You know, completing a project as dense and intense as Get Up Mum sure does have you falling into a light to moderate ‘empty underground carpark’ of self. Also, for much of this year I’ve been in Burnie caring for Mum who has rheumatoid arthritis. Suffice to say, I arrive back on the mainland a little light-on for personal infrastructure.
Now I’m on the road for an abode in Melbourne. If you happen to have any tips on a spare room / holiday shack / granny flat / mountain villa for a weary writer to dwell – feel free to electronic mail.
While I’m there (here, everywhere) – I am also interested in some 2-3 day a week work activities. Perhaps your swingin’ online hydroponic brewery / nursery / children’s organic zine workshop is seeking additional funky gen-x’s to write the world’s tightest copy for your social integration platforms. Or, I can make a mean iced milo with almond milk and no milo.
CV
MODELLING
VOICEOVERS
UNLICENSED COUNSELLING
Finally, my exquisite, delicate goal in the forthcoming future is to pursue my ‘Sensitive Beck’ esque songs. I’ve been writing them since I was 16 but recorded zilch. Nick Drake, Radiohead, Kings of Convenience et al – If anyone is interested to record or (stop) collaborate (and listen) and has a mean set of fingerpicking / vocal harmonising tendencies – or digs on a particular open mic / songwriter variety showcase to get the ernie ball rolling, make yourself known to staff at my reception counter.
I’ll be presenting Get Up Mum at Frankston Library July 27 at 1pm. It’s free but bookings can be made HERE. The vibe will no doubt be a bit Tubeway Army meets Tasty Toobs.
TAKE ME TO THE TAPES!
The tape orbited smoothly inside a case when docked inside the carriage of a machine. A time machine, with a knack for blasting the past.
Each morning I recorded the Get Up Mum episodes on my cassette deck.
Now I have two more tapes to add to my collection.
Thanks TDK!
Today is the series finale of Get Up Mum – “Burnie Time Park.” It’s still one of my favourite places in the hemisphere. The headquarters of the bond Mum and I keep. When in doubt…ducks.
Here is Uncle Nigel & I avin’ a laff:
Perhaps you’d like to gaze out the window while listening to a selection from The Synthesizer Album?
🔴 She tunes in for a 4:30am repeat I didn’t know about 🔴 She laughed when we laughed at Pop’s polka dot pyjamas 🔴
🥄🥄🥄Mum had a very specific way of stirring her coffee. This is the only time it was captured on tape. Taken from ‘Nan gets back from South-West walk. GOOD’ – January 1993.
I dug my chat with Taylah on Perth’s RTRFM. A dude wrote after “It’s good that you reiterated that schizophrenia is not a full time illness. I remember a Mum who would take me to sporting activities, cook dinner and take us for swimming lessons at the beach.”
Me & Nan & Pop & Jody, Nan & Pop’s, 1992. Transferred from Kodachrome slide. Shot on self timer. Note: fluro green laces in my Lynx.
We’re halfway through the Get Up Mum series, airing weekday mornings on RN’s Life Matters. Now for some half-time entertainment. Wait for ‘the drop’ at 2:12.
And consider this the Tassie version of a super bowl ad.
A Burnie rainbow, seen from Montello Goat Track.
Taken by my good friend Dion.
Ken: Who’s he want to play?
Me: Pearl Jam.
Ken: Who?
Me: Pearl Jam.
Ken: Who?
Me: Pearl…Jam.
Ken: Pearl…Jam. Is it good music or just a bunch of crap?
Nan: Bunch of crap.
Me: Good music! Nigel’ll tell ya.
Nigel: Nah, it’s good music.
Ken: I’m pleased to hear that.
Get Up Mum rolls onto ABC’s RN this week. It’s the sound of the story as well as the spirit. The hiss, the static, the atmosphere of love. Ten episodes air weekdays at 9:20am and are available for high speed dubbing from the Life Matters site. There’s also a hearty feature story on the ABC News page. Think of it as The Bedroom Philosopher’s prequel. The Happiest Boy meets Middle Aged Mum.
Adelaide 729AM, Brisbane 792AM, Burnie 94.1FM, Canberra 846AM, Darwin 657AM, Gold Coast 90.1FM, Hobart 585AM, Melbs 621AM, Newcastle 1512AM, Perth 810AM, Sydney 576AM.
Here is a recent interview with ABC Tassie’s Piia Wirsu. It includes a sneak peak from Episode 6 – “Nan and Jupiter.”
SERVING SUGGESTION: Episodes are ideally heard on an AM radio at the prescribed time. Failing this, you can obtain them from computer where they are best in a beanbag, in the dark, in moderation.
Signed copies of the book available here.
Dig on my mailing list.
