We Of the Never Never

This is a picture of the Pai River north of Chiang Mai; and this was the view from my verandah. This is the third week back, kick starting all the routines again; and I'm generally not pleased, phased you might say, at being back. It's all about settling into the brutal routines; falling in short from expectations; escaping depression and settling into torment; the happy days already receding. I just loved it there. Maybe being on holidays and the fact that it's cheap helped; but everything seemed right there, fun, all the lai lines meeting and assuaging the spirit, here in the midst.

The Queen Mary 2 is in town, the media full of glittering pictures of our harbour. A woman was dragged 150 metres underneath a taxi. Sammy turned 16 on the weekend and was straight down to the RTA. Test is next Saturday. These are the minutae of our lives, where chaos and pain intermingle with domestic security and the will to hide; in safety; locking the door and never going out. Colin re-appeared, oblivious to the fuss he had caused. US Vice President Cheney, one of the leading barrackers for the Iraq War, is in town and there are plenty of suggestions it would have been better for Howard if he had stayed away.

Iraq is not a vote winner, probably never was. The holiday recedes. I have had the above picture on my phone as wallpaper; that was the view from my verandah, I say, and the times they crawl inside of us; sun slants through the city streets; we want to be known and unknown and retreat into silence. The state election is coming up. It's a federal election year as well; and it will be a very political year. Not getting any younger, he growns inside, his feet hurting. Have to get up the farm. Time stands still and we are all blessed.

THE BIGGEST STORY

PAKISTAN TIMES:

Suspected Terror Attack: PANIPAT (India): The death toll in fire on the Samjhota Express, which reportedly erupted after blasts in the train in the northern Indian state of Haryana, has increased to 66, reports said on Monday. Over 50 people have been injured in the tragic incident. The reports said that the death toll could still increase.