Latest edition proves popular

We are babysitting a new edition to the Gallasch family tonight. A little fury orange kitten that has proven very popular with Heidi and the kids. Max, Freddy and I are perhaps a little worried about what this might mean...

The risk seems to be paying off

No more shhhhh... It seems my local community is embracing live music in the library. Our previous record for a Sunday opening (1 to 4pm) was 84 and we have not seen anything near that for many months. Our first session of live music with the very, extremely, awesomely talented Sofie Bozzetti saw us already by pass our long standing record with 85 for the day. Today we hosted an amazing local four piece called Escape From Yesterday (been officially together since December 2016, but sound like pros) and I'm sure we were at 87 with a half hour of opening time left... I've got a really great feeling my colleague and I might have cracked the early 90s...

This all goes to show the community is willing to support events that libraries are not necessarily known for. I'm hoping that this trend will continue as the Murray Bridge Library welcomes the Craggs sisters and later Jesse Budel. Rock the library and it seems the people will come... Loving the Sunday Sessions in March 2017.

Orange Face - A Short Story

The sun vanished from the sky and suddenly my world was cold. It was night, bitter, dark, the world felt like my soul. My feet dragged me to the Three Aces, a bar downtown. It was a hell hole of a place and everyone there knew my personality better than I knew it myself. It was here that I first saw it, out of the corner of my eye, a ghost amongst the black and white, the grey of my world enhanced by the surprising addition of colour. It was orange, it was odd, it seemed out of place. Yet nobody else seemed to notice. I finished my scotch and left as swiftly as I could, the girl behind the bar with the offputting hair style raised one pierced eyebrow as I mumbled an excuse. She knew I'd never turn my back on a drink.
"Hot date?" she laughed.
I flicked my thumb over my shoulder to where I had last seen Orange Face but the face was gone.
"Never mind..." I mumbled before taking my leave.
The pit pat of a downpour met me as I hit the street. More grey in a dark, dreariness. I heard a laugh, sick, twisted, the sound of clowns after a hit of ice. My feet drew me toward the sound but somehow it was always just that moment too far away. Why was the sound drawing me ever closer? I should have been running away, like I always did from love, family, life. I turned, brushed the drizzle from my face and trudged back towards home. Orange Face! It was there, coming around the corner, coming straight for me. I couldn't get away. I lashed out, desperately attempted to create some distance, some safe space between me and the ugliness. As my clenched fist shattered the glass I felt the pain of the cuts and slashes. The shop window busted open and my ears were bombarded by the nagging continual piercing squeal of alarms. I limped away, a leaper in search of a hole to hide in, a safe haven where I could lick my wounds and my soul clean, clear, pure again. The shadows of the alleyway became my friend again, a place to hide, to flee under cover. More alarming, sharp sounds filled the air. The wail of sirens. The hunt was on and I was to be their prey. What of Orange Face? Did not that brute better deserve the attentions and intentions of the authorities? Authors of their own fate and mine, but not that of the face that was orange. I fled, drops of my life following after, a trail of crumbs for Officers Hansel and partner. Looking back down the alley I gasped at the splatters of colour that I was leaving behind me. Orange. Round, ugly, a thousand faces. I released the sound of anguish that was bottled up, building steadily inside me. I was lost, confused, afraid. Every window, mirror, every reflection I saw Orange Face before me, behind me, beside me. Until I finally faced the truth I had been running from the whole time. Orange Face was me.

Happy to be a knight prince who loves beer

Miss 7 has been quite busy tonight. I have a gorgeous picture of me wearing a helm going "Yar!!" As a handsome knight prince. My gorgeous wife Miss H is a happy, smiling fairy princess... Then I got a pic of me with a dot to dot claiming "My dad loves bear..."

A quick translation and I worked out this was supposed to be beer... Miss 7 was crestfallen when I informed her I was more a cider or red wine fan... "But you told me you like beer..."

A day off well spent helping our daughter celebrate her seventh

Today was a student free for our school. It was easy to convince Miss now 7 that it was purposely scheduled for us to celebrate HER birthday. I took the day off work so we could hit the road to the big smoke (Adelaide) and all celebrate in style. First stop Bounce for a full on hour of jumping, dodge ball, spins, poor attempts at flips and running around like maniacs... The birthday girl was very disappointed when our hour was up but I know I for one had legs like jelly and my throwing arm ached at the shoulder...

Subway for lunch boosted our energy levels up again and then we stopped by a park in Unley where thanks to Virtual Reality we chased down kittens for the fairies, searched for dinosaur eggs while fleeing an angry T Rex and finally attempted to rescue some caged aliens, most of them eaten by a horrid blue monster... So hard but so much fun...

Turning 7 years old is full on!!

I'm now determined to contact the right people at council to see if Murray Bridge can get the same or something similar at Sturt's or another of our beautiful reserves...

7 plus 3 has knocked us for 10

Kids' birthday parties are totally full on... We have just packed our weekend with a Leopard party for Miss 7 on the Saturday (17 kids ranging from 10 to 2 years and a really cool yurt) and a Princess party for our youngest niece, Miss 3 on the Sunday. With pin the tail on the leopard and pin the crown on the princess, two pass the parcels and a variety of other games both days have left us completely depleted of energy (and the will to live). Some how though our three darlings still seem to be going strong.

Looking forward to a solid night of catch up sleep, with any luck both mummy and daddy will be ready to tackle what ever challenges Monday throws our way.

As a final note on this brief post I must say I was quite proud of my artistic efforts with roaring leopard and pretty princess. Mixed medium, butcher's paper with crayon and texta combined...

The changing face of libraries

This month is an exciting one for us at work... Last night we had another great event hosting John Ovenden, Brian Knott, Sue Wylie and Penni Hamilton-Smith as between them they transported a crowd of seventy to eighty to Lord's Cricket Grounds and a cruise ship. John's wickedly creative and humourous mind made certain it was a laugh a second with no time to catch your breath. The talented actors delivered each scene perfectly. In between acts we were able to show off the fine local wines available from Willow Point and some yummy local cheeses. All in all a great night out at the library... Proof that the libraries of today ARE far more than dusty old books on shelves or the replacement for Blockbuster, the local DVD rental store.

This Sunday and each and every Sunday this month the library is also putting on live music sets. Murray Bridge and nearby areas are full to bursting with talented musicians. We are hoping that friends and family of the performers will come in support and get to see our amazing community facility for the first time, but not the last time. No more shhhhh amongst the shelves, we are places of life and noise... Community focused...

Fingers crossed this types of events will show more of the community we are there for them...

Libraries need to change so we can remain the same, here to fulfil our communities needs... What ever they may be...

A final note, I wanted to give a HUGE shout out to the amazing team I work with and the wonderful members of the Friends of the Murray Bridge Library. Without the mammoth efforts of everyone of Friday the night could not have been the success that it truly was. I cannot thank you all enough...