Scenic Rim
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Roses opening up
So happy about this pale yellow rose! It’s a David Austin — The Poet’s Wife. A few years ago it was languishing in a pot in the front of my unit. Last year I decided to move it into the back garden. It was the middle of summer — terrible time to move it! Actually… Continue reading
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Nita’s Borlotti Beans
My cousin Nita is Italian from a farming family in Innisfail, south of Cairns in northern Queensland, although she’s based in Brisbane these days. She recently picked some borlotti beans out of her garden – they look like this! Real Jack-and-the-Beanstalk beans! I’m so excited to grow them – my first beans and they’re Italian… Continue reading
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Roaring Lion in Kooralbyn; My Two Worlds Meet
“You drive so much for us, Jo. We should come out to you. There’s a practice scheduled the week after the Nundah show. If you could find us some place to jam, maybe we can come out and make a weekend of it.” Maui. Lead guitarist, Roaring Lion That’s how this all started. Roaring Lion… Continue reading
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Garden Post — June 19 2023
Trimming my lavender is my therapy. I wake at sunrise, make a strong coffee, then start mooching around in the garden to see what survived the night animals — phew, the thyme is still there. Then I sit and look out, and inevitably reach for the secateurs. I think normal people get the shears out… Continue reading
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Morning walk
It’s that time of year, we’ll have misty mornings for a while now. Once the sun’s up, it clears up pretty quickly. This is just after 6am, rolling mist and cool air. Continue reading
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How I Became an Online Piano Teacher
I originally posted this article on Medium, but have now removed it from there. If you have considered taking your services online, you might be interested in the essay below. I Became an Online Piano Teacher Because of COVID Now I am living the dream Teaching piano is a lovely way to make a living,… Continue reading
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The Grande Dame arrives
Last week I wrote about my Beale going to a new home. Well that sure did happen and I was texting photos like this to Hanna saying, “They’re taking it now!” Later, she sent back… I’ve said before that buying the Beale felt like putting down roots in Australia – I wouldn’t buy an acoustic… Continue reading
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My Beale is going to a new home ❤️
Buying my little Bijou Beale piano in 2017 symbolised a commitment to making roots in Australia. She was made in 1951, had a lot of TLC and I loved playing her. She’s going to a new home in Logan Village with some lovely people I know. Next time I see her will be via Zoom… Continue reading
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‘Going Home’, Haystack Mountain Hermits CD review
Country music is new to me, but the Haystack Mountain Hermits put me right in the picture: tell me a story, let your instruments sing out, and fill my space with your glorious harmonies. This is Australian country music at its finest. If you, or someone you know, loves country, this is a perfect present.… Continue reading
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Cows out at my student’s
Don’t you love it? Teaching piano in the Scenic Rim means occasionally going to farms. A bit of traffic here today. How now, brown cow? 😊 Continue reading
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Got my Arts Ablaze media pass 👍
Just picked up my media pass for Arts Ablaze, which runs from October 1 – 6 at the Ramada Resort Kooralbyn Valley. Hope to listen to great music and write a nice piece for Scenestr. Check out the Arts Ablaze website to find out what’s on. There are a lot of big tents and artistic… Continue reading
About Joanna
Joanna is British Australian. She worked mainly in financial news in London. In her forties she moved to her parents’ birthplace, Sabah, a Malaysian state on the island of Borneo, where she became a pianist in a hotel and wrote a blog about musicians. The blog became a book before Joanna came to Australia in 2012. In this blog she writes mostly about music, gardening, and trips to Sabah. Oh, and Wookie the Havanese.
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