The Old Candle Factory

Will Pugh is a wizard DOP, and it was he who captured the footage that made up this programme. See a sample showreel on his website HERE. I think the sample showreel that will ultimately appear on the website of my current DOP will be somewhat more dramatic!

My head is bursting with stories...... but they have to remain under my hat. So read about THIS instead. A sculpture on the wall of Manly LIfe Saving Club. They hold an annual charity swimming race nearby.  These people are seriously tough.  Read HERE! I'll stick to ballooning thanks!

The pilots are apparently religious.......

Popped up to Brisbane on a Virgin Blue. Sounds like the start of a song or a poem, but it was the start of a magic 24 hours spent with a good friend who I last saw 25 years ago. He has been a busy boy in the mean time. Sailed around the world. Married his lovely sweetheart who has produced two charming girls and they all live in a fantastic Carl Larsson -esque house. We visited the hangar containing The Southern Cross. Read about it HERE. And then we went a-wandering and found a few old cars..... And then we came home and peeped inside the Aladdin's Cave......... Champagne was poured and we talked until I fell asleep.... very happy.

'A little bit of powder and a little bit of paint makes a lady into what she aint.' I can tell you - the same goes for fellahs! I can't visit Sin City ( as Sydney is known) without tasting the night life now can I? Wandering around cyberspace it's amazing what you find! It's just as well I didn't have my camera with me last night. I'm sneaking off to Brisbane tomorow to visit an old chum I've not see for 25 years. He flew a balloon across Australia (click for story.) There's also a photographer who lives in Brisbane called Garry. You can see his pictures HERE.   I very much like his style. He took this picture of a moonbow.

Yup.  Back in Sydney and the rain is falling here too. Never mind.  I had tea today with a lovely Lady from Guyana. She's something high up in the city. Sydney City. 16th floor to be exact. The first black woman cabinet minister. A very smart Lady. Adam drove me there and I wish he'd been there to keep his beady eye on me.  Too late now (blush). So he then took me for a tour of Sydney via THE harbour bridge. Cough up $200 and you can walk over the top. Well... forget that. For a wee bit more you can take an aerial tour in a SEA PLANE !! I confess I am tempted.  Watch this space..... The bridge is like an enormous meccano set and is affectionately known as the 'Coathanger' It was opened on March 19th 1932 by Premier Jack Lang after six years of construction. Made of steel the bridge contains 6 million hand driven rivets. The surface area that requires painting is equal to about the surface area of 60 sports fields. The Bridge has huge hinges to absorb the ex...

We leave Melbourne today and I tell you here and now I shall one day return. Goodness knows how or when, but let's wait and see. Saturday was free so I found the best rare book shop and was very impressed with their stock. I resisted buying anything and explored the city whilst listening to the grand prix cars doing ther final practice sessions. I discovered a shop called Il Papiro which sells hand-made paper and books and pens and inks etc etc. All made in Florence.... the glass pens hand blown. If you're going to have a helicopter, paint it red. The temptation to blow alot of money on an exclusive aerial tour of the city was partly because of the shiny livery. But I resisted.