bunyip like
smoking amongst trees
now so old
We spent last weekend at Castlemaine and became caught up in the Castlemaine Arts festival. See http://castlemainefestival.com.au/ On Saturday we were chasing an open artists workshop trail on a back road near Walmer/Muckleford when we came upon this train.
The BUNYIP is a mythical Australian Aboriginal creature, large , black, living in swamps and marshes and active after dark. Bunyip stories made sure children did not stray at night. To support this story an active night bird called the Australasian Bittern lives in swamps and makes incredibly spine chilling boom boom noises. I could not resist the opportunity for metaphor.
There is a historical train society that maintains the rail link between Castlemaine and Maldon and regularly runs tourist trips between the 2 towns and were certainly in action with the festival. The train and rolling stock predates the mid C20th . At the time I felt haiku coming on, then I discovered the one a week Photo Challenge word challenge this week is HISTORICAL . This is my challenge. For this years challenge planned by Cathy and Sandra visit Cathy’s blog at https://nanacathydotcom.wordpress.com/one-a-week-photo-challenge-2017/
Can you spot two ducks in one of these photos?
Haiku hound 
A great entry for the challenge Denis. I had to go back to look for the two ducks, that’s a brilliant photo and haiku match, with a little bit of Aboriginal history as well.
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Thanks Sandra. I took the photos with a haiku in mind then your challenge was waiting when I checked the word.
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So beautiful dear Denis, I love trains. This was amazing and nostalgic. Thank you, Love, nia
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Thanks Nia. When I was a little boy trains like this would pass near my house and I would run out and wave and the drivers would toot the horn. (many many years ago)
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Ah yes, love of trains comes from our childhood days. It was same for me too, I remember the black and steam trains… how excited to watch them and their sounds, smell… it was so beautiful. You are welcome, Love, nia
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Yes Nia, especially that smell which was so exotic but now we know also very unhealthy.
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Yes, exactly but it was amazing image… smoke was covering the station 🙂 so romantic too… there are so many film images in my mind now 🙂 Thank you, Love, nia
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I spotted the two ducks! 🙂
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Well done Magarisa. When I took the photo I did not see them.
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Love old trains! The metaphoric haiku is cute.. This could be fleshed out to be a great little children’s story.
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Thanks Annette thats a great compliment. Funny thing is I used to be an English teacher and encouraged my students to be creative writers. I recently Did a workshop with a writer as preparation for my first novel I am writing. One activity for the workshop was to sketch out a story line. I did one on a sheep that escaped to the bush and the group said it would make a great children’s story.Now you mention this there are a couple of ideas I have. What I need is an artist but first i have to finish the first draft of my novel.
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Now my creative mind is whirring – do you mean an artist to illustrate a children’s book? if a children story is about sheep, how about some knitted sheep photographed in different locations for your book? There’s a pattern here: http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/woolly-sheep.html
Each one made seems to have a quirky individual expression
Just a thought – obviously this might be way off the mark of what you would want.
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Thanks Sandra, Any ideas are welcome, this is a concept sitting in a queue and will happen. First I have to finish the first draft of my first novel. It went on hold for our trip to new Zealand and I have to get back into it, 62,000 words down but lots to do. Then I will try to activate my childrens’ sheep story about a Ram that escaped into the bush and lived with Kangaroos etc until discovered with an enormous coat of wool. He was saved, shorn and rehabilitated. I have a great concept ready but thats all. I will keep you informed.
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Ok crikey – now I’m thinking of crochet kangaroos too – there are loads on Google images!
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You have lots of ideas running there Sandra. I am almost ready to re-start the novel draft.
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Wow Dennis, busy busy! I’m so impressed that sounds like a lot of work. The story of the ram is ringing a bell with me, I think it might have been on British TV at some stage. I really want to make that ram now!!!! Ha! with an ever growing woolly coat. I look forward to hearing more about your writing progress.
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A great haiku and interesting back story Denis and those photographs show a wonderful glimpse into another era ☺
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Thanks Xenia. That type of train was part of my early childhood.
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That makes it extra special ☺
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It does.
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I like how you brought the train alive as a Bunyip (and I found the ducks 🙂
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It just seemed to have a mysterious presence lurking in the bushes as Bunyips are supposed to do. The ducks were a pleasant surprise when I enlarged the image.
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It’s amazing what little surprises hide in an image 🙂
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Hello Denis! Great photos. I love the old train. It looks like something my brother and I played with as kids (smaller version, of coarse). I saw the two ducks in the first photo. I enjoyed your haiku too. 😀 xx
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Thanks Vashti. Most people have old train stories even toy ones. The ducks were a bonus.
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I spotted the ducks!! Quack quack! Beautiful pictures again, so lovely to see the. Australian countryside. Good luck with your writing project.
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Thanks for all that. This is a typical dry image of the countryside, still at risk from wild fire.
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