A week or so ago I came to Sydney on the train. An 11 hour trip of empty seats, plenty of time to read and rain, rain, rain. I've never seen country Victoria look so green nor the rivers so full. But 11 hours is a long time to think all by yourself even if you are accompanied by good books. No one to play cards with, no one to laugh quietly about the other passengers with. The rain was a perfect reflection of how I felt. So I was thrilled to be met at Central station by one of Richard's brothers in all but biology, Mic Conway. Here he is with his beautiful AND talented wife Ro and the ever patient and shameless Gypsy.This was the view out of Mic's van. The fabulous view of the Glebe bridge. I have been staying with Mic's brother Jim and sister-in-law Helen. The Conway brothers have been treating me like royalty and I have been so very grateful. First up Mic took me to the Leichardt pool, 50 metres of pure paradise on a hot summers day. Luckily Mard had given me a fabulous Esther williams bathing suit so I was into that water quick smart. The next day Helen took me to the Redleaf pool. A perfect pool in Sydney's Double Bay. No sharks because of the fence around the pool. Quite a walk down very steep steps so by the time you reached the top you felt like going back in again. Then a few days later the lovely Kerry Dwyer took me past amazing gardens and a winding path to another spectacular pool at Coogee. This time an ocean pool. (Those bathers have really been getting a work out) Some kids had been snorkeling in the rocks and found these living bits of seaweed. Beautiful black sea slugs. Later that night after swimming with Kerry, Jim & Helen took me out to a film preview that their friends the Pigram brothers play music in and helped produce called "Mad Bastards". It screened at the Sydney Uni quadrangle. A remarkably English building on a very un-english balmy night. The film was great if a little hard to hear because of the echoing site, but the Pigram Brothers playing beforehand was a rare treat. We indulged in a little celebrity spotting!!! As Molly Meldrum used to say "Do yourself a favour" and listen to this wonderful youtube clip of the Pigram brothers. Let it transport you to North Western Australia.
Well we've said hello and goodbye to another lovely pair of friends. This time Janie and Peter Conway-Herron. Janie is a senior lecturer in creative writing at Southern Cross University in Australia. She's a writer too and the last time we saw them was in 2004 when she and Pete were traveling and researching her recent book Beneath the Grace of Clouds. They have left East Harling now to continue their travels in Shetland to research the next book.
Janie has known Richard since 1965 when they both worked at The Pram factory in Carlton. Janie's brothers were the infamous Mick and Jim Conway of Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band fame. Richard played in the band with them. Here are a couple of videos, you may be able to spot Ricardo the Magnificent in the first one...
This second one is of the band before Richard joined but as I knew them when I'd go and see them at various dives around Melbourne. They were our favourite band.
It was at Mic Conway's National Junk Band's CD launch that I met Richard in 2002 and when I discovered he'd been in Captain Matchbox and sung the song "If I can't have Anna in Cuba, I think I'll see Esther in Spain", I was in love. Here they are singing "The land of Oz".
Yesterday we went to the hospital as usual and found a very confused and frightened Richard struggling to even breathe. It's so distressing to see him like that and I always think the worst but the liver team headed by the absolutely gorgeous Matty, decided that they would take some of the fluid away that was making him so uncomfortable. It worked a treat just like it did last time and he felt instantly better as the pressure of the fluid receded. I want to tell you that the staff at the Norfolk & Norwich hospital have been absolutely amazing. There is so much care in their faces and they've helped all of us individually as we sneak away for a cry. Holding our hands when we've needed it and being very, very genuinely concerned.
I don't feel it's appropriate to put photos up here of Ricardo at the moment in distress but I have been sitting here at my desk looking at old photos and videos of him that have put a smile back on my face and I thought I'd share them with all the newcomers to the blog so you don't have to search through the archives. Here he is at William Fairbanks boating event at the river in Bridgham in June 2006. and one of my favourites of him walking boldly ahead of me at Squeaky beach at Wilson's Prom in Australia in March 2005 Here's a video I took of him practising for a gig in April 2009
with George Washingmachine at Shoreham in Australia in January 2008 and a few other random videos that I found from ages ago that will show you his Royale magnificence.
This is my earworm at the moment thanks to Kelly. I love the way these girls make it look so easy to sing such perfect harmony. Ricardo and I are going to do our own rendition as soon as I can figure out all the words. I'll put it up here when we do. As Wikipedia says..."The song is notable as a hit single where the title is not in the lyrics".
Well another fabulous night went down at Bridgham Church on Saturday. It's a rare privilege to be able to perform with these guys. Paul Fitzgerald on the left, Ricky Royale centre and Trevor Roland on the right. Here's a dodgy video of rehearsal. Dave Thomas is in this too, special guest no1. The song he sang on the night "Shadow of doubt" by Gary Nicholson sent shivers down your spine.
Ooooooeeeeee nothing compares to the buzz you get when you're standing up there on stage and everyone in the audience is misty eyed.
It's getting pretty nerve wracking around here, waiting for 6pm to come when we have a sound check for tonight's gig. So I thought I'd relieve the tension and cook and blog. Just lunch really but I had these photos in my camera from the other night when we had William, John & Sally round for borsch and cards. I made plaited rye bread, mushroom dumplings (or Ushka) which means 'little ears' and borsch. We had a great night but I still didn't win the Yarnuf game.
Yes it's happening again. The Ricky Royale trio is prepering to lift the roof this Saturday night 17th January at 8pm at East Harling Church. Be there or be square.There will be special guests including that songstress of soul.......me. Come on down.
We had a family afternoon tea yesterday where the Ludbrooks met the Thomas/Skippers. There were twisties, lamingtons and cucumber sandwiches. Two cultures collided and a great time was had by all. Culminating in a big Yaniv game and an anagram game happening on the same table.
Then today there was a jam session at Gwen's place. Sometimes these things go well and sometimes they don't. This was a doozer. The other players were really really good. Here in the video is a wee sample. Richard didn't wear his new shoes but his Aussie thongs were tappin' away like crazy.
I promised Ricardo before we left the UK that I wouldn't complain about the heat no matter how hot it got....boy it's really been tested, and yes I'm afraid I have complained. We went to the beach on the hottest day of the hottest year on New Years Eve, it ended up getting to 41 degrees (which is 105.8 Fahrenheit). Too hot to even think about walking across the sand to get in the water until about 5.30 pm. Even then you had to run before you got blisters. We did have the most amazing New years Eve though. Every year for the last 41 years the Macleans have had a party at a place called Shoreham. I've never managed to go but this year we made it. It exceeded all expectations......... you had to walk through a painted canvas of a gypsy caravan to enter the party. Once inside there was a bower of fairy lights leading to a cleared area with a chandelier made of black irrrigation pipe, a mirror ball, a pine tree, paper lanterns and a myriad of flashing silver bulbs, it must have been 20 feet across. Two tables had been set up outside that must have been 10 feet long and 4 inch thick Douglas fir slapped together for the night. People were right into it, so keen to have a good time. Here's a picture of Rebecca's bum wiggling to the beat of the Gypsy band that played for hours. Speaking of Bums here is a grand pic of my buddy Jase showing us his best asset. Ricardo got to sing along with his buddy George Washingmachine. What better way to spend New years Eve than singing in a heatwave. Not a tropical one but nevertheless...here I bring you the Shoreham sisters.
I started this blog when I moved to the UK with my husband Ricardo the Magnificent. After losing him to liver cancer in 2010 I decided to move back to my home town in Melbourne, Australia.
As political philosopher Thomas Paine would declare, "The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren and to do good is my religion".
plenty of time to read
and rain, rain, rain. I've never seen country Victoria look so green nor the rivers so full.
But 11 hours is a long time to think all by yourself even if you are accompanied by good books. No one to play cards with, no one to laugh quietly about the other passengers with. The rain was a perfect reflection of how I felt.
So I was thrilled to be met at Central station by one of Richard's brothers in all but biology, Mic Conway. Here he is with his beautiful AND talented wife Ro and the ever patient and shameless Gypsy.
This was the view out of Mic's van.
The fabulous view of the Glebe bridge.
I have been staying with Mic's brother Jim and sister-in-law Helen. The Conway brothers have been treating me like royalty and I have been so very grateful. First up Mic took me to the Leichardt pool, 50 metres of pure paradise on a hot summers day. Luckily Mard had given me a fabulous Esther williams bathing suit so I was into that water quick smart.
The next day Helen took me to the Redleaf pool. A perfect pool in Sydney's Double Bay. No sharks because of the fence around the pool. Quite a walk down very steep steps so by the time you reached the top you felt like going back in again.
Then a few days later the lovely Kerry Dwyer 
took me past amazing gardens and a winding path
to another spectacular pool at Coogee. This time an ocean pool. (Those bathers have really been getting a work out)
Some kids had been snorkeling in the rocks and found these living bits of seaweed. Beautiful black sea slugs.
Later that night after swimming with Kerry, Jim & Helen took me out to a film preview that their friends the Pigram brothers play music in and helped produce called "Mad Bastards". It screened at the Sydney Uni quadrangle. A remarkably English building on a very un-english balmy night. The film was great if a little hard to hear because of the echoing site, but the Pigram Brothers playing beforehand was a rare treat.
We indulged in a little celebrity spotting!!!
As Molly Meldrum used to say "Do yourself a favour" and listen to this wonderful youtube clip of the Pigram brothers. Let it transport you to North Western Australia.
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Two cultures collided and a great time was had by all. Culminating in a big Yaniv game and an anagram game happening on the same table.
Once inside there was a bower of fairy lights leading to a cleared area with a chandelier made of black irrrigation pipe, a mirror ball, a pine tree, paper lanterns and a myriad of flashing silver bulbs, it must have been 20 feet across.
Here's a picture of Rebecca's bum wiggling to the beat of the Gypsy band that played for hours.
