Paul's Corner

if you can say that and absolutely believe it then you will have discovered a path to Nirvana. I say this because no matter what insurmountable obstacle or difficulty sits before, aft or to the side of you it will fade into insignicance. Yes things are tough, unfair, unjust and just plain suck at times but life too is full of perfect moments that we forget to acknowledge and honour and in doing so deny ourselves that which we seek constantly for - a profound place of peace - a place that is in easy reach to us all simply by acknowledging....:"this moment is perfect

Magazine and News Paper journos have become a lazy lot - well actually it is more likely their bosses cutting costs and so instead of beng interviewed face to face I am often sent a questionnaire asking if I could fill in the blanks using about 400 words and send it back. These questionnaires can cover subjects like whats in your shopping basket, 6 things you cant do with out, list your three geatest moments, list your three greatest failures etc you get the picture. So below is my response to the latest questionnaire sent to me asking that I write about 4 things I think are good, three that are bad and one ugly.

I thought I would post it here as I haven't posted anything for a while and this is part of what I do and who I am. It may or may not stir people up a bit which may or may not be a good thing.

Thinking is not dangerous action with out thought is.

Good

Beer -- often called nectar of the gods and for good reason too. Not only does it taste good and make you feel quite pleasant (in moderation of course) but the making of it employs hundreds of people from farmers, chemists, truck drivers, manufacturers, marketers, publicans, chefs and of course brewers. So I feel good knowing every time I have a glass of the amber nectar I am helping to keep hundreds of Aussies in jobs!

Family -- It is not always easy but it is fun, full of laughter, love and the smell of cooking onions and garlic and it makes me complete. It has made me a far far better man than I ever could have hoped to be.

Choice -- some would say there are two choices in life - a good choice or a bad choice but I have discovered that there really is only one choice -- and that is to choose Happiness. If you choose to be happy, you will be, and all other choices you make in life when you are in that happy state will be good ones because you were happy to make them.

Love -- it is about the spiritual and positive connection to oneself and thereby to the world around us. It is infinite and insatiable the more you give the more you get -- it makes the world go around.

Bad -- Religion --More wars have been fought and more people have been raped, tortured, maimed and murdered all in the name of religion than for any other reason in the history of the world. Let’s face it the world would be a much safer and happier place if we did away with religion.

My disappearing hair line -- it's a bit like life really there is nothing you can do about it but make the best of it and just go along with the ride and eventually do the only thing left to you and shave your head.

Emission Trading Scheme/Politicians/Desalination Plants -- it seems to me as a humble observer that there are many decisions being made by bored politicians without enough thought being put into them. How are fish in the sea supposed to cope with millions of tons of salt being added back into the ocean? How is the planet going to cope with the extra pollution created by burning the extra coal to create the extra power needed to run the Desal plant? How are any of us going to be able to pay the extra taxes on top of the extra charges being levied on all commodities by the lazy politicians because of this misguided idea of an ETS? The world is going mad.

Ugly -- people that don't smile. A simple smile is a wonderful gift not only does it spread joy it makes you feel good and also shows ones inner beauty!

I have just finished watching My Biggest Fan with my wife and my three daughters and we all thought it was a wonderful heart felt journey into some truly beautiful people! Even you too Ellie!

Wow, what a refreshing and honest approach Tara took and what a wonderful; insight into Millie and her life! It was so lovely to see you guys and get a glimpse of your life and to also see and meet your lovely daughters. I am just buzzed!!! My wife and daughters really enjoyed the whole journey and of course we have a vested interest in it as their Dad was a part of it!

Tara what a wonderful and honest story told thank you.
Millie you are truly a wonderful woman.
Ellie love the hats and what a cool dude you are!

After talking and reading from you guys it was a privelige to meet you through Tara's film.

I am now your biggest fan!

much love

Paul, Andrea, Elise, Emily and Erin

I'm tired of saying things

I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired

I hate feeling like I hate feeling

I get annoyed at getting annoyed

I'm over being over it

I get frustrated every time I get frustrated

Ive had enough of having enough

Why do I allow my negativity to feed my negativity....

I never get sick or tired or annoyed or hateful or negative or get over choosing happiness.

why does it seem easier to feed our negative side than it does our positive side?

worry begets worry

joy begets joy

they are not the same but they are companions.

I wish you all a very merry Xmas!

and now I must stop myself from talking about how tough this year has been as I will leave that to my New Years post - but it has been tough hasnt it. Much changed over the year good and bad, some of us have lost loved ones and some have gained some!

My Xmas wish is that we embrace the past and give thanks for what we have right now! In this moment be grateful for the good in our lives, the love we have and love we are able to give. Be thankful and in being thankful feel the joy that that brings and therefore be joyful and spread it around!!

XMAS CHEER TO YOU ALL!

Yep today Andrea and I have been married for 22 years!!!!

Struth!

Some one asked me what was the secret or the key to 22 years of what would seem a successful marriage....my answer is:

1. communication - speak and listen...be honest in your communication....it is unconditional meaning it must need be open, honest and complete

2. unconditional love - no matter what, the basis of the relationship is just that - an unconditional love - thereby the commitment being to each other and working through what ever problems arise. Being married is about freedom not about boundaries but about freedom to love. That is a journey which is most rewarding and spectacular.

3. the absolute desire to grow and better oneself as an individual and as a married couple

The above points set the responsibility upon us, the challenge is to be completly open and honest. Lastly I would add be greatful and be rejoiceful for it is a wonderful thing to be in love after 22 years!

I am.

They say that time heals pain but I have found that it doesnt. It softens, deadens, eases, gentles, dilutes, lulls us into a space that only distance can provide - a kind of temporary shelter from the storm. And as is natures nature the storm comes and with it the pain comes searing back - hot, ready, raw and real.

Thankfully it's hold is only momentary, I guess that is the one gift time gives us.

I cant help but wonder what my brother would be like and what he would be doing as he enters his 45th year of life. It has been nine years since he decided he no longer wanted to be part of lifes journey and I miss him as if it was the day after he departed. No, time doesnt really heal pain it just stays it - keeps it at bay for as long as it can until a time comes that pain comes gracefully and brutally knocking at the door of my day.

That day is today my brothers birthday.

Death is something that must happen it is a natural by product of life, suicide however isnt, it is an unatural by product of fear and is just a waste.

We brought Selby into the family a few weeks ago and he is an absolutely lovely if slightly cheeky little puppy. He is a white shephard/husky cross with a little bit of samoid in there also.

Some people have commented on the fact that we got a replacement for Lady - which has annoyed me - nothing can replace Lady - Selby is a new member of our family, a companion to Charlie and a big white gaurd dog for Andrea and the Gilrs when I go away. I miss Lady very much and every time I get on to the Corner I see her and it hurts a little that she just went so fast and without warning....

The photo of Selby is when we had just brought him home and now hwe is twice as big so I wil post another photo soon.

Some people love it, some people hate it, I think I may be addicted to it!

My life and that of my good Wife has always been that of a gypsy. Our work was always about travelling to places to perform, to earn our crust and return home in the off season to rest, sing, dance, eat and prepare to move on again in a short while. When we were on the road we would be in a town for one or two nights, or sometimes for a week or two but that was it. If we were on tour in another country we would again spend maybe a week at the most in one place before moving on to the next few towns - yes we are gypsies and so change does not scare us for it is our way of life. What scares me is the need for change I often feel.

If you look at my working life even when I was in the one job - the longest continuous job I have ever had - that was 10 years with the Sydney Dance Company a lot of which was spent out of town. Gee if I take a moment to reminisce about all the travel and tours we made - fantastic memories - I could fill this blog with stories and places. I could surmise that we spent just as much time on the road as we did at home travelling all over Australia and all over the world. I think of all the wonderful places I’ve seen, all the weird and wonderful meals I have had and all the wonderful locations I have danced in. It always astounds me when I meet someone who has been born and lived in the one town sometimes in the one house all their lives. And they are happy. I think that is amazing and they are lucky for sometimes people seek change because they are looking for happiness and cannot find it.

So why do I seek change? Habit I think. I am happy, I am content but I seem to want to be moving, travelling, being.
My wife and I have been married for 21 years - 22 years come this December - and we are about to move into another house (September) that will make 10 different homes we have lived in within the 21 years we have been married!! See what I mean about my need to change, my addiction the gypsy way of life? (You can add another three places of dwelling when we were girlfriend and boyfriend if you want) And of course none of this includes the hotels, motels, hostels and friend places we have stayed in over the years of touring around this great globe we call the world.

I wonder how long we will last in our next house??? Each time we have moved into our last three home we have said this is the last time we are going to move and we mean it - this is the last time we will move. But I cannot see us living in one spot forever. We are moving to a lovely area where I plan on getting a shed and some chooks, putting in a fruit orchard and growing cider apples so I can make a good traditional apple cider - alcoholic of course. I plan to build a wood fired oven out the back yard so I can entertain friends and family with wonderful pizzas, whole roast goat and homemade sourdoughs. I plan, I plan, I plan......to some day live somewhere for more than a few years at a time but then again I already yearn for the next place where I and my wife will travel to and put down roots for a while before moving on.

You see life is about change to me, its in my blood and in my soul. Change brings growth, brings stories, brings adventure and for now whilst I can I am going to continue that journey for there is plenty of time later to sit by the fire, hold hands with my dearest and reminisce.