Monthly Archives: October 2009

In training for South America

two dogs

Taro (white) and Bertie on Mt Pan Oct 27, 2009.

Breathless upon walking up the stairs at the Lyric Theatre at Star City the other day. Leaving for South America (first stop Santiago, Chile) on November 18. How am I going to traipse all round Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador? Rather scary. So I’ve started a training programme. Well, I started it on Monday actually, then skipped Tues and Wed and coming back to it today. Took Bertie and Taro up to Mt Panorama, recent scene of kangaroo carnage followed by V8 car race. Now a pleasant, quiet spot with walkers and dogs being walked. Today is a gorgeous spring day. Very un-windy up there. Here’s an uninteresting pic of Bertie and Taro on Mt Pan. I’m practicing using the little point-and-shoot for the trip.

 

Loquats

Just ate an absolutely divine custard apple, sitting at the table reading bits of the Sun Herald. Scooped all the skin and seeds into our little bench-top compost bin, noticing how large and satisfyingly glossy the seeds were. Now, what did those seeds remind me of? Oh yes, loquat seeds. I remember, as a child, sitting up in a loquat tree eating the loquats. I remember loquats being around. They must be a bit of a Mediterranean-climate, Western Australian thing. They were at a neighbouring farm when we lived at Gin Dong near Bussleton. Was there a loquat tree in the back yard at 10 Hill Street, Carnarvon? I can imagine one into that scene, near the never-used aviary behind the laundry. But it might be imaginary. I’m remembering the taste. I’d like to find one and eat one. I’m sure they’re in the “exotics” section of the supermarket, where bits of food have come to us from the far ends of the globe, emitting carbon all the while.