It’s Sunday night. I’m half-watching the Jazz series on ABC-TV which is excellent. I’ve got sniffle – not sure why. I’ve spent the day at the Sydney Cricket Ground watching Australia play Zimbabwe. Quite a bit has happened since the last time I wrote. I’m back in Sydney for one!
Before I left Lismore, however, I went out for lunch with Fiona and Jane. We went to a fabulous new cafe at North Lismore where we ate, drank and were merry.
On the Tuesday, I drove to the Gold Coast – Pat, Nancy and Jack continued to Brisbane – where I spent Tuesday night. On arrival, I decided I wanted a night of luxury, so I called a number of motels for accommodation, settling on the ANA which had a terrific view of the ocean, was air conditioned, was comfortable, but was also reasonably expensive (about $238 for the night).
On the Tuesday afternoon, I caught up with Lucinda and Martin, spending the afternoon eating and drinking at the delightful Kurrawa Surf Club at Broadbeach.
Later in the afternoon, Briony arrived. We then moved on to the Oasis Cocktail Bar and consumed a few cocktails. I met Briony’s future husband who was a really lovely guy: and very cute!
One of my favourite memories of the Coolangatta Airport the next day was that the drinks container contained every variety of Coke imaginable, except the original coke.
But of course, the main thing on my mind remains Perth. The countdown has begun. By the end of next month I will be living in Perth. I can scarcely believe it. I’ve been to Perth only once before a couple of years ago and enjoyed my time there. I even managed to catch up with Gavin and Tiffany, with whom I worked in Wagga Wagga. At this stage, it’s a bit of a leap into the great unknown, although I have been watching the weather everynight and keeping an ear out for news stories from Western Australia. I haven’t really done much in the way of preparation for leaving yet. That will come over the next few weeks.
If you have seen the iconic Australian film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, you know the moment. Bernadette, played with razor-sharp elegance by Terence Stamp, finally hits her breaking point and famously exclaims, “No more f***ing ABBA!”
It’s a hilarious, quintessential scene—the absurdity of three drag queens lip-syncing to Swedish pop royalty in the middle of the Outback.
But the true significance of that line? It was never about hating the music. It was about the exhaustion of the road, the relentless pursuit of perfection, and the sheer irony of finding yourself performing “Mamma Mia” when you’d rather be doing literally anything else. It is a line delivered with love, even if it’s wrapped in a layer of glittery frustration.
I bring this up because, as many of you know, I have been a committed ABBA fan since long before it was “fashionable”—if it was ever truly fashionable to begin with! That devotion hasn’t waned over the years. https://thelimbshift.com/tag/abba/
However, looking at my current Facebook feed, I think I’m beginning to understand Bernadette’s sentiment. Sydney is currently absolutely buzzing with ABBA-related events, and frankly, there are so many happening over the next few months that I don’t think I can make them all!
To help keep track of everything, I’ve put together a list. Did I miss anything? Let me know!
August 2026
8 Aug: Mamma Mia Bottomless Brunch – Cardea, Barangaroo.
8 Aug: Candlelight: Tribute to ABBA – St Stephen’s Uniting Church.
8 Aug: Abbalanche – Canterbury Leagues Club.
9 Aug: Candlelight: Tribute to ABBA – St Stephen’s Uniting Church.
14 Aug: Club ABBA (50th Anniversary) – Palms on Oxford.
It’s Sunday afternoon and I’ve just had some lunch: a small salad of tomato, cucumber and cheese. Very yummy. Actually, when I think back about the last week, food is a strong theme. As is the theme of “work/life balance”.
Having worked pretty hard for the last month or so, this week I tried to get my life into balance. The revelation came for me on Tuesday night. I’d just spent a couple of hours with a work colleague, Melissa, helping her buy a new mobile phone and camera for her trip overseas which was great fun. And then I wandered up to Taylor Square for a quick beer by myself before heading home. And then I realised all of the time I was sitting there all I was doing was thinking about work-related matters.
So, I asked for a day off, and spent Wednesday trying not to think about work and I was reasonably successful. On only two occasions did work briefly enter my consciousness, and on both times I “wished it away”. After a mid morning coffee, Colin and I went out for lunch at Fuel Bistro in the Clock Hotel complex on Crown Street.
I’ve been to Fuel Bistro on many occasions in the last few years. I remember vividly when the Clock Hotel complex opened, Fuel was a great place to go with a terrific menu for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
And then for a while, when it concentrated on pasta, I was really disappointed with the place and didn’t visit it for a long time.
However, this week, I decided to take a day off work and went there for lunch with my friend Colin and was very pleasantly surprised.
For the main course, I had the Scallop tortellini, verjuice sauce, salmon roe, crisp leek and herbs while Colin had the Seared salmon, slow cooked kipfler potatoes, baby beans and basil sauce. Both meals were excellent.
Love this gift a friend gave me as I head off for a few months of overseas travel.
Yes, I’ll miss vegemite.
But I’ll also miss the wonderful variety of Asian cuisine we enjoy in Australia. I’ve tried Thai in Sweden. I’ve tried Chinese in Berlin. I’ve tried Vietnamese in Copenhagen. And to be frank, it’s nowhere near as fine as the local varieties I enjoy in Sydney.
As excited as I am about my travel, I’ll miss Sydney, and I’ll miss the food.
I woke this morning with not too many plans for the day, aside from a bit of sight-seeing. Unlike yesterday, the weather’s been fantastic. And although it would have been great fun to have done lots of the regular tourist things I got a better offer.
While checking my email, I got a Facebook message from a girl I went to school with. I don’t actually recall the last time I saw here, though it could well have been fifteen or twenty years. She noticed my Facebook status comment that I was currently in London, and dropped me a line saying “If you’re still in London, give me a call”… and so I did.
I was reminded of a comment from a colleague before I left who advised me “never say no”. She wasn’t saying being reckless, just be open to great opportunities. And I’m so pleased I gave my old school mate a call, and went up to visit her in Highgate.
She’s been living there for nine years and, although she has toyed with the idea of returning back to Australia, seems content with her life at the moment, and has no real plan to return just yet.
After meeting me at the train station, she gave me a brief tour of the area, took me up the near the old ice rink which affords a brilliant view of the city, and then over to Hampstead Heath.
I’d only ever heard of Hampstead Heath as places where George Michael and Kevin Spacey had run into grief, and which Julian Clary often used to tell jokes about. Obviously there was a bit of that stuff going on, as we discovered much to our horror as we walked across the countryside. Now, that’s a story that won’t be appearing on this blog! I hadn’t known, however, that it’s a really beautiful piece of parkland (some of it quite wild) which is a really popular tourist spot on the weekends.
My friend and I sat and chatted for a few hours about this that and the other, enjoyed a couple of beers, and generally had a great time. I’m really pleased I said yes, and I’m really pleased to catch up with my old school mate. It’s really helped round off the London experience.
“I’m going to go home and tell my children they’re not trying hard enough”, a friend of a friend joked tonight at the announcement of the NSW finalists for the Australian Of The Year. We agreed all of the finalists, but particularly the recipients were seriously impressive people who made us feel somewhat inadequate about the achievements in our own lives.
There was the man who was one of the Sudanese childhood soldiers who came to Australia, and was now an immigration lawyer. There was the former “TV celebrity doctor” who had amassed more than 1,000 properties which he rented at significantly reduced rents to older people in need. There was the woman in her eighties who had volunteered for local community organisations for most of her life. The list goes on.
I have had an association (through my work) with the Australian Of The Year for close to a decade. Of all the work-related things I do each year, it’s one of the most enjoyable associations I have. Great people doing great things. Here are some photographs from tonight’s announcements, held at Sydney’s Museum Of Contemporary Art.
Microwave Jenny perform at Australian Of The Year NSW
Dr John Knight aka Dr James Wright
Refugee and lawyer, Deng Adut is NSW Australian Of The Year
In the midst of it all, it was also great to hear/see Microwave Jenny perform. “The last time I saw them perform she was VERY pregnant”, I told a colleague. Tonight I saw them (memorably) perform “Advance Australia Fair” with a simple, guitar-led arrangement. In contrast to most performances of our national anthem, I actually “believed” this performance. Thank goodness, we weren’t asked to sing along to the second verse.
Today, my interest in genealogy took me to Dundas Valley near Eastwood. In particular, I wanted to find out more about the land granted to my GGGGG-grandparents, John and Martha Love, who came to Australia in 1791.
John Love, who was a member of the NSW Corps, was granted 30 acres of land at “The Ponds” (February 20, 1794) and a further 90 acres of prime land at “The Field Of Mars” (March 14, 1795). Later, however, he leased the land out to Captain William Kent, the nephew of Governor Hunter. The land was in the modern day suburb of Eastwood, with the historic “Eastwood House” now located on the land given to him.
A few weeks ago, fellow researcher, June Love alerted me to a plaque of some sorts which recognised the early land grant at “The Ponds” awarded to our common ancestor.
June wrote…
If my memory serves me well, the land at The Ponds was sold to Gregory Blaxland, nephew of The ‘Blaxland’ Lawson & Wentworth fame. William Cox who built the first road across the Blue Mountains also gets a mention. All the records of land transactions involving John Love were able to be viewed at The Heritage Centre, Parramatta. There is a Notice erected by Parramatta Council in Dundas Valley near the Rugby Club where John Love is listed as an original land holder (30 acres), and overlaid on the original land grants survey is the present subdivision. Because Eastwood historical records are quite comprehensive, the succession of ownership of the 90 acres on which Eastwood CBD is now situated is well documented.
Getting there was reasonably simple…
Dep: 10:45am Central Station Platform 9: Take the Central Coast And Newcastle Line train (CityRail) Arr: 11:06am Eastwood Station Platform 3
Dep: 11:19am Eastwood, West St Nr Eastwood Station – Take the 545 bus Arr: 11:28am Dundas Valley, Yates Av Nr Alexander St
Walk to Quarry Rd, Dundas Valley – 352 metres
The signpost is very near the Dundas Valley R.U. Club – maybe known as Parramatta Leagues Club (sub-branch) – in Quarry Road, Dundas Valley near the intersection with David Street. Signs are dark blue with semicircular curve over the top and the sign at eye level. UBD Map Ref 192 F9. Nearest main Street intersection Evans Road and Yates Avenue. Although somewhat defaced more recently, it was still readable. Bronze in colour with black dots showing surveys, and resembles a lithograph (On the side where you are facing south/west as you read it). (A bit of a story on the reverse side)
At the start of The Ponds Walk at modern-day Eastwood in Sydney there is sign which records the names of the original European settlers and the land which they were granted. John Love is listed as one of the original owners of land there.John Love’s land grant was Lot 108The Ponds, a name which I suppose it derived from several ponds of water, which are near the farms, according to Watkin Tench 1789.
What happened to John and Martha?
John’s career in the NSW Corps was at best mixed. Arriving in Australia as Private, he was promoted to Corporal (March 25, 1791) and then to Sergeant (June 26, 1791), though reduced to being a Private several months later (December 27, 1791). According to the book, “Sydney Cove 1791-1792″ by John Cobley, this later demotion resulted from depositions about an incident which occured on April 30, 1791 on board the Matilda. I have yet to discover what this was.
He was discharged from the NSW Corps on July 14, 1798, though he later re-enlisted, as the 1799 Muster records him as a Private in the Col. Francis Grose Company of the NSW Corps. Years later, he was reportedly mentioned in the Sydney Gazette (1814) for his capture of a deserter from the 73rd Regiment, one of a group of 17 bandits.
Despite being a member of the NSW Corps, whose job was to uphold the law, John Love had several convictions himself.
In common with other members of the NSW Corps, the “Rum Corps” John Love was involved in the production of rum. On Monday, June 1806, he was arrested and fined 100 Spanish dollars (one of the currencies in use at the time) after the discovery on his property at the Field of Mars of a still and other appartus for distilling liquor. The incident was reported in the Sydney Gazette of Wednesday June 6.
On Monday, in consequence of a like information, several Constables were sent to search for a still and other apparatus on the farm of J. Love at the Field of Mars; from whence a large boiler was produced, supposed to be for the purpose of distilling. The owner was in consequence ordered to find bail for his good behaviour.
In December 3 1816, John Love was convicted of stealing government cattle in collusion with two of his convict servants (Joseph Jones, Patrick McGinty) and all were sentenced to hang (NSW Records Reel 6006; 4/3495 p. 421).
His family appealed successfully for clemency, though it appears he may have been sent to Newcastle on the “Lady Nelson” for a period of time.
On account of some favourable circumstances in mitigation of his offence I am induced to extend Grace & Mercy unto him and to grant unto him the said John Love a Pardon for his said crime as the sole and express condition that the said John Love shall continue to reside as a convict in the Territory of NSW and the dependancies during the term of his natural life and be kept at hard labour ‘Macquarie’” The pardon was to be null and void if he were found outside NSW.
In a petition to the governor, the Superintendent of John Oxley’s farm requested the sum of 100-pounds to be repaid for the forfeited property.
Several years later on June 11, 1822, he was also fined Đ2.10 Shillings for employing a bushranger named Murphy (possibly, Patrick Murphy who later worked on nearby Harrington Farm).
It’s difficult to know whether these brushes with the law were the consequence or the cause of long-term economic problems.
The Court of Civil Jurisdiction, for example, ordered that the Seymour Farm had to be sold in 1814 to recover debt.
Ex parte William Packer, in the matter of Joseph and John Love: Pursuant to an Order of the Court of Civil Jurisdiction, ande in the above matter, the Provest Marshal will cause to be set up for sale by public auction at the Market Place, Sydney, on Thursday the 25th instant at Twelve o’clock, a certain farm and lands, called Seymour’s Farm; containing 80 acres, more or less and situated in the Field of Mars (unless the Debt Costs and all incidental expenses are previously liquidated.) Wm Gorr, Provest Marshal.
And after John’s conviction for stealing cattle, Martha was forced to mortgage the farm (on August 13, 1817) and a mare and foal were sold to Thomas Moore for 45 pounds.
Further evidence of their economic woes came in 1824 when their young son John (well, reportedly their son, but perhaps more likely their grandson since he was too young to be there son) was placed in the Orphan’s Home and died, aged 9 with dysentery June 29th, 1824.
Aged 74, and living at Appin, Martha died on November 28, 1822 (V1822 5579 2B/1822) and was buried at St Luke’s Church, Liverpool.
Just over four years later, John Love also died, aged 94 on January 4, 1827 (V1827196 2C/1827) and (182772 11/1827).
Sir Thomas Mitchell Reserve, The Ponds, SydneySir Thomas Mitchell Reserve, The Ponds, Sydney
