View from the Ranges

Canberra, and bitterly cold. Last nite slept in clothes to keep warm in the caravan at chez Daves. Postponed mechanics on car at Goulburn.Needed to get to Canberra . Arrived to help at Photo-Acess to find big framed landscape print in the “out ” tray. Directrice Big Shazza, who asked me to contribute works weeks ago, has now seen fit to reject it. While my prescence as a” famous photographer” for the press conference was requested, they dont want the photograph!!?? It feels like I’m asked to shuttle photographs back and forth, the 2 and half hours Wombeyan-Canberra, to satisfy this suburban taste maker. A bit rich.

Have swum this morning in Civic,which always makes me feel good. To-day have Asia Society rendez-vous with Pondok Johnny and tomorrow will hit the highway. Missed Foz yesterday in Goulburn, by a few minutes.Very good “innings” with Paul L. and kids in his snug ol bus last nite with conversation and music.A valuable friendship. This evening we have the opening of the new Photo-Acess, and I really wish I was anywhere but here….. ON ON.

Weak sun, but wellcome. Brisk walk down the hill an up. Half hour. Saw one lyre bird, heard two. They are easy to hear as they go thru repetoire at same pitch and from same spot. Lotsa coloured parrots.Now to clean up, hit the track for Goulburn for mechanic. Toyota dodgy, can’t get gass in (LPG) Valve gone again.Also will try and meet up with Foz re Bougainville (he is soon to be the new peace and reconciliation manager for interim gov. there) News from Tomat oh,killed it in Milan oh, with FERMATSPACE design furniture (”notink touches”) Does all designs under the shower and on computer.Watch this space Fermat.Has much more on the go..shelves, resteraunts, books. Good luck to him (he could well be a genius!)To-nite will watch TV doco..Xanana. East Timorese pollies will come to Australia early next month. Where will the exhibition go?? Outa here.

Grey, fire going,early morning walk. Yesterday cut wood, lotsa. Will sharpen chain saw to-day.Walked to mail box, about 4 kms-no mail..good walk. Spoke to Cannon rep re loan of digital camera.Want to start posting images. Excited about this. Keep b&w going with trad. camera supplemented by web-log and “snaps”. Col has no labouring work. Kinda of blessing perhaps.Reading “Assasins Cloak” an anthology of diariests. Photo-Acess(Canberra) wants me for press conference re their grand (new) opening Friday. They want a “famous photographer! “HA! Will go…flattered. If they only knew? News from Louise M in Paris (Hi Louise!!) E-mailed Grannie Annie re Sydney for the weekend. Problems with e-mail. Ricky will sort. ON ON….

Kangaroos in front of house. Overcast, cold. Fire going. No reply from Parliament House re exhibition. Its been 2 weeks since we organized to meet.I’ve tried 4 times to talk to the woman in question, just to know if it’s still a goer?? No satisfaction. She has all my co-ordinates.Criminal that I cant get the East Timor show up, ANYWHERE! I note that there an East Timor doco on the ABC this week. I doubt if STILLS would even hang a work comemorating Independence. I cant force this work on people who dont want it. It gathers dust..very dissapointed.
I need a patron and/or sponsor. To-day I will ring Col re labouring work for next week. Desperate.No money.Now off to cut fire wood.

Crisp day..sunny and cold, frost on the ground. Walked early,household chores. Yesterday Tim D came over. Talked of rugby and the culture of the game. Then went and moved cows from my back paddock to airstrip paddock, 50 or so. One cow had just given birth to a wet, gangly little thing. The placenta still hanging out. Last nite Pondok Johnny called and raved excitedly. Good to hear from him. We will meet this Friday, in Canberra ,with ASIA Society people re exhibition(s) Today must contact NSW Parliament House..no word on exhibition, no replys to my calls.Such is life. On On!

Starting off slowly and will add more throughout this week. Received an e from DOS who had his computer stolen in Dili, East Timor, 24 hours after independence. DOS is my good friend who has worked in Timor for 16 years, with the handicapped, orhpans/sreet children and the poor and needy. He is devestated as his whole life in detail has been lost.Could we find him annother lappy to get him rolling again? Misty and cold here at the mo. Fire going. Kangaroos in front of the house when I awoke.Big week for me, but enuff from the Lair of Lewis, for the mo.

“Well, I wish I was on some Australian mountain range. I got no reason to be there, but I Imagine it would be some kind of a change”
The Bobster