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Jan Cornall's avatar

Mmmm yes, it's tempting isn't it!

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Kimberly Warner's avatar

Oh yes, I remember MD’s descriptions of her bully brother. What a brute, it’s hard to fathom how he ended up that way but perhaps an absent father and emotionally fraught mom us enough! As always, another fascinating chapter!

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Jan Cornall's avatar

Yes, well, the mother adored the oldest son and let him get away with anything and true, the father did seem to be totally absent. And the kids were left in the care of servants or just roamed free. It must have been terrifying though.

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Lynn Berry's avatar

Beautiful imagery. I can imagine myself reaching for the forbidden fruit! Nice contrast of the Fruit trees and the more barren spc site. Surprising contrasts throughout.

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Maureen's avatar

Love your descriptions of the trees at the Island Fruit Farm. And enjoyed the weaving of all the strands in this.

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Suzan Piper's avatar

The biological imperative and the aberration of divorce - and the pull of a Bex and a good lie down under the doona...

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Bill's avatar

A sense of unease develops, culminating in Marj's sad poem.

You mention a 'slingshot'. That was what David used to kill Goliath. The common Australian apparatus made from a cut down forked branch, rubber bands and a leather pouch, we would have called a 'shanghai' or a 'ging'. Why a 'shanghai' I wonder?

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Jan Cornall's avatar

Oh yes, good point Bill, I'll check with my brother Pip as to what we called it. Thinsk it was Shanghai too. Banned now of course except ACT but you have to be over 18 yrs. Fascinated to know how the name Shanghai came about.

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