Return to Perth

I've never spent a fortune on fancy furniture and once I've found a practical piece, I tend to keep it for years. Susan and I did send some furniture off to Vinnies in Melbourne and some stuff, such as 40 year old bamboo shelves, did up in the skip when we were packing up the Pink House. However, some pieces travelled with us as temporary backstops and others in the hope that they might just fit into whatever new home we found for ourselves. A classic example of the former category is a study desk that I had as a teenager. Yes, I know, that was a long time ago. But it was practical. It had drawers, a drop down desk, open and closed shelves. However, Susan has always hated it and finally, I agreed to replace it. The new piece of furniture, a proper dining dresser, sits beautifully in Archibald St and I confess that I don't miss the old desk.  But I will miss my colourful chandlier. I bought it during one Christmas holiday in Perth and took it back to Melbourne were it had pr...

Friends Anne and Kevin called in for morning tea on a sunny day to tell us about their two months sojourn in southern Africa, in countries such as Tanzania, Botswana and South Africa. It was fascinating hearing their stories of the people, the landscape, the history, the animals, the corruption, the lodges, the politics, of these countries. As we listened, I suddenly realised that it is 30 years since I was last on that continent. I had two visits to South Africa as part of Australia's aid package for the post-apartheid government, making recommendations about changing the national English language radio station to better reflect the new country in 1994 and returning to check implementation of the changes in 1995. Both journeys were utterly fascinating, from attending the National Thanksgiving service in Soweto days after the election with people like Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu on stage to exploring the wild and beautiful landscape of the southern cape. I was honoured to meet ...