Sunday evening at Station House after a particularly busy period at the East End Gallery. So much so that I am sitting, rather like a stunned mullet, in front of my laptop. I dare not lean back and let my head tip forwards as I may very well slip into the unconsciousness of Cloud Cuckoo Land, and I'd really like to stay up just a bit later and watch "Grantchester" on the telly.
Last week, we spent anticipating our Open Gallery (celebrating Michael's birthday) on Saturday and the aftermath on Sunday. The previous Thursday and Friday had been building in intensity with more guests in the Gallery than we had experienced before. The weekend geared into overdrive. Michael, the Birthday Boy (his birthday was actually 4 September) thoroughly enjoyed basking in the limelight. We were also lucky enough to have a number of the vintage cars that were being shown on Sunday in York taking time out on Saturday afternoon to come to Beverley.
For me, Saturday culminated in a meal at the Freemasons' Tavern followed by bed. For Michael, mischief was calling him. Lawrence Jones, another boy in a man suit, was totally unsuited to the task of supervising Michael. As the evening progressed, they were joined by local Ron, who took the role of the final Stooge. The three of them partied on in the Gallery until the early hours of the morning...
Sometime about one o'clock, I was rudely woken by a heavy and incoherent lump collapsing on the bed next to me. Shortly afterwards, Lawrence came to the door to request the keys to lock up the Gallery. Apparently, Michael had decided that bed was a more attractive option than sitting up any further with the other Boys and had lurched his way home. Eventually Michael prised off his boots and fell back into a deep and snory sleep until daybreak.
He was not a happy camper in the morning. He'd lost his glasses. He wasn't feeling terribly well. He soaked his head in the shower, which perked him up enough to go to breakfast with Lawrence. As I walked to the Gallery, I found his glasses on the bench outside U Beauty and Hair...Fortunately, he was wearing his spare pair as he carefully made his way to the Red Vault Cafe with Lawrence.
That was the high point of his day. Breakfast was a huge mistake for him. Michael's gut tended to be dodgy at the best of times...Last Sunday morning was anything but that.
And so, he retired miserably back to bed. I was too busy with guests to notice the time, except when I realised I was busting to go to the loo. Eventually, at a quarter to five, Michael made a very subdued entry into the Gallery. He looked so dejected that I couldn't be cranky at him.
Our three days away from the Gallery disappeared far too rapidly. Monday and Tuesday were spent at home catching up on housework. Wednesday was paying bills and shopping. Thursday was once more upon us. Back in the Gallery.
Do not get me wrong. We are revelling in our change of fortunes since COVID restrictions were lifted in Western Australia. Every weekend, city slickers are heading for the country. York was jammed last weekend with the Motor Show. The overflow who wanted to escape the Madding Crowd ended up in Beverley. Suddenly, two Wheatbelt towns were both jumping.
The Beverley Caravan Park, surely the best-kept secret in the Wheatbelt has been fully booked for the last two weeks. The long weekend is approaching with more guaranteed escapees from the Big Smoke.
A fortnight after that is the Beverley Heroic, a weekend event celebrating the bicycle with rides, vintage bikes, a BBQ and very un-serious prizegiving. Plus "Cocky's Crossing" a musical comedy production at Beverley's Platform Theatre for four performances and Beverley Off Road Motor Sports Association (BORMSA) Khanacross and Driver Training day. October is rounded off in Heavenly Beverley with our annual Rose Show.
Our beloved Gallery has provided us with the means to pay off some of our shire rates. The building insurance is still hanging over our heads, but at least we have been able to breathe again.
More artwork has come in. New pottery by Jan Cross (Gone Potty). Delightful small and affordable paintings by Shirley Gillis. Incredible sketches by Murray Cook and a provocatively edgy piece called "#Me Too", also by Murray. And I thought he was just a ceramic sculptor...
This coming Saturday is another of our Famous Sundowners -
Coffee and cake throughout the day
Sausage sizzle from 5.30pm
LIVE music from 6.30pm
Please bring a plate and bottle to share if you are attending. This is a chance to let our hair down and enjoy the Gallery's art and artists, great music, easy conversation, singing along and dancing like we only do when nobody's watching.. . Until we send the last revellers on their way.
And hopefully, Michael's resulting hangover will not be as devastating as last time!
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