Onward

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July 14. (cont.) List on railing: Great knot, Box-tailed godwit, Red-necked stint, Royal Spoonbill, Lesser Sand plover, Australian Pelican, Great Egret, Whimbrel, Eastern Curlew, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. Breathless 'Brown Eyed Girl'. Lorikeet chirps. Promenade all. Country song, booming bass. Met '7' weekend reporter/cameraman. He keen to do story. Told several sticker takers to call Monday morning and ask for coverage. So what does it come down to? Truth and beauty. Courage. Probably just bloody minded persistance. I had all the answers. Purpose/meaning/secret of life. My mom says red wine and laughter. Watched Eagles drubbing and Geelong beat Collingwood. Drove to Port Douglas. Combined Clubs riverside dining. All good.
July 15. Low key spruik. Blokes at pub 9:30am got stickers. Said it was happy hour til 12. Came past an hour later. They shouted wanting flag. Went to car and got one with sister clips. His mate wanted one, gave money upfront. Brought back second. Last I saw they were sitting side by side capes resplendent. Barby rice, herring in pineapple mustard. Then lookout arvo total hoot. Cavalcade of aussies and tourists. Great support. Photos taken. Kiwis too. Kiwi aussie woman got one on car. Israelis - these were the fanatics. She USA. Sad and scary. Then several 'chant' conversations. And a moment of inspiration! Woman said chant had no indigenous element. True. Maybe point with spears or throw boomerang. Under consideration. Delightful day Port Douglas. Then park up outside Combined Clubs for two beers and inside for another. Met two old blokes at best table. Had spoken to them last night. One for and one less so. After easy conversation 'less so' wanted flag!!! Brought it in and wife of other bloke wanted one too. 'Less so' a real estate agent offered me a job. I grew up on real estate money. Me dad was the best. Not homes but, I do hope. Like an Olympic athlete in training, a daily regime raising skills, cometh the hour, cometh the man. Aussie, aussie, aussie..... Seagulled seafood and salad. Many years ago in San Jose Costa Rica met Bill Fowler, the greatesst story teller ever. When he showed up in the Caribbean some years later I told the Swedes I was housing with ( these were very sophisticated people) that they'd sit like children for three hours and listen. And they did. So now my stories have stories. I find people listening at length. Meaning realistically that they must be good. Now I long for phase two - the planting. Ten million trees planted and growing for Australia.

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Comments

[barb mccallum]

fred, fantastic, what a life. so happy for you to have found a groove, a truly innovative life. onward. congratulations. barb