Such a lazy Friday afternoon. This time a week ago, I was sound asleep in our wonderful, familiar bed. Since then, I have been slowly formulating my post knee replacement regime, to include exercise, rest, great food and the odd vino. Yesterday, our jaunt to the Big Smoke was a tad too ambitious. Seeing my surgeon Kon Kazacs and getting the thumbs up that I am on the right track plus a delicious Vietnamese lunch probably was enough. Throwing in the supermarket, Avon Valley meats, a chemist and the bottleshop was, most definitely, a Bridge Too Far. Absolutely knackered by the time we had unpacked, I ate some jelly for dinner and hit the sack with pain relief and ice packs. I awoke this morning fully refreshed after a twelve hour snooze, ready for a spot of housework and rejoining the human race...
Which includes continuing my amused observations of the media's five minute frenzy with Heavenly Beverley's drug bust and aftermath.
Firstly, I thoroughly enjoyed the the delicious irony of last weekend's headline and the special investigation that was plastered all through the Sunday Times/Slimes, which was all about Beverley (except the actual property was located at Mt Kokeby). York, officially the "oldest inland town" in Western Australia has tended to lord this position over Beverley since both towns were established. York has been home to festivals, events, shows and perhaps a touch of superiority. Yet, York has been beaten to the title of "Weedbelt" (!) by our wonderful, historic, beautiful, arty and obviously drug riddled Heavenly Beverley.
Now the Sunday Times is not known for its journalistic excellence and certainly the report lived up to its fabulous reputation. Take the images splashed across the double paged spread, for example. The photograph of Beverley's award winning Heritage main street is overshadowed by a "Locality of Mt Kokeby" sign. The map shows the position of the farm between the town and another district, the Dale. The photographed locals were a hoot - two elderly blokes enjoying a beer at the Freemason's Tavern in Beverley, nowhere near the location of Marijuana Central. The crop photos could have been lifted from any other story and the photographs of the property just showed they were not the tidiest of residents.
But the publicity is still exquisite, and from this Blogger's point of view, fabulous for Heavenly Beverley. That the crop operation was substantial, the dried product fairly weighty and that the culprits were discovered all adds to our fame and fortune. The protagonists were obviously not terribly bright and according to one proud resident, their unmasking by the heroic coppers means that Beverley is once more safe from the scourge of Organised Crime!
Amongst the crims' classic failures was the belief that one can hide in the country. As outsiders, they were noticed, time and time again. Their questions about water, the frequent delivery of additional water, the presence of a monitored pine plantation on the property and that the Beverley Soaring Society flight paths are right over the top meant that they could not possibly remain invisible for too long.
The dust has started to settle after this sensational expose. Beverley's only other recent criminal activities was the burglary of the local IGA supermarket and damage to the Top Pub, which also injured a staff member. We are, contrary to some opinion, not the regional den of vice that may have been construed by the newspaper article.
However, in my humble opinion, Beverley's fame needs to be nourished and expanded. My dream of a Meerkat sanctuary continues to bob around inside my head. Added to my growing collection of Meerkat statuettes is Matilda, my Christmas brooch given to me by the divine Jan George. I try to wear Matilda most places so she broadens her view of the world.
Needless to say, Matilda will be joining us on our Northern adventures later in 2023. In the meantime, donated Meerkats would be gratefully received at the East End Gallery to become the founding pioneers of our sanctuary.
Till next time!
PS the East End Gallery officially reopens for 2023 on Thursday 26 January.
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