Melbourne for Christmas
So..........., after some nasty curfuffledom at Sydney airport the rather stressed Poodles arrived at Melbourne Airport to be met by old pal Rob Hall and his Missus, Lauris Pandolfini (she is Irish, one of the Ballybrack Pandolinis no doubt). Last saw Rob about 300 years ago in Kenmare, Co Kerry where he lived, painted and kept horses. As ye can imagine there was much catching up and going back to be done. Mrs Poodlem (recent spelling mistake that is pleasantly Portugese) was valiant in taking in these reminiscences and even enjoyed them. She was born the year Rob came to Ireland. A good year.
Impressions of the Melbourne we saw: More European than Sydney (more San Fran), spacious leafy seaside suburbs of Albert Park crammed with delicious multiethnic cafes and Chi Chi shops FULL of stuffed toys... enticing, a leisurely relaxed air of 'fine living'.... enticing, quaint antique trams with shrill bells pacing the streets at regular intervals make transport easy (more of that)... easy, and seaside within spitting distance.....refreshing. This last observation leads to two low/highlights: Christmas day Camille achieves sunburn on the beach despite copious screen applications / Perkins meets 2 paramedics in blue uniform picnicing on duty with Santa hats atop (30 degrees Celsius). He politely asks for a photo opportunity and is allowed access as long as 'we are not press'. First time in my life I have been mistaken for a news hound.
Speaking of hounds Rob has the most intelligent and enthusiastic collie name of Danny who guards his Master's country estate and his Missus'sTown house. We leave him with a heavy heart. His master doesn't know that he hopped up on the bed to say 'goodbye mates' .
Did a lap of Albert Park. Yes, THAT Albert Park where the pivotal figures of our time yearly demonstrate their Godlike prowess and pollute the atmosphere with racefuel and the scream of 19,000 rpm racing engines.
My hosts actually leave the city for that weekend. The course looks tame at the moment but it takes six weeks to turn it into a racedrome and six weeks to restore.
Rob took us to Springhill his country station, an hour's drive from the city. It reminded me so much of his house in Gortamullen, Co Kerry. Bohemian with all mod cons and the inimitable taste of a serious working artist.We were lucky to go to Daylesford the next day and see his current show. The work reflects the landscape around Springhill. Basic landsape formats with very subtle renditions of the myriad greens with hidden red of the Eucalypt stands and the meadows. He has a piercing understanding of greens and a sense of place is very strong: slow burn pics with integrity. OK I'll stick to painting rather than arttwaddle.
We were looked after so well by Rob and Lauris and time flew. I think they may have been a bit shocked at first by the emphasis on a certain stuffed monkey but they got o a point where they were willing associates in having his photo taken at the movies.
A highlight was a visit to the Munch exhibition in Melbourne. The paintings spanned his life and were SUPERBLY hung. It was a very emotional show portraying the rather tragic life he led. He must have been one of the first artists to portray psychological pain and it's attendent emotional causes. The paintings of jealousy could reduce you to tears and of course thre was a woodcut of one of the iconic 'scream' paintings. His technique was beguiling in it's sometimes watercolour thinness in the oils along with bravura impastos (Steady!)
We met Rob's Daughter Chloe who played us her soon- to- be released 2nd album. I was completely bowled over by it and think it is of international standing. Want to help it on it's way if poss. So wonderful to see her again, a national treasure without doubt. Also spoke to her Mum, Tricia, on the last day which was a complete delight.
All in all a great visit.
Camille and Morgan stayed in the younger area of town, St Kilda, and we had loads of fun with them too; shopping, fashion, Lunar Park, cinema of course and general banter.
So ,you see, there is something to be said for being an unashamed tourist and a superficial one at that. This is time out to have time in in.
Alas, even as i write, there is only one major thought on the mind and most of the world is thinking it.
Impressions of the Melbourne we saw: More European than Sydney (more San Fran), spacious leafy seaside suburbs of Albert Park crammed with delicious multiethnic cafes and Chi Chi shops FULL of stuffed toys... enticing, a leisurely relaxed air of 'fine living'.... enticing, quaint antique trams with shrill bells pacing the streets at regular intervals make transport easy (more of that)... easy, and seaside within spitting distance.....refreshing. This last observation leads to two low/highlights: Christmas day Camille achieves sunburn on the beach despite copious screen applications / Perkins meets 2 paramedics in blue uniform picnicing on duty with Santa hats atop (30 degrees Celsius). He politely asks for a photo opportunity and is allowed access as long as 'we are not press'. First time in my life I have been mistaken for a news hound.
Speaking of hounds Rob has the most intelligent and enthusiastic collie name of Danny who guards his Master's country estate and his Missus'sTown house. We leave him with a heavy heart. His master doesn't know that he hopped up on the bed to say 'goodbye mates' .
Did a lap of Albert Park. Yes, THAT Albert Park where the pivotal figures of our time yearly demonstrate their Godlike prowess and pollute the atmosphere with racefuel and the scream of 19,000 rpm racing engines.
My hosts actually leave the city for that weekend. The course looks tame at the moment but it takes six weeks to turn it into a racedrome and six weeks to restore.
Rob took us to Springhill his country station, an hour's drive from the city. It reminded me so much of his house in Gortamullen, Co Kerry. Bohemian with all mod cons and the inimitable taste of a serious working artist.We were lucky to go to Daylesford the next day and see his current show. The work reflects the landscape around Springhill. Basic landsape formats with very subtle renditions of the myriad greens with hidden red of the Eucalypt stands and the meadows. He has a piercing understanding of greens and a sense of place is very strong: slow burn pics with integrity. OK I'll stick to painting rather than arttwaddle.
We were looked after so well by Rob and Lauris and time flew. I think they may have been a bit shocked at first by the emphasis on a certain stuffed monkey but they got o a point where they were willing associates in having his photo taken at the movies.
A highlight was a visit to the Munch exhibition in Melbourne. The paintings spanned his life and were SUPERBLY hung. It was a very emotional show portraying the rather tragic life he led. He must have been one of the first artists to portray psychological pain and it's attendent emotional causes. The paintings of jealousy could reduce you to tears and of course thre was a woodcut of one of the iconic 'scream' paintings. His technique was beguiling in it's sometimes watercolour thinness in the oils along with bravura impastos (Steady!)
We met Rob's Daughter Chloe who played us her soon- to- be released 2nd album. I was completely bowled over by it and think it is of international standing. Want to help it on it's way if poss. So wonderful to see her again, a national treasure without doubt. Also spoke to her Mum, Tricia, on the last day which was a complete delight.
All in all a great visit.
Camille and Morgan stayed in the younger area of town, St Kilda, and we had loads of fun with them too; shopping, fashion, Lunar Park, cinema of course and general banter.
So ,you see, there is something to be said for being an unashamed tourist and a superficial one at that. This is time out to have time in in.
Alas, even as i write, there is only one major thought on the mind and most of the world is thinking it.
posted by Tim Goulding at Saturday, January 01, 2005
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