Notes of Substance

My little reflection on Punt Road was published today by The Punt Road Project . That's a treat. The project has been collecting stories, musing, ragings and reflections on that big north-south road which plays such a part in Melbourne's life.  The famous clock on the silo, 'high on the hill...' Punt Road as a lifeline, an escape. Anna's beautiful point of view. http://t.co/7Niq9QDSoZ — Punt Road Project (@PuntRoadProject) August 23, 2015 I gave it a bit of a push too: My piece on a road as a lifeline, published 2day by @PuntRoadProject Love the image-a heart cradled in a book http://t.co/GK3rXzCty2 — anna sublet (@subbie) August 23, 2015 Here's the text: Punt Road is not just a major arterial. For a time, it was for me a lifeline to my mind, an artery to my heart. It got my blood pumping, my mind whirring, my heart singing. I lived a decade in the north, but each month crossed town for a southside bookclub, born of bayside

A twisting strand It was October 2000, and I was in New York, contemplating working in Manhattan. I was sleeping on a saggy couch bed while attorneys checked out my visa. 'Brian' said I could do website maintenance and client accounts for his Lexington Avenue finance company. I walked the streets, feeding myself on Coke and trips to galleries. In the evenings, we ate late, danced in gymnasiums, did group art projects and drank in bars-what else would you do? At Deep Dish Cabaret: Punching & Drinking The thing is, I was 35, not 25. The idea of finding a cell-like room in a convent or sharing a floorspace with strangers was moderately appealing, as was, for a moment, the prospect of meeting new, interesting men with whom I could share some spice and romance.  At Deep Dish Cabaret, the boxing ring our stage. But...back home in Northcote, there was a little studio waiting. There were nasturtiums tumbling across the garden bed, and a patch full of ve

Working as a casual can be great: you get a higher base hourly rate to compensate for the fact that you get no sick leave or annual leave; you can mostly take holidays when you want them; and you can quit the job without having to give notice-yeah, right on! Until, of course, you find you really need that job. What rights does a casual have then? Precious few, it turns out. Look more closely and the benefits don't amount to much . Casuals have no guarantee of work from one week, or even one shift, to the next. Try organising a loan on that basis. Looking to pay off a car loan, rent a house or get a mortgage? Best to hook up with someone with a regular income if those are your aims. All this uncertainty and financial insecurity can make your life seem a bit out of control. It can't be good for the health. Come to think of it, the benefits of casual work may simply be that workers ostensibly have a greater degree of flexibility. You can make your working life fit a