No Blog today

Well Kell, there'll be no blog today. How can you expect me to blog when your parents take up most of my time and all of my energy with entertainments and food and booze. What's left is greedily gobbled by Jack with his ever intriguing questions and movie plots till it's a great relief when he collapses for the night. No there'll be no blog today, not even now with yesterday's nap, last night's deep and satisfying sleep and this morning's nap under my belt. Sure I have been able to somewhat recharge my energy levels but all the excitement and mental activity has left me so brain dead that if for some reason I were to go to hospital they would calling you suggesting that they turn off the machine.

It wasn't the transport that wore me out, no I'm becoming quite fond of country link's ramble through the southern highlands. The only improvement I would suggest would be that the local farmers create a roster to herd their flocks close to the line for the various daylight passings. Perhaps some of the younger lads could show off their riding skills racing the train and jumping falling logs. On the return trip this time I had time and enough sense of ownership to become more familiar with the appointments. I found the chilled water dispenser and the most accommodating, I'm tempted by its scale to call it bathroom though the washing facilities were restricted to hand basin only, shared toilet. I had a cheese and ham croissant with a cup of tea rather than the usual bottle of wine in recognition of my fast rule regarding the yard being past the suns arm. No you could not blame this bloglessness on the train.

On the way down with Alice, Jack, Dot and trivial pursuit, Jack, a seasoned traveller was able to show us how to turn a set of seats to create a comfy four person pod. He also showed us how to get a table and in doing so incite a reprimand from the fascist guard. I think he (Jack) was looking forward to an argument with this fellow about the inconsistencies in first name on the ticketing and his student card (Jack and John) but he (the Guard) chose to ignore checking neither this card nor my seniors card. I suppose it's just too hard to get involved in finding anything wrong with ticketing. On the return trip an old codger and a young punk both boarded with only city rail tickets and the best the guard had to offer was to tell them to get off at the next stop, Campbelltown. The punk got off but the codger went merrily on to Central. Perhaps it's this sense of powerlessness like that of their European brothers who can only harangue in a foreign language those who fail to punch their ticket, that boils to rage over appropriated tables.

Cricket and Movie making were the highlight activities of our weekend, both instigated and driven by Jack. Alice and I were commissioned for a script which we produced on Friday night. I use we loosely here as the best I could remember on Saturday was that there had been a commission. Jack drew a story board and identified sets over breakfast and the movie was cast and shot in time for a leisurely browse in the downtown markets before luncheon at Bryant's pies. A remarkably good Cricket Bat was purchased at Dimmys for six dollars and stocks of alcohol at Wollies for sixes of dollars.

As the afternoon wore on Hugh, Anne and Ross arrived along with a couple of Chris and Sue's friends and their four daughters a total of fifteen and a very formidable cricket force if only the coach could motivate as well as he made movies. The movie was edited, no re-takes required, titles completed and a decision that no contracts would be necessary unanimous. It was viewing time and apart from the fact that it made me look fat the cast viewing was well received. A later viewing for all including Steve and Michelle, Chris and Sues Goulburn friends, went down to tumultuous applause and the only thing missing was popcorn.

Cricket might have been anticlimactic after such festivity but the true spirit of Australia prevailed as we all set off to the abandoned air strip like road across the fence, provided for us through the generosity of developers who have as yet sold only two of the blocks provided. A high bank to right hander's leg side provided a natural backstop to their favoured scoring position, though it was not as well prepared by ground staff as fielders might have wished. A steep bitumous grade down behind stumps saw wides, not so wide fasts and bouncers, missed by keeper, run to long overthrow boundaries. For this feature we were all thankful to the four young teens fielding/running skills. I forgot I was a sixty four year old drunk as I'm prone to do when in possession of either a bat or ball, played well below my age and fitness and had to pay for it thereafter buoyed only by my brilliant one hundred and fifty not out record.


Under normal conditions this would have been enough but your mum and dad know how to do a turn and we returned home (theirs) for BBQ lamb and chicken and all sorts of lovelies along with more unnecessary booze till we dropped to our many and various hutches for sleep. If you ever get a chance Kell, go to one of your folks family dayssss, they rock. Join with me and try to make a mess that lasts more than a few minutes. Try to find an empty fridge or larder. See if you can be bored.

Anyway there'll be no blog today I'm knackered. I write only to say that I received your wedding invitation this week and am appreciative of the tact you showed in waiting till your grandma, my mum was dead and gone from a land where a wedding invitation could exist without a sign of any copperplate cursive form. No imprint, no flower, no parental invitation. "I can't read it" she would have said. I love it and will be happy to attend dependant only on Lotto and the whimsy of finding or being given the winning ticket. If for some reason I can't make it please give me an accurate timetable of events and have your phone tucked into your garter when you walk the walk.

I suppose I could upload a couple of snaps:
The prize

The Pitch

Roos outback

Tubby at the bushranger

Wine cruising

Carbon sequestration
vanishing dawn

these once detachd houses have become close