Four Christmas Miracles (After Three Catastrophes)...

2022 has certainly had swings and roundabouts and the last week before Christmas was even more energetically topsy-turvy. 

My faithful, cheap and cheerful laptop was the first cab off the rank for disaster. Having discovered that our previous computer guru had quietly retired, we then had to source a new IT fixer to restore our Gallery email to full health. Fortunately, we had previously met our saviour, John, in the East End Gallery (of course) and a quick phone call to him led to his rapid arrival to solve our dilemma. That was the Sunday before Christmas.

On the Monday before Christmas, my laptop, with its email newly operational, refused to turn on. I decided to allow the device some "bench rest" during the day, as we were off to the Big Smoke for Michael's hip check-up. Upon our return, my laptop was still stubbornly not performing. At all.

On the Tuesday before Christmas, I rang our IT consultant John. He suggested I drop off the kaput machine to him on the following day. On the same day, Alex left his mobile phone in an Uber on the way to the beach...

On the Wednesday before Christmas, we dropped the laptop at John's house in York. Later that day, he rang to give me the awful news. My laptop had, indeed, gone to the Big Scrapyard in the Sky. He was trying to arrange a new one to be delivered before our Final Push in the Gallery prior to Christmas Day.

On the Thursday before Christmas, my new, Kate resistant, outrageously expensive laptop failed to arrive. However, Alex with the help of the police and the staff at Optus, managed to organise a payout of his phone insurance and order a new phone. Which has since arrived at Alex's pad. First Christmas miracle under our belt!

On the Friday before Christmas, my new laptop arrived! Second Christmas miracle. I was mightily impressed with my Leader, timidly switching it on for the very first time. Proudly clad in a metal case, my confidence in IT John's choice of my replacement computer was warmly received. Except, I really didn't know how to operate this piece of updated scary technology...

On the day before Christmas, the third miracle happened, my self esteem was reinstated and my laptop set up. My third Christmas miracle arrived in the form of Charmaine and Neil. We had previously met this lovely Tammin couple in the East End  Gallery (again...!). Charmaine, a very talented artist, had shown me examples of her work, including murals that she had been commissioned to produce for her town. She returned to Heavenly Beverley, with her paintings, along with Neil, her fabulous IT specialist husband. I was saved!

The third catastrophe and fourth Christmas miracle actually occurred post Christmas Day. Michael had arranged for local jeweller Bec to create an eternity ring as my gift from him. Proudly showing my ring off on the 27th, I was distraught to discover one of the three stones was missing. Complete desolation took over my entire being.

Bec was horrified. She assured me that she would order a new stone and restore my ring to its former glory. As I thought I'd lost the stone down the shower, I was resigned to its loss. On the morning of the 28th, just before we were departing for the Big Smoke, I noticed a sparkly speck in front of the washing machine. The missing stone from my eternity ring...

My fourth Christmas miracle had magically materialised. Hooray!

Do I believe in miracles? You be your sweet bippy I do.

 

 

 

 Catastrophe 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Miracle 1 and 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Catastrophe 2

 

 

 

 

Thank you Optus, for coming to Alex's rescue - Miracle 3

 

 

 

 

 Catastrophe 3

 

 

Who would have thought a stone supposedly lost in the shower would turn up on the laundry floor?! Miracle 4

 

 

 

 

 

 

Every word is true!

 

 

 

Never forget!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Creative Love (And Lots of Blood, Sweat And Tears!) Lifts Her Up Where She Belongs.

 

Yesterday was one of our Red Letter days. After two years of imagining, sorting and picking, constructing and finishing (with many many hours spent on the grinder and the welder), "Look and Understand" was mounted onto the Beverley Old School, in her rightful position.

Conceived as stories of the Wheatbelt, former Shire president Dee Ridgway, approached Michael for a commission of his work to illustrate our lives - past, present and future. As outgoing president, she had been gifted by the Shire for her years of service. She promptly deviated those funds for Michael's long-conceived dream of an art piece devoted to Heavenly Beverley.

She took four months to actually bring to fruition. The outer ring was cold bent and tack welded around a wagon wheel - that is as tough as it sounds. The other inner circles were created using different templates - all cold bent. All the metal components had to be cleaned on his grinding wheel. Some parts proved very tricky to weld into position. Then, from a germ of an idea, Michael's central feature, the wheat ears, came into being, using specific ties that had held down loads on 19th century cargo ships.

This year caused a slow down of Michael's artistic endeavours due to dodgy joints, multiple surgeries and recovery. Determined to position her before Christmas, Michael carefully measured the Old School's wall, so "Look and Understand" would be mounted in the mortar courses, rather than the bricks of the building.

Up at relative sparrow fart, Michael and EXO Gary completed her positioning by eleven o'clock on the wall of the Old School. As Michael was still recovering from his latest hip replacement, Gary, who has known Michael since they were both seventeen, did the majority of the grunt work. Once "Look and Understand" was actually mounted, Gary offered Michael a salient piece of advice - "Mick, could you possibly make lighter pieces until you are fitter and stronger?!"

Come and see "Look and Understand", adjacent to the Shire Offices and the path to our caravan park. I'm sure Beverley visitors will appreciate and admire her as much as we do!

And do send Gary some well deserved sympathy in supporting his nutty friend!

Gary and Leo hard at work...

Where's Michael?

There he is!

The EXO and his eccentric Captain!

And "Look and Understand" is up!

Looking Forwards With The Beverley Hillbillies...

'Twas ten days until Christmas, and at Station House, nobody was stirring, not even a mouse...which is technically not entirely true as we still have one varmint of a mouse lurking in the cupboard under the sink! 

When I left for the East End Gallery this morning, Mister Chop, Mister Pip and Miss Stella were all asleep on the lounge. Michael has now joined them for a pre-lunch snooze. I hope he doesn't sleep all afternoon, as I need my lunch!

Today is the last day of our school year and all the local kids are probably delighted at the prospect of six weeks freedom. Hence, with assistance from the wonderful Tracey Martino, the craft supplies have been restocked, so the Gallery's art table is prepared for any child who wanders in before the close of business on Christmas Eve.

With 2022 galloping to its conclusion, I thought I might take a moment to list as many events that I know about occurring @ the East End Gallery, Beverley Station, Beverley in general and us for the near future.

So, hang onto your hats and enjoy the ride!

• Thursday/Friday/Saturday15/16/17 December - Beverley Country Women's Association has an OUTSTANDING raffle at the Lions Kiosk today and tomorrow. The raffle will be drawn on Saturday, during their home-made goodies stall. Pop along and see the mountain of treasures to be won and support a great cause.

• Saturday 17 December - Open Gallery @ the East End Gallery. Please bring a plate of nibbles to share and a bottle if you desire. Eggnog and cake, tea, coffee and limited soft drinks will be available. Sausage Sizzler Extraordinaire John Whittington with be raising funds for the continuing restoration of St Mary's.

• Saturday 17 December - Beverley Station Arts Christmas Party - FREE event from 5 pm. Featuring a circus workshop, Santa's arrival, carol singing and a circus performance, Please BY0 a picnic and drinks. No bar, but food is available from the Station Kiosk.

• Anglican Canon and all around good guy, Philip Reymont is going to be busier than a bumblebee in the coming ten days 

        St Mary's Beverley - Sunday 18 December 9am - Advent 4 Morning Prayer 

                                           Sunday 25 December 9am - Christmas Service

        St Mark's Brookton - Sunday 18 December 8.30am - Advent 4 Morning Prayer

                                          Monday 19 December 6.30 pm - Advent 4 Communion Service

                                          Saturday 24 December 7.30pm - Christmas Service

        Holy Trinity Church York - Sunday 25 December 7.30am - Christmas Service

        I am a tad confused how Philip is going to manage being in Beverley and Brookton half an hour            apart on Sunday 18 December... Perhaps a call to Philip may be in order on 0419 177 178 or email         him - praymont@perth.anglican.org

• Sacred Heart Church Beverley - Sunday 18 December 8am - Mass                                                  Sunday 25 December 8am - Mass

• Saturday 24 December - East End Gallery's final day for 2022. We will remain open until 5pm to allow any desperadoes the opportunity to find last-minute Christmas gifts!

• Sunday 25 December - Free Christmas Day Lunch @ the Town Hall - 11am until 2pm. Please RSVP to John Whittingham on 0409 882 087

And now, please enjoy more snippets of our wonderful artworks currently available in our Gallery and Giftshop!

The East End Gallery will be officially CLOSED from 25 December until Australia Day 26 January 2023. I am having my right knee replaced on Monday 9 January and will probably be out of commission right up until 26 January. If you do have any enquiries, please ring me on 0414 255 781 or Michael on 0400 373 822.

We are looking forward to the cessation of our body restorations and hoping to be completely revitalised for our next fossicking adventure during winter 2023.

Our fearsome trio of fierce protectors! 

Chop

Stella

Pip

The Station, Beverley

Our beloved building

St Mary's Anglican Church, Beverley

St Mark's Anglican Church, Brookton

Sacred Heart Church, Beverley

Our Christmas SPECIAL

Ian Kay's Midnight Express

Shane Moad's exquisite oils

Paul Kendall's Crane

Tuppence's Turning wooden bowl

Jan George - Late Afternoon at Beverley Oval 

Tapas - Judy Willock

Christmas gift ideas galore in the Giftshop!

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Wood and metal

Ian Kay

Paul Kendall

Mick Bachynsky

Magpie - David Lillico

Earrings - Sue Martin

Crown? Candle holder? Pen and pencil tidy? - David Lillico

Alyssa Byl's lovely collage cards and gift tags

Adrianna Wasinska-Fabian's Horsepower

An unhinged Diptych.

           

About A Boy (Again!)...

Those who know me well would be aware of my uninhibited love of my elder son, Mister Callum Timothy. This depth of feeling has, at times, caused embarrassment for him - my enthusiasm for selling raffle tickets at a Humphreys' Dance Studio competition almost caused Cal to disown me. Somehow, he continues to accept his loopy Mum and he, Bronwyn and Miss Imogen Ivy have given me so much joy that I could just about burst with delight and affection. Ragnar, the psycho Ragdoll cat does not receive much attention from me, due to his predisposition for biting!

Today, I am filled with pride, once more. If I could shout of my unbridled happiness from the rooftops, I surely would. But first, for those yet to make the acquaintance of my wonderful son, here is a bit of his back story...

He was born after I'd experienced the neonatal death of his brother (Christopher) and the stillbirths of his sisters (Zoe and Melanie). Desperate for a "live baby", my pregnancy with him was incredibly difficult. Into my third trimester, he thoroughly enjoyed snoozing inside my womb, rather than displaying the energy and eagerness that he illustrated after birth. Which meant when the outside world tried to monitor his "wellbeing in utero", Callum refused to cooperate. I should have realised that stubbornness to perform perfectly was the cause, but I was just in a world of emotional pain, terrified that he wouldn't survive.

At thirty-six weeks of pregnancy, we pulled the pin and he was born roaring and most disgruntled. Post birth, Callum immediately had a fit of the vapors and refused to play nice. He spent five days in a "headbox" in Special Nursery and then was content to have me squirt milk into his mouth rather than learn how to suck. Eventually, he agreed to toe the line and became an enthusiastic breast-feeder.  Not to be denied his view on the universe, he would take my nipple with him as he peered around the corner of my body to catch any juicy action. Later, when he could talk, when describing my breasts in his own inimitable style, he told me that I had "long boobies". He was blissfully unaware that he was to blame for that state of affairs.

Callum was a social animal and loved daycare, unlike his sister and brother. He started school with his natural exuberance, which continued until after junior primary. Then, due to his wit and intelligence, he became the target of bullies. I ached for him, saw successive principals and tried to make home a haven. He refused to submit to the torment, remaining at the primary school when he could have left. I promised high school would be better, and was devastated when it wasn't for him.

However, Cal created his own safety net. First with karate and then with ballroom dancing, he found his tribe. In Year11, along with a new school, he made the decision to drop karate and keep dancing. This cocoon of friendship at his dance studio sustained him. And I realised very quickly that my move to Queensland late in that school year was a disaster. In a holiday job at the end of Year 11, he saved enough money to fly to Queensland to see me and his Dad's family. That is when I knew I had to return West.

Having always known he would make a great teacher, I was thrilled when he chose that course. But, upon graduation, finding long term teaching positions seemed to elude him. He went backwards and forwards between teaching and hospitality. Finally, having married the love of his life, Miss Bronwyn Louise, he chose to return to teaching so they could begin a family. I remember him telling me that hospitality and teaching were both forms of crowd control and teaching paid better with more family friendly hours.

In spite of his obvious talents, he continued to only gain teaching contracts for set periods. Beginning as the third teacher in two terms at a northern suburbs primary school, he held his nerve for second semester. Along with a tandem teacher, they survived a particularly challenging class. Appointed to lead the dance programme, he began that position for the next two years. He continued as a support teacher, a health teacher, as well as running the choir and organising performances. Then, the school announced the Dance Programme would finish at the end of this school  year.

He had the promise of fours days a week work, probably teaching science in 2023 but his heart and needs were no longer fulfilled there. As a singer, dance specialist, ability to play multiple musical instruments and experience in visual arts teaching, he cast his net, hoping to find a welcoming environment at another school. 

Last Friday morning, he went for an interview at Ballajura Primary School for a position as an Arts (Performing and Visual) specialist to start Term 1, 2023. He was delighted by the welcoming atmosphere and really believed he would be able to show his skill set in this environment. Later that day, he was confirmed that he would start the position as the Arts Specialist at Ballajura Primary School for 2023.

To say I am thrilled for him is the understatement of the century. And for his growing family - Peanut is due to make her appearance in March - this security of employment has allowed them to breathe again. I just hope that his new school learns to appreciate his drive, his enthusiasm and his determination to be the best Arts Specialist he can be.

Callum, late April 1989...

At 8 months, smiling with his whole body...

Aged 9, at the Shearing Shed in Yallingup...

Aged around 13, with his sneaker creation for Art...

Age 20, with sushi for lunch!

Wedding day with Bron...

Letting his hair down later in the evening!

As an award-winning dance coach...

With Bron and Immy at AQWA...

Third Christmas for Immy - December 2021...

With Daddy, dressed up for Halloween, October 2022

With Miss Imogen and Bron (with Peanut incognito) at Immy's third birthday party - 4 December 2022. Immy is pretending to be a lion!