November 15th May the mo grow!

It could be worse. I discovered this morning a good friend of mine is also growing a mo for Movember. Eric looks like Chopper Reid on a diet! 

A mutual mate of ours, also late forties, had surgery for prostate cancer in April. I’ve joined Wal Lawrie’s ‘Hirsute Brutes’. I hope this saves lives, because it’s jeopardising my marriage!

Movember is about tackling men’s health issues and being proactive in the fight against men’s depression and prostate cancer.

Depression affects 1 in 6 men….most don’t seek help. Untreated depression is a leading risk factor for suicide. Last year in Australia 18,700 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer and more than 2,900 died of prostate cancer - equivalent to the number of women who will die from breast cancer annually.

To donate, go to https://www.movember.com/au/donate/donate-details.php?action=sponsorlink®o=1432326&country=au

One day I’ll get myself in a lot of trouble on an aircraft. I’ve always had to look twice to see which overhead button is the reading light and which one calls for inflight service. I also think twice about reaching up and putting my armpit toward my fellow passenger.

On the other hand, “there is a life jacket under your seat, with a whistle and light for attracting attention“…. mmmm?

I’m still shaking my head over Monday.

I needed a hand to relocate a garden shed (making way for a rainwater tank) so I called a couple of mates. As we manhandled the shaky structure across the back yard I realised how good it is to have friends I can call. In one way it’s nothing special, but in another it’s one of the best things in life. Thanks Mark, Steve, Greg and Graham.

There would be blokes, even men with whom I work, who haven’t had friends like that since school days. The suburbs can be lonely places: dormitories where we sleep and watch TV between the daily commute.

Anyway, Monday night I headed around the Ian Watson’s shed night. (click on his link from this site). About 100 men came from as far away as Toowoomba and Bundaberg for a barbecue and a yarn. Again, it’s nothing special but it’s amazing. Men from 16 to 80 making friends, telling and hearing stories about being an Australian man.

No wonder it’s taking off around the country and no wonder fellows drive so far to check it out so that can kick it off in their home towns.

There’s nothing quite like the smell of a packed commuter train in  sub-tropical city.

Dodge the commuter cattle truck by an hour or two and your nostrils are assailed by sweaty students, fresh from phys-ed class!

But it’s not the smell that gets to me these days. The really rude bit of commuting is the complete lack of good manners. I now live in a city where even a senior police officer in uniform will stay in his seat and pretend not to notice an elderly lady standing in the aisle. No wonder no one smiles, let alone says, “G’Day” as they pass on the street.

Today I made a deliberate effort to look passers by in the eye and say, “Hello.”  Younger people don’t respond.

The only folks who smile, the ones who seem to enjoy meeting another were the same age as the blokes I met last night at the Steadfast Asssociation dinner. These former Boys Brigade members were mostly older men: men who meet your gaze and shake your hand with a confident, welcome grip.

I think Brisbane’s on the wrong track these days.

It took me half an hour to change the strings on my guitar yesterday, which lead me to lament the fact that I wouldn’t be working for the Newsboys anytime soon. I’m reliably informed that the band has a guitar manager who keeps the axes tuned and ready, just off stage, for quick changes.

Legend has it that this bloke can change a set of strings and tune a guitar in seconds.

I watched another band in action recently - back stage. The Lads were at Easterfest, fresh off the flight from the US, when I saw them do their first media conference. In the audience were reporters from the ABC, a commercial network, Christian stations and the Murdoch Press… and three kids from Cunamulla.

 These youngsters were learning about video, hoping to record the media conference for the experience. This was a big deal for school students from Australia’s Outback, thousands of kilometres from a university and most opportunities to develop media skills. I don’t think they asked any questions, but the band members must have noticed them because after dealing with all the top-shelf reporters, The Lads sought out these year 8 and 9 students and spent an hour with them filming, chatting and sharing their dreams and visions.

I don’t think The Lads have a guitar manager, but they’re well tuned.

Tiger Stripe

“…Tiger Stripe takes me right back. Every line of this page-turner resonates with the sights, sounds and smells of my former career. Phil Smith has captured the essence of what it is to live and work at the leading edge of Australia’s defence effort in a time when so much of our world just ‘aint a safe place to be…”

(Major) Andrew Edwards, Former paratrooper and commando.

“Smith’s Tiger Stripe is more than great fiction. It is a window that allows the reader to peer into a believable MOOTW mission to view Marine and Australian leaders juggling a myriad of political and operational chainsaws. Smith’s unique background as an RAAF Special Reservist and Australian Broadcasting Corporation correspondent is evident in his attention to detail and the adroit manner in which he weaves political, military and media considerations on top of a great action story.”

Capt. Joe Plenzler USMC III MEF.

Shooting Script

“…his novel manages to cram enough tension and action to place him in the same league as the American big names in the field, but with the difference that his central characters, both the good guys and the baddies, are Australian…”

David Wadham, Toowoomba Chronicle

“…Smith’s novel puts Australian heroes on an international powder keg, drawing on his own experience in East Timor, Bougainville and South East Asia. Move over Uncle Sam…”

The Weekender, Rockhampton Morning Bulletin

“Those who enjoy fast-paced ripping yarns finally have an Australian author in this genre writing Aussie stories.”

Aero Australia magazine Oct/Dec 2004

“…ripping yarn of Aussie heroes and international intrigue…”

Brisbane News

“…Phil is one of those Defence people who thought that writing a book would be a good idea — then actually did it. All the way through soldiers, sailors and air people alike will be able to identify with the kit, the locations and the lingo. It really is a book catered for our type of people…”

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