Scraps Of Mind

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Yes it’s another music post. When Fate decides to have a laugh at your expense she makes it a good belly laugh (anyone who doesn’t understand the reference please read Music…Ughh! What is it Good For?). It’s just that I’ve been to such a great variety of music related events in the last couple of months (and I haven’t even written about them all!).

This one was yet another special experience. The setting was a mid 19^th century bluestone farmhouse set in the middle of old Germantown, now in the heart of suburban, brick-veneer Thomastown, Melbourne.

The Farmhouse together with an old German Cemetery (1850) and Australia’s oldest operating Lutheran Church (1856) is situated in lovely open parklands surrounded by well established trees. I lived and worked in the surrounding suburbs for twenty years and I never realised this place existed. It’s a bit Brigadoon-ish.

Ziebell’s Farmhouse has been rescued from disintegration by a group of volunteers and supported by a grant from the local council. My sister Elaine found out about this concert (and Music in Warm Places is the name of the concert) and arranged for tickets. Apparently they hold a couple of music afternoons each year. And what a fabulous setting to do it in!

Carol Appelt (flute) and Igor Pelka (guitar) treated a small audience of a couple of dozen to a great repertoire, ranging from Bach and Mozart to Villa Lobos and an Afro-Cuban Lullaby.

Rows of chairs filled the front parlour with the musicians at one end of the room and it was a very intimate event. The audience was very connected with the musicians (so there was nowhere to hide when a wrong note escaped) and being such a small group, it felt very personal and special. A roaring fire at the other end of the room added to the atmosphere. Mulled wine would have been nice, but you can’t have everything.

After two highly entertaining brackets everyone adjourned to the farmhouse kitchen where a magnificent afternoon tea was laid out. It was a traditional CWA/WI type spread with a host of magnificent cakes, sandwiches etc. And we all crowded around the farmhouse kitchen table whilst the cast iron stove burned in the corner to keep the chills away. How good was that?!!

But wait, it gets better…. It was all free!!!!

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Yet another music post.

That earlier post a few weeks ago (Music…Ugh. What is it good for?) must have been like throwing down a gauntlet to Fate. Music has proliferated my life ever since!

On Friday night the band of four (Thatch, Jools, Allan and myself) met at the Celtic Club in Queen St. to catch The Colonials who have a regular gig there. The Celtic Club has undergone a refurbishment (what pub hasn’t these days?) And I quite like the ‘designer grunge’ look they’ve achieved. Amongst other things they’ve ripped up the daggy carpet and just sealed the chipboard underfloor. I thought it made for a good atmosphere. Until the band started playing. Wow, the sound reverberated around the place like a barn. But apart from the sub optimal acoustics it was a great night. We had a lovely meal (definitely recommend the beef and Guinness pie with mash and peas) and enjoyed the celtic folk music on offer. The banjo player was especially fantastic. That guy was definitely as one with the banjo.

Then on Saturday the four of us rocked up to the Mount Erica Hotel in Prahran to lend our audience support to another friend who has a regular gig to protect. Another great meal and a terrific night of country and blues.

Ian (from Jack Rabbit and the Pubic Hares) has teamed up with Dave Moll (ex Shonky Tonk / Harem Scarem) and together with Alan Brooker (ex Paul Kelly / Little Heroes) and Harold Frith (ex Thunderbirds / Saltbush) they form “The Rabbit and The Mole”.

In Ian’s words “The Rabbit & The Mole play some original, a bit of Jimmy Reid, Willie Dixon, Townes van Zandt, Merle Haggard, Dave Edmunds and a bit more Jimmy Reid.”

A good crowd turned out to support them as they combated the competition from the Wallabies vs South Africa Tri-nations match, the AFL Saturday night match and The Large Number 12s who were playing in St Kilda and with whom The Rabbit and The Mole share a common core following.

The music was good, the food was good and the atmosphere was good. And Ian’s chrome ukulele was very cute.

But I’m very glad to be having a quiet Sunday

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Independence.

What a very big word that is. It embraces the fundamental principles of most of the people on this planet, but what does it really mean? 

To me independence is a double edged sword.
I enjoy the freedom to make my own decisions, choose my own direction, not have to ask permission for what I want to do (within the constraints of society’s structure). I am very protective of ‘my space’. Having raised my daughter and sent her forth into the world to enhance and improve it (or wreak havoc, depending on her mood), I am now in my ‘selfish’ years. A strong sense of independence helps me to enjoy them to the full; to do what I want to do when I want to do it without needing to consult someone else.  

When my daughter moved out of home and up to Sydney last year my family were very concerned with how I would feel about living on my own. Seona and I have always enjoyed a very close relationship, both as best friends and as mother and daughter. And whilst I obviously missed her, I found I enjoyed the sense of freedom that living on my own brought. I now realise that whilst I am comfortable to share my space temporarily with someone else (my youngest brother is currently living with me for a few months), I look forward to having my own space back in my total control at a future point in time (even though I’m currently being cooked wonderful meals and I will sorely miss that).  

But everything has its price.

The price of independence is taking the responsibility for the ‘bad’ things that happen. The heater that breaks down in the middle of winter and needs to be replaced. Any issues that may arise with the neighbours that have to be dealt with. Ongoing maintenance of the property. Exactly the same sorts of things that have to be faced by independent states, countries as well as individuals. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming. But is it worth it?

Absolutely!!!

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