Aching Bone – 15th October 2023

Everyone has got an aching bone
Something imperfect inside
The picture may be pretty
But there’s always something to hide

Flat feet, terrible teeth
The flaws remain concealed
There’s lipstick on the cover
In the morning the truth revealed

Bad breath and wrinkled eyes
The Botox is wearing off
The aching bone is constantly nagging
Unable to look pretty and cough

As I was waiting somewhere, my left foot aching from fallen arches, a pretty girl walked by, drawing my eyes. Perfect on the outside, what is her fallen arch? Her hidden aching bone?


Today I’m feeling:

(1.40 am) still awake with a headache.

(3pm) When I finally got to sleep it was deep and with no real morning planned for, I slept until 11am and headed off to coffee and Tom’s new shop on the bus. Even then I didn’t quite wake up until I started browsing the books in the shop, of which he had curated a good selection and I picked up about five. It was good to see Tom too, he looks like he’s doing well these days. 

I walked over to Newtown which was really nice to do, past old buildings and streets I used to drive through.

I got to Moshpit and met Bob and Julian and the band turned up and I caught up with everyone again. Nicely nostalgic and not too weird, even though it’s a Sunday afternoon and I have other places to go to soon.

Today I’m grateful for:

Tom and 19th Nervous Breakdown for buying me coffee, giving me CDs and only charging me 20 bucks for 5 books and a CD. Good man!

Also to Julian for covering the cost of my ticket to the show today. Good man! 

The best thing about today was:

Catching up with Shouwang and Carsick Cars again and talking about the good old days, I suppose. It seems like in Beijing these aren’t the good old days anymore.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

Apart from my sleep there was nothing much that couldn’t be easily handled. I didn’t even eat until 7 pm except a Snicker Bars which took off another piece of tooth after losing a bit last night whilst eating bread rolls. I guess that was out of my control but thankfully the filling is still intact so there’s no pain at the moment.

Something I learned today?

Thanks to Dave I learned too much about chickens and limestone. I’m somewhat jealous of people like Bronwyn and Dave who are just able to keep talking even if it’s not that interesting or relevant. I noticed Dave checking himself occasionally before he started wandering off into conspiracy land though he did end up getting into something but I can’t even remember what it was now because it was just so dumb.

Who do I need to spend time with?

I need to spend more time with Amy and to settle back into a comfortable routine that will work for me again. I know there will not be enough time to do all the things I’ve been used to and Amy will have me busy doing things.

I took this picture because it’s been a good while since I got my ears blasted at a show.

Foreign Policy – 12th October 2023

When my boot is on your neck
I’ll offer you charity for your aid
Then once our positions are understood
Your debt to me needs to be repaid

I’m sympathetic to all your woes
But don’t finger-point at me
Even though it’s no longer a secret
About my foreign policy

The blame lies back with yourself
And your own quest to rule
The floods and famine of God’s will
And you’ve been played the fool

You are the pirates, as I steal
You are the dictator, as I dictate
Look around for your own slaves
And look to me to imitate

I rained down democratic bombs
Gave you the freedom you need
You’re exactly where you are wanted
Precisely as I agreed


Today I’m feeling:

(2 am) Despite a long day, I’m still awake. Have a headache and tense legs. I want to sleep. I know I’m tired. But my body just won’t let me.

I’ve watched a star travel from the middle of the window until the edge, over these last three hours.

(11 am) I woke up again around 7 am with the sun shining through the window and was wide awake again for another hour. I managed to get up despite not wanting to, as I want to get coffee!

Today I’m grateful for:

Being able to link my Aussie bank card to Apple Pay which makes it easy to pay for things here.

The best thing about today was:

The evening of jazz was nice and I enjoyed it.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

After looking forward to walking down King Street in Newtown I was disappointed in the shops that are there now and that despite it being late-night shopping, everywhere except for bars and restaurants were already closing before 6 pm. The city too seems a little over-gentrified with only a few old-school shops being able to hold on and it won’t be long for them either. This is not my city anymore.

Something I learned today?

Sydney is not what it used to be.

I got a message today that we go back to school on the 27th which gives me a couple of extra recovery days. However, for some reason they want us to work at the weekend too! I think for us we can probably just go and clock in though. I’m not sure what they expect us to be doing really.

What is one thing that I have always wanted to create?

Since enjoying music so much in my life I’ve also wanted to make it. Unfortunately, I have little talent or education and now I don’t make enough time to do it despite having the tools available. There’s still plenty of time left, right?

I took this picture because this is the first, and maybe last, time at Lazybones jazz club in Marrickville.

What’s Cool and Unusual – 23rd July 2008

Hey from all at Dirty Shirlows, here’s an update:

Dirty Shirlows is still operating and is in no danger of being shut down. However, due to complaints from cops about so-called “dance parties” (the rumours aren’t true!) we have been forced to lie low for the next couple of months. 

At this stage we’re in limbo and can’t really tell you much more apart from the fact that we’re on a mission to make sure Shirlows survives so you can expect more Shirlows gigs at a hopefully not to distant point down the track. Also, an art gallery…..

In the meantime the space is open for other business, namley for rehearsals / meetings (a huge amount of space).. The P.A. is still wicked and noise is not an issue. Rates are competitive. Give Shirlows a buzz on 0295**** or B*** on 0402*** or email dirtys**@**mail.com

 Also we wanted to say a big thankyou to everyone who has supported the space so far by booking gigs, rehearsals, coming along, helping us out with council dramas and generally being awesome. 

Keep an eye out…. and see you soon….

fri 25

Blackrose, 22 enmore rd, newtown
6pm – 9pm donations

Spoken Words
w/ Pi O + Guests

Spoken word, poetry, readings and open mic.

+++++++++++++++++++++++

sat 26

FNB Serving
4pm
Martin Luther King mural on King st, Newtown

Regular Food Not Bombs serving has moved to the ‘I have a dream mural’
on king st. Our first serving will be this weekend! Come help FNB at
Jura books (cooking starts at 12pm-1pm) or pike out and just eat at
our serving.

shaun/tenzenmen
++  i’ll either be at these events or wishing i was there  ++

Vialka, The Laurels, Ian Wadley, The Question?, Ten Thousand Free Men and Their Families, Divide By Zero, Przewalki’s Horse, Abortifacient – Club Consolador De Dos Caras, 53-55 Liverpool Street, Sydney, Australia – 23rd April 2008

Pic: inside Dirty Shirlows

What’s Cool and Unusual

wed 23

consolador de dos caras
la campana, 53-55 liverpool st, sydney
$10 8pm

this is the one we’ve been waiting for! and the line up has blossomed madly! first band will be on at 8.30 tonight so BE EARLY!

the laurels – the laurels are a 5 piece psychedelic/shoegaze band from sydney. first taking the stage in june 2006, the laurels juggernaut has accumulated accolades, guitar pedals and fans in approximately equal proportion.

Vialka – Vialka is an inflatable submarine that survived the commercial war. It travels unrestlessly around the world to explore the rich diversity of its cultures before it is too late. Vialka is a noisy comedy not ashamed of its own way by scorn or ridicule. It is an invitation to dance to steady explosive rhythms, terror melodies and experimental movements. It is a symphony for humble flesh through the high spirits of rock’n’roll. Globetrotting mavericks and dynamic two piece from everywhere and nowhere, Vialka unfailingly blow the minds of the uninitiated! With the world’s smallest and hardest hitting female drummer and ungodliest (un)bearded baritone guitarist, this band surpasses all expectation of the possibilities of popular music!

ian wadley – played with bird blobs, jandek , mick turner plus a whole list as long as your arm. have a look at the website for more info. Oh and also brother to greg of new waver fame

the question – Formed through a combination of too much time + equipment and lack of like minded individuals. no more sitting around >>>time to mess around.

as if these bands weren’t enough there will be other crazy shit going on in the front room:

TEN THOUSAND FREE MEN & THEIR FAMILIES

– 10kfreemen is the alias of Tom Gilmore, an Australian chiptune artist. Tom began making Game Boy music in early 2007 with very little exposure to the world of chiptune. His early minimalistic style developed with his exposure and increased involvement with the scene, along with the development of a live show to express himself to new audiences and expose a new genre of music to an unaware Sydney, Australia. http://10kfreemen.com http://myspace.com/thefloortom

DIVIDE BY ZERO

Often described as a mathematical anomaly, Divide is setting out togive a big lo-fi fuck you to mathematicians. ”Anomalise this, cunts” he has been heard to say, wielding a gameboy in each hand whilst shooting lazers out of his eyes. He also occasional designs flyers for No Frills.

PRZEWALSKI’S HORSE

In the wild, Przewalski’s Horses live in social groups consisting of a dominant stallion, a dominant lead mare, other mares, and their offspring. The patterns of their daily lives exhibit horse behavior similar to that of feral horse herds: Each group has a well-defined home range; within the range, the herd travels between three and six miles a day, spending time grazing, drinking, using salt licks anddozing. The stallions can frequently be seen sniffing dung piles to confirm scent markings, and playing out 8-bit tunes in Sydney.

ABORTIFACIENT

When not elbow-deep in recreational autopsy, Abortifacient likes to program Breakcore. Born in 2005, Abortifacient has taken his brand of Queensland Breakcore on a Japanese tour. Like a Gabber set at the Gympie Muster, Abortifacient’s live shows blend Psychobilly, Chiptunes, and Horror Film Fanaticism.

plus the usual DIY markets – bring your wares if you have something to sell

++++++++++++++++++++++

fri 25

‘stikki records’
510 king street, newtown , sydney
12.30pm all ages FREE

capa capo
death cage
rocksteady dub militia
squidd
doin it for the money
fuck oath.

its a public holiday so no excuses!

++++++++++++++++++++++

sat 26

wolli creek outdoor acoustic entertainment society
1pm meet at turella station

harriet
trini
commonfilth
+ more

++++++++++++++++++++++

sat 26

Name: Killerwatts System presents…
Tagline: Death from Above
Host: Killerwatts
Type: Party – Night of Mayhem
Time and Place
Start Time: Saturday, April 26, 2008 at 9:30pm
End Time: Sunday, April 27, 2008 at 12:30am

Location: Dirty Shirlows Warehouse
City/Town: Marrickville, Australia

PASSENGER OF SHIT
MATT BLEAK
CAT-GRRL
DIABOLIQUE
DISLASYSTEM
DJ ZEITGEIST

see breakcore.com.au or killerwatts.info on the day for more info

++++++++++++++++++++++

sat 26

vic on the park
Cnr Enmore Rd & Addison Rd, Enmore
8pm $10

Schrodingers Cat
http://www.myspace.com/schrodingerscattheband

Luca Brasi(Melbourne)
http://www.myspace.com/lucabrasinoise

Dining in Tuscany
http://www.myspace.com/diningintuscany

Hospital the Musical
http://www.myspace.com/hospitalthemusical

i really wish i could go to this as it’s luca brasi’s only show in sydney this weekend. i’ve heard good things about dining in tuscany and i still haven’t seen hospital the musical or schrodingers cat! in my absence you should go check it out! and then head on round to dirty shirlows for mad dancing.

++++++++++++++++++++++

sat 26

YR wherehouse (contact me if you need address details)
8pm $?

castings, onani, pfm, pagan dawn

++++++++++++++++++++++

sun 27

low tea
jura books, 440 paramatta rd, petersham
11am free

from kat thaw:

i’m really excited about this sunday!!! we’re having a big tea / cake party at jura bookshop, with music by loads of lurvely ladies and then a bit of a discussion about women in diy music and activism.

my good friend lena has come up from melbourne to grace us with her gorgeous sounds, louise has some new tunes for our listening pleasure, anna will tearour hearts out with her musical tales and i’ll play some little bits i’ve been working on.

there’ll be a huge spread of vegan cakes and treats! feel free to bring some along if you’re extra inspired. and we’ve plenty of tea cups to go around!

most importantly there’s going to be a discussion of women and queers in diy and activist communities in sydney, but more broadly as well. don’t be shy – come and contribute!

the whole thingo kicks off at 11am on sunday morning (27th april) so don’t sleep in too much or you’ll miss out on all the edible goodies! jura bookshop is easy to get to – a five minute walk down crystal street from etersham station, or a short bus ride from central station down parramatta road. it’s number 440 on parramatta road, just a block from where norton street meets parramatta road. just next to the flag shop and opposite the bald faced stag (pub) if that helps.

++++++++++++++++++++++

sun 27

thirroul neighbourhood centre
1pm $5

hospital the musical
mary jane kelly
run! hide!
sound the mute
hira hira
let me down jungle man gently

+++++++++++++++++++

get prepared for Malaysian screamo merchants DAIGHILA in sydney next weekend (sunday 6pm at hot new space Dirty Shirlows with amazing support from former republics, ohana and the thaw!)

+++++++++++++++++++

shaun/tenzenmen
++ i’ll either be at these events or wishing i was there ++

What’s Cool and Unusual – 26th January 2008

sat 26

late notice i know but Sydney Food Not Bombs are cooking at 1pm at Jura Books and serving at 4pm in Victoria Park, near the tent embassy.

+++++++++++++++++

sat 26

RubanRat

Ruban Rat is a Designer Toy Store and Gallery located at 423 King St, Newtown. Showcasing local and international artists in the toy scene and different genres of the lowbrow and experimental art scene. Upcoming exhibitions by Miseryl, Emily Hasslehoff, May Cat Rabbit and more. –  checkout http://www.myspace.com/rubanrat

Opening Night and first exhibition titled ‘Robot Trouble’ by Brendan Zymatas

Sat 26/01
6-9PM
423 King St, Newtown

+++++++++++++++++

sun 27

Alarm youth anarchist collective meeting.

Alarm is an anarchist youth organization. It was created as a means for young people – workers, and students alike – to effectively organize against capitalism and the state, and to help spread revolutionary ideas throughout Australia.

Alarm is having a meeting at Victoria Park (Next to Broadway and Sydney Uni) on the 27th of January to help build the collective and work towards social change.

We will be meeting at 12pm, and will be marked by a Red and Black flag.

All welcome.

+++++++++++++++++

sun 27

Showing at Black Rose this Sunday is “The Take”, a 2004 documentary about an occupied factory in Argentina.

Sunday January 27
6.30 pm
22 Enmore Rd, Newtown
entry by donation

To steal a desription from the film’s official website: “In suburban Buenos Aires, thirty unemployed auto-parts workers walk into their idle factory, roll out sleeping mats and refuse to leave.

All they want is to re-start the silent machines. But this simple act – The Take – has the power to turn the globalization debate on its head.

The story of the workers’ struggle is set against the dramatic backdrop of a crucial presidential election in Argentina, in which the architect of the economic collapse, Carlos Menem, is the front-runner. His cronies, the former owners, are circling: if he wins, they’ll take back the companies that the movement has worked so hard to revive.

Armed only with slingshots and an abiding faith in shop-floor democracy, the workers face off against the bosses, bankers and a whole system that sees their beloved factories as nothing more than scrap metal for sale.

With The Take, director Avi Lewis, one of Canada’s most outspoken journalists, and writer Naomi Klein, author of the international bestseller No Logo, champion a radical economic manifesto for the 21st century. But what shines through in the film is the simple drama of workers’ lives and their struggle: the demand for dignity and the searing injustice of dignity denied.”

+++++++++++++++++

sun 27

Gurlesque

More bump n grind at the scooter community lezzo strip joint.

Sun 27/01
@ Mr Mary’s
106-110 George St, Redfern
$20/25 doors open 6PM

shaun/tenzenmen
++ i’ll either be at these events or wishing i was there ++

*All right – 1st September 1998

Email with TLJ

S: Hey sweety I’m missing you and wanna make things good with you. Wanna know you’re all right with everything. Want you to know that I think you’re great, happy and full of life. (We all have our bad days – me particularly)
Love to you

T: you know what? whatever.
No only kidding – just knew that would piss you off.

S: Hang on – I’ve put my sense of humour down here somewhere….

T: Planning on going shopping with sue, di, and tu in about 1/2 an hour.

S: Window shopping I hope. Or a present for me of course.

T: josh asked if that guy on friday night was anything special,

S: Tell me the truth – is he?

T: and made a reference to Jack (whom he has heard a bit about from nat) – i think I said something bitchy though to cover up. anyway, he’s moving out with jay and joe to Newtown tomorrow. sue, di and tu asked if i wanted to go white water rafting in october – i’ll think about it, though it’s 90 dollars + you have to find transport (can get a lift with sue and di, or you wanna drop me? i think it’s at Shoalhaven or something).

S: You know I can drop you – can I come too – or is that a girl thing too (or a uni thing). I think I’d like to be in a dingy with three beautiful teenage girls (hang on I’m just going to the toilet).

T: Shaun also offered to pay for josh’s skydiving ticket!

S: OK – will he pay for me too? (and I’ll promise to be his friend)

T: no, things are good with me, i only wanted to spend the night together and really have fun – no worries or anything.

S: We’ll have a long hot bath – I’ll massage you and you can fall asleep in my arms.

T: di can’t make tomorrow girlie thing, so i may be able to see you.

S: Oh, but I’m seeing Di…oops! No no that would be cool. I look forward to it.

T: As well, i may try dropping around to marty’s party, or maybe even newtown to see triple J’s (get it) new house.

S: I can always drop you there too sweety.

T: Sunday’s out though, cause i may be getting together with di to work on IS & OD. and monday night, we may be having our girlie night (if mum lets me).

S: Oh well. If you can you can if you can’t you can’t – no sweat. You know I’ll be waiting for you.

T: anyway, what are your plans?

S: I might try and get a swim in this weekend actually – otherwise more work on the equipment and some noise plus comic reading and taking it easy.

T: love tlj
ps – i’m wearing his pants for her………….

S: Can I wear your pants…
Hope you get this – our mail server is fucked today

T: ok, so we didn’t get to go shopping but i’ll be going after the marketing lecture til 5, and then i’ll come see you at about 6pm at the physio.
we were talking instead and boy have i got some juicy goss to tell you! the best!
catch ya babe