Ben Canaider & Greg Duncan Powell

Femail.com.au - Males Unmasked

Ben Canaider is unemployed and unemployable. He makes money by selling stories to newspapers and magazines about drinking. In this sense he is an agent of the fashion and drug industries. He is not proud of this but it does support his habit: shoes and visiting bars. When he was little he worked for the local council then went to uni and studied history and then became a roof tiler and then taught Form one kids and then tried to help Chinese people speak English and then worked as a cook/pretend chef for 2 years or so but got sacked for being drunk one day. He was writing his football club newsletter when he first became a published wine and drinks writer. He lives in Melbourne and works from an office and has no pets.

Greg Duncan Powell doesn't like cities or offices but he doesn't mind a drink. So he hides away in a remote part of the south coast of the NSW where wine companies send wine for him to taste and he writes about it if he thinks it's any good. But that doesn't take up too much time so the rest of the day he goes surfing, fiddles about on the guitar, waters the vegie garden and things like that. When younger, he was in a ridiculously loud punk band and at university wrote a thesis on marriage in twelfth century France. He likes wine writing but would prefer to be a professional musician or a farmer.

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Occupation/Title
BC: When dealing with Telstra I like them to call me Mr Canaider, but other wise Ben is fine. I'm a drinks writer.
GDP: The official title on my business card is 'Wine and Drinks Editor - Vogue Entertaining and Travel'.

Company/Organization/Claim to Fame?
BC: I'm the drinks editor for ABC delicious magazine, and I write a column about wine for The Age in melbourne.
GDP: As above.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?
BC: A forest ranger or a vet or a fireman.
GDP: A farmer.

How did you get to where you are today?
BC: By being stubborn. I kept refusing to do real jobs and one day I woke up and someone had made me a wine writer.
GDP: I got addicted to wine and freedom and always preferred poverty to the restrictions of real work.

Have your career expectations changed along the way?
BC: I thought writing about wine was fairly unimportant when I started; now I know it is utterly worthless.
GDP: I've been doing this since 1986 but still don't consider it a 'proper' job. How can drinking be a career?

What is a fun aspect of what you do?
BC: Apparently wine has alcohol in it, but I have never noticed this.
GDP: The whole wine thing is hilarious.

What is the worst aspect about what you do?
BC: Apparently wine has alcohol in it, but I have never noticed this.
GDP: People think you want to talk about wine all the time.

What is the best advice given to you?
BC: My father told me that it is a sin to worry. We are Catholic, but I've always tried to enact that advice.
GDP: Sleep on it and it will all look better in the morning.

Can you name anyone in particular who has played an integral role along the road to your success?
BC: My history lecturer, Robert Ewins.
GDP: My dog, Hillary.

Have you ever had a mentor or still have one now?
BC: I run everything past Greg just to get another angle.
GDP: I've got a whole tribe of musicians, novelists, historical figures etc. who I call upon mentally at different times.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
BC: As I only have a four-and-a-half-year-plan, I have no idea about that.
GDP: I'm a Piscean so it's really hard for me to see further than next Thursday.

What is your ultimate dream?
BC: To be a television weatherman, but I think I've left my run too late.
GDP: To live happily ever after.

Put the following in order of importance to you - Money, Happiness, Success, Recognition, Personal Fulfillment.

BC: Just hit the random button on these... Do I have to cut and paste this bit and send to 10 friends to ensure continued good luck?
GDP: These are very personal questions for Ben. He doesn't like to face his ego.... Happiness, Personal Fulfillment, Recognition, Money, Success.

FAST FACTS - BEN CANAIDER

Your Full Name: Benjamin Peter Canaider.
Star Sign: Aries
Your ideal woman/partner: The ideal one.
Describe the perfect date: Lunch on a weekday with a new credit card and a signed cab charge. And a woman my age who genuinely laughs at my jokes.
Big Boobs or a Big Heart? I'd have to do an MIR scan.
What makes you laugh? Everything.
What makes you cry? Hitting my thumb with the hammer.
Who's your best friend? Bob.
Are you a Pub, Bar or Club Kind of Guy? Polo, definitely polo.
What is your dream car? A secondhand, automatic Barina with bald tyres, a stuffed tape deck, no FM reception, no water in the wiper-washer, worn out carseat covers, a dent in the back left-hand corner, and speed wobbles at any speed over about 95kms/hour. Girls really dig these cars - they drive them themselves!
Can you tell us 5 things required for a happy, healthy & enjoyable life? Happiness, healthfulness, enjoyment, life, and 5-thing-lists.
What do you like to do when you're all alone? Contemplate dinner.

FAST FACTS - GREG DUNCAN POWELL

Your Full Name: Gregory Duncan Powell.
Star Sign: Pisces
Your ideal woman/partner: Odysseus' wife, Penelope - very clever, very loyal, very lovely.
Describe the perfect date: Going to see the Brian Setzer Orchestra with my Penelope.
Big Boobs or a Big Heart? Big heart of course!
What makes you laugh? Human behaviour.
What makes you cry? Human endeavour .
Who's your best friend? Sweetness - my Penelope.
Are you a Pub, Bar or Club Kind of Guy? Not applicable. I don't do any of those things.
What is your dream car? One that goes and can fit a surfboard in the back.
Can you tell us 5 things required for a happy, healthy & enjoyable life? According to Buddhist teaching, you only need three: Someone to love, something to work towards and something to look forward to.
What do you like to do when you're all alone? Play the guitar.


- Michelle Palmer


*** 'Drink Drank Drunk' categorises wine according to aspects of your life. There are...

Survival Wines for those on a tight budget;

Weekday Wines to help you through to 5.30pm Friday;

Establishment Wines for when only the best will do;

Sensual Wines for those occasions when, well, you know ...;

Unknown Wines for you to call your own; and

Unpronounceable Wines for those who like to visit foreign lands from the safety of their dinner table.