tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50694758423099607242024-03-14T07:12:11.862+11:00words in progressthoughts in fictionTiggy Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13763567558526719166noreply@blogger.comBlogger175125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069475842309960724.post-91259003634140021402011-09-07T13:07:00.004+10:002011-11-02T09:44:26.121+11:00National Poetry Week: ShareNow I've recovered a little from my buying spree yesterday, I'm here to share. I haven't thought a lot about what to share, so I'm making it up as I go. Hope it works out ;)<div><br /></div><div>First up, I'm going to share an old favourite, <a href="http://www.wallisandmatilda.com.au/clancy-of-the-overflow.shtml">Clancy Of The Overflow</a>. At the recent Queensland Poetry Festival I was very pleased to listen to Helen Avery recite it (along with half a dozen other classics) and have had it playing in my head a little since.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the spirit of sharing other people's work, I notice the <a href="https://blogs.nla.gov.au/the-eloquent-page/2011/09/05/poetry-week-remembering-times-past-looking-to-the-future/">National Library</a> are getting in on NPW and have done some sharing of their own. Also, poet and blogger Gabrielle Bryden is sharing poems this week that are mostly written by not-usually-poets. <a href="http://gabriellebryden.wordpress.com/2011/09/07/visiting-poem-tipota/">This link</a> will take you to today's entry and you can scroll back and forth to see what else has been shared: she's sharing all week.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://tiggyjohnson.blogspot.com/2011/09/national-poetry-week-tuesday-buy.html">Yesterday</a> I shared my buys and recent reads as well as an opportunity to get a copy of my chapbook, First taste, for $10 including postage within Australia, and promised to spend all of this week's sales on more Australian poetry.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not sure if <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150291466184294&set=a.428264844293.201736.589929293&type=1">this link</a> will work, but <a href="http://www.cclc.vic.gov.au/administration">Cranbourne Library</a> in Victoria are sharing poetry from a variety of Australian poets on their Poet's wall. I'm not sure how long it'll be there but if you get a chance, drop by to check it out.</div><div><br /></div><div>I can't end the post without sharing some of my own poems. I have a few in online publications, so I'll send you to a few. <a href="http://cordite.org.au/audio/tiggy-johnson-solitaire/">This is an audio poem</a> published in Cordite that I wrote shortly after the passing of my grandmother. Also on Cordite, <a href="http://cordite.org.au/poetry/innocence/tiggy-johnson-discovery/">this poem</a> was written after noticing Claudia as a baby seem to discover for the first time that she was able to control her fingers. I have a few others on Cordite that you can find yourself, but I also recommend you have a good look around in general, there is some fabulous poetry available and it's all free to read and/or listen to.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://verityla.wordpress.com/tag/tiggy-johnson/">This link</a> to Verity La will take you to what has been called a brave poem, Shopping for girls. And... just one more: A poem about visiting my father in hospital for the last time that I would ever see him, in the <a href="http://www.blackriderpress.com/images/The%20Diamond%20and%20the%20Thief%20June10.pdf">June 2010</a> edition of The Diamond and the Thief.</div><div><br /></div><div>I said I wasn't going to share the poem I wrote on Monday on WRITE day, but for some crazy reason, I've changed my mind. It's in the spirit of this week, right? It doesn't have a title, so feel free to suggest one (or anything else), though mostly, I just hope you enjoy it (especially after I sent you to all those not-so-happy poems). And lastly, feel free to do your own poem sharing in the comments (short poems or links to poems).</div><div><br /></div><div>(Untitled)</div><div>Pulling my jeans on</div>I notice chicken shit<br />on the cuff<br />remember wiping it from the side<br />and sole of my shoe yesterday.<br />I pull the jeans on anyway<br />because the shit doesn’t smell<br />and looks like dried mud<br />not that anyone will notice<br />or care<br />unlike when my toddler<br />has left a trail of snot<br />across the shoulder of my t-shirt<br />and someone invariably says<br />that’s disgusting.Tiggy Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13763567558526719166noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069475842309960724.post-73936913305804918852011-09-06T13:00:00.005+10:002011-09-06T17:35:19.077+10:00National Poetry Week: Tuesday = BuyIt's <a href="http://www.australianpoetry.org/blog/2011/08/01/national-poetry-week/">National Poetry Week</a>, and I'm excited.<div><br /></div><div>Yesterday I wrote a poem, for WRITE day, and today, for BUY day, I've started well. I'm stuck at home so restricted to the online shops, but that's working out fine. Too fine, perhaps. Shopping online really is too easy. Anyway, I've bought:</div><div><br /></div><div>Anthony Lawrence: Bark <a href="http://www.uqp.uq.edu.au/Book.aspx/870/Bark">(UQP)</a></div><div>Michelle A Taylor: If the world belonged to dogs <a href="http://www.uqp.uq.edu.au/Book.aspx/830/If%20The%20World%20Belonged%20To%20Dogs">(UQP)</a>: one for the kids.</div><div>Kate Middleton: Fire Season <a href="http://www.giramondopublishing.com/fire-season">(Giramondo)</a>. Recommended by <a href="http://annaryanpunch.blogspot.com/">a friend</a></div><div>Cate Kennedy: The taste of river water<a href="http://www.scribepublications.com.au/book/thetasteofriverwater"> (Scribe)</a></div><div>and I'm sending off for a copy of Heather Taylor Johnson's Exit Wounds <a href="http://www.picaropress.com/p2-3.html">(Picaro Press)</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>And it's less than two weeks since I bought up at the Qld Poetry Festival!</div><div><br /></div><div>In case you're after ideas, here are a few titles I've already enjoyed this year.</div><div><br /></div><div>Michelle Dicinoski: Electricity for beginners <a href="http://www.cloudsofmagellan.net/Electricity%20for%20Beginners.html">(Clouds of Magellan)</a>.</div><div>Max Ryan: Before the Sky <a href="http://www.picaropress.com/p2-3.html">(Picaro Press)</a>. (Only $5, inc post.)</div><div>Robyn Rowland: Seasons of doubt & burning <a href="http://www.fiveislandspress.com/newbooks.html">(5 Islands press)</a> and my recent favourite, </div><div>Rosanna Licari: An absence of saints (UQP). I'd prefer to direct you to the publisher's shop, but they don't appear to have copies for sale, but you could pick one up <a href="http://www.seekbooks.com.au/book/An-Absence-of-Saints/isbn/9780702238437.htm">here</a> if you're quick. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm also offering my poetry chapbook for $10, including postage within Australia, so if you're interested in buying a copy, email me at 'tiggatha [at] gmail [dot] com' and I'll send you payment instructions. If you'd like to read a review first, <a href="http://blogs.crikey.com.au/literaryminded/2010/10/13/guest-review-derek-motion-on-tiggy-johnsons-first-taste/">go here</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>AND... I've decided that any money that comes in for sales of First taste by the end of this Friday, I will spend on Australian poetry, including the books above I have already bought/ordered.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tomorrow is SHARE day, so if you can handle me posting here again in such a short period, I might come back and share some poetry. Meanwhile, I hope you're enjoying National Poetry Week too.</div><div><br /></div>Tiggy Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13763567558526719166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069475842309960724.post-34587097204776453092011-08-09T11:14:00.004+10:002011-08-09T11:49:03.481+10:00Falling in laughI should be writing the first uni essay I've had to write in years, but it's difficult to settle into a sitting-still pose for long enough after spending five days down in Byron Bay.<div>
<br /></div><div>It's no great secret that I love a good writer's festival and I haven't been to one for ages, so I didn't hesitate when <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/jodicleghorn">one of my new Brisbane friends</a> invited me to stay in a share house over the weekend. And, I'm so glad I went.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>It was great. My own festival highlight would have to be the whole of last Friday. I know that's cheating, but when the day starts with a random encounter with Tim Ferguson and gets better from there, it's tough to pinpoint an actual moment. We missed out on a seat in the first session we chose, so ended up spending the first hour in the ABC live-broadcasting tent where <a href="http://www.mandynolan.com.au/index.html">Mandy Nolan</a> had me wiping tears from my eyes before my coffee had time to go cold. Sticking with the theme, I found a seat in the tent where <a href="http://www.benjamin-law.com/">Benjamin Law</a>, <a href="http://www.charliepickering.com/">Charlie Pickering</a> and <a href="http://fionascottnorman.com.au/">Fiona Scott-Norman</a> were 'standing up for embarrassment' with chair Jenni Caffin. It was there that I fell in laugh and as lovely as other sessions I may have walked in on later in the day may have been, my mind was rampant with words that needed to escape and so I found a shady spot by the lake and scribbled in my notebook.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>It's true that I had to go to Pickering's other events as well as a disco performance by Scott-Norman. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Even though the festival was fun and I have a heap of new scribbles to draw upon, the highlight of the weekend was meeting up with existing friends, making new friends and, top of the list, acting somewhat juvenile for days in a row. I learned that drunk people don't necessarily notice if their bed has been short-sheeted, that 'in your pants' is a joke of absolute hilarity that lasts much longer than it should and that I don't get out enough. Looking forward to next year already.</div>Tiggy Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13763567558526719166noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069475842309960724.post-47961014350237040262011-07-26T14:36:00.001+10:002011-07-26T14:40:26.050+10:00Today's view from the decking<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PX92yBK82DQ/Ti5E1g6nR4I/AAAAAAAAAJQ/R8hQRC9NJII/s1600/IMG_1942.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PX92yBK82DQ/Ti5E1g6nR4I/AAAAAAAAAJQ/R8hQRC9NJII/s400/IMG_1942.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633515870046603138" /></a>Tiggy Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13763567558526719166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069475842309960724.post-81920955393251454342011-07-12T10:29:00.004+10:002011-07-12T10:58:47.842+10:00Surviving school holidays<div style="text-align: left;">The kids have gone back to school today and while it is lovely and peaceful, I have to admit these past two weeks haven't been as bad as I recall school holidays being in the past few years. I'm sure it has a lot to do with the gorgeous sunny days we've had and maybe also that the kids are always keen to get in with the chickens.</div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-17tUGhka1AE/ThuXQaLcytI/AAAAAAAAAJI/NumC0Cchtiw/s200/IMG_1940.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628258467490613970" /><div><br /></div><div>Not that any of this explains why they have been playing nicely together more than they usually do. As an example, yesterday it took until 5pm before they had their first argument/fight. 5pm! Though I must admit, they resolved it quickly after I asked which of them wanted sandwiches for dinner instead of fish and chips.</div><div><br /></div><div>But, back to the chickens. Getting chickens has been on our to-do list for some time and now we have finally done it. We planned to get four, so of course when we went to the local market and saw the beautiful bantam with her five chicks, we couldn't possibly not have them, or separate them. Then, because they're tiny, especially the five chicks, who probably won't lay until the end of the year, and tiny eggs even then, we had to get more. Bryden went off to get two browns and brought 3 home and then last week a friend was looking for a new home for her chicken who has been lonely in a small suburban backyard. So, we have ten chickens. Henrietta, Cluck, Blackie, Whitey, Violet, Sprinkles, Jemima, Charlotte, Cherry and Madame Houdini.</div><div><br /></div><div>In other school holiday news, we did a fair bit of baking, with the date scones and Hamish's chocolate chocolate chip cookies being the highlights (yes, I meant to type 'chocolate' twice). We also had a few playdates, though mostly we stayed home. Claudia was super tired for most of last school term and it was lovely to see the kind and gentle version of her rear itself after a few days. Not that the new grumpy version of her wasn't to be seen: just less often.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been teaching her to sew and as well as it being something that excites her, it seems to help her calm down at times. I got <a href="http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Sewing-School-Amie-Plumley/9781603425780">this book</a>, and it's been great, with all the projects having been tested on children as young as five. And she's definitely capable (except at threading the needle and tying knots). Mostly, she's been making coasters, which are just two squares sewn together with both good sides of fabric showing. Once her sewing becomes straighter, she might make a skirt for one of her dolls.</div><div><br /></div><div>Because she thought she wasn't doing 'real' sewing (ie not using my sewing machine), I even decided to start a hand-sewing project for myself. I chose <a href="http://leanneshouse.typepad.com/leanneshouse/2011/04/its-been-too-long.html">this</a> (the first picture). I know it will take me years to complete, but already I'm loving it. Mostly because I'm using scraps from projects I've made for people over the last few years and it makes me smile to remember those individual projects.</div>Tiggy Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13763567558526719166noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069475842309960724.post-76370835734242585162011-06-28T15:10:00.003+10:002011-06-28T15:27:10.070+10:00remember me?I've been languishing up here in the northern warmth for some time now, and I've probably had enough. Of the languishing, not the warmth. The warmth is wonderful.<div><br /></div><div>It's been nice not having any real goals or anything specific to do, although there have been some days where I also found it difficult (but a little bit of boredom has to be good, I'm sure). For most of June I've pretty much been looking forward to the end of the month meaning time to start making lists and being at least semi-organised again. And really, even if I wanted to continue in my lazy ways, I wouldn't be able to.</div><div><br /></div><div>For one, I'm judging the short story section of the <i>page seventeen</i> annual competition. There are still a couple of days to get an entry in if you haven't already. Get details <a href="http://www.pageseventeen.com.au/submit.html">here</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Then, or probably before I get stuck into that, I'll be back to study. I've enrolled in a Master of Information Studies at Charles Sturt University (by distance), which will qualify me as a librarian. I am sooo looking forward to studying again. Maybe it's a bit nerdy, but I love it.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm also very excited to have nabbed one of the very limited places in a <a href="http://www.queenslandpoetryfestival.com/">6 week poetry workshop series with UK poet Jacob Polley</a>, who is the Arts Queensland 2011 Poet in Residence.</div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, despite all the previously mentioned languishing, I have been sending my work out, as I'd hoped to. And I've made a start on a series of poems inspired by my new interest in genealogy, including all the family photos my mother gave me to look after (all her mother's and her mother's).</div><div><br /></div><div>I could go on, but really, after being absent here for so long, maybe I should keep something for next time. </div>Tiggy Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13763567558526719166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069475842309960724.post-78353703440491363742011-04-14T17:37:00.004+10:002011-04-14T18:19:57.328+10:00my new hobby and other newsWhen sudoku first became popular, I was there, in among it all. I mean, a puzzle and numbers thrown in together? Two of my favourite things, how could I resist.<div><br /></div><div>Even in my first weeks, I found the easy puzzles boring and only wanted hard sudoku, and then when that wasn't enough, I went for Killer Sodoku and eventually moved on to a different kind of number puzzle, the name of which I don't currently recall (kakuro?). I spent months, years perhaps (though not too many) addicted to sudoku. I even wrote a poem that begins 'I'm stuck within a sudoku'. Though eventually, I didn't feel challenged any more, and it's no secret that <a href="http://toothsoup.com/blog/2011/03/31/the-inaugural-subdate-challenge/">I'm unable to resist challenge</a>. I needed something new. Sort of.</div><div><br /></div><div>Not that I really sought out a something new. I mean, with all I do already, there are plenty of different activities vying for my time and attention. Even without producing a magazine. If I'm not writing or doing something with the kids, I'm probably reading or sewing (or wasting time on the internet). </div><div><br /></div><div>And, come July, I'll be studying too. Master of Information Studies at Charles Sturt University, by distance. So I didn't really need anything new. Least of all an irresistible puzzle. One that will never be solved. </div><div><br /></div><div>Genealogy.</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't recall what started me off, but I got stuck into the family history in February. At first, it was fairly easy and quick to find information, though it helped that I had my grandfather's birth certificate in my possession, as well as the information from the marriage certificate of grandparents on a different line. So far, all my research has been on my mother's side, as my father's is going to prove difficult due to most, if not all, of Malta's useful documents having been destroyed during WWII (but I will still give it a good go).</div><div><br /></div><div>Before beginning, I believed I had a Maltese and British history, and while this is true, it's not the end. I've discovered I have Irish, Hungarian and German ancestors as well, though I'm quite interested in many of the stories of the individuals (not to mention the challenge of unearthing them). An ancestor born in the 1860s was admitted to a South Australian mental asylum, my grandfather's brother played for my beloved North Melbourne Kangaroos, my grandfather lied about his age to serve in the RAAF during WWII, and was later charged for illegally having in his possession approx 2lb butter, one dozen eggs and eighteen oranges, an aunt's name does not appear on the ship's immigration register, my g-g-g-grandmother was an Irish famine orphan and the drummer of a massively, hugely famous American band is my third cousin, once removed.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not sure whether to be pleased or disappointed that I have no convict ancestors, though my husband, who was born in Scotland, is disappointed on my behalf.</div>Tiggy Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13763567558526719166noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069475842309960724.post-776896675192427242011-03-29T12:41:00.003+11:002011-03-29T13:06:17.433+11:00Why I haven't really been hereIt seems like ages since I said I was going to have a fairly quiet time as far as this blog went, but I didn't really think I was going to be quite so quiet. So here I am with a bit of an update.<div><br /></div><div>I've been asked many times what I plan to write for 2011, so I'll start there.</div><div><br /></div><div>People who asked me that early in the year were invariably told that I was taking January to think about it. By the end of January I answered that I was going to get stuck into rewriting the novel I wrote during NaNoWriMo 2009. I spent a few weeks so excited about this I wrote a heap of notes about a new ending, did some research and basically spent a lot of time thinking about it.</div><div><br /></div><div>But it wore off and I was back to not feeling all that bothered to push myself this year. Because, quite frankly, I feel tired. After years of pushing myself and being super-busy most of the time, especially with writing related things, I'm kind of having a year off. You probably already know I've stepped away from <i>page seventeen</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div>I sort of have two writing goals for the year, although one is not really a goal. The real goal is to submit to places I wouldn't normally submit to which, in some ways really means places that don't have closing dates.</div><div><br /></div><div>The not-really-a-goal goal is to not have any goals. I'm not going to push myself to write anything. That doesn't mean I won't be writing, because not writing would necessitate being locked away in a safe place with padded walls and/or medication, but I'm not going to push myself. I've decided this means a few things.</div><div><br /></div><div>The first is that I won't be hard on myself if I have weeks (or months) where I don't do any writing. Another is that I feel freed up to have a go at writing styles/genres that I might not normally make time for. But basically, I'm just taking some time to chill out. And so far, it's been nice.</div><div><br /></div><div>And when it comes down to it, I can't honestly say there's less notes in my journal, even if I'm not making so much use of them.</div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, I'll try not to take quite so long to come back here, and maybe next time I'll tell you a bit about my new addiction, err, hobby.</div>Tiggy Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13763567558526719166noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069475842309960724.post-62851651653229314212011-02-26T14:49:00.001+11:002011-02-26T14:54:41.446+11:00Transformation<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wt_kYoQGztw/TWh5NT0VVtI/AAAAAAAAAII/_1OS0iwAkcI/s1600/IMG_1868.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wt_kYoQGztw/TWh5NT0VVtI/AAAAAAAAAII/_1OS0iwAkcI/s200/IMG_1868.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577841408063395538" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Before</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uznX7DBJRos/TWh5NEo9CuI/AAAAAAAAAIA/qJRlP02g2Z0/s1600/IMG_1869.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uznX7DBJRos/TWh5NEo9CuI/AAAAAAAAAIA/qJRlP02g2Z0/s200/IMG_1869.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577841403989134050" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">and after.</div>Tiggy Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13763567558526719166noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069475842309960724.post-75800271553527373182011-01-24T10:28:00.003+11:002011-01-24T10:31:21.311+11:00First day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4VnwcK7tHbs/TTy5_4R7dsI/AAAAAAAAAH0/dMEq1M_jX9U/s1600/IMG_1813.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4VnwcK7tHbs/TTy5_4R7dsI/AAAAAAAAAH0/dMEq1M_jX9U/s200/IMG_1813.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565527746613573314" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Baby girl goes to school</div><div><br /></div>Tiggy Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13763567558526719166noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069475842309960724.post-82110073831987592602011-01-19T12:07:00.006+11:002011-01-19T12:52:10.311+11:00Doing a bit to help out<span class="Apple-style-span"></span><span><span>With so much devastation around the country, it's great to see so many people putting their hands up to help those affected.</span></span><div><span><span><br />There are a few projects in particular that have impressed me and although you've probably heard of them already, I'm going to point them out anyway.</span></span></div><div><span><span><br />One of the great things about <a href="http://100storiesforqueensland.submishmash.com/Submit">100 stories for Queensland</a> is that even if you can't spare a few dollars, you can still help. They're accepting submissions of (uplifting) short stories (500-1000 words) until Friday 28th January. 100% of the sales profit will be donated to the <a href="http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/">Queensland Premier's Flood Relief appeal</a>. </span></span></div><div><span><span><br />If you can spare a few dollars, the <a href="http://authorsforqueensland.wordpress.com/">Authors for Queensland Auction</a> might be for you. Decide how much you can spare, choose one or more books/services and put in corresponding bids. Bids are acceptable until Monday 24th January. You might even grab a bargain. For instance, my poetry book, <a href="http://authorsforqueensland.wordpress.com/2011/01/16/poetryfirst-taste-tiggy-johnson/">'First taste</a>' currently has no bids. This is also the case for the current issue of <i><a href="http://authorsforqueensland.wordpress.com/2011/01/16/magazinepage-seventeen-tiggy-johnson/">page seventeen.</a></i> I also donated a <a href="http://authorsforqueensland.wordpress.com/2011/01/16/critiqueshort-stories-tiggy-johnson/">manuscript assessment/critique of up to 3 short stories</a>, but whatever you're interested in, there's sure to be something there for you, so go on over and check it out.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></div></div><div><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span>If you're a writer with a book or service to donate, The Queensland Writers' Centre's <a href="http://writersonrafts.com/">Writers on Rafts</a> initiative is still accepting donations (I think: contact them to be sure).</span></span></div><div><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div>If you just want to buy something, then <a href="http://www.pageseventeen.com.au/blog/archives/170">Page Seventeen are donating sales</a> to Queensland Flood Relief for orders received by the end of Australia Day, 26th January. This was inspired by Graham Nunn, who is not only <a href="http://anotherlostshark.com/2011/01/12/ocean-hearted-flood-relief-project/">donating sales of his poetry book, 'Ocean Hearted' to Flood relief</a>, but is adding an additional $5 from his own pocket for each copy sold. And he sure is getting an amazing response.</div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, you can just make a direct donation too. And if you're interested in helping out victims of the Victorian floods, you can make a donation <a href="https://www.salvationarmy.com.au/newdonation/donation.aspx?gclid=CMnGwqaRxaYCFQ2ApAodcVTyGQ">here</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>On a personal note, our new home in the south of Brisbane is quite a way away from affected areas, so we were fortunate enough to remain high and dry through even the worst periods.</div>Tiggy Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13763567558526719166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069475842309960724.post-28629740868882333682011-01-06T20:22:00.002+11:002011-01-06T20:34:29.038+11:00not a resolutionI wouldn't call it a new year's resolution but in 2011 I plan to engage in some serious slowing down. I'm not sure at the moment what that entails exactly, except that it definitely means less time online.<div><br /></div><div>This will be easier than if I'd said it at any other time, as despite our new home being in the metropolitan area of Brisbane, as far as Telstra and its fabulous services go, we may as well be creating a new town in the middle of the desert. Without ADSL, it shouldn't be too tough to stay off the interwebs.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, at some stage in the near, or not so near, future, I may update you on my 2010 reading (I stuck with reading novels by only Australian women) and a few other bits and pieces. Or I may not. One thing I'll tell you now though, is that in 2011 I plan to read novels that are debuts by Australian writers. I'm starting with Forster's 'The book of Emmett'. I'm also reading Gretchen Shirm's short story collection, 'Having Cried Wolf,' which I was fortunate enough to 'win' recently on twitter when Affirm Press had a little competition. Not that a short story collection would have to be a debut collection for me to read it this year. Just novels.</div>Tiggy Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13763567558526719166noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069475842309960724.post-28825008738175358502010-12-09T14:35:00.006+11:002010-12-09T15:04:11.728+11:00Launch photos<div style="text-align: left;">I'm a little slow with actually doing anything lately, except when it comes to packing boxes. Although really, I could probably be more efficient there too. But I'm not here to talk about what'll be happening after 5 more sleeps. Partly because I think you already know, and partly because I know you'd prefer to see a photo or two from the recent launch of <i>First taste.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4VnwcK7tHbs/TQBSz1NTnzI/AAAAAAAAAHo/06jObJMny_I/s200/DSCN3584.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 190px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548525791330148146" /></i></div><div>Which I have thanks to Vicki who, as well as sharing all her pics with me, wrote a bit of a thing after the launch <a href="http://storytime-vikth.blogspot.com/2010/11/bon-voyage.html">here</a>. It was a lovely afternoon, a chance to see so many friendly faces for what might be the last time, at least for a while. Unfortunately Emilie Zoey Baker was stuck at home in bed, but Marian Spires put on her launching hat and helped me send <i>First taste</i> into the</div><div>world in style.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here is one of my biggest fans.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4VnwcK7tHbs/TQBSRogbfYI/AAAAAAAAAHg/t0oJ3xl9j8c/s200/DSCN3627.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 198px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548525203805142402" /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Marian Spires and my mum.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4VnwcK7tHbs/TQBSQ37A79I/AAAAAAAAAHY/DSZMrVKFvlA/s200/DSCN3590.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 164px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548525190763311058" /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A couple of friends enjoying themselves.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4VnwcK7tHbs/TQBSQbznrAI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/Y8eQZlrc9s4/s200/DSCN3598.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 128px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548525183216102402" /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Koraly and Vicki.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4VnwcK7tHbs/TQBSQHdLq5I/AAAAAAAAAHI/ogyAKVI63iE/s200/DSCN3610.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 186px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548525177753283474" /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And a family shot to end the afternoon.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4VnwcK7tHbs/TQBSPgBQVjI/AAAAAAAAAHA/f6lcKMffOqg/s200/DSCN3630.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 186px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548525167167166002" /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Thanks to everyone who came along, those who couldn't but wanted to, Marian for doing a fab job with short notice, Vicki for the photos, and all my friends and the poets of Melbourne, who I will dearly miss.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Copies of <i>First taste </i>are available from Collected Works, Readings (St Kilda store) or direct, via paypal, <a href="http://www.pageseventeen.com.au/Tiggy.htm">here</a>.</div>Tiggy Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13763567558526719166noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069475842309960724.post-10044648742529780332010-11-30T11:56:00.004+11:002010-11-30T12:16:14.907+11:00Winning<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4VnwcK7tHbs/TPRMvzykabI/AAAAAAAAAGw/UUJM6QbfGQw/s1600/nano_10_winner_240x120-7%2Bhoriz.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 100px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4VnwcK7tHbs/TPRMvzykabI/AAAAAAAAAGw/UUJM6QbfGQw/s200/nano_10_winner_240x120-7%2Bhoriz.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545141425439795634" /></a><br />I’m a winner. Again. For two years running, I am a National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) winner. And yes, it feels good.<div><br />In some ways, it feels a little better than last year. Not in that adrenalin rush kind of way. Last year definitely takes that crown, but this year I feel good knowing that some of the things I wrote are actually worthwhile.</div><div><br />Not that what I wrote last year wasn’t. I mean, I learned a lot about myself, including that I can quickly lose interest in an idea I’d been passionate about for years. And while I have no intention of ever writing an actual end to last year’s story, or rewriting it, or anything so ambitious, I do still have an idea of using the original idea for some other, shorter, piece.</div><div><br />But this year. As you know, I didn’t write a novel. Instead I wrote what I called ‘Bitsa’. Bitsa fiction, bitsa poetry and bitsa whatever else I felt like writing, including blog posts (though I won before starting to write this one).</div><div><br />I’m not going to go into much now except to share a few stats. Because I like stats, and numbers in general.</div><div><br />I wrote ten blog posts, including some I’ll post in December and some I’ll never post. Or will maybe post.</div><div><br />I started seven short stories, finished five of them and will probably pursue four of them. One has already been workshopped in my writing group and seems not to need a lot of rewriting. Yay.</div><div><br />I wrote thirty poems. Thirteen are more for my own memory of our recent family camping trip, but maybe one or two of those might be worth sharing. Of the others, I've read some on stage already, which always helps me know if I should rework or dump. But mostly, I’m not sure yet how many will rest in peace and how many shall be revived. Though there are definitely some to keep.</div><div><br />I wrote twenty non-fiction pieces (not including blog posts). Of those, I like less than half, and will pursue less than half. At best there are nine worth revisiting, although it’s possible when that happens I’ll change my mind.</div><div><br />And, finally, I wrote three other things that I won’t disclose, except to say one was a letter.<br />I did not count my tweets, emails or facebook updates, although admit that during the third week I half-wished I had.</div><div><br />But anyway, it’s over and I feel good. My first instinct is to say I don’t know whether I’ll do it again next year and will take some time to think this through. But I’m also well aware that I would probably not have done it this year if I hadn’t so publicly and enthusiastically said it was my one big goal for the year (all those months ago). And I’m definitely glad I persisted.<br />So I’ll think on it a while and maybe by the time I announce some 2011 goals, I might be ready to say either way.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, I almost forgot, I attempted eight of those crazy ten ideas suggested by others. I was going to press myself to write all ten, but its not like I wrote about everything n my list full stop. I didn't write about acrobatic walruses or ghosts, and of the others, two were short stories I failed to finish. But I had a go, eh?</div>Tiggy Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13763567558526719166noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069475842309960724.post-1385053216534400452010-11-25T12:18:00.004+11:002010-11-25T12:33:54.579+11:00A First taste taste<b>First taste</b><br /><br />He pierced my heart<br />with butterscotch sauce<br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>a double quantity<br />smeared<br />over the warm cake full<br />of brown sugar and dates<br /><br />next<br />he baked a delicious sponge<br />wet with citrus tang<br />light<br />but heavy after being prepped<br />with walnut and greens<br />fried<br /><br />the triple chocolate cheesecake<br />and rhubarb crumble<br />secured the deal<br />we celebrated<br />with premium ice-cream<br />swimming in chilled muscat<br /><br />together<br />we discovered the delights<br />of orange almond syrup<br />chocolate mousse meringue<br />and chocolate raspberry pudding<br />cakes<br />wrestled<br />with decisions over<br />chocolate or caramel<br />mud<br />docked dry fruit in port<br />for months<br />before baking the proverbial<br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>bun<br /><br />now<br />he makes anzacs<br />in double batches<br />I bake muffins<br />with blueberry patches<br />and mull over stained pages<br />of cookbooks<br /><br />last birthday<br />I made my own sticky date<br />shared it with friends<br />and recalled<br />my first taste<br />of butterscotch sauce.<br /><br /><div><i>First taste</i> will be launched by <a href="http://atomicladybomb.blogspot.com/">Emilie Zoey Baker</a> at Caffe Sospeso, 428 Burwood Road, hawthorn this Sunday, 28th November, 2010, from 3pm. </div><div><br /></div><div>Come help celebrate Tiggy's debut poetry collection, to listen to some poems, including one she wrote in year 9 (that, thankfully, is not in the book), and see her one last time before she heads on outta Melbourne. She might even cry, and that's not something you see every day.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you want to know a little more about <i>First taste</i>, check out <a href="http://blogs.crikey.com.au/literaryminded/2010/10/13/guest-review-derek-motion-on-tiggy-johnsons-first-taste/">this review</a>, or <a href="http://www.pageseventeen.com.au/blog/archives/160">this one</a>. And if you can't make it to Hawthorn on Sunday, go <a href="http://www.pageseventeen.com.au/Tiggy.htm">here</a> to order your copy via Paypal.<br /></div>Tiggy Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13763567558526719166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069475842309960724.post-86823939653995143152010-11-23T11:13:00.002+11:002010-11-23T11:17:57.885+11:00Every time I walk past the front door...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4VnwcK7tHbs/TOsH40-ksvI/AAAAAAAAAGo/5cSjNAUAeew/s1600/IMG_1792.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4VnwcK7tHbs/TOsH40-ksvI/AAAAAAAAAGo/5cSjNAUAeew/s400/IMG_1792.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542532439284691698" /></a>Tiggy Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13763567558526719166noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069475842309960724.post-59440058533361439152010-11-16T10:01:00.001+11:002010-11-16T10:07:07.771+11:00Packing and a little launchOur first shipping container arrived yesterday. Yes, that’s right. Shipping container. And first. Initially we thought we’d use the bigger container, but it turns out it wouldn’t fit in the driveway, so we’re using two small ones. But that’s worked out well. With one coming at a time, we have twice as long to pack.<br /><br />The down side is that it’s hard to stay in denial when there’s a huge container in the middle of the driveway.<br /><br />We’ve started packing it already. By that I mean Bryden has started packing it already. He started with all the couches bar one. I know that sounds odd, but yes, while I’m finding it difficult to throw out old uni stuff I know I don’t need any more (and I will throw it out, I promise), Bryden kind of collects couches. In other words, please NEVER tell him you have a couch you don’t need any more. Please.<br /><br />He’s also packed most of our books. And while he seems to be doing most of the packing thus far, I have done some. Though mostly I’m trying to stay on top of the normal day-to-day stuff. It’s better for everyone if I can stay in normal mode (denial) as long as possible though. Because once I engage with the reality of the big move, I’m probably going to freak right out.<br /><br />So I’m keeping up with National Novel Writing Month. Well, I’m almost keeping up. I’m a little behind in my word count but not enough that I won’t be able to catch up.<br /><br />And with the launch of page seventeen issue 8 behind me, that I’ll write a bit about somewhere else soon, I need another time-sapping project.<br /><br />I’m thinking about the upcoming launch of my debut poetry collection, <i><a href="http://www.pageseventeen.com.au/Tiggy.htm">First taste</a></i>. I’ve finally booked it all in, and as well as being a launch, it’s also a bit of a going away party, as it’ll be my last big Melbourne outing before we head off. So, if you’d like to come along to see my first poetry book fly into the world, come along. If you’d like to see me before I fly into a warmer part of the world, come along.<br /><br />We’ll kick off at 3pm, on Sunday 28th November, at <a href="http://www.caffesospeso.com.au/indexp.html">Caffé Sospeso</a>, 428 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn, with Emilie Zoey Baker doing the launching honours. I’ll be hanging around afterwards to make sure I have a chance to catch up with as many people as I can. And to eat. Eating is good. It’s a short walk from Glenferrie Station, or if you’re driving, there’s a huge car park in Kent St that I’m pretty sure is all day parking at weekends.<br /><br />Meanwhile, if you want a small taste of First taste, a few of the poems can be found online, including <a href="http://www.cordite.org.au/poetry/innocence/tiggy-johnson-daddy%E2%80%99s-girl">here</a>, <a href="http://verityla.wordpress.com/2010/07/12/shopping-for-girls-tiggy-johnson-2/">here</a>, <a href="http://www.cordite.org.au/poetry/innocence/tiggy-johnson-discovery">here</a> and if you go <a href="http://www.blackriderpress.com/diamond.html">here</a>, you can scroll down to the June 10 issue and download the pdf to find another. I’m thinking about posting one here, to this blog, next week too, so feel free to let me know which one you think it should be.Tiggy Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13763567558526719166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069475842309960724.post-25743153218851425942010-11-08T09:44:00.001+11:002010-11-08T09:46:03.925+11:00On the move<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">My NaNoWriMo progress is going reasonably well, though aside from letting you know that by the end of yesterday I was a little above the word count goal, I’m going to save it all for another day, another time and another place. I am talking about my progress on this crazy adventure that is writing 50,000 words this month over at the SPUNC blog, Splog. My first post can be found <a href="http://spunc.com.au/splog/post/diary-of-a-lunatic-part-1-guest-post-by-tiggy-johnson/">here</a> and I’ll be reporting back in the middle and at the end of the month.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">It is somewhat unfortunate that life doesn’t just stop during November so that those of us who want to spend it writing all those words can just get on with it, but as life does indeed go on, it means there are other interesting (sure, that’s subjective) things to share.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">Like that we bought a house. Yes, we are definitely on the move now that we’ve sold at this end and bought at the other. Our new house is in Jimboomba, south of Brisbane, on half an acre, with a kitchen to die for. And while it terrifies me to say this, we are moving next month. We will be in our new house before Christmas. But I’m not quite ready to think about that.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">We have started packing and generally getting organised though. This can be done one task at a time, which is definitely a lot more manageable than thinking ‘big move: one month’.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">Actually, buying the house was possibly the most stressful experience I’ve had in a long time. Both selling and buying definitely add up to the most stressful life experience ever. Yes, definitely. Ever.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">Last Thursday, Bryden flew to Brisbane for the day to check out 9 houses. On Friday morning we decided on the most practical, sensible one, which was actually the one we’d thought we’d end up wanting based on the internet photos. The one we ended up with, at that point, was probably just a touch out of reach. Like quite a few thousand out of reach. We called the agent handling the practical, sensible house. She was showing someone a house and said she’d call back in less than an hour when she was back at the office.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">An hour later she hadn’t called. Another hour later, she still hadn’t called. An hour after that, the agent of the dreamy house with the fabulous kitchen called and said the owners were after a quick buy and that if we made an offer about $20K below the listed price, we might be lucky.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">We spent the next two hours agonising about which house we should buy. They are almost completely opposite to each other. The dreamy house, while fabulous on the inside, needs some attention outside. Not the normal kind of maintenance stuff, but it’s on a fair slope, has no shed (for Bryden to play in) and currently has no real covered area. The practical, sensible house was fabulous outdoors. It is probably the one we should have chosen, as we could really have just moved in, unpacked and settled in. But as practical and sensible as it was, it wasn’t dreamy. Even though it has a pool.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">We made an offer for $20K below the listed price on the dreamy house and with a few minor negotiations, we’d bought a house. As easy as that.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">Hopefully the next part will be just as easy. I even think I’m ready to throw out all my old uni stuff. But as the recycling bin is already full until Thursday morning, I guess I’ll have to wait a few days to really find out.</span></p>Tiggy Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13763567558526719166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069475842309960724.post-89364867293706225042010-11-02T22:16:00.002+11:002010-11-02T22:21:15.940+11:00The NaNo startYou know, I kind of liked that list thing I did a couple of weeks ago, so I think I might go with it again.<br /><br />- I am off to a good start in <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/508003">NaNoWriMo</a>, having met the daily word count so far on both days.<div><br />- I’m going to have to hold on to just scraping through close to the 1667 words required for another day, by writing in the evening, as Thursday will be my first actual writing day. Then, I’ll hope to get ahead. Even if just a little.</div><div><br />- I spent yesterday baking for Claudia’s 5th birthday party today. Both the baking and the party were fun and yes, I have plenty of cake/NaNo fuel left over.</div><div><br />- We sold our house.</div><div><br />- We’re probably leaving Melbourne before Christmas. By that I mean before the middle of December.</div><div><br />- I’ll be at Passionate Tongues at the Brunswick Hotel next Monday, 8th, co-featuring alongside Graham Nunn, and I’d love to see you there.</div><div><br />- I’m trying to write a new poem every day this month and I’ll share some with you if you come to Passionate Tongues next Monday, 8th.</div><div><br />- I’m definitely planning to make the <i>First taste</i> launch extend into a going away kind of do, though I’m not sure I’ll be able to have both at the same venue.</div><div><br />- If you have an idea where I might have either of the above events, feel free to share your wisdom. Soon.</div><div><br />- I’ve decided I disagree with one point in <a href="http://typingspace.wordpress.com/">Derek Motion</a>’s <a href="http://blogs.crikey.com.au/literaryminded/2010/10/13/guest-review-derek-motion-on-tiggy-johnsons-first-taste/">review of <i>First taste</i></a>: there is embarrassment. Although not necessarily over the things one might expect.</div><div><br />- The abovementioned embarrassment is ten-fold when the one line in the entire book that I find embarrassing is quoted on the internet (although I am almost over this already). This is probably much less embarrassing if it doesn’t come up in certain google searches.</div><div><br />- Don’t bother asking which line I’m talking about, because telling you would just cause further embarrassment. But if you come to Passionate Tongues next Monday, 8th, it’s possible you’ll find out.</div><div><br /><div>- I read and loved Marchetta's <i>On the Jellicoe Road.</i></div><div><i><br /></i>- It was really nice to not have an Open Inspection last Saturday.<br /></div></div>Tiggy Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13763567558526719166noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069475842309960724.post-9716314919382143092010-10-25T20:38:00.005+11:002010-10-26T11:04:31.462+11:00NaNoWriMo? Count me in!I mentioned in the last post that I've decided to do <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/">NaNoWriMo</a> again. For those of you that don't know, it stands for National Novel Writing Month, and means writing a novel, or at least 50,000 words towards a new one, is completed during the month of November.<br /><br />I did it last year, won (which means I wrote at least 50,000 words towards a new novel) and can't resist having another go, even though I don't really have enough time to write half that many words.<br /><br />But I'm going into it a little differently this year. Well, a lot differently I suppose. I'm going to be a rebel. Which means I don't plan to write 50,000 words towards a new novel. Instead, I plan to write 50,000 words towards anything. Short stories, articles, poems and I'll probably even count my blog posts, as I expect I'll be that desperate. (I'd consider adding the to-do and shopping lists, but that seems a bit dramatic/ridiculous.)<br /><br />I really don't think I'm going to win this year. But that's okay. Since I've been back from the big trip, my writing habits have been awful and I expect NaNoWriMo to pull me back in line. Let's face it, if I can write 25,000 words towards new stories etc, that would be excellent, even 10,000 new words would be great. So there's nothing to lose. Except a little sanity and a lot of sleep.<br /><br />If you plan to sign up and give it a go yourself, I even have a tip to share.<br /><br />Start strong!<br /><br />The buzz of participating is huge and if you stay on top of the word count early, it could be enough to pull you through, especially on those days you really can't be bothered. I imagine if you're not up on your word count in the early days when there's so much online chatter and everyone else seems to be, it would seem impossible to catch up. So, schedule in some writing time next Monday and Tuesday and as your excitement levels will be high then, instead of aiming to write the daily 1,667 words required, go for two thousand, three thousand, maybe even four so you can breathe a little easy the next few days.<br /><br />If you have a tip for me on how I might manage that myself when we're having a fifth birthday party in our house on the 2nd, well, that would be very welcome.Tiggy Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13763567558526719166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069475842309960724.post-29140401580737479822010-10-14T09:11:00.007+11:002010-10-14T09:44:45.202+11:00Thoughts for the weekMy mind is in a strange place at the moment. I'm not sure I could write a coherent piece if I tried, so I thought I'd go with a kind of list. It might give you an idea of where I'm at.<br /><br />* I am really sick of sweeping the bathroom floor.<br /><br />* On Tuesday, I sat at my 'writing space' for the first time since I got back. I wrote more than 1000 words and it felt fantastic.<br /><br />* I looked at the poems I wrote while I was away or soon after I got home, and they aren't as bad as I originally thought, especially after a few tweaks.<br /><br />* <a href="http://typingspace.wordpress.com/">Derek Motion </a>wrote a review of my poetry collection, <em>First taste</em>, at <a href="http://blogs.crikey.com.au/literaryminded/2010/10/13/guest-review-derek-motion-on-tiggy-johnsons-first-taste/">Literary Minded</a>. It is awesome I don't know what to say. Except, go <a href="http://blogs.crikey.com.au/literaryminded/2010/10/13/guest-review-derek-motion-on-tiggy-johnsons-first-taste/">read it </a>and <a href="http://www.pageseventeen.com.au/Tiggy.htm">buy the book</a>.<br /><br />* I'm planning to launch the above-mentioned book on Sunday November 28th. Not sure where yet, though I think it'll be called a Going Away Launch Party.<br /><br />* I've decided to do <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/">NaNoWriMo</a> again (more on this in a later post). Well, sort of. I'm going to be a rebel and write (hopefully) 50,000 words that aren't going to form a novel.<br /><br />* I am pleased that my hardline approach of closing the door and ignoring my 2 year-old's tantrums seems to be working already. I guess he's not as similar to his older brother as I thought.<br /><br />* My 8 year-old is starting to see how ridiculous someone who's having a tantrum looks and might start to modify his own behaviour. (I realise I'm being mighty hopeful a I say this and assure you I am not holding my breath for any actual change.)<br /><br />* I realise my daughter might think all boys act like two year-olds when they don't get what they want.<br /><br />* I am the feature poet this Saturday at <a href="http://stoppingallstationsexcepteastrichmond.blogspot.com/">Stopping all Stations </a>in Nunawading. I plan to read from my book as well as to share some new stuff.<br /><br />* I love it when my computer automatically shuts down when I'm in the middle of something, like typing this blog post (this is actually not true).<br /><br />* The steamed banana pudding I made on Monday was so delicious I plan to make another one tomorrow.<br /><br />* I am looking forward to driving around Brisbane's southern suburbs on Monday looking at the houses on our (long) shortlist. It feels weird to think that I will probably visit the house we'll move into next year.<br /><br />* I really hope we don't have a huntsman inside on Saturday for our Open Inspection.<br /><br />* <em>page seventeen</em> issue 8 is almost ready to go to the printer.Tiggy Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13763567558526719166noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069475842309960724.post-65181767052159996352010-10-05T09:34:00.003+11:002010-10-05T09:50:17.422+11:00Time for a changeI got caught up again. Obviously.<br /><br />I could blame it on school holidays, and partly at least, that might be true.<br /><br />I could blame it on getting <a href="http://www.pageseventeen.com.au/blog/"><em>page seventeen</em> </a>Issue 8 ready, and partly, that might also be true.<br /><br />But the real blame lies in all the house cleaning I've been doing. It's not just some spring clean. More of a get-the-house-ready-to-sell clean. I've been washing walls, painting walls, dusting, scrubbing floors, pulling out weeds, donating stuff to the local op-shop, filling a skip and probably a heap more that doesn't come to mind right now. And while I am exhausted (and wish someone could take in the kids until the house is sold) it seems to be worth it.<br /><br />The house went on the market last week, and the photos came out superb. Even if the agent, who'd been here the day before the photographer came, said 'It came up great, did you stay up all night?' like it had been <em>that</em> bad beforehand.<br /><br />Since it went online, we've had at least one private inspection every day, except Sunday. And the woman that came yesterday liked it enough to tell the agent before she'd left that she wanted a second inspection, with her husband. So, fingers crossed we might have an offer by the end of the week, and I'll no longer have to hide kitchen things away, make the kids' beds twice a day or vacuum and sweep the floors so bloody often! Especially good if there's an offer before Saturday's Open Inspection, so someone might feel compelled to put in a quick, higher, offer.<br /><br />Where do we plan to go once we've sold?<br /><br />Brisbane.Tiggy Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13763567558526719166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069475842309960724.post-62005934521610322112010-09-15T09:51:00.006+10:002010-09-15T10:02:50.981+10:00I'm homeIt turns out blogging while on a camping holiday is too hard. For me anyway.<br /><div></div><br /><div>But I'm back!</div><div></div><br /><div>Physically anyway. It's going to take me some time to get back into the swing of things, especially given this lovely spring weather feels sooo cold after my northern winter.</div><br /><div></div><div>I plan to hide out to some extent until Issue 8 of <a href="http://www.pageseventeen.com.au/blog/"><em>page seventeen</em> </a>is ready to go to the proofreaders/printer. </div><br /><div>But while you wait for my next post, here's a little something from the trip.</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516923073822711202" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4VnwcK7tHbs/TJAMTkRb3aI/AAAAAAAAAGY/jkBtFB_eTC4/s200/1899-12-30_0700.JPG" />Tiggy Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13763567558526719166noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069475842309960724.post-11588532992560602892010-08-04T20:34:00.003+10:002010-08-04T20:46:23.828+10:00Holiday photo dumpIt has become apparent that I am not so good at updating the blog while away, especially when it comes to posting photos, but...<br /><br />Bryden made an online album today, not that the pics are in a sensible order, but that doesn't matter. There are a couple of funny ones too, one of Hamish with aliens in Wycliffe Well and another of Dylan that Bryden has titled 'aquatic children' taken at Townville's Reef HQ Aquarium.<br /><br />Anyway, they should give you an idea of some of the fun we've been having. Though I should point out that the water park in Townsville (there's a photo of me with Hamish) was so excellent we went there three times!<br /><br />We're currently in Bowen, where we'll get a new set of tyres if we realise Friday is Friday at the right time, and then in Airlie Beach on Monday, we're booked to get a new windscreen. Meanwhile, tomorrow is scheduled for strawberry picking and more time at the beach, or the excellent pool at the caravan park we're staying in.<br /><br />Here's the link to the photos. Enjoy.<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/113571606117068384308/DropBox?authkey=Gv1sRgCOPn2s68tJOZ3wE&feat=email">http://picasaweb.google.com/113571606117068384308/DropBox?authkey=Gv1sRgCOPn2s68tJOZ3wE&feat=email</a>#Tiggy Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13763567558526719166noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069475842309960724.post-44729054022554627922010-07-30T20:40:00.006+10:002010-07-30T21:06:53.687+10:00... and sea turtles say...One of the best things about being away is seeing how the kids respond to different things. Before we left, all animals barked, according to Dylan, yet he now understands that some might baaa and has learnt new words like 'cow' 'sheep' 'bird and 'fish'.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499648848261139026" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4VnwcK7tHbs/TFKtfTX9ylI/AAAAAAAAAFk/_q0g5UTfAmE/s200/1899-12-30_0544.JPG" /><br /><div></div><div>He is also quite fond of the many walks we've been on, and has even climbed up one of Australia's deepest gorges, Porcupine Gorge (though insisted Daddy carry him down).</div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><p>But the last couple of days have proved to offer some of his better entertainment. Yesterday we went to Townsville's water park on The Strand and he had a great time. It took him a little while to get into it, but once he was completely wet, there was no stopping him. Especially on the slide, which was my fave. He'd come spiralling down and at the bottom, he'd fly off, float in the air a second and then thump onto the (rubber) ground. He'd be straight back up to the top and by the end wasn't bothered at all when he happened to get caught under various dumps or sprays of water. A while later, we even passed a couple who told us they'd had the most entretaining half hour just watching him play.</p></div><div></div><div></div><div><p>Today, we went to the aquarium and while he was rather amusing watching the fish, squealing with delight and running about, I was most impressed when, during a short presentation about sea turtles, he drowned out the guide's voice as he enthusiastically pointed at the screen and proceeded to bark.</p></div>Tiggy Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13763567558526719166noreply@blogger.com0