After almost 40 years, ABBA has reformed, and are bringing out a new album.
I had a listen to the new single. I have to say I wasn’t sure about it at first. The song wasn’t what I was expecting…the digital concert bit at the end was a bit strange…
And yet…
I’ve listened to it a few times now, and have loved it more each time.
The bit with the lights floating off into space made me shed a tear or two – not sure why!
I’m not sure what the song means, exactly.
I’m hearing forgiveness, and acceptance, and a sense of surviving through a storm.
…and it feels like a love song, to those of us who were there the first time around.
Take a chance – whether you’re an old fan, or too young to remember.
Listen to the story!
If You Change Your Mind…
How The Other Gishers Gish!
I have documented my Gishy adventures here before, and this morning just signed up for next year’s hunt.
I also took the chance to have a look at other people’s entries. Here’s a link to check out the wondrous variety of GISH!
GISH Hall of Fame 2020
Those are some of the items for last year. There are also sections for previous years.
Enjoy! 😀
People are amazingly creative. And weird.
I started off just scrolling through to have a quick look, and ended up laughing, crying, and simply being amazed.
Right now, as I type, there are terrible things happening to innocent people. A lot of those things are because humans, somewhere, have behaved badly. And, unfortunately, whenever you happen to be reading this, there is likely to be some terrible thing happening somewhere in the world.
Some people may think that taking time out to be silly, or create beautiful and strange things, is time wasted.
I don’t agree.
Yes, just making something new and beautiful in the world is a good thing in itself. But seeing others doing that as well – reminding ourselves that there are good people – funny, thoughtful, weird, vulnerable, loving people with hearts that see brokenness and seek justice?
That’s priceless.
We (humanity) are the problem.
We are also the hands and feet that bring the answer to the hurting and broken.
Let’s walk together.
Earlier this year I had the chance to contribute to a GISH-related online choir. I’m sad that I never sent my part in, but enjoyed watching the result.
Sing along (and look for the rainbows)!
Held
Not sure what’s happening with winter…
Lately it’s felt like spring, and sometimes even summer. The last couple of nights have seen the return of a slight chill, though, and the duvet has made a comeback
I’ve been doing a few hours of work – I came in late, so didn’t get a lot done, but it was nice to earn a few dollars 🙂
The job was, basically, making calls online to other people. Pretending to have a conversation about various topics with certain keywords, particularly geared towards an Australian accent. Over the last week I’ve opened various bank accounts, taken out loans, bought a tractor (and a farm!), stocked an organic herbal tea shop, and set up a fish farm. No wonder I’m tired! 😆
I’ve always had problems with phones. There was a time, years ago, when I yearned to be allowed to use the phone like the grown ups, but now I’m happy to text. Over the years I’ve learned basic “scripts” to cover most phone calls, but this job involved an undercurrent of low level terror each time I did a call.
I survived!
Today was meant to be a catching-up day, but plans can get a bit wonky. I roamed through various sites, and stumbled across this reminder that all is well – even when tiptoeing over the terror to get to the end of a phone conversation…
Making My Dreams Come True
Another Couch Choir offering 🙂
I pop up a few times in the little screens – think pink, flowers and unicorns…
Crying Sideways
I didn’t get out much last week.
When Saturday came around, I thought it might be a chance to enjoy a quiet coffee in my favourite cafe.
Seems like everyone else had the same idea…
This Sunday’s sermon mentioned something about “souls crying sideways” – when we don’t acknowledge pain and hurt, stuff it down inside, it tends to come out in other ways. That may be physical illness, mental instability, or maybe just crying copiously in public. Who knows? We all have our idiosyncrasies.
When I go out by myself for coffee (and cake 🙂 ) it tends to be a big deal for me, both because I generally have to spend a fair bit of my energy reserves to get there, and because I just enjoy the whole experience. I’m also not very good at suddenly changing plans.
Saturdays are very busy. My favourite cafe is very good, but I’ve come to realise that Saturday morning is not the best time for one person to be able to sit inside and enjoy a leisurely breakfast…
I had already had some problems with wobbly legs and shaky hands while walking down the street to get there, and the tables outside can be a bit wonky (there’s a bit of a hill). I had ordered a filter coffee, which I hadn’t realised didn’t come with milk. I couldn’t ask for milk easily because I couldn’t carry everything inside, although I did eventually get a small jug of milk. My cosy morning out was turning into a bit of an ordeal, which tipped over into chaos when I managed to tip the whole cup of coffee into my lap (shaky hands/small jug). Cue the crying!
I don’t identify myself exactly with the sideways crying scenario – I don’t think it was a case of stuffed emotions – more probably my energy levels just suddenly dipped into practically non-existent. The crying was definitely disproportionate to the event, though. Thankfully I can cry quietly 🙂 One of the other patrons did notice, and asked if I was OK. I took myself around the corner to calm down a bit, then went back to my table to try to finish the coffee that was left in the pot. It had, of course, been tidied away. 😆
My morning finished better than it started.
I got back in line to get a takeaway latte, which was given to me free, along with a lovely lemon slice. That kindness almost undid me (again) – none of it was the fault of the cafe, but they showed grace to the weeping twit in the shadows, when they would be well within their rights to ignore me.
I did some therapeutic shopping in the charity shop down the road, then spent some time in the library. No-one seemed to notice the huge coffee stains down my front, and they’d dried by then.
I haven’t got any deep philosophy to impart from all this, but I was reminded of an important truth while I was watching the last scene from the last season of House.
Time’s moving on…
Content
I’ve had a couple of low energy/fatiguey days lately, so I’ve mostly been in bed.
Thankfully I’ve also been in the process of changing the area by my bed so I can easily reach books, pens/pencils/paper etc when I need them. There’s still more to do (I do a bit, then run out of steam) but I should have a useable workspace soon.
It still feels a bit lazy, but I came to the conclusion that it was better to get some work done in bed rather than not getting anything done while waiting to feel better…
It’s not like I haven’t done any writing or drawing while sitting up in bed before – it’s just been quite uncomfortable. I finally got myself a little lap table with a tilting top, and a new “bedside table” (a trolley with drawers from Officeworks).
Today has been another catch up day – because of events the last few months, I’m behind in some classes and seminars.
I’m enjoying the content of the two sites I’m working on, and I am content with my new space and the new things I’m learning!
🙂
Following The Signposts
Time for another wander through YouTube!
I’ve been watching reaction videos lately – I enjoy seeing someone else falling in love with music I already know, and I also am introduced to music I’ve never come across before.
Watching random songs also means the recommendations can be…a bit different 🙂
Here’s an audition from The Voice South Africa – the song is the Click Song, sung in Xhosa, which I first heard sung by Miriam Makeba.
Next I had a look at a Kazakh singer called Dimash. I’ve seen a lot of reaction videos to him, and I know he’s known for having a very wide vocal range. I chose this song to share because of the added family sweetness 🙂
What next?
Maybe a bit of Georgian dancing?
(This is more of a mini documentary, and some dissent in the YouTube comments about the accuracy of some of the history)
Some Irish dancing to finish!
(also a bit of a mini documentary…)
Dance!
Sing!
…and wander down a different path sometimes – see what the signposts say.
Found, While Looking
We’re on the first day of another three day lockdown, with restrictions continuing for a few days after that.
Seems a good time to listen to good music 😀
Here’s a cover of one of my favourite U2 songs.
It’s a collaboration involving one of my favourite bands at the moment, and it shows a bit of what’s possible, via Zoom, when we can’t meet up in person.
Creativity and collaboration have had a few detours over the last year and more, but great (and fun!) things are still possible.
❤
Refresh (Again)
The last week has been a bit quiet – a period of adjusting, and reclaiming some routines.
Unfortunately, I’ve done something to my hip – not sure what, but it has involved creeping sideways occasionally and screeching when sitting down or standing up. It’s getting better, though – I walked a bit today, did some shopping and went out for a coffee… breathing out a prayer of thanks every time I could move painlessly!
Music always cheers me up, and sometimes reminds me of truth when I’m feeling unmoored.
Here’s some songs from an artist I like, reminding me where my hope comes from ❤
Now, the question is…
should I buy the album? 🤔
Back On The Couch
…or bed, since that’s where I recorded my bit for this. 🙂
Can’t see me in the little vignettes, but my voice is in there somewhere…
lots of fun!
❤
1000 Fields of Roses 