Newcastle weekend: Tribute to our friend, Terry Mateer, aka Bubbles Le Gay

 A good friend of ours, Terry, also known much more widely as Bubbles le Gay, died about a month ago.  Bubbles had been one of the pioneers of Newcastle's gay community and commercial gay scene and over the years had given so much of his time and energy and creativity and sheer hard work and organisational skills, to the community. It was fitting then that the community honoured his memory on Saturday night at the Carrington Bowling Club where Bubbles and Glenda, pictured above with her hands on Bubble's shoulders, had performed many times over recent years. (I think the pic above is beautiful).

 And this is Bubbles performing. Bubbles specialised in comedy drag which she began in her early career at Sydney's Les Girls. Bubbles was also an excellent compere and she gladly compered the fabulous balls that Rainbow Visions held at the Newcastle Town Hall. I can remember the vert first time I saw Bubbles - it was at Piper's Nightspot in Hunter Street back in 1989. I thought she was a walking mountain when she got up out of her chair as head judge of a talent competition. And then out of this giant's mouth came this dignified, well spoken voice, thanking all contestants so sincerely.

 Saturday night was built around two shows each featuring the considerable talents of local drag talent. All in all there were six drag performers doing numbers and wowing the crowd. The first show began with Glenda performing Dream Girls against a backdrop of her and Bubbles performing the same song, synched so that it looked like Glenda and Bubbles were performing one more time. It was sad but it was beautiful.

 Madeleine von Mantrap looked stunning as ever in her modest feathered head dress. (Damien, aka Madeleine, and his partner, Adam (aka Savannah von Spelling) hosted us for dinner on Friday night which was lots of fun.

 And here's part of the old group of friends: Steve, Geoff, me, Graham and Erica

and Madeleine, Steve, Savannah, me, Geoff, Graham and Erica. The only really sadness about living in beautiful Larnook is that we don't get to enjoy the company of our wonderful friends and family anywhere near as much as we would prefer.  But such a great night and such a great night to honour our friend, Bubbles.

See ya later, Malte

 So after spending about four or five weeks with us at the very end of his Great Big Aussie Adventure, we drove Malte down to Newcastle with us on Friday and then he caught the train down to Sydney for his final four days. Here he is saying good bye to Kimba (who is now seven years old).

 His backpack packed and just about to depart Larnook in a Gorilla in the Mist kind of morning on Friday morning.

 One of a series of selfies Malte did last week  - notice his lovely Nimbin shirt.

 Selfie on Friday morning before our drive down to Newcastle.

 We had time for a tour around Newcastle on a blustery cold and, as we were just about to find our, showery Friday afternoon. Steve and Malte braving the cold at Obelisk Hill.  We regained our composure from a bottle of Tyrell's sparkling at Customs House before

seeing Malte off on the train down to Sydney.  We look forward to visiting Malte and his family when we are in Germany.

Larnook entertaining

 Our friend Jason came up from Sydney the weekend before last to have a winter in Larnook weekend (not that it was wintery at all). We hauled around the usual suspects, Julia and Glen as well as our friend Don (who is taking the pic) and Malte of course.  I've started doing a very delicious slow cooked pulled pork served with various veges and mashed potato and home made corn bread.  Yummy winter food.

 I hadn't made corn fritters for a while so made them for breakie the next morning with bacon, home made guacamole on bbq'd turkish bread and coriander as garnish.  Yumm.

And here we are enjoying breakfast - Glen, Jason, Steve, Don, me and Malte is behind the camera (for a change).

Malte trees

 In the final week that Malte was with us he planted a dwarf lilly pilly in the Malte Garen just near the front entry to the house and

also planted a Queensland bottle tree. The lilly pilly will grow much more rapidly than the bottle tree...but hopefully the people who come after us (not that we plan on going anywhere anytime soon) will enjoy this spectacular tree.