Memphis with Malcolm

Monday January 18

Well a busy morning back at Memphis. Took the bus with driver Trevor, the morning was fine and hot, and Malcolm and I are settled in for a couple of hours at the best venue for coffee in Wellington, or at least, one of the best. 

Malcolm sits opposite me, taciturn as ever, always unimpressed, and begins to sketch me as I read the Dom Post.

Then David Hamilton arrives unexpectedly fresh from a visit to his dentist. Dave is my good Eckist friend from Flashdog Studios and he joins us for a while. He and Malcolm share a knowledge of their collecting passion, both avid ceramics collectors, but of different sorts.  They get on well  and their conversation doesn't veer from their common interest. 

After about twenty minutes, their coffees finished, they both leave together in different directions and on different missions, where their lives come into sharp contrast, as deep down, they are vastly different people.

On their departure, Gloria arrives and we have a simple catch-up. She is a lovely woman and we share  a past which is more similar than most would ever imagine. Gloria has a very colourful history which we have shared a little, and which we understand is gone, and our lessons are learned.

Next Memphis visitor is Tom, so my savoury muffin has arrived and we have another conversation, which, with Tom is always interesting and informative, as he is a veritable fount of information on Wellington, and indeed New Zealand. I am lucky to have him as a friend.

2012 Mt Tongariro explosion

Malcolm, in the middle.

Dave, expounding....

Alan Rickman, being acknowledgedfor the star he was.

Biggest news is the lifting of Iran sanctionswhich will change the economy of  this country totally, and hopefully be of good effect on the world. There was an exchange of hostages in the deal to be sure.

Memphis has broken plate glass windowfrom Saturday night on Courtenay Place. Par for the course really, Johnny is unfazed.