THE FLINDERS GRANGES BY GEORGE

When he's in the Big Smoke, George Grainger Aldridge spends more time than most pondering life from the front bar of that hallowed emporium of thirst, The Exeter Hotel, at 246 Rundle Street, East End, Adelaide, South Australia. 

Many lost and bewildered Hayseeds and Tumbleweeds from the bush blow through The Ex to chew the jerky, adding to our painterly gentleman's reverie amongst the bohos and hipsters.. 

George yesterday contributed a major artwork to his favourite corner of The Ex, to remind him of his other home in the outback. While he guarantees that the work will soon be moved to more appropriately fit its space, George was happy to show me his preliminary snaps. 

That's The Flinders Granges in situ, above, and at bottom a slice of its detail. In the middle's my snap of George watching me have a smoke out the front. 

DRINKSTER will pay particular attention to any sign of a response from the Penfolds marketing bunker in the Treasury offices in Melbourne. 

That one down under looks like a magnum to me.

On a lighter note, here's his recent sketch that came from a discussion, in that very same bar, of alcohol levels, and how elegant is the new red ... 

I got this shot of the man at work on a new Flinders landscape, with a portrait made by the brilliant street artist and portrait painter, Lee Harnden. Knows his rocks, our George.