Written 2 August, 2020. If you live in the bush, fire is serious. In my bush childhood, my first memory is fire. The tanks were dry, the one fire engine was on the other side of the town, and all my Dad had was damp hessian bags. The flames are an eye-scorching wall, higher… Continue reading…
Sue's blog
Day 130
Written 31 July, 2020 I’m a little late for my lecture because my lipstick went missing- a girl only feels dressed with lipstick – and my technical support can only walk slowly along the track in front of all the houses. His back is aching, and he’s painfully dragging his feet. In the supermarket,… Continue reading…
Day 129
Written 29 July, 2020 I’ve been preparing for Friday’s zoom lecture, but worrying about the power and the connection. Need I get in the boat tomorrow, travel an hour, get to the station, travel an hour to Sydney for proper power and connection? Then all the way back? My lovely Professor from ANU… Continue reading…
Day 128
Written 28th July, 2020 The power crashed. This place is like intransigent but beautiful child. You adore it, but is it just too hard? No working batteries till some time in August, the earliest Solar Simon can bring them. We could pick them up from Gosford straight away but bring 60 Kg… Continue reading…
Day 127
Written 27 July, 2020. Early morning, and why I love this place: The power held all day. Perhaps….perhaps…perhaps. I worried all day but I fiddled with the suspense of my novel. I gave up and read instead, scholarly papers about musical creativity, preparing for Friday when I meet my new class of composers… Continue reading…
Day 126
Written 26 July, 2020 Today the power wavered and collapsed, rose, wavered. I’m writing this at 9.32pm and waiting to see what happens. The world still rages. Gale force winds, 100 ml of rain last night, the wheelbarrow so full, as I pick up its handles, I look back at me before the water… Continue reading…
Day 125
Written 25 July, 2020. Outside, instead of a sunrise: Inside: we haven’t unpacked- we arrived, ate, lay down and slept. A little later, outside: I go for a walk to get kindling, and i store it in our neighbour’s outside bathroom out of the weather- they haven’t lived there for 15… Continue reading…
Days 124
Written 24 July, 2020 But will we escape? K is up by 7am, determined to leave at midday, but also determined to stop everything at each news broadcast. I had no idea there were so many news bulletins. I’ve had hardly any sleep. I’ll be of no use to anyone. We almost leave at the… Continue reading…
Day 123
Written 23 July, 2020 A friend said: Isn’t that just like Australia? The envy of the world in eliminating the virus then it shoots itself in the foot! In Victoria, a second wave, begun by socialising – perhaps a cigarette lighter – perhaps sex – between a security guard and a quarantined traveller. The… Continue reading…
Day 122
Written 22nd July, 2020 In the US, there are 1000 deaths a day from the virus. Tragic stories of the morgues being full, of refrigerated truck in the cities. “Bring out your dead”. 20,000 of the US military are infected. Trump interviewed: he’s at last agreed to wear a mask. Perhaps he knows 70% of… Continue reading…