How time flies, my first blog post was 2017 and ideas for blogging still somersault around in my head. On this calm Sunday in May 2025 it is Mother’s Day in Australia.
I am a mother and thoughts of my own dear mother and that of my aunts and women I know flash through my mind. I recall their varied roles in my life, and women who shape the lives of others in millions of families and societies around the world. It is possible to write about the wealth, poverty, injustices and generally low standing of women in most countries including Australia, but what is their true status? What is their role in the history of the universe?
In my opinion, one of the most powerful roles for women, in the world as we know it, is the eternal internal creation. While not ignoring the biodiversity of Mother Nature, without human females, women who give birth, there would be no world. There would be no evolution, there would be nothing ahead. Of course men play a role but generally stand back when events are underway.
Perhaps this creates jealousy? Why bigoted, misogynistic, cruel, political, rule-making men of our current world order put women and mothers at risk by keeping them out of sight, in second place, give them menial tasks, overlook females for promotion, make derogatory comments, portray them on television, in movies and books as the trivial second character, the support, the one answering phones, at home doing the laundry, tidying up or cooking dinner. You can add more diverse roles to the list but usually not a complete reversal although caring sharing life partners do exist.
In 1971 a childless Germaine Greer is quoted as saying: “Bringing up children is not a real occupation, because children come up just the same, brought up or not.” A rather shallow look at the future, I think.
With or without conception, the women of Mother Earth are versatile people. Today there are strong female roles and powerful women in all walks of life who do rise above. When they do, it’s a novelty in the press, on social media, and invariably a TV chat show host asks “How do you cope with a family and work?” A man’s world not an equal world yet.
Today I shout out Thanks Mum, Happy Mothers Day because without mothers there would be no living breathing humans in the world today. Including you and me.
💓 Gretchen Bernet-Ward 2025
NOTE: My opinion piece acknowledges birth mothers, first mothers, adoption, surrogacy, LGBTQIA, IVF, child reunification. Parenting is precious. 🌼
Is this a good thing or a bad thing? I personally dislike AI on the grounds that it does not enhance knowledge, it takes away incentive to pursue and learn. Anyway, I was scanning my stats and noticed that twice I have been viewed and possibly, hopefully, ‘recommended’ by Artificial Intelligence as a source for two readers. Okay, that’s kind of flattering but what post of mine was viewed/recommended? Who was the reader? Will this offer any benefit to me?
Importantly, have I been acknowledged as the original source?
I guess once I put my work out there, it stands to reason it will be seen and read and maybe used, but we bloggers always acknowledge our source or include a website link especially to anything we re-post.
Artificial Intelligence (like most of the internet) has been launched on the world wide web without workable social, legal, ethical or cultural boundaries. Humankind may melt down into one homogenous mass. Perfect conditions for a maniacal dictator.
Lots of questions need to be answered, especially since an AI ‘borrower’ cannot be traced. At least not by me, so I may never know the source or where my material ends up. How can I truly know where my blog posts end up anyway? Certainly readers can cut and paste anything they like but they are genuine readers. I think a faceless nameless Artificial Intelligence is invasive until proven otherwise.
Ask a human novelist about AI rip-offs and AI non-existent royalties. Meta allegedly used pirated books to train AI. Jonathan Franzen, John Grisham, Jodi Picoult, George R.R. Martin and others have filed a class-action suit, still unresolved, alleging OpenAI Inc copied their works without permission or payment. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/sep/20/authors-lawsuit-openai-george-rr-martin-john-grisham
Of course many people will benefit. There are quite a lot of AI sites out there, Gemini, Claude, Copilot, etc, the first being Perplexity AI. Also Character.ai is a neutral (as if!) language model chatbot service. Another human job lost? Of course, there are strong opinions on all of this and numerous disagreements for various reasons.
We humans like shortcuts more than memory retention. Ask anyone studying. Internet users can take a detour but often it can misdirect or misinform, as in the case of a person who used ChatGPT for a literary book club review and gave a dry, soulless analysis of the story. In my opinion, do your own homework.
I like to personally do my own web surfing and pick up interesting and genuinely human stuff along the way – alternatively I read words on real paper. Under my mythical (as in not real) Creepy or Could-be section, I imagine one future day an AI bot will activate a microchip implant in a school student’s brain which will find web logs (blogs) or text books and release classic volumes straight into their grey matter.
….you don’t succeed, try, try again. This young wrangler is just as determined as his calf. After a bit of encouragement, then some serious tugging, the calf relinquished its stance and trotted along with the boy. My photograph was taken at the Toowoomba Royal Show, a yearly event showcasing all things country. From animals to artwork, photography, flowers, fruit and wonderfully handmade arts and crafts. Of course there was produce and vegetable displays (a huge pumpkin!) plus cookery prizes and a plethora of handmade goods from soap to hats and even a whip-cracking demonstration.
I am not a fan of sideshow alley so detoured the rides full of screaming people and investigated the horse arena, so beautiful, the precision, the presentation, those trotting horses were as well groomed as their riders. Next was a huge shed full of model trains whizzing around elaborate tracks. The ‘station master’ set up a particularly long train for me to video and he watched on with pride as it weaved in and out of hills down to the railway station with realistic sound against a country town backdrop. Miniature train heaven!
Countless stallholders goods tempted me but those ubiquitous hot chips were a magnet not to be ignored because the weather was rainy and show-goers were wet and feeling the cold. So very unusual for Queensland! On theme, there was an aquatic acrobat display on the lake. After watching the adorable dogs trotting around their own mini arena in the rain, it was time to think about the animals in the huge (dry) sheds across the vast site; sheep, goats, cows, chickens, etc. The rain curtailed some arena events but there was certainly enough to enjoy. The relaxed people, the fresh country air and lush green grass was totally worth it.
The People First Bank Toowoomba Royal Show is an unrivalled production of the very best in entertainment and agriculture displays on the Darling Downs Queensland since 1860. https://www.toowoombashow.com.au/royal-show/entertainment/
Here is the official version: Every yearthis show has new entertainment for the whole family, enjoy world class acts, competitions and exhilarating rides in sideshow alley, plus livestock, show judging, produce and crafts. Of course, there is always agricultural equipment for the enthusiast. This year Toowoomba Royal Show was held from 27th to 29th March 2025. Over 500 volunteers assisted during the show. Without their dedication and effort this local event could not function. If you would like to volunteer at the People First Bank Toowoomba Royal Show 2026, please contact them via email at rasqadmin@rasq.com.au for a great experience.
TRIVIA FACT With cyclones being named alphabetically, Anthony was originally the next name to be used starting with A, but the BOM decided to switch to Alfred to avoid any association or confusion with the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The collapse and total closure of the entire Mosaic Brands portfolio means almost 4000 jobs were lost and more than 700 retail clothing stores were shut down across Australia.
My intrepid photographer snapped this group of store mannequins caught totally unawares by the mass shutdown.
The models were photographed queuing at the front counter of a closed fashion store at Mount Ommaney in Brisbane, Australia, stoically waiting for their redundancy pay-out and perhaps some recognition for their years of silent service.
All gone in the blink of an eye!
Clothing brands you knew and loved, fashion brands you grew up with, stylish outfits that got you dressed for a party, your first job, your first date, a fun weekend and lots of occasions inbetween; not forgetting those sales assistants who knew their products, actually assisted you in choosing the right outfit for the right occasion.
The following twelve questions relate to the possibility of starting up a new crime and mystery readers book group here in Brisbane. I have attended many book clubs (reading a variety of genres) but never instigated one. Consequently my behind-the-scenes questions are numerous:
Venue
Time duration
Shared co-ordinator roles
Promoting new Book Group
Number of members – in person
Contacting/accepting members
How to choose crime and mystery books
Each reviewer/speaker timed length
Author talks
Guest speakers
Crime book swaps
Coffee afterwards…
More could be included and it all seems straight forward when written down. Members of the current U3A Brisbane book readers group are all very cordial and polite even when we disagree on the topic and/or the chosen book.
There is tonnes of information online but how to tailor one for the conditions, for example– Book source/transport/accessibility? Coffee shop/library/private home? Drop me a line in my Contact.
At this stage a new book group could possibly be under the auspices of U3A Brisbane or independently in a Brisbane City Council Library. As mentioned I am only tossing around ideas, nothing official yet, or as my old boss used to say ‘Nothing carved in stone’ so flexibility is the key. Research time!
Happy reading whatever your preferred genre, format or comfortable chair.
Interested in hosting a Welsh blog post, holding the Reading Wales dragon standard high? Consider compiling, coordinating and hosting an annual event started on WordPress by Book Jotter aka Paula Bardell Hedley. Then read ‘Time to Say Hwyl’…
Oh, Paula, such a bitter-sweet blog post but so very understandable! Life is full of changes and challenges and new things. Your Dewithon will live on in the hearts and minds of all who participated each year and the personal touch you gave to the literature of wonderful Wales.
That flash sale I was telling you about, well, Jen says it’s on it’s way! Here are her details:
Cart opens this Friday, 10 January 2025. For three days only.
•Instant access! Jen says no faffing about waiting for module deliveries. You can hop in and get busy straight away.
•Full access for lifetime of the course. No more to pay. EVER! Once you have it, it’s YOURS.
•Eleven jam-packed video lessons including revelations, insights and innovative exercises. (Plus Jen’s support videos to motivate you and keep you on track).
The Character Creation Intensive looks at:
*Romancing the Story (A brilliant exercise to get you writing and keep you writing).
*Show Don’t Tell (Jen goes hard with this one! TWO sessions).
*Ghosts (Not the paranormal kind but the kind every main character needs!).
*Symbols and Props.
*Secondary Characters (Again, Jen goes hard here. TWO sessions with Beware slapped on them! That’s how important secondary characters are. She sees countless emerging authors slip on this banana).
*Alternative, fun and powerful approaches to character creation and story writing (‘Tried and true, Jen says, I use these methods myself’).
*Downloadable PDF course notes (always handy for a printout).
Aim to start the New Year 2025 with a spring in your step. Learn to create characters (and stories) your readers will NOT forget! Click Jen’s Character Creation Intensive Flash Sale
PS: Writers of adult fiction are warmly invited by Jen to grab this intensive, too. It’s for all creative writers not only kidlit authors! 💗 Gretchen Bernet-Ward2025
Sherwood Arboretum Brisbane volunteer workers preserving the future. Photograph courtesy of Sherwood Arboretum Committee 2024. Get active in 2025!
Exercise followed by quiet contemplation does wonders for your brain and your inner self.
Charles Allston Collins masterpiece titled ‘Convent Thoughts’ circa 1851 held by Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. Charles Allston Collins (1828-1873) was a British painter, writer and illustrator associated with the Pre-Raphaelite era.
Thoughts Become Words 