Dads stories

A coffee toast in an empty crate.

Previous email: I read your question on why a whole sack of onions to Hedwig. Her Answer: “what is a sack full of onions amongst so many people”. There are currently 26 and a half members in this family. So then!

Current email: Continuing with YOUR comments on the onions (re creating gas). Hedwig answered: “that’s men for you. They often make comments on things they don’t have a clue about”. So then…now we are both sitting in the shit. What a poor sod I am!

Your description of the packed suitcases brings back a memory from November 1961. We had already sold all our stuff. The apartment I had beautifully renovated stood totally empty, apart from the two crates we were allowed to take with us. We were about to pack the electric hotplate when we had the idea to make a last cup of coffee. We both sat across from each other in one of the empty crates and toasted to the new life ahead of us.
This was for me symbolic re my expectations. We had sold our priceless goods and chattels for little more than the price of a sandwhich, and I felt as free as a bird. But what was waiting for us was not quite as uncivilised as I had imagined. We were housed in old military barracks, in hostels, for interim accommodation until we had the means to find our own accommodation. But in the end that was not so easy because Hedwig immediately became pregnant …in our first month in Australia. That also was symbolic. And on top of that ..with twins. Of course we didn’t know that we were expecting twins, we had no money for regular medical checkups. Because of that the wonderful surprise was even greater, when the time came.
But for Hedwig things were not that easy. These barracks were Nissen huts, those half rounded corrugated tin huts. They were the ideal solar collectors, the sun always shon in the right corner onto the tin. And I can tell you, at 40 deg this had a tremendous impact. When we sat down, we would immediately jump up, because we burned our bums. The chairs were glowing from the heat. And everything else was too. She spent the hottest time of the day under the shower, which was some distance away in the shower block. Both babies were over 8 pounds when they were born. In the end I bought an old car, an Austin utility, with a roof over the tray, ideal for kids. And so each night after work I drove them around so that they could cool off.
To get out of the hostel was now impossible, especially with 5 kids and the few pounds that I earned. We moved initially into a new hostel in North Sydney. There they had normal wooden baracks which were much better. And in any case we had become used to our situation. The entire four years we spent in the hostels were like a holiday of sorts. Every Friday I packed my family into the ute, including the playpen for the twins and their pram. The tent was put on the top and we travelled into the blue yonder, camping. It became our best years here in Australia.
Gerd was the one who benefited most from this time. Whenever there is an opportunity he grabs his family and takes off, into the bush, with the tent. He is away right now in Wilsons Promitory, a national park on an part island southeast from here. And his three kids show the benefits….healthy and strong! His future is a bit uncertain as far as work is concerned. Chanel 7, the tv station where he works as technical manager, is downsizing. And nobody knows how that will work out. Anyway, he should get a good payout and he won’t have any problems getting work. He is a specialist in sports events, in particular tennis. Hence his annual trip to Paris and Wimbledon, to the world cups. But even so…we’ll have to wait and see.
And before you know it…another long email. I had not intended it to be so long. At least you will find a greeting from me when you return…with your mighty hangover. Pain and joy always go nicely togther, hand in hand.

Just received an email from Inge. It will be a merry end of the year: a wedding (Helga’s eldest), our golden wedding anniversary, a new grandchild (Helga’s 3rd daughter), Christmas…..

Email details:
Good Morning (or whenever you read this / afternoon / evening etc!)
The Mt Ev xxxx would like to invite you over for another Family Games night and Christmas Planning night at our place. Please let us know if Satruday 16th October (1999) would suit ..or supply an alternative date. We are not available 30th October (as we will be in Surfers). Love, Dennis, Peter and Inge.

posted by Inge @ 10:22 am