What a stunning night it was — we met the Gypsy Romanian band ‘Tarak de Haidouks’ at the HILTON after a performance at MURDER in THE CATHEDRAL –ST FRANCIS XAVIERS —managed 5 free tix to WOMAD –and then an invite to the AFTER partyy at the HILTON —-such an unimaginably wild night —I went straight back at 4:30 am and captured the essence in word –here it is

and just a footnote –Adelaide endured a 40+ heatwave for 17 days straight thru the Festival but record crowds were out in force at WOMADelaide despite it being an absolute dustbowl and thousands thronged NORTH TCE every night for the NORTHERN LIGHTS Spectacular with all of the Classical buildings along the Boulevarde lit up in a series of changing graphics which picked out every detail in the buildings –I will post them on this site at some stage

[500kB] Retro Furniture and hip designs –PDF

‘Retro’ goes beyond the seventies, back to the founders of Modernism. Local designers and manufacturers played a major role in producing ‘modern’ furniture.

Reflect for a moment upon how
you purchase or display objects
or furnishings for your own dÈcor.
Most of us, whether as frenetic
collectors or minimalists, seek
harmony and balance ñ perhaps our
own particular brand of feng shui.
We seek a balance of form and
function, perhaps a hint of opulence
yet simplicity of lifestyle.
A magnificent Murano glass vase
will flaunt its riot of colour on a
window ledge, yet cringe in despair
in a darkened boxed-in shelf. A
grand sculpture will be ill at ease co-
existing with lesser contenders or
will only tolerate, at best, those
objets díart which complement its
form. Smaller collectables, yearning
for detailed study, will feel cast adrift
in a wide-open space, seeking a
cluster of others of their ilk.
So, where does the concept of
Retro fit in with this? Is it just a
passing phase or a serious force to
be reckoned with? Until recently,
when most of us thought of Retro, it
was images of 70s plywood, stapled
furniture and handkerchief-shaped
coloured glass vases that sprang to
mind, along with orange ceramics,
macrame, rice-paper light shades
and purple walls.

[1MB] PDF article about Istanbul – Where East meets West.

NB : The PDF was the final draft before adding captions.

[332kB]

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The Festival City, Wine Capital, City of Parklands, City of Churches:
these are just some of the distinguishing badges that Adelaide
wears as a city. Being a 5th generation descendant of pioneers who
arrived shortly after the “The Buffalo” with Governor Hindmarsh
and the city founders in 1836, it is hard not to be biased about this
city of both heritage and progressive ideals. Living and working in
Saigon, Vietnam for almost 4 years gave me time for reflection about
what I missed most about my mother city.

[304Kb]

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For lovers of collectables,
paraphernalia and trinkets
which tempt and tantalise the
collector, Port Adelaide just has to be
on the national ‘sniffing out of curios’
trail. Sitting astride the banks of the
dolphin-jumping Port River, replete
with historic ketches and various
sailing ships, the Fisherman’s Wharf
Markets are literally bursting out of
the big old warehouse.