321 thoughts on “Dydd Gwener Raffles Nos”

1. BB:

   What a touching tribute to Gweneth/Lynette.

   *cheers Gweneth, RIP*

2. Fiona

   Just Beautiful.

   RIP Gweneth. 😦

3. Wow that’s two I’ve won…..sorry C@tmomma ! I’ll take the lotto thanks Joe

4. The hymn brought tears here Fiona. Beautiful.

5. Channel nine nrl are avoiding any mention of what is happening with the drugs .
   Funny really

6. (in reverse affabecklauder)

   Thank you Victoria, Levin, Gravel, David, and BB.

   Back in my church choir singing days, every now and then we would do an anthem / motet / setting that pierced the heart. Some of us (not always the same some of us) would announce that we would like that sung at our funeral.

   By the time that particular choir disbanded – a whole nother story – some of our funerals would have taken a minimum of four hours just for the music.

   It is such an expressive form. No wonder, in my opinion, that so-called “parentese” (the way adults modulate the way they speak to babies/young toddlers) is singing-like. And I don’t know if there’s any culture where lullabies aren’t part of everyday life.

   Time for another sort-of farewell clip: Schubert’s lied An die Musik. I was spoiled for choice here, with several of my all-time favourite singers performing it, but I’ve chosen the magic combination of Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (even though I prefer altos) and Gerald Moore.

   I have no idea what Gweneth’s/Lynette’s musical preferences were, but I like to imagine that she would have found something in this song (and just put up with Moore’s intro – done for the purpose of the broadcast):

7. Hi guys. Been a bit flat-strapped recently with work and children’s birthdays, but I am on “mummy” time now, so I thought I’d visit my favourite pub and stick around for a few champers 😀

   Firstly and foremostly, I am feeling very sad tonight upon hearing of Lynnette’s death. It seems like only yesterday she was saying she was fighting hard and planned to stick around for a while yet.

   Cancer is a fucking bastard. I hope that gets through moderation, because it needs to be said 😦

   This next week, let’s all donate to the Cancer Foundation in our state in honour of our fallen comrade. Vale, gorgeous Gweneth 🙂

   Secondly (onto the partisan politics): how about the quality of Abbott’s advisers? I don’t know whose idea it was to organise a speech on International Women’s Day (presumably Peta’s), but I get the sense from talking to women today that it was a friggin’ huge bridge too far. The consensus seems to be, “by all means “don’t have a problem” with women, but don’t try to bullshit us into believing you are suddenly some SNAG who’s the closest thing we’ll get to a male feminist – a man who’s never, ever had a bad word to say about women – and that you have somehow been repeatedly miscontrued in your many, many sexist utterings.”

   Bottom line is we still think he’s a sexist pig and if he overplays his hand in his attempts to deflect from this FACT, we are going to get even more pissed off with him. It will undoubtedly come as a surprise to him and his advisers, but we aren’t a bunch of morons.

   Actually, I hope he DOES continue to do the “I get women” thing and continues to be photographed surrounded by women at every opportunity, because to me – and many other women, it seems – he is applying a megaphone to the notion that he has a problem with women and needs to overcompensate for it. Go nuts. Tony. Well, more nuts than you are already.

   Oh, and don’t get me started on the smooching and hand-holding with his daughters, which actually makes me throw up a little bit in my mouth. My daughter is 12 and if she held hands with her daddy when we are walking down the street now I’d probably still think it was cute. When she’s 25, though, I’d be pulling her to one side and asking if there is anything I should know about …

   Thirdly, some of you may remember my report of a few weeks ago that I’d heard from a good source that Rudd is *inside* the tent and will be pulling out all stops to help Labor (and PM Gillard) win the next election. I have seen and heard nothing else to contradict that. He’s playing the Labor game and until and unless there is a huge misstep to indicate otherwise, I think we need to give him the benefit of the doubt.

   So, put the Ruddstoration memes to one side. It ain’t happening.

   It’s all the way with GJ.

   That’s GILLARD; JULIA GILLARD. 😀

8. Fiona: I love “An die Musik”. I have Fritz Wunderlich singing it; prior to that I first heard it from Hungarian mezzo-soprano Tamara Takacs.

   Schubert at his simple, melodic best, IMHO.

9. Danny,

   If I tried really hard I couldn’t agree more with everything you’ve said.

   So, go for it – and everyone else too. Let’s celebrate Lynette.

   

10. Condolences to the family and friends of Lynette on her passing.

11. And if we are playing songs in honour of Gweneth, the one Schubert lied I would avoid is, “Litanei auf das Fest Aller Seelen”.

    It makes me howl as it is; if it was ever played at a funeral for someone I knew I would be beside myself 😦

    For those of you who are less sensitive (or who don’t mind a good cry), here it is, sung by the incomparable baritone Friedrich Fischer-Dieskau.

    NB It probably helps to understand the German lyrics 😉

12. I’m sure Lynette will be just fine with Judith Barnes and Vera.

13. Danny:

    A PBer reported the other day that they’d heard from a reliable source the Rudd camp intended to instigate a leadership challenge next week.

    What do you think about that?

14. LOL. I notice this version has an English translation 😉

15. DL

    fabulous post. Agree with your musings.

    I really want to believe Rudd is inside the tent. Especially after what has happened here in Victoria this week

16. Danny,

    I was lucky enough to go to three of Schwarzkopf’s recitals during the 1960s and 1970s – my dad is a HUGE fan – though the last one at least was entirely of my own volition. She was an exquisite singer, not just the quality of her voice, but more so the beauty (& truth) of her interpretations.

    I’ve never heard Litanei auf das Fest Aller Seelen in recital, and thank goodness. I would be bawling my eyes out (as I am just about doing at the moment).

17. Fess: My source made the point when I spoke with them a few weeks ago that there was the Rudd “inner circle” and the Rudd “outer circle”.

    In short, there are the chancers who think they are doing his bidding whilst not actually being in on what is going on and there are those who actually DO know what is going on.

    My source is most definitely part of the inner circle. They were also very, very pissed off that there are those who are putting their own interests and ambitions ahead of that of the party as a whole and that their “contributions” are as unhelpful to Rudd as to anyone else. As a Rudd supporter (but ultimately Labor loyalist) they were pretty unimpressed by these chancers and said that Rudd was as well. “Pissing in his pot” was the phrase used.

    I suspect the leaks are coming from this category of supporter; those who think they will be “rewarded” when the time comes.

    I gather they might be in for a bit of a shock 😉

18. Fess There will be no challenge IMHO. A rump of Rudd supporters are still stirring the pot, but not one of them has the balls to go public. Those that think otherwise are whistling Dixie. Ruddstoration’s dead parrot status will officially be confirmed next Friday. I see a 50:50 chance of some kind of rapprochement with Rudd to clear the decks. Pros and cons either way.

    Enjoying a merlot right now watching Sideways.

19. Elisabeth Schvartzkopf is wonderful.

    Those Germans sure know how to sing 😉

20. LOL *Schwartzkopf*.

    I think I have had one champers too many 😉

21. Danny L:

    I didn’t believe the assertion either. But thanks for your insights – much appreciated.

22. I went and had a look at the Bald Archies today. The most popular victim was Gina – none very flattering.

    Can’t see any of them on the web but you will enjoy them when they go up.

23. There was one of Tony Abbott holding up his ventriloquist doll: Margie.

24. Danny L, Rossmore:

    I should add that I’m very happy to hear there are Rudd campers prepared to use the ‘pissing in the pot’ phrase when it comes to his recent media appearances.

25. Rossmore,

    Never let it be said …

    

    Danny L,

    When too much fizz is never enough …

    

26. Word over the road is that the Oz is going to report something embarrassing on Tim Mathieson involving sporting events.

27. Fiona: there is no such thing as too much champers really.

    There is champers and there is hangover.

    I’m sure one has no relationship to the other 😉

28. Victoria: EXCELLENT!

    If they are going for the First Bloke it means there is nothing left in their arsenal.

    It also has the potential to spectacularly backfire 😀

29. Bugger! I come home from my Mum’s Taxi shift to find that Levin12 has rigged the raffle so he could win again! 😀

30. DL

    They certainly are.

31. victoria:

    If they can’t get the PM they’ll go after her partner.

    Compare and contrast with the shrieks of protest whenever the slightest criticism was levelled at Hyacinth, who was by all accounts a genuine backroom operative.

    Rank hypocrisy from the Liberals. Unsurprisement.

32. One way of dealing with grief is to eschew the depressing, sad songs and have a laugh about totally inappropriate funeral songs.

    For a burial, my money is on “Another One Bites the Dust” by Queen.

    For a cremation, it’s “Great Balls of Fire”. by Jerry Lee Lewis.

    Can any other Drunkards* think of any others?

    *As far as I am concerned, “Drunkards” is the Pub version of PBers 😉

33. I was hoping for a late surge to Labor

    Newspoll WA March 4-7 2013 – 1744 Voters

    Two Party Preferred: LIB 59.5 (+2.5) ALP 40.5 (-2.5)

    Primary Votes: LIB 48 (+3) NAT 6 (0) ALP 32 (-3) GRN 8 (0)
    Primary Votes (Perth): LIB 50 ALP 35 GRN 8
    Primary Votes (Rest of WA): LIB 44 NAT 22 ALP 24 GRN 7

    Barnett LIB: Approve 51 (+4) Disapprove 36 (-6)
    McGowan ALP: Approve 49 (-2) Disapprove 29 (+3)
    Preferred Premier: Barnett 52 (+8) McGowan 31 (-9)

    Which party will win: LIB 70 (+11) ALP 15 (-10)

34. Danny,

    My aunt (mum’s younger sister) married when I was 6. I have never yet forgiven her for not calling on my services as flowergirl. However.

    So, I went to the reception. And I had my first taste of champagne.

    We were staying with the maternal grandparents (even though they weren’t at that point re-married) in Bondi. Vaguely remember that we were spending Christmas there.

    Anyway, a few days after the wedding I’d been pedalling my tricycle up and down Blair Street hill. It got to be thirsty work. So eventually I trundled my trike round to the back of the grandparents’ house, marched into the kitchen, and enquired whether there was any champagne in the fridge.

    As one would.

35. Fess: absolutely.

    Note, also, the complete absence of analysis when it was recently revealed that Margie was “cc’d” on a Liberal Party policy document.

    One rule for them, another rule for us.

    Bastards.

36. Fiona: LOL! Ah, the innocence of childhood!

    My 12 year-old daughter often tries to drink the last drop remaining in my glass if I ask her to take it to the kitchen. And then tries to pretend she’s drunk 😉

    Children are hilarious 😀

37. PS My mother still has the same emotional scars from her older sister (14 years older) not asking her to be a flower girl at her wedding.

    Hello, Widdle Choody, if you’re reading this 😉

38. DL

    From the other place

    [I make nothing of it. I know no more than I have already reported. If there are “inner circle” and “outer circle” supporters, my source is “inner inner circle”. All Labor party members would know his name if I posted it. But that doesn’t mean they are not above propagating nonsense if they think this would further their cause. But since they don’t know I post here (since I am not overtly political) they probably expected their bombshell to go no further than a drunken conversation between friends.

    To sum up: I was told Rudd will challenge next week, and (if successful) will then race for the polls and hope to win on a “honeymoon” bounce. I am waiting to see if this will happen.

    I know nothing more, but will be watching events over the next week with much interest.]

39. victoria:

    The Libs were always going to win.

40. OK, so Sonia McMahon could be a beard, and that was OK with the media, but Tim Mathieson says or does something embarassing, ONCE, at a sporting event(how sacrilegious!), and it’s a case of the Prime Minister should resign in embarrassing humiliation?

    No complaint of substance wrt the policy direction the government is going in, but a ‘Vote the Gillard Government Off Political Survivor Island’ plea because some tattle tale has snitched to the Murdoch Press about some, probably majorly overblown ‘incident’ to do with Tim Mathieson.

    This is exactly the standard operating procedure of any Murdoch Yellow Slime publication. When you can’t find a valid angle to attack the policy of the government you want to get rid of, then just fish around for the personal mud to sling. Humiliate, denigrate and create a manufactured furoré based upon the flimsiest of pretences.

    Whilst at one and the same time lauding to the heavens the guy whose behaviour and personal mores is truly suspect and in need of scrutiny.

    Murdoch, and the Frankenstein’s Media Monster he has created, are truly despicable and beneath contempt.

41. confessions

    Understand, but i would have liked to see a closer contest

42. Victoria: interesting.

    I guess we’ll know next week, won’t we? If it doesn’t happen, my contact rocks and theirs sucks bottom 😛

43. Danny L:

    Margie crops up frequently in today’s msm in her own right. Talk about whitewash.

    If women can’t stand Abbott, perhaps Margie should challenge him for the Liberal leadership and do a Newman?!

44. Confessions,

    If you mean WA, probably.

45. C@tmomma: I love this sort of stuff.

    It proves they have NOTHING left in their arsenal to level at Gillard. If they are relying on pathetic side-swipes at the First Bloke then, in gossip terms, they are rooted.

    On the other hand, Labor still has lots of lead in the pencil on Abbott 😀

46. victoria:

    Me too, but as Antony Green said, first term govts in Australia are very rare.

47. C@tmomma,

    Doesn’t Mr Mathieson know his place?

    And don’t you know yours?

    (I can lend you a toothbrush – for the purpose of scrubbing pavements – if you’ve been caught short.)

48. DL

    The source appears to be a well known Labor Member, not an MP

49. Danny Lewis,

    On the other hand, Labor still has lots of lead in the pencil on Abbott 😀

    You’ve heard that too, huh? 🙂

50. Jesus. Thomas Paine has re-emerged across the road.

    The Menzies House lads must be getting really worried 😉