From 'Little Hopes' Big Things Come - Melody Moon singer/songwriter

A simple life is how it has always been for Melody Moon and a simple life is the way she likes it. This simplicity, easy going flow and relaxed mood is what drew my attention to her music when I visit the markets in Torquay Victoria.

Growing up in Stoney Rise South West Victoria Melody's life was living in a solar powered volcanic rock house built by her parents with very little technology.

“I filled my days (or afternoons after school) singing and dancing in my room,” says Melody “I remember writing poetry about the bush and the stars when I was about 8yrs old, and writing love songs about the boys at primary school.”

As the years went by Melody's love of music continued to grow and as she approached her mid teens her parents found themselves shuttling her to Warnambool for singing lessons. Focusing on classical singing and broadway songs she was soon performing at school music nights and eisteddfords.

As the school years finished Melody took on an Advanced Diploma of Music Performance.

 “I began to sing more freely and became more and more comfortable with expressing myself, sharing my lyrics with my band and performing them- such an empowering experience” says Melody.

 After completing her degree Melody moved to Melbourne and became a dance teacher and children's entertainer as a fairy.

“I was having amazing experiences with all these new creative professions, but I knew I had to leave the city, to travel and explore myself. So I bought a Kombi and hit the road – just me, nature, and a guitar. This is when my true songs emerged, my own natural expression, my own style” says Melody.  

Melody's first album “Little Hopes” was recorded in the wet Victorian winter of 2010.

“I found myself in the city again and wanting to make the most of my time there. So I locked myself away in a friend’s studio in the northern suburbs of Melbourne and recorded my debut EP ‘Little Hopes’. My friends taught me how to record myself and I invited them all to come and sing on my song ‘A Place to Start’; about coming together as a community and making positive changes,” says Melody. “I also wanted to include nature on my CD, so I recorded some birds from the Otway forest where many of my songs were written. Oh and you might catch my kombi horn at the very end of the EP.”


The uplifting acoustic/folk/indie music of “Little Hopes” is sure to soothe a place in your soul. Transfixed in the moment my soul floats on a cloud of soft flowing music and Melody's lyrics of life, as they fill the confines of my own life. I feel my body flow to the rhythm as a tree flows to the breeze, my mind taken away from the constraints of its own space, being lifted to a clear oasis.

Melody Moon is currently touring nationally in her Kombi        (equipped with solar panels), brightening the day of others and spreading positivity, sharing her music and face painting at markets as Fairy Melody.

“From ‘Little Hopes’, I feel like my dreams are coming true. I’m learning that when I live from my heart, amazing things happen. I just need to do what makes me happy and leave the rest up to the moon!”  Melody says.

Learn more about Melody Moon, listen to her music and send her a message at:
http://www.myspace.com/melodyandthemoon

Melody’s album ‘Little Hopes’ can be purchased online at itunes.

aticle: Jennifer Deaves

Enjoying the serene sound of Melody Moon at Torquay markets

The Wonderful World Of Dogs - Candida Baker

“To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring – it was peace” - Milan Kundera

  In The Wonderful World Of Dogs Candid Baker captures the heart and soul of the dog world. Full of short stories of the love between human and his best friend, The Wonderful World of Dogs shows a side of the animal we often over look. With each chapter being divided by a dog quote and with poems gracing the content, this book allows for easy bedtime reading, and is great for those moments when you have a lull in your day that you wish to uplift.

      There were times within this book that my eyes filled with tears and other times that I laughed so hard I cried. The courage and dedication of some of these amazing canines amazed me. As an animal lover and owner of many different species over the years I am accustomed to the wonders of the animal world but still found this book a refreshing reminder of the need for dogs within our lives and the blessing that they bring. It brought home the amount of times I have taken my beloved canine for granted and how important it is that I show her, each and every day, how special she is to my family.

 For many years animals have been shown to act as a large part of the healing process of humans. In The Wonderful World Of Dogs we read of Skippy who was found by her owner when they were both going through hard times, Skippy being ill and her new owner receiving treatment at an alcohol rehabilitation centre. The attention and will to live that Skippy showed gave her owner the love and courage needed to get through the tough road ahead. Together they bonded to provide each other with  unconditional love that heals.

There is also the story of Beckett, a rescue dog, who approached a man who was visibly upset as his dog was being given CPR. Beckett approached the man as he sat in the waiting room of the vets surgery and slowly slid his head under his hands and hid his face in the man's lap, showing the much needed compassion and understanding.
    
And then there are the messages our dogs give us that are to often misinterpreted or not listen to.

The Wonderful World of Dogs introduces us to Nenkin, a Collie mix, who warned her owner of the intentions of wrongdoing by a man who knocked on her door. Requesting to use the phone, as his car had broken down, Nenkin's owner was about to open the door when Nenkin threw herself at it barking and growling ferociously. This was not normal for her nature. Seeing this as a warning her owner did not permit the man to enter. The man moved on to the neighbours up the road who he gagged, tied to their chair and stole their car. By being in tune to Nenkin and listening to her message her owner was spared a terrible fate.



Within The Wonderful World Of Dogs there are many quotes and poems that rang true in my heart but none more than “Rules From The Dog Universe'

“When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
Take naps.
Stretch before rising.
Run, romp and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop  to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
Enjoy every moment of every day!
Everything is always ok in the end; if it's not, then it's not the end.”

                                                                   Anonymous

The Wonderful World of Dogs by Candida Baker is a  refreshing book that is devoted to the companionship of dog and owner. It tells of the positivity within our relationships and the compassion and devotion that some humans can show for another species. The unity and respect of human and animal, which is often tainted by the disrepect and hurtful nature of some, is show the recognition that it deserves.

  Recommended as a feel good, uplifting book that celebrates life at its greatest, The Wonderful World Of Dogs by Candida Baker is a personal journey into the lives of owners and their dogs. You need not be a lover of dogs in order to enjoy this feel good book but will surely be considering your relationship with the canine species by the time you turn the last page.

Available from Allen and Unwin: www.allenandunwin.com

ISBN: 9781742374253