G'Day From Downunder

We are truly into winter down here in Oz; cold, damp and believe it or not rain, rain and more rain. Our prayers have been answered somewhat but we still have a long way to go to refill our water catchments.

So get the kettle on and lets have a cuppa tea and a chat!

Just to round off the tail end of my recent travel saga I visited the European Broadcasting Union in Geneva to discuss matters relating to the growth and obstacles that the Eurovision Song Contest are experiencing. To make a long story short they kindly extended an invitation to my business partner and myself to be special observing guests at next year's event in Belgrade Serbia.

We have a long-standing relationship with the EBU having worked on redesigning and redirecting the event between 1995 and 1997.

Now I want you to take a journey with me back in time, come cast your mind back to when you were seven or eight when you used to play cowboys and Indians, cops and robbers or doctor and nurses with your friends on the streets of your neighborhood. Little did you know then that you were actually shaping out the position you would take on in your adult life!

Let me explain. Who was usually the leader of the cowboys in your group or who was the top cop and where is he or she now, and what is he or she doing now? I bet you he or she is still a leader. While in Cork recently I had breakfast with one of my old pals who was always the captain of the cavalry or the leader of the cowboys. To us young cavalry troopers he was "Captain Buckley" (Eugene Buckley in reality) I was always his Sergeant or support back up and guess what? Here we are fifty-two years later doing the same thing in adult life. He's the hero and I'm writing about him!

We spoke about our respective roles in youth and adulthood. By now most of you must have a handle on my achievements in life so let me unfold Eugene's extraordinary life for you. He was born on January 7, 1946 in the Coal Quay in Cork - to those who don't know, the Coal Quay it is to Cork what Moore Street is to Dublin.

His dad was a barman originally from the North Mall and his mom sold second hand clothes in the Coal Quay. She was originally from Boyce's Street. When Eugene was six the family moved by donkey and cart to 13 St Anthony's Road in Gurranabraher just 5 doors down from where my family moved into one year later.

Eugene was stuck in the middle. Well almost, he had two older siblings, sister Sally, brother Raymond and three younger siblings Muriel, Finbar and Geraldine. He attended Blarney Street School but like most kids of our time never finished his full term. From the moment I met him as a seven-year-old I could tell he was going places. This young lad was going to make his mark on this life. I just knew it. He was strong in views, kind hearted and most of all adventurous like myself.

He and I would go anywhere at the drop of a hat we were just two young adventurers off to discover the world. We would travel to Dublin to see all the international Soccer matches. No money mind you, just pick up a used ticket at the railway station and wing it. Waterford and Limerick were on our travel list also for no other reason than the adventure and a soccer match.

Eugene had a special love for airplanes, so every now and again it was down tools, no school and off to the old Cork airport in Farmers Cross. On one occasion, we decided to go to Dublin to see a jet plane. That was when jet's were rare and Dublin airport was only an outpost. Can you imagine what two adventurous lads from the country might get up to at an airport with an inviting jet plane and no security? What else but wander in and sit on the pilot's and co pilot's seats. Of course, there was no intention of vandalism or anything like that just two young lads getting hands on experience of life. We were only limited by the boundaries of our own minds. Needless to say there was no one there to stop us. No security, no Al-Quaida.

This was a time when the only exciting thing in Cork was two neon signs, Telefusion and Tayto in Patrick Street. That was around the time of the introduction of TV in Ireland. The city was lost in the colour grey. Eugene's adventures and inquisitive mind would take him on an exciting journey to this present day.

I was envious of him, as he was a member of the school band. At about age twelve he took a job at Hillgroves Butchers delivering. In old terms a 'messenger boy' with one of those very heavy bicycles with a big basket on the front. I can vouch for him on this; he worked very very hard for his boss. Then sadly to us young troopers of Captain Buckley's Cavalry we lost him to a Norwegian Freighter. At the age of fourteen he decided to sail off onto the high seas just like the Captain Morgan that we played out on many occasion in the gardens of St Anthony's Road.

After a short time at sea he was surprised when summoned to the Captain's quarters to be informed he was getting a substantial rise in pay. When inquiring why? He was told because of his work rate; Eugene assumed everyone worked hard, after all that's just what his mom and dad told him, you have to work hard for your money and isn't that just what he did at Hillgroves, the butchers, anyway.

After satisfying his curiosity with the sea, he settled in London and got a job at the BBC. He then took elocution lessons and joined the Swiss Cottage Library so he could borrow the full set of LP's of Shakespeare's Richard the Third to learn off by heart and improve his accent and vocabulary.

The adventure bug bit him again and true to form just as in days gone by. Eugene goes and buys a white suit and decides he is going to San Tropez in the South of France to call on no other than Bridget Bardot and ask her out on a date, and why not? She's just another girl. He travels from London to Calais to Paris then jumps on the "Midnight Blue" train to capture the heart of Ms Bardot. He steps on board the train puts his overnight bag in the best sleeper cabin he could find then heads to the restaurant carriage for a bite to eat. But before he reaches the eatery he meets a gorgeous young Dutch lady in the passageway. So Eugene, being Eugene, starts chatting her. They talked for quite some time. He then decides she should join him for a meal and so the new lovebirds chitter chatter and agree to meet for breakfast.

Then the Big Bad Wolf in the disguise of her father rudely interrupts and whisks her away to Eugene's disgust. Now all thoughts of Bridget - what's her name?- are forgotten - and his focus is now 100% on his new love. He now retreats to the comfort of his sleeper, undresses, folds his new white suit so not a wrinkle shows and slips into his first class bed. Just ten minutes later there's a thundering knock on the cabin door, his heart jumps into his mouth, is it the father of his new love? If so he's in trouble or is it his new love herself and if it is she's going to be in real trouble. Nod Nod Wink Wink!

He jumps from his bed opens the door and to his surprise it's neither. It's the train inspector telling him he can not travel in first class as he only has a fourth class ticket. Eugene spends the remainder of the journey traveling in the back carriage of the train with lots of strange characters that were drinking out of bottles covered by brown paper bags.

With his dignity shot and his funds reduced dramatically maybe San Tropez and his new love would have to wait for another time. So the white suit got packed away and he returned to London to make plans for his future and so he did. He returned to Cork to open the first Carnaby Street style suit shop called "Clobbers Innovative Suits" in Paul Street. A then not too fashionable street in town. Soon after followed "Mr Buckley's" for men and "Mrs Buckley's" ladies fashion, followed again by "Match" children's denim.

His success in the rag trade was followed by further success in the restaurant business, Bully's in Douglas, Bully's in Paul Street, El Grouchos in Popes Quay the trendy place to have a hens party. More recently added to his list of successes are Hardwood Restaurant and Uncle Pete's Pizzas both in Popes Quay. He was one of the first of the Irish to buy a home in Spain which is now the fad. Paul Street is now the 'in street' and the nucleus of trendy shopping in Cork. He had a vision. Thanks to Eugene for laying down the first stone.

After our fourth coffee he tells me "you know what Mike? Some of the lads we grew up with got a job and did it for years and missed out on the adventure of life isn't that true?" I agree and I'm glad I got the chance to catch up with my pal to reminisce of old times. The time of Cowboys and Indians lead ultimately to success and affluence.

Success will always be Eugene's partner and adventure his lover and Cork is much the richer for having Eugene Buckley. "Captain Buckley" to me.Until next time, be good to those who love you.

Slainte from Downunder!