Tribute from Charriere Russell - Hailstones and a cereal conversation

By Charriere Russell - December 1, 2004

Dear Colin,

Three years ago, two strangers met me at Sydney Airport. I arrived there after emailing Dael to cadge a bed for the night, on the rather thin excuse of being her second cousin from NZ on my way to London. You were rather tense and I felt twinges of ‘oh dear I have really put this guy to some inconvenience…..’

As we zoomed back to Coogee in a racy VW Golf the three of us crammed in that short drive discussion on;

2. The central premise of my fathers PhD,

3. NZ Politics,

4. How Dael and I were related and family gossip.

Before getting into the car Dael had quietly let me know that you were highly concerned about your car being damaged by forecasted hailstones. Funnily enough, I thought maybe you should have been more concerned about driving, interviewing me and pointing out scenery, as a potential risk to your car’s appearance rather than hailstones…. I also remember thinking crikey I have not had to think that quickly since Uni….

Anyway we did not talk much more that night although I think I impressed you and maybe made up for you having to risk your car’s panel work by giving you and Dael a bottle of Daniel Schuster Pinot Noir… which you seemed to express some mild surprise in receiving and a copy of Cuisine. I remember feeling pleased that I had possibly impressed you.

The next day we had a short conversation over cereal before you went to work. We talked about wine – including some Aussie dude with a Kingswood Holden that made amazing Shiraz, NZ, food and when you got up to go I wished you could have stayed longer and yakked some more.

I know that my Dad really admired you too and he spoke very highly of you. We are both sad that neither of us will get the chance again to chew the fat with you so on Sunday he and I will get together and toast some great conversations that might have been.

It was a pleasure to have met you Colin.

Yours truly,

Charriere Russell