The Simple Life

The other night, I had finished work as a waitress and I was reading "To Kill a Mockingbird" as I waited to be picked up. While I read on a small wall outside the bowling club, one of the patrons came out and asked me "What are you reading?" I showed him the cover and said it aloud. He asked me what it was about. I told him it was about a young girl by the name of Scout Finch, and the experience of having her father, a lawyer, defend a Negro man during the times when there was racial tension.
He then went on to tell me that I don't need to be afraid of life, that if something doesn't work, it's ok. He said a pretty girl like me who is smart and confident (and probably studying, which I am) will always find something, will always find a way. He apologised a number of times that he was drunk and talking to a pretty girl, and that it must be a bit weird, but I told him it was fine. He told me how the simple life is best, and I couldn't agree more. He told me of how he went fishing a few days before, that he had caught fish, prepared it and eaten. For free. And of his father berating him as a child if he stepped on an ant. "Weren't you looking? Be careful of the life that is around you" were his father's words.
He explained that his family were from Maitland, NSW. His ancestors had pursued careers as barristers and mayors. He didn't want that. And he said his family were proud of him, were happy because even though he didn't copy them, he was happy and living an honest life. A simple life.
As he told me not to be scared, that I would be ok as long as I didn't let anything get to me, I wondered what had made him stop to tell me that. I know he'd already said that I had caught his eye and that he thought I was pretty, but I wondered as I sat there listening and smiling at him what had given him the urge to say something. Why did he feel the need to tell me he was confident in me? I wondered in that moment what he saw as I looked back at him, wondered what he heard in my words when I spoke. What had he seen in me that gave him the impulse to speak up?
I suppose I may never know. Another mystery of life to add to the chapters, to look back on when I enjoy a simple life.

Thank You. I'm Coming.

I stood at the base of the change, my eyes following the natural track the earth had set for me. Though I was focused on this, my eyes saw other things too. It saw the magpies chasing each other, the flying ants and moths whirring around the overgrown grass that had never known the fear of standing tall enough to be chopped off. Beyond that, it gave way to a slow army of guardian trees. Although they stood stubbornly in the way of anything that wished to overrun the space, nature had left a little path for me to follow, as if I was a guest that had long been expected to visit.
“Thank you. I’m coming”

New Tab

Unfortunately, I have not been blogging as regularly as I would have liked. As such, I have found a page I started, and I'm unsure as to whether I actually published it at any stage. Nonetheless, it is public now.
I have a separate page labelled "Quirky Ideas" devoted to small creative projects I have developed or done myself.

Also, a more recent post said that I had joined Tumblr. I can say I am successfully maintaining that blog, however, the fact I started it partly to inspire me to do more here has failed somewhat. And I started this blog to inspire me to write more, which has not entirely failed. I endeavour now to write more often. This may be conflicted with uni study, however, I will try to pump out some pieces when I get the chance.
Other pieces I am trying to compose are musical, but they won't likely be shared with anyone online just as yet.

When Boy Meets Girl...

Admittedly, this is one of my more 'brutal' pieces of writing. It covers what I think is an unnecessary concept of the 21st Century, and being something of a target for being blamed for doing this to someone, I feel the need to examine its irrelevance.

Go to Current and Thought-Provoking to read the entire spiel.

63 Not Out

The tragedy of the late passing of Phil Hughes has shaken many in a way I’m sure most people never would have imagined. I can’t help but be moved to tears at  some of the tributes I’ve heard and seen.

I guess all I can contribute as an Aussie and a mourner is that few people will pass away doing exactly what they love. Even though it was far too soon, and in a way that was far from kind, there must be some comfort in knowing Phil Hughes had made incredible achievements (with more that should have come) and that his last stand was at the cricket pitch.

This will not leave our memories. It will have significant prominence for some time to come. Cricket games will never be the same.

Biggest condolences to the Hughes family, who aren’t far from where I live, and to Sean Abbott and his family for this time that goes beyond melancholy. Also a huge kudos to Captain Michael Clarke for bearing the heavy role of delivering a speech on behalf of the cricket team and to the world’s media. Let the tears fall. Anyone with a heart is shedding one too.

Phil Hughes has hit for 6 in the minds and hearts of many.

Blog Extension

In the interest of expressing different sides of myself, more often, and in a different way, I have joined Tumblr.
The reason I chose it was because of the flexibility. I hope to continue posting here, maybe with some extra inspiration from Tumblr, but this will continue to be a higher grade blog. The Tumblr will be for much more general content, such as things I like or little quotes that are meaningful. I'll probably copy my quotes here.

Having said that, I am at http://hannahkchristian.tumblr.com

Positive Links #1

The last two posts I've made about www.judoinfo.com haven't been the most positive ones. In the last one, I mentioned that I do in fact like the site and that I am simply making corrections as I see them. Now to balance the critique, here are a few aspects that I do quite like about the site. Keep in mind that since this website has been running 1995 so they have many, many resources and I am gradually discovering what they have.

http://judoinfo.com/katamenu.htm

After having my interested piqued by Feldenkrais from reading his "Judo: The Art of Defense and Attack" in which he finishes with briefly covering the most common forms of kata, I realised that I have never followed up on the others forms. I've only ever watch the Nage-No-Kata, which is the set of pre-arranged throws, used particularly for blue, brown and black belt gradings.
Found at the above hyperlink is, and appropriately names, a menu of katas.

I will also be starting a new page for judo and martial arts-related content so most (if not all) relative posts will be included on that page too.