Brisbane album launch

Date: Thursday 14th November 2013

Venue: Pineapple Hotel, 706 Main Street, Kangaroo Point, Brisbane

Dress: Smart Casual with a dash of Gabba Hill

MC: Rupert McCall

Time: 12pm for 12.30pm

$120 per seat or $1200 per table

 

Vale Chloe Roff

Chloe Roff passed away on Wednesday evening. She was the most beautiful animal friend a person could have. So much personality that she was more human than dog. She was a significant member of the Stuart Roff family and, surely, in the top three Roff dogs of all time. She loved chicken skin, tennis balls, bones, food in general and being towel dried, blow dried and brushed (she tolerated the bath for this treatment). The native birds had taken to using her fur for their nests. She loved puddles of dirty water and being the little spoon. She will be missed.

 

A Eulogy from Daniel Stuart Roff:

 

The first time we were introduced to Chloe (also known as Chow-Ping) was while we were living in that caravan in Redhead. Appropriate we were all at some stage of our lives actually living in a caravan park, particularly with the benefit of hindsight. 

 

Anyway, whilst in the trailer park of appropriateness, Windy, Milky and I tried to walk Chow-Ping to the service station, a grand total of 100 metres down the road, to buy some chicken strips. (I assume.) We were all lectured on the way there by some bloke who thought we were being cruel. I think I've subsequently represented his children. But he was a prophet; a man who could see what lay ahead when it came to Chloe-related exercise. 

 

Once Marianne had selected the next decrepit shell for us to live in after our five bed(room) caravan we embraced without question Meadow Road. 

 

Now I don't know whether or not it was an attempt at making Horatio and I bond with each other but the fact he and I lived together - amongst the cockroaches, rats and asbestos - meant we gave it a try. And that damn dog kept us awake the entire time. I have never slept so little but enjoyed so little sleep so much. Which just created a lifelong pattern. We all subsequently revolved our life around Chow-Ping meaning she led the sort of life that would be the envy of even the most spoiled progeny of the landed gentry. 

 

I remember having control of the Merewether RSL roster to such an extent that Fatso was never left by herself and, if she was about to be, she'd be subjected to a chase of the football for half-an-hour with any combination of our family (including visiting members) who might be available. The boys still talk about how good, but whinging, she was on the football field because we would take her to training. I think she learned that from Malky. The good defending part. Not the whinging. She got the whinging from me. 

 

And then she was just the centre-piece of everything thereafter, With good reason. 

 

Although it meant there was always a 10 minute welcome, 15 minute "this is the reason I come to this place" spiel and 25 minute hand-washing routine to make you appreciate how good-a-dog Chloe was. And God-damn, you loved it. 

 

And she loved us all. Terrified of Marianne (but well aware Marianne was the softest of us all and the most likely to give her treats). Enamoured of Stuart (knowing full well he was always up for wondering around and that, one day, she might get a cinnamon doughnut out of him...if she was lucky, very lucky). Enraptured of Harold (because he was always the one who would indicate she was about to take her for a run because he put a meat pie in the microwave and she could work out she'd be in the park in 15 minutes time. 10 minutes if he was hungry). Warmed by Malky (given there was nothing quite like laying in front of the fire with someone who would hug, squeeze and scratch you like you wanted whilst you were both on your side and not expending precious calories). And then given everything you needed or wanted by your kindred spirit, Alaine (because any person who can train you in the ways of dog, office dog and hipster dog is without a doubt your soul mate.)

 

Vale, Chow-Ping.     

 

Gullible's Travels

I haven't blogged for so long I've forgotten how to put up a post -
maybe the technology has changed. There used to be a 'new post' hot
button.
As you all probably know, I'm back in motorcycle journalism as the
editor of Motorcycle Trader magazine. The appointment coincided with
not one but two overseas new bike launches: Harley-Davidson in America
and Royal Enfield in England.
I've never been to America before (goddamn homeland security!) but was
given a visa this time. The pendulum really swung the other way and I
now have a five-year working journalist visa. Cool. We flew (business
class, of course) first to Denver where we rode the bikes and then to
Milwaukee for the 110th H-D birthday celebrations. Part of the package
was Aerosmith tickets (Steve Tyler is Liv Tyler's dad - go figure) but
there were about 40 bands playing over the three days and I caught up
with the Doobie Brothers and ZZ Top.
What I discovered about America is that it's very diverse and it's
hard to say you know it from such a brief trip. Denver and Milwaukee
are like different countries so I can only imagine what the Deep South
and the New Mexico areas must be like. Experts tell me New York and
San Francisco aren't very much alike either.
The 110th celebrations were held in a variety of countries and, as you
can see from the picture, Pope Francis blessed the Italian riders.
England was more familiar and the trip included a ride from the iconic
Ace Cafe to Brighton Peer where the big mods/rockers riots took place
in the early '60s. The Royal Enfield bike in question is the
Continental GT which is a retro cafe racer which speaks to the early
'60s period.
Part of the experience was a walking tour around Soho to see the dives
the early rock bands played in. Eric Burdon still rates highly.
Another highlight was the Goodwood Revival where 50,000 poms dress up
as if it was the early '50s still and race old cars and bikes. The
costuming is spectacular - check out the cheeky fighter pilot in the
picture.
I'm back at work now and need to do more writing and less traveling.
The cousin's night in Sydney looks like it was a hoot and will just
make Annika a tiny bit more homesick than she already is. As you can
see from Nick's post below, Amanda is touring but we're all getting
together again soon for Paris and Lara's wedding in Sydney and, of
course, Damian's 50th. Not many more sleeps now...

This photo should replace the one of the orang-utan and the dog below, although it a pretty sweet picture of an unlikely friendship.

 

Cousin Night

The Sydney Cousins and honorary family members got together to farewell Annika back to the Philippines. Our party included Daniel, Alaine Milly, Adam, Sonya, Annika, Paris, Lara, Amber, Anna-May (you may remember there was previously a movement to set Anna and Rowan up), Simone and a few extra of Annika’s friends.

 

We started with Korean BBQ then moved on to karaoke. The song choices were off the chart and the quality of singing was rather impressive. No hospitalisations this time but poor Simone will be forever known as Scarface and her chin may never recover. The night finished with a 3am maccas stop.  

 

Annika, if you ever move back to Australia, please move to Sydney.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day, I enjoyed mine with little Joshua, had an omelet, went for a walk and didn't change a nappy all day.

Three things i miss:
1. Sleep.
2. Sleep ins.
3. Afternoon naps.