The 19 year old kid who comes over for dinner every night turns out to be a very interesting kid. He let it slip that in two years when he turns 21 he will inherit the largest ranch in Western Australia. I mentioned Adam earlier as the permanent house guest that started eating over here years ago because his own family is too screwed up to put a meal together. Based on some of the clues he has mentioned, it think drugs (heroin) is involved with problems.
He doesn't even now big it is. It is larger than most counties and most states in the US. Millions of acres. His grandfather passed it on to him, bypassing Adam's mother. It seems that Adam's mother and her father did not get along and was disowned by him. However, his mother is the trustee until he turns 21, so she has control of the place right now.
Adam describes the ranch as nothing but empty desert. They lease it to sheep farmers. It is so barren that it takes an average of 30 acres just to raise one sheep. There is a lake that only holds 3 inches of water for one month of the year.
He can't go visit the place. He mother would find out and raise holy hell somehow, so he is just biding his time for now. He attends a local community college and lives with his grandmother down the street.
He promised that he would take me out there as soon as he is able to go himself. Should prove to be interesting.
Saturday, November 03, 2001
Mario from El Salvador
A friend of the Martin's attended. Mario. He is a very interesting man. He is from El Salvador and fled to Australia in 1985 at the height of the civil war there. He was a respected editor and also a friend of the president. Although he was not directly threatened, he felt it was just a matter of time before he was kidnapped and possibly killed, so he took his wife and son and became a political asylum seeker here in Oz. He lost everything he had.
Trish, being from Holland and being an ex-flight attendant, speaks multiple languages fluently. Besides English, she speaks fluent French, Spanish, and German. In 1985, her and Martin were living in Melbourne. One day she was walking down the street and overheard Mario speaking to his wife in Spanish. The were discussing how lost they were and how they couldn't find anything. Trish and Martin became instant friends and helped him and his family get oriented and established.
When the Martins moved to Perth, Mario and wife followed them here. Mario never really adapted to Australia. He struggles with English still, but his Spanish reveals his intelligence and upbringing. It is very clear and distinct, so much so that even I could understand what he was saying. I haven't heard Spanish like that since my SBCC Spanish teacher who was from Barcelona.
He never really adapted to life here. He tried to get back into publishing but could not get job. He now cleans toilets part time. He wrote two books and managed to get them published. Both are in Spanish. The first was a political satire that was well received but not a successful seller. Trish read it and says it is excellent. His second book was a flop, and even he admits that he didn't put any effort into it.
His wife died of cancer a couple of years ago. His son is 19 and attending college. He is in his late 60's and seems very sad. We talked about his plans for the future. He wants to go back to El Salvador in two years after his son graduates from collage. I asked him is he felt there was any danger to that, if anyone there had a grudge against him after all this time. He feels that he doesn't care. His wife is gone, his son is grown, and he wants to spend his last days back home. He said if he gets killed, so be it.
We had a long talk about San Francisco. He used to live there in 1947 and really loved it. He lived in a house near GG Park. He has not been back since. He asked me if it has changed much and if he would recognize the place. He was surprised when I told him that he would probably find it very familiar. The streets are same, and many of the old buildings are still there. Just a lot more people.
Mario really loves to play golf and asked me if I play. He really wanted me to say yes, but I had to tell him truth. I only played once and was horrible. Who knows. Next time he comes over I may take him up on it. He'll kick my ass, but it should be fun, assuming he doesn't take it to damn seriously.
Trish, being from Holland and being an ex-flight attendant, speaks multiple languages fluently. Besides English, she speaks fluent French, Spanish, and German. In 1985, her and Martin were living in Melbourne. One day she was walking down the street and overheard Mario speaking to his wife in Spanish. The were discussing how lost they were and how they couldn't find anything. Trish and Martin became instant friends and helped him and his family get oriented and established.
When the Martins moved to Perth, Mario and wife followed them here. Mario never really adapted to Australia. He struggles with English still, but his Spanish reveals his intelligence and upbringing. It is very clear and distinct, so much so that even I could understand what he was saying. I haven't heard Spanish like that since my SBCC Spanish teacher who was from Barcelona.
He never really adapted to life here. He tried to get back into publishing but could not get job. He now cleans toilets part time. He wrote two books and managed to get them published. Both are in Spanish. The first was a political satire that was well received but not a successful seller. Trish read it and says it is excellent. His second book was a flop, and even he admits that he didn't put any effort into it.
His wife died of cancer a couple of years ago. His son is 19 and attending college. He is in his late 60's and seems very sad. We talked about his plans for the future. He wants to go back to El Salvador in two years after his son graduates from collage. I asked him is he felt there was any danger to that, if anyone there had a grudge against him after all this time. He feels that he doesn't care. His wife is gone, his son is grown, and he wants to spend his last days back home. He said if he gets killed, so be it.
We had a long talk about San Francisco. He used to live there in 1947 and really loved it. He lived in a house near GG Park. He has not been back since. He asked me if it has changed much and if he would recognize the place. He was surprised when I told him that he would probably find it very familiar. The streets are same, and many of the old buildings are still there. Just a lot more people.
Mario really loves to play golf and asked me if I play. He really wanted me to say yes, but I had to tell him truth. I only played once and was horrible. Who knows. Next time he comes over I may take him up on it. He'll kick my ass, but it should be fun, assuming he doesn't take it to damn seriously.
Martin's Birthday Party
Sunday was Martin's birthday and the family threw a BBQ in the back yard around the pool for him. I of course was invited so I got to meet the rest of the family.
The Martins have 4 children, two in their early 30's with their own kids, and the two boys still at home (ages 21 and 19). Their older kids have 5 granddaughters between them. Also, Martin's mother lives nearby and Trish's father from Holland manages to spend about half his life in Perth.
Their older daughter Nancy has a 16 year and a 11 year old daughter. They live in a house nearby that the Martins also own. I don't think she works. She is divorced and I guess raising two daughters takes up all her time. Their older son is married and works as for the juvenile court system as a bailiff transporting prisoners between prison and court.
The Martins have 4 children, two in their early 30's with their own kids, and the two boys still at home (ages 21 and 19). Their older kids have 5 granddaughters between them. Also, Martin's mother lives nearby and Trish's father from Holland manages to spend about half his life in Perth.
Their older daughter Nancy has a 16 year and a 11 year old daughter. They live in a house nearby that the Martins also own. I don't think she works. She is divorced and I guess raising two daughters takes up all her time. Their older son is married and works as for the juvenile court system as a bailiff transporting prisoners between prison and court.
The Country Farm is Nixed
Trish drove Martin out the to 50 acres she bought on Sunday. He still did not like it. He felt it was too far from town (about a 30 minute drive to the nearest store), and there where not enough trees on the property. Trish was disappointed, but being a real estate agent, she had slipped enough weasel clauses into the sales contract to slip out.
On their way back home they tuned down the wrong road and ended up in an area closer to civilization that they liked even more. The lots cost more, but Martin said he would rather spend a little more to get what he wants. Trish is going to start scouting for properties in the area now.
On their way back home they tuned down the wrong road and ended up in an area closer to civilization that they liked even more. The lots cost more, but Martin said he would rather spend a little more to get what he wants. Trish is going to start scouting for properties in the area now.
Monday, October 29, 2001
The Ozzy National Bird & Wave
There is a fact of life here in Australia that flies are just part of the landscape. They are they national bird (just kidding), the motion of waving flies away from your face is called the national wave.
Spring time is the worst season for them (it is spring right now). When we went out to the bush Saturday to walk around the properties they flies where all over us. Even at lunch in Toodyay they were terrible. I guess when you live here long enough you don't notice.
I'm sure you have seen photos of an Australian in the Outback wearing a hat with corks hanging from strings around the brim. The reason for that is very practical. It frees up one hand from constantly having to brush flies away from your face. The motion of moving your head is enough to wave the corks which will chase the flies off for a second.
Trish told me that you aren't a true Australian until you've eaten a couple flies with your lunch.
At least near the beach it is not as bad because the offshore breeze blows them inland.
Spring time is the worst season for them (it is spring right now). When we went out to the bush Saturday to walk around the properties they flies where all over us. Even at lunch in Toodyay they were terrible. I guess when you live here long enough you don't notice.
I'm sure you have seen photos of an Australian in the Outback wearing a hat with corks hanging from strings around the brim. The reason for that is very practical. It frees up one hand from constantly having to brush flies away from your face. The motion of moving your head is enough to wave the corks which will chase the flies off for a second.
Trish told me that you aren't a true Australian until you've eaten a couple flies with your lunch.
At least near the beach it is not as bad because the offshore breeze blows them inland.
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