Days at Marion Downs Station

Marion Downs-Camp – 10.09.2002 – 21.09.2002

As always, if you like it, the days go by far too quickly. Despite all the work, we enjoy the exceptional hospitality at Marion Downs and feel like we belong. We eat our meals together every day. We are allowed to use the computer in the office, make phone calls and finally have a look at our website again.

Tanja and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you very much for your many letters. Especially for the fact that we were not alone during the tragic 01.09.02. Many thanks to all of you who have trembled with us and sent us good wishes.

I’m sitting at my laptop almost every day, trying to put the immense wealth of our experiences into words. Our boys are doing well. They can fill their bellies every day. Tip Truck often comes to visit us. He eats the grass in the front garden. Rufus would like to chase him away, but we scold him every time.

Because Rufus behaved so heroically and saved Tanja, he has earned himself a plane ticket to Germany. My parents had taken him to their hearts over the years anyway, but now he is fully part of the family. Who knows, maybe we’ll take it with us on our next trip to Australia. Why shouldn’t he cycle through Russia with us?

In addition to many other tasks, I also take care of the renewal of our weapons license. The replenishment situation is regulated. Leanne and Robert will visit us in about four to six weeks and bring the rest of the food that Cowboy John brought to the station a few weeks ago.

The weather is behaving strangely. At first it’s terribly hot. A sandstorm blows dust and sand into every crack in our house. The atmospheric pressure is at breaking point until it suddenly rains at night. Although the clouds are very sparing with their water, the leaves on the trees are green again. Not because the trees got enough water, of course, but because the dust was washed off. Robert says: “Nature can’t feel the rain. We need persistent showers over several weeks for that.”

Like me, Tanja is busy all the time. She sorts food for the next six weeks, sews torn pants, shirts and Rufus’ blanket. She cleans the kitchen boxes, bags and pouches. Rearranges equipment and much more.