Never thought I'd see the day...

[lizzytysh]

Mirka! Did I meet you in the Chat days???

[mirka]

I don't remember Lizzy if we met those days, sorry - it was so long ago (15+ years!) and I don't remember names, I just remember some strange details: Australians complaining lack of LC's CDs down under, a fan from Taiwan whom I asked about 3 times if he really was in Taiwan I remember the time for chats had to be chosen so that people from all time zones could adjust (sort of, for me it was very early Sunday morning).
How are you Lizzy, still in Florida ? I thought you were planning to move to Costa Rica someday ?

[mirka]

Hi Andrew, so you grew up in Cairns ? I wonder how was the life there xx years ago. Last year me and my husband we spent a little more then a week in Clifton Beach, with a side trip to Cape Tribulation for snorkeling. The area felt very exotic and attractive for tropical vacations, although I could imagine living there permanently could be quite difficult, with aligators hanging around every billabong /there were baby gators in the creek in the backyard of the house we rented !/

[blonde madonna]

Andrew, I have been pondering the same thing myself lately. For so many years I learnt to never refer to LC, it wasn't worth the bother ... and I listened to him in private so I could enjoy it without having to explain it. Now my DH and DD are converts and absolutely everyone seems to be a fan, I'm not in the closet anymore, he is even coming to Geelong, it is wonderful.

I can't help getting excited talking about him coming to Australia again (and another thing, 1980 and 1985, they were the only years he came so far, in the old days, when he was under appreciated outside of Europe). Can't wait to catch up with you and Bev and any other forum members who attend Melbourne or Geelong.

Lets start brainstorming where we can meet in Melbourne...on the Yarra somewhere?

[blonde madonna]

Andrew, what about Southbank? I always like Blue Train, cheap, good food but may not be able to book.

[lizzytysh]

Yesssssss, still here, Mirka. Too much going on to be able to move, and in the meantime, have learned more and adjusted my passion for moving there.
Right... I know, there were way many names back then... and I remember the time coordination... and how gleeful we would all be when Jarkko appeared

[Andrew (Darby)]

Hi Andrew, so you grew up in Cairns ? I wonder how was the life there xx years ago. Last year me and my husband we spent a little more then a week in Clifton Beach, with a side trip to Cape Tribulation for snorkeling. The area felt very exotic and attractive for tropical vacations, although I could imagine living there permanently could be quite difficult, with aligators hanging around every billabong /there were baby gators in the creek in the backyard of the house we rented !/

Mirka, I love the Cairns area, but it’s too hot and humid in the summer for me, though I do have many fond memories of it from childhood, including of Clifton Beach. We as a family holidayed there when there were several very basic and cheap little holiday houses/shacks to rent, well before most were demolished and the big upsurge in new housing, tourism and prices there in the last few decades.

Regarding crocodiles (not alligators ), as a child I was always a little anxious walking around near the creeks or lagoons at Clifton Beach, though luckily I never saw one. However, crocodile anxiety aside, those beach holidays were so idyllic: we had no power, so used stoves fuelled by firewood and had kerosene lantern or carbide lamp lighting, and the windows of one "shack" consisted of hinged sections of the wall that you propped open with long pieces of wood. They were indeed magical holidays filled with the simple pleasures of such a relatively undeveloped seaside place!

Cheers,
Andrew

[Andrew (Darby)]

Blonde madonna, we long-term Oz Cohenites have indeed that shared experience, I'm sure of it. However, further to my earlier post and perhaps as an emotional counterpoint to it, I sometimes wonder though if aspects of Leonard's apparent popularity now is a market driven thing...and may be more about the dollars he can attract in those quarters where financial rewards or spin-offs can be reaped??

I think a gathering somewhere like where you are suggesting would be a good thing to do before the concert. Alan from Adelaide (and perhaps a friend from Bendigo) would be with me for that Nov 20th one and sure to enjoy it with us and whoever else can make it. I'll check out Blue Train in the meantime.

Cheers,
Andrew

[lizzytysh]

and the windows of one "shack" consisted of hinged sections of the wall that you propped open with long pieces of wood. They were indeed magical holidays filled with the simple pleasures of such a relatively undeveloped seaside place!

For a year in the Keys, I lived in a similar [very small] shack... and loved it!
It had minimal electric and only cold water.

[Andrew (Darby)]

Elizabeth, that sounds cool... I think it would not be so easy to find such places today, though perhaps they lose their appeal (except in nostalgic terms) as we get older, as well as become dependent on the creature comforts and technological distractions we have.

Cheers,
Andrew

[lizzytysh]

Ha. Too true, Andrew... it would be quite hard to find. And, it was 30 years ago ... guessing that could make a difference on the creature comforts and techno stuff
It was definitely cool at the time, though.
I had a vibrant orange & yellow canary that harmonized with Barbra Streisand.
And I had a HUMONGOUS avocado tree, banana trees, and a sapodilla tree [don't like sapodillas, though]... and vibrant flowers lining the fence. I'd still be able to deal with those.

Cheers,
Lizzy

[mirka]

[...]However, crocodile anxiety aside, those beach holidays were so idyllic: we had no power, so used stoves fuelled by firewood and had kerosene lantern or carbide lamp lighting, and the windows of one "shack" consisted of hinged sections of the wall that you propped open with long pieces of wood. They were indeed magical holidays filled with the simple pleasures of such a relatively undeveloped seaside place!

Cheers,
Andrew

/Sorry for delayed response, Andrew/
Nowadays as you know Clifton Beach is rather upscale but those idyllic conditions we found North of Daintree River -- electricity only when localy powered, beach shacks with windows as you describe, critters climbing into the shacks, very few tourists who made it up there. A place for magical holidays and one on the top of my dream vacations list.
Thanks for invoking memories

[mirka]

Yesssssss, still here, Mirka. Too much going on to be able to move, and in the meantime, have learned more and adjusted my passion for moving there.
Right... I know, there were way many names back then... and I remember the time coordination... and how gleeful we would all be when Jarkko appeared

Yes, Costa Rica is a great vacation destination but not so easy country to live in. I know quite a few people who moved back to US after trying to retire there.
I don't remember -- has Leonard himself ever took part in those chats ? I vaguely remember him appearing once ...?

[lizzytysh]

Right... I think I'll take your words and those of others on serious advisement, mirka .

I've been told that Leonard did for awhile, I think while he was on Mt. Baldy.
That was before I got there, though. I never read anyone who I suspected of being Leonard... or was told by anyone that it was.