Mental Health Awareness - it's up to all of us

It's World Mental Health Week and it's great to see and hear so much happening to educate us about mental health.

This week I'm at the College of Mental Health Nurses Conference in Melbourne talking to people about the mental health clinical education toolkit that I've produced for St John of God Health Care. It's giving me the opportunity to meet nurses who are working in all kinds of places but all share one thing - a commitment to quality care for people who have mental health problems. I've met nurses working in hospitals; nurses working in Medicare Locals; community nurses working in cities and regional areas; nurses working in prisons, other forensic settings and assessing asylum seekers . There are also educators from hospitals, other health care providers and universities.

ABC has programmed lots of interesting things under the banner of "Mental As". What a fantastic contribution to the education of our community. I think some of what I've seen can really make a difference to creating supporting understanding and empathy in the community. Monday night's Q & A on television had a panel of people talking frankly about mental health in rural and regional areas. The panel included a psychiatrist, a comedian, a lived experience practitioner (something I've just learned about), a politician and a CEO from a community organisation and the quality of the questions and conversation showed just how much we're thinking about mental health and experiencing in our daily lives. (You can catch up on the show, read a transcript, see the questions posed and learn about the panellists on the website.) It was stimulating television: I was challenged. I was moved. I was educated. I was frustrated. I was angry. I was relieved.

Last night - again on the ABC - the first episode of Changing Minds aired. It takes us inside the psychiatric unit at Sydney's Liverpool Hospital. I regularly visit private mental health hospitals, but am not exposed to the clinical interactions. I see patients walking around and always greet and acknowledge them. I know that my experience is more than most lay people would have, but going inside a public ward where people are sometimes there under the Mental Health Act was a new experience.

The focus last night was on three people who have bipolar disorder and were in various stages of treatment for manic episodes. We saw Patrick towards the end of his stay and then back at home. We met Glen who is up and down. We met Sandra who is at the beginning of her admission showing nasty irritability and disordered thinking. I struggled with my own reactions to these people and admired the good humour and empathy displayed by the staff. Sandra was very suspicious about the medication a nurse was dispensing, initially denying they were correct. She insisted the nurse go through each tablet, explain what it was and then put it in a particular place. I was rolling my eyes from a distance and was so impressed to watch the nurse who patiently and respectfully responded to Sandra's needs.

What I've noticed is that all this conversation really does work against stigma. I believe this is the first step necessary for healing and understanding in our world.

Last night's program has also helped discovery within my own family. One of my family members has bipolar disorder and each of us has our own experience and attitudes as a result of living with this person. I've been open about this in my close circle, but have not talked in the wider world. The raising of mental health awareness has helped me understand that there's value in sharing my experience and insight with others. I have several close friends who also suffer with depression and anxiety. I know from talking to them that understanding isn't always there.

What's your experience of mental health? How are you engaging in the conversation? What can you learn to help understanding of people who have mental health problems?

If you're at the conference why not drop by the Australia Catholic University stand and say hello?

Life at 9 and gratitude

I've come across many people this week who are in some kind of pain. Often their pain has been caused by their efforts to control things that are not within their control.

I also watched the excellent show on the ABC, Life at Nine which is following children as they grow up. This week's episode was about creativity and not only was it interesting to watch the children, but I also learned a bit about myself. 

These experiences influence what I'm grateful for everyday:

1. I am grateful for my creativity.

2. I am grateful for my imagination.

3. I am grateful for my resilience.

4. I am grateful for my own company.

5. I am grateful for my failures.

6. I am grateful that I have the capacity to write this post.

7. I am grateful that I have the freedom to publish this post.

8. I am grateful for the opportunities my parents gave me.

Here's two of my favourite photos from the week.

Shadow bike
© 2014 divacultura

Shot tower, Melbourne Central
© 2014 divacultura

What are you grateful for? Have you been watching the Life Series? Who's your favourite? (Mine's Wyatt, but don't tell anyone.)

Cold season - excuse for TV marathon.

This weekend has been a write-off. I left the house once, today, in search of food and cold medication. I've got one of those really annoying head colds; the kind where your head feels full of fluid, your ears are itchy and every time you sneeze, it's both a relief and a violent act. It started with a sore throat yesterday. That's gone today, so hopefully I might feel reasonable by tomorrow morning.

So what is one to do when it's cold and wet outside and you're sick? Fire up the Blu-Ray player and surrender.

Yesterday started with The Master, starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix and Amy Adams. It's apparently about the beginnings of Scientology. It's a curious film, with fine performances and a very slow pace. The slow pace suited the cotton wool in my head. I'm not sure I would have coped with the 144 minute duration otherwise.

Next came the first three episodes of The Americans, a television spy drama about Russian sleeper spies living in the US while Reagan was President. I was a bit non-plussed and was beginning to wonder whether I should abandon watching anything while ill.

Then I dusted off the Danish political drama, Borgen (Danish for "government") and was gripped from the very first moment. It's the story of a woman's rise to be Prime Minister after negotiating complex deals with coalition partners to lead a minority government. Sound familiar? I kept thinking about our former Prime Minister, Julia Gillard and wondered if she's seen it. I suppose it's a bit like a Danish version of The West Wing. (I had to swap my knitting for something I can do without watching or thinking, so I can read the subtitles.) I don't know why I waited so long.

Now, I'm waiting for The Voice to start and the latest dose of cold tablets to stop my nose running, the sneezing and the blocked ears.

Off to facilitate a leadership program tomorrow. Early to bed.

How are you?

What I'm saying "thank you" for this week.

This morning I woke up at 5am, forty-five minutes before my alarm was set to go off. I'm grateful because it gave me time to wash my hair and still be at work on time. I felt better about myself today.

Thank you.

A participant in the program I have been facilitating this week, bowled up to me at the end of the two days, looked in my eyes, smiled and told me that I had really inspired him.

Thank you.

Another participant told me that he had realised that he has been badly behaved at work. He also told me that his behaviour had been bad for 40 years and no one had ever told him. He told me that he now knows he needs to change. He told me he needs help because he doesn't know how to make the change. I felt privileged to be the person he confided in. I had thought he would be difficult to deal with, but I had really enjoyed his participation. I told him so.

Thank you.

I was to meet a friend who is visiting Melbourne this evening. He received an invitation relevant to the conference he's here attending and had to change our plans. We're meeting tomorrow for lunch. I'll be much fresher and awake! (I'm very tired this evening.) I now get a bonus early night and still get to see my friend.

Thank you.

Listening to the story of a boy who fled Afghanistan at the age of 14 after his father was murdered and spent a year in immigration detention on Christmas Island, I thought about what I was doing when I was fourteen. I was at school. I was starring in the school musical. I was playing music. I was reading novels. I was hanging out with friends and writing letters to my pen pals. I don't think I would have been able travel alone to the other side of the planet and start a new life. This boy is now vice captain at his school and is relishing the opportunity he has to sit exams.

Thank you.

Lastly, I'm grateful for Survivor. Last night was sensational viewing in the Beauty, Brawn and Brains season. The show gave me a point of connection with one of the less engaged participants at today's workshop. I also had a fabulous debrief on the phone afterwards with one of my friends. (For the record, Cass did her dash last night and LJ is very nice to have around.)

Thank you.

And lastly, always, thank you for the music. This week I've been listening to Max Richter's The Four Seasons Recomposed and The Fray's album "Helios".


What are you saying "thank you" for this week?

Behind the scenes - my Million Dollar Minute

My latest outing on television game shows aired this week. I can now reveal, for those who didn't see Million Dollar Minute, that I am not a millionaire. Repeat, NOT a millionaire. I'm not even a few bucks richer. They gave me a box of chocolates - a nice gesture, but of course I don't eat sugar. It's moments like these that I realise how sugar driven the world is. Small rewards usually come in the form of sugar. Even an order of sock yarn arrived with a lollipop in the package the other day.

But I digress.

Watching the show was strangely nerve wracking, even though I knew the outcome. I think I was worried that my slow start would leave me looking like some dumb person who answered one question and it was about Versace. You know?

While there's lots I'm contractually bound not to talk about, I can say that game shows are a fascinating opportunity to examine a cross section of the community. A bunch of twelve or so strangers are flung together in the green room for hours on end. It's easy to spot the ones who are deadly serious about their purpose: they don't say a lot and when asked anything they are reticent. Being the extrovert that I am, I talk to everyone and find out as much as I can, meanwhile, there's a guy asleep on the couch (how did they remove the sleep lines before he went to air?)

With the daily newspapers at hand, I decided to lead the quizzes. This is a great way to test the mettle of the deadly serious ones. They can't help but reveal their knowledge. At this point I ask if anyone needs me to shut up. They laugh and the crew who is minding us says "no" in a "thank god you're here" kind of way. It's their job to sit in a room babysitting adults all day. They were terrific.

A television, tuned to the home network, plays in the corner. It's infomercial hour, so after ten minutes of that we're all ready to shoot the television. DVDs have been provided for our entertainment, as well as several jigsaw puzzles. No Scrabble set though. I choose a retrospective of the comedy show "Fast Forward" which proves to be a hit. We all marvel at the cleverness and the fact that much of the humour would not be allowed on television today (think Magda Subanski in black face!). Ages of fellow competitors were revealed as people in my age group could quote along with the skits and characters.

There were some formalities - rules, contracts etc - and the opportunity to practise on the buzzers and the touch screen. I was first in and happily got all five questions in the practise round correct. Julius, one of the other contestants, said my name was written down by everyone else when I got the question about the fennec fox correct . It's renowned for its large ears. Apparently. I fluked that one, but they didn't need to know that.

I was glad to have my knitting with me. It's always handy for passing the time when you have to just wait. Nothing else, just waiting. We were in a time vortex with nothing much happening, but immense anticipation in the air. Contestants would come back from their filming either jubilant at winning some money or devastated after losing their chance.

I will confess that I sledged the champ in between sessions. Nicely. But I did want to get under his skin and rattle him a bit. He was an air traffic controller and cool as a cucumber. Meanwhile, I was in some weird tunnel for the first round. It took ages for me to hear and process the question before I could even get around to pressing the buzzer. I gave myself a good talking to and things picked up from there.

In the end, I got the second last question wrong which locked me out for the next one (which I knew) and I was beaten by 15 points. The champ had bought 15 points earlier in the game. It was an exciting battle at the end. It would have been more exciting if it was me playing for $20,000, but that's life.

My next sit-com idea will be set in a the green room of a game show.

Have you won anything lately?

My Million Dollar Minute - airdate

I was recently a contestant on the new quiz show called Million Dollar Minute.  (It's the thing I did that I couldn't talk about.)  I still can't really talk about it, but I can tell you that if you tune in on 23 October you will see me competing.

The thing I really like about this show is that it's the old-fashioned - but enduring - quiz with buzzer format.  You can play along at home.

Going on game shows is something that I decided to do one day and I've been lucky enough to be selected as a contestant on a few.  It's a bit of a love/hate relationship actually.

Have you ever been on a television game show?  Did you win?

TV binge

What greater excuse to indulge in binge TV can there be than winter weather?  I took full advantage of the rain and cold temperatures over the weekend to finish watching the first series of American Horror Story  and the seventh season of Dexter (I only had two episodes of this one left).

I approached American Horror Story with much trepidation.  Horror is not my favourite genre and I'm not great with ghost stories.  Or anything involving mirrors.  Rather than investing in something I wasn't sure I was going to be able to watch, I borrowed the first disc from Quickflix and was immediately hooked.  Although it features ghosts and lots of mirror action, I was okay.  I think I was more involved in the psychodrama side of things - what do people's fears look like? what does a man see when he looks at a woman? who's real and what's imagined?

I watched the opening titles once and found them scarier than the show, so I skipped right past them after that first time.  There's something about sepia photographs of wide eyed infants flashing in quick cut or melting that is spooky.  Then I watched the feature on the DVD about the design of the opening title sequence with its wonderful font and discovered that the impact that the opening title sequence had had on me was exactly what they were aiming for.

Maybe the fact I had my knitting to distract me helped me not be too scared.  I did watch the first episode in broad daylight, fully prepared to not go beyond that, but how can Jessica Lange be resisted? She's always terrific and plays slightly unhinged very well.  And the good news is that I've nearly finished the cardigan I'm knitting for myself - I just need to do the neck and the sleeves.  I hope the cardigan isn't prickly as a result of the context in which it was knitted.

Apart from watching TV, I'm reading a book about TV.  It's by Alan Sepinwall and is called The Revolution was Televised.    It's an examination of the change in television that started with prison drama "Oz", continued with "The Sopranos", "The Wire" through to "Breaking Bad".  I've watched all of the shows discussed except for "The Shield", "Lost" and "Battlestar Galactica", the last of which has been on my list for a while.  It's interesting to discover what seem to be "universal" responses to particular moments and characters. And I'm happy to have discovered that "Deadwood" did seem to be missing a fourth and final season. It wasn't just me.

What are you watching at the moment?

If I'm yelling at the TV, it must be an election year.

I wasn't going to write about politics again.  But it's all that's in my brain today.  It was all the tweeting during last night's episode of Q & A and being home today with the radio on and reading Kerry-Anne Walsh's book, The Stalking of Julia Gillard...so here we are.

This week's new Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, has announced a proposal to reform the Australian Labor Party's rules governing the election of leader, putting more power in the hands of members.  Ordinarily I'd be thinking this is a good thing, but its announcement was tainted when Rudd stated it would prevent a leader being told, "OK sunshine, it's over."

This little post-script made it clear that the rush of reformist's zeal gripping the nation's PM had less to do with democracy and was more about himself; after all, he's had the last three years to raise such ideas.  If they'd been adopted though, Julia Gillard may still be Prime Minister which wouldn't have been very convenient for Rudd.

Thought I'd share my tweets from last night when there was a lot of discussion about the proposed changes.

9:42pm: Rank & file members need honest reporting to make decisions on leadership. Um, anyone seeing the flaw? #qanda

9:45pm: Unions are made up of ordinary working people. Don't get much more grassroots than that v #qanda

That was in response to Malcolm Turnbull's assertions that the Liberal Party is a grassroots party.

9:48pm: Is now the time to talk about a Republic where we can truly choose our head of state? #qanda

Again, in response to cries about the Australian people's "right" to choose our Prime Minister.  We don't have that right.  We elect a local member to the House of Representatives.  The party which has the most local members wins government!  Whoever is the leader of the party with the most members is the Prime Minister.  The leader of the both major parties is chosen by a collegiate vote of the parliamentary party.  Last time I checked.

9:50pm: Stop the quotes. #qanda

In response to sloganeering ("Stop the Boats") rather than policy making on the vexed issue of asylum seekers.

9:57pm: This discussion wouldn't be needed if position of PM should never have been cheapened in the first place. #qanda

Well that one was obviously composed in a hurry! But you get my drift.

9:58pm: The PM is NOT chosen by the people whichever party is elected Malcolm! #qanda

See above.  "Malcolm" refers to Malcolm Turnbull.

10:04pm: Haven't we been in an election campaign since we elected a hung parliament? #qanda

Again, Mr Turnbull moved me to this tweet as he said that the ALP should either be governing or be campaigning.

10:10pm: I don't watch parliamentary debates. Too much shouting. #qanda

Turnbull again as he defended his leader, Tony Abbott's refusal to debate the Prime Minister anywhere but in the parliamentary chamber.  Seriously.

10:11pm: Remote/regional health education and service requires symmetrical broadband. #qanda

Six months ago I had never heard the term "symmetrical broadband", now the lack of it keeps me awake at night.  Malcolm Turnbull's belief that there isn't a need for fast speeds for both upload and download to the internet is just plain wrong.  A mental health education program I am currently managing provides education to nursing, medical and allied health students in a regional area.  We currently limp along on domestic broadband and often the service fails.  This needs to be fixed.

10:23pm: What colour was the army in Egypt? #qanda

Ok, this one was lost in translation.  As they talked about opposition plans to tackle climate change by killing emissions trading and introducing a green army, I visualised the green army turning on the government demanding action.  See the link?

10:30pm: The questions are making more sense than the answers tonight. #qanda

I tuned out, frustrated at the lack of clarity in thought, speech and action.

So that was my night.  No tweets up on the screen this week (I had one the previous week).  It's an interesting way to interact and see others' reactions.

Are you on Twitter?  What do you tweet about?

You can follow me @divacultura

On my mind - from language to skinny jeans and Ricky Martin

Language is one of my favourite things in the world.   I love the sound of words.  I love the feel of words - mellifluous - how good does "mellifluous" feel in your mouth as you say it? I pay close attention to the words people choose and how they express themselves.  I pay close attention when I choose words and focus on clarity whether I'm speaking or writing.

"Mellifluous" is one of those words that feels and sounds like what it is.  It means "sweetly or smoothly flowing".  Yes!  I really love the way the word itself embodies its own meaning.

This is what I notice about language.

I'm thinking about this because I recently experienced examples of incongruence. I'm noticing it more and more when I'm facilitating and coaching others to achieve their goals.  Consider: "Um, I think I want to try and be more passionate?"  (The question mark is deliberate.)  This sentence was delivered with an apologetic facial expression and a shrug of the shoulders.

I hear the words and am struck by the lack of conviction, the lack of passion in that statement of intent.

I know that it's unclear whether thought follows action or action follows thought, but I'm a firm believer in starting today.  If your intention is to be passionate and convey that passion to other people, why not start right now?

Imagine the difference if the statement was "I want to share my passion for Icelandic needlecraft with the world!"; or "I'm passionate about introducing others to the delights of 14th century church music!"
(The exclamation mark at the end of these sentences is deliberate.)  I may not have the slightest interest in Icelandic needlecraft or 14th century church music but if you sound like it's exciting when you tell me about it it's likely your energy and enthusiasm will spark a curiosity in me.

These moments of linguistic incongruence leave me wondering; puzzled more than curious.

*****

I discovered today that one of the ingredients listed on my favourite cheese is "cheese flavour".

It's a recent addition.

I am in search of a new favourite cheese.

*****

"The Voice" is back on TV.

I love that show.  I am repeating last year's performance, spending most of the blind auditions in tears.  I'm not even on the show.

And I look at Ricky Martin and can't believe how handsome he is.  Really.  He is linguistically congruent.  I'm sure.  And mellifluous.

*****
It's really hard to top up your myki when the lights are out at the station and it's after sunset.

I hope I topped up my myki and it's not a repeat episode of the time I tried to get into Flinders Street station by touching on with my Boost Juice loyalty card.  (They're a similar colour.  I was confused.)

*****
Every time I have a shower, there is water on the floor at the other end of the bathroom that wasn't there before I had a shower.  I can not find its source.  I may be going crazy.

I ponder the conversation with the real estate agent as I explain the problem.

*****

Skinny jeans must be so hard to wear if you need to do anything other than stand in the one spot.  Once you're in them how do you bend your legs even to walk?  More importantly, what colour are your legs when you take them off?

*****

I've reached my monthly data allowance on my mobile phone.  Anxiety accompanies this knowledge.  I don't know what to do or how it happened.  Will my life ever be the same again?

Something in the air?

Christmas could be an opportunity for people to be nice to each other.  For strangers to smile at others in the street.  For people to stand aside and let someone pass.  For us to look up and see each other!  It would be a Christmas miracle.

I've had the dubious pleasure over the last couple of weeks of needing to keep conventional office hours for a particular project on which I'm working.  This has involved hitting the train and Flinders Street Station right in the middle of the morning peak.  Once I've survived that first odyssey, I then make my way to what might be the busiest tram stop in Melbourne.  On a platform that barely holds the crush, I wait for the number 1 tram to South Melbourne Beach as I am elbowed and jostled by the surge.  There's only one thing worse than this surge - the angry surge when the tram is too packed and people are left behind.  It's not a long wait between trams at that time of the morning, but why wait two extra minutes where you will endure the elbows and glares of your fellow travellers, when you could be pressed to a stranger's arm pit with one side of your face and mashed against the door with the other?

There is always a queue to exit Flinders Street Station at the top end, the end nearest the Yarra River.  That side still has old metcard gates that are slow to work with the myki card and it can take a long time to get through.  I figure everyone's in the same boat, so you just need to be patient and wait your turn.  This view is not shared by everyone in Melbourne.  I know! Shocking to discover!

I joined a queue and while I was waiting one of the staff came and switched the gate next to me so that we could use it to exit.  (Before he did this it was set so that only people wanting to come in could use it.)  As it happened, I was able to step up and be the first person in that line.  (No, I did not shoulder charge anyone, I just stepped across and that's how it worked out.)  I touched my myki to the reader and nothing at all happened.  I held it still, bearing in mind the detailed operating instructions every myki user must know - I didn't swipe, wave, jiggle, show, tap or fling.  I touched and held still.  Nothing.

Behind me I heard a woman's voice.  Apparently she'd been screaming at me for the last three seconds and I only noticed when she poked me in the back.  "GO THROUGH! Can't you just GO THROUGH?  LADY?  GO THROUGH!!!!!"

I realised she was speaking to me.  I turned and was about to explain that I needed to touch off to ensure I was charged correctly, but it was a bit hard with a fire breathing dragon behind me.  I said nothing and stood my ground and touched my myki to the reader again.  Mercifully, it worked and as I walked through, the dragon surged past still screaming at me to GO THROUGH! LADY!

I just shook my head.  For goodness' sake.

"Some people!" I looked up.  A young man had spoken.  He looked at me sympathetically.  I smiled.

"You heard that woman?" I asked.

"Yes!  Can't believe that would happen in Melbourne."

"Maybe she's not from Melbourne.  Maybe there's something in the air."

"Maybe there's something wrong with her."

"Well, there might be.  So that's her problem."

"Yeah."

As I wished him an excellent day, we came face to face with dragon woman who had by now secured a wide perimeter around herself and was glaring at everyone.  I felt the urge to say something - or elbow her out of the way - but decided to stay out of her way.

The last I saw of her she was burrowing her way onto an over crowded tram.  Glaring at all in her path.  I wondered how long it would take before she pushed someone too far.

******
I arrived home and discovered my crazy neighbour arguing with the very nice man who had spent the last two days replacing the old analogue television antennae with new digital ones.  It had been a big job and Antennae Man was friendly and even-tempered.  When Gottfried accused him of microwaving us, Antennae Man just continued repeating the words "television" and "reception".  He slipped once and said "satellite" which led to a re-opening of the microwave question.  Antenna Man regrouped quickly and went back to his mantra - "television", "reception". This time I noticed he was shaking his head.

Survivor - leadership study on a Saturday afternoon.

I'm hooked on the television show, "Survivor".  It's the 25th series, but I've never watched it before.  Now that I've discovered the show, I'm not sure how I've been oblivious.

This season is set in the Philippines and life is hard.  The setting is beautiful, but the rain is consistent, the food is basic and the challenges are physically tough.

I happened to turn on the television last Saturday afternoon and the first episode of the season was on, followed immediately by the second episode.  I quickly became absorbed.  It was great study for the leadership and team work that I am currently facilitating with some clients.

I watched as people who clearly wanted to be leaders, pretended that they didn't want to take on that role.  They then turned into the worst kind of autocrat, bossing around their fellow tribe members and barking orders with the expectation of no consultation.  It was interesting to watch the reactions of the people being bossed.  They disengaged and started to plot the demise of their resident dictator.  It was clear from their comments that they felt disrespected and undervalued.

Equally interesting was seeing people who carry leadership with them just by the way they are in the group.  They don't assert authority but they win respect by engaging with the people around them, being diligent in their work and contributing positively to the welfare of the group.  They become seen as leaders by the group.  This is what I call informal leadership - there's no formal designation, but a person can still be the leader.

I was recently working with a group of people who are seen by the business as being in leadership positions.  Interestingly, the people themselves did not see themselves as being in leadership positions, or as having any leadership responsibility.  They were leading projects and agendas rather than a specific team of people.  They didn't accept the idea of informal leadership and railed against the idea of being leaders at all.

Ironically, one of them raised "Survivor" as a leadership example.  They talked about the scheming and political aspect where people are often lying to each other because ultimately "Survivor" is a game which requires players to work with their fellow tribe members to build a world, while plotting and scheming to be the last person standing.   They used this idea of selfishness to justify their views that openness and honesty are not requirements of leadership.

I despaired.  The ultimate end of this argument is that they see their workplace as being a brutal, winner takes all environment.  I have no doubt that many places are like this, but I know that's not the current reality at this place.

Anyway, I'm keen to see more of "Survivor" and what happens when the numbers reduce even further.  One tribe has already been decimated with the remaining two players, Malcolm (swoon) and Denise being merged into the other two tribes.  Joining an already established group can be tricky and it's been interesting to see the delicate dance as people check each other out, trying to determine whether they are a friend or a threat and determining allegiance.

I think this is what's so addictive.  We are all doing this kind of thing everyday.  Watching a group of people in a pressured environment is fascinating.  I can't believe I have missed twenty four years of this study!

In praise of cowboys - why I love a western.

I've been on a cowboy jag.  I've always enjoyed a western.  When I was younger I loved the clarity of the line dividing goodies and baddies.  As I grew older I loved the image of the cowboy - long legged, lean, big-hatted, eyes squinting against the sunglare and practised in cool appraisal of other people and situations.  The dexterity and showmanship of the quick-draw man under pressure never fails to please. And we must not forget the moustaches!

Last night I watched "Tombstone".  Made in 1993 it's one of those films where you recognise everyone in the minor roles because they've now made it big.  "Tombstone" is one of my favourite westerns.  It's the story of Wyatt Earp and his brothers, Virgil and Morgan, retiring from the law and settling in the town of Tombstone.  There's a mining boom, so the town is full of promise.  The town is also under the shadow of the local gang, known as the Cowboys.  As soon as word spreads that the Earps are in town, the pressure is on to help enforce the law.

The story is apparently loosely based on fact and includes the shoot out at the OK Corral.

For all the talk of law and lawmen, it seems to me that these frontier towns were lawless places and that living there was a dangerous business.  What I realise now is that the genre is flawed - there are murderers on both sides of the moral line.  The good men start out reticent to draw their weapons and are keen to keep the peace.  Something then happens that tips the moral balance and all out war is declared.  Everyone starts shooting everyone else indiscriminately.  So what's the difference between the goodies and the baddies then?  The baddies are doing it out of self interest and the goodies are doing it for the community?  Maybe, but there's always a hard glint of revenge in the eyes of the marshall.  I suppose they'd say it's justified.

It's interesting to watch "Tombstone" again having watched the HBO series "Deadwood".  The moral lines are very blurry in that show.  I started out detesting Al Swearengen, proprietor of one of the bordellos and over the course of three seasons saw some good in him as he started to put the needs of the town ahead of his own.  "Deadwood" is apparently historically quite accurate.  The people look dirty enough to live in this kind of place and they have mouths to match.  There are cowboys everywhere.  Their hats are big and their moustaches are bigger.

Speaking of justified, I'm also watching season two of the television series "Justified".  Timothy Olyphant - who played Seth Bullock in Deadwood - stars as trigger happy US Marshall Raylan Givens.  It's set in current times and based on an Elmore Leonard story.  Raylan Givens has everything - long legs, big hat, steady cool appraisal skills, drinking problem.  He doesn't have a moustache, but he does have a horse shoe ring and Gary Cooper charm.  He's always in trouble for shooting people and it's always "justified".  His hat is also bigger than anyone else's.  It's a mixture of the western and the crime genre with modern problems like mountain top removal of coal threatening the environment and way of life, drug gangs etc.

The theme song is bluegrass rap!  What else do you need?

I'm off to find some Gary Cooper, John Wayne and Paul Newman films to watch.

What are you watching at the moment? Do you like cowboys?

Photo a day June - Best bit of my weekend

It's a quality television bonanza at the moment.  I've been waiting for several of my favourite series to release their latest seasons (Breaking Bad, True Blood, Big Love, The Big C).  I've also discovered some new ones (Justified, Game of Thrones, Treme, The Walking Dead, Shameless.)

When it's horrible outside and I don't have to work I love to immerse myself in another world.  It's the best way to watch quality television.  Oh, and I get a lot of knitting done.

What are they flogging: how to tell if you're in regional Australia

Visiting Shepparton this week allowed me to sample the local television ads.  It's one of the things that I notice as a place marker in this increasingly monocultural world and I always like to take a look.  Of course, while I was doing this, I also noticed some other things about television ads that are currently playing.  Generally, I'm a watcher of the ABC and so don't see many ads, but there are two shows that I'm currently watching on commercial television:  The Voice on Channel 9 and Downton Abbey on Channel 7.

If you turn on the television and see someone who is clearly the business owner rather than an actor, you know you're in regional Australia.  Vin may be the world's greatest pest controller, but does that mean he makes for great TV?  No it doesn't.  Vin should stick to hunting down cockroaches and torturing mice.  Sometimes, you won't see the business owner in the ad, you'll hear them instead.  I do occasional voice-over work so I know what we cost, but I also know that we're sooooo worth it!  There is an art to doing voice-over, just as there is an art to lubricating a car engine.  How about we respect each other's skills and stick to what we're great at?

If you're not sure where you are, turn on the television and put it on a commerical channel.  What's being advertised?  If it's sheep dip and herbicide you're in farming and grazing territory.  If there's an actual farmer running his (for he's always a bloke) hands through the dirt or the fleece on the sheep's back, then double your chances you're in regional Australia.  And double the distance you are from a capital city.

I first noticed this phenomenon when I was at boarding school in Toowoomba.  There was an ad for fertiliser to help your sunflower crop along.  It featured an animated sunflower which uttered a groan as it shrivelled and died before our very eyes.  The voice-over man gravely warned us that we could avoid this happening to our sunflower crops.  Although I didn't have then, haven't had since, don't have now and probably won't have in the future, a sunflower crop, I remember this ad vividly.  I think it was the humour.  After we heard the sound of a dying sunflower, the voice-over man's script required him to say, "Let's hear that again", forcing us to relive the terrible sounds of a dying sunflower. Imagine if you had a whole paddack of dying sunflowers?  The sound would be deafening.  And hilarious.  Unfortunately, while I remember the ad, I don't remember the product.  What will I do if I ever do grow sunflowers?  How will I save them from certain death?

Sheep suffering from all kinds of unimaginable afflictions also made strange sounds in television ads.

Unlikely copy writing in television ads is another clue that you're in regional Australia.  This one can be tricky though - it could also mean it's 1 o'clock on Saturday morning and you know you'll regret opening that second bottle of red wine.  A prime example I noticed this week was "Grouse Grout".  It even had a jingle.  Grout isn't usually front of my mind.  If I was in a situation where I was required to think about grout I'm not sure that "grouse" would be in my top ten list of Essential Grout Qualities.  But what would I know? Nothing.  About grout.  Anyway.

Along with locally produced ads, a smattering of other ads was also screened.  Two stood out: KFC's campaign about canola oil and Proactiv's pitch to teenage boys.

KFC's latest pitch hinges on the "word" 'goodification'.  Blah.  It's so horrible that they have an explanatory clip on You Tube.  Years of poor teaching of grammar is clearly paying dividends now as the generation of kids who were taught on the basis of "it doesn't matter how you spell it as long as everyone understands what you mean" grow up and start working for ad agencies.  That's all I have to say about that one.

Proactiv is a skin care brand aimed at acne afflicted teenagers.  Usually they target girls, so it was refreshing to see the pitch to the fellas.  It featured a BMX bike riding star.  He talked about how he likes bumps on a BMX track, but not when they're on his face.  Talk about bumpy scripting!  He talked about how his acne made him feel.  I was right there with him until he told me that his acne was affecting his BMX racing.  Seriously.

There was a time when ads were great.  They had great jingles or were funny or were memorable for good reasons.  Can't think of any right now.

What ads have you noticed lately?  Do have a favourite ad? Or what's the one that makes you yell at the television?

Indulgence day

It's been one of those days.  With the Anzac Day public holiday and grim wintry weather, I had no incentive to leave the house.  So I didn't.

I slept in! Enjoying the feeling of warmth under the covers while my nose and ears felt the cool air in the room.  I read a book in bed for a couple of hours and realised that I'm going to need better book reading light.  It's been such a long time since I had the opportunity to read in bed that I hadn't noticed.

I cooked a proper lunch:  puy lentils braised with onion, garlic and olive oil, tossed with diced red capsicum and continental parsley and dressed with red wine vinegar.  This was served on toasted pumpkin sourdough bread with homemade beetroot relish.  I crumbled some Danish fetta over the top and served it with baby spinach and rocket leaves.  Delicious!

I indulged myself with some solid DVD watching (Season 2 of the Australian series, Spirited) and made the time productive by keeping my knitting needles active.  Outside the wind blew, the rain fell and inside seemed a very sensible and appealing place to be.

It's been ages since I had a day like this.  I've been on the go constantly, including interstate travel which means when I'm home there's always stuff to be done.  Or I end up working.  It's the nature of being self employed.  I'm not complaining.  It's just not as easy to work when most of the country is on a holiday.  No one was contacting me for a start.

I'm glad I took today for myself.  I have a very busy end to this week and then a solid week of work next week.  Seizing the day doesn't have to mean frenzy.  It can also mean quiet indulgence.

What did you do today?

The Voice

Occasionally someone, somewhere has a brilliant idea for a talent or reality based television show and I'll be sucked in.

Not usually a watcher of commercial television, I had barely heard about The Voice, but after only two nights, it is now on my compulsory viewing list.  I love it!  The idea of the judges selecting singers to be on their team based solely on what they hear when a contestant sings is compelling.  The studio and television audience can see the contestants and we also know a bit about them, so we don't experience the singers in the same way as the judges.

I spent yesterday talking to a group of employees about communication and the fact that human beings judge another person based on looking at them within the blink of an eye.  Our hard wiring has equipped us to quickly make these judgements so that we can determine whether the person in front of us is friend or foe.  Take out the visual channel and the sound and quality of the voice comes strongly into play.

At the moment, the contestants are singing in a "blind" audition, hoping one of the judges choose them to be on their team where they will be coached by the star judge and compete on behalf of the team.  Already, it's been an emotional rollercoaster and the desire of the singers to be chosen really comes through in their performances.

The judges, Seal, Deltra Goodrem, Keith Urban and someone called Joel Madden have a great chemistry and it's a joy to watch them delight in each new singer.  (A cynic might wonder whether the judges are as in the dark as they are portrayed, but I'm not a cynic.)

It's feel good TV, it's probably making squillions of dollars, but I'd like some more please.  I just wish there weren't so many ads.  I'm not used to them at all!

Land of the abandoned TV

It's about 7 minutes' walk from my house to the nearest train station.  There is the trail of abandonment.

With a grafitti message added.
(c) divacultura 2012

Face down and abandoned.
(c) divacultura 2012

Just hanging out on the nature strip.
(c) divacultura 2012

Two's company, but it's still lonely out here.
(c) divacultura 2012

I bought more than a television today.

Back in November I wrote about my experience of television sales guys after my television went black and left a horrible smell.  Since then, I've done lots of thinking, talked to lots of people, clicked on a lot of websites and today, I finally handed over the money.  No more encounters with sales guys.  At least not in the capacity of sales.

I bought my last television over twelve years ago.  A lot has changed since then. And I don't just mean in relation to televisions!  But since we're talking about televisions, consideration has to be given to plasma, LED, LCD, WIFI, dongles, HDMI cables, blu-ray, 3D and high def is just standard these days anyway.  Talk about smart! These TVs are smarter than the guys selling them.  And they are all guys.

Buying any kind of big ticket item is interesting against the back drop of all the economic commentary about the Australian dollar, the two-speed economy and what's really going on in the retail sector.  Is it all over because of the internet?  I've been thinking about these things.

My dead television (faithful servant that it was) was a Sony.  The first place I went for a replacment was Sony.  My first conversation was with a Sony sales guy - not the one I wrote about.  He spent a lot of time with me, explaining all the stuff about televisions these days.  I really didn't know anything.  I walked out after about half an hour with a business card and some prices written on it.  Naturally I went down the road to the other shop and had the encounter with the television sales guy that I did write about.  He wasn't interested in a relationship, he just wanted to sell me the biggest possible television at the biggest possible price, probably with a lot of stuff that I didn't even know I didn't want.

Then I went away for Christmas and absorbed all the advertising on my family's television, enticing me to a buy a television.  I didn't learn anything about televisions, but I did get some retailer brand awareness.  I chatted to family members and friends who had just bought televisions.  I experienced a smart television for the first time, but I still had to put the garbage out and do my own washing.  I thought I knew what I wanted.

I went back to the Sony guy and narrowed it down to three options.  The differentials were based on size, how the WIFI is accessed and 3D.  WIFI was my decider.  Once I knew that, I had no choice about 3D (I'm getting it whether I like it or not).  I was closer to my quarry.  I looked in a few retail stores and either couldn't get the attention of the sales staff or they treated me with contempt when I did get their attention.  Couldn't see myself popping in with a question about the remote control and any of these guys being happy to see me. So I hit the 'net.  I looked at no name Chinese imports with the same specs and a quarter of the price tag.  I looked at home brands.  I looked at refurbished items.  I looked at Sony online and I looked at price comparison sites.  One of them came in with a price $90 less than what my Sony guy was offering and I hadn't started haggling with him yet.

Then I thought about it.  I have a few other electronics purchases to make this year, both personally and for my business.  I've always trusted the Sony brand.  The guy had invested his time in me already and gave the impression he was happy to help.

I had made my decision.  I called to say that I would be in in the afternoon to make the purchase.  I told the guy that his wasn't the absolute cheapest price I could get, but that I had decided I was buying more than a television; I was buying a relationship.  I also wanted to make sure he received recognition for the sale if he wasn't in the store when I went in.

My decision paid off.  My sales guy wasn't there when I went in but the other staff were informed and ready to assist.  A better price was offered - without me even having to ask - and the paperwork completed swiftly.  Delivery was organised for free at a time convenient to me and I got a fantastic deal on a couple of accessories which I had planned to buy later.

This experience made me think about everyone who questions the future of retail.  In the end, I can buy an identical product anywhere, for a variety of prices.  Service and a relationship were the deciders for me.  I am confident that if I have any trouble setting up or down the track that I can call on them for help.  Paying a slightly higher price was worth it for me.

My new neighbour helped me take the old television down for hard rubbish collection.  It's just sitting there - I wonder if anyone will pick it up?  My set top box and DVD player are going to a friend who can use them.  I'm keeping the VCR though.  It may the last one in existence.

I hope I've made the right technological decision and haven't backed something that only three people have, is better, but will be obsolete next week! (See my post about this problem I have.)

The cricket's on! Everywhere.

Seemingly endless test cricket matches monopolising the television during summer is a fixture of Australian life.  The languid pace and drone of the commentators hypnotises and harmonises with the hum of the air conditioner or mosquitoes.

The only thing worse than cricket on the television is cricket on the radio.  Trapped in a car on a long, straight highway to nowhere with only the sound of  "clock" as the bat hits the ball, it seemed that the trip would not be over before the cricket was, so we all just had to stick at it in the hope that either the road or the match would finish.

Sometimes interesting guests join the commentary box.  Their purpose seems to be to distract from the mysterious monotony of trying to understand cricket on the radio.  I do remember a pleasant encounter with Hugh Jackman when he took in a chocolate cake his Mum made to share with the commentary team.

Occasionally though, the cricket will suck me in.  Like today.  I've been glued to the television cheering Captain Michael Clark to reach his triple century.  He seemed interminably stuck on 299 runs and I fervently hoped he wouldn't get out before he made 300.  (In case you're wondering, he made it and declared the innings with 329 runs and when his batting partner Michael Hussey reached 150 runs.)

To the non-enthusiast, cricket seems to have more laws than the nation itself.  There are no fewer than ten ways for a batsman to get out and sometimes it's very, very subtle.  Trying to understand LBW (leg before wicket) is enough to make my head spin and I'm not a stupid person.  I've also just discovered, today, that "tea" is not the same as "drinks".

Growing up with male members in the family who are obsessed with cricket meant that when there wasn't cricket on the television or the radio there was negotiation over backyard cricket.  With my brother it went something like "if you bowl me ten overs, I'll play dolls with you for 5 minutes".  Talks would continue until a middle ground of "I'll bowl four overs if you play dolls and let me dress you up for 20 minutes.  The deal is off if you get out and you have to convince Mum to be the wicket keeper."

Implementation of the deal required further discussion.  Would the Hill's Hoist clothesline be the wicket for the batsman and the tank stand hit on the full be a 6?  Or was it better to set up a cardboard box as wicket and include the dog in the fielding line up?  Was over the fence to be counted as out or as a 6? Once these details were settled, play would commence.  Before long I would be accused of being half-hearted in my bowling. My brother would try to convince me that if he failed to hit the ball it didn't count.  Further negotiations would occur and my determination to bowl a decent ball waned even more.

The whole game would either finish in tears or when the dog wouldn't give the ball back.

Then the board game "Test Match" came on the scene.  The game consists of a grass coloured mat representing the cricket ground and tiny plastic figures for the players.  The ball is a ball bearing.  Given that the plastic figures can't run to chase the ball, the chances of taking a wicket are remote and an innings could go on for longer than a game of Monopoly.  Initially I was enthusiastic, dreaming about release from the requirement to bowl in the backyard.  Pretty soon though I was putting dozens of overs on the negotiating table in an effort to release me from the requirement to play "Test Match".

The obsession with cricket extends to adulthood.  I've been in meetings where men have called a break so they can check the cricket score.  I've been in workplaces where the television in the tea room is on all day and people drink more cups of tea and coffee than they ever have in their life so that they can check the score.  Now they probably don't even do that.  An app. on their smartphone probably means they can keep track without anyone knowing.

My five year old niece turned to me over Christmas and said solemnly: "There's cricket on the television in the other room too."  Then she sighed.

"Get used to it. Cricket is everywhere."

She looked sad.

I could have added, "resistance is futile" but I didn't want to break her heart.

The one about the television sales guy

It's been five days since my television blew up.  When I say "blew up" I mean everything went black and there was a terrible smell.

I don't have the money to buy a new television right now and have decided to wait and see what happens.  Maybe I'll like not having a TV.

In the meantime, I decided to visit a TV shop and see what's happening in case a rich benefactor decides to make a donation.  There's so much to consider now and this makes me very nervous as I famously invest in the technology that seems like a good thing but disappears with a whisper minutes after I have it installed and have become attached. A lot like men, really.

Television sales guys (and they are all guys) seem like they used to be PE teachers at high school but had to leave because of a scandal involving one of the senior girls.  Or the accounting teacher.  The either call me "ma'am" which I hate, or "miss" which I also hate.  And they shout when they talk, listing features that you didn't even know were relevant to televisions with an urgency that instills a low level of anxiety.


Me: Something happened to my TV the other day. I'm not sure, but I think it might be dead.

TV sales guy: What happened to the TV.  (note the lack of a question mark - this has been done deliberately to recreate the exact tone of the conversation.)

Me: I was watching the Seinfeld episode about the Junior Mint? And the mint was about to be tossed? When the screen went black? The on/off switch started switching on and off?! Then there was a terrible smell.
(I know, I know.  I was compensating for his lack of an upward inflection.  All those muscles encased in a shiny, polyester polo shirt were making me nervous.)

The TV sales guy got out a black arm band and put it on over his polo shirt.  He pulled out a handkerchief and offered it to me: I'm afraid it's dead.  There's nothing to be done.

Silence.


TV sales guy: So you want another TV. (no question mark again)


Me:  Well it's been twelve years since I bought a television (knowing smirk from TV sales guy) and I want to know what I'm dealing with if I decide to buy another one.

TV sales guy: Narrow it down. How much do you want to spend. What size do you want.

Again, so similar to men.

I wanted to him to help me with this.  In the end I pointed at something and named Sony as my preferred brand.  There were two models which looked identical, except for the $200 difference in the price tag.  I asked TV sales guy what the difference was.

Me: So what's the difference between these two televisions?

TV sales guy: Oh this one is better.  (Points at more expensive model.)

Me: Why?

TV sales guy:  This one is faster. (Points at more expensive model.)


Faster.  It's a television!  Where's it going?  If it can actually buy milk and have it in the fridge when I return from a business trip, then speed is worth having, but for something that sits in the lounge room all day, every day, I don't think speed is on my list of television selecting criteria.  

TV sales guy: It's to do with the picture.  If you look at a still shot on both models you wouldn't notice the difference, but if the picture moves, it can look at bit choppy on that one.  (Points at less expensive model.)

If it moves.  Well it's a television.  It's all about moving pictures these days.  


Me: Is this something I would notice if you hadn't told me?

TV sales guy: Do you watch a lot of sport.

The look of resignation on his face as he made this statement told me that he already knew the answer and there was no way he was squeezing a couple of hundred extra out of me!  I asked him to write down the details.  As he did this I asked whether they install the television as part of the service.


Me: Do you install the television as part of the service?

TV sales guy: We can get a guy to deliver it. To your house.


So it's quieter than usual around here at the moment and I have plenty to pass the time.  The one thing I am grappling with is the impact the lack of a television has had on my knitting output.  I knit in front of the TV.  With no TV it feels weird to just sit and knit.