Sightseeing: Friday Fictioneers

Posted on October 21, 2015 by Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist
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In high anticipation, we checked out our travelling companions. Our tour headed north then west, south down the middle of the continent and finally east as we made our way home. Although some good-looking sorts boarded mainly they were couples or elderly. Still, we were going for the scenery not a romance. They’d packed our itinerary with tourist attractions.

We took our seats towards the rear. Today we’d see the prickly pear as we hit the edge of the desert and the dingo fence. We were off.

The motion lulled us and we slept for the next fifty-six days.

In response to the photo prompt  provided by Ron Pruitt and the hosting by Rochelle who invites us to write a flash of no more than 100 words and link up via the blue frog on her site. If you don’t want to write have a read as there is always a varied talented selection to read.

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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.
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59 Responses to Sightseeing: Friday Fictioneers

  1. Fabricating Fiction/Louise Jensen's avatar FabricatingFiction says:
    October 21, 2015 at 8:39 pm

    At least they’ll feel refreshed afterwards!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. ceayr's avatar ceayr says:
    October 21, 2015 at 8:49 pm

    Laughing here, Irene.
    Sad but funny.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. Sandra's avatar Sandra says:
    October 21, 2015 at 8:51 pm

    I’m afraid a coach journey might have pretty much the same effect on me. 🙂 Good one.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. Norah's avatar Norah says:
    October 21, 2015 at 9:22 pm

    Love it, Irene! I can so identify. It’s one reason I’m reluctant to go on a driving holiday – I’d sleep all the way and miss the scenery. Now the view from an airplane – I can’t sleep through that, and the scenery changes constantly. As long as it’s not cloudy! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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  5. Claire Fuller's avatar Claire Fuller says:
    October 21, 2015 at 9:24 pm

    I love that last line – so dead-pan, so funny.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. Rosey Pinkerton's avatar Rosey Pinkerton says:
    October 21, 2015 at 9:59 pm

    That’s so funny! It could so easily have been me.

    Rosey Pinkerton’s blog

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. Björn Rudberg (brudberg)'s avatar Björn Rudberg (brudberg) says:
    October 21, 2015 at 10:54 pm

    No romance, no sights, but who the best of all… sleep 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. GHLearner's avatar gahlearner says:
    October 22, 2015 at 12:36 am

    This is so funny. I’m on a bus for three hours every week–and always fall asleep.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  9. Dave's avatar Dave says:
    October 22, 2015 at 1:32 am

    That’s a lot of beauty rest.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  10. sustainabilitea's avatar sustainabilitea says:
    October 22, 2015 at 2:12 am

    Tour from Sleepy Hollow. 🙂

    janet

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  12. Sharon Bonin-Pratt's avatar Sharon Bonin-Pratt says:
    October 22, 2015 at 4:22 am

    I’m laughing out loud. A good thing, too, as another friend’s blog explained how laughter depresses allergies. Thanks for my good health this morning, Irene.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist's avatar Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist says:
      October 22, 2015 at 5:18 am

      You’re more than welcome. I went to a laughter yoga session where we all had to laugh. Apparently even laughter not meant will be beneficial but it was amazing the way the laughter started to come spontaneously and I did feel better afterwards. I came home and told Roger we were going to make a practice of having laughter sessions where we stood and laughed at each other. Lasted a couple of times but I’m convinced it is a good thing to do. So glad to make you healthy this morning.

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  13. MR's avatar M-R says:
    October 22, 2015 at 7:25 am

    Hilarious ! 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  14. rochellewisoff's avatar rochellewisoff says:
    October 22, 2015 at 8:43 am

    Dear Irene,

    At least it will be a relaxing tour. 😉 Well done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  15. Dale's avatar Dale says:
    October 22, 2015 at 9:23 am

    Nothing like paying big bucks to get your ZZZs in!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  16. noelleg44's avatar noelleg44 says:
    October 22, 2015 at 11:15 am

    Hah hah! Irene. Been there, done that. We took a tour of Savannah and Charleston and the Barrier Islands shortly after I had one knee joint replaced. I slept through most of the bus time.

    Liked by 1 person

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  17. Charli Mills's avatar Charli Mills says:
    October 22, 2015 at 6:21 pm

    Airplanes knock me out before I even take off! Trains, I can’t sleep. But busses — I’ve had some strange experiences and wouldn’t dare fall asleep. Funny story, though! Love that zinger of a last line.

    Liked by 1 person

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  18. Snow's Fissures and Fractures's avatar Snow's Fissures and Fractures says:
    October 22, 2015 at 8:37 pm

    This was funny, thank you for making me laugh.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  19. Siobhan McNamara's avatar siobhanmcnamara says:
    October 22, 2015 at 9:47 pm

    Great ending, thanks for the laugh 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  20. Sherri Matthews's avatar Sherri says:
    October 23, 2015 at 12:37 am

    This is great, made me laugh out loud! I can’t stand bus or coach tours, and sleeping through one would be a mercy for me! I travelled by two buses – school and public – for five years when I was at school, that’s what did it for me. Great flash Irene, well done!!

    Liked by 1 person

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  21. Cerys Morgan's avatar Cheryl McCullough says:
    October 23, 2015 at 8:07 am

    Lol! This would happen to me – I always fall asleep in the car.At least they had a nice rest 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  22. ansumani's avatar ansumani says:
    October 24, 2015 at 8:00 am

    ha ha . Good one.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  23. rogershipp's avatar rogershipp says:
    October 25, 2015 at 6:42 am

    I’ve never endured a bus ride…. It does not sound promising! Well done!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  24. Margaret's avatar Margaret says:
    October 26, 2015 at 6:31 pm

    Having driven across this country (Sydney to Perth) from east to west, I can fully understand the desire to sleep in the flat, empty desert country. I hope they all felt better at the end.Good story.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  25. Dawn M. Miller's avatar lingeringvisions by Dawn says:
    October 27, 2015 at 1:43 am

    I had planned a bus trip for this Christmas Season, it was to be my first. It fell through but from what I read I guess I didn’t miss anything. Lol

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