Absolute Must Read Short Story by Jo

Those of you who don't know Jo from All The Blue Day, well shame on you.  This lovely woman down south in Tassie has been inspiring and amusing me with her wacky observations of life as a thrifty and frugal single mum for quite some time.  She has style, she is a lady, she is hard working, a great mum and Oh My Goodness is she a great writer.

Jo has entered a short story in a writing competition and after reading it all i can say is ITS TOO SHORT. I want a book.  NO, i want several books.  

As Molly would say, do yourself a favour........

The Milk Maid and the Boy Who Cried for the Moon

PS.  For all those friends and family that work the land......... the age of farming will return.

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Staycation Gardening and Reading

This is today's pickings from my small suburban backyard veggie garden.  Banana peppers, a variety of tomatoes, green dwarf beans, snow peas and spring onions.   Later on i picked oregano, garlic and basil to make the evening meal.   I am besotted.  Truly.  I could spend all day out there just fiddling with this and that. Today i had a visitor, Ella the Beautiful, and i was so proud to show her how everything is growing.  I've a crop of tomatoes just turning colour and if i can keep the birds away, they will be gobbled up, fresh, on salads or gently warmed with eggs.  I will admit to missing toast.

I'm finding that everything grows better when you pack it all in.   In just this small section of one of the wall garden we have rosemary, dwarf beans, basil, spring onions and several tomato bushes that reach the eaves, peppers, lemon balm, dwarf marigolds and alyssum .

Don't ask me how ill be picking these ones.  I tried pruning off some of the leaves and its way above my head even on a step ladder.  Plenty of flowers up there.

Ella believes they are so healthy as they are protected by the eaves, get the warmth from the wall (which faces North East and they are watered by soaker hose which is now well under the mulch created from leaves and grass clippings.  Birds are my only enemy, so far.

Under the protection of the sunflowers and corn are tiny yellow zucchinis.  I'm keeping my eye on them, no marrows this year.  

I think having the lavender bushes throughout my veggies are helping with pollination.  They are always covered in bees.

Small but mighty.  These dwarf yellow capsicums are so sweet and the dwarf beans are prolific for such a small plant.

  My lettuce are a bit small at the moment but throughout the bed i have baby tomatoes coming up.

Which leads me to these beauties.  What to do with them?  "Don't tell me she is actually going to pick something and use it instead of just looking at it" i hear Jessie say.

Stuffed Banana Peppers in Meat Sauce

If you are not on a carb free diet then you could do this with cannelloni.

Start by cutting the end off near the stem and using a knife, de-seed them and wash out, shake dry.

Mix together

250gms of ricotta cheese
2 cloves of garlic, squished and chopped (from my garden, of course)
2 sprigs of oregano and 4 large basil leaves (same again) chopped
2 slices of mild salami (which were left over from home made pizzas with meat base), chopped finely

Using a knife, stuff small amounts down the end of the pepper to fill and as it thickens just use a spoon.
Place on top of home-made meat sauce (because there isn't any other kind worth using) which was taken from the freezer.

I covered this with foil for 30 min on 200 (spooning sauce over)  and then took the foil off for 15 min on 180.

I served it with a sweet potato bake and my green beans.  Yes, i can use sweet potato on my diet on occasions.  It has such great nutritional value and is low on GI and is therefore acceptable despite being a carb.

Sweet Potatoes & Paleo

Just layer in a buttered dish, sliced sweet potato,  onions and cream with sprinkle of cheese, repeat several times, cover and put in with the pepper dish.  Take foil off the same time and serve together.

The stuffed peppers were really lovely and im glad i put the chopped salami in the ricotta for flavour. Funny when you are having no carbs or sugar how sweet veggies can taste.

Staycation/Readathon

My summer break started mid 24th and i will return to work on 5th.  Apart from gardening and doing a few projects i plan on reading.  I may have to do some housework in there as well but boring!!!!

So far I've finished the new Cathy Kelly book.

 
and I'm just finishing the last book in this trilogy by Nora Roberts.  That's 4 books so far which i highly recomment.   I love Irish writers or books set in Ireland.

I've got the third book in the series by Fiona McCallum  (following Saving Grace & Time will Tell) to read next

and then if i have time, i might squeeze in The Road Back and/or Gray Mountain.

Yes, i am a prolific reader and its been a while (maybe six months) but once i start, well..........

So, im off to read some more.  My next post will be about the raising of the great grape trellis.  I've squeezed in painting the poles today.   Living fences and no more neighbours clothes line, here i come.

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Boobs, Bone, Bandages, Beans and Book

Yep, its been that kind of day.   I had the day off work today to attend my first mammogram.  Now that's excitement for you.  The Government kindly sent me an invite once I turned 50 to have my breasts screened for cancer.   They also sent me a little sample package to send my poo away to be checked for bowel cancer.  They are nothing if not thorough and apparently i will get these "invitations" every two years. If i didn't know better i would think they are trying to tell me something.   I know i am making fun but we really are lucky in Oz to have this service. Early detection is better than surgery (or the alternative) i am certain.  So no putting it off ladies, off you go.  You'll note that i haven't mentioned that other test we have to every couple of years but I'm sure you know which one.  Get it done!

It wasn't really all that bad.  I had heard stories that it was painful but its not.  Just a bit uncomfortable (read embarrassing) having someone position your boobs this way and that so they are in the right position on the platform.  Those of you with little boobies probably don't have to worry about that as they are probably right where they need to be.  Mine are very adventurous and take off in all directions, separately.

After that experience i visited the meat wholesaler in Werribee and bought Tom his "i really like these Mum, can i have them once a week" lamb forequarter chops.  I liberally cover them in French onion soup mix and then bake them on a tray in the oven, elevated on a rack so that they are crunchy all the way round.  Do use a backing tray under the racks as the fat sizzles and drips below.   Add some garlic mash and baby beans and there is Monday nights dinner.

Since Tilly needs a treat as well, i bought her a bone.  Deliberately slightly large so that she has to really work at it.  She immediately took off with it into the yard, where she covered it in dirt and brought it back into the house and put it on the couch.   I've put it outside about 10 times today.  I don't mind once the meat is off but its looking rather yuk at the moment.

I'm going to take this inside and bury it down behind the lounge cushions and wait for it to go rancid (just right).

:Don't touch it Mum, don't even think about it".  

I was all set for a lovely spring afternoon of gardening when the phone rang and it was Hubby.  He was in a hospital ER having tripped at work trying to step over a barrier holding tools in each hand.  With nothing to brace himself he face planted himself into steel.   It was a bit messy (read bloody) but he is one very lucky guy.  The bang to his skull was so loud it was audible to others so he is now at home on 24 hour watch for symptoms of concussion. He's going to have a black and blue face tomorrow to add to the bandages around his eye. Since it was way way over the other side of the city it was late afternoon before i could get him home and into bed.

He said it happened in slow motion and as he was going down trying to disentangle himself from the tools so he could brace himself, he actually thought to himself as he headed right for one of those jagged bits
 "this is not going to be good".

Ouch!

With him all tucked in i went outside to try and salvage a little garden time.  I planted my saved tomato seeds from last year and assembled a makeshift green house using bubble wrap to protect them from our cool nights.

They should be ready for planting out come early November.   Since i want an early crop I'm going to buy a couple of ready to go plants as well.   I put a few bean seeds in and noted that my yellow zucchini seedlings are now about 3cm high.  I'm trying something different this year and instead of making shade cloth screens to keep the mid summer sun off,  I've planted corn and sunflowers around the edges on the north side of the beds to shade the other plants.  Since my beds are 90cm high already, they will make tall screens.  I'll have to put lots of bamboo stakes in to support them.

Peppers are out of control.  

My feature kale in the centre of the bed is exactly that, a feature.  SO PICK IT (i hear you shout)

The surrounding spinach looks like i need to grab it before something else does.  My corner bulbs are starting to come up.

I'm trying to think of what i can shove down the sides to give me more height.  The potato plants are right to the top.   Tilly wont be getting these ones (Nar Nar NaNar Nar)

My dwarf pear is loaded with flowers

I'm picking lettuce every other day now and I'm sprinkling seeds in the available spaces to keep a continuous crop.  

I really like lettuce and fresh herbs.  

I grow real flowers too!

OK, now to the final segment of my post, the Book.   Beg, borrow or steal this book.  It is now one of my favourites.  I know its a movie, and i am told its really great but i don't think you could improve on this writing. Great characters.

Guess what i was doing while reading it.  

Pretty big day.

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Ten Acres Enough - A Book Scam from 1864?

Warning - being my gullible self I got all excited when i starting reading this book.  It was referenced in another blog and of course, i started chasing it down.  Who wouldn't want to read an actual account of a families journey to self sustainability written in 1864.   The following is what got me all excited.  When you have finished, be sure to read the discovery by a librarian in 2013 that follows.   

Ten Acres Enough 
a practical experience, showing how a very small farm may be made to keep a very large family. With extensive and profitable experience in the cultivation of the smaller fruits.

Published 1864 by J. Miller in New York .

Download for Free  Ten Acres Enough    available in many formats

PREFACE.

THE man who feeds his cattle on a thousand hills

may possibly see the title of this little volume paraded

through the newspapers ; but the chances are that he

will never think it worth while to look into the volume

itself. The owner of a hundred acres will

scarcely step out of his way to purchase or to borrow

it, while the lord of every smaller farm will be sure

it is not intended for him. Few persons belonging

to these several classes have been educated to believe

Ten Acres Enough. Born to greater ambition, they

have aimed higher and grasped at more, sometimes

wisely, sometimes not. Many of these are now

owning or cultivating more land than their heads or

purses enable them to manage properly. Had their

ambition been moderate, and their ideas more practical,

their labor would be better rewarded, and this

book, without doubt, would have found more readers.

The mistaken ambition for owning twice as much

land as one can thoroughly manure or profitably cultivate,

is the great agricultural sin of this country.

Those who commit it, by beginning wrong, too frequently

continue wrong. Owning many acres is the

sole idea. High cultivation of a small tract, is one

of which they have little knowledge. Too many in

these several classes think they know enough. They

measure a man's knowledge by the number of his

acres. Hence, in their eyes the owner of a plot so

humble as mine must know so little as to be unable

to teach them any thing new.

Happily, it is not for these that I write, and hence

it would be unreasonable to expect them to become

readers. I write more particularly for those who

have not been brought up as farmers for that numerous

body of patient toilers in city, town, and

village, who, like myself, have struggled on from year

to year, anxious to break away from the bondage of

the desk, the counter, or the workshop, to realize in

the country even a moderate income, so that it be a

sure one. Many such are constantly looking round

in this direction for something which, with less mental

toil and anxiety, will provide a maintenance for

a growing family, and afford a refuge for advancing

age some safe and quiet harbor, sheltered from the

constantly recurring monetary and political convulsions

which in this country so suddenly reduce men

to poverty. But these inquirers find no experienced

pioneers to lead the way, and they turn back upon

themselves, too fearful to go forward alone. Books

of personal experience like this are rare. This is

written for the information of the class referred to,

for men not only willing, but anxious to learn. Once

in the same predicament myself, I know their longings,

their deficiencies, and the steps they ought to

take. Hence, in seeking to make myself fully understood,

some may think that I have been unnecessarily

minute. But in setting forth my own crudities,

I do but save others from repeating them. Yet

with all this amplification, my little contribution will

occasion no crowding even upon a book-shelf which

may be already filled.

I am too new a farmer to be the originator of all

the ideas which are here set forth. Some, which

seemed to be appropriate to the topic in hand, have

been incorporated with the argument as it progressed ;

while in some instances, even the language of writers,

whose names were unknown to me, has also been

adopted.

All sounds good doesn't it and certainly wants to make you run out a get a copy.  I wanted to know more about the author and so i did a little more research and this is what i found.  Seems im not the only one who likes to dig.  

Link to Blog  - Toolemera Press    The following was posted by Gary Roberts in August 2013 

Ten Acres Enough by Edmund Morris 1864: Not All It Seems To Be

    In the world of libraries, there is what is known as theAuthority File:

"Authority File: noun Library Science.

a file, either on cards or in machine-readable format, in which decisions involving bibliographic records, particularly for form of entry, are recorded to establish a precedent or rule for subsequent decisions and to provide for consistency of entries."

    This process of determining accuracy of information extends to verifying the origin of citations and of authorship. It's vital to the process of cataloging and of library research in that to provide a person with a book, document or quote that is not verifiable and true is misleading and damaging to both the reputation of the library, the librarian and ultimately to the work of the person requesting the information.

    With all good intentions I was referred to the book Ten Acres Enough, by Edmund Morris, 1864, as an excellent and well known book on how to start your own farm as well as on self sufficient farming. It's been reprinted numerous times, is thoroughly praised over and over in magazines and reviews and generally considered to be the classic American go-to book on mid 19th century small farming technique for the homesteader.

    So I bought a copy. I also bought copies of a few of Morris's other books.

1. Farming for boys: what they have done, what others may do in the cultivation of farm and garden 1864; J. Miller, NY
2. Derrick and drill, or, An insight into the discovery, development, and present condition and future prospects of petroleum, in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, &c.; 1865; J. Miller, NY
3. How to get a farm, and where to find one : showing that homesteads may be had by those desirous of securing them, with the public law on the subject of free homes, and suggestions from practical farmers : together with numerous successful, experiences of others, though beginning with little of nothing, have become the owners of ample farms; 1864, J. Miller , NY

    I read Ten Acres Enough and then the librarian hairs on the back of my neck stood up. The final chapters deal with the advantage of buying land in New Jersey for the purpose of homesteading, particularly berry farming. The entire book is about one person's experience in moving from the financial world to creating his own farm in New Jersey during a deep economic depression. And succeeding in this endeavor in record time too.

    Note also that in the first edition of Ten Acres Enough, the author is not named. It's only from the other titles that Edmund Morris has been attached as the author.

    Being who I am, I looked at the verso, the opposing page to the title page, to see who copyrighted the book. It was not Edmund Morris but the publisher, J. Miller. Bong Bong Bong. In each of the other Morris books, the publisher held the copyright. It was not uncommon during the 19th century for women to write a book and for their husbands to copyright the book. Unfortunate but true. For a male author to hand over copyright to a publisher is rare and in my experience in 19th century books, almost unheard of.

    Morris wrote a number of books and was, by the subject matter, a true entrepeneur. So why would the publisher and not Morris hold the copyrights? Returning to the books to examine their construction, it's apparent they're printed on inexpensive paper, cloth bound with a fancy embossed cover but nothing that I would say was of any value.

    Next, I turned to Google Books to check on period advertisements, journal reviews, newspaper notices, etc. Period gardener's and horticultural journals gave me the answer, devoid of any later years rose colored glasses:

    And lastly, the second publisher's own advertisement for the book, which gives some indication of the market. J. Miller was a publisher of inexpensive childrens books for many years. At some point, Miller sold the rights for the Morris books to Tuckner:

    I checked the Burlington, New Jersey records for an Edmund Morris. The only Edmund Morris that I could find was born 1804 in Philadelphia, PA and died May 9, 1874.

Next, Appleton's Cyclopedia Of American Biography. It's important to remember that this reference too is suspect in that the contributors were not subject to examination. We don't know who wrote this piece or from where the information was obtained. It may very well have been his obit and as such, glowing.

    "MORRIS, Edmund, journalist, born in Burlington, New Jersey, 28 August, 1804; died there, 4 May, 1874. He received a good English education, learned the trade of a printer, and at twenty years of age was editor and publisher of the "Bucks County Intelligencer" at Doylestown, Pennsylvania He subsequently conducted the" Ariel" and the "Saturday Evening Bulletin" of Philadelphia, where he introduced the custom of selling newspapers on the streets. After editing and publishing for several years the Burlington, New Jersey, " Gazette," he removed in 1855 to Trenton, New Jersey, and took charge for two years of the "New Jersey State Gazette." In 1857 he returned to Burlington and resided there until his death. During and after the war he wrote regularly for the "New York Tribune," and was otherwise a frequent contributor to the press. He devoted much attention to the subject of farming, publishing "Ten Acres Enough," an attempt to teach the advantages of intensive cultivation, and " How to Get a Farm and Where to Find One" (New York, 1864), and "Farming for Boys" (Boston, 1868). He also edited " Derrick and Drill" (New York, 1865), a compilation of information regarding the oil-fields of Pennsylvania. He wrote several pamphlets on silk-culture mid other practical subjects, and made numerous inventions. He is said to have been the first in this country to print in more than one color. Mr. Morris was a member of the Society of Friends, and for years an earnest Abolitionist."

    From the period journals reviews, it's clear the purpose of the Morris books was to fleece the desparate who had been hurt by the economic crash with dreams of owning a farm, living off the land, etc. It is likely that, once a customer bought the book, a followup personal visit or mailing from the real estate agent would be in order in an attempt to sell the unsuspecting would-be farmer land in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. I would not be surprised to find that a deal was in there for sales of farming and garden supplies too!

    The Appleton's entry, which does sound like an obit to me although I haven't checked that yet, does clarify that Morris was a writer first and formost. Take into account the damning reference to his having pulled an entire chapter from another gardening book, the clear bent of his books as 'get rich quick' or 'survive the crash' schemes which primarily put cash in his pocket and you have the makings of a neat 19th century writer who figured out how to smooth over his morals, publish books that appeared to 'mean something' and make a living for himself.

    Or, he simply ghost wrote the books for J. Miller, the publisher who specialized in cheap children's books. Remember that Morris had the connections and ability to publish on his own, yet he didn't publish these books. Instead, he went to J. Miller. That begs the question of why would Morris do such a thing when he would make more profit by publishing his own books? Perhaps he owned an interest in J. Miller, Publishers. Perhaps he was J. Miller, Publishers. Either way, it wasn't until after Ten Acres Enough was a sales success that Morris decided to expose his authorship in the title page of subsequent 'get out of jail free' books.

    Is there value in the content related to farming and gardening, to oil drilling and silk culture? Quite possibly. You'd have to be the judge of that if you choose to read any of his books. Just remember that Morris didn't write with the purpose of helping you to be a better farmer or oil driller. He wrote to support himself.

Go to the link above and read some of the comments that follow this post.  At the very least its a good read and Morris certainly knew how to write a good story.  Its just a pity it was all a scam. I'm going to continue reading the book but view it in a different way.  One of simple enjoyment.

Have you heard of this book?  Have you read it?  

Thanks for Visiting Living In The Land of Oz 

The Edible Garden - Alys Fowler

I've been enjoying this series on YouTube called The Edible Garden.  There are many great ideas for people with small gardens like mine.  Alys Fowler demonstrates how to gain maximum growth of veggies for your family and flowers for beauty using the principles of permaculture.   There are lots of crafty extras incorporated eg. in the first episode she discusses how to make wicker trellises.  I can just picture myself sitting down with a certain hippy and a big pile of willow between us.      

Part 1 of 6 - Peas & Beans

Part 2 of 6 - Salads

Part 3 of 6 - Roots and Leafy Greens

Part 4 of 6 - Juicy Fruits

Part 5 of 6 - Flowers & Herbs

Part 6 of 6 - Winter Larder

This series was published back in 2010 and as usual I'm late to the party.  This doesn't make it any less enjoyable.  If you want more of Alys, she writes a weekly gardening column in TheGuardian - here   and is the author of the following books that can be purchased online:

Thrifty Forager
The Edible Garden
The Thrifty Gardener

I hope you enjoy.

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In Bed with Linda Cockburn for the Day

That's PM not AM on that clock and I am still in my nightie.  I'm wondering if i can pretend there is no one home if someone knocks on the door.  A bit hard when all 3 cars are out the front and Tilly would be bouncing on the back of the door.  Thankfully no one comes.

The French doors outside are open and it's been raining softly but steadily all night and day, the first day of winter.  All my senses are being fulfilled - I'm snuggled up with a blanket and Miss Tilly, who is softness itself, listening to the sound of rain on a tin roof, with a mug (or several) of black coffee and a plate of Vegemite toast, reading. I'm slightly sore from shovelling dirt in the veggie garden yesterday and I think I've fulfilled my housework quota this weekend before I head back to a full time job tomorrow so no guilt here.

It does one good to occasionally have some down time which includes not moving from the bed for the day except to re-fill the coffee mug? It's called a Thermos Lynda!!! Last night was one of those nights when all three of us were doing our own thing.  Only problem was, we all did it ALL night and so lucky for me they are also in bed for the day and no one is bugging me for meals except Tilly, who wants my Vegemite toast. I ended up smearing some on a plate so she would leave mine alone.

Boy, did she lap up some water after this.

So what would keep me awake night and day - queue book pic

OK, so I'm a bit late to the party, as usual.  This book was published in 2006 and it was referenced in a recent post of Gav's (Greening of Gavin) Top 11 Books That Changed My World View.  I've actually followed Linda's blog (Living the Good Life) for a little while now but had not read the book.  I love the way Linda writes and you can tell she is a reader and loves words.  She has given me a new one to play with so watch out peeps.

floccinaucinihilipilificationist - someone who deems things of little worth  - Page 222.   that's 9 i's

We've been having great fun trying to pronounce it - flock-see-naw-see-ni-hi-li-pi-li-fi-kay-shun-ist
Good one to introduce when you have a room full of slightly inebriated guests.

I'm awfully glad that they did this adventure with Caleb.  Having a small child involved introduced so many funny and heart warming moments throughout their six month "holiday".  This is one clever and involved child and very much loved by equally clever and interested parents.  What a childhood he is having/had.

I'm making this sound like a light read but Linda's retelling of their experiences living for six months without spending money unnecessarily and doing so in a self sustainable way provides many relevant segue-ways to eye popping facts and figures.   Her inventiveness in providing meals solely from their garden and bartered goods is only rivalled by Trev's willingness to partake of snails as a substitute for red meat and forgo his cigarettes and alcohol.

I kept my husband in stitches last night (was it around 3am) reading about the demise of Dead and Gone, two dominant male bantams with a penchant for raking their spurs down Linda's calves.  Don't worry, Linda got her own back and lets just say that they are "dead and gone".  Page 121  I love chooky stories.

During the book, when things often got tough, Linda referenced moving to Tasmania.  It was funny reading the book about the past knowing that they now live in Tasmania so I guess they got over their fear of hypothermia.  I'm looking forward to going back to the beginning of the blog and finding out about the move from Qld to Tas and how they set up their new place having learnt from their mistakes.

Which leads me to another book that arrived this week 5 Acres & A Dream The Book from Leigh's blog ((here) of the same name.  I've done this one completely different.  Last time I had  "Me Time", I spent a weekend starting at the beginning of Leigh's blog and working my way forward.  You certainly do get to know someone, their family, their critters and garden well when you immerse yourself into it for a few days.   I'm looking forward to now reading the "summarised" version in the book.

I managed to finish reading at 3.30pm with just enough time to shower and race over to see Noelle.  Its now a week since her hip operations and she is in good spirits (love those morphine patches).  Her granddaughter Mia was visiting and i sat patiently while she combed my hair flat (i hate flat hair) and pretended she was a hair dresser.  I was rewarded with a big hug on leaving.

Have a great week everyone.  I'm one week from a long weekend which I have extended into a week of gardening - Yeahhhhhhh!!!!!!

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Wartime Poetry from Active Servicemen

If you read my post last night I put a poem in that i thought was lovely but i'd photographed the book and it was not clear.   So today im posting it and others that took our fancy from Tom's new book from 1941.   Below each one is the writer's intials and army number. 

My Favorite

To One at Home

Do not be saddened for my sake,

For I shall keep my tryst with you

Some morning when the dawn shall break

Upon a world where hope is new.

Yes, I shall keep the rendezvous,

Beloved One, which we have made -

And all the past shall fade into

A dim and dream-like cavalcade

Of half-remembered griefs and fears,

Which we shall doubt were ever true -

And love shall fill the golden years

With sweetness - when our pain is through.

"VZ36684"

I wonder if this soldier made it home to his beloved one to keep their rendezvous?

Tom's Favorite

Song of a Military Surgeon

Behold me, a surgeon! Perhaps you will think

Im a solemn and serious chap;

That my head's full of surgical wisdom and lore,

That i revel in other men's gore

As it drips to the floor from my lap;

And yet I assure you I visibly shrink

At the sight of a mouse in a trap.

The Diggers, I'm sure think my nerves are of steel;

That I'm forceful and strong in my way;

That patients all worship my capable hands;

That the D.M.S. heeds all my strangest demands

An hangs on each word that i say.

Withal, at the dentist's it seems that I feel

As humble and wretched as they.

The orderlies, doubtless, imagine I'm great,

And the Sisters, of course, all agree,

As I don rubber gloves and then pick up a knife

To save some great general's valuable life,

There's no one as brilliant as me.

And yet, in the mess, im reserved and sedate,

And as modest as modest can be.

You'll say that my function in life is to heal

And devotedly tend to the ill;

To give a fresh hope to the halt and the lame,

And even - Oh, Rapture - at last attain fame

By giving my name to a pill.

But can you imagine the sorrow I'll feel

With no Army Forms left to fill.

"NX70280"

Were those that were thought to be brave and strong just as scared as those in their command?

Porthole Reverie

Gazin' through my porthole

At the lazy swellin' sea,

Thinkin' hard of distant lands

So far astern of me.

Yes! Thinkin' of a sun-drenched land,

An' rollin' black-soil plains

Where we mustered "clean-skin mickies"

In the months before the rains.

Thinkin' of a homestead

Where the "paper-barks" grow tall,

An' the laughter int he stock-yards

When some "Myall" got a fall.

Ah! Those days were always pleasant,

An' our lives were always free,

When we'd celebrate the brandin'

Up in Darwin on the spree.

Grazin' through my porthole,

At a sea of deepest blue

It's nice to go on dreamin'...

But for me, there's work to do.

"DX113"

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