Red Hot Mama in Tassie

 

 

 

From - Fri Sep 25 07:59:43 1998
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Date: Thu, 24 Sep 1998 00:04:21 +1000
From: judy bourke <judybourke@illawarra.hotkey.net.au>
Reply-To: judybourke@illawarra.hotkey.net.au
Organization: artist/non-toxic paints & dyes
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From:
JanBoyd <boydj@xxxx.xxx.edu.au>
To:
<judybourke@illawarra.hotkey.net.au>


Are you home yet? It's still raining on & off here! But that's great
because
it's not hot yet and the longer we can escape the heat the better.Lots
of
big "life changing" things going on here right now & we've got no idea
about
what happens next.We feel like we're riding a giant wave keeping our
heads
above water but not quite able to see our destination yet!!So what's new
with you?


Hello Jan

I had a great trip down the Hume etc etc


Here's a story to amuse you



The

Cremated

Kombi







hELLO >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

..................................................

I had a great trip down the Hume till I reached Seymour where I slept
for my birthday.
I arrived early to board the Spirit of Tasmania from Port Melbourne.
It was beautiful and warm and a sunny day.
I boarded and got to the hostel room and put my stuff in the locker
after driving the Kombi into the Hold.
I drove off on Saturday morning and went to Cradle Mountain National
Park where it was bleak and cold and snowing. I cooked a hot stir fry
for lunch, did a short walk, and then drove to
Launceston to stay witha lady who had contacted me the day before
wanting information about the dyes. She (Athalie) teaches at TAFE in
Launceston.
I stayed with her and her husband for the night and they took me around
Launceston for a drive on the Sunday. They were very generous.
I left there on sunday to go to Asbestos Range National Park where I saw
the sun set over Bakers Beach and watched the paddymelons chomping the
grass at dusk and woke to a clear
sunny morning. I drove straight to Hobart down the midlands highway.=20
Now to work, and familiar friends and setting up and meeting the lady
who would house me and the van in her carport for the week.
Els and I had some good times as she is an older lady with a brilliant
mind and a creative attitude to her life=92s work . I met lots of people
for future customers at the conference but did not take
as much money as the others did. I did not get any workshops to conduct
but gave demo to a TAFE teacher who was impressed with solarplate.
I left the Hobart City area to go to Fortescue Bay and stay the night in
a state forest camping area.
Went to Port Arthur the next day and then to meet and have tea with my
friend from Bangalow (Elena Gallegos) who is working as an artist in
residence in Hobart. I stayed with Els again that
night and then left to go to Cockle Bay and the southern tip of Tassie.
It was beautiful and restful and quiet.
Left there to go back to Hobart to collect my mail and then go to
somewhere else to make my way back to the Spirit on Saturday. I met up
with a caravan group in Bahgdad and left to
Oaklands to get some food and fuel. Left there to head to Interlaken to
stay in the campside at the Lake on the dirt road. Got about 12 k's
along when the van was a bit sluggish. I stopped
to have a look and could not see anything. I drove until I was in phone
range so that I could ring for help. I thought I would just start it
to have a listen to the motor.
Bang!! Poof!! smoke and flames!!! =20
fire extinguisher!! used up... still flames from the carby!!!
What to dO?????
dON=92T OPEN THE MOTOR COVER DOOR..
ring for help... FIRE ON THE OATLANDS INTERLAKEN ROAD...12K'S FROM
OATLANDS.nORTH OR SOUTH?? nO wEST i THINK ON THE DIRT ROAD...
ON THE INTERLAKEN ROAD (SHE SAID ON THE INTERLAKEN ROAD I THINK)


wAIT FOR THE FIRE ENGINE.. GLAD THE PHONE WORKED. =20
WAITING...waiting.waiting...waiting.....................
GRABBED A FEW THINGS FROM THE VAN, BRIEF CASE AND FEW BOXES OF
EQUIPMENT, THE PHONE... PURSE AND A TORCH..... A BAG OF STUFF FROM
THE FRONT.. MAPS SO I COULD BE SURE WHERE I WAS....

nO SOUND OF FIRE ENGINE.TRY TO RING AGAIN...... NO BATTERY POWER AND
CAN'T GET INTO THE VAN.
fLAMES ARE LICKING THE BACK ..=20
IF THEY GET HERE SOON .. i'LL SAVE MY GEAR AND ONLY LOSE THE
MOTOR.......
15 MINUTES........20 MINUTES......... CAN'T GEt ANY THING ELSE...TOO
DANGEROUS... NO WATER...CAN'T GET TO MY FIRST AID AS IT'S IN THE
BACK... CAN'T
RISK GETTING BURNT.......=20
WHERE THE HELL'S THE FIRE ENGINE ?... HALF AND HOUR..... i HAVE NOW
CLOSED THE DOORS TO SLOW THE PROGRESS OF THE FIRE TO SLOW IT DOWN. I
WALK AROUND AND AND WATCH AS MY LIFE DISAPPEARS BEFORE MY EYES. WHAT
AN EXPERIENCE>>>>>>>
ALONE!!!!!!!!!
mAYBE NO ONE WILL COME. WILL I HAVE TO WALK FOR HELP? nO! ALWAYS
STAY WITH THE VEHICLE IS THE RULE..,SOMEONE WILL COME
EVENTUALLY BUT i HAVE NO PROTECTION FROM T HE WEATHER. I PULL THE WHEEL
COVER FROM THE FRONT SPARE TYRE,,,,,,,MAYAS WELL TAKE THE
PAINTED DRIVING LIGHT COVERS OFF THE LIGHTS BEFORE THEY BURN AWAY....=20
40 MINUTES.........50 MINUTES... AN HOUR..=20
THE PETROL TANK HAS BLOWN AND MY BANK STATEMENTS FLY UP INTO THE AIR
AND FLUTTER DOWN INTO THE BUSHES........
nOT MUCH LEFT OF THE MELTED MOTOR WHICH BURNS WHITE MANGANESE.....
THE CABIN IS FULL OF SMOKE.......THE FIBREGLASS ROOF MELTS AND
DISAPPEARS IN SECONDS.. i'M SHIVERING WITH COLD ..... THE FIRE RAGES
..... MY
JUMPERS BURN.....
I WALK AROUND AND THINk MAYBE I CAN LEARN HOW FIRES BURN AT WHAT RATE
ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WIND HITS IT.... wHERE ARE THE HOT
SPOTS???
WILL THE PROPANE GAS BOTTLE BLOW? THAT WILL BE SPECTACULAR.....NEVER
SEEN ThaT BEFORE.......
bETTER MOVE A BIT FURTHER AWAY... i MOVE MY FEW BELONGINGS FURTHER UP
THE SIDE OF THE DIRT ROAD.......... =20
THE BIRDS ARE SINGING AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE COUNTRY........
mAY AS WELL WrITE DOWN WHAT I AM LOSING SO THAT I CAN COPE WITH
THE LOSS.. GOODBYE PILLOW.......GOODBYE SLEEPING BAG...GOODBYE
DOONA..... I WILL MISS YOU BED SOCKS..... AND MY BROCHURES AND MY OFFICE
AND MY SAMPLE BOOKS.....4 YEARS OF ACCUMULATED WORKS AND THE SOLARPLATE
ETCHING HISTORY IN AUSTRALIA..... BYE!!!
oH NO i DIDN'T SAVE THE ACCOUNTS BOX WHEN i GOT IN THE BACK... hOW WILL
EXPLAIN T THE TAXATION dEPARTMENT... NO RECORDS FOR 5 YEARS
NOW....
aLL GONE....
THAT WILL BE DIFFICULT.......AN HOUR AND 15 MINUTES.......i GUESS THE
FIRE ENGINE WENT THE WRONG WAY .... MAYBE SOMEONE WILL COME BEFORE
DARK..........ITS HALF PAST 3 BY NOW AND i RANG AT 2.10PM ...GUESS i'M
ON MY OWN AGAIN.... kEEP MAKING THE LisT AND SaYING GOODBYE TO
STUFF.....FORGOT TO GET MY ARTWORKS AND PRINTS FROM BEHIND THE PASSENGER
SEAT AND THERE IT BURNS. MUSN'T BE TOO PRESCIOUS ABOUT
MY WORK NOW......SURE IT'S THE EXPERINECE OF CREATING THE WORK THAT IS
THE THING.......i HATE GETTING BURNT AND I DON'T LIKE HOSPITAL BUT i
WISH i'D TRIED TO GET SOME MORE STUFF OUT....hERE IT IS AN HOUR AND A
HALF.. I COULD HAVE EASILY GOT EVERYTHING OUT... IF ONLY i'D KNOWN
THEY WEREN'T GOING TO COME.....
i HOUR AND 40 MINUTES NOW........
DO i HEAR A TRUCK???? yES!! AT LAST i'M SAVED...... OR AM i????
tHEY ROLL OUT THE HOSE AND APOLOGISE FOR GOING THE WRONG WAY AS THEY GOT
THE WRONG MESSAGE.. THE POLICE AND THEY WENT UP AND
DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND DECIDED IT WAS A HOAX CALL. THE POLICE CAME ALONG
THE INTERLAKEN ROAD BUT WENT BACK 2 K'S BEFORE GETTING
TO ME. i COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED BEFORE THIS AND THEY STUFFED UP.
FOAM AND COOL IS SPRAYED ONTO THE GAS BOTTLE AND IT IS REMOVED..=20
SUDDENLY THE FLAMES ARE GONE BUT THE MOTOR GLOWS WHITE UNDER THE BACK
THERE IS NO MORE ORANGE PAINT AND THE FRONT TYRES AND THE SPARE ARE NOT
BURNT. THEY TRY TO RAKE THE MOTOR COVER OPEN AND IT
TAKES TWO AS THE BIKE RACK IS IN THE ROAD,,,, THE RACK IS OK BUT THE
BIKE IS COOKED.
THE FIERCE ENERGY IS CALMED AND WATER AND FOAM ARE COVERING THE BLACK
tHE TWO FIREMEN TRY TO COPE WITH THE HOSES AND THE RAKE AND THE GAS
BOTTLE SO I TAKE THE HOSE AND SPRAY MY OWN FIRE ....AT LAST I
HAVE SOME POWER OVER THIS BEAST OF A FIRE... THEY LET ME HAVE A GO AND
IT FELT GOOD TO BE NOT SO HELPLESS. i OPEN THE NOZZLE AN LET IT
HAVE IT...DIE YOU BASTARD!!!!!!!!!
I LIKED THAT...=20
THEY WONDER ABOUT MY ATTIITUDE.. I'M NOT CRYING OR HYSTERICAL,,, DID I
LIGHT THE FIRE? GET REAL. I LOVED THAT VAN..HOW CAN I TALK OF IT
IN PAST TENSE????????WHAT'S THE USE??? i'VE WRITTEN AN INVENTORY, SAVED
A FEW TIHINGS, FORGOTTEN TO GET SOME OTHER THINGS, BEEN
UNSUCCESFUL IN PUTTING THE FIRE OUT MYSELF AND SAID GOODBYE TO FAVOURITE
THINGS..
sEEMS AS THOUGH THIS RED HOT MAMA IS REALLY HOT.....
a LIFE CHANGE IS COMING UP,,,,,,,,,, NOT SLOWLY AS IS USUALLY MY WAY BUT
SUDDENLY.. SEEMS I HAVE A LIFE LESSON TO LEARN.
HERE i AM WITH A FIREMAN'S JACKET ON AND ON THE MOBILE PHONE IN THE
FIRE TRUCK ARRANGING FOR THE INSURANCE CLAIM BEFORE THE FIRE IS
OUT.. THE POLICE MAN POPS HIS HEAD INTO THE BACK CABIN AND APOLOGISES AS
HE WENT THE WRONG WAY. I DID NOT HAVE A CONVERSTATION
WITH HIM... HE HANDED ME A SCRAP OF NEWSPAPER WITH A PHONE NUMBER ON IT
AND SAID TO CONTACT THIS PERSON. IT WAS MY COUSIN WHO I
HAD RUNG THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
I WAS REPORTING MY PREDACAMENT FROM THE FIRE TRUCK... wE RUN OUT OF
WATER AND HAVE TO FIND A CREEK THAT WE CAN RAID FOR WATER.=20
OFF WE GO AS I'M ON THE PHONE TO CLAIMS IN pARRAMATTA AND HELPLINE IN
sYDNEY...THE MOBILE GOES OUT AS WE GO ALONG..
wE PUMP 3.000 GALLONS FROM THE CREEK WITH THE PORTABLE PUMP.... TURN
AROUND ON THE NARROW ROAD,,, BACK UP THE HILL TO POUR MORE
WATER ON THE SMOULDERING WRECK....i TRY THE CLAIMS OFFICE AGAIN TO FIND
OUT WHAT TO DO.. HOW DO I GET OUT OF HERE??? I NEED help.
THE TOWWIE COMES AND WINCHES THE BURNT OUT SHELL ONTO THE TRAY OF THE
TRUCK AND CHUCKS THE BURNT BIKE INSIDE WITH NO THOUGHT
OR REVERENCE,, JUST ANOTHER MAINLANDER TO INTERRUPT OUR LIVES..
i GET OUT TO SURVEY THE MESS LEFT BEHIND. BROKEN GLASS BLACK FOAM IS
ALL THAT IS LEFT OF MY LIFE... SO SAD. I WANT UP CLEAN UP THE MESS
AND PICK UP THE GLASS BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO WAIT. iT'S FRIDAY
AFTERNOON AND PUB TIME... HAVE TO GO....
    FEEL GUILTY FOR MESSING UP THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY
AWAY WE GO IN THE FIRE TRUCK ,, CAN'T MAKE ANY CALLS AS WE'RE OUT OF
RANGE..
GET BACK TO oATLANDS IN FEW MINUTES AND THE TRUCK GOES INTO IT'S SHED.=20
I ASK TO USE THE TOILET AND THE PHONE.. THE TOILET IS oK BUT THE
PHONE IS OUT AS THEY HAVE TO GO.
I LEAVE THE COAT IN THE TRUCK AND HE PASSES THE STUFF OUT OF THE TRUCK.=20
iT IS PLACED ON THE FOOTPATH OUTSIDE AND THEY CLOSE THE
ROLLER DOORS AND ESCAPE IN A CAR.. BYE....
wHAT WILL I DO NOW.... NO HELP.. IT'S DARK A ND i'M COLDDDDDD.. WHERE IS
THE VAN????
wHERE IS THE SERVICE STATION???
i GO UP THERE AND ASK TO USE THE PHONE.... BUT pAUL STANDS AT THE DOOR
AND HAS TO GO...HE WAITS IMPATIENTLY AS i TRY TO GET SOME SENSE
FROM heLP LINE, NO SHE SAYS YOU CAN GET A HELP IF YOUR MOTOR IS BROKEN
AND IS GETTING FIXED BUT NOT IF IT'S COMPLETELY WRECKED BY
FIRE... YOU'VE GOT TO BE JOKING!!!!!!! CAN i RING YOU BACK SHE SAYS FROM
HER AIR CONDITIONED OFFICE.... nO ..THIS MAN IS WAITING TO GO
HOME..hOW WILL iGET HOME OR EVEN TO SOMEWHERE? nO YOU CAN'T GET A HIRE
CAR!! yOU DIDN'T SAY THERE WAS A BUS. I JUST FOUND OUT THE
MAN HERE JUST TOLD ME...SORRY TO BE A NUISANCE TO YOU.......... DEALING
WITH A PERSON IN SHOCK IS NOT A SKILL THIS MICHELLE HAS YET
DEVELOPED.... hE HAS SENT A CUSTOMER TO GET MY STUFF FROM THE FIRE
STATION FOOTPATH AND PLACES THE BOXES INTO GARBAGE BAGS AND
THEN LOADS THEM ONTO THIS TOW TRUCK AND DEPOSITS ME AT THE BUS STOP. a
BUS WILL COME AROUND 7.30 FOR hOBART iT'S JUST 6PM
HE STOPS OUTSIDE THE PUB AND PEOPLE G O IN THERE. i PLACE THE BOXES
ONTO THE FOOTPATH. I TRY TO USE THE PUBLIC PHONE TO RING hELPLINE
WITHOUT SUCCESS. i RING jAN AND TELL HEr THAT i WILL GET THE BUS TO
bRIDGEWATER AND COULD SHE PICK ME UP AT 8.30PM PLEASE AND HAVE A
CUPPA TEA FOR ME AND A JUMPER.
I GET A CUP OF SOUP FROM THE RELUCTANT PERSON IN THE TAKE AWAY. GLAD i
SAVED MY MONEY.
i FOUND MY SCARY HAT AND MY BEST SILK SCARF........ THEY LOOK AT ME
SUSPICIOUSLY AND DO NOT GET INTO ANY CONVERSATION WITH ME. tHEY
MUST KNOW WHO i AM AND WHAT HAPPENED...WHO CARES SHE'S A MAINLANDER
AND DOES NOT COUNT
THE BUS COMES AND i'M COLD AND IN SHOCK
WILL I GET OUT AT THE RIGHT STOP? DID i TELL THE DRIVER WHERE i WANTED
TO GET OFF?
WILL HE STOP ANY WAY????????...i GO AND CHECK, YES IT'S OK
iS THIS THE STOP?? i GET OUT AND MY PLASTIC BAG WRAPPED BOXES ARE
UNLOADED ONTO THE ROAD BESIDE THE FREEWAY OPPOSITE MACCAS NEAR
THE OVERPASS. I PLACE THEM UP OFF THE ROAD ON THE VERGE AND GO TO WAIT
UNDER THE BRIGHT HIGH PINK STREET LIGHTS. THE TRAFFIC IS
STARTING TO REV UP TO 110KS AND THEY ALL LOOK AT ME IN MY SCARY HAT
UNDER THE LIGHT WITH MY BRIEFCASE SHIVERING AND SCARED.......
wHERE IS JAN? i WAIT 15 MINUTES... A CAR MAKES A UWEY AND WAITS 30
METreS AWAY........ IS THAT HER? WILL i APPROACH THE CAR?? iS IT
SAFE???????.. I GO AND THEN GO BACK AGAIN I GO UP TO THE CAR AGAIN AND
I'TS JAN WHO IS AFRAID OF ME APPROACHING THE CAR. SHE DOES NOT
RECOGNISE THE SCARY HAT.

AT LAST A PERSON WHO CARES!!!!
wARM COAT .........WARM CAR
dRIVE FOR15 MINUTES AS SHE CHATS ABOUT WHAT SHE HAS ORGANISED WHILE I
WAS HAVING MY TRAUMA.... A HIRE CAR... FOR dEVENPORT FREE OF
CHARGE GREAT!!!! PICK IT UP IN HOBART TOMORROW MORNING I WON'T HAVE
TO CATCH THE BUS NOW
sAINT dAN OF pARRAMATTA AND MICHELLE THE CONVERT
i GET AND HAVE THE TEA AND ONE SMALL PIE , NOT HUNGRY JUST SHOCKED AND
THIRSTY
ANOTHER CUPPA TEA AND RING MICHELLE AGAIN,, SHE HAS ARRANGED FOR A CAR
FROM mELBOURNE TO GET HOME ON WEDNEDSAY WITH NO
PENALTY. i PAY THE PETROL AND INSURANCE. thAT'S oK WITH ME
JAN HAS JAMAS, TOOTH BRUSH, AND WASHER BAG WITH WASHERS, SOAP, HAIR
BRUSH,UNDIES AND BRA, JUMPER AND SPARE PANTS AND SHIRTS AND A
COAT FOR ME AND BAG TO PUT SOME MORE CLOTHES INTO wHAT A GREAT
COUSINE///!!!!!!!!!i EVENTUALLY HAVE ONE OF THE BEST SHOWERS OF MY
LIFE
liFE IS FULL OF INTERESTING HAPPENINGS. i LISTEN TO MY PHONE MESSAGES
AT HOME. i LEAVE MESSAGE FOR mARK AS HE IS NOT HOME. mARIE HAS
LEFT A MESSAGS SO I RING HER AND TELL HER THE SAD STORY
I GO TO BED AND SLEEP INTIL THE MORNING

i GO TO SLEEP IN FIRES AND REGRETS AND FEELINGS OF A HEALTHY BODY.=20
THANK YOU FOR SAVING ME

hOBART=20
hERTZ,=20
DRIVE TO THE WRECKERS,
UNREAL, SOME THINGS ARE NOT BURNT, BOTTTLES OF DYE, SAMPLES, CLOTHES, i
PICK UP SOME BURNT SCISSORS, TIN OPENER, AND CHEESE GRATER
AND TAKE THEM TOO. THE CLOTHES ARE ONLY WET, THE SHOES ARE SINGED AND
THE CAMERAS HAVE THE BAGS SINGED ONLY. i WILL COME BACK
SOME DAY AND GET THIS STUFF. hAVE TO GET TO THE sPIRIT. i TAKE SOME
PHOTOS WITH DYE ALL OVER MY HANDS AND ASHES OVER MY JOGGERS AND
PANTS (JAN'S)
iT CAN STAY THERE UNTIL i RETURN
iS THIS NOT LETTING GO TO RETURN?? NO!!!!!!!
I ALREADY SAID GOODBYE BUT THeSE BOTTLES ARE AWORTH 2OO DOLLARS. i
WILL RETURN TO GET SOME MORE
i FIND SOME SILK SCARVES AND SAMPLES NOT BURNT AND PARTLY BURNT SHIRTS.
i CHUCK THEM BACK IN THE BURNT WET PILE AND WONDER HOW i CAN DO THIS
WITH MY BELOVED BELONGINGS. I PICK UP THE HANDLE FROM MY
BRIEF CASE AND NOTICE THE PAGES ARE ONLY BURNT AROUND THE EDGES.=20
i WILL COME BACK
THE GREGORY'S IS SINGED AROUND THE EDGES. i WILL COME BACK..,
i CAN'T GET THE NUMBER PLATES OFF
i WILL COME BACK TO RETRIEVE SOME THINGS AND THEN IT'S GOOD BYE TO THIS
LIFE.
i DRIVE TO THE SPIRIT IN RAIN AND LOVE THE POWERFUL LITTLE CAR. AND
BEING ALONE IN MY SHOCK
i HAVE TO FOCUS TO DRIVE AND CONCENTRATE IN SHOCK. I GET TO THE SPIRIT
AND GET SOME HELP WITH THE BOXES AND EXPLAIN NO CAR. ... YOU
SHOuLD HAVE INFORMED US. I NEARLY CRY.
SHE APOLOGISES AND GETS HELP.
I GET SETTLED IN THE ROOM AND GET A RETURN OF THE DEPOSIT
nOW TO REST AND EAT AND SIT. I EAT HEARTLIY AS I HAD NOT EATEN ALL
DAY, I FORGOT.
i SIT ALONE TO EAT...i HAVE A SHOWER AND A SMALL SLEEP BEFORE DINNER.=20
THEN I GET UP AND GO THE THE PIANO BAR TO LISTEN TO BEAUTIFUL
MUSIC AND SINGING AND HAPPY PEOPLE. i START TO ADD UP THE INVENTORY
THAT I HAD COMPILED DURING THE FIRE. i USE THE CALCULATOR AND
AM GLAD TO HAVE IT AND MY BRIEF CASE AND WALLET AND CASH. =20
aGENTLEMAN COMES TO SIT AT MY TABLE, i DO NOT WANT TO TALK. HE ASKS
WHAt i'M DOING. =20
AN INVENTORY......
hE BUYS ME A DRINK ,., i TALK TO HIM AND START CYRING AT LAST.
hE IS COMAPASSIONATE AND LISTENS HE CANNOT HEAR VERY WELL AND i DON=92T
WANT TO TALK LOUD TO EXPLAIN MY PREDACAMENT.
i LEAVE AND GO TO BED
I SLEEP IN THE FIRE AGAIN AND THE REGRETS AND THE WONDERING WHAT IS THIS
MESSAGE FOR MY LIFE? i'M GLAD TO BE ALIVE=20
i AM THANKFUL FOR MY HEALTH.
i SLEEP PEACUFULLY ROCKED BY THE SHIP AND PURRED BY THE RHYTHM OF THE
MOTORS AND THE SLOSHING OF THE WAVES.
i WAKE AT 6AM AND GET UP AND GET DRESSED AND GET PACKED AND GO UP FOR
BREAKFAST AND AM JOINED MY BY FRIEND FROM THE PREVIOUS
EVENING. wE TALKED AND EXCHANGED CONTACT NUMBERS.=20
i TALK TO THE BOTTOM BUNK OCCUPANT AND SAY I AM SUFFERING A TRAUMA. SHE
DOESN=92T ASK TOO UCH BUT GIVES ME A HUG VERY TIGHT. iT FEELS
TO GOOD TO BE HUGGED.
sHE IS AN ARTIST/TEACHER AND KNOWS SOME OF MY TASSIE ARTIS FRIENDS. i
GIVE HER MY CARD AN HOPE SHE VISITS ME.
I LEAVE AND GO TO GET OFF THE SHIP AS i=92VE BOOKED A CAB TO PICK ME UP
AT 7.15
I LEAVE AND FIND MY CAB DRIVER. nOW FOR THE NEXT LEG////////
WE WAIT 45 MINUTES FOR THE LUGGAGE THAT WAS LEFT ON THE TROLLEY.
I GET IT OFF AND PUT IT INTO THE CAB. wE GO TO HERTZ IN FRANKLIN ST.
THE MAN BRINGS THE CAR AROUND TO THE FRONT AS I HAVE BOXES STACKED IN
THE STREET.
i THINK THEY REALISE I AM IN TRAUMA AS MY ACCOUNT IS PAID FOR BY
HELPLINE NRMA
i SIGN THE AGREEMENT AND HE HANDS ME THE KEYS I SIT FOR 20 MINUTES
TRYING TO WORK OUT HOW TO MOVE THE MIRRORS, I CANNOT TAKE IN
INFORMATION OR FOCUS.,. hOW WILL i DRIVE?? THANK GOD i HAVE SAVED MY
STREET MAP OF MELBOURNE AND HAVE MARKED MY INFORATION ON IT.
i LOOK AT IT FOR 10 MINUTES BEFORE DECIDING WHERE I AM. i DRIVE OFF
HESISTANTLY AND GO IN A CIRCLE TO THE RIGHT TO GET TO ST KILDA RD TO
THE FAMILIAR DOMAIN, BOTANCIAL GARDENS AND THE GALLERY. I HAVE A WEE IN
THE ARTS CENTRE. =20
I REMEMBER THAT IN SHOCK I HAD HAD A WEE BESIDE THE BURNING VAN.
IS THERE FOOTBALL ON??????.pEOPLE ARE LINING THE STREET WITH CHAIRS
WITH THEIR NAMES ON THEM??
i GO INTO THE GALLERY AT 10 AM.. uNREAL eMILY kNGWARREYE...A WHOLE SHOW
OF HERS. I DRINK UP THIS WISE WOMAN'S MESSAGES RECORDED IN
PAINT AND REMEMBER THE VIDEO I HAVE OF HER MAKING BATIK IN THE 80'S
i FOLLOW HER IMAGES FOR 20 YEARS i FEEL BETTER FOR HAVING CONNECTED WITH
LIFE FROM A DEEP MEANINGFUL SOUL OF WISDOM
I FEEL oK AND GO TO LOOK AT THE ACCESS GALLERY WITH WINE CASK
SCULPTURES.
i LEAVE AND GO TO THE CAR AND WORK OUT HOW TO LEAVE THE CITY=20
I GO..
u P THE HUME WITH ONLY AWEE AND DRINK AND FOOD STOPS UNTIL YASS.
GOOD MOTEL ....... hAVNT DONE THIS BEFORE....... WHAT DO YOU DO,,
ALWAYS WANTED TO STAY IN A MOTEL
lOVE THIS CAR?/ POWER AND FUN.. DON=92T THINK i=92LL GET ANOTHER KOMBI.=
=20
i THINK i'LL GET A CAR OR WAGON BUT I'LL GET ANOTHER BIKE FIRST
.......TOMORROW,
i BUY SOME CHICKEN AND CHIPS, HAVE A SHOWER, MAKE SOME TEA AND ANOTHER
TEA AND A COLD DRINK AND LIE ON THE BED AND SLEEP WITH THE
TELE ON.
.i WAS GOING TO WATCH COMPASS BUT TOO BAD IT'S FINISHED
sLEEP WITH THE FIRES AGAIN. i MISS MY PILLOW AND BED SOCKS.
mORNING, ANOTHER SHOWER, EAT SOME BANANA PASSIONFRUIT FROM JANS'
NEIGHBOUR
i LEAVE THE LOVELY EXPENSIVE ROOM AND GET INTO THE CAR, JUST LIKE THE
OTHER PEOPLE,. mAYBE THIS IS MY NEW LIFE???
sTAYING IN MOTELS, DRIVING A GOOD CAR. =20
mAYBE i HAD TO BE TOLD....
i LOVE DRIVING THIS CAR, POWERFUL, EVEN DRIVING, NOT HOLDING UP THE
TRAFFIC....
i GET HOME AND INTO FAMILIIAR HOUSE AND LOVE EVERYTHING IN IT. i GET
THE MESSAGES AND CLEAR THE LETTER BOX. GO TO THE TOILET AND
BRING MY STUFF IN, a LADY RINGS FOR INFORMATION. i RING THE nrma AND
JAN TO REPORT MY SAFE ARRIVAL.
i GO SHOPPING FOR FOOD & GET THE MAIL. LOOK FOR A BIKE .........GET THE
PHOTOCOPYING DONE IN WOLLONGONG AND COOK A BAKED DINNER AND
SLEEP ON THE LOUNGE AND HAVE A SHOWER AND GET THE E MAIL AND SEND MANY
MANY MESSAGES AND ASK PEOPLE TO CONTACT ME
I GO TO BED.
LIFE IS FOREVER CHANGED. i MISS MY PILLOW AND BED SOCKS AND SLIPPERS.=20
I DONT HAVE ANY BRAS OR UNDIES.
i WILL GET THEM TOMORROW AND I DO
mY NEW LIFE HAS BEGUN WITH A BANG
i AM REBORN WITH FIRE

SORRY JAN BOYD BUT THAT=92S WHY i=92M LOOKING FOR A BOOK SHOP WITH A COPY=
OF
reD hOT MAMAS
SORRY pIPPA ABOUT YOUR 12 BEAUTIFUL WOVEN WOOL AND COTTON SCARVES
SORRY mARY mEDLEY BUT i WILL REPLACE YOUR BOOK

JUDY
22ND sEPTEMBER 1998


‘Red Hot Mamas’ is the title of a book by Collette Dowling that I was reading during my trip to Tasmania.  The book is about women in their 50’s starting new professions and new lives.  'Red hot’ relates to hot flushes.   ‘Mamas’ are the afro American older women who are the wise women of their communities. (Bourk, Jan. 1999).

 

ehehehehe

Ms. Bourke is an Australian artist and printmaker.

E-mail Judy at:  judybourke@illawarra.hotkey.net.au