blah blah blah, about nothing in marticular – may contain traces of aaaarrrggghh
The poppy has become a symbol of remembrance, reverence and honour:
A humble flower capable of thriving in the harshest of conditions, flourishing under duress with a beautiful, if short-lived ephemeral flower. Something existential to learn here for all of us. Continue reading
Australia does not really have a tradition of Halloween, it seems to me a cultural import that encourages the worst sort of excesses – a point I tried to explain to a small halloweenie dressed as a fairy who came knocking on my door on this day a few years back:
It did not go as well as planned, needless to say I am now labelled “the grinch” of our street and little kids scuttle past our place in costume afraid of the bad man in that house. Continue reading
People process loss in different ways. 10 years ago a friend lost her fight with cancer and I am still saddened by the loss of such a bright and affirming soul:
While I could not bring myself to attend a memorial mass, none the less I still feel the loss. I chose to find solace in the many wonderful memories of a friend and confidante. Continue reading
For some reason the republic of Australia still has ties to a monarchy that is completely irrelevant to us but somehow, ultimately, still controls aspects of our government:
I decided to celebrate the public holiday (yay, I accept the holiday, just reject the reason) by folding a crown. Continue reading
First day of the new month, one superstition seems to be to say “White Rabbits” as the first thing you say that day – not sure why:
This is Fernando Castellanos’ rabbit, taken from DOT2, and it seems, designed to be folded on a MUCH larger sheet of paper than this. Continue reading
For purists, today marks the Spring Solstice, the “official” first day of spring (as per lunar cycles). 
As a member of OUSA, I was asked to participate in the “Annual Gift”, which consists of contributing a fold to be used as a Xmas tree decoration at The American Museum of Natural History. Apparently this has become something of a tradition. Continue reading
…yes, I know I am behind. End of term marking and reporting broke me a bit.
I am on holidays so will ge back to it as soon as I am able. Thanks for hanging in there.
Go fold someone or something … you know you want to.
I have long struggled to take photos of my origami – lighting and composing do not come easily to me. Some of my best pictures are happy coincidences of good lighting, good camera position and a lot of luck:
I have been on the look out for a way to construct a Light Box – something that diffuses light (to remove deep shadows) and provide me with a consistent background (you have probably noticed most of my folds are on dark timber because … well … that is my work surface.
I saw on Fakebook an advert for a folding lightbox with built-in LEDs, the price seemed reasonable, so I ordered one. 5 weeks later (after despair and 2 increasingly beligerent emails to the company) it arrived and I am chuffed with it.
It comes with a USB cable, 2 backgrounds (white or black) and joy of joys it’s own carry bag that it folds up neatly into. Cool. Experiments ahead 🙂
In the Brisbane CBD today is a public holiday for the RNA Show:
I stopped going to the show when our kids asked whether we had to go again this year – it is huge, full of people, end of winter and full of flu.
I also had a go at capturing it in 3d, using Fyuse, to give you a sense of the movement. Continue reading
It is rare, in Brisbane, to get to see Origami displayed at all, let alone an exhibition by an accomplished folder such as Jonathan Baxter:
His display at the Richard Randall Art Studio, Mt Coo-tha Botanical gardens was a rare treat.
His folding displays showcased numerous forms of origami including delicate unit work like intricate spheres and torus from “Phiz” units, garlands of interlocking cubes and many variations. Continue reading
Last weekend I mowed the lawn – that is not so much a revelation as a statement of fact – I enjoy mowing, always have. I do not, however, enjoy the “presents” that dog owners allow their pets to leave on my lawn:
I recognise that part of the pleasure of owning a dog is that you have to take it for walks to empty it. It does however infuriate me when owners do not clean up after their newly emptied pet. Continue reading
Dear Donald, Kim, Vladimir and others,
I am writing to your parents regarding the bully tactics and macho posturing you seem to be engaging in while playing in the sandpit. This unacceptable behaviour has to STOP before someone gets hurt.
It seems to me that the sand pit is large enough for you and all the other children, but you seem to want to claim bits of it for yourself. The petty bickering and labelling bits of play equipment “mine” is tiring, but the threats to lob projectiles at each other has wider safety implications I can no longer overlook.
We have tried timeout, handshaking seems not sincere and meetings seem a waste of time as you seen intent on name-calling so, in a last ditch effort, I am appealing to your common sense. Failing that I will roll up a newspaper and give you all a good thwap.
Should the spit hit the fan, and some dumb f*ck lobs the first projectile, I would guess that you will all join in the shit fight. For the couple of minutes you congratulate yourselves on this retaliation (I mean he started it, right?) you will finally have a chance to consider what you have done. You will be making it impossible for anyone to play there again. Ever.
Enough is enough.
Sincerely, PDub
I am avoiding the news at the moment, with world leaders posturing at each other, a bunch of lunatics in charge of launch codes on all sides, it seems to me that we are sliding towards making the world a perfect place for this little guy:
This is Robert Lang’s Cockroach, a faithful paper recreation of my most hated insect. Continue reading
I am not sure what it is about the music, but “The Last Post” always gets to me:
After visiting Gallipoli 2 years ago (nearly to the day), and the Canberra war memorial last year, this is never more true. The tune is haunting, desperately sad and intimately bound up with a remembrance of Australian and New Zealand troops (originally) but more recently with all armed force personnel from all wars, police actions and conflicts.
I am always, oddly, extraordinarily anxious when it is played live. I feel for the trumpeter as the tune has no where to go – when the note is wrong it is so terribly uncomfortable. I am particularly in awe of the students that play it in front of the whole school. James did it proud yesterday at a school assembly. I get goosebumps thinking about it, but I always have. Continue reading
When I first saw NeelishK’s fold of this model I was in total awe of the boxpleating skill it showcased:
He is part of a shared group on Fakebook and to my amazement shared, via photodiagram, guidelines and folding sequence suggestions. Continue reading
This time of year I add marks to student work:
I want to pretend it is a life-giving activity for me, the teacher. Continue reading
