A/Stray

I am writing to you from the highest mountain village in Cyprus. The four days I have been on this island have been astonishing from the outset. The above pic was taken from a headland above startling rock formations by a beach that turned out to be the birthplace of the goddess Aphrodite. I had swung off the freeway just to check it on a whim. A lovely bloke in a solitary ice-cream van sold me a freshly squeezed pomegranate juice that immediately rectified the wearying effects of 24 hours in the air. I swam beneath a slight gap in the rocks offshore and was stunned to find myself in a white cathedral formed by three towering stones leaning on each other, light blue water beneath dropping from a few feet to twenty deep at the edge of each.

I could go on - but I won't. There's too much to see and do. All this beauty coincides with geopolitical horror: from flying over Tripoli on one side and Aleppo on the other; to Turkey's dictator defying international boundaries to drill from a flag-draped ship just 51 nautical miles off the coast here, as Trump invites him to the White House and abandons the Kurds after all their hard yards against ISIS, even as Pompeo signs a defence pact with Greece. I am on an ancient and modern fault line at a time of escalating idiocy and despair. I feel it everywhere.

Wednesday October the 9th ~

Amongst this fragile peace and relics of privilege, I'll play a public gig on my final evening in the country. I'm honoured that this will occur at the most creative space here, Sousami in Limassol. Any residents or visitors keen and able can attend free and hear everything unfold between 10PM and 2AM.
Back in Sydney DJ Soup will fill-in for me after the live component of Swingin' at the Speakeasy wraps at 10. That's always free and also goes til 2 or 3.

Friday October the 11th ~

South King Recreation Club is restored to its former glory and from 6 til 10PM on Friday my substitute selector will be Meem. Free, as ever.

Saturday October the 12th ~

Jack Off will be back under the auspices of the excellent Eddy Diamond this weekend so ensure you tune in from 3 til 5PM. Her last shift on the show was brim-full of subtle mixes, all to theme. I was so enthralled listening to it - and just stoked that Eddy had utilised the profound freedom the program offers in such a genuine and thoughtful manner.

Sunday October the 13th ~

By Sunday I'll have had a chance to adjust to the bustle of Athens (and also attend both days of the Sonar Festival happening there for the first time - in fact I intend to call Eddy with a live report/review during Saturday's show).

On my final day away I've the most delightful opportunity to farewell this part of the world. DJ Blue Lagoon has kindly invited me to join him at the styling little art deco Praxitelous Bar. Locals and expats can find us there between 10 and 2 for free!

Hope to see the rest of you back home real soon xo