Album Review - Free Spirited

Hi lovely ones,

I actually thought I had already posted this on here but alas I had not.  Months ago I was reviewed by Capital News Magazine with my new album FREE SPIRITED.  Here is an image of that review!!

THANK YOU CAPITAL NEWS!

Tough As Geranium #24

Dear Lovely ones,

It's always lovely to know that people are playing the music we all write and there's nothing sweeter than seeing a song not only debut in a chart but also rise in it.

This weekend TOUGH AS GERANIUM has risen 4 spots to number 24 in the Tasmanian top 30!

Many thanks go to Nigel Jones in Tasmania and to OZCMR's own Mark Eckel, plus all the other presenters in Tasmania

If you would like a copy of Tasmania's number 24 song then please CLICK on the title

TOUGH AS GERANIUM

Thank you Tasmania!

TOUGH AS GERANIUM #28

Dear lovely ones,

It's been some time since I last wrote in my blog.... too many things happening at onece, but I'm very happy to say that my new album FREE SPIRITED is out now and has been since March 9th 2018.

The second single from this collection of songs is TOUGH AS GERANIUM and is an ode to both the humble geranium that grows in the streets of Port Adelaide and the suburb itself.  After the hustle and bustle of the old days when the Port was a busy receiving station for products and people, it hit a low patch a number of decades ago and has been trying to regain its composure eversince.  A suburb that is still going, still trying, still growing, like the geraniums in the streets of the heritage precinct.  This place refuses to die and wants us to come back: indeed this is beginning to happen in steps that are small and big.

The single was released on June 18th 2018 via CRS publicity and has, so far, made its debut into the Tasmanian Country Music top 30 at number 28!

It's a very proud moment for me.  This song is very special and I hope you drop by itunes to have a listen soon.

TOUGH AS GERANIUM

lots of Love

Susan Lily xx

Vale Wally Sparrow - Radio Presenter from Radio Adelaide

Photo courtesy of Ian Fisk Photography

On Monday, whilst I was quietly celebrating my birthday, in another place a man passed away.  This man, one of many talents, was Wally Sparrow whom I had known from Radio Adelaide.  As a presenter of country music for many years, Wally's name was known across the country as an important link in the chain.  I'd wanted to meet him for years and finally got the chance when he invited me for an interview a couple of years ago.

His passion and dedication to the genre of country music was always high and he was a straight shooter who always said what he thought.  One day recently I opened up my email to find a quote from him, sent to me on another site.

The quote reads:

"Susan is a great singer, songwriter and certainly works hard to achieve her goals"

To be honest I was a little bit surprised that he'd taken the time to write it and then post it. I wasn't sure if he would have remembered me at all.  There is his gift:  he remembered everyone, and through that we will always remember him.

Thanks for your time and your support old mate.  

RIP Wally Sparrow

love and appreciation,

Susan xx

When is a "help desk" helpful?

The more time goes on the more businesses that are only online.  This means that we all have to learn countless applications/programmes just so we can navigate our way around.  

There also seems to be a degree of "assumed knowledge" that is a large part of all this.  Is it because the software designer believes that everyone has the same knowledge as they do?  Yes, I know that there are manuals, but often they are hard to find and filled to the brim with enough jargon to drown in.

What I really wish for christmas, is that businesses online would understand that not all end users, ie people like me, are instantly savvy when it comes to the nuances of the application or the process.  Most of us do not have the time nor the urge to spend hours watching youtube clips or trying to find a term in a glossary so we can understand what the instruction means.

It would be great if the people they employed to be the phone support or online support actually understood how to explain things in plain terms.  One of my great frustrations is, after waiting for many minutes on the phone, that the person on the other end assumes that I know as much as they do about the application I'm having trouble with.  The ONLY reason I'm calling is that I have a problem or don't understand something and I need some HELP.  Isn't that why it's called a "Help desk"??? Or is that a fancy IT term for "we think you're stupid, why are you wasting our time when you should have gone to university and studied IT like we did".

Am I alone with this dilemma?  In some ways I hope not and in others maybe I'm just "special".  Let me know what you think or share an experience. Maybe we can help each other feel better about our online woes.

cheers and love

Sooz! xx

There Are Good Men Too

Dear Lovely Ones,

It’s many thanks to a lovely lady by the name of Melissa Hocking that I find myself creating this piece. It’s not easy, sometimes, being female in this big world of ours. Recent events have had a global impact probably more so with the social media platforms we have now. What’s apparent, and this is thanks to Melissa, is that most of this has been focused on the sadder element of human relations. It’s a pretty bad situation to be sexually harassed and I don’t believe there is one woman on the planet who hasn’t been subjected to it: some on a regular basis. Equally there must be many genuine men out there who are having a bad time at the moment as they might feel like the world’s female population hates them for simply being male.

Anyway, I’d like to take a moment to focus publicly on some of the men in my life who have been a positive and uplifting influence on me rather than the countless who haven’t. I’d rather do that than remember all the bad times. So here we go:

Firstly, there is my dad, who was encouraging to all of us regardless of our gender. His idea was that we could all grow up and be independent and happy adults. No matter what course my life has taken he has been there to support whatever decision and direction. As the eldest he wanted me to “go live my life and be happy”. I kinda think I am really, don’t you? 😊

My darling beautiful man is a constant gift to me. He’s someone who has been the biggest surprise in my life. As we’ve gotten to know each other more I understand why I was attracted to him in the first place. His smile on that first day still beams at me each morning, afternoon and evening. His consideration of me is like no other, sometimes I’ve had to shake my head and stop so I can take in what a big beautiful and gentle heart he has. I am fortunate that I recognised, in time, the happiness I would have bringing him to my side. He believes in me totally and is a great influence on me continuing with my music career when I feel a little sad about things.

The more I sat and thought about it, the more men who came to mind who had been a significantly positive influence on my life. In fact, amongst all the negative men I’d crossed paths with were more lovely men than I had first thought. These men all respected me for my knowledge and character rather than any physical attribute. They understood and practiced social etiquette and professional boundaries. I learnt much from these professional colleagues and mentors and owe them much for the time they freely gave so that I could move forward. What makes these men special is that they are on the rarer side of common. They see the world in a special way and have a broader view of what really matters. I think it’s rather cool that I can remember these significant men more than those who hurt or harassed me. I feel blessed and fortunate to have had them in my life.

Melissa is right, we could all put our thinking caps on and come up with a #truementoo story. We all must have at least one positive male in our life: even if it’s the postie or the butcher or someone we might see occasionally. I think it’s time we celebrated the men in our lives who have made up for all the a-holes who have tried to bring us down.

Lots of love

Susan xx

Learning From Disappointment

Dear lovely ones,

I prefer to publish stories that have a level of happiness to them.  There is enough sadness in the world without me adding to it.  Perhaps it's my country upbringing or the great influence of my Pop who used to say "you're a long time dead, so make the most of your life".  So I've mostly put a public face of fun and joy out there even though I have had times of disappointment and sadness.

I recently experienced some disappointment with regard to my music career.  As most would realise, I'm very passionate and very emotionally connected to most things and my music career is where I feel the most for.  Thus, it hits very close to the heart when something disappointing occurs.

I went through the five stages of grief and then decided to live by pop's credo.  So today I have been able to accept what has been done and move on to a better situation.  I love to learn and grow and right now I'm very proud that I have been able to see around the picture and come up with solutions to the disappointing scenario.  They are positive, helpful and forgiving in nature.

If we can't learn from our disappointment and actively work to help redress a situation then the lessons sent to us from the universe will be totally lost.  I didn't want an opportunity to pass me by; far from it.  So now I am smiling again and ready to tackle the next step in my career, whatever that will be.  Yes, I've been a bit down, but not out.  As the late great Tom Petty wrote.."I won't back down, no I won't back down....stand my ground, and I won't back down"

Have a lovely weekend everyone and remember how much we can learn and grow from disappoint

ment.

love

Susan xx