Bill Blakey has been in the picture framing business for 16 years, firstly in Oamaru's North End and now, after a break, at the reopened Gallery Picture Framers in Tees St. A founding member (and now secretary) of the Penguin Entertainers Club, he has drummed and sung in bands most of his life.
Why do you do what you do?
I am a picture framer for pleasure. I'm my own boss in a relaxed, pressure-free environment working with a variety of art objects and mediums, the majority of which bring a little beauty into my life and, hopefully, pleasure to my clients. Correct procedure in framing, proper conservation methods and being able to advise on care of artwork all add to the mix. There is a pleasant variety to my existence.
What is your earliest memory?
Earliest memories I find tricky. Do you actually remember things or is it being told of things you did that becomes the memory? The first thing I know I did was pour Lux soap flakes out of the porthole window of the cabin on the good ship Captain Cook on our way to New Zealand. It was docked in Panama and the children weren't allowed off the ship. I think we were pretending it was snowing.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
The first thing I ever wanted to be was a vet but all the science put me off, so I spent the rest of my time through school not knowing what I wanted. Apart from connecting with my wife, Margie, I have really spent most of my life drifting, metaphorically sitting on the beach waiting to be rescued like the mariner in the A.A. Milne poem. Come to think of it, it was my Margie who inveigled me out on our first date. That figures.
What was your most embarrassing moment?
The moment was mine and I'm too embarrassed to share.
Who would play you in the film of your life?
Richard Dean Anderson should play me. Such a cool mullet and a Swiss army knife. The children would appreciate it.
Property aside, what's the most extravagant thing you've bought?
Probably the most extravagant thing I have bought personally was the seven-piece Tama Hyperdrive drum kit I invested in a couple of years ago. A new band and trying to divest myself of junk meant replacing my old kits with the new, mega-mid-life crisis, dream machine. Possibly more stunning than the red Risa electric ukulele I bought from Germany the year before (which was gorgeous) and only topped in beauty by the Eastwood electric tenor guitar I brought back from the UK this year. All these were an extravagance but they are cherished items.
What is your guiltiest pleasure?
Sunday afternoon committee meetings at the local hostelry. Plans, stories and lies all covered, no problem too big to be solved.
Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?
I have half a dozen close friends who I would love to invite to dinner in France at the restaurant in Mirepoix that we dined in last June. Superb chat to go with the superb wine and food we enjoyed. Friendship should be valued, and imaginary famous diners would probably turn out to be a disappointment.
What would be your dream job?
I'm getting too close to retirement to want any new jobs, dream or otherwise. With framing, drumming and occasionally helping my wife Margie run the WGHS hostel, I'm perfectly content with the jobs I have already.
What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
More hours in the day would improve the quality of my life. I seem to be running flat out to stand still.
What keeps you awake at night?
Aching joints tend to keep me awake these nights. Could be something to do with the previous question - all that running - or maybe it's just age.
What song would you like played at your funeral?
I have a strange desire to lock all the attendees in a room and play Frank Zappa to them for several hours. I'm sure they would come to love him as I do. Elvis has just left the building or his reggae take on Stairway to Heaven (both fairly self-explanatory) would be good starting points ... or perhaps Daniel Lanois, or James McMurtry. So little time and so much great music.
Footnote: Bill Blakey was 7 - and known as William - when his family left England for New Zealand. He was Will Blakey when he started playing in bands in Dunedin after leaving teachers' college. And when he came back to Oamaru as a freezing worker, he was Bill.
