Hello possums! (there are also some in my larder. At the moment they're heard and not seen).

I'm in a cafe/bar on the waterfront right now in Launceston, Tasmania as I haven't got the internet going in the cottage yet. This is more out of choice as it gets me out and about come evening time (and drinking some nice one while I type). Let's begin shall we?

As soon as I got in the taxi from the airport I knew I was going to be OK.
The hills, the clouds, the traffic jam. (only coz they're were doing road works just outside the airport. Definitely not the norm out here.) And thankfully, I was going to be staying here for a while.

After I'd got to the cottage and met up with Gina (who had the keys) I did the usual settling in drill. Unpacking, setting up my portastudio. Hanging up clothes and shopping for a few small bits of breakfasty stuff. That night I went to dinner at a place the cabby (who used to be a roadie in the UK back in the 60's and toured with Eric Clapton) recommended called "Still water" (the old water mill), close to where I am. I went and booked myself a table for 1. I wonder if they assume I must be a reviewer from a guide or something as service is always fantastic for me whenever I've do eat alone.

The bits "in inverted commas" are taken from my writing book....

"Tonight I felt like a real songwriter. Not an impostor. Which is how i usually feel. Like I'm kinda busking my way through all of this somehow. That I'm fooling you all into thinking I'm any good. I was rabid with with ideas. Strong themes. Frantic with the pen. In between uncontrollable hysterical laughter thanks to the book I'd bought at Sydney airport - "Salmon of Doubt" by Douglas Adams. He's just so so funny. I can't tell you. If you want to find out what makes my sides split and my body crumple in laughter...then read. Fantastic. This is what spurred it off I'm sure of it. That coupled with grassy hills, gorgeous Gorge and a high street busy with walking talking people, coffee shops and bus stops.

I'm staying right on the Cataract Gorge. This seems to be where all the joggers come all through the day. It makes me feel like I'm exercising just by watching them. Sometimes I'd go to the gym and just use the sauna and be around really fit people hoping that somehow being fit would magically rub off on me."

I've just noticed my keypad had a little mouse in it. It's started to squeak as I type.
Also..a little note-let about Sydney...I met up with an old school teacher of mine in Sydney, which was really nice. Always is to meet up with someone who knew you back then, in your brat days. We were talking about Second Life as he designs stuff for it sometimes. I was thinking it may be nice to have a little island or something on here for us all to hang out on. Do a virtual concert and stuff. What do you think?

I've attached a map here for you. I've even done my own key too. How organized is that? You can tell I may have a little more time on my hands these days. This is what I did yesterday.





"I've just been walking the trail from my lovely cottage that's by Kings Bridge (built in the late 1800's. Swatted up at green dot no.2, see map) to see what I could find. I had no idea what was in store for me. After about 5 mins of walking amongst the water and rocks I could feel my brain soften. Sometimes it's too hard. You know? Like it's protecting itself from the outside. Shutting it out. I can't believe how good things are right now. Launceston must be one happy town to have this fantastic wonderland on it's doorstep. The river begins to tumble more over the rocks as you go upstream. I love being by the ocean but there's something about a river. I think it's coz it's really going somewhere. Not just landing on the shore after it's long journey. A river is up for bigger things. Soon enough I came upon the completely unexpected victorian garden tickling the edges of the basin. At one end a suspension bridge. I love bridges too. Especially these ones. The more people that walk across them the more you have to hold on. I wish sometimes that women dressed the way they did in those times (sometimes I guess I do kinda), in their huge, intricate domed and boned dresses, corseting their ribs to within a pinch of their cage. Protecting their rosy skinned faces with ornate and fringed parasols. Completely the opposite of today with flesh on show, baked in the oven.

It really hit me today that I was in Australia when a bush rustled up a wallaby from behind it's back! I tried fumbling to get my camera phone from the depths of my trick bag but it wasn't there when I needed it."

I had lunch, read more of the "burst out into fits of giggles" book and then walked about the basin. I sat for about 2 hours on the little low footbridge there. The river squeezing it's way through beneath it. Legs dangling. Listening to my ipod, song on repeat. It's the idea I came up with in Fiji. I have got an idea for a song I'm so excited about. I'm not actually going to tell you what It's called or what it's about though. Crap ha? It was probably a COMPLETE coincidence that The Feeling's song "Sway" had the lyric "Heart in a headlock" but I was still slightly suspicious. I don't want to feel suspicious again. it's not nice. Plus...I know Dan (the singer/writer) and it was kinda awkward for me. Anyway...! I'm well happy about it. You would have seen my tapping my dangling feet, humming out of tune random lyrics for a couple of hours here. This place is having such a nice effect on me. It's green and peaceful but there's still humans here that I can interact with (been talking to geckos mainly). Even just to watch us helps. I guess it just comes down to...if you're writing about people, you need to be around them!

After hours of this I took my return trip on the chair lift. I love being lifted about ground. Smiling to people going the other way. Both parties knowing that it's slightly silly what we're doing but so are many things pleasurable in life. I listened to "little bird" on my way. I really got a sense of how I want the track to go when I get into the studio. In the same way that "Flight of the bumblebee" totally makes you imagine you are on the back of a bee through wild mountains, I want little bird to make you weightless. More like a sparrow than an eagle though. Flitting up and down with the breeze. So all in all I think you can tell, I'm feeling pretty positive at the moment. Which is a slight change from Fiji from a writing perspective anyway.

And so...today. I walked and walked and walked. Much more than I had planned! I only took an apple with me to eat as I'd imagined I'd probably come across a small kiosk or something. This is what made my journey a long one. I didn't want to turn back until I had...and it never happened. Lots and lots of soft spongy brain action all the while, soaking it all up. Eventually (6 hours later) amongst the trees and rock formations I came upon a nice lady and her dog patch. They gave me a lift into town where I sat, read and scoffed down some sliced meats and stuffed cherry tomatoes. I started off the same place but went via the zigzag track on the other side of the river, passed my wallaby sighting and then continued off the page...by a very long way! I'm going to catch up on the song writing side of things today. I have quite a satisfying aching of the legs under the table at the moment.

Oh..saw lots lots more wallabies today. Big ones little ones. Here's a little one for you.
Does_he_wanna_be_a_wallaby?.mov

Right...Love to you all. Will catch up soon.
immi xxx

p.s. pic at the top was taken from this spot It's very tricky to take a good picture of yourself. The sun seems to have shaded in my eyebrows to give them a "pork chop" effect. Making me hungry...