Lessons from the Floods

THIS MONTH'S GIVEAWAYS ARE The Game and In Due Season. TO BE IN THE DRAW for our next giveaways, POST A COMMENT. For submissions for author interviews to aussiewriters, email Wendy Sargeant at aussiewriters (at) gmail (dot) com (without the spaces), but before you do, be sure and post a comment.

It's hard to belief that floods in Brazil have affected our weather patterns in Australia, but a great lesson for us all about how connected we all are. Extreme whether conditions such as Cyclone Yasi, the Brisbane Floods, the US snow storms and Brazilian floods are just the beginning of what is to come, if we don't act now, according to leading government expert, Ross Garnaut. (http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/climate-risk-to-worsen-says-adviser/story-e6freoof-1225999791393.)

When God created the garden of Eden it was perfect. Man chose to sully the planet when we first picked the forbidden apple.
From then it has been a story of massive accumulation of goods at the expense of Mother Earth and the planet has continually rebelled.

Now we have to learn to get back to a simpler lifestyle to protect the planet. For many, this rebuilding of a life after flood is a time to reflect on living with less clutter. The average woman has $100 worth of clothes in her wardrobe that she will never use!

There are things you can do to help prevent the global warming that scientists say creates bizarre weather patterns.

• Don’t leave the water running when you brush teeth.
• Use the environmentally friendly toothbrush. (Monumental Dental)
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• Eat one meat meal less per week (Cuts down ¼ tonne of emissions a year.)
• Have 2 minute showers (Saves 1 tonne of emissions a year.)
• Walk more often instead of driving, e.g. to the corner store.
• Always repair leaking toilets, showerheads, taps immediately.
• Switch computers, lights, fans off when not in use.
• Swap regular light bulbs for energy saving bulbs.
• Organize a clothes swap with your organization at wendyworkshops.com where you can learn to convert recycled clothes to your individual wardrobe.
Buy clothes at Endeavour.They offer all brand name clothes.
• Look out for tencel fabric, otherwise known as lyocell. Here is the info on this product…
• Plant a vegetable garden
• Recycle all household goods—food scraps in a compost, paper products with the council, printer cartridges, batteries with the council
• Join organisations like onemillionwomen.com.au to learn more about saving energy.)

It has been heartening to see the flood relief effort going on in my home area in the Redlands. Donations have been pouring in to 91 Redland Bay Road where the council has set up a flood relief outlet. If you live in the area, more workers are needed each day this week to sort and pack donations which will supply the Brisbane families affected.If you are flood affected, spend a few hours respite in the Redlands with the amazing spiritual view of history by Leo Herreygers. This serene environment offers respite over a cup of coffee. The exhibition at the Grandview Hotel, Cleveland has extended to 22nd January. The painting on this blog is Leo's.

Blessings,

Wendy

Respite in the Redlands

THIS MONTH'S GIVEAWAYS are In Due Season and The Game. TO BE IN THE DRAW for our next giveaways, POST A COMMENT. For submissions for author interviews to aussiewriters, email Wendy Sargeant at aussiewriters (at) gmail (dot) com (without the spaces), but before you do, be sure and post a comment.


If you are experiencing floods our heart goes out to you. If you live near the Redlands and want a few hours respite, the next few days offers an amazing treat for the writer and art lover. The 1850’s converted home--once the Brighton Hotel, now the Grand View—houses an inspirational tour through time with the art works of Leo Herreygers.
You can sit in the upstairs sunroom and lounge, soaking up the old world ambience with a coffee and see Leo’s extraordinary surrealist spiritual tour of world history all around you. This is a free tour. Don't miss out on a chance to see the scene painter for Expo 88, QPAC, The Queensland Theatre Company, the Myer Christmas Windows, the Rocky Horror Show, The Twelfth Night Theatre, The Queensland Youth Ballet, Suncorp Theatre, to name a few.

Leo answered a few questions for us here:

What inspires you to paint?

I can get inspired by the smallest thing like a piece of rag hanging from a wire...but mainly i get inspired by historical events and human reactions to those events.

What do you find is your biggest struggle as an artist?

Recognition, and the battle with minimalist contemporary decorative art.

What are the themes running through your work?

History, religion and personal views.

How do you do your work and what medium do you use?

I have an easel that my father made for me[he was a fine artist] and i paint onto anything from board to canvas and use acrylic, oil and enamel paints on their own or combined.

Tell us about your favorite piece.

As I finish a new piece it becomes my favorite for the time being but from all my work I think' Gabriel' has the greater message, equality—which is something I believe in greatly--and our connection with the almighty.

You can contact Leo at http://www.artunlimited.com.au/
Wendy