where is that bloody donkey - by Lois Daley

Sorry to swear ,but after spending some time in the other world I am back in Duwanish an have walked out to the edge of town to find a donkey,It was said there would be 12 of the little ones tied up,but do you think I can find any,probably gone off to chew in some pasture ....Whomever tied them up needs to go and learn KNOTS from the Boy-Scouts.

I have already spent nearly an hour looking, and am feeling a wee bit knackered....so I will sit and close my eyes for a moment or two........Oh to dream such sweet dreams (Who was it said that) ?.

I awoke suddenly to find a small mule/donkey chewing on my ear, had I been asleep for, hours, minutes, days I didn,t know.....That will teach me not to have a glass or two of the red at a B/que in that other world.

On a branch of the tree I had slept under was a small draw-string bag ,bright purple in colour (My favourite) and with my name embossed in tapestry cotton (Lois (Muse of the Sea)...Oh I though something personal and just for me how wonderful....Opening it up I found.
A Pair of spectacles,
A candle made of honey comb wax
A tiny ships anchor (I liked this)
A medallion with the imprint of the unicorn bearing a set of wings
(Up Up and away I thought of Superman
or Superwoman.)
A map which was marked with" Blind Springs the House of the Serpent"
This wasn't the kind of resort I had in mind to stay in for the night.
And a small box which was tied with raffia and the note attatched said.....
"Do not open ,unless a dire emergency"

So with my small purple bag I climbed aboard the donkey/mule, which was a nice feeling as he/she is not far off the ground and being only 4'11" myself I felt quite at home .

Off we set,no saddle just a blanket and a bit hard on the rump..The donkey/mule seemed to know the way quite well,and who was I to tell him./her any different. ..

We trotted into the cool mountains on a well worn path,I enjoyed not having to drive and was able to watch the scenery changing as we ascended the mountain quite slowly ,no rushing just a steady pace ...It was so nice ,I chatted away to the donkey/mule telling him my life story ,its ups and downs and how I was travelling with a party of 9 other women or is it 12 now..I have lost track....
He/she listened intently ,every now and again braeing loudly and snorting at my jokes...In a few hours we became good friends ,especially when I stopped at a mountain stream,alighted and we were both able to have a cool drink from the waterfall .....No much longer to reach our destination I hoped....

So we set off again and travelled higher into the Myrr mountains of which the name I found out by seeing it on a carved notice board near the picnic area at the waterfall.......It said....GO NO FURTHER UNLESS BY APPOINTMENT FOLLOW THE TRAIL TO THE HOUSE OF THE SERPENT". Now this was probably to deter bushwalkers with no real reason to visit The House of the Serpent unless to tell friends that they had climbed the Mountain of Myrr and to skite about it.......

So donkey/mule and I travelled on knowing that our invitations has been sent and accepted and we would be made welcome ....

But I was to be surprised...The House of the Serpent was not on the top of the Mountain of Myrr, but down the other side ...quite a steep slope it was, but my new friend the donkey/mule made it with ease, he/she was used to this sort of terrain I thought...down,down down..my ears popped and I felt quite light headed......but I knew I was safe with my new friend..........I was wondering if she/he had taken the long way to get to our destination just like some taxi drivers do...No I thought a donkey/mule wouldn't do this....

Just then it came into view A pale grey timber building with a high tower and small windows ,it suited the bush surrounds and blended well into its domain.

I felt I would enjoy this retreat with other like minded woman who love to be at one with nature ........I looked foward to catching up with long lost friends..

All for now, I await seeing inside the House of the Serpent,and am glad . I have arrived safely.............Lois (Muse of the Sea)