The Changing Landscape

I picked foliage today from the garden of the house opposite the Community hall where my friend Ida used to live. The garden is becoming overgrown with little cutting back done in recent years. When I first met Ida in the mid 1990's her husband had died some months earlier. She was a keen gardener, a real "cutter" she called herself who strongly believed in regular pruning. As she grew older and less capable she relied on me to maintain the garden and mow the lawn. Our friendship spanned nearly a decade until her family had to have her taken from her house (she refused to cooperate) when Alzheimer's had advanced to a point where she could no longer live alone. 

Another friend of mine bought the house, Pat Atzmuller. Pat's husband had been killed in a tree accident which forced her to downsize from their acres and big house. I continued to pick in the garden, and Pat had a large steel shed built in the back yard mainly for storage I think.
But Pat wasn't really happy there and moved into another house a year or two later. As it turned out the new owner was Gus Ryberg's granddaughter, Julia, who was happy for me to pick in the garden now and again when I needed something, mainly bay foliage from the tree on the boundary with the vacant block right on the main intersection corner.

The big steel shed that Pat had put up was removed some time ago and I was wondering why this was so today as I picked bay foliage and cast my eyes around the overgrown shrubbery and over the large concrete slab in the back yard that was the floor of the shed. As I worked Frank Failla appeared from somewhere so I stopped to have a yarn. He told me I should take as much foliage as I could because it's all going soon, starting with the concrete slab tomorrow. Workmen are coming to cut up the slab into portions that Frank can pick up with his bobcat and take to the tip.

Apparently the developer who subdivided the the five acres that was vacant land behind the house and converted it to Gembrook Views Estate, bought the house from Julia some time ago and the site is to be developed, which explains to me why Julia, who is now a tennant, has not bothered with the garden.

The vacant block I referred to is not to be vacant long. There's a sign up offering for sale off the plan three villa units, with "gated" security facilities. I have wandered that block for many years picking wild carrot flowers for ourmixed posies in summer and autumn. My resources are steadily disappearing

I do not mention all this to gossip about Gembrook, it's just part of my day I wish to record. My friend Leigh Candy (Getadogster) is doing a blog post for everyday of 2012 as a sort of commemoration of his turning sixty, and a record of his life memories and feelings during this significant time. He sets a good example, and whilst I'll not commit to posting daily I intend to crank it up and do more regular posting during the next twelve months, lets say the 2012/03 year July 1 to June 30. I have found Leigh's blog so entertaining, and reading it such an enjoyable part of my year, that I'd like to think I can do similar for my few readers. I will need offer more of myself and show the courage Leigh has to put his opinions up.

The way the landscape's changing it may well be my last year as 'Carey at Gembrook'. Who knows, maybe one day it'll be 'Carey at Kaniva' or 'Carey at Coonamble'. 'Carey in Cairns'? Orbost? Pt McQuarie? My feet are getting itchy.

Rock on Leigh, Go Gunna.