Sunday 30th June

The noodle bar was closed for lunch so Yana and I had a leisurely morning together. We played music, sang and talked. It was blissful. Then Yana helped Stu sort out a problem with his newly assembled water fountain. The water was not being pumped through evenly. The two men pulled everything apart, examined it all, discussed and hypothesized,and then after a few hours met with success. There was a lot of laughing going on and they seemed to be enjoying themselves. It was nice to see.

It was the World Cup final that night and we both took considerable pleasure in watching Brazil come up and win. I had hoped that they would but wasn't sure whether they were going to be skilful enough to do so. A good game it was too.

Saturday 29th June

It was simply a magnificent day. I felt fit and well. The nausea was much more bearable and my appetite was back. I was so happy to be alive. The sun shine brightly, there wasn't a cloud in the sky and all seems to be going well. Yana enthusiastically heads off to the noodle bar everyday and is gradually coming to terms with the vagaries of the cash register. It can only get better.

In the evening Yana and I went to make music with the people in Baywood Chase. The night sky was clear with zillions of stars all across the heavens. What a sight. In Bandung we only occasionally spotted a lone star or two among the orange haze. I felt on top of the world. All is wonderful and turning out to much better than I had ever dared hope.

Friday 28th June

Whalewatching is a really big thing in these parts at this time of the year. These leviathans are making their annual migration to warmer waters and provide a superb experience for people to watch. Sam tells me when she has her early morning surf the car parks are full. She sometimes panics believing that the waves will be crowded but in fact most cars belong to whale spectators. Some people even take down their breakfast and make the most of the moment.

Driving along the coastal roads can be fraught with disaster as people's concentration may be momentarily distracted by a large splash on the water. Lots of wavering and crossing of white lines takes place. All people on the road must beware.

Yana and I haven't taken the opportunity to go whale watching but will do so soon. Sam says that it is an awe inspiring experience particularly if you are out there on a surfboard and can actually see the great beast with its barnacles on the underside just so clearly. When they jump out of the water and dive the sound is stupendous. These are mammoths.

Thursday 27th June

Yana spends most of his days in at the noodle bar with the Indonesian twins. They have been training him so that he can work independently and this means that I get to savour some very tasty Thai dishes. I am pleased that this is working out so well as Yana is not one to sit around and watch television. He likes to keep himself occupied. The Australian who owns the business is impressed with Yana's attitude and enthusiasm and has told him that there will be a definite roster of paid work next week.

I have been scouring the advertisements in the paper and at the real estate agencies for a suitably priced unit or house. The cheap ones go so quickly. There is housing available if you are prepared to pay. Unfortunately I don't have the wherewithall to pay four or five hundred dollars a week and even if I did I wouldn't be wasting it on a rental property. I would be buying something!

The other problem is that my little family doesn't present well on paper and as there are usually a number of applicants we don't get a look in. None of us have employment that impresses and neither do we have good rental history evidence. I can give Bu Empon's name and phone number in Bandung but somehow it doesn't go down all that well. Still we must not give up.

Wednesday 26th June

I was actually able to eat a little and felt that I might survive the experience. Yana had a brief interview for a cleaning job at the Beach Hotel and I was well enough to drive him the short distance there in Tess' car. It was such a lovely morning that we sat down on the Main Beach after the meeting. There were lots of campervans in the carpark, with people organising outdoor breakfasts from their car doors. It must be getting a little cool sleeping at night in these vans but it didn't seem to be deterrring anyone. It is nice to see that the travelling bug is alive and well.

I took the day quietly as I was still functioning on about one cylinder. In the evening Yana suggested I go to Baywood Chase and I took up the offer. Once I was there I felt fine. I enjoyed the music and was totally unaware of my nausea or the fuzzy feeling in my head. I'm sure things will get better. There is still hope.

Tuesday 25th June

I was marginally more alert although the nausea was terrible. I didn't know what to eat and wondered how much longer I could tolerate the situation. I wasn't able to read, concentrate on television or hold a conversation. I don't know if I can cope with this level of discomfort on a three weekly basis. It is almost unbearable.

Monday 24th June

Slept.

Sunday 23rd June

The morning started with great vigor. I was full of energy and tackled cleaning our room with great enthusiasm. Then we went shopping, or at least tried to, because every time I tried to enter the supermarket I started to heave. Yana had already entered and wondered what the holdup was. The heaving became vomitting and I then very inelegantly threw up all over the ground in the carpark. This eased things for a while and we were able to replenish our food supplies.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. I went to bed on returning and barely moved from then on. Later that evening I vaguely recall watching snatches of the Shackleton documentary on television but basically I was not able to concentrate on anything other than sleep.

Saturday 22nd June

Tessie, Yana and I took Jasmine, the dog, to the beach. It was great to see the coastline again. The last few days had been fairly harrowing and I needed an opportunity to catch my breath. We then checked out a few garage sales. Some people seem to be very optimistic and have little to offer other than real junk. We came home with a hair dryer and that was the sum total of our purchases. I know that we need more but it is a bit hard to become motivated to buy furniture when we haven't got our new home yet. I'm sure that it will be easier when we have moved. Buying could well become more urgent.

At night we visited Yana's mates, the Indonesian twins Hendra and Hendry, at their house in Baywood Chase. Hendra is married to Jenise and there was another woman, a keyboard player called Debbie, as well. We spent the most magnificent evening making music and just talking. Yana said that he felt that he was still in Bandung as the twins are also from there. They can speak Sundanese amongst themselves which must be a pleasant experience for them. I was so excited to think that the music making that I had always enjoyed in Moritz would still continue here in Byron Bay.

Friday 21st June

When the doctors heard that I had to take a four hour bus trip before I could get home they decided to quicken the flushing so that I could catch the two o'clock bus rather than the six o'clock service. I appreciated the gesture. The morning passed quickly enough although I found it very hard to keep my eyes off the woman who was in the bed diagonally opposite me. She had enormous breasts that seemed to hang down to her hips! It can't have been very comfortable.

I had to wait a little at the Transit Centre but fortunately there were plenty of spare seats on the bus. The trip was reasonable although I had an unpleasant taste in my mouth. On getting back to Byron I caught a taxi home. Sammie would have been getting ready for work and I had missed Jane by a matter of minutes. I hadn't thought of ringing the house, because Tessie had planned to go to her father's. As it turned out she was staying on so she could pick me up from the bus. Never mind. I just didn't know. For a two kilometre ride I did think that the taxi was expensive at six dollars. You could have gone from one side of jakarta to the other on that sort of money.

Yana had apparently been quite busy with his Indonesian friends while I was away. This was good to hear. It sounds as though he is well and truly at home here.

Thursday 20th June

The nurses were going on strike throughout Queensland around midday and I was very concerned that my chemotherapy treatment might be affected so I arrived at the hospital bright and early. Despite my good intentions I was told that I would have to wait for my original appointment time and found myself with the opportunity to read a whole swatch of women's magazines that I would never buy. I filled myself up with the trials and tribulations of the rich and famous and looked forward to going back to Byron as soon as possible. I learnt that poor Michael Jackson spends $20,000 a day on necessities whereas I am supposed to live on that over two years!

The chemotherapy had barely started when I started to feel violently ill. A feeling of extreme discomfort washed over me. The nurse in charge responded quickly and the drip was shut down. It transpired that I had developed an allergic reaction and had gone into shock. I was taken from the treatment room and popped into a bed where I shivered and shook for the next few hours. I was obviously not going home staright away!

I found myself in a real dilemma. Would I have to miss out on some treatment this month even though the cancer was still doubling? I didn't want to stay on in Brisbane any longer than necessary but neither did I feel like returning again the following week. I was really sick and tired of that wretched bus trip. Perhaps living in Byron was a big mistake. Fortunately I was in luck. Despite the nurse's strike and a very busy timetable, my doctor and the nursing staff organised a substitute drug treatment that would start later in the afternoon. It would mean that I would have to spend the night in hospital but I would be able to go home the following day. I was in no position to refuse.

A little later I found myself in a four bed ward with two bald women who looked liked big babies and Lily, who was almost ninety. Lily carried on long, detailed conversations with no one in particular but the other two women were friendly. As the new drug was particularly damaging to the kidney I had to be flushed through with litres and litres of liquid. I spent the whole night going up and down to the toilet, intravenous trolley stand in hand. I have spent better nights.

Wednesday 19th June

No more luxuriating around in Byron. I had a bus to catch at nine in the morning and was on my more than familiar way through the winding hills of New South Wales, the highrise of the Gold Coast and on to Brisbane .... again. The trip was uneventful and I had the time to walk leisurely through Southbank to the Mater Hospital. It was a lovely day and there were plenty of people enjoying the environs with me.

The doctor's visit was a bit of a shock in that my tumour count had actually doubled even though I was feeling so much better. I wasn't prepared for this and felt absolutely stunned. I seem to stumble into one brick wall after the other. I eventually tried to be positive and thought that there was still a chance of a delayed response. This has happened on a few occasions in the past. I'll cross my fingers.

I caught the train to Cleveland and found myself surrounded by apathetic homegoing commuters. Not a pleasant atmosphere particularly as the trip takes virtually an hour. I then walked from the station to my brother's house and caught up with my father who is holidaying up north for a few months. We spent a pleasant enough evening, it was just that my heart wasn't in it. Sometimes it is hard to keep smiling. All I want to do is live. It doesn't sound hard. I am not asking for riches or fame.

Tuesday 18th June

It was another day of filling in forms, putting names on lists and scanning noticeboards. Not really productive but one has to be patient. It is a bit stressful and I will have to be disciplined. I have to expect a few weeks of uncertainty before things settle and become clear.

Yana seems happy and is positive about what is happening. We certainly are lucky. Byron Bay is a beautiful spot and the weather, during the day at least, has been quite wonderful. There are many worse places to be.

World Cup soccer fever seems to be intensifying and I even found myself watching a match. It brought back memories of the last World Cup where a whole group of us used to gather together in that weird cafe Trottoar in Bandung. Many worlds away.Things move on.

Monday 17th June

The electric storm of the night before dominated the newspapers and television news. Trees had been blown over and houses had lost their rooves. It had certainly been very dramatic. Masses of lightening and lots of very heavy rain. Quite tropical, and most unseasonal. A welcome message for Yana?

Yana, Tess and I visited a number of employment agencies. We checked out the situations vacant, or lack thereof, and then dropped by a few real estate businesses to check accommodation possibilities. The three of us can't stay with Stu and Jane indefinitely, we outnumber them for a start. Unfortunately there was not a lot available within our price range but that isn't necessarily a bad thing because we shouldn't rush into anything.

Yana caught up with some Indonesians at a noodle food stall in Feros Arcade. I had encountered these two fellows last week and had established contact again. We had met very briefly in March and they had been very friendly. It is important for Yana to have friends and I was excited to think that it was all going so well.

It was the last lesson of the writing class in the evening. The new teacher was a little better prepared but lacked the supportive, encouraging attitude of the previous teacher. I found his comments and observations fairly judgemental and imagine that I would have lost my confidence altogether if I had to spend too much time with him. I felt quite demoralised by the end of the class.

Sunday 16th June

It was very dark in the eight bed dormitory and I was worried because I wanted to wake up early. My watch has luminous hands but I couldn't see a thing. Some travellers came home at 3 am and I was able to check the time. I woke again a few hours later and decided that I daren't risk going back to sleep again. I caught the six o'clock courtesy bus into the transit centre and had a Macdonalds breakfast. There is not a lot of choice in the food department at that time of the morning.

Instead of taking the train to the airport I took the shuttle bus, it made for a change of scenery. We went via Breakfast Creek which I had only heard about, it looked worth visiting. I arrived at the airport at seven so I was a little early. This didn't worry me, I was excited, and settled down to read the weekend Australian newspaper.

By a quarter to eight I could read no longer, even though I knew that Yana would take a while, he had immigration and customs to contend with. I watched two plane loads of Japanese tourists search for their tour guides and then noticed that there were westerners and Malaysians coming out the gates. They were obviously from Yana's plane, as he had flown with Malayasian Airways. I got excited, nearly broke into tears every time the people around me met up with their loved ones, and kept my eyes peeled for that familiar face. He didn't come. The following flight with more Japanese tourists started to come through and I began to feel quite sick. Had he missed the plane, was he being held up somewhere? I didn't know what to do. I felt stunned and confused. I was about to plunge to the depths of despair, when out of nowhere, that familiar body came through the gates. What a relief.

The immigration people had kept Yana quite busy. He went through three checkpoints and on each occasion he entered they pressed a button and extra people came to question him further. The customs people were no different. They searched everything right down to the smallest item. They checked in things, through things and even behind things. They told him that a lot of people in Byron Bay used drugs so this might have motivated their diligence. He obviously looked like someone who was up to no good. Fortunately he was able to prove them wrong.

It was wonderful to see Yana again. At last he was here and free to stay. Bliss. We caught the train to Roma street and then a bus back to Byron Bay. We arrived mid afternoon and were able to unpack and rest a little before going out with Sam, Tess, their father Pete and Jude, his partner, and her son, to a restaurant for a very pleasant meal. Meanwhile, around us, there was an electric storm of massive proportions.

Saturday 15th June

Another beautiful day. Tessie and I took Jasmine, the dog, down to the beach. We were followed by a stray boxer dog and its terrier mate who then ran off with the ball. Needless to say, Jasmine was very disappointed. Without a ball, life is hardly worth living for this dog.

Tessie then drove off to The Channon to spend some time with her father. The car was a behaving a little oddly and I hoped that there would be no problems. At two o'clock I caught the bus to Brisbane. The bus wasn't crowded so I had two seats to myself. At Tweed Heads we stopped because the axle had come adrift. This was in Australia too. I was amazed, as I had thought that this only happened in Indonesia. After a very long wait a new bus arrived and we finally made it into Brisbane two hours late.

The delay made no impact on me as I had no plans for the evening anyhow. I rang for a free courtesy bus to the Vulture st. Backpackers and then snatched a cheap meal before the kitchen closed. It wasn't at all tasty, but I was hungry and it filled a gap. The staff at the hostel recognized me and were very friendly. This was a bonus. I had an early night as the television in the room was not working and my book wasn't worth reading.

Friday 14th June

Tessie arrived in Byron yesterday at about six in the evening. She hadn't run out of petrol although the marker was on empty so she was very close. I was immensely relieved. There hadn't been any problems with the car either. Not bad for a little Honda that is designed for city driving. It covered eight hundred kilometres, two days in a row, a sterling effort.

Sam had the evening shift at the Suffolk pub so Tess and I had a meal there. It gave us a chance to supervise Sam at work and to snatch fragments of a conversation when she walked past. We didn't wait till the end of the shift because Tess was exhausted. Come to think of it, I was also very weary, it had been a very long day for me.

Today Tess and I drove into the shops. We checked out a few employment agencies and then saw what was available on the rental market. It was like a bit of an overview so our plans of action could then be planned.

Thursday 13th June

Tessie is a lot closer than I anticipated. She spent the night just south of Sydney. Today she hopes to make it to Byron. Lack of funds has apparently necessitated a very swift trip. I have been on tenderhooks all day.

In the late afternoon I took Jasmine down to the beach. It was unseasonly warm down on the sands so I walked quite a distance. As I turned to go back home I saw a figure running towards me with her arms flailing. It was Sam. It was nice to see her.

I decided to wait for Tessie in Suffolk Park which is where Sam lives. This wasn't the smartest move as there is no mobile phone reception. I can only hope that she gets this far before her petrol and money run out. Talk about sailing close to the wind.

Wednesday 12th June

I walked into the centre of town at nightfall. It was quite pleasant out although a little chilly. The good half hour walk warmed me up very nicely. It seems that I am now able to enjoy a good brisk stroll again.

At Persephone's Book shop the Byron Poetry group were holding a night of Indonesian poetry. Of course I had to be there. It was all done under the auspices of the Australia-Indonesia Poetry Exchange and did nothing but make me homesick. Guest poet was Fathyen Hamama Handry, a delightful woman clad in full Muslim dress. She read her poems, in Indonesian, with feeling and warmth and then they were read in English by another woman.

After Fathyen had finished, some local poets read their latest pieces. I hadn't expected much but was pleasantly surprised. The works were witty and well crafted. The group seems to be a strong one and are determined to lift the profile of poetry in Byron.

Tuesday 11th June

Another beautiful day, with clear blue skies and only a smidgen of wispy cloud. It is winter but I am wearing a t-shirt. You can't do that in Tasmania! Speaking of which, Tessie leaves there today and will be crossingthe strait by boat tonight. On arrival in Melbourne she will have a long driving trip ahead of her. I will be quite relieved when it is all over and she is safely here.

I walked into the shops and felt fitter and more alive than I have for some time. There was a lightness in my step which was probably made easier by the fact that my shoes don't seem to hurt any more. I was so grateful, more for the feelings of vitality than the suppleness of the leather, and can only hope that the good times just keep coming.

The streets of Byron seemed crowded and a holiday atmosphere prevailed. Does anyone work in this town? I am beginning to develop an affection for the area. It can't seriously rival Bandung as yet but is looking good. I hope we can stay here.

Monday 10th June

It was the Queen's birthday, a holiday, and I hadn't really known about it. Admittedly, I had thought it strange that Stu and Jane were coming back on Monday rather than Sunday. Perhaps they were just taking an extra day off. I didn't question it. When you don't work you don't seem to notice holidays and they seem to sneak up on you.

As it was another superb day I headed down to the beach before lunch. I was determined not to miss out today. There were people swimming and they were not even using wet suits. I felt that they were being a little optimistic but that was up to them. I paddled through the shadows as is my want and revelled in the glass like clear water.

That afternoon I could hear suburban holiday sounds all around me. Car doors slammed as visitors arrived or left, there was laughter from gatherings of people in backyards and rubbish wheeliebins were being wheeled back to the houses.

I walked into town at dusk and enjoyed it immensely. There were people everywhere and the evening was still warm. The writing class took on a new atmosphere as we had a new teacher. He was winging it a little, and seemed terribly unprepared. This didn't worry me because I enjoy the experience of just getting out of the house. I can't speak for the others though and did notice some interesting body language at times.

Sunday 9th June

It was a magnificent day, even a little warm, and I stayed inside for most of it. It wasn't because I was feeling unwell or tired. It was that I was awaiting delivery of a table for Stu and I was also expecting Sam to drop by.

Needless to say the table didn't arrive till well after dark. I was not impressed. At least Sam had telephoned to explain her movements and I knew that I wouldn't see her till much later. I could have gone to the beach afterall!

Sam and I went through the birthday ritual and I gave her the presents. Twenty-two she is now. Those years went awfully fast. She said that she couldn't go out for a meal and had a party awaiting her.

I cooked a meal and was just about to tuck in when Sam returned. She had gone to the party but wasn't in the mood. She wanted to go out for a meal. Off we went and had some sushi. I'll eat the cooked meal for lunch tomorrow.

Saturday 8th June

If you have been a regular follower of my journal you would know that Saturday has become my shopping day. Predictable I know, but it has to be done some time. Today was just as it usually is.

Stu and Jane have gone away for the weekend and have even taken the dog with them. I don't like it one bit. The house is empty and time passes slowly. At least Yana will be coming next week and I can anticipate that my life will be change somewhat.

It is Sam's birthday tomorrow and I knuckled down to some very last minute present hunting. I knew exactly what I wanted to buy but couldn't find it anywhere. Very frustrating to say the least. I made some compromises in the end.

I felt quite down in the evening. Quite scared actually. Would the cancer cause difficulties in my new life with Yana? I would just prefer to live happily ever after but will I have the choice? Even if the drugs are working one month you can't guarantee that they will continue to do so the next month. It is all very unpredictable and quite frightening.

Friday 7th June

I was booked in at radiology in Byron to have the fluid removed from my abdomen. It had been two weeks since I had last had the procedure. I was pleased that it looked as though things were finally starting to improve. I packed a bag with a book, nightie and toothbrush because last time I had been kept overnight.

As always happens when you are prepared, the doctor decided to drain me then and there. I certainly wasn't going to complain. By one o'clock it was all done and I was free to go home.

I had entertained hopes of doing some shopping for Sam's birthday but as I walked out I felt decidedly weak and realised that I wanted to go nowhere but home. I wasn't even too sure that I could handle the walk. I was feeling very lacklustre.

By placing one foot in front of the other I finally made my way to my goal. I headed straight for my bed and didn't do much else for the rest of the day. I had accomplished my mission.

Thursday 6th June

I paid for yesterday's elation by waking up exhausted. It didn't matter. Nobody could take yesterday away from me. I would simply have a nice restful day.

I didn't get round to walking into the shops. I tossed up between the walk and sleeping and the latter won. I slept blissfully.

My father rang to ask whether I wanted Tess to take my boxes on the boat with her next Tuesday. As much as it would be nice to have a few little bits and pieces from my past life I don't think it is a very good idea for Tess' car to be weighed down with non-essentials. She has a long drive ahead of her and the car is not really designed for big trips so we shouldn't make things any more difficult. Perhaps we could have the things sent up later when Yana and I have really and finally settled down for a while.

Wednesday 5th June

I had big plans for today. I lay low for most of the morning because I wanted to conserve my energy. After lunch Cheryl from my writing class rang up and we chatted for quite some time. She had been unwell and so hadn't attended the last class. She asked me about the homework. After having clarified that, we talked about a hundred and one things. When my arm became stiff and my ear started to ache I said what a shame that we hadn't met over coffee. It was then that I had an idea. She could join me on my little excursion that evening. She accepted the offer.

Cheryl is also new to Byron and hadn't really made any inroads socially. I told her about the movies at the 'Piggery' and she admitted that she had never been there. We watched 'Monsoon Wedding' which was just a riot of colour and good humour. It was a beautiful film even though the sound was alarmingly loud at times. I am somewhat deaf too! I left the theatre with a huge smile on my face.

After the movies we went to listen to a talk by the Irish writer, Keith Ridgway at 'Persephone's Window' a rather lovely bookshop come coffee place. Apparently the talk was organised by the local writer's centre and I enjoyed it immensely. I had naively thought that most writers planned their whole story before they started and hence had despaired of ever writing a novel. Keith was different. He started with a personality characteristic, and often worked on from there, building a story around the characters. Sometimes he had no idea where the story was going and he was at the mercy of his pen. It was quite a revelation.

Both Cheryl and I left the bookshop feeling that we had found the sort of community that we had been looking for. I was elated.

Tuesday 4nd June

I woke up feeling just magnificent. I was ready for anything. It had been such a long time since I felt like this.

I walked into town and decided to check out some employment agencies. I started with Centrelink and found that Yana could well have great trouble obtaining employment in Byron. After all, the area has the highest unemployment levels in NSW. Tess might not find it easy either. This put a whole new perspective onto my future plans. I would have to be very careful about taking on a house if work was so hard to find. Yana wouldn't want to sit around doing nothing and the nearest TAFE was some distance away as well. Perhaps we might not be able to stay in Byron.

This unsettled me. I was starting to feel very comfortable here and the thought of moving again was unpalatable. I will wait till Yana comes, take things slowly and at least have a very good look around first. Stu and Jane said that we could both stay on in the room for a while and that we didn't have to hurry to find something new. That was reassuring to hear.

Monday 3rd June

There was a weak sun and a bit of blue sky. Very welcome too. I had dreaded the thought of another wet day. I settled down to a few hours at the computer and felt that I could cope with my Moritz story today.

Sam came later in the afternoon and we discussed lesson ideas for an ecology unit she would have to be teaching in the next few weeks. I could still recall a few ideas but wished I still had all those wonderful resources that I once had. The internet is probably a viable alternative these days so I'm sure she will not be lost for ideas.

I went to the internet cafe and updated my page to the end of last month. I had been having problems entering Geocities and was most frustrated at not being able to keep up to date. The journal has become a compulsion and I simply have to write it. I must, now, make a point of saving it onto disc one of these days because I would hate to lose it all.

The writing class was inspiring, as it always is. Only a small group of people turned up to what would be our teacher Alison's last class. Next week we have a writer called John Bailey taking over. He is apparently very successful and will no doubt be giving us another perspective on writing. My creative juices were flowing again. I desperately needed such motivation.

Sunday 2nd June

Yesterday was wet but today turned out to be even wetter. Colder too. I spent most of the day shrouded in a blanket. My winter wardrobe obviously needs expanding. I hate the cold and found that I just couldn't feel warm.

First thing that morning I had heard a wonderful Irish song called"It's a sorry little man who can't say sorry". What a magnificent title. It immediately got me thinking. Were there some people around who were due for an apology from me? I didn't want to be a sorry tall person who couldn't say sorry.

I spent a lot of the day proofreading my Moritz story. I gradually became very homesick for Indonesia and my friends there. It also explains why the story is taking forever to write. It is all too close for me. Sometimes I am reduced to tears and on other occasions for my own sanity I have to keep as far away from it as possible. I wonder whether it will ever be completed.

That afternoon, in persistent rain, Sam and I drove down to Ballina and watched the Australian movie "Rabbitproof Fence". It was beautiful, moving and very sad. Three young aboriginal girls had been taken from their mothers and placed in a home so that they could unlearn their aboriginal ways. These girls then escaped and walked over a thousand kilometres through desert country back to their home. Talk of courage. You would think that people in authority would learn. Compassion was not being shown then and now a good seventy years the country is still being heartless to another group of people.

Saturday 1st June

Jasmine the dog had been up to a bit of mischief. She is usually a very good dog and stays within the confines of the yard, whether the gates are closed or not. For some reason, after we had all gone to bed, she was overwhelmed by wanderlust. Stu got a phonecall at 7 in the morning from someone saying that Jasmine was wandering around Woolworth's and was looking decidedly lost. Needless to say, she was nobody's favourite dog for a while.

Saturdays seem to have become food shopping day. Awfully predictable, but I do have to eat. Besides, if I come with Sam and her car, I can buy lots of heavy things. When I come on foot I always have to consider that whatever I buy, I will also have to carry on the long walk home. This puts a fair damper on my expenditure.

The rain set in after lunch and there was not much to do but stoically accept the prospect of a quiet day at home. This shouldn't have been difficult but my whole life is a complete series of successive quiet days!

marionecp@hotmail.com