Kelvin High School

One of the disadvantages of being this far away from your home, friends and family is you miss out on some important events.

Last weekend was the 100th Anniversary of Kelvin High School in Winnipeg, my alma mater. I lived in Winnipeg for 8 years, long enough to get a high school diploma, a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Manitoba and stong roots in social democracy.

I had attended Kelvin’s 75th Anniversary where I had a nice chat with another alumni, albeit one who didn’t graduate, Neil Young. Yes my school had many famous, and not so famous graduates.

So today I laughed at some of the photos my sister and friends sent me, and pondered the faces of others who I couldn’t place.

Some are noticeably absent like my dear friend Ian, a dentist who was doing postgraduagte work in anthropology when he passed away from complications of HIV in 1992. And Geoff, who was piloting a small plane up north on a mercy flight when it crashed killing all on board in the early 1980s.

We’re all getting on so to speak. The world has changed since the simple 70s. But some of us stay connected. Some folks are planning the 40th anniversary of our graduation.

Life goes on. I hope I’ll be there.

Art everywhere

Besides what's in the gallery there's art all over this city - classy and kitschy. Here are some examples.

Patritti Wines

After a Saturday morning beach walk I cycled by a winery in my neighbourhood and noticed that the cellar door was open. I popped in and was amazed at the selection. I was invited to someone’s home for dinner that evening so bought a bottle. It was the first one emptied.

Until the late 1950s the area I live in was market gardens and vineyards. The grapes are gone but the winery remains. The only one left in metro Adelaide.

On Saturday a group of us went on a tour given by the owner. He, like many others, is first generation Australian, his parents having emigrated from Italy. The vineyards are in areas surrounding the city, the Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale, the Fleurieu Peninsula and the Borossa Valley. He regaled us with stories about the mechanization and constantly changing wine making industy, how stainless steel vats replaced oak barrels in the 1960s, and sadly no they don’t stomp the grapes by foot anymore. His mother was the taster, now they have two winemakers.

He told us about selling a small piece of equipment to a guy just getting started 18 years ago. He's now running a half billion dollar business called Yellowtail.

It was a fun afternoon spent with a kind person who was generous with his time and stories and a fun group of people from four different countries.

Patritti exports all over the world so look for this label the next time you’re in the Australian section of your liquor store.

The AGSA

Yesterday afternoon I headed to the Central Business District or CBD for a lecture at the University of Adelaide.

There are three universities, quite something for a city the size of Edmonton. I had to find the hall amongst several turn-of-the-century buildings.

The lecture was unremarkable but they provided tea and sandwiches, very civilized.

As I was leaving the University I noticed a beautiful colonial style building, pillars and all, made out of local limestone. It was the Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA).

I entered and was greeted by two welcoming women who informed me that entrance was free and I could have a tour. Now, for those of you who know me, I rarely have time to do things spontaneously. But here my time is my own.

Wow what a place! I was the only person on the tour. Ann, my guide, provided me with a thorough description of each room we visited, identifying some of her favourite pieces, how the art is organized, and the significance of the colour coded walls. It seemed to go on forever with several floors housing Islamic and Southeast Asian collections of artifacts, interactive modern installations, aboriginal art on its own and integrated with Australian period pieces, a jewelry exhibition and famous Masters and contemporary artists from around the world including a show called 'La Belle Époque' with French prints and drawings from the 1880s to 1910s.

Ann enthusiastically pointed out what I could see on my own after our hour together. I was exhausted and plonked in front of giant screen to watch a Japanese film on war. It was in a room which included the same dark works by Goya that had been at the AGA (Art Gallery of Alberta) last year.

I will return to see the rest!

Taken for granted

I am curious how we take things for granted. The locals are amazed by my excitement in the flora, fauna and ocean around Adelaide.

I went for a hike with a group on Saturday. I counted 23 koalas. Most of them were asleep, alone in a tree. We never saw two together and couldn’t tell if they were male or female.

Besides the koalas I was in awe of the blanket of Morning Glories beside the trail. I was informed they are an invasive weed.

I marveled at the view of the ocean from one of the vistas.

“Not as spectacular as the Rockies though” said one of my companions.

I guess it’s all relative.

Happy Mother’s Day

“We have one mother, this land.

We take everything from her, it's our mother.

You and me, that makes us brothers and sisters.”

Bob Randall, Australian Aboriginal Elder

70 million

That’s the Australian Lottery Jackpot tonight. It’s all over the news, my landlady bought a ticket.

I didn’t.

I feel like I won the lottery.

My 'friends' at the beach today.

Moonshine

It humbles and amazes me that wherever we are in the world we are looking at the same moon.

I saw the ‘supermoon’ or 'perigree moon' last night. But it’s cloudy here tonight so there was no sighting. The locals are interested in the moon due to the tides. I guess this one doesn't have much pull.

May the moon shine brightly over you, wherever you are.

The Mighty Gum Trees

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a gum tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear

A nest of lorakeets in her hair;

Upon whose bosom a koala has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

With apologies to Joyce Kilmer

Birthday Bear

Today is my daughter Andrea’s 26th Birthday. It’s the first time I've not been with her on her special day, which is tough for me. I mailed her a card with a mother and baby koala on it.

Out my window at school are a row of gum trees. I just happened to look out this afternoon and there was a koala. She climbed up and down 4 trees.

When they walk on the ground their arms seem too long and awkward. When they climb trees they use their arms one at a time but their back legs move simultaneously. I mention this because I've only ever seen sleepy koalas in trees. This one must have been young and was active and alert.

Happy Birthday Andrea with love from me and the cute and cuddly koala!