September 2024 (Melbourne)

 

^My Dad as a young man

My final words last month, “Looking forward to a quieter September” ended up meaning 

something different than I had intended.

First of all, we celebrated my Mother-in-law’s 80th birthday. Twenty-one of us had a lovely 

lunch at Crown and then another, smaller lunch on her actual birthday. After a recent health 

scare for her and a couple of nasty surgeries, it was lovely to all gather and to celebrate her 

life together.

#Trigger warning re death#

My Dad, who received a terminal cancer diagnosis a year ago ended up going to hospital by 

Ambulance on 10 September with Covid. That became palliative care and, on 27

September, he passed away with me at his bedside. There is a lot more to say but I will leave 

that for now whilst I process his passing and the wider family angst and drama that has

surrounded it.

Suffice to say that I spent 17 days in The Alfred Hospital. Dad never complained but he had 

good and bad days. He was able to say goodbye in person to each of his three children and 

four grandchildren (my children) and via phone to his brother in Ireland and his sisters in 

England. He called anyone else who was important to him and had a final conversation with 

them too. For all that and for the wonderful, caring, dedicated staff at The Alfred, I am truly

grateful.

I am also grateful that I was not away when Dad was dying. Andrew and I were to spend the 

last 2 weeks of September in Palm Cove but we cancelled that trip. I was able to be with Dad 

which was where I wanted to be and where I felt that I needed to be.

When I am ready, I will have lots more to say. About Dad, about dying, about death, about 

family – the good and the horrid. 

For now, good bye Dad. I’ll miss you.

Writing:

One enjoyable thing I started this month was an online “Writing Picture Books” course with the Australian Writers’ Centre. It was not a self-paced course meaning I did a module a week for 5 weeks (I actually still have a week to go). 

There is a small Assignment each week which is assessed if you hand it in by midnight Sunday. I struggled because of all the time I spent in the hospital but I managed to hand something in 3 weeks out of 4. A heroic achievement if I say so myself! 

I actually learnt a heap from this course so watch out the Picture Book world – I am coming! At worst, I want to write books for my (future) grandchildren. I now have a lot of tips and tricks. I just need to find the story/ies! Oh and a publisher of course!

It doesn’t seem the right time to laud my “Writing Wins” but below is a list of stories published this month:

o Two flash fiction stories in Café Lit:

• “Floating” - https://www.cafelitmagazine.uk/2024/09/floating-by-leonie-jarrett-celebratory.html?m=1; and 
• “Alice” - https://www.cafelitmagazine.uk/2024/09/alice-by-leonie-jarrett-afternoon-tea.html;

o Three travel stories:

• Road Tripping South Australia’s Coast & Wine Country (With 2 Dogs in Tow) - https://weareexplorers.co/road-trip-south-australia-with-dogs/; 
• How to Beat the Crowds in Europe - https://www.goworldtravel.com/beat-the-crowds-in-europe/; and
• Exploring New Zealand and Australia by Cruise Ship Aboard the Viking Orion - https://www.goworldtravel.com/cruise-to-new-zealand-from-australia/

o Some travel photography from Antarctica (a first for me!) in Sunlight Press - https://www.thesunlightpress.com/2024/09/12/photography-by-leonie-jarrett/

^Dad recently at High Tea at the Windsor

                                                ^Dad, his partner and me at the RACV Club on the 23rd of May this year,                                                       his 83rd birthday.

Vale Dad 😢