Ashey

This is really sad. Scary too on a number of levels. Personally and globally. But I’m torn. I think.

At one level, I have some small sympathy for the parents. It must be hard to see your child, help her, know her as your own, but otherwise be unable to engage with her at a meaningful level save for smiles and such. There may be an element of the protective there. Certainly a read of the anonymous entry by her parents would suggest as much.

But I can’t help being scared. This is a bigger picture issue which I will think more on. Designing a girl’s life so young based on what others think will be comfortable is problematic largely because the timing sounds like a convenience thing even if the intention was not. Continue reading

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Garden Island

This (ed note: now can’t find the photo since swapping blogs so often in the early days) was the view that greeted me last night parked within spitting distance of the Coat-hanger, the Sydney Harbour Bridge. New Years Eve 2006/07.

Considering that the day before I had no real plans, nor any real drive to get any, I did pretty well! A generally unobstructed waterfront view. Very civilised company. An education in “big bolts” Navy style.

This was a ticketed event; based on a ballot open to a huge staff of some description. Our hosts were given 10 tickets. There was a total of 8000 bods on the Island, and we got grass, which was ideal and rather scarce in an otherwise heavily concreted. I was simply a friend of a former colleague of the wife of the ballot winner. It was an honour.

Unforgettable to watch the lights doing their thing in a dramatic, but not prosaic display of pyrotechnical brilliance. I think the current LM has her stamp on it finally. They do say diamonds are a girl’s best friend. Maybe the illuminated diamond hanging above street level, was key to the tone.

The tall ships did their thing; green and gold lit, in slow progression. Most pretty.

For me personally, a peace descended. Much like at other times in my life that had elements of the stressful. It descended earlish and was just what the doctor ordered. I had fun. Much fun. Just being. My hosts were lovely- I had leveling difficulties and so was perhaps not as broadly social as might have been. I have regrets there. but not for me. No worries. Too late now

The taxi ride had its issues, many to be expected, some unique. Around the sort of things that happen when people make assumptions about you, or claim advantages because they have “seen” you. That’s what you get for traveling in a limited fleet for so many years.

I could get philosophical here. Maybe not.

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