WARNING: This page is M-rated (Maximum naughtiness, Minimum sleaze)

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	FUN OF THE WATERSLIDE. In 1991 I spent a day at the Mount Druitt Waterworks, west of Sydney, and collected many great shots. The structure was ideal for photography with the waterslide snaking its way down through various levels of the rock formations and pools. Alongside most of the actual slide was a walking track. Thus photos like this one were relatively easy to shoot. (See below for another photo from the Waterworks.)
	LOLA MONTEZ. Lola Montez; there's a name to conjure with. Her fame (or infame) probably exceeds her real importance but she's always been an object of fascination to many. Doubtless her reputation for 'risqué dances' added a certain frisson to the lady's biography. She was born Maria Gilbert in Ireland in 1818 and affected the exotic Spanish name. She was said to have been at one time or another mistress of Franz Liszt, King Ludwig of Bavaria and Alexandre Dumas. Up to her neck in trouble with bigamy charges pending in Europe, Lola fled to San Francisco, where she developed a sexy routine, The Spider Dance (the dancer pretending to search for a spider hiding under her clothing). She next surfaced in Sydney, Australia, where she ran up big debts. To avoid her creditors she fled to Victoria, taking her sensuous dance to the goldfields. She was literally received with showers of gold in Ballarat. where her somewhat 'naughty' performances were well received by the male audiences. But not everyone was happy, among them the Editor of The Ballarat Times, Harry Seekamp. When an article in the newspaper impugned the reputation of the lady she announced she would horsewhip the editor. Seekamp armed himself with a whip, intent on a duel. Lola struck first but she managed to get herself whipped across her face and shoulders. Lola eventually succumbed to religion and spent her later years lecturing, dying in 1861.
MODERN ART BEING CREATED. Small girls painting at Sydney's Royal Easter Show. One stroke for the canvas, one stroke for the face; another stroke for the canvas, then a trickle of paint down the arm! Bit of washing for mum but it keeps them busy. The girl is wearing an advertising t-shirt for the St George Building Society, Remember them? The Society's popular 'Happy Dragon' can be seen on her back. Eventually the society became the St George Bank which has more recently been absorbed into the Westpac Bank. Did the Dragon survive? I'm not at all sure. He may have been made redundant, as they say when they want to avoid saying 'sacked'!
	BACKPACKERS RESTING UP. One of my candid shots taken in Sydney's Martin Place (aka Martin Plaza) - in March 1991. Australia is a popular destination for backpackers and most of them have a great time here. Alas, once in a while things go awry and the visit is anything but pleasant, as happened with two English visitors, Joanne Lees and Peter Falconio. They were in a hired vehicle in the Northern Territory when they encountered one of Australia's lowlife (yes, we have them too!). Peter ended up dead and Joanne a handcuffed captive of a maniac. She managed to escape her captor and survived only to be treated with suspicion by many who thought she'd killed her boyfriend. In the end Bradley Murdoch was the one convicted of murder but Peter's body has never been found.
TAKING THE VEIL. An 1880 steel engraving depicting a scene with a young girl being received into the convent.  The act of becoming a novice in an Order was known as 'taking the veil'. This entailed the young woman giving up her life entirely to the service of the Church, 'married to Christ' as it was termed. Usually such a commitment was for life and once the woman had become 'professed' sister she was effectively a prisoner of the Church for the rest of her days. This illustration comes from an edition of a classic biography, Awful Disclosures of Maria Monk, first published in 1836. Maria Monk was a novice for 5 years then a nun for 2 years before she escaped, to become a thorn in the Church's side as she unveiled the abuses suffered in the convent. She was, of course, denounced by the Catholic press but was able to produce witnesses who attested to the truth of her claims.
	ONE VIEW ON MONEY PROBLEMS Currently in my secondhand book stock I have one copy of this book of advice and inspiration. TRICK TO MONEY IS HAVING SOME, The. By Stuart Wilde.  Nacson & Sons (Australia), paperback (stiff pictorial card), 1989, 215 pages. The author is well-known for his books on metaphysical topics. I this book Mr Wilde deals with 'the ESP of easy money and the metaphysics of being in the right place at the right time.' Some edge and corner wear and small name in front, otherwise fair and solid. ISBN 0947266291. Cat nr 8547 -  $A19 including shipping within Australia (rest of world $A30). ORDER HERE
	ANOTHER WATERSLIDE PHOTO. Another photo taken on my visit to the Mount Druitt Waterworks in 1991. Note the giant soft black tires which were made available to the sliders. Unlike many waterslides which are simply long metal tubes down which the water flows this waterslide is effectively a miniature mountain with the channel carrying the flow of water winding round and round as it makes its way to the bottom. At a couple of points in its descent there are small pools. I don't know if the waterslide is still there but it's worth a visit for a day's fun if it is.
	ALFRED LORD TENNYSON. One of my favourite poets (along with Browning, Shakespeare and others). I'm afraid, like my interest in classical music, I am anchored in the past. While now and then I appreciate some contemporary verse mostly I prefer the old guys. A few lines from the Choric Song of The Lotus Eaters: There is sweet music here that softer falls     Than petals from blown roses on the grass,     Or night-dews on still waters between walls     Of shadowy granite, in a gleaming pass;     Music that gentlier on the spirit lies,     Than tir'd eyelids upon tir'd eyes;     Music that brings sweet sleep down from the blissful skies.     Here are cool mosses deep,     And thro' the moss the ivies creep,     And in the stream the long-leaved flowers weep,     And from the craggy ledge the poppy hangs in sleep. Unbelievably beautiful. Supra-human stuff. Almost makes me believe in divine inspiration (but I don't).
	SKATER LIMBERING UP. I took some photos of a skating group in Kingsrove, NSW, in 1983. The girls exercised with their skates off. I guess it would be difficult to do otherwise. Of course, I didn't mind. I'd prefer bare feet to skates any day!
MAKING A MOVIE AT SURFERS PARADISE. In 1988 I was visiting Queensland (I was still living in NSW then but some of my family had already escaped from the south to the Sunshine State!) and came across these four young women making a movie. They told me they were from Brisbane Technical College. I often wondered how their movie turned out. It was a very windy day. Reminded me of a time years before this when I was working at a Melbourne radio station and they did a promotion from the poolside of a Queensland resort. On air they enthused about the lovely warm weather; off-air they were telling us it was cold and miserable! Is that what they call truth in advertising? I guess not!
	ANOTHER BEACH SCENE. This photo was taken in NSW - at Stockton Beach. Nice to catch this scene with two young girls fishing. Girls do go fishing - and play soccer and cricket. They also engage in kick-boxing and run companies. So often boys seem to be in the spotlight, especially in advertising photos. One sees two children in a car ad, both boys. Or developing into an 'iron man'. Why this bias I wonder? I always thought the original series of the TV show Flipper was faulty for the same reason. Two boys were featured; why not a boy and a girl?
	THE TRUE HORROR OF 'HONOUR' KILLINGS. Currently in my secondhand book stock I have one copy of this book which describes the first-hand experience of a woman. BURNED ALIVE. The Shocking True Story of One Woman's Escape From an 'Honour' Killing. By Souad.  Bantam Press, large paperback (stiff pictorial card), 2004, 210 pages. At age 17 she made the mistake of falling in love. Her brother-in-law threw petrol over her one day and set it alight. Miraculously Souad was saved by village women but she was badly burnt. Her attacker was hailed as a hero. This is the terrible story of honour killing in our time. Bit of creasing to front cover, otherwise good solid clean copy. ISBN 0593052978. Cat nr 8553 -  $A17 including shipping within Australia (rest of world $A30). ORDER HERE
	AND ANOTHER GIRL FISHING. Yet another fishergirl, this young lady taking part in a fishing competition on the Newcastle Foreshore around the year 1991. Can't say I have the patience for fishing and, besides, don't really like killing fish with a cruel hook. When I was very young I tried my hand at fishing but as I sat on the edge of a ferry wharf dangling my line in the water without success a man nearby discovered my basic problem - I didn't have any bait on the hook!  Oh, you need something on the hook? Live and learn! Mind you, I might not like killing fish but I do like eating them!
FATHER AND DAUGHTER PLAYING BALL. Great to see a father playing with his kids. Too often dads are absent at weekends or times when they should be enjoying their children. I had my faults but I did spend large segments of my time with my two children. We had lots of fun travelling far and wide each weekend and during holidays, discovering out-of-the-way places, enjoying picnics or visits to beaches, ghost towns, you-name-it. We still laugh sometimes recalling venturing down some bumpy bush track and nearly getting stuck in some out-of-the-way place.
	GIRL WITH FLOWERS - POSTCARD. Another beautiful antique postcard - this one printed in Prussia. A handwritten date on the reverse (message) side reads 1915. Almost 100 years old. It is ever a fascinating experience handling something so old. One cannot help thinking, first, about all the events that have transpired since that date. The Great War was still raging, then after the war the League of Nations being formed, later the United Nations, came another big war, and since then wars in Korea and Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan and dozens of other conflicts in many parts of the world. How sad that the world's beautiful things, like little girls with flowers, are forever overshadowed by the world's ugliness! And secondly - I wonder what happened to the little girl? Did she grow up and have a happy life or did she die in some wretched war?
BACK TO THE DAYS OF THE CANE AND STRAP. On a float during a procession Nambour, Queensland, in 1990, a reminder of the gloomy days now past (more or less), the days when the cane and strap reigned in the schoolroom. But who would want to cane those cute little girls in their period costumes? Unfortunately some teachers did, until quite recent times; yes, girls as well as boys. Schools usually had a register called the Punishment Book, designed by the Department of Education to maintain some control over the teachers. Too many 'cuts' and the teacher might be in trouble but sometimes too few brought a rebuke! And sometimes the teacher conveniently forgot to enter the information in the book!
	FASCINATING HISTORY OF COUNTRY SCHOOLS A fascinating and extensive history of life in the typical Australian bush school of the past. Many stories of teachers and pupils and their experiences. But only one copy in stock. WITH A HAT ABOUT ITS EARS. Recollections of the Bush School. By Hank Nelson. ABC Books (Australia), small quarto paperback (stiff pictorial card), 1990 reprint, 211 pages, illustrated. An extensive history on life in one-teacher schools in Australia's outback. Those were the days of harsh discipline. A whole chapter is devoted to the topic 'Getting the cuts' (i.e. the cane). Light edge wear and a bit browned top edge but basically good solid copy. ISBN 0642129843. Cat nr 18571 -  $A25 including shipping within Australia (rest of world $A45). ORDER HERE
	20TH CENTURY MAYPOLE DANCING. Yes, I know it is now the 21st century (amazing as that seems to some of us) but this photo was taken in the 20th century! - in March 1992 at Dudley Primary School in NSW. They had a day's celebration with the children dressed in period costumes and maypole dancing was one of the activities.
	ONE OF THE MAYPOLE DANCERS. One of the girls participating in the celebrations (see above), suitably dressed in period costume. I love taking such photos and did take hundreds in past years. Alas, in recent times the nefarious activities of a handful of pedophiles has made parents and teachers more wary of strangers approaching their children. I was, however, talking with this girl's mother and she was quite happy for me to photograph her daughter.
BACK TO 20TH CENTURY! Another photo taken during the Dudley visit. Very different outfits to what would have been worn by children doing the dreaded 'Physical Education' in an earlier era. Personally I hated PE (PT - Physical Training - as it was known at my school) when i was their age but many kids enjoy it.

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