Such a Treat

I read a lovely book last week.
About a dog in the Nor' West
of Western Australia
And the people who loved him

Louis de Bernieres' Red Dog

It brought back a lot of childhood memories
Of when we drove to Marble Bar
One of the hottest places on Earth
For a family wedding

It was a long drive on dirt roads
Several thousand kilometers
With my parents and my grandmother
It was quite an adventure


On our way there we called into Roebourne
To visit my Aunt and Uncle and cousins
Who lived in a caravan
In that dry and dusty place

The times were different
There were few houses for families
You had to be tough and resilient 
To live in that part of the world

The Pilbara has changed
since those pioneering days
Now it's all suburban amenities
And air-conditioned comfort

Which is why 'Red Dog' was such a treat
Allowing me to re-visit how it used to be
When the world was still a surprise
waiting to be opened.



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