"I love boobs; words & boobs."

Amazing! Filled our hearts full of goodness and hope! Spoken word combined with music and the depth of the soul. Sounds very hippy but it felt like an invite to a private intellectual society gone punk with a touch of burlesque. My fav review from my attending friend, "I love boobs; words and boobs."

When I shared my short review with another friend, she exclaimed, "Best review ever." So I thought it was worthy of a wider audience. Plus, how often in life can you say that an event has filled your heart so full?! It’s a lucky moment and one that should most definitely be celebrated.

I first saw Candy Royalle at a spoken word event earlier in the year which was held at a local pub in Glebe, Friend in Hand. She was hosting a poetry night and I was in need of a life injection. Quickly the night shed more than light into a world of inspiration and titillating existence that I thought died in storybooks from the Renaissance era or the Age of Enlightenment.

Frida People was birthed out of a combination of Candy Royalle’s words and Sloppy Joe’s funk. The result is moving, exciting and naked! Literally naked as they were joined on stage by Emma Maye Gibson (aka Betty Grumble) – an energetic punk, sometimes dramatic, but always fun dancing queen.

From the start of the night with guest poets sharing a few of their writings, I was deeply moved. True stories from the heart of a girl’s struggles as she watches her immigrant grandfather toil in life to lists of love unrequited to historical references of hate, racism and religion – each told honestly and from spaces deep within.

Then Frida People honoured the stage and the night escalated to open minds and hearts to life combined in a room of strangers. When I last saw Royalle she had dreads down her back with shaved sides but this time, she was bald with a crown of horns. She even joked halfway through the show when she asked the audience if her eyebrows were bleeding down her face (as they were painted on).

Royalle had to end her touring earlier in the year after getting diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She has gone through treatment and is in recovery now. I can only wish this extraordinary woman the very best as she’s a light in the world that shouldn’t be dimmed.

With a trumpeter, grand piano, drums, bass and Royalle’s rhythmic words of the impermanence of life, challenging the norm, and bringing people together through performance – ultimate success was achieved. Royalle thanked the audience for giving her the energy to feed off and lift herself to perform. It is clearly us who need to thank her!

I walked home as the third night of thunderstorms and lightening crashed down on Sydney but it felt like life announcing itself with a fierce and powerful exclamation. I heard it and was happy for doing so.

So this show is over and maybe you won't get to see Royalle on your side of the world but the takeaway here is "words" - check out a poetry reading in your town or jot a note to your partner and leave it on their pillow to see their reaction.

Words are meaningful. My mum used to write me notes on my napkin in my lunch bag. Totally embarrassed me but secretly I loved it! The little things do make a difference.

candyroyalle.com/
#CandyRoyalle

Drip feed - I'm back!

I’m baaaccckkk! Yes, the Billagog blog is back!

I hope there are a few readers still out there following this transformation. The blog originated for the trip around Oz but always had a side story of facilitating my need to write.

Well, the need is far from gone and I might as well use the avenue that I created to extend the story of things that continue to provide tales of adventure in my life.

Thus my new novel idea – a drip feed of stories and my next adventure. BTW, novel as in new, versus novel as in long story, which is still to come...

Bear with me as I navigate these waters. The tributaries may lead to exploits of Sydney scenes (where I currently call home), reviews of gigs, music and theatre, or just creative ideas that pop into my ever-churning mind. The goal is that they are interesting and at times even inspiring.

Who recalls the concept of the “choose your own adventure” series which was all the hype in the 80s and 90s? It allowed the reader to decide their own direction. So why not a new concept for this age?

We’re all so busy with the inability to stay focussed long enough to read a novel anymore. What I’m creating here is a “drip feed” of stories like a quote-a-day flip calendar or the app that teaches you a new word. Through Billagog, I’ll give you periodic updates on either a current event, marketing concept or alternating interesting facts. It’s kinda like subscribing to an editorial in the paper where the author gets to drone on about something of interest to them with hopes you are listening.

Ok, so it’s not a new concept. That's the very meaning of a blog. But I still hope you’ll enjoy, be inspired and find creativity in common thoughts!

My favourite yoga teacher ends each session with a quote. I always find it intriguingly appropriate for my life so I thought I would do the same for each blog update. This one started and ended with one in the postcard format and then another here from my Mum –

“I hope each and every one of your days is filled with aha’s.”

x, Tara

The end in sight, or maybe not

When you start seeing Sydney on the road signs, you know the end is near. It's a sad moment and unsettling at the same time. A trip of a lifetime though and one that I won't soon forget. We've been reviewing the camps that we liked the best (Robinson River Crossing, Litchfield waterfalls, & Mayfield Beach) and what we'll miss the most off the road (campfires, open night sky & singing as loud as you want). But something tells me we won't lead a 'normal' life after this if we can help it. You certainly start to realise what's important and what's not.

But before it's all done, we're trying to make the most of the road still ahead. Since getting off the ferry from Tasmania, we spent a lazy couple days with Matt's friend, Amanda, in the Melbourne suburb of Cheltenham. The next stop was meant to be Wilson's Promontory but we stopped at a bush camp across the water from the Prom at Bear Gully in Cape Liptrap Coastal Reserve.

One of the campers at Bear Gully was escaping the coal fires in Morwell VIC and told us we should check out a free festival in Boolarra just a couple hours

drive from the coast so we drove the back roads through mountains and rainforest to get there. Luckily it was the weekend as the logging trucks would have been an unwelcome sight on these small windy dirt roads.

The Boolarra Folk Festival was a good day and we tracked some slightly less scenic roads back to the coast and into the Prom. Beautiful views and a good hike around Lilly Pilly Gully and Mt Bishop. From the mountains to the sand where Squeaky Beach was well named with white sands that squeaked beneath your feet. The 450+ campsite was more than we could handle so backtracked off the peninsula to a recommended bush camp at Shallow Inlet.

Just before the border from Victoria to New South Wales, we camped at a peaceful spot on Wallagaraugh River. The retreat had a protected reserve where the mob of kangaroos enjoyed the afternoon sunset along with the rest of us and even emu strolled through camp for a hello.

Once over the border, reality was setting in and we put on the brakes to enjoy a couple days at Mystery Bay bush camp. It's a beautiful spot just south of Narooma. Tomorrow is another day closer to the end, but for now, ahhh to the salty air and sunshine coast. Matt's fishing on the cliffs and I'll walk around for a beach swim this afternoon. You can't rush these things!

Some hums and ha's over whether to go to Mt Kosiousko or not but we opted for the more direct route to Sydney along the coast with a planned stop at my favourite farmstay in Wandandian at my friend's Margot's place. Then maybe another lap is Oz?

From Cradle to sea again

We've covered some ground lately and returned to the Tasman Peninsula for the third time in this trip on the little island. First up, some recap on the beautiful northwest and famous Cradle Mountain.

Because of road closures on the west coast, we had to do some round about driving from Strahan in the south up to Corinna on the single car ferry (the "Fatso") and then around through Waratah and the Hellyer Gorge before reaching Stanley on the north coast and around to Arthur River on the west coast again. Sounds like allot and it was, but beautiful and windy country! I credit Matt with brilliant and steady driving as my nerves, and Albert's brakes, would be shattered by now.

At Arthur River, we decided to navigate the waters via boat and rented a 'tinnie' for the day. The Tassie forests are alive and kicking in this area and it was good to see. A couple nights at the Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area camp and we were on towards Cradle Mountain smack in the middle of Tassie.

Our Cradle hike started innocent enough strolling in the misty weather around the Dove Lake Circuit but by the end, we decided we needed more umph in our trek so veered towards Wombat Pool leading up to Cradle Lake and around the back tracks towards Ronny Creek.

Now since I had reviewed the maps, I knew we were on a 10km hike but Matt thought something named, "Wombat Pool", would be fairly tame. So equipped with only 1 litre of water and reaching the end by 4pm, it was a shame we hadn't packed lunch...Oh well, a wonder what a granola bar and beautiful scenery can do for a couple weary trekkers! Plus we ended the hike with a visit of a very large wombat and her bub!

We returned to camp at Lake Gairdner for our river shower, camp fire, and a well earned meal! Thanks Laura & Thibout for the recommendation of this spot!

In need of clean laundry and a proper shower, we saw Ulverstone had a free day music festival so up to the north coast for a couple days.

From here we were pretty undecided but Matt's desire for another go at the deep sea was burning a memory to be made. A call to Captain Steve and we were back on the road to the Tasman Peninsula where I wait patiently for the seafarers' return.

We did arrive a day early and went to Fortesque Bay in the national park for a hike to Cape Hauy which turns out was well waited for as we needed Cradle Mountain as practice for this up and down step track out to a beautiful point! Everything happens for a reason!

Tall trees and blue seas

Via the end of the most southerly road in Australia, we come upon the Southwest National Park where the sands are white and the landscape vast if you're prepared to hike it for a couple days. Since our home is the camper, we set up camp at Catamaran River and enjoyed the sights from there.

Next stop was a stay in Hobart with lovely René who opened up her home and let us veg out on the couch for a couple days. We did make it to the MONA museum to check out the craziness that is the man that put this together.

Walsh made his fortune gambling and has an intriguing art collection that he built this museum to showcase. He also brews his own beer label called, "Moo", that he loses money on because he wanted to drink beer from wine-like bottles so the customisation costs a fortune. The whole set up is enjoyable and if you're a Tassie local, it's free!

An obligatory visit to the Salamanca Markets and farewell to our host, and we were off to Mt Field National Park and around through Wild Rivers National Park on the way to Strahan on the west coast.

A beautiful hike through Mt Field, we covered the Tall Trees circuit as well as Russell Falls, Horseshoe Falls, and Lady Barron Falls track. All of these mini hikes are in preparation for our Cradle Mountain venture.

Bush fires were making their way through Wild Rivers NP so one of the hikes we wanted to do was closed and fires were smoldering along the road. After the huge fires in Kakadu, we were used to the effects so it didn't startle us as much.

Crossing the grand mountain ranges of Wild Rivers, you then come across Queenstown and its bare dug out silver hills that have been excavated for minerals until the waters run orange. Somehow they are proud of this barren look but it was simply sad to me.

Luckily Strahan is on the other side and a wonderful destination on the west coast.

A World Heritage Festival Site

From the prison to the valley, we found out about a music festival taking place up in the hinterland of Tasmania and couldn't pass up the opportunity to bond with the local hippies. We left the Tasman Peninsula and shot straight up the highway to Jackeys Marsh, just south of Deloraine.

The gathering had been going on since 1986 when a group of people banned together to protest the destruction of this beautiful area by logging. This year's festival marked the celebration of the area achieving World Heritage status!

Some of the great initiatives to encourage sustainability included the entire 3-day festival being solar powered, all food stands were byo cutlery and crockery, the bar was also managed by one glass per person to have for the festival and then refunded at the end so trash was at a minimum and toilets were composted. A beautiful event with loads of bands and activities!

From the festival we headed back down towards Hobart but took the back roads winding through the Great Lake and hydro scheme which powers most of Tasmania. Just when our questions on how this scheme works were boiling over, we drive past Tassie's first power station and now a museum!

Once equipped with a load of photos and information of the power station, we hit the gravel again for more beautiful scenery! Destination - the southern most point in Australia and a need for more cherries!

Convict style

Just LOVING it in Tassie! Everything about this place is amazing from the tall trees to the blue seas! And for fun, we threw in a little history lesson as well at Port Arthur on the Tasman Peninsula.

As most of you know, Australia, and Tasmania in particular, was populated by convicts expelled from Europe. Port Arthur was created to house the worst of the worst or 'repeat offenders' as the tour guide told us. They didn't need fences as the area was a peninsula and the weather harsh. But today, we visited in the warmth of the sun and summer months.

Whether it be the main prison house, the mental asylum, or the Commandant's luxury quarters, the entire property is beautifully presented and intriguing in all facets. If we could have camped on the premises, the ghost tour would be a real treat!

A GREAT Ocean Road to sailing the Bass Straight

Finally pulled up stumps from our riverside camp in the relie's backyard in Warrnambool, we headed along Australia's beautiful "Great Ocean Road". This stunning stretch of coast spans from Warrnambool to Lorne and just beyond to Torquay. We zigzagged between the coastal road and some amazing trails on the back hills of the Otway Range.

Before further details of the road, the boat reno that Matt and his Uncle Bill did at the end of our stay deserves a mention as they did an amazing job turning a has-been duck boat into a stunning replica of its old self. They sanded, steamed, varnished, and painted it back to life for the upcoming car show that Bill already had his 1950s Standard ready for.

The highlighted map of our Great Ocean Road stretch looks like a roller coast ride as we would face the hoards of tourists on tiny roads enough to see the highlights of the Grotto and the 12 Apostles but then venture

to the quieter highlands. There's so much beauty on offer in the area but the tranquillity of the the fire trails and country roads is much more palpable at this time of year.

We arrived in Melbourne just in time to spend a night with my good friend, Megsy, and her growing brood with 2 month old Zach joining his big brother Finn in the festival family. So Matt caught up with his childhood friend as I stayed with Megsy and we both enjoyed, I mean endured, our first night apart in 12 months.

Back together and with a forecast heatwave about to hit Melbourne, we decided to hop the ferry to Tasmania the next day! Luckily we scored the only day of the week with vehicle space and treated ourselves to a cabin for the 9 hour journey - it even had a shower!

Clean and reinvigorated for bush travel, we have relished in what Tassie has to offer - beautiful free camping with noone around, campfires again (fire ban on the mainland since 1 Dec), fresh fish, cherry season, and friendly people!

Only a week in to our stay and we've ventured up the north east segment and down the coast with similar plans as the Great Ocean Road where we zigzag from coast to inland. South Croppies Point was beautiful and Matt caught us dinner on our hilltop rocky ledge. We also got to see the Firies clear our path from a fallen tree near the Bay of Fires, and enjoy the white sands of Wineglass Bay in the Freycinet National Park.

Stay tuned, Tassie has allot more to come!

Parading in the new year

A bit of time and travel has passed since a Billagog update and yes, the annual letter is still to come, but for now, a holiday update from Warrnambool VIC.

We have been fortunate enough to spend the holidays with Matt's family in Victoria - catching up with his aunt and uncle, the cousins and his dad, all the way from the Philippines! I don't think his aunt and uncle thought we would actually make it when we saw them in Broome in August but arrive we did. How could you pass up holidays with family?! Arriving on the 23rd, we were quickly put to task in the kitchen with preparations of a bounty of food. Matt's Aunt Judy had her birthday on Christmas Eve so we tried with earnest to get preparations done early so we could enjoy dinner out that night in celebration. 

Christmas day was brilliant weather and the food prep was fast and furious with all the fixins which didn't stop there but carried on with Boxing Day plenty. Matt mastered two massive plates of paella after doing a turkey, glazed ham and gravy. I did donate my skills to an egg

casserole my mum makes for Christmas morning that is lovingly referred to as "heart attack at breakfast" and banana bread to balance the diet. As we were told not to worry about presents, our donation to the festivities included a half of case of wines collected around the many and various regions we hit along the way (those stories still to come).

With Christmas and Boxing Day complete, we moved over to Matt's cousin's place where the chances of fishing boat ventures were too much to pass up. Grant and Matt enjoyed days on the seas and rivers as Amie and I relaxed and had dinner ready on their arrival home each night, happy to watch the waters from the warmth of the calm indoors.

Warrnambool is also home to a lovely couple, Sally & Keith, that we have been bumping into from Finch Hatton to Bungle Bungles. After a holiday text, they asked where we were and to pop in when we made our way to Victoria and voila, in town we were! We met for a coffee at the pavilion overlooking Penguin Island near Thunder Point. A beautiful catch up with a beautiful couple.

Funny story on Penguin Island - the fairy penguins on the island were declining due to feral animals but 2 marema sheep dogs have been trained to protect them to great success. Watch for a movie soon on the story.

On New Year's Eve, Matt's dad arrived just in time to share a drink on the pub balcony in Port Fairy as we watched the parade. An entry participant for the last few years, Matt's Uncle Bill drove his blue beauty, Mary the Standard 10, along the trail with grandkids in tow!

Note the board on the roof - Bill's custom 9ft 9 board from the 60s. Matt was so enamoured, he washed and waxed it up for a surf that day in 17 degree water without a wetsuit! It hadn't been in the salt water for 40 years but worked a treat!

We were back at the house to watch the Sydney fireworks on tv and then of to bed not long after - oh how things have changed from a year ago at Woodford!

A rainy cold New Year's Day, but we're back in sun today. Matt's dad Peter will fly

out tomorrow and we will be back on the road by Monday. We've hit Princes Highway, so I can nearly taste Sydney but a bit to see before then. I hope all of you enjoyed the days wherever you were lucky enough to be!