Burrinjuck, May 7, 1931
Once again I'm a little late writing. A horrible boil on my leg, right on the shin bone made me quite sick. I had one on the side of the leg too, but that was not quite as bad. Then I got a second. Last night it erupted and today I feel well again, although another small boil on my wrist is giving me a bit of trouble. I've never had anything messy like that before, it must come from the water since I'm not the only one to suffer. Sverre has been having the same trouble every now and again for quite some time.
Sverre was mad at me this morning. There was a special jubilee edition of the Sydney Morning Herald to celebrate its 50th anniversary. As soon as he heard about it Sverre said, "We must send that to your mother. She is sure to like it." That was several weeks ago, and ever since we got the paper Sverre has been urging me to send it. There are old pictures of Sydney in it, and interesting reports on what is going on in the country. But I have been so lazy and never got round to sending it. This morning, When Sverre asked me for some paper to wrap fish in, I handed him the jubilee edition by mistake. You should have heard the thunderstorm! Why didn't Sverre send the paper himself? He's too spoiled. He's used to me always doing that sort of thing. I'll have to try and see if I can't get a new copy.
We have stopped fishing for the time being. There should soon be jobs available, so all the men have to hang around and watch out. Otherwise if they are not there at the critical moment they lose their chances. In this country no one is told in advance when they can start work. No, they keep you in suspense until the moment you can start. One man here, who had been promised work, waited around for 5 ½ months. One morning, for the first time, he took a chance and did not show up at the building site, because he had to go to Yass. On precisely that day, they needed a man so they hired someone else. I call that mean. Mr Townsend is proving to be a bit of a swindler, and may even lose his job. He hired quite a number of people from Wollongong, and is having even more coming down, even though there are so many people here already. He’s probably getting paid for it. Among the folk he hired are people like the Wilsons, who already have a steady income from orchards, hotels etc. that they own.
This was the straw that broke the camel's back. The labourers held a meeting, and Mr Taylor was sent off to Sydney to talk to the union and the Minister for Labour. He came back yesterday. It seems he was successful. The matter has been looked into and Mr Townsend has lost his tongue. An employment office is to be under the leadership of Mr Mickleham. Burrinjuck residents are to be hired before anyone else. After them come the residents from the surrounding area. The Wollongong people may be permitted to stay on, but some may be fired after their economic situation has been examined. A man from Sydney is here at the moment, looking into things. Well, we're hoping now that Sverre soon will have a job, but I won't really believe it till I see him leave with his tool box in the morning, and not come home before evening
Our little family is thriving. We have named the pups Oigle and Goigle. Oigle is the black one and Goigle the brown. They are now viewing the world through melancholy little slits of eyes. This morning I carried them outside on a cushion to show them the wonder of the world. The sunrise was so beautiful. However they did not seem to be impressed even though I talked to them and taught them about things. They live in a big box in the house, in a corner under the cupboard. A mosquito net protects them from flies. That's how fine it is.
Did I tell you about the wild honey? Sverre brought some home once. Now it has cleared, and there is about 2 litres. Sverre and Mr Taylor have some nets out in the water, not far from our house. Every morning we collect from 1 to 10 large trout. They are salted and smoked, and boy} do they taste delicious! According to the law we should let them go, since the season is now over. But we let them swim in our pots and pans instead. There is no law against having our nets out, since there are other fish that are not protected
Burrinjuck, May 5, 1931
Our situation is still unchanged - unfortunately. There is still no work to be had, but to make up for that, there is much excitement and bad blood. It would take a whole volume to describe how the people here fight and argue for a job, and what mean things they do and say. Townsend has been behaving in a terribly undignified fashion. As you know Taylor called a labourers meeting, and was sent to Sydney put in a complaint. Now The Wollongong folk are raising hell over that.
To take revenge Townsend has been playing dirty tricks like placing a complaint with the Public Works department over Taylor, saying that his boarding house is unclean, the food bad, that there are fish entrails on the verandah, mad, biting dogs, dirty bed linen etc. - all lies. The Taylors have a boarding house where all visiting officials stay, and where Townsend himself lives. His complaint met with no success, and yesterday he had to give Mr Taylor an apology.
Such things are happening all the time. It is absurd. The whole of Burrinjuck is involved, and divided into two enemy camps. I have never before experienced such a scene, such heights of pettiness, narrow mindedness, nastiness and envy. I would not have believed it possible, yet it is so.
We are happy not to be closely involved with anyone, and that no one knows much about us. Besides, we live on the outskirts, and our house is not visible from Burrinjuck, being on the other side of the peninsula. So we are protected from all the misery. I think Taylors and Frasers are the only people here who are not petty and narrow minded. The work has not yet begun, no one knows yet when it will
When 1 was in Finland, and Sverre in Australia, the uncertain and unstable nature of the news I received made me nervous. I was afraid Sverre might be like that. Now I see what the situation is. Nobody knows anything. All that exists is the word "if". Things like certainty and security are non-existent. You get used to it however, and take things as they come. Don't trouble trouble till trouble troubles you, as the saying says. Or just "never mind!"
Mr Masey, who is Taylors neighbour and the mayor, has observed that we have been smoking trout in Taylor’s garden. He threatened to notify the police (the fine is £5). So Sverre has built a smoker in our new shed, where I doubt that anyone will discover us.
I don’t think I have ever mentioned all the wonderful gifts we are forever getting. I am getting so used to them I almost take them for granted. We always have beautiful flowers in the house, carrots, beans, pumpkin, cabbage, always more than enough. This week Mickleham brought us a big basket full of artichokes. I didn't know what they were, since I had never seen artichokes before. They taste delicious.
Oigle and Goigle are now so comical. They roll around the room like two little balls, growl and bark in such a funny way while they play together.
It is now winter. After several days of warm rain, it is suddenly cool - 8° - 10°c. The water is rising quickly and creeping towards our house. Hopefully it won't come right up to the house. Today the sky is blue again for the first time in days.
Yesterday was my name day. Not even I would have remembered it if I had not received a card from Duditschkys. When I told Sverre, he quickly made me a wooden salt box e one of those to hang on the wall- It is very handy.
Burrinjuck, May 25, 1931
Big news! Sverre is working again. Last Sunday Townsend told him he could start on Monday. At first I was very happy, naturally. Then came the news that put a wet blanket on things. Sverre, Taylor and two other people from Burrinjuck had been hired, but first, four Wollongong bachelors had to be fired. You can imagine what an atmosphere that created; damned foreigners and so on. The only good thing about it all is, that the four that were fired are all labourers, so that Sverre really hasn't taken work from anyone. They know that too, but it's still not nice.
Taylor, who knows a lot about engines, has the job of truck driver, and the previous truck driver has been put to pick and shovel work. He is trembling with rage, naturally enough. Taylor is now going to stay here one year, until he has enough money to go to Canada, the land of his dreams. Maybe we'll go with him. But for the time being, we're staying here. When Sverre’s birthday is over, and I'm no longer busy knitting all day, I'm going to start a little garden.
Something good happened recently. Mr Tierney was here and told us that he had spoken with the engineer, Mr Ansell, who told him that he had an outboard motor which he didn't need, and which Sverre could have. Sverre went around, and he gave it to him - for free! Just imagine, a 39.5 motor, complete with axle, propeller etc. all in order except for a magnet. A motor like that would cost £30 new, and this one could be sold for at least £16; and we got it, just like that, for nothing! It’s wonderful. As soon as we can we are going to go on a weekend tour to Tamas with the Anderssons. We hardly know the Ansells. We have only met them once or twice on the street or on the water. They have a motor-boat themselves. They are known for their kindness and helpfulness to everyone. They have offered many people the use of their boat, and if someone doesn't know how to use it, they show them how. Anyway, we are so happy and thankful, it seems fate is really smiling on us.
I mentioned earlier the smoker Sverre was building. Taylors have one, but since the trout season is over, and all we get in our nets is trout, the smoking has to be done in secret. Taylor’s smoker is quite visible to the public, and if the police see the trout it means a £5 fine. The policeman, Mr Brick, went to see Taylor, and told him, “l catch trout myself and eat them too, but if anybody (e.g. Mr Macey, the mayor), asks me to inspect your smoker, I will have to fine you."
So now we have the smoker in our house, in what was originally meant to be the bath and washing room. It consists of a heater, from which a thin pipe leads to a barrel where the fish are hung up.
The barrel stands on a frame, and wood shavings provide the fuel. One of the walls of the house does not go right up to the ceiling, so there is a crack there for the smoke to escape. The fish is absolutely delicious.
Oigle and Goigle are getting funnier and funnier. Oigle is a great glutton, big and fat too. Goigle is more modest in eating habits, and is smaller and livelier. Goigle already dares to go outside when the door is open, whereas Oigle, the little scaredy cat, just sits in the doorway and makes anxious little noises.
Yesterday we caught a beautiful crayfish in our nets. It was dark green, and on its back and tail it had snow white spines, like dogs teeth. The claws were also snow white. The creature was about 10" long. Taylor says it's only a baby. Well, it looked beautiful and tasted great. The Claws kept their white colour even when boiled.
Now I must get back to my knitting. This morning I started on the second sock, and the day after tomorrow it must be finished. I knit so slowly.
Frasers have lent me one of those electric combs. I have been using it since the day before yesterday. ‘I hope I will get curly hair.
NEXT: June 1931