Traditionally every year here in Geelong, the City Council sends out to every house-hold, a Calendar and information booklet. The twelve pictures in the Calendar, are of the local area, taken by local photographers, and the music I’ve added below, is by local performer, Xavier Rudd. Thank you to Weekly Photo Prompts, for this opportunity to present these glorious photos of the Geelong area. Happy New Year to all my readers. And the Calendar itself is a great >> Tradition
Ivor Steven (c) 2018
I’d like to thank Gina, of Singledust, and her glorious poem, ‘last pure light’, on “Go Dog Go Cafe”, for inspiring me to write my poem, ‘The Golden Beach’, please click >> Here, to read her wonderful words. Also referring to this weeks, Weekly Photo Prompt: Tradition, yes it’s an Australian tradition to spend Christmas at the beach
Staring over the ripples in my cuppa tea
Gazing at the future forecast by the tea leaf’s
I’m visualising waves upon the morning sea
And the sensation of the sand beneath my feet
Oh to walk on the golden beach again
Inhale the fragrance of the wind caressing my skin
And to swim in the rejuvenating ocean
Feel the surf’s spray on my body, like warm rain
The tentacles of fresh air draw you in securely
An aura of purity and peace abounds richly
There’s a crispness from the sun that warms your heart
And a cleansing depth within the surrounds that soothes your soul
Ivor Steven (c) 2018
A few days ago(29th Nov 2017), I had started writing a poem about Penny Farthing Bicycles, prompted by an article in the Geelong Advertiser newspaper, the arrival in Geelong of eight members of the Melbourne Bicycle Club in March 1880, as per featured picture above, courtesy of the Geelong Heritage Centre Collection. Then I was chatting with my friend Jane of Janebasilblog, she had just sent me the song and lyrics of the Mary Hopkin hit, “Those Were The Days”, from 1968, and I mentioned The Kinks were one of my fav’s from that era, and of course their song “Lola”. After our chat, I starting thinking [which is dangerous for me] about writing a crazy, combined, mixed up poem… The piece below is the result of those thoughts, and to my older readers, you’ll notice all the phrases written in Italic, are song titles taken from The Kinks album “The Kinks Collection”. So apologies to Ray Davies for using his song titles in such a manner. And thank you to Jane for providing me with the inspiration to actually write these jumbled up words. ** And now today(8th Nov 2018), this poem has been edited, and re-posted, as a response to CalmKate’s Friday Foto Fun – Wheels Or Circles.
“Where Have All The Good Times Gone”
I remember the olden times
Of pennies and farthings
Pounds and pence
When money made no sense
Mary Hopkins sang
“Those Were The Days”
And the Kinks song “Lola”
Was the best number one ever
Many a lazy Sunny Afternoon
Spent down near Waterloo Sunset
Where we would all dance
All Of The Day And All Of The Night
My Friends would all dress-up
Like Dedicated Followers Of Fashion
Unlike that lonely Plastic Man
Who faked the Death Of A Clown
Way back then, You Really Got Me
You fired me up, here in Victoria
Thousands of Days forgotten in the burn-out
Charred in a cloud of Big Black Smoke
But now, I’m Tired Of Waiting For You
Wondering, Where Have All The Good Times Gone
Ivor Steven
8th November 2018. 10.30pm
A few photos from my trip to the Beijing Zoo to see the Panda’s 🐼
The Panda’s and me in a Panda hat, and few tour buddies
The glorious big willow trees at the zoo.
Weekly Prompts: Photo Challenge; This Weeks Prompt is: Work Of Art.
Last weekend I went the Boom Gallery Art Exhibition, here in Geelong, as part of a Ekphrastic poetry exercise, a link to last week’s Ekphrastic Poem is >> Here, and I was thinking of presenting all of those wonderful pictures that I saw, here in this article today. However I’ve decide to present my dear Carole’s “Works Of Art”, that I have here hanging in the Tullawalla Gallery. The featured picture above, is of three pieces of her macrame, which are also made from her own home-spun wool.
Above: More articles of Carole’s macrame
Above: Top left corner, some decorative macrame, around my Malayan Kris and sheath. The Kris has been in our family for over 110 years. And then, there are two of Carole’s long-stitch pieces craft-work. Earlier in her life, before Carole’s MS became too severe, she enjoyed painting, and below are three of her paintings.
Ivor Steven (c) 2018
Weekly Prompt: Photo prompt for this week, Right Place Right Time
I’m presenting pictures here of “My Home”, and feeling incredibly fortunate, that I happened to be in the right place at the right time, two years ago, when I was lucky enough to find this little abode for sale. And on inspection I immediately feel in love with the place, knowing that this is where my soul could finally be at peace, and I came to engross myself in this writers haven that I had dreamt of, and knowing that it was now going to become a reality. Thank you to Linda, of Spiritual Dragonfly, for inspiring to do this post about “My Place”, and I hope all is well there for Linda over in Carolina, after coping with Hurricane Florence.
Above, my verandah area, my gallery, and where the old family home name, “Tullawalla” sign, is now proudly on display.
Above, My fernery, my garden courtyard, and more of my verandah gallery.
Above. More of my gallery under the verandah, and my barbeque and my outdoor speakers, which are wired back to my computer sound system, I hope the neighbours appreciate my music choices
Above. My home, front view, window garden bed and my garage. The writers bedroom and studio/desk area, is where all the poems are written. And attached below a lovely song from Xavier Rudd… “Home”
Ivor Steven (c) 2018
Weekly Prompts. Photo Prompt: Festival
During the last six years, I’ve attended numerous music festivals within the Geelong area and I was fortunate enough to also go to the world famous Port Fairy Folk Music Festival, in 2013, featuring, David Francey(with his band, Go Jane Go), Xavier Rudd, and Geoffrey Gurrumul, a music vidoe of his glorious singing below, you won’t believe how beautiful his voice is !! The featured image above is from the Geelong Jazz Festival on streets in the CBD.
Above, From The Top, David Francey,(left side of stage) at Port Fairy Folk Music Festival 2013. Next: Enjoying the festival, Ivor with Lyn, one of those dear friends of Carole, who were there with us throughout the whole journey. (we swapped hats for this pic)
Above are pictures from the Geelong Motor City Music Festival, 2014 and 2015. From the Top, Lloyd Spiegel, Claude Hay, my friends enjoying the show, Martin, Terry and Jacqui, and The Chris Wilson Blues Band .
Above two pictures are from our local Pako Festa, a multi-cultural festival held annually here in Geelong, a street parade, street stalls and displays and outdoor concerts. Left, pic Ivor with Niamh, My Irish friend’s Martin and Jacqui, daughter, 2013, she’s 18 months old, and the same little Niamh in 2016, yep she’s Ivor’s special little girl.
Here below a poem I wrote about my time at the Port Fairy Folk Music Festival, in March 2013, and the four day Festival was an event I shall always remember.
A Festival
A Festival, beside the sea
Musicians playing in the breeze
Song-catchers of sadness and glee
Open for everyone to see
A Festival, of warmth and love
Bound together within a community glove
Endless tunes, over and above
Gliding around like peaceful doves
A Festival, with friends in a cottage
Laughter, travelling through the village
Riding on a horse-drawn carriage
Singing out of tune, a broken homage
A Festival, rejoicing day and night
Eating and drinking on-site
The multitude happy and bright
Hovering under the stage lights
A Festival, a joyful blast
Memories always to last
The fun time went so fast
Holding hands on the grass
Ivor Steven (c) 2018
Weekly Prompts : Photo Challenge, Animals In Nature
This weeks Photo Challenge is about animals in nature, and I’m always fascinated by the mystical world of dragons, and that’s “My Dragon” in the featured image above, and also in the picture below, where I’m giving my friendly dragon a pat. You can read all about my dragon by clicking on this link >> https://ivors20.wordpress.com/2017/09/23/my-dragon-the-trilogy-2/ I know my dragon is very fond of the local swans residing nearby on Corio Bay.
There are readers of mine who would remember my Lizard Of Wizardry, Lizzy, who(it has been suggested) was the reincarnation of my little furry friend, Lily, and if you’d like to read about Lizzy the lizard, click on this link >>https://ivors20.wordpress.com/2017/11/07/lily-and-a-lizard-of-wizardry-2/
I do miss my little dog Lily, and we both enjoyed our walks to the lovely bush setting of the Moorabool Valley Chocolate Cafe. Every now and then we would encounter a cheeky magpie on the Cafe’s outside patio area, and below, photos of the magpie and, lily proudly sitting in her wild natural habitat. I also wrote a poem about that cheeky magpie, click here on this link >>https://ivors20.wordpress.com/2017/10/15/cheeky-magpie/
Ivor Steven (c) 2018
Let us join the movement, Against The Next War, and have a say. Please reblog or write your own story, and join Paul Sunstone, in the campaign for Peace.
A Mushroom Anthem
Why is there always a dark side,
When the moon shines so bright.
Who’s taking us on this blindfold ride,
While our reasoning is out of sight.
Why is there always a silver lining,
When the clouds are hovering so low.
Who’s making the lower world glowing,
While our malignant demons grow and grow.
Why do we call them magic mushrooms,
When all they bring is gloom and doom.
Who’s controlling this aging Mother,
While our pleading hands are hustled undercover.
Let There Be Peace In Our Time.
Ivor Steven (c) 2018
Ivor.Plumber/Poet 