Solidarity, transgender, 2016

We need Solidarity: while I did not get to know the transgender world it is perceivable.  Though a dark, very dark, mirror I have owned most of my adult life. As one of those termed ‘woMAN’,  ‘feMALE. This life,  gone now  almost, has also been spent in total refutation of demeaning describers,  of misogynic branding; in the stand against ‘face value’. And In dancing the suicide fox-trop when young, final waltz when old.

Nick Adams, Director of Programs, Transgender Media at GLAAD, states: “forty-one percent of transgender people report attempting suicide—not thinking about suicide, but attempting suicide”. I wonder if these awful statistics also appear in women’s lives. If they too bear witness to  ‘attempts at suicide’. As an adult I’ve always known suicide as such a ‘life’ option.

From this perspective, Adams’ rationale is unshakeable. He continues: “it’s because we live in a culture which makes it seem like it’s nearly impossible to be a happy, successful transgender person”. Our culture makes many, many woMen extremely depressed and unhappy. Our culture  is not a proper life,  does not provide proper life skills, opportunities and support in this wilderness – that is modern life.

Adams’ goes onto state the importance of education about the problems transgender people face, that: “transgender people are just like everyone else. We can be your coworkers, we can be your friends, we can be your neighbors”. Transgender people are everyone else.

As I think about how difficult the environment transgender people must occupy, still I  see strong comparisons in my life as woMAN. Especially dark times, many. Then, and inevitably, my suicide impulses were strongly fostered by outside influences, attitudes and environments.

Yet this might all change, if we pull together. Adams quotes Transparent creator Jill Soloway, who says, “anytime someone makes a break for freedom to be their true self, it can be a challenge, but it’s also incredibly exciting.”

So, to me it seems entirely logical when Adams says he looks “forward to the day when people say, ‘I’m transgender,’ and people go, ‘So? What else is interesting about you?'” That day will come. It will take time and it will take – Solidarity. Perhaps the only option is to delete the term ‘gender’? To eradicate that polarising BRAND entirely?

WoMen are too. So, Solidarity TO ALL: Peace, goodwill, prosperity, health, wealth & happiness….  lots and lots of laughter, together. old Susanne xs

 

Solidarity, transgender, 2016

“Perth being the (in food) flavour” in 2016

“Of course, this being Australia, all things begin and end with food. Executive chef Jed Gerrard, who worked at Tetsuya Wakuda in Sydney, runs Wildflower, the hotel’s glassed-in rooftop restaurant. Just downstairs from The Treasury is David Thompson’s Thai street- food joint, Long Chim, and Petition Kitchen, a café-meets-gastro from Cumulus alum Jesse Blake that serves killer flat whites in the morning and kingfish crudo in a ginger vinaigrette with your pint. Suddenly, the frontier town is looking like the true pioneer” (Maria Shollenbarger December 15, 2015).

Well, now! A few years ago, at the height of the ‘last’ boom, it was reported this place (Perth) has more restaurants per capita than any other Australian city. While I’m not sure that’s still the case, there remains many  mighty fine places to dine in this awfully Windy City, Perth, situated towards the south of the desert-like Western Australia.

There’s even great food to find… on Monday nights…   Shannon kindly provides a 2015 list: http://www.perthnow.com.au/lifestyle/special-features/top-100-places-to-eat-and-drink-in-wa/news-story/31f1f151b61270b0bb9c403d1aaab439.

Certainly Perth residents have long enjoyed the many wonderful Asian food providers in this city. Some restaurants have operated for decades. Begun by venerable migrant ancestors, many who arrived during the gold rush of the 1800s.  Families often commenced Australian lives in the North, or East of this State, moving south much later. Initially their frugal cooking comprised of traditional dishes from regions of China, or other Asian lands.

Now having lived here for many generations, some Chinese restauranteur-families are very familiar with Western-Australia’s unique biodiversity. They incorporate that larder, and other Western-cuisine elements, all generally uncommon in Chinese cooking. With marvellous effect, families and individual members now develop hybrid menus of East-West style dishes.

Thus there’s enormous variety within the Asian food to be found in Perth today, much of it high quality and affordable cost. Some also-other things wonderful about eating-out Asian style in Perth are the relaxed atmosphere and sure knowledge all (human only) family members will be welcomed, and catered for.

Today many other yummy ‘foreign’ foodstuffs are provided in Perth, and this contributes to the high number of dining places available here. ‘Specially of the smaller, less expensive operate at curious – there’s a wonderful Chinese restaurant very close to the ATO office, for example – or hidden, operate at rather out-of-the-way address. One of Perth’s delightful experiences is to serendipitously happen upon one, or more, of these serious eateries .

So, daytime diners might try Choux Cafe, a French cafe tucked away  in a Swanbourne side street. Purveyors of high-quality ‘everyday’ Parisian foods – like crisp baguettes with ham, or tuna, or salmon, or chicken –  tomato and cheese, or brioche, or croissants. Check their days/hours, though.

Or, for longer hours open,  find tasty, and/or super-hot South-of-the-Border food at the Santa Fe Restuarant & Grill-Tequila Lounge, in Hay Street. It’s just sitting there very jaunty, around about midway between West Perth & Subiaco.

And,  we’ve got heaps and heaps of the best Italian imaginable – so, go for it! Pasta, pizza  or for seafood, try Primo Cucina. Away from the beach, just off Flinders Street, in the cute and discreet, hidden-away Hillary’s shopping centre.

Good coffee? All great, though each of these eating-house follows a different style. You can work your way through those, too!

As do many, many other, truly individual feeding in Perth opportunities each of these is casual, and reasonably priced, and each truly gives a doorway into West-Australia’s unique culinary flair – enjoy. All recommended!

Good eating! Old Susanne xs

 

“Perth being the (in food) flavour” in 2016