beginnings

(thanks to Kilbey for the idea...)

1969/70

man lands on the moon

woodstock, mud n madness

altamont, death and decay of the dream

vietnam in full flight

some coming home alive, 

some coming home in bags

in the midst of it all

out I come

few weeks early

trying to poison mother not my best move

but nonetheless

it all seemed to work out...

arriving on a sunday

my dad racing from church to see me

apparently fighting with nurses n all n sundry to get in

not the done thing in those days - 

men were to pace the corridors

n wait with the other blokes

not feel comfortable with being there

but things were changing even then

n my old man,

the european in him always seemed to win out

embrace the new regardless

so there he was with  the Mr Hattam

catching the end of the action.

seems I was a happy enough bub

ate too much even then

(you should see the pictures - the michelin man in action!)

born in inner city melbourne 

st andrews

its funny how when i get back there

i always love those suburbs

they are almost magical for me

the terrace houses

the university

the avenues of trees in autumn

the markets

the cheese shops

buskers

the smell of coffee

in those days

the italian and chinese sub-cultures

walk a block and all would change

the smells

the sounds

the dialogue

the music

of yeah music

my mistress my friend my passion my curse

dont remember much about the music that was played in those really early years

there must have been some

i guess at church

n in the house

I check out my dads old lps for clues 

not a rocker really

dutch college swing band was about as hip as it got

loads of classical

but not really sure about what he liked

chant

symphonic

choir

organ

its all there

but it was a different time then

so much was determined my what you did

n I guess a young cleric

would be a bit dubious with sgt pepper or cream

the stones would be well out too

not to mention hendrix or sly n family

funny how this music

(someone called it "classic rock" the other day and I was ready to murder...)

keeps on calling to me

one look at my cd's would tell ya

beatles

traffic

small faces

who

otis

sly

curtis 

joni

crosby stills nash

byrds

its my history

it forms my present

its my last six months of the sixties tale.