It was typical Canberra winter day - cold and wet - as I made my way to the far northern suburbs in search of Naomi's house. I became lost, I'm a south Canberra man, comfortable in the shade of the hills hoist on Capital Hill.
I finally found N's lovely, warm, dry house. Two dogs looked wistfully thorugh the window, they'd been confined to the lovely outdoors and didn't look happy. Still they gave me no trouble, and I could look and feel smug.
I was running late, but everyone else was later still. So, still smug and now snug, Naomi and I chatted over a glass of red, reminiscing about reminiscing: the good times we'd had in Toowoomba, how people change and stay the same.
Then John Gillies arrived, looking very Sydney for someone who'd spent the night up in the snow shooting video for a friend's music installation. He had a dog with him as well, so misery had company outside.
More red was poured, and then Kathryn, Jim and Myles arrived, which meant more red wine was poured.. Gosh it was good to see him, we had last caught up in the 90s. He is much the same: garrulous, obsessive, funny. Kathryn charming and lovely and obviously very patient. Myles a sweetie.
Things were warming up: more red wine, and a delicious lunch thanks to Naomi. We remembered and forgot and were reminded and smiled and laughed.
We gave Jim his plaque, he thanked the academy and everyone else, and seemed quite chuffed.
A very pleasant afternoon, and maybe it was the red wine, but I had the feeling we all thought we actually hadn't done too badly for all of ourselves these last thirty years.
Time to go, back into the cold rain.
Getting out of the north I became lost again, but eventually found my way back to the hill's hoist. But I must get up north again.
The best to you all
John
