Posted in 1 Guildford Rd, 10 Reserve St, Penrith Infants, Penrith Primary, Penrith South Primary, Pre School, tagged Camden, Christmas Day, Elderslie, plum pudding, Roast Dinner, threepence on December 25, 2012| 3 Comments »
Threepence – most desired prize at Christmas
Camden Nana’s baking dish,
Flavours of years released into
The great Christmas Day roast.
In this little house in Elderslie
Everything feels just …
Well, … just right!!
Excitement mounts for the piece-de-resistance.
The plum pudding, where threepences hide
And discovery invokes little feet to run to Mum:
“Mum, I found one!”
Posted in 1 Guildford Rd, Penrith Infants, tagged christmas, Dunny Man, Santa Clause on December 24, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Posted in 1 Guildford Rd, 10 Reserve St, Penrith Infants, Penrith Primary, tagged christmas, Christmas Presents, hidden presents, searching on December 16, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Anticipation fires up impatience.
Every passing day urgency intensifies.
Four brothers alone
While parents on social trail
And the hunt is on …
Christmas presents? Where? What?
Through cupboards, wardrobes,
Between clothes, in drawers.
Standing on chairs, crawling under beds.
We love the hunt,
Secretly hope for failure.
Don’t spoil Christmas.
Posted in 1 Guildford Rd, Penrith Infants, Penrith Primary, tagged beauty, Charlie Chuckles, coloured pencils, creating, Derwents on December 8, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Beautiful shades & hues. (these are not Derwents, though)
My colouring-in techniques are not great.
Loving the beauty of graduated shades & hues
In a full set of Derwents
Isn’t enough to create beauty.
A determined & tidy start
Falters rapidly & declines …
Into a disappointing (messy) finish.
Persistently sent to Charlie Chuckles.
Acknowledged by certificates of merit
But alas! No prizes.
Charlie Chuckles Club Pin
Posted in 1 Guildford Rd, Penrith Infants, Penrith Primary, tagged claypit, Kingswood, Penrith Brickworks, pottery on November 14, 2012| 2 Comments »
Out of bounds, intriguing, magnetic.
The Brickworks.*
Grounds untended, wild.
Dangerously obscuring the massive pit.
White clay cliffs
Reaching up from
Opaque blue water.
Bright blue.
Still.
Painted, unreal.
Discarded, rusted machines
Poke through the surface.
Rocks tossed create ripples.
Water is real.
I love the clay-pit.
And fear it.
Note:
* The Penrith Brickworks was opposite the cemetery on Copeland St and Richmond Rd Kingswood. I think it was operational to some extent up until the early 1970’s.
Posted in Nepean High School, Penrith Infants, tagged Mistaken Memory, The Tempest on October 23, 2012| 1 Comment »
Let your indulgences set me free.
.
.
Being at odds with my peers
I researched some more on yesterday’s Short Memory
I discovered that in 1972, The Performance Syndicate
Performed The Tempest
In the Chapter House at St Mary’s Cathedral.
Here is an excerpt:
The following year, 1972, saw the Performance Syndicate’s greatest achievement with a highly physical but elegantly simple production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest. It was initially funded as a schools touring production for the Old Tote. Later it had a season at the Chapter Housel at St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney and toured nationally. The actors marked-out a circle which became the playing space for this production.
It suggests my mates were right, my wires were crossed
And my charms are all o’erthrown.
But … this is good.
The power of the Macbeth performance is not diminished.
And elusive Mnemosyne closes in on the magical play at the magical venue.
Posted in 1 Guildford Rd, Penrith Infants, Penrith Primary, tagged art, Bill Joyner, coathangers, cotton reels, craft, design, french knitting on September 22, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Look, there!
In Mum’s wardrobe.
A priceless treasure amidst
The rack of worthless wire.
A piece of artistry.
The design masterpiece
Creating utility and beauty
From the simplest items.
A wooden cotton reel
A few nails
Lengths of discarded wool.
Voila!
The wooden coathanger
Enveloped, transformed
Cloaked in french knitting.*
from the priceless collection of Bill Joyner
Note:
* I could not believe it when, over coffee, Bill Joyner reached into his bag and this beauty emerged. It’s specific story is his and it holds its own significant lessons for life (related to both the vast improvement in workmanship and the dangers of taking short-cuts). But Bill’s personal Alladin’s Cave continues to reflect my own (and yours too, I expect) memories.
Oh! I hope there is no need to remind you that my Short Memories are not meant to be chronological … generally they are pretty random. Anyway, in case it entered your mind … this Short Memory does not have its roots in a 4th Form (Year 10) art or craft class, despite my poor performances in matters crafty.
Posted in 1 Guildford Rd, Penrith Infants, tagged brother, falling from car, Stephen on August 9, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Our cream Chrysler
Roger driving, mum passenger.
Me ‘n’ Steve in the back.
Down Lemongrove Bridge
Cross Henry St – stop on corner – Evan St
Schoolbag grabbed, jump out
Rushing to school (Penrith Infants).
Roger drives off.
A screech, a scream …
Steve’s fallen out.
Didn’t I shut the door?
Thankfully he’s fine.
Tough brother.
Posted in 1 Guildford Rd, Penrith Infants, tagged Bendalong, fishing, flathead, Panthers Fishing Club on July 1, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Early start
Wildlife still.
Steve and I, going fishing.
Out into the bay.
Our generous guide Matt Booth.
The haul starts.
Flathead.
We haul, Matt unhooks our prey &
Re-baits our hooks.
He doesn’t toss in his own line.
We show off our brace.
Big smiles all round.
365 Short Memories 