last hours

29 September 2013

My last hours in the George Brown Eco House and I am feeling sad. It has been a rich and rewarding time for me, alone high above the world in my stilted house, watching and listening to the visitors and gardeners below, watching and listening to the bird life. The unfettered freedom to write. It has been extraordinary.

First thanks goes to the board members of the Northern Territory Writers Centre for the residency. A very big thanks to executive director Panos Couros and manager Kaye Hall, both made me feel very welcome and comfortable. Wishing them the success as they work towards to Word Storm 2014 and all other new and exciting writing ventures.

Thanks to the George Brown Darwin Botanic Garden management and staff, Bryan, Nigel, Caroline, Helen, Jeff, Sharon and Jeff’s mate who looked after the open house one afternoon when there was a washer failure and key problem.

Thanks to the security guys who made me feel safe.

Thanks to my workshop attendees Helen, Kaye, Sophie and Kaye

Thanks to everyone who made me feel at home and welcome especially Sandra Thibodeaux for the Mandorah pub expedition, Kaye Aldenhoven for the trip to Fogg Dam and Stokes Wharf and Sophie Cunningham for company at the Darwin Sailing Boat Club on Grand Final Day.

It was wonderful to meet other writers at ‘Off the Page’ and ‘Read Back’ I would like to invite any Northern Territory poets to contact Perth Poetry Club http://www.perthpoetryclub.com/  for a gig if ever in Perth. Perth Poetry Club is held every Saturday 2-4pm at the Moon Café on William Street Northbridge and everyone is welcome.

Here is a list of my blogs, please visit.

poetry http://coralcarter.blogspot.com.au/

rubbish photography http://rubbishphotographer.blogspot.com.au/

once you see a crucifix once http://onceyousee.blogspot.com.au/

sky-porn: a daily photograph of the skyhttp://sky-porn.blogspot.com.au/

Thanks Darwin for some wonderful skies.

feeling at home

23 September 2013

Into the last week of my residency and I am feeling at home. I feel as if the fruit bats are my nocturnal friends, I can hear that the bush chooks are just warning off their mates not someone crying for help, I know the splashing in the toilet bowl is the green frog, he is shy and scared and the spider the size of a side plate is just hunting insects and not me. That whatever was running around the skirting board was probably a mouse. The snake which glided like a stream of molten gold across my path is still outside I hope.

I sleep through the reticulations ons and offs. I am enjoying the sound of the rainbow lorikeets as they leave for work in the morning and return at dusk. Keep an ear out for the magpie geese, an out of tune horn section, as they leave the oval and head somewhere else for the night. I like to see the first kites in the sky at dawn and the last at sunset. I love sitting on my little back porch which is high above the gardens and eat my breakfast before anyone is around and the animal night shift is going to bed. I spy silently on the tourists with maps in hand navigating their way to the bromeliad collection.

 I listen impatiently to the doves that have a lot to say but only one word to say it with. I wait for the hose to be turned on by the bloke who wears a red hat, drives a white ute and waters his patch of community garden each day at wilt o’clock when everything wilts. At this time I find the sound of running water cooling as I have wilted a little too. I recognise the regulars to the gardens  and their dogs. I miss the voices of children if they don’t come with their dads and mums to pick their produce. I like the photographers with back packs of gear photographing everything, a bit like me. I know the click of the gate latch to the Chook Hilton and I know which hen announces she has laid an egg. I am OK that the security guard comes in the night and rattles the door making sure my house is safe. But I worry that he may hear me snoring. 

My residence

The kitchen - last night I caught a glimpse of the resident mouse.

 Lounge with welcome vase of ginger flowers. My desk with NT News.

Bedroom -  where all night sounds are recorded by my hypersensitive hearing especially the bird which cries 'Halp! Halp! Haaaaaalp!!!' 

Bathroom. I am yet to get a pic of the tree frog in the toilet which gave me a 'You are in the Territory now' reminder on the first night.

Louvered view from my desk.

Community Gardens from the back stairs.

View in the other direction from the back stairs.