Where are the crayons?

August 31, 2010
by Rodney Olsen
3 Comments

Where’s the little girl that we loved so much?

Pauline and I went to school last night. We attended a meeting where we were told about Emily’s options for courses in Year 10 next year. Within the next few days we must decide, together with Emily, what courses she will study next year. Those courses will then become the platform to launch her into Years 11 and 12, her final school years. We need to make decisions this week that will imapct her journey through university or whatever career she will move into.

Emily’s a very capable young lady and there are many directions that she could take and she’d excell in them all but now’s the time to start narrowing the options.

The odd thing is that it really wasn’t that long ago that school meetings were more about what crayons to choose. It seems like such a short time ago that we were getting her ready for her first days of kindy and then pre-school.

We were warned about how quickly the time passes and so we have tried to make the most of every moment. We’ve seen her develop her own interests and personality, all the while charming most of the people she has met along the way.

Now, at the age of 14, Emily is moving into yet another stage of life. Many fear their young ones entering the teenage years and to be honest we don’t know what waits around the corner, but I can honestly say I’m not all that worried. I know my daughter and I know the God who holds her safely in his arms. I’m just standing on the sidelines watching God pouring his amazing creativity into developing the young woman we have the privilege of sharing with him.

Where’s the little girl that we loved so much? She’s growing into a beautiful young woman that we love more today than we ever thought possible.



Do you think some of your friends would enjoy reading Where are the crayons?? Please use the buttons below to share the post. Thanks.

Born Storytellers

August 30, 2010
by Rodney Olsen
3 Comments

Our family headed off to a book launch yesterday afternoon.  The book is part of the Born Storytellers series which contains short stories written by various school students.

Kevin Price chose to be a professional writer in 1987. He began as a columnist for an advertising industry magazine and a lifestyle magazine before moving on to copywriting for local advertising agencies and businesses.

While he still writes advertising, he now also teaches storycraft to bright young minds in Western Australian schools and writers centres and edits the resulting works for the Born Storyteller books. He completed his first novel in 2007, which remains unpublished. He is married, has two daughters, and writes in his rural studio in the hills north of Perth in Western Australia.

Since its inception in 2005, Kevin has delivered his creative writing program, Learn to Write like A Born Storyteller in ten West Australian schools and a leading writers centre. He has edited and published over 200 young authors in 18 volumes.

We were very proud to hear our daughter, Emily, read part of her story at the launch. I can now say that she’s a published author.

Kevin Price, who taught the students the skills they needed to get their story to publication, spoke about the power of stories and how important story tellers have been throughout history. Seeing the smiles on the faces of the students from the four schools that had their books launched yesterday was indeed powerful.

I really believe that we were created to have a very strong connection to stories. Stories can connect us with each other and our creator in very powerful ways. Stories can be so much more than an entertaining read on a lazy afternoon. We can’t afford to neglect the importance of storytelling.

There was a great collection of talented storytellers at the launch yesterday. I certainly hope they’ll all continue to put their storytelling skills to great use.



Do you think some of your friends would enjoy reading Born Storytellers? Please use the buttons below to share the post. Thanks.

Tex Perkins is the Man in Black

August 26, 2010
by Rodney Olsen
1 Comment

I saw an incredible show last night at the Regal Theatre in Subiaco. Tex Perkins was the Man in Black, telling the Johnny Cash Story. He was backed by an incredible four piece band and some amazing vocals by Rachael Tidd playing the part of June Carter-Cash.

I’ve never really been a big Johnny Cash or Tex Perkins fan but from the opening number the audience was captivated. I think I’m now officially a Johhny Cash and Tex Perkins fan.

As well as the faultless musical performance, Tex and Rachael talked us through the story of one of the most popular names in music. Did you know that Johnny Cash released 75 albums over his lifetime or that he chose the name John himself in his teenage years because his parent simply named him JR? I didn’t either until last night.

Two hours of Cash’s magnificent music interwoven with the story of his rise to stardom, his fight for survival and his eventual redemption.

The show explores his relationships – with hardened prisoners to the beautiful June Carter and lots in between.

Johnny Cash was dealt a very tough hand, early in life, but through his music and dedication, he became a legend throughout the world

Enjoy Ring of Fire, I Walk the Line, Folsom Prison Blues, Sunday Mornin’ Coming Down, Get Rhythm, A Boy Named Sue, Hey Porter and a dozen more hits.

Tex Perkins will lead The Tennessee Four in a night of memorable music. – The Man in Black

If I had the money I’d buy you some tickets for Man in Black and drag you along because I know there’s no way you’d be disappointed, and it would give me the opportunity to experience it all again. Unfortunately I don’t have the dollars so you’re on your own on this one but it really is worth checking out.



Do you think some of your friends would enjoy reading Tex Perkins is the Man in Black? Please use the buttons below to share the post. Thanks.

Talking with Greta Bradman

August 26, 2010
by Rodney Olsen
Add Comment

Greta

Soprano Greta Bradman is described as one of Australia’s finest young singers. Until late last year, singing was a passion and a rather successful hobby, but it was still secondary to full-time study towards a Master of Clinical Psychology and a PhD.

With much prompting from friends and mentors, Greta finally decided to embrace singing as her primary career.

In March this year she recorded the album Forest of Dreams with renowned musician, producer and director, John Foreman. The album, released this month, is a collection of lullabies from around the world.

Greta is in Perth to perform with Aled Jones, who was my guest yesterday morning, at Burswood Theatre tonight and she joined me in the studio at 98.5 Sonshine FM this morning. It truly was a delight to speak to Greta this morning. She’s a remarkable young lady and I hope that her musical career goes from strength to strength.

You can hear our chat by clicking the play button at the bottom of this post.



Do you think some of your friends would enjoy reading Talking with Greta Bradman? Please use the buttons below to share the post. Thanks.

Talking to Aled Jones

August 25, 2010
by Rodney Olsen
1 Comment

Aled Jones began singing in public around three decades ago. He joined the choir of Bangor Cathedral when he was just nine and was lead soloist within two years.

His remarkable voice led to a recording career and before his voice broke at the age of sixteen he had already sold more than six million albums, sung for the Pope performed a private recital for Prince Charles and Lady Diana, and sung at the wedding of Bob Geldof and Paula Yates.

After his voice broke he studied at the Royal Academy of Music and the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

In 1995 he secured the leading role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and met his future wife, Claire Fossett, while touring in Blackpool. The couple married in 2001 and now live in London with their two young children, Emilia and Lucas.

These days he has a busy broadcasting career working in both radio and television.

In an age where those who find fame early tend to turn their careers and lives into a train wreck, it’s refreshing to see someone like Aled who still has his feet firmly planted on the ground.

He’s in Perth this week for a concert at Burswood Theatre and so I caught up with him during my morning programme on 98.5 Sonshine FM this morning.

I last spoke to Aled a couple of years ago by phone so it was a real delight to meet him face to face today. If you’d like to hear what we chatted about just click the play button on the audio player at the bottom of this post.



Do you think some of your friends would enjoy reading Talking to Aled Jones? Please use the buttons below to share the post. Thanks.