I’m writing “Kiss It Better” as you read this, and as with “It’s Love, Dude” (my 1 October release), the town of Jardin Bay is playing a starring role.
Jardin Bay is a small town on the south west coast of Australia. Sadly, it’s fictional. It’s not based on any particular real town, but on the vibe of the region: living the good life and knowing you’re lucky.
I’ve never lived in a small town — though some would argue that Canberra, Australia’s national capital, is a small town — but I grew up in a community that was a small town in all but name.
My neighbourhood was one of those anomalies of city life. It was semi-rural but right next door to suburbs and industry — where the adults got to work. For the kids, there was lots of land to roam in, a local primary school and a beach not far away. People had dogs and cats, but also horses, goats, chickens (we did!), sheep (Nana, trying to do away with mowing the yard — don’t ask! it didn’t work), even an emu, kangaroo and galahs.
Some of the family had been there a couple of generations — like mine. People knew each other. The whole idea of a “safe house” for kids — do you remember that initiative? If a kid was worried about stranger-danger, a sign told us the safe house to run to. Well, the whole suburb was safe. You knew everyone and their dog, and they knew you.
The end of year parents’ night with kids singing and acting and carrying on was an event for the whole community.
Even now, years later, with the suburb completely changed and people scattered, when you run into one another there’s an immediate kinship. We remember a place where everyone had the freedom to live their dreams.
And that’s the origin of Jardin Bay for me.
8 responses to “Small Town Life”
lol My bags are packed – my heroes await (or at least some great reading material – hint hint.)
All in the editor's hands … oh and mine! Guess I better get writing that next book 🙂
What a little cutie. 🙂 I had a protected childhood so I didn't grow up like that. I love the ambiance that you described though and I definitely want to visit that bay – who cares if it's fictional? 🙂
It was a great way to grow up.
And I'm booking you a ticket to Jardin Bay right now! 🙂
I agree. What a cute picture. It's sad that times have changed so much that the sense of community is lost. Happy writing!
Shelley, maybe those communities have migrated online? Not quite the same, but still supportive (or at least tolerant 😉 ) or each other's dreams.
Look how cute you were! How old were you in that picture?
You already know how much I love the life, so your story is an instant hit with me.
PS I had to look up galah. LOL. We had emu too, but over here they're considered exotic. 🙂
3 or 4, I think — but already exhibiting the fashion sense I'd be infamous for 😉
Galahs are funny. I don't really like keeping caged birds, but I do remember when a friend's mum got a pink and grey galah that had been someone else's pet. The family story was that their mum bent over and the bird whistled & said "nice bum". That bird had a home for life!