Two or three times a year a bunch of us catch up for an afternoon of lunch, drinks and chatter.
Sometimes we’ll head over to Manly, though mostly it’s at a pub fairly close to Central Station in Sydney.
The common connection is that we’re all “ABBA Fans”. Well, not all of us anymore, and so it’s a connection which has transcended that connection somewhat.
The usual thing is meet for lunch, have a few drinks and a chat, have another meal, and then head off.
And so that’s how I spent my Saturday.
We started off at the Royal Exhibition Hotel. After a while, though, the combination of Port Power supporters and horse-racing enthusiasts became all too much, and so we headed up to the recently refurbished Strawberry Hills Hotel.
They’ve done a nice job refurbishing the Strawberry Hills. They’ve managed to maintain some of the “flavour” of the downstairs bar, and briefly taking a peak at the upstairs, they’ve managed to create a great new space.
After several hours of chatting, drinking and eating, and it was time to come home and settle on the couch to watch Eurovision and, in particular, Eric Saade’s spectacular performance. Sweden has a chance this year, I reckon.
“I swear, the last time I attended Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks was for the millenium”, I told my friend Kate last night. “We had a friend visiting from Ireland, so of course, we headed down the harbour”, I added, noting that every time since then I’ve either been at a party, at a pub, at home in Sydney, or, on a couple of occasions, in Lismore.
I’m not a huge one for crowds, so the idea of NYE fireworks doesn’t really appeal. However, a few weeks ago, a friend offered us tickets, as she was planning to travel home to Korea to visit family. So, of course we said yes.
Older, and hopefully wiser than we would have been twenty years ago, we packed food (a yummy selection), napkins, and blankets to sit on. The only thing we couldn’t bring with us was alcohol, which sadly, was very, very expensive.
And guess what? It was great fun. We enjoyed the night very much.
Even getting home wasn’t too bad. For Kate, it was a train trip home to Newcastle, and she reports the transport options were terrific. For me, there were numerous buses and trains, but in the end, I chose to walk home instead, bypassing the lengthy queues. It was nearly two o’clock by the time I made it through my apartment door, but I felt happy and healthy. Happy New Year.
In the weeks following the devastating floods that struck Lismore last year, impacting thousands, including my own family, I had the opportunity to contribute some meaningful words to a public art installation in Surry Hills known as “Village Voices.” This public art project has been ongoing for approximately six years and showcases short pieces of text from locals, each reflecting on various aspects of their lives. Today, I joined other contributors in revisiting those words as part of the “Surry Streets Festival.”
As I recited my contribution, a lump formed in my throat, and I nearly shed tears when I thought about what my family endured last year and in the time that has passed since. When people inquire about how I’ve managed to maintain a positive outlook in the months following my personal challenges, which included losing part of my leg and relearning to walk, I often cite the trauma my family endured. I also share my encounters with people in Cambodia this year who had lost limbs due to landmines. I frequently say, “As tough as it’s been, others have faced far greater hardships.”
Revisiting my contribution to Village Voices, in the context that my family likely still worries more about me than themselves.
Even today, I recognize that my family likely worries more about me and my well-being than they do about their own situation. I now speak with my sister, Pat, every day, a shift that has only occurred in the past few months as opposed to our weekly conversations before.
It was heartwarming to reunite with fellow contributors to “Village Voices” and to learn that the artwork will continue to receive support from the City of Sydney, and despite a nearby development application to redevelop the accompanying building.
Karina Kremsinki performs her work from Village Voices
Geoffrey Datsun, a musician and recent author on Village Voices performing some poetry, accompanied by his partner Annette on cello.
I took my time strolling through the festival on Crown Street, spanning from Cleveland to Fitzroy. I observed the various market stalls with more attention than I might have in the past. I paused for a leisurely lunch, enjoyed a cup of coffee, and indulged in some frozen yogurt.
Adults and children alike, enjoying the bubbles at Surry Streets.“Hey, my leg is just like yours” one of the street performers joked, knowing I would laugh. “Yeah, yours are just longer”, I replied.
Some of the positive outcomes of this year’s experiences is that I’ve learned to embrace a slower pace of life (which I’m loving), and I’ve kept my sense of humour.
Almost everywhere you go in Parkes, you’ll see an image of Elvis Presley. Even though Elvis never visited Parkes, for almost thirty years they’ve been holding a festival here. Held each year in January (to co-incide with his birthday), it’s become a big thing for the community.
“What do you think locals think of it?”, Sue asked over dinner last night. My experience with things like the Tamworth Country Festival is there’s an undercurrent of locals who hate it, and leave town when it occurs. But I’d imagine most locals would probably enjoy it.
As well as the economic injection it brings to the town, in the midst of January you can imagine it also brings a bit of excitement to the town.
Elvis statue, Parkes, NSW
Today we visited the tourist centre in Parkes where there’s a number of museum exhibits. The “father of federation”, Sir Henry Parkes is covered. So, too, is some local history, including the story of the Emmanuel Brothers (Phil and Tommy) who grew up here. There’s a terrific motor museum. And there’s an Elvis exhibit too.
I’m no expert on Elvis, but it seemed like a pretty good exhibition. As songs by Elvis played in the background, we walked around reading about his life story, looking at photographs and memorabilia, and finally, watching an interesting video interview with an “Elvis Insider”.
Elvis exhibit at the Parkes Tourist CentreTribute to Phil, half of the Emmanuel Brothers, Australian musicians who grew up in Parkes.
We really enjoyed walking around the museum looking at a range of objects from the past. We recognised many of them, including seeing some of the toys of our childhood. I also spotted the same sewing machine my mum taught me how to sew on. “How did this happen?”, we wondered, “How did the things of our childhood suddenly become OLD?”.
From there we wandered to the CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope. Located about 20 minutes from town, the facility played an important role in the first moon landing, relaying images back. The role has been immortalised in the film, “The Dish”
CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope
“This is like a thirteen-year-old boys dream holiday”, I joked. Indeed, there were lots of teenage boys who were totally geeking out on it all, as well as some of their parents. There’s a couple of small dishes which are separated by about fifty metres. As you whisper into centre of one, your voice can be heard at the other. There was one bloke we spotted (twice) doing this with his kids, and we thought he was probably having more fun than they were.
For lunch, we headed back into town. A former colleague who grew up in Parkes recommended, “The Paragon”, a local cafe. It was “old school” in both the menu and the prices. Annie told me “chips and gravy” was the favourite meal of her childhood. Today we observed that was still the case for a group of kids having lunch with their grandmother. Sue’s steak sandwich was on white bread with canned beetroot. Costing only $8, it went down a treat. I had an old style banana split ($6) which was equally delightful.
Banana split for lunch at The Paragon, Parkes, NSW
It’s Saturday night and I’m at home in Lismore. We’ve just watched “The Simpsons” and had dinner and I’m just taking a few minutes out to update my diary before a night at home. Quite a bit has happened since my last update on Sunday night. I have been on holiday this week which is why I’m in Lismore.
Although I had always planned to come to Lismore this week, it was, perhaps a fortunate (?) co-incidence that I was here for the death of niece’s son, Lachlan. After fourteen months of suffering, he died on Monday morning. It has been good to be here for that reason alone.
I arrived Tuesday morning and the next forty eight hours or so was taken up with family things. The funeral was held Thursday morning. I was asked to read a passage from the Bible, Psalm 23, which I was a little apprehensive about – apprehensive that I would mess it up with nervousness – but it all seemed to go okay.
I have had a couple of social occasions, including lunch at a new Italian place with some colleagues and a drink or three last night at Lismore’s “gay and lesbian venue”, The Winsome. Last night was Karaoke Night, which meant that it was marginally better than the last time I was here. It reminded me, however, why I left Porpoise Spit.
There was a further reminder today at the Lismore Square, when I found myself surrounded, it seemed, by thousands of shopping trolleys and prams. Although I have looked with genuine interest, this time, at real estate in the area, which is extremely affordable, I recognise that, at this point in my life, it’s still not the place for me.
Christmas Day 2008, Sydney, Australia Aside from the word “Jesus”, the skies of Sydney were remarkably clear today. Weather-wise, it was one of those really beautiful Sydney days.
And so late this afternoon I went for a bit of a walk through Surry Hills, down into the city, and then back to home.
It’s pretty quiet in Surry Hills today, with only a few convenience stores remaining open. Most of the restaurants have signs up indicating they’ll be closed from now until at least New Years Eve.
As I wandered into a convenience store on Bourke Street to buy an ice-cream, the bloke behind the counter greeted me with a smile. I suspect I may have been his only customer today.
As I headed up towards Taylor Square there were more signs of life. In addition, however, to the convenience stores, I noticed there was a sex shop open on Oxford Street which is incredibly sad whichever way you choose to look at it.
There were also a couple of homeless people sitting on the footpath with a handful of coins in front of them.
As I wandered into the city, I began to see lots of Asian people (who I presume don’t celebrate Christmas), and lots of Irish backpackers (who most definitely do celebrate Christmas) wandering around.
A restaurant here and there was open, and there were even people in a clothing store on George Street taking advantage of a cut-price sale.
Feeling a little lazy I caught the bus back home. “That’s enough energy exerted for the day”, I thought to myself.
Sometimes when I’ve had a stressful day at work, I like to clear my mind with some loud Swedish pop. I leave work, I put my headphones on, I turn them up really loud, I go for a walk, and suddenly life is good again.
Usually, it’s something very disco in style. Yesterday, for example it was Magnus Carlsson. Today, however, it was quite different: it was a song I’ve had stuck in my head for the last twenty four hours: “Längesen” by Petter ft. Veronica Maggio.
Generally speaking, Veronica sings in Swedish in a 60s retro-style. She’s a bit like “Duffy” in some ways, although her vocal style has that melancholic Swedish vibe about it. Even when you think she’s singing about something happy, it sounds like she’s sad, if you know what I mean. Melancholic ABBA-esque.
Petter is a white-boy rapper who, generally sings about life, poverty etc in Sweden, and usually sings so quickly I can scarcely follow what’s going on. Even with the lyrics in front of me he is sometimes hard to follow, since he raps in a very contemporary style with words and phrases I can’t usually find in a dictionary.
They’ve worked together previously. In fact, one of my favourite Swedish songs of the last few years has been a collaboration with Petter’s old band Snook. Snook featured Veronica’s partner at the time, Oskar LInross, who I raved about a couple of months ago.
Veronica’s refrain in this song is…
Är det så här det känns att va lycklig?
Det är inga problem
Är det så här det känns att va lycklig?
Det är inga problem, det är inga problem
…which translates, roughly, as…
Is this how it feels to be happy?
It’s not a problem
Is this how it feels to be happy?
It’s not a problem, it’s not a problem
I love all of the images of life in Stockholm in this clip.
I sent the link to this song to a music-loving colleague who commented… “Nice. Like the vague All Along The Watchtower melodic reference”…
Anyway, I’m completely moved by their latest collaboration also. It’s an odd combination and is probably an acquired taste since it features some “chipmunk” style singing at the beginning, some Swedish white boy rapping, and then the slightly melancholic vocals of Veronica Maggio.
The sweet lyrical refrain from Veronica this time is…
Varje gång är som den första gång vi sågs
Även om det är över nu
Allting har förändrats
Men du finns kvar
Allt var svävande men nu så ser ja klart
Roughly translated, she’s singing…
Every time is like the first time we met
Even if it is over now
Everything has changed
But you are left (behind)
Everything was suspended, but now I see clearly
I’ve taken a few liberties with the translation. Sorry.
Unfortunately, the proper clip is disabled on youtube, but you can see it here
I really like the fact this group of performers continues to sing in Swedish when so many other Swedish performers now sing mostly or only in English.
I can’t decide who I have the biggest crush on: Petter or Veronica. Nah, it’s probably Oskar :)
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I heard the ABC news reporting the results on radio this morning (with Sweden doing quite well). Did I misunderstand? Is it not over?
Victor – yes the results are already out there, as it goes to air in Europe on Saturday night with a delay to Australia on Sunday. I also watched ABC News this morning ahead of The Insiders which I expected to be a Eurovision free zone, so I already know the results. I won’t repeat them here since I know some people enjoy waiting to find out the results until Sunday night though. Will post later tonight about my feelings.
I heard the ABC news reporting the results on radio this morning (with Sweden doing quite well). Did I misunderstand? Is it not over?
Victor – yes the results are already out there, as it goes to air in Europe on Saturday night with a delay to Australia on Sunday. I also watched ABC News this morning ahead of The Insiders which I expected to be a Eurovision free zone, so I already know the results. I won’t repeat them here since I know some people enjoy waiting to find out the results until Sunday night though. Will post later tonight about my feelings.