Posted in 1 Guildford Rd, Penrith Primary, tagged acceptance, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Gerry Marsden, soiitude, wistful on July 29, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Away from the hysteria
And fast-paced rollicking
Of the The Beatles
(Fun, exciting as it is),
A more wistful, laid back sound
Speaks directly to me.
Crossing the watery expanse
Solitude, space
But not loneliness
Acceptance & inclusion.
We don’t care what your name is boy
We’ll never turn you away.
Extra:
Posted in 1 Guildford Rd, Penrith Primary, tagged A Hard Day's Night, Avon Theatre, movies, The Beatles on July 28, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Unlike the elegant Nepean Theatre
The Avon Theatre in Station St
Is a bit ramshackle, disorganised
But full of fun.
First movie, “sans older minder” –
“A Hard Day’s Night!”
The atmosphere, electric.
There’s screams anticipating
Giant mop-top images lighting screen
… and when they do,
Volume and pitch pierce.
Life imitating art ...
Extra:
A song, an album, a movie … and a single chord opens them all. The one chord to rule them all.
Posted in 1 Guildford Rd, Penrith Primary, tagged fire, gang, treehouse on June 6, 2012| 1 Comment »
The gang disbanded
After Mrs Cameron kicked us out.
Why? Maybe …
Setting her fence afire
While burning plastic from wire.
Geoff Jones**, another gang-member,
Fell backwards from the tree-house,
Landed on a brick-pile.
Convinced he was dead,
But he stood up and laughed.
From then, to us, he was invincible.
Note:
* This is another Short Memory thanks to Bill Joyner. When he set me this material his closing line about our gang was:
Imagine today if such a gang of 10 year olds was uncovered! It would make the national news.
There would undoubtedly be outrage.
** Geoff wasn’t in the photo I posted in yesterday’s Short Memory. He is in the photo of 4th Class at Penrith Primary. He is front row, 3rd from the right. Peter Cameron, who had the tree in his backyard is in the 2nd row, far right.
1965 Penrith Primary – Class 4A
Posted in 1 Guildford Rd, Penrith Primary, tagged gang, gang knife, kids club, treehouse on June 5, 2012| 3 Comments »
Bill Joyner writes:
Max,
Dipped into the box of sacred objects,
For my original tree-house gang knife,
Out of Bill Joyner’s box of sacred objects – the knife that united the treehouse gang.
Kershaw & Elliot** did the deal.
They were bought in bulk, about eight I think,
With money raised by collecting bottles
And “gathering” copper wire,
Which we sold to the scrappie on the highway.
Note:
* With Bill Joyner supplying this image and also some extra information, I thought we should revisit Memory #38. I’ve altered his words slightly to accommodate my 50-word rule. There will be more on this – Bill has some great memories.
** Kershaw & Elliot – Peter Kershaw & Ian Elliot. They are in the back row of the class photo – Ian is 5th from the left and Peter next to Ian (6th from left). Bill is in the 2nd row, 2nd from the left. Bill also gave me a couple of extra names.
Click the photo and it will open the Short Memory (#70) that has the names.
Posted in 1 Guildford Rd, 10 Reserve St, 138 Station St, Nepean High School, Penrith Primary, Penrith South Primary, tagged football boots, polished boots, ritual, Rugby League, school shoes on May 29, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Friday ritual
Football boot preparation
Clean, polish, shine.
Thick white cotton tape wrapped ankles & bridges.
Respectful of the game, teammates, opposition.
Shiny black boots laced with thick white cotton tape
Extra lengths wrapped around ankles & bridges.
Ready for fields dusty … or muddy.
A ritual loved.
Contrasting school shoes
Scuffed by kicking the can
And reluctance to polish.
Posted in 1 Guildford Rd, Penrith Primary, tagged musical theatre, Oliver!, School Concerts, theatre, Theatre Royal on May 25, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Great reason for a city trip, entertainment.
Theatre, music, musical theatre.
Matinee performances preferred
But love the night trips,
And a sleepy late-night car-ride.
An all time personal favourite
Becomes favoured by schools for
Student concerts.
Musical adaptation of Dickens’
Oliver Twist.
Oliver! by Lionel Bart
At The Theatre Royal.
Extra:
In 1968 the film of Lionel Bart’s Oliver! was released. Ron Moody’s performance of Fagin was wonderful.
Posted in 1 Guildford Rd, Penrith Primary, tagged lights in rain, Neon Lights, reflections, wealth, William Street on May 23, 2012| Leave a Comment »
William Street 1965 – Photo: Wolfgang Sievers. Held by State Library of Victoria
Driving along William Street
Night rain, sparkling
Lights shine, shining surfaces reflect
Refract, multiply
My head turns, twists
At fractals of
Colourful neon lights shining down,
Mirrored in rain-drizzled road
Flash, polished cars – Rolls, Mercs, Jags –
Slide, illuminated above & below.
Hypnotised, impressed, my conclusion is drawn.
“Roger, Sydney is rich!”
Posted in 1 Guildford Rd, Penrith Primary, Uncategorized, tagged beach, breakwater, caravan, fishing, holiday, ice box, ice delivery, ice-man on May 15, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Home is where the caravan is …
Caravan park, Home,
Beach to East
River to North
Metal grey rocks of breakwater
Where fishermen (and us) perch patiently.
My favourite moment …
Love the ice being delivered
Ice delivery
Old truck stacked with big crystal blocks
Metal pincers dig and scar
Ice-man strong, fluid lifts,
Totes, then delivers.
Pincer grip slips, Ice slivers fly.
A better look at the ice pincers.
Posted in 1 Guildford Rd, 10 Reserve St, 138 Station St, Nepean High School, Penrith Primary, Penrith South Primary, tagged bowling alley, misspent youth, pinball machines on May 9, 2012| Leave a Comment »
The Bowling Alley has
The real magnet for boys developing a misspent youth
Pinball Machines!
“Pinnies”.
Play the silver ball with crazy flipper fingers.
Unspent school lunch-money, odd-jobs, bottle redemptions, pocket money.
Finances lights, sounds, action,
Silver balls, flippers, bumpers & bells.
Fast hands,
Shake don’t tilt.
Striving for …
POP!
Yes!
Free game.
Addictive,
Don’t leave until pockets are empty.
Extra:
How could I not insert this here?
365 Short Memories 