Charmaine Keegan

Charmaine Keegan

We were a little bit shy to tap Charmaine on the shoulder as she looked as if she was enjoying her time away from the world. She was perfectly gracious about the interruption.

Charmaine lived in Bondi for 24 years before moving away. But she still comes back every week to Gertrude & Alice for a cup of tea and to read, “as if I still live here”.

We gave Charmaine the Bondi Observer questionnaire:

What is your Bondi story? 

“24 years ago I visited a friend in Bondi. We walked the obligatory Bondi to Coogee (always pronounced Coooogee by us Poms) trail and stood staring at the ‘outdoor gym’. Thinking ‘it’s free, it’s outdoors and you get to see the ocean’ I stared for ages. That was it. I was to leave my family and friends in the UK and come to this amazing place that did such things!!”

How do you spend the first hour of your day?

“Pushing a positive mindset, I say that as sometimes it’s work. sometimes gym and then on a Friday and Saturday I go to Gertrude and Alice, sip Chai and engage with amazing folks who frequent there. Ah and I have 3 other humans at home so the first hour or so is calm,  gym, beach and often an hour of work- then it’s mayhem with them. I get up early.”

Is there one thing you’d like people to know about you? 

“That’s too hard. I’ll give a few. 
I want to live on a farm, with animals and lots of veg and make things and fix things. I’m going to sew and fix clothes and make incredible meals with the food I’ve grown and do all this looking holistic and fabulous- in-fact an advert for sustainability and healthy living. (Currently not making the cut in any department).  
Or be comedian with a huge following. [Ed. it’s good to have goals]

I’m going to have Dr Joe Dispenza and Able Heart on my farm. I always have to have him in my life.”