© irene waters 2014
The little red engine that huffed and puffed was an early childhood story that was read to me until such time that I knew it by heart. I’ve lived the life of that engine often telling myself “I think I can, I think I can, I know I can, I know I can, I knew I could. One achievement where I got 10 out of 10 (so to speak) was obtaining my Queens Guide award. It was presented by the Queens representative with a reception in Government House. We had just move and I had decorated my room and decided to protect it with napthalene. The result was a severe allergy . My room was out of bounds and hair washing not allowed on doctors orders. I went to receive my award with my hair full of spray on hair wash foam that made it stringy and lank. I was too embarrassed to enjoy myself.
This is written for Lisa’s Bite Size Memoir
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About Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist
I began my working career as a reluctant potato peeler whilst waiting to commence my training as a student nurse. On completion I worked mainly in intensive care/coronary care; finishing my hospital career as clinical nurse educator in intensive care. A life changing period as a resort owner/manager on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu was followed by recovery time as a farmer at Bucca Wauka. Having discovered I was no farmer and vowing never again to own an animal bigger than myself I took on the Barrington General Store. Here we also ran a five star restaurant. Working the shop of a day 7am - 6pm followed by the restaurant until late was surprisingly more stressful than Tanna. On the sale we decided to retire and renovate our house with the help of a builder friend. Now believing we knew everything about building we set to constructing our own house. Just finished a coal mine decided to set up in our backyard. Definitely time to retire we moved to Queensland. I had been writing a manuscript for some time. In the desire to complete this I enrolled in a post grad certificate in creative Industries which I completed 2013. I followed this by doing a Master of Arts by research graduating in 2017. Now I live to write and write to live.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
Did you collect badges like the Textiliste? It looks like you have an armful! Do you remember what the were for? Great hat btw!
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I certainly did collect badges like the Textiliste if she was a bit fanatical like myself. I did all manner of things and as an inveterate hoarder I still have my uniform minus the hat that was in the photo. I had progressed to being a sea ranger and the hat I kept was my little sailors cap. Would be perfect if I ever want to dance the sailors hornpipe.
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I enjoyed our chat before about the guides but I will say it again Irene, what a wonderful achievement, Queen’s Guide! That is definitely 10 out of 10! So sorry about the hair though. I had to look up naphthalene, never heard of it. Hope you didn’t breathe in too much of that, it sounds horrible. Hope you have some happy memories of your wonderful day at Government house though, you deserved it! Great story, love the photo 🙂
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Moth balls. A bad age for looking bad. Too tell you the truth I remember more about having the foam sprayed in my hair and how I felt about the hair than any memories of the actual presentation.
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Not the best of smells that! At that age, how your hair looks or how anything looks, is of paramount importance. I’m glad that other things take precedence as the years go by although I’m always grateful for a good hair day, few and far between though they might be 😉
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So am I – although tonight I’m off to a ball and I’ve put on too much weight to look good in anything so feeling a bit like the bad hair day. Once I’m there looks will mean nothing as I’ll just have fun.
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I hope you had a blast at the ball Irene! And I’m sure you looked lovely…the belle of the ball 😀
(But I understand how you felt, I hate all my clothes right now…)
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That blows the Girl Scouts of America out of the water! No Queen’s representative to award high honers. 🙂 I led Daisies when my girls were 5 and 6. I called my troop the “Wild Daisies”!
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Um…honors…spelling isn’t always my “10 out of 10.”
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She would have been honing her skills so you might have got away with it as a play on words! xx
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LOL. Good one Lisa.
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Thats a point. What is the equivalent in the States? Your wild Daisy troop sounds fun.
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Aw, I can almost see the embarrassment on your face 😦 What a shame to have such a fantastic achievement blighted a bit by such bad luck though heaven only knows about the naphthalene – Isn’t that the stink in mothballs?!
My cousin has worked with the Guides all her life – she’s the only other Queens Guide I know so I know you are a rare and devoted breed as it takes years of commitment and a range of skills to achieve. A fantastic achievement to write about, thanks. Lisa xx
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Yes it is moth balls only I used the flakes. I was so proud of my room which I had carpeted and furnished at my expense that I was determined it would not be destroyed by the large moths that inhabit Australia. I couldn’t enter the room for several weeks and it was a bad age to look bad. Can laugh about it now.
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Oh bless you 😦
A picture sometime please of the dreaded moths! I am intrigued ! Lxx
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Moth post being formulated as I comment. Will let you know when it is posted. 🙂
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Pingback: 10 out of 10 | Lisa Reiter - Sharing the Story
Pity about the hair spoiling your day! It’s amazing how hair has a way of doing just that now and again! Congratulations on the award!
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Thanks Luccia. I think we all have bad hair days at times that are inconvenient.
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