This game, this life.
If any more proof was needed to show the abundance of Australia, of course shown already on the day after arrival at Scheyville camp with all those oranges on trees, it would have to be the provisions in that huge communal dining room during breakfast, lunch and dinner of huge gallon drums of very chunky IXL melon and pineapple jam, with no control on how much one ladled out.
Real fruit jam in Holland was expensive and mother just used to give our sandwiches not much more than a slight hint of jam in order to save for our future. Imagine our joy with being able, and totally unshackled from any restrictions, to scoop unlimited ladles of jam out of those huge drums of fruit laden conserve on top of mountains of pre-sliced white bread. It was totally out of dad’s control but he managed to accept it for what it was.
A few days later our perception in all that abundance of goodness and sweetness was somewhat dented and damaged. We often just used to ladle our food on plates and walk to our hut, eat in private, away from the swills and spills of the food hall where everyone just used to eat sitting on large benches and wooden tables. Well, eating was a bit of a euphemism, more as if the whole of Europe were on a trough and had been waiting for a good feed. Some of those hungry souls used to straddle the wooden seats horselike and eat with the food plate tucked between their legs. Perhaps they felt is was a more secure way of remaining in possession of the food.
It was when we had just arrived back to our hut with plates full, got seated and ready to fork into the lamb chops, when a man on a pushbike was riding fast from hut to hut shouting, ” there are maggots in the meat.” Now, we had experienced war and famine, head lice, tobacco shortages and indeed food shortages but no way would it have been even remotely possible to have had the experience of ‘maggots in meat’. There simply never was any meat during the 1940-45 second world war.
Peering onto our plates and deep into the crevices of the chops in particular, it only took a second to see what the pushbike man had heralded a minute earlier. Maggots indeed. This of course took the edge of our sojourn into this new country somewhat, if not those chops as well, but what the heck; we were told Australia needed people with pioneering spirit.
If I knew this photo was going to be seen by all, I would have put my green plastic laundry basket out of sight, the painting behind it is one of Gerard’s…
Chop crevasse,
No panniers but it came with one of those water flasks that one drinks from while akimbo on the bike and everone is looking.
Total nonchalance is important while doing that. It feels great afterwards.
I refuse to wear those lycra cycle pants though. I was told that serious cyclists don’t wear underpants under those. Those lycra clad cyclists sometimes saunter into our favourite coffee lounge, all sweaty and bulbous looking and bisweilen then end up standing next to a seated lady ready to tuck into her croissant just inches away.
The abundance of Australia is shown to its fullest and finest in that top photo. That’s the main game.
Went for bike ride to the other end of The Lane Cove National Park with Wordsworth this morning. At one stage, climbing a particularly steep hill, I thought my time had come but the look on his face when I got to the top was worth it. Smile ear to ear. “Com’on Poppy. We’re almost there.”, and away he went again.
Its his new bike you see. A Mongoose “Menace”, if you can believe it. He just won’t get off it. I, of course, was riding the bike I’ve told you all about before. The heart attack bike. Its a family tradition. Heart attacks on that bike. I’m just trying to make up my mind whether I should have it now or later.
Feeling great at the moment though. Glowing all over. We took a pull in a row boat just to round the morning off, so I’ve exercised all my major muscle groups. That should do it for while though, don’t you think? Don’t want to overdo it this early in the spring.
Shades of Swallows ans Amazons.
Yes, I think that’s more than enough Warrigal.
I am in awe of anyone doing a steep hill at any age. With my background I probably inherited a bike gene but Australia is by and large not flat and those hills are killers.
Helvi and I bought electric bikes. They have all the (12) gears of normal bikes but with the lithium batteries one has the choice of using a ‘push-up’ going uphill.
Helvi’s bike is a lady’s bike with no cross bar. She looks most elegant when mounting it.
Does it have panniers gerard?
They would be useful for collecting fauna. Maggots and such like!
Ok switching my phone off now. I was just testing my response time and instant thoughts.
Have a good weekend.
Warrigal, you are so right; the main thing, the most important thing in life is to keep the mind on the main thing, maggots have no part in that…well , ok, they are there at the periphery of things, like so many other things, part of the experience…
I think a few maggots might not be a serious problem, especially if they are dead so no wriggling to catch your eye. There is a more serious implication about the amount of bacteria in the meat though. Perhaps there was a damn good reason why they cooked meat to death in those days. Pink on the inside might mean a very unpleasant and messy few hours.
I am sure that they are used in medicine somewhere. To eat gangrenous flesh I think.
They would be quite juicy then I suppose- and make a tasty canope.
Are you drooling Voicy.
Yes they are; I investigated this when my elderly aunt had a problem with an infected wound that wouldn’t heal due to medication issues. But it cleaned up without maggots jsut before they got desperate. You can order special hospital grade maggots. Apparently in certain situations infected wounds heal faster with them. They serve the dual purpose of cleaning and disinfecting.
As for whether or not I am drooling, no more than usual.
Ahh that’s cute.
If they were any fatter they would be wittity gribs, which may tast a bit like chicken. They may be a good source of protien as well.
Well, after all they eat snails and frogs in France, horse meat in Holland, tripe somewhere else and even brains and other horrid things, why not m…
I probably have eaten a maggot unknowingly, definately swallowed the odd fly. I like snails and frogs legs and ate tripe, brains and other offal in my youth. I’ve even eaten snake in Chnia. Mind you if the maggots were wriggling out of the meat I think I’d pass.
I have heard these stories many times, so yesterday I did not read this one.
Now that I have actually read it I have to say I found it very funny; those poor Poles sitting on the benches like riding a horse, holding on to their plates of food like to dear life. I suppose they were hanging on to their lives, Australia kept them alive. When you think about most Aussies would not have eaten anything better, maybe just something fresher.
Thank you Austalia for keeping Gerard alive; it was worth it, just look at those beautiful grandsons of his!
Anyhow, the boys are beautiful and clever; I’ll rise above the ugly mxxxxts bravely, gO.
I remember you peering.
I know who you are, chop….
My father was a crevasse. You should have seen him he could harbour 30 maggots.
I remember you crevasse.
I was hungry so just cut the lot of you loose and ate the rest. I believe you all grew up very nicely and were always a credit to your parents.
One of you had musical leanings.
chop, we are going out to lunch ,after reading this I have to change the venue…it’s going to be VEGETARIAN for me…
eeeeewwwww yuk glad my stomach contents remained insitu
Now , this is what i find offensive…
Please, can i ask Voice to put a nicer picture here. Gerard if you want someone to read your story, please remove those horrible m….
Gerard, I am serious for once; I am going on hunger strike if you keep that picture up there.
H.
How could you not be enchanted by the maggots’ beady little eyes. The are so communal and interactive. We could learn a lot from them.
I believe they have a taste not unlike almonds. The widgety grub springs to mind as well.
Anyway, the chess and grandsons are just a ploy to get you in. It worked!