In case you’re not of an editorial bent, the word ‘ellipsis’ refers to the three dots one commonly sees representing omitted content in a quote. It can also represent a pause, the start of a new thought. In this case it’s a bit of both; it’s now August and I can’t believe that my last posting here was in April. A lot has happened … and, in all the ways that count, nothing at all has occurred. We are, after all, still here in Australia, staring down the barrel of the federal election. I can clearly recall having to do a postal vote the last election, because Miss Lee and I had gallivanted across the ditch to Aotearoa. We were staying in wonderful Napier that night, enjoying a wonderful meal free from the frenzy of the vote count. How I wish we were there again this week.
I will readily admit that I’m a disaffected Australian. I don’t think I’m alone in this – so many people I speak to shake their heads in dismay at the limited choice of candidates. Do I want a Labor, or a Coalition government? No. Just no. I’d like to choose my Dream Team to run the country, a government of principle headed by Natasha Stott-Despoja, with a bunch of smart Greens (but not, I’m afraid, Mr Brown) and a selection of good thinkers from both sides of the House.
That’ll never happen, though. I’m resigned to the fact that Australia will never have a good government. We’re too big for our system of government, we’re too differentiated in our opinions and needs, and too apathetic to tear it down and start again. Oh yes, I become a right sooky-pants around election time.
Anyway, my initial point was that time has passed without anything substantive happening to eject us from the country. “You still heading to Tasmania?”, I’m often asked. For some reason people find it hard to remember that we’re crossing the Tasman – they just remember we’re going to some island or other. I’m pining for the west coast of the South Island. I could give you many reasons and also none; I just want to be there instead of here.
Meanwhile we are so busy with our community contributions that observers would be well-justified in their disbelief that we’ll ever depart. Miss Lee is of course still immured in her paid bushfire recovery role, while spending every minute of her precious ‘free time’ slaving over our region’s leg of the Great Vic Bike Ride (entertainment, stalls, traffic redirections etc), the art exhibitions surrounding the Eildon trout release, writing the 100k North Arts business plan, and much, much more. I’m rehearsing for a community play, leading regular community singing, bringing the orchestra to town, heading up 100k North Arts, organising a mini-festival of, well, mini-events … and yes, much, much more. It’s all a crazy beat overlaid on our already very demanding work lives. And, for the record, it’s making the idea of migrating to NZ more attractive, not less.
I just need to get on and complete those renovations so we can sell up. Please, another ten hours in every day!