Five foot two, eyes of blue........

and lots of grey haired ladies & gentleman taking over the little township of Halls Gap can only mean one thing. It's the Grampians Jazz Festival again. And yes it was. Mum & I drove up on Friday and spent a wonderful weekend with the many other Jazz fans there to see & hear all their favourite musicians. This year was the 25th anniversary of the Halls Gap festival and it did not disappoint.

The many groups playing over 9 venues entertain the thousands of people who fill the town from all over the country. There are duo's, trio's 5 & 6 piece combo's, big bands, all performing Trad Jazz, Jump Jive Swing and Modern Jazz. Mum & her friends love the Trad Jazz in the main marquee and arrive early on Friday & Saturday to make sure they get their front row seats. I have to say it is a great way to see them all sitting there in the front row with them all. I also get to run around to other venues if there is anyone else that I think I might like to listen too. This year some of the Swing groups were good and a young Trad Jazz group called Shirazz were just brilliant. I will be looking to see where we can find them in town.

The Grand Parade on Saturday morning is a lot of fun with many of the ladies & men dressing up to join in. Sunday is picnic day and Mum & her friends give up their front row seats to picnic outside the venue. You can still see & hear all that is going on. A really lovely way to spend a day. Once the last act finishes it's straight home to prepare for the nights after party. A bar-b-que which becomes an impromptu concert. This year we left before the many muso's stopped playing and it was 10.30pm. I still can't get over the fact that these guys play all weekend in many different combos and still keep going and going. Just like the Duracell Bunny really. Still it really is a fun time and I love going with her.

As well as the 9 official venues there are a number of casual locations where anyone can play or listen. One of these is Ralphy's coffee shop, and each night it becomes the hottest spot in town after the tent flaps are closed. Mum & I joined the many folk there for a hot chocolate on the way home and saw some great jam sessions. During Sunday afternoon as I was between venues I popped my head in to see who was playing and there was an old guy on drums, Audrey on piano (a very popular old girl) and a very young boy (about 12ish) on the trumpet. They were playing 5'2, Sweet Georgia Brown & a few other old songs. They were just wonderful and the young boy amazing. Not a sheet of music to be seen anywhere and all played together like they had been doing it forever.

The other attraction of Halls Gap is the spectacular scenery. The huge sandstone cliffs that overlook the tiny town never cease to impress me as I wander along and hopefully this year will be the year we can visit and spend some time having a proper look around. Mum & I came home on Monday morning this time driving through Stawell and the little town of Great Western. Yes, the wine town and she wouldn't let me stop - how mean was that. Another little town to put on the list of places to go back too.

Bill & I caught up briefly on Monday night before he had to head off to the airport early on Tuesday morning for a trade show in Surfers Paradise. So with another great weekend over it was time to head back to work on Tuesday. Only a four day week, you have to love that.

until next time.......