Dat 14 - The Event

Woke at about 8 after going to sleep at 2am.

Today is the day of the big "Americans - Come and meet my brothers from Australia!" party. I hate parties that don't have a defined start and/or finish time.

Clare asked me to drive her over to Donny's place to pick up his ride-on mower so I dropped her over there (5 minute walk) and drove back. No problems with getting used to the other side of the road. Getting used to the car was the difficult thing. It stalls when you take your foot off the accelerator at the stop signs. It is so low to the ground, it's like driving a skateboard.

Hung up a cheap set of clear Christmas lights over the outside picnic table area. Just nailed into the tree - they won't last more than a year (the lights, not the handiwork) - and then Tim woke and decided to take charge of the job. He was just in time to hand me the last nail as he started on his running commentary of how the lights should really have been reinforced etc etc. and how trees work. Inspired by the pep talk, I decided to ensure that that last nail was as perfectly hammered as my limited skills could muster.

Clark and Vera have arrived; and so is the beginning of the multitude that will take over this severely under-resourced establishment. I hope when they bring a plate, they actually bring plates. Lotta' folks a'headin' thisa wey!

Vera (Earl's sister) talks with an extremely slow drawl that you would easily mistake for some sort of impairment or difficulty. They are all heavy smokers and love their Budweiser.

Many have absolutely no filter when it comes to talking about who's in jail, who's fathered who and who is sleeping around. Country wisdom flowed as much as the beers.

Sat most of the night chatting with Clare's old neighbour from two doors up (He's moved out to Sweet Springs). A gently spoken man who drives truck for a living and has three young boys (Dakota (12), Robert (10) and Kyle (8).) The boys are very nicely spoken and seem gentle although the stories of the child carnage at home bely their calm demeanour.

Robert and Kyle are attending Summer School. They get paid by the education system here to attend. $100 for the month, $25 penalty for non-attendance on a single day. If you're away for four days, there is no way that you can get the kids to attend for the rest of the summer school.

Sara and Jerry's daughter, Paula, joined us at the outside picnic table (away from the smokers and heavy partying) She has three children: Anthony (13) I met in the kitchen when he showed me his new pocket knife, and other boy (12 but slightly taller) and a daughter. Notice how the information gets sketchier further down the line.

We talked about the schooling system here and their experiences in schools with teachers. They are a lovely family and the kids are friendly and warm to chat to. They are all on their 3 month Spring break at the moment.

We were just near the fire and the kids made S'mores : a toasted marshmallow with chocolate in between two gram cracker biscuits. Equivalent flavour would be a chocolate wheaten biscuit with hot marshmallow on it.

After the kids left, the adults just sat around talking and drinking and smoking and drifted off one by one. I went to bed and chatted with Ben on Facebook for a while and then went to sleep.