Clancy Tucker's Blog, page 235

10 January 2016 WHY ARE BARBER’S POLES RED, WHITE AND BLUE?

WHY ARE BARBER’S POLES RED, WHITE AND BLUE?
G'day folks,
I bet you have seen a coloured pole outside a barber's shop. Ever wondered why it is like it is?

The barber pole’s colours are a legacy of a (thankfully) long-gone era when people went to barbers not just for a haircut or shave but also for bloodletting and other medical procedures. During the Middle Ages bloodletting, which involves cutting open a vein and allowing blood to drain, was a common treatment for a wide range of maladies, from sore throat to plague. 



Monks, who often cared for the sick, performed the procedure, and barbers, given their skill with sharp instruments, sometimes provided assistance. After Pope Alexander III in 1163 prohibited clergymen from carrying out the procedure, barbers added bloodletting—something physicians of the day considered necessary but too menial to do themselves–to their repertoires. Known as barber-surgeons, they also took on such tasks as pulling teeth, setting bones and treating wounds. Ambroise Pare, a 16th-century Frenchman considered the father of modern surgery, started his career as a barber-surgeon.



The look of the barber pole is linked to bloodletting, with red representing blood and white representing the bandages used to stem the bleeding. The pole itself is said to symbolize the stick that a patient squeezed to make the veins in his arm stand out more prominently for the procedure. In Europe, barber poles traditionally are red and white, while in America, the poles are red, white and blue. One theory holds that blue is symbolic of the veins cut during bloodletting, while another interpretation suggests blue was added to the pole as a show of patriotism and a nod to the nation’s flag.



By the mid-1500s, English barbers were banned from providing surgical treatments, although they could continue extracting teeth. Both barbers and surgeons, however, remained part of the same trade guild until 1745. While bloodletting largely fell out of favour with the medical community in the 19th century, it’s still used today to treat a small number of conditions.



Clancy's comment: Interesting, eh? Now you know.
I'm ...

9 January 2016 - SOME WISDOM FOR 2016

SOME WISDOM FOR 2016
G'day folks,
Here are some wise thoughts to pontificate upon. Some will make you grin.

























































Clancy's comment: Good luck in 2016.

I'm ...

8 January 2016 - GREAT QUOTES FROM Sir RICHARD BRANSON

GREAT QUOTES FROMSir RICHARD BRANSON
G'day folks,

You only have to look at the success experienced by the various Virgin companies to realise that Richard Branson has something a little special about him. Throughout his time as an entrepreneur and adventurer the Virgin Founder has had more than his fair share of triumphs, along with one or two notable mishaps.

Time spent reading one of Bransons books or blog posts gives an amazing insight into the inner-workings of a unique individual, although one of his great strengths lies in being able to cut through the waffle and get to the point of a matter.


Therefore there are an abundance of memorable quotes which have come straight from the man himself over the years. We noticed that Forbes have come up with their Top 11 Richard Branson quotes, so heres our 10 favourite.

Which one resonates with you? 


































Clancy's comment: This guy's comments have always impressed me. What about you? He always seems to cut to the chase, make things simple and achieve.
I'm ...

7 January 2016 - DEATHS AT THE HANDS OF LOVED ONES

DEATHS AT THE HANDS OF LOVED ONES
G'day folks,
You might find this interesting. Thirty-one years ago today, Marvin Gaye was shot to death by his father. Gaye is one of many tragic stories in Hollywood, in which the perpetrator was someone close to the victim.




The saying goes, 'There's no greater loss for a parent than the death of a child,' but can you imagine when that death ends up being at the hands of the actual parent? It's a hard pill to swallow. This, however, is what happened to Motown superstar Marvin Gaye, Jr. when he stared down the barrel of a gun held by his own father on April 1, 1984.
As today marks the 31st anniversary of Gaye's tragic death, we take a look at some famous murders that occurred at the hands of a loved one.
R&B/Soul Singer Marvin Gaye: April 1, 1984
 The fatal shooting of Motown's "Prince of Soul," Marvin Gaye, Jr., goes down in the record books as one of the most famous and tragic deaths in music history.
Born Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. (he later added the "e" in his surname) in 1939 in Washington, D.C., the R&B/soul singer had 18 Top 10 hit singles and is best known for such classics as "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," "What's Going On," "Let's Get It On," and his 1982 comeback song, the chart-topping "Sexual Healing," which earned him two Grammy Awards.
Plagued by drug abuse, the artist moved in with his parents, preacher Marvin Gay, Sr., and Alberta Gay in the West Adams area of Los Angeles. A day before his 45th birthday on April 1, 1984 at approximately 11:38 a.m. PST, a fight broke out between father and son over the senior Marvin's treatment of his mother during an argument over insurance papers. The fight allegedly turned physical when, as Alberta said in a 1985 Ebonyarticle, that her son pushed and kicked his father. As the story goes, Gay Sr. allegedly retaliated with a gunshot from a .38 pistol to his son's chest followed by a second gunshot reportedly fired at point-blank range.
  Playboy Playmate Dorothy Stratten: August 14, 1980  At the height of her short-lived career, Playboy model/actress Dorothy Strattensuffered a tragic endingat the hands of her estranged husband, Paul Snider, founder of male stripping act, The Chippendales.
Born Dorothy Ruth Hoogstraten on February 28, 1960 in Vancouver, the blonde beauty came to fame after being named Playmate in the 1979 issue of Playboy, and appearing in such movies as Skatetown, USAand Americathonthe same year. She was named Playmate of the Year in 1980. The rising star married Snider in 1979, but the pair was estranged at the time of her murder. On August 14, 1980, the two met on at the couple's former home to discuss a divorce. Instead of splitting amicably, Snider shot her to death with a shotgun and then committed suicide with the same gun. 
Reportedly, police believe that Snider raped and abused her corpse before pulling the trigger on himself. Both bodies were naked when police arrived.


 Since her death, Stratten became the subject of two movies, a song, and several books, including Jamie Lee Curtis's portrayal of her in Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story, and singer Bryan Adams's song "The Best Was Yet to Come." She was only 20 years old when she was killed.
Actress Dominique Dunne: November 4, 1982
Just four months after appearing in the 1982 blockbuster supernatural thriller, Poltergeist, 22-year-old actress Dominique Dunne was strangled by her ex-boyfriend, sous-chef John Thomas Sweeney, at her West Hollywood home. The attack put her in a coma for five days until she was declared brain dead and taken off life support.
Dunne was the daughter of heiress Ellen Griffin and Dominick Dunne, a film producer, writer, investigative journalist, and television host, and the niece of novelists Joan Didionand John Gregory Dunne. Her first break as an actress came when she was cast in the 1979 movie, Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker. She soon appeared in the hit '80s television shows, Lou Grant, Hart to Hart, and Fame, before landing her first feature film role in the Steven Spielberg-produced supernatural thriller Poltergeist.


The trouble with her boyfriend Sweeney began shortly after the two moved in together, just weeks after meeting. A few months prior to her murder, two altercations occurred, one being his first attempt on her life by strangling. In 1983, Sweeney was acquitted of the second-degree murder charge, but was still found guilty of the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter and also convicted of a misdemeanor assault for a previous attack. He was sentenced to 6 ½ years in prison, but only served three years and seven months.
 Actor Phil Hartman: May 28, 1998   Cocaine use and alcohol reportedly contributed to Brynn Hartman's decision to shoot her husband, actor Phil Hartman,at point-blank range with his own Smith & Wesson .38 as he slept in the bed they shared in their Encino, Calif. home. She shot him twice in the head and once on his side.
Hartman, best known for his work on Saturday Night Live, NewsRadio, and for voicing several characters on The Simpsons, had reportedly threatened to divorce his wife of 11 years, during an argument over her drug use. Along with her drug problems, which resulted in two stints in rehab, Brynn also suffered from depression. She was taking the antidepressant drug, Zoloft, at the time of the shooting.


Shortly after admitting to a friend that she killed her husband in the early morning hours of May 28, 1998, Brynn climbed into the couple's bed where Phil's dead body still lay and sitting up against the headboard she put the gun in her mouth and fired her own fatal shot. When police arrived, they found Brynn's dead body slumped over that of her husband, orphaning the couple's two children. In 1999, Hartman's estate filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Pfizer, the manufacturer of the antidepressant drug that Brynn was taking, as well as her psychiatrist. Pfizer settled.
Bonnie Lee Bakley: May 4, 2001
 Though out of the public eye for some time, Robert Blake— star of Truman Capote's 1967 film In Cold Blood, and the 1970's show Baretta— became a household name again after he was charged with murdering his wife of one year, Bonnie Lee Bakley. 
The high profile trial intrigue centered on Bakley's background and the couple's strange history. She was widely known as a con artist and for allegedly swindling men for money and had been arrested for writing $200,000 in bad checks, along with having more than 30 fake identifications. She served jail time before meeting Blake in 1999 and becoming his wife after a paternity test proved he was the father of her daughter, Rose, which she initially named Christian Shannon Brando after claiming Marlon Brando's son, Christian, was the father.


On May 4, 2001, the couple had dinner at a restaurant, and upon leaving the restaurant, Blake claimed to have realized that he left his revolver in the restaurant and returned to retrieve it. When he came back to the car, he found his wife dead with a gunshot wound to her head. Blake was charged with one count of murder with special circumstances, two counts of solicitation of murder, and one count of murder conspiracy. He was acquitted in 2005, but found liable for the wrongful death of his wife in the civil case filed by Bakley's children and ordered to pay $30 million in restitution.   
Clancy's comment: Mm ... Hollywood.
I'm ...

6 January 2016 - HOOKING YOUR READER

HOOKING YOUR READER
G'day folks,

Hooking your reader can be extremely hard to do, so it’s good to keep a few things in mind as you’re writing. I've often mentioned this to my students, but here are three tips from the 'Magic Violinist'.


1. Have a fantastic first line
This is the hook that needs to grab your reader right away. With the right first line, you’ll have them interested as soon as they get to the end of the sentence. Write Practice contributor, Kellie McGann, posted an article about writing a great first line.
A lot of the time these hooks are crisp, clean, and intriguing, but not necessarily. You can have a longer starting line, too, one full of mystery that makes me think, “What happens next?” It all depends on your style. Here are a few of my favorites.
My mother thinks I’m dead. – Legend by Marie Lue
 He’d stopped trying to bring her back. – Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Blue Sargent had forgotten how many times she’d been told that she would kill her true love. – The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
So we drank it—the two of us. – Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future by A.S. King.


2. Introduce your main character as soon as possible
Your protagonist is the character your reader is going to spend the most time with, so if you show them who it is and what you’re in for right away, it’s easier to set up the story. This doesn’t necessarily include prologues. I personally try to avoid those as much as possible. But your first chapter and your first scene should include your main character.


3. Hint at what’s to come
And finally, at the end of your first chapter, there should be some kind of foreshadowing about what’s going to happen in the next chapter, or even in the rest of the book. My rule of thumb is I try to have a good hook at the beginning of a chapter and at the end.


Clancy's comment: Hope this has given you a few thoughts. And, a few tips from me: Cut to the chase, don't waffle, cut, cut, cut when revising, and keep your story moving.
I'm ....






 

5 January 2016 MORE BRITISH SLANG

MORE BRITISH SLANG
G'day folks,
Brace yourself for some more British slang. Some of you authors might like to slip a few of these in your next novel.


Gagging - Desperate, in a fat slaggy kind of a way. Not nice. 
Gallivanting - The dictionary says "to gad about", which probably doesn't help much! It means fooling aroundor horseplay. 
Gander - When I was a kid, my Dad often used to go off for a gander when we were visiting a new town or village. It means to look around. 
Gen - Gen means information. If you have the gen then you know what is going on. 
Gen up - To research a subjector to get some information. 
Get lost! - Politely translated as go away, this is really a mild way of telling someone to f*** off! 
Get stuffed! - Even politer way to tell someone to get lost is to tell them to get stuffed. However, this is still not a nice thing to say to someone. 
Getting off - This seems to be the objective of most teenagers on a big night out. Getting off with someone means making out or snoggingh them. 
Give us a bell - This simply means call me. You often hear people use the word "us" to mean "me". 
Gobsmacked - Amazed. Your gob is your mouth and if you smack your gob, it would be out of amazement. 
Good value - This is short for good value for money. It means something is a good deal. 
Goolies - If you have been kicked in the goolies, your eyes would be watering and you would be clutching your balls! 
Gormless - A gormless person is someone who has absolutely no clue. You would say clueless. It is also shortened so you could say someone is a total gorm or completely gormy. 
Grem - The form of gob meaning to spit something out. e.g. Did you see him grem? Yuck. Usually associated with that ghastly noise as the content of the lungs are coughed into the mouth before gremming can take place. Grem is also the word that describes the green lump that is created in the process. You might call it hackingup a hacker. 
Grub - Food. Similar to nosh. I remember my Dad calling "grub's up", when dinner was ready as a kid. A grub is also an insect larva. Not usually eaten in England. Actually is available in some Australian restaurants! 
 Gutted - If someone is really upset by something they might say that they were gutted. Like when you are told that you have just failed your driving test! 

Haggle - To haggle is to argue or negotiate over a price. Most people that wangle stuff are usually quite good at haggling. I just learnt that in the USA you dicker over a price, particularly for used cars! 
Hanky panky - Hanky panky - or "slap and tickle" as some older folks call it - would be making out in America. 
Hard - After your 20 pints of lager, the curry or the doner, your average 20 year old feels hard. Since his male organ has no chance of working at this stage, hard clearly refers to something else - it means he is ready to fight anything or anybody or to take on any bet. This is the time to make fun of drunken lads by betting them they can't jump off the end of the pier, hang on to the back of a bus etc. 
Hard lines - This is another way of saying hard luck or bad luck. 
Hash - The thing you call a pound sign! Before you ask, yes it is also something you smoke - see wacky backy. Also to make a real hash of something means you really screwed it up. 
Have - This one used to wind me up a treat in Texas. When we were in restaurants with friends, they would say to the waiter something like "Can I get a refill". And the waiter would go and get them a refill. No no no - that's completely wrong. It's "Can I HAVE a refill". Not GET! If you say "Can I GET a refill" in the UK, the waiter will give you a funny look and tell you where to go and GET it - yourself! 
Healthy - Healthful. I'm not really sure if this is slang or whether the American use of healthful is the real alternative to the English "healthy". We talk about a healthy lifestyle and about healthy food. I never heard anyone say smoking was "unhealthful" in the US but I suppose that must exist too!  




Clancy's comment: There ya go, cobbers. Keep ya goolies safe.
I'm ...

4 January 2016 - 'GUNNEDAH HERO' - THE MOVIE

'GUNNEDAH HERO'
- THE MOVIE -
G'day folks,
I've probably told you before that I am currently writing the screenplay for my very first book - 'Gunnedah Hero'.  Yes, this was my first book, and I rejected four contracts for it by publishers in New York, London, Sydney and Melbourne; fearing I was about to be screwed. So, I self-published it and the book has won two awards in the Australian National Literary Awards.

This is my first screenplay, and what an intensive and stressful job it is. Writing a screenplay is nothing like writing a novel. Why? Mm ... I've thought about that a lot. Firstly, my mind is fully conscious that everything I write will be visual - on the screen. Whereas, writing a novel, I have to use the correct words to conjure up a picture in the mind of my readers.
So, here is some background to how this came about. Let's look at the blurb on the back of the book so you know what the story is about.



Blurb for ‘Gunnedah Hero’

Fourteen-year-old Gunnedah ‘Gunnie’ Danson has a 500-word assignment on drought. His late grandfather has left him a box containing a manuscript. It’s been written by Gunnie’s great-great-grandfather, Smokey ‘Gun’ Danson after his journey up the long paddock during a harsh drought as a fourteen-year-old drover in 1910. At the back of the manuscript is an envelope. It’s NOT to be opened until Gunnie has read the entire story.

Gunnie spends the weekend at Wiralee Station; a cattle station that’s been in the family since 1848. There, he reads the awesome manuscript and learns of Smokey’s adventurous journey. Gunnie overhears several secretive conversations. His snobby Aunty Kate wants to divorce his uncle and sell Wiralee Station. He finishes the manuscript and opens the mysterious envelope. Will it legally prevent his aunt from selling Wiralee Station?  




 How did this come about?

The movie director, John Campbell, who has been a guest on this blog, read the book and rang me. He loved it and wanted to make his first feature movie. You can read more about John by clicking on this link when he was a guest on this blog:

 JOHN CAMPBELL
Some background.

It has always been a dream of mine for my books to be transformed into movies. Why not? Having said that, as I've written my manuscripts, I've often mentally viewed hundreds of scenes in my books as they would appear on the screen. It has helped me to write more succinctly and deliver a far better paragraph or chapter for my reader. Not only, I've always had three major rules, should someone approach me to make a movie for any of my books:

1. Don't change the story.

2. Let me have final say in who will be the actors. After all, no one knows the characters better than me.

3. The movie must be professional - no 'ifs' or 'buts'.

Fortunately, John Campbell agreed with me, hence I am writing my first screenplay. Although making a movie is a whole new ball game for me, I am looking forward to being on the set as a consultant, taking photographs, observing and watching closely at every little thing.



What's happening?

 Besides me writing the screenplay, we have had several meetings and John has organized a crew of 35 skilled professionals, including a very experienced director of photography, production manager, editor and casting directors. Also, we have established researchers, ensuring we have the most authentic sets, and clothing of course. By the way, the casting directors are folks I know very well. They are a married couple who have been involved in stage shows, pantomimes and theatre for decades. The cast required for this movie will be well over 70.


Director, John Campbell

Here is a brief outline on who is doing what:

Peter, the Director of Photography; Josephine, the Production Manager and Christine our Editor.

  Casting Directors Donna and Peter, two experienced actors, using their vast data base, select and audition for a 71 strong cast, in the roles they must play in the first movie.

  Leisa and Sue's research team ensure we get authentic sets, clothing, props, and vehicles of the time, both present day and back in 1910, where our stories are told.

Peter and his camera team photograph the incredibly dry New South Wales cattle country, and take you right into the action, with stunning close-up shots and spectacular lighting.

John supervises the scriptwriting, rehearses the cast, and directs each one of them, as they portray their unique part in front of camera, to bring these stories to life.

  Movies are made in the cutting room, and Christine has proved herself a fine Editor over many years, as these stories evolve in her skilled hands, in the editing suite. 

  Every movie requires an excellent sound track, and Chris is our man; recording quality tracks during shooting, and mixing post production, to a flawless final release track.

  Some members of the crew will use a second skill, like Christine, as Assistant Director, scheduling shoots with Josephine and controlling the 'set' with her natural 'loud voice'.

Chris has the latest recording studio for composing the Music and recording the Amazing Sound Effects, that will bring Peter's pictures to life.

  Peter and John have been selecting all the technical equipment. Using Modern Ultra High-Definition Cameras, we can show our movies in the large cinemas Worldwide.

Both cranes and dollies keep the action moving and maintain the tempo. Chris also has the top Microphones, essential to capture the high quality original sounds required.

  Remotely controlled helicopters take us high over the family herd, as young 14 year-old Smokey, single handedly, moves his herd along the dusty 'long paddock' with his dogs.



Where will this movie be shot?

Most scenes, especially outdoor scenes, will be shot in a magnificent area of New South Wales, known as The Riverina. Here are some pictures of the area:






























Where to from here?

'Gunnedah Hero' is book one of a series about the same family. The sequel, 'A Drover's Blanket' is already published, and the third book in the series will soon be written - 'Magic Billie'. Why do I think this will make a great movie? Simple really. This will be an authentic movie for the entire family. Australians will learn swags about their history, be entertained and maybe be moved by the strength and courage of our pioneers. Not to mention that there is a lilting love story in the background.

Reviews:

Click on the following link if you are keen to read some of the top reviews for this book.



REVIEWS
Funding?

John Campbell has over 60 years experience as a film maker. Our Crew and Cast are initially volunteering their services, as film production initially requires money and resources to finance them. So, we are searching for funding; we have the rest . Anyone who is well-connected can contact me regarding the financing: 

clancy_tucker@hotmail.com 

Get on board, folks.

Clancy's comment: Well, there ya go, folks. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Spread the word. Know anyone at Disney? 

Oh, by the way, I finished writing the screenplay yesterday - 475 pages!

I hope to see you on the red carpet.

I'm ...

3 January 2016 - CREATE A BOOK TITLE THAT SELLS

CREATE A BOOK TITLE THAT SELLS
G'day folks,

Do you want to learn to create the best book title that makes you money?
The exercise that was developed by Mike Koenigs will help you name practically anything; not just books, but products, services, articles, videos, and social media posts.

 Mike Koenigs is a seven-time #1 Bestselling Author, “2009 Marketer of the Year” winner, serial entrepreneur, filmmaker, speaker, and patented inventor. He is the CEO and founder of “ You. Everywhere. Now. ” and creator of “ Publish and Profit. ” Mike’s products and services have simplified and automated marketing for over 35,000 small businesses, authors, experts, speakers, coaches, and consultants in more than 60 countries.


Mike developed a very simple method to create a book title that I want to share with you.

Since choosing a compelling title for your book can sometimes seem harder to do than writing the book itself, this technique is invaluable to know.
I’m going to share his tips for choosing a great book title with you…
 Simply take a successful book title and adapt it to your niche.

For example, you could take the book: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.



Our customer Lori Barr used this formula to create her #1 bestselling book, Think and Grow Well.

I really break this formula out for you in The Book Title Cheat Sheet where you can put all this information to use. It also includes 25 of the best book covers and titles for inspiration. You can use this fillable worksheet and the formulas in this blog to name practically anything.

Let me share some examples of great book titles and subtitles some of our customers did in just a few minutes by using this fill-in-the-blanks formula.

Examples of Book Titles

Take your book title and make it relevant to something in your industry.
The health book, Build the Weight Loss Practice of Your Dreams: Your Blueprint for a Successful Weight Loss Practice that Creates a Healthy Bottom Line. 

The author is connecting with her ideal audience by selling a benefit… and she also used a clever double meaning when she shows them how they can have a “healthy” bottom line.

Here’s a fun one from 40-year-veteran pest exterminator Dale Bell. After just a few minutes with the  “Million Dollar Book Titles and Covers” exercise, he came up with:

Things That Crawl in the Night: Life Without Bugs

I don’t know about you, but I think this book would also make an AWESOME interview on NPR, a national or local radio program, a podcast, video series, or on flyers to hand out at a local event.

It will definitely differentiate him from other exterminators and make him and his business more approachable and show he has a sense of humor. It’s fun, memorable, and clear.

Not bad for a few minutes of brainstorming, right?



Will This Work With My Business?

This last example should answer the question I get asked all the time, “Will this work in my business?”

The answer is YES.

If it can work for bugs and ants and rats, it can work for you, human. This will work for you in any niche, any business, on any topic, anywhere in the world.

If you’re interested in writing faith-based, spiritual, or religious books, you’ll enjoy this example:

Please God and Prosper: Getting to Abundance Without Losing Your Soul, by Dr. Emma Jean Thompson. It was patterned after the perennial New York Times #1 bestseller, How to Win Friends and Influence People. She also brilliantly answers one key objection about abundance and money… which is people feeling like they will lose their soul if they get it. Well done, Emma!



Make Your Book Title Timely

I love this one:

50 Shades of Wealth: How to Master and Dominate Your Financial Future, by Thomas Watts; patterned, of course, after the blockbuster book series, 50 Shades of Gray. He even cleverly embedded the words “Master” and “Dominate.” This example would fly off the shelves and is practically guaranteed to get media interviews and attention. It can also be easily turned into a podcast; series of YouTube videos; articles; social media posts; heck, even live events and products. It’s absolutely CATCHY – and will appeal to both men and women.

As of the time I’m writing this to you, it’s also very timely. If your goal isn’t to write a book that has a long shelf-life, you can take advantage of media, movies, celebrity, and current events.

The possibilities are endless. You just need to find a book title you like and modify it to fit your market and theme.

In our system, we include some great resources to make this process even easier including software that writes your book titles for you.
It condenses a lot of this information into an easy to digest title cheat sheet that you can fill out for yourself and gives you over 25 really great examples of awesome titles that you can model.

This thing will help you name anything…

From books, to products, articles, videos, and social posts, this will help you name all of it.


 Clancy's comment: I hope this has helped some of you writers and authors. Many thanks to Mike Koenigs.
I'm ...

2 January 2016 - VALE BETTY HEWETT

VALE BETTY HEWETT
G'day folks,
As most of you know, my mother died on September 3. However, today is her birthday. She'd have turned 90, so I thought I'd honour her. My brother and I both gave a eulogy for Mum at her funeral. My brother, Gerry, gave an amazing summary of an incredible life. Me? I cut to the chase as I do when I write my books, and said what I thought was meaningful. Here is what I said ....

AS AN AUTHOR, I MENTOR AND TEACH WRITING TO A HOST OF PEOPLE. OFTEN, I’VE SAID TO MY STUDENTS “DON’T GIVE YOUR WORK TO YOUR MUM OR YOUR DOG. YOUR MUM WILL SAY IT’S GREAT WHEN IT’S NOT, AND YOUR DOG WILL LICK YOU ANYWAY.”

I LIED. MY MUM WAS MY BIGGEST SUPPORTER. SHE READ ALL OF MY STUFF, AND WAS A GREAT REVIEWER.


I’VE BEEN BLESSED IN LIFE WITH SOME GREAT CLOSE FRIENDS. TODAY, WE CELEBRATE THE PASSING OF ONE OF MY CLOSEST.

I’VE GIVEN A FEW EULOGIES, MADE SPEECHES AT WEDDINGS, BEEN BEST MAN NINE TIMES AND WRITTEN SPEECHES FOR POLITICIANS ... BUT THIS IS A HARD ONE
WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF SOMEONE WHO DID IT TOUGH, BUT ALWAYS FOUND THE TIME FOR OTHERS.
WHEREVER SHE IS NOW, AND I HOPE IT’S BY GEORGE’S SIDE, I BET SHE WILL BE …
GIVING HER LAST DOLLAR TO SOMEONE WHO NEEDS IT
COOKING A MEAL FOR SOMEONE WHO IS HUNGRY
OFFERING WISDOM TO THOSE WHO ARE LOST
HUGGING SOMEONE WHO FEELS UNLOVED AND LONELY
WRAPPING A BLANKET AROUND SOMEONE WHO IS COLD
HOLDING THE HAND OF SOMEONE WHO IS FRIGHTENED
CUDDLING A BABY WHO IS CRYING
SUPPORTING SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN TREATED SHABBILY
LAUGHING WITH TEENAGERS AND KIDS
GIVING SOMETHING OF HERS TO SOMEONE WHO NEEDS IT
HAVING A ROBUST CONVERSATION
LISTENING TO SOMEONE’S WOES
GIVING SOMEONE A REV-UP
PAYING SOMEONE’S BILL BECAUSE THEY ARE BROKE
OR
VOLUNTEERING TO DO SOMETHING


YEP, THAT’S WHAT SHE’D BE DOING.
WHY NOT? SHE DID IT HER ENTIRE LIFE.
LOVE YA WORK, MUM. 


THESE ARE THE COMMENTS PLACED ON A BOOKMARK WE PRODUCED TO HONOUR A GREAT LADY: 


The happiest people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.
Happiness lies ahead for those who cry, those who hurt, those who have searched, and those who tried … For only they can appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives!


Only the man who has come through suffering, grief, disappointment and despair into joy, laughter and love; only this man has a really firm grasp on what life is all about. For being afraid of life, of the future and of uncertainty usually goes hand in hand with the joy of living.


Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; give the world the best you’ve got anyway. You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; it never was between you and them anyway.

~Mother Theresa~





Clancy's comment: Not a day has passed when I have not thought of my mother ... Times when I think of something and want to ring her and tell her. Sadly, I can't, but I say it anyway. 

Yep, I was very lucky. I had an extraordinary relationship with my Mum. She was a mate, more than a mother. I told her heaps of things and swore like a trooper, yet she never castigated me for cussing because she knew I was passionate about the big issues. Although we had different political views, we never became enemies. 


 Halfway through the Requiem Mass, Father John asked me if I had left out some of my eulogy. I smiled and said, 'Nope, that was it ... No frills,  just facts.' 

 Thanks, Mum. Happy birthday. Thanks for caring. You were an absolute star.

Today I will visit her grave an have another  honest conversation with her. My last words as I leave? 
"Loved ya work, Mum! Loved ya work! Always did, always will."
I'm ...








   



RIP - PAX VOBISCUM

1 January 2016 - HAPPY NEW YEAR

HAPPY NEW YEAR
G'day folks,
Happy New Year to you all, and let's all hope we can find more peace in the world. So, what do we do in Australia on this day? Well, for many years I had a big barbecue at my home for all of my friends. Why, because most of us were hungover after the night before, so I thought why not all suffer together. Man, they were top barbecues. 
Australia
New Year's Day is on January 1 and is the first day of a new year in the Gregorian calendar, which is used in Australia and many other countries. Due to its geographical position close to the International Date Line, Australia is one of the first countries in the world to welcome the New Year. 


 What do people do?

In Sydney, the start of the New Year is heralded by a huge fireworks display. It is estimated that one to one-and-a-half million people watch the display at the Sydney Harbour. In other towns and cities, smaller displays are organized by local authorities.

For many people, New Year's Day is a time to recover from New Year's Eve parties the evening before. Others use the day to travel home to end the summer vacation or to spend time with family members. People who enjoy horse racing may watch or bet on the Perth Cup. The race is run over 3200 meters (just over two miles) at the Ascot Racecourse in Perth, Western Australia. The prize money for the race totals 400,000 Australian dollars.

 Public life

New Year's Day is a public holiday. If January 1 is a Saturday or Sunday, the public holiday moves to Monday, January 2 or 3. Schools and other educational establishments are closed, as New Year's Day falls in the summer holiday. Many organizations and businesses are closed.

Stores may be open or closed according to state laws and local custom. In the states of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria, there are trading restrictions on New Year's Day. In these states, many stores do not open on New Year's Day or the first Monday in January if January 1 is a Saturday or Sunday. In some areas, public transport is limited. In other areas, there are no services. There may be some congestion on roads and at airports, as people return from holidays or from relatives' homes.



 Background

New Year's Day marks the start of a new year according to the Gregorian calendar, which was introduced to Australia by European settlers. It replaced the Julian calendar, which used a year that was slightly shorter than the solar year. Over time, the seasons moved out of line with their positions on the calendar. The Gregorian calendar was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII on February 24, 1582. It was adopted immediately in some areas of Europe, such as Spain, Portugal and parts of Italy, but it took hundreds of years before it was used throughout Europe. In Great Britain, it was introduced in 1752.

The start of the year according to the Gregorian calendar is not the only New Year observed in Australia. For instance, Australia's tax year begins on July 1 and the Asian lunar year starts on the second or third new moon after the December solstice, sometime between January 21 and February 20. The Hindu, Coptic, Jalali, Jewish and Islamic New Years are also celebrated in some communities.

Before the European settlers arrived in Australia, Indigenous Australians used a variety of methods to track the passing of the seasons. Some reflected patterns of weather conditions and the life cycle of different plants. For instance, the people of the Crocodile Islands of Arnhem Land recognize six seasons that are important in their ritual life, movements around the land and how they hunt. Since the timing of this type of event can vary from year to year, the relationship between these and the Gregorian calendar changes.

However, this type of calendar was important in maintaining the connection between Indigenous Australians and their land. The movement patterns of the stars were also important to many Indigenous Australians. They used this method to predict when certain plants were ready for harvesting or when they could supplement their diet with migratory birds.





Clancy's comment: Health and happiness to you all for 2016. Never  give up. Now, here is something from me to you for the coming year ...





I'm ...