Check out all the photos for the event

So there we were, old friends and new, gathered down Margaret River way, for a weekend of music, wine, friendship and celebration. And yes, we drank several times, to the friends and family who could not join with us.

Some rented houses, others took hotel accommodation and others dwell in the beautiful south west of the state. I delayed departure from Perth on the Friday as long as possible, waiting for the new granddaughter to be born, but had to go and so missed her arrival - I'll make up for it!

Son Gordon felt he should accompany me, but as he was to commence a new job on the Monday (and I had no intention of returning to Perth until Monday) I gave him the Falcon - the Larrikin being my chariot-of-choice for the weekend - well, an old rocker's car for an old rocker like Chris Isaak! We picked up Leeuwin Concert Virgin, Rehlein from her Cottesloe abode and hit the road.

The journey south was uneventful, until a few kilometres north of Bunbury, when a white haired old chap in a little blue shopping trolley shot out from a side road on the left.. He obviously felt that looking when entering a major highway was something for other people, not only that, he'd also apparently made an earlier secret decision to use both lanes.

I managed to get the Larrikin past him, literally brushing the bushes on the right hand side. He finally saw the car - well, Fire Engine red is difficult to pick at times and swerved to the left lane, sending Gordon into the gravel on the left.

Somehow, we all survived. I looked in the mirror, the little blue car was once again straddling two lanes, sending others into confusion and emergency braking. A few kilometres later at a service station, a lady in a Land Cruiser said, "God, that was close, we thought he'd got both cars, then he went for the rest of us, totally oblivious to the mayhem and panic he was causing"

The house at Margaret River was superb, we all agreed we'd hire it again and very reasonable - $1,380.00 for four nights, spread that amongst 8 - 10 people and it's very cheap luxury accommodation. Who stayed? Ken and Robina Coppin scored the spa suite bedroom, Glen Moltoni and Harmony Douglas scored the bedroom next door, Rehlein Rutz had another massive bedroom, I had the other and son Gordon scored whatever was left - the upstairs study (two rooms really), or the Bay Window seat - his chosen place of slumber. Dinner Friday night? Waves at the top end of town.

Saturday morning, around 7.30am, we discovered that Gordon's driving of the AU Falcon was a very good idea, Ken and I went and parked it in the queue outside the gates of Leeuwin (about the 12th vehicle there). We returned at 5.00pm with two more friends of Glen and Harmony's in tow. The boys piled into the Falcon, loaded with chairs and rugs and the girls sat waiting across the road in the Chrysler ST8 and the Porsche.

Just before Gates Open time (5.30pm), four boofy f@!$#% in an unmarked car, with flashing blue and red lights on the dashboard, pulled up in front of the girls and told them they couldn't park there, would have to go to the back of the queue and that the gates would not be opened till they moved.

Ahead of us, the gates were opened, there was only one way for the girls to move anyhow - forward. They did exactly what was needed, ignored the blue uniformed idiots and drove in the gates. We all shook our heads, knowing full well the only reason they'd stopped to exert power, was the fact that both cars, had only women in them. No wonder they can't solve murders, the "Duhh" factor is alive and well amongst the Boys in Blue.

I pulled up, our boys sprinted with rugs and chairs. "Clever" I thought to myself, "You've got them doing all the work and you're walking in with the girls." I'll leave you to form your own conclusions. They scored a great spot, ensuring there was room for Charley and Lara Nadin, their two gorgeous friends Claire Leong and Geraldine Mardon and the lovely Karin, Marion and Claire. The Nadin harem arrived by coach, but the Abbenhuis Chicks were lost somewhere - well, Karin and I did meet and dance sometime later!

Chris Isaak? A mix. Great showmanship, good band, great voice, this boy knew how to work a crowd, sort of a nice Julio Iglesias - no sleaze, if that makes sense? At one stage, he walked right up through the crowd almost to the back. Singing and kissing the ladies, the crowd loved it, But somehow, in the last twenty minutes of the set, he kind of lost everyone. Then he didn't do an encore and the whole crowd (suits and us peasants), were left standing and cheering, waiting for the band to return. They didn't. I could sense confusion up somewhere left of stage. Eventually, the follow-up band's gear was wheeled out and covers put over the Chris Isaak equipment, (ready for the Sunday night concert).

Sure encores are very stage managed these days, but they do serve a purpose - the night belongs to the audience, just as much as the performer. There was no sign of Denis Horgan coming out to do his usual "Thanks folks, drive safely, stay the night," routine, not to mention that it was a very special night - the 25th anniversary concert, however Tod Johnson's cover band was excellent and we all danced and sang, but by the time they called an interval (around 11.00pm), many of us decided to call it a night.

The conclusion? Chris Isaak was terrific, but it wasn't a great memorable concert. The night was saved by the ambience of Leeuwin Estate and the camaraderie of the audience. In discussions at lunch the next day, Leonard Cohen's concert kept being brought up - it was agreed he'd set the bar too high for almost anyone to follow - three hours, including four encores and a band that appears to be technically and emotionally far ahead of most others. Don't get me wrong, we had a fabulous time, but it wasn't a great concert.

One thing that does need mentioning, what the hell is going on with our liquor licensing laws? At the Cohen concert at Sandalford, you weren't allowed to bring any glass, or glass-holder lawn spikes into the venue and could only buy one bottle of wine at a time. At Leeuwin, they searched for wine only, spikes were allowed AND you could buy as many bottles as you needed. Two of us purchased a carton of wine for our large group. I can only say that the Leeuwin experience is far more civilised than Sandalford (and their wine is better). As to what laws are applicable, who knows?

Sunday morning. By now we all knew that Rehlein doesn't "do" mornings ... ever! She makes Veronica look like an early riser! Although to be fair, the rest of us didn't wake until about 10.30am - well, Robina had apparently arisen at about 7.30am, thought better of it and gone back to bed. Very sensible darling! We had also learnt that Ken can put away vast quantities of food and remains pencil thin. The word ‘Worms' was mentioned several time.

A long lunch was organised on the balcony at Vasse Felix for 12.00pm, we made it by 12.30pm, Ken declaring he was starving, as it had been an hour since his bacon and eggs, Rehlein looking confused, telling everyone it was so early and up on the balcony, Karin (Abbenhuis) serenading me with "Happy Birthday," which it assuredly was.

Beautiful friends, fabulous food - Aaron Carr deserves the accolades bestowed on him by The Australian and Gourmet Traveller and great mate Michael Whyte cannot be left out of the Vasse Felix equation, besides, he comes with the gorgeous Fee!

And how stupid was I, wandering around the table taking the prerequisite photos and ordering two of Western Australia's very best photographers around - Karin Calvert-Borshoff and Frances Andrijich. Oh well! Actually, it was fortuitous - free instruction from the Master Artisans - I've long had a problem with low light and the long distance lens on the Pentax. Although I was fully aware the fault lay with the operator, not the equipment. I'd not been able to work out what the problem was. One of the Vasse Felix staff was very kindly trying to take a group photograph (with my camera) and experiencing the same problem.

Frances looked puzzled, then said, "Is that a polarizing lens on there?" I replied in the affirmative, "No wonder it won't shoot," she said, "There's no way it can get enough light, I only use polarisers about 25% of the time." I removed it, problem solved, NOW I'll get some great close-ups at the Leonard Cohen Concert in Red Rocks!

Gordon had to go back to Perth, around 3.30pm, as eventually did the Abbenhuis trio, the rest of us partied on, with Drew, (GM of the wonderful Cape Lodge) also leaving early, to go see the Sunday Chris Isaak concert. We retreated back to the house to recuperate - well, Robina, with a little help from Rehlein and Harmony, worked a treat in the kitchen, preparing for a late night BBQ. Michael and Fee arrived some time later, loaded with Vasse Felix wine and we started again!

I should mention here, that Fee (and Michael - but he does have other duties as Brand Manger at Vasse Felix) runs the stunning Le Foret Enchante - Ken and Robina had earlier realised they'd stayed there, but had no idea who the owners were.

Monday morning and surprise, surprise, Glen and Harmony were up! No, Rehlein wasn't! Glen had to be at work. Yes Glen, I've got the two picnic seats you left behind! Ken and Robina also departed. I knocked on Rehlein's door. "NOOO!" was the plaintive cry, "It's way too early and I don't want to go!"
"Hmm," said I," It's a long walk home and you see Grandad has a date in Perth!" She did have a little win, a little tour around, a final coffee in Margaret River and then home. By 5.10pm, Granddad had little Lila in his arms.

But the night was not yet over, the phone rang, it was Jim and Robin, dinner Tuesday night? Struth, it seems they're leaving for India. Hmm, I haven't seen the Taj Mahal!
All Good Things
Grandad

There is of course, a photo album of the weekend in the Album Section.