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katiefooleryWhen people ask me what it’s like in Beechworth (and it happens more often than you might think), I usually tell them it’s the most quiet place I’ve ever been to. And that’s saying something, considering I work in a library. This is part where we gloss over the fact that it’s a school library and it’s only ever quiet when the doors are shut, the lights are out and everybody’s gone home for the night. Because teachers can be even noisier than students, if they put a little effort into it.
But to return to Beechworth - it really is quiet. Even when I lived in a side street in Watsonia, I thought it was quiet. Now, living on a major, six land road near a minor intersection and a bus stop, I think it’s an oasis of calm. At any given time, I can stop and hear nothing but the occasional car whisking past, one or two birds and a silly little insect that that seems to believe that its mission in life is to shriek “jeeka-jeeka-jeeka” all day long right outside the window. It’s as though the town takes any extraneous sound and just buries it deep in the honey-coloured granite on which it’s built.
Mind you, this quiet I’m referring to only exists at my parents’ place. Go into the centre of town at any time after about nine of the morning and you’ll find it to be very far from a haven of silence. But I don’t have to do that. I can just sit inside and gaze out at lovely country scenes whilst listening to the sort of silence that isn’t provided by six lanes of traffic and a bus pulling to a noisy stop every five minutes or so.
I probably haven’t achieved as much as I wanted to on my stay in Beechworth, mostly because just lazing about reading a book or playing crib with the Ma is more attractive than actually doing anything. I also lay some blame squarely at the feet of the fact that five days in Beechworth passed a lot quicker than I expected them to. And although I experienced withdrawal symptoms from my Timothy, Pickle and the internet, I managed to cope. Just.
In fact, I’ve even picked out the house we want to buy. It’s on the Beechworth road, about ten minutes from my parents’ place and even though it’s green, it has the most plendiferous views over the mountains leading up to the Victorian alps and Mount Buffalo. I’d never get any writing done, because I’d spent all my time starting at the view, but that’s beside the point. And so is the fact that we’re not actually going to be buying any houses at any point in the immediate future.
It does look quite nice, though.
I’ve also come to the conclusion that I even dream differently when I’m at my parents’ place. I can’t explain it, but there’s some difference there. For a start, I actually remember more dreams than I do normally. I can’t remember them very well now, but I do recall a dream in which many cats were swapped around, until I ended up with Pickle again and another dream in which some fellow LorFers and I misbehaved in some sort of school class, which makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Which is often the day of dreams, I suppose.
Ah well - here we are, back to normal. I shall miss the peace and beauty of the country but hopefully, they’ll serve as a reminder of what I’m trying to aim for with my writing. One day... One day, I’ll be there in my country house, with my Timothy. One day.
P.S. I missed you all.
But to return to Beechworth - it really is quiet. Even when I lived in a side street in Watsonia, I thought it was quiet. Now, living on a major, six land road near a minor intersection and a bus stop, I think it’s an oasis of calm. At any given time, I can stop and hear nothing but the occasional car whisking past, one or two birds and a silly little insect that that seems to believe that its mission in life is to shriek “jeeka-jeeka-jeeka” all day long right outside the window. It’s as though the town takes any extraneous sound and just buries it deep in the honey-coloured granite on which it’s built.
Mind you, this quiet I’m referring to only exists at my parents’ place. Go into the centre of town at any time after about nine of the morning and you’ll find it to be very far from a haven of silence. But I don’t have to do that. I can just sit inside and gaze out at lovely country scenes whilst listening to the sort of silence that isn’t provided by six lanes of traffic and a bus pulling to a noisy stop every five minutes or so.
I probably haven’t achieved as much as I wanted to on my stay in Beechworth, mostly because just lazing about reading a book or playing crib with the Ma is more attractive than actually doing anything. I also lay some blame squarely at the feet of the fact that five days in Beechworth passed a lot quicker than I expected them to. And although I experienced withdrawal symptoms from my Timothy, Pickle and the internet, I managed to cope. Just.
In fact, I’ve even picked out the house we want to buy. It’s on the Beechworth road, about ten minutes from my parents’ place and even though it’s green, it has the most plendiferous views over the mountains leading up to the Victorian alps and Mount Buffalo. I’d never get any writing done, because I’d spent all my time starting at the view, but that’s beside the point. And so is the fact that we’re not actually going to be buying any houses at any point in the immediate future.
It does look quite nice, though.
I’ve also come to the conclusion that I even dream differently when I’m at my parents’ place. I can’t explain it, but there’s some difference there. For a start, I actually remember more dreams than I do normally. I can’t remember them very well now, but I do recall a dream in which many cats were swapped around, until I ended up with Pickle again and another dream in which some fellow LorFers and I misbehaved in some sort of school class, which makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Which is often the day of dreams, I suppose.
Ah well - here we are, back to normal. I shall miss the peace and beauty of the country but hopefully, they’ll serve as a reminder of what I’m trying to aim for with my writing. One day... One day, I’ll be there in my country house, with my Timothy. One day.
P.S. I missed you all.
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on 2006-01-15 10:14 am (UTC)*big slimy grugs*
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on 2006-01-15 12:32 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2006-01-15 10:23 am (UTC)Ah! Exactly what i love about country towns, i understand fully! I shall have to see this Beechworth one day.... :P
nice to have you back! if you can't already tell by the increase of ! in this post...
i really need to get a life, but still, Welcome!! :D:D
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on 2006-01-15 12:33 pm (UTC)Why do you need a life when you have a LorF? ;)
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on 2006-01-15 12:57 pm (UTC)I'll keep it in mind if i am ever over that way and shall get a Ned Kelly pie, it is done, i shall do it... one of these days.
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on 2006-01-15 10:24 am (UTC)no subject
on 2006-01-15 12:33 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2006-01-15 12:39 pm (UTC)*looks around for $300,000*
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on 2006-01-15 01:22 pm (UTC)It'd be much nicer if we actually owned it though.
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on 2006-01-15 11:46 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2006-01-16 12:59 am (UTC)no subject
on 2006-01-16 12:21 am (UTC)Welcome home!
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on 2006-01-16 01:00 am (UTC)no subject
on 2006-01-16 02:28 am (UTC)Good luck with the writing. I'm assuming, anyway, you'll "buckle down" now that you're back *nudgenudge* ^_~
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on 2006-01-16 04:09 am (UTC)I have to admit, the place has grown on me. When I first visited the town, I couldn't understand why my parents loved it so much - and this was before they'd even thought of buying a house there. But I think it gets into your skin when you're not looking. :)
*pays heed to the subtle hint about writing*
:D
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on 2006-01-16 05:52 am (UTC)Yeah, I think places like that have a tendency of doing that, when you least expect it even
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on 2006-01-16 08:05 am (UTC)no subject
on 2006-01-16 08:27 am (UTC)