Made it to All at Sea Books and heard many a tantalizing tale about C. Fox Smith's books, including the story of an original manuscript of some of her sea poems which I missed by a month or two. Hope it's found a good home.

Just spent 3 days about 2 hours west of here at the Horvath (our Sydney hosts)week-ender, off the expressway, off the asphalt and down a winding gravel road into what looked to me like a landscape from the Ethiopian highlands, gentle hills and valleys, ancient Eucalyptus groves, new pines, grape vineyards and olive groves, lots of horses. Their house overlooks a small winding river valley, with a pool at the bottom large enough for comfortable swimming. We got to do that. Spotted several roo across the river in park-like fields, all grazing happily away. We went on a long walk along the river, staring into a variety of wombat holes, and sure enough on the way back there was a wombat of truly awesome dimensions. We think we saw the Southern Cross that night but there must have been a jillion or so stars, all appropriately upside down.

Now we've got to do our final re-packing, for that long flight home. Ugh!

Thanks again to everyone, especially to Bob Bolton, who helped make our trip so special. And, yes, we'd be happy to reciprocate in terms of hospitality in Maine if any Mudcats from Oz wander our way.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, still in Oz