Mixed feelings on this one guys. It's the end of an era for my family, the family homestead is officially on the market.
Mum and Dad bought the land, built a garage to live in, while building the house and moved into the house back in 1958. There wasn't very many shops in the area, no footpaths, and no fancy lifts to use to make getting over the railway line easier. But it was and is still a truly beautiful area. It's easy to see why they purchased the block surrounded by bushland in such a quiet peaceful street.
I say mixed feelings because my family built and owned this house, it has been theirs to call home for almost 60 years, but it will be a relief when it's sold, knowing that Mum will be comfortable for the rest of her life. I would love to be able to hold onto it, but it's not possible. They built it, they extended it, they raised the 3 of us in it. Both were involved in Blaxland Rural Fire Brigade, something we are all proud of. Dad would be out defending other peoples homes and livelihoods, while Mum and the other ladies would keep them going with food and drinks.
Our friends lived around the corner, or up the street a bit. We grew up playing in the bush next door and behind us. We frequented the sandpit as it was known by locals, and clambered around the waterhole and waterfall. Later we would go motorbike riding down the fire trails, easy access for us as they were just behind us. We cooked potatoes in the ashes of the fires Dad built to burn off all the leaves every winter. Collecting kindling for the open fire in the house was essential, and one of our jobs. I remember walking home from the bus stop one day and we thought there was something wrong when we rounded the corner. Only to realise later that it was a huge tree that had fallen down. Typical kids, something looked different but we didn't know what lol.
I remember the Christmas we got the mini bike, and we were all up at the crack of dawn to have a ride, before heading to Sydney for Christmas Day. I remember climbing up on the pergola with ease, now I don't like climbing a ladder. I remember sitting in the mulberry tree eating and eating. Swimming in our above ground pool, was a luxury, not everyone had one, so we were thrilled to have it. All in all we lived a great existence, despite the fact we would of whined alot lol.
My brothers nickname FUD is in the concrete on the back step. I wish I'd had a chance to write my name lol. My tiny little bedroom, it was my escape and also the place to escape from. Sneaking a smoke in my room, I was so daring, and blowing the smoke out the window, incense burning of course. Throwing up in the bin after a night drinking, underage of course, sorry Dad hehehehe. The party we threw when Mum and Dad were away, and all the trash later found in the garden, usually by Dad lol.
But memories will not die, we have photos as well. The truth is we cannot hold onto the house, and that is a harsh reality of life, but our memories will not be sold with the house, they will remain. The good times and the bad, the fun and happiness that was our lives will not disappear when the house is sold, it will live on.
So mixed emotions, raging emotions, tear to the eye emotions, but always in the back of the mind is the facts and that we have to deal with it all. It's not going to kill us, when it sells, and the relief that Mum is protected will be immense, but I won't say I won't cry, cause I damn well will.
Catch yas
Cathy
