The VIP Crowd awaits the opening ceremony of the games.
It’s amazing who you meet on the train.
You sit down and see the people opposite you and you have two choices.
You can either ignore them (or stare at them as I saw a young woman do with a homeless man the other night on the way back from Cronulla) or you can engage.
I’ve just arrived home from the World Masters Games at Homebush.
Sitting with a colleague, we noticed a couple of older women debating which train station they had just gone through.
When we confirmed it was Strathfield and they still had plenty of time to wait before getting of at Central, we got a smile of “thanks” and opening up of the conversation.
The two women were from Vancouver, and were here competing in Athletics.
The young woman I’d estimate to be about 70 years old. The older, the 90 year old, was, we discovered, the first person to win a gold medal at the games. I’m no expert at sport, but her specialty was something to do with throwing a big lump of metal through the air over a long distance.
Adam Spencer hosts part of the pre-opening ceremony entertainment.
Also tonight, we got chatting to a really nice bloke involved in the kayaking.
Formerly from South Africa, he has been in Australia for many years. Nonetheless he keeps in touch with current events back there, and had some interesting observations to make.
He’s currently reading a biography of Alan Paton, a South African author and liberal political activist, and said it was a good read, and a good insight into how South Africa went down a particular path, but could have gone down another.
But of course the highlight of the afternoon/evening was having a good close up look at Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark who attended the function we were at this evening.
In real life, he’s a little more slight than I expected. I was half expecting a taller man, but in reality I think he’s only slightly taller than I am.
He arrived about half way through the function, and even though he arrived at about seven o’clock this morning was looking remarkably cogent. Still, I’m guessing he flew first class and not cattle-class like most of us do.
Is there anything as sublime as catching the Manly Ferry? It’s not too short that it feels like almost any commuter ferry. It’s not too long that you feel like you’ll never get there. I caught the ferry today for a friend’s birthday drinks. On the way back, I found a terrific spot outside, where I enjoyed the views, and enjoyed the wind on my face.
It’s about a year since the last big floods in Lismore (my home town) in Northern NSW. My sister’s house is on the left in the featured photograph, and the house on the right is one I considered buying a couple of years ago. I suspect the value of the property is a fair deal LESS, now.
My family still has a nervy-ness about every time there’s talk of another flood coming. Though last year they didn’t listen to my advice to “get out while they could”, this time around they’re far more cautious. Every time it rains, I get a phone call, asking me for my “expert advice”.
Here’s some photographs taken by family members during the time which illustrate how close the waters either came into getting into their own homes, or the homes of other family members, and what it was like afterwards.
Until my friend Patrick messaged me the other week, asking if I wanted to go see Robyn perform live in Sydney, I had only a vague knowledge of the Swedish pop star. Intrigued, I took the opportunity to visit her MySpace page and listen to a few of her songs, which I found to be really quite impressive. It was during this time that I recalled having heard her song “With Every Heartbeat” on the radio at some point earlier. Additionally, I had an insightful conversation with my half-Swedish colleague, Carrie, who shared some interesting details about Robyn’s history as a Swedish child star.
Having attended her live performance, I can now confidently say that I have become a devoted fan of Robyn. The experience was truly captivating, and her talent and stage presence left a lasting impression on me.
Robyn at Oxford Art Factory, Sydney Australia
As we stepped into the uber-cool Oxford Art Factory, formerly the old Central Station Records on Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, excitement and curiosity filled the air. We couldn’t help but wonder who else would be interested in witnessing the performance of a relatively unknown (at least in Australia) Swedish pop star. “Oh, look over there! A girl proudly sporting a Robyn t-shirt,” Patrick pointed out. “And there’s a guy wearing a Sverige t-shirt,” I added with a smile. As we scanned the room, we noticed a group of young-looking kids who seemed to be gearing up for their HSC exams, alongside a few cheerful gay boys and even a rather eccentric-looking emo-girl.
The diversity of the crowd caught our attention, and we couldn’t help but appreciate the eclectic mix of people who had gathered for this event. Eager to immerse ourselves fully, we secured a spot right up front on the dance floor, near the stage, ready to experience the magic of the evening.
Robyn (with Kleerup) at Oxford Art Factory, Sydney Australia
As I stood there, the thought crossed my mind about how I might appear amidst a sea of much younger faces. At almost forty-two, balding, and surrounded by people who could easily be my children (except for Sam and Pat), I couldn’t help but wonder if I looked a bit out of place. It’s not hard to imagine that others might perceive me as a letchy old bloke, a drug dealer, or even an undercover police officer on a drug bust, if I were someone else.
As I made my way in, I recalled one of the bouncers giving me a questioning look, but to my relief, the crowd turned out to be incredibly warm and friendly. I felt welcomed, and that initial concern quickly subsided. Of course, I made sure to keep my “old man dancing” at a level that felt appropriate, but overall, the experience was enjoyable and free from any discomfort. The atmosphere was so inviting that age seemed to become irrelevant, and I found myself simply enjoying the music and the vibrant energy of the night.
No, this was a crowd of dedicated Robyn fans. With one or two exceptions, we were surrounded by people who knew every single word of every single song. And as Robyn sang, they sang along with her in a really joyous celebration of her music.
In response, she graced the stage with an extraordinary display of energy, enthusiasm, and passion, leaving me in awe. Her vocals were nothing short of exceptional, and her dance moves were captivating, making it evident that she was giving her all for the audience. What impressed me even more was how she effortlessly connected with the crowd, locking eyes with numerous people, making each one of us feel a personal connection to her performance.
Not to be overshadowed, her band members showcased an astounding level of skill and dedication, playing their instruments with precision and unwavering enthusiasm. The synergy between the artist and her band was evident, creating a mesmerizing musical experience.
To put it simply, this live gig stands as one of the best I’ve ever had the pleasure of witnessing. The sheer talent and genuine passion that filled the venue made it an unforgettable night for all of us fortunate enough to be there.
One of the most memorable moments of the night was when an elderly Swedish-looking couple emerged from the backstage. “Ah, she’s brought her mum and dad with her,” I mentioned to Pat with a smile. Seeing them there added another layer of endearment to the already captivating performance. It was heartwarming to witness her sharing the spotlight with her parents, and it spoke volumes about her character, making it evident that she was not only immensely talented but also a genuinely nice person. Pat and I both agreed that her thoughtfulness and connection to her family only added to the admiration we had for her as an artist and as a person.
I felt a genuine sense of excitement as my name was called out as a winner of a “meat tray” at the Lismore Worker’s Club last night. While part of the excitement was, undoubtedly derived from being a “long time loser, first time winner” (when it comes to meat trays), I also felt slightly “neanderthal”. The hunter-gatherer deep inside my DNA was showing itself, I thought, as I was able to proudly take a larger offering of raw meat home to my family. We cooked some up for dinner last night.
It was certainly a nice way to bring to end to my current trip home to Lismore. A trip which has been a little different in some ways to previous trips. In stark contrast, this Christmas our family has had the joy of a new baby in the family (with all of the wonderful things that involves), as well as the trauma that can often be associated with rebellious teenagers in the family (and all of the drama that involves). In both cases, I’ve done my best to be supportive to the ones I am closest to and love. It hasn’t been an easy Christmas, let me just say that.
Once again, this trip, I’ve caught up with long-term friends again, people I’ve known since the start of high school. It’s hard to comprehend knowing these people for thirty-five years, but indeed it’s true. A group of us had dinner at the newly opened restaurant Club Saffron the other night. Despite the rather dodgy sounding name, and the newer-than-new service routine, the food was good, and we enjoyed each others company. We discussed the pros and cons of a school reunion, as next year marks thirty years since we finished high school. If someone else is happy to organise, I’m sure I’ll be there. My friend Sue and I also pretty much confirmed details/plans for our trip to Europe in a few months time.
Also once again, this trip, I worked from the office here in Lismore. With a job with a national remit, it’s great that I have the flexibility to be able to work from pretty much anywhere. It’s meant that I’m able to work in the office when I’m needed, but also be able to come home to visit and see my family on Christmas Day. The three work-related phone calls on Christmas Day were a bit of a pain, but it’s all part of the job I guess.
And so as I prepare to make my way back to Sydney, the excitement has just begun in Lismore. The Tropical Fruits Festival (which includes a film festival, a dance party, and a swimming pool party) commences tonight. So as I make my way back to Sydney, I can imagine Ballina Airport will be full this afternoon with arrivals from Sydney making their way here for Tropical Fruits. I think it’s fitting that I’m headed back in the other direction.
I had a lovely meal tonight with my friend, Yvette at Mohr Fish. Oddly enough, although she’d lived in Surry Hills for a number of years now, she’d never been there before. I haven’t been there, either, for a number of years, aside from the occasional take-away. Gosh it was good.
It’s been several weeks since we’ve caught up, despite the fact that we live just a short distance from each other. This weekend, however, she’s moving back to “God’s Own Country” (Sutherland Shire), and so is bidding farewell, it seems, to life in Surry Hills. So after an outdoors chardy at the Shakespeare, we headed over to Mohr Fish which has been there for at least a decade.
Located in an old butcher shop, I think, the shop is small, the decor is simple, and the food is delicious. We started off the meal with fish cakes (sublime) and dumplings (gorgeous) which, any other night of the week, would have amounted to a full meal. And then for mains we had the rockling (a fish I’d never had before) and the monkfish (a fish Yvette had never eaten before). By the end of the meal, we were completely satisfied, and we both had bulging tummies.
In other life activities, I’ve come to the conclusion “something’s fishy”.
For almost twenty years I’ve walked to and from work at the ABC and have passed the abandoned railway tunnel that once was the Ultimo Goods Line.
From time to time I’d peak inside. But until today, I’d never been truly inside tunnel. There’s an art installation currently onsite which I thought would be interesting, though was not all that exciting, to be honest.
It was interesting to walk through the abandoned tunnel, though.
Sydneysiders will get a rare chance to enter a little-known tunnel in the centre of the city over the next 10 days. Inventive New York-based Australian artist Ian Burns has been quietly working some magic in the disused tunnel, which could eventually be part of The Goods Line public space project in Ultimo. Known for his curious and playful kinetic sculptures, Burns has spent the past 11 weeks as UTS Gallery’s artist-in-residence creating a charismatic new body of work Extended Stage developed especially for the tunnel and its mid-1800s sandstone bridge.
Abandoned Railway Tunnel
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that sounds like a good day, I’m envious you got to talk to some cool grannies-they’re my favourite after cool grandpas!
that sounds like a good day, I’m envious you got to talk to some cool grannies-they’re my favourite after cool grandpas!