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Date: Wed, 25 June 1997 08:39:57 +1000To: studio@toysatellite.org From: Don Pattenden <dpattenden@pegasus.com.au> Subject: Postscript. Hello, I am still here and so is the computer, but this will definitely be my last letter out of Sydney. I've remembered a few things that I meant to tell you but forgot. The first is the most obvious, or should have been. I went through all of the ways I've been filling in my time in Sydney, and what it is that I like most about being in Sydney, but I didn't mention the opportunity the stay has given me to get closer to my sister Heather and to relate to her in a more leisurely way than on previous visits. So we've had ample time for relaxed conversations about all sorts of things ranging from childhood memories (recalling sibling rivalry, squabbles and fights as well as the good times) to the deeper questions about Life, the Universe and Everything. As I've said before, Heather's condition has been steadily improving throughout my stay and right now she looks and feels very well indeed. The doctors conclude that she's respoding to treatment. Be that as it may I'm not forgetting that "treatment" is not the same as "cure"; there is no cure for a brain tumour (at least not for the one Heather's got). The most she can hope for is that it will remain quiescent as now; it will never go away. Heather is very positive in her attitude and very careful about things like diet and lifestyle. But still living with cancer is a bit like living under the shadow of a dormant volcano; you just never know!! I certainly hope that Heather will be with us for many years to come, but, well, if anything should happen, at least we've had this quality time together. Of course, there have been moments of strain too. That's inevitable when we are living at such close quarters -- 3 of us in a small one bedroom, sunless flat (Heather's friend Jack has been staying here as well). But tensions are usually resoved amicably. My training from years of studying yoga comes to my rescue at times like this. We are taught to be detached (which is not the same as being aloof, or unsympathetic of course.) Incidentally Jack also has problems: he is being treated for lung cancer. What a pair! So living at close quarters with two human beings under the shadow of death has in itself been an edifying experience. My own worries and problems tend to pale into insignificance. It has forced me to confront my own mortality, something we should all go through from time to time. I should add as a footnote here that Jack is right now in hospital. His condition has deteriorated quite suddenly just over the past few days and his prognosis is rather uncertain as things stand. This has placed a question mark over the trip they were planning to go on in Jack's bus. A big disappointment for Heather, she was really looking forward to it. Just when she herself was doing so well. Now onto much lighter matters: I wanted to tell you about dropping my favourite radio in the drink!! A tragedy! I've often made jokes about being a radio junkie and my radios are my most treasured possessions. I have altogether three that I take with me (many more back at home, of course, all too big to carry on a bike). I have two very tiny radios that take AAA batteries, as well as a Walkman (radio/cassette player) that takes AA batteries. It was my favourite of the two AAA radios that fell in the drink. A lovely little radio it was too, very well designed and easy to operate, tune in, adjust etc. with a very good tone. I can laugh about it now of course, but I wasn't laughing when it happened!! Just shows it doesn't pay to get too attached to possessions. It was a warning from above. I've mentioned before how fond I am of walking around rocks on the coast. I do it at every opportunity. Just love watching the waves break. The rocks at the northern end of Bondi beach have become one of my favourite haunts while I've been here. On this particular day I was having a particularly relaxing and enjoyable "potter" around the rocks, listening all the while to classical music on ABC Classic FM. I lingered there for an hour or more; the time passed very easily. So on my return, the tide had risen considerably. At one point I had to step over a quite wide channel between two rocks with water flowing through. And, yes you guessed it, just as I did so, that radio I was so fond of fell "plop" and was at the bottom in an instant. In an instant I stepped in, boots, socks, jeans and all, almost up to my knees and fished it out. Wet socks was the least of my worries at the time. Salt water is not good for radios. They tend not to like it. With the wisdom of hindsight I should have rinsed it in clean, fresh water immediately. But one doesn't think clearly at times like that. I took it home, opened up the casing and worked on it with a hair dryer. It took a few days to dry out completely. And then, believe it or not, it did actually work!! Amazing! But not very well, and not reliably. The controls are very stiff, especially the volume control. Not very satisfactory. I'll keep it for backup until I can replace it, but that may be a long way off!! I'm very broke!! Yes, my pocket has taken even longer to recover than my little finger has. So many expenses! New spectacles, physio therapy, bike repairs. And my income is very meagre. So although I have quite a wish list of items I would like to purchase to make life easier while camping and while touring (lots of ideas from other cyclists I've met on the road) I've had to take a rain check on most of them. I've been able to get a few things though and I'm very pleased with these few. first though I should mention two items I acquired just before I left Melbourne which have proved to be a real boon; don't know how I ever did without them. First was a Therarest inflatable mattress. Didn't have it in Tasmania. So comfortable, yet so light to carry. Secondly one of those chamois towels. I'd never travel without one now. So to more recent purchases:- a tiny espresso coffee machine that cost only $15. I've only seen them in one store, that's Kathmandu. I must have my coffee! I can't stand instant coffee, vile stuff!! But up til now I've been brewing coffee in a saucepan and straining it. Very cumbersome and doesn't taste anything like the real thing. Espresso coffee is the best as far as I'm concerned, the Italian way. I know some people rave about plungers but they don't make it strong enough for me and besides, it comes out luke warm! Coffee must be scalding hot. That was $15 well spent. Secondly I managed to get one of those lights (i.e. flashlight) that fits on your forehead like a miner's lamp. Just perfect for camping, especially cooking in the dark, which I often end up doing. Also for packing an unpacking gear in a dark tent. I often have to do that. Makes such a difference having both hands free. I'm sure I'll wonder how I ever did without it. By the end of this trip I'm sure I'll be quite an expert on camping. Yes, I wanted to say quite a lot more about the camping life, the joys and the hardship, but that will have to wait. I could easily write an entire Newsleter just on the various caravan parks I have stayed in, their strengths and weaknesses. Enormous variation. Quite often the most expensive are worst equipped. I could even fill up a Newsletter on "Shower recesses I have known." Joy is a shower recess that has enough room to soap yourself without banging your elbows on the walls or on the taps or without the curtain wrapping itself around you, clammy and cold. Ugh!! Or one that has a soap container that doesn't make the soap all gooey and gluggy. Yuk!! I could go on and on. That's life on the road!! So stay tuned for leg 3 or my journey, Sydney to Brisbane. I still don't know when I'll be leaving; just when I'm ready. And then I'll be heading for Nowra by train. After that: Sydney, Manly, Narrabeen, Palm Beach, Patonga, Woy Woy, Gosford, Newcastle and so on, ever northward. So I'd better wrench myself away from this keyboard or I'll never get started. Lots to do. Oh, how I hate packing!!! Don. |