Heya everybody!! :O)
I Use this phrase an awful lot and really there has only been ONE person who knew what I was on about. So I guess now is as good a time as any to give you a meaning to Chookas!! [and sorry, no it is not my nickname :O)]
“Chookas” is a theatrical term for Good Luck that my mum and her cronies in the [Australian] National Theatre Ballet & Opera company made up back in the 40s 50s. Back stage in a theatre it is bad luck to say “good luck” [or whistle or mention “Mac…” That Scottish play :O)] and the usual wish of “Break a leg” is not a dancer’s favourite so Chookas was invented.
I use it now to wish people well – good luck & happiness and all that :O) and it is spreading! :O)
I taught it to the singers Kylie & Danni Minogue [and all the other students in our school when we were there in the 70s] and Danni was lately a judge on a TV show and she taught it to the contestants there and thus most of Australia who watched her :O) I think she’s spread it through the music field and It has spread down through the theatre other ways as I have heard it returned to me from other people I’ve not told! :O)
See !! So Chookas! :O)
PS and yes I really did know the Minogue girls They were in lower forms at my high school. Danni was an angel but Kylie was a tramp in the makings! She wore dresses with hems just under her nickers and her hair piled high and make up and jewellery to rival any hooker and she “Owned” one of the toilets – terrorising anyone who wanted to use them with threatened cigarette burns or hairspray in the eye. But alas all the males in the school, students & teachers alike, LOVED her! It was as if she had some spell she could wiggle her bum and chew her cud [chewy] and they would drool! What’s more Kylie had a thing for my younger brothers and would come over seeking them Mum & I would cover for them and send her away and my brothers would slide out from under Mum’s bed gratefully!
But even better I was her last choir mistress ….. and I chucked her out of my special 5 part harmony choir because she has an inner ear problem and goes off key when others sing around her! I told her “Stick to Solo work or BIG choirs where it wont be noticed if you go off the note!” We went on to win the eisteddfod … she went on …. well we all know what she went on and did! <)
Karma slapped me with watching her walk into “The Sullivan’s” TV shoot time and time again until the Producer / Director bloke shouted “Cut! Someone write a part for that girl and get her out of everyone else’s shots!” and THAT’s how she got into TV. Worse still they bought MY uniform off me for her to wear cos mine was the old one! >/ gggggggrrrrrrrrr man did we hate her! >/
Sometimes I shout to myself KEEP HAPPY!!!!! :O)
Zolton, 2 months ago
Oh my goodness! ha ha. This was entertaining. Thanks for the explanation of Chookas. I knew it was something like that. I loved Kylie when I was 15 but we don’t hear much about her in the States anymore.
adgray, 2 months ago
she got an bloody MBE for her contribution to music the other day >/ grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!
Oh well I have 5 gorgeous children so pththththtththththththththtth silly bloody big eared big mouthed twit of a girl! << Kylie that is!! <)
Chookas sweety X♥X
AngelArtist, 2 months ago
I thought Chookas was an Aussie term for hugs =) Now I am enlightened =)
Miri, 2 months ago
aaaahhhh! that’s it is it? i thought it was well wishes of some kind :
)) LOL!!and you taking on the Minogues…i’d pay to see that ;
binjy, 2 months ago
LOL
*watches this space for the accusations of slander ;) *
Good stories!!!
Thankyou.
Sally Omar, 2 months ago
Alyssa, Thank you so much…wondered what Chookas meant….and I figured it had
to be a good wish…I love it and am now going to end all my e-mails to my friends
with “Chookas”....Sally xxoo
Bev Woodman, 2 months ago
woooooaaaaah – thanks for the Chookas thingy – I did think it was your nickname but interesting story. Even more interesting the Kylie story!!!!!!!!!!
Di Jenkins, 2 months ago
Am I the ONLY one who knew what you meant? Surely there are more on the bubble who’ve heard it! LOL!! You may also have heard the “don’t kill a spider backstage” thing … that was always a hard call for an arachnophobe like me!! Chookas!
Kristina K, 2 months ago
that makes two of us re kylie, i did an interview with her when i worked at a radio station 3rpp, you probably know it, and she wasnt very nice and talked badly about her “friends”.
chookas is a good word. thanks for sharing. :) k
stephaniek, 2 months ago
Thanks for telling me what “Chookas” meant! You are the only person I’ve ever heard say it! I’d heard of Kylie in the 80’s with the “Live Aid” concert, but she never really made it big here in the U.S. Sorry she was such a witch to you!
adgray in reply to Di Jenkins’s comment, 2 months ago
Yes you were the only one in here out of the 350 people I watch and however many watch me who had the foggiest about what I was on about :O)
That was until today and Larry posted a reply to me on his Southbank shot BEFORE I posted this :O)
Chookas gal Keep happy! :O)
Oh yes the don’t kill a spider thing … my mum & dad never would and I grew up lovingly moving them outside instead of killing [all except those horrible bloody introduced damned white tails gggggrrrrrr kill ! kill ! kill ! :O)] .... now I know why :O)
adgray in reply to AngelArtist’s comment, 2 months ago
Usually said whilst hugging so you’re not so far off :O)
Chookas sweet Angel :O) X♥X
adgray in reply to Miri’s comment, 2 months ago
did I no tell you afore gal? shiesh sorry :O)
and for a while I thought I had been dreaming or mistaken but no my old school buddies hated her too and still hold me in reverence that I chucked her out of the choir! I believe she has had loads of lessons since but still no one can “Fix” a problem with an inner ear! :O) The funniest thing was my 2 brothers hiding from her – they kick themselves now lol :O) the younger one sighs over her now [“she doesn’t have to sing all she has to do is stand there!” was his explanation of why men love her] but back then he hid from her & the older of the two is now Gay and impersonates her :O)
adgray in reply to binjy’s comment, 2 months ago
hee hee hee
Love her to try it! she’d have half the bloody school down on her so fast … mind you just the female half the males would be too busy drooling and smiling stupidly to think!
Hows trix up on the river? Still dust dry?
Chookas gal X♥X
adgray in reply to Sally Omar’s comment, 2 months ago
Good for you Sal – we shall turn it into RB’s official Good luck cry! :O)
Chookas gal! X♥X
adgray in reply to Bev Woodman’s comment, 2 months ago
hee hee hee fankoo Bev
No others have thought it though & let’s face it in this day and age on the net you could call yourself bloody anything …. nope you can’t cos I googled it & it has 424,000 hits for it! :O)
yeah bloody Kylie lol the bane of my life ! <) no not really but it is weird that we came out with the same breast cancer scare at the same time too – mine thankfully is malignant but I had to wait 2 months to find that out – she’d had it dealt with and recovering in the same time! [I’m still waiting for my lumps to come out but <)] Geeze can’t even have a cancer scare without her doing one better!! <( lol :O)
adgray in reply to Kristina K’s comment, 2 months ago
When my baby bro was turning 21 i sent her an invite. it was when she’d just started at neighbours and her PR person sent back an formal decline with “Miss Minogue regrets to inform you she does not do personal appearances” and a bloody photo that someone had signed for her “Dear alyssa happy 21 love Kylie!” I tore it to shreds added a post it note that had one word on it “Poonce!” and put it in an envelope and then into her mother’s letter box by hand!
My sister’s boyfriend was Dragon’s session drummer and she was dripping off Michael’s arm even then. He told me she was gorgeous and sexy and teased them all but if any of them tried to hit on her shed have them reprimanded by Michael & the manager and put on notice then she’d play up to them even more knowing they would be fired if they touched her!
She never was very good at loyalty :O)
Chookas gal X♥X
adgray in reply to stephaniek’s comment, 2 months ago
Weren’t you lucky Kylie flopped over there! :O) lol
That’s because she was such a cut out copy of Madonna – or trying to be – she was never successful in Madonna’s home turf! and England loved her!
Well she can stay in England – we don’t want her back :O) .... no the guys probably do <)
Danni lives here and she is very welcome :O)
Chookas gal :O) X♥X
adgray in reply to stephaniek’s comment, 2 months ago
PS Love those cat’s eyes :O) ♥
Tainia Finlay, 2 months ago
chookas right back at ya ad!! I didn’t know what it meant so thanks for the enlightenment! As for ‘Kylie’ can’t understand why the Poms love her? no talent … thats why I moved over here lol .. to get away!! Hugs, Tai ♥
adgray in reply to Tainia Finlay’s comment, 2 months ago
OUR GAIN!!! :O)
Much better talent & you’ll definitely sing better! :O)
Chookas to you too gal :O) Keep Happy! X♥X
Tania Rose, 2 months ago
Yes, I remember the first time someone said chookas to me in theatre, and i thought it was really lame ( i was in my teens at the time). I didn’t realise it had escaped from theatrical circles and into popular culture. Never mind. Our secret’s out now.
adgray in reply to Tania Rose’s comment, 2 months ago
That makes 4 of us :O)
I am rather impressed that you a professional in NSW has been initiated to the Chookas that my Mum and her friends started here in Melbourne 60 years ago!
We should have a Chookas Party – 60 years of Chookas! :O)
Happy birthday to chookas happy birthday to …. no no no … >/ ... that’s just silly now! >/ lol :O)
Chookas gal! :O)
PS
Went and visited your official website but my PC doesn’t have a sound card <( I sing – have done LOADS of stuff from Gregorian chant through to heavy metal but best of all was my madrigal stuff > 12th – 16th C stuff / church and street :O) I have a natural ability to harmonize and have a 4 octave range so I would greatly appreciate what you do!
Thank you for dropping in and reading my words :O)
Keep Happy! X♥X
Tania Rose, 2 months ago
Thanks adgray!
Actually, wheni first heard it i was living in Adelaide. Then heard it again once i moved to sydney. Seems it has become a staple saying in theatrical culture right around the country! And. BTW, just to clarify, i no longer think it’s lame!! LOL
barnsis, 2 months ago
Chookas! to you also, what ever it means and what ever language it is in Chookas you you, Sounds dirty \:-)
liesbeth, 2 months ago
I’ve read it so often in your comments…never really wondered about it..had to be somethng like this… love the story behind it though..
colbrown, 2 months ago
just having a roam around r.b. while the family watches ALIEN. Not my cup of tea….understand the chookas… at my dancing class it is cool bananas… one of the girls introduced it years ago.. pronounced cooooool bananas , Regards Heather
dawndavies, 2 months ago
so glad i found out what it was, hee hee
adgray in reply to barnsis’s comment, 2 months ago
lol Don’t let my mum hear you she’d be out with the lyre soap! lol :O)
Chookas! X♥X
adgray in reply to liesbeth’s comment, 2 months ago
Fankoo!! :O) Chookas gal XX♥XX
adgray in reply to colbrown’s comment, 2 months ago
Ooh Alien – now that one was ok Sigourney made it ok
Sleepy Hollows was better :O)
and then the funniest was Pirates of the Carribean – Johnny Depp’s comedy debut – I went alone and was shushed every time I giggled at the funny things until he stepped off his crows nest onto the dock then I cracked up and the audience finally twigged it was a comedy :O) He’d been such a serious horror actor before then :O) – but then I always laugh at horror flicks :O) Come a roaming any time :O) and yep i remember Coool Bananas :O) I’m sure that got started from that silly TV show – “Banana Splits” :O) 1 banana 2 banana 3 banana 4 …. !! :O)
No no no I’m wrong it was a Mickey Dolenz thing from “the Monkees”!! :O) Same era different silliness :O)
Chookas! XX♥XX
adgray in reply to dawndavies’s comment, 2 months ago
hahaha I cant believe I haven’t explained it before :O)
Chookas sweet Dawn XX♥XX
PS did I tell you my middle name? – Dorne mum wanted it a mixture of her mum’s name Dora and Mum’s name Lorna thank god I didn’t get Dorna :O) [blame Dad he stuffed up the birth notice paper :O)] ♥
colbrown, 2 months ago
Have been a television a holic since early childhood. I remember my father building our first t.v., he bought home a part each week from where he worked building them. Remember the old style cabinets that went to the floor? I used to get in the cabinet (before it had insides) with my puppets and play at being on t.v…..he was later a t.v. repairman, and I married a t..v. repairman, his name is Colbrown….Col no longer repairs t.v.s, just had a memory flash. Do you remember Deadly Earnest? used to sit up on friday nights with dad and watch it on Chl.O. long long ago.. Regards HeatherMy parents and family thought I was Morticia
colbrown, 2 months ago
I just realised my mind has gone off tangent.. not quite a seniors moment… must have been the mention of the monkeys etc…R, Heather Mickey Dolenz… ah ah ah