Pub Choir | 1000 Fields of Roses

Exercising Democracy

We voted today.
The actual election day is Saturday, but we like to get in early… our area has a lot of independents running (the senate paper overflowed the voting booth), so it took a bit of research to figure out who was running for what.
A friend posted a link to Build a Ballot, which we found helpful in sorting out preferences.
Have a go! 🙂
There are also links there to the various parties’ sites – you can check out what their actual policies are. We didn’t want to waste our vote by not knowing who we were choosing. Sweet Bean spent ages weighing up different parties and policies – he’s happy to have made his choice 🙂

Although we usually go for a coffee on a Wednesday, there’s an appointment to stay home for tomorrow.
So we indulged in a Tuesday coffee!

(… and cake! ❤ )

And, speaking of democracy –
what great things can people do when they get together!
I have never been to a Pub Choir evening in person (I will one day!), but I did a few Couch Choirs in lockdown. Over the last few years they have been recording a phrase or line from Bohemian Rhapsody in every place they go. Here is the end result.

Go forth and vote!

And sing.
With coffee.
😀

Published in:

on April 29, 2025 at 10:11 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Pub Choir, rafter and rose

Content

…or, “how I’m feeling right now” 🙂

We’re on a mad dash to Christmas, although most things are bought or done. There’s just the cleaning, and a visit to the markets, to go.
I am feeling contentment, looking round at all the beautiful things around me.
This time last year, we had pretty much put Christmas (at least the glitzy trappings) on hold. We were unsure of the future, and maybe a bit tired…
This year, we are settled, and with more space than I could have dreamed of last year.
Wandering around the place this morning, it struck me that this vast, weedy garden of ours has provided gifts I knew I wanted, but didn’t think to ask for.
I have wanted roses for a long time, but I’m not much good at plants until they’re fairly well established (and able to look after themselves to a large extent). Here, there are at least five rose bushes, in various sizes, from my big, prolific rose bush at the back –

…to the little, straggly plant at the front, which I can see is a miniature rose bush!

They all seem to be pink, and nicely scented.

Not only that – we also have scented flowers here that we had in the house we lost, and I had thought would not have again. The hedge plants have sweetly scented white flowers, the same plant we had in the old house (I can never remember the name), and we also have “Geisha Girl” plants (trees?).

My frangipanis are exploding (not literally…)

We have had time lately to go out for a cuppa, and spend some time talking.

“The Still Life Of Contentment” 😀

My nativity scene is still not complete. I’ve had some ideas, but they haven’t worked out – there’s always next year!
I’ve added a donkey, though.

Maybe life is not perfect.
Maybe it never will be.
I am content (and maybe even quietly happy…)
I hope you are too!

If you need a bit of cheering up, here is Pub Choir‘s new collaboration.

Or maybe you’re in need of quietness and peace, in which case – have a silent night ❤

Published in:

on December 21, 2023 at 8:29 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: pentatonix, Pub Choir

Waiting In The Sun

Sun’s out.
The torrential rain has finished for the time being, at least round our way. We’re still waiting to see what will happen later in the week.
Our house was fine – we had to dig some trenches and redirect water, but that was more a drainage problem than a flooding issue. There’s a sort of a lull at the moment. There are still roads flooded in town, making essential shopping a bit harder. Supplies in the shops were running low over the weekend, and restocking might be a problem. We’re fine. There are many who aren’t, so we’re waiting to see what’s needed once the waters recede enough to be able to do something. We’re not much good these days for heavy lifting, but we can do meals/groceries, and we still have a bed and sofa for anyone needing them. 🙂

Last week I sent in my part for the latest Couch Choir. Not sure when it will all be put together, but here’s a Pub Choir clip (pre-Covid!) that seems to be appropriate. It’s probably been appropriate for at least the last three years or so!

It might seem like cold comfort to someone surveying the wreckage of everything they own, and of course there are long term effects that will need to be addressed. But we can all still pitch in as a community.
One of the good things I’ve found over the last few years (at least for me) is a sense of connection to places and people I would never have met or seen otherwise. It feels almost like we could go anywhere and see anyone we wanted to pre-Covid, but had got into the habit of not connecting. Perhaps we didn’t feel the need for community quite so much, and so were careless about it building and maintaining it…
I hope that in our future we can remember to maintain the nourishing things, and continue to keep away from the unhelpful things.

Speaking of futures – here’s a possible one!
Who knows? 😆

Published in:

on March 1, 2022 at 12:50 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Kasey Chambers & Paul Kelly, Pub Choir, Qld Floods

Singing In The Weekend

This week feels like it’s lasted a few thousand years…
the normal schedules have been a bit disrupted lately, so everything feels a bit wonky. I’ve been out of the house more than usual, and I’m feeling a bit of weariness.
Part of that could be a habit of browsing the charity shops while I’m out – I’ll have to get used to taking my trolley bag with me rather than carrying everything home!

Having just uploaded various things from my phone, it looks like I’ve been taking photos most days this month. Part of that has been trying to figure out the camera on my phone (I’ve just worked out how to use the video function. I think.) Mostly, I just enjoy taking photos… from the way the light hits my pendant collection –

to the shape of leaves

or a tiny butterfly, catching the breeze in the grass as I pass by…

I’ve just sent in my “high harmony” for Couch Choir (it’s due tomorrow if you want to participate!). Wasn’t too great, but sometimes you have to make the choice between doing something imperfectly or not doing it at all. I don’t know when the song will be put together, but will share it here when it’s done.
In the meantime, here’s the latest from Pub Choir (same people, just in person). It was filmed in Brisbane, but I wasn’t able to be there.