22 Dreams

Yesterday I stole myself out to Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, situated at the upper-north shore of Sydney, for a bushwalk. I'd been looking forward to some serious tree action all week, to immerse myself in primal, living 'real' estate. The only problem was that, despite the closing down of summer and the arrival of autumnal equinox, it turned out to be one of the steamiest and hottest days of the year. By the time I finished my walk after some three or so hours I was ready to combust, hyperventilating and sweating as I was almost dangerously. And looking ahead at the weather forecast that's projected onto the coming week, I can see no sign of an evening come-down in temperatures. It's usually by late-March that morning minimum temperatures begin their healing descent into cooler, sleep-easy realms. I stopped off at Turramurra on the way to the national park. Turramurra, like all of the upper-north shore, is a leafy village that's bisected by the Pacific Hi...

I've been thinking a lot about my old school subjects recently. School, I finished 23 years ago. I've taken to discussing school subjects with friends, such as discussing which subjects we excelled in and those we bombed, and so forth. I've no clear idea as to why I'm harking back to an era that passed over in October 1987. I suppose I'm merely manifesting my incorrigible quirkiness and way of mentalising everything, the present, the future and the past. Maybe it's all because of Facebook. I've been making facebook-friends with people I went to school with and hadn't thought about for 23 years since leaving school. I suspect my nostalgia buttons are reignited as I wonder about all those old faces (or older faces) on Facebook of those I went to school with 23-plus years ago. Maybe I'm nostalgic because I'm hitting 40 and I'm wondering what the hell have I done with my life?? Other than learn piano. Or acquire a small(-ish) collecti...

The hunt is on. I inspected a couple of lovely, small art deco apartments in Kingsford this morning, two blocks away from UNSW. My nephew and I met up for some breakfast at one of the numerous cafes on Coogee Bay Road, accompanying me later to the inspections for some guidance and moral support, of which there was plenty, and of which I'm grateful. My problem is that I just don't have a bloodlust for property, meaning that I'm just not going to jump over hoops to be the highest bidder. Property prices are exorbitant , but if these are the prices people are willing to pay, or to be more precise, borrow from the bank, then so be it. I think it's best to proceed carefully and inspect as many properties as possible before making the decision to jump through the hoop like an innocent dolphin at a friggin' playpark. The apartments I inspected were within two attractive dark-red brick art deco blocks standing right next to each other. One was a two-bedder with no b...

The question that's most asked of me about my place of work is, 'do you meet heaps of famous actors there??'. Well, the answer to this is, no, not really. No one at work is on the lookout for famous people. And when they do turn up, as they invariably do from time to time, there's never anything to be overawed about. Mel Gibson came in once, surrounded by his minders, looking like the local plumber dressed in a nice shirt and tatty jeans. Many of our graduates who are now stalwarts, even celebrities, in the local or international scene are often seen strolling around. Sometimes they're doing workshops or are teaching a course, or giving a guest lecture. It's always nice to say hi to these celebrities and to anyone else for that matter. They're usually really cool people. I enjoy the people in the building, no matter who they are. This is what makes it a special job, and why I've lasted into my 15th year at the institution. I even see Cold Chis...

from the balcony of the Newtown RSL, a few hours ago For someone who's mostly perceived as gentle and calm ('sweet', even), I'm not one who's known to 'lose it', to 'blow my gasket' as it were. Happens very rarely at work (although they've been very few occasions). It's usually when I'm out gigging that I curiously metamorphose into a somewhat different creature, becoming like a lioness defending her cubs and territory. This afternoon the band were specifically asked to do a set at the Newtown RSL in Enmore. They really wanted us there, to headline for an awards giving ceremony for a song competition. Now I usually have no input or involvement with song comps at all, but because we were asked to perform, and because a lot of mates were there, I said yes to it. The timing wasn't terrific as it's a warm sunny day. And being a Sunday afternoon, I would much rather have spent the time relaxing at home. There were free beers o...

Last Sunday, on what was a fitfully sultry, cloudy, murky, steamy day, we ventured into the Powerhouse Museum to see the 80s exhibition. We also walked through most of the museum afterward as well. We even got to see an extraordinary piano made out of glorious Tasmanian Huon pine (see below). Most of the photos that follow are taken from my cellphone. Needless to say it was a thrilling and exciting exhibition. The 80s are firmly entrenched in my psyche, for I was aged 10-20 throughout the span of the decade. The 90s and beyond seem more like a spin-off of the 80s to me. I guess it was the time that I was absorbing a super amount of influence, and it's stayed with me since. Ah, the album wall! Memories abound! Notice that the "best" is tucked away in that bottom right corner of the photo there... Sade's Diamond Life still holds a very special resonance for me. Here I am, posing with my "lover(s)", as Sarah likes to call them (or h...