The bits of stuff that fall in the cracks between Life, Music and outrageous fortune.		  
 
 
 
January
   Close this window to return to Mike Rudd & Bill Putt's Stop Press
 

1) The Sacred Heart Church in higher-most Croydon 2) Wrokdown's Anita Monk affects the appropriate demeanour
 Harv's 'transition'
28.1.11 - It wasn't that I was apprehensive, but I wasn't exactly looking forward to Harv's funeral service either. I'd been mucking around in the studio and had forgotten that Bill was coming around, but in the event we decided to go separately to the church, neither of us being quite sure what we'd want to do after the service. Robbo and Lisa joined us in convoy and we arrived together - after the mandatory Gonad Brothers directional dithering. The church's interior was spacious and light, and the blessed light was to contribute to the only glitch during the service when it obliterated Alex's projected pictorial tribute to her father.
Father Bob conducted the proceedings. I'm not familiar with the good padre, but I believe he has a radio show that attracts some negative interest from the purists. Anyway, he came as close to being a clerical comedian as you'd want at a funeral, gently mocking some of the more traditional Catholic customs. It would have been nice had he actually known who Harvey was, but I guess he kept the atmosphere relaxed.
Harv's sons, Gabe and Josh, both spoke touchingly about their father, Guy Mallaby (George's son?) played an acoustic guitar piece that Harv might've had something to do with, and Tabasco Tom (I think) sang a song with a girl fiddle player. Harv's wife Faye spoke at the end of the service, but I didn't catch everything she said as she elected not to use the mic - and I'm pretty deaf.
Bill, the Robbos and I decided to go to Christine's place after the service and because we were starving we got a bite to eat in Belgrave on the way - which was a mistake as there was food aplenty at Christine's. And plenty of people too, about half of whom were known to me but not all with names that sprang readily to mind. That's my cross and one day I will learn to bear it with dignity. I still managed some nice conversations with Valda, the Two Anitas, the Formosa bros, Ron, (who tour managed Ted Mulry!) and Garth Porter. Networking at funerals - it's come to this.. See Harv's obituary in The Age by Jen Jewel Brown
 

Tom and Jill (right) chat to a couple of interstate guests 		Tom Spanos' 60th
16.1.11 - Bill mournfully informed me on Friday that the dam at Rosewood was overflowing because of the rain and trees were down so he wasn't going to be able to make it to Tom Spanos' surprise 60th birthday celebration at the Pier Hotel that night, so I wasn't really sure how many people I'd actually know in the room. I needn't have worried of course - it was a big, fat Greek affair and everybody in the room was well disposed to everybody else, even to comparative outsiders like me.
I had some very interesting chats to relatives and friends on both sides of the Tom and Jill equation (pic) and I didn't get home till after midnight, so I must've had fun!
(There are some more pics on my Facebook page).
 

1) The Millers put in an appearance at Rudd HQ 2) Edwin Mitchell brought a red tea pot
What we did in the holidays - part two..
9.1.11 - I'd dropped Chris back at Vermont St in anticipation of a couple of busy days on Thursday and Firday with Edwin Mitchell (pic 2) and, of course, the Minya Winery gig on Saturday and so he wasn't with me when the Millers (pic 1) popped into Rudd HQ at Choclatté on Thursday morning on the way to the funeral of a musician friend near Whittlesea. (Incidentally, Geoff sent me a very lovely appraisal of the band(s) triggered by the recent Semaphore Workers Club appearance, which you can read on the Correspondence page).
It's always lovely to see the Millers - and Edwin for that matter. Edwin and I are working on a tune of his in the AM studio. I was unable to offer him tea on the first session because I'd taken my tea pot to Heathmont - so he bought me a very impressive red tea pot and a couple of mugs! He can come again!
 


1) Chris cuts a debonair figure at the North Point Café 2) I've never seen the movie, so I quite enjoyed the show
What we did in the holidays - part one..
3.1.11 - As every (Aussie) parent knows only too well, the holidays ain't over yet, but there's a fair bit to report in the meantime. Chris and I actually missed on seeing in the New Year at Diane Buettel's party, but only by fifteen minutes or so. We did see the Sydney vs Melbourne fireworks displays on telly before retiring, (Sydney won hands down), and the next day, finding Choclatté disconcertingly shut, we glided down Beach Rd to Brighton and lunched at the North Point Café. (pic 1)
Last night we joined the rest of the Vermont St gang at His Majesty's for a performance of Mary Poppins, (pic 2) and then ate a sophisticated Chinese meal just around the corner in Chinatown, (assorted dumplings, spicy calamari and roast duck), both of which Chris enjoyed heartily. Afterwards we headed off to Heathmont for our first night doggie-sitting at the McClatchys' while they holiday in Fiji.
 
 
back to the top