The top photo is the view from our bedroom. We went up, up, up the hill for an 8pm dinner at ‘the great view’. Gloria, Jill and 3 year old multilingual Zoe welcomed us and we were in the wonderful vegetable garden as Giogos plucked fresh items off the various vines for immediate cooking. He had also procured fresh whole fish which pretty much melted in the mouth and his fresh zucchinis did likewise.
We left at 10.30pmish to head down, down, down the hill. In the meantime we had posted the Bells’ Angels blog via wireless in the vegetable garden at the edge of ‘the great view’. We had also given some Aussie presents- for Gloria and Jill Geographic Shop Aussie soaps. For Giogos, a small stuffed Geographic Shop kookaburra, and for Zoe a small stuffed Geographic Shop parrot, which they loved and immediately named respectively Basil and Marj in our honour. Interestingly, while Zoe clung to the parrot she declared it to be a ‘bad’ parrot.
Next morning, Thursday 11 June, Bas headed up the hill to the studio and I noticed two missed calls from Jack on my mobile. My phone just cut out when I called him or he called me. We could text, however. I headed down to town to find better reception and/or a public phone. Whatever he wanted to tell me he did not want to do by text. About 2 hours later I gave up on my phone and sent a text to Bas (at the top of the hill) to ring Jack. The text back translated as ‘fire in Robbie’s flat, she’s in intensive care, lots of family in attendance’. So at about the same time on Wednesday night that we were in heaven on earth, Robbie in Australia was not.
At 3am-ish in Australia her room in her flat caught on fire. It was started by an electric heater. There is an article at: http://www.smh.com.au/national/80-people-evacuated-in-elizabeth-bay-apartment-block-fire-20090611-c3w3.html which was written at the time. It’s a very scary photo.
She and Joel were admitted to St. Vincent’s. They are both OK physically but will obviously need time to deal with the broader issues. Our sister-in-law Ruth received a 3am call (as Rob’s next of kin nominee while her parents are overseas) to allow anaesthetic to be administered and soon after other sisters/sisters in law, Libby and Janice, drove to Sydney from Canberra. Jack and his girlfriend Yvette hopped on a plane from Melbourne and Rob’s and Joel’s friend network in Sydney kicked in. Peter Hall and family, and extended others all rallied. Pretty wonderful response. Our studio friends here have also been great and we’ve been able to talk to Ruth, Robbie, bedside nurses and others through Skype.
We of course have been in a dilemma about whether to stay here or head back home. Robbie today said to stay here and we’ll take that advice for the moment. We can’t begin to thank our Australian family for their immediacy, action and love.
So, we reckon that Zoe might have been on to something that night with all her talk about a bad parrot- I’ve never heard the expression before but it will now enter our family lexicon as meaning an omen. Tonight we will yet again raise a glass to being alive and well and to having a wonderful extended family.
Thanks so much all of you from Bas too...
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