Tim's early childhood memories

Found a book the other day
Written memories of Tim's early days
Their first home: 18 Brougham Place
Their second: Karrawirra Avenue
Their third: Bryant Road
Later: Athol Avenue in Tranmere

Mum and dad fighting
Mum moved us out
My brothers too
It was exciting
A new rented house
Brighter and nicer
A little girl shared the back yard
A sandpit inside a little house
A box
Dad came and talked with mum
Had shaved
Was clean
He was refreshed 
Talked nicer
(No booze)
Talked and got back together

Tim and dad in the kitchen
Dad made him a cup of tea and
Toast with butter and sugar

Dad showed Tim his biceps muscle
He was working at something
Down in the shed with Uncle Peter
Dad picked him up and said
"My little Timmy"

Dad fell asleep in the bath
It was very cold

Uncle Harold visiting with Denis
Tim was scared of Uncle Harold

Dinner time
Dad was not happy with the dinner
Threw the whole plate up in the air

Tim and Mark trying to hide behind the door
Between the wall: to escape from dad
He was trying to hit them with his belt

Mum and dad fighting: yelling
Tim hit dad on the bum 
With his new plastic toy gun
Told off by his dad
Said if he did it again he'd break it

Dad's voice
Mum would cuddle in behind him in his bed
He remembers dad's voice calling her
Wanting her to come to him: for sex?

Dad was sunk 3 times during the war
Fell into the ship's hold: head injuries
Back injuries too

Karrawirra Avenue
Tim was 4 years old
Aunty Mars lived next door
They had a Television
Tim used to run to get away from mum
Scrambled through the hole in the fence
Escaped to watch TV or listen to the hit parade
Aunty Mars had a lovely big couch
With big springs in it
Tim loved to bounce on it

The gate that dad made
It was still at Karrawirra Ave
A few years ago: 1999
We drove past to have a look

Dated 2 March 2003