Peter and the Wolf...

Not sure why, but I have a habit of enjoying 'Peter and the Wolf' at Christmas...
Love this 'lockdown' interpretation...https://t.co/yxbKSvIovz

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) December 23, 2021

David Bowie and Bing Crosby...

Here's a song that crosses boundaries...
We can synchronise in spite of differences...
A great role model for the Christmas spirit...lingering long after Christmas...
Bing Crosby & David Bowie - "The Little Drummer Boy (Peace On Earth)" https://t.co/Rio3rC9kev via @YouTube

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) December 8, 2021

Gurrumul - 'Wiyathul' ...

Take a little time out in the Gurrumul universe...
Jean Corbett - 'Once in a while a voice can touch your soul.'

Gurrumul - Wiyathul (Live 2008) https://t.co/vvZYW0akiD via @YouTube

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) October 6, 2021

haiku is...

Haiku is all about a moment of feeling, a moment of reflection...
It's not all about rules and formulas...
Fascinating explanation...Love it...😀🙏 https://t.co/azdYnKHuOc

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) September 25, 2021

sentimental detour...

PASSING THOUGHT: A little bit of romantic sentimentalism seems to be luring me...
This is a bit 'girly'...(apologies)...
The mood will pass...I'm sure it will...
But I do like it for now...soothing...https://t.co/YRqFSMYrMS

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) September 23, 2021

'Colours of the Wind'...

At times, some songs offer a gift to the moment. Tonight, 'Colours of the Wind'...
You think you own whatever land you land on
The Earth is just a dead thing you can claim
But I know every rock and tree and creature
Has a life, has a spirit, has a name...https://t.co/Wm17Uj8kyR

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) July 12, 2021

Bengawan Solo...

Such a beautiful song by a beautiful singer...
For some reason, I think of Paris' 'Little Sparrow' - Edith Piaf. There is a similar timbre/tone and sense of longing in the voice... https://t.co/yatFFnH5gM pic.twitter.com/bB2pZgijqs

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) January 17, 2021

To clarify my post, Chan Yung Yung is the singer in the YouTube clip.
Frances Yip is also a singer, whose version is on YouTube, but I prefer Chan Yung Yung's.
Frances Yip translated the lyrics into English.

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) January 17, 2021

sea shanty craze...

Sea shanties are enjoying a mass craze...
So here's a mass choir celebrating...
Leave Her Johnny | The Longest Johns | Mass Choir Community Video Project https://t.co/RIQs4FrizA via @YouTube

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) January 16, 2021

The Way Back...

Just discovered the 2020 film 'The Way Back', starring Ben Affleck, an alcoholic basketball coach. I haven't seen the film (I am told that it goes way beyond a mere sports film), but adore the grand, deep, soul-digging pulse of the theme music. ENJOY!https://t.co/u2Xz2yJmsy

— Gemma Wiseman (@AuraGem) October 17, 2020

Anthem...

An anthem for our times... complete with wonderful birds in flight...
'Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in'
Leonard Cohen - Anthem (w/lyrics) London 2008 https://t.co/MBvOM1XwpP via @YouTube

— Gemma Wiseman (@AuraGem) September 12, 2020

Babe...

Friday is an optimistic day.
She offers up the promise of something else, something ineffable...
And here's to you all...https://t.co/3YGAdfPEiK

— Tim Mallon (@PatMalo85776814) July 24, 2020

Memory jolt when I saw this posting...
Never did see the film...no particular reason why not except that when a film is popular,
I usually wait to till the hue and cry dies down and then view...
This one I forgot to re-visit...

However, the memory relates to where Babe was filmed...
It was filmed in Robertson, in the Southern Highlands of NSW.
Robertson was a scenic, short drive from Camden...where I lived in the 1990's.
Robertson itself has stunning countryside...often wandered there at weekends.
Used to be signs around the town that Babe was filmed there, but not sure if the signs still exist.

Established in the 1860s, Robertson was known as “Yarrawa”,
from the “Yarrawa Brush”,
a generic term used by the early settlers for the local rainforest
which they had set out to clear.
The clearing of the dense rainforest was necessary
to enable farming of the rich red basalt soil which lay beneath the Yarrawa Brush.

Further...another memory of Robertson,
spent a long weekend there at Ranelagh House - on a professional development spree...
(but the current website states that it was called originally Hotel Ranelagh
- in fact, Ranelagh has had a number of name tweakings)
Brilliant old rambling building...built in 1924...with peacocks outside.
The peacocks loved getting on the tin roof in the mornings
and gifting us all with a loud wake-up call...

There were overgrown tennis courts to explore outside
(pre-refurbishment)
Rambling rocky gardens
Animal cages
And a brilliant view of the coast
from the top of the escarpment
where Ranelagh was sited...

In its original heyday, Ranelagh boasted a nine-hole golf course,
two tennis courts, croquet, lawn bowls, billiards, fishing, hunting, horseback riding,
and an onsite mechanic who looked after guest's cars during their stay.
The hotel won the 'Most luxurious hotel in the Commonwealth' award in 1925,
and was the first hotel in Australia to have phone lines to every room.

It is a 3 storey brick building with 80 or more rooms...

The long weekend wasn't all workshops...
There were some fun times too...
I remember a lively pillow fight (4 of us to a room)
In-depth and quirky dialogue with other teachers after dinner
(complete with a glass of wine of course)

But one night...the last night...
At 1:00am

A lone violinist
played quietly in the hallway
at the base of the stairs...

Ranelagh is surrounded by 14 acres of gardens and includes a quaint little gift shop...

Ranelagh has now been re-named The Robertson Hotel...


 P.S. Just found out an addition to this grand old lady (on the above website)
One of the most charming and unique features of The Robertson Hotel is that it has its own railway platform on the Moss Vale to Unanderra Line, one of the most scenic train lines in NSW.
The route you take is called the Cockatoo Line.
The heritage train runs from different locations (Sydney to Wollongong),
but stops right in Ranelagh grounds.


The Cockatoo Run

For s.thing different...perhaps try 'Babe' - filmed in the Southern Highlands, Robertson, Australia. It is a comedy-drama. A pig is raised by sheepdogs and learns to herd sheep with a little help from Farmer Hoggett.

— Gemma Wiseman (@AuraGem) July 24, 2020

another easy mask to make...

Too easy... Another one great for those not into sewing...

How to Make Your Own Face Covering https://t.co/qaxPaI6JCx via @YouTube

— Gemma Wiseman (@AuraGem) July 19, 2020

remote learning...chapel benediction...

Remote learning - Term 3 - Day one... Just attended the online chapel service at my school... It concluded with the most beautiful Gaelic benediction... (And this benediction was sung)
Loved the first line...
'Deep peace of the running wave to you...' pic.twitter.com/wxqIUEvEhU

— Gemma Wiseman (@AuraGem) July 12, 2020

Legends of the Southern Land...

LEGENDS OF THE SOUTHERN LAND with John St. Peeters OAM, John Swan OAM, Tommy Emmanuel AM, Ray Burgess OAM, Marty Rhone and special guest Donnie Sutherland OAM - Award World Winner For Best OZ Music Show ‘SOUNDS’.
Legends of the Southern Land https://t.co/XyWlj6WQHu via @YouTube

— Gemma Wiseman (@AuraGem) July 11, 2020

rain in the desert...

This is 1 hour worth of bliss. And extra special...if you want to learn what birds are joining the music of rain, there is a neat little list of times identifying the birds heard at that point...Very clever... https://t.co/AY2upg1Gd7

— Gemma Wiseman (@AuraGem) May 25, 2020

Enjoyed every precious minute of this... I could feel the desert spaces blessed with rain...Wonderful...

your life is your life...

Your life is your life...Know it...while you have it...
The Laughing Heart - Charles Bukowski (A Life Changing Poem) https://t.co/2e64Q11OvY via @YouTube

— Gemma Wiseman (@AuraGem) May 6, 2020

deep, deep sounds...

The deep, deep sounds...
Powerful Poetry for Dark Times (A Psalm of Life - H. W. Longfellow) https://t.co/4sfrEU70cY via @YouTube

— Gemma Wiseman (@AuraGem) May 6, 2020

a beautiful tribute...

Such a beautiful tribute...
Eltham Cemetery ANZAC Day Commemoration https://t.co/mnw6iaPWwk via @YouTube

— Gemma Wiseman (@AuraGem) April 25, 2020

I particularly like this tribute, because local names are highlighted, giving the tribute a very personal touch...

Lean on Me...

Can't have too much 'Lean on Me'...Playing for Change is brilliant...And Saritah of Melbourne, Australia features in this one...
Lean On Me | Playing For Change | Song Around The World https://t.co/9hBr1PpDJv via @YouTube

— Gemma Wiseman (@AuraGem) April 18, 2020

teacher keep on teaching...

Teacher, keep on teaching...Lover, keep on loving...Keep on trying, till I reach higher ground...
Higher Ground | Playing For Change | Song Around the World https://t.co/jdiWUz5zl8 via @YouTube

— Gemma Wiseman (@AuraGem) April 18, 2020