Day 16, Sydney, Australia, February 17, 2009
Playing last night at the Songwriter Sessions at the Excelsior was a lot of fun. The talent was impressive and I was flattered to be approached by a young singer-songwriter who asked if I had a CD as he was impressed by my lyrics. Some friends he was with also came to me a little later to compliment me on my songs. They made my evening. Getting together with Bronnie and Platty and hearing their new songs was a real treat. Running the evening for John Chesher was Olie Agostino who played on Country Radio's first album in 1970 with the Toronto Star's senior music columnist and critic, Greg Quill, who fronted the Australian band. The evening ended with James, Bronnie's friend, acting out a humourous Australian poem with his thick Aussie accent which had us in absolute stitches. James is 6'4" and loves surprising people in pubs by reciting his poems which are nothing short of fabulous. I would love to get a recording and hope one day to share his humour with you.
Today is our last full day in Sydney and our thoughts are turning to home and the thought of the 22 hour flight from Sydney to Vancouver and then on to Toronto. We decided to head over to Potts Point to meet with Stuart Milburn, the caretaker of Manar, where I spent the first 8 years of my life and where my father was the caretaker from 1949 to 1958. Warren Fahey, who lives in Manar and is famous for compiling much of Australia's folklore, arranged with Stuart to give us a tour of this group of three residential flats that are a large part of the history of Potts Point which overlook beautiful Elizabeth Bay. What a thrill it was. He ended the tour by taking us up to the caretaker's flat on the top floor of the largest of the three buildings where I lived. I was surprised at how small it was but the views from the roof top, which I remember so vividly, were still the best in the building. Stuart was more than gracious knowing how meaningful this visit was for me.
Playing last night at the Songwriter Sessions at the Excelsior was a lot of fun. The talent was impressive and I was flattered to be approached by a young singer-songwriter who asked if I had a CD as he was impressed by my lyrics. Some friends he was with also came to me a little later to compliment me on my songs. They made my evening. Getting together with Bronnie and Platty and hearing their new songs was a real treat. Running the evening for John Chesher was Olie Agostino who played on Country Radio's first album in 1970 with the Toronto Star's senior music columnist and critic, Greg Quill, who fronted the Australian band. The evening ended with James, Bronnie's friend, acting out a humourous Australian poem with his thick Aussie accent which had us in absolute stitches. James is 6'4" and loves surprising people in pubs by reciting his poems which are nothing short of fabulous. I would love to get a recording and hope one day to share his humour with you.
Today is our last full day in Sydney and our thoughts are turning to home and the thought of the 22 hour flight from Sydney to Vancouver and then on to Toronto. We decided to head over to Potts Point to meet with Stuart Milburn, the caretaker of Manar, where I spent the first 8 years of my life and where my father was the caretaker from 1949 to 1958. Warren Fahey, who lives in Manar and is famous for compiling much of Australia's folklore, arranged with Stuart to give us a tour of this group of three residential flats that are a large part of the history of Potts Point which overlook beautiful Elizabeth Bay. What a thrill it was. He ended the tour by taking us up to the caretaker's flat on the top floor of the largest of the three buildings where I lived. I was surprised at how small it was but the views from the roof top, which I remember so vividly, were still the best in the building. Stuart was more than gracious knowing how meaningful this visit was for me.
