Melbourne writers meetings 

14 creative works found

• Melbourne writers' meet - February
  by bellmusker

  (NB: this journal post has recently been edited with updated info. To leave your details for the next meeting, see the journal post abov…

  (NB: this journal post has recently been edited with updated info. To leave your details for the next meeting, see the journal post above this) February saw a relaxed little meet that involved readings on a sunny picnic blanket, swilling of wine, and even a little tree climbing. We met at the Art Gallery, me with my two red balloons and for once, a camera as well as a pen. Nine of us turned up, the usual suspects (LisaG, Jessica Tremp, Kristy Lee, Mark German, Chris W & Michael Alesich), plus the lovely addition of Chanel2 and Amanda Witt – we love it when newcomers join us!! The only glitch was that we couldn’t track down Anne Van Alkemade, due to a misunderstanding…still feel bad about that. So sorry Anne – it wasn’t the same without you! Resourceful as we are, we tied a note to the red balloons and secured it with red ribbon to a tree, hoping to catch the attention of any late arriving bubblers. As far as we know, it could still be there….and wandered across to the Botanical Gardens. A shake of the picnic blankets, uncapping of the lenses and pens, and away we went. For those who are wondering what happens at these meets…..we take it as it comes. Generally, there’s a lot of chatter, a bit of bubble talk, and then anyone who chooses to can thrown a piece of writing (or five) onto the middle of the blanket. If you don’t feel ready for that, fine, but you’re welcome to pick up a piece from someone else and read theirs out. This time we discussed the bubble writers whose work we enjoy, and recommended a few names to each other. With that in mind, a few points were decided for the next meet. How about people bring two pieces of writing from a bubbler whose work they admire – this is a fabulous way to spread the word about the amazing talent in this place. Much as we enjoy each others’ work, it’s so rewarding to stumble across someone new and unknown – and even more exciting to pass that on to someone else. Also, for those ready to show their own work, we’ve decided to choose a theme for each meet that you can write to – and this month’s theme is ‘feast’. We were grazing on the delectable array of cheeses and fruit laid out on the blanket (special thanks to Chris for his incredible chunks of fresh fruit marinated in orange blossom water, lime juice and brown sugar….oh…my….lord…..) and it was remarked on how central food is to our sense of community, and connection. Write wherever that topic takes you (and yes, I have several ‘feast’ pieces in my writing folio, but I’m not cheating – I’ll write something new!). The date – there’s been a lot of shuffling around with dates, due to Easter, Grand Prix, other bubble activities etc. I think the only way to do this is to take the bull by the horns and say – from now on, the Melbourne Writers’ Meeting is the first Sunday of every month. So the next one will be Sunday April 6th, early afternoon, city location. More details will be available as it gets closer. If you can’t make Sundays, there will be other sporadic meetings that I’ll keep you informed about. Stay tuned for details. Thanks!

• feast - april writers' meeting
  by bellmusker

  A gorgeously sunny afternoon saw the numbers swell at Wesley Anne, with our usual corner table struggling to contain the ranks. Username…

  A gorgeously sunny afternoon saw the numbers swell at Wesley Anne, with our usual corner table struggling to contain the ranks. Usernames were proffered as wine was poured and pens uncapped, and with stories and poems forming a pile on the table in front of us like a pagan offering, it began. These meetings are quite a casual event. We spend some time chatting, getting to know each other, discussing Red Bubble and all who sail in her. We were greatly appreciative of the presence of the divine Mummified, who cruised in with her usual exuberance and take-no-prisoners attitude, spilling an armload of sample books onto the table and demanding our opinions. Giving a table of writers wine and then asking for their views on Red Bubble is an ambitious undertaking, but not a word was wasted as she scribbled everything in her magical little notebook, and then silently slid below the table before disappearing in a puff of ether…….. The theme of this meeting was ‘feast’, and such a delicious array of words poured forth…..glazed pears, salt and pepper tails, skin like rice paper, browning apples and black cherry beer (Paul, when you taste your first Kriek, I’ll hear your yells all the way over in Northcote!). The theme is merely inspiration, and provides a loose framework for the pieces we bring along. The theme for the next meeting is shoes & clothes…..make of it what you will. We’d also decided to bring pieces from other Red Bubble writers; words that kicked us in the heart and lingered in our heads for days; words that needed to be shared. It’s easy to get locked into your insular little Bubble world, where the less prolific or vociferous writers could get lost in the shuffle, especially now we’ve reached over 50,000 members. Hearing each other’s recommendations was a fabulous way of sharing the magic of this place, and had our pens flying. There’s now a forum here where you can leave your recommendations, or pick up new names to keep your fingers dancing over the keyboard at any time of the day or night. The meeting spun out into an evening of ink and imagination…..but if it’s gossip you’re after, well, my lips are sealed. I wouldn’t possibly tell you about Kristy Lee waltzing off with Mick8585’s beloved hat, or that for such a stunning woman, LisaG hides from the camera with hisses, leaving Chris growling “don’t touch the lens!” FriarTuck finally gave in to my persuasive bubblemails and turned up, and I wouldn’t possibly tease him about his spectacular exit (no, really, I wouldn’t). Newcomers Yasemin Sumner and Luckyvegetable were amongst the last left standing, as relaxed and at home as if they’d been to every meeting, still sitting with beers in hand when I ambled off home. We left an array of plump little olive pips as evidence, salty crusts of bread strewn in glossy pools of balsamic vinegar and rosy stains in the bottom of wine glasses….’twas a feast, after all. / the troops gather / Luckyvegetable braves a reading / FriarTuck torments a certain camera-shy beauty / The only way I could get JulieJulie and Jessica Tremp’s attention was to ensure their wine glasses were empty (note to Jo O’Brien: I remembered the red balloons!) / Luckyvegetable and Paul Louis Villani, giver of THE BEST hugs ever, and a damn good writer (no more “I just write songs”, Paul!) / With an expression like that, this could be the door bitch, I think / Kristy Lee thinks she can take her on While Yasemin Sumner wants a ringside seat Thanks Perpen Dickular for the photos!

• Feast, fed, fast
  by Mummified

  Zooming into the writer’s meet at the weekend, I was a woman on a mission. / Locate the olives and gorge myself. No, hang on, that was the…

  Zooming into the writer’s meet at the weekend, I was a woman on a mission. / Locate the olives and gorge myself. No, hang on, that was the secret squirrel mission. The proper mission was to get some feedback on the format of the books that are published going forward and a bunch of other tasty items. Lots of useful feedback on “In the moment”, terrific commitment by writers to unearthing new talent on the featured writing page, some postcards in a tin and a whole lotta love….

• Redbubble Writer's Meet
  by Adrian Carmody

  ..a few photos from yesterday. I tried not to be too intrusive, but the light demanded that photos be taken! 1 / !http://photos-d.ak.fa…

  ..a few photos from yesterday. I tried not to be too intrusive, but the light demanded that photos be taken! 1 / / 2 / / 3 / / 4 / / 5 / / 6 / / 7 / / 8 / / 9 / / 10 / / 11 / / 12 / / 13 / / 14 /

• Music Soothes The Savage Beast...
  by Paul Louis Villani

  So indeed, music does tame the mighty savage beast. / For I am living proof of this amazing tuneful feat!

  Was inspired by a piece written by LisaG / / Music is the theme for the July Melbourne writers meet / / Comedy really isn’t my forte but this just flowed, enjoy! ;p / Peace and hugs to you all! :)

• A Worship of Writers
  by John Robb

  A few select, and unedited, images from the July Melbourne Writers meet….. ...

  A few select, and unedited, images from the July Melbourne Writers meet….. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

• cleopatra's brew - august writers' meeting
  by bellmusker

  There was warm spiced wine….there was golden sunshine spilling onto the table…..and there was Chris White, surrounded by Red Bubble wench…

  There was warm spiced wine….there was golden sunshine spilling onto the table…..and there was Chris White, surrounded by Red Bubble wenches. The Melbourne Writers’ Meetings have varied in size and atmosphere, from twenty vibrant revellers on the sun deck of the Northcote Social Club quaffing sauv blanc, to a dozen watching rain drip off the awning near the open fire of the Wesley Anne beer garden. Today’s festivities were cosy and relaxed, and all the more enjoyable for it. / / Chris was the only male and took it all in his stride, competing with my camera lense (his clearly won) and engaging in his usual battle of the wills with a fiercely camera shy LisaG. The only way I could get her to pose for me was to ply her with wine – an old technique, but a good one. We were blessed with the reappearance of two old school bubblers, Kristy Lee and JulieJulie, and the laughter was enough to shake the windowpanes. The theme was animals, and our menagerie for the day included dogs (Chris), butterflies & lions (Kristy), ladybirds (LisaG), horses (Erin Lyall), monkeys (Nicole Ryan) and as anyone who knows me could predict, I brought along serpents, with a few flicking cat tails for good measure. Over to the deck of the Social Club for dinner, downing chilled wine as the sunset threw such light onto Erin & her beret that conversation faltered as we all stopped to admire her. A strut down the street to CocoLoco, a divine bar specialising in hot chocolate so richly seductive that Kristy almost melted over the floor…..I don’t think the staff will forget our bubble posse in a hurry. Some pics….... And so another writers’ meeting draws to a close…..the last for winter. It just won’t be the same without the mulled wine.

• Interview with Adgray!
  by Paul Louis Villani

  The Melbourne & Victoria Group February Writers Meet...

  The Melbourne & Victoria Group February Writers Meet is just around the corner! / So, what better time to interview a writer from this group and a lady whose love and talent for the written word inspires so many, including myself! :D / Please meet Adgray and check out some of her wonderful written works here. / / 1) How did you find Red Bubble and are you enjoying this online artistic community? / / A Friend Told me I could see his art on here so I came in to look and then realised my own dream of establishing my true talent for writing. / / 2) Describe yourself and your art… do you “live” your art or is art a separate thing in your life? / / I live my art! Words are in my head all the time swirling about and then when they collect I must write or lose it! BUT my life, or should I say the people in my life, demand that I keep it as a separate thing and desire that I only give it “X” amount of time after I have fulfilled all their expectancies. All of them that is except for my fiancé Michael and my 3 younger children. They try very hard not to disturb me when I’m writing! / / 3) So far, what has been your greatest artistic achievement and where are you headed, what your dreams both personally and artistically? / / Phew! Can I say I don’t know if I have achieved my greatest yet? But I suppose to date I have written a book … erm SAGA. I had destroyed my ankle [the left one but that would be adding too much detail for such a small response expectancy] and was pretty much stuck in my house alone for 8 months. So what do you do when you can’t get to a shop to buy a book & the ads on TV make viewing shows next to intolerable? You write a book of course! The Daintree Daughters or you could read my Authors Note. / / But I perform as well – singing acting dancing – I had some hassles with an ex and stopped performing for almost ten years. Then started again although I still had hurdles to get over for singing so I took along the First Paragraphs of the Saga and read them out as a collection of prose to a group of people at the Local Open Mic Nite. I gained so much confidence from the fact that by the end of the reading the hall was so silent I could hear the audience barely breathing – either I had intrigued them in the words enough [or bored them to death] …. and there was that pause as the audience waited for more … then they exploded in a standing ovation! ... Kids too! / / Then I thought “Well if they liked my reading they may like my singing again”. So I tried but really didn’t give it my all again until I was asked to put a song on the local artist’s compilation CD “InputOutput” I did Gershwin’s “Summertime” with the local High school’s Music teacher backing me on guitar and after I laid it down in the studio I came out of the booth to see stunned faces! My fear was I was THAT bad but then they exploded in cheers and applause so laughing I felt better! lol / / But How can I go past my best creations to date? I have 5 brilliant children! Each one of them achieve in their own ways so exceptionally! the eldest two are men; the eldest one a top tiler [floors & walls] and the younger [Tom] just left school. The three youngest are in the bubble – my daughters Bjboo , – a writer & photographer Gynnirox – my stunning little writer & my baby son Rangafox – a very promising photographer / - Yes for those who panic about children being exposed to the adult world – I am teaching them how to cope with the adult world and find a path through it where they can shine for themselves … isn’t that what you do? They cannot suddenly be adults just because you stuck another candle on their birthday cake. And in the world of art they have to be strong in themselves to survive the bitchiness that will attack them! I would say this bubble is the best training ground for them! They only have net access in my home or school anyway and so I am always there to supervise, and the school’s net-nanny has blocked redbubble until they are in year 10 But HOW GOOD IS IT that the senior high schools are recognizing RedBubble as a brilliant introduction into the art world!☺ / / OK so What do I hope to achieve …. Where am I aiming to from here? / Artistically: / 1- I must get a book printed before my father dies [he’s 80 & holding up well but there just may be a bus with his name on it!] so he can read it! / 2- To be a published writer just to prove that my Scribbling was not in vain! / 3- To have the collection of Ekphrasis pieces I have done here in RB to be published in a book(s) with the art that inspired them. / / Personally: / 1- to have my children settled and happy / 2- to get married to Skik [& have his child would be brilliant!] / 3- to have my health sorted out and improved / 4- to have this home set up right & our social life happening / 5- to have our country home found [to move to in 7years time or as soon as we can!] / 6- to travel around our gorgeous country [& maybe the world] / But overall wouldn’t it be brilliant to do a World RB Party Crawl! ☺lol☺ / / 4) Who has or have been the biggest influence on you as an artist? / / My family in both positive & negative ways, [Stop that Scribbling! lol] / - The RB community for encouraging my writing when I think I’m just blathering in the wind – like I have always been told in the past! / - My cherished Nana for when I was 8 she recognised in me my brilliance for “Story Telling” and told me to “Write the stories down and I will be a published writer one day!” / - The first actual person to ever praise my creativity was my favourite “Uncle” a man named Steven Hacobean who is married to my mother’s cousin and who taught me the meaning of longevity is to “Live doing what you do best!” / - Seeing my daughters and sons echoing my talents is HUGELY validating! / - But mostly my Dad for insisting I give him my first published copy – not because he didn’t want to read what I had written but because then I would be accomplished having been published! / / 5) Name 5 people you would have over for dinner and what you would cook for them? / / [how’d you know I could cook? lol] – Crikey just my family is over 20!!! Have you seen my Watchlist? Only 5? I can feed 100 in half an hour …. Oh OK I’ll try …. but just remember I’m a writer NOT a mathematician! lol / So aside from my family & close friends [about 12 of them!] / ☼ RB artists -You, “Joak”, “Pagly”, “Sally Omar”, “Sweetscents”, “DawnDavis”, “Liesbeth”, “Miri”, “Jem”, “Trace”, “Larry”, “Binji”, “Trudi”, “Woody” & the 2 Darrens “Dazza” & “Dareeen” Oh stuff it …. My watch list! All 775 of them! lol☺ (WOW What a party that would be!!!!! [I think I have to go through my watchlist lol but you have to admit it would be an awesome party! lol / / Other Influential people … John Farnham, Steven Hacobean, Mel Gibson, Barbra Streisand, Meryl Streep, Sarah Ferguson [Duchess of York one], Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Hugh Jackman, Judi Nunn, JK Rowling & Dame Elisabeth Murdoch [just cos she’s awesome at 99yo & lives up the road from me & loves my Tom! lol! / / The MENU: / Starters – water crackers with fine slices of smoked Emu with King Island Brie, Bega vintage tasty, brandy port & sage paté & a selection of Aussie Bush Fruits with ice cold lager [Fosters or Vic Bitter] / Entrée – pumpkin soup & bush damper and a salad of steamed yabby spinach & bok choi flowers tossed in mint and garlic balsamic vinegar with a crisp Jamison Run Chardonnay / Mains – campfire seared roo fillets served on a bed of “Bashed” baked potatoes drizzled in red wine jux, with red & Chinese cabbage coleslaw & bush chutney with a full bodied Yearing Merlot / Dessert – brandy snap baskets filled with forest berries clotted brandy custard & home made vanilla ice-cream drizzled in mint chocolate; a stack of chocolate ripple biscuits (Cookies) soaked in Rum-Port & sandwiched with fresh whipped cream dressed in strawberries & chocolate mint sauce; mini Pineapple cheese cake & mini Pavlova with cream & crushed mint slice chocolate bar served with a seductive Brown Brother’s Orange Flora Muscat Saturn / Afters – fruit, Aussie cheeses, Arnotts Chocolate covered Biscuits [especially Tim Tams & Teddy bears] Jaffas & Malteesers, Kool Mints & Fantails with coffee & Port [Rum, Tawny, Muscat, Toque], whiskey or scotch. / / WHERE is just as important and I would set up camp around a redgum / lemon gum fire on top of a mountain with panoramic views! We would gather there at 5 o’clock on a brilliant summer’s evening and to the tunes of Irish and Aussie ballads enjoy our scintillating conversations and the brilliant ambiance of the Aussie High Country bush! / So when shall we indulge? / Now the quick ones … ☺ / What are you? / Realist or Dreamer = DREAMER!!! ~ realism’s so BORING!! / / Dancer or Voyeur = DANCER!!! ~ why watch when you can have the fun doing it!! / / Harmonica or Sitar = Harmonica ~ those haunting lullabies or the bright bubbly jigs! I much rather the tones of ballads and blues, folk & classical, but then I dance to Big Bands and well I guess anything that has rhythm! lol / / Chatterer or Listener = Oooh um … Both but probably the chatter, well story telling & words are my art! Mind you in my world of writing I also listen constantly – to music, children laughing, birds, animals, the bush, crackling log fires, waterfalls, wind in the trees, waves on a beach, ... people, traffic, air-conditioners … [pretty much in that order! ... but at the moment the aircon is obliterating pretty much everything else!] / / Color or B&W = either, I had the privilege of both B&W and Colour TV viewing and I found I imagined the colours pretty spot on! I dream in colour and I like to balance my colours. I find the monotones dull unless you dress them up with a touch of colour! But then I also feel the drama and warmth even in B&W / / Books or Mags = ha! Here I have you completely stumped! B O T H !!! I have 4 books & at least 2 magazines about the place at any one time, and there’ll be reference books & Novels and Classic Tombs all open at one page or another! Words are my Art & my LIFE! / / What are your… / Favorite TV show(s)? = F-Troop, Monkeys, MASH, Muppet Show, Scrubbs, Boston Legal, House, Five Mile Creek, McGregor Saga, Maverick, Sullivans, Hey Hey it’s Saturday, Rove, Midday, Disneyland, Better Homes & Gardens, Travel Shows, Lifestyle DYI shows & Makeover shows, Layland Brothers, Rolf Harris, ... ok I’m scraping the barrel now lol / / Favorite Movie(s)? = you ready? lol / Man From Snowy River [1+2], All the Rivers Run, Against The Wind, the Matrix, the Harry Potters, the Indiana Jones(es), Mad Maxes, Lethal Weapons, Die Hards, Wild Wild West, Maverick, ALL the 50’s Golden Hollywood & Broadway Musicals, Buster Keaton Marx Brothers, Charlie Chaplin & Laurel & Hardy movies, Jerry Lewis movies, Donnel O’Connor movies, Walt Disney Movies, James Bond, Shakespeare In Love, Becoming Jane, all the English Shakespeare remakes & the Austin & Bronte movies, BUT above all “The Court Jester!” Danny Kaye / / Favorite Band(s)? = Oh man make it easy why don’t you! Uuuuummm, “The Corrs”, “The Gundaguys”, “Crowded House”, “Police”, “Cold Chisel”, “Supertramp”, “Men at work”, “Talking Heads”, “RedGum”, “LRB” … Does “John Farnham” count as a band on his own? [In which case Barbara Streisand, Tina Arena, James Blunt & a few others lol] How bout the 40’s Big Bands? And I guess anything else in the same lines … whatever they are! lol / / Favorite Song? = I’m a singer! I cannot say just ONE song but I guess “Corner of the Sky” from Pippin is close cos I’m still looking for mine! / But I also love “Chasing Cars” – Snow Patrol , “the Reason is You” – Hoobastank , and John Farnham’s “Reason Why”, “Eternally”, “Comic Conversations” & “Help” / and along with them all my son’s band Youngblood’s only recorded song – “In Your Silence” / / Favorite Place in The World? = I haven’t been around the world to see everywhere yet and I haven’t actually found the “X-spot” but I know it would be up the Victorian High Country! / I long for somewhere I can sit and breathe and not see another person I didn’t want to for MONTHS!! / / Favorite Saying / Quote? = / “Nil Despiradum Illigitimus Carborundum” has helped me survive just so much! / [to translate it literally – “Deny permission for desperation of illegal grinding!” / or colloquially – “Don’t Let The Bastards Grind You Down!” lol] / I know it’s not a quote or saying but Chookas! is very important to me and I wish it to everyone I can! / But then I think of what I have on my profile: / “Smile and the world smiles with you / Cry and you cry alone…. / But if you laugh which is infectious / Imagine the growth of such an illness sown” / [don’t know who wrote the first bit but the second bit I added! ☺] / It goes with my tag of “Keep Happy!” and now my Bubble sign tag of “Happy Bubbling!” / I noted you didn’t give me a Literary section (lol) so just in case ….. / / Favourite Book / Author? = Banjo Patterson, Henry Lawson, Dianna Gabolden, JK Rowling, Jack Whyte, Shakespeare, Jane Austin, the Bronte’s, Judy Nunn and apparently Stephenie Meyer [the writer of the Twilight series that I keep being told I have to read but they won’t give me a book long enough to open the cover! lol] I’m sure there are heaps more but I have a hard enough time for people to read my stuff, who has time to read the list of my fave authors?

• pomegranate is the new black
  by bellmusker

  Quotes in my little red book this weekend included: Books shouldn’t bitchslap you – Adrian Carmody / Speaking of ferrets…. – me / ...

  Quotes in my little red book this weekend included: Books shouldn’t bitchslap you – Adrian Carmody / Speaking of ferrets…. – me / It’s personality vomit – Luckyvegetable / Ah, the classic paddlepop seduction move – Chris White / I’d smash someone in this place for a sausage roll – Yasemin Sumner / He yelled at me so I picked up my box and I ran – Jo O’Brien / There will be cheese – me Please note: during the festivities described, none of us were yet aware of the extent of the bushfire disaster, so I hope no-one is offended by the lack of sombre attitude in this journal post. I don’t think there’s any Melburnian who hasn’t been affected or anyone who isn’t deeply distressed by this hellish week. Please don’t forget to visit The Phoenix Appeal to donate money or artwork to assist the victims. The February Melbourne writers’ meeting heralded the arrival of two interstate bubblers – the wondrous LittleHelen and the fabulous Holly Ringland. In honour of both these beautiful scribes, a celebration was held beforehand at bubble favourite Bar Nancy, where the honey martinis flowed and the food was sublime….black tiger prawns in pomegranate sauce followed by chocolate fondue that had more than a few fingers dipping. The guests of honour, Helen & Holly / Holly & I / The Red Bubble models preparing for a Mark German shoot / Luckyvegetable & Michael Alesich slow dancing….oh, so romantic :-) / Helen & I, and yet another honey martini…or three / The stunning Mizz Holly herself / Two days later we met at the Wesley Anne pub for cider and stories at the writers’ meeting, and the numbers swelled to the biggest session yet – twenty scribes sitting in the beer garden, reading out stories, ducking from cameras, and to quote Yasemin Sumner, being total word nerds. With Holly / Jo O’Brien, Paul Compton, Yasemin Sumner, Sheamus D & Fleece, all listening to a story / Shall you read, or will I? / Eventually the meeting rolled into Madame Brussels, where the rooftop garden provided a gorgeous city sunset for the interstate bubblers…Melbourne at its finest. Holly & Yasemin / Lucky pretending her cute little cupcake wasn’t PINK. / Moving on to everyone’s favourite part of the night…massage time (Lucky & Jess) / Sheamus D & Yaseminka / Sangria & sunshine with bubble wenches / And so we put our lovely wenches back on planes and out of Melbourne…...Helen, whose kickarse spirit and gentle humour are balm for the soul, and pretty damn good for the funny bone too. And babe, you absolutely CAN do cute, believe me! Can’t wait to strut through New York with you in June. And my girl of the Holly, who had the key to my house and all the cherry beer she could handle, who counted cats with me and reminded me of why I write, just when I needed it most. Love you two wonderful women, more than I can say. And some quotes to finish off the weekend…... / Pomegranate is the new black – Lucky / I like to be suckled – Adrian / God bless the selkies – me / I didn’t think you could be naked in a Tudor village – Lucky / Stay out of my orb – Jess / When men do that to me….my god….I’d almost tell them my real name! – me I said almost.

• February Melbourne Writers Meet - Images
  by John Robb

  Sunday dawned much cooler than the previous day for the February writers meet. The meeting was the biggest so far – perhaps it’s the wond…

  Sunday dawned much cooler than the previous day for the February writers meet. The meeting was the biggest so far – perhaps it’s the wonderful presences of Holly Ringland and Little Helen that drew crowds from far and wide. Apologies for not getting everyone on film. / 1. / 2. / 3. / 4. / 5. / 6. / 7. / 8. / 9. / 10. / 11. / 12. / Please note: although there was a slightly somber atmosphere which isn’t shown here, the true magnitude of the natural disaster in the hills was unknown by those gathered at the meet.

• My Cauldron Bubble-eth Over in Little Ol' Melbourne Town
  by Holly Ringland

  Life is short. If you love someone, tell them. Live each day like it is your last. Don’t think you have forever. Dance like no one’s …

  Life is short. If you love someone, tell them. Live each day like it is your last. Don’t think you have forever. Dance like no one’s watching. Don’t sweat the small stuff. / Laugh. Laugh. Laugh. I have been glued to the news (as has everyone) and have heard the voices of those whose have survived an ordeal not a soul should endure in their lifetime. In the wake of the worst natural disaster in Australia’s colonised history – the Victorian bushfires now referred to as Black Saturday, I have been reluctant to post this journal about the weekend I had in my life during the same time that so many others were being ripped and torn apart. But I have decided to post these words that tell the tale of my trip to Melbourne for the February Red Bubble Writer’s Meet… because it was something done in the spirit of squeezing each day for all it’s worth, in my ‘year of yes’ mentality… it was me living my life to the end of the letter and number as best I could. It was an idea born during a late night phone call with the beautiful Bellmusker ... all of a sudden, I had time off work, a flight booked and my new red heels on… and I was dancing like no one was watching. Which is how I ended up in lovely lovely Melbourne town last Friday with my bag and a cryptic map and set of instructions that lead me to Bell’s door (I had to collect her key from a vintage clothes shop whose staff were instructed to hand it over when I arrived). At the same time that I was heading to Melbourne, the gorgeous LittleHelen descended from the Gold Coast and with a pinch of honey, a few drops of french vanilla creme and pints of cider, my cauldron was bubbling away with what promised (and delivered) a most magickal weekend. Friday night was a small gathering of writers around a table of cocktails… haloumi… pomegranate-glazed black tiger prawns and chocolate fondue. We did pretty well for a bunch of starving penniless artists. I gave the Cheshire Cat a run for his money when I was sitting between Helen and Bell about to sip my first honey martini, along with succumbing to the lure of delectably-named cocktails (who wouldn’t order a Saving Grace Kelly?) that were so strong they took three hours to drink (Helen, sweetheart, you know I finished every last drop)... there was the odd splash of dancing (Lisa darling, no one’s ever dipped me like that) and of course spontaneous photo shoots with so many shutterbugs who, so talented, alternate between their pens and lenses… that’s you Michael and Mark and lovely lady Lucky. Oodles of word noodles spilled from our mouths as we talked in skin about the ink and print in our Red Bubble worlds… even though one does tend to start censoring themselves after noticing Bell reaching for her little red notebook for the tenth time in a minute into which all notorious quotes are scribed. After many hugs and joyous exclamations at the enormity and overwhelming wonder of being in-person we all went our separate ways, Bell and I strutting home in our heels, until we met up again on Sunday for the writer’s meet. And meet up we did. In the shock of the sudden twenty-degree cooler weather, we came together in what I’ve been told was the biggest writer’s meet ever around an old table at the Wesley Anne. The rain drizzled, the cider flowed, the words bubbled and brewed away between us… there was more exclaiming and joy at seeing people in skin… and the shutterbugs snapped away at moments like little venus fly-traps at buzzing flies (John, that means you too). I think I possibly almost squeezed darling Helen to death and regularly saturated her with spontaneous gushing and hand-holding and hugs. Finally getting to hug PJ Ryan for the first time was a ridiculous pleasure… as it was to be in the golden and serene company of Jess Tremp and Yasemin Sumner along with the rest of the talented writers and artists whose work I have spent many hours marvelling over (Paul Compton, after your reception, you know you’re a rock star). It was bliss and delight to meet Rebekah, Fleece, Jo, Friar Tuck, Sheamus D, James and Paul. As Yase has said, the happiness could have made you levitate over the goodness at the table. Especially when Adrian and I discovered our mutual feelings over the ‘bitch-slap’ factor of the emotionally-scarring Bridge to Terabithia in our childhoods. It was an absolute treat. And then it was time for reading… and I read out a piece of my work. Let me just say it was a good thing I kept my paper under the table from which I read… so no one could see my hands shaking. But I was silly…for the reactions were so warm and supportive and wonderful and encouraging… although Yase was so incredibly lavish with her praise and humbling response that my chin let me down and wobbled ferociously. Cue more cider. And so the meet continued on a tram to the middle of the city were we sat amidst the roof tops of Melbourne’s skyline and things were so sublime I truly expected to look amongst the church spires and smoking chimneys and see Dick Van Dijk dancing with Mary Poppins. More words, more laughter, more massages from Yase that rendered me wordless (basically achieved the impossible there darling) and lots of good time with a group of incredibly good people. Home we eventually went and this Cinderella turned back into a pumpkin… although I know damn well it wasn’t my one-time-only ticket to the ball… and my glass slippers are ready for more waltzing. Red Bubble… thank you. And to my girl of Bells, who took me in and showed me Melbourne… what can I say to you, beautiful witch of wonder and words? Your writing is incredible, your words are sheer spells of the unique and transcendent kind. Being with you in skin was all light and wonder… spunk bubble... you taught me the art of the graceful yawn… french vanilla creme in my coffee… the sheer appreciation you had of me wearing red lipstick all hours of the day… Etta James… roast chicken and fetta-filled olive feasts… black cherry beer on a fifty degree day… and not thinking me compulsively obsessed with being clean when I kept jumping in for another cold shower every five seconds when it was so hot. Bell… thank you. So Monday came and took me home… amidst the growing black cloud of sorrow that envelopes our nation… and with my writerly mind replete, my heart and imagination full to the brim with the energy and company of such magnificent talented people, thanks to this red bubble in which we all reside, I took each breath with immense gratitude and the knowledge that I was living without wasting a moment or a day. And in times like these in our essentially perfect lives compared to those who are suffering so unfathomably, apart from our donations of time, money, shelter, love, empathy, compassion and provisions, this awareness and gratefulness is all we have. The Cheshire Cat with LittleHelen, Bellmusker and three frosty cold honey martinis. I spy a divine LittleHelen window… Bliss and a hot summer night on High Street. Sheer cheekiness Happiness overload at the February Writer’s Meet Serious and contemplative artists Pensive and attentive Bubbles Bell reading her insatiable Kohl Girl piece The Madams Loveliness at sunset Devoted Bubbley artistes!

• Madame Brussels and Wesley Anne - A writers Meet
  by Michael Alesich

  A meet of people, just over a week ago started in the Northcote abode to all writers known as the Wesley Anne. With numbers in the twenti…

  A meet of people, just over a week ago started in the Northcote abode to all writers known as the Wesley Anne. With numbers in the twenties it continued on into the evening until it collided in the city with a bar called Madame Brussels. Punch, cigarettes and light food abound, the night rolled over to start the work week again.

• I don't just take photos
  by MichaelCouacaud

  hello to anyone who reads/watches me, The latest Melbourne & Victoria Writers Meetup was entertaining and great to see new people and …

  hello to anyone who reads/watches me, The latest Melbourne & Victoria Writers Meetup was entertaining and great to see new people and to finally be free to attend one. It takes a while to get out of my shell/bubble but I was unable to stay for the readings. Anyway being there made me want to point out that I also write. / So here’s a more detailed rundown on how I got started for those who weren’t there I started to write poetry in 1998 for an unrequited love at high school. There i wrote about notepads of longing poems for this girl. I did tell her how I felt but i don’t think she felt the same. I even left her i a rose by her door on valentines day and even ran away when I heard a big dog bark. Then in 1999 in a bid to “release” here from me I gave her my books leaving them on her doorstep. Every now and then now I regret doing that because coming into contact with her through Facebook the poems have been lost. Then in 2001 I started to write poetry again not just love but lust, eccentric ones and fantasy worlds. Music like The Cure, Interpol, Placebo, The New Pornographers and Arcade Fire helps me express what i sometimes lack to say aloud. In 2003 I ran into my late high school friend Natasha, being such a free, positive and creative spirit. She become my muse inspiring me to draw and start photography and more writing. Every now I then i used to meet with her and she read my poetry encouraging me and praising me. seeing the beauty in me that I was blind to. Despite her tragic death she continues being a great muse whilst other women have joined influencing my art. / Lately I have gone off writing in due because of photography. So in the last year and more recently I have added poetry from new books to find new readers. So now i ask you if you like poetry just click on to my writing section of my profile. I will add more work and hopefully become better like other writers I watch. have a creative day

• 

  Writer's Focus
  by MichaelCouacaud

  Thoughts streamlined, emotions, open for interpretation and tales ready to be told.