Friday 10th June Update

Well we are still here.  Had  our first rain last night but its fine and hot again today.
This is queen Birthday here this weekend, so we are off to Mt Isa tonight. We catch a Greyhound bus at 10pm and arrive  in the morning at 6am.
Karen is Practice nurse for one of the Doctors today at one of the clinics here doing follow ups on some of the health checks she has been doing.
The other Saturday I went  to a meeting on writing at the Charles Darwin University it was a stimulating time, the speaker was the author Jennifer Mills.
There was quite a discussion on alcohol, it is not only a problem at Tennant Creek but Melbourne and the rest of Australia its just that in other places people wear suits and it is often behind closed doors.
Here things are very open and in your face.
The problem on peoples health is showing in that there are 16 renal chairs  ( I think that is what they call them) in the hospital.
We walk through an empty section going into town yesterday I counted 32 beer,cartons and wine casks on the ground in that one small area.
Daily we  see people going back past where we live to Wuppa and Tingkkarli camps after 2pm when takeaway alcohol is sold at the hotels.
Robert calls it the two o'clock shuffle.
 I think of the line from Baxters Lament for Barney Flannagan. 'The sky was bright as a new milk token, Bill the bookie, and Shell Shock Hogan waited outside for the pub to open.'
 So here are  some words I have put to the two o'clock shuffle. If you sing it you need chords  D,A and G.
 
Its the two o'clock shuffle that I see
Walking out in front of me
The two o'clock shuffle Takeaways
Out in front of me

A big strong man he leads the way
Holding his baby tight
V.B. is her name
Holding his baby tight

Some say Mr Whisky some say Mr Rum
That they are very clever that they are number one
And Mrs Wine is very fine she's part of our family

Four xxxx you mark my card
Don't go easy you go hard
Hypertension x Diabetes x
Renal failure x Blood Pressure x
Full score, full score,  full score.

Its the two o'clock shuffle...etc.

I"m still having a battle posting pictures but tomorrow is another day I have a lot to learn in this digital world.

Greetings from the Reefton Mob in Tennant Crek.