also on the march, and we were introduced. Paddy had an unusual background, and was back in Australia after spending some time in Scotland. She made it clear she wanted to return there as soon as she could.
I was intrigued by Paddyâs stories, and a relationship started that was to last over a decade and resulted in the birth of Philip Junior, my only child, in Alice Springs in 1977. Paddy was subject to black moods, had a strained Ârelationship with her mother, and our temperaments meant we were never suited to each other. My involvement with other women, initially withVirginiaâwho Paddy hated, and it was mutualâand later with others, created emotional storms. Virginia threw me out of her flat, and tossed my stuff, including a splendid jumper Paddy had knitted from homespun yarn, out into the gutter. It was time to leave Melbourne.
Paddy and I set off north. The plan was for me to go to back to the Territory, which she would use as a jumping-off point back to Scotland. Without the problems caused by other women the relationship improved. It was a very slow trip, moving some days, other days just camping in the bush and it took us over a month to reach the Northern Territory border; Philip must have been conceived on the way. We did eventually arrive in Alice, totally broke, and I got a job unloading and unpacking freight in the railway yard of the old narrow-gauge Ghan. Then I answered an advertisement in the Centralian Advocate , calling for applications for the position ofranger with the Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Service. I got the job and spent the next six years as a ranger, working first at Simpsonâs Gap. At the interview I realised that while my PhD wasnât highly regarded, my eighteen months on a cattle station was. I eventually got the job of Âsouthern mobile ranger, based in Alice Springs, but spent my time travelling hundreds of kilometres to the various parks up and down the centre of the Territory.
In this time my relationship with Paddy went through many phases. Philip was born in Alice Springs Hospital, and initially, as our relationship was floundering, put up for adoption, but then quickly reclaimed. It was clear to us both that it wasnât working and Paddy decided to continue with her long- planned trip to Scotland. I decided to go along for the ride, and then formally left them at Edinburgh Airport. We kept in touch though, and when I heard that sheâd taken a job in China, at Kunming University, I took the opportunity to visit them both. It was a great tripâdays across China by train on my own, re-meeting my four-year-old son, who was now at school, speaking Chinese, and once again enjoying the time with hismother. We began talking once again about her coming back to Australia. She did return, but it was never going to work and the Alice Springs relationship was toxic. I was repartnered with a new Jenni, and really didnât want to resume family life. There were incessant fights and misery and eventually Paddy left town and started work on Central Australian Aboriginal settlements at Papunya and Haasts Bluff. Although I would occasionally visit for weekends, her eventual permanent relocation to Scotland surprised no one and finally brought to an end a difficult relationship whichâexcept for PhilipâI regret to this day.
Philip was to return to Australia for his high school years. Paddy had established an Australian base in Hobart, the city she seemed fondest of, and although she was in and out of the country, Philip was able to finish high school and went on to the University of Tasmania, eventually earning a PhD in chemistry. Armed with his chemistry expertise, he initially worked at a winery but is now back in academe, at his alma mater. He lives in Hobart with his wife and three young boys. Weâre on good terms and see each other when Iâm down there. Like me, he enjoys his craft beerâIâm a bit of a beer snob and will
I was intrigued by Paddyâs stories, and a relationship started that was to last over a decade and resulted in the birth of Philip Junior, my only child, in Alice Springs in 1977. Paddy was subject to black moods, had a strained Ârelationship with her mother, and our temperaments meant we were never suited to each other. My involvement with other women, initially withVirginiaâwho Paddy hated, and it was mutualâand later with others, created emotional storms. Virginia threw me out of her flat, and tossed my stuff, including a splendid jumper Paddy had knitted from homespun yarn, out into the gutter. It was time to leave Melbourne.
Paddy and I set off north. The plan was for me to go to back to the Territory, which she would use as a jumping-off point back to Scotland. Without the problems caused by other women the relationship improved. It was a very slow trip, moving some days, other days just camping in the bush and it took us over a month to reach the Northern Territory border; Philip must have been conceived on the way. We did eventually arrive in Alice, totally broke, and I got a job unloading and unpacking freight in the railway yard of the old narrow-gauge Ghan. Then I answered an advertisement in the Centralian Advocate , calling for applications for the position ofranger with the Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Service. I got the job and spent the next six years as a ranger, working first at Simpsonâs Gap. At the interview I realised that while my PhD wasnât highly regarded, my eighteen months on a cattle station was. I eventually got the job of Âsouthern mobile ranger, based in Alice Springs, but spent my time travelling hundreds of kilometres to the various parks up and down the centre of the Territory.
In this time my relationship with Paddy went through many phases. Philip was born in Alice Springs Hospital, and initially, as our relationship was floundering, put up for adoption, but then quickly reclaimed. It was clear to us both that it wasnât working and Paddy decided to continue with her long- planned trip to Scotland. I decided to go along for the ride, and then formally left them at Edinburgh Airport. We kept in touch though, and when I heard that sheâd taken a job in China, at Kunming University, I took the opportunity to visit them both. It was a great tripâdays across China by train on my own, re-meeting my four-year-old son, who was now at school, speaking Chinese, and once again enjoying the time with hismother. We began talking once again about her coming back to Australia. She did return, but it was never going to work and the Alice Springs relationship was toxic. I was repartnered with a new Jenni, and really didnât want to resume family life. There were incessant fights and misery and eventually Paddy left town and started work on Central Australian Aboriginal settlements at Papunya and Haasts Bluff. Although I would occasionally visit for weekends, her eventual permanent relocation to Scotland surprised no one and finally brought to an end a difficult relationship whichâexcept for PhilipâI regret to this day.
Philip was to return to Australia for his high school years. Paddy had established an Australian base in Hobart, the city she seemed fondest of, and although she was in and out of the country, Philip was able to finish high school and went on to the University of Tasmania, eventually earning a PhD in chemistry. Armed with his chemistry expertise, he initially worked at a winery but is now back in academe, at his alma mater. He lives in Hobart with his wife and three young boys. Weâre on good terms and see each other when Iâm down there. Like me, he enjoys his craft beerâIâm a bit of a beer snob and will
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