On Friday 20 August Australia lost two more soldiers to fighting in Afghanistan. Private Tomas Dale, 21, and Private Grant Kirby, 35, both gave their lives for their Nation on the eve of a Federal Election.  It seems somewhat symbolic that they should lose their lives while participating in an operation that is touted as “fighting for democracy and peace”; two things that Australians participated in by voting.

Deptofinternets said it best when he commented that Australia’s election days are characterized by sausage sizzles and cake stalls.  Unlike other countries where elections are filled with violence, bribery and military action.  We really do live in a lucky country, and that’s in part thanks to the men and women that have defended our country as part of the Australian Armed Forces.

Regardless of where you stand on whether the war of terror is valid or not your heart must break for the families that have lost loved ones in this conflict.  I for one am very grateful and thankful that there are men, and women, like Private Dale and Private Kirby that are willing to serve the demands of their nation.

I just wish that the politicians that ran for election on August 21 had given more focus to bringing those men and women home.

I am sick.  Really sick.  I haven’t been this ill in a long time.  Combined with all the hormones pumping through my system from the IVF I’m a mess of tears at the moment.  I am so homesick for my folks it’s not funny.

When I get homesick I listen to music that reminds me of home and how much I love my folks.  This song was dedicated to me by my Father one day when I was about twelve.  I listen to it whenever I’m homesick and pretend that we’re all together having a laugh and causing trouble.

Now I hope that one day we’ll be able to dedicate it to our daughter.

I struggled this week to find a song for Music Monday so I turned to Twitter to help me.  In a bold move CuzNikki took up the challenge and gave me someone I hadn’t heard before; Kate Miller Hiedke.

I haven’t been able to stop listening to her music since.  In fact I had to get the album and put it on my iPod so I could listen to it on our roadtrips.  It’s brilliant and is so in keeping with the weather and my mood lately.

Thank you CuzNikki!

I’d like to claim that I’m brilliant and that’s how I came up with my blog tagline, but the sad truth of the matter is that I lifted it from a Split Enz song.  Ironically it’s not my favourite Split Enz song, but the line has always stuck with me.  I have been known on occasion to just break out in song and sing it every now and then when my mind wanders.

I happened to stumble upon this amazing version of the song done with Tim Finn and Eddie Vedder.  It’s quickly worked it’s way up my play rotation so I thought I would share it with you all today.  I hope you enjoy it, I know I do…

On Saturday 17 July 2010 the Australian Prime Minister called the election.  Australia will head to the polls on August 21 2010.  Now is the time when the Australian political parties will table their agendas and start to put forward their plans for the next three years.

While there’s been a number of issues that have taken the nation’s interest in the past few months, there is one issue that needs to be raised again; our commitment to the war against terror.

In the past month six soldiers have been killed in the line of duty while undertaking their role in Afghanistan.   A total of 17 soldiers have been killed and 144 injured since the beginning of Operation Slipper.

In that time there has appeared to be no real gain on the “war on terror”.  In fact, as time goes on people seem to become more complacent with the fact that our sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, wives and husbands are giving their lives for something that has not been articulated nor seems to be providing a positive outcome.

The basis for the “war on terror” was proven to be false more than a year ago and we’re still fighting.  Why?

It’s time for Australia to withdraw their support for this unfounded war.  It’s time to bring our boys and girls home.  Time to thank them for their invaluable contribution and to honour their strength and commitment, but we need them home.

Ending our commitment to this war will be one of the criteria I’ll be voting on, will it be an issue for you?

Music Monday is a little late today, but with good reason.  I’ve been waiting to hear about my father’s surgery and now I have I feel like the world can keep once again start to spin on it’s axis.

So, because I love you all for your support, well wishes and general awesomeness this Music Monday is for you, my friends – both in the real world and the even realer world of the internet!

When my Father turned 40 this was the theme song to an event that will live on in many people’s memories.  As a child Jimmy Buffet was the soundtrack to many a family adventure.  As I got older Jimmy Buffet became the music we listened to when we had family nights on the deck.  When I left home Jimmy Buffet was the music I listened to when I wanted to be reminded of home.

In winter I listen to Jimmy to try and get some much needed sun and warmth in my life.  Lately I’ve been listening to Jimmy because I’m home sick.  Now I listen to Jimmy to try and hold on to something special to me.

This is a cover of Jimmy Buffet‘s “A Pirate Looks at 40″ – it’s performed by a couple of talented lads and I thought it would make a nice homage to the music that means home to me.

On Saturday night we were at The Maram so that HUBBY and his pool playing friends could get together and practice for the start of the Winter Eight Ball season.  While sitting on a bar stool crocheting this song came on the juke box.

It’s one of those songs that immediately take me back to being 12 and listening to my walkman and dancing around my room.  Even now when it comes on I can’t help but sing and dance on the spot.  It’s a classic Australian song and I can’t think of a better way to start the week than with some singing and dancing!

This weekend has gone way too fast and this song seems somewhat apropos.  Welcome to Monday.

A few months back I was listening to Triple J on a Friday morning and I heard this song on the way to the shops.  I feel in love with it, but as is sometimes want with radio stations I didn’t manage to get the name of the artist nor the song title.  Wah!

I tried in vain that Friday to find the song but alas the internet gods were not with me.  So imagine my happiness when I stumbled across this song while window shopping in iTunes.  Rock on!  And I could finally put a name to the song: Dan Sultan

I immediately purchased the album and have been grooving to it ever since.  Gotta love it when the internet brings you a little bit of joy!

Best thing ever is that he was in Canberra on Saturday night!  Tickets were so ridiculously cheap it would have been a crime to not to go and see him.  The concert was great.  He was so full of energy, which is so rare these days.  The sound was great and he didn’t disappoint.  I even managed to get off my butt and groove a little – which is a big sign of brilliance because I was feeling like poop on a stick.

In a completely rare turn of events his support acts were great too.  So good in fact that I ended up purchasing Gin Wigmore‘s album, ‘Holy Smoke’.   (In a strange turn of events her album cost more than the ticket to get into the concert…)

Anyways, I hope you enjoy today’s music.  If you really do, go and buy the album! Support Australian music, you won’t regret it!

Edit: I have spent all day today dancing at my desk to Gin Wigmore‘s album, ‘Holy Smoke’ so I thought I should share some with you. It’s a BRILLIANT album!!!