ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Just a quick note to say thanks to everyone who contributes to the site discussions ( and banter ) on the forum. I was pretty annoyed with how things were in general and was getting a bit disillusioned ( big word for me ) with how my poetry was going. same old same old story.

Taking part in the discussions and getting feedback on poems and just seeing what others are doing out there has rekindled the flame and I have now started looking at how I can improve both my written word and my performance style.

Where this revitalization will take me I do not know but I do know it's a good thing.

Thanks again


Cheers ( still gotta bloody work for a living though )

Oh just harvested 5 kilos of BANANA'S Yellow Gold.


Bob

Goodonya Bob. Some wise person, (weren't me ), has said that doing poetry is a life long apprenticeship. I reckon that's right, except I don't think my life will be long enough to learn all that I hope to learn.

There's an ancient writing in the Bible called The Book of Proverbs, one of the major themes at the start of it is; " be willing to learn and take advice " Things haven't changed in 3000
years.
I need to study that bit often.

Bob - As I came home from shopping today one of the local churches had a sign up - you know the huge notice Boards that churches sometimes display. I loved what it said.

Try to be as good a person as your dog already thinks you are.

Think you fit the bill Mate - I think your feet are already planted on the path to writeteousness and everyone helps each other here - or haven't you noticed that - been to long in the naughty corner perhaps

Bob you are doing great things for the bush poetry world and I think we all appreciate what you are doing.

This is a good place to learn and get feedback. I've had great encouragement here too.

We get to learn all sorts of things here (bananas $12.98 in Kilmore today - I bought one for my curried sausages!) and always get a good daily laugh.

Maureen, love that saying. The world wouldn't be the same without dogs would it?

Just remember your friends when you are famous Bobbo!

Heather

Really Bob you don’t have to thank me I probably would have like you anyway.

TTFN

morning all,

I have a local fruit market who specialise in going to growers and buying the fruit that the big boys reject.
We get overly large or very small, some with branch rub and some a bit mis-shapen, but all fresh fruit and veg from the tree, or ground, not the cool room...and definitely not from overseas!!! and cheaper than the supermarket!

I have been buying small, damaged (outside not inside) bananas for months at about $3.00 kg. I figure, you don't eat the skin anyway and this money must help the poor growers to get back on their feet.These are the fruit that came from the trees knocked over by the flood/cyclone and salvaged by hand. unfortunately the supply has run out and we don't have bananas at the moment.

When we get the giant apples, we share one between two of us. I know when my daughter lived at Batlow (which used to be 100% Apple country) they could get the giant apples for 1/4 the price of normal sized ones, at the co-op shop, because the big supermarkets wouldn't take them.

It is sad to say that many of the family owned farms at Batlow are being forced to knock over their apple trees because of the supermarkets. The small growers just can't afford to grow their fruit anymore. They are opting for cattle of other crops.

Know the truth of what you say Zondrae - used to do likewise with a small fruit shop at Stanthorpe - a bit of bird peck, leaf shadow, too big, too small and the supermarkets won't touch it - yet it is fresh and nothing wrong with it. Often used to get panicked calls for help from a neighbour to go and pick snow peas or zucchini because they were Woolies size right now and tomorrow would be to late they would be too big.

I don't as a rule of thumb buy meat or fruit from the supermarkets any more - support the little bloke

A bit like us poets supporting each other - we may occasionally have a bit of blemish, or other slight imperfections but our goods are always fresh, we help each other out and we give good value for money.