This is not another excuse for not getting on with the Australian project.  What it is is an example of how enriching the past can be.  Went to the funeral of an in law's cousin - Bill.  As a child he and his mother had been interned in Singapore.  They eventually ended up in Belfast where he went to school and University, eventually becoming a geologist and working at Birmingham University.  His mother came with him and died last year aged 100.  Sadly he died aged only 66 but today the crematorium and the Friends Meeting House were packed to capacity with friends and family testifying to his skills and character - mostly with humour and all with sincerity and affection.  

For me, it was a strange experience to meet up with an old colleague I hadn't seen since I went through an incredibly bad patch in my life more than 20 years ago - it was so good to be able to demonstrate to him that things eventually come right and to be able to remind him of the support he had given me at that time.

Frivolously, and perhaps best of all, were 4 of Bill's cousins - two good and two wicked - all from Belfast.  To me they were indistinguishable but to each other there was so much history that the air positively fizzled.  Two of them had ransacked a deceased aunt's house, taking all the treasures.  That would have been OK but they left a 'mess' for the others to clean up - unforgivable.  An ancient grudge which shows no sign of abating after 40 years or so.

I had hoped this journal would give me some incentive to start on the Australian project but I seem to be overwhelmed with other things to do - 2 days a week at the CAB, getting the electricity sorted in the kitchen, helping with some publicity for mac, visits to dentist and chiropodist and now Bami for the weekend and Bill's funeral of Friday.  I am wondering why this doesn't seem to leave me time.  Other people must work around ordinary life.  Perhaps it's like knitting - I need to cast on and then do a row at a time.  I should have time to start on Thursday - even if it is only one line or two.  At least I have opened  an email account on google specifically for this purpose and for the copyright.

Asher has found a way to put copyright directly onto the photograph but without spoiling the image too much.  He hasn't yet explained how to do this but I am sure it is a good way forward.  I don't think I would mind too much if people borrowed our photographs but, as a professional photographer, he takes a an understandably different view.

Spent the weekend in London playing with my grandchildren and then Monday shopping in John Lewis and Persephone books.  For displacement activity instead of getting on with my Australian work this was expensive but a lot of fun.  Anyone who hasn't tried the Persephone bookshop in Lambs Conduit Street should hurry over - it is wonderful.

 The latest news on copyrighting photographs is that it is fairly pointless.  It seems that, unless you are a recognised photographer, your images can be taken and used and you have very little redress.  Oh well, I suppose that makes it easier to move forward.

 I am still struggling to find an email address which will accept livejournal and also to download the photograph I want but am enjoying my limited success.
One tiny step nearer starting Australian project.  My half brother, Asher, who is a professional photographer, is at last starting to sort out the copyright of the old photographs.  Hopefully I can then include them in my account and make links so that other people can use them.  Some of the ones of long buffalo carts carrying wool and cattle swimming swollen rivers seem truly historic and interesting.

 Just testing to see if my contact address has gone through

Here I am hoping that this will get me started on sorting out all the papers and photographs about my Dad's time in Australia in the 1920s which are languishing on the bed in the spare bedroom.  I am hoping to keep a record of my progress in the journal.  Also I am hoping that anyone who reads this who has had similar experiences will get in touch with me.  Is there anyone out there from Mudgee?