Locum Earls and the Four-Hour Job

An excellent read… as always.

Nick Earls

In 1992, towards the end of my short career in general practice, I found myself doing sessions in a clinic built mostly on tax evasion and medifraud. I was one of the new brooms brought in by new owners who played it totally straight, serviced patients instead of their hoarded Medicare cards and, soon enough, we realised viability was an issue.

As the practice limped along, I picked up one-off sessional work elsewhere through one of Brisbane’s bigger locum agencies, with the agency knowing I was up for a new permanent part-time job if the right opportunity arose. Soon enough, the ideal opportunity seemed to present itself. These were the days when general practice had recently been freed from the old rules that said a doctor or doctors always had to own the place, so entrepreneurs were trying their luck. The job was to be half-time – exactly what I…

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Bohemia

Time this artwork had another airing… and the poem.

Perth Words... exploring possibilities.

My daughter Jessica McCallum is an artist and this painting was from her  2011 ‘All The Pretty One’s Are…” Exhibition held at the State Theatre Centre in Perth City.

It’s been our habit to combine my words inspired by her paintings for exhibitions, so I thought I’d share one with you.

We intend, one day to publish a coffee-table book of the artworks and poems from her three of her very successful exhibitions.  Perhaps we’ll crowd-fund…

This work is one of two entitled ‘Bohemia‘ and the poem is written to the artwork.

“Bohemia” by Jessica McCallum from “All The Pretty Ones Are…” exhibition held at the State Theatre Centre, 2011.

BOHEMIA

Like crystal

I am many faceted

not see-through glass

I proudly wear my life colours

individuality scratched into my skin

 –

gaze deeply into my painted experiences

shared memories etched in bright reflections

see strength and character in…

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Soap Writer With Substance – reblog

Jimmy McGovern: Soap Writer With Substance

Jimmy McGovern  (think ‘Cracker’) has long been a favourite screenwriter and Karel’s ‘The Story Department’ a favourite writing resource.  The perfect marriage for this blog post, in fact. 

Jimmy McGovern: Soap Writer With Substance

 

@FrancesMForde  #FrancesMacForde  #JimmyMcGovern  #CrackerTVSeries  #TheStoryDepartment  #WritingForScreen  #Screenwriting  #FavoriteWriters

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Ireland, Irishness and Irish Heart

Well said, Jean. A special kind of peace, for Ireland.

SOCIAL BRIDGE ~ Jean Tubridy connecting with you from Ireland

I might as well admit that I have been dreading Easter Weekend this year as it marks 100 years since the Easter Rising here in Ireland. I realise that The Easter Rising probably means little or nothing to most people who don’t have some strong connection with Ireland but I can tell you that it has HUGE connotations for those of us who do.

The Easter Rising was a rebellion aimed at securing independence from British rule. It was a relatively small affair led by a number of visionaries which failed to achieve its aims BUT it was very significant in terms of setting in train the momentum which led to the War of Independence and the eventual signing of the contentious Treaty in 1921 which led to the setting up of the Irish Republic ~ which includes 26 of the 32 counties on the Island of Ireland. This contention…

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Good Friday and Peace

Well said, Jean.

SOCIAL BRIDGE ~ Jean Tubridy connecting with you from Ireland

The Good Friday Agreement of 1998 was a fundamental part of the Peace Process in Northern Ireland.

I simply cannot let a Good Friday go by without giving thanks to every single person who was involved in bringing that Agreement about.

There was a time when it seemed like the Island of Ireland  would never see the level of peace that prevails today. It is something that we should never, ever take for granted and it is also something which should be viewed as a beacon of hope by those who are subsumed by pessimism about ongoing violence.

Paths of peace DO exist.

The Stepping Stones of Peace

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May I Have Just a Moment of Your Time?

forget-me-not

I have been peddling vowels
for decades,
armed with alliteration;

flowers in one hand,
faded syllables in the other

and a head full of stars.

I just can’t cure this addiction
to the written word,
sighing to each stanza,
enamored with assonance

and the innocence of verses, free
and uninhibited;
sonnets seated softly
at a lover’s feet,
the vibrato of a vignette, humming,
like a lullaby on Sunday.

I just want one chance to get in;
to turn that knob of adversity
and penetrate just one heart,

then, dance away
in gratification,

until the next poem.

~

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Writing Original Screenplays

Oscar-Nominated Tony Gilroy’s 7 Guidelines to Writing an Original Screenplay

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5 Screenwriting Lessons from Quentin Tarantino

5 Screenwriting Lessons from Quentin Tarantino – Screenwriting Tips from the Master Work of Quentin Tarantino

Source: 5 Screenwriting Lessons from Quentin Tarantino

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‘Elemental’ by Amanda Curtin

Fiction – paperback; Scribe; 448 pages; 2016. Review copy courtesy of the publisher. It took three years for this fine Australian novel to be published in the UK — and the wait was defin…

Source: ‘Elemental’ by Amanda Curtin

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Poems for World Poetry Day

My (current) ten favourite poems for World Poetry Day 2016:

1. “Don’t make me fall in love again…” by Nan Witcomb © 1979, from ‘Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow, The Thoughts of Nanushka, Vol I – VI’.  I discovered Nan in the early  80’s when I needed to find solace in words and simply beautiful illustrations.  Soaked with romance, this poem resonated – seemed to speak from my own heart.
2. “The Dolly on the Dustcart”  by Pam Ayres © I’ve loved this poem since I first read it, even before I watched her perform it at the Perth Concert Hall in the early 90’s.  It was hard to choose just one of her poems (I have a few of her books) this one makes me smile with its many layers.
3. “Fascination Waltz” by T.A.G. Hungerford © 2005 p. 223, ‘Whatever Happened to Joseph’, 1st pub by Jacobyte Books.  Tom most graciously allowed me to spend an afternoon with him, talking about his writing while a full Pages Cafe/Poets Corner audience listened to him reading his wonderful words.  He told us about this being his wife’s favourite, so Kevin Gillam kindly played the song on his double bass for Tom – I know he was touched.
4. “Honey” by Gerry Murphy © 2002  P. 14, ‘Torso of an Ex-Girlfriend’, Dedalus Press.  I met Gerry whilst attending workshops at Munster Literature Centre in Cork, Ireland and instantly connected with his searingly honest, concise poetry.  No fluff. 🙂
5. “As Autumn Leaves”  by Bee © 2014 on ABC Tales.  Such a close examination of feelings and beauty – micro writing, which like many well-woven words, has stayed with me.
6. “Making Tracks” by Gregory O’Donohue © 2001, p.59, ‘Making Tracks’, Dedalus Press.  This man was an absolute inspiration.  He read and considered my work with great experience and knowledge, so every critique was harsh but helpful.  This poem is sad but then, he often seemed to be…
7. “Wounded Leopard” by Harry Farrell © 1968 from ‘Copper Dust & Other Gleamings’, self-published in Northern Rhodesia.  I met Harry in Africa in 1971 and tried to buy a copy of his book but he had sold all he’d printed.  So he lent me one to copy, for my own enjoyment.  I still have and treasure the original, typed on an old Olivetti.  Africa comes alive for me, through his poetry.
8. “Fifth of November” by Esther Morgan © 2001, from ‘Beyond Calling Distance’, Bloodaxe Books.  Glen Phillips introduced Esther to my class at Edith Cowan University and I’ve been a fan ever since.  She was good enough to edit a series of poems I wrote in Ireland, while based at UEA and editor of ‘Reactions’ New Poetry;  three journals of which I still read.
9.  “Just for Raema” by Glen Phillips, © 2005.  This poem was sent to me privately.  It spoke to my heart of pain and loss – but never ’emptiness’.
10. “No Bowl Of Cherries” by Silver Spun Sand  a.k.a. Christine Ann Chatworthy © 2012 on ABC Tales.  Seems a very suitable poem to end this list on… all about life and the cherries thrown at us.

I can’t believe how difficult it was to list just 10 favourite poems, I know there are so many more!

@FrancesMForde  #FrancesMacForde   #WorldPoetryDay2016   #NanWhitcomb  #PamAyres  #TAGHungerford  #GerryMurphy   #ABCTales:Bee  #GregoryO’Donohue  #HarryFarrell  #EstherMorgan  #GlenPhillips  #ABCTales:SilverSpunSand  #Begorrathon16   #Poems  #Poetry  #Word-weaving  #Top10FavPoems  #MunsterLiteratureCentre

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