Next morning. Monday. Fish's first day in reception.
Daddy takes him for pancakes at McDonalds to impart the Five Truths about school.
Then home for a last minute sit on the toilet.
And Fish is at last on his way.
........
David and Katherine board the train at Emu Plains station.
Several other passengers get on as well.
One looks familiar.
Ray! says David. Good man.
Ray Moon! says Katherine. Where might you be going?
Ray Moon looks shifty.
He's coming to Adelaide, says David. I may have forgotten to tell you.
Now it's Katherine's turn to look shifty.
......
They are now a party of three, arriving at Central.
Ray carries Katherine's luggage up the stairs, in an effort to please her.
Thank you, Ray, says Katherine. At least you try to behave like a gentleman.
Try? says Ray.
Keep your shirt on, says David. She means that I don't. Mother, why don't you say if you want me to carry your luggage?
I'm quite capable of carrying my own luggage, says Katherine
This is not going well.
Ray is feeling superfluous.
And what's up with Katherine?
We are about to find out.
........
They arrive at the airport, go through security, have lunch in the food court.
The tables are tiny, the plastic chairs close together.
Katherine! says Rosamunda, turning slowly to show her full face.
Rosamunda! says Katherine, unsuccessfully affecting surprise.
I took your advice, says Rosamunda.
Going somewhere, Rosamunda? asks Ray.
Adelaide, says Rosamunda. Don't tell me ......
David has been eating his meat pie from Pie Face, thinking idly about the Five Truths. Why can't he remember the last one?
But now.......Goodness gracious! Rosamunda is coming to Adelaide.
Going somewhere with Gaius? asks David.
No way, says Rosamunda. The Fringe is on soon, and I'm helping Vello to put on a Fringe show. Katherine suggested it.
I'm going to be in that Fringe show, says Ray. David suggested it.
Ray and Rosamunda turn questioning faces to David.
David swallows his last bite of pie.
This could turn out to be awkward.
......
On the plane. Jetstar flight 467 to Adelaide.
Ray Moon: I did some acting at Christian College.
Rosamunda : Why does that not impress me?
David: The Five Truths, mother. You don't happen to remember the last one?
Katherine: They weren't Truths dear, they were objectives.
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Saturday, February 7, 2015
The Art Of Watching
Sunday morning. A family meeting has decided where the family will go for their family activity.
Glenbrook National Park, with a caveat. They will only stop at lookouts with railings.
They drive to Glenbrook National Park.
Daddy and Mummy in the front seats.
Fish and Butterfly in the mid-seats, watching DVDs.
David and Katherine in the back seat looking out at the usual trees.
The car stops at the first point of the family activity.
The Red Hands Cave Trail.
They follow the trail, en famille.
Rocks, trees, bushes with tiny bush flowers. A valley. A bend. Seat. A cave.
Through the grille, you can see red and white hands painted and stencilled on the walls of the cave.
You can't go inside though.
Fish soon gets bored. He wants to keep walking.
He, Daddy and David disappear down the trail.
Mummy and Katherine and Butterfly sit down in front of the cave.
They drink water and share one and a half of the last three Iced Vo-Vo biscuits.
As aboriginal women used to do, long long ago.
..........
Next stop the Nepean Lookout.
It has a railing. And a gate, leading out to a projecting rock, high above the valley.
A gate for abseilers only.
Fish is not yet one of those.
A red boat moves slowly on the Nepean River. A bridge. Tall spindly trees.
A train on the far side enters a black hole in the mountain.
A rumbling. A silence. A breeze.
......
Last stop the Jelly Bean Pool.
Down a rocky track, almost vertical in places.
Sand, rocks, a pool, beyond the pool, more rocks, also almost vertical. The pool extends round a corner to yet more rocks, but not in the shape of a jelly bean.
Water, knee deep and dark brown as black tea.
Butterfly and Fish head for the water. It's already up to their pants.
I'm allowed to get my shorts wet, says Fish.
That's true. He is.
David has taken his shoes off and rolled up his trousers.
He likes this activity, but he's glad he'll be going home tomorrow.
We've seen a water-walker, says Butterfly.
Katherine wonders what that is. Then she remembers. It's some sort of insect. How nice.
David's thought process is more convoluted. He thinks: water-walker, walking-on-water, ha ha, irrational religion, no accounting, this place, community indeed, sausage sizzle, poor Ray and the girl fiend, Rosamunda, bad influence on a church man, perhaps Ray needs to get away, I wonder if Vello....
Chop-chop, David, says Katherine. Put your shoes on. They've all gone back up to the car.
......
Later that evening, the family watches I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, on the television.
It's so thrilling, Butterfly and Fish are allowed to stay up till it ends.
One of the celebrities, a large female personality, must lie passively tied to a stake in an enclosure while a blindfolded team member drops unpleasant items onto her face through a funnel.
Ants, cockroaches. Offal.
The offal looks like rhubarb, gelatine and currants. Wisely she keeps her mouth shut, earning six out of ten for her team.
Then it's bedtime for the children.
And now, for the grown-ups, the tennis. The Australian Open Finals.
Katherine does not mind. She has recently perfected the art of watching the tennis.
Glenbrook National Park, with a caveat. They will only stop at lookouts with railings.
They drive to Glenbrook National Park.
Daddy and Mummy in the front seats.
Fish and Butterfly in the mid-seats, watching DVDs.
David and Katherine in the back seat looking out at the usual trees.
The car stops at the first point of the family activity.
The Red Hands Cave Trail.
They follow the trail, en famille.
Rocks, trees, bushes with tiny bush flowers. A valley. A bend. Seat. A cave.
Through the grille, you can see red and white hands painted and stencilled on the walls of the cave.
You can't go inside though.
Fish soon gets bored. He wants to keep walking.
He, Daddy and David disappear down the trail.
Mummy and Katherine and Butterfly sit down in front of the cave.
They drink water and share one and a half of the last three Iced Vo-Vo biscuits.
As aboriginal women used to do, long long ago.
..........
Next stop the Nepean Lookout.
It has a railing. And a gate, leading out to a projecting rock, high above the valley.
A gate for abseilers only.
Fish is not yet one of those.
A red boat moves slowly on the Nepean River. A bridge. Tall spindly trees.
A train on the far side enters a black hole in the mountain.
A rumbling. A silence. A breeze.
......
Last stop the Jelly Bean Pool.
Down a rocky track, almost vertical in places.
Sand, rocks, a pool, beyond the pool, more rocks, also almost vertical. The pool extends round a corner to yet more rocks, but not in the shape of a jelly bean.
Water, knee deep and dark brown as black tea.
Butterfly and Fish head for the water. It's already up to their pants.
I'm allowed to get my shorts wet, says Fish.
That's true. He is.
David has taken his shoes off and rolled up his trousers.
He likes this activity, but he's glad he'll be going home tomorrow.
We've seen a water-walker, says Butterfly.
Katherine wonders what that is. Then she remembers. It's some sort of insect. How nice.
David's thought process is more convoluted. He thinks: water-walker, walking-on-water, ha ha, irrational religion, no accounting, this place, community indeed, sausage sizzle, poor Ray and the girl fiend, Rosamunda, bad influence on a church man, perhaps Ray needs to get away, I wonder if Vello....
Chop-chop, David, says Katherine. Put your shoes on. They've all gone back up to the car.
......
Later that evening, the family watches I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, on the television.
It's so thrilling, Butterfly and Fish are allowed to stay up till it ends.
One of the celebrities, a large female personality, must lie passively tied to a stake in an enclosure while a blindfolded team member drops unpleasant items onto her face through a funnel.
Ants, cockroaches. Offal.
The offal looks like rhubarb, gelatine and currants. Wisely she keeps her mouth shut, earning six out of ten for her team.
Then it's bedtime for the children.
And now, for the grown-ups, the tennis. The Australian Open Finals.
Katherine does not mind. She has recently perfected the art of watching the tennis.
Friday, February 6, 2015
That Which Is Axiomatic
It's Saturday. Butterfly and Fish go to Little Athletics on Saturday.
They get dressed somewhat faster than usual.
Little Athletics is buzzing with parents and children.
The sun beats down relentlessly. The grass exudes a damp sportsmanlike smell.
The hurdles program is cancelled due to hoons doing donuts on the oval. Program one will be followed instead.
Ray Moon is there.
Ray! says David. I didn't expect to see you here.
Community service, says Ray. I'm on the sausage sizzle.
Fish is racing, says Katherine. Over there. Hurry up, David.
Coming, says David.
Yes, says Ray. Community is big here in Blaxland.
That is axiomatic, says David.
What? says Ray.
A given, says David. We all agree. Community is big here in Blaxland.
Except for the few, says Ray darkly, looking across at the place where the grass has been churned up by hoons.
There are always the few, agrees David.
Fish won his race, says Katherine. And you weren't watching. Now come and watch Butterfly. She's doing the Vortex.
The purpose of competition eludes me, says David.
These days they go for PBs, says Katherine.
To what end? asks David.
Self improvement, says Katherine, as a long drawn out race thunders by.
David watches a struggling boy, sympathetically.
.........
Afternoon. The family is at the Hog's Breath Cafe, to celebrate Butterfly's birthday.
Good choice, Butterfly, says Daddy, as he orders a large plate of ribs.
Butterfly and Fish order Curly Fries and Nuggets. Fish spills his sauce on the table.
David has Fisherman's Basket. Mummy and Katherine order salads, which are quite nice.
Butterfly looks at the menu again before leaving.
Kids get free ice cream! says Butterfly. It says here!
This is the trouble with reading, says Daddy.
.......
Later. At home.
A cake is being made. A dream cake for Butterfly. In layers.
Meringue, cream, marshmallow, meringue, cream, raspberry jam, coconut, crushed Iced Vo-Vo biscuits, meringue, cream, tiny red and white striped meringues on the top and a sprinkling of biscuit crumbs. A single candle in the shape of a seven.
What's the best thing about being seven? asks Daddy at tea time.
No more booster seat, says Butterfly.
Fish is thoughtful. The future looks bright.
They get dressed somewhat faster than usual.
Little Athletics is buzzing with parents and children.
The sun beats down relentlessly. The grass exudes a damp sportsmanlike smell.
The hurdles program is cancelled due to hoons doing donuts on the oval. Program one will be followed instead.
Ray Moon is there.
Ray! says David. I didn't expect to see you here.
Community service, says Ray. I'm on the sausage sizzle.
Fish is racing, says Katherine. Over there. Hurry up, David.
Coming, says David.
Yes, says Ray. Community is big here in Blaxland.
That is axiomatic, says David.
What? says Ray.
A given, says David. We all agree. Community is big here in Blaxland.
Except for the few, says Ray darkly, looking across at the place where the grass has been churned up by hoons.
There are always the few, agrees David.
Fish won his race, says Katherine. And you weren't watching. Now come and watch Butterfly. She's doing the Vortex.
The purpose of competition eludes me, says David.
These days they go for PBs, says Katherine.
To what end? asks David.
Self improvement, says Katherine, as a long drawn out race thunders by.
David watches a struggling boy, sympathetically.
.........
Afternoon. The family is at the Hog's Breath Cafe, to celebrate Butterfly's birthday.
Good choice, Butterfly, says Daddy, as he orders a large plate of ribs.
Butterfly and Fish order Curly Fries and Nuggets. Fish spills his sauce on the table.
David has Fisherman's Basket. Mummy and Katherine order salads, which are quite nice.
Butterfly looks at the menu again before leaving.
Kids get free ice cream! says Butterfly. It says here!
This is the trouble with reading, says Daddy.
.......
Later. At home.
A cake is being made. A dream cake for Butterfly. In layers.
Meringue, cream, marshmallow, meringue, cream, raspberry jam, coconut, crushed Iced Vo-Vo biscuits, meringue, cream, tiny red and white striped meringues on the top and a sprinkling of biscuit crumbs. A single candle in the shape of a seven.
What's the best thing about being seven? asks Daddy at tea time.
No more booster seat, says Butterfly.
Fish is thoughtful. The future looks bright.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Adapt Or Die Wisdom
Friday. Butterfly's birthday. She opens her presents before going to school.
A puzzle, a necklace, pink bed sheets, a family of lions.
I love these tigers! says Butterfly.
She takes the tigers to school.
.......
On the way home, David and Katherine take Fish to the coffee shop, for hot chocolate.
Katherine orders a latte, two hot chocolates, a gingerbread man.
Fish eats the gingerbread man, even though it is spicy.
Two hot chocolates arrive, one large and one small. But no latte.
Katherine knew that would happen when she was only charged nine dollars ninety.
She can't ask for one now, that is obvious.
........
In the afternoon, Fish has to go to a meeting.
It is called Best Start. He will be meeting his teacher.
He walks to school with Katherine and David, his pockets loaded with acorns.
They wait in the front office, Fish in one chair, a little girl in another.
A teacher comes in and takes the little girl away.
What if she took the wrong person? says Fish.
Miss Mash enters the office.
Fish! I know you! You're Butterfly's little brother.
Fish disappears with Miss Mash, for a grilling.
.........
David and Katherine have forty minutes to kill.
They collect Zoe the cavoodle, who has been tied to a tree, and head off for a walk.
Have you brought a poo-bag? asks Katherine.
Just one, replies David.
Zoe does the maths.
........
Forty minutes later they return to the school, and tie Zoe back up to the tree.
David looks for a tap. Plastic newspaper sleeves make ineffective poo-bags.
They turn up at the office at the same time as Mummy, to retrieve Fish from Miss Mash.
That went very well, says Miss Mash. Goodbye Fish. See you on Monday. Make sure you have your name in your hat.
What did you do with Miss Mash, Fish? asks Mummy, when they are out in the courtyard.
I had to do a hard thing with my brain, says Fish, enigmatically.
.......
Mummy has taken Fish and Butterfly to a play date.
David and Katherine walk home.
They pass the church where Pastor Ray Moon used to harangue his congregation.
Good old Ray, says David. Wonder what he's doing now?
Nothing, says Ray gloomily, emerging from a wicket gate.
Jesus! says Katherine. Ray Moon! You look terrible! Is Unni back yet from Tasmania?
Yes, says Ray Moon.
Well, you should be pleased about that, says Katherine. I know she got rid of the lobster.
She got rid of the lobster, says Ray, but she came back with a girl fiend.
Girl friend? says David. What's wrong with that?
Girl FIEND, says Ray. Name of Rosamunda Secunda.
Dear me, says Katherine. I know her. She seems such a nice girl.
She believes in Nothing, says Ray. She's a malign influence.
Her motto, says Katherine, if I remember correctly, is Adapt or Die.
Oh, that's good, says David. Very Darwinian.
She learned it in China, says Katherine.
All the same, says David. Wisdom is wisdom. Ray?
But Ray has slunk back though the wicket gate.
He enters the holy place, dark, deserted and festooned with spider webs, and sits down in a pew.
A puzzle, a necklace, pink bed sheets, a family of lions.
I love these tigers! says Butterfly.
She takes the tigers to school.
.......
On the way home, David and Katherine take Fish to the coffee shop, for hot chocolate.
Katherine orders a latte, two hot chocolates, a gingerbread man.
Fish eats the gingerbread man, even though it is spicy.
Two hot chocolates arrive, one large and one small. But no latte.
Katherine knew that would happen when she was only charged nine dollars ninety.
She can't ask for one now, that is obvious.
........
In the afternoon, Fish has to go to a meeting.
It is called Best Start. He will be meeting his teacher.
He walks to school with Katherine and David, his pockets loaded with acorns.
They wait in the front office, Fish in one chair, a little girl in another.
A teacher comes in and takes the little girl away.
What if she took the wrong person? says Fish.
Miss Mash enters the office.
Fish! I know you! You're Butterfly's little brother.
Fish disappears with Miss Mash, for a grilling.
.........
David and Katherine have forty minutes to kill.
They collect Zoe the cavoodle, who has been tied to a tree, and head off for a walk.
Have you brought a poo-bag? asks Katherine.
Just one, replies David.
Zoe does the maths.
........
Forty minutes later they return to the school, and tie Zoe back up to the tree.
David looks for a tap. Plastic newspaper sleeves make ineffective poo-bags.
They turn up at the office at the same time as Mummy, to retrieve Fish from Miss Mash.
That went very well, says Miss Mash. Goodbye Fish. See you on Monday. Make sure you have your name in your hat.
What did you do with Miss Mash, Fish? asks Mummy, when they are out in the courtyard.
I had to do a hard thing with my brain, says Fish, enigmatically.
.......
Mummy has taken Fish and Butterfly to a play date.
David and Katherine walk home.
They pass the church where Pastor Ray Moon used to harangue his congregation.
Good old Ray, says David. Wonder what he's doing now?
Nothing, says Ray gloomily, emerging from a wicket gate.
Jesus! says Katherine. Ray Moon! You look terrible! Is Unni back yet from Tasmania?
Yes, says Ray Moon.
Well, you should be pleased about that, says Katherine. I know she got rid of the lobster.
She got rid of the lobster, says Ray, but she came back with a girl fiend.
Girl friend? says David. What's wrong with that?
Girl FIEND, says Ray. Name of Rosamunda Secunda.
Dear me, says Katherine. I know her. She seems such a nice girl.
She believes in Nothing, says Ray. She's a malign influence.
Her motto, says Katherine, if I remember correctly, is Adapt or Die.
Oh, that's good, says David. Very Darwinian.
She learned it in China, says Katherine.
All the same, says David. Wisdom is wisdom. Ray?
But Ray has slunk back though the wicket gate.
He enters the holy place, dark, deserted and festooned with spider webs, and sits down in a pew.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Necessary Connection
Thursday.
On the way to school, Fish and Butterfly ask for more acorns.
Do you want to grow a tree? asks Katherine.
No, I want to grow a squirrel, says Fish.
......
Later that morning, at home.
David and Fish are down at the bottom of the garden. Fish collects worms.
Katherine appears.
Look Grandma, worms, would you like one?
No, says Katherine. It's too close to lunch time.
........
Minutes later, at the tap under the balcony.
Fish has found a thin white latex glove.
He attaches it to the tap and fills it with water.
David and Katherine watch as the glove fills with water. One finger takes more than the others and droops and bounces suggestively.
Boing! Boing! It almost touches the ground.
At last the glove bursts.
Fish runs inside for another.
David looks at Katherine. Katherine shrugs. Perhaps Fish won't find another.
But Fish does.
......
Fish is watching a movie called Fire and Rescue while eating his lunch.
Ham-cheese-tomato sauce. His favourite sandwich.
David and Katherine are in the kitchen.
Katherine: Do you want salad in yours?
David: Yes thank you.
Katherine: It's good that Butterfly is happy at school.
David: Yes, with Mrs Switch and Mrs Tailend.
Katherine: A nice little composite class. And she's sitting next to Citronella, which is lovely.
David: Yes, life is simple at seven.
Katherine: It would seem so. And you. You seem to enjoy spending time with your nephew.
David: I do. He is more philosophically interesting than I had expected.
Katherine: How?
David: He expects a squirrel to come from an acorn.
Katherine: Surely that's just an error.
David: Perhaps. Or perhaps it's an example of necessary connection.
Katherine: David, you lose me....
David: Acorn, grows into tree, attracts squirrel. Bingo.
Katherine: I wish you would give up trying to prove the unprovable. Would you like sauce?
David: You know I don't like sauce.
Katherine: And in any case, there are no squirrels here.
David: It's philosophy, and therefore irrelevant. So, what's in my sandwich?
Katherine: Here you are. Salad and sausage.
David: Don't you mean sausage and salad?
Katherine: You're right, David. That's what I mean.
On the way to school, Fish and Butterfly ask for more acorns.
Do you want to grow a tree? asks Katherine.
No, I want to grow a squirrel, says Fish.
......
Later that morning, at home.
David and Fish are down at the bottom of the garden. Fish collects worms.
Katherine appears.
Look Grandma, worms, would you like one?
No, says Katherine. It's too close to lunch time.
........
Minutes later, at the tap under the balcony.
Fish has found a thin white latex glove.
He attaches it to the tap and fills it with water.
David and Katherine watch as the glove fills with water. One finger takes more than the others and droops and bounces suggestively.
Boing! Boing! It almost touches the ground.
At last the glove bursts.
Fish runs inside for another.
David looks at Katherine. Katherine shrugs. Perhaps Fish won't find another.
But Fish does.
......
Fish is watching a movie called Fire and Rescue while eating his lunch.
Ham-cheese-tomato sauce. His favourite sandwich.
David and Katherine are in the kitchen.
Katherine: Do you want salad in yours?
David: Yes thank you.
Katherine: It's good that Butterfly is happy at school.
David: Yes, with Mrs Switch and Mrs Tailend.
Katherine: A nice little composite class. And she's sitting next to Citronella, which is lovely.
David: Yes, life is simple at seven.
Katherine: It would seem so. And you. You seem to enjoy spending time with your nephew.
David: I do. He is more philosophically interesting than I had expected.
Katherine: How?
David: He expects a squirrel to come from an acorn.
Katherine: Surely that's just an error.
David: Perhaps. Or perhaps it's an example of necessary connection.
Katherine: David, you lose me....
David: Acorn, grows into tree, attracts squirrel. Bingo.
Katherine: I wish you would give up trying to prove the unprovable. Would you like sauce?
David: You know I don't like sauce.
Katherine: And in any case, there are no squirrels here.
David: It's philosophy, and therefore irrelevant. So, what's in my sandwich?
Katherine: Here you are. Salad and sausage.
David: Don't you mean sausage and salad?
Katherine: You're right, David. That's what I mean.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Time Is A Puzzle
On Wednesday morning, David Hume eats his breakfast in front of the television.
Not his normal procedure.
On the screen, a cartoon in which a girl with green teeth and bad breath is cajoled into seeing the dentist.
Butterfly and Fish are meant to be putting their clothes on.
But, eyes glued to the television, they are still slowly munching jam toast.
......
Eight thirty. David, Katherine and Fish walk with Butterfly to school.
On the way they walk under a tree sparsely hung with acorns.
Acorns, says David to Fish. Would you like one?
Yes. Fish would like more than one.
David picks several acorns.
Katherine snaps off four acorns for Butterfly.
Butterfly is entranced by the acorns. Can you eat them?
No, says Katherine. Not unless you are starving. Squirrels eat them.
Butterfly shoves the acorns into her pocket. Two for herself and two for her best friend Citronella.
.......
Later. At home.
On the stairs again. David and Fish launching parachutes.
Get them! says Fish. Get mine first!
This time Katherine is picking them up, and handing them up to the droppers.
This does not save any time whatsoever.
......
Lunch time. Katherine has opened a tin of Big Red Tomato Soup.
David's phone rings. It's Vello.
Vello: How's it going?
David: Oh, you know....
Vello: No, I don't know. Belle et Bonne was fully grown when I adopted her.
David: Ahem. Let's not.....
Vello: Can you do me a favour?
David: No! Acorns are nuts.
Vello: I beg your pardon?
David: Fish just put his acorns in water.
Vello: He must think that they're seeds.
David: Yes, he must.
Vello: How delightful to shape a young mind.
David: What's the favour?
Vello: Could you cut short your visit? I'm thinking of putting on a Fringe show.
David: Would love to, old chap but I can't. Katherine would simply explode. I'll be home by next Monday. Meanwhile I've got family duties.
Vello: Ha ha. How do you endure it?
David: I think philosophical thoughts. For example, I'm beginning to think the Newtonian view of time is the wrong one. Time is not a fundamental structure of the universe independent of events.
Vello: So you subscribe now to Leibniz and Kant?
David: In that time is not measurable? I think so. Yes, yes, all right, a puzzle....
Vello: Indeed. Time is a puzzle.
David: No, I'm talking to Fish. We're about to start doing a puzzle.
Not his normal procedure.
On the screen, a cartoon in which a girl with green teeth and bad breath is cajoled into seeing the dentist.
Butterfly and Fish are meant to be putting their clothes on.
But, eyes glued to the television, they are still slowly munching jam toast.
......
Eight thirty. David, Katherine and Fish walk with Butterfly to school.
On the way they walk under a tree sparsely hung with acorns.
Acorns, says David to Fish. Would you like one?
Yes. Fish would like more than one.
David picks several acorns.
Katherine snaps off four acorns for Butterfly.
Butterfly is entranced by the acorns. Can you eat them?
No, says Katherine. Not unless you are starving. Squirrels eat them.
Butterfly shoves the acorns into her pocket. Two for herself and two for her best friend Citronella.
.......
Later. At home.
On the stairs again. David and Fish launching parachutes.
Get them! says Fish. Get mine first!
This time Katherine is picking them up, and handing them up to the droppers.
This does not save any time whatsoever.
......
Lunch time. Katherine has opened a tin of Big Red Tomato Soup.
David's phone rings. It's Vello.
Vello: How's it going?
David: Oh, you know....
Vello: No, I don't know. Belle et Bonne was fully grown when I adopted her.
David: Ahem. Let's not.....
Vello: Can you do me a favour?
David: No! Acorns are nuts.
Vello: I beg your pardon?
David: Fish just put his acorns in water.
Vello: He must think that they're seeds.
David: Yes, he must.
Vello: How delightful to shape a young mind.
David: What's the favour?
Vello: Could you cut short your visit? I'm thinking of putting on a Fringe show.
David: Would love to, old chap but I can't. Katherine would simply explode. I'll be home by next Monday. Meanwhile I've got family duties.
Vello: Ha ha. How do you endure it?
David: I think philosophical thoughts. For example, I'm beginning to think the Newtonian view of time is the wrong one. Time is not a fundamental structure of the universe independent of events.
Vello: So you subscribe now to Leibniz and Kant?
David: In that time is not measurable? I think so. Yes, yes, all right, a puzzle....
Vello: Indeed. Time is a puzzle.
David: No, I'm talking to Fish. We're about to start doing a puzzle.
Monday, February 2, 2015
The Philosophy Of Cause And Effect
Some time has elapsed.
But we might suppose that it hasn't.
In which case, it is last Tuesday.
David Hume is thinking along similar lines.
You do look sour, David, says his mother. What's the matter?
I am attempting to project myself into the future, says David.
You don't need to do that, says Katherine. It's what happens anyway.
Ah, says David. But I was attempting to do it without experiencing the interim.
It will be over soon enough, says Katherine. You'd be sorry if you missed it.
If I missed it, says David, there would be nothing to be sorry about.
Katherine sighs and opens her novel, Like Water for Chocolate.
David closes his eyes, until the plane lands in Sydney.
.........
David and Katherine are on the train to Emu Plains.
Katherine is reading her novel, which is mildly erotic.
David sighs loudly.
Shh! says Katherine. This is a quiet carriage.
I was just thinking, says David, about cause and effect.
And there was an example of it, says Katherine.
What? says David.
Katherine frowns.
David supposes the frown is another example.
The train arrives in Emu Plains.
.........
Grandma! cries Butterfly. Come upstairs to my bedroom!
Uncle David! cries Fish. Do you want to go in our pool?
No, Fish, says David, but thank you for asking.
Well, do you want to play sky diving? says Fish.
Where? asks David.
On the stairs, says Fish. You have the blue one and I'll have the green one.
Fish and David climb half way up the stairs.
Fish drops a green man with a flimsy white parachute over the bannister.
David drops his blue man at the same time.
The blue man and the green man float gently down to the tiles in the passageway.
Again, says Fish. You get them.
David climbs down the stairs to retrieve the blue man and the green man,
He looks at his watch.
Fish, says David, on my way here I was thinking.
What were you thinking? asks Fish.
About why things happen, says David. Why do we think one thing causes another, and yet we can't prove it?
I know, says Fish.
I should be interested to hear what you know, says David.
I just know, says Fish, releasing his parachute.
It lands on the floor like a tent.
..........
It is dinner time.
There is chicken and cake, and real ginger beer.
Tomorrow, mummy and daddy must go off to work and Butterfly must go back to school.
Leaving Katherine and David at home to look after Fish.
But we might suppose that it hasn't.
In which case, it is last Tuesday.
David Hume is thinking along similar lines.
You do look sour, David, says his mother. What's the matter?
I am attempting to project myself into the future, says David.
You don't need to do that, says Katherine. It's what happens anyway.
Ah, says David. But I was attempting to do it without experiencing the interim.
It will be over soon enough, says Katherine. You'd be sorry if you missed it.
If I missed it, says David, there would be nothing to be sorry about.
Katherine sighs and opens her novel, Like Water for Chocolate.
David closes his eyes, until the plane lands in Sydney.
.........
David and Katherine are on the train to Emu Plains.
Katherine is reading her novel, which is mildly erotic.
David sighs loudly.
Shh! says Katherine. This is a quiet carriage.
I was just thinking, says David, about cause and effect.
And there was an example of it, says Katherine.
What? says David.
Katherine frowns.
David supposes the frown is another example.
The train arrives in Emu Plains.
.........
Grandma! cries Butterfly. Come upstairs to my bedroom!
Uncle David! cries Fish. Do you want to go in our pool?
No, Fish, says David, but thank you for asking.
Well, do you want to play sky diving? says Fish.
Where? asks David.
On the stairs, says Fish. You have the blue one and I'll have the green one.
Fish and David climb half way up the stairs.
Fish drops a green man with a flimsy white parachute over the bannister.
David drops his blue man at the same time.
The blue man and the green man float gently down to the tiles in the passageway.
Again, says Fish. You get them.
David climbs down the stairs to retrieve the blue man and the green man,
He looks at his watch.
Fish, says David, on my way here I was thinking.
What were you thinking? asks Fish.
About why things happen, says David. Why do we think one thing causes another, and yet we can't prove it?
I know, says Fish.
I should be interested to hear what you know, says David.
I just know, says Fish, releasing his parachute.
It lands on the floor like a tent.
..........
It is dinner time.
There is chicken and cake, and real ginger beer.
Tomorrow, mummy and daddy must go off to work and Butterfly must go back to school.
Leaving Katherine and David at home to look after Fish.
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