It's a dog eat cat eat bird world

http://www.888dag.com/
Bonkers here this morning when Max found a really big baby magpie wandering around our garden that had fallen out of the nest. It needed flying lessons - badly.
I had to coach it up to the next level, the next, the next... while Max (aka The Kind of Darlinghurst) tried stalking it. Meanwhile the doberman next door was sticking its snout through the fence to capture the action.
All ended well (in the episode I saw), with me and Baby Magpie's parents coaching it up to the roof of next door's cubby house and then into the tree above that. At the end of the episode, everyone with wings fluttered off, Max stomped off back inside and I put a few bricks against the gate to next door's place, so I don't come home one night to a tragedy involving the King.
I took some films, so watch youtube for the miniseries (two parts).

Vale Dave Morgan

http://www.888dag.com/

Today I went to the funeral of a very dear man - a witty, kind man who loved his job as a paparazzi and was so good at it. Dave Morgan. David Morgan. "Darlin'" as I liked to call him (well, he started it).
Andrew Urban has written so beautifully about him on Urban Cinephile: http://www.urbancinefile.com.au/home/view.asp?a=15115&s=Features
Last month I was flying back to Sydney from Melbourne on a Saturday evening. Derby Day as it turned out. I was well down the plane on the aisle and feeling a bit sad (not 'sad' from Derby Day I hasten to add). I looked vacantly down the plane to see a name tag "David Morgan" swinging from a lanyard and coming my way. It was David - larger than life and straight from the racetrack ("didn't see a single horse, Darlin'"). He'd been snapping.
By chance we were sitting a seat away from each other, so the chap in the middle kindly swapped seats and Dave and I settled in for one of the greatest chats we'd had in years. No work to distract us - and he knew I needed chirping up. He shouted a couple of rounds and talked about everything from what had happened the day before (fascinating) to his favourite photographer Nuri Ceylan - a Turkish photographer and filmmaker he put me on to when I returned from Turkey in June.
http://www.nuribilgeceylan.com/
We talked motorbikes, shared memories, about him nursing his parents - all sorts.
We parted when the plane landed. Dave took off to arrange for his girlfriend to come and pick him up and I headed for the cab rank.
It was the last time I saw him and it was unforgettable.
This morning I found a postcard he sent me from the Cannes Film Festival. We had both been at the festival three years running for work, then in 2002 I wasn't there. "Dear Kym: Where Are You? Dave Morgan xx" read my postcard from Cannes.
I reckon I get to ask the question back now.
"Dear Dave: Where Are You? Kym xx"

What a nice smile the king has!

The King of Darlinghurst is wearing a beautiful smile at the moment - he's just had his teeth cleaned.

But in order to achieve a flashy grin if you're a cat, the vet has to knock you out. Otherwise the vet staff would look like they'd been in a Rambo movie - bloody and shredded.

However, the down side to the winning smile is that King is wandering drunkenly around the castle, not quite in control of all four paws at the same time. It's a little funny and a little sad... he's just come to rest finally at the end of the bed, waiting for the anaesthetic to pass.

http://www.888dag.com/

Better to be the King of Darlinghurst than the Prince of Wales

As Prince Charles turns 60, I maintain it's better to be The King of Darlinghurst than The Prince of Wales.

Better to have a kingdom and rule it than have to weakly crow about "enjoying a night of top notch comedy" according to the 'latest news' section of your website: http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/

We enjoy nights of top notch comedy seven days a week around here and don't have to trumpet about them from the parapets. Although we do reserve the right to crow as we see fit.

And better to be a Matinee Idol than a Matinee Idle. (Although in truth, the King doesn't do a lot.)

[Difference as gr8 and humour is really gr8.]

http://www.888dag.com/

Rev head kitty

Never a dull moment around here. Sam the cat (the King of Darlinghurst's court jester and best friend) is a crazy street guy.

Last night he was snapped on the back of a bike just before a big night of clubbing. What a business.

The King was in his castle at the time, reading up on the Cat's Map of the Bed. He located the Heaving Spot and did what cats do there this morning. Too many lizards are a health hazard.

http://www.888dag.com/

Silence by Will Coles

My sculpture is home! It's 'Silence' by Will Coles; you can read more about him at his website:

http://www.willcoles.com/

It's pictured here at the Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize, but has pride of place at home now. I just love it.

http://www.888dag.com/

An engineer's guide to cats

Go and put the kettle on. Make a cuppa. Settle yourself down in front of this bizarre, hilare deliciousness.

"A bloody hoot" - Kym of the King

"Glad I don't live in that bloke's house. Not interested in being a movie star." - The King of Darlinghurst

http://www.888dag.com/

An engineer's guide to cats

Go and put the kettle on.