I took one look at Sue Vincent’s photo prompt for this week and was immediately transported back in time to sunny days lazing about beside a river that looked very similar to the one in Sue’s photo.   The one main difference was that the buildings were much further away from the river I knew.

I haven’t thought of that place in years and years –

Back when my oldest kids were young my best friend owned an old farmhouse on a few acres on Melbourne’s fringe.   There was a tract of Crown Land beside her property that she was able to rent for just $8 a year.    A meandering river formed the far boundary of the portion she rented.

On warm sunny afternoons in the school holidays I would drive out to the farmhouse with my kids.    My friend’s kids were of a similar age to mine and attended the same alternate school.   They were great friends.   One of the skills they perfected at the alternate school was the making of the good ol’ Aussie damper made famous in old bush yarns.  The recipe is a simple one – add a pinch or two of salt to some flour, add water and mix to form a stiff dough.

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