Tomorrow is Day 1 of my second year of Law School. I have spent the weekend getting organised and have made a solid start on the reading for week 1. However some thoughts already…

Where have I been the last 7 years?

Back in 2015 Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten came together and established the Referendum Council, seeking progress towards the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our Constitution. In 2016 a discussion paper was released. In 2017 a First Nations Constitutional Convention was held near Uluru. The Uluru Statement was read. The Uluru Statement called for a national process of Treaty and Truth-Telling overseen by a Makarrata Commission, along with a constitutionally enshrined voice to the parliament. Makarrata is a Yolngu word approximating the meaning of “treaty” Recommendations were made. In 2018 Morrison became PM and was returned in 2019. In 2019 the Morrison Government signaled an intention to hold a referendum in their first term. That first term is almost over.

The Uluru Statement was awarded the 2021 Sydney Peace Prize.

On 21 December 2021 the Indigenous Voice Co-design Process Final Report was released. “The Government will now commence discussions with States, Territories and local governments to encourage participation in Local & Regional Voice arrangements, and appoint an establishment group to work government on implementation of Local & Regional Voices.”

The only recommendation in that report regarding constitutional recognition is “Note the support for the enshrinement of the Indigenous Voice in the Constitution that was expressed particularly through the submissions received as part of the consultation process.”

Note. 

Fiona Lowe’s latest offering transports you directly to Tasmania’s North-West. As a regular traveller to the area, and having close family connections to that region I felt like I was right there and part of the community. This is due to Fiona’s ability to describe the scenery and characters in an engaging way, without the descriptions being too ornate and distracting from the narrative.

I love the way that Fiona tackles contemporary issues in our society. Often I find myself consuming other media in parallel with my reading of Fiona’s novels, as usually the societal issues her characters face I have not have much exposure to. In A Family of Strangers issues faced by characters include alcoholism, bullying, gaslighting, sexuality, miscarriage, sexual harassment and more.

Addy Topic has returned to her hometown of Rookery Cove, Tasmania after many years on the mainland. In the time since she left her hometown her parents have passed away and her return to the small town brings up some memories from her past she may have preferred to leave there.

Steph Gallagher and her husband and small son have recently moved to Rookery Cove, and  finding what was meant to be a fun seachange a more challenging move than she had hoped for.

Brenda Lambeck is widowed with three grown up children. Her relationships with her family and others in Rookery Cove are explored. 

The title A Family of Strangers is perfect for this interesting set of characters. The three women come together as part of a choir, and I think this shows that a family can be much more than your blood relatives. Community groups are a fantastic way to meet people, particularly in rural areas, and the community choir in this novel shows the importance of those connections.

I think Fiona’s life experiences in the health industry, together with her research skills and her compassion shine through with the sometimes difficult scenarios her characters find themselves facing. 

While I read an advanced reading copy of this edition, I will likely also purchase the audiobook. I have used Fiona’s audiobooks in the past, and the narrator Rebecca Macauley does a great job of them.

Moscow Mules & Murder by Quinn Avery is a very enjoyable read.

I really liked the characters. The protagonist Zoey was relatable and likable. The story itself was simple and a bit predictable, but enjoyable nonetheless. I would definitely read further stories featuring these characters.

Thie book is Book 1 of the Tiki Trouble Cozy Mystery Series.

The Sleepover

Pros

• Muffin and Muffin’s vocabulary. She is hilarious.
• Bingo as the “Husband” at the restaurant

Cons

• Muffin’s Dad Stripe is a bit of a dick
• Muffin is very destructive! Poor inflatable guitar and Bandit’s tail!

Rating ???? 4/5

The Creek

Pros

• Reference to dropbears ?
• Bluey is unsure of the creek, but then ends up loving it. “The creek is beautiful!”
• Mackenzie is in this episode

Cons

• nothing to not like

Rating ????? 5/5

Teasing

Pros

• Bluey (and Bandit) learn a valuable lesson about teasing.
• Bandit blaming the fart on Bluey LOL

Cons

• Bandit says five bucks instead of five dollarbucks
• Bandit’s volume goes down during his explanation between playing and teasing – I would have liked his answer!

Rating ???? 4/5

BBQ – one of my favourites!

Pros

• Bluey’s imitations of her Dad lighting the BBQ ?
• Bingo’s Relaxing Chair – “Ah so relaxing!”
• When Bingo has a spaz out about the salads ?

Cons

• Muffin’s dad Stripe (Bandit’s brother) is in this episode and loves to mockingly laugh each time something happens to Bandit like dropping his beer. But it was good when Bingo squirted him in the face with the hose!

Rating ????? 5/5

Fairies

Pros

• The Celtic Fairy music
• Bandit finally got distracted from work to spend time with his family

Cons

• none really

Rating ???? 4/5

Keepy Uppy

Pros

• So many ways to be entertained by a single balloon: bird noises, flying like a bird, keepy puppy. We all love a game of keepy uppy.
• Bandit’s efforts to make the game more difficult, and his sarcasm about the girl’s mess on the floor making it more difficult

Cons

• When the balloon pops

Rating ???? 4/5

Asparagus

Pros

• The Magic Asparagus is a fun game, and a much better use of asparagus!

Cons

• Bluey gets a bit bossy – but then becomes better mannered at the end of the episode

Rating ???? 4/5

Takeaway

Pros

• Who doesn’t love takeaway night
• “There’s a tap over there if you’re thirsty”
• Bush Wee

Cons

• They forgot the spring rolls!
• When the girls use Bluey’s dinner for playing – and throw it on the ground!
• Made me realise that Pat’s Chinese don’t have fortune cookies!

Rating ???? 4/5

Camping

Pros

• Bonjour Jean-Luc – becoming friends with someone you can’t verbally communicate with is pretty special.
• Grown up Bluey and Jean Luc ?

Cons

• Au revoir Jean Luc

Rating ???? 4/5

The Pool

Pros

• Talking into the fan to sound like a robot
• “I’m bored” “Hi bored, I’m dad’
• Chilli brings the bag and saves the day

Cons

• Stripe is on a holiday to Bali and has a pool at his house, and in Camping he has a caravan. How is he doing so well for such a dick?
• Bandit didn’t bring the bag including sunscreen, a bit irresponsible.

Rating ???? 4/5

Grannies

Pros

• Flossing by Bingo
• Bingo and Bluey imitating grannies is hilarious. “Just having a Nanna nap love”
• Chilli cleaning the oven, and Bandit plunging the toilet – domestic life
• Skyping with Nanna!
• Bluey teaching Nanna to floss so that Bingo is right.

Cons

• none

Rating ???? 4/5

Charades

Pros

• The cousins all going to Nanna’s house – remember doing this with my cousins and playing all sorts of games.

Cons

• Muffin getting her way again

Rating ???? 4/5

Sticky Gecko

Pros

• When Chilli tries to use reverse psychology on the girls – and it doesn’t work
• “Lovely little kids turn into lovely grown ups” – Chilli
• Catching the sticky gecko in the nick of time

Cons

Rating ???? 4/5

Dad Baby

Pros

• The girls all teaching Bandit a thing or two about pregnancy
• Lucky’s Dad Pat singing True Blue and assisting with the birth while missing the cricket – he is a top neighbour

Cons

• Bandit thinks he did it tough. Shortest pregnancy in history!

Rating ???? 4/5

Mum School

Pros

• The clear parallels between the Heeler house and Bluey’s balloon ‘family’
• “we all fail mum school sometimes” – Chilli is so wise

Cons

• Old Bunty the whacking stick being used to discipline Bluey’s ‘children’

Rating ??? 3/5

Squash

Pros

• Sibling rivalry
• Bluey asking Bandit to lose the next game for Bingo to have fun – she is a nice girl
• The power of believing in yourself

Cons

• Probably the best Stripe episode, he was definitely less of a dick in this one

Rating ??? ? 4/5