September

remember the post code, stop adding the ‘s’ to Water and find a great builder for our sea-change home.
adopt and enjoy the local good manners of waving at all passing vehicles whether the occupant is known or not.
look forward to Tuesday theme nights at the Tavern and almost get over never being able to see the beach.
pack away everything other than casual outfits and accept that ironed clothes are largely a city fetish.

So – yes – we have lived here about ten weeks and never intend to permanently leave.

Best estimates are that 87% of the local population has lived here for less than three years and they also never intend to leave. It may be the climate, the fishing, the casual lifestyle, the clear air, the Coral Sea (you can see it before you drive into town or when you go up to the Town 1770 some 6 kilometers away), or the easy friendliness of the folk that keeps everyone here. However, I am convinced it is something else.

A hitherto undiscovered giant magnetic presence lurking just beneath the water table – a benign Titan that draws people from all corners of the globe and releases them only when it must. You will recall the Titans were a race of gods who were the parents and precursors to the Olympians (i.e. Atlas - of course you remember – don’t be shy!). Modesty forbids it taking credit for the lack of garden pests, the general good health of young and old and the unique chronometer employed locally, and fondly referred to as ‘Agnes Water Time’.

The Good Titan, like the over-reacher it was born to be, wants more though for its chosen place and people. Artists and musicians, literary enclaves, world famous has-beens, an airport, an aviary and wild-life zoo,

a heated public swimming pool, a bike track, luxury resorts to attract the big spending nomads, boutiques, pleasure craft, a glimpse (even a whole view?) of the beach from Agnes, a Sunday markets which doesn't necessarily feature open bags of manure for sale - to name just a few perhaps?

With a herring across my tongue (it is old hat to say bated breath, n’est pas?), I wait eagerly to see the Titan create its wishes. I watch in slight desperation as others seem to misinterpret those wishes, but being a newbie, I will have faith. And meanwhile endeavour to get our land cleared, designs through Council, water tank in, shed up and new home built.