One Angry Monkey

I must confess, I find myself atypically concerned about the wellbeing of my sister and mother. You see, they’re currently traveling around New Zealand’s South Island (I just then realised that New Zealanders are no more creative than Australians when it comes to naming geographical locations) in a Maui camper, or for those poor unfortunates who have never experienced a journey over narrow, winding, hilly roads behind one of those monstrosities, an RV. That would normally not be a problem, if they had another member of our dysfunctional family along for the ride but they have my sister’s mother-in-law. I’ve never met the woman. I hear she’s very nice, though. That’s the problem. (more…)

Once Brendan discovers I’ve written this I may want to go into witness protection but my fancy was just a little too tickled not to. No, not in a dirty way. You see, his parents generously paid us a visit last week and, despite the tension that always seems to develop right in the base of my skull when they show up (potentially a contributing factor to my ultimate decision to move to Australia) I did manage to find some amusement. (more…)

Almost two years ago now I visited a small South Australian opal mining town called Coober Pedy. I have just now recovered enough from the experience to write about it. You see, it’s one of those things that stays with a person for a very long time, a grown woman on an eight-hour drive with her mother in a car their friend’s children have named “the Beaver”. It’s a long story, the short version of it is that evidently small hatchbacks resemble beavers in the eyes of a seven-year-old.

The journey started, as all of my journeys seem to start, at the crack of dawn. Granted dawn to me is around 9 am, but it still seemed awfully early. At the time I was working at a supermarket, finishing around half past nine most nights. The supermarket is a story in and of itself. Perhaps another time. Anyway, where was I? Oh, at the crack of dawn. (more…)