Sometimes the most unassuming people teach you the greatest lessons -- about life, and yourself. For me it was Conrad, a friendly tricycle driver in Iloilo City.
Category: People
true stories of people i meet.
Marvin
a gentle voice speaks his heart in poems and paint A little poem for Marvin and all who speak their heart using a paintbrush. Pictured at Artivism 2.0 Iloilo City -- public art with a social impact.
No, She Isn’t
Whoever Victoria is ... she's a daughter, a human, a woman, a friend, a neighbour, a person, a citizen, beautiful, loved, a creative being of infinite potentential, AND she definitely is NOT ... #saysomethingnice #sendlovetovictoria #endbullying
Opportunity
When it's been flooding rain for a month, sometimes it's hard to see the opportunity. But they always exist. If you look in the photo below you'll see a man crouching down in front of a big puddle of water. Do…
Slim Dusty Centre
Growing up listening to my father playing Slim Dusty I never fully appreciated his music until later in life. Slim grew up in a little town not half an hour from where I was born, and his childhood upbringing on…
Men in Trucks
Having worked for so many years as a manager in charge of Workplace Safety my heart always goes out to the men, women and sadly children who have no choice but to accept hazardous working conditions. Just look (in the video…
A Simple Island Life
Each morning begins before the sun appears over the cliff raining daylight along the leeward living below our 21st century sun. Monkeys grab at fruit scraps (sometime pets) a few chickens and fecund dogs wander a small shore. Children squeal…
Empty
this red bench was the 'pop of colour' i had been seeking to finish the 'developing your eye' wordpress course. there is usually an street vendor sitting here reading the newspaper while he sells sweets, fans or small plastic toys. at night he sleeps between pieces of cardboard in an alley behind an international hotel.
Magic Fish Dreaming
Author and poet June Perkins is launching a book of children's poetry Magic Fish Dreaming in Brisbane on 30 October 2016. This is my greeting video.
Quiet acts of kindness
There is something in the quiet stoicism in which Filipinos approach discomfort that is compelling.
What is helping?
Can you see Shelia below in the intense heat? Can you imagine the street edges strewn with the debris of long grasses, tree and leaf litter, broken bamboo sticks or the thick smoke or the piles of fire. Shelia and…
A Floor Tile
below all the day mostly unnoticed by us you carried here, laid carefully. placed by hands now forgotten, unknown. yet you mindfully made for a purpose; proposed, constructed, planned and placed. you, we, the same. © 2016 Melinda Irvine
The Public Market
hanging resting smoking standing waiting © 2016 Melinda Irvine
On the Wings of Love
On the streets of Botongon you will often see an oddly dressed person walking, or singing in the market place for bread or rice. That's Ronnie. Ronnie lives in a tiny "house" caring for his elderly father and is ostracised…
His last hours
“When you receive this letter, I shall be dead by then…. Tomorrow at seven, I shall be shot; but I am innocent of the crime of rebellion…. I am going to die with a tranquil conscience.” José Rizal © 2015…
Burying Eugene
Your burial and last farewell Eugene B. Bandojo held on Sunday, 20 September 2015 at 1.00pm. I videoed the ceremony and service for your daughter Carlota who is working in Qatar and unable to attend. She greatly misses you. I…
Apple Cores
Apple cores have been on my mind these past months since having a seven year old boy stay with me for a time. Apple cores, the burden of gadgets and not blogging. Three hours ago I was about to donate…
Singapore stopover
Missing an international flight should be a real bummer, especially when, instead of celebrating the arrival of a new year with your friends at home, you are on a nine hour flight. Except on an almost empty plane, I was…
Journey of the songwriter: seeking paradise
My friend Shirl has been on my mind a lot this past week since returning to the Philippines. We had only one quick catch-up while I was in Far-north Queensland and she had just won the Max T Barnes Cairns to…
Rowena
I think the reason I love Rowena Placencia so much is because even in the middle of a frantic city she will notice two old ladies. And, while I am still comprehending where we are, she is bent a full…
Power of words award
Nomination A big thank you to June Perkins not only for nominating me for this award, but encouraging and supporting my writing. About the Award "I have designed this award because so many feel they can’t change the world. They can.…
Goonoowiggal
Goonoowiggal is my New England special place. When I am in this part of the world and feel the need for peace or clarity I make my way out to Goonoowiggal. There is a quiet there I cannot quite explain…
Happy Birthday Eric Provus
Today Eric Provus turns 91. If you ever thought you were too old to start or that you missed the boat; well check out Eric Provus. This video was taken last Thursday morning at the Inverell Lapidary Club. Uncle Richard…
My son is dead
Getting out of the car in Marabut (a province in western region of Samar, Philippines) I spot two little girls through a makeshift bamboo fence. I wave and they wave back. I have arrived in Tacloban City only a few…
Livelihood for a Filipino widow
Ronnie, the man in the photo, died the day I landed back in the Philippines just over a week ago. I went to visit him and check on his family but was greeted by his wife and his body lying…
My number didn’t come up
Sitting in a coffee shop this morning updating my website a man walked over and apologised for staring (actually I hadn't noticed) and commented that my hat and dress took him back to a day in the 1960s due to a…
What do men talk about?
Walking past a group of men of assorted ages in a coffee shop this morning I couldn't help but wonder what they were talking about. Old men, ancient men, young men, middle-aged men and a boy sitting, talking, eating and sipping coffee on…