Chateau Glenunga

South Australian Living Afficianados

2011-07-14T09:16:00.004+09:30

Francis and Putu in Burra are putting on an exhibition of an unusual type during SALA this year. Instead of showing the new work of a particular artist, they are showing the work artist's own. We have donated our Keren Seelander painting to the casue.

Francis asked me to create the invitation. See below.

David's 50th Birthday

2011-07-14T09:15:00.000+09:30

Hip to be Square Invitation

2011-07-12T16:55:00.002+09:30

If you can make it to the opening i'd love ot see you.

Hip to be Square

2011-07-11T22:01:00.000+09:30

SALA 2011

2011-07-03T21:25:00.003+09:30

Another year, another SALA exhibition.

Please come along and see what we've all been toiling away in our various garrets for the past little while . . .

Day out with Mum extra photos

2011-06-08T17:05:00.005+09:30

Fireplace at Maximillians

Mum

Mum. We had a window table

David's scallop entree.

A Day Out With Mum

2011-05-30T21:06:00.006+09:30

Me, Mum and David. This is taken with the self timer. The camera is on a mini tripod so no shake. The waitress offered to take the photo but I've had too many waiter/esses take blurry shots (even with anti-shake programs activated!)

On Saturday, May 28 we had a day out with Mum, ostensibly to celebrate a belated Mother's Day and Birthday.

I picked Mum up from Ken's shop in Mount Barker at 9am and brought her back to the chateau where she got to see our finches for the first time. We had coffees and then we took Beau for a run at the dog park and Mum watched from the warmth of the car.

Another coffee later and we headed off to our designated lunching spot, Maximillians restaurant in Verdun in the Adelaide Hills. The restaurant is an old house converted into a large restaurant and it has several dining areas. We were seated in front of a large picture window which overlooked vines, a dam, trees and hills. Everything lush green and very picturesque.

It's a spacious restaurant too and there's starched linen. Food was French and big serves to match the price which was only surpassed by the prices on the wine list.

After a long lingering lunch we headed to a new cellar door I wanted to check out at Scott Creek, Deviation Road. They produce some lovely wines and it was nice to check out the whole range as the Deviation Road Pinot Grigio is available on the wine list at the Rising Sun and is a bit of a favourite.

We then dropped Mum back at Ken's work so that she could go home with him at 5pm.

A Night at the Opera with Filomena

2011-05-22T16:30:00.001+09:30

Untitled from Harvey Schiller on Vimeo.

Let's Misbehave

2011-05-18T20:58:00.006+09:30

I've never seen a full Marx Brothers film but I recently saw one. And if you wanted to see your first Marx Brothers film, this was the way to do it.

Filomena invited us to her birthday 'do'. A screening of the Marx Brother's film, A Night at the Opera, at a backyard cinema in Dernancourt. As you can see from the picture below, not any sort of backyard cinema, actually a recreation of the Regent style of cinema that used to be common across Australia. It's fitted out with 'bits' from the old theatres and even has a marble staircase in its lobby. It seats about 20 people.

Fil arrived in a 1920s something Daimler and, as you can see we all dressed in period 'drag'. We had drinks in the host's house before the first half which comprised a 1970s newsreel, a Tom and Jerry cartoon, some surprising adverts, a Warner Brothers cartoon (the one where the dog is left to hold up the Leaning Tower of Pisa at the end) and a tribute to the Busby Berkley musicals.

At intermission (why can't we have intermission back, it made movies an event!) we went back into the host's house and had supper and then we processed back into the cinema for the screening of the A Night at the Opera. A fun film and a great night out.

Of course we had to take pictures of our costumes before we went out. Low light and not wanting to use flash give the pictures a grainy aged quality.

Well, did you Evah!

My Blue Heaven

I Get a Kick out of You

Putting on the Ritz

In the cinema

On Lemoniness

2011-05-12T17:09:00.000+09:30

David and I have had a chequered history with cars - particularly their reliability.

We've owned four new cars, two Daewoos and two Minis, all have been, to some extent or other, lemons or at least lemonish.

After taking back our first Daewoo Lanos for its initial service, the mechanics discovered that it had rust dots on its roof and I think something was wrong with the dash. So with barely a couple of thousand kms on the clock we had a roof respray and a new dash. All done under warranty. Things, more or less, continued in that vein until we traded it in on a newer Lanos - lime gold in colour this time around. It too had many problems and I was often thrilled to receive the dealerships loan car - an 80s Nissan Pintara - a car that was gutless when it was new and as the loan car was very, very tired, a slug up the freeway to work.

Next we bought our first Mini - a Cooper. It too had many problems and it too got to stay over night with the dealership and we received a loan car. However, the standard of loan car improved significantly. Over the years we've had a variety of Minis, Coopers, Cooper S models, cabriolets and most memorably a Mini Clubman decorated with zebra stripes (created as a promotional vehicle in conjunction with Monarto Zoo). We also got to drive several 3 Series cars, ranging from entry level slug luxo barge to the real deal. And we've got to drive a few 1 Series around too.

The Zebra impersonating Mini Clubman. A loan car.

Can't remember if it was an 'S' or just a Cooper but it was a cabrio! It was a loan car.

The first time I drove a BMW One Series. It too was a loan car.

How much was repaired under warranty on the first Mini, I don't know but after David got to drive a Mini Cooper S John Cooper Works on a special Mini day at a raceway, the suspect, lemony Cooper's days were numbered.

Enter stage left our latest vehicle, now over four years old. We drove many of the loan cars while in possession of the Works Mini. It has out lemoned every other car we have ever owned. It's had a number of steering pumps, drive belts, suspension parts, engine mounts, a wheel bearing and a host of other bits and bobs replaced. All under warranty (thank goodness).

So now we come to the climax of my little story and why I'm writing this blog entry. Our latest episode with the Mini cooper S John Cooper Works has surpassed all other lemoniness.

On Sunday we decide to drive Beau up to the new Crafers dog park, to show David who hadn't seen it yet and to give puppy a run. Just as we drove through the up-track Heysen tunnel we suddenly heard a strange sound. It seemed to be coming directly from below the gear stick. Then David backed off the throttle and instead of the car's 'snap,crackle and pop' emerging from the rear of the car it sounded too like it was coming from somewhere much further forward. There was no change in power and no warning lights came on.

We continued to doggy park and although the car was noisy, we could still get around.

By the time Tuesday came around the car was getting very noisy - whatever the problem was, it was getting worse.

A trip to the dealership confirmed ' Houston, we have a problem '.

And finally on Thursday the car got looked at properly and a course of action was prescribed.

The car had blown it's catalytic converter into smithereens - something very unusual indeed. So unusual that Mini Australia doesn't stock that part. In fact the part would have to come from Munich, Germany and it would take up to four weeks to ferry it to Australia. And it's not just a catalytic converter, it's an assembly that connects from the engine to the actual exhausts at the back of the car. It's not cheap either, over $3,500 was estimated!

So for the next number of weeks while our car resides at the dealership awaiting its new part we will be driving a loan car - currently a BMW 320 auto with leather and sat nav. Puppy will enjoy the extra space on the back seat.

Unfortunately our car is now out of warranty (it was so lemony that BMW Australia gave us an extra year warranty, extending it from three to four years). Perversely that has been our savior this time around, it lemoniness has meant that they will cover it under warranty. Thanks BMW! Huge sigh of relief!

So that is the state of play at the Chateau as it relates to transportation. So if you see a red Mini with stripes running around Adelaide in the next couple of weeks , rest assured. It's not us. We'll be the ones in a steely grey anonymous BMW 3 Series. Oh, we'll so fit in at Burnside Village!

K1

2011-04-24T19:24:00.000+09:30

Waterfall Gully

2011-04-06T09:04:00.000+09:30

Beau at the Beach

2011-03-26T22:05:00.000+10:30

Moon Rise

2011-03-26T13:41:00.000+10:30

Finches

2011-03-17T09:02:00.000+10:30

Agility Training The Sequel

2011-03-11T17:43:00.000+10:30

A film starring Beau. A hot day and at the end of class - all the dogs were getting a bit tired and were a bit 'over it'. Beau was no different . . .

Harvey Schiller and Friends at the Rising Sun: Fringe 2011

2011-03-09T08:51:00.000+10:30

Garden of Unearthly Delights

2011-02-20T13:26:00.000+10:30

Finches

2011-02-06T21:50:00.000+10:30

A Day With Beau

2011-02-05T12:43:00.000+10:30

Fringe Exhibition 2011

2011-02-03T09:28:00.000+10:30

The Dambusters

2011-01-30T17:51:00.000+10:30

The Tig

2011-01-30T17:44:00.000+10:30

Cognition

2011-01-30T15:31:00.000+10:30

NSW trip 2010/11

2011-01-08T22:19:00.014+10:30

We were able to go on a big driving holiday to NSW over the Christmas/New Year period thanks to the generosity of our friends Mark and Lyn. They lent us their VW Tiguan and in return they had our Mini for the time we were away. If we didn't have the bigger four wheel drive we wouldn't have had enough space to pack both dog and clothes.

We left Adelaide on Christmas Day and headed for Swan Hill and a motel where we were able to have the dog with us - they are few and far between! The next day was the big drive, 1,100km. We had decided to NOT do the Hay Plain and take the direct but tedious route. Instead we opted to follow the Murray Valley Highway from Swan Hill to Echuca, Wodonga and Corryton and cross the great dividing range heading up to 2,000m to finish up at Cooma before dashing off to the NSW Southern Highlands and our destination - David's nephew's place at Thirlmere.

Crossing one part of the Mount Kosciuszko National Park took quite a while. It was more or less a lone lane road up mountain and down valley and wound all over the place. We stopped briefly at Cabramurra, the highest town in Australia. It's a town of identical ski chalet type houses that are for the people who work on the hydro power stations there.

We reached our destination, Craig's place at Thirlmere, at about 11pm that night.

On the Tuesday a family get together was held at Craig's place. David got to see three of his sisters - Judy, Bronwyn and Veronica. We cooked a barbecue lunch and we ate it at tables underneath the still flowering, giant jacaranda tree. After lunch Scott gave a tour of his chook run and we met Spot and Stripe his two pet sheep.

On the Wednesday Craig, Scott, David and I hit the road again to travel to Bathurst to Craig's friend Olivia's farm near Bathurst. Due to road works it took us two hours to get through a 90km section of the Blue Mountains.

Olivia's property is on a ridge and looks towards the Blue Mountains and is incredibly scenic. It has two dams, a number of paddocks and is stocked with three horses and about 20 sheep. We had gone there as the sheep needed drenching and the horses needed their hooves attended to.

On the Friday we headed back to Thirlmere avoiding the Blue Mountains and taking a huge detour down to Goulburn and then back up the Hume Freeway to home base. We drove through some magnificent country and parts of the drive were new to the local boys too.

On New Year's Eve we went to a restaurant, Eschalot, in Berrima. A 'one hat' establishment - it was pretty ritzy and was very enjoyable. Craig and Scott's friends Jodie and Jason came along too.

We left on the Sunday. We decided to detour to Canberra just to have a look. We went up the Telstra tower to take in the views across the city and did a lap of parliament house and the centre of canberra. Of course, we went around and around the round-a-bouts quite a few times and it took a fair bit of navigation to put us back on the right track and heading to the Hume Highway, Albury and then back to Swan Hill to the same motel.

While we were away our car had decided to snap a belt and blow up part of its cooling system. So Mark and Lyn were without a car for a few days! It spent three days at the dealers getting fixed. Happily we returned the Tiguan in pretty good nick!

David, Judy, Bronwyn and Veronica

Lunch

Going round the table: Bronwyn, Luke, Sean, Judy, Harvey, Scott, Leanna, Darryl, Arthur, Steve.

David feeding either Stripe or Spot the sheep

Scott conducting the chook tour

Bronwyn, Veronica, Leanna, Sean, Darryl and Luke

On the road to Olivia's farm near Bathurst, looking at Lake Lyell.

Craig, Scott with innovative beer holder, David and Olivia

Olivia

Craig trimming the hooves of Olivia's horses

At the George IV pub in Picton. Camera on timer with a micro tripod. Harvey, David, Scott and Craig.

BMW 335i M Sport

2011-01-01T10:48:00.000+10:30

Thirlmere with the Watsons and Jenkins

2010-12-29T08:57:00.002+10:30

Christmas at Fil's, 19/12/2010

2010-12-20T21:56:00.000+10:30

At Howard's Vineyard

2010-12-18T23:50:00.003+10:30

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZfklHP5p_E

the unbearable beauness of being

2010-12-18T20:53:00.006+10:30

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHtqakgeDeU

Beau - The Agility Course

2010-12-05T18:53:00.004+10:30

Week Five at pet training school. Each week we do the agility course. This week I filmed it. (Got the wrong aspect ration in the conversion though.)

Utopia at Waterfall Gully - A Fillum

2010-11-13T16:37:00.004+10:30

HipstaHarvey

2010-11-05T17:59:00.003+10:30

I have started a new blog. The new one is on Tumblr and its somewhere to post all my good(?) Hipstamatic iPhone photos.

It's at:
http://hipstaharvey.tumblr.com/

Squeaky Frog High Resolution

2010-10-30T18:43:00.002+10:30

Fetching Squeaky Frog

2010-10-24T12:44:00.000+10:30

The Teletubbie and Maggie Massacre

2010-10-24T12:43:00.001+10:30

Beau Eating

2010-10-24T12:41:00.001+10:30

Beau

2010-09-26T22:31:00.002+09:30

A very short post, this one. A picture I took of Beau racing around the local doggie park.

Pandamonium

2010-09-26T22:06:00.005+09:30

Today we took Mum to the zoo to see the pandas.

I picked Mum up in the morning from Murray Bridge and brought her down to the Chateau. Here she met Beau and we had a two course dinner, roast pork with crackling, roast potatoes, braised fennel and gravy. Dessert was rhubarb stewed with native preserved hibiscus flowers and thick Murray Bridge double (more like triple) cream.

We then went to the zoo and below is what we saw. Of course, the highlight was seeing the pandas.

(My photography - in case you were wondering after the last post)

Tiger. I didn't see I had got him with his eyes open until I uploaded the pics to the computer and saw them large on the screen.

One of the pandas, Funi I think. The reason we went to the zoo.

We bought Mum a toy panda as a souvenir of the day. It's pretty cute. Mum and David.

No eyes open with this lot. They were obviously enjoying the sun.

We got to this guys home just as the keeper turned on a hose. Hippo cam up, opened his mouth and enjoyed the spray. I suppose this is how you 'pat' a hippo.

Mum, Beau, David.

Mum, Harvey, Beau

These guys were in a huge Moreton Bay fig tree. Great viewing from an elevated platform. A siamang.

In the same Moreton Bay fig tree. A pale cheeked gibbon.

Ben For PM lunch

2010-09-26T21:51:00.007+09:30

On August 29 we had a lunch for 10 at our place. Eight guests and us.

It was called the 'Ben for PM' dinner party (all our more formal dinner parties are named) as it combined the two big news stories of the week - a hung parliament and as yet no PM after the election and the Ben Cousins two part documentary had just screened. So it was easy to connect the two - Ben needs something useful to do and we needed a PM . . . a match made in heaven (Pffft!)

The Menu: Click on the image to enlarge.

The pics - taken by guests Tom and Beth:

We started with drinks outside. One of the only days we had had with sun. David by the way.

Mark and Lyn. Note new water jug - Danish or Swedish or something.

Andrew and Effy. Greeks talk with their hands too.

Tom. Photo taken by Beth

David, Andrew, Effy, Mark, Lyn, Beth, Harvey, Hillary's son, Hillary. Photo taken by Tom.

Living with Beau

2010-09-16T20:34:00.003+09:30

It's already the end of day two of Beau being a part of our lives.

I took him to work on the first day. I just had him tied up near the desk on his lead. He continually wanted to play with things and even managed to unplug my desk lamp. He also wee'd on the floor - a special pad on a newspaper, so no damage done. It wasn't working for me or him, he was bored, I wasn't getting any work done. At lunch time I took him home so he had to spend five hours by himself. When we saw him next he was all nonchalant just sitting, taking his ease, in his crate home (think one of those animal crates used to transport dogs and cats in aeroplanes).

That night we took him out to meet Mark and Lyn outside at the Colonist on The Parade, Norwood. I think they liked him.

That night David came home with some tips on what to do with dogs if you take them to work . . .

So the next day (still today as I ineptly type away) I took him to work in his home, his crate. He got a walk as soon as I got there but then it was back into his home and he went to sleep for three hours in the office. Then it was lunch time so we set off for the park, Woorabinda at Stirling. We did a lap of the lake, he met another dog and they got on happily together he saw ducks which he sort of lunged at and made a gruff noise at (a sort of muffled growl-bark) and he sniffed things a lot.

Back at work he went to sleep for an hour or so and then with two more short walks in the afternoon between naps the day was over . . .

We had all survived.

What will day three bring?

Some bad pics of Beau taken in low light . . . .

Emergence

2010-09-16T20:03:00.007+09:30

Kate Stewart Moore's exhibition, Emergence, opened on September 11 at 3pm at the Rising Sun at Kensington. I helped Kate to organise it. Kate's daughter, Justine Wahlin, started off the festivities with a number of songs - she's a guitartist and singer and songwriter who has featured on Triple J's Unearthed project.

Justine sang for half an hour and then I rudely butted in and said a few words and introduced ABC radio journalist Annette Marner who opened the exhibition. With the exhibition officially open, it was back to more music from Justine, mingling and of course looking at Kate's fine work.

After the exhibition we invited Kate, Justine, Mark and Lyn back to our place for an impromptu repast. It being Chateau Glenunga and David doing the cheffing duties, we had quail among other fine food.

Photos below are all out of order from the day . . .

The Alternative Four Musketeers - David, Harvey, Lyn, Mark

Justine with Mum, Kate. I claim no responsibility for this photo especially seeing that there's a finger partially covering the lens. David took this photo. And he did. I didn't touch the camera all day.

Do you remember Charlie Brown's school teacher . . . unintelligible droning - that's me there droning . . . on . . . and . . . on . . . and . . . zzzzzzzzzzzzz

Justine playing after the dinner-after-party . . .

Justine playing before the speeches at the opening.

ABC political radio journalist broadcaster Annette Marner opening the exhibition.

Kate's sister Anne with her husband Norbert and Kate artiste extraordinaire.

Beau

2010-09-15T22:26:00.003+09:30

We've taken the plunge. Yes, we've adopted.

We got a puppy. He's a big puppy. Four and a half moths old. He's a Westie. That's a West Highland Terrier. Scottish ancestry but thoroughly Australian.

He's cute and he's quiet so far. Most noise he's made is when he saw a reflection of himself in a door. But he's come from a very quiet environment so traffic is new to him and also things like music and doors that close with a thud and washing machine noises and a whole heap of things make him alert. He likes people a lot, which is nice.

Real sweetie.

You'll get to meet him, no doubt.

Port but not Starboard

2010-09-09T21:31:00.001+09:30

Light and Tower, originally uploaded by Harvey Schiller - chateauglenunga.

In a previous post I said that I was exhibiting a couple of pictures at the New Land Gallery at Port Adelaide in the Converse(ly) exhibition. I sold one! Amazing.
After the opening I took my camera and tripod our for a quick excursion. Here's one of the 15 second exposures I took. It's the lighthouse that's part of the Maritime Museum at Port Adelaide.

daggaj

2010-09-09T20:50:00.002+09:30

Jaggad, originally uploaded by Harvey Schiller - chateauglenunga.

Here's a picture of . . . Me! As some of you may know I'm not averse to putting myself in front of the camera. This winter I've managed to, guess what, lose weight! That's usually a summer time activity. Here I am in glorious black and white reflected in the bathroom mirror.

SALA Pot Luck Exhibition

2010-07-28T20:36:00.002+09:30

I'm also in the Artist's Voice own exhibition at our home base of the Hahndorf Academy in Hahndorf. It's upstairs.

Here's the invitation.

Click on the picture for the full size:

converse(ly) Exhibition

2010-07-28T14:41:00.004+09:30

I'm taking part in an exhibition at the Country Arts SA headquarters, the New Land Gallery, Port Adelaide as part of the SALA festival. It's a curated exhibition that has been organised by the Artist's Voice of which I am a member.

The curatorial process was really interesting. The curator, Fluvia, met with us all at our studios (home office for me), looked at all our work and selected work for the exhibition. She used photos of everyone's works that she was interested in to mix and match works and make the final selection.

I have two pieces in the exhibition. They are from the chess pieces series from a couple of years ago. They have been enlarged to 35cm x 35xm and framed professionally.

It's sure to be a really interesting and diverse exhibition.

It opens on Friday, August 6 and it runs until October 15.

Click on the picture below to see it at full size:

Harvey's SALA Exhibition

2010-07-27T16:51:00.002+09:30

Saturday, July 24 will go down in history as the day yours truly opened his mouth, started to speak and then continued on and on and on for a full 25 minutes. And to a crowd of people too.

Strangely enough, they all listened to me for that whole time, no slow hand clapping to be heard, and I even received a standing ovation as Malcolm said afterward - I replied, true but they were already on their feet - no chairs.

The speech was for the opening of 'Harvey Schiller and Friends at The Rising Sun SALA Exhibition'. SALA stands for South Australian Living Artists. It's a festival held in the middle of winter to entice people out of their homes and into art galleries and other arty venues to look at artwork. It has its own catalogue and everything!

The exhibition I organised features eight artists plus me and will be up until September. I also organised a classical guitarist to play at the opening which added a bit of atmosphere. I have five pieces in it - there's a total of 30 pieces up on the wall, two painters, one mixed media, six photographers including me.

Earlier in the day when I wrote the notes for the speech I decided to say a bit about each artist, what I knew of their previous work, the work they had in the current exhibition, how I react to their work and then some information on
other places they have exhibitions or work on display. As you can see, if you do that eight times it could rack up the minutes. Still no slow hand clapping, or fainting so I suppose it was a success.

Two pieces were sold a the exhibition, one by Janine Matheson and one by Gary Campbell. It looks like I might have a sale too, but they don't want the one on the wall in the exhibition - it's too small! They want a big one!

After the exhibition we all trotted off to the Robin Hood for dinner. I had failed to book enough seats and a few people embarrassingly went their own way. Woops. Next time proper record keeping will be needed.

SALA exhibition at Rising Sun Hotel

2010-07-01T08:20:00.002+09:30

Here's the poster for the exhibition to be held at the Rising Sun Hotel towards the end of July. It's part of the South Australian Living Artist's Festival (SALA) and we're in the program and everything. We'll be having live entertainment at the opening in the form of a classical guitarist - that alone will be worth the price of entry - it's free of course. Come listen, come have a drink and enjoy.

The Missing 18 Months - May 2010

2010-06-24T22:01:00.002+09:30

In May I had the pleasure of photographing a very beautiful friend, Hilary. Those are her legs up there. It was a great fun day and something new for me.

And in May my arse hit the net for the umpteenth time just to show that 45 year-olds can look okay under the right lighting, with a bit of Photoshopping and darkness and blur and masking texture.

The Missing 18 Months - April 2010

2010-06-24T21:55:00.003+09:30

Monty came to visit in April. After having opened a second cup cake shop in Perth (Babycakes) he needed a rest. As part of his relaxation he played DJ to a group of our friends, all of whom were gob-smacked by how he twiddled his knobs so well.

After months of me complaining that I was going bald and my hair is too long, David gave me this marine style buzz cut. It's grown longer again, but looking at this, I think it should go back to this minimalist look.

The Missing 18 Months - March 2010

2010-06-24T21:52:00.002+09:30

This photo was taken on a trip to Burra to visit Francis and Putu.

It's taken with the Hipstmatic app for iPhone - the app is just soooo much fun . . .

The Missing 18 Months - February 2010

2010-06-24T21:39:00.004+09:30

February was festival month. We saw a number of things at the Fringe and a God-Aweful opera at the Adelaide Festival of Farts. The sword swallower (above) was from the Garden of Unearthly Delights opening night show.

We also did a Day on the Green concert seeing Diana Krall (Ms fan above was next to us).

Also attended Robyn's 60th which was held on a boat that traversed the Port River. I was official photographer and took lots of pics, a great night. As a treat a number of us travelled back to the Brompton Hotel in a stretch Hummer via Hindley Street.

Also did the Megaswim thing again. This time I had a water proof camera to play with!

The Missing 18 Months - January 2010

2010-06-24T21:21:00.002+09:30

This photo of a yellow tailed black cockatoo was taken in a very special place, at Sinclair's Gully Winery at Norton Summit. Once a blackberry patch with a woodland poking through, it is now a conservation masterpiece and has been nominated and won endless Landcare and Tourism awards. We're proud to call the owners Sue and Sean friends . . . oh and they make a fantastic sauvignon blanc, chardonnay and bubbly. When you visit you will see one of my photos of the famous candlebarks in the nearby forest on the entry sign.

The Missing 18 Months - December 2009

2010-06-24T20:40:00.003+09:30

We had Christmas and my birthday at Tanonga B&B about 20 km north of Port Lincoln on the Eyre Peninsula. We flew across as they had just cancelled the ferry that cut 100s of kms off the journey from Adelaide. While there we visited Coffin Bay and had a lovely meal at the fabulous restaurant there. We also swam with seals and tuna. Magic trip. We're still paying for it.

The Missing 18 Months - November 2009

2010-06-24T20:25:00.002+09:30

In November we went to Perth for Monty's 50th which was actually months before. The party was held outdoors at a recording studio and was transformed into a wonderous night club with chadeliers, several flat screen teles, mirror balls, lasers, circus cut out figures, inflatables with lights in them, a bench that could accommodate three DJs and during the night we had live performances from a Drag Queen, circus performers and more. We managed 8pm to 5am. Quite a feat for us.

The Missing 18 Months - October 2009

2010-06-24T20:14:00.005+09:30

For David's birthday I bought him a joy flight in a Tiger Moth. It took off from Aldinga airfield. We stayed in the area for the weekend. We ate at two favourite restaurants, The Star of Greece, just down the road from the B&B and Fino at Willunga.

The Missing 18 months - September 2009

2010-06-24T17:25:00.003+09:30

We watch Allan Moffat win Bathurst in 1977 (?). Actually this is the Bay to Birdwood. In 2009 it was the Classic cars turn. Wet day but friend's from QCar supplied a barbecue.

The Missing 18 months - August 2009

2010-06-24T17:22:00.002+09:30

Our Louis Ghost chairs arrive. Our new 10 seater dining table fails to arrive. We wait.

The Missing 18 months - July 2009

2010-06-24T17:19:00.003+09:30

Some time during July David served up Jerusalem artichoke soup served with goats curd toasts.

The Missing 18 months - June 2009

2010-06-24T17:17:00.003+09:30

A picture I took at Russel Jeavon's Pizza Bar at Willunga was printed in the Sydney Morning Hearld's Travel section.

The Missing 18 months - May 2009

2010-06-24T17:13:00.002+09:30

Portrush Road was resurfaced at night for weeks . . .

The Missing 18 months - March 2009

2010-06-24T17:08:00.002+09:30

My 'New Works' exhibtion opened in late February and went through March as part fo the Adeladie Festival Fringe. It was opened by former ABC news reader John Ovenden.

The Missing 18 months - April 2009

2010-06-24T17:03:00.005+09:30

Took part in an exhibition 'Elephant in the Room' at the Urban Cow gallery in the city with Mandi Whitten, Paul Tait, John Goodrige and Janine Matheson.

The Missing 18 months - February 2009

2010-06-24T17:00:00.004+09:30

Took part in the 24-hour Megaswim at Unley which raises money for MS research and for people living with the disease.

The missing 18 months - January 2009

2010-06-24T16:55:00.006+09:30

Watched the Tour Down Under, final stage with Monty from Perth.

Four-Day Kangaroo Island Odyssey

2010-06-17T15:56:00.009+09:30

(Click on pictures to see a larger size)

Above is a picture of Cape Willoughby on Kangaroo Island. You can stay in the lighthouse cottages, which is what we did over the June long weekend.

Organised through our car club, the weekend saw three cars and 10 people descend onto the cape.

We had a lovely crossing on the ferry, really calm - only took an hour. We didn't take our car as its sports suspension wouldn't really like the pot holes. Instead we had Rod's, Sal's and Brenton's cars - respectively a diesel Peugeot 306, a Kia Sorrento 4WD and a thirsty Jeep Grand Cherokee 4WD.

On the first afternoon we just settled in and took a look around the cape and environs. A brief heavy rain shower saw us scamper from a leisurely chat and glass of wine on the verandah but that was the extent of the 'weather' over the weekend. We had sun, sun, sun for the rest of the trip - but still pretty cold at night.

That night we had an entree of party pies, pasties and sausage rolls followed by soup - nice and warming.

The next day we visited Seal Bay and then travelled down to the end of the island to see Admiral's Arch and Remarkable Rocks. There were heaps of New Zealand fur seals at Admiral's Arch, more seals than were at Seal Bay and they are easier to see. Although the seals are Australian sea lions at Seal Bay.

Back at Cape Willoughby we had a curry night - we only got back there after dark and we had to take care on the roads not to run into any kangaroos. We saw several.

The next day six of us went to Kelly Caves and then we met up with the rest of the group at the Andermel Marron Farm. It's also a winery and a restaurant so we had a tasting before lunch and then we all tucked into the local cuisine. After lunch we visited the Island Pure Sheep Dairy, which was more fun than it sounds and we had a taste of the various cheeses, fresh ones like haloumi and fetta. After that we visited a honey place, took a quick trip around Kingscote and then headed back, again in the dark, dodging wildlife, back to home base.

The last night David cooked for the group. We set up an augmented dining table for 10 and he served the local haloumi (which I fried) along with warmed Coriole Koroneiki olives and char grilled choizo. He then served a dish made up of layers of tortillas interspersed with layers of wilted greens and parmesan. Done in a frying pan, the cheese melts the layers together - it's now the default quick meal at our place. He then served up a beef roast with a heap of different roast vegies and two types of leafy greens.

On our last day we went for a tour of the lighthouse. I took the shots for the panorama above from the balcony at the top of the lighthouse - a great view. Then we packed up and set off for Chapman River Wines which was on our way back to the ferry. It was the most beautiful place with great wines and they served one of the best platters I've ever seen - just wonderful, wonderful produce. We did a bit of sight seeing around the area and by that time it was time to get back to the ferry and the trip home.

Above: There were dozens of black cockatoos feasting on pine cones at the Chapman River Winery. Here's one trying to escape my camera.

Rod (bottom right), Brenton, David, Harvey, Clinton, Bryan, Robyn, Julie, Kay and Sal.

Overseas Visitors and McLaren Vale

2008-11-24T13:45:00.014+10:30

On Saturday, November 15 we took our friends Noel and Marie and Marie's son Steven and his partner Tina for a trip down to McLaren Vale. We met Steve and Tina a number of years ago at Noel and Marie's and we were really thrilled to be able to show them some of our favourite haunts in McLaren Vale. Steven and Tina are based in London and both are architects with Tina specialising in designing restaurants. And both like their food!

The itinerary for the day was a pre-dinner stop at Samuel's Gorge Winery which has wonderful views of the Onkaparinga Gorge wall and on the other side of the ridge, the valley that encompasses McLaren Vale, Willunga and McLaren Flat.

We then took them to our favourite restaurant, Fino, at Willunga. After about seven or eight courses (one loses count) we headed to Primo Estate (great architecture) and Hugh Hamilton (great views) wineries.

Marie at Samuel's Gorge

Marie taking a photo of Steven and Tina at Primo Estate

The group at Samuels' Gorge. It's a beautiful place

David at Samuel's Gorge

David and Noel at Primo Estate

Tina at Samuel's Gorge

The photo Marie was trying to get above. Steven and Tina at Primo Estate

Steven and Marie at Hugh Hamilton

Steven at Primo Esate

Noel at Samuel's Gorge

Us - taken by Noel or maybe Marie . . .

Mt Artwork Published

2008-11-19T22:00:00.004+10:30

I'm to be published . . . well an artwork of mine, originally seen in the 'Detours' exhibition, Aloft and Aloof, has found its way onto the front cover of a low volume anthology of new Adelaide writing called Small City Tales of Strangeness and Beauty.

This is only the cover concept and it may change and it needs an 'and' between the names of the two editors.

About the book - From the publishers Wakefield Press which operates out of The Parade, Norwood here in Adelaide.

Small City Tales of Strangeness and Beauty
EDITED BY GILLIAN BRITTON AND STEPHEN LAWRENCE
FOREWORD BY BRIAN CASTRO
PB 224 PP 210 x 135 B&W ILLUS ISBN 9781862548343
AU$24.95 NZ$32.90 Anthology/Creative Writing Wakefield Press December 2008
‘In these stories, poems and photographs with Adelaide as its theme, the city sighs with shifting sands. Its mornings swirl with readdressed mail and untended gardens, its afternoons seethe with melting bitumen and its nights crackle with heat, breakdown, the attrition of marriages. The city disgorges stories in the way waste yields coloured glass, not as a collector’s item but as something being halted from passing out of memory.’ - From the foreword by Brian Castro. Contributors include: Nicholas Jose, Jude Aquilina, Rachel Hennessy, Anne Bartlett, Carol LeFevre, Jill Jones, Ken Bolton, Graham Rowlands and John Tranter, writing as Mark Pallas.

A link to the original work:
www.flickr.com/photos/8622063@N04/597925743/

The exhibition it came from:
harveys-exhibitionism.blogspot.com/2007/06/detours-exhibi...

Art 'n' Stuff

2008-10-21T21:31:00.005+10:30

On the exhibition front I’ve had the exhibition at McLaren Vale but I’ve also had pictures in the regular Artist’s Voice exhibitions at the Hahndorf Academy. Nothing has sold from there so far but perhaps the Christmas exhibition will present an opportunity to move some stock. I also have a new website where you can purchase my work as cards, poster, prints of various sorts and calendars! Check it out at . . .

http://www.redbubble.com/people/ChateauGlenunga
and
http://chateauglenunga.redbubble.com/

(See live links at top left of this blog)
(If the links are not live you may need to copy and paste them into your browser.)
(Click on the pictures to see them at a larger size)

View of the front page of the Bubble site.

An image of a framed print.

The calendar that is available of my photography - 'Flowers and Foliage'

At the end of February I will be presenting an exhibition of new work at the Rising Sun in Kensington – the same venue I presented the exhibition ‘Detours Re-routed’ in September 2007. Part of the Fringe, it will be listed in the guide and I hope you can all come along.

All That Ails

2008-10-21T21:29:00.003+10:30

Not sure what I’ll do about triathlons this season. My knees and calves don’t want to come to the party and be soreness free. I’ve been lazy and haven’t been doing my stretches which I suppose I really need to do every day. We’ll see what happens – anyway the yoga, weights and swimming keep me active so I shouldn’t just immediately turn into a lump of lard.

A not entirely serious self-portrait. I called it Flashdance.

Langhorne Creek Picnic

2008-10-21T21:27:00.002+10:30

Our QCar run on October 19 was organised by our friend Hillary. We decided to leave the Mini at home on the day and take up possession of the back seat in Hillary’s 1962 Dodge Phoenix. It was great day out. We had a tour of Bleasdale winery and learnt all about the history of the family that established the enterprise. A rain shower forced us from enjoying a picnic at the local park so we were taken off to Hillary’s relative’s place where we dined in their backyard. They too, the Cleggets, are vignerons and wine makers so we were able to sample their ‘brews’ while having our lunch.

The old disused cellar beneath Bleasdale Winery at Langhorne Creek.

"The cellars, constructed from red gum and limestone, house the old red gum vats and some of the equipment used by previous generations. The splendid red gum lever press, hand-sawn in the 1890's, is well worth a look. Built in 1892, the Press is still used today. The lever weighs 3.5 tons, its 15 metres long and stands 7 metres high. Today's winery has the latest technology but still maintains the family traditions - the Pott's philosophy of producing honest, consistent, reliable wines, which are receiving accolades throughout the world." From the Bleasdale website.

B&B Stay in Angaston for David's Birthday

2008-10-21T21:24:00.003+10:30

On Friday, October 10 we set off for the Barossa and a stay at a B&B. On both nights David cooked at the well-equipped B&B which overlooked a swathe of Angaston. We were going to go to a restaurant but the house was too nice to waste.

On Friday David learnt about what I had organised for the nest day, a winery cellar door tour of the Barossa in a 1935 Auburn car.

The tour was fantastic and the weather was great. We went to a number of places we hadn’t been before and of course we had to purchase souvenirs to take home! I took a lot of pictures while we were out including quite a few of that marvellous car.

On the Sunday we went for an aimless sort of drive around so that I could take some landscape pictures. We then decided that we needed lunch so we headed down the road where the Rockford winery is to see if we could find an eatery that used to be there. It was gone but what we did find was the Krondorf Road Café which is housed in a huge ‘tin shed’ designed by the architect owner of the restaurant who is also a wine maker. The food and wine was superb and we lingered there – it really is the most beautiful spot.

David and me next to the 1935 Auburn we rode in around the Barossa.

The Auburn on the driveway to the Willows Cellar Door.

We went to the Farmer's Market on the Saturday morning. We didn't buy any garlic - we were tempted.

The Krondorf Road Cafe. A magnificent building set in a wonderful scenic spot.

David's Birthday - Rising Sun Nibbles & Drinks

2008-10-21T20:58:00.005+10:30

October 9 was David’s birthday. To celebrate, on that night, I organised drinks and nibbles at one of our favourite pubs. I invited all our Adelaide friends and as it was a Thursday night, the weather was good and it wasn’t near a long weekend, they nearly all turned up. So we ended up taking over the pub, particularly it three smallish main rooms. David received a lot of presents which neither of us envisaged or expected when I organised the ‘event’. It was a great evening and David and I thank everyone for turning up, having fun and, of course, for the cards, best wishes and presents.

Clinton & Keith.

Brenton (left corner), Gary, Hillary, Clinton.

Kay, Michael, Michael, Kenneth & Terry.

Terry, Clay, Ray, Mark.

Effy, Andrew, John.

David, Steven & Gary.

2008 Bay to Birdwood

2008-10-21T20:28:00.002+10:30

On September 28 we spent the morning by the side of North East Road eyeing off a two hour procession of vintage and veteran cars – the biennial Bay to Birdwood Run. Clinton and Brenton from the car club had organised a barbecue (complete with gluten free sausages) to eat while we watched the cars go by. I had great fun taking photos and took lots and lots.

Our friend Malcolm took part in the Bay To Birdwood for the first time in his newly restored 1948 Wolseley.

The Wolseley.

The magnificent machines.

Yorke Peninsula Weekend Away

2008-10-21T20:18:00.006+10:30

On September 19-21 our car club, QCar, had a trip away to Port Broughton. We stayed in nice cabins at the Port Broughton Caravan Park, on the foreshore of the town. On the Saturday we drove inland and visited a few towns, the highlight being a visit to Melrose and the North Star Hotel and the cellar door which operates from there. They make a good sparkly red.

That evening we visited Robyn and Julie’s shack just down the road (they organised the trip away). We got there just in time to watch the sun go down. And unfortunately also just in time for the mosquito horde to descend. That night we dined at Palate to Palette in Port Broughton’s main street.

On the Sunday we visited Port Germein and Wallaroo. We took a drive along the beach at Wallaroo and went for a walk down to one of the most unique houses/shacks I’ve ever seen. The shack is 100m from the shore on a spit of rocks in the main bay of the town and it is surrounded by public land and beach. A colony of shags seem to reside a few metres from the shack’s front door.

We had lunch at the new pub, restaurant, apartment and docking facility next to the new canal estate in Wallaroo. We saw the new ferry too, that takes cars across the gulf saving drivers 400km off their trip.

Lunch was great and as it was a beautiful day, David and I hung around at this lovely spot for a few hours and ended up staying for an early dinner before heading back to Adelaide – and we missed all the traffic too.

Everyone and their cars.

David rescuing Julie's dog from a passing doberman.

Neil in Adelaide

2008-10-21T20:16:00.001+10:30

Neil, my brother, who is a primary school headmaster, was down from Queensland for a conference during September. On the Saturday he was in Murray Bridge we were in McLaren Vale at the exhibition conducting a ‘Meet the Artist’ day.

(The day was only moderately successful and the exhibition itself closed without a sale, a new experience for me. The work was well received but there were no takers. All of the work had been exhibited before, so I didn’t have a formal opening for it, and perhaps that accounts for the lack of sales. I’d always have a formal opening for new works.)

The exhibition in the Rosemount Barrel Hall - Great venue.

We managed to nab Neil for meal on the Monday night. We went Greek and dined at Estia on Henley Square. We even got him to try whitebait! A few reds, great food and a lot of chat – a good night out.

Lately . . .

2008-08-27T22:17:00.016+09:30

The year is speeding by. It's a cliche but "Where has the year gone?" I've been asked to design Christmas stuff at work . . .

I have another exhibition coming up. Called 'Views, it will be held at the Rosemount Estate Cellar Door in McLaren Vale - locals will be more familiar with it's old name - Seaview. The exhibition is an opportunity to hang works from the past two years and give them another airing. You're sure to see something new though - I don't think anyone has been to all my exhibitions (Oh, except David and he's even missed one opening!).

Click on the pictures to see them at a larger size.

The exhibition poster.

Something new! We're both doing yoga. Our friend Effy Kleanthi, who opened my 'Detours' and 'Detours Revisited' exhibitions invited us along to a couple of sessions. David went first and I then went along with him. It's Bikram yoga which is practiced in 40 degree heat (or up to that temperature). The heat means you sweat a lot but it also protects you from injuries. I reckon the sessions are as hard to do as a half triathlon - and they take longer, one and a half hours! It's amazing stuff. I've been inspired by it.

Some people are just unteachable and just never do the right thing . . .

We recently went on a car run through the Adelaide Hills. What was special about this run was that we were privileged to do it in our friend Malcolm's 1948 Wolseley. A beautiful car, David and I had each had a turn in the front and back seats. It's spacious up the back, enough room to cross your legs! Up the front its a bit squishier but great fun to be in. And its very quiet!

Activities for the day included a trip to Melba's chocolate factory, Udder Delights cheeses, the Birdwood wine and cheese shop and a lunch at the Blumberg Hotel. The pub does a good steak.

The Wolseley lost some water but only because it was parked on a slope.

The view from the back seat. In sepia - as everything was in 1948 I'm reliably told . . .

I was in two exhibitions for the South Australian Living Artist Festival. I had two pictures up at the Hahndorf Academy. both were originally show at the Tin Cat Cafe earlier this year. I had another picture in an exhibition at the Austral Hotel in the SA Central Flickr group's show.

The show at the Hahndorf Academy for the South Australian Living Artist Festival

The picture I put in for the exhibition at the Austral Hotel, Rundle Street in the city.

As usual David has been busy in the kitchen. His most recent enthusiasm has been Japanese cooking. The source for this enthusiasm was a trip to a wonderful Japanese restaurant when we were in Broome and a new Japanese cookbook which I brought home from work.

Involtini of eggplant (aubergine) filled with ricotta and green olive and served with a tomato and roast capsicum sauce.

The occasional tea towel gets incinerated too.

After about three weeks of physiotherapy, Ned the guy I went to see, fixed up my initial complaint, the knee ache I felt when riding my bike. With that gone I thought I was home free. Wrong. I then went for a run. After a kilometre or so I felt great shin pain and then had to hobble to a stop. It passed and I could run for a while longer but then the same thing would happen. Now, with three months more physio I think I have the problem sort of under control. All I need to do is stretch my legs before I run and if I feel like the pain is coming on again I stop and stretch again. The stretches have to be extreme and prolonged to be of any effect though. I suspect, when triathlon season starts again, I'll be the only one who stops to stretch mid-way though the run leg of a competition! I'm hoping the yoga will help too!

My running gear - can't run without music, mobile phone and money for emergencies and the house keys.

We have a self storage locked at Norwood and recently we decided to clean it out as we couldn't fit anything more into it and it was needed to safely store my unsold artwork. The locker was piled up a metre high right from the front door. It took two Saturday afternoons to sort it out. Oxfam will be receiving 20 boxes of books, mostly novels. At the same time we went through our clothing - we removed what I though must have been close to 1 and a half cubic metres of clothes - it went to the Salvos. I swear our wardrobe sighed with relief.

One of our friends said 'books breed when you're not looking'. I think he must be right. Above, some of the boxes of books awaiting a new home.

Craig and Scott Visit

2008-06-19T16:49:00.003+09:30

Last weekend Craig and Scott visited from Sydney. They arrived on Thursday night, flying in just after my exhibition opening finished at Zest Café in Glenelg (you can catch the exhibition until July 20).

For the first two days we did the whirlwind sightseeing thing.

Friday morning it was off to Zest to have breakfast and view the exhibition (Did I say it was on view until July 20 and you are all invited to go have a look) and then we headed off to McLaren Vale. First we dropped into Rosemount to see Graham Starr the cellar door manager there. He supplied the wine for the exhibition opening (still open until July 20 by the way) and he showed me their gallery space. I might have a show the in the future.

After that we headed to one of our all-time favourite restaurants, Fino at Willunga. Seven courses later, they were small, we headed off to the most beautiful cellar door in the McLaren Vale region, Primo Estate. Forget the wine just drink in the building!

We then headed home and David cooked.

Next day we walked along The Parade at Norwood before having lunch at the Hahndorf Hill Winery, another favourite spot. We then checked out the view over Adelaide from Mount Lofty and headed on home where David cooked. And cooked. From 8pm until midnight out came course after course of Japanese food – tempura oysters, deep-fried tofu, sprout salad, prawns in savoury custard, a fish dish and more.

Sunday was a much more relaxed affair. We went shopping in town and drifted in and out of a dozen menswear shops . . . I was the only one who bought anything.

A fun weekend.

Listening attentively to the wine guy at Primo Estate - you don't want to mix up your Cabernet Sangiovese with your Shiraz Nebbiolos.

David, Craig and Scott at the Mount Lofty Lookout. And below what they were looking at.

Swirly dark clouds and streaming sunlight.

Craig on the jetty at Glenelg after visiting the exhibition at Zest (which closes on July 20)

Zest Exhibition Opening

2008-06-18T17:13:00.006+09:30

The Zest Exhibition is open until July 20.

The opening itself wasn’t without it’s dramas. First David, got the date of our friends Craig (also David’s almost 40 year old nephew) and Scott’s arrival wrong. Not the Friday night he thought but the Thursday night – the same as the opening. As he had painted the kitchen that day (he’s still on holidays) he still had to clean up so that the house was in order for the boy’s arrival. That meant he couldn’t get to the exhibition opening.

And if that wasn’t bad enough then the weather turned on us. Just as most people would have been deciding if they wanted to come to the opening (around 6pm), lightening struck and a deluge poured from the heavens. The turn out was still good but I'm sure a few people must have looked at the rain and said to themselves - 'Nah - I ain't going out in this!'

I sold two pictures on the opening night and so did Kenneth – so it was relatively successful. Let’s hope for a few more sales.

Kenneth's work on the walls at Zest Cafe, Glenelg.

Perth Stop-Over

2008-06-18T16:57:00.004+09:30

As part of our Broome holiday (five nights and six days) we had a stop over in Perth and we visited our friends Monty and Jim.

We arrived on Sunday morning and after a trip taking in Kings Park, the Swan River and a breakfast at a favourite café, we ventured to Maison Nollamara, the boy’s lovely home.

In the afternoon Monty had arranged to have a party with a group of his friends. He set up his turntables in the living room and went into DJ mode for the afternoon. Great finger food, bubbly red and plenty of conversation was had and David and I had a lovely time.

The next morning we travelled to another favourite breakfast spot and then it was off to the airport and our flight to Broome.

Thanks Monty and Jim for a great stop over!

I tried on one of Monty's wild outfits.

Monty at the turntables. "I am a DJ, I am what I Play."

A shag drying out at a wharf on the Swan.

At Milkd Cafe.

Broome Holiday

2008-06-18T16:36:00.005+09:30

Sea plane. Flying over a vast landscape of scrub punctuated by dead straight roads carved out to the iron ore rich, bright red, Kimberley coast earth.

Then the scenery changes. It’s a massive departure from the arid look that is common across the whole of the outback. We’re flying over the Buccaneer Archipelago. It’s a vast collection of islands and sounds, really a drowned mountain range, with arching ridges interspersed by clear water reflecting the blue skies above. The peripheries of the reddish rocky islands are dotted with mangroves the surrounding waters range across the palette of dreamy tropical blues.

Spectacular view after spectacular view appears and fades into the distance and soon we come upon our destination Talbot Bay and the Horizontal Falls. The falls are a very fast moving tidal flow between two narrow gorges. Each of these gorges is 12 metres wide and water stores up on one side faster that it can empty, giving rise to a couple of metres-high height difference in the sea level between both sides of the gorges. The direction of the flow reverses with each turning tide and can completely empty entirely on some tides.

We bank low and see the gaps in the range islands. There’s white water showing in each of the gaps. We circle so passengers each side of the small plane can see the spectacular view and as we pass I take photo after photo. Next we start to descend and after skimming over one of the islands we descend into another of the bays. The plane banks across a curving wall of rock and then straightens and starts to lose height. I brace myself for tough down but on a sea plane the landing I super smooth, the plane mimicking a pelican landing elegantly in still, flat water.

The plane docks at a house boat in the bay and we disembark. Soon we’re on an SAS assault jet boat racing across the bays on our way to the falls. The falls are too fast to go through them the first time but after a barbecue lunch of barramundi on the houseboat we go back. At one point we are stationery in one of the gaps but we actually have to do 22km per hour to keep in that spot – the water is rushing through at such a pace.

Another highlight of the day is patting a Tawny Nurse shark. Our young Crocodile Dundee-like jet boat pilot has learnt how to pat the sharks, keeping them happy with barramundi fillets. At one point he pulls a fully-grown two-metre male shark half out of the water by its tail and he encourages us all to have a pat.

Another highlight of our trip was a hovercraft ride around Roebuck Bay, the waterway on which Broome is built. We set off late in the afternoon and went across the bay and looked at a set of fossilised dinosaur footprints. On our way back across the bay, the tide had gone out. We stopped about five kilometres out on the sand flats and watched the sunset, the oranges and reds reflecting in the pools scattered throughout vast expanse.

At other sunsets we sipped a tropical cocktail and on another a martini at each of the Cable Beach beachside venues.

We also dined at some lovely restaurants, including a great Japanese place and David cooked a couple of times at our accommodation – The Frangipanni at Cable Beach.

A lunch and a beer tasting (for me, David had wine) at Matso’s was fun. The beers ranged from traditional British ales through to mango and chilli flavoured brews.

We also checked out the local museum which was very informative about the history of the pearl industry in the area. We also went into every pearl jewellery place in the town and I was allowed to splurge on a river pearl strung on a black neoprene necklace.

Of course, it was all over too soon. I’m writing this 10 days later and I’m yet to transfer all the photos I took (3,000 roughly over the six days we were away) so I’m reliving the glory as I am reminded of the fun of a trip away to somewhere very exotic indeed.

The sea plane coming down to land in the Talbot Bay area.

A tiny part of the Buccaneer Archipelago from the sea plane.

The gaps are the Horizontal Falls.

Our jet boat pilot patting the Tawny Nurse sharks.

The water lily pool at the Frangipanni resort. Situated on Frangipanni Drive, it is lined with yellow centred, white Frangipannis.

A pearl lugger at sunset at Cable Beach.

David with the hovercraft on the vast stretch of sand flats exposed at low tide.

Sunset over Roebuck Bay near Broome.

David's silhouette. Cable Beach at sunset.

The outdoor shower at the resort. During summer the shower is often home to green tree frogs.

Zest Exhibition with Kenneth Inger

2008-05-21T16:02:00.004+09:30

I will be having another exhibition opening soon. This time I will be exhibiting with good friend and fantastic portrait photographer Kenneth Inger. Below is a pic of Kenneth I took a few years ago.

The exhibition will be at the Zest Cafe and Gallery, Glenelg and will run from June 9 - July 20. An opening will be held on Thursday, June 12. Below is the poster I designed to promote the exhibition.

A vist from Alissa and Lance

2008-05-07T13:16:00.005+09:30

On May 4 and 5 my niece Alissa (Neil’s daughter) and her boyfriend Lance visited us. They were down from Queensland as Lance was in a poker competition being played at a pub here in Adelaide.

On the Saturday, after a bacon and egg breakfast at David and Julie’s, we drove to McLaren Vale to show Alissa and Lance a couple local wineries. We went in two cars, the Mini had David, me, Alex and Meghan on board while my brother David, Mum, and Alissa and Lance drove in the hire car they had.

We visited the D’Arenberg Cellar Door. It’s on the top of a hill and looks out over McLaren Vale and has great views. We also went to the Primo Estate cellar door which is housed in the most magnificent building.

After that we travelled to Goolwa to see where Hayley works, the Aquacaf, which is on the river. We had coffees and desserts and enjoyed the lovely location. On the way back to David and Julie’s place we showed off ‘The Chateau’ and then we all had take-away back at Lower Mitcham.

We all got together again on the Sunday for a meal. Hayley, Alissa and Lance also got to see my exhibition.

Click on the pictures to see a larger size.

Alex, Lance, Alissa and Mum at the Aquacaf, Goolwa.

Lance, Mum, Hayley, David, Mehgan and Alex.

Alex trying to enter a competition. The details were on the back of an iced coffee pack.

If you click on the two photos below they will take you to my Flickr photo page.

Boats being towed back to the marina at Goolwa after a race.

Primo Estate, McLaren Vale.

These Surveillance Blues

2008-05-07T12:50:00.003+09:30

My latest exhibition These Surveillance Blues opened on Sunday, April 27 at the Tin Cat Café and Gallery, Rundle Street, Kent Town.

It wasn’t a very pleasant day – the first real wintry-type day of the year. It was cold and wet and bleak. Despite the weather there was a good turn-out for the opening. Landscape designer David Baptiste gave a speech and opened the exhibition.

The exhibition consists of seven large works (1 metre by 70cm when framed) and four series of four smaller works – 8 in 15x15cm frames and the other 8 in 25x25cm frames. David did all the framing once again. If I had to do it all the pictures would be crooked and ruined.

I sold 10 pictures at the opening including one to David Baptiste, who opened the exhibition – a nice surprise. It would be nice to sell a few more; mounting an exhibition like this is a huge financial drain.

The exhibition is available to view at the cafe/gallery until May 25. The Tin Cat is located at 107 Rundle Street, Kent Town and is open 7 days from 9am and is open in the evenings for dinner from Wednesday to Sunday night. My work will be in the front two rooms. Phone - 8362 4748.

Clicking on the pictures will take you to my Flickr photo sharing page where you can the pictures at a larger size.

David hanging the exhibition.

Pictures all bubble wrapped - ready to hang.

Using the laser level to line everything up.

Pictures David took at the opening.

I Won First Prize . . .

2008-04-07T14:39:00.005+09:30

No it wasn't Monopoly and it wasn't in a beauty contest! And unlike passing 'Go', I only received $100.

For the past three years I have put pictures into the Kapunda Regional Gallery's Photography Exhibition and Competition. This year there was a theme, "Things I love, Things I Fear." I put in two pictures titled, "The Knowing Dark" and "The Obscuring Fog". I won the prize with "The Knowing Dark".

The pictures were both the same size (unlike below, these are other versions)and professionally printed on quality art paper using archival quality inks.

(Clicking on the pictures takes you to my Flickr Photosharing page where you can see these pictures at a larger size.)

2008 Tin Cat Exhibition Opens April 27

2008-04-07T14:34:00.003+09:30

I will be having another exhibition at the tin Cat Cafe in Kent Town. It opens at 3pm on Sunday, April 27.

It will feature 23 new works including several works in series including a new series of Kate's Window. I hope to see you there.

Here I am resting between creations. It's a timed self portrait. (Clicking on the picture will take you to my Flickr photosharing page where you can see the pictures at a larger size.)

Middleton

2008-04-07T14:29:00.005+09:30

We stayed in Middleton for the weekend of the triathlon. We had a house we shared with Kenneth, Graham, Terry and Kay. All except David and Kenneth participated on the day. While down there I had a great chance to take photos. I had great success with my new telephoto adapter lens . . .

And David cooked us all a couple of marvellous multiple course meals!

Clicking on the pictures will take you to my Flickr Photosharing page where you can see the picture at a larger size.

Victor Harbor Triathlon

2008-04-07T14:17:00.002+09:30

I participated in an Olympic distance triathlon on Sunday (March 9). It consisted of a 1.5km swim, a 40km bike ride and a 10km run. Conditions were pretty horrid. At 9.30am it wasn't yet hot enough to forcibly cancel the event but a couple of hours later it certainly was. The swim was in a canal estate lake that was quite warm (almost too warm - no wet suits allowed). My swim was okay. Then we headed off on the bike ride which was directly into a 20kmph northerly - hot blasting wind. 20kmph into the wind and double that coming back but it was HARD. The run was eased (once my legs allowed me to do move in a runnerly like fashion) by a huge number of water stops and spectators hosing runners down as they went past. A pretty extreme event. I did it in a much slower time than last year. Some training might be a good thing . . .

David took the photos. clicking on the pictures takes you to my Flickr Photosharing page, where you can see these pictures larger.

Waiting to start. Talking to Bridget O'Neil Murphy. She missed her start by a minute or so because of the chat. She still won her age group!

Heading towards transition from the swim.

Off on the ride. 20km into the hot northerly blast furnace and 20km being assisted.

Hosed down on the run.

Finishing. I did it in 3 hours 12 or something. About 25 minutes slower than last year! Oh well, there's always next year.

Triathlon Sunday, February 24

2008-03-03T17:12:00.006+10:30

David got to play with the new telephoto extension that screws onto
the camera.

I did very poorly in this one. I had had knee problems from the bike
so I had done precious little training. And as I had no motivation I
stayed up late the night before. Oh well, at least I finished.

Out from the swim

On the bike

On the run

24-Hour MegaSwim 2008

2008-02-19T13:03:00.002+10:30

One of the highlights of the Swim4Life year occurred on the weekend of February 16 & 17, the 2008 24 Hour Megaswim held at Unley Pool.

2008 was the third year of the event and the third year our swimming group has taken part. This year we had two squads, one comprising the purist swimmers and another comprising people who dabble in other pursuits along with swimming, such as triathlon.

The event went from noon on the Saturday to noon on the Sunday. Each person swam with a partner in a two-hour block, the swimmers taking turns in the pool. Most people opted to swim for a certain length of time or number of laps.

The weather for the event was ideal – hot – 36 degrees was the maximum on both days. This meant that even at night it was warm. At 6am when I finished one of my stints, it was warm enough not to have to cover up.

Both groups swam around 60km over the 24-hours.

Unley Pool - the fabulous venue. We all saw a fair bit of these lane ropes.

Backstroke – Kenneth. Real Esther Williams stuff here!

Kathy – Breaststroke. An intense performance!

Self Portrait (Harvey) with the added bonus of water on the lens!

Watching the proceedings (Harvey. Hot metal in the full sun - a really good material to make poolside seating out of!

Bella – Breaststroke. Little girl, big pool. She did wonderfully well. Grandpa makes sure she's an ace in the pool.

Penny about to set off.

Jonathon – Freestyle. Showing Kathy inspired technique.

Mark – Freestyle.

Mark Drew – Freestyle. He was swimming at somewhere near the speed of sound on this lap.

John Howard completing a lap. He did surface to breathe!

Magaswim 2008 Portraits or Rogues Gallery

Our Big Day Out

2008-02-04T11:36:00.000+10:30

On Saturday we took Mum out for dinner. After picking her up from Murray Bridge we headed for the hills and Howard Vineyard, near Nairne. A new winery and cellar door, they do food on weekends(not sure about during the week) and have live entertainment on Sundays. Mum and I shared their tasting plate - very nice.

We then went into Hahndorf as I had two pictures to take to the Hahndorf Academy so they could be included in the Artist's Voice landscape exhibition being held in the Coonawarra.

After that we had a look at The Lane Winery and restaurant nearby. An amazing modern building. It's very swish with a huge deck overlooking rolling countryside facing Mount Lofty. We did a wine tasting and had coffees.

At Howard Vineyard where we had lunch.

Mum and David at the Lane Winery, a new cellar door located just out of Hanhndorf. It has the most spectacular views.

Tour Challenge Ride

2008-01-30T16:01:00.000+10:30

Last Friday I took part in the Tour Down Under Challenge Tour. It was a 134km bike ride covering the same route as travelled by the international pro cyclists on Stage Four of the Tour Down Under. It started in Mannum at 7.30am. We then rode to Palmer, Tungkillo, Mount Pleasant, Birdwood, Mount Torrens, Woodside, Nairne, Callington, Woodchester, Langhorne Creek and finally the finish at Strathalbyn. Terry, Kenneth and Graham and I all rode together, or at least we met up at the start of each town. It took us six hours to do the ride but really finishing was the main aim. Much of the route was up hill and down dale! There was a particularly unexpected hill just outside Woodchester, I thin that took a lot of people by surprise.

The registration wrist band contained a bar code to register our participation in the event. It was scanned just before the start and at the finish of the event.

Triathlon - Australia Day 2008

2008-01-30T15:52:00.000+10:30

I competed in the 'Australia Day' triathlon on Monday, January 28 at
West Lakes. It consisted of a 1000m swim, a 34km bike ride and an
8km run. I completed it in one hour and 28 seconds. Last year I did
the same triathlon in one hour 55minutes but last year the run leg
was only 7km. So in effect I did it in exactly the same time as last
year.

Nice and calm for the swim, not that you know that from this photo.
The group before I started.

The only one without a wet suit. You go faster in one but they cost
$$.

Grabbin' the bike for the next leg.

Me doing my best approximation of running.

Cycling 134km in one day

2008-01-22T20:16:00.000+10:30

On Friday, January 25 (and with all things being equal), I'll be riding 134km from Mannum to Strathalbyn (via Mt Pleasant - definitely not the direct route) as part of the Tour Down Under Challenge Tour. The ride is the same route that the international cycling teams will take later on in the day. There are four of us doing the ride - Kenneth, Graham, Terry and me. We’ve been in training for a while. It will be interesting to see if we have done enough. The weather bureau currently has Friday slated for 33 degrees with thunder in the hills. Better than the 37 they were forecasting a few days ago but I thibk we could do without thunderstorms!

Me at work. I had just picked up my offical Tour Down Under Challenge Tour jersey and had to try it on. I took the photo with the self timer using my new wide angle lens.

12.10am on New year's Eve . . .

2008-01-22T20:07:00.000+10:30

We hosted a nibbles and drinks show at our place on New Year’s Eve. We made a whole heap of finger food - felafel, chicken and pistachio balls, beef koftas, smoked salmon blinis. We never did get around to the cheese plate or the fruit platter.

We sort of had two shifts come through. About half the people came early and then moved on and then a second ‘sitting’ came later and stayed on. We hadn’t planned to do anything special at midnight and the ‘event’ went past without anyone really noticing. We wished each other ‘Happy New Year’ at about 12.10am. Woops.

The downstairs area as seen from the landing at the top of the stairs.

Five Nights, Six Days in McLaren Vale

2008-01-22T19:12:00.000+10:30

We went for a quick holiday between Christmas Eve until the following Saturday. We stayed in two different places as we couldn’t get one continuous booking. The first place we stayed at was a B and B called The Vintage. Our suite consisted of a large bedroom area that was connected to the living area and there was a bathroom consisting of two rooms and a hallway. Our suite was The Library and it had a wall of books. From the titles it looked like they were bought by the metre from a second hand book shop.

The second place we stayed at was a self-contined cabin at the Victory Hotel. The cabins have an even better view than the Victory Hotel - looking over the whole of the McLanren Vale region and onto Adelaide and the hills - wheat feilds, olive groves, vineyards, paddocks, bits of suburbia.

We dined out a lot. Favourites were Fino in McLaren Vale and the Star of Greece at Port Willunga. Both very different and both magical as the weather was superb and everyone was relaxed and in a holiday atmosphere. We rode from the cabins at Sellicks Hill to the Star of Greece, perhaps 10km, but the farthest David had ridden in quite a while. We had a nice meal at the restaurant and then we decided to sit on the deck just ot further enjoy the place, instead of just finishing up and running away. We ended up sittng on the deck for a further three house talking to people from all over the place - a couple from San Fransisco, people from interstate as well as locals. It was great fun.

On the last night we went to Russell’s Pizza place, a wood-fired pizza restaurant located in a Cornish miner’s cottage in Willunga. We were there for Gary’s birthday celebration and just for a holiday get together. The place has a brilliant relaxed atmosphere an dalthough hot everyone had a good time. The place is truly unique and is only open one night a week.

We also celebrated my 43rd birthday while we were away.

At the B&B just out of McLaren Vale, The Vintage. How else does one pose on a chaise longue?

David on the chaise.

Several of me doing some wine tasting on the fabulous verandah of the B and B. One must use all one senses to appreaciate a good wine.

The pergola/verandah area at night.

Me at Fino about to attack the asparagus with twice cooked breadcrumbs.

Presents - I received a wide angle conversion lens for my camera.

Presents - I bought David these frogs by Adelaide Hills sculptor Silvio Apponyi. They are cast in bronze and have a green patination with some gold accents.

A silhouette formed as the sunset and streamed into the westerly facing window of the cabin. Taken using a self timer.

Triathlon - Sunday, January 13

2008-01-22T19:00:00.000+10:30

This triathlon was the same distance as the past two, however the first two were run under perfect conditions. On Sunday it rained as we waited to start, thyankfully it stopped and the wind dried out the roads before the bike ride. The lake was really choppy, so it was interesting swimming up waves and down the otrher side! Riding into the wind was pretty interesting too. The run was the least effected but even then you still have extra resistance going into the wind. I completed this one in 1 hour 12, about 30 seconds faster than Graham who is quickly improving. Everyone recorded a slower time than the previous triathlons.

You can see it was windy as the red flag is waving in the breeze.

Terry fighting with his wetsuit.

Me finishing the swim.

On the run into the wind.

Grahm on the run leg.

Across the line at last (but not last).

A Very Schiller Christmas

2008-01-22T18:26:00.000+10:30

We had the Schiller Christmas early this yeart on the Sunday. It was held at David and Julie’s house in Lower Mitcham. David and I made some nibbles for appetisers and David and Julie Webbered up a feast of roast meats and vegies. There was a traditional plum pudding for dessert too.

If you click on the photos you go to my Flickr site where you can see larger sizes.

Wiskey being cute.

Jack. Member of the Australia Youth Orchestra. He plays clarinet and bassoon.

David with his present from Mum. A selection of condiments.

Mum trying on the beaded scarf we gave her for Christmas.

Wiskey flat out. Being cute again.

Alex with water pistol. A score from the bonbons.

Meghan trying on one of her presents - a necklace.

Christmas Dinner. Round the table: Meghan, Ken, Jack, Julie, Alex, David, Hayley, Yvette, Leigh, Mum.

David showing the picture of him that was used in a magazine for the building company he sub-contracts for.

Alex again. Talented cricketer and soccer player.

Leigh. Chemical engineer.

Swim Group Christmas Breakfast

2008-01-05T21:17:00.000+10:30

We has a special breakfast at the last swim session before Chrsitmas. Everyone brought along some food and we shared it among the group. The coffee was popular as were Peter James-Martin’s waffles. I made our Coach, Kathy, a T-shirt that said “Coach” on the front written in pool water and lane ropes with drop shadow. Kenneth also tried out his bathers, that we bought for him as a present. It was a cooler morning, one of the few before the onslaught of the late December and early January HEAT.

Kenneth wearing the bathers we bought him for Christmas.

Tuckin’ in. . .

Kathy with her gift - wrapped.

Unwrapped.

Kathy showing off her gift.

Terry with waffle piece.

The big building is the gym of the private girl’s school next door.

The Twins? Actually Peter & Andrew.

Peter James-Martin; Leanne; Peter & Andrew.
John Skewes; John, Heather, David