 |
 |
 |
|
Date: Fri, 21 Feb 1997 13:30:45 +1000To: nnews_don-l@netnews.peg.apc.org From: Don Pattenden <dpattenden@pegasus.com.au> Subject: The next leg. Hello, I am still here in Mordialloc (i.e. Gabrielle's place) in Melbourne, but only just! It is now 1:45 PM and I shall (at last!) be departing from here just as soon as I have re-packed my paniers and loaded up my bike. So, before anything else, here is my proposed itinerary for the next leg of my trip. If you have an atlas, or a detailed map of Australia you can follow my progress:-
Or something like that. Now, I am afraid that I am going to have to take a rain-check on telling you more about my adventures in Tasmania. I have totally run out of time now and really must re-commence my trip. Many pressing matters have been taking up my time here, and keeping me away from the keyboard. But I have many notes and will write them up just as soon as I can. For one thing I have had a dispute with the Dept. of Social Security to sort out (still unresolved, as things stand) To cut a long story short - they have declined to pay me the Rent Assistance component of my pension on the basis that I don't have a permanent place of residence. Yes, I know that it's bureaucratic nonsense, and I have appealed, but it may take months to sort out. In the meantime my income is severely curtailed, but I'm determined not to let that stop me. More importantly though, I received a phone call just this morning from my sister Heather in Sydney. I'm sorry to say that there is suspicion that her brain tumour may be active again! Bad news indeed. She has been experiencing lapses in concentration etc. lately & so has been admitted to hospital for tests. She was supposed to have a PET scan this morning - but ---- wouldn't you know it!!! The machine broke down, so they've sent her home again, still none the wiser. The scan will have to be re-scheduled. I'll be keeping in touch with her while travelling; crossing my fingers & praying that it will turn out to be a false alarm. And of course, I'll be staying with her while in Sydney. That will have to be all for now. The time is now 2:21 and I really must start packing. I'm hoping that my load will weigh less this time - I have been working on that. I don't fancy crossing the Great Dividing Range with the load I was carrying in Tasmania. I may get a chance to check my email while in Canberra & possibly to send another Newsletter from there. Otherwise, it will be Sydney. Farewell to Melbourne. Funny to think that I won't see Melbourne again for over a year. I have been living here since 1969. There's a lot to like about Melbourne.
Bye bye, |
||||||||||||||