tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53187062010-03-07T02:34:24.289+09:30random musings on the subject of travel, home, and in between, from becshbecshnoreply@blogger.comBlogger100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318706.post-53692935425414086912008-10-13T15:37:00.004+09:302008-10-13T15:53:57.881+09:30

Ok, I love living in the middle of nowhere. I really do. Darwin's an amazing, beautiful place with a unique culture, fabulous beaches blah blah blahity blah.But seriously, if I was in the US right now, I'd be able to see Allison Janney in 9 to 5: the Musical.Watch this...I particularly love the scene at the end. AJ's character is all riled up, telling her boss off for calling her a girl: "I'm

becshnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318706.post-14690967561445096622008-09-24T11:10:00.001+09:302008-09-24T11:12:40.216+09:30

I don't care if you're fictional. We can work around it.Aaron Sorkin imagines Barack Obama turning to Josiah Bartlett for advice.http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/21/opinion/21dowd-sorkin.html?_r=1&hp&oref=sloginYes, it's sexist - 'Lancome rep'? For me, that just makes JB (and Sorkin) human.

becshnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318706.post-31501377042401296072008-09-23T16:48:00.000+09:302008-09-23T16:49:25.562+09:30

This post over at Hoyden has got me thinking about the question (sometimes challenge) “Are you a feminist?”“Yes”What about when a simple ‘yes’ is not enough? Maybe because the questioner has bought into the destructive clichés described by Dux in her article from The Age: “Yes, but I’m not a hair-legged lesbian” or because the questioner has a definition or understanding of feminism that’s

becshnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318706.post-28823757413020822382008-08-15T12:49:00.002+09:302008-08-15T13:31:06.321+09:30

I learnt a new word today. 'Gin Jockey'.This being NT slang for a white man who sleeps with an aboriginal woman. It's derogatory obviously, and used for particular types of men. The slimeballs who prey on vulnerable young women and use them, for sex, money, a sense of power, access to their children, and all the other wonderful things that go on up here in the corners of bars, on mattresses

becshnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318706.post-38730883498556640542008-08-13T22:33:00.001+09:302008-08-13T22:34:16.238+09:30

Darwin - 081, originally uploaded by becsh.This is the airport at Maningrida in Arnhem Land. It's a hub for everyone in the community and is more accessible than most. Air North flies a regular service here from Darwin twice a day. Most communities have to survive with charter flights.Cheeky dogs are a huge problem in many communities. Not sure they'll obey the sign though.More photos on flickr

becshnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318706.post-48386453902119586322008-08-13T22:16:00.002+09:302008-08-13T22:21:04.224+09:30

Here's some new photos I've just uploaded to Flickr.Detail to follow.

becshnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318706.post-67548112313925044132008-07-29T09:13:00.002+09:302008-07-29T09:17:09.383+09:30

At last.http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/29/2317102.htmToo late for my friends. All the people I was writing to long gone. Most 'returned' back to the countries they fled. None have remained contactable. I wish them well, and hope against all that they are ok.Our children will judge us.

becshnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318706.post-46666109613468514712008-07-28T13:45:00.002+09:302008-07-28T13:51:16.232+09:30

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - A young girl so embarrassed by being called "Talula Does the Hula from Hawaii" has won a new name from a family court judge in NewZealand.And people still say it's us queers who shouldn't have kids.

becshnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318706.post-63608683729028645162008-07-02T16:34:00.003+09:302008-07-02T16:50:50.407+09:30

Yesterday was Territory Day, the day that the NT became a territory in 1978. It's not a public holiday - boo! - but for some reason known only to Territorians, on this day and this day only, anyone over 18 can legally buy fireworks and let them off in any open space.It's crazy, dangerous and heaps of fun. Anne and I went down the the Darwin Ski Club, which is an open air pub on the beach, and

becshnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318706.post-76702001117267025342008-03-15T22:37:00.001+09:302008-08-13T22:39:07.301+09:30

boysandgirls Originally uploaded by becsh I found this pic using stumble upon. Can't find who it belongs to. I like it though. ;)

becshnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318706.post-10851248425844970022008-03-13T15:03:00.002+09:302008-03-13T16:38:35.082+09:30

I'm working. Have been helping Soph write a submission for one of our cases. It's fun to do some legal construction and research again for a change. I like flexing my drafting muscle, it's been going a bit flabby.By contrast, my negotiation and bullshit detection muscles are rock hard. Seriously, I could crack walnuts with them.

becshnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318706.post-73946276995354391922008-03-06T13:40:00.001+09:302008-03-06T13:41:46.292+09:30

A colleague of mine (inadvertently) helped an inmate escape yesterday. She was down at the mental health ward, representing people who are to be 'sectioned' - admitted to hospital without their consent. One client, from the max security wing, asked if they could have there interview outside in the sunshine."Sure", says she. His nurse comes out too, to keep an eye on him.So they're chatting away

becshnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318706.post-64934096755628689642008-02-27T01:08:00.000+09:302008-02-27T01:13:03.830+09:30

Little boy : Mum, what if I get really old and I still don't want to die?Mum : Oh look, let's make cupcakes!

becshnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318706.post-78695227944889290072008-02-09T22:45:00.001+09:302008-02-27T01:23:22.552+09:30

It's Friday night in Darwin. The Neo is playing at Browns Mart so the cities population of indie hip young things have come out of hiding to celebrate. I'm siting on the ground with some people from work. We're already a little extra happy since we've come from the Ducks Nuts (yes that's really it's name) where we drank schooners of beer and made fun of the people doing speed-dating. Sue

becshnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318706.post-26596691853117498132007-12-16T13:59:00.000+09:302007-12-16T14:14:57.756+09:30

I'm sitting in Groove cafe (although since Groove is entirely an outdoor concern, maybe I should say I'm sitting out Groove) watching all the market traffic pass me by. There's internet access here obviously, and ice-coffee that's variable but good often enough that it's worth the risk. I went for the hot stuff today though. I'm obviously still not a local, did you know that Territorians

becshnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318706.post-76142267395228442532007-12-14T20:33:00.000+09:302007-12-16T14:17:13.775+09:30

I'm drunk. I'll probably be furious at myself when I read this tomorrow but honestly I am so sick of my clients. Or not my clients, but the men in their lives. fucking white fucking bastards who muscle in on aboriginal women cos they see someone they can control so they do. I had the whole child-molesting lot of them.It's Christmas time and lots of christmas parties. I'm too drunk to drive and

becshnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318706.post-26254444710020059272007-11-20T16:44:00.000+09:302007-11-21T12:09:05.861+09:30

I've been in Darwin just over a month now. Hardly feels like it. I still feel like a complete neophyte at work. I come home so brain tired everyday because everyday I'm learning new things. Today I was in the Federal Magistrates Court doing an appearance for my colleague (and lifesaver) Sue. She came into my office yesterday and said not to worry it was just a 'Return of Subpoena' and even though

becshnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318706.post-33897747221417957262007-09-17T19:02:00.000+09:302007-09-17T19:13:20.938+09:30

I'm in Bali at last.Away from work and house and family and all the weight of the everyday. It's humid and crowded in Ubud and there's motorbikes and taxis and 'soubenirs' and monkeys and green green green everywhere.Our hotel is so very beautiful, I can't believe it. A little oasis. Only eight rooms, and ours is all by itself. Stone carving and thatched roof and a veranda with a cushioned

becshnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318706.post-55130233317133461462007-08-15T20:57:00.000+09:302007-08-15T21:54:47.243+09:30

There's a lot going on right now. I feel like I'm floating most of the time. Like I've wrapped myself in cotton wool and I'm ok, as long as I stay all cocooned and soft. There's so much I'd like to write about, what's happening at work, little political dramas in my life, major crises in the world, and all the diary-worthy detritus rising up around me.I'm causing a ruckus at work - being a bit

becshnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318706.post-85302822483469461502007-05-23T18:35:00.000+09:302007-05-23T18:51:10.535+09:30

Ever since I've become an adult it seems, I've had these periodic freakouts. When everything piles up in my head and the curtain of the present hangs too thick to see my future. The world starts spinning faster and faster and it becomes hard to breathe, hard to focus on anything except staying afloat. These times, all I really want to do is take a break. Step off the carousal for a moment to

becshnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318706.post-7110000376632931872007-05-23T18:32:00.000+09:302007-05-23T18:34:14.308+09:30

Anne found a stone in the gutter today. It's smooth and solid. "It was covered in dirt," she says. "I picked it up and rubbed it and it became beautiful."

becshnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318706.post-1176605279096411762007-04-15T12:03:00.000+09:302007-04-15T12:18:35.853+09:30

This trip takes me around southern Japan for just over two weeks. This is the shortest overseas trip I've ever done. It seems strange to be away for such a short time - like a tease really.But I'm here and having a great time being overwhelmed by Tokyo. I've forgotten to bring my camera connector with me or I`d upload some photos, but for now you'll have to take my word for it.Tokyo is all

becshnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318706.post-1161849690938673182006-10-26T17:13:00.000+09:302006-10-26T17:31:30.956+09:30

-- Copied from my diary 12/09/06h--The first thing I see after I clear passport control is an electornic sign - like a departure board - listing all the flights leaving Melbourne i the next couple of hours. It's right in front of the cavournous entrance to the duty-free store, which - casino-like - you have to go through to get to your gates. I aotomatically scann the flights; I know I'm not

becshnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318706.post-1160984246218029782006-10-16T16:35:00.000+09:302006-10-16T17:07:26.233+09:30

Much has happened since my last post. I've travelled all around Yunnan Province, hiked Tiger Leaping Gorge (although I saw no tigers, did no leaping - I was far too exhausted - I did manage some gorging on amazing food - the apple pies! - on the way), sung songs with drunken Chinese tourists, got my bag back from it's unscheduled stopover in Bangkok (can't blame it for wanting to stay a bit

becshnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318706.post-1159783391844826332006-10-02T19:03:00.000+09:302006-10-02T19:33:11.856+09:30

If it's Monday this must be China.It's my birthday and I'm in Kunming. I've spent the day travelling. I woke this morning on on the floor at Singapore airport. I actually slept remarkably well with my earplugs, eye-mask and two blankets borrowed from the plane. Dragged myself groggily up and found my way onto my flight to Bangkok, and then a quick half-hour transfer to Kunming. The best

becshnoreply@blogger.com2