Getting closer to Christmas

Well its getting closer to Christmas and it seems a strange disjointed process this year. We received our letter from Santa and we have all the presents selected for my daugher.

I have also managed to offload some old toys on e-bay. What a drama that is.

Today we went to a fun bycycle track at St Peters, complete with traffic lights, roundabouts, crossings, speed bumps etc. Though it was rather hot, we were expiring from the humidity by the time we finished.

Joanne
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Melbourne

It was great to visit Melbourne for work - to see Short & Sweet, before the opening of our season in Sydney on 16th January at the Newtown Theatre. Such a wealth of talent at the finals. Very inspiring.

The best thing was staying with some friends, getting to hang out, spend some time, chill out. Enjoy the Melbourne seasonal weather, wander the streets and lanes.


Joanne
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Sydney Childrens Choir

Well final year concert for my daughter in the mini whites of the Sydney Children's Choir. This is the backstage shot.

My report back is that it was pretty boring and that Arran's choir had a supporting role. They did look cute, but yes that is the truth.

It was one of the most noisy concerts I have ever been to, lots of background children noises, coughing etc. The coughing was the worst during a solo. However, it was a beautiful concert despite these things. I believe it is being broadcast on ABC 702 on Christmas Eve.

So we have decided to pass on choir for the moment. It has been like pulling teeth trying to motivate Arran for the lessons and rehearsals. Whilst we love to sing and dance at home, we shall keep it there for the moment.

Joanne
www.ceressolutions.com.au

E-bay

Yet another world of codes and unspoken rules. Indeed after having actually sold stuff on e-bay some time ago, going back today it was another layer of offers, ways to spend money and those commissions have certainly gone up a few notches.

I am just wondering what sort of market is there for Barbie/discarded toys, is it worth the effort? Well I'll see in a week or so.

If you happen to be after a Barbie Castle either very large or smaller tabletop verson please have a look on ebay, with a search under Barbie Castles for my two offerings. Seller details Joanne7544.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Unspoken codes

Its been a while since I travelled in peak hour. Having my own business I usually arrange meetings at less frenetic times.

Very strange to be at Town Hall station, going against the tide of office workers was a touch intimidating, paritcularly when you don't know where you need to go. Signage is obviously not done by people who have to find their way.

Also, other codes, the practice of an "honour system" to pay for your coffee, where you help youself to your own change.

All that focussed energy on their way to work, all those crowded people on the train - seems like a foreign country!

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Another birthday

This time it was a double eightieth for my Uncle John and Aunt Sunny. Next month is their 45th wedding anniversary, so great to be able to celebrate this with family and friends, looking over beautiful Middle Harbour.


Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Blast from the past

So we meet up with Robert Bryce-Muir from whom we purchased sculptures whilst living in London. Great to catch up with someone from the past and really quite odd, as we didn't know him that well in England, but it seems that having his artwork around has made us friends.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Women in Jazz

So what is the story with women in Jazz? Just attended a great festival in Wangaratta and was surprised by the absence or minimalist state of women performing. I know there are some out there, and they are good, so I wonder why?

Apart from that what a great place to visit and what a nice festival.

My only complaint was the dodgy drunk crowd and the length of the wait for a taxi on the Saturday night. If you want people not to drink and drive you need to provide a way to get home!

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Arias, catching up

Did anyone else out there notice on the Aria awards tonight how many times drinking, getting plastered and partying to excess where mentioned? I know rock n'roll and the pop scene has a reputation but quite interesting to hear how many times this kind of partying was mentioned before what I assume is an impressionable audience who would look up to their rock stars as roll models.

Aside from that, what a busy week. Good to catch up with friends, see movies. Seem to have done a good trade in chick flicks this week with the Devil wears Prada (great frocks, always love a haute couture gown in Paris) and how to lose a guy in 10 days - absolutely excruciating.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Aria awards

Did anyone else out there notice on the Aria awards tonight how many times drinking, getting plastered and partying to excess where mentioned? I know rock n'roll and the pop scene has a reputation but quite interesting to hear how many times this kind of partying was mentioned before what I assume is an impressionable audience who would look up to their rock stars as roll models.

Aside from that, what a busy week. Good to catch up with friends, see movies.

Seem to have done a good trade in chick flicks this week with the Devil wears Prada (great frocks, always love a haute couture gown in Paris) and how to lose a guy in 10 days - absolutely excruciating.


Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Complaints choir

Friends

Catching up today with my friend Ed who now lives in New York, distance, such tyranny, no chats over dinner or coffee. However in this world of global communications, also how easy to be in touch.

I am trying to encourage Ed to move back to Sydney, although his family is in the US.

I reckon that in this world friends are the people you choose to grow old with, not the ones that you inherit.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

A quick weekend away

It doesn't take long these days to escape Sydney and head to the South Coast. 90 minutes gives you time to slot into a different mind space, - look at the cows, sheep and the greenery.

Life definitely has a more relaxed cadence away from the City.

The big question is how to decide the best way to invest my money. Is it property or is it shares?

Is Kiama Downs a good location for the future, is it a sea changers place?

Very much a guessing game for me at the moment.

Oh, the need for a crystal ball!

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Rolands Birthday

What a pleasant way to spend a Sydney afternoon celebrating roland's birthday, in the gardens of the Peggy Glanville Hicks' House.

Joanne
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Steve Irwin

Amazing how we can be so moved by a celebrity, so well known, but still a stranger.

The amount of tributes and outpouring of grief, is this a curious modern phenomena?

I know I have certainly been moved and I find this remarkable as I didn't even know the man.
Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Snapshot on another side of life

We went to a film as part of the Israeli film festival which featured the lives of military conscripts in Jerusalem. It was interesting to see the personal conflicts experienced by young people who have no option but to participate in the military. For the Palestinians there is the grind of having to provide identification just to proceed with a semi normal life and the humiliation of constant searches.

It reminded me of our visit to Jerusalem and the youth of the conscripts and the sheer terror on their faces when put before a possible bomb. Every day life, taking place.

What a concept for us in Sydney, where the sun shines, terrorism seems light years away.

It is important for us to create or work towards a world where living in harmony is possible. To live in fear and terror is half a life.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

How blissful it is not to do anything

Ok, it seems as though I have to admit it, I just can't help myself I seem to cram something into every waking moment, and now that there is blogging, there is even more activity to occupy myself with.

I keep on meaning to read that book, but have a pile by my bedside that grows taller by the minute.

I also have a stack of music that will last me hundreds of hours.

Now I am painfully weaning myself of music and book shops in an attempt to plough through the backlog.

What bliss to do nothing, but oh what guilt when I have so much to do.

Must send myself a daily reminder to slow down

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Trivial pursuits

So it was a Sydney week of hailstorms that looked like snow and atmospheric fog and mist. Traffic really came to a stop in Western Sydney with people crunching down ice covered footpaths and what looked like snow drifts.

Followed by the fun and frivolity of a school trivial pursuits night - whoever invented that game has a lot to answer for! Though in the way of fundraisers it was pretty good fun.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Business and positive thinking

Having started my own business I am overwhelmed by the fantastic response I have had. It is so much more fun working in so many different areas of the arts from theatre to music, visual arts and dance.

It is also incredibly liberating to have the freedom of choosing my work. My criteria for my clients are as follows:

1) I have to believe in what they are doing
2) I have to get on with and actually enjoy the company of the people I am working for/with
3) I have to believe they can actually do something with what my suggestions/support

So far so good and possibly it is what ask for you get.

Well my next steps are to go full steam ahead with Women and Wealth, a financial online magazine - with there's more to wealth than money being our tagline. So watch this space for progress in that area www.womenandwealth.com.au or even register online for our free e-newsletter.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

A winter chill, ducks and nostaligia

So, a winter chill has crept back into the air, and what better time to have a party by the beach, if you happen to have a house, open fire and views. It is fantastic that there are pockets of freedom where you can pretend you are in the country, dotted around Sydney. Add into the mix, musicians jamming, a relaxed atmosphere, ducks out the backyard and who would think you were in the middle of Sydney.

Other tastes of a different point in time is Aristotle's cafe on Oxford Street. A reminder of all those semi plush Greek cafes that you can find all around Australia. Gems like ham and pinneaple toasted fingers, mince and everything served with chips. This is a place to sink into your booth and and hang out. Actually a little reminiscent of Sweethearts - of the Cold Chisel song fame Breakfast at Sweethearts.


This is in rugged contrast to the arctic type chill at the Wharf space being used for the Biennale. If one of the pleasures of art is to reflect and contemplate, then you need to bring your own heater ! However the space looks incredible, lets hope that this Venue can be shared by the arts community and its audiences for performances, art and hanging out.

If you are interested in supporting an arts space, with music at its core, let me know.

www.ceressolutions.com.au
Joanne Kee

Banana Republic

So it looks as though we really are a Banana Republic.

The humble banana, once the staple of many a household is now a "serious" luxury item. Outclassing other rival fruits such as the boring orange or apple, the banana has made it not only in terms of being a semi exotic fruit, but its also been hitting the headlines with its hold over the economy.

Look out global petrol prices, Australia has bananas.

Can a banana really be responsible for an increase in interest rates?

As for me, I am still puzzled as to why the cost of banana bread hasn't gone through the roof.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Geographical borders

So in a week I have crossed geographical borders with a flavour for the Middle East, a taste of Belgian beer and frites with some dance from New Zealand thrown in.

The music from Iraq was powerful and poignant. In these times of so much conflict, music is a powerful source of inspiration, hope and joy. Ismail Fadhi's voice and music are rich additions to our cultural landscape.

The relationship between Synergy, Omar Faruk Tekbilek and Hossam Ramzy also highlight the energy and soul which can be captured through the fusion of music from both the West and East.

This richness was counterpointed by a poignant comment from Abel Guterres, Consul General in Sydney speaking at a fundraising about culture and its possibilities for Timor Leste. A culture which is rich, but at the moment unfortunately impoverished, as stories which were previously handed down orally from generation to generation are lost through untimely death in times of conflict.

Sadly it seems an era of many untimely deaths. How can anyone on either side expect that causing death and disability, wiping out civilian populations and running up "innocent" casualties is not going to be repaid by hatrid and vengence to whoever is the aggressor. It is a forgiving person indeed who can forgive and turn the other cheek.


from Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Once in a lifetime

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Its a small world

Sitting amidst the packed auditorium at Disney on Ice watching "Its a small world" made me think that the world as Walt Disney knew it, is probably a hell of a lot smaller than he ever envisaged.

Thinking of the innocent people in Lebanon and wondering how I would feel if my child was part of that community dance troupe from Australia who have now been told there is currently no safe way out, with war being declared today.

This is certainly a long way from the spirit of love and world peace that a "small" harmonious world was supposed to inspire. How sad that innocence is no guarantee of safety.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Away

I was out of the country when Michael Gow's Away was first premiered.

Recently I was fortunate enough to be one of the fortunate few who were able to to see the production at the Griffin. It was beautifully performed and staged. A moving story of family, love, life, secrets and regrets.

An experience transcending the times. The poignancy of family in a time when emotions were surpressed. Mass communications allowed an innocence to society.


Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Arran and me

Photo courtesy of Greg Barrett












Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Where is or isn't it

Recently, having had to go to places I am not familiar with I have had to look up directions.

What better place to look than the web. After all, the traditional street directories are cumbersome, inevitably the destination I am going to is on the crack at the very end of the page, which means I have to twist and turn the map, cross reference and keep on flipping pages. Not to mention I have reached that stage in life where a large version directory would be much appreciated.

So, a quick search online and a range of variations appear. I cannot believe how user unfriendly some of the information is. Hello????? how is that pink line across the map supposed to give me any idea of which roads/streets to take. But I guess it is obvious that I must then refer to the step by step directions and equally unhelpful smaller maps which accompany these.

Each time I have gone to use them, I am amazed at the convoluted routes they suggest for me to leave my house. OK, I am not sure how to get to my destination, but my confidence levels erode when I can't even work out the route that they suggest I take in the first few turns in my own suburb - or they simply don't make any sense.

Not to mention, if I am going to a destination like Edwin Street, why does the trip finish at Frederick Street. Rather a mystery to me.

Has anyone found a better option? I have gone back to the street directory.


Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Lion or is that Line Dancing?

My world this week took me to Belmore - home of the Canterbury Bulldogs. A well known (in Sydney) - Australian sporting team.

Sporting clubs in Australia are often grand affairs. Coloured lights, sculptured landscapes, waterfalls in the grand manner of Disney. There was no disappointment here.

My social mission for the night was to say hello to my Auntie and check out the line dancing.

It was bargain night at the bulldogs, with a free coffee and cake voucher thrown in with the price of the meal. We all love a bargain, and even though I was full after my steak special, I soldiered on to partake of coffee and a lamington with cream.

Yumm! (for those of you not familiar with Australian cultural delights, a lamington is a chocolate covered square of sponge rolled in dessicated coconut. Similiar to cookies in America, it used to be the fund raiser's choice, with "Lamington Drives" abounding in my childhood. Now it is much harder to track down and sadly cannot be found with the same regularity as muffins or banana bread - which abound in every cafe in Sydney. I didn't actually eat it, it was just that I had never before been served a lamington on a plate with whipped cream and I just wanted to look at it. However my extended family tucked in with gusto.

Then onto the line dancing, it seems a rather popular pasttime, with a room full of people spinning and strutting. The next day I described it to my friend and mentioned that I was quite surprised that 80% of the participants were Asian, but he found it not surprising at all for Lion dancing.



Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

10 canoes

A recently released Australian Indigenous movie really made me think about the different realities we all live in and obviously the time, place and space continuum and how this effects our perceptions of the world.

Whilst the movie is set in two different time spheres, not too much changes if the environment around you remains unaltered. However, if you throw in some western popular culture and offer a different world, what does that do to the balance of life?

I am sure there is a plethora of research on these issues and the outcomes are still being debated. Its a bit like Schrodinger's cat, what exists? and which reality?


Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Useful information if you live in Sydney

I have always thought it would be useful to have information on roadworks and special events.

This image is from their website - Big Brother is watching. There are cameras everywhere.

Of course the RTA has all that information for travelling through Sydney and beyond. Very useful link http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/trafficreports/index.html


Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Sydney Harbour Bridge in fog

Image by Joanne Kee

There is something about a hazy winter's day with sunlight filtering through, symbolic of hope, beginnings.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Lunagraph - Sydney

This is the work of Ed Hughes, who I am working with. He has created an amazing technique of lunar photography.

If you are interested check out his website. If you live in Sydney he has a gallery exhibition which is opening on Thursday 6th July from 6.30-8.30 @ Matilda Framing Gallery, 10 Beattie Street, Balmain.

http://www.lunagraph.com.au/.

Joanne
www.ceressolutions.com.au

New website launched

Hurrah! finally my website has been launched for my business www.ceressolutions.com.au!

Kate Bush

My 6 year old loves this and I am amazed on what you can find on the web!

Tantrums and temper in the age of immediacy

At age 6 what an amazing perspective to feel the world revolves around you.

Then how annoying to find a world filled with adult rules and other people's perspectives.

Strangely, one of the images I love of my daughter is of her sulking. How incredible to feel that life isn't fair and that it should revolve around yourself. If I can't have it now it's not good enough.

The world of need it now.

Watch out world when this generation of alpha females grows up!

Fifteen minutes of fame

The web is a great social equaliser, with everyone able to register for their 15 minutes of fame.

What is amazing, is the number of people who have the time to view things on the web. Also the viral spread of popular videos. It is incredible the number of people who have viewed the video Evolution of Dance and the capacity to exponentially increase the hit rate.

What makes a hit?

Day to Day

It is amazing how busy my days are. There are so many things to do and it is very liberating to have more control of my time, but yet, the list of things to do and things I would like to do grow and grow.

Developing my arts business is very time time consuming, making sure I am up to date, keeping my ear to the ground. Plus all the practical admin stuff that needs to be done.

However, the range is fantastic. An example of the people I am working with are a wonderful photographer Ed, who specialises in a technique called lunagraphs, which have the most amazing luminescent quality. Daisy, a singer who is launching herself with her own songs and style. A short play writing festival, Short & Sweet.

My dream project is working with a group to develop an iconic music precinct in central Sydney. That is ticking along and is very long term - fingers crossed.

Past imperfect

Recently my Uncle Henry died and at this funeral, I learnt more about him than I had in the many years that I had known him. With a sense of family connection in mind I went to visit my Aunty Phyliis and her daughter Sherry to find out more about the family history.

What struck me most was a memory she had of my own childhood about my mother always carrying my older brother up the stairs and making me walk. When I mentioned it to my Mum, she didn't remember this and decided that it must have been my grandmother.

My six year old daugher remembers slights from over two years ago and holds onto them, long after everyone else involved has moved on. For myself, my recollection of events is often so different from my husband's, its as though we have been existing on parrallel universes.

There are so many recollections of the past which vary. It is interesting which ones stick in some people's minds and which take a back seat. No wonder history has so many different versions.

Business ticking along

Things are moving along nicely with the businesses. My client base is growing and I have had the opportunity to meet some fantastic and inspirational people. The great thing is that you never know what might happen and the process of actually finishing up a chapter in my life has opened up all sorts of new and exciting possibilities.

I am working with a designer, Annie for the launch of womenandwealth.com.au. Currently this is a registration site only, but hopefully the full site will be up and running in July.

Perrie Croshaw the Editor is putting together the content. She has a fantastic background in finance having launched the Money Section of the Sydney Morning Herald and having been Editor of Women's Money.

There has been so much encouragement and support for this venture, it seems that there is definitely a need for financial education for women. I would love to have some feedback on this one as to what other women are interested to read about. If you have comments they could go to jkee.womenandwealth@gmail.com

Our plan for this is to provide a free fortnightly newsletter and our website will be full of information on financial matters that can be used as a reference site.

Alongside that I am in the process of setting up a website ceressolutions.com.au which should be up and running soon. That is really a business card type site for my arts consulting work. So quite different types of sites.

Anyway, back to work now.

New business

So I have decided to leave the security of a steady income and try my hand at starting my own businesses - never one for half measures I am looking at two. Things are ticking along. I am taking a very philosophical - live in the moment attitude.

One is setting up an online financial/educational magazine for Women - Women and Wealth - there's more to wealth than money. www.womenandwealth.com.au to be launched in August.

The other is working with small to medium sized organisations to grow and maximise resources, particularly with reference to the arts, Ceres Solutions.

So far, so good, but it will be interesting to share my experiences.

More to follow

Jump in

I have decided to join the blogger's world and am starting off on my adventure today.

Any tips or feedback would be very welcome!