The Cottage

The story of our cottage in the bush.

--Purchased 2004--

In an Estate Agent's Window

A quaint cottage caught my eye,

I felt its call right then I knew

I could not pass it by.

Needing hard work love and care,

A bargain it would seem.

Nestled among the gum trees

A renovator’s Dream.

It seemed that nature had reclaimed

Every inch of garden space,

As though the forest hugged that house

And held it in its place.

To the door up rickety steps

You’d think about your chances,

Holes there in veranda's floor

The handrail made of branches.

The front door creaked as it swung wide

A sweet but musty smell.

It took me back to childhood days

Now under the cottage’s spell.

What treasures on the inside wait?

There was so much to explore,

Just as the owners left it

Some twenty years before.

 From bits and pieces firmly built

Each a second handed prize

Every beam and wooden stilt

Each window a different size.

The doors were from a hospital,

Each one still bore a sign

Beside the knob the bathroom door

Still reads “Six Beds Ward Nine”.

Old gas lamps on every wall

No power was connected

Taken by its beauty and charm

Much more than I expected.

The  kitchen table made of wood

Each dent and scratch a story,

Six unpainted wooden chairs

Far from their former glory.

A whitewashed kitchen cupboard

Colored lead-light in the door,

Full of wondrous old wares.

Such temptation to explore.

Mary’s statue sitting  on top

She’s watching what I do,

Does she know I own it now,

Or would she have a clue?

My anticipation rising as

I carefully pull the handle

Right in front with old matches

Of course I lit the candle.

There sat a row of children's books,

A Mecano set complete,

A fountain pen with two spare nibs,

A baby’s bottle with its teat.

 Cups on hooks and many plates

A set it’s certainly not

Hand beaters and an earthen Jug

An old fry pan and iron pot

Knifes and forks all bent and worn

Clustered in the drawer below.

A brooch, cuff links and old tie pin

For someone dressed to go.

The lino on the floor so thin

Old newsprint showing through.

A brand new Chev Two Fifty quid

Back in nineteen fifty two.

We had so much work to do

Every single treasure packed

All were placed in cardboard boxes

Then to the shed and stacked.

Each weekend for next three years

We worked to modernize.

We polished up that wooden floor

Now on show before your eyes.

The timber beams were sanded back

To reveal their natural grain

Ceiling boards were all replaced

Finished off with timber stain.

So proud we were of what we did

It came up as just a treat.

Now a gorgeous little home

Looking prim and very neat.

With the renovation finished

Using money that was lent

In order to appease the bank

We let it out to rent.

But nature unleashed her fury

A bushfire had its way.

Infamous in our history

The name ‘Black Saturday’

A tragedy like none before

The day Victoria cried.

Two thousand homes were burned that day

One hundred and seventy died.

Heartbroken now our cottage gone

But indeed our loss was small

Great sadness spread across the state

Deep sorrow felt by all.

Proudly sits a replacement house

Worth way more when we sell.

But in my heart I miss that cottage

Much more than I can tell.

--2007 Renovations under way--

--2008 same angle finished--

--2008 finished ready to rent--

--2008 the baltic pine flooring gleaming--

--7th Feb 2009, nothing left--

'Black Saturday'

2000 homes burned, 173 lives lost.

--Saturday 14th September 2013 

We received the keys to the replacement building--

Every tree now gone no longer a bush block,

now a paddock.

-- The Black Saturday Story--

http://www.abc.net.au/innovation/blacksaturday/#/stories/mosaic

Author's Note

We spent 3 years renovating it, but then lost it during the February 7 2009 'Black Saturday' bushfires in Victoria. We just received the keys to the new replacement house last week.

See http://www.abc.net.au/innovation/blacksaturday/#/stories/mosaic

Reviews

[Azure Montessa (Blue)]

Normally, a lengthy poem such as this would repel me from reading til the end. But this held me captive and I enjoyed the detailed descriptions and interesting narrations. Every line served its purpose. And grief had me as well when such a lovely cottage was devoured by bush fire. Such a tragedy. And I know it must be heartbreaking since you renovated it for three years and it all ended up in ashes in a blink of an eye. The rhyme scheme is exceptional and the rhythm was great, too. Truly a masterpiece. :x

[Keith]

Thank you so much for that very flattering review. we did indeed have many fond memories and wanted to preserve them in this poem, all of those details are real. That cottage oozed character.

[Dr. Wood ?]

great story my friend...an enthralling ride....and the pictures?

wow

[Keith]

Thanks mate. Working there right now hanging blinds in the new house. I hate hanging blinds! But cheaper than getting someone who knows what they are doing.

[Dr. Wood ?]

cheaper than getting ME and that's for sure.....Bloody travelling expenses and all

[Keith]

Dunno, can you do this s**t? And are the straight, and don,t fall down?.

[Dr. Wood ?]

Yup and yup

[Keith]

man, that harder than writing poems.

[Dr. Wood ?]

I do both at the same time....Nah..just joshing

[wordwarrior]

Oh yes Keith it was such a tragic day and never forgotten. Your images that show us what you found after then fire brought tears to my eyes. Your new house is beautiful but can never replace the memories of the old one. Yet you will build new ones.
The pain from that day will never diminish I am sure and the beautiful land that was around before has probably become a nightmare you wouldn't want to repeat.
My heart goes out to you(still) for the suffering caused to you an so many others. And to think it's been this long before you could move into your new house.
The grief and heart break live on.
Thank you so so much for sharing this!
A day no one in this state will ever forget I can assure you.

[Keith]

Thank you WW, this was not our home but a renter and retirement place. Our own home at Nar Nar Goon North (Gembrook) was menaced by that fire for about 6 weeks afterwards, but it never came that final bit. My wife (a lifeline counsellor) visited most people in the Labertouche area and she heard so many tales of horror. At least no one died in our area, that fire had been burning for a week and the area evacuated. Our tenant left 2 days before. The volunteers were wonderful, my wife & daughter run a hair salon in Drouin and basically opened it up for the lady volunteers and the survivors with little comforts and often living in poor temporary accommodation. A day spa lifted their spirits. After the fires new regulations meant we could not rebuild that type of cottage, only a brick house on a slab. So we were really among the lucky ones, all we are suffering is a really bad dose of nostalgia. On the other hand, my brother in law from Kinglake was a personal friend of Byan Naylor and many of his neighbours perished including many children that played with his kids.
Thanks you again for your kind words WW.

[wordwarrior]

Yes Keith, just today I have been reading in the paper about the affects that Black Saturday are having on the children in the area...ADHD, separation anxiety, nightmares and it seems to go on.

[MsJewel]

A beautiful heartfelt write - you drew me into your words with your wonderful descriptions. Wonderful writing my friend. :) Julie

[Keith]

Thank you so much Julie, I really appreciate your kind words and I am glad that you liked it. Keith.

[richom]

Hello. Shallimar was good enough to steer me to your poem and I'm delighted she did. I write only rhymed, metered verse and am always happy to meet others who do. I don't know why I didn't see your postings before this, but I will make up for it by reading all of your poems in the next few days.
I enjoyed this poem immensely. Your narrative had a splendid flow that kept me interested throughout, even to the surprising and unfortunate ending. A superb poem. Richard (richom)

[shallimarRose]

I knew you would like this Rich.. xo

[Keith]

Wow, thank you for calling in and leaving your kind words Richard. Likewise I seek rhymers and will be paying a visit. And thanks to the divine miss Shallimar for sending customers my way.

[shallimarRose]

I wish everyone called me shallimar that was the idea but they all want to call me Rose lol
Youre welcome Keith.. xo

[Pryde Foltz]

Places are people. Give it love and it will be beautiful. Lovely Write, Keith. The pictures were fantastic.

[Keith]

Thank you again for your kind words Pryde, I love to see you back, much appreciated.

[Michael G. Smith]

Great story from start to finish. Was it a manufactured home?

[Keith]

No, the original home was built in the 1950's from second hand materials. We renovated but kept as much of the original character as we could. The new replacement house was built in situ on a concrete slab. New building regs came in that prevented us putting back a wooden cottage, Thanks for calling in and kind review. Regards, Keith.

[Michael G. Smith]

They both look beautiful, especially the surroundings. Where exactly is this?

[Keith]

Google map 485 Forest Road, Labertouche, Victoria and you will see a bare 4 acre block surrounded by bush.

[Trace]

Frame this poem with the pictures and hang them on the wall of your new cottage. This was very touching, but never forget that things and property can be replaced, but the lives lost is haunting. Enjoyed this poem. thanks for sharing. Trace

[shallimarRose]

OH I second that notion Keith. Super Idea Trace.. xo

[Keith]

Yes Trace, we were humbled by the strength and courage of those who lost family or spent hours in terror. In comparison we are only suffering a nasty dose of nostalgia. (On a mine, if so which im ex BHP)

[Trace]

Kennecott utah copper. Largest open pit copper mine in the world

[Keith]

Big hole, how long to haul bottom to top?l

[Trace]

Before the giant land slide back in april, a 930 komatsu could do it with350tons in about 35 minutes. The slide took out the main haul road and destroyed millions of dollars of equipment. Go to: Rio tinto kennecott utah copper.com for more info on the mine and slide.

[Keith]

Cool, Thanks

[Coyote Poetry]

The house is amazing. I like the story and the photos. Good to built things with your own hands. Thank you for sharing the photos and the amazing poetry.
Coyote

[Keith]

Thank you so much Coyote. I really appreciate you coming back and leaving such a wonderful comment. Keith,

[carol burgess romance]

What a sad and heartfelt tale...more so that is is true. My husband and I had a small camp we restored by the ocean so I can relate to each treasure you discovered and to each new bit of restore that was done...at least you had this experience and great memories that a fire can not take away. We sold our camp after we purchased land near by and built our home that we now live in....you weave a great story Keith and I enjoyed each and every line

[Keith]

Why thank you Carol, always love to see my first ever reviewer back. Sometimes we don't have to surround ourselves with 'flash' things to have a good time. So glad you liked it. Hopefully I am starting to get the hang of this poetry thing. Keith.

[Onyia-Ali, Kingsley Chu..]

This one is a very pathetic story poem. The imagery is well created. well done.

[Keith]

Thank you Onyia, I appreciate you calling in and taking the time to read this. Keith.

[Onyia-Ali, Kingsley Chukwuebuka Benson]

You are welcome.

[Frieda P]

This is simply a wonderful read Keith, bittersweet & full of fond memories, so tragic yet you've pen'd the perfect ending. Here's to new found memories in your brandy new abode!

[Keith]

Thank you Freida, we will actually rent this out for a while, will move into it when we retire. The insurance company, the bank and the builders penned much of that ending. I think thats why we are missing the cottage, we had put so much of ourselves in it.

[Frieda P]

I know it's no consolation as far as the sweet cottage goes, but at least you're fine, that's what really matters, and you're welcome, I enjoyed this one.

[Keith]

Freida, afterwards their was so much death and horror stories that we got off very lightly. Our long term damage is just a bad case of nostalgia, you are so right.

[Frieda P]

My son is a firefighter, I hear these stories all too often, Amen to that....