The next few years were hard ones, not being able to walk properly and all that made me think about life in a different way. As soon as I could I travelled this country from end to end.  | There wasn't much gold in this river! |
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A pal and I spent summers gold prospecting in the South Island, a very beautiful part of the country but of course we didn't get rich from the gold. Often we would sing for our supper in country pubs, my pal playing piano and me on guitar and singing. During this time I began to write my own songs, songs about social happenings and political protest songs of New Zealand. By the late 1980's I'd discovered folk music clubs. I was influenced by my own past and by the likes of Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan. I played in folk music clubs as much as I could. In 1992 the hard work paid off and at New Zealand's biggest folk music festival in Auckland, I won the singer/songwriters award.
From then on I did guest appearances at different clubs, I've always included Romani songs learnt from my father and written a few original Romani songs as well. It's been interesting as many Gorgor folk have stereotypical ideas on who and what Gypsies are. I hope that through my songs my ancestors may rest in peace knowing their suffering just for being Romani is now being acknowledged.  | Jayne relaxing on their veranda |
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My wife and I live in a trailerhome; Jayne is studying for her Masters papers at Auckland University.
I'm collecting scrap, writing & singing songs plus we own a small yacht which gets us out on the pani (water) where things are still free. Kushti bokt, jasa O Duval. (Good luck, go with God).
Bob.
 Romany Roots»
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