Yesterday we calmed down a bit. Ann was off to work at Bachelor College by the time we awoke and Bill, who had to return to work at Umuwa near Amata in Pitjantjatjara land, was nowhere to be found.
We borrowed the ute and drove in leisurely style to one of our favourite places, the Olive Pink Botanical Gardens, where there is a wonderful outdoor cafe.
We next went out to Araluen to look at the exhibition again, but as we were about to enter I had a phonecall from Bill who had returned home but couldn't get in. We had locked him out. I got the key system wrong. So we hightailed it back to Giles Street but I had the wrong front door key anyway so we still couldn't get in. Eventually we found the window above the kitchen sink to be amenable to a bit of pressure and Bill was able to climb through. Got his belongings and set off for Umuwa, where he's been getting the PY (Pitjantjatjara Yankuntjatjara) Media radio system back on its feet agaiin after some years of dysfunction. It is meant to broadcast news, views and music out all over Pit Lands. Bill's been driving from Alice to Umuwa every Monday and back on Friday all this year now. It's a long way and he'll be glad when he finds someone suitable to take it over.
Before he left Bill explained to me that the ute was unregistered so we decided not to go very far in the afternoon. I therefore spent quite some time reading Rod Moss' latest book, just recently published, 'One Thousand Cuts - Life and Art in Central Australia'. Rod is a noted artist who two years ago won the Prime Minister's Award for non fiction with his first book, 'The Hard Light of Day'. Some years ago I set up his website for him and still maintain it. www.rodmoss.com.
Last night I spent with my old mate Dave Oakes, with whom I worked ten years ago at Nyangatjatjara. He had managed to buy a carton of Guinness at an excellent price and needed help with it.
That's it for now. We're off out and about.
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