Saturday 28 January 2012

A reflection - Mind Tricks

Random woman looking out to sea on the rocks near the Bogey Hole, South Bondi
The mind does play tricks, I concede.

My grandmother moved to Blair Street, North Bondi, in August 1956, six weeks after her youngest son died in London, and the same month as my father upped-stumps and moved his protesting family onto a farm out the back of nowhere. We stayed with her for holidays every summer for well-nigh ten years after our diaspora.

Aye, I remember it well – and fondly.

The walk down past the ‘stink pipe’ to the terminus where ancient green and gold trams spewed forth their loud day-trippers. Hopping gingerly along the uneven expanse of hot concrete, down past the pavilion, until reaching the cool of the slowly withering Norfolk pines along Campbell Parade, being killed by the southerly busters, laden with salt.

Running back along the hard, wet sand from the Bogey Hole to the mermaids below Ben Buckler - mermaids that were ‘stolen’ regularly. Getting Grandpa’s prescriptions filled by the chemist, Mr Roper, and the interminable wait for the Kodak 400 ASA film to be developed.

The mind is selective, and does not ‘do’ perspective. My grandmother had a cabinet television in her dingy lounge-room where there was ample latitude to watch Fred and Ginger in a ‘bigger than Ben Hur’ spectacular crafted all the way back in 1938, before the beginning of time, even. How could she fawn over films that were so old and dated?

Yet, I travel in the blink of an eye back to the summer of 1963.

Dad and I on top of the brand spanking new AMP building in CQ, December 1963
I have researched the term 'bogey hole' and there is information in a comment.

This is my contribution to the Weekend Reflections community.

16 comments:

Carole M. said...

I was looking at that AMP building yesterday too; what a prime position it has, overlooking the harbour. Lovely photographs you shared and the woman with her photography gear sitting at Bondi must be having a ball...

Luis Gomez said...

Beautiful post Julie.

Jo said...

beautiful....

Gemma Wiseman said...

I read your post twice! So enchanted by your descriptive, lively words! The first photo of the "randon woman" is softly reflective of a dreamer over waters! I did not know the name of "Bogey Hole" at Bondi! A quirky name! And o what a beautiful memory in the last photo!

Jim said...

Wonderful post, Julie.

Julie said...

I have researched to find a background for the term 'Nogey Hole'. There are bogey holes at Newcastle, Bondi, Bronte and Mollymook as well as a myriad of other places around eastern NSW. Here is an exhaustive reference for the geeks amongst us http://coalriver.wordpress.com/2010/12/02/the-bogey-hole/

The consensus appears to be that bogey is a Daruk word for swimming. Generally, bogey holes are natural formations in ocean rocks.

Valerie said...

Aah . . what wonderful treasures we have in stored up memories! Thanks for sharing some of yours. I like your photo of the random woman and the wistfulness it evokes. Happy weekend Julie.

Kay L. Davies said...

I find the 1963 photo of you and your father far more wistful, Julie. I'm looking for you, and Kirsten, and Alannah in your young face. I remember 1963 very well, and many of my memories of that year are of the Pacific Ocean and special spots on the shores thereof.
K

Joan Elizabeth said...

I love the story and the photos, your writing is so rich in reflection. I've managed to get the old photos going for my reminiscences over at Burnbrae now. I think you will enjoy them when you get time to come and visit.

Melbourne Australia Photos said...

Beautiful, reflective post, Julie! Loved the first photo.

namaki said...

This is a very nice reflection over childhood and memories ...

Nellies said...

It's all been said by others already, but what a nice reflection. The way you write reads like a fairy tail and both photos are beautiful. Have a lovely weekend Julie.

Joe said...

Such wonderful memories. Thanks for sharing them.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Wonderful memories Julie. I love the picture of you and your Dad, the ones I have of my Dad and I when I was young I will treasure forever.

Stefan Jansson said...

Nice look into your family history here.

Rambling Woods said...

Yes it is a beautiful post and I looked at your meme...I used to love to go and look at old headstones as a kid and wonder what the people were like..I haven't done that in years....I do invite you to Nature Notes Wednesdays or Thinking Green Sunday..very..very small memes..lol...