This bit by Greg. The Diary is by Trenna
In this series of posts I will be revealing Trenna’s “Trip Diary” from October 1981 to April 1982. It was actually the first of two trips to the USA. The second was with me, 31 years later in 2013.
This 6 month trip to the USA happened well before I knew her. It sounds like it was a fantastic adventure, and one I’m sure helped … Read the rest ... “The USA Trip Diary – Part 1”
… And the Original Reason For the Trip, Concluded
By Greg
I hope you have enjoyed reading the Japan Travel Diary, and the photos I added from our trip.
Once we returned to Perth Trenna set about writing an email to our friend Wayne, who had shown us around one afternoon, and with whom we had a very enjoyable evening meal in Yokohama.
Trenna loved seeing Wayne, who she had a soft spot for, and set about writing some Haiku … Read the rest ... “The Japan Travel Diary – Part 5 – Seven Haiku”
For an introduction to what these Menu Diary posts are about, please click HERE. And for the reasons why you really should read this series, please click HERE.
Wednesday 4 August. We had our friend Ken (Eggs) over for dinner and had satays, which we would have made from scratch along with the Sambal Badjak – a chilli sambal.
Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 August. “Bellissimo!” was the Neapolitana Sauce Trenna made to … Read the rest ... “The Menu Diaries No. 18”
The first part in this series is HERE.
We arrive back in TOKYO @ 9:05pm. Walked down stairs to Marunouchi Line (M17), boarded train (M14) Kokkai-gijidomae Station, walked 435m to Capitol Hotel room # 2715 next to our previous room but interior layout in reverse! Confusing!
When Greg went to pay for our breakfast (as this time it was not part of the package) there was a bit … Read the rest ... “The Japan Travel Diary – Part 4”
To read Part 1 of this series, click HERE.
Checked out Capitol Hotel before noon! 7 nights accommodation plus 2 hamburgers – total ¥367,223 (AUD$4,215.11)
We were able to leave our larger red bag here – FREE!
We walked, carried & pulled 435m+ from hotel exit to Kokkai-gijidomae Station (M14) to Marunoucchi M line, 3 stops to Tokyo Station (M17). Take lift 1 floor, go through ticket gate, up … Read the rest ... “The Japan Travel Diary – Part 3”
Poems by a Teenage Trenna
This series starts HERE.
He held her hand, Oh so tight He came to visit her every night Alone they were, in a world of machines She was really ill, had something wrong with her genes When he kissed her, his tears wet her cheek She was dying, she was terribly weak As near he could, he lay close to her But each movement she made,… Read the rest ... “Angsty Teenage Poetry #3”
To see Part 1 of this series, click HERE.
Chilli Con Carne not so good for brekky. Wayne had sent the train stops to get to Tokyo Tower. 11:17am set out and bought metro tickets. ¥170 each.
(Roppongi-itchome) train station.
1:05 pm meal at the serve yourself and weigh it place. (Organic House deli and cafe) ¥935
1:38 pm Starbucks tea and coffee whilst looking for Tokyo Tower ¥810
We came across a little park where … Read the rest ... “The Japan Travel Diary – Part 2”
Intro by Greg, Diary Mainly by Trenna, But Bits by Greg
If you want to go straight to the diary, click here.
The Japan Travel Diary (which was done entirely on an iPad) itself doesn’t have an Introduction. I just wanted to set a bit of context and to let you know what to expect.
By the start of 2015 we knew that Trenna’s brother’s oldest … Read the rest ... “The Japan Travel Diary – Part 1”
The first instalment in this series of angsty teenage poetry is HERE.
Friend, is a word you’ll hear or use nearly every day But do you really know the actual meaning of the word Is it to be kind to someone and talk to them? No, a lot more! A friend is someone who is comforting in times of sorrow A person who has always… Read the rest ... “Angsty Teenage Poetry #2”
By Greg
I think Trenna’s Darwin letters to my parents convey a lot of the colour and light of our two year stay at the top of Australia. If you haven’t caught up with them I suggest you start them HERE.
There were a few stories from that period that weren’t covered by Trenna’s letters, so I thought I’d cobble together a bunch of them in this post.
We moved to Darwin so that I could … Read the rest ... “The Green Salad Sandwich Maker, and Other Darwin Stories”
Trenna loved reading, and she loved writing. She also loved, a lot, but for many years this was very often unrequited.
She tells in the Kitchen Tapes, HERE, of the dozens of love poems and letters she wrote to Murray Malski.
Trenna also kept a notebook during her high school years and wrote poetry in it.
Whilst Trenna was alive I was … Read the rest ... “Angsty Teenage Poetry #1”
If you’ve missed it, this series starts here.
Tuesday 5 November 1996
20/288 Casuarina Drive
Nightcliff 0810
G’day Mum and Dad
Nov 96 Greg has accepted a job offer at Murdoch University, and has agreed to commence working there on Monday 2nd December 1996 – less than four weeks from today – YIPPEE!!
So we’re packing our bags, and aim to fly out on Saturday 30th November 1996 – 2 years, 2 weeks, and 2 days after the … Read the rest ... “The Darwin Letters – The Final Letter, No. 14”
If you’ve missed it, this series starts here.
Friday, 9 August 1996
20/288 Casuarina Drive
Nightcliff 0810
G’day Mum and Dad,
W
ell, how are you getting along down there? We hope you’re both fighting fit. We’re fine.
Thankyou for your letter of 21/7 Mum. It sounds like you’re getting some interesting items through your shop. Mum, keep your beady eyes off our breadmaker, we intend enjoying it’s yummy results for many years to come.
Of course Dad if you … Read the rest ... “The Darwin Letters No.13”
By Greg
This is just a short anecdote to cover an incident at Craig House that I don’t think made it into The Kitchen Tapes recordings. As those oral histories were never completed that isn’t all that surprising.
We both just ran out of puff.
“Now everybody – pay attention!” Matron was her usual stern self, or maybe even a bit more on edge this morning. She continued.
“This picnic is organised by the legatees, … Read the rest ... “The Keaver Stich-Up – a Kitchen Tapes Extra”
If you’ve missed it, this series starts here.
Saturday, 4 May 1996
20/288 Casuarina Drive
Nightcliff 0810
G’day folks,
How’s life down there in sunny Perth? We hope you are both well. We’re just spiffy. It’s “The Dry”!
There have been a number of unequivocal signs to verify this. Firstly, on Thursday evening 21 March our balcony was engulfed in a hovering swarm of dragon-flies which according to Margie is – a sure-fired sign that “The Dry” is on … Read the rest ... “The Darwin Letters No. 12”
This is the fourth and final chapter in this brief love story. The first part is here.
By Greg
As usual Trenna was ready to go when I pulled my Toyota Corolla Station Wagon into her driveway in Girrawheen. Unfortunately Girrawheen was the exact opposite direction to our final destination but I was so happy that she had agreed to go with me I couldn’t have cared less about the travel.
It … Read the rest ... “The Earliest Days of Trenna AND Greg – Part 4”
By Greg
I’m publishing this post on 23 December 2022, exactly two years from when Trenna passed away.
I debated with myself whether to put anything on the site to commemorate the specific day, but then recalled an idea I have been meaning to get around to for a long time.
A “Celebration of Trenna’s Life” was held on Friday 15 January 2021. I gave the main eulogy but I also asked Trenna’s sister Nancy, and … Read the rest ... “Eulogy – The Movie”
If you’ve missed it, this series starts here.
[GM: Warning: This post does mention suicide.]
Tuesday 13 February 1996
20/288 Casuarina Drive
Nightcliff 0810
“ Birthday Greetings, Mum! ” G’day folks,
How are you both? Staying out of the hot sun no doubt! Sorry we missed you on Sunday, Mum. We’re well, although leading relatively mundane lives at the moment.
Notwithstanding Greg of course being extremely busy at NTU with enrolments – he’s at work by 8.00am and doesn’t get home … Read the rest ... “The Darwin Letters No. 11”
This is the third part of this tale of love. The first part is here.
By Greg
I almost stuffed the whole thing up about a week later.
Just think, the 30 best years of my life may have been completely different. This website would have never existed….
Trenna had invited me to a picnic at Walyunga National Park, and she was making all the arrangements. … Read the rest ... “The Earliest Days of Trenna AND Greg – Part 3”
By Greg
This story was inspired by the picture above, which Trenna had captioned “Us, happy and relaxed @ Crowded House gig”.
One thing I wish Trenna and I had done a little more of together was attend concerts.
In the 1970s and some of the 1980s Trenna and I had, seperately, attended concerts by a LOT of international acts. However, once we were together, for many years we tended not to do that.
That changed in 2010 when … Read the rest ... “Crowded House – Happy and Relaxed”