Reviewing my submissions over the past three years, my life appears to have been a series of disasters, though not all of my own making.
It began with memories of being knocked over and carried out into the ocean by a huge wave, saved by a nearby swimmer who hauled me out. Then continues in farming country in the south west of WA where I had kids setting off fireworks under my horse, causing it to bolt and run headfirst into a truck on the highway. I had a lucky escape when my attempts to stop the truck with my hands caused me to be tossed aside into a ditch with minor injuries.
Of course I have experienced bushfires, gone through evacuations and been shaken to the core by an earthquake. I’ve been stranded beside a dry riverbed after our vehicle broke down. Had a close encounter with a large croc, which resulted in the tour guide driving his old land rover over to me so I could climb onto the roof rack, from my rock, to be taken to safety.
All eye-opening experiences, especially for a person relatively new to Australia. However, these experiences had a significant effect on my life, making me more aware of my environment and able to create solutions to situations.
In later years I travelled quite a bit, which was a great adventure but of course, being me, it also led to new disasters. The cruise ship I was on broke moorings whilst we were ashore in South Africa. Plus, my working holiday in the UK led me to a variety of escapes. I couldn’t even go to the bank without getting caught up in a robbery. I remember sitting on the floor watching thieves with guns before being rescued by a rather handsome London bobby. I guess all disasters have their upside.
Random bombings were still an issue in London, and I managed to cause chaos there. Having had a lovely afternoon tea with my aunts, we were heading home when I realized the new shoes I had purchased had been left on the seat in the café. We returned for me to retrieve them but were stopped by the bomb squad who had evacuated the said café. A suspicious package they said, they secured it, examined it, and uncovered my new shoes!!!!!! We decided discretion was the better option, sneaking away feeling very guilty and embarrassed. A valuable lesson learned. Later I discovered a suspicious package myself after chatting to a sweet old lady at a railway station. She left her shopping bag, and I was going to take it to the station master till I saw the wires, timer etc. Yikes. Reported it and evacuated the area as instructed. The grand finale of the holiday was the bomb that destroyed a building and left us trapped under rubble for 14 hours.
Now safely in Australia? Yeah, right! One aircraft suffered multiple engine failures; another ran off the end of the runway. The disasters keep coming. Perhaps to be the subject of another memoir…
Heather Hartland
February 2025
It began with memories of being knocked over and carried out into the ocean by a huge wave, saved by a nearby swimmer who hauled me out. Then continues in farming country in the south west of WA where I had kids setting off fireworks under my horse, causing it to bolt and run headfirst into a truck on the highway. I had a lucky escape when my attempts to stop the truck with my hands caused me to be tossed aside into a ditch with minor injuries.
Of course I have experienced bushfires, gone through evacuations and been shaken to the core by an earthquake. I’ve been stranded beside a dry riverbed after our vehicle broke down. Had a close encounter with a large croc, which resulted in the tour guide driving his old land rover over to me so I could climb onto the roof rack, from my rock, to be taken to safety.
All eye-opening experiences, especially for a person relatively new to Australia. However, these experiences had a significant effect on my life, making me more aware of my environment and able to create solutions to situations.
In later years I travelled quite a bit, which was a great adventure but of course, being me, it also led to new disasters. The cruise ship I was on broke moorings whilst we were ashore in South Africa. Plus, my working holiday in the UK led me to a variety of escapes. I couldn’t even go to the bank without getting caught up in a robbery. I remember sitting on the floor watching thieves with guns before being rescued by a rather handsome London bobby. I guess all disasters have their upside.
Random bombings were still an issue in London, and I managed to cause chaos there. Having had a lovely afternoon tea with my aunts, we were heading home when I realized the new shoes I had purchased had been left on the seat in the café. We returned for me to retrieve them but were stopped by the bomb squad who had evacuated the said café. A suspicious package they said, they secured it, examined it, and uncovered my new shoes!!!!!! We decided discretion was the better option, sneaking away feeling very guilty and embarrassed. A valuable lesson learned. Later I discovered a suspicious package myself after chatting to a sweet old lady at a railway station. She left her shopping bag, and I was going to take it to the station master till I saw the wires, timer etc. Yikes. Reported it and evacuated the area as instructed. The grand finale of the holiday was the bomb that destroyed a building and left us trapped under rubble for 14 hours.
Now safely in Australia? Yeah, right! One aircraft suffered multiple engine failures; another ran off the end of the runway. The disasters keep coming. Perhaps to be the subject of another memoir…
Heather Hartland
February 2025
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