Art by Cathie Tranent

Two Faces Have I … at least!

noreply@blogger.com (Cathie Tranent) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 01:07:00 +0000

According to Wikipedia: In computing, an avatar is the graphical representation of the user or the user's alter ego or character. It may take either a three-dimensional form^[1], as in games or virtual worlds, or a two-dimensional form as an icon in Internet forums and other online communities.

I have an avatar – she is my online persona and representation – a fairly gentle caricature, which I use as a logo for my art sales, she appears on my cards and is as close as I think I’ll ever get to “corporate identity”

One of the best parts of my little friend is that she is customisable – and often dresses up for important (or downright silly) occasions.

Here are a few of my favourites from last year (or thereabouts)

Which one is your fave – and do you have any suggestions for future iterations??

She lives ……. or moves anyway

Anzac Day (and Remembrance Day)

Australia Day

Bastille Day

And honours those who have battled Breast Cancer

She celebrates her birthday with a vengeance (and sometimes doesn’t wear her glasses)

Frocks up for Royal Weddings

And down for International Pirate Day!

Delivered a series of really bad cheese puns for Cheese Day ….

And has a good and bad side….

Celebrates Halloween …

And Family Guy’s Stewie Griffin!

She gets kitted out for the Tour Down Under (Quiiiickstep!), State of Origin and Christmas!

And has fairly simple (but excellent) tastes in clothes!

When I broke my leg in April, she too had a half cast, full cast and then moon boot!

Has an interesting hobby and last but by no means least ……

Survived the “Rapture”!

Get Your Geek Out!!

noreply@blogger.com (Cathie Tranent) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 16:32:00 +0000

This would have to be one of the coolest (and easiest) Redbubble competitions EVER!!
Join either the SCI-FI Fan Mob or the Fantasy Fan Mob on RB’s Facebook page to go have a chance to win some brilliant prizes!!
(Either way there are some cool Cyber Monday discounts to be had!)
The prizes are sooooo awesome, that I’m going to copy and paste the whole damn page to make sure I don’t miss anything!

RedBubble is hosting an all out, no holds barred battle between the titans of fandom - Scifi & Fantasy. Demons, barbarians, wizards and vampires will face off against time travellers, robots, space cowboys and aliens. Pledge your allegiance to your genre of choice by joining the Science Fiction Mob or Fantasy Fan Mob and you'll have the chance to win a mega prize pack, jammed full of art and design based on your favourite genre. Members of both Fan Mobs will receive Cyber Monday discounts and exclusive giveaways, plus the chance to win the ultimate Fan Mob prize pack.

Here’s how:

Attend a Fan Mob event on Facebook - Choose either Scifi or Fantasy (Below) - then,
Make a purchase on RedBubble using your Fan Mob’s discount code on Cyber Monday (28 Nov, 2011), or enter your code here.
One entrant from the largest Fan Mob at the end of Cyber Monday wins their Ultimate Prize Pack
All purchases using Fan Mob discount codes are eligible to win prizes from their Fan Mob’s prize pool - the more Fan Mob members, the larger the pool gets!

Ultimate prize pack:

OR

Either:

Star Trek Tri-Dimensional Chess Set by the Franklin Mint with William Shatner & Leonard Nimoy signed photographs
OR
1st impression of the one volume De Luxe Edition of the Lord of the Rings, published by Allen & Unwin in 1969

PLUS:

1 × iPad 2
1 × $50 iTunes gift card
1 × iPhone case
1 × Poster
2 × T-Shirts
10 × Stickers

Fan Mob prize pools contain up to:

3 × Hoodies
4 × Posters
4 × iPhone cases
6 × T-shirts
25 × Stickers

Choose Your Fan Mob…

This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. No purchase necessary, entrants may visit the online submission form to enter. See Official Rules.

Help find a “missing” Maestro

noreply@blogger.com (Cathie Tranent) — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 02:49:00 +0000

All theft is annoying, and causes inconvenience and distress.
This one, which was bought to my attention last night and again today on Facebook is utterly, utterly disgusting and pointless.
The young lady impacted here suffers from Cerebral Palsy (as did my late brother) and her DynaVox Maestro was stolen from the car in the backyard of her mum’s Hackney home.

It really wouldn’t be of much use to anyone else, but is a priceless communication tool to the young lady to whom it belongs.
If you find it dumped somewhere, or know of it’s whereabouts – please return it to the nearest police station.

Night of Lights

noreply@blogger.com (Cathie Tranent) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:07:00 +0000

It’s happening again!

The 2011 Women and Childrens Hospital Gala Ball is on December 10th 2011, with special guest Kate Ceberano.

Lifted shamelessly from the Foundation’s website:

The 2011 Night of Lights will support The Breathing Space respiratory centre.

The WCHF has taken up the challenge to raise the funds needed to build a special area in the new Gilbert Building at the Hospital – The Breathing Space.
Breathing Space will bring together all the elements required to care for children with cystic fibrosis, providing a bench-to-bedside approach to research and treatment. Purpose built and state-of-the-art, the Space will provide a unique outpatient facility for children suffering from Cystic Fibrosis. As well as world class research, the floor will house specialist treatment areas – bringing clinicians and researchers closer to patients in their quest to find an answer to this debilitating disease.

As well as giving you the opportunity to frock up and mingle, the Ball has an auction to help you support this worthwhile cause.

I know the auction well, I have donated a photograph again this year – this shot will be available to purchase on the night.

It is the only time it will be available in this format, bought especially!!

Here’s a picture of my work you can buy just the canvas. The wall needs to stay holding our roof up!!

For further details of the Ball and to book your seats, go to

http://www.wchfoundation.org.au/Article/NewsDetail.aspx?p=16&id=98

Want a good read?

noreply@blogger.com (Cathie Tranent) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 07:57:00 +0000

I'd like to say this is the first in a series of edumacational blog posts about my favourite authors, or great books that I've read, but it isn't.

It's a one off recommendation of a fabulous Australian contemporary author by the name of John Birmingham.

Amongst other works Mr Birmingham is responsible for the hugely successful He Died With A Felafel in His Hand, Leviathan, the unauthorised biography of the city of Sydney, and my personal favourites - the amazing Without Warning and After America.

I can't even remember how I first became aware of his writing - it was definitely via Twitter and may have been as a result of someone sharing a blog post.

I know that I finished Without Warning in the ICU during that whole blood clot business, and was rapt to discover that I could get After America on my Kindle using the hospital's wi-fi!!

But I digress.

As we sit waiting now (im)patiently for the late October release of the third and final book in the Without Warning trilogy, Angels of Vengeance (thanks Random House) I decided it was worth putting "pen to paper" and suggesting that if you like books with meaty plots, great attention to detail and fabulously fleshed out characters, then this is the trilogy for you!

I'm going to cheat here, and grab the plot descriptions from Amazon.com - I would really hate to do them any disservice so here goes ...

Without Warning
Publication Date: July 6, 2010

In Kuwait, American forces are locked and loaded for the invasion of Iraq. In Paris, a covert agent is close to cracking a terrorist cell. And just north of the equator, a sailboat manned by a drug runner and a pirate is witness to the unspeakable. In one instant, all around the world, everything will change. A wave of inexplicable energy slams into the continental United States. America as we know it vanishes. From a Texas lawyer who happens to be in the right place at the right time to an engineer in Seattle who becomes his city’s only hope, from a combat journalist trapped in the Middle East to a drug runner off the Mexican coast, Without Warning tells a fast, furious story of survival, violence, and a new, soul-shattering reality.

After America

Publication Date: July 26, 2011

The world changed forever when a massive wave of energy slammed into North America and wiped out 99 percent of the population. As the United States lay in ruins, chaos erupted across the globe.
Now, while a skeleton American government tries to reconstruct the nation, swarms of pirates and foreign militias plunder the lawless wasteland where even the president is fair prey. In New York City, armies of heavily armed predators hold sway—and hold off a struggling U.S. military. In Texas, a rogue general bent on secession leads a brutal campaign against immigrants. And in England, a U.S. special ops agent enters a shadow war against a deadly enemy who has made the fight personal. While the president ponders a blitz attack on America’s once greatest city, the forces of order and anarchy wage all-out war for postapocalyptic dominance—and a handful of survivors must decide how far to go to salvage whatever uncertain future awaits . . . after America.

Even though they are rich in technical details of the weaponry and tactics, the books aren't crispy or boringly dry - the characters are described so well that you get the feeling that you know them - and as someone you know, you turn page after page to see what happens to them next. A good portion of the pivotal characters are women, strong, capable women, but by no means comic caricatures with golden lariats or tight pants!

So to quote Molly Meldrum .. "Do yourself a favour" after reading these two books I just BET you'll then be joining us in our impatient queue!

You can also find @JohnBirmingham on Twitter, follow his Blunt Instrument blogs for the Brisbane Times and his own blog Cheeseburger Gothic here.

(PS. The other book release details are on Cheeseburger Gothic!)

Connor’s Sprout Cooking Class

noreply@blogger.com (Cathie Tranent) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 06:57:00 +0000

Most of you know that the last school holidays were very very ordinary from Connor’s point of view, (because of my hospital stay) so we have made a concerted effort to make it up to him these holidays.

One of the “treats” for these holidays was a two hour “Kid’s Quick and Healthy” cooking class conducted by Sprout (a collaboration between Masterchef series two runner up Callum Hann and practicing dietician Themis Chryssidis).

The participants were given their recipes for the session, (a main course and dessert) some guidelines and then Callum demonstrated preparing each dish before sending the kids to their areas to make their own.

The class was a perfect size, ten or twelve young people, who worked in pairs and in the spacious environs of Immanuel College’s Home Economics room, Callum and Themis had plenty of room and opportunity to move between the “teams” giving hints and tips or just checking on the progress of each dish.

The “sit down” component of each dish allowed discussion around possible replacement ingredients, nutritional information, and serving suggestions – all delivered in a really informative chatty way which Connor really seemed to appreciate.

The chosen recipes are healthy, easy to prepare, plate up beautifully and yet are simple enough that we’re turning the kitchen over to Connor tonight ….. he’s cooking tea!!

I would definitely recommend the Sprout school holiday classes to anyone with budding chefs, class details (including the adult classes) are all on the Sprout website.

You can follow them on Twitter here or find their Facebook page here, or just drool over the Poached Pears that we’re having for dessert!

Me … I’m off to fish out my cravat …………………….

Broken Leg Survival Guide (The First Part)

noreply@blogger.com (Cathie Tranent) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 03:02:00 +0000

Hints,tips and observations for not going insane (or arse up)

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Just as a quick back story, we are doing some earthworks in our backyard, and there is a little slope/rampy thing from the back yard. Unfortunately with the addition of gumnuts and some inattention, it becomes quite the launch pad!
So here – in no particular order are my thoughts so far:

1. Always have a shower as soon as you get up in the morning. You never know when you’re going to get the next one!!

2. Never spend so much money on jeans that you won’t cheerfully mind cutting up the side of them to get them off/over your plaster.

3. Maintain ambulance cover, either through your health fund or your local ambulance service (for Adelaide folk, SA Ambulance). As with any type of insurance, you’re in front if you never use it – and waaaaay ahead if you do!!

4. Always catch up with friends on your day off. Having my very bestie in the world arrive 10 minutes after I stacked it was a godsend on so many levels.

5. We don’t pay aforementioned ambos enough. Before calling them, we contemplating getting my into BFF’s Getz (NOT) or even the Subaru. Ugly.

6. Previously mentioned ambos have this really cool little green whistle. Not only does in numb the pain of the fracture, but also numbs the embarrassment of less than pristine lounge room!!

7. You cannot buy already referenced little green whistles in party packs! (Shame)

8. The hotness of your attending RMO is directly proportionate to your degree of dishevelment. (See Item #1).

9. Make sure the nurse has taken your blood pressure before arrival of cute doctor. Failure to do so may effect readings and lead to misdiagnosis!

9a. Always do what the doctors/nurses/physios tell you. They mostly know what they’re talking about, sometimes even through personal experience. Right Bill?

10. When the physio is measuring you up for crutches, leave the 3/4 of an inch off your height. Crutches that are too long lead to sore armpits at the same time as sore legs!!

11. Have children. (Or significant other/doting parent). The children are so used to you telling them what to do that they don’t even notice when it stretches to … “may I have a drink please, can you grab my phone, can you pass me that stool, could you put the kettle on, what’s for breakfast?”

12. Always remember to thank people at #11 profusely.

13. Don’t be in a hurry to get ANYWHERE on crutches.

14. Invest in a shoulder bag for mobile/cordless phones/cigarettes and lighter/book, so that when you do finally plonk down – you’ve got everything you need.

15. Don’t drink too much coffee.

16. Crutches are very useful for lifting toilet seat lids.

17. Do not have a massively busy week planned for work. /sigh

18. Make sure your kids have a spare bunk in their room for Daddy!!

Okay – that’ll do for the meantime – more to follow I’m sure.

Please feel free to add your own experiences/hints/suggestions in the comments!!

Connor’s Greatest Shave!

noreply@blogger.com (Cathie Tranent) — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 10:10:00 +0000

Doing what? For Whom?

March 10th 2011

Rundle Mall, Adelaide

This must be the place, it’s got my name all over it!

Clipper day had finally arrived. After a long few months of fundraising and hair growing, the time had arrived for Connor to thank all the people who had sponsored him, and shave his head, so armed with flowing locks and fundraising tin, we headed to his 12.30 appointment in Rundle Mall.

There were a few people there when we arrived, lots of the lovely hairdressers from Gauci, who had all donated their time to the event, to shave or colour those brave (or chicken enough).

Channel Ten’s Mark Aiston was MC’ing the event, (his sixth year, I think) and interviewed Connor about why he was shaving and how much money he had raised.

As you can see, he took this growing the hair business VERY seriously

During the course of the fundraising, he had told everyone that he was only having a number two .. but inspired by those who went before him he went …..

So, having stepped up to the plate, and made his intentions clear, the fun began.

There must be a head under here somewhere ……. got it!

A little bit more ….

….. and a little bit more ……..

,,,,, the finishing touches ……

“All done … what do you think?” ….. ohhh. The rest??

Almost done …..

A quick polish …

Another quick chat to that Aiston bloke, who claimed not to recognise him……

… a cheesy grin to show off the sponsor laden shirt ….and new beanie ….

…. “No Mr Aiston, that’d be my hat” …

And off into the east … planning next year’s ……..colour!!

We’d like to thank everyone who sponsored, tweeted and retweeted, emailed, Facebooked and generally supported Connor’s fundraising efforts.

We’re so proud of him, he’s raised $1000 dollars for the Leukaemia Foundation.

Happy Birthday Australia!

noreply@blogger.com (Cathie Tranent) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 09:33:00 +0000

I am an Australian. I love photographing my country, actually I just love this country.

My father was born here and his father and his father, and I think even his father.

So I didn't chose to live here like so many others, you could say it was almost an accident of birth. But I am pleased and proud to tell people I'm Australian, to call this country home.

I'm proud to come from a country where, when someone's in trouble, you can know there's gonna be a neighbourly, friendly or, as the recent floods have proven a stranger's hand there to lift you out and back onto your feet, where volunteering is a way of life.

I'm proud to live in a country that promises a "better" life. It must do, the stream of immigrants and refugees who have made their way here for the last hundred or so years backs that up. As a proud South Aussie, I can say that even my forebears came here of their own free will - seeking opportunities in this strange "foreign" land.

I'm pleased to know that even though I have the occasional "dig" at a Victorian and they back, that that's all it will be - we will never be embroiled in a civil war.

I'm proud to come from a country where we don't start wars, but will honour an agreement and send troops to back up those who are fighting. Troops by the way who chose to join the defence force, they're not conscripted, because their country means something to them too. I am saddened when one of them lays down their life, but war is war.

I'm pleased to know that I can travel to work or the shops or the like knowing that I probably won't get bombed or shot at. Pleased to know that our kids can play in the street in relative safety.

I'm proud to say that I know someone who will be attending two lots of Australia Day parties tomorrow - Survival Day to acknowledge decisions and actions in the past which time has shown weren't perhaps as well intentioned as they were meant and an Australia Day street party to "get on with it" and look toward the future!

I'm proud to say that I live in a country where people's origins can be celebrated and shared - they're not always, but again - the opportunity to make the most of our population's diversity is there - we just need to embrace it. Mind you - having said that - it's nice to know that I won't be shot or jailed for saying that - or just the opposite even.

As I sit here typing this - I see tweets from people I follow having digs at local and federal politicians, and it's pleasing to know that they won't just disappear for giving voice to those opinions either.

So yes, I will be waving a flag tomorrow - it's the only one I have - and while ever it is the democratically chosen flag of my country Australia, I'll look at it and be thankful that I'm an Aussie, and that the choice to wave it, be it from a flagpole or even a bikini, is one I'm able to make without fear or favour.

Queensland Floods

noreply@blogger.com (Cathie Tranent) — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 23:20:00 +0000

A lot has been said already. I can't add to it, but this little boy's story deserves to be shared.
Try not to cry. I did.

http://blog.oliyoung.com/post/2719521286/this-is-13-year-old-jordan-rice-jordan-was

Society 6 and Quora

noreply@blogger.com (Cathie Tranent) — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 12:51:00 +0000

As many of you will now be aware, via my Facebook and Twitter postings, I have started adding work to Society6.

The main reason is the fact that I can now turn my photographs into iPhone and iPad covers and skins, and I’ve had LOTS of fun with these already.

It’s actually inspired me to start creating again, with reworks of Bonds of Love and Eyes. The resonator is pretty much untouched!

About the same time that I decided to investigate S6, I was also swept up in the almost viral uptake of Quora. Fascinating concept. I liken it to Yahoo Answers with some credibility!

I’ve already answered one question, and asked two – received a brilliant response to the first one about tweeting/advertising my art (most timely).

Hopefully that will explain some of the flood of artworks you’ve been subjected to in the last little while!

And so that was Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Cathie Tranent) — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 14:37:00 +0000

Can't believe I haven't blogged for over a month.

So anyhoo - here's some of the stuff I've been up to lately ..

This is Dave.

I happened upon Dave during smoko at our Team Planning Day at Somerton Surf Lifesaving Club. (You must try the mushroom/fetta bruschetta - it's amazing).

He was standing next to his car drying that hair - and my fingers ached for a camera. When I moaned to my companions, Jesse reminded me that the "company" DSLR was upstairs. I said it didn't really matter as I wasn't brave enough to ask for a photo anyway. Jesse said that if he asked, I could just run upstairs and grab the camera. As you can see - the rest is history! I'm really pleased with this - environmental portraiture is a burning ambition of mine .... well, smouldering anyway ....

Two days later, we were off to Leigh Creek for the Flinders NRG Christmas party, and my birthday present - two days in Wilpena Pound and six hours of Skytrek. (more about that later - it warrants its own post!)

The Cazneaux Tree

Given that it was Christmas and all, RB held a competition to design a Victorian Christmas card, and this was my response.

I didn't win - didn't expect too - but had a lovely time merging all the elements of this card. Too bad I didn't even get a chance to email it to folks. So Merry Christmas!

Ah yes - and on the subject of that very season, I was also inspired to create this tshirt - for those of you who know when my birthday is it will be very obvious .... although the design itself should give you a pretty good idea!!

And so that was Christmas .....

Hope you and yours have a safe, prosperous and happy 2011.

Oh yeah - Anything you see here (except Dave) can be purchased on Redbubble. You'll find my portfolio right here.

Massive Sale!

noreply@blogger.com (Cathie Tranent) — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 13:06:00 +0000

As you may or may not be aware, Redbubble are offering a massive 20% off white tshirts from now until December 25th in their “White Christmas” promotion.

So you can imagine how surprised I was today when I realised that they are also offering a 15% discount for Black Friday! (right till the end of Cyber Monday)

So right now, if you buy one of my tshirts on white, you will be getting them for less than my normal base price!!

You can find all those shirts and more in my portfolio here

A very very Merry Discount!!

noreply@blogger.com (Cathie Tranent) — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 13:10:00 +0000



15% off for your friends & family! Greetings CathieT, To kickstart your Christmas mission of reminding friends, family and devoted fans about your excellent work, we have made a magic voucher that will take15% off your work, and your work only. There really hasn't been a better time to find a digital soapbox and shout long and hard about yourself and your art. Tweet, blog, forward this email, write a newsletter, or send a telegram. Share your 15% discount code:CathieT_is_on_sale_6601 Check out CathieT's portfolio here Forward this offer Share on Facebook


Oh, and cheers to Mr Nast for your PD image.

Election Day Fun!

noreply@blogger.com (Cathie Tranent) — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 01:28:00 +0000

So following this rather cool article in The Punch:

http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/gillard-and-abbott-get-a-digital-makeover/?from=scroller&pos=1&referrer=article&link=text

I decided to give Ms Gillard a little more colour!!

Work that ranga, girl!!

The List Meister Rides Again

noreply@blogger.com (Cathie Tranent) — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 11:48:00 +0000

Hey Tshirt designers ….

Andy Bowness (the blogger extraordinaire behind HideYourArms has just launched a new site.

Called surprisingly (or not) T-SHIRTBLO.GS it’s aim is to provide tee bloggers with more traffic, designers with a comprehensive list of tshirt blog sites to advertise their wares, and to give tshirt buyers a new range of sites to chose from.

Although it’s ranked by user vote at the moment, it will eventually rank blogs by their GooglePR, Alexa and Technorati rankings as well.

One amazing feature, is that if you have a blog, you can add it yourself .... get your friends to vote - and voilá there you are for all the world to see!

There is one feature I would like to see .... a vote this blog down feature... eh Rumplo?

Check it out!

Touch

noreply@blogger.com (Cathie Tranent) — Wed, 12 May 2010 11:20:00 +0000

Another long overdue blog post ... but for a good cause.

A few weeks ago I was sent a "Call for Artists" ... for a Mother's May exhibition to raise funds for the Women & Children's Hospital Foundation.

So despite a few hiccups and the fact that it ended up as a framed print and not a 30x40 canvas, I was able to offer this.

Click on the word "Touch" below to be taken to the work on Redbubble

Entitled "Touch" I hoped it represented the bond between mother and child which needs no spoken language with the unnecessary words indistinct in the background.

It is currently being exhibited in Gallery A in the hospital, and will be until May 30th. You will find Gallery A by entering the hospital via the Kermode Street entrance, and turning left just past the bottom of the stairs.

It is amongst works by established artists, mums and kids, staff of the hospital, Adelaide photographers and local identities (I told Catherine Lambert about it and couldn't keep her away!!)

Now I realise that many of you may not have the time to get in to view the exhibition or indeed the money to purchase the original work, so I have decided to make the work available on Redbubble, as a postcard, greeting card, laminated, mounted, canvas and framed print, with all proceeds going to the Foundation.

I hope you'll all consider going to the exhibition, or at least purchasing an image - WCH does a lot of wonderful work for the people of South Australia - and it's lovely to be able to give something back!

Oh and btw - the exquisite watercolours were used in the Launch invites and Call for Artists - and are by the incredibly talented Emma Kate Creative - see more of her work here.

Oh and btww - the lovely cupcakes we all snacked on were baked by the very clever @Monnie of Cupcake Treats

I sent an email …..

noreply@blogger.com (Cathie Tranent) — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:36:00 +0000

….. to a man named David Thorne.

David Thorne is the man behind the satirical, laugh till you cry, “wish I had the cohunes to say that” website that is 27b/6.com.

Around 4.00pm on the 24th of March, @27bslash6 tweeted that he was bored, and stated that the first three people to send him a photograph with a smiley face on their face would win a book, mug, tshirt and a mystery prize!

So, grabbing a nearby child and my trusty Bic, I added the aforementioned smiley to my son’s lovely fresh kid skin and took the photo below and sent it off. This wasn’t done out of the kindness of his heart mind you, he wanted his share if we actually won something.

Now given that this was late afternoon, and I’m a mum and I work and I blog and I’m tired … oops sorry … I got off the computer and got on with life in the real world, thinking that if I was successful I would receive a tweet back or such.

So endeth that day, and so onto the next one, and I receive a tweet from @MagpiePants asking if she can have the prizes I won … I won?? Indeed – and a link to the 27b/6.com site reveals this:

It seems somehow that being at work at the time, I missed this tweet – kindly retweeted for your viewing pleasure by one of the other winners.

Now given that Mr Thorne had misspelt my name on the website, there was a pretty good chance that I had not received a tweet sent perhaps to an @CathyTrenant, and I really did want my prize, so I emailed him on the evening of the 25th March – most of which appears below.

Oooh!! Ooh!!

It's me .... Cathie Tranent.

Sorry I didn't realise I'd won ....
My address is:
Cathie Tranent xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
SA xxxxx
Yay!!

Another South Aussie - and I'm really sorry I didn't get back to you sooner!!

Cheers,

Cathie

Five days later, and with still no response, I checked to see whether my name had been corrected or some other comment added, but nothing.

In fact, the entire competitions page is no longer on the site.

So I sent this email:

I even sent another copy of the kid’s photo just to prove it really was us.

To date – which is now nearly 4 weeks after, not only have Connor and I not received our prize pack, there has not even been a damn email to acknowledge any of my correspondence.

Quite frankly Mr Thorne, I’m quite over the fact that your “internet playground” hasn’t delivered what it promised – I’m an adult and quite used to that – what I do find really ignorant is that you couldn’t even bother to reply – quite ironic given that you have gained most of your fame through “emails”.

Oh yeah – and perhaps you could be the one to explain to my son why his mug and tshirt hasn’t arrived - ‘cos you can be sure I won’t be buying him one after this.

**News Flash**

On May 27th at some stupid hour of the morning, I was sitting on Twitter when David tweeted about some jobs he should have been doing, to which I replied "or you could respond to my email" - to which I received a DM with an apology and a request to email my details again. I've done so .. and so now we wait :)

** News Flash Flash**

Surprise surprise - it is now July 30th and we've received a big ...... fat ............nothing!

*** Unsurprising Postscript***

August 28th ......... nada

Book Burning World Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Cathie Tranent) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:11:00 +0000

Been a while since I put any tshirts up on here, but not only did I crank one I'm well pleased with, but you can now get this, are you ready, ............ printed on the front......or .........printed on the back ............ or on the front or back of a HOODIE!!

So anyway - there I was leaving a comment on Adelaide Now regarding the Federal Governments impending Internet filter for RC sites and the words book burning popped into my head.

A little research later and you have: Book Burning World Tour!

In dark tshirt and light tshirt variations and a light one for the hoodies - treat yourself to an early birthday present!!

"I heart Pandas (Chinese version)" T-Shirt Design by Cathie Tranent [4570918-1] - RedBubble

noreply@blogger.com (Cathie Tranent) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 13:18:00 +0000

"I heart Pandas (Chinese version)" T-Shirt Design by Cathie Tranent [4570918-1] - RedBubble

Latest panda tshirt on Redbubble!

Click on the links to buy ..........................

Renaissance Rock God

noreply@blogger.com (Cathie Tranent) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 12:42:00 +0000

So it's a lute - I'm sure these guys must have had their fans - can you imagine? ScarboroughStock!

Acoustic, Naturally

noreply@blogger.com (Cathie Tranent) — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 15:33:00 +0000

Playing around with some vectors the other day, and thought that the good old generic, acoustic guitar just doesn't get enough "press".

So here it is - complete with bluebirds of happiness ... and no defiant gestures - 'cause acoustics just aren't like that!

Click on the blog post title to be taken to RB to buy!

noreply@blogger.com (Cathie Tranent) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:06:00 +0000

Available for Sale on Redbubble as Card, Laminated Print and Wall Art

Not a tshirt, Not a photo ... a recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Cathie Tranent) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 10:27:00 +0000

I am a lucky person.

My hubby loves to cook - not as a job - but as a hobby!!

He loves Indian and Greek food (not together) .... and loves to experiment with flavours.

In the two days that I have been back at work, I have been greeted by two lovely dinners, Monday a Thai Laksa starring scallops and chicken, and tonight Stuffed Chicken Breasts.

The Laksa is a tried and true family favourite, but the Chicken recipe came out of his head today ...

What do you think??

Mark’s Rooly Rooly Excellent Stuffed Chicken Breast.

Ingredients:

1 chicken breast fillet per person

1 camembert, chilled and sliced thinly

120g fetta cheese diced into small cubes

2 cups of finely chopped and steamed silverbeet/spinach with the stalk removed

1 teaspoon of minced garlic

1 teaspoon of chopped chives

1 tablespoon of butter

Slice a pocket into the chicken fillet through the thick end, after trimming of the tenderloin and fat and place to one side.

Place two or three slices of camembert in each pocket

Mix all remaining ingredients, while spinach is still hot to melt the butter then stuff equal portions into each breast.

Pan fry on low heat (covered) with a tablespoon of olive oil in the pan until cooked.

(On this occasion it was served with creamy white wine sauce, steamed cauli/cabbage/asparagus and baked pumpkin and potato)

Sorry there isn't a photo - wasn't interested in photographing it once it was served!!

Alternative Christmas Carols

noreply@blogger.com (Cathie Tranent) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 01:16:00 +0000

Oh, this is soooo wrong, but I couldn't help it - had to share these with you all. I think it's more that I'm over the whole Christmas thing than anything else.

Which one is your favourite?

1. Schizophrenia --- Do You Hear What I Hear?

2. Multiple Personality Disorder --- We Three Kings Disoriented Are

3. Dementia --- I Think I'll be Home for Christmas

4. Narcissistic --- Hark the Herald Angels Sing About Me

5. Manic - Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets and Stores and Office and Town and Cars and Buses and Trucks and Trees

6. Paranoid --- Santa Claus is Coming to Town to Get Me

7. Borderline Personality Disorder --- Thoughts of Roasting on an Open Fire

8. Personality Disorder --- You Better Watch Out, I'm Gonna Cry, I'm Gonna Pout, Maybe I'll Tell You Why

9. Attention Deficit Disorder --- Silent night, Holy oooh look at the Froggy - can I have a chocolate, why is France so far away?

10. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder --- Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells , Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

Big fat disclaimer at the bottom.

Seriously though - mental health problems are really no laughing matter - if you or someone you know needs help with mental health issues, talk to your GP or one of the organisations listed here

Art by Cathie Tranent

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Renaissance Rock God

Acoustic, Naturally

Not a tshirt, Not a photo ... a recipe

Alternative Christmas Carols