November | 2014 | Perth Words... exploring possibilities.

My daughter Jessica McCallum was commissioned to design and make a one-off head piece for her friend Judith in Melbourne – which arrived just in time!

Judith (aka The Adventures of a Voucher Vixen) agreed to the use her photos showing how happy she was with her hat – and just how gorgeous she and the dashing Alister looked!

For all readers who aren’t Australian, yesterday was the day of the great race – the Melbourne Cup.

It’s a day when if they can’t get the day off work, many take a ‘sickie’. Businesses organize lunches with Sweepstakes, Best Hat or Outfits and a bit of a ‘flutter’ at the TAB, champagne flows with nibbles and no work. So I don’t understand why it isn’t a Public Holiday!

As is our usual habit, each year, my sister-in-law organised a table at a local Tavern for lunch and a bit of a flutter – the only time I ever gamble. We enjoyed free champagne, live music, sweepstakes and a delicious lunch all wearing the appropriate head-wear, while judging everyone else’s.

Jessica’s 40’s style original.

My daughter wore one of her own designs and our friend Ann made her own version with mementos and gift ribbons. The lady from the next table was so impressed she urged Ann to stand up and be judged for the ‘Best Hat’ competition.

Definitely the loudest table, No 32 behind us, kept booing winners and shouting their’s was the best hat etc started to upset the judge. He sarcastically offered a prize for the best personality (if they’d just shut up and let him get on) but it didn’t deter them!

Ann’s ‘gift’ hat.

The BEST HAT winners were two ladies wearing their primary school daughter’s efforts; both wide sweeping paper brims with color splashed all over and a guy with a ridiculous crocheted bean-ey with plaits in his football team colours. The competition obviously judged on the most novel… AND they gave No 32 a bottle of booze anyway!

It was lovely to see so many ladies dressed up to the nines, gorgeous frocks and hats and even men in suits. Though I have to say I was a little disappointed that some men came too casually dressed for their partners.

The race was exciting and my niece Ashleigh, newly arrived from Canada that morning, won 1st prize in the sweepstakes with the winner “Protectionist”.

Unfortunately, while checking out my photos later, I learned two horses died after the race. The favorite led most of the way until he hit trouble toward the end of the race. finishing well behind the others. He collapsed and died when taken back to his stall. The other horse was spooked by an excited spectator and crashed into a barrier, breaking a leg and had to be euthanaised. So sad.

Suddenly, the whole idea of horse racing took on dark and malevolent overtones. Animal Rights people have now made me rethink the day…

#FrancesMacaulayForde #ARTIST:JessicaMcCallum #JessicaMcCallum #2014MelbourneCup #AdventuresOfAVoucherVixen #Horseracing #Fascinators #RaceDayHats #Fashion

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Bus Trip

Posted in Books, Hidden Capacity, Love, Poetry, Writers, Writing, tagged FrancesMacaulayForde, HiddenCapacity, LovePoems, romance on November 4, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Love is like taking a bus…

In my car, the seat belt secures,

holding steady against the bumps and sways,

harnessing against the change in equilibrium,

but I am on a bus – The Love Bus.

The corners are killers – no seat belt – no you!

I need you to steady my seat – hold my body still,

temper my impetuous reactions to change.

I need to be wrapped in bonds that secure,

sort out my floundering in an unfamiliar sea.

When the waves crash – you are prepared.

We are standing, weight evenly balanced,

both feet planted firmly in our future.

(1st Pub. “Hidden Capacity ~ a poet’s journey”, Ireland 2003)

#FrancesMacaulayForde #HiddenCapacity #LovePoems #Romance

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Romance

Posted in Ireland, Love, Poetry, Romance, Writing, tagged FrancesMacaulayForde, PoemsWrittenInIreland, poetry, romance on November 3, 2014| 1 Comment »

Bead-work is intimate,

novel-like in the detail

– the chase a known pattern.

Crochet hooks the reader,

burrows through cotton/wool.

Knitting thrusts and parries.

Everything to do with

the size of the needle

and how it’s manipulated.

#FrancesMacaulayForde #PoemsWrittenInIreland #Romance #Poetry

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PiBoIdMo Day 2: Mira Reisberg Reclaims and Revitalizes Her Inner Artist

Posted in Writing on November 2, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Love the Picasso quote and ‘publishers want author/illustrators’ and ’embrace artwork not technically perfect…’. Music to my ears!

Writing for Kids (While Raising Them)

by Mira Reisberg

Reclaiming:

Your sister/mother/father/cousin is the artist. Your drawing is terrible. You’re hopeless at art. These are the things that you may have heard. Especially when you were a child. Voices that you’ve carried along allowing an important part of you to be silenced.

In some ways, as children’s book creative, our jobs are about accessing that child-like place of curiosity, wonder, and joy. That part that can spend solid time squatting in dirt watching a worm wiggle around in the earth and then reach out and touch it.

Making art is a bit like that. Mucking around in sometimes yucky materials, seeing what will happen if you add a touch of ochre to that blue with some titan buff instead of titanium white. Suddenly your sea is more sea like. Suddenly the endorphins are flowing and you’re in that place of child-like wonder wandering around in the…

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With a smile..

Posted in Books, Hidden Capacity, Poetry, Writers, Writing, tagged FrancesMacaulayForde, HiddenCapacity, LovePoems, romance on November 2, 2014| Leave a Comment »

You just want to see

how I eat ice creams.

Do I take bites,

or enclose the cream?

Covering the teeth,

protecting

the delicate surface.

Sliding softly

over the peak,

held delicately

in my hand,

fingers wrapped,

guiding.

I lick around

in long strokes

working my way

to the tip, then

short tasting licks.

Quick flicks

that tantalize.

Swirl my tongue

round and round.

Over the top

occasionally.

Taking the whole,

fitting perfectly,

smoothed by

the shape of my mouth.

A little nip before release

and I swallow the cream

with a smile…

(1st Pub. “Hidden Capacity ~ a poet’s journey”, Ireland 2003)

#FrancesMacaulayForde #HiddenCapacity #LovePoems #Romance

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Dreamboat

Posted in Books, Hidden Capacity, Love, Poetry, Writers, Writing, tagged FrancesMacaulayForde, HiddenCapacity, LovePoems, romance on November 2, 2014| Leave a Comment »

I lie in my bed and sail unfamiliar seas.

I am lost with no map, no guidance.

I still marvel because you love me.

Is the breeze which finds your sheets

as warm and strong – comforting,

as the sweet breathe of this new life?

A promise of new love – remembered love.

Your pursed lips blow photographed kisses

across 10,000 miles. My wounded heart

responds – leaps in hope – wallows in want

too scared to expect love. Yet, convinced

by your confident words that all my dreams

are possible…

(1st Pub. “Hidden Capacity ~ a poet’s journey”, Ireland 2003)

#FrancesMacaulayForde #HiddenCapacity #LovePoems #Romance

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10 Questions…

Posted in Books, Children's stories, Hidden Capacity, MOVIES, Poetry, Short Stories, WA Writers, Writers, Writing, tagged 10ThingsAboutMe, FrancesMacaulayForde, FurphyAward, HiddenCapacity, LoveYouMum on November 1, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Were you ever naughty as a child?

Yes – of course but I could smile and charm my way out of any frown.

What is your guilty pleasure?

Anything that sparkles: smiles, sunlight and serious jewels.

Did you have a favorite teacher at school?

My French teacher was strict but always looked like a fashion model straight from Paris, with exquisite accessories.

Where do you most like to read?

Snuggled up in bed when it’s cold or on the patio when it’s not too hot, but I do most of my reading these days sitting in front of my computer in my study, surrounded by the written word!

Which childhood books stick in your mind?

The ‘Royal Book of Ballet’ by Shirley Goulden, illustrated by Maraja, published by Follett 1962. Stories of famous ballets; Nutcracker, Petrushka, Swan Lake, Copelia, Sleeping Beauty… then there’s also anything by Enid Blyton: Faraway Tree, Wishing Chair, Noddy etc etc.

Where are all the books in your house?

All around me in my study, in the lounge, family room, passage to the bedrooms, in my bedroom plus I have boxes in storage too!

Did you ever fail at anything? Or what are you hopeless/worst at?

Often! I absolutely freeze at exams no matter how much I’ve studied and usually know the answers… But I’m also very good at running away or hiding at the first sign of success.

My mother (or father) always told me to ….

Do my best.

Do you have a favorite word?

No – far too many (seriously) to choose from.

If you could invite anyone (past or present) to dinner, who would it be? Please explain why.

Joanne Rowling I have some things in common with her: No money, a belief that I can write for children, the willingness to forgo common comforts and the tenacity to keep writing. I want to share more. I want Warner Brothers (or Steven Spielberg) to buy the rights and produce movies of my stories and let me write the scripts.
Richard Ford – I attended his workshop at Munster Literature Centre in Cork, 2003. He was inspiring and fascinating as a writer. Think ‘Independence Day’, Pulitzer Prize and the Pen/Faulkner Award. http://www.salon.com/weekly/interview960708.html
Barbara Streisand – her grasp of melody, her strive for perfection, her non-compromising attitude and talent. As a screenwriter I want to discuss films, as a not-so-gorgeous girl, I related to ‘Funny Girl’ but also as a woman, we’ve both recently fallen in love and found true romance after fifty.
Lord Macaulay – I want to know how he came up with the idea of writing ‘The History of England’ – never mind his approach and are we related?

What is your career highlight?

Writing: Winning a Furphy Award for the Best Children’s Book Manuscript ‘The Swimming Pool People’ 1983

Poetry: publishing my first book ‘Hidden Capacity ~ a poet’s journey’ in Ireland 2003.

Film: the film of my script ‘Love You Mum’ made in 2005 then the film winning Best Film & many other awards or nominations in festivals here and overseas.

What is your career lowlight?

Not being eligible for nomination for the film ‘Love You Mum’ in any of the awards it was entered, many of which it won, here and overseas because I wasn’t a resident of South Australia.

What are you currently working on?

Current writing a War-time love story/feature based on my parents: Dad was a Pathfinder in the RAF and Mum was a WRAF Sergeant so I’m engrossed in family research AND writing manuscripts for picture books.

#FrancesMacaulayForde #10ThingsAboutMe #FurphyAward #LoveYouMum #HiddenCapacity