HEAT AND HISTORY

The current freakouts seem a little odd to me. Open the NLA NEWSPAPERS and take a look at the HEATWAVES and FIRE and TEMPERATURES in Australia on early dates. Sometimes, so it seems to me, the major “change” is NO change in the way natural disasters are handled. Indeed,, considering the resources available “THEN” – and – “NOW” the change is what Eric Idol called in a comment on the Californian Fires “Bucket Brigades”.
I have just returned from a loop journey up the Gwydir from Grafton to Glen Innes and Back down the Waterfall Way from Armidale. At three points, the roads were reduced to one lane with temporary traffic lights. That was on Mountain Roads with no possibility of turning a vehicle and retracing one’s steps( or whatever you would call a car’s journeying). Just north of Ulmarra, the Highway has fallen into the River. Well done, Modern technology.
Now back to the Heat – which seems to be a shock to people. Check the NLAs and see what you think ! Type in Heat. Type in whatever you want. Get a good Celsius/Fahrenheit converter and seems to me it was rather warm “back then” as well.

JACARANDA WEEK IN GRAFTON

CHINESE IN NEW ENGLAND. A post by Jim Belshaw.

Life could be dangerous. In May 1852, the Phoenix sank on its way to the Clarence River with 12 Chinese on board[ A thirteenth was found wandering the beach with the Aborigines. He was reportedly quite mad, although no-one knew how he had got there.

That response was motivated by the DRAGON BOAT RACES. I was given a potted version of when they came to the Clarence and under whose auspices but have since heard several variations on that. Controversy has been an underlying thread of this very impressive week. I shan’t mention much of it due to being under a self-imposed regime of  cynical minimalism. It has, however, been there – or rather “here”. Even the Jaca King was heard to utter withering remarks from the stage in Market Square as the Country Energy skit was cut short  due to gathering clouds.

	This final stage of the Festival has encountered flooding rains – again.  Coffs and Bellingen have taken the worst of it – again but I didn’t go to the VENETIAN BOAT PARADE which I had fancied and won’t be trying the TAFE MARKETS today nor, most likely, the STREET PARADE tonight. The Galahs are truly enjoying  themselves and I see that the purple on the trees in the Showground here in Ulmarra is almost done. There’s something poignant in that for me.
	One of the ‘disputes’ this year seems to have been over the location of the ‘ commercial ‘ markets and the conclusion came that they went ‘round the corner’ , leaving the main street, PRINCE STREET, to the the businesses and shopkeepers. I almost missed this experience and am very glad I didn’t. I have almost forgotten the time before Commercialism. The time when Street Parades were improvised, ‘local’ and inclined to all manner of adventure and misadventure.
	I should like to travel more and see more places, more towns. There are  subtle differences between towns and communities and I like this town- and would like to see others. They closed the Main Street and the population was  dressed in all flavours of purple and other madnesses. The businesses were the ones who put on acts and shows. I do like walking down streets which are otherwise vehicular.
	I was heading up Prince Street, well pleased at the mayhem when we encountered some Emporium acquaintances who directed us to Market Square, where, they informed us, the businesses would be putting on their final performances for the judges.
	ROY BOWLING from Tucabia was making his farewell appearance as Town Crier after Many Years. That had a poignancy for me as well.  I have seen him cracking whips at the Nursing Home Fete. Times pass and memories – particularly some fragile emotional recalls – have been tickling me since I came back down to this Mid North Coast Area in May.
	The thought that these people are our Country Energy People is a little challenging. NO ENTRY FEE. No hidden charges. Wonderful. Simple Community Life. In an old newspaper from the NLA ONLINE NEWSPAPERS, I read of an early Tweed River Xmas ( 1800s) where some Gents climbed Mt Warning while the Community partied in a hall at the Sugar Mill in Murwillumbah. the Gents then let off fireworks at midnight from the top of the mountain. Jaca Day had some of that same heady elixir for me. Very little political correctness. Crossed and included all the generations. No more than a touch of the generic globalisation.  Home baked cakes and preserves.
	Our CLARENCE VALLEY COUNCIL.  I shall say little more. These links will show more dimensions. Now the rains are here – and yet, I suspect that somehow the Floats will proceed right through town tonight. The flame trees are red. The Jacas had a perfect week as well as behaving ideally for my birthday and all is well on the Clarence.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=119380&id=547151341	GCOUNTRY
	I am closing with a few images from WESTLAWN Finances. I did not expect to see a CAN CAN in the middle of MARKET SQUARE – nor the stunning beauty of these girls, their outfits and dance. Splendid !

JUST GETTING STARTED http://theoldproverbialrecovery.wordpress.com/

ARTWORK BY TRACI MADDALENA

BELLINGEN ARTIST, Traci Maddalena. Keep your eyes open for more or her work and contact details.