, Bendigo and the Botanic gardens for markets and festivals, all great fun.
And finally, last night, I went and saw STOMP. i tell you, if you ever get a chance to see them, do not miss out. It is one of the greatest shows I have ever seen (I have seen them three times now!). They are absolutely amazing.
So that is it for me.
Have a great week, and keep living the dream.
Stay Gold.
Wally
Sunday, March 22, 2009
A whole month has gone by!
A whole month? Oh my GOD! I just realised that is how long it has been since I last wrote anything on here. A month. Anything. One. So here I am, and so much has happened in the time since I last wrote on here.
Okay, here goes. Well, I went out to Boronia Primary School for a day, and had a super sensational time out there. We spent the day drawing and signing and laughing and playing and when I went to collect my orders, there was this amazing display of all the kids' work at the office. It looked so awesome I almost fell over. I was rapt. They had drawn some killer pictures. So that was great.
I also went out to Wandin North Primary School, to visit the kids there. No. Not Wandin Valley. It wasn't the school on A Country Practice for all those people as old as me. It was Wandin North, and it was a very cool little school. Only 140 kids, and the Grade 6ers weren't there, so it was even smaller. But we had an awesomely fun day ... I even thought I was Adam Sandler there for a little bit, which was extra fun. Disco Disco. But another fun day, and it was great to see the kids and all their monkey-like swinging tricks when I went back out a few days later. Only one slight injury too, so that was good.
What else? Ummmm, okay, well I watched Iron Man ... Good movie that! One of the better superhero films.
A portrait was painted of me by the artist, Katsuya. I was looking very regal and super. St James the Greater was who I was modelling, and I think I certainly was pretty great! I even grew a beard for the modelling! A goatee, which has now morphed, mwaawwhahahahaha, into a full beard. I almost look like an adult ... now I just have to think about starting to act like one ... maybe.
Well, I think that is enough for today. Footy starts this week ... WOO! Bring that on.
Have a great week everyone, and keep living the dream.
Stay gold.
Wally.
Okay, here goes. Well, I went out to Boronia Primary School for a day, and had a super sensational time out there. We spent the day drawing and signing and laughing and playing and when I went to collect my orders, there was this amazing display of all the kids' work at the office. It looked so awesome I almost fell over. I was rapt. They had drawn some killer pictures. So that was great.
I also went out to Wandin North Primary School, to visit the kids there. No. Not Wandin Valley. It wasn't the school on A Country Practice for all those people as old as me. It was Wandin North, and it was a very cool little school. Only 140 kids, and the Grade 6ers weren't there, so it was even smaller. But we had an awesomely fun day ... I even thought I was Adam Sandler there for a little bit, which was extra fun. Disco Disco. But another fun day, and it was great to see the kids and all their monkey-like swinging tricks when I went back out a few days later. Only one slight injury too, so that was good.
What else? Ummmm, okay, well I watched Iron Man ... Good movie that! One of the better superhero films.
A portrait was painted of me by the artist, Katsuya. I was looking very regal and super. St James the Greater was who I was modelling, and I think I certainly was pretty great! I even grew a beard for the modelling! A goatee, which has now morphed, mwaawwhahahahaha, into a full beard. I almost look like an adult ... now I just have to think about starting to act like one ... maybe.
Well, I think that is enough for today. Footy starts this week ... WOO! Bring that on.
Have a great week everyone, and keep living the dream.
Stay gold.
Wally.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Bushfire spirit
It's awful sometimes, how there has to be a tragedy for people to show their best side. It's also awful how the tragedy is usually caused by someone showing their worst side. This has been the case in Victoria, my home state, over the last couple of weeks. Saturday the 7th of February saw the worst bushfires this state has experienced. Over 200 people died, hundreds of homes were lost, and terror gripped the state as people wondered if their loved ones were safe or not. The fires got within 100 or so metres of my Mum's house, so we spent plenty of time on the phone trying to see whether she should run or stay. With roads being closed it made things even trickier. She was one of the lucky ones, with the wind change saving her house.
This horror was deliberately started by one of our fellow human beings.
The aftermath showed the generosity and spirit of humans, the good side. Millions and millions of dollars were raised, a figure even more amazing considering the financial crisis that is going around. But it wasn't only money. People offered their time and services as well, as towns began the long, slow process of first cleaning up and then rebuilding. Thousands of people have offered to volunteer, meaning that the wait is long for some people who still want to help. It's a fantastic side effect of something terrible.
With bad fire weather forecast again this weekend, let's all hope that the idiots around can restrain their idiocy and not light any more fires. It's more horror that we just don't need.
This horror was deliberately started by one of our fellow human beings.
The aftermath showed the generosity and spirit of humans, the good side. Millions and millions of dollars were raised, a figure even more amazing considering the financial crisis that is going around. But it wasn't only money. People offered their time and services as well, as towns began the long, slow process of first cleaning up and then rebuilding. Thousands of people have offered to volunteer, meaning that the wait is long for some people who still want to help. It's a fantastic side effect of something terrible.
With bad fire weather forecast again this weekend, let's all hope that the idiots around can restrain their idiocy and not light any more fires. It's more horror that we just don't need.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Bowling 'em over
Yep. I went ten pin bowling today. I looooove ten pin bowling. Some people, I won't mention names, try and tell me it isn't a sport. There's a ball involved, you knock stuff over, you have a run up, you can have a style with the flicky your foot out thing ... IT'S A SPORT!!!!!
I played pretty average today, just scraping over the hundred mark, but it was so much fun trying to remember how I usually aim and everything. I sort of got the hang of it again towards the end. One of my goals is to break 200 in a game of ten pin bowling. I have been close a few times. once I only need 6 off my last bowl. I hate the word, but i did choke, only getting 2 pins. Tragic it was. I was crushed like a bit of biscuit that has fallen on the floor then been stepped on by someone wearing workboots. Crushed. But I will get there again. I will make it happen.
So now, before I play my next game, I have work to do. No no no no no, not practicing bowling, I need to work on a celebration dance for when i get a strike. It has to be something that says, "I got a strike and I am going off, but it happens pretty often so i am being pretty cool about it as well." So I have work to do with that one.
In the meantime, I am waiting for my next book, Mac O'Beasty, to head off to the printer. There are a few final issues to sort out and then we will be good to go. Go Mac, GO!
Have a great week everyone, and keep living the dream.
Stay gold.
Seeya
Wally
I played pretty average today, just scraping over the hundred mark, but it was so much fun trying to remember how I usually aim and everything. I sort of got the hang of it again towards the end. One of my goals is to break 200 in a game of ten pin bowling. I have been close a few times. once I only need 6 off my last bowl. I hate the word, but i did choke, only getting 2 pins. Tragic it was. I was crushed like a bit of biscuit that has fallen on the floor then been stepped on by someone wearing workboots. Crushed. But I will get there again. I will make it happen.
So now, before I play my next game, I have work to do. No no no no no, not practicing bowling, I need to work on a celebration dance for when i get a strike. It has to be something that says, "I got a strike and I am going off, but it happens pretty often so i am being pretty cool about it as well." So I have work to do with that one.
In the meantime, I am waiting for my next book, Mac O'Beasty, to head off to the printer. There are a few final issues to sort out and then we will be good to go. Go Mac, GO!
Have a great week everyone, and keep living the dream.
Stay gold.
Seeya
Wally
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Kelly Clarkson
Hi everyone. As you can see from the title of this blog, Kelly Clarkson, this blog is about, well, Kelly Clarkson. Actually, it's about more than that, although I could quite easily fill this post talking about how much she ROCKS and how I saw her live and she was sensational and I love her songs and her new song is cool and Since You've Been Gone is one of my all-time favourite songs and how ... well, you get the picture. But as I said, this post is about more than that.
Kelly has just released her new song, My Life Would Suck Without You. It is a cool song, no doubt about that. There is more to it than that though. I read a review saying this song was the sound of a rock star with her tail between her legs. When Kelly released her last album - which I actually thought had some good songs, although it wasn't as consistent as I know she can be - she went out on her own. A lot of people thought this was a bad idea, that she should stick with the winning team, etc etc, blah blah blah. The album didn't do quite as well and now she is back working with known success writers. I hope I have that all correct, I am pretty surte i do, but that isn't the point anyway. The point is, we should never bag someone taking a risk. She was at the top of her game, she was killing it, and she said now I am going to try and do something that isn't sure-fire, but i will have responsibility and I will be the one out there to take the praise or criticism. It actually reminds me very much of when Michael Jordan stopped basketball and started playing baseball, because he wanted to try something he loved doing and he wanted the challenge. When he wasn't a "success", he copped a bagging. But that isn't the point! People stay stagnant. People go along, especially if they are good at something, and they do it day in day out and then it doesn't become a challenge anymore. The thrill goes. we have to look for thrills. We have to put our aasses on the line, and I don't mean donkeys, and we have to take the chance that we will fail. Because that is when we get to experience everything the world has to offer. We don't plod. We risk falling to have the chance to soar. if it happens that things aren't a massive success, we can go back and start over again at what we know. That is not crawling back with our tail between our legs. It is stabilising before we go off again to try something else new.
That was the longest paragraph I have ever written.
And that close to the shortest.
My point is, do not stay at what you know and are good at just because of that. It isn't wrong to try something when people question it, saying things like, "But you are doing so well at ..." or "But that isn't as secure as ..."
Take a risk. Learn to fall. learn to fly.
Go Kelly. You rock.
Have a great week everyone, and keep living the dream.
Seeya
Wally
Kelly has just released her new song, My Life Would Suck Without You. It is a cool song, no doubt about that. There is more to it than that though. I read a review saying this song was the sound of a rock star with her tail between her legs. When Kelly released her last album - which I actually thought had some good songs, although it wasn't as consistent as I know she can be - she went out on her own. A lot of people thought this was a bad idea, that she should stick with the winning team, etc etc, blah blah blah. The album didn't do quite as well and now she is back working with known success writers. I hope I have that all correct, I am pretty surte i do, but that isn't the point anyway. The point is, we should never bag someone taking a risk. She was at the top of her game, she was killing it, and she said now I am going to try and do something that isn't sure-fire, but i will have responsibility and I will be the one out there to take the praise or criticism. It actually reminds me very much of when Michael Jordan stopped basketball and started playing baseball, because he wanted to try something he loved doing and he wanted the challenge. When he wasn't a "success", he copped a bagging. But that isn't the point! People stay stagnant. People go along, especially if they are good at something, and they do it day in day out and then it doesn't become a challenge anymore. The thrill goes. we have to look for thrills. We have to put our aasses on the line, and I don't mean donkeys, and we have to take the chance that we will fail. Because that is when we get to experience everything the world has to offer. We don't plod. We risk falling to have the chance to soar. if it happens that things aren't a massive success, we can go back and start over again at what we know. That is not crawling back with our tail between our legs. It is stabilising before we go off again to try something else new.
That was the longest paragraph I have ever written.
And that close to the shortest.
My point is, do not stay at what you know and are good at just because of that. It isn't wrong to try something when people question it, saying things like, "But you are doing so well at ..." or "But that isn't as secure as ..."
Take a risk. Learn to fall. learn to fly.
Go Kelly. You rock.
Have a great week everyone, and keep living the dream.
Seeya
Wally
Friday, January 16, 2009
Marysville and more
Hello again! I know, I know, I have been slack for ages again. It is getting to be a bit of a habit with me these days, the slackness and the DVD watching and the lying on the couch and the eating Doritos and the ... just kidding, that was all just yesterday afternoon! On other days I have been working, and teaching myself piano, and marketing, and last night I went and saw and AWESOME show called Starbound. Picture this. You get 60 kids, between 14 and 21, and in two, count 'em, two weeks they learn around twenty song and dance routines from broadway musicals around the world. And, not only learn them, but perform them at a standard that blows your mind. It was so cool. A few songs at the start of the second half in particular were amazing, and right after I finish writing here I am hitting iTunes to try and find them on there, although I would pay to buy the versions I heard last night, I kid you not.
So what else have I been up to? Well, I did take a bit of time off and go away for a week. That's right, I was away in the hills of Marysville, staying with Ashana and my mum, and for a few days Makka my niece, and for a couple of days Mels my cousin-in-law. It was really nice. Marysville, if you ever get the chance, is a very nice place to visit. Just past Healesville, over the Black Spur, up a hill our car struggled to even get over, and you're there. And when you are there, you must, I repeat MUST, go and see Bruno Torf's sculpture garden. I will not say anything more on the topic than that, I will let you find out for yourself and report back to me. And you will love it, I have no doubt. I am not a gallery person, I have to admit, which makes being married to an artist who volunteers in a gallery interesting, but I don't really like them. But this one blows me away every time. And I have been there many, many times.
So go there. That is an order.
Until next time, keep living the dream.
Seeya
Wally
So what else have I been up to? Well, I did take a bit of time off and go away for a week. That's right, I was away in the hills of Marysville, staying with Ashana and my mum, and for a few days Makka my niece, and for a couple of days Mels my cousin-in-law. It was really nice. Marysville, if you ever get the chance, is a very nice place to visit. Just past Healesville, over the Black Spur, up a hill our car struggled to even get over, and you're there. And when you are there, you must, I repeat MUST, go and see Bruno Torf's sculpture garden. I will not say anything more on the topic than that, I will let you find out for yourself and report back to me. And you will love it, I have no doubt. I am not a gallery person, I have to admit, which makes being married to an artist who volunteers in a gallery interesting, but I don't really like them. But this one blows me away every time. And I have been there many, many times.
So go there. That is an order.
Until next time, keep living the dream.
Seeya
Wally
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