The van Jaarsveldts Down Under

Open Air Cinema

2012-02-14T19:22:00.001+11:00

Australia Day

2012-01-26T18:34:00.000+11:00

Finding some tranquillity in the Chinese Gardens.

Luna Park

2012-01-26T18:23:00.000+11:00

Rafael Lozano-Hemmer

2012-01-22T14:38:00.002+11:00

Recorders exhibit at the Sydney MCA.

Jamberoo

2012-01-22T14:33:00.000+11:00

Copacabana

2012-01-22T14:28:00.000+11:00

Screening Room

2012-01-22T14:27:00.002+11:00

Palm Beach

2012-01-22T14:27:00.001+11:00

Copacabana

2012-01-16T16:02:00.001+11:00

The really big boys on Mike's deck at Copa. All together now: "She was a showgirl..."

Teagardens

2012-01-16T15:55:00.001+11:00

The boys at Teagardens toasting the crap out of some marshmallows.

Arctic Monkeys

2012-01-14T10:50:00.002+11:00

The Arctics at the Enmore - what more can a growing boy ask for from a Friday night out? Right now, music does not get much louder or more exciting than the Arctics at full throttle. A band that has developed and matured remarkably for their few short years in existence. Suck It And See is their best work to date and promises much for the future. To my surprise they were all quiffed up, Alex Turner apparently channeling a young Hamburg era John Lennon. Great stuff, but a small gripe at the Enmore. Really people, you somehow manage to book some of the best acts in the world, despite the venue looking like a complete shithole. Spend some money on it. Apart from anything else I'm convinced its unsafe. One day that balcony is going to drop.

Fleet Foxes

2012-01-03T16:22:00.002+11:00

A New Year’s treat for us last night, Fleet Foxes at the Opera House. What a fantastic night out. Sundown on the steps of the Opera House, followed by almost two hours of non-stop musical bliss from the Foxes. They are one of the most exciting young bands in the world at the moment. Beautiful melodies, haunting and powerful, that remind me of the best bits of Simon and Garfunkel and the Beach Boys.

Hopefully, a great start to a good year of live music. We have already lined up the Pogues, Arctic Monkeys, Johnny Clegg and Ryan Adams.

Dalrymple Bay

2011-12-02T19:04:00.000+11:00

Our river of coal.

Lunch leave

2011-12-02T18:47:00.000+11:00

Lunch on the lawn at Joeys.

Sculptures By The Sea 4

2011-11-19T12:13:00.000+11:00

Sculptures By The Sea 3

2011-11-19T12:08:00.000+11:00

Sculptures By The Sea 2

2011-11-19T12:06:00.000+11:00

Sculptures By The Sea 1

2011-11-19T12:04:00.000+11:00

Quinlan's ninth Birthday

2011-11-12T10:43:00.000+11:00

Halloween

2011-11-12T10:38:00.000+11:00

Seven Bridges Walk

2011-11-12T10:35:00.001+11:00

Sydney Noodle Markets

2011-11-12T10:35:00.000+11:00

Adelaide

2011-11-12T09:35:00.000+11:00

....and the Barossa.

Wellington

2011-11-12T09:26:00.000+11:00

For the Rugby World Cup

Kings Of Leon

2011-11-07T13:59:00.003+11:00

Marius and I saw them on Saturday night. I have become completely hooked on KOL. They are making some of the most interesting and affecting music around. Live, they are one of the most exciting acts you can see. It was a flawless concert in front of an enthusiastic Sydney crowd. Everyone's favourites were played, including mine, Revelry. They ended the main set with a rollicking Sex On Fire, which I thought could not be matched, but then they proceeded to set a new high with a version of Black Thumbnail in the encore, which just about blew the arena apart. Its been a long wait to see KOL - they were originally due here in March - but very much worth it.

KOL were fronted by a great band from Carolina, called Band Of Horses. A very similar, if sometimes lighter style. I predict they will become huge in the next few years.

South Africa 7

2011-10-11T20:09:00.000+11:00

Clay pigeon shooting, probably the highlight of the trip for Marius.

South Africa 6

2011-10-11T20:07:00.000+11:00

South Africa 5

2011-10-11T20:04:00.000+11:00

Sun City, Valley of the Waves, Lost City

South Africa 4

2011-10-11T20:01:00.000+11:00

Feeding the elephants.

South Africa 3

2011-10-11T19:59:00.000+11:00

South Africa 2

2011-10-11T19:56:00.000+11:00

South Africa 1

2011-10-11T19:53:00.000+11:00

Our stay at Sun City, game viewing in the Pilanesberg.

Caloundra, QLD

2011-10-11T19:50:00.000+11:00

Beautiful one day, etc...

Petrus State Finals

2011-09-11T20:49:00.000+10:00

The State Finals for the Manly Sea Eagles.

Marius Grand Final

2011-08-28T17:14:00.000+10:00

Marius's Hunter Hill U13 team made it to the Grand Final where they narrowly
missed out (17-15) to Seaforth today. Marius scored a try and the whole
team played excellent rugby.

Happy Birthday Petrus

2011-08-22T20:54:00.000+10:00

Our basketball hero turned 11 yesterday. Here he is with his Oupa when he
had only one of those ones.

Petrus MVP

2011-08-14T16:00:00.000+10:00

Petrus wins the club trophy for rebounder of the year and Most Valuable
Player for his team which goes on to the state championships next week.

Marius 13th birthday

2011-08-09T12:45:00.001+10:00

Happy birthday, olde beane. Good luck with the wonderful teenage years!

Brisbane

2011-07-30T21:15:00.000+10:00

A quick visit to Brisbane's Museum of Modern Art to see the Surrealist
exhibition.

...and yet more basketball

2011-07-17T21:16:00.001+10:00

Petrus's team is now through to the state stage of the competition.

...basketball...

2011-07-17T21:12:00.000+10:00

Basketball

2011-07-17T21:09:00.000+10:00

Sydney 1440

2011-07-17T20:34:00.000+10:00

Here's my shortlist of photos for this Saturday's Sydney 1440 Photo
Challenge. The themes were City Living, Red and Public Transport.

South Bank

2011-06-21T19:56:00.000+10:00

On a rainy Sunday.

The Queen's Birthday

2011-06-21T19:55:00.000+10:00

The procession up the Mall following Trooping The Colour.

Green Park

2011-06-21T19:51:00.000+10:00

On a sunny Saturday afternoon.

London Naked Ride

2011-06-21T19:49:00.000+10:00

The annual Naked Bike Ride makes its way down Piccadilly.

Chicago

2011-06-21T14:28:00.001+10:00

I managed to get to the Music Box Cinema, a favourite of Roger Ebert. I saw
Bill Cunningham New York in the small theatre that is dressed up to look
like an outdoor venue, complete with twinkling stars and vines. Very cool.
The movie was also excellent and my review is at www.rollmo.blogspot.com

New York

2011-06-21T14:20:00.001+10:00

Vancouver

2011-06-21T14:12:00.001+10:00

Only my second trip ever to Vancouver, the last time was around 15 years ago. I liked the old cinemas downtown and took my first ever ride on a seaplane to Vancouver Island.

Indigo Girls

2011-04-29T10:26:00.002+10:00

One of my top five favourite acts and have been ever since I first heard Closer To Fine back in the late Eighties. Probably the act I have seen the most frequently over the years. We’re lucky that they seem to like Australia and England and have loyal fan bases in both countries. I can never get enough of those beautiful harmonies and driving guitars. Magnificent work from two insanely talented women. They were at their best last night at the State with a minimalist acoustic set, joined only on Closer to Fine by a local lass who played the penny whistle. Always interesting to check out the audience at Indigo Girls concerts. In the bar queue I stood behind Kristina Kenealy the ex-premier of New South Wales.

So draws to a close our little Easter concert season. It’s been very enjoyable, if a little tiring three nights in a row. It’s great having all these artists here at the same time. It even gives them a chance to see each other perform. I understand that at the Costello concert we were sitting only a few seats away from Amy Ray.

Bob Dylan

2011-04-29T10:09:00.001+10:00

I have been lucky enough to see Bob Dylan in concert a number of times over the years. You never quite know what to expect. I must admit that the first time I saw him (at Hammersmith in London) I was very puzzled. He seemed to have no interest at all in being there and laboured through tortured, unintelligible and dreary versions of his songs. It looked like hard work for him and it certainly was for the audience. The second time (an outdoor concert in Sydney’s Centennial Park) could not have been more different. He was in fine form and breathed life, warmth and emotion into his incredible repertoire. Finally, I could see why the world so adores this man. It was a wonderful evening, which I have since been trying to recapture. When I saw him at the Entertainment Centre a few years ago I was perfectly happy. He had essentially become a full-time Blues singer, a style to which his voice is perfectly suited. I love the Blues, Bob’s new work on Modern Times and Together Through Life was mostly in that style and very good. Last night, however, I couldn’t quite get back to the same level of enjoyment. Two things bug people about Dylan’s current style of concert: one, he has no verbal engagement with the audience at all. This has never bothered me in the past, after all the connection is meant be through the music. Two, now that he has so fully embraced the Blues style, every song has become a Blues song. Old fans find it unsettling to hear their well loved songs played back in a fairground Blues grind. This I must admit I also found a little grating last night. It was hard to accept that he could be half way through Hard Rain before most of the audience recognised what he was playing. Oh well, enough of a whinge. Dylan is always going to do what he wants. On the whole, for the last six decades or so, that has turned out pretty well.

Paul Kelly

2011-04-29T09:48:00.002+10:00

Paul fronted for Bob Dylan at the Entertainment Centre last night. I’m very glad I made the effort (unusual for me) of turning up early enough to see the support. I’ve been wanting to take a closer listen to this guy, who is a bit of an icon of the Australian folk scene, for some time. I can see why he has such wide local appeal. Warm, intelligent songs, simply performed in a clear and compelling voice. He shared the stage with his nephew, Dan Kelly, who joined in on some backing vocals and a second guitar. I really enjoyed the songs, particularly Midnight Rain and How To Make Gravy. I’ll have to go and find some of his albums now.

Jethro Tull

2011-04-27T12:58:00.002+10:00

Marius and I saw Jethro Tull at the State last night. Marius was without any doubt the youngest member of the audience and, for once, I was among the younger members myself! I have been listening to Tull since I was around Marius’s age and its always a great pleasure to see them. Last night’s concert was a particular treat as we had front row seats, almost embarrassingly close. Marius had a great time and, after all, what is there not to like? They hammered through a good selection of oldies, including some lesser known but very respectable numbers from the earlier albums. Then came right up to date, ending the first half with Ian Anderson’s jazz flute interpretation of JS Bach’s Bourree in E minor, which he played recently with American astronaut Catherine Coleman in the first-ever flute duet between Earth and space. (http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=79579).

The second half contained some epics including a massive Budapest and a rocking Aqualung. The single encore was the incomparable Locomotive Breath. Can there be anything more exciting in Rock than the opening of that song?

Ian Anderson looks very sprightly for his 63 years, still managing to play a flawless flute, while balancing on one leg. Marius liked the music and laughed at the head-banging antics of some of the oldies in the audience.

Complete!

2011-04-24T13:35:00.000+10:00

Elvis Costello

2011-04-23T12:26:00.002+10:00

We saw Elvis at the State this week. It’s been quite a few years since I last saw him in concert. He’s in fine form. Elvis has such an enormous and varied back catalogue that he could easily give a dozen completely different concerts. This was the closest I’ve seen to a greatest hits performance. Quite a few of the old favourites like Oliver’s Army and Every day I Write The Book were there. Completely absent were any songs from his brilliant collaboration with Burt Bacharach Painted From Memory, (and one of my favourite albums), but that was perhaps to be expected. Elvis performed with his old band the Imposters, including the keyboardist Steve Nieve.

Neil Diamond

2011-03-29T09:47:00.001+11:00

I still have the songs ringing in my head now. We've been lucky enough to catch Neil Diamond in concert a couple of times in the past and again last Saturday at the Acer here in Sydney. The previous concerts were by no means disappointing, but Saturday's was by far the best. The man is at the height of his powers and he turned 70 this January! Absolutely remarkable! Every song is so well known that they are almost clichés, yet he manages somehow to breathe new life into them. The only slight niggle for me was that he did only one song from his two recent albums 12 Songs and Home Before Dark. These are excellent albums and deserve more attention, but this was a small thing in a very enjoyable night.

Driveway down

2011-03-29T09:31:00.001+11:00

A lit bit closer....

2011-03-27T12:48:00.000+11:00

Melbourne

2011-03-27T12:44:00.001+11:00

View from my hotel room, a bit wet and windy.

Pile of dirt

2011-03-02T21:58:00.000+11:00

....where the driveway should be.

Front wall

2011-03-02T21:53:00.000+11:00

FRC

2011-03-02T21:52:00.000+11:00

Basketball

2011-03-02T21:45:00.000+11:00

We've spent a lot of time on the courts lately.

Joeys basketball

2011-02-06T12:33:00.000+11:00

Marius scored the first points of the season for his team.

Joeys first day

2011-02-06T12:32:00.001+11:00

Marius's first day of high school at St Joseph's College.

Driveway digging

2011-02-06T12:29:00.001+11:00

Australia Day

2011-01-26T14:40:00.000+11:00

On Curl Curl beach.

Building resumes...

2011-01-26T14:37:00.000+11:00

Balmoral

2011-01-26T14:28:00.000+11:00

Noodle Markets

2011-01-15T12:21:00.000+11:00

Balmoral

2011-01-09T12:18:00.000+11:00

Eastern Suburbs

2011-01-09T12:17:00.000+11:00

Nielsen Park and Watson's Bay.

Paper Round

2011-01-09T12:15:00.000+11:00

Marius's first job, a local paper round delivering the Mosman Daily. Petrus
helps out.

Taronga Zoo

2011-01-09T12:13:00.000+11:00

The boys

2011-01-03T11:08:00.002+11:00

Some recent shots of the boys.

Sydney

2011-01-03T11:08:00.001+11:00

Some shots from a random walk through town and lunch at Darling Harbour with
Quinlan and Petrus.

Fish Markets

2011-01-02T11:24:00.001+11:00

Luna Park (again)

2011-01-02T11:23:00.001+11:00

Coogee Beach

2011-01-02T11:21:00.000+11:00

Palm Beach

2010-12-29T16:42:00.000+11:00

Luna Park

2010-12-28T20:12:00.001+11:00

Willoughby

2010-12-28T20:00:00.000+11:00

Down at the basketball courts trying out some Christmas presents.

Christmas Day

2010-12-26T12:57:00.000+11:00

This year we outsourced Christmas lunch to the Swiss Grand in Bondi. They
did a reasonable job, but we are all looking forward to Christmas in our new
home next year.

Freshwater Beach

2010-12-26T12:51:00.000+11:00

Fun in the surf at Freshwater on a rather cool day.

Ballustrades

2010-12-26T12:49:00.001+11:00

Now for the builders' holiday until late January.

Last Day

2010-12-26T12:45:00.000+11:00

The last day at St Mary's for the Year 6 class.

Farewell Year 6

2010-12-26T12:43:00.001+11:00

Marius's Year 6 Farewell Celebrations at the North Bridge Golf Club and St
Mary's.

Happy Christmas

2010-12-24T09:20:00.002+11:00

Poor old Santa is now almost obliterated by the van Jaarsveldt front row!

Here's hoping that Santa makes all your dreams come true this Christmas. Have a safe and happy holiday!

The Boys

2010-12-13T13:39:00.002+11:00

Official school photo - 2010

London

2010-12-05T20:39:00.000+11:00

The Christmas shopping crowds and one night up at Ravenswood Hall near Bury
St Edmunds.

Kitchen

2010-12-05T18:25:00.004+11:00

New York

2010-12-05T18:25:00.003+11:00

More Christmas shopping crowds (the busiest weekend of the year), skaters in
Central and Bryant Parks and a quick ride on the Staten Island Ferry. I
stayed at the magnificent Waldorf Astoria, where, yes, I had the salad and
also a great meal at the Bull & Bear.

Toronto

2010-12-05T18:25:00.002+11:00

Here I did not get to see much beyond the hotel (the lovely old Fairmont)
and the underground "path" to the office.

Santiago

2010-12-05T18:25:00.001+11:00

My first trip ever to South America! Chile strikes me as a young version of
Spain. Didn't get to see much beyond the W, the office and the airport, but
keen to go back for more.

Bathrooms

2010-12-05T18:25:00.000+11:00

Meanwhile....we make steady progress on the home front.

La Cage Aux Folles

2010-11-28T08:47:00.001+11:00

Last night I saw the Broadway version of this with Kelsey Grammer in the lead with the amazing Douglas Hodge. Watching Kelsey it's almost like an episode of Fraser where he gets to perform in a Broadway musical. It was a lot of fun. Excellent, energetic performances. The audience had a great time. Hodge is an amazing talent. This is his Broadway debut. His background is classical theatre. He has three Olivier nominations for work with the RSC and the National. Here he is hilarious as the hyper flamboyant Zaza.

Manic Street Preachers

2010-11-16T14:41:00.002+11:00

Finally, I have been wanting to see these guys for many years. They did not disappoint. James Dean Bradfield is a formidable front man, a virtuoso on lead guitar and, of course, those searing vocals. I came late to the Manics, only really discovering them through their 5^thalbum This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours in 1998. I have been a fairly dedicated fan since. I was surprised that they did not play more songs from Journal For Plague Lovers (2009), a great album especially the rocking Peeled Apples – but then they have an impressive back catalogue to get through. The sell-out crowd at the Metro sent them off with a rousing sing-along of Design For Life.

Floor and stairs

2010-11-14T17:16:00.000+11:00

...and for the first time...upstairs!

Quinlan's bowling party

2010-11-14T17:09:00.000+11:00