That's where T's very best friend, Mary, lives.
For Mary, shopping for basics, like milk, bread and the 'papers, is half an hour away. Real shopping, i.e., fresh fruit and vegetables, groceries etc, is two hours' drive, which is also how far she has to go for a decent coffee.
Her parents-in-law live next door, which in outback NSW is just down the road.
Let's think about that for a minute. Imagine having your mother-in-law two hours closer to you than a good coffee.
No, I can't think about that.
Mary has three children, the oldest and youngest of which were born in the big shopping-and-coffee town; while the middle child was born prematurely in Sydney after complications which resulted in the sad loss of its twin.
Mary visits Melbourne every few months or so for whirlwind visits with family and friends; however she doesn't usually stay with her family as her mother is 'trouble'!
While she was in town the other week, we had lunch in Rathdowne Street, at the Rathdowne Food Store where we all used to meet years ago. Mary had brought down her youngest, Emily, with her, who is ten months of smiling gurgling happiness (until she tired of playing with coffee spoons and started crying).
Mary was overjoyed when T. told her she was pregnant and has been a great long-distance friend and source of advice for her. She also very kindly shipped down a load of baby clothes and equipment including a car capsule.
It's an odd thing. T. always thought she wanted to live in the country while Mary is essentially a city girl.
T. and Mary were student 'housemates' when they moved in next door to me in Brunswick in 1992. That's how I met T. We were neighbours. When the baby is born, Mary is the first person I will call.
For Mary, shopping for basics, like milk, bread and the 'papers, is half an hour away. Real shopping, i.e., fresh fruit and vegetables, groceries etc, is two hours' drive, which is also how far she has to go for a decent coffee.
Her parents-in-law live next door, which in outback NSW is just down the road.
Let's think about that for a minute. Imagine having your mother-in-law two hours closer to you than a good coffee.
No, I can't think about that.
Mary has three children, the oldest and youngest of which were born in the big shopping-and-coffee town; while the middle child was born prematurely in Sydney after complications which resulted in the sad loss of its twin.
Mary visits Melbourne every few months or so for whirlwind visits with family and friends; however she doesn't usually stay with her family as her mother is 'trouble'!
While she was in town the other week, we had lunch in Rathdowne Street, at the Rathdowne Food Store where we all used to meet years ago. Mary had brought down her youngest, Emily, with her, who is ten months of smiling gurgling happiness (until she tired of playing with coffee spoons and started crying).
Mary was overjoyed when T. told her she was pregnant and has been a great long-distance friend and source of advice for her. She also very kindly shipped down a load of baby clothes and equipment including a car capsule.
It's an odd thing. T. always thought she wanted to live in the country while Mary is essentially a city girl.
T. and Mary were student 'housemates' when they moved in next door to me in Brunswick in 1992. That's how I met T. We were neighbours. When the baby is born, Mary is the first person I will call.
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