Day Of Fulfilment: Saturday, 10th September, 1977

I found sleep difficult and, therefore, arose at 12.30 a.m. and watched “A Story Of A Woman”, a film which stars the Swedish actress, Bibi Andersson, Robert “The Untouchables”/”The Name Of The Game” Stack and James “The Bold Ones” Farentino. Produced in 1969, it screened on Channel Nine.

Having returned to bed by half past two, I fell asleep around three; only to be awoken by Tiki at seven o’clock. We were still lying in bed when “Mum” rang, at 8.15, to ask Tiki to approve the use of lemon icing on her birthday cake.

Nearly two hours later I left to walk to the petrol station, that bears the logotypy of Shell, on the acute corner of Wyralla Road and President Avenue. There I purchased four litres of Castrol GTX at a cost of four dollars and eighty cents.

The series, “Westwind To Hawaii”, screened from eleven o’clock. An hour later, on Channel Ten, the motion picture, “How To Frame A Figg”, features Don “The Andy Griffith Show”/”Mayberry RFD” Knotts. This offering, from 1970, has him cast as a dumb council clerk whose computer detects a case of fraud to the tune of a quarter of a million dollars.

I left home at two o’clock to walk to Tiki’s parents’. Tiki had waited behind to drive the ‘Galant’ there. She appeared as I was half of the way up the last hill and I ran as fast as I could to open the front gates for her.

Her father was in the process of re-covering the actual seats of the dining room chairs, in an orange vinyl. Something he had not done in more than twenty years.

I undid the bolt to the sump of the ‘Galant’ after “Dad” had loosened it for me. Whilst the oil was draining, I helped him to remove the tacks from the underside of the chairs’ seats and stood on the bases while he stretched the new covering over them and tacked it in place. All of this was achieved as I stood on the lowered tailgate of his ‘Town and Country’ utility.

Next I removed our car’s front tyres in order that he might check its brake linings. “Still good for another five thousand miles!” he assured me. By that time the odometer would read forty thousand miles.

He told me of a wild driver with whom he works and of how he had to have the brake linings of his car replaced after just twelve thousand kilometres. I replaced the oil drained from the sump with that bought this morning and all was finished by twenty minutes to six.

“Dad” showered to be certain that he would not be told to go and have one during the delayed telecast of this afternoon’s rugby league final, which aired from six o’clock on “Seven’s Big League”. Parramatta was in charge of the first half’s action and yet only led the Eastern Suburbs ‘Roosters’ by two points to nil at the break. The second half unfolded in much the same vein and while the ‘Eels’ emerged victorious, by thirteen points to five, it does appear to have a number of players who have sustained injuries.

I washed some of the dishes before half past seven and the commencement of “Barnaby Jones”. An hour later I departed to walk home. “Mum” had understandably warned me to be mindful of cars filled with hoodlums, however, she really didn’t have to, for the prospect of encountering violence when walking at night is never far from my thoughts. Tiki passed me about one hundred and fifty metres from home.

Inarticulate English: Nouns Should Not Be Used In Place Of Adjectives

Just as our democracy is under stress, so is our language.

All too often we are inundated with nouns being used in place of adjectives:

miracle event, hero act, Denmark gentleman, history failure, Japan yen, crisis meeting, Europe correspondent, architecture company, fake insinuation, muscle spasm, monster garage…

The above should read:

miraculous event, heroic act, Danish gentleman, historic/historical failure, Japanese yen, critical meeting, European correspondent, architectural company, fictitious insinuation, muscular spasm, monstrous garage.

 

‘Golden Fleece’: Sunday, 11th September, 1977

I shaved from 9.00 a.m. as I listened to Ron (“Won”) Casey’s show on 2KY. He believes that Parramatta will defeat St George in next Saturday’s grand final.

We departed for Wollongong at noon and found ourselves having to pay the forty-cent toll on the F6 with a twenty-dollar note. Tiki, as promised, shouted me to lunch at the restaurant within the  petrol station, that bears the livery of Golden Fleece, at the top of the Bulli Pass.

Two orange juices, a Chicken Maryland (for Tiki), a T-bone steak and two cappuccinos cost her only nine dollars and ten cents. Seated in the far corner we enjoyed the spectacular view that was afforded to us, but not the company of two blowflies.

Third Term Begins: Monday, 12th September, 1977

The third and final term commences for those school children who attend state schools in New South Wales. The sky was enveloped in overcast conditions by eleven o’clock after there had been a bright and clear start to the day. Nevertheless, the overcast was to disperse after just two hours.

We viewed “The Rockford Files” from half past seven as a thunderstorm raged outside. It was followed by a new programme in “The Benny Hill Show”.

‘The Dunnies’: Tuesday, 13th September, 1977

At 6.30 a.m., on the “2KY News”, Doug Harris, who sounded as though he is elderly, stated that a man had been found guilty of tampering with his wife when he should have said his wife’s car. He later corrected himself.

A bitterly cold wind blew and it had begun to rain by 3.40 p.m. This had ceased by a quarter to seven and so we set out to walk as far as that corner opposite Sutherland Hospital and on which Brewer Ford’s caryard is situated.

“The Naked Vicar Show” screened from half past seven and featured a skit on the 1977 Dunlop Sports Awards: “The Dunnies”. ‘Dunny’ is Australian slang for toilet.

An hour later we sat through a repetition of the British film, “To Sir With Love”, from 1967. It stars Sidney Poitier, Suzy Kendall and Lulu, who sings the title song. Lulu’s recording spent five weeks at No.1 in the United States and peaked at No.2 in Australia. Curiously, the single did not enter the charts in Lulu’s native Britain.

I saw “To Sir With Love” twice at the pictures, the second time, in 1970, at the old Vista Cinema, in Woonoona, a suburb of Wollongong, where hoodlums flicked the ends of their live cigarettes over the edge of the balcony. I remember, even then, thinking how dated the film seemed to be.

Gray Signs With Manly: Wednesday, 14th September, 1977

The American yacht, “Courageous”, defeated “Australia” by a minute and forty-eight seconds in the opening race of its defence of the America’s Cup off Newport, Rhode Island.

John Gray signs to play with the rugby league club, Manly-Warringah, for forty-five thousand dollars. The North Sydney ‘Bears’ had reportedly offered him sixty thousand to stay. The Englishman brought the ‘around-the-corner’ style of kicking for goal to Australia.

“Country Road”, this evening, is hosted by Jade Hurley. Tammy Wynette and Roy Clark are its featured artists. Roger Climpson reads Channel Seven’s news from half past six.

We departed for the restaurant, River Lights, at seven o’clock. It is located just beyond the northern end of the Captain Cook Bridge and opposite the Olympic swimming pool, in Sans Souci. Tiki and I noticed that there was a steak and pancake special for two, at a cost of just eight dollars, when we were perusing the menu. Without hesitation we opted for that! Two orange juices, a beef and vegetable soup each and a coffee, accompanied by a mint chocolate, for both of us brought the total bill to just ten dollars and fifty cents.

The youngish host and hostess allowed us to browse around upstairs, in the room where wedding receptions are held. We reached the car just as it began to rain. I drove home and turned on Channel Two to watch the documentary on the endangered bowhead whale of the Arctic.

 

No Record Of Entry: Thursday, 15th September, 1977

“Country Road”, this evening, is hosted by Cash Backman. Among its featured artists are Charley Pride and Ray Stevens. At 7.00, “Willesee” includes an interview with a Turkish gentleman, who is in possession of a receipt which, he says, is proof that he is a winner in ‘The Pools’. The only problem being, is that there is no record of his entry ever having been received!

I washed the dishes before “Peach’s Australia” transported the viewer to Norfolk Island, from eight o’clock. “Crucible Of Terror”, a film from 1972, screened on Channel Ten, from half past eight. The English pairing of James “The Likely Lads” Bolam and Mary Maude, is included in its cast. We only watched half of it before we opted to retire to bed.

 

Vicky Leandros

The daughter of composer, musician and singer, Leandros Papathanasiou, Vassiliki Papathanasiou was born on the Greek island of Corfu, in August of 1949. After she had moved to live in Germany with her father, at the age of eight, Vassiliki soon revealed her musical talents.

Vassiliki, under the name of Vicky, recorded her first single in 1965, with Leandros supporting her career as not only the composer of her recordings, but also in the capacities of being her manager and producer.

In 1967, as the representative of neighbouring Luxembourg, Vicky finished fourth in the Eurovision Song Contest. Three years later, as Vicky Leandros, she was granted her own show, ‘Ich Bin’, which was widely televised, in Europe, and eventually gained a substantial audience.

Nineteen seventy-two saw her represent Luxembourg for a second time, only this time her performance of “Apres Toi” (“Come What May”) won the Eurovision Song Contest. Vicky recorded the song in seven languages and the single sold more than six million copies; in spite of its inability to chart in the United States.

The English title “Come What May” is not the translation of “Apres Toi”, however, it was deemed appropriate because it, too, contains three syllables.

Vicky Leandros’s career has continued to span the decades via a steady stream of albums that must rank her amongst the most productive of artists. “Come What May” will always remain on the list of my favourite recordings.

Twenty-Fifth Grand Final: Friday, 16th September, 1977

I awoke before the alarm after a night of tossing and turning. Today’s race in the America’s Cup appeared likely to be abandoned due to a lack of wind. “Courageous” was about ten minutes in front of “Australia”.

“Dad” arrived prior to 7.30, in his red ute, to collect Tiki and transport her to her place of work. He said that he would barrack for St. George tomorrow and, as I have decided to verbally support Parramatta, added that, “We’ll both yell our heads off!”. Frank Hyde, is preparing to broadcast his twenty-fifth grand final tomorrow on the radio station, 2SM.

At noon, I watched a repetition from the series, “The Mod Squad”, on Channel Ten. “Department S”, which screens from three o’clock on Channel Seven, is another series that is being repeated.

Channel Ten’s Kobe Steele counts down this week’s Top 10 on today’s edition of “Right On”. Australian singer and songwriter, Peter Allen, is at No.2, with “I Go To Rio”, and “You’re Moving Out Today” by his American counterpart, Carole Bayer Sager, sits at No.1. Peter Allen was married to Judy Garland’s daughter, Liza Minnelli, from 1967 until 1974.

At half past four, I turned the dial to view “Jeopardy”, which was followed, from five o’clock, by “It’s Academic”. Both programmes are compered by Andrew Harwood. On “Willesee”, this evening, the multi-talented, American recording artist, Janice Ian, talked about how she used to be dependent upon drugs.

Tiki watched “The Muppet Show”, from half past seven, as I washed the dishes. Its guest was the famed English actor, writer and dramatist, Peter Ustinov. She then watched “And Mother Makes Five” and the film, “The Longest Night”, from 1972. David “Richard Diamond, Private Detective”/”The Fugitive”/”O’Hara, U.S. Treasury”/”Harry O” Janssen has a pivotal role in the film. I, on the other hand, chose to listen to music, in bed, until I fell asleep. For a second successive night, I was to be awoken, and kept awake, by a barking dog.

Mark Bolan Dies: Saturday, 17th September, 1977

“Courageous” defeated “Australia” by a minute and three seconds in the second race of the America’s Cup. I drove to Miranda Public School by a quarter past eight so that we might vote in the local council elections.

I left Tiki at her parents’ and drove to Bryant Street in Rockdale. A train transported me to Town Hall and this allowed me to walk to Diamond Traders, where I paid the outstanding amount of three hundred and fifty dollars before I took possession of Tiki’s diamond drop earrings. Whilst there, I thought I would ask if I could have a necklace of Tiki’s valued, only to have the girl return and inform me that I could not.

The necklace had been given to her by her grandmother and Tiki had asked me to see if I could have a value placed on it. As a consequence, I walked the short distance from Park Street, to Manzo Park Lane, however, when I was told that the valuation would cost me ten dollars, I decided not to bother.

The seller of tickets at the Forum Cinema on George Street enlightened me as to where I could find Her Majesty’s Theatre and, once I had located it, I wrote out a cheque for the sum of twenty-four dollars in order that Tiki and I might attend the highly acclaimed “A Chorus Line” next Saturday night.

Arriving home at a quarter to one, I changed my clothes prior to bringing in the washing. I took the opportunity to hide Tiki’s present in a pocket of my old sports coat. When I arrived at “Mum” and “Dad’s”, in the light blue Chrysler ‘Galant’, Wendy and Tiki were taking it in turns to ride the former’s new ten-speed pushbike. Wendy, who had taken delivery of it last Wednesday, permitted me to have a ride on it too.

I washed the dishes from half past two and, from three, Tiki, her parents and I sat down to watch the grand final. St. George dominated the first half and at the break led by nine points to nil. Three of the nine points had come when ‘Lord’ Ted Goodwin made a spectacular run before he kicked ahead and regathered the football to score.

Tiki’s mum told she and I that we should have been barracking for St. George. Parramatta refused to submit and after Mick Cronin had kicked three penalty goals, trailed by just the three points, with just three minutes remaining.

Ed Sulcowicz accepted an overhead, inside pass from Ray Price — who is referred to as ‘Mr. Perpetual Motion’ — to only just score wide out. Cronin’s attempt to convert the try swung away from the uprights and with the score locked at nine all, two halves of ten minutes each were deemed necessary for the first time in recent memory.

During the second of these halves, St. George thrice attempted to kick a field goal, the last of which struck an upright. As the score remained unchanged at the conclusion of the twenty minutes of extra time, a historic replay will take place next weekend.

We ate “Mum’s” sweet curry for dinner while we watched the Leyland Brothers trek from Alice Springs to a Lake Eyre filled with water. Half past seven meant that it was time to watch “Barnaby Jones”. “Dad” went to bed as we prepared to watch the motion picture, “Carry On Loving”, from the year of 1970; choosing to ignore the fact that it was a repetition. ‘Carry On’ regulars, Hattie Jacques and Sid James, are included among its principals.

By ten to ten I had fallen asleep with my head on Tiki’s breast. Her mother had fallen asleep too! Tiki drove me home prior to half past ten, where I learned of the death of Marc Bolan, the leader of the British group, T. Rex. Bolan, at the age of twenty-eight, was killed when the car, in which he was a passenger, crashed. Reports suggest that his American girlfriend was at the wheel. Marc had reportedly overcome alcoholism and drug addiction.