My day with MK
Well, my workplace shifted last Friday to a new building that unfortunately resembles a prison because of so much security. I felt a bit depressed when we were moving, even though I now have a bigger office with a window. So much security always gets me down. Any way, a new building needs a good name and has to be smoked to get rid of any unwanted spirits. So I had to hunt out my friend, MK, who is a respected elder around town. I hadn’t seen her for ages but she turned up to church this morning, dressed in black and with a shaved head. A family member of hers was murdered on Todd River by a bunch of young local white guys almost a month ago and the funeral was last Thursday. It was an absolutely appalling crime and has had the whole town in shock. The young man murdered was also family of our neighbours and we had met him a couple of times out here. He was very friendly and cheerful. Any way, I sat down with MK after church and we spoke about this and then I broached the subject of our building. She said she would come with me to look at it. She thought the huge fences would be OK if we painted them with nice pictures of people around campfires. I thought she had a point. Any way, I showed her around and she liked my room. We discussed some possibilities for a good name and arranged for a smoking later on in the week. Then she wanted to go to the markets so I took her there and we brought our fruit and vegies and some of her favourite tomato chutney. Then I bought Vietnamese spring rolls and coffee and we sat on the church lawns and had our lunch and watched the passing parade, most of whom waved at her and she gave money to a lot of them. She told me she was being flown to Melbourne next month because she has been selected to speak to some groups of people there. She had picked up an orange beanie from the church second hand store to keep warm in Melbourne. She said she really liked Melbourne because you can get good coffee there- “proper coffee - really fluffy .” She then said she needed to get some chicken to take home for the kids so I we did drive through KFC on the way home because it was getting hot and she liked the air conditioning in my car. She helpd me slow my pace down and I came home feeling happy.
Filed under Uncategorized | Comment (1)80 Years - 1929-2009
In the last couple of days both my Dad and the Ghan railway turned 80… and both were in Alice Springs! And my Dad loves trains so we could buy the man who is impossible to buy presents for a whole bunch of stuff with 80years written all over it from the Gahn’s birthday celebration, just a couple of days before Dad’s birthday celebration. He was chuff, chuff, chuff, chuffed. I know my family is in town because the cricket is on the TV and everyone except me is watching it. So remeiniscent of my childhood! Yes, my whole family came up here from NSW, Vic, and Qld for Dad’s 80th and we had a great time. Dad said it was the best birthday he ever had. We’ve tootled around a bunch of beautiful places here and had meals in front of fires and it’s been really nice. I’m just in wonder that we pulled it off.
Filed under Uncategorized | Comment (1)Bird bath in the desert
We have a bird bath under the tree near our verandah. I just love it. Every morning there are some birds to watch while I have my breakfast. We get ring neck parrots, Major Mitchell cockatoos, crested pigeons, babblers, and a range of little birds. Then yesterday Keith and I were having lunch on the verandah and a Euro (local kangaroo) came down from the hill. S/he sensed our presence so was very cautious but s/he went to the bird bath and put her paws up on the bath and proceeded to have a big drink. It looked so cute! S/he then got water up her nose and sneezed a bit and kept rubbing her nose. Keith and I didn’t move, although I felt I should offer her a hankie. So we didn’t get the camera and take a photo but the picture is in my head and hopefully we will get to witness it again.
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