From an old mate… Some thoughts from the Aussie mountains....
I’m following the story of the MV Artania. Docked in Fremantle the other day and the German (government , I assume) organized for their nationals to be whisked away back home. To what, I’m not sure.
The Artania was carrying 800 passengers and 500 crew, and when it pulled alongside at Fremantle they had ignored a Western Australia government warning to stay away.
41 passengers were too sick to fly and have ended up in hospital in Perth
Today the ship was asked by Border Force to piss off and take the remaining passengers and crew with it, but the liner is digging in. They want to stay alongside Fremantle wharf and give the ship a good scrubbing, say, for another 14 days.
Can you possibly imagine what it must be like on that vessel? Long half-lit corridors and a view from the deck - if you’re allowed - of a frightened and defensive country trying to push you out to sea. Where would they go? There must be a special place for cruise ships to just drop anchor, wait for everyone to get sick and then open the scuppers. What a dive site that would be in the future?
We’re seeking, and finding, solace in the outdoors at our place. The garden is always a work in progress and it’s been ages since we’ve been here in Autumn to see the changes. And if winter - read “the season” - doesn’t happen, then it will be the first time we will have spent a winter at home. How cold does it get here … ? No idea! It could be that we don’t work at the lodge, that we have no winter tenants, and if that's the case and the resort is closed, then how will we all behave? Can’t see our little town taking it graciously, to be honest. A lot off people are already hurting and many will go under during the cold season. Jindabyne is already a ghost town - [we] went to Berridale to get a free wooden ladder (more about that later maybe) and it felt like we were breaking the law, which in a way we were!
Still, back-country skiing is maybe the thing to do this winter, if they keep some roads clear.
I think I’m getting ahead of myself. This morning I had a mental vision that everything was going to be OK and it was a personal surge of optimism that has kept me smiling since. I’m going out into the garden now and if the wind stays in, sailing. By myself, of course.
I’m following the story of the MV Artania. Docked in Fremantle the other day and the German (government , I assume) organized for their nationals to be whisked away back home. To what, I’m not sure.
The Artania was carrying 800 passengers and 500 crew, and when it pulled alongside at Fremantle they had ignored a Western Australia government warning to stay away.
41 passengers were too sick to fly and have ended up in hospital in Perth
Today the ship was asked by Border Force to piss off and take the remaining passengers and crew with it, but the liner is digging in. They want to stay alongside Fremantle wharf and give the ship a good scrubbing, say, for another 14 days.
Can you possibly imagine what it must be like on that vessel? Long half-lit corridors and a view from the deck - if you’re allowed - of a frightened and defensive country trying to push you out to sea. Where would they go? There must be a special place for cruise ships to just drop anchor, wait for everyone to get sick and then open the scuppers. What a dive site that would be in the future?
We’re seeking, and finding, solace in the outdoors at our place. The garden is always a work in progress and it’s been ages since we’ve been here in Autumn to see the changes. And if winter - read “the season” - doesn’t happen, then it will be the first time we will have spent a winter at home. How cold does it get here … ? No idea! It could be that we don’t work at the lodge, that we have no winter tenants, and if that's the case and the resort is closed, then how will we all behave? Can’t see our little town taking it graciously, to be honest. A lot off people are already hurting and many will go under during the cold season. Jindabyne is already a ghost town - [we] went to Berridale to get a free wooden ladder (more about that later maybe) and it felt like we were breaking the law, which in a way we were!
Still, back-country skiing is maybe the thing to do this winter, if they keep some roads clear.
I think I’m getting ahead of myself. This morning I had a mental vision that everything was going to be OK and it was a personal surge of optimism that has kept me smiling since. I’m going out into the garden now and if the wind stays in, sailing. By myself, of course.
