SocADL, Live at the Tivoli

Yes, I was there. I went to the #SocADL meeting at the Tivoli a couple of nights back.

I was the bloke who piped up about the less-than-delightful joys of club involvement, suggesting #SocADL should remain informal — bound by our online banter and interaction, rather than bogged down in regulations, procedures, or government red tape.

We don’t need outdoor insurance forms to enjoy ourselves – because we are Aussies. A handshake is our word, and a bit of spit’s the glue that seals it. Right? Right?

Before, during, and after the gathering I scribbled a stack of notes on my Apple Touch with the intent of writing a full article here. It’s still a work in progress, and it won’t be what people expect. You see, when I’m in public, I tend to take the voyeur’s seat.

Crowds aren’t really my thing. Don’t ask me why — even I don’t fully get it. I prefer to slip into the wallpaper, watch people, and imagine what they’re thinking. Sometimes I even make up dialogue in my head. (Yes, I know, odd habit.) Much of my article will be about me lurking near a doorway, plotting my escape route if things got too crowded.

But before I could vanish, I was stopped by the brilliant @CharlieRobinson, who I’ve met at a few Plurk/FB catch-ups. Spotted her in Rundle Mall last weekend from a hundred metres away — her smile could stop Gandhi in his tracks.

I met plenty of other interesting Adelaide folk too, snapped a few photos of #LeeHopkins and others, and I’ll share that full list — with links and faces — tomorrow night.

Since the article’s still half-baked, I’ll show you something else: a photo of a Bird of Paradise blooming in our front yard. As I wrote on Flickr:

The secret to keeping a Bird of Paradise alive is to treat it harshly. Ours has never been watered except by rain, yet it flowers every year.

It was a bright, sunny morning when I took the shot (though the weather turned gloomy later), and I had to use flash. And no — you can’t twist the flower’s head to face the camera. Much like a real bird, it doesn’t end well if you try.

The full #SocADL article? Tomorrow night.