BER - the second tour!

Yesterday, the whole staff was given a walk-through of our school's almost-completed new BER double-classroom and new BER school library. These are some comparison photos with the ones from my sneak preview of the library a few weeks ago:

























Down the other end of the school, a matching building, comprising a modern double classroom, with wet areas, storerooms and a glassed-in, shared withdrawal teaching space, is almost complete! On the floor is stored some of the shelving and furnishings for the library!





Mmmm, back at the library. Mind that last step: it's a doozy!:


As a colourblind man, I must trust my colleagues as to the colour of this door. But it's hard to miss, whatever colour it is!

I can't wait to get all the books and other resources out of storage. There was no time to cull books before packing (done by professional removalists, supervised by me), so I anticipate a massive and essential cull during the first few weeks of set-up. Thanks Kevin and Julia!

Here's Johnny... at 90 - at "Number 96"!

Beloved and oh so familiar actors, James Elliott, Elisabeth Kirkby, Mike Dorsey, Philippa Baker, Jeff Kevin, Wendy Blacklock and Frances Hargreaves, surround Johnny Lockwood at his recent 90th birthday party, held in the Eva Breuer Gallery, 83 Moncur Street, Woollahra, the infamous building used as "Number 96" in the 70s soap opera.

Look carefully at Johnny's cake: the image in the icing is the front page photo from my website at www.number96.tv! Now that's very, very cool!



I'm a bit late with this "news". Thanks to blogger Tammy Tingles for the heads-up, and to "Woman's Day" (28 July 2010) for covering the celebration! There is a video clip at the "Woman's Day" website.


Top: James Elliott, Elisabeth Kirkby, Johnny Lockwood, Jeff Kevin and Philippa Baker.

Below right: Abigail hosting the TV special, "Number 96: And They Said It Wouldn't Last", in 1976.

"Star Trek" at a fit 44!

Celebrate the original "Star Trek's 44th anniversary tomorrow with "Star Trek 365: The Original Series", a massive house-brick sized book filled with big colour pics, sketches, memos - and lots of info.

Written by Paula M Block & Terry J Erdmann, the book is introduced by Dorothy "DC" Fontana and published by Abrams Publishing (no connection to JJ). I was lucky, even though living in Sydney, Australia, to find a copy of this Abrams Publishing "365" in a local bookshop - as it turned out, many weeks before the jealous US readers started to report seeing copies!

Paula Block & Terry Erdmann have done an incredible job of fossicking through all those years of material on Star Trek and presenting a blend of iconic, familiar and extremely rare photographs and facts about Gene Roddenberry's "Star Trek". The "365" format is certainly unusual and modern. I laughed out loud at early Amazon.com reviewer comments complaining about the unique design features; features which I immediately thought were wonderfully retro and modern at the same time. (In fact, my great experience with this particular edition convinced me to go back and pick up a shrink-wrapped "Star Wars 365 Days" version a few weeks ago - and I'm not even much of a "Star Wars" fan.)

I've had the "Star Trek" book for weeks now, using it exactly as intended: as a coffee table book, but safely on a coffee table upon which food and drink are never served! I feel like I've barely done more than flip through the wonderful rare and familiar pictures so far, or yelling out factoids to anyone who passes. Stunning photos! Glorious colours! I stop riffling every so often to absorb brand new (and sometimes well known) trivia in the text. There are even some great mini interviews and quotes from people we haven't seen in the limelight for decades! It's a wonderful publication!

Just when you think no more could possibly be left to see/read about the original "Star Trek" series, Paula & Terry have scrounged out those last(?) remaining bits. And now... I want more! Bring on the movies book, TNG and beyond, and the Abrams' book of JJ Abrams (no relation)!

Pearl Beach memories

Recently, my family has been reminiscing about Pearl Beach, on the Central Coast of NSW, destination of many McLean family vacations over the years. I'm really not much of a beach person, but made a pilgrimage there today, being the first Father's Day since my Dad's passing, and it seemed like an appropriate time to check out this beautiful part of paradise.


Dad at Pearl Beach, 1968

I've also dredged up a few comparison shots from the old photo albums, which in desperate need of a revamp. Those white "sticky page" albums of the 70s have a tendency to either turn a ghastly yellow, lose all adhesion - and all the photos slide out - or they cling onto the photos and make them impossible to remove for scanning.

I've decided to juxtapose some of the images. For example, here is Lion Island, as seen in 2010 (from the Mt Ettymalong Lookout), and from the beach in 1970, in glorious b/w:





In 1966, 1968 and 1970, we stayed at Bob Godding's beach house on the corner of Diamond Road and Agate Avenue:


House at Agate Avenue, 1966


Ian, Keith & Brian McLean and "Little Keithie from across the road", 1968


House at Agate Avenue, 1968


Replacement house at Agate Avenue, 2010; Bob's house
had been extended in the early 70s, but supposedly burned down and rebuilt


Pearl Beach lagoon, 1966


Pearl Beach lagoon, 2010


Rock pool, 1968


Rock pool under repair, 2010


Mum and Brian, 1968


Rock wall being reinforced, 2010


Keith and Brian; Keith, Brian, fish, and Ian, 1970

Meanwhile, how come I'm always the palest one in any beach picture?


1973



Here's the article about my capture of a deadly blue-ringed octopus at Pearl Beach in 1973. The Daily Telegraph did an extensive interview by reverse-charges - on the only public phone in Pearl Beach - but the story was watered down after several more octopuses were caught on the Central Coast the same day. Must have been breeding season?


Brush turkey crosses Pearl Parade; lizards at Mt Ettymalong Lookout, 2010


Mrs Gava's old house on Pearl Parade, 2010; we stayed here in 1973,
behind the now-sealed up middle door!


Revamped shop/cafe on Pearl Parade, 2010; site of the original Post Office Store.

We hope do do a family picnic at Pearl Beach, sometime soon. More photos as they come to hand!


Shell painting in acrylics on canvas, with driftwood border,
bought from Pearl Beach General Store & Cafe. Artist: Peter Baka, 2009.

I know a secret...

... but I'll get dragged away by the blue people if I say anything more.

I can't wait till next January, when the fourth and final(?) instalment in the "Star Trek: Typhon Pact" storyline, "Paths of Disharmony" by Dayton Ward, shall begin to appear in the bookshops. I can reveal that this novel is set mainly on Andor, and will pick up threads from Heather Jarman's world-building "Andor: Paradigm" (from "Worlds of Deep Space Nine, Book 1"), in addition to picking up the pieces left behind by the post-"Destiny" novels of more recent times.

The dreadlocked Andorian with Picard (above) is Shar, the post-TV series' science officer of "Deep Space Nine".

Thanks in advance to Pocket Books and author, Dayton Ward!

The secret is revealed... HERE.

Miss Playtrek's return Down Under

Miss Playtrek is back in Australia, albeit temporarily, recently arriving in Bathurst. After a few weeks of looking out rainy Bathurst windows, Playtrekker Sammy's doll collection finally decided it was time to throw the visiting Miss Playtrek her official welcoming party.

Miss Playtrek arrives at "La Grande Maison Rose" (the big pink house) in her hire car, a magenta Jaguar:


(Nothing but the best for Miss Playtrek!)


Granny Barbie goes a little overboard with Miss Playtrek's "light" lunch.


Just enough time for some sun by the pool.


And a luxurious bath... in Bathurst!


... before everyone arrives to party!!:

Some celebrities joined in for the occasion:


Scully & Mulder of "The X-Files"...


Swept off her feet by Jacob sometime around "Twilight"...


Meeting "Charlie's Angels"...

An awesome night for Miss Playtrek! For now, it's time for bed... and sweet dreams:



Soon, Sammy and Miss Playtrek are believed to be headed to the famous Mount Panorama to see how she handles the Jaguar.

The return of Will Decker!

Commander Will Decker arrived in my mailbox today. V'ger must have finished with him. He's a bit grey in the face, and has also misplaced his Perscan buckle and his shoes. But he's aliiiiiiiiiive!

I've had my Mego 12" "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" Klingon since 1980. He was bought from a local flea market by a friend but, when I raced back, any other figures had long gone. Then, in January 1984, I found the rest in the dealers' room at a New York Creation Convention. Kirk, Spock and the Arcturian were all $25 each and Decker and Ilia were $35 each. Sadly, they wouldn't take traveller's cheques and I couldn't spare the cash to get Decker and Ilia. Sob. Little did I realise how shortpacked was Decker!

Then, about twelve years ago, a beautiful, boxed Ilia turned up in a local collectibles shop for about $90. Opening the packaging, I was horrified that she had a large, dark purple spot on her bald head, transferred from the inner cardboard box liner. Luckily, that mark faded away, even as poor ol' Kirk and Spock's faces continued to take on the dreaded "Mego greying disease". This Decker is a bit grey, and was loose, with battered paintwork on his hair, no shoes or buckle, and a uniform needing some attention, but he was cheap enough - and it's great he can finally be reunited with Ilia. (I've lost out on a number of Will Decker eBay auctions over the decades; I love the "Buy it now" option.)