Five-Hundred Word Challenge 668: Morning Clock Rings

Posted on May 9, 2020 by Stupidity Hole

The morning clock rings out and so I must wake and do the things, but instead I’m just going to go out my front door and fall through the inevitable hole that is life, but that doesn’t prevent me from enjoying the things outside whilst I fall infinitely until I stop falling.

A good day. Clear skies… well, aside from the few clouds floating on by, that is. The sound of a main road can be heard. It is faint, but distinct. The occasional bird making a bird sound can also be heard. Much closer, much clearer. Perhaps the sound of cockatoos will soon also be heard as they often pass on by in this area.

I go for a stroll and soon I leave the ground and float on away to somewhere else. My feet are taking me elsewhere, as is my body. It isn’t the time to be doing this, but of course in this instance I am not able to resist. There are places to see and scenes to experience and so I must allow for myself to be carried off elsewhere. Being carried away is something I cannot resist at the moment and to be honest that is fine. There are worse things that I could be experiencing.

Along the currents of air I am carried away to other places. I eventually begin to lower down and find myself in a pace known as a jungle, but is not a jungle at all. It resides on the coast just south of Sydney and it is an area dense with vegetation.

I pass through the vegetation and land and feel the ground underneath my feet. It is cool. There is a pathway but now is not the time to be following said path. Instead I just walk down through the vegetation and toward the ocean, wherever it may lie.

It is a steep walk and a dangerous one, but of course I manage to keep on going without much injury. Not lasting anyway. I keep on walking down and push past the vegetation, looking for the most open gaps of light and feel foliage, damp and numerous under my feet as I keep on walking. It presses against the uneven terrain, allowing me to know the path of which is the one I am taking.

I keep on going and soon I see an exit. I can hear the sound of waves as they break against the land. I can almost smell the salt being caught in the air. I keep on going forward and push on. I pick up my pace and soon I can see a clear sky. I make a leap and travel through the air, but instead I am whisked away back to the location of my residence.

The air is changed and more suburban than it is bush here. I decide that that is enough for one day and go inside. I need to prepare for the shift I will soon work.

The time it took to write five-hundred words: 07:25:67

To me, this feels like the idea of what a dream is like.

I was going to write about a dream I had last night but I didn’t, so maybe that was some sort of influence.

Written at home.

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Leaving Cahill Expressway

Posted on May 8, 2020 by Stupidity Hole

Technically it ends a little further past where I was when I took this photo, but if you’re driving on this side of the expressway, then you are close to one of its ends at this point, so the title remains appropriate as far as I’m concerned.

Until I was wandering around the city last week, I don’t think I was aware that there was a vantage point at this particular location.

I like that there’s a good view of a part of the expressway. There’s a good amount of distance in this photo, but there’s still a suggestion that it wouldn’t take long to move along this section.

I like that, despite the lack of space close to where I was, there’s still a fair bit of space afforded farther away. There’s some cluttering, but not as much compared to facing the main body of Sydney CBD.

I hope you enjoy.

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One Thousand Word Challenge 46: Climbing a Tree

Posted on May 8, 2020 by Stupidity Hole

So there’s a bit of a blockage in my ear, but I’ll deal with that later. Besides which, maybe it’ll sprout and grow into something that I can use. Perhaps a tree, or something.

I don’t think I’d much like a tree growing out of my ear though. It could get a bit weighty and I don’t want a weight imbalance between my ears. I prefer them to be balanced well, if that makes sense, which I’m sure it does, or something.

Anyway, if a tree did sprout, maybe it would attract some birds and they’d build a nest that would be protected by the leaves of the tree growing from my ear. Maybe the tree would get quite big, so I’d have to remove it before it did, lest I have the balance issues. May be then the tree would grow even faster and larger due to it having more space to grow.

The tree might get so massive as to be able to climb it for a long time and not reach the top. If that was the case, then I surely would have no choice but to approach its branches and climb it and see where it would lead. I guess it would lead in the upward direction, but of course I would still have to try and discover that for myself, so I guess that as soon as I was ready I would start working on climbing the tree… so long as it was no longer in my ear, of course, which I guess it wouldn’t be as it wouldn’t have been able to get so big.

The other possibility is that it got so big that it forced me to remain on the ground, then grew around me and grew massive that way, then eventually I would be able to detach from the tree and then go for an exploring. Either way, there would be the climbing of the tree.

So up an into the branches I would go. They would be thicker closer to the base as they’d have had a long time to grow… well, comparatively long. The tree grew fast to get to its size, or something. I don’t know. Anyway, it would be an easier climb near the base as I’d have more energy for it and the branches would be thicker, thus enabling a bit of an ease when it comes to climbing. There would be all sorts of fauna and even some flora that would be among the branches and appreciating the shade. There would be sounds you don’t always get to hear in suburbia.

It would be dark, though there would also be pockets of light pouring through some of the leaves. It would be nice and relaxed, yet adventurous, I think. Not entirely sure.

I’d be climbing for a while. I’d be going up and weaving through the branches and as I’d go up I’d see more of the outside world. Some parts would thin out, though eventually they too would have more shading so as to protect the trunk of the tree. The trunk itself would be massive. It would be wider than any other tree I’ve seen or known of and as such it would take a while to get around; especially if climbing at the same time, but generally the way to climb this tree would be to spiral around it as you’d be moving upward, so I’d be able to see all sides of it at some point, as would you if you were to climb this tree.

After a while I’d find a point where I’d be able to look down at the ground’s surface by poking my head through an open gap and it would be somewhat-safe, and the ground would appear to be quite small and at the same time quite massive, but I would not be too far up the tree even if I was far above the ground, so I’d have to keep on going.

At this point the branches would probably be thinning out a little and getting noticeably smaller, so the climb might be both easier and more difficult. I’d need to be more careful.

There would be less fauna and less other types of flora. The air would be thinning a little bit, but I’d have to keep on going. Of course I wouldn’t have thought of the journey down as of yet, which would be a fault of my own for being too preoccupied with going up, so the only way I’d have to get down is by carefully moving, but at this point that would be something I would not be considering.

Eventually I’d hit a state where I would not be able to keep on going. I was past the point of safely climbing. This was now the point where it just wasn’t possible for a person to keep going due to how thin the branches were getting. I’d poke my head out again and look down. Of course things appear smaller, though the land more massive. I’d look up and the top of the tree is yet to be visible.

I’d sit there for a while and then think about how to get down. I’d think about the journey up and think about the different layers of the tree and how it seemed to house different forms of flora an fauna depending on what they could and could not tolerate. I’d think about the vastness of this tree and the insignificance of myself, then remember that I have as fear of heights and start slowly working my way down. As much as I’d like to go fast, I’d rather get down in once piece rather than more than one, so slow is the speed I’d have to go.

It would be a long time to get down, but down is where I’d eventually get.

Once there I guess I’d have to go home, but at least my ear would be unblocked.

The time it took to write one thousand words: 14:45:34

I think I should have worked more on description of what was inside the tree rather than the personal experience of climbing it.

I’m happy my ear blockage was able to inspire this story.

Written at home.

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Quiet Pyrmont Bridge

Posted on May 7, 2020 by Stupidity Hole

This is my submission into Leanne Cole‘s TPM photo challenge for this week.

The theme for this challenge is “The Place I Would Like to Visit the Most Again After Lockdown”. The place I want to visit the most is Japan, but as that is a long way off here’s an image of Pyrmont Bridge as seen last week instead.

Rather low levels of foot traffic in this image.

This is a place I’d rather visit now seeing as it’s easier to get a photo of it, but at the same time I’d like to visit it once the lockdown ends and see how it changes.

Now that I think about it, I want to visit The Royal National Park again, but that’s more due to having not gone for almost two years.

Anyway, with this shot I do like the sense of quiet. I also like how the buildings almost seem to form an undesirable wall. Perhaps this is the entrance to some place I’d rather not go into.

I hope you enjoy.

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Five-Hundred Word Challenge 667: Should Eat. Would Rather Ramble

Posted on May 7, 2020 by Stupidity Hole

What I hear right now is the sound of a fan whirring away, moving to its own tune, or something like that. Well, it is a fan, but the “to its own tune” bit is what I’m questioning int hat sentence, but let’s not go down that path today as there are other things that need to be covered.

Why do I say that so often?

Anyway. so I’m here, sitting down, trying to think about when I should have breakfast but that presents itself as a whole other ordeal that I don’t want to deal with but inevitably will have to at some stage in my life as there is only so far you can go without consumption of something in order to keep on going on. Digestion and all that stuff.

Well, I guess I really should grapple with that eating thing sooner rather than later. Gotta survive, gotta keep on going. Gotta shake! Maybe I will grapple with certain kinds of foods and wrestle them down into submission, or not. Not sure. We’ll see. No indecision today yet though. That can come in later. Right now it’s writing time and the time to write is at hand.

I think that if this weather persists I won’t get a fresh batch of strawberries as soon as I’d like, but to be honest I’m fine with that as I’d rather winter come in and do its thing than have a whole bunch of strawberries along with warm weather at a time it is not meant ot be warm.

I could eat those strawberries sooner rather than later though…

Anyway, it’s a cold day and I’m here in warm clothes and I need to eat and I need more coffee. Well, I don’t need more coffee. I want more coffee, however. But I won’t as it’s a bad idea. I need to worry more about the eating bit.

Of course, by worry I mean that I need to get to the bit where I am actually eating, but that requires movement and effort and I’m lazy.

Shouldn’t be lazy. Need to eat. Eating helps the surviving and the doing of the things, though not always. Need to pick the battles, need to know when.

I think that I might be thinking a little too much about the act of eating. I really should just bet up and go make myself something but I’m caught in a web of getting through this so that I can start the productive day of being productive. Vicious cycle as they say. However, there is no cycle. Not right now, but maybe in the future.

I should probably go for a cycle. Get moving. Maybe I should do that, then eat. Could be a good idea. Gets me out in the open.

Then again, I’d rather no move through the cold right now. Too cold, too lazy. More writing. Get that done. But before then, I’ll just go and make myself something tasty to eat.

The time it took to write five-hundred words: 06:58:38

I need to warm my hands before I start writing.

I also need to work more on my flow.

Written at home.

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Morning at Ashfield Station

Posted on May 6, 2020 by Stupidity Hole

This one is quite similar to many shots I’ve taken before, but perhaps a little different due to what is in the frame.

I like the way the detail comes through in this image. I also like that it feels quiet.

This is my submission into Leanne Cole‘s “Monochrome Madness” for this week.
I suggest checking out Leanne’s photography, as well as checking out what other people submit.

A lot of what people are submitting will likely end up here.

I hope you enjoy.

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Five-Hundred Word Challenge 666: About Uncertainty

Posted on May 6, 2020 by Stupidity Hole

Zoning out. Gotta stay focused. Might be a long afternoon, but gotta get through it. Gotta see it to the end so that the next day comes, or something. Of course, seeing it to the end in this case is seeing all the work I gotta catch up on to the end. I think.

Anyway, I gotta get through it all. Gotta write. Gotta focus. Stop zoning out. Gotta keep on going. All that other jazz. Maybe I should just stop here and spend the rest of the afternoon in bed. I could try that, but there are too many hours to go. I’d get bored. I’d get restless. Would need to do stuff. It’s a good day outside so I’d need to spend a bit more time outside. All that stuff. You know.

Also gotta keep on listening to this album, though it is a little too close to its end for comfort, if that makes sense. One of those ones that I wish kept on going, but that’s what repeating from the beginning is for. It’s a good album and I haven’t had an extensive listen to it for a long time. I feel that’s a problem that I need to tackle as this is an album that I feel does not get enough love or recognition. I’ll write about it some day.

For now, I’m going to let the major hit wash over me and listen to how it carries and flows as I try to zone in and all that other stuff. Or I won’t, as it’s already over. On to the other things that need to arrive and need my focus.

To be fair, music wasn’t a requirement but sometimes it really is. Not right now, but perhaps later it will be. Such is the way of things. Or something. I don’t know. Maybe you do.

I think that this morning was rather trying but things are getting better now and that’s what I want right now. Just a rough morning of emotion and all that other stuff. Maybe I’ll write about it later. Maybe not. Not sure yet. Not sure about a lot of things, but right now I might just be. Need to rest a little, or perhaps a lot. Will work that out a bit later. Maybe. Not really sure.

I think I might be repeating myself a little too much, but that just so happens to be the way things be at the moment, I think. Maybe. And so on.

I guess that this bit of writing is about uncertainty, or something, but I’d much prefer it to be about focus as focus is something that is sorely needed at the moment. I need a bit more focus than usual, but that is to be expected, or something. I think.

Doing it again.

Anyway, I need to zone in and start doing the things that I need to do. Need to stop zoning out. Been enough hours of rest this morning.

The time it took to write five-hundred words: 06:26:76

A lot of uncertainty being expressed, but certainty will surely arrive at some point.

Written at home.

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Darling Har

Posted on May 5, 2020 by Stupidity Hole

It’s interesting how objects in our view can shape how we see something.

I hope you enjoy.

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From Somewhere out the Back: Bit by Bats by Bit by Bats

Posted on May 5, 2020 by Stupidity Hole

Along with most of my review and interview work, this review is also on Culture Eater.
My colleague and I set up a Patreon to further develop Culture Eater as a source of good quality arts coverage from both ourselves and our contributors.

We’re looking at what we can give to supporters as we don’t want to set up a one way relationship, so suggestions are welcome. Podcast Eater is one of the things we’ve got going. We’ve recently switch to weekly releases and soon will be giving the patrons a bit more.

Please consider supporting, or at least sharing the Patreon page with others. Please also check out what our wonderful contributors are contributing.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy.

—

Ah yes… Bit by Bat’s Bit by Bats by Bit by Bats.

Whilst I heard both songs on FBi, I can’t remember if I first heard “Dance the Dance” or “Sir! Beat Sir”. I know “Sir! Beat Sir” was the one that stuck with me; thus it was the song that led to me purchasing Bit by Bats.

This is another EP that I listened to… maybe twice before putting down. A few years ago when I was making a lazy attempt to listen to all the music I had at the time I listened to the EP again. That was enough for me.

Last year after finishing off writing about Lovers le Strange I didn’t wait too long before I started listening to and writing about Bit by Bats but it was put to the side for other things. Uni, “life”, other reviews; Thing like those got in the way.

Eventually I made the time to finish this off as I wanted to move onto other releases. Admittedly I found myself enjoying the EP a bit more this time around.

—

The EP starts with a low, distant sound and some moody, ringing guitar. percussion comes in, then “Dance the Dance” switches gears to something less overtly moody and more… dancy, for lack of a better word. Words come out “sung” in a semi-clear manner; they feel as though they’re coming from someone stressed and rushed.

The other songs go through a few different styles, though often with a sense of tension underscoring them. “The Nature Vs. Effect” goes for a bass-heavy, jagged guitar sound; “The Suburban Ballet” takes on a more melodic, riff-based approach. “The Old Man Can Talk” is akin to a simple pop ballad, and the dry-sounding “The Other Side” closes the EP off with rolling drums, increasingly frantic theremin and more jagged guitar… or it would if not for the aggressive, biting hidden track that follows shortly after.

Fourth song “Sir! Beat Sir” is the song that has stuck with me the most. It has a kind of energy; an attack that seems to just strike out in ways that the rest of the EP doesn’t. The shuffling beat works well with the driving bass and ringing guitars, and the vocals – whilst as shouted and frazzled and tense as a few of the other songs – are more focused and punchy. It is here on the EP where the band sound fully-realised and at their most effective.

As far as first releases go, Bit by Bats is decent. The band sound confident with their material which is deceptively-loose sounding. There’s a rawness to the songs that comes through quite well, and despite a couple of moments where they drag, the songs run for just long enough to not deflate. The band perform with a good deal of energy which helps to create a strong sense of mood, but as a recording a bit too much of it feels flat.

This EP sounds like it was aiming to capture a live feel and in some ways it gives the idea of a live performance, but it’s strongly lacking in the overall punch the songs feel like they’d have in a live setting. They are punchy, sure, but not punchy enough.

I know that seems like grasping at straws, but I find it difficult to not think about how this EP would sound in a live setting. I feel that it would really hit and probably get people dancing as these songs really need a sense of presence to work. In studio form Bit by Bats is an interesting collection of songs from a fairly young band that captures certain feelings well, but I don’t know if there’s more about it I can say.

I’m not sure if I can recommend Bit by Bats. Initially this review was going to be quite negative. However, in my procrastination I’ve come to appreciate Bit by Bats a bit more; at least enough to want to hear what the band did on their album.

That said, it did take a long time to get to a point where I found it appreciable.

—

Shortly after starting this “series” I had the idea of picking three defunct bands from the Sydney guitar pop scene from around 2000 to 2010 and trying to work out what led to their popularity or lack thereof. Turns out Bit by Bats were from Adelaide, then Melbourne so that idea went out the window; at least for now.

I could go with Youth Group but they still exist.

I’ll stumble across a third band eventually.

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Another Reflection

Posted on May 4, 2020 by Stupidity Hole

Whilst wandering around the city the other day I headed over to Pyrmont Bridge. I took a few shots; this one being one of those shots.

It’s sort of a comparative to one I took in 2016. I kind of wanted to see if I’d improved (though this shot requires a really basic and mostly hands-free setup).

So this is the other escalator on the same side of the prior shot. This one is less dramatic and definitely more of the morning. It’s kind of quieter in a sense, and also reveals a bit more of what is under the glass.

This scene is more low-key, so to speak.

I hope you enjoy.

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