MY BOOKS
"FROM THE CITY TO THE BUSH"
It's a long story, and although it seemed like a daunting experiment, my impetus to compile a "Selfie" book came about from a comment by my (then) younger boys.
"Dad, we don't know much about your young days, and what you did". So the seed for an autobiography was planted in my feeble head. Where do I start, what do I write. I have never been a somebody, just an ordinary bloke when's all said and done.
And then a rush of inspiration enters the equation, "if my boys are interested in my life story maybe other people will be likewise". Maybe some money will come my way, and the reader must be advised that it did not come from some self indulgent motivation. Like 'der'.
In a sense it is rather bizarre where head stuff comes from. As I start to compile and furiously put my thoughts in writing a tragic event occurs in 'my town', regrettably an ex-neighbor loses her life on a flooded causeway. Myself and other members of our local STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE are seconded to search and recover.
As a form of personal therapy I decided to write a poem, entitled "ODE TO THE FLOODED CAUSEWAY", and this little sojourn in writing rhyming prose snowballed into writing another 28 or so BUSHY poems. So this produced another brain cruncher; why not include them in my book? All the poems are based on true life experiences, nothing spectacular mind. A preview is available on GOOGLE PLAY BOOKS.
THE LINK BELOW WILL FIND "FROM THE CITY TO BUSH", LONG ONE DONT 'YA THINK? YOU BUY I EAT.
THIS LINK if you are interested in eBooks.
THEN ENTER; "FROM THE CITY TO THE BUSH"
FRONT COVER, THATS ME BOOFHEAD
THE BACK COVER, is she not a darling.
THIS IS HOW "FROM THE CITY TO THE BUSH" originated I think you will understand.
THEN IT WAS TIME FOR ANOTHER DIGRESSION, YOU WILL CALL IT A FRAGMENTED HEAD.
After all that’s happened in Australia, in fact world wide, this story is a bit of an anti-climax. This is a small histrionics of how mother nature can come along and spoil the party. However, the attached verse was the motivation for this pitiful attempt at penning what can only be described as a pisspoor book.
A next door neighbor perished.
IT’S NATURE’S WILL. Brunswick Valley Floods 2008.
WHAT A DOWN POUR, AND probably ISN’T OVER YET.To all of the people affected by the inundation in the BRUNSWICK VALLEY and in particular northern NSW and southern QLD, please stay safe. The damage to property and infrastructure will be horrendous and present many interruptions to normal life for some time. To ALL my colleagues in the STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE and supporting agencies, RFS, NSWFB, VRA, DOCS, THE POLICE, ST VINNIES, RED CROSS, SLSC and all the other people from other agencies, KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN.
To all the holiday makers and visitors to our areas, BLOODY SORRY about that, you will come back? PLEASE.
To the people stranded with limited food and essential commodities’, everything is being implemented to assist you in your time of need. Every logistic avenue will be investigated to get you some help; IT’S THE AUSTRALIAN WAY. Keep out of harms way.
And to anybody who thinks they can tackle those flooded causeways, GET A LIFE, cause you’ll lose it if you throw caution out the window. In our little region of the BRUNSWICK VALLEY, Northern NSW, no less than 7 motor vehicles have been swept from inundated crossings, 3 were YOU BEAUT four-wheel drives, some with multiple passengers. Some haven’t been seen yet. All lives were spared.
OUR ADVICE TO YOU; DON’T BLOODY DO IT!! We are not a towing service. Our members don’t need tragedy in our patch. AGAIN, to our affected citizens, please wait it out, help will come.
FLOODS, BIG TIME. Jan 2008.
HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT THE TOTAL FOR MOTOR VECHILES WASHED FROM FLOODED CAUSEWAYS HAS RISEN TO 12, that’s right, one dozen. You wanna be No.13? Do you know the BRUNSWICK VALLEY Northern NSW, MAIN ARM and WILSONS CREEK? Go on temp the Devil’s number; we’ll be very cross.
We can’t blame the 4-wheel drive Manufacturers, they use professional drivers and they tell us just that, and, 50% of the cars where sedans, however all are irresponsible impetuous drivers. My organization don’t need you, get your act together.
Many lives have been lost in our little area; TAKE YOUR HAND OFF IT.
AND THEN IT HAPPENED, SO SAD, SO NEEDLESS.
ODE TO THE FLOODED CAUSEWAY.
©John d Farley 2008
That buggers come up again.That was quick, so they were right, but what would they know, this my domain.
Lets have a go, will I, nah, take the shoes off and wade a little,
Seems ok, what’s the staff gauge say? Only one meter? gees I must have a piddle.
I’m nervous, I’m anxious; calm is the antonym, which knows better.
Have a go yer mug, maybe one day the word is r.i.p. That’s it, let her rip, me names god, so send me a letter.
So bloody easy, didn’t I tell yeah? I’ll drive her fast make a wave think of the Ark.
Well, the light’s growing dim, so what, I’ll be home for tea and family stuff and hear old faithful bark.
And howl and whine and fret and act like a lonely animal without a friend, she knows darn well what’s up.
I’ll get there, didn’t I tell yer, I am invincible, I am a’winnin.
You beauty, nearly there, piss of log, don’t need you, or more got the bastards got me, I’m go’ in swimmim.
Strange emotions, many odd thoughts, peaceful stuff.
Me life, me mates, me wife and kids, the old bitch.
Must learn a better word for me dog, now here’s the pitch,
‘I’ve bugger him up’ and all’s getting black, heaps of bubbles.
Bubbles, I can use them, yes I can. Their fleeting things, I grab for them. I knew now I’m in very deep troubles.
Upside down, I don’t have a clue, the air I breath is, its, well just like tea.
Is this the end? No coming back, no more you, no more me?
The feeling of release is somehow strange but relaxin’. What have I done, I don’t blame myself, it was somehow stupid but now it’s quite, and real perplexin’.
I didn’t have much time for prayer, but nows a pretty fair time.
Look after me wife and kin please god, oh, and that bitch of mine.
When yah find me, someday soon, wields that bloody cudgel.
All I want’s is my wife, me kids, me bitch, and the mates at Billinudgel.
Here we go there’s that last bubble, peace has got me, me wife, my kids, me old dog.
me wife me me dogs kid.
me wife me kids me dog,
I made a bad choice, better next time, forgive me and learn.
Me wife me kids and me dog.
I would still be here but for that friggin’ great log.
John d farley © 2008,