There is too much to take in

My heart is broken. 

There is too much to take in. In random order…

The recent death of my father and his wife and all that comes with that.

The terrible murders of two people in Minnesota and the knife-edge that exists politically, where people are goaded by the government to incitement to riot, as a desired outcome. 

Today in Australia, some call it Australia Day. Others call it invasion day, as on the day in 1788, the First Fleet of colonisers arrived on what they termed Terra Nullius – a land of no people – and in so doing didn’t see the people who had lived here for 60,000 years as people. Through this lens, the settlers proceeded to eradicate them.

How can we possibly be a united people and celebrate this day as the day to celebrate Australia? How easy would it be to change the date?

The endless cruelty of brutes in power and their relentless killing. 

And in all of this, one of our chickens is dying. We do not know why. She has fought for days to live. Her fight is remarkable. It is so small a thing. Farmers would think I am being silly. But her little flame is so fierce, and my heart is shattered. Not just for her. But for all the horror. 

A few days ago, my daughter and I rescued one of the chickens from the jaws of a giant goanna. The goanna came back yesterday, hunting the sick chicken. I have never heard screams like that. 

I long to curl up in a hole and shut out the world. 

It has been too much. Our chickens are being rehomed. 

Photo Taken January 26th, 2023, Article published January 26th 2026