Annie .................Australian Alcoholic Addict

Dick was aghast when Nell turned up at the rock pool. He simply hadn’t even thought that Nell knew where he swam. “How did you know I was here?” he asked her. “I just kinda expected that this is what you would do of an early morning,” she said. Dick quietly got out of the water. Let’s go and have coffee he gestured towards the apartment. “No thank you.” said Nell. Although Nell was not stable enough to recognise the nuance of Dick’s annoyance she showed no signs of wanting to stay. “I know you... Sign in to see full entry.

Southbank has a rock pool that is a bit out of the way from the main beach. Early in the morning swimmers go there to swim and lap quietly. If you look over the edge of the rock pool you can see the city and the buildings where Dick works. “Big boys don’t cry,” he heard his father say as tears broke the dam built up inside him. “This boy does cry,” he replied forcefully as he glided through the water in a surprisingly gentle way. “Get your act together!” His father shouted in that same old... Sign in to see full entry.

Wynnum Manly is a place out near Wellington Point. Sometimes Dick surfs there and sometimes further around Redland Bay depending on the conditions. Dick remembered saying this about self-care. Knowing that he needed to be there for Nell and Annie gave Dick a reason to begin trying again. Since admitting defeat after the Inquiry he had been content to just work at an emotional and physical maintenance programme. Exercise kept his mind and body fit; it kept his muscles firm and released tension. A... Sign in to see full entry.

As Nell began to resettle Dick cast around for a topic that might bring her mind back to the restaurant. In an attempt to bring her back to the present Dick suddenly said “What do you think are the main ingredients of a successful relationship?” The conversation could have gone sour at this stage. Nell could have reacted by retorting sarcastically, "How could you even think about flirting at a time like this?" But, she realised he was trying to bring her back to the present moment and so she... Sign in to see full entry.

“God he has been thinking about this!” thought Nell extremely surprised. She was not used to someone else getting the hop on her about matters to do with healing. “It is as though he had this all planned.” Straight away Nell recognised the paranoia and suspicion she was witnessing in her thoughts. “Wow it is as though I am having an emotional relapse,” she thought out loud. Dick picked up on what she had whispered and took the advantage, “Out of control hyena hey?” he laughed. There wasn’t much... Sign in to see full entry.

When Nell returned she looked pale and forlorn. She didn’t even notice the flowers at first and then seemed puzzled when she saw that there were none on other tables. “Have you picked flowers for me?” she asked in a small child like fashion. Dick squirmed. He was really uncomfortable with what he was doing, but he also knew that he wanted to stop the hurting that was happening now and was about to happen in the very near future. “I have been reading the Big Book of A.A,” he said. I have been... Sign in to see full entry.

"while she was gone he slipped out and picked some small Hibiscus and placed them on the table. The waitress seeing this brought out a bowl and place them artistically inside." When Nell got off the barge Dick was standing there waiting for her on the shore. This had not been arranged. Hands in pocket he was standing looking at the sky vacantly. Seagulls kited in the wind, a motor puttered around the bigger ship, kids began to run and play to release the pent up energy the barge had dammed. Nell... Sign in to see full entry.

And so the story goes on. As Nell, Annie and Dick get more and more entangled they begin to feel emotions for each other. Nell begins to feel fear for Annie’s mental health. Overwhelming waves of sorrow begin to engulf her. For Annie and as well for the world in general. Anger begins to cripple her. One afternoon Nell took the barge back to Straddie! She ran with the wind along the cliff face at Look Out Point. She screamed at the waves pounding, and swam with the surf to cleanse her soul of the... Sign in to see full entry.

When we left the story last time Dick and Nell had gone just outside the interview room to discuss the situation. When they returned they found Annie slumped across the table sleeping. It was clear that she was too tired to continue. Again Dick drove them home. When he helped Annie from the car and gently released her onto Nell's shoulder, he squeezed the old women's hand in a gentle gesture. It completely surprised him. "Damn!" he thought as he drove away. "Damn - these silly women are getting... Sign in to see full entry.

"I was drawn she said. Drawn as though through a dark tunnel. As I staggered through the washing room, the rings of old soap turned into spirals that were turning all around me. A little gecko kept calling me to the stairs - click, click, click. So I answered - entering the spiral. It was like I came into a time warp. It had sounds." She said all of this as though it was quite a normal thing to say. Dick couldn't hold back a laugh – but – he kept it under his breath. It was the kind of... Sign in to see full entry.