At long last my autobiography, 30 years in the writing, has been released to the public! On the morning of 21st January, Dymocks Books in Bendigo held the launch of my autobiography. My brother Geoffrey and his wife Meryl were on hand and Geoff did my official introduction to the wandering masses (well... 20 or so)! We sold ten books, so that wasn't a bad start and I certainly didn't suffer from writer's cramp signing that number. The media has assisted with articles in the Bendigo Weekly and Advertiser, while WIN Television did an interview last week which went to air on Friday, January 27.
We are attempting to get the book ePublished online, but won't know about that for a few days - I will advise you further in my next Blog.If you would like a personally signed copy - for yourself or a friend - just contact me on my email address and I'll send you details.
My only other social outing was "Harrymas"... our Dad's birthday... when my immediate family gathered at the home of my daughter and her husband for an afternoon of eating, watching old home movies and having a singalong.
The most recent event that concerns me is my problem neighbours… a gentleman in a wheelchair (who is an alcoholic) and his family. His son was caught (on camera) pinching the wallet of a taxi driver who brought me home from dialysis last week (while he was seeing me to the front door), so now I make sure all the doors and windows are locked at night. It’s things like that that make me a tad nervous about living alone virtually 24/7… not to mention waking up during the early hours to the sounds of the house! Creaks and bumps in the night are rather disconcerting now whereas they never used to bother me.
Ah, the joys of being a loner!
Oh, I have also become the proud (?) owner of a new wheelchair! I am still 'breaking it in', but will tell you more about it in my next blog... stay tuned!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Friday, December 9, 2011
Christmas Beckons!
"Ooh Mum, they're groping me" (my team of carers, Glenda, Julia, Tracey and Roberta). 
Back, L. to R., Vera, Barbara, Elaine, Leo, Michael, Geoff and Alan. Front, L to R., Brian, Shirley and me.
If I could physically accomplish the task I would pat myself on the back for being a little more organised this Christmas! I still haven't purchased all my pressies for family and friends, but I have had my autobiography published (with the book launch being held on January 21st) and written my Annual Newsletter to go out with my Christmas Cards... which should be completed this week.
I was giving thought to going to Tamworth for a few days at Festival time (around the end of January), but dialysis treatment at the Tamworth hospital was not available, so it will have to wait until 2013 before I can consider making the journey up north.
Getting back to my book. Anyone wanting a copy should let me know as soon as possible, because I need to order well in advance from the publishers who are based in the USA. I'm going to have to order an unknown quantity of books before the book launch and I already have 20+ orders to fill, so I'm going to be a busy girl over the next few weeks... yes, I know that should have read "busy BOY", but one does get confused at this time of year!
There is a chance I will be changing my blog site in the near future, but I will give you plenty of notice in case you like to keep up with the scintillating story of my lifestyle... I'm trying to dream up some sensational event to catapult me into the new year, but it looks like trying to flog books will be as close as I can get. Any help you can give me to promote it will be greatly appreciated.
My only public event in recent weeks has been a dinner with friends and family on November 27. The photographs above were taken there.
In closing, for those of you who celebrate Christmas, I wish you a season of love, good health and happiness. The same goes for everyone else as well! See you (God Willing) in 2012.
Getting back to my book. Anyone wanting a copy should let me know as soon as possible, because I need to order well in advance from the publishers who are based in the USA. I'm going to have to order an unknown quantity of books before the book launch and I already have 20+ orders to fill, so I'm going to be a busy girl over the next few weeks... yes, I know that should have read "busy BOY", but one does get confused at this time of year!
There is a chance I will be changing my blog site in the near future, but I will give you plenty of notice in case you like to keep up with the scintillating story of my lifestyle... I'm trying to dream up some sensational event to catapult me into the new year, but it looks like trying to flog books will be as close as I can get. Any help you can give me to promote it will be greatly appreciated.
My only public event in recent weeks has been a dinner with friends and family on November 27. The photographs above were taken there.
In closing, for those of you who celebrate Christmas, I wish you a season of love, good health and happiness. The same goes for everyone else as well! See you (God Willing) in 2012.
Friday, October 21, 2011
My Autobiography set to go!
The contents of my autobiography will be as follows.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
1. HOW IT STARTED - AND ALMOST ENDED
2. CRISIS POINT
3. MY LILLIPUT
4. THE GOLDEN VOICES OF RADIO
5. FAMILY INFLUENCES
6. ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL
7. PASSING TIME… AND OTHER EMBARRASSMENTS
8. READIN’, WRITIN’ & ‘RITHMETIC
9. GOD, SILKWORMS, SONGS... AND ROMANCE!
10. SWEET SIXTEEN
11. I JUST CALLED TO SAY...
12. FROM FAMINE TO FEAST - 1956
13. THE CLUB IN FULL SWING - 1958
14. ‘RAGING’ IN THE BEDROOM! - 1959
15. I ENTER THE SWINGING SIXTIES - 1960
16. THE END OF A HAPPY ERA
17. THE BUSINESS MAN BECOMES AN ENTERTAINER
18. A BIRTH, DEATH, MARRIAGE... AND DIVORCE!
19. ALL WORK AND NO PLAY = MARRIAGE PROBLEMS
20. NASHVILLE AT LAST
21. BACK HOME AGAIN... TO THE "DOOZY"
22. THE FRINGE BENEFITS OF HAVING A CARE ATTENDANT
23. DATING SITES
24. A FITTING FAREWELL TO MY MUSICAL JOURNEY
We are working on having it published both as an e-book (paperback edition) and online, but need "expressions of interest" to guage its potential either way. Which version would you prefer (if any)? At this stage I cannot give you costs of either format, but rest assured you won't be committing yourself to buy a copy either way. Please respond either way A.S.A.P. if you are at all interested. Thank you.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
1. HOW IT STARTED - AND ALMOST ENDED
2. CRISIS POINT
3. MY LILLIPUT
4. THE GOLDEN VOICES OF RADIO
5. FAMILY INFLUENCES
6. ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL
7. PASSING TIME… AND OTHER EMBARRASSMENTS
8. READIN’, WRITIN’ & ‘RITHMETIC
9. GOD, SILKWORMS, SONGS... AND ROMANCE!
10. SWEET SIXTEEN
11. I JUST CALLED TO SAY...
12. FROM FAMINE TO FEAST - 1956
13. THE CLUB IN FULL SWING - 1958
14. ‘RAGING’ IN THE BEDROOM! - 1959
15. I ENTER THE SWINGING SIXTIES - 1960
16. THE END OF A HAPPY ERA
17. THE BUSINESS MAN BECOMES AN ENTERTAINER
18. A BIRTH, DEATH, MARRIAGE... AND DIVORCE!
19. ALL WORK AND NO PLAY = MARRIAGE PROBLEMS
20. NASHVILLE AT LAST
21. BACK HOME AGAIN... TO THE "DOOZY"
22. THE FRINGE BENEFITS OF HAVING A CARE ATTENDANT
23. DATING SITES
24. A FITTING FAREWELL TO MY MUSICAL JOURNEY
We are working on having it published both as an e-book (paperback edition) and online, but need "expressions of interest" to guage its potential either way. Which version would you prefer (if any)? At this stage I cannot give you costs of either format, but rest assured you won't be committing yourself to buy a copy either way. Please respond either way A.S.A.P. if you are at all interested. Thank you.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
A 'Springy' September!
Anyone who calls me 'anti-social' might think twice after looking at what I have left behind on my September calendar. For example, I attended a wedding, a baptism service, went out to dinner on three occasions and visited the Chinese Gardens, some of which I did in the company of a lady I met online from Warrnambool who stayed with me for 12 days... plus I acquired a bedhead and bought a new High Density Digital TV!
You want more details? OK, feel free to ask me anything you like on my email at coljames@bigpond.com.au. I also visited a dermatologist for a biopsy on my right ear (this one 'ere on my right) and had a cat-scan on my face in preparation for plastic surgery - nah, only jokin'. No amount of plastic surgery would improve my ugly fizz-gig (face).
Suffice to say that I still feel unfulfilled and lonesome, so I am going to have to lift my game even higher in October in an attempt to re-fuel my life into the burning cauldron of activity it once was (don't ask me what that means - I don't know either!).
Oh yes, one other thing achieved in September was the final draft of my autobiography, together with selection of photographs for same. Hopefully, within the next couple of months, I will be able to advise anyone who may be interested how they can get a copy... all being well it should escape online, as well as by e-book and paperback. Please let me know if you wish for more information.
Provided I am not too deep in my boiling cauldron, watch for more riveting material on this blog later in October/early November.
You want more details? OK, feel free to ask me anything you like on my email at coljames@bigpond.com.au. I also visited a dermatologist for a biopsy on my right ear (this one 'ere on my right) and had a cat-scan on my face in preparation for plastic surgery - nah, only jokin'. No amount of plastic surgery would improve my ugly fizz-gig (face).
Suffice to say that I still feel unfulfilled and lonesome, so I am going to have to lift my game even higher in October in an attempt to re-fuel my life into the burning cauldron of activity it once was (don't ask me what that means - I don't know either!).
Oh yes, one other thing achieved in September was the final draft of my autobiography, together with selection of photographs for same. Hopefully, within the next couple of months, I will be able to advise anyone who may be interested how they can get a copy... all being well it should escape online, as well as by e-book and paperback. Please let me know if you wish for more information.
Provided I am not too deep in my boiling cauldron, watch for more riveting material on this blog later in October/early November.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Life Mooches Onwards!
A week of being wet, cold and windy... and the weather has been the same (a wee joke there, folks)! I must admit though, the weather here has been lovely over the past few days, but more gloom is predicted.
Enough about the weather. The only excitement in my life since my last blog has been meeting a new lady online. For a change, she came looking for ME! She lives out of town, but tells me she will pay me a visit in the near future - we'll see! I also had an approach from a lady in Ghana, who said she will come out to Australia to meet me - wait for it - IF I SEND HER THE MONEY!
As I told her, I may be honest, but I'm not stupid, so I'll be surprised if I hear from her again. There are so many scammers around these days on the 'net, that's it's becoming harder all the time to find anyone who is genuine.
Speaking of which, does anyone out there KNOW of a fair dinkum ('genuine' for the benefit of non-Aussies) home-based business where I may be able to earn a few dollars in my spare time? No, not Herbalife, Melaleuca or Amway, etc., please - been there, done that - not interested in the pyramid style of business trying to flog products to people who turn and run as soon as they see you coming!
I have been trying for months to get involved in internet marketing, but again the whole industry has been taken over by would-be scammers and leaves me with little faith in the internet community.
Socially, I am looking forward to Friday, September 30 when I will hold my first "Eff" night (see previous blogs) with a trivia theme. Fun, Food'n Frivolity with Friends'n Family is the general idea, but Providence Hall (where it will be held) only holds 30 people, so I'm leaving it up to YOU to invite yourself - first in, best dressed, so please contact me NOW (by snail mail, email, phone or post) if you're interested. Official invitations will be mailed out the first week in September to those who have been in touch (if any) and other VIP's.
Until next blogging time, stay warm, healthy and happy and I'll try to do the same.
Enough about the weather. The only excitement in my life since my last blog has been meeting a new lady online. For a change, she came looking for ME! She lives out of town, but tells me she will pay me a visit in the near future - we'll see! I also had an approach from a lady in Ghana, who said she will come out to Australia to meet me - wait for it - IF I SEND HER THE MONEY!
As I told her, I may be honest, but I'm not stupid, so I'll be surprised if I hear from her again. There are so many scammers around these days on the 'net, that's it's becoming harder all the time to find anyone who is genuine.
Speaking of which, does anyone out there KNOW of a fair dinkum ('genuine' for the benefit of non-Aussies) home-based business where I may be able to earn a few dollars in my spare time? No, not Herbalife, Melaleuca or Amway, etc., please - been there, done that - not interested in the pyramid style of business trying to flog products to people who turn and run as soon as they see you coming!
I have been trying for months to get involved in internet marketing, but again the whole industry has been taken over by would-be scammers and leaves me with little faith in the internet community.
Socially, I am looking forward to Friday, September 30 when I will hold my first "Eff" night (see previous blogs) with a trivia theme. Fun, Food'n Frivolity with Friends'n Family is the general idea, but Providence Hall (where it will be held) only holds 30 people, so I'm leaving it up to YOU to invite yourself - first in, best dressed, so please contact me NOW (by snail mail, email, phone or post) if you're interested. Official invitations will be mailed out the first week in September to those who have been in touch (if any) and other VIP's.
Until next blogging time, stay warm, healthy and happy and I'll try to do the same.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Monday, July 4, 2011
Winter Drawers On, Summer Knicks Off!
I have been a little more sociable over the past few weeks with outings to a barbecue held at my daughter home, a cabaret called "Dribs and Drabs" and a tribute to the Bee Gees evening at the All Seasons (a motel/restaurant which is walking distance from where I live). The barby was held in honour of two Chinese students, aged 10 and 11, from the Souchou Industrial Park area in China. My daughter and her husband are hosting their visit to Australia for two months.
The program is the result of a 2009 trip to China by Bendigo school principals, who set up a sister-city relationship with schools in Souchou.
I attended "Dribs and Drabs" at the invitation of a fellow client of one of my support workers who is friendly with the owners of this well-known local nightspot. Unfortunately my date for the evening pulled out due to ill-health at the last minute, so I went solo. The meal was good, the floor-show was a mixture of bad-taste to reasonably entertaining... I gave it 5 out of 10!
At least I managed to get a date for the Bee Gees tribute, even though we had to leave early due to her baby-sitters commitments. The 'sound-alike' trio of entertainers put on a reasonable performance although nowhere near the perfect harmonies of the original group... again the meal was enjoyed by all.
To update, I am not playing darts until the next Summer season which won't commence until after the beginning of next year. Meanwhile I am keeping myself occupied searching in vain through dating sites looking for a lady - any lady - who might feel desperate enough to entertain the thought of taking on a fugly partner in a wheelchair... just for casual outings, dinners, movies, sharing HWB (hot water bottles), etc. 'Twould appear they don't exist!
The only site that gives me a momentary lift is "Tagged", where I have had literally dozens of responses - from the Philippines and New York! It would seem that I could get as many dates as I would like IF I sent them the money to come out to Australia... but I'm not QUITE that desperate YET!!! Three have offered to come out here if I get them - or give them - a job, but that is also a bit beyond me at the moment.
My Eff'n Eff, Eff Eff'n Eff and Eff Night (see an earlier blog hereunder) has been delayed until September 30. so more about that in next month's blog.
Oh well, back to my search for a HWB.
The program is the result of a 2009 trip to China by Bendigo school principals, who set up a sister-city relationship with schools in Souchou.
I attended "Dribs and Drabs" at the invitation of a fellow client of one of my support workers who is friendly with the owners of this well-known local nightspot. Unfortunately my date for the evening pulled out due to ill-health at the last minute, so I went solo. The meal was good, the floor-show was a mixture of bad-taste to reasonably entertaining... I gave it 5 out of 10!
At least I managed to get a date for the Bee Gees tribute, even though we had to leave early due to her baby-sitters commitments. The 'sound-alike' trio of entertainers put on a reasonable performance although nowhere near the perfect harmonies of the original group... again the meal was enjoyed by all.
To update, I am not playing darts until the next Summer season which won't commence until after the beginning of next year. Meanwhile I am keeping myself occupied searching in vain through dating sites looking for a lady - any lady - who might feel desperate enough to entertain the thought of taking on a fugly partner in a wheelchair... just for casual outings, dinners, movies, sharing HWB (hot water bottles), etc. 'Twould appear they don't exist!
The only site that gives me a momentary lift is "Tagged", where I have had literally dozens of responses - from the Philippines and New York! It would seem that I could get as many dates as I would like IF I sent them the money to come out to Australia... but I'm not QUITE that desperate YET!!! Three have offered to come out here if I get them - or give them - a job, but that is also a bit beyond me at the moment.
My Eff'n Eff, Eff Eff'n Eff and Eff Night (see an earlier blog hereunder) has been delayed until September 30. so more about that in next month's blog.
Oh well, back to my search for a HWB.
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