the late hours {=}

there has always been something grand about the late hours
all of us who are still awake, roaming the night sky
we all witness the soft calm and silence.

distant televisions at low volumes,
they could be echoes of the dreamer’s dreams
and we get to listen in

wide-eyed and calm,
i stood naked at the outside door of my apartment
and it was 2am and it was raining on my shoulders
and my cigarette got wet.

sunday nights; repair the tiresome jaunts of weekend bliss

and now, the city sleeps and prepares the working week.

my time for slumber; come back to bed.
i bring the rain inside; clung to hairs on chest
and the sheets are cooled as i dream off the rest.

Farther than the one coin {=}

The dollar learns it’s value,
No longer associated with the cents;
Terms coined in common law
Rise up to meet your equal

The pound deserves a man
Not a boy in transition
Realises to great parallels
Where the banker miscounted

Pennies stacked high,
Still with potential energy
To fall, much farther than the one coin,
The one in control, the coin so many hands had touched

Suitors flip and spenders drip
The dollar maintains a strong heading.
Shall not be tied down nor wasted
In the sweaty hand of the frugal romantic

Paris, windows, cancelations and good times. {=}

We had to lean out the window of our apartment
So we could smoke in the winter air
Nodding at neighbours doing the same

Kate and anthony’s flight out of Paris was canceled
So they were staying another night
Dinner, wine and dessert
And we talked about crushes, communication and guitars

No idea how or when we’ll get home.
But it’s good.

2am and we wonder if more wine should be purchased from down the road. These guys are going to call the airline and try their luck. Funny because we’re drunk. Makes stressful times more enjoyable.

We’re going to bed. At some point. Cosy little apartment in the Latin quarter of Paris. Saw some great blues jams last night at a bar that used to be an underground torture cave. Nice.

Loving the fact that we’re all in this limbo period where we don’t know where Christmas will be, and feeling safe in the company of friends.

Rolling another cigarette to smoke out the window, making plans to quit next year and replacing the inhalation with more physical activities such as rockclimbing, bicycle riding and drumming. Wanted to try this new lifestyle in November but figured I’m going to Europe so definitely, after.

Spoke earlier with a friend about perspectives on love, knowing. You’re in love and actually putting the perspective in to practice. It’s harder than it sounds, mais c’est possible!

Ok Kate is off the phone so we will finish our wine and go get some
Sleep.

Paris make good experience and wine make Lucas happy, warm and calm. Fearing tomorrow morning, though.. painkillers for breakfast.

x

“It’s hard, but it’s good. And we can.” {=}

5am in London. Can’t sleep.
Awoke to find my focus on the ticking clock and variable temperatures of my body in this sleeping bag.
Each day has been a time to create new memories for myself, but I’ve had nights in Spain and Berlin where the past has crept back into my thoughts and I’ve felt lonely (especially in Spain), angry and frustrated. But a good friend gave me advice and we formed a beautiful mantra:

“It’s hard, but it’s good. And we can.”

Yes! There’s something about it that just works. Simple, accepting of the difficulties of life but keeping a positive, proactive attitude. I’m going to embrace this in the coming year.

The fridge was buzzing. Maybe that’s why I couldn’t sleep.
Went ice skating last night with my sister and some of her friends. A splendid evening.

Bah, am going to try get more sleep. Quiet, fridge!

Berlin [Intro] {=}

Flight was canceled. But got in via Milan. Hello, Italy!

Arrived at Daniela’s place around midnight.
Spent the day walking around Alexanderplatz. It was rainy and wet, which wasn’t great. Bought some new socks so I could take my wet ones off.

Met up with Andy and drank beer at a football game. He writes blogs on the culture in Europe surrounding football. It was cool to check out.

Went for a scotch. Now at Andy’s place drinking wine and listening to tunes in preparation of a party we might go to around midnight. Hello, Berlin.

Snoop Dogg, Massive Attack, Arcade Fire, Prefuse 73, Unkle.

Lx

Amsterdam / Madrid [in short] {=}

Just a quick post for now.

Amsterdam:
Dutch artists, wine, no sleep, Lieden, fog, happy, slow to wake up, writing, piano, a cat named Omar, love, futures, building art factories, Bon iver, hash, chance meetings, gin, mantras, bridges, conversation.

Madrid:
Warm, beautiful buildings, Spanish fire, tapas, “I am sorry, I am Australian”, naval history museum, sore feet, lost, Horace Andy @ Sale Heineken, cute jeweller at the markets, walking, alone, Christmas lights, memories wished to be shared with another, free breakfasts, sad, meditate, lyrics, retreat, bath house, massage, ballet, theatre, cry, rain, anticipate, music, homeless man with four dogs, drifting, birthday, decipher, the past, the future, right now, family.

Hard to write more on this phone, will update more with photos in Berlin.

Lucasx

Hyde Park Swans & The National @ Brixton Academy {=}

Hyde park yesterday. Watching swans in the icy water and wondering how they don’t get bitter about the cold. Then one waddled up to me and said “it’s all about perception, mate. Warmth is relative”.

I took my camera, cigarettes and coffee and slowly back’d away. Fearing the jetlag getting a grip on me and they confiscated my mind at customs.

Bought some classical records at the exchange and walked past Lucas Hair Salon.

Went to see The National in brixton last night with S and K.

The band were great.. Having still not slept since two days before (leaving Brisbane), my bones were aching but I decided to power through the gig, and it was worth it. They performed an amazing acapella of Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks at the end. Had the entire Brixton Academy quiet. This is one of my top 3 favourite songs of theirs. So it’s great that I decided to stay and witness that!!

The National – Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks (Live from the Brixton Academy 01-12-2010)

Well-slept now, going to get some breakfast and walk around in the snow. Meeting up with a friend for drinks tonight. I haven’t yet been drunk, in fact it’s been over a week. Woah. Ok morning brandy might work.

Amsterdam tomorrow.

Lucasx

Sneak peek @ ‘Wintersun’ and Bon Voyage arundel. {=}

So for the next few weeks. I’ll make this a travel blog.

What a year. Now European winter awaits me. I leave tomorrow and my bags aren’t packed. But they will be.

I have books, socks, shirts and pens. Hopefully enough warm things. Found some thick gloves. Hands will thank me.

Not too much to write tonight. In fact this post is but another procrastinatory measure I’ve taken to ensure I live up to my last-minute-lucas name.

But in good news, said procrastination has led to me uploading a work-in-progress mix of Wintersun.

Had a drum session with Matty Harrison a few weeks back. Still working on arrangement.

Wintersun is a song that will be further worked for the next Arundel EP. This should be out in March. Gigs after that.

Fingers crossed I don’t get swept up in Berlin and never come back. hmmm awwww…..

If you go here, you will see the music player at the bottom of the window. Click play.

BACK TO PACKING! Will write next from United Kingdom.

lucasx

————————

on the eve of travel
already underslept
my place is a mess

soon, rest to be packed into my body
and shirts and books in my bag

ready to shoot across airways
try keep up with the airwaves

Spices and Passion in a loving Brisket {=}

the visitors come and go
when they’re here; vowed to never-leave and drink your wine
when they go; the beds are re-made and pampered in no-time

sad to have never really cooked them dinner
with spices and passion in a loving brisket
he runs a guesthouse and lives life through passers-by
enjoying the reflective abandon of time and change

you can stay here for free: just pay in smiles, you happy?
the guesthouse will always welcome past patrons
especially in the summer rain, when it arrives after midnight
and he’s still awake

there will always be a check-out time
no more fun, no funds, death, deportation
but a simple note from each visitor, written on the bathroom door
is reason enough to treasure the remnant of a loved guest

they leave words of the utmost wisdom, sometimes

and sometimes, simply “where the fuck am i?!” is enough

this guesthouse grows a little wiser each time

and visitors are always welcomed back
to tell stories of adventure, the world
and learning where their experience lack

I’d howl at your beauty like a dog in heat [Leonard] {=}

I feel you, Leonard.

—————————————————————

I’m your man – Leonard Cohen

If you want a lover
I’ll do anything you ask me to
And if you want another kind of love
I’ll wear a mask for you
If you want a partner
Take my hand
Or if you want to strike me down in anger
Here I stand
I’m your man

If you want a boxer
I will step into the ring for you
And if you want a doctor
I’ll examine every inch of you
If you want a driver
Climb inside
Or if you want to take me for a ride
You know you can
I’m your man

Ah, the moon’s too bright
The chain’s too tight
The beast won’t go to sleep
I’ve been running through these promises to you
That I made and I could not keep
Ah but a man never got a woman back
Not by begging on his knees
Or I’d crawl to you baby
And I’d fall at your feet
And I’d howl at your beauty
Like a dog in heat
And I’d claw at your heart
And I’d tear at your sheet
I’d say please, please
I’m your man

And if you’ve got to sleep
A moment on the road
I will steer for you
And if you want to work the street alone
I’ll disappear for you
If you want a father for your child
Or only want to walk with me a while
Across the sand
I’m your man

If you want a lover
I’ll do anything you ask me to
And if you want another kind of love
I’ll wear a mask for you

Benjamin Zander on music and passion [TED.com] {=}

A great talk. And he plays some Chopin too.

arundel[snippet] – “Fire In Crystalcase” [VIDEO]. {=}

Some pieces of amateur shooting on amateur camera with white upright piano and recorded on a phone.

put your pen down, stop studying, make some tea or turn off the tv. 2 minutes 10 seconds

Kitchen sounds and biscuit words by Tang, Dave and Mia.

Link to YouTube page

wrapped bullets in feathers [writings] {=}

people said they came here for blood,
but i know it was me they were after.
pitched high-up in the trees,
the gaze of the summernight owls
pierced their cotton-cased plight to reveal the real agenda

with the year’s teachings
learned now as ammunition
charged and ready to blow
i’ll hold my fire; wait in the forest canopy
to see what change may come
and what the foreigners may inspire in my heart
to put my guns to better use;
discharged, taken apart and wrapped bullets in feathers

it was she who first discovered the patterns
and that the rocks would not always stay
although the soil shifts and sands erode;
the matter had simply changed
and all need not be cast away

sparrow sings now a softer song
and sings it to the night
drifting under breath for fox; his ears are tuned
and listening for the song once heard and attracted in eyes
feared to fade, or a simple decrescendo
running luscious eyes over the curvy hips of the treble clef

sparrow saw her crystal case once broken
by some vile history or pain.
i saw the fire kept in glassed care
and care to help and feed the flame

waiting for the false winter;
damn the sun and reel me in, closer
the day, it’s hot and brave and bold
sometimes the nightfall treats it so cold
cold response to warmed gestures
keep fox under wing; to warm joys and couples sing

they came here for blood but did not know the forest was alive
and it spoke to them

“continue, but cast away frantic thoughts and stay present. your guns won’t fire here and feathered bullets will carry in the wind. give it time and you’ll see why you’re really here”

we came for blood, for love and surprise
feed the flame and the glass alive
this morning i’ll sleep in the forest
and awake to the brave day

lucas x.

past [writings] ]\\][\][][\][[[]][[/[/]/[]/////./././//././/][.][.].]].][[….],

Baths – Lovely Bloodflow {=}

Ruwan showed me this. I love the video AND the song.

I like this band. Howling Rabbits (Brisbane) {=}

Check it out if yo want:


Arundel performs solo show @ The Troubadour {=}

quick message
i’m supporting Sam Cromack (Ball Park Music) in his side project ‘My Own Pet Radio’.
unleashing some of my new songs
with guest musicians too
there might be candy
or at least a stiff drink
for a sunday night

Dreaming in the Real World also supports.

at the troubadour (brisbane).
check out www.thetroubadour.com.au for more info

lucas x

Take Me To a Future Where Books Act Like This {=}

thanks to brian barrett for posting this

The Future of the Book. from IDEO on Vimeo.

Naturestrip on Amazon.com! {=}

Check it out here

x

Artist Adds Blood and Gore to Kitsch Ceramic Figurines {=}

These look great!

everyone’s phones are off their hooks {=}

it’s been a pretty long week
lights have all gone down for me
static, i wait in my center
to lean leftwards, the slightest degree
finds news of more infidelity
one move and i’ll bolt

talk it out, sing about it
give me a ring about it
everyone in some way is laying low
keeping friday nights to themselves

by the fire on a cold night, everyone’s phones are off their hooks

lucas x