Technorati Tags: central victoria, children, Family, rural, tree change
Language Most Foul
Reading a great book at the moment, given to me by my friend Barb.
It’s called Language Most Foul, and it’s by Ruth Wajnryb.
It’s about, umm, the social anthropology and history of swearing in Australia.
My favourite parts so far are the following 2 quotes:
The first from the comedian Judith Lucy, regarding her role the movie “Crackerjack”:
My first line is “fuck off”. My last line is “you’re fucked”. So obviously I go on quite an emotional journey.
The next, imagined, from Joan of Arc:
I don’t suppose it’s gonna fucking rain is it?
One of the many good points she makes is that if you were an alien arriving from another planet, and wanted to use the body of work which makes up modern linguistics as a way to learn how to talk to people, you would be screwed, because this line of study has so neglected taboo words, which not only make up so much of speech and writing now, but are extremely nuanced. Newcomers to a language usually raise a laugh with their attempts at swearing – kids and ferners, simply because the usage is so nuanced.
She covers the “Dirty Dozen” – the 12 most commonly used swearwords in Australia, but probably more fun is all the stuff about context, about how we use the words and the service they do us in different contexts. As the blurb says, this is a book for “anyone who loves language – or has ever stubbed their toe.”
But she does all this without pretending that she doesn’t have a potty mouth, and letting us know from the start that it’s always made her feel good to talk dirty. Never dry or boring. So there’s always this half smile, and you feel the whole way through that you really do want to sit and watch bad tv and drink beer with her. In fact, she comes across a lot like Judith Lucy. In fact, as I read the book, Judith Lucy is standing in for the narrator, for me. Judith can swear a blue streak. I think we all use little actors and sets for the stories we read. Like kids playing with dolls. I’d love to see some of those sets.
We all read the text, but our imaginations put the scenery and the sounds together for us. When I read about a cave, I will picture my cave, which is near Normanville on the Fleurieu peninsula in South Australia. You picture yours. In non fiction, if the narrator’s voice is strong enough, she becomes a homunculus too. Well, I hear Judith Lucy’s voice narrating this book, and I love it. She’s made for the part.
Now playing at Tarilta:
06 You Better Move On from the album “Country Got Soul” by Travis Wammack
Joy Spring
Why is Vaughan Springs called Vaughan Springs?
Well, I don’t know who Vaughan was, but let me show you the Springs.
Or rather, the effect of the Springs.
Much of the surrounding cleared land looks like this:
Pretty dry.
But Vaughan Springs is in the valley of the Loddon River, and has arterial water close to the surface. You can drink from the natural springs around here. So it’s lower than the surrounding landscape, and green. Look:
That’s Vaughan down there, the green bits down near the water. That’s where Tarilta is.
Technorati Tags: central victoria, central victoria, country, tree change
A little white bridge
To get to Tarilta you cross a white single lane wooden bridge. We are just on the other side.
Or is it that you are on the other side, now?
Technorati Tags: central victoria, country, tree change
My Office
This week I am sleeping with my boss.
That would be Fiona.
I am doing some work for her on a web site. This is my office (see, I am painting the web site by hand, pixel by pixel. We make do out here in the country.).
Technorati Tags: country, rural, tree change
Possumhouse
In this shed lives a mother brushtail possum and her child. They live in the top floor of an abandoned linen cupboard.
Wherever I lay my Hat…
Valentines day mini-feast
The wonderful Tahli is here to help us out. Last night we had a candlelight Valentines Day mini-feast of Tom Yum soup followed by peach pie with a slightly ginger-flavoured crust.
Ethan and Tahli have been building a cubby together, among lots of other wonderful stuff. My favourite Ethan quote on the topic of Tahli is “Dad, when are you guys going to go away again to that Tahli can look after me?” Right now Tahli is at the Chewton pool with both children.
The Tree Change Begins
We have arrived in Vaughan Springs.
Where the hell is Vaughan Springs?
Well, to tell you the truth, I’m pleased you don’t know yet. That’s one of the wonderful things about this place. It’s a well-kept secret. Nobody’s heard of it. We hope you will come to know it though, when you come to visit us!
We’re in a little miners cottage called Tarilta. It belongs to Martin and Helen, friends of Karen & Pete. For the 4o years prior to that Peggy and Danny lived here. Danny was a circus magician and peggy his assistant. After that they ran a bakery together in Maryborough.
Lots of little surprises in the garden.
There is a composting toilet we have dubbed “Howard”. Hey, it’s a John, it’s full of shit and it puts you in an untenable position.
We got off to a bit of a bad start with Howard, but things are looking up. I have a feeling you’ll be hearing more about him.
We arrived late last night and everyone is having fun. We had a wonderful first day. Here Ethan and I are making coconut and orange chocolate chip biscuits.
Skylight with leaves.
Anne’s letterbox, across the street. Her son is a sculptor.
We will keep you posted with news from Tarilta. Gotta go now as I have some important work to do: Hide and Seek, building cubby houses and swordfights.
Technorati Tags: children