Yours and my Music tastes- What draws you in...?

                                                           Whats in Your Music Box

What draws you in?

Is it the intro to the song, the melody, the chorus, the lyrics,the Band or Singer?

It's something that has been asked of me many times, how do I explain what I love when not much of it sits high in commercial acceptance or sales for that matter?  

The answer for me rests with what's in my heart, my emotions, where a lyric line combined with a melody tells me I'm not alone with my thoughts, views, preferences and perceptions. The songs as one seemingly become the gatekeeper to my soul.

So who are the bands, the song writers, where do they come from? 
I'll start with The Go-Betweens a band that gave the world 9 albums with a sound known as 'The Striped Sunlight Sound' they were from Brisbane, near enough to the top in my collection.

Joyfully, I'll start with some lines from their songs that spurred me to greater heights. However, through the song melody and lyric I felt I wasn't alone, I was drawn in. I'll pick four titles (equal favourites of all they recorded). I'll share three or four other bands with songs that pierced my heart and repaired them with hope by the closing bar.

Here they are:

People Say - "The Job's you cannot hold, the stereo that you sold, You can't have milk and drink it to, Your Kitchen never had any food" ....1979.

 Living in Limbo a bit, just prior to settling into an 8 year job with AGC, fridge lacked food, moved on or left behind some stuff. If you listen to the song the closing lyric about going to Rome, inspired me to improve, I was inspired. The song still sticks.

Wrong Road- "Lucky at Cards, that's an old lie, Lucky in love, that's how life ends, Well the turncoats turned around, When they heard the sound of the Bell, Dropped their coins into the well, I took the Wrong Road round". ...1986..

Just short of moving to NNSW and the Gold Coast,I Iived up there for 11 years from 1988 to 1999. The move that changed my life, the song tells me find out who I am and take the Right Road, also was to be 10 years till I met Monica, my wife. My son Leon, was born in 1990.

Bit of a jump in time to this one.

Finding You- "What would you do if you turned around, And saw me beside you, Not in a dream but in a song, Would you float lie a phantom,  Or would you sing along, Don't know where I'm going Don't know where its flowing But I know it's Finding You" ....2005. 

It was a settling time, Finding You was about finding the one you want, I had, in dreams, in song and beside me.

Cattle & Cane- "Longer, Further, Higher"..1983  could not resist, keep aiming, childhood recalled. 

The next on the list is The Smiths, I've chosen 2 from them to share.

Reel Around The Fountain- "I dreamt about you last night, And I fell out of bed twice
You can pin and mount me like a butterfly, But take me to the haven of your bed

Was something that you never said, Two lumps, please, You're the bee's kneesBut so am I"...1984. 

Pretty much what we all do when we dream, oh you don't, but I did back then...This song told the story about desires, about being different but same.

There is a Light that never goes out- "And if a double-decker bus, Crashes into us, To die by your side Is such a heavenly way to die, And if a ten-ton truck, Kills the both of us, To die by your side Well, the pleasure - the privilege is mine"...1986 

The honour of knowing someone of the same ilk, background, same feelings, understood not underestimated. 

Joy Division/New Order drop in now, again so many of their songs that struck me from behind and there were plenty of those that came face to face with me.  But I'll narrow it to down to 3.

Here we go.

Love will tear us apart- Joy Division "You cry out in your sleep,
All my failings exposed, And there's a taste in my mouth, As desperation takes hold,Just that something so good just can't function no more,But love, love will tear us apart again"...1979 

When she knew it was over, when she did not know how good it could be, perhaps nor I...The song has everything melody, chorus, lyric that feeds a new romantic with emotions never forgotten, mostly despair, then survival. But the ride was worth it.

Temptation- New Order "Oh, you've got green eyes, Oh, you've got blue eyes, Oh, you've got grey eyes, Oh, you've got green eyes, Oh, you've got blue eyes Oh, you've got grey eyes
And I've never seen anyone quite like you before,No I've never met anyone quite like you before"... 1982 

Oh we all know when we met that someone, the lights went out around us, but we could not have been brighter.

True Faith-New Order "I used to think that the day would never come,
I'd see delight in the shade of the morning sun,
My morning sun is the drug that brings me near,
To the childhood I lost, replaced by fear"...1982....

Stuff about my father lingers in here, thoughts of him flicker past when I hear this song, it's about emerging from the shadows of doubt, reaching for my own expectations, the song is still a favourite, hackles go up. 

Now to The Cure. 

A Night Like This-  "I'm coming to find you if it takes me all night, A witch hunt for another girl, For always and ever is always for you, Your trust, The most gorgeously stupid thing I ever cut in the world" ..1985...

Searching is over, but wow, what torment and longing to find the one who you can sit on a bus, a train, a plane or a park bench with and say nothing but be free to touch a hand. Then you put it all in jeopardy. So you start again to find a way back.

A Forest- "I hear her voice, Calling my name, The sound is deep
In the dark, I hear her voice, And start to run, Into the trees, Into the trees"...1980...

The Chase, you know she knows, her voice is ever present in your head, you know if she hears you, you still stand a chance. It's the silence that haunts you the most. 

Just Like Heaven- "Show me, show me, show me how you do that trick,The one that makes me scream she said,
The one that makes me laugh she said,Threw her arms around my neck,Show me how you do it and I'll promise you
I'll promise that I'll run away with you, I'll run away with you"..1987.

The joy of being with the one you want, shared desire, shared adventure, sheer bliss.

Lucinda Williams has 2 songs from my catalogue that command space, the songs are provoking and dynamic, the first one speaks from a woman's view and the other shares sentiment about returning to somewhere that calls, either from childhood or just to reminisce.

Right on Time- "Not a day goes by I don't think about you,You left your mark on me it's permanent, a tattoo, Pierce the skin and the blood runs through, Oh my baby

The way you move it's right in time, The way you move it's right in time
It's right in time with me"...1998.

Lake Charles- "We used to drive,Through Lafayette and Baton Rouge, In a yellow Camino, Listening to Howling Wolf, He liked to stop in Lake Charles, Cause that's the place that he loved"....and the chorus that is a lullaby in itself. "Did an angel whisper in your ear, And hold you close and take away your fear, In those long last moments"...1998...

Well I love the Charles bit, to me the song is about returning to places that sparkle in my memory, the fun, the experiences, the adventure, the newness of being with someone you love.  

There is so much more to my collection, so it can be continued, but I also cannot ignore what lured me from the start.The Beatles, The Stones, The Who, The Kinks ,The Small Faces and yes the Monkees,quickly come to ear and mind. 

I will wind up these revelations with noting there are three singer song writers that I carry with me on my phone, my home, in my car and in my head that in essence reveal as much about me in terms of my life, past, present and maybe even with what's to come.

Sharing experiences, emotions whether trodden on or springing above the chandeliers, that I'd struggle to put in words little lone put into song. 

Here they are:

Grant McLennan.
All his solo albums are high on my charts, for me the 'Watershed' album stands out as my most played. Songs like 'Easy Come, Easy Go', 'Haven't I been a Fool', 'Stones for You' and 'When word gets Around' give me glow and space every time I play them.

From the double album 'Horsebreaker Star', 'Girl in a Beret', 'Put you Down' , 'All her Songs' and 'Keep my Word' remind me of my capacity to love and what attracts that love.  

Fireboy's 'Surround Me' rids me of bullies and the non trustworthy.

Sadly he passed away 6 May 2006, lives on at #39. 

 Morrissey likely enough said.
The album 'You are the Quarry' with songs 'First of the Gang', I'm not Sorry' and 'Irish Blood, English Heart' stir the soul and help me kick stones! 

'Ringleader of the Tormentors' gives 'In the Future when all's Well' and my current ring tone "You have Killed Me'

'Viva Hate' just brilliant, 'Everyday is Like Sunday' and 'Suedehead' and 'Margaret on the Guillotine' are mini anthems within themselves.   

Robert Forster
'Calling from a Country Phone', 'Danger in the Past', 'Warm Nights' are all brilliant albums.

Perhaps the most significant for me is 'The Evangelist'  the album he did after the passing of G.W. McLennan his co songwriter and revered Band Member of the Go Betweens. 

'Pandanus' could be a song about Seaford my home suburb, with the 'beach and gentle people there', to the haunting 'Ghost Town' a song in tribute to G.W.McLennan along with a standout called 'Demon Days' that was unfinished in part originated by the latter.

His latest album 'Songs to Play' with tracks 'A Poet Walks' and 'I'm so Happy for You' provide stirring moments to remind me of the joys of books and the people I love. 

As a side line Robert Forster is also a renowned writer, music critique with his latest book 'Grant & I' achieving world accolades, littered with Literary awards from the Arts and Music world.

So what's next? 

What about you?, what are your music flavors?, the songs that strike your heart, the songs that make you tap the steering wheel, or you turn to in time of need or just to kick back over dinner with. 

Songs or music you play when having Sunday morning at home or when it's raining or doing the vacuuming by or even cooking your favourite meal, I'd love to hear from you and your story behind the music you love.

This could be the start of some fun in exploring new music and some story telling that has no boundaries with where it could go. More on that later.

Enjoy your days,

Cheers 
Charles. 

 

    

Why a New Business may Fail, is there a cure?

                                                   A New Business Review 

Let's take a look at what are initially some basic but defining requirements for a new Business, start up or in it's infancy to be fervent and profitable. In most cases the first months are to recoup set-up costs, pay the initial and on going expenses and put a little earn aside.

There are so many influences that can steer you from your desired outcomes. It's a case of being alert to any indifference, maintain quality of product and service, if there is a 'drop off' it will strike at the very heart of your business.

Be aware of any downward trends in performance/attendance of staff including what you are doing yourself, any deviation from business protocol and behaviours that diminish customer service, trust, loyalty and testimonials will cause harm.

Prompt and consistent service is a non negotiable, no matter what the product or field of work that is in play, there is always a reason why a service or product can falter.

The need to 'live' the business everyday even when you are not there is paramount, constantly 'singing and dancing' to its needs and creating the wow factor for your customers. 

Without that enthusiasm, without sharing that among others the gloom of failure will loom, seemingly without warning, but alas the warnings are there.

You can do all the Market Research using the tools that are available that still may not conclude that your location/site is viable, hence creating the wow factor becomes foremost in your service and product to get customers to go out of their way to deal, trade or visit your business.

Businesses that trade on line are pretty much free of this issue. Where as if you are a manufacturer, wholesaler, commercial business or a restaurant/cafe for example the congenial interaction with your customer determines return business and is a draw card/influence in advising others of the service and quality of your business.

Ensure Branding/Logo, Advertising and Marketing have been attended to in a meaningful and lucrative manner using all the up to speed technology that is available. Eg. Social Media- Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin plus local papers, fliers and a viable Website that provides one of your points of difference. .

Working Capital to be sufficient to ensure home life and expenses are covered plus sufficient funds to meet the costs of running the business on a day to day basis, until the business has the turnover to take over. 

You need to keep in mind that outlays/set up costs with Plant and Equipment, Fixtures and Fittings can take up to 24-30 months to recoup and realise profit. If financed, repayments and interest extend that period which in part or in some cases solely contribute to a Business failing in the first 12 to 24 month's. 

Strains and stress caused by cash flow problems bring health issues you can do without. 

In working your Business Plan, if you do not do as you are supposed to do, for what ever reason signs of whatever success that were envisaged soon evaporate. Pushing through difficult periods can mean sacrifices of a business and personal nature, many businesses come to the realisation that resilience is not something they factored into the Business Plan.

A successful business will invest in strong leadership, with perseverance and resilience it can overcome adversity, knowing that these qualities will be tested time and time again. 

Understand the fundamentals of your business, invest in them, never to be too busy to review performance, it's good practice to do this on a regular basis.  

So what comes of all this, is there a summary?

I think there is, it's short and sharp. It follows:

Your Business Plan has clarity with Goals and Objectives with Products and Services to be delivered, Competitors recognised, Market Research completed with Pricing and Finances competitive and budgeted.

Stay focussed and disciplined, be ready to sacrifice your time to review and adjust plans if needed, keep yourself healthy and live your dream.

Cheers
Charles.

Seaford Wetlands

Hello!

Welcome to my new blog! 1/18

I'm looking forward to posting what I hope to be many 'blogs' of interest that draw us out of our comfort zones to create new ones. With topics and views that trigger thoughts, responses and ultimately actions that provide opportunity to make us better prepared or aware of what life offers.

They will vary greatly so the belief is and you have to believe that there is so much in life and what we learn sometimes is the 'right thing' to pass onto others, so here we go with the first, enjoy, critique or pass on. I'm happy that at least you read, absorbed or actioned even for you own benefit and/or that of your family and friends.

                                                               Seaford Wetlands

The variety of biking and walking trail adventures that are available in our beach side suburb of Seaford are amazing in beauty and surprise.

The Seaford and Edithvale wetlands were known as the Carrum Carrum Swamp which was a rich source of food, including fish and eels for the Boonerwrung tribe, the original inhabitants. It was a designated meeting place for ceremonies and meetings.

So be prepared to step back in time and embrace what came before and indulge, imagine and enjoy what exists amid our ever growing seaside suburbs, the door stop to the Peninsula.

Carry your water bottle, there are water stations to refill, bring some energy foods and comfortable footwear, with your sunscreen and hat. Bike riders, along with your helmet and riding gloves, oil your chains and check your tyre pressure. Though if you do strike a bike problem or fault and repair is troublesome there are other bikers on the trails who will readily stop and offer assistance if requested.

It's the forgotten camaraderie among bike riders that's refreshing as we are often bandied as pests on the road, The beauty here is that we are not on a road and don't have to cross or ride on one to enjoy the trails. Or if we do there are only in scattered residential areas with little or no no traffic to alarm us.

Along your journey you'll see a variety of Bird species (Bitterns, Snipes, Cormorants, Swamp Harriers, Parrots and Ibis) some 190 different colours and sizes flashing by, add 40 migratory birds travelling from Asia, Alaska and Siberia flying low to hunt and feed on small animals, its an oil painting waiting for you to jump into.

The widening Kananook Creek looms up free flowing, parallelled by River Red Gum trees.There are bird viewing platforms along with creek pier platforms to nestle down on and throw a line in or just sit and enjoy the sounds of the life that surrounds you.

We sometimes carry in our back pack when riding our tennis racquets, at a mid point some five kilometers in from Seaford Road there are tennis walls to practice on, sporting fields to play on, with playgrounds for the kids and us, along with BBQ areas to stop and picnic at.

Another fun thing we do is track our rides on Strava and Rideon.cc, these apps (all readily available) provide opportunity to record your walk or bike ride with mapping, distance travelled, the speed you travelled at and the time it took. With these apps you can pause (lunch, coffee, water stops) them and restart when you are ready to go again.

We generally start our wetlands ride at Seaford road just short of the freeway exit south, you can also commence from the Seaford Railway Station.

A Melway Reference is : 97G12, 99G1 if you want to explore the locations yourself.

Tell us if you would like to join us on a ride one day and we'll happily meet and guide you to the wonders that await.

There are going to be many more blogs in regard to our cornerstone of the Peninsula and what is available that will spark you to indulge in, meet others and perhaps kick start a whole new lifestyle.

Let me know what you think or if you want more information (feel free to ask questions) as I'm looking to provide as many links and opportunities to a better, healthier and fulfilled life for all of us.

If you would like to know more about me I invite you to view my 'about me' starting with my being a resident of Seaford for the past 11 years.

Looking forward to hearing from you and/or seeing you on one of the wetland trails.

Cheers
Charles.