No climbing today. Wedding only.

The wedding of Craig and Lotus.
This post is more for my own memory than anything else. Aknowledgements will be imcomplete. But thank you to all the special people who cast this spell.
Sandra and I talked the next morning about how we had all worked on so many details for so many months to make a majic moment. The majic doesn't last forever, but it leaves something special behind.
How to cast a spell: Prepare the space.

Aunty Lorelle showers the ground with rose petals.

Fill the air with the sacred ritual music of the Gamelan.

Bring together the beautiful bride and the nervous, terrified but happy groom.

Perform the ceremony

Bring together fabulous guests from around the world.

Easy!

Now Jools from Panic Hair Bazaar performs her special girls majic.
 

I was quite busy for the day but I did get to take a few photos. You know, can't trust the professionals and all that.

 Mother and Daughter

Lotus and her Grandmother, Molly phoenix.

I can't take my eyes of this girl!

Kirsten and Willow

The very fabulous wine from Mike Olsen of Cypress post.

The banquet team.

127 guests, plus the Gamelan and the band, Astrid and the Asteroids.

The kids have thier own party.

 It's a bake off. Sandra made cheesecake, Martha made tarts.

 Can you believe this cake?

 Willow, the Maid of Honor.

 Dear friends.

 I was there too.

 The ruck.

The lovely guests.

The perfect spell.

I'm going to Jackson

Sandra and I took this last weekend to visit the most beautiful and soul nourishing Jackson Cafe & Gallery in Melbourne. That's all we did. We went to Melbourne and went to a cafe.

Some of you know my amazing brother Peter O'Brien. Artist, thinker, writer, adventurer.

He has opened the Jackson Cafe & Gallery at 412 Rathdown Street Nth. Carlton.

The opening exhibition is by Peter, himself. Seven rooms of subversion, dreams and poetry.

A science researcher from the nearby University of Melbourne keeps the conversation elevated.

"Ethical Pickles" are stacked for sale on the table. I know some people would fly further than Melbourne to get a jar of these fiery Eggplant Pickles.

At the heart of the cafe is the organic, fair trade Segafredo coffee. 

Annie and Peter

So much stainless in the kitchen.

 Sandra

 I drank four cups of coffee in a day. A personal best. Nothing bad happened. Good to know.

The music: you'll  hear up to the minute local Melbourne funk and jazz musicians who drop in for coffee and check on their CD sales. Next minute you'll be drifting away through the years with the poetry of Bob Dylan and Cohen.

We stayed at Peter and Annie's place in carlton Nth.

But we did go outside. Sandra has just turned 55 and is looking fabulous, so I took a moment off from drinking coffee to capture her urban style.

                          

                        

 Back to the warmth and the papers.

Two days of art, science and coffee. Time to go.

 Sandra booked a Getz for us. Avis gave us a Holden Supercar, racing pack and all.

Climbers, you know I drive like a pensioner but pulling out into Lygon Street, across the tram tracks, in the high competition evening traffic, on a mission to the airport, we put it to use.

Peter revives the form, poetry and hand drawing.

Our dear old friend Kevin. He is dedicated to crafts of ancient cultures. Vikings, Celts.

Life long friend Janet wears a celtic knot in copper, by Kevin.

 Sandra prepares the Red Phoenix Emporium capsule collection as passersby look in.

 Interesting small rooms upstairs boldly exhibit art.

 The schoolroom, for meetings

 No wifi. So why don't you just tell me what you had for lunch?

 Fall deeply into the art that surrounds you.

Oil and oil paint on canvas.

 Annie.             Annie's coral bicycle.

 The rooms are beautiful and surprising, a hidden staircase, an unexpected light well.

Home made vegetable soup with turkish bread, coffee, fire.

The Red Phoenix Emporium capsule collection.

 Peter can justifiably look satisfied. He has achieved a beautiful, intelligent atmosphere that I know will be loved by artists, coffee seekers and conversationalists. Thank you Peter.