On The Road Again

Back in the Saddle and ...
Back on the North Shore

G'day Folks

It's been a long time between newsletters, I know!
I thought it was about time that I brought you up to date and let you know about some rather special events we have planned in the not-to-distant future.

Firstly, why have I been so quiet over the last 18 months? Well, at the beginning of 2006 Carol, my long suffering wife and late blooming academic, stepped into a maternity leave Director's position at Lawson Preschool.

She was simultaneously, completing her degree at New England University and planning on her second. (With her perfectionist nature, anything less than Distinctions normally sends us all scurrying for cover) Anyway, as the pressure built, comments began to be made about how she had supported my career for 30 years and 'didn't I think it was time for me to be at home a little bit more to support hers'.

Thus my career as an 'apprentice house husband' began. It sort of suited me. As many of you who read my musings on-line last year would know, I had been in somewhat of a downbeat mood since the death of my much loved elder brother, Ron. So, I determined to spend more time at home, resigned from the CMAA board, scaled back the gigs and, while Carol became a greater contributor to the family budget, I learned to wash, clean and cook...sort of.

Much of the dietary intake included red wine and
bar-b-ques....more than reasonable I would have thought, but references were made occasionally to 'limited vision' from both the 'full time resident girls' (Carol and Josie) and many of the 'part time resident girls' (Meghan and Livi, her 6 year old daughter)

My dear brother, Ron's death left behind two younger and delightful children, Tim and Amanda and my brothers and my others Brothers and I have had some stronger involvement with them since Ron's death which was great part of those months

Besides writing almost a new album of 'homebased songs' (A Place in the Sun , The Enjo Rag etc...) I must have discharged my S.N.A.G. responsibilities with at least some degree of distinction during that 18 months, however, because in March this year, when her boss returned from leave, Carol issued me with a new valid 'leave of absence' pass and I was 'back in the saddle' again!'

I've just returned after more than a month of touring through Newcastle - Armidale - Glen Innes - Warwick - Goondawindi - Roma - The Carnarvon Ranges - Springsure - Emerald - Clermont  - Charters Towers - Townsville - Mackay - Rockhampton - Brisbane - Mungandi and Dirranbandi... which brought some great experiences and some more new songs to boot.

In March, I also had the very real privilege of working again with Ralph Mctell.  My ugly dial is on his website with Danny Thompson from Pentangle and Ralph and Rory McCleod. It's in his Australian Tour Blog section.

Pat, Rory Danny and Ralph

Big News Dept.

Firstly, the big news is that I will be returning to The North Shore for the first time in some years to play at The Greengate Hotel In Killara and The Mosman Club in, not surprisingly, Mosman. (See Gig Guide P.4)

Secondly, after missing out on our Christmas party last year, we had a lot people contact us about our plans for this December so the official gathering will be held at The Greengate Hotel on Sunday 16th Dec starting at 1PM.

We are hoping my Dad will be there again for those young girls who keep dancing with him. He is 87 in Dec and still fully independent. I have absolutely no motivation to live that long but I am seriously dedicated to idea of becoming grumpy.
I have after all, worked for it... and I deserve it. :):): 

Thirdly, for many of us who used to go away to Lenny's in The Hunter Valley, we are planning a Blue Mountains Weekend Getaway to catch up again. This is a 2 night/3 day mountains escape at the AAA four star Boutique Hotel, The Chalet, around the corner from our home in Medlow Bath.

After visiting your hometowns for so many years, we would like to show you a little of our own. Come away and explore the Upper Blue Mountains with us. See Pulpit and Anvil Rock and Point Pilcher; have a game of tennis; go horseriding in The Megalong (15 mins) or take a walk through our lovely local bushland and park. Medlow is the undiscovered secret of the Mountains...very quiet and restful, away from the high bustle of the crowded tourist areas. There will be 2 Concerts (one at The Chalet and one at a venue to be announced. (See Gig Guide for details)

Speaking of Medlow Bath, folks, I should mention that last weekend I recorded a DVD at the Hydro Majestic Hotel Ballroom which will be released in the near future. (Details at The Website soon)

Karen Lynne says to say 'Hello'. She has had a big year; winning Frank Ifield's Golden Spur Award and scoring a No. 1 Hit on the British CM Charts...all while becoming a new mum!! Not bad eh?

Matthew's 'computer animation for film' business has been prospering having just completed several US National Geographic features for cable and the recent ABC Documentary 'Crude', which caused a furore and led to demands for the counter airing of 'The Great Global Warming Swindle' by the members of the (now 'Liberal Party appointee' dominated) ABC Board.

Pete, our second son, is in a blessedly strong marriage to Rebecca, his drum teacher's daughter (whom he first met when she was 1 and he was 3). Deeply entrenched in italian/catholic/spumanté culture she is a wonderful and loving influence on us all. They have two children. She also works as a childcare professional at Carol's preschool.

Pete, after starting with Kasey Chambers as kids in The Dead Ringer Band; making a name for himself with The Bushwackers and being picked up as Pearl's main demonstrator drummer has, in the last year, become the drummer in the newly reconstituted Dragon. Todd Hunter wanted to refloat the band to showcase his writing. As the main songwriter in Dragon in it's heyday and the author of such hits as John Farnham's ' The Age Of Reason' since...he figured that 10 years after his brother, Marc's death, it was finally time to reclaim his legacy.  You can catch the new incarnation at this year's Galston Country Music Festival at The Sunday Concert in Fagan Park.

Meghan, our eldest daughter, is still running TM Dance at Leura but has recently moved to Sydney with our long time semi-resident granddaughter, Livi. to be close to her new boyfriend, Nick ( an amazing funk Bassplayer from The Band, Wautusi)

Livi and 'Poppy' have been an inseparable team over the last 6 years and she has been a regular at many local gigs; so it has been a bit of a wrench.

Poppy and Livi perform at Camp Quality 2007

Josie, our youngest, at 13, is still horse crazy. After saving her own Birthday/Christmas/Allowance money from the age of 5, she finally bought her first horse, Juniper, last year. It is agisted in the Megalong Valley at a property called Euroka, about 15 minutes from our new home in Medlow Bath.

Josie attends La Salle Academy in Lithgow, the headmaster of which is also a 1970's Benilde Boy, She does Ag studies and recently came second in her year. Obviously her Mum's daughter, not mine!

Josie on her horse, Juniper

At home, our parish 'Sacred Heart' at Blackheath has been a very positive part of my life over the two years that I was off the road. In a strange and, I am sure, not fully Vatican-sanctioned experiment, it has been run by women (Dominican Nuns currently the wonderful Sister Lyn) for nearly six years now. There is no priest; except the ones we invite to celebrate Mass. The result? A wonderful, loving, non-authoritarian and affirming Community that (almost) makes you want to believe in the promises of Vatican II all over again. I am sure that Pope Benedict's secret police will put an end to it eventually.

I do the website, ( http://keepersoftheflame.net/SacredHeartParish/), help in the music ministry and having completed the Certificate 1 RE course, was the 'relief scripture teacher' in the local state schools over the two years I have been at home.

The new kids song album "Shark in The Bath and Other Stories" will be available for sale in December for Christmas and features a few performances from the six grandkids as well as other friend's children.

I finally got my stolen 'Maton Messiah' guitar back last year. There is a great (but long and involved) story behind it's recovery which I will bore you all with when I see you; which will hopefully be not to far away. I'll be in your 'neck of the woods' three times over the next few months.

Email and mail addresses: So many email and mail addresses have become outdated so we again ask that if you need to update them or would prefer to receive 'The Local Rag' electronically that you drop us a line at patdrum@lisp.com.au and help save a tree or two.

Pat's Website is online at http://www.patdrummond.net

There is a special '30 Years without a Real Job' Retrospective section there now which (with masses of never before seen photos, history...etc) is worth a long look. The final revised three Act Script for the Chess Set is also up on the site now.

All the best

Pat and Carol Drummond