life of my time

carolan.info

Paddington 1969

Life of my Time

Jules 7

was the first hippie shop in oxford st

walked in bought a few strings of beads

put them on and started rapping with Jules

she was cool and I met all her friends in short order

and as her shop was just around the corner from my house

my visit was an everyday event

I think it was there I met Adrian Rawlinson

he was a well known figure on the scene

he knew everyone and everyone knew him

I’m sure Ginsberg was a big influence

he had a rich rolling voice and would spout poetry on the slightest pretext

he had a really gentle compassionate side

as well as a highly developed waspish tongue

and what a sense of humour we would roll with laughter

at the absurdities of society

he never laid a finger on me so I cannot comment on the later sexual scandal

he did however turn me on to grass for the first time

one of the members of Tully the leading psychedelic band of the day

lived around the corner from us so in passing wed say hello

and maybe hang for five if there was really good music flooding out

but this night Adrian swept us in and told us to relax

then he said could you turn my friends on please

I remember Big Pink was playing which I rushed out and bought the next day

but the pot only added a vague fuzziness to a very pleasant visit

which was why it was such a surprise when I really did get stoned

how I became a “member” of Martins wine bar

Adrian took me in one night and introduced me to Martin

he was a charming guy urbane and sophisticated

it was a groovy bar with three levels

Martin insisted that all his bar staff were beautiful young women

and they all wore those transparent white cheesecloth indian shirts

that clearly yet subtly revealed their nipples

and silhouetted against the light the flowing weight of breast

I was in heaven and wanted to return whenever I wanted

Adrian told me that Martin prided himself on remembering everyones names

a useful skill for a bar owner

from that day forward I made a point of passing the bar

he was guarding the door and as I passed I would call out hello Martin

and swiftly move on

I could see his mind searching for my name

a strange look upon his face

I kept this up for a few days then I stopped after greeting him and said

I know you don’t remember my name I’m Peter

a look of relief spread over his face as he invited me in

The gates of heaven were open.

it was at Martins bar in Oxford St that i met Jim Steiner

an american photographer with great pop art house in darling point

and his beautiful young wife blond and gorgeous

took me back for a joint played Joni Mitchell and the Last Poets who I’d not heard

told me of his native American connections having been initiated into a tribe

his house was full of amazing shit

designer furniture huge photos scupture op art

like a dream of swinging london

that night I slept in their guest bedroom

first thing in the morning Jim brought me a fragrant coffee

and a huge joint to get the day off to a good start

his wife was a dream long lithe blonde and smart too

she had an ardent admirer some rich kid trailing after her

I don’t know if they ever got it on but I imagine so

Jim was very passive and I wanted to be his friend

so I didn’t make any moves on her

was I a stalking horse to keep Jim occupied ?

we drove down to the south coast to go to some film event

Jim pressed a Pentax into my hands as we got in the kombi

have a go with this he said giving me a 5 minute lesson

I had a great time pretending to be David Hemmings in Blow Up

the scenery down south of Sydney was fabulous

Martin Sharp was at the event we hadn’t met at that stage

I remember being very impressed with his trousers

which were wide and ended well above his ankles Cool

I spent much time that golden summer at Jims

took my guitar and sang them all my songs

explored some music I hadn’t come across before

Jim designed a range of sweaters and used me as a photographic model

we were close and life was fun

some years later I ran into Jim again

his wife was gone he was addicted to cocaine

and had changed from a sweet loving guy into a mean self obsessed son of a bitch

we spent the evening together but he was so wound up

that it was painful to be around

I said I'd call but I never did

wherever you are buddy I hope things have worked out for you