Momento

On the road to Web Accessibility

Well, I’ve handed in my last assignment in the UNISA Professional Certificate in Web Accessibility.
I’m not finished at all in the true sense since I’ve got so many ideas and concepts buzzing around in my head!
It will take ages to even work out all the things I need to do to make my websites accessible. I thought they were sort of OK, but I have so many things to consider.
The course, like all good courses, just taught me the magnitude of what I don’t know!

The Land Owns Me

I’ve posted a youtube video..my first!
The Land Owns Me

The video I shot at Nanga Bush Camp on 3rd October 2011 on our annual church camp.
The song is one I wrote at least twenty years ago, but it seemed to fit.
The song is trying to convey how I feel about this land of ours. This is a recording of my singing…when I still could.
Six generations surely allow me to feel part of the land: the trees, the sky, the flowers, the bushes, the hills, the sea, the rivers, the animals own me. I am a steward of the wilderness that is left.

Attended the first September Sundowner at St Pauls

It was a cold night on Saturday 3 September,and threatened rain but the small number in the audience were thrilled by the presentations at the first in a series of poetry, stories and songs nights.
The programme included poetry from Vivienne Glance, the poetry of Mags Webster, a cappella singing by Shalva, poetry and stories by Andrew Burke, interspersed with poetry and stories by Ruari Jack Hughes who compered the night
Guests were greeted with a plate of cheese and other delicacies, and a glass of wine, and were warmed by the fire, especially in the second half when we clustered closer around it.
However, the warmth was also generated by the poetic and narrative gifts of the presenters and the delightful music of Shalva.
Those of us who braved the weather had a great treat. There was no sunset because of the heavy cloud cover, but the rain held off until the last poem of the last guest, so we were able to enjoy the beautiful presence of the amphitheatre.
And if had been wet we could have retreated to the wonderland of the hall already decorated by Kim!
THanks to Kim for the great food, Gillian for ticket selling, Alan for his barman’s duties and all the rest who helped to set up and clean up, and to Ruari Jack for organising and compering. It was a special night, it was a pity more weren’t there for the pleasures of such a great evening.

If you missed out, don’t forget there are two more occasions where similar fare may be enjoyed.

The time 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm.
However, most people didn’t book so bought tickets at the door, and many were late, so it stretched out a little, so set aside until 8:30!

Book with Rauri Jack 08 9433 6609 or 0404 849 185. Come a little early with correct money, a bargain at $15 for wonderful evening.

Saturday 10 September
Poetry by Annamaria Weldon & Amanda Joy
Poetry & Cello by Kevin Gillam
Poetry & Singing/Guitar by Janet Jackson

Saturday 17 September
Poetry by Dennis Haskell
Stories by Josephine Clarke & Rosemary Spark
Singing/Guitar by Zalia Joi

St Paul’s Anglican Church, 162 Hampton Road, Beaconsfield

Journey through Pain

If you don’t know what fibromyalgia is. read this

Journey through Pain

Rosemary Spark

In out, in out
Got to remember to breathe
In out, in out
They..(the chiros, the physios, the doctors, yogis) say
it helps
Maybe it does
I can still think…just
But,
all my mind thinks is pain
All I feel is pain

In out, in out
Got to remember to breathe
What do they say?
They say
“This may be uncomfortable”
It’s as far from comfort as the moon from the Earth
As far from my mother’s arms as the coldest Antarctic

In out, in out
Got to remember to breathe
They say “relax”
But I have to hold on
Because if I let go
I might disappear into the pain
Be sucked into the whirlpool
Until I no longer exist
Until there’s no longer any way to remember.

In out, in out
Got to remember to breathe
They ask,
“How do you rate your pain 0-10?”
10 million is not high enough
There are not enough zeroes
In any number.

In out, in out
Got to remember to breathe
They say it’s not really pain
“It’s in your mind”
What is my mind then to create such a monster?
Such a dark, red nightmare of pain.

In out, in out
Got to remember to breathe
They say, “It’s in your brain”
It’s learnt to be in pain”
Yes
In my brain
In my heart
In my body
In my spirit.

In out, in out
Got to remember to breathe
They say
“It’s only pain
No foul, no harm.”
The harm is the pain
Because it’s in the way
Of life,
of love,
of God.

In out, in out
Got to remember to breathe
They say
“Be in the moment”
Yes, in the everlasting second
In the endless eternity of pain
In out, in out
Got to remember to breathe
In out, in out.

In out, in out
Got to remember to breathe
They say,
Think positive
But the pain is a grey cloud
That darkens my mind
Until I can no longer think
No word follows word.

In out, in out
Got to remember to breathe
They say,
Pain brings you closer to God.
But it takes so much space
There is no room,
I can’t find a chink
Or find a place to stand.