A week of heaven

Elated morning, rising at 3 am for Spencer Tunick's nude shoot on the Opera House steps. Absolutely beautiful feeling and sight, surrounded by nudes, all 5,000 of us braving the coolest morning all year. But so divine, to be amongst so many latte colours, en masse, collaborating for the sake of a photograph. I am not in love with the final product, but it is the event and assemblage that I cherish. Everyone looks so beautiful in the nude, it is a momentous charge to experience such a mass of humans, unclothed.
I have just returned from Port Macquarie, where I stayed with the wondrous RP and LP, and my dear father, Ben. A week of beaches, goannas, dolphins and tranquility in koala territory, with dozens of activities planned day and night. Saw RP perform one evening, went to the premiere of a terrible play, swam and walked to various beaches, inhaled a lot of clean air and slept wonderfully each night. On Friday night, I danced under the moon, at Yanaka time, in tandem. Woke to the birds and found unlimited energy from the ants. I made it my mission to see dolphins, and as soon as I declared that, there they were.
This was a great rendition of a caravan (Harry's Point) at Shelley Beach. I got to sit there on 2 afternoons...sublime.
Couldn't believe the vast empty beaches, I went to a lookout and saw not a soul. Space and more space. Walked along the edge of a lagoon and watched the hundreds of fish scoot away. I could live like this. Falling asleep to the sound of the waves at Tacking Point, lulled by the rhythm and endlessness...pounding the shore. The intensity of the ocean up there was astounding. It tried to rip the flesh off my bones, but I was cautious and respectful. Being alone on beaches with this force surging in totally put things into perspective, be very careful.
One highlight was a rain forest walk at Sea Acres. We saw the strangler vine in action in all it's glory and were largely alone for the walk, other than goannas, birds and land mullet. It was such a treat to breathe the air and go slowly through such ancient spaces. Another highlight was in Wauchope, where RP took us to Timbertown, a colonial town set up in 1880's style. It sounds tacky but I was enchanted, all original buildings, situated in the bush, recreating a past that I only read about. I couldn't get enough, it fascinates me, the olden days. I was delighted to just stroll around and hardly encounter a living soul. I bought a nice painting of Lighthouse Beach for RP and LP (where they live), and spoke to everyone I met there. I hope the place keeps on running, as I am keen to go back.
I understand that life, and consider it seriously sometimes, but I think I would tire of the clean kitchen and self-satisfied contentment. Fighting off the ants in a white mansion that borders the rain forest is not what I am here for. But to spend quality time with Ben and the Polsons was priceless. I am extremely fortunate.

Travel over country

Just back after a few days in sunny Adelaide. Yet another trip to South Australia where I see nothing but the airport and Henley Beach area. But am I complaining?
I arrived in the evening, laden with enormous lightweight luggage packed to the gunnels with plastics. VT picked me up and whisked me to her home, where before we had a cup of tea, the show was hung. Fast action. I was pretty happy with my decisions, and it felt nice to resolve the work in this way and see it realised.
Her 18 year old son, Harry played some awesome Hendrix, and sang a ballad he had written about the bush fires that I can only describe as wonderful and he should have it copyrighted.
In the morning we got up and headed straight to said beach where lolling in the gentleness was par for the course. Extreme beauty and relaxation. Breakfast at the kiosk on the beach was so delicious I kept feeling like Bo Derek on a good day, then back to the house/gallery where tedious labelling awaited me. Art can be so easy, it is the paperwork that is brain numbingly frustrating, but after hours I got it done. I realised why she was so keen to show these works, as she is a blue and white china lover, and I raided her cupboards for articles to place in a vitrine, in the space, as kind of reference materials. It looked good. Whilst raiding the cupboards I found a lovely blue and white sake bottle, and was holding it, and she said watch out,don't drop it, and it literally sprang from my hand and smashed on the floor. How typical! I still used the shards in the work, cataloguing the breakage as an act that intensifies the difference between china and plastics...but still feel terrible, have to find her a new one.
Had another swim in the afternoon, after completing the hard work, did some yoga in the backyard and just took it easy while waiting for the boys who were coming over to take me out for a quiet beer up the road. James Dodd's expert tatt. JD and his friend S came by and took me down the road to the Ramsgate, a beautiful old pub overlooking the jetty. We had dinner and sat outside and I watched the golden crescent moon descend in the sky. Feeling mellifluous after 3 beers, we parted ways and I went along the long jetty, it was dark and many fishers were throwing their crab pots into the water. So lovely, strolling in the warm wind, a bit drunk, and happy. I couldn't go straight home so I walked along the promenade for a while, passing only one person, a woman singing softly to herself on a bench.
The next day it was the same routine, early beach, breakfast then some chores. It was hot like an oven door opening and the afternoon saw more swimming. Divinely cleansed, VT took me back to the airport where I flew home.
But what I had wanted to write about was the plane journey; up in the air, on leaving Sydney I was glued to the window, as usual. Incredible beauty on such a grand scale, soaring at 36,000 feet, with the vastness of the country laid out for me. The glimmers of water in valleys and dams shining so bright, and the dark green rolling hills stretching as far as the eye can see. A few hundred miles later they start petering out, and becoming more brown and less densely forested. Occasionally a calligraphic swirl of a ridge on the flat plains, and then just land. Towards Adelaide, the hills rise up again, and the difference between cultivated land and that left untouched is so extreme, such a divide. So much more barren down here, so different. On the return journey, at night unfortunately, I got to enjoy the lack of lights on the country below. The captain announced that we would be flying over Canberra and I am craning to see what it looks like at night, but it was so small I thought it must be Goulburn or Yass, but they were even smaller.
PJ picked me up at the airport and it was lovely to get home and make some soba noodles and sit.

Here and now

This week has had some ecstatic highlights. The foremost being snorkeling at Clovelly and seeing the giant groper. I had been in for quite a while and was getting cold and making my way out when there it was, in all it's gigantic glory, nosing about near the steps...I couldn't believe how beautiful and blue it was. There were hundreds of other fish there, many that recognised, and many more. Whole schools of garfish, swimming along the top surface, octopus along the bottom and countless others amongst the rocks and all around.
Last night I went to the first concert I have been to in years. I got a subscription to the chamber orchestra and was transported by flawless symphonies and arrangements. I just sat there and let the music wash me with it's pure pure crystal clear sound. I love Schubert, and they began with one of his. It is like a big drink of water when you are very thirsty. When the oboes started playing I rose even higher, and had to reach for my hanky, as tears started falling. I felt the music all over me, sometimes in my knees, sometimes elbows, back of neck, the spine of course, and other parts! It was delightful and when I left with sore hands from clapping,I walked taller and had a big grin on my face, because I know it's totally bourgeois and white collar, but classical music is something else wonderful. I went on my own, and felt delicious.
Today I am seeing my folks, and maybe we will be dining at the Thai restaurant up the road. It is still raining and everything is dripping, the fans are on and the skirts are flapping. Tropical life is so fecund, and sensual.

Joy

After a week of torrential rain, on Tuesday the sun came out full blast. The plan was to take the ferry to Manly, walk to Shelley Beach and swim. The plan was followed and divine swimming all afternoon was indulged in. Fantastically safe and green, super special underwater delight. Me and ER went all day and then found ourselves on the corso having a beer at sunset then took a ferry back to Cafe Sydney for a mojito cocktail before coming home for vodka shots and finally sleep. Hello ecstasy! Such indulgence.
The night before I had a curry party, inviting friends over for supper. Everyone brought a curry, and we had ten different yummies to enjoy. Thank you darlings, it was sublime, and way easier than doing all that cooking alone.

Lots of rain

The last few days. Lots of thunder, and huge downpours. The frogs, lizards, slugs and snails are very happy.
We went to Rookwood Cemetery today, to commemorate Mary and Emma, it was very peaceful and no-one was around. Good air. We walked through the old parts and I felt the earth beneath my feet, and enjoyed the flowers growing around and the outstanding orange lichens that grow on the sides of tombstones. It's the first time I have been to a cemetery since Yanaka, I realise, and I can't help contemplate my involvement with death.
In my very earliest photographic works, I used images of cemeteries and graveyards. I think of the tombstones and see them as the only portraits of so many people who once lived. I have always had been drawn to these places of contemplation, and general quiet, the sense of space and then the little buildings that are erected as memorials or places to sit, chapels and shady huts. I am fascinated with these places that are opposite to the living areas of the world.
Remembrance, it is the gift of having a memory to commemorate. If you have no involvement, you have no memories. When you see a tomb lovingly cared for, you can't help but think of those living who have taken this job on as a form of duty, ritual and respect. When you see someone tending to their relative's grave you imagine a scenario...my heart goes out to them.
I love the different areas at Rookwood, so many denominations and varying traditions. I think of what it would have been like when it was first instituted, and feel the ghosts of the long dead, and how bleak it would have been.
It makes me glad I am alive to witness.
And as the wonderful PJ pointed out, there must be a room full of some really big keys to open all those crypts...big ancient decorative keys...

The trains stop at midnight here as well

This was something I did not know. Was in the 'city' last night and discovered that, for the first time...also the buses stop running! Hell, I could've walked home but it was pouring rain. Walked to Central, enjoying the emptiness, passing clubs full of really young people, and ended up getting a cab. Am I really this old and clueless about the way this town works? Obviously.
Worked at home yesterday and was actually engrossed, for once. Making headway, time passing fast. I totally deserved to go out and get trashed, eat Korean bbq, drink their version of shochu, called soju, then followed by a waste of money at IMAX, watching Avatar dross in 3-d. What crap. I feel like I am on another planet, when it comes to entertainment. I would've been happy hanging out on George Street watching the flurries of vomit.
A warm wind blows today and I am excited about getting more work done. Got the music pumped up, and all systems go. A bit of yoga, a quick bike ride and I am in!

I am

I am enormously, obesely decadent...I cannot stop myself from enjoying myself, it is a giant obsession, self pleasuring...oh well, what can I do but go through this phase and accept it, and get on with it.
Going to the beach for the second time today, and it is not even mid-day. Did a couple of hours work yesterday and felt like that was enough, so went and watched the sunset up at Sydney Park. Outrageously beautiful skies.
This morning I got up really early and went to Bondi with my favourite denim clad mistress, JP. She got stung by a blue bottle while I frolicked in the liquid glass. Awesome. And now, the day too fine to be spent indoors, I made a call and am going off to enjoy round 2. It is necessary for my research.