Heavenly Beverley : November 2023

Monday 27 November 2023

Shivering in (Glorious) Antic-ipation!

Last night was dark and stormy. Our toilet light was not existent, due to one of our regular power failures. Stella succumbed to a thunder induced fit of the vapours, ending up squeezed in behind our pillows and and Lexi wanted to be on the bed as well. Anybody who has read "Five Minutes Peace", featuring the Large family, will be able to picture the ensuing chaos.

I staggered out of bed at about seven o'clock, regarding more sleep as a Bridge Too Far. A hyperventilating Kelpie, a partying Groodle, a non-functional CPAP machine and a snoring husband ended my desire of bedtime bliss. I can feel a nanna nap calling me later...

But first, I need to deliver some overdue reporting on "The Dire Straits Experience", along with a delicious preview of this coming weekend's events.

The "Brothers in Arms" tribute band performed at the Platform Theatre on the evening of 4 November. The weather was glorious, the venue was packed to the rafters, the food and vino was excellent and Dire Straits was in the air.

Led by David Atkinson (Guitar & Vocals), Mark Knopfler was all around us the second I closed by eyes. The other members were Pete Wynne (Guitar and Vocals), Todd Ellery (Keyboard and Vocals), Shaun Street (Bass Guitar and Vocals) and last but not least, local Beverley lad Guy Slingerland (Drums and Vocals), living his dreams and fulfilling ours.

When the haunting and poignant "Brothers in Arms" was performed, I was mesmerised by a mixture of agony and ecstasy. The song is so beautiful, but few of the audience knew the meaning behind the lyrics. A searing indictment of the futility of the Falklands War, and all wars before and since. The Falklands War was marked by seven weeks of horror and brutality and the loss of nine hundred lives during hostilities that were never officially declared.

When are we going to stop killing each other?

Enough doom and gloom for now. We danced through "Twisting by the Pool" and embarked on a nostalgic voyage down memory lane, courtesy of so many Dire Straits classics. I can tell you now - anytime this band comes to Beverley, I will be there. What about an annual gig, Mister Slingerland?

And now comes the really fun part of this post. November has been marked by a series of frustrating episodes, most of which are still current. In a deliberate Jump to the Left and perhaps a Step to the Right, here is a fabulous prelude of this coming weekend's events right here in Heavenly Beverley.

Saturday morning will blast off nice and early with our World Famous Beverley Community Markets. Orchestrated by the friendly and uber-efficient Jenny Foster and backed up by a team of enthusiastic artisans, these Christmas Markets will host Twenty-Seven (27!) stalls including the Swan Valley Distillery and the Avonbrook Winery. Plus all the usual suspects and much much more. This is an event definitely not to miss. Open from eight o'clock on this Saturday 2 December.

Wandering up and down Vincent Street, you will undoubtedly wish to browse in Bec and Marion's Art Studio, Kelly D's Ceramics, Luck Find's fabulous frocks, the Beverley Bakery, the Red Vault, both pubs, Nex Dor, Mandy's Art Garden, Je Mode Photographic Studio and our beloved East End Gallery and Giftshop.

Then, of course, we will be welcoming December's Artist-in-Residence at the Station, Alex Kyriakaci. We will enjoy her company for ten days, so be sure to visit the Station for a chat with her. Alex's artist statement reads-

"I love to paint. Painting is a way of describing my thoughts on all that surrounds me.When you paint you are making records of time and place.You are also creating an autobiography of yourself, the artist, in your paintings.I hope that people will see moments in my paintings that they recognise in their own lives through my subject matter and colour. I love to paint urban landscapes, still life, images from travel, my Greek heritage and especially portraits"

Over the last few weeks, the Beverley Soaring Society has been doing just that. I am reliably informed that gliding is the most wonderful. majestic and quiet way to view the world. Unfortunately, as I suffer from Terra Firma (the less firma, the more terra), you will have to take others' opinions rather than mine!

During either Saturday or Sunday, the Beverley Pool is at your service to cool bodies and tempers. Our pool is a much loved summer community resource and is open six days a week for a dip, splash or serious swim.

Finally, here is a scintillating snippet of our last Sundowner/ 9th Birthday Party/ Christmas Party for 2023 all rolled into one. The action will kick off late morning with Local Heroes John and Nicolette Whittington presenting a FREE community sausage sizzle outside the East End Gallery. Any donations towards the restoration of St Mary's church will be gratefully accepted. As early evening approaches BBQ maestro Michael will be in full swing with a second sausage sizzle for all punters until the snags run out. All proceeds will go the St Mary's. With any luck, Canon Doctor Philip Raymont will be in attendance to receive the loot. And Phil is absolutely the most un-stuffy vicar I have ever met.

LIVE music will commence once our Famous band arrive at the Gallery. In Lawrence Jones' case, that will be after he has finished photographing yet another fantastic summer sunset. EAST END MUSOS, you know who you are.If you have a voice or an instrument and would love to join in, just turn up at the East End Gallery this coming Saturday evening 2 December.

You all know the drill-

morning sausage sizzle featuring that mild mannered couple John and Nicolette Whittington...
beverages and cake all day...
East End Gallery sausage sizzle from around 5.30 pm...
LIVE music throughout the night...
please bring a plate and bottle to share...
a chance to enjoy great food and stimulating conversation in and out of the Gallery...
and for laughs, I have purchased the deluxe Santa suit and will be modelling the outfit, even if I die from heat stroke...So, Christmas themed costumes are encouraged!
Finally, would somebody responsible please lock up?!

Do yourselves a favour, book your accommodation or bring your van and enjoy the most fabulous weekend that Beverley can muster.

Enough said. See you all this weekend in Heavenly Beverley.

Oh yes, I do!

The twin perpetrators of last night's shenanigans...

Brothers in Arms - The Dire Straits Experience Saturday 4 November...

What a ripping night!

Michael in quiet rapture...

The view from the other side of the stage...

Lisa and Jan in the audience...

Official event recorder, Mister Lawrence Jones...

And now for something completely different - a bunch of happy stall holders at the November Community Markets...

Then of course, if you wander of the main street, you may encounter other artists, artisans and general hangers-on!

And finally, here I am in disguise as my secret alter ego -

Sunday 26 November 2023

Hi Ho Hi Ho, It's Off To Work (Play) We Go!

I have definitely turned into a grumpy old woman. This week has been exceedingly trying. Plus, just about any minor annoyance is irritating me intensely. Rubbish on the pavement. Broken beer stubbies. A mummified rabbit carcass which Stella rolled all over just outside the oval. .

I was back in the East End Gallery yesterday afternoon still feeling rather cross. Friday morning had been dominated by a phone call (via a private number, so no ringing back!) from "Elaine" who introduced herself as the reviewer in charge of looking at the decision that disallowed reimbursement for Alex's CPAP device.

By the end of that conversation, I felt like I'd been hung out to dry, taken round the bay for a bob and on a lengthy power walk up the garden path. Bamboozled and intensely frustrated by contradictions, gobbledegook and obtuse interpretations, I was spent when I hung up the phone. I was not going to give "Elaine" the satisfaction of reducing me to tears, but I broke down whilst speaking to Bhawana, Alex's Support Coordinator. I am so tired of this struggle.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the problem. I refuse to give up the pursuit of our reimbursement for Alex's CPAP device. I believe we have satisfied the conditions for a refund - from Alex's already existing funding - and the NDIS obviously does not. So, I keep being hit by one obstacle after another by the NDIS machine to shut me up.

To calm down, I undertook some vigorous vacuuming, followed by a splendid shower and joined Michael in the Gallery for lunch. One of my best artist buddies, Gracie, joined us for a cuppa and convivial conversation, Michael went home for a nanna nap and I pondered how to restore my equilibrium.

The answer was, as ever, staring straight back at me. I was surrounded by all the art in our beloved Gallery and Giftshop. We really have the best gig in the universe. I doubt I will ever lose the joy and wonder of being in a Gallery right here in Heavenly Beverley. If I had looked into a crystal ball fifteen years ago and seen myself married to a award-winning metal sculptor, living in a regional town and being Front-of-House, I would have fallen off my chair in fits of snorting laughter. And yet, here I am.

Somehow, we have bumbled along, flying by the seats of our pants, creating this amazing space. Artist, friend and curator by trade, Lindy was there on Friday swapping over one of her husband Ian's works and commented favourably on the Gallery's current look. Now that was praise indeed.

We won a Business Excellence award in 2017, only two and a half years after we'd opened. That was one memorable night. For a split second, I was speechless. Then I dragged Michael up to the podium, found my voice and waxed lyrically about our passions and hopes. Hard to believe that was over six years ago.

And we have learnt "on the job". I am incredibly grateful for all the assistance given to me. I have honed a script. I always greet guests. Michael has his own style out the front, and needless to say, he has continued to grow his creative craft in his workshop/studio. Better still, he has regained his "mojo" and is back in what I consider his "zone". Having completed two new metal pieces, he has now embarked on a major spring clean of his collection, so he actually knows what he has in his ninety square metre "man cave".

Because of recent battles with the bank, the NDIS and my own health, I have had to evaluate what makes me happy. Our home, the garden, the animals, friends and family and the East End Gallery. These are my safe spaces. I just need to remember when my patience is being tested!

I have also come up with a witty retort when guests accidentally call our enterprise a "shop". I have learnt to exclaim - "We are not a shop, because shops make money. Galleries don't!" Then we all laugh.

And that is the truth. Money comes in. Money goes out. Our "continuing mission" is to support and promote artists who have a connection to the Wheatbelt or a connection to us. From 19 December 2014, when we opened with eighteen artists, we now have in excess of a hundred artists and artisans.

We are the East End Gallery and Giftshop Artists' Precinct, right here in Heavenly Beverley.

PS come and join us for our 9th Birthday/Christmas Sundowner/ Sausage Sizzle on Saturday 2 December from 5.30 pm. Please bring a plate and bottle to share. I'll be in the Santa suit!