This blog celebrates MEN – in their many forms.

The first one is my bright, occasionally cranky, veggie growing, honey producing mostly kind and loving hubby who is 70 on the 27th of May. It seems almost unbelievable to say the word – seventy – out loud. My, my, we are reaching for that other side are we not? Yet the truth is we are mostly flying along in good spirits and energy to catch all that life might offer. So my wishes to him on his birthday are for longevity, good health and a few more adventures. It’s in his genes, he says, so he is well on course.

The Flying Charlie – named so for obvious reasons- was the result of a workshop with the fabulous and talented Tony Rice. I have known Tony for a number of years now. We literally walked into his house and studio some years ago with Bettina from https://foragersnestartspace.com.au/ because we were curious. Tony does not own a mobile phone, but his door is always open to all. He has mentored young men and disadvantaged teenagers, he has huge compassion and clarity of thought about the messages he wants to deliver to the world through his art. He is a breath of fresh air and may there always be grand puffs to launch his beautiful kites into the skies. We made our rice paper kites today and I flew mine home. Happy 70th Birthday to Tony who is also celebrating reaching his milestone.

At the workshop I met a delightful couple, the lovely Isabel and the amazingly named Speed. Wow I said, that is an unusual name – he smiled and shared his story. His mother was watching the film Speed when pregnant with him. Suddenly her waters broke and his father drove her to hospital but Speed appeared in the car park so his mother named him Speed! He was in a hurry to meet them. What a gift to him by his mum who knew that in naming him so he would alway have a story to tell about how he entered this world.