Some friends I meet on my way home from the office job

Petersham to Stanmore to Camperdown (Sydney) NSW Australia

The Stray Who Came To Stay

Boyfriend was a stray tom who fell in love with our now deceased elderly cat and decided he would like to live with us about 6-8 years ago.  We had him trapped and de-sexed so he took off for six weeks but came back.  He was a pleasant animal to have around and eventually I could brush him and he loved a pat and back scratch.
He had to be put down toward the end of July - the lovely vet who helped out figured he was somewhere between 16-18 years old.
Now, despite being able to grow flowers without the garden being dug up, not being bother by fleas and being about to go away for more than a night without organising a person to feed the cat, I miss the big old ginger.
Boyfriend 199-?--2012

It's the weekend - time for fun

and what a good time they had

image: (Harry Whittier Frees (1879–1953)

Why not drop by... for a bite

Location, location!
Erskineville - where anything can happen (image about 2004, negative scanned 2007)

Today has been a bit of a nothing day - we slept in longer than intended and then just did stuff.  I have a number of mediocre tasks on my plate of which I've done ziltch/nil/nothin'

Most of the day I've been resisting opening up Patti Smith's new book, Just Kids - I am up to page 27 and know that if I pick it up in the middle of the day, I will read it through in 1 or 2 sittings, it's SO good but it is one to spend time with this book think about an mull over.  She is such a good writer - a wonderful storyteller.
What I didn't expect to happen is the book provoking my own memories of wishes, anger & angst.

Just now

on a short round trip walk to pick up the mail & some bananas (along with a loaf of that scrumptious apricot bread for toast)
as follows:

1. Waiting to cross at the traffic lights

2. Texting in front of The Hub (out of shot is 1/2 doz youngers with their clipboards taking a break from hassling people for charity & over a bit further out of shot some folks that looked as though they were waiting for their AA or NA meeting at the Newtown Community Centre)

3. Home again - looking out the side door to see if the stray who came to stay is here yet - snuck this shot through the grotty mesh of the door  - the bright bit is part of the little verandah - it's very sunny out there
He's called Boyfriend because he loved our now deceased elderly cat & would call to her through the window.  Being wild, he learnt to eat what he could when he can but now he has a yard to live in and daily food he still continues to do so around the neighbourhood & is a right fatty and a very nice natured animal.

Mary Travers - if the cancer don't get you, the chemo will

Mary Travers - November 9, 1936 – September 16, 2009

How sad that Mary from Peter, Paul and Mary has died from the chemotherapy that was supposed to kill the cancer she had - guess it did but it killed her too.

Peter, Paul & Mary played a role in my growing up. When I was little we had limited choices of music to listen to - consisting solely on my Mum's records for many years. Of the few I remember Julie Felix (we played the Old Grey Goose (is dead) a lot), Glen Campbell (bit too boring to a kid although I know the songs - scary!), Harry Seacombe - the goon sang but it was too operatic for us kids.

The record we did play and played and played was the double live 1964 album, Peter, Paul and Mary in Concert. Not only was there some beautiful harmonised singing, it was funny too - Paul Stookey was also a stand up comedian (I still mimic "here they come, there they are, don't look at them!" about teeny girls 'not' talking to boys).
This record made such an impression, I bought myself a second hand copy of the LP as an adult and my Mum tells me that another of my sisters has done the same. I think there's a few of us who have this record (Mum had 7 kids).

PP&M sang folk with political & spiritual themes. Some of the music is early English folk - Oh Waly Waly (called "There is a Ship" on the album) & The Three Ravens - 15th Century songs performed more recently by Counter-Tenor Superstar, Andreas Scholl (sound bites of his versions can be found here ) and it's these folk ballad about loss and death I enjoy most. Even the more religious type spiritual songs of theirs move me... but the roudy folky all together now... well that will do for the moment...(let's not get too carried away)

- I was writing this blog this morning as I waited for the vet to come & have a look at my near 20yr old moggie to confirm the inevitable - that the cat would have to be put down.

 I telephoned my partner to come home from work & the deed was done.

I already had the PPM record on the turntable so I sat the needle to play 500 Miles while my very sweet little animal died.

Compostt - a sweet animal - and really fun company 1989-2009

Walking past the artist's house

When Sydney has its gorgeous Winter days, it's always a delight going for a walk.
My walk today had purpose - I finally finished 2 years of tax return accounts. I reckon that government payout did the ATO a big favour in that I'm sure it's a bigger record of people doing tax returns than the years when they announce an amnesty...

But, so on the walk, and it IS on the way to the accountants office is the artist's house - the wonderful Jenny Orchard & her fabulous totems:






http://jennyorchard.com/v2/totems.htm

And then there's always an available hand to pat all those charming cats:





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