Michael Johnsey

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Woman And Baby In Paradise by Michael Johnsey

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Artist	Michael Johnsey
Gender	Male
Birthday	March, 27
Status	Citizen of the World
City	Ubud, Bali
Country	Indonesia
Site	http://www.michaeljohnsey.com
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I was born in England and grew up during tremendous change. I feel lucky to have experienced the times and events that I did. I remember lazy Sunday summer evenings at the Crawdaddy Club listening to the Rolling Stones jangle before they were famous. Eel Pie Island in the bitterness of winter, but warm to the sound of Rod Stewart rasping through Gasoline Alley. Jeff Beck, The Yardbirds, The Downliner Sect, The Who, Eric Clapton, David Bowie, Cyril Davies, Alexis Korner and John Mayall, all played at Eel Pie, which is where British R & B was born. Led Zeppelin, Elton John, Long John Baldrey, in addition to many of the above, played the similarly famous Crawdaddy. I cannot believe that I got to see all these guys regularly.

I can remember when the whole world waited for the Beatles next offering, and then there was Hey Jude. Blessed were the beautiful people parading up and down Carnaby Street during its heyday and later down Chelsea's Kings Road, where everybody was so frantic to be seen. There were just so many more unbelievably happy Flower Power moments during the 60s and 70s. Sad stuff too, like the passing of greats like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Brian Jones and a plenty more that didn’t make it through the madness.

I’ve managed to get about quite a bit. I remember China in the late 70s, truly another world, and one that just is so far from the China of today. I walked on the Great Wall and visited the Forbidden City and felt like I was the only one there. Then Bali, my current home, when Kuta was a dirt town and ducks roamed the main street, and Mama’s Place still existed on the beach front, now buried somewhere under the Hardrock Cafe, where suckling pig was the meal to die for. The Philippines with its crazy, fun loving people and the Mad, Mad Cocabanana club. The old Singapore and Sunday Reistaffel at the Tanglin, and Tiffin at the original Raffles.

Getting to see other countries and cultures is great, but I do love my England still, and always need to get back. English countryside is amazing; the small quaint villages; stumbling upon derelict crofter’s cottages in the middle of nowhere; the woods, the rivers and streams; old roads that have born travellers from way back through Roman times and beyond, and all the secret places that carry the ghosts from long ago in a country steeped in so much history and legend. And in London, to ride the tube and see every nation, creed and colour represented, and living pretty well in harmony, that’s special. Often I miss my England, just strolling through the streets; the lovely old oaks in Richmond Park; the river Thames, now so clean and elegant, framed by the World’s most magnificent buildings; walking through London at night in the rain when everything is sparkly and glistening. England will always be home, and I reckon I will end up back there again one day, but for the moment, my dear wife and I are living in Ubud, in Bali, still enjoying life and looking forward.