Bits of Yarn, Calico and Velvet Scraps                                                            Page 5

Mum was a mixture of strength and anxiety. She

was game all right - the things she did - but with

the death of the father/husband she became more

afraid of life/ more anxious. She had a natural

dignity but her warmth was held back. Flashes of

humour; not a gossip and not given to much

encouragement either. She was not keen on

dancing.

We did not understand each other very well. I know

her better now since I stopped calling her 'mother'

and call her by her given name/ Cora - a woman

like me doing the very best she could.

PLACE

Place: the bush but not 'out in the bush'; that was

frightening for my Irish-English blood/ frightening

and fascinating. The promise was in the far hills

and in the near hills, which surrounded us. I could

never walk far in the bush alone. Its mystery is too

great; its spirit ageless/ nameless. It fascinates me/

while I fear it.