Not the Australian Way - SHAME

My Choko and Pumpkin crop vandalised

I had a huge load of work to get through and I needed to take control of my time.  Tasks like:  proof reading for students....like me often left out words or phrases when immersed in the topic.  Commissioned portraits that were long over due...these can take 3 months even with total focus.  Felting orders to be sent overseas as presents.  Many business tasks that created feelings of anxiety and vexed my creative spirit.  Purchases to be invoiced and posted and more.   Of course there was the Gum Tree Garden Studio that drained me physically, especially when I had bouts of Chronic Fatigue and needed to take constant power naps.  Lastly my veggies that I am trying to increase to help those in need....some were going to help the local Green grocer keep fresh produce available to the community.  Some were reserved  for a little 10 year old girl with liver cancer, who could only eat chokos during treatment - they were not available in the shops after the floods.  Some went to single parents, aged pensions and young families.

Because I was constantly being interrupted I decide to post a very polite, but firm notice on my door to let unexpected visitors know that I may not be answering the door during this time and why, thanking them for their consideration.  Most had my email address and phone number and were free to contact me at any time.   One person saw this "please do not disturb" sign as being for everyone else and her interruptions escalated.....I stood my ground and continued with my tasks working well into the night.  Others were depending on me to meet my deadlines so they could meet theirs.

After 3 days of pounding on my door and not contacting me via email or voice mail she gave up.  But had she .....on the eve of Australia Day I looked out my window.  Why I decided to look out that particular window I don't know.  What I saw astounded me........ she had ripped all the choko vines off my fence and cut the stems of my pumpkins leaving half ripened fruit to die. I might add that she had been harvesting the chokos from this vine for over three years...it was originally planted to allow her ongoing access to fresh chokos for her family and friends.

One lone pumpkin vine was looped over the paling to support
the young pumpkins that had decided to grow there.
 Instead of lowering the pumpkins gently down, the vine was
deliberately cut where it was looped and the unripe pumpkins left to die

Every where else in Australia people are pulling together ...helping one and other through recovery during the national crisis.  But occasionally we come across an incredible lack of concern  for others.  I will now need to tell those waiting for their veggies that they will not be coming for a while.  I will of course make sure the little girl still gets her chokos even if I have to buy them myself.

Her behaviour is not the Australian Way.  SHAME