There are not too many climatic events that can irritate us in our beloved Outback. As we are basically camping inside a tiny A-Liner with a roof and electricity, we are able to escape heat, cold and/or rain. However, in the "twilight" of our 2024 Great Escape, the addition of swirling red dust was a tad too much for our comfort and good humour.
The movie,"Heat and Dust", released in 1983, and based on the novel by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, followed two semi-related English women, experiencing India sixty years apart. Olivia travelled to India as a newly-wed in 1923, but after a scandal, was divorced by her husband. His granddaughter Anne, having read Olivia's letters to her sister Marcia, became fascinated, going to India to learn more of Olivia's story. Both engaged in affairs with Indian men. In Sitapur, they both fall pregnant. Olivia's was terminated and she ended up in hospital where all was revealed. Olivia eloped to Kashmir with her Indian lover, and he deserted her there in a house he bought for her.. She remained in the hill country for the rest of her life. Anne ultimately decided against an abortion, moving away from the heat and dust of Sitapur, to Kashmir, where she planned to have her child.
So, our heat, wind and dust was obviously not as trying as in India, but in a pretty small caravan that leaked like a sieve, we still found conditions rather difficult. The wind howled periodically in both Sandstone and Leonora, which was both unwelcome and uncomfortable. In addition, the temperature, whilst not officially over the top, added to the general feeling of dusty tackiness.
On our final morning in Leonora, the wind would not let up. My shower was really a waste of time. Packing up was tiring and dirty. We hit the road to Kalgoorlie around half past ten, thoroughly sick of the flying dust.
We arrived in Kalgoorlie somewhat relieved. Yes the wind was still ever present, but the dust was not as intense. Yesterday, I had my first haircut in over eight weeks. Utter bliss and many thanks to Direct Cut in Boulder. I went from sporting an exceedingly shaggy Monkees style to once more resembling a short, round woman with a reasonable coiffure.
And last evening, I met up with my legendary friend, Mizz Jo Russell, whom I have cherished and admired for many years. gives away both our ages... Anyway, Jo has wrangled the Kalgoorlie community into a force of positivity for her daughter Megan, who is autistic. She is expecting Megan to have a productive life and has set up a microenterprise for this purpose. She continues to advocate, engages in paid employment herself and having her older son Daniel still at home. Jo is the epitome of a super heroine. She has a fiery red head of hair and just needs a cape to complete the look.
We leave for home this morning. Surprisingly, I have really enjoyed our short stay in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, but I need to go home. . Maybe age is creeping in - I love our bed, bathroom and easy-care living space at Station House. And this trip has not been quite as relaxing as we'd hoped. Several catastrophes have marred the Great Escape, including my scalding burn five weeks ago, which is still healing.
I will be back to the Gallery next Thursday. I am hoping a few good nights' sleeping in our bed restores my passion.
Stay tuned!
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