smoke and septic

sunday was a complex day filled with simplicity.

there was the simple joys of locating john and mallees septic tank because they had septic fluid running all over the backyard, clogged toilets and clogged drains. no real clue of where the septic lay under the ground so we got out the tractor to do a bit of reconnaisance work. glens wife diane, a patient woman, watched the fever pitch activities. she was also looking carefully at this tacky little map i’d located of the house extensions. she called up to me on the tractor have you got a tape? i instructed her to the appropriate place she’d find it from my princely tractor seat. she came back with dust from the tractor filling the air. she measured a couple of things. she then got my attention again and suggested that just maybe the septic tank might be located about 12.5 metres from where i was digging. i felt a bit silly but given that finding the septic was a higher priority than me driving the tractor I dismounted, got a shovel and within minutes we’d hit the septic. a fine band we are indeed. i’ve learnt alot about septics in the last week and the system is now nearly working which is particuarly pleasing. maybe another week and it will fully work.

this complex day full of simplicity was also the allotted day for the hut smoking. after our sterling but unscheduled work on the septic it did set me back a bit in getting the hut ready. but this was the day. john was signed up a few friends David & Sue Woods, Margie herfernan Glen and Diane and Stephanie and her new man Greg. Greg is the head engineer for Alice Springs Town Council and he did note that the hut was a little suspect which isnt an ideal start to the hut opening. simplicity can be complex. he also said he has very poor recall.

the next simple complexity was that just as our guests were arriving we noted that john and mallee had disappeared. i said teh show goes on. stella much more persistent than I rang up mallee who said they’d gone into town to have a shower because of the septic. they assured us they’d be back in a jiff, well, half and hour. we had a cuppa on our verandah with the guests and true to their word they came back.

it actually got quite moving then as we all walked up to the hut John emerged from his shyness and as Aboriginal elder he ushered us through a lovely smoking ceremony that would cleanse the hut and heal those who would come here. it was wonderful seeing this man bring his wisdom and love of country and traditional cultural practice to us. he was also wonderfully comfortable in this role. Gentle but also clear and strong.

Stella had prepared a few prayers, we talked about the genesis of the hut and its building and then we finished with ‘Bless this Hut’. Which for most of the people reading this will know it is a variation on John Colemans song which we sang and Mil and Martins wedding.

we finished with a BBQ back at the house which was nice because i like functions where there are Aboriginal people and non Aboriginal people sharing simple things together. that BBQ has its own story but if i tell that this will never get finished. suffice to say the Aboriginal politics around kangaroo tail makes Kevin Rudd look like a beginner.

Yes it was a complex day full of simplicity.

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