22 Dreams

My brother-in-law, Alan Meadows, flew in from Hobart last week with my sister Elida to host his '40th year in Australia' party! Alan, 61, came to Australia from London England in September 1968, and save for two trips back home in the intervening years he has comfortably made Australia his home. At 21 years of age and having landed himself in Bondi, Alan was an aspiring musician. With a great love of jug and blues he mastered mandolin & harmonica and has worked as a pro and semi-pro musician for most of his adult life here. The party was held at the Balmain Rowers Club, right at the edge of the shore overlooking the waters from Balmain Cove, on Sunday 21 September. I provided the p/a and did the sound duties. Alan jamming with Greg's blues band. He still plays a mean mandolin. Balmain , Sydney. Windy streets, Victorian terraces, charming cobblestone & weatherboard cottages of all shapes and sizes, located on a peninsula on Sydney's inner-west overlooking the ha...

Ah, my first foray into youTube! I'd just registered onto this ubiquitous website this evening, through my work computer (after hours, of course!;), and posted my own video filmed last night on my fujifilm camera at a gig at Kellys on King Street in Newtown. Thanks Gav for filming a song for me! That's Pete Thompson on djembe, a gentle giant, fine drummer, Master Chiropractor. The song? 'Every Girl Just Wants To Be My Friend' written back in 2002. It was written very quickly, coming to me utterly spontaneously during a bout of classical piano practice. Is it autobiographical?? Fundamentally, No!! ;) Some of the sentiments however, particularly in the middle eight of the song, continue to hold some resonance for me. It's not the most perfect performance of the song but the energy and spirit was good, and we got the crowd rollicking and buzzing with it. The guitar could have been eq'd better. ..ah what the heck...it's merely a corny country song anyway!! The ...

Wednesday night, 10 September, I went along to the Painkiller gig at the Oxford Art Factory situated at the Hyde Park end of Oxford Street, Darlinghurst. I almost didn’t go. I was heavy-hearted and burdened with a friend’s unhappiness. The anticipation of witnessing and involving my senses in Steve Kilbey’s new line-up and music washed over me. I felt cotton-wooled, numbed and nonchalant about leaving the door. Conversely I knew perfectly well I couldn’t miss this . So, after a (small) glass of red, I hopped into my car and drove the 15 minute drive to Oxford Street. I parked at Oxford Street Paddington and walked briskly towards the Darlinghurst end of things. It was a crisp, fresh evening with a dry icy breeze that served to awaken and straighten my senses. Activity around Taylor Square and Darlinghurst seemed relatively subdued, even for a Wednesday night. Perhaps because it was such a crisp night, or there was some sports game featured on the tele, that people avoided what is usual...

[to be published in the Songsmith ] We couldn’t believe it!! Paul Weller was returning to Australia, his second visit since he toured the Style Council here in ‘85. He did 3 shows at the Enmore theatre in Sydney, 19-21 August, touring most other states as well. I never did see the Council concert back in ’85 and was determined not to miss this! And unlike, say, the Council concert where all songs performed were strictly ‘Council’ tunes, this concert opened up Weller’s backlog all the way back to his early days with the Jam. The crowd roared ceaselessly, and it was easily one of the best concerts I’d ever attended. The only catch was, it felt like it had gone on for 5-minutes (he played for at least 2 and a half hours), I really need to be there for at least a good 72 hours to take in the passion, the heavenly performance and songs, all of which are incredibly dear to me. The lion’s share of the concert was dedicated to performing songs from Weller’s new release 22 Dreams . This ...

Hey, my first video upload!! (This video was taken with my Fujifilm SLR camera, it's an AVI file, 23 MB.) Meet Tex the Whippet!!! Tex is licking his lips each time I tell him he's beautiful! Tex is now about 2 years old, he's a typical whippet, timid, shy, loves affection, is utterly adorable. He's owned by my friend Brigette. We were at her parent's place in the Southern Highlands, October 2007. Tex was being naughty, he wasn't actually allowed on the sofa, so pleased and comfortable he appears to be!

The closest clifftop is the northern tip of Coogee. Southern aspect. Gordons Bay. A very small bay separating Coogee & Clovelly beaches. Dogs prohibited eh...racism!! Gordons Bay. Lush lush life in the form of ruby red shrubs. Taken purely for photographic aesthetic (...! ?) Jagged clifftops and breathtaking view. Southern aspect. Clovelly beach. Really more a 'bay' than a beach. Pleasant walkway at Clovelly. I used to walk my doggie around here! Up until not too long ago real estate in this area was not too expensive. In fact, prior to the mid-eighties but especially the late-70s it was bargainsville. In hindsight, of course! This is Bronte beach from the northern end. Southern aspect. The promenade at Bronte. It's a workday and winter so not very well patronised. Between Christmas and New Year, very different story!! You are here. To the right is Bronte park & beach. It's very hilly in the eastern suburbs. From Tamarama, the next beach north of Bro...

The sun had clouded over the minute I turned from gazing at the southern panoramic vista, to stare at Bondi, jewel of the eastern crown. It matched my mood. I suddenly went into a downer. Bondi depresses me a little, particularly during the day (not so much at night)... Close up of the headlands of North Bondi. Bondi is in my bones. Living here as a toddler, but visiting weekly to play with my cousins (cousins' children actually, almost my age, makes 'em 2nd cousins). Bittersweet, saccharin memories. View of Bondi baths. Looks inviting but I bet it was bloody cold!! The sea & surf looks particularly fresh and invigorating today. Bondi baths from a distance. Bondi Coliseum?? I've forgotten what this is called. The sign used to display. It's a lovely building on the beach promenade. I've had some good summer daze baking and swimming. It does get very crowded from Christmas onward. Terrific graffiti along the walls, very artistic and sharp! That tuscan thi...