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Published: March 13th 2011
It's that time again. Sunday is almost over in fact so it's time for another update.
This week was mercilessly short thanks to the Labour Day long weekend and my class (for whatever reason) were on their best behaviour. We had lots to keep us occupied in class this week, including making pancakes for Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday Mass, our Senior Swimming Carnival on Thursday and all of a sudden it was Friday!
On the social calendar things were a little more quiet however. I failed to make it to the gym and although our Wednesday netball game played out with fierce competition, we lost by 1 goal. Friday was a big night out. The 'Spinnie' otherwise known as The Spinefex Pub was hosting a big going away afair and had a local band playing (complete with Pigram brothers). It pretty much drew the entire town- I never knew so many people lived here. All in all there must have been in excess of 200 people there. It was a great night for a dance and I rode my bike there which meant that drinking wasn't a problem and I had a fast way of getting home at the end of the night. Some of you may warn me that drin- riding may also be classified an offence but this is Derby and they are more than likely to have more important matters to deal with than me on a bike at 12 o'clock at night.
The rest of the weekend has dragged I'm afraid to say. As the dirt roads are undriveable at the moment I feel pretty much stuck here (unless I want to go to Broome) for the moment at least. Yesterday the Derby shire did host its annual Welcome to Derby Day which gave me an excuse to get out of the house. On a positive note, I am refreshed after two days of doing nothing and am actually quite enjoying typing this on my front porch as the sun slowly sets drinking a Strongbow.
I however, can not write my Top Ten this week without first mentioning the realities of this town. Although there is much to be positive about, there is, on a daily basis many challenges. As I wrote my first few paragraphs I was interuppted by the sound of a woman screaming abuse somewhere near by. A few minutes passed and a small child appears in front of my house, trying desperately to pull herself together and stop her tears flowing. In huge sobs I see her pause to pick up a leaf from in front of my fence, she then lifts her head and begins to heave with sobs again. On seeing me she rides the other way. She has been standing in the middle of the road for more than fifteen minutes now. She isn't more than 6. I know it because I know her. She's being yelled at to come back to the house but I suppose she thinks the street is a safer place to be at the moment. I'm sure there is a Waifs song like this, but knowing what to do is harder than it seems. For now, I will just watch her to make sure she is ok.
On that note, I think it is more important than ever to write my Top Ten as there will always be something to smile at if you look at it from the right angle.
1. Swimming in the Teacher, Student, Parent race at the swimming carnival
2. Dancing the night away at the Spinnie
3. Awesome sunsets - fire, fairy floss, an ocean of colour.
4. Dotted thirds paper (Amen)
5. Attending my first Book club meeting
6. Jilla Cafe's woodfired pizzas
7. Finding someone to mow my lawns
8. Mercy Valley cheese @ IGA
9. Riding my bike to the pub
10. Realising that I actually know people here.
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gemma
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Hi Chloe! I think I tried to contact you like this before - not sure if it worked so will try again. I really want to come and visit you - could you get in touch so we could chat about it? Just need a bit of advice really... I want to emmigrate! although not sure Lewis feels the same :( Speak soon I hope... your friend from Camp Applejack.xxxxx