I'm getting in a bit earlier this time because, although May has not quite ended, my social activity has ceased, so I can report the results now.
Are you ready for this? With lumps in my ticker and tears in my eyes I must report a couple of crappy occasions:
Wednesday 23. My book launch in Geelong was a non-event. Roberta and I travelled the long journey by car and, after a brief look around the CBD window shopping and having lunch, we set up at the local library for a busy afternoon of talking to dozens of old and new friends, signing books and, hopefully, at least covering the costs of petrol expenses and accommodation. The library had done a magnificent job of advertising our visit with a large poster at the entrance, but both of the local newspapers had ignored the media releases and photographs I had sent them several days earlier and they printed nary a word.
Two hours and NO (not even one) people later, we decided to 'pull the plug' and head back home to Bendigo. Over those two hours, however, we had chatted with two members of the library staff who were most helpful with tips and suggestions of how to go about promoting my book, so we returned home feeling all was not lost.
Two weeks earlier I had sent an autographed copy of my book to Sam Newman at the AFL Footy Show on Channel 9, referring to the fact that I knew Bill Brownless (a regular on the show and former player of the Geelong Football Club) and had made reference in the book of how I used to 'play football' in my bed when I was a child.
I asked Sam if he would be so kind as to mention on the show that I was coming to Geelong for a book launch, but I received neither acknowledgement of the book nor a mention on the show. That didn't particularly surprise me though because I realise the show must be inundated with these sorts of requests, but I thought an acknowledgement would have been nice.
Saturday 26. An asthmatic, Roberta attended the Bendigo RSL Club with me, where we had dinner and that was all for her. The proposed respite care she had engaged for her three young children at home advised her she could only stay from 6 to 8 p.m. which meant poor Roberta had to return home virtually straight away to contend both with her children and her asthma, instead of having a night out being entertained by The Impalas on their "Last Night Stand".
I stayed there at the club until 10.30 and tried to enjoy myself, but it just wasn't the same without my date. My brother Geoff (who was in the band on their last engagement after 48 years in show business) and their families were there, together with my daughter Leanne, and I chatted with them of course, but my heart was elsewhere.
So much for my May Mayhem! This all discourages me somewhat for future social activity, but I'll bounce back for another go no doubt when/if an opportunity presents itself. Meanwhile I'll try to stay warm and keep thinking about a trip to New Zealand - maybe in the Summer!
Saturday, May 26, 2012
WHY DO I BLOG?
I look at 'blogging' as being a gathering of people I care about who care about me. Of course , I could be wrong - they may not care about me at all, but that's of no real significance to me, because I still care about them.
Anyway, here we all are... called together by me, just so I can open my heart and waffle on about things that are important to me, including things that have annoyed me, upset me, confused me, touched me, made me happy, made me sad, made me whinge or complain, laugh, cry, or just plain made me want to reach out to someone who is prepared to listen. I can't do this on a one-on-one basis, because it may be too confronting for either or both of us, but I still need to open up and get it out of my system, so I figure this is the best way to do it... maybe I'm wrong, but it's my way (good name for a song?).
How you react is entirely up to you. You can ignore it or act as you wish - laugh with me, cry with me or simply delete it... it's entirely up to you. It's serving it's purpose by just being released from my mind. The fact that I invited you to be amongst its recipients is because I trust you - this is just between you and me, yet it can be shared between us all. Again, that's up to you. Am I crazy? Probably, but - as I said a few lines back - it's my way.
Respond if you wish to comment or offer advice by sending me a personal message to my regular email address... and please feel free to speak your mind. Nothing you say will upset me in any way. The mere fact that you are interested enough in reading my blog makes it all worthwhile.
Now, having said all that, there will be a new blog a'waiting in your box within the next hour or so (it's 2.15 p.m. on Sunday, May 27 right now) at the usual address – it’s at http://thewheelies.blogspot.com/
Until next time, cheers from Colin
Anyway, here we all are... called together by me, just so I can open my heart and waffle on about things that are important to me, including things that have annoyed me, upset me, confused me, touched me, made me happy, made me sad, made me whinge or complain, laugh, cry, or just plain made me want to reach out to someone who is prepared to listen. I can't do this on a one-on-one basis, because it may be too confronting for either or both of us, but I still need to open up and get it out of my system, so I figure this is the best way to do it... maybe I'm wrong, but it's my way (good name for a song?).
How you react is entirely up to you. You can ignore it or act as you wish - laugh with me, cry with me or simply delete it... it's entirely up to you. It's serving it's purpose by just being released from my mind. The fact that I invited you to be amongst its recipients is because I trust you - this is just between you and me, yet it can be shared between us all. Again, that's up to you. Am I crazy? Probably, but - as I said a few lines back - it's my way.
Respond if you wish to comment or offer advice by sending me a personal message to my regular email address... and please feel free to speak your mind. Nothing you say will upset me in any way. The mere fact that you are interested enough in reading my blog makes it all worthwhile.
Now, having said all that, there will be a new blog a'waiting in your box within the next hour or so (it's 2.15 p.m. on Sunday, May 27 right now) at the usual address – it’s at http://thewheelies.blogspot.com/
Until next time, cheers from Colin
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
MAY MAYHEM!
April certainly passed by very quickly with all my activity, even though things didn't work out exactly as planned. For example, my attendance at Good News Week at the Melbourne Town Hall on April 14 looked like falling in a heap early that morning when my proposed 'date', Roberta, pulled out through illness. Luckily, however, I remembered a friend in Melbourne by name of Barbara. I phoned her at work (she is a nurse) and everything fell back into place. She agreed to meet at the Town Hall and see the show with me, thus making good use of the extra ticket I had purchased.
We agreed later that the show was very disorganised and the constant use of four-letter words was most unnecessary. Not to worry, we saw the show and I caught the train home with 20 seconds to spare!
April 21. Then came the Golden Wedding Anniversary of my old mate Harry Wilkinson and his charming wife Glenda, held at the Old Flour Mill Gallery in Euroa; a very interesting and picturesque place and a wonderful afternoon of conviviality with friends of old was had by all. Again Roberta was unable to make it with me, so Tracey, another of my support workers, agreed to drive the accessible van I had hired to get us there... she also enjoyed the meal and cordiality.
April 29. Next was my birthday barbecue. The weather was kind and 16 of the 60 I had invited accepted and came along to an afternoon of good tucker, good music (provided by my dear and extremely talented brother Geoff on guitar) and superb fellowship. Geoff, incidentally, has just launched his own first book, titled "Ways to Identify Purpose and Meaning" from the Curriculum for Whole Living Series. Contact me if you wish to know more about it.
Now for May. On the 2nd, I took Roberta and her family out for dinner at the Bendigo Club who had sent me a meal voucher for my birthday. Having three young children to take care of and being a sole parent, she doesn't get out to socialise very often.
May 23. We head to Geelong for the launch of my book, "If I Can Do It..." at the local Library. After having lived in Geelong for 26 years I hope to see a few familiar and friendly faces there at the occasion.
May 26. After many many years (at least 40) on the dance band scene, "The Impalas" will hold their farewell night at the Bendigo RSL Club. My brother Geoff, who has been their lead guitarist/vocalist for most of that time, will be featured so, of course, I will be in attendance to witness his final performance with the group.
My New Zealand plans remain unresolved with no travel partner offering to accompany me, while my facial neuralgia has diminished, thanks to the doctor's prescribed medication.
We agreed later that the show was very disorganised and the constant use of four-letter words was most unnecessary. Not to worry, we saw the show and I caught the train home with 20 seconds to spare!
April 21. Then came the Golden Wedding Anniversary of my old mate Harry Wilkinson and his charming wife Glenda, held at the Old Flour Mill Gallery in Euroa; a very interesting and picturesque place and a wonderful afternoon of conviviality with friends of old was had by all. Again Roberta was unable to make it with me, so Tracey, another of my support workers, agreed to drive the accessible van I had hired to get us there... she also enjoyed the meal and cordiality.
April 29. Next was my birthday barbecue. The weather was kind and 16 of the 60 I had invited accepted and came along to an afternoon of good tucker, good music (provided by my dear and extremely talented brother Geoff on guitar) and superb fellowship. Geoff, incidentally, has just launched his own first book, titled "Ways to Identify Purpose and Meaning" from the Curriculum for Whole Living Series. Contact me if you wish to know more about it.
Now for May. On the 2nd, I took Roberta and her family out for dinner at the Bendigo Club who had sent me a meal voucher for my birthday. Having three young children to take care of and being a sole parent, she doesn't get out to socialise very often.
May 23. We head to Geelong for the launch of my book, "If I Can Do It..." at the local Library. After having lived in Geelong for 26 years I hope to see a few familiar and friendly faces there at the occasion.
May 26. After many many years (at least 40) on the dance band scene, "The Impalas" will hold their farewell night at the Bendigo RSL Club. My brother Geoff, who has been their lead guitarist/vocalist for most of that time, will be featured so, of course, I will be in attendance to witness his final performance with the group.
My New Zealand plans remain unresolved with no travel partner offering to accompany me, while my facial neuralgia has diminished, thanks to the doctor's prescribed medication.
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