Time to shake myself out of that post-Fringe funk and get back into the blog!
its almost a week since our fab gig at Kadina. Three Stuffed Mums and Granny Flaps (aka Lori Bell)had a wonderful time in that town last Friday night with around 300 ladies choosing to spend a night rocking out with us. I also got to do my Yorke Peninsula Medley! One more thing ticked off the bucket list!
It wasn't without its dramas though. Foolishly we took my car which chose to have a flat 15km from Kadina. For anyone unaware of the area, that's roughly in the middle of nowhere. Luckily the mobiles still worked and the RAA was called. Glynn, Kehau's husband was dispatched from Kadina to fetch me while Steven stayed with the car and we managed to have our sound check ok. The downside was that the spare was fine but the other front tyre was also dodgy, so we had to take it slowly back to Adelaide at no more than 80km/h. It took us two and a quarter hours to get home!
However, that didn't dampen the great feelings engendered by a great show. Can't wait to do it again!
In other news, there is no other news. Post Fringe funk had surely set in and its only today its started to lift. I've spent the week ploughing through work, enjoying my lunchtime walks in the autumn sunshine to the beach, and sleeping. Its a time that's made me remember the importance of rest and recovery. After spending a month living on nerves and adrenalin during Fringe, when your body demands rest then that is what it needs, hence my relative silence.
Kadina, you were a blast. Sleep, similarly you are awesome.
Have a nice weekend.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
The Power of Three
We had the Adelaide Fringe awards were last night and while the Three Stuffed Mums had a nomination for the People's Choice award, we didn't get a win. However we're still stoked with the nomination - to be up against around 750 shows and get a nomination isn't too shabby at all. If you'd like to read about how our season has gone, get over to our Mum'blings blog at threestuffedmums.com for the full update. (stoopid blogspot won't let me link outside blogspot - sorry)
For me, it's time to relax somewhat. It's a beautiful day and we headed out with the dogs this morning. Took a stroll past my sister's place to say hello/cheerio to my nephew Ben who's on a flying visit from Canberra. Since we've got back the dogs have all collapsed in slumbers and I've been writing on the computer. It's kinda hard to relax as they're building a new house at the back of ours and some sort of power tool is interrupting the hazy buzz of the sunny autumn afternoon. I hope they get a power cut.
Doing the three Stuffed Mums show has been a revelation. Kate, Kehau and I have all known each other for a long time, and we've worked together so well on quite a few projects. We've always been a good team, but when work on this project started it was like the heavens aligned. We all three discovered strengths we could contribute that hadn't been there before and it really did become the power of three - and that includes the fun factor. Cannot wait to see those gals again soon!
The other thing that's happened with this is I've realised that I can't 'retire' from standup. I tried to last May. I'd done the gig at the Stand in Glasgow - a wonderful gig that was my personal 'Everest' and I didn't think I could top that. But when I got pulled in to do the Mums' show I've realised I still have the bug and I've started writing again. Oy vay!
Right, I'm gonna sign off and go enjoy the sunshine while I can, and pray for that power cut for across the back so their whiney screechey power tools stop making that racket!
For me, it's time to relax somewhat. It's a beautiful day and we headed out with the dogs this morning. Took a stroll past my sister's place to say hello/cheerio to my nephew Ben who's on a flying visit from Canberra. Since we've got back the dogs have all collapsed in slumbers and I've been writing on the computer. It's kinda hard to relax as they're building a new house at the back of ours and some sort of power tool is interrupting the hazy buzz of the sunny autumn afternoon. I hope they get a power cut.
Doing the three Stuffed Mums show has been a revelation. Kate, Kehau and I have all known each other for a long time, and we've worked together so well on quite a few projects. We've always been a good team, but when work on this project started it was like the heavens aligned. We all three discovered strengths we could contribute that hadn't been there before and it really did become the power of three - and that includes the fun factor. Cannot wait to see those gals again soon!
The other thing that's happened with this is I've realised that I can't 'retire' from standup. I tried to last May. I'd done the gig at the Stand in Glasgow - a wonderful gig that was my personal 'Everest' and I didn't think I could top that. But when I got pulled in to do the Mums' show I've realised I still have the bug and I've started writing again. Oy vay!
Right, I'm gonna sign off and go enjoy the sunshine while I can, and pray for that power cut for across the back so their whiney screechey power tools stop making that racket!
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Let's Enjoy Ourselves!
Just a short update: we're three quarters of the way through the Fringe. There's a show tonight (Saturday) and then Tuesday through Saturday again.
However we look at it, this Fringe has been a huge success for the Three Stuffed Mums. There have been great houses, fantastic audiences and lovely reviews. Even with a week to go we have post-Fringe bookings, some awesome plans in the pipeline and a bundle of songs and sketches awaiting development for the full stage show.
I've been having Thursdays and Fridays off during Fringe to accommodate energy levels and it's worked well. It's been a good balance, with the normal Monday to Wednesday workdays grounding me and stopping me flying off into Fringeland entirely. It pays to remember that Fringe isn't the real world and it's as transient as any of the Tivoli Garden setups in the parklands. It's beautiful and enchanting when it's there, but it's not there for ever. And if you've seen our show, you'll know the Mums are all about keeping it real.
The one thing about the show that has surprised us and blown us away is the sheer joy of it.
We knew we were having fun putting it together, but we didn't bank on it being this much fun night after night. We also didn't bank on the sheer joy of our audiences and the great energy they are feeding back to us.
When we talk to them after the show they say things like 'I'm glad it wasn't just me thinking that', and to hear them talking about how it feels better to just be human and flawed, that they feel happier in themselves because they know they're not alone in feeling how they do and how great it was to see their lives reflected back at them, well it makes your heart swell.
Its exactly what we've had underpinning the project all along - helping that connection set up and continue, to get us talking about parenthood with a laugh rather than a psychiatrist, and to know that none of us need to be alone on this journey through parenthood. I say 'parenthood' rather than 'motherhood' because some of the great feedback has been from the dads who were at first reluctant to come along. Yet,when they did they realised that it is just as applicable to their lives as it is to the mums'.
If you'd like to know more about what the Three Stuffed Mums are about go to www.threestuffedmums.com (silly blogspot won't let me link it!)
Ah, it turns out this hasn't been as short a blog as I thought it would be! So, heading into the final week of Fringe, lets all enjoy ourselves!
Happy Fringing!
However we look at it, this Fringe has been a huge success for the Three Stuffed Mums. There have been great houses, fantastic audiences and lovely reviews. Even with a week to go we have post-Fringe bookings, some awesome plans in the pipeline and a bundle of songs and sketches awaiting development for the full stage show.
I've been having Thursdays and Fridays off during Fringe to accommodate energy levels and it's worked well. It's been a good balance, with the normal Monday to Wednesday workdays grounding me and stopping me flying off into Fringeland entirely. It pays to remember that Fringe isn't the real world and it's as transient as any of the Tivoli Garden setups in the parklands. It's beautiful and enchanting when it's there, but it's not there for ever. And if you've seen our show, you'll know the Mums are all about keeping it real.
The one thing about the show that has surprised us and blown us away is the sheer joy of it.
We knew we were having fun putting it together, but we didn't bank on it being this much fun night after night. We also didn't bank on the sheer joy of our audiences and the great energy they are feeding back to us.
When we talk to them after the show they say things like 'I'm glad it wasn't just me thinking that', and to hear them talking about how it feels better to just be human and flawed, that they feel happier in themselves because they know they're not alone in feeling how they do and how great it was to see their lives reflected back at them, well it makes your heart swell.
Its exactly what we've had underpinning the project all along - helping that connection set up and continue, to get us talking about parenthood with a laugh rather than a psychiatrist, and to know that none of us need to be alone on this journey through parenthood. I say 'parenthood' rather than 'motherhood' because some of the great feedback has been from the dads who were at first reluctant to come along. Yet,when they did they realised that it is just as applicable to their lives as it is to the mums'.
If you'd like to know more about what the Three Stuffed Mums are about go to www.threestuffedmums.com (silly blogspot won't let me link it!)
Ah, it turns out this hasn't been as short a blog as I thought it would be! So, heading into the final week of Fringe, lets all enjoy ourselves!
Happy Fringing!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
I'm Stuffed Just Thinking About It!
Well, with two shows under our belt and the third due today, the Three Stuffed Mums have got into the swing of Fringe 2011.
Its been a busy week with lots of radio interviews, dress rehearsals and then opening night on Friday night. So far audience numbers and reactions have been great. Everyone's found something to relate to in the show - even young single males!
It finally feels that we've given birth (so to speak) to this vehicle where we can utilise our talents in a positive and progressive way, so onward and upward!
The comedy industry here in South Australia is so oriented towards young single men that previously womens' voices (of all ages) haven't had much of a forum. That's not a bad thing, its just how it was.
Now we're creating that forum for both ourselves and hopefully for other female comics to come forward. That's probably going to be one of the best parts of the Stuffed Mums project - to help and nurture new talent and give it a voice in the world.
We've already been booked to play the Ascot Theatre in Kadina in March, and with a Mother's day show in May and some interstate shows looming, its all looking rather good.
Internally, its an interesting time. I don't feel that big high that I used to get at times like these when I was younger. In its place is a very deep calm and contentment that, paradoxically, seems to anchor me to the flow of what's going on. Its not a new feeling, but its never been this strong before and I'm enjoying it very much.
Its a rainy, cool Sunday morning here in Adelaide. Between now and the 5.30pm twilight show there's washing and tidying to be done.
No.1 (step)son Andy is home from the Gulf - his ship got in this week so its time to claw back his room from the tide of office and exercise equipment to make it liveable once more as a bedroom.
Jeez. I'm stuffed just thinking about it!
Have a great week!
Its been a busy week with lots of radio interviews, dress rehearsals and then opening night on Friday night. So far audience numbers and reactions have been great. Everyone's found something to relate to in the show - even young single males!
It finally feels that we've given birth (so to speak) to this vehicle where we can utilise our talents in a positive and progressive way, so onward and upward!
The comedy industry here in South Australia is so oriented towards young single men that previously womens' voices (of all ages) haven't had much of a forum. That's not a bad thing, its just how it was.
Now we're creating that forum for both ourselves and hopefully for other female comics to come forward. That's probably going to be one of the best parts of the Stuffed Mums project - to help and nurture new talent and give it a voice in the world.
We've already been booked to play the Ascot Theatre in Kadina in March, and with a Mother's day show in May and some interstate shows looming, its all looking rather good.
Internally, its an interesting time. I don't feel that big high that I used to get at times like these when I was younger. In its place is a very deep calm and contentment that, paradoxically, seems to anchor me to the flow of what's going on. Its not a new feeling, but its never been this strong before and I'm enjoying it very much.
Its a rainy, cool Sunday morning here in Adelaide. Between now and the 5.30pm twilight show there's washing and tidying to be done.
No.1 (step)son Andy is home from the Gulf - his ship got in this week so its time to claw back his room from the tide of office and exercise equipment to make it liveable once more as a bedroom.
Jeez. I'm stuffed just thinking about it!
Have a great week!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
It's Called Sunday
Peaceful Sunday morning.
From my chair here at the kitchen table I can see the sun shining outside beyond the shaded deck, the gilt of the pre-noon sun making the greens of the garden even greener thanks to a wetter than usual summer. The sky's a soft pale blue, not the usual brazenly glorious blue that you just want to dive into. Today's sky has a slight haze and the temperature's cooler than the oven-like conditions during the week.
The kitchen's a mess. Remnants of last night's rather lovely bottle of Marlborough Sauv Blanc, a couple of glasses, spoons from when we shared some ice cream straight from the carton while watching a late movie, condiments, a dirty blender jug from breakfast and the kitchen table containing the minituae of daily life - newspapers, magazines, telephones cameras laptops glasses pens cds posters for Fringe. I told you it was messy.
The only sounds are that of the birdsong outside and the occasional huffing sigh from one of the three sleeping dogs.
Its very peaceful.Out there.
Meanwhile inside my head the world is whirling: edit the standup for the show (again), learn it (better), learn the script, tidy up, do the washing, get some dusting done, get something ready for tea, do some exercise, send out more publicity stuff for the show, what am I forgetting, there must be something I'm forgetting, think think think.
And so it goes on, for at least 16 hours a day, and much of the 8 that I sleep, I suspect, as I go from world to world not quite able to keep up in that one, and only slightly less cack handed in this one.
Perhaps its the remnants of the virus I had this week that's making its way through my workplace, sending us all dizzy and cramping.
But its probably not. These are the usual conditions inside my head.
Why can't I absorb the peace of my surroundings? Perhaps I need to develop a more 'fuck it' kind of attitude.
Ah well. I suspect I'm not the only one with whirling brain syndrome, virus present or not. Chances are you have it too. What's the solution?
Well, I heard when i was a child that in Iceland television was dead on Thursdays. There was no TV service at all to allow families to spend an evening together hopefully communicating.Maybe we could have a kind of 'time out' day to kick back and relax?
Oh dur, I've just realised that we do. Its called Sunday.
I think this is where I came in...
Have a good week!
From my chair here at the kitchen table I can see the sun shining outside beyond the shaded deck, the gilt of the pre-noon sun making the greens of the garden even greener thanks to a wetter than usual summer. The sky's a soft pale blue, not the usual brazenly glorious blue that you just want to dive into. Today's sky has a slight haze and the temperature's cooler than the oven-like conditions during the week.
The kitchen's a mess. Remnants of last night's rather lovely bottle of Marlborough Sauv Blanc, a couple of glasses, spoons from when we shared some ice cream straight from the carton while watching a late movie, condiments, a dirty blender jug from breakfast and the kitchen table containing the minituae of daily life - newspapers, magazines, telephones cameras laptops glasses pens cds posters for Fringe. I told you it was messy.
The only sounds are that of the birdsong outside and the occasional huffing sigh from one of the three sleeping dogs.
Its very peaceful.Out there.
Meanwhile inside my head the world is whirling: edit the standup for the show (again), learn it (better), learn the script, tidy up, do the washing, get some dusting done, get something ready for tea, do some exercise, send out more publicity stuff for the show, what am I forgetting, there must be something I'm forgetting, think think think.
And so it goes on, for at least 16 hours a day, and much of the 8 that I sleep, I suspect, as I go from world to world not quite able to keep up in that one, and only slightly less cack handed in this one.
Perhaps its the remnants of the virus I had this week that's making its way through my workplace, sending us all dizzy and cramping.
But its probably not. These are the usual conditions inside my head.
Why can't I absorb the peace of my surroundings? Perhaps I need to develop a more 'fuck it' kind of attitude.
Ah well. I suspect I'm not the only one with whirling brain syndrome, virus present or not. Chances are you have it too. What's the solution?
Well, I heard when i was a child that in Iceland television was dead on Thursdays. There was no TV service at all to allow families to spend an evening together hopefully communicating.Maybe we could have a kind of 'time out' day to kick back and relax?
Oh dur, I've just realised that we do. Its called Sunday.
I think this is where I came in...
Have a good week!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Stop The Brain Spinning
Its 23 January and a significant date in a couple of ways.
First, its my lovely husband's birthday and so very special because of that. I never knew that two people could fit so well together, that even when we're doing different things in different parts of the house, it feels so much better just knowing that he's there. We'll celebrate two years of marriage this year and its funny, it still feels new while at the same time it feels like we've been together a million years.
In another way its a significant day as we've taken one more step in bringing Three Stuffed Mums - both the show and the brand - out into the real world. We had coffee this morning with one of our superb Fundbreak supporters, Linda. We met in the coffee bar and within a few minutes you'd have thought we were old friends. conversation flowed easily and happily with many laughs. Its good when you meet people who are so easy to be with - makes you feel like you're in the flow.
And the third way that today is significant is that it means we have only three weeks and five days until the show opens. Heavens, its been so long in the planning and production that it's actually going to be real! Our songs and our comedy, married into a brand new show and a new outlook on what we're doing with our performing careers - what a blast!
So, I'm going to tootle off just now to see if I can stop my brain spinning for a while. Hope y'all have a great week!
First, its my lovely husband's birthday and so very special because of that. I never knew that two people could fit so well together, that even when we're doing different things in different parts of the house, it feels so much better just knowing that he's there. We'll celebrate two years of marriage this year and its funny, it still feels new while at the same time it feels like we've been together a million years.
In another way its a significant day as we've taken one more step in bringing Three Stuffed Mums - both the show and the brand - out into the real world. We had coffee this morning with one of our superb Fundbreak supporters, Linda. We met in the coffee bar and within a few minutes you'd have thought we were old friends. conversation flowed easily and happily with many laughs. Its good when you meet people who are so easy to be with - makes you feel like you're in the flow.
And the third way that today is significant is that it means we have only three weeks and five days until the show opens. Heavens, its been so long in the planning and production that it's actually going to be real! Our songs and our comedy, married into a brand new show and a new outlook on what we're doing with our performing careers - what a blast!
So, I'm going to tootle off just now to see if I can stop my brain spinning for a while. Hope y'all have a great week!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Sending Love Across the Ages
Can love be sent across the ages?
Can strength and healing be sent back in time?
Something has happened this week that's made me desperately want this to be possible.
Having just dipped my toes into the whole genealogy thing, looking at my family mainly from their time in the late 1800s in Donegal, their move to Glasgow and subsequent generations, has been a revelation.
By what seems sheer chance I've been put in contact with a cousin I never new I had (hi John!) - a grandson of my grandfather's sister.
It seems the genealogy bug had also hit John and he's amassed an amazing amount of information, but one episode stands out and is particularly heartbreaking.
My grandfather Thomas was the eldest in the family. By the time he married my grandma in 1917 his youngest siblings were still young. His mother had died and soon afterwards his father died leaving Bridget (11) and young John (10) as orphans - that's them in the photograph below with my great grandmother Margaret Gallen, Sarah and Mary at the back, and in the front row, Bridget and John.
From what we can see of the documents my grandparents applied for some relief to the responsible body, saying they were happy to have the children with them but they would need some help as their total earnings were little more than two pounds a week - not much to house, clothe and feed five people, as a baby had appeared by then.
It seems the request for relief was refused and the children were taken and sent to the poor house.
Not much is known after that bar a few notes on the official documents that John found (and wisely advised my sister and I not to read them at work).
On Bridget there isn't much. Some papers later say that she bore a male child in 1929 at Stobhill Hospital. There is a record that he was baptised but no name and no birth certificate found as yet, and certainly no marriage certificate - she was still listed as McGinty, our family name.
On John, when he was admitted he was diagnosed as being 'mentally defective' and 'feebleminded'. This poor wee boy who'd lost his parents and now was taken away from the rest of his family - even his sister. Of what happened to them later, John seemed to catch TB and was discharged from hospital back to the guardianship of the state as a 'mentally deficient' in 1925 and he died in 1940 at the age of 32 of 'acute pleurisy and myocardial insufficiency'. We don't know as yet what became of Bridget.
The thing is. I knew I had photos of John and Bridget and this weekend I searched them out as they were pics of them as adults. I'd looked at them before with interest but now, knowing their story, well, quite a few tears were shed. There were photos of them as adults, but I also discovered some of them as children too and I just wanted to grab them and take care of them myself, but all I could do was a bit of useless weeping.
So, if by some miracle of deity or science there is a way of sending love and comfort to two little children over the distance and time back to 1917 at 61 Oran Street, Maryhill, Glasgow, then please do that.
Can strength and healing be sent back in time?
Something has happened this week that's made me desperately want this to be possible.
Having just dipped my toes into the whole genealogy thing, looking at my family mainly from their time in the late 1800s in Donegal, their move to Glasgow and subsequent generations, has been a revelation.
By what seems sheer chance I've been put in contact with a cousin I never new I had (hi John!) - a grandson of my grandfather's sister.
It seems the genealogy bug had also hit John and he's amassed an amazing amount of information, but one episode stands out and is particularly heartbreaking.
My grandfather Thomas was the eldest in the family. By the time he married my grandma in 1917 his youngest siblings were still young. His mother had died and soon afterwards his father died leaving Bridget (11) and young John (10) as orphans - that's them in the photograph below with my great grandmother Margaret Gallen, Sarah and Mary at the back, and in the front row, Bridget and John.
From what we can see of the documents my grandparents applied for some relief to the responsible body, saying they were happy to have the children with them but they would need some help as their total earnings were little more than two pounds a week - not much to house, clothe and feed five people, as a baby had appeared by then.
It seems the request for relief was refused and the children were taken and sent to the poor house.
Not much is known after that bar a few notes on the official documents that John found (and wisely advised my sister and I not to read them at work).
On Bridget there isn't much. Some papers later say that she bore a male child in 1929 at Stobhill Hospital. There is a record that he was baptised but no name and no birth certificate found as yet, and certainly no marriage certificate - she was still listed as McGinty, our family name.
On John, when he was admitted he was diagnosed as being 'mentally defective' and 'feebleminded'. This poor wee boy who'd lost his parents and now was taken away from the rest of his family - even his sister. Of what happened to them later, John seemed to catch TB and was discharged from hospital back to the guardianship of the state as a 'mentally deficient' in 1925 and he died in 1940 at the age of 32 of 'acute pleurisy and myocardial insufficiency'. We don't know as yet what became of Bridget.
The thing is. I knew I had photos of John and Bridget and this weekend I searched them out as they were pics of them as adults. I'd looked at them before with interest but now, knowing their story, well, quite a few tears were shed. There were photos of them as adults, but I also discovered some of them as children too and I just wanted to grab them and take care of them myself, but all I could do was a bit of useless weeping.
So, if by some miracle of deity or science there is a way of sending love and comfort to two little children over the distance and time back to 1917 at 61 Oran Street, Maryhill, Glasgow, then please do that.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)