Schools out. Summer holidays for about 6 weeks. That means we are going to the house on the river. We are all very excited, my sisters and I.
The night before we are ecstatic, chattering all at once. We will be leaving very early in the morning before sunrise, so Mum decides to give us all ¼ of a sea-sick pill to see if we can get a bit of sleep before the big day. We are told they make you sleepy, so we get sleepy and go quietly to bed. Clever Mum.
She is busy packing: swimsuits, gumboots, trousers and shirts and of course hats against the merciless sun.
Holidays are the best time because we get to go to Gould’s Bay on the Hawkesbury River. There are no roads, no cars, no shops and the only way to get there is by way of a small ferry which sails the river with passengers to set down and pick up, groceries from the little shop in Brooklyn where we catch the ferry and then the mail. The captain of the ferry is called Cook, something we don’t relate to until we are much older. He is usually drunk. It takes a day to get to Brooklyn and we sail at night. I remember once, late at night, the ferry ran aground on a sand bank and it took hours until the tide shifted the boat.
Mum’s borrowed a Mini to take us the long drive to the river. Early next morning we are ready long before she is. There isn’t much we can do to help as the suitcases are very heavy. She has bought food too. Mum packs the car, the largest suitcase on the roof and the smaller ones in the trunk.
We set off, all of us in high spirits, especially Mum, we would all sing on the road. You see we would all behave very well at Gould’s Bay, we would never argue or fight and we always knew how to spend our time. Playing around the house, talking to the goats and patting them. Not straying too far from the house and Mum as the bush is teaming with all sorts of venomous creatures and anyway we wanted to feel secure and being close to Mum was the best way.
Mum would take us to the river every holiday she could get the opportunity. She loved it too. She would read a lot of books. So did we. My first one being The Wind in the Willows. Sometimes a lot of other grown-ups would meet us at the ferry and would come along to stay for a few weeks as well. We would take mud baths in the swamp. This was only during the summer because in the winter hols it could be very cold, freezing sometimes. We’d bathe in the river too, hanging on to the jetty as there were whirlpools further out.
No passports needed, no school books, everything was going to be fun, although if it was very very hot then it would be a bit dangerous but Mum took care of us so we kids weren’t worried at all. Never gave it a thought. Once, during a heat wave, the temperature was way over 100, she put us all in a creek pool behind the house and served us cordial and told us to stay put until she said so.
I used to look forward to these holidays long beforehand. I was never ever disappointed.
You see Mum would carry through with the holiday plans come hell or high water. Once we even drove through a bushfire with flames licking the roof of the car.
These holidays were heaven on earth for us- to get away from the city grime and hubbub and the thoughtlessness. Just the birds and animals of the bush, the fine weather , the starlit nights and peace between us all.
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Comments
SundaysChild | June 18, 2011 - 22:13
A delight to read. Thank you for sharing.
Highhat | June 18, 2011 - 22:26
They are the best childhood memories I have. Thanks Sundays- thanks for reading and leaving a comment.
;)Pia
Highhat | June 18, 2011 - 22:27
Thanks cherry fairy
barryj1 | June 19, 2011 - 01:06
Thanks for sharing this beautiful memory. The imagery really came alive.
seashore | June 19, 2011 - 04:11
Very much enjoyed, Pia
Coral x
Highhat | June 19, 2011 - 06:59
Thanks for reading Barry and leaving such a kind a comment.
;)Pia
Highhat | June 19, 2011 - 07:00
Thanks Coral. Glad you enjoyed.
;)Pia
insertponceyfre... | June 19, 2011 - 07:47
yes I enjoyed this too - you've conveyed the excitement very well
Silver Spun Sand | June 19, 2011 - 08:04
This is so very wonderful, Pia...a delight to read as Sunday's has already said, and that photo...totally enchanting.
Thanks for giving me such a lovely start to my Sunday morning housework;-)
Tina
seashore | June 19, 2011 - 08:08
Just found the photo - which one are you and where is/was this place Pia?
Silver Spun Sand | June 19, 2011 - 08:10
I was going to ask exactly the same thing;-)
Highhat | June 19, 2011 - 08:14
Thanks a lot Insert- really glad you enjoyed. It was such a great part of childhood to go on these holidays.
atb
;)Pia
Highhat | June 19, 2011 - 08:20
Hi Coral and Tina- hehe I am the one on the left of the photo, closest my Mother- short blonde hair- well actually it's the right in the photo- got it? this is from my childhood and youth in NSW Australia- a long drive from Sydney where we lived.
Thanks a lot for showing interest.
My sister has had all the old flicks scanned and put on a pin so I can look at them anytime. They were in my Mother's belongings when she passed away. She was one terrific Mum!!
ATB
;)Pia
Silver Spun Sand | June 19, 2011 - 08:47
And she sure looks it, Pia. She would be so proud of you now, I am sure;-) You look very much like your mother, by the way.
Tina;-)
Highhat | June 19, 2011 - 09:05
Yes we all look more like our Mother than our Father Tina. Thank you very much for your kind words. I'm so glad I could cheer up your Sunday- mine is too with your lovely comments.This is going to be a good day I'm sure.
Continue with a wonderful Sunday.
;)Pia
seashore | June 19, 2011 - 09:28
Thanks for that Pia. I thought you came from Denmark?
Highhat | June 19, 2011 - 10:39
Well it's a bit complicated. hehe My parents moved from Denmark to Australia when I was 1 year old, got divorced then as a 16 year old I moved back to my Father who meanwhile had moved back to Denmark. So now I am in Denmark- so you are quite right. See I said it was a bit complicated!! Ha ha- can hardly keep track of it myself.
atb
;)Pia
seashore | June 19, 2011 - 10:47
Thanks Pia! Not being nosey - just interested. I think one way or another most of us (on Abc anyway!) have had less than `ordinary' lives.
Anyway, this lovely piece has aroused lots of interest! Coral x
Highhat | June 19, 2011 - 11:00
You know Coral- you're not nosey at all- I am flattered by your interest. really it was also such an interesting time in Australia and I feel very priviliged to have had so many years down under. I had an urge to upload some more photos but thought it wasn't quite suitable for Abc but they are all very good pictures of the bush and nature which I was so fortunate as to having experienced.(sorry about my quirky english- funny how you just forget!!)
Yes we are a motley crew on ABC, all with different walks of life and it makes the writing so diverse and interesting doesn't it?
have a great Sunday
;)Pia
Silver Spun Sand | June 19, 2011 - 12:37
Yes, thanks for sharing, Pia;-) It's days like today bring it home to me what I like best about ABC.
Tina;-)
skinner_jennifer | June 19, 2011 - 15:24
Hi Pia,
sorry to get to this a bit late. I really enjoyed
reading your childhood memories and the photo only
added to the magic, of what it must have been like.
What an amazing time it must have been for you,
especially with all your sisters to share it with.
I think this was very worthy of the cherries and
one I shall read again and again.
Thankyou for sharing.
Jenny.
Highhat | June 19, 2011 - 15:46
That is a very kind comment Jenny. I am so glad you enjoyed this-probably not as much as I enjoyed writing it and reminiscing.
Thank you and you mustn't apologize- I put it up yesterday so that's not long at all.
atb
have a lovely evening
;)Pia
seashore | June 19, 2011 - 17:10
Thanks for your further reply to my queries, Pia. I always wanted to visit Oz but it never happened and not likely now.
Your English isn't qirky at all - when you write it's perfect!
Coral x
Louise178 | June 19, 2011 - 19:39
I loved this Pia it reminded me slightly of Gerald Durrell, I bet you have more to write you know, wish it hadn't ended ! :)
Highhat | June 19, 2011 - 20:11
Tehe Louise- Gerald Durrell- I could write something about a mad family too- Thanks a lot for the compliment.
;)Pia
Highhat | June 19, 2011 - 20:12
I'm glad you don't think my english is quirky when I write Coral- that's a relief.
have a great week
atb
;)Pia
celticman | June 21, 2011 - 10:00
really liked this. A delight to read. And the photo shows the motley crew involved, which is a bonus.
Highhat | June 21, 2011 - 14:58
Thanks Richard and Celtic- I am really glad I could take you on my trip down memory lane. Thanks for reading and leaving your kind comments.
atb
;)Pia
skinner_jennifer | June 21, 2011 - 16:17
Hi Pia,
I couldn't find Gould's Bay, but I managed to find
Hawkesbury river on google map, it looks absolutely
amazing, what beautiful scenery. It must have been
even better back in the day, when you were young.
I can quite understand, why you have so many happy
memories. Just thought I would come back and let you
know.
Just read it again and I loved the part about you
taking mud baths in the swamp, you must have had
brilliant skin! I could just picture you all, amazing.
Jenny.
RachelPatricia | June 24, 2011 - 12:21
I'm going to look up Hawkesbury River too now, Pia - it sounds magical and this was an absolute delight to read, a beautiful walk down memory lane well done on the cherries, just brilliant. The photo is also just as magical - I can clearly imagine the fun you all must have had and yes, your dear Mum sounds pretty magical, too :)
Have used the word 'magical' quite a bit in this comment but I think that's because that's the word that springs to mind most when I read this! Really enjoyed it and would love to hear more of your Aussie adventures ;o)
Thanks for a great read,
Rachel xx
Highhat | June 24, 2011 - 12:51
Ah Jenny thanks for coming back to me. Gould's Bay was the name of the property so it isn't on the Map but Brooklyn would be. Yes I had lots of adventures in Aussie.
;)Pia
Highhat | June 24, 2011 - 12:54
Hi Rachel I would like to write about some more of my adventures if I could get my head around it. I'm not too good at this at the moment. It's getting a bit difficult. Not that's it hard to look back- it's just a bit strenuous with the language. But I'd love to share more. Thanks a lot for reading and I'm really glad you liked it.
;)Pia
MistakenMagic | June 26, 2011 - 18:28
A great bit of nostalgia, Pia. This was a joy to read- glad you have such fond memories!
Magic xxx
Highhat | June 26, 2011 - 19:53
Thank you very much Magic- for commenting
and taking the time to read- much appreciated
;)Pia
hulsey | September 21, 2011 - 12:40
What a wonderful place Gould's Bay sounds,Pia. I read this with a smile on my face, and imagined you, your sisters and your mother singing on the road. Incidentally, I live very close to where Captain James Cook was born, so your comments on the ferry captain amused me. To drive through a bushfire must have been terrifying. Anyway, I really enjoyed this and it was written well.
Highhat | September 21, 2011 - 14:49
Thanks a lot Hulsey- kind of you to read and comment. Yes it was such a beautiful time, having vacations there. So peaceful. I don't even know where Captain James Cook was born? We sure did learn a lot about the early settlers at school and there have been a lot of films made the past 50 years or more about the penal colonies. We were immigrants. I am rambling-
;)Pia
hulsey | September 21, 2011 - 15:17
Captain Cook was born in Marton, near Middlesbrough, in the north east of England.