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
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Saturday, July 22, 2006
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
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
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Saturday, July 15, 2006
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
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
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
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
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
Monday, July 10, 2006
Sunday, July 09, 2006
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
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
Friday, July 07, 2006
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
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
Monday, July 03, 2006
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
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
Saturday, July 01, 2006
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
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