Rumblings of a marketing man on tour…

Just a little horseradish would set these off...

Such harmless words. But oh so poignant.

Before I get to that, Thursdays dinner party. Justine (a dear colleague / friend from agency days of old), invites me over to her place.

In attendance; one of her colleagues, a journo who is bessy mates with the PR-PR guru in our Sydney office, and me. She lived with her cousin (who she mentioned was a photographer), in a stunning art-deco mansion block, overlooking Rushcutters Bay.

The view was stunning. The sort of second lounge area sits in huge windows, with big comfy lemsip sofas. My Sunday if I lived there? Coffee, oj, papers, croissant in that order!

After the youtube drama (some numpty released an ad pre-airing, unhappy client), we tuck in. Lovely food, stories, company. One of my best nights in Sydney.

Some story highlights:

- Justine came to stay with her cousin for a week. Still there 4 years on
- Her cousin owns several properties in Bali, and has furnished the apartment with nicks and nacks from his travel there. Totally eclectic, random, shouldn’t work, but does!
- He took her to a glam Sydney fashion show. After supping some champers, she offended an up+coming designer, when asking, ‘Sydneu’s lovely. But don’t you just think it’s no soul?’
- She gave cooking advice to a top Sydney Chef (Neil Perry), on how he could improve his Oysters. He took it more gracefully than the fashionista…

Needless to say, she’s beautiful, with a heart of gold. I kept spotting people I couldn’t quite place (Some Jaggers, a Beatle or two), but failed to make the connection. Anyway, she shows us one of his books, Siblings. All photographed together in their birthday suits. Big hoohaa at the time, a senior Aussie politician was involved, but had to pull out due to the ‘controversy’…

Anyway, cousin arrives back, lovely bloke. He asks if I’d like to see another of his books, so of course I say yes. He pops one in my lap, which has a very post-coital, slightly mashed looking Kylie grinning ear to ear, alongside the equally happy Mr. Michael Hutchence.

I flick through, and the whole thing is a celeb-spatter fest. Grace Jones, David Bowie, Nicole (pre and post tom (very hetro) cruise), you name em, he shot em.

He must have a real talent, they all look somewhat at ease. Something to do with the setting for the bulk of the shots no doubt; for a while, he was the club-appoonted photographer at the embassy club in London. He told a touching story about Paul and Linda, which I’ll share another day. Just makes you hate the evil one legged gold digger that bit more…

Book was stunning, his style effortless, his subjects totally at ease. A very interesting character, and as one of the snappers for Vogue Australia, I can see why Justine really did get some great opportunities to offend the ‘cream of Sydney’. Just as I did last time I was here.

But that’s a different story….

Iain is enjoying the Sydney Sun…

Off to Elizabeth Bay (more like gay) for dinner with me old agency mucker, Justine…

Tomorrow is the last day in the office. A sneaky week in Melbourne, then it’s home to Blighty, back to reality (whoop there goes gravity), and a mountain of work that has amassed on my new London desk. We moved offices, I was handily over here…

Ah well, time to cram in the fun then!

Iain is off to buy some wine to take to dinner…

So, I get to SG, check my bag in, and scoot off over to the East Coast to meet a colleague for a quick work meeting and some rather lovely luncheon. We chat and chat and chat, nip to the mall to grab some bits, and before I know it, 8pm has arrived and it’s time for me to check in for my flight back to London town…

A rather lovely luncheon, and another friendship sealed.

Contrary to popular belief, you can’t get everything in the world at Changi airport. Yes, it’s got great facilities and is super efficient. But the book stocks are fairly limited. After my Friday experiences, another good doctor friend recommended Bizot’s “The Gate” as my next read.

I thought I’d get it here, more fool me. I’ll just have to make do with a stack of champers, rather large g&t’s and some movie time as the BA Club Crew ship me back to Londinium…

I’ve had a great time out here and can’t believe my daily Asia-tastic updates have drawn to a close. I’ve learnt a great deal, worked with some talented people, travelled to some amazing places, seen some breathtaking sights, eaten delectable food, and met some truly wonderful characters along the way. Travels. Don’t you just love them!? 

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it. But fear not, October 1st sees me on a cheeky weeks holiday before leg two of the tour kicks off in Oz. I’m ready for Sydney in summer and I hope they are ready for me. So, tie those Kangaroo’s down.

And someone let the boys know I’m coming?

Iain is ready for boarding. Normal service will resume in October when the tour kicks off once more…

The best street I have found on my travels thus far...

I am learning a lot out here. First time I feel I’ve been doing that in a fair old while…

Mainly about Asia, it’s people, history, politics.  Fascinating stuff. For me anyway!

Oh, and how my liver can still withstand chronic bouts of abuse, yet manage to deliver hefty work projects. Maybe it’s something to do with the heat, it struggles with that in Londres…

Still, some of my random ’learnings’;

• Although people jaywalk, there are plain clothes ticket inspectors that can fine you on the spot
• It’s illegal to walk around your apartment naked. Lots of expats did it, it offended the local sensibilities. It was therefore, outlawed…
• Singapore has a big stack of gold buried under it’s CBD. Indonesia’s I believe…
• Hospital bills here can be very expensive
• You will be imprisoned if you don’t educate your children. If you can’t afford to pay, the state will help
• And of course (and maybe most importantly); the language of love, is universal. And boy am I well-tuned. Like Miss Jean Brodie, I am in my prime. And these are my, oh, you get the picture.

Iain is packing for Jakarta. And of course I didn’t. She went by bus. Boom bloody boom…

PS If I get blown up in Jakarta by some freak terrorist incident, it’s been real readers.

PPS for those of you that don’t get the MJB reference, you’ll most likely know her as Professor McGonnagal off of  the Harry Potter filmage. Dame Maggie Smith. Fucking legend in her own true right…