Episode One: Introduction
“Please Mor… please let me go to the farm again.” Wanda smiled down at the earnest face of her young son, and she rumpled his fine blonde hair. She knew that her own birth and upbringing on her parents’ farm were the genetic reasons for his passion—and yet she never failed to feel surprise and delight at his single-mindedness about all things country. (read… and listen to more)
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Episode 2: Welcome…?
We knew it would be a jolt to our systems. The Building Supervisor and the Secretary trading air-conditioned offices for the great outdoors. Not for a simple weekend away, not for a holiday escape… this was a tree-change planned to last for at least a year, maybe two.
“You’ll be back,” workmates said.
“You two party animals turning into country bumpkins? No way!” friends said.
“Your jobs will still be waiting for you,” said our boss. “I’ll give you three months!”
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Episode 3: Welcome – Part Two
“Come on Chris. Are you going to spend the rest of your life out here, mooning around?” Sam was unlocking the back door of the house that would soon be our home.
Did I manage to look suitably unimpressed by the size of the large cobweb Sam needed to part for us to step through the door? I surely tried hard. We found ourselves in an entry room consisting of no less than six doors, that we immediately named the ‘vestibule’. (read… and listen to more)
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Episode 4: Kangaroo Rescue
Snoopy was simply one more of the hapless and helpless victims to experience the same rude interruption to what should have been his natural life. Safe and warm in his mother’s pouch one minute; abruptly swung and jolted as she tried to bound to refuge and freedom; then her sudden hard fall that had to hurt, despite his ample cushioning. Harsh hands searched for him in what had been his sanctuary. But then he was found, and pulled rudely from the familiar warmth into the horror of blinding light, and gruff and alien sounds. The smell of fear thickened the swirling dust all around, as his captor triumphantly held him high for the others to see.
“I’ll just put this little bugger out of his misery,” he said, taking a firm grasp of the baby’s tail as he spoke, moving towards a nearby tree. Horror filled my heart. I could see what he planned. (read… and listen to more)
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Episode 5: Kangaroo Rescue Part 2
The night was not so dark at all. A near full moon bathed the open spaces in soft grey light, striped with long dark shadows from the gum trees. When the lights of the ute were on full beam and the spotlight pointed its invasive finger through the bush, the deepest shadows had felt ominous, threatening unknown dangers. But now, the abrupt absence of artificial light and noise, and the eternity of space and quiet, gave me a wonderful feeling of being alone—and yet not lonely. The silent void enchanted me, stars sharply piercing the velvety blackness above. I fancied the large moon beamed down benevolently on all Earth’s creatures. How total the sounds of silence in that clean fresh air, fragrant with the scent of gum trees. The harsh bush of daylight was different in the shadows of night. Softer now, dressed in its nightwear. Had I ever felt smaller or more insignificant? I couldn’t remember anything quite like—
“There’s one! Quick. Spot to the left. No! Bloody further left! What’s the matter with you? Bloody asleep or something?” (read and listen to more)
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