From England
25.2.91
Dear Mum, Dad, Alan, Lorna, Melissa, Jolene and Stacey,
Well
the sun shone today, the snow has completely disappeared and the mild weather
seems to have finally arrived.
But all
is not well in good ol’ England. You probably have heard of the terror of
travelling on the tube. First it was the snow, second a huge shambles after the
fire episode and now the bombs. The fatal morning at Victoria St was pretty frightening.
I was going to go to London on the day of the fire. The Central line is the
line I use. And this morning more bomb scares closed all stations for a while –
so a second attempt to venture into the centre has been postponed.
On my
way to work last Saturday we all had to alight not too far along the journey
because a train further down the track was on fire!
It must
be incredible unsettling for the daily commuters. Mary and Derek’s 25th do was very
lovely. I became the unofficial photographer merely because no one else was
“happily” taking snaps. They had hired the old Ongar Council Chamber in the
main street which feels like a big lounge room with photos of old Ongar on the
walls, lovely side rooms even plastic hydrangeas. There was game, salads, meat,
and a lovely avocado mousse – nothing terribly adventurous. But that’s English
cooking. Solid and plain.
I
cooked dinner last night. A main meal of chicken in coconut milk, garam masala
and accompanied by shallow fried mushrooms, eggplant, broccoli with an optional
gado gado sauce. They all thought it was very nice. Well that is what they
said. Except Bridget, of course, who is still fighting teenage feelings
regarding food? Derek I’m sure prefers meat and potatoes and bread.
I saw
another episode of “Boys from the Bush” last night and despite its faults I
found that I was laughing quite a lot. No doubt because I am not in Melbourne.
The corny language. The cliché’s. They went outback to a dilapidated house and
monosyllabic slow moving resident, they went to the zoo and the ultimate was
when the ‘happy’ family was having a night out at the West Sunshine R.S.L.
Received
your last letter this morning mum. I am sorry to have missed the blackberry
season.
Still
no winner about the state of Australia. Except that, in this country at least,
it affords a wonderful reputation. Everyone and I mean everyone whether they
are inebriated at the hotel or a stranger at the station wants to know why I am
here when I come from “such a lovely country”. Actually I wonder that many times
over. England is not my country. Perhaps when spring arrives it will be more
pleasant. But at the moment life s rather dull. I don’t know how people can
live with so little sun. So little space. Away from the coastline.
Finally
went to London for the afternoon yesterday. Step bought a leather jacket with
the money she was given for her birthday. We didn’t spend long there. Were in
the area around Oxford Circus – not far from the lovely Liberty Shop.
Duomo
is Italian singular for cathedral. My Italian is going along fine. At the moment it is really a revision exercise for
me. The moths of living with the language have been a tremendous help. I honestly
don’t know how people learn a language solely from books and tapes. Everything
that crops I can relate to a personal experience.
Regarding
those two visa expenses from Italy. The shop assistants or simply that is not
that surprising for Italy to be slow with paperwork. The 31st Jan
(Lorenzetti) and the 6th Feb (Benetton) were both purchases on
27.12. I am surprised at the cost. Has the Australian dollar slipped even further?
Trotted
off to London again yesterday. This time on my own. I just wanted to be among
crowds, the hustle and bustle. Saw Bertolucci’s ‘The sheltering Sky’. Finally
back in the solace of a cinema during the day with a good movie to keep me
company for over two hours. I don’t know how I survived for so long without
films!
Have
you seen ‘Cinema Paradiso’ yet? Yes I am a city person living in the country. I
suppose yesterday and last night was the first time since last August that I
have been in central London simply gallivanting and being part of its hub. It
was raining. Beggars in noticeable numbers and my journey home was delayed due
to a security alert at Liverpool St Station! But I liked it – for a day and a
night.
Well
I’m off to see what the employment situation is like for me.
Have a
great Tassie holiday, Lots of love to you all Bev
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