The bits of stuff that fall in the cracks between Life, Music and outrageous fortune.         April   Close this window to return to Mike Rudd & Bill Putt's Stop Press   Bobby Valentine is overjoyed to see me in Mentone My special Valentine.. 30.4.10 - Bobby Valentine (pic) is better known as a musician and band leader on the Melbourrne music scene, but he's lately taken on a new challenge hosting the Wrokdown Radio Show on Friday mornings at Southern Radio's 88.3FM in Mentone. He invited me down this morning to have a chat and, at the behest of Wrokdown's producer, Anita Monk, to exclusively preview a prospective track from the upcoming third EP in the Breathing Space series. So I did - and it was fun too. Later on I visited the Australian Galleries in Collingwood to see the George Baldessin exhibition with my artistic friend, Annita Furey. Annita was a student of George's and thought I would respond to the graphic qualities in his work - which I did too. If I had a few thousand lazy dollars (not to mention a place for us all to live), I would actually love to own some of his pieces. Speaking of which, the auction is tomorrow. (See below) In somewhat of a reprieve, I've been advised that the new owner might be happy to have me continue in residence for a few months. Could this simply be reverse psychology? Hmmm..   A hundred years old and no telegram from the queen.. Mike's house up for auction 12.4.10 - It started a few weeks back when I saw my new neighbour from up the back excitedly running up and down my driveway. His sewer joins mine and runs through my property to join the mains in Granville St, and his prolific and undoubtedly nutrient rich young family immediately triggered a stinky back-up situation. Several visits from his plumber later he demanded to know who my landlord was - and I knew my days were numbered. Sure enough, within a couple of days I got the phone call informing me that the auction was on May 1st and I should start formulating an exit strategy. The auction board (pic) tells me the house was built circa 1910 - Happy 100th birthday house - and goodbye!   Party, party.. 1) Birthday girl Diane Buettel and guest Mike plus champers 2) The girls in session: Gloria, Wendy, Marg and Lena 3) Andy Cowan, Jimmie Sloggett, Gloria and Joe Imbrole 4) Dom arrives sensationally 5) Diane and her nephews 6) Mae Parker perches on Bob Valentine 7) Glyn Mason sings 8) Lisa Edwards lets one rip 9) Sam See provokes Andy Cowan into moving the piano closer Diane Buettel's 60th 3.4.10 - This is the second of Diane's parties I've been to, and it confirms that she certainly knows how to throw 'em. As it turns out, her actual birthday's a couple of weeks away yet, but I gather this was the most propitious night in the family calendar at least, so a Good Friday birthday bash it was. Despite a record number of consecutive days over 20° in Victoria, it was quite a cool evening and nearly everybody was wearing a wrap or a jacket to stay warm - my good ol' Lobby T-shirt kept me warm. I was initially hesitant about accepting a drink, but after Diane cracked a bottle of Moët I went with the flow - albeit a little tentatively. Nevertheless, when Sam See put it on me to play and sing I'll Be Gone I was quite comfortably numb and was grateful when everybody sang along. Sam and Glyn (pic 7) sang a few songs to be joined by Bob Valentine (pic 6) and Lisa Edwards (pic 8) and Andy Cowan joined in on piano from the other side of the room before Sam provoked him into having the piano moved. (pic 9) Sam revealed himself as quite the party MC and his Chuck Berry moves were a joy to behold. In the interests of my continued well-being I thought it prudent to leave at this point, but it was a fun night and great to catch up with everybody. Next..     back to the top