A photo a day - day 14 - 18 Toulon Drive, Lower Templestowe, Victoria 3113

18 Toulon Drive is where I lived for the majority of my teenage years. I turned 18 here. And 21. We had some of the best parties ever in this house, especially when mum and dad were away. There were great days of water cricket and hanging out in the spa with my friends. Countless table tennis matches. Our erratic German Shepherd, Caesar, holding court in a fearsome manner at the side gate. Our cat Mischief playing hide and seek with me in the neighbours' gardens in the wee hours when I'd come home. At those late hours I'd turn the engine of mum's car off at the top of the street and roll silently the rest of the way and into the garage to try and not wake mum and dad. I'd then tiptoe up the stairs hoping that I'd arrived home before dad got up to go to work. Sometimes it was a close thing. Once or twice he was already up and I'd have to have a conversation while trying not to give away that I had spent a large part of the night smoking cannabis and was still under its effects. I moved out and back a couple of times but was out for good in 1990 as a 26 year old.

A photo a day - day 13 - Basketball breakup with my boys

Finn and I coached Kimi's basketball teams in partnership for five seasons in a row. In that time, we turned Kimi from an "I don't like sport" kid into one who now actively engages in a number of sports. Primary goal achieved! Winning a premiership while coaching alongside Finn, with Kimi playing in the team, was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Being able to share that with both my boys was a beautiful experience that I will never forget.

Photo taken at the team breakup party at the Cooper's.

A photo a day - day 12 - Queen of the Shire

 

The Queen of the Shire welcomes me home whenever I cross the bridge over the Yarra into North Warrandyte. It feels special to have such a beautiful piece of art in our locale. Sculpted by celebrated artist and local resident Deborah Halpern, the queen provides a link from Warrandyte to the heart of Melbourne where a couple of Deborah's other pieces, Ophelia in Southbank and Angel at Birrarung Mar, sit on the banks further along the river. There's something about Deborah's style that has similarity with Tori's. The use of bold colours, a love of eyes and something slightly surreal. I've always loved her work. And I love that she has created the queen especially for us.

A photo a day - day 11 - Whiskey

I've recently fallen back in love with single malt whiskeys. From the highlands of Scotland to the pure waters of Tasmania, there is much to explore. It depends on the day as to which region is my preferred, but I've been leaning of late to the more local drop. Sometimes there's nothing better that a dram or two of fine amber liquid.

A photo a day - day 10 - Music Toys

 

Whenever I get it together to hang out in this room, where my music toys are, I have a great time. But in the busy life I seem to have, doing who knows what, I spend far less time in here than I'd like. I need to change that.

A photo a day - day 9 - Django

 

Django fulfils the job description of a pet cat far more readily than Ali. He is social, affectionate, playful, feisty, curious and a hunter to boot. Ali made the mistake of bullying him when he was young. As an adult cat who is now much bigger, faster and stronger than her, he occasionally likes to get payback, just for kicks. But mostly he's not bothered with her these days and they sort of coexist in some kind of harmony. He is na beautiful cat. So fluffy.

A photo a day - day 8 - Ali Cat

We picked up Ali from the RSPCA a little while after Pusskana died, around eleven years ago. She was already four years old and had been through who knows what before getting to the shelter. Perhaps her previous owner, who was apparently a little old lady, had died and left her orphaned. Or perhaps she was already shedding everywhere and shitting on the floor, so her previous owner gave her the boot. Lord knows I've wanted to at various stages. She is a highly strung and demanding little thing. Just when my steely heart towards her softens I step barefooted in some fresh, moist cat vomit that once again has me cursing her. I've only ever had pets that I adored before, so she is a new experience for me. Sometimes she brings out my cruel side, which is never good for either of us. Sometimes we get along well. We coexist in the same space. I wish I liked her more.

A photo a day - day 7 - Magpies

When I was a child I hated magpies. This was due to them being the emblem of a despised football team that two out of every three obnoxious kids supported, along with the fact that they regularly swooped me when I was walking around my neighbourhood. I've grown to love them. They are highly social creatures and have the most beautiful warble to welcome the Warrandyte morning. I still hate the football team though. 

A photo a day - day 6 - Tori on the roof

 

Autumn arrived with all its glory today. Pissing down rain and a shit ton of leaves in the guttering, blocking the flow of water and diverting it instead down through the ceiling and into Tori's studio. I planned to get up on the roof and sort it out, but the slipperiness of it all in combination of a phobia of heights caused me to chicken out. Tori to the rescue! She is the brave one amongst us. Spider catcher and roof climber. Up she went in her thongs. And sorted the whole damn mess out.

A photo a day - day 5 - Kookaburra

 

I've always loved kookaburras. Their laugh has been a welcome sound my whole life, even if they wake me up early. When I was a child I was frightened of snakes, and there were plenty to be found round where we lived. I recall one morning seeing a kookaburra sitting in a tree beside our house, with a snake hanging from its mouth. It whacked it periodically against the tree, happy to have caught its breakfast. I was completely in awe. And still am.

A photo a day - day 4 - Stella from next door

 

Stella is the annoying dog who lives next door. Barking incessantly at us as we walk out our front door and up the driveway. Pushing her head through the fence, trying to barge through to get closer. Yet, if you meet her anywhere out of the house, she is a timid little thing who cowers behind her owner's leg. Poor fucked up little unit.

A photo a day - day 3 - The river on a morning walk

 

So lucky to have this place just down the road. A nice six kilometre walk through the forest and along the river today. Some quiet meditation around this spot. Feeling full of joy and love this morning after a three hour video chat last night with Jazz. Felt the glow of love radiating from and all around me. If only I could bottle it and save some for later on.

A photo a day - day 2 - Kimi the giant jellyfish

 Kimi and a group of other kids his age have had five or six sessions learning how to walk on stilts. It has culminated in this appearance of a giant jellyfish in the parade of the Warrandyte Festival. Nervous parenting in the beginning from me as he walked around the kitchen on stilts amid my fears that he would topple over backward and smash his head on a stone benchtop. But, thankfully, it was not to be. Instead, he and his colleagues were all so comfortable on their stilts that the parade marshall had to continually stop them from running ahead and usher them back behind the band. Top performance!

A photo a day - day 1 - Tori painting in her home studio

 

Tori has been extremely busy. Having spent hours organising Bill McAuley's SkySong extravaganza at the Mechanics Institute, she has been straight into helping organise the Warrandyte Festival. This has included a massive rejuggling of events as Saturday's festival program was cancelled due to a fire rating of "extreme" for that day. She has simultaneously been making a jellyfish costume for Kimi to wear while he walks on stilts in the parade and, as shown here, painting some pieces to hang in the NaNY Gallery festival stall. Busy girl.