Dear Courtney Barnett aka @courtneymelba, Because you asked for it so nicely, here is a blog post from me. Your request came on just the right day for a catch up, so thanks. It has been a while, I know. It’s just that I’ve been busy with other things. Take this particular thing, for instance. In the past few weeks, I have had a complete change of identity. I commute every morning on the train, into the city, where I sit at a desk and work until the sun goes down. People do this every day, but it’s exotic to me. I usually work from my kitchen table, or I’m on stage, at a pub or club. As of three weeks ago, I have a hot desk. What is a hot desk? Let me explain. Earlier in the year, I noticed that The Wheeler Centre was taking in applications for writers who would like to come in to their wonderful office space for ten weeks and work on a project. I thought that sounded like something for me, so I wrote to them about some stories I have from my time on the road, and how I’ve started writing them and would like to see where they take me. After I sent off my proposal, I shoved it to the back of mind and got on with other things like gigs and the business of being a musician. Much to my great delight, less than a month later, they informed me that I would be one of their hot desk fellowship recipients! Oh frabjous day! And so it is. I am writing a book, or at least, I am learning about what it takes to write a book. I thought I might keep a blog alongside this project and make it a part of my everyday writing, but I decided that I would bite off just enough to make this manageable. I decided to keep it about one thing, instead of using up my creative energy on too many things at once. I have a habit of doing lots of projects all at once and getting only a small part of each done, or not doing any of them very well, or just being busy for the sake of being busy. I’ve had enough of that for right now. Even before this desk thing came up, I had made a decision that I needed to pare back a bit and give some of these ideas I have a chance to breath and grow into better ideas. This hot desk came at a time when I wanted to learn a new way of working, to gain more focus. I wanted to find out something new about myself and I believe that I am. I don’t know how the book will turn out, or if I am even heading in the right direction, but I’m really excited about it and I haven’t felt that way in a while. That counts for a lot, in my, um,… books. I don’t know if this will change the way I work on my songs, but I’m going to try it out on them. Later. So, how is it that I can be writing a blog entry, then? Today, I took a day off. I am writing to you from the comfort of my couch at home, by the gas heater. As you may be aware, it turned out to be a day of torrential downpours and whopping great Autumnal gusts of wind, that had me diving for the brolly and scarf before I could even contemplate leaving the house. Due to that, and some drab weather in my head, I decided to take a day for myself. I took some time to enjoy the dramatic sky, dumping it’s entire contents on Melbourne Town, from the warm vantage point of a cafe window. I brought the crossword and the latest issue of Dumbo Feather for company and it was most pleasant. That is what I have been up to, if you were wondering, which it seems that you might have. I’ll pop in again sometime soon. Lots of love, Angie x

Dear Courtney Barnett aka @courtneymelba,

Because you asked for it so nicely, here is a blog post from me.

Your request came on just the right day for a catch up, so thanks. It has been a while, I know. It’s just that I’ve been busy with other things. Take this particular thing, for instance. In the past few weeks, I have had a complete change of identity. I commute every morning on the train, into the city, where I sit at a desk and work until the sun goes down. People do this every day, but it’s exotic to me. I usually work from my kitchen table, or I’m on stage, at a pub or club. As of three weeks ago, I have a hot desk. What is a hot desk? Let me explain. Earlier in the year, I noticed that The Wheeler Centre was taking in applications for writers who would like to come in to their wonderful office space for ten weeks and work on a project. I thought that sounded like something for me, so I wrote to them about some stories I have from my time on the road, and how I’ve started writing them and would like to see where they take me. After I sent off my proposal, I shoved it to the back of mind and got on with other things like gigs and the business of being a musician. Much to my great delight, less than a month later, they informed me that I would be one of their hot desk fellowship recipients! Oh frabjous day!

And so it is. I am writing a book, or at least, I am learning about what it takes to write a book. I thought I might keep a blog alongside this project and make it a part of my everyday writing, but I decided that I would bite off just enough to make this manageable. I decided to keep it about one thing, instead of using up my creative energy on too many things at once. I have a habit of doing lots of projects all at once and getting only a small part of each done, or not doing any of them very well, or just being busy for the sake of being busy. I’ve had enough of that for right now. Even before this desk thing came up, I had made a decision that I needed to pare back a bit and give some of these ideas I have a chance to breath and grow into better ideas. This hot desk came at a time when I wanted to learn a new way of working, to gain more focus. I wanted to find out something new about myself and I believe that I am. I don’t know how the book will turn out, or if I am even heading in the right direction, but I’m really excited about it and I haven’t felt that way in a while. That counts for a lot, in my, um,… books.

I don’t know if this will change the way I work on my songs, but I’m going to try it out on them. Later.

So, how is it that I can be writing a blog entry, then? Today, I took a day off. I am writing to you from the comfort of my couch at home, by the gas heater. As you may be aware, it turned out to be a day of torrential downpours and whopping great Autumnal gusts of wind, that had me diving for the brolly and scarf before I could even contemplate leaving the house. Due to that, and some drab weather in my head, I decided to take a day for myself. I took some time to enjoy the dramatic sky, dumping it’s entire contents on Melbourne Town, from the warm vantage point of a cafe window. I brought the crossword and the latest issue of Dumbo Feather for company and it was most pleasant.

That is what I have been up to, if you were wondering, which it seems that you might have. I’ll pop in again sometime soon.

Lots of love,

Angie x

posted 1 week ago and tagged as Courtney Barnett writing blogging autumn the wheeler centre hot desk cloudbusting angie hart
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Day Of Love Listen. Be Gentle. Let go of disappointment. Give. Be present. Repeat forever. x

Day Of Love

Listen. Be Gentle. Let go of disappointment. Give. Be present.

Repeat forever.

x

posted 3 months ago and tagged as Love day of love angie hart
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Z Z is for Zenith. The top! The pinnacle! The ultimate! We made it! Thanks for following my A to Z. I wanted to send my appreciation to Pip Lincolne for having me on board. I really enjoyed doing this. It inspired me to write and made me think about what makes me tick. I did notice a few common threads in my themes. I hope you enjoyed it, too. Did you do an A to Z? If it wasn’t your cup of tea, just letting you know, it’s safe to come back now. We’re done. If you’d like to check out some other A to Z’s pop on over to: www.facebook.com/groups/amonthof There is a new ‘A Month Of’ coming up in January. I may sit this one out. We’ll see. Zounds!

Z

Z is for Zenith.

The top! The pinnacle! The ultimate!

We made it!

Thanks for following my A to Z. I wanted to send my appreciation to Pip Lincolne for having me on board. I really enjoyed doing this. It inspired me to write and made me think about what makes me tick. I did notice a few common threads in my themes.

I hope you enjoyed it, too. Did you do an A to Z?

If it wasn’t your cup of tea, just letting you know, it’s safe to come back now. We’re done.

If you’d like to check out some other A to Z’s pop on over to: www.facebook.com/groups/amonthof

There is a new ‘A Month Of’ coming up in January. I may sit this one out. We’ll see.

Zounds!

posted 4 months ago and tagged as a month of z a to z Zenith angie hart
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Y Y is for Yoga. My favourite thing about yoga is how common it has become. Some people might see this as a bad thing, but I like to think that the more it becomes a part of our regular culture, the deeper effect it can have. Even if you only do a few poses or some yogic breathing exercises, for a couple of days every week, you’ll soon see the positive effects in both your mind and your body. Yoga addresses every part of how we function. Our emotions, our physical bodies, our vital energy. On a very simplistic level, I think it is a very clever exercise design and a great way to quiet my busy mind. Yoga and meditation change the way our brains operate, in seemingly miraculous ways, that are now being proven in the unbending world of science (see what I did there?). Personally, it has been an inconsistent journey for me, with my lack of discipline and the struggle with applying a regular practice. Even so, I have still managed to reap the benefits. In the time that I have been practicing yoga, it has improved my attention span, helped me with my depression, given me some tools to help deal with debilitating stage fright, strengthened my breathing technique and my singing voice, bolstered my immune system, and made me physically stronger. Yoga has also assisted me in riding the emotional waves by being able to sometimes observe them instead of always being in them. I don’t want to get all testimonial on you, even though I kind of already have (forgive me), as that is not the point of sharing the above. I just want to tell you that I love Yoga and give you a few reasons as to why I do. I get a little passionate, when it comes to the subject of Yoga. That has only been getting worse. Namaste.

Y

Y is for Yoga.

My favourite thing about yoga is how common it has become. Some people might see this as a bad thing, but I like to think that the more it becomes a part of our regular culture, the deeper effect it can have.

Even if you only do a few poses or some yogic breathing exercises, for a couple of days every week, you’ll soon see the positive effects in both your mind and your body.

Yoga addresses every part of how we function. Our emotions, our physical bodies, our vital energy.

On a very simplistic level, I think it is a very clever exercise design and a great way to quiet my busy mind. Yoga and meditation change the way our brains operate, in seemingly miraculous ways, that are now being proven in the unbending world of science (see what I did there?).

Personally, it has been an inconsistent journey for me, with my lack of discipline and the struggle with applying a regular practice. Even so, I have still managed to reap the benefits. In the time that I have been practicing yoga, it has improved my attention span, helped me with my depression, given me some tools to help deal with debilitating stage fright, strengthened my breathing technique and my singing voice, bolstered my immune system, and made me physically stronger. Yoga has also assisted me in riding the emotional waves by being able to sometimes observe them instead of always being in them.

I don’t want to get all testimonial on you, even though I kind of already have (forgive me), as that is not the point of sharing the above. I just want to tell you that I love Yoga and give you a few reasons as to why I do. I get a little passionate, when it comes to the subject of Yoga. That has only been getting worse.

Namaste.

posted 4 months ago and tagged as a month of y a to z yoga angie hart
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X X is for X’s. The kisses kind. I am a big fan of the ‘x’, if you hadn’t noticed. I’ve become a little self-conscious with all my ‘x’ing in online posts. I feel a bit nanna with how I liberally apply them to all forms of communication. I pop one in when I’m plugging a gig that’s coming up, I sign off with an ‘x’ on my blog posts, and I even hover over the ‘x’ on the keyboard when I am completing a business-type email. I used to, anyway. Recent times have seen me phasing out the ‘x’s (you may or may not have noticed this, too), and relegating them to personal texts and emails only. No reason, other than wondering if I really want to be sending kisses to every single person I interact with. Is this a good or a bad thing? Everyone deserves a little love. At least a little ‘x’, here and there. x

X

X is for X’s.

The kisses kind. I am a big fan of the ‘x’, if you hadn’t noticed. I’ve become a little self-conscious with all my ‘x’ing in online posts. I feel a bit nanna with how I liberally apply them to all forms of communication. I pop one in when I’m plugging a gig that’s coming up, I sign off with an ‘x’ on my blog posts, and I even hover over the ‘x’ on the keyboard when I am completing a business-type email.

I used to, anyway.

Recent times have seen me phasing out the ‘x’s (you may or may not have noticed this, too), and relegating them to personal texts and emails only. No reason, other than wondering if I really want to be sending kisses to every single person I interact with.

Is this a good or a bad thing? Everyone deserves a little love. At least a little ‘x’, here and there.

x

posted 4 months ago and tagged as a month of x a to z 'x'ing angie hart
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W W is for the Wainwrights. I received this signed Martha Wainwright LP, in the mail, on December 23rd. Merry Christmas to me! It is my gift for pledging to her campaign to fund a U.S. tour. There’s nothing quite like a good piece of album artwork on a great big, plate-sized sleeve, nor is there anything better than some people power in the form of a pledge drive. I try to see both Rufus and Martha in concert, whenever they come to Australia. I think they are the bee’s knees.  

W

W is for the Wainwrights.

I received this signed Martha Wainwright LP, in the mail, on December 23rd. Merry Christmas to me! It is my gift for pledging to her campaign to fund a U.S. tour. There’s nothing quite like a good piece of album artwork on a great big, plate-sized sleeve, nor is there anything better than some people power in the form of a pledge drive.

I try to see both Rufus and Martha in concert, whenever they come to Australia. I think they are the bee’s knees.  

posted 4 months ago and tagged as a month of w a to z the wainwrights angie hart
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V V is for Violet. That was my great-grandmother’s name. She lived well into her nineties. As a child, I was always so excited about the idea of her becoming one hundred years old. I mean think about it, living for a whole century! She would sigh and say, ‘Oh, no Angie, I’ve had quite enough. I’ll be ready to go when I do’. I could never understand it. She squeezed so much in to her life. She was still out in the garden, metaphorically and literally weeding and tending the roses, right up to the end. I can’t imagine she would have had any regrets or unfinished business. I inherited my love of reading and writing from her. I would venture up to her room at the end of the hall, and peer round the door, waiting to be invited in. She would beckon me to the bedside and we would read. When I was younger, she would read to me. As she got older and her eyesight deteriorated, she handed me the book and would encourage me to read to her. In a world of cranky adults who were busy with long conversations about politics and religion, over copious cups of tea, I treasured that quiet time in the top room with my great-grandmother and I am grateful now, for the legacy that she left behind. Viva Violet!

V

V is for Violet.

That was my great-grandmother’s name. She lived well into her nineties. As a child, I was always so excited about the idea of her becoming one hundred years old. I mean think about it, living for a whole century! She would sigh and say, ‘Oh, no Angie, I’ve had quite enough. I’ll be ready to go when I do’. I could never understand it. She squeezed so much in to her life. She was still out in the garden, metaphorically and literally weeding and tending the roses, right up to the end. I can’t imagine she would have had any regrets or unfinished business.

I inherited my love of reading and writing from her. I would venture up to her room at the end of the hall, and peer round the door, waiting to be invited in. She would beckon me to the bedside and we would read. When I was younger, she would read to me. As she got older and her eyesight deteriorated, she handed me the book and would encourage me to read to her.

In a world of cranky adults who were busy with long conversations about politics and religion, over copious cups of tea, I treasured that quiet time in the top room with my great-grandmother and I am grateful now, for the legacy that she left behind.

Viva Violet!

posted 5 months ago and tagged as A Month Of v a to z Violet angie hart
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U U is for Untidy. I am that. Mostly, I am more tidy than I am clean. I like to have my things just so, but I can’t always be bothered to dust, sweep or mop. I usually have a nicely arranged, but terribly cleaned, house. At present, it is neither clean, nor tidy. I have a floordrobe, the Eiffel Tower in dishes, and what you are looking at in the photo is my dining table aka my ‘desk’. I do have an actual desk, I just prefer to sit in the middle of our most commonly used area. Oh dear.   

U

U is for Untidy.

I am that. Mostly, I am more tidy than I am clean. I like to have my things just so, but I can’t always be bothered to dust, sweep or mop. I usually have a nicely arranged, but terribly cleaned, house.

At present, it is neither clean, nor tidy. I have a floordrobe, the Eiffel Tower in dishes, and what you are looking at in the photo is my dining table aka my ‘desk’. I do have an actual desk, I just prefer to sit in the middle of our most commonly used area. Oh dear.   

posted 5 months ago and tagged as a month of U a to z Untidy angie hart
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T T is for Truth. We are fascinating, and intriguingly complex, just the way we are. Why should we dress it up or water it down?

T

T is for Truth.

We are fascinating, and intriguingly complex, just the way we are. Why should we dress it up or water it down?

posted 5 months ago and tagged as a month of T a to z truth angie hart
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S S is for Songs and Storytelling. The great expressions of interior and exterior life. Sometimes passed down from generation to generation. Other times, created from thin air. We are born with Stories and Songs in us. If we don’t find a way to tell them ourselves, we are drawn to those that do. We are connected, through Song and Story. A language that surpasses language. A thread, a tone, a resonance, that we can all relate to in our own unique way.

S

S is for Songs and Storytelling.

The great expressions of interior and exterior life. Sometimes passed down from generation to generation. Other times, created from thin air. We are born with Stories and Songs in us. If we don’t find a way to tell them ourselves, we are drawn to those that do.

We are connected, through Song and Story. A language that surpasses language. A thread, a tone, a resonance, that we can all relate to in our own unique way.

posted 5 months ago and tagged as a month of s a to z Songs and Storytelling angie hart
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R R is for Romance. Sometimes I forget that things can be just for the love of it, just for the feel of it, just for no good reason at all. Not all things need to serve much more of a purpose than in the doing of them. Not everything can be narrowed down to a monetary cost; neither incoming, nor outgoing. Bare feet. Grass. The two combined. Warm breeze. Long and winding conversation. Staring into space. Hand-writing. Scent. And food made with love. Always food.

R

R is for Romance.

Sometimes I forget that things can be just for the love of it, just for the feel of it, just for no good reason at all. Not all things need to serve much more of a purpose than in the doing of them. Not everything can be narrowed down to a monetary cost; neither incoming, nor outgoing.

Bare feet. Grass. The two combined. Warm breeze. Long and winding conversation. Staring into space. Hand-writing. Scent.

And food made with love. Always food.

posted 5 months ago and tagged as a month of r a to z romance angie hart
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Q Q is for Quiet. I am stealing some, like it is a forbidden fruit.

Q

Q is for Quiet.

I am stealing some, like it is a forbidden fruit.

posted 5 months ago and tagged as a month of Q a to z Quiet angie hart
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P P is for Pass. Or Phew. You may remember me mentioning that I had to forfeit my studies this year, due to the back half of this year going the shape of a piece of fruit and having it’s wheels fall off, whilst in flames. Well, this just in: with the support of my wonderful teachers and a bit of coaching from my sister and brother-in-law, who just happen to have taught the subject that I have been studying, I sat for my assessment today… AND PASSED! Phew! Now, if you need me, I’ll just be in the corner over there. Yeah, that’s me, the one weeping, in a wobbly, heap of relief.

P

P is for Pass. Or Phew.

You may remember me mentioning that I had to forfeit my studies this year, due to the back half of this year going the shape of a piece of fruit and having it’s wheels fall off, whilst in flames.

Well, this just in: with the support of my wonderful teachers and a bit of coaching from my sister and brother-in-law, who just happen to have taught the subject that I have been studying, I sat for my assessment today… AND PASSED! Phew!

Now, if you need me, I’ll just be in the corner over there. Yeah, that’s me, the one weeping, in a wobbly, heap of relief.

posted 5 months ago and tagged as a month of p a to z Pass! Phew angie hart
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O O is for Oeuvre. I like trawling my dictionary for good feeling words. This is one of my favourites. It looks good, it feels good to say, and I have a very thin grasp of it’s actual meaning. I would not use it in a sentence with confidence. Well not today. If it turns up in my crossword clues enough times, then it may fall into my vocabulary. In the meantime, I like to think of it as, my ‘groove’. The reason I do things and how I do them. Like when my mojo is on, and I’m creating things that are true to me. That’s my Oeuvre. Please feel free to send me some usages, so that I may get my Oeuvre on properly.

O

O is for Oeuvre.

I like trawling my dictionary for good feeling words. This is one of my favourites. It looks good, it feels good to say, and I have a very thin grasp of it’s actual meaning. I would not use it in a sentence with confidence. Well not today. If it turns up in my crossword clues enough times, then it may fall into my vocabulary.

In the meantime, I like to think of it as, my ‘groove’. The reason I do things and how I do them. Like when my mojo is on, and I’m creating things that are true to me. That’s my Oeuvre.

Please feel free to send me some usages, so that I may get my Oeuvre on properly.

posted 5 months ago and tagged as a month of o a to z Oeuvre angie hart
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N N is for No. I just Need to remind myself to use it every Now and then. If I had been a little more No-happy when asked if I was available for this month’s activities, I wouldn’t be feeling so over-extended right now. In truth, I can’t think of which one of the great things that I have had the pleasure of participating in, that I would have refused. Do you remember that post about paring back, from a few weeks ago? Well, I have done a lot of yessing since that time. It seemed that I had all this space to fill! That brings us to my No-less December. I’ll keep trying to remember to bring out the dusty, Neglected No, but somehow I don’t think it stands a chance. 

N

N is for No.

I just Need to remind myself to use it every Now and then. If I had been a little more No-happy when asked if I was available for this month’s activities, I wouldn’t be feeling so over-extended right now. In truth, I can’t think of which one of the great things that I have had the pleasure of participating in, that I would have refused. Do you remember that post about paring back, from a few weeks ago? Well, I have done a lot of yessing since that time. It seemed that I had all this space to fill!

That brings us to my No-less December. I’ll keep trying to remember to bring out the dusty, Neglected No, but somehow I don’t think it stands a chance. 

posted 5 months ago and tagged as a month of n a to z No angie hart
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