IN 1975 WE HAD SOLD OUR HOUSE NEXT TO HARBORD SCHOOL AND MIGRATED TO COFFS HARBOUR,WITH OUR FOUR KIDS,ONE KID IN A DOG SUIT AND TWO CATS, AND RE ESTABLISHED AT KORORO BAY JUST NORTH OF THE TOWN.
ON THE THIRTEENTH OF FEBRUARY I HAD AN IDEA , AND WENT TO THE FISH CO-OP AND BOUGHT TWO GOOD SIZED BLUE SWIMMER CRABS . NEXT MORNING , VALENTINES DAY, WE PACKED THE KIDS OFF TO SCHOOL, AND ROBIN AND I PUT TOGETHER IN AN ESKY, THE CRABS, A BOTTLE OF WHITE WINE,GLASSES AND CRAB CRACKING TOOLS, AND SET OFF TO A SWEET PLACE WE HAD FOUND, CALLED LOOK AT ME NOW, WHICH IS THE NORTHERN END OF EMERALD BEACH. IT IS A VERY PRETTY ,PURELY PERFECT LOW HEADLAND, AND HAS A SHELTERED LITTLE BAY ON IT’S NORTH SIDE.
WE FOUND A LOVELY LITTLE POOL, JUST TO OUR LIKING,AND IT HAD A COUPLE OF SUBMERGED ROCKS WHICH WE USED AS SEATS, AND A PEBBLY FLOOR. SO WE SAT ON THE ROCKS, IN CLEAR, CALM WATER, THE WINE ON A CONVENIENT ROCK SHELF, AND DEVOURED OUR CRABS, WITH A GENTLE SEA BREEZE FILLED WITH THE SWEET SCENT OF LIVING SEAWEED AND OCEAN ALL AROUND. THE SKY WAS CLEAR, THE OCEAN WARM, AND WE WERE SURROUNDED BY LITTLE FISH, WHO HAD COME OUT OF HIDING TO GET THE CRAB SCRAPS.
WE’VE TRIED, BUT WE HAVE NEVER BEEN QUITE ABLE TO DO IT ALL SO WELL AGAIN.
CHARLIE KUHN
