2007

My sister gave this to me after our granda died, she wanted me to have something of his to carry with me. When he was in the hospital, dying, he turned to me and said ' I have been feeling a bit under the weather but I can't complain, I've always had the best health'

 I remember he had these awful hats for walking and he would disappear for hours 'taking his constitution'.  He came to us once a year with pockets stuffed full of cadbury creme eggs. He would sing songs, dance jigs and tell jokes that seemed older than time. He flirted with younger women, made fanciful promises, told stories and found joy in the simple things. Today would have been his birthday.

1980

This soap must be at least 25 years old, we have had it so long the details are rubbed away at the edges and covered in fluff just like the soap itself. Originally it must have belonged to our older sister until a game of 'steal and keep' began. Months might go by until it appeared victoriously, briefly- and then it would be gone again. And somehow I had it in my sock drawer for years and years. Then I gave it to little sister who has kept it now for 7 years, 9 months and a couple of days.

1985

Kalbarri, summer 1985. I remember being stuck in the car for hours and hours, driving down long empty stretches of road, waiting for the ocean to come into sight. Dad kept saying 'just over this hill' we would gasp and lean forward and there would only be more road with another hill. I remember the mix tapes we listened to, the long bright hot days, the sting of chlorine, pelicans, trampolines, mini golf and the tacky souvenir stores we would visit. 

I desperately wanted a pet rabbit, this was as close as I could get.