Joanna
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Bunya nuts, bush tucker
Mike came back from golf. He called from the door. “Hey, I need your gardening gloves!” Really? Why? “Bunya Bunya, come!” In the car were these massive cones, which had fallen off a Bunya tree. Blimey, wouldn’t want one of… Continue reading
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Kookaburra, dry days
It’s so hot. I’m ready to give up on the roses, and other plants out in the open. The broms and herbs are okay, they’re all under dappled shade. This Kookaburra was on the gate as the sun was setting.… Continue reading
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Sophie Van Aerde
In 2008 Dr. Sophie Van Aerde arrived in Sabah from France. Two weeks later, I arrived in Sabah from England. We soon formed a violin-piano duo called Klasik Elastik. Here, Sophie talks about the French education programme which helped her… Continue reading
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Tree snake in the rose
A strip of iridescent blue, grey and yellow caught my eye in the rose bush. A tree snake with a lovely yellow head was just hanging out in the sun. I would have liked to get closer to take a… Continue reading
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The Story of Kidz
A group of waist-high kids being adopted by a music mentor, to be tutored at his home? Seems unthinkable doesn’t it? Moses De Silva, a double bass player in Kota Kinabalu, was my translator in this interview. Warning: a bit… Continue reading
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Sunset Symphony – music in a Kudat paradise
The photographs in the book were better, supplied by the Sabah Tourism Board. But Kudat manages to shine, even with what I have here. [Excerpt from: Funk, Joanna. SabahSongs: Contemporary Music in Sabah. Kota Kinabalu: Opus Publications, 2013. 44-50. Print.]… Continue reading
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Baby’s got a new mouthpiece
I ordered a Suzuki melodica trumpet mouthpiece and it arrived yesterday. I didn’t like the original mouthpiece because I have to put it inside my mouth and sometimes it hits my teeth. I actually like to play with no mouthpiece,… Continue reading
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Roses make a comeback
I love the early morning light. My roses had to fend for themselves last year and they didn’t do well. This year I’ve paid them more attention, feeding the soil and watering with Seasol. The kangaroos did make a meal… Continue reading
Joanna Funk 