Life at Harbone Street

In August 2019, I came to Perth. After spending first night in a hotel near the Airport I came to my next place where I planned to stay for next month.

That's how I ended up living with David and Kim. I already felt some character in their colonial and historical looking home. When I first came, slim old man, David, was there and he didnt talk much but gave me the keys. Kim had left a set of instructions written on paper, knowing her husband would not be of much help. Inside the home was dark and mysterious. My room was full of feminine character. Later on I came to know it was Miranda's room, kept as it was, to keep the memory of David's most loved daughter who met a tragic premature death. I liked this mysterious place and wanted to learn more of its past. It was my home anyway.

In my first week, once I was alone in a cloudy evening, having a great Ceylon tea in the kitchen while struggling with my lonely thoughts, all in a sudden a young girl appeared with a bottle of wine in her hand. She just smiled at me and said "Don't even say Hi till I get a sip of wine.. I had a crazy day. Trying to recover from it." Then she introduced herself as Emily who had been a guest in this place first and now a frequent visitor. She was friendly and open-hearted. I started to like her company and having a sip of wine when she was around.

Emily is Thermal Imaging specialist, Guitarist and Remedial therapist who works in both Sydney and Perth. She also said You know Sumedha, most people who come here as guests end-up being friends of Kim and David, just like what happened to me. Also she advised me of one thing. Please don't ask about Miranda from David. Yep, you are living in her room.. please don't move ornaments and stuff in it. Room you live in is like the living temple of David that reminds of Miranda.

David actually started to talk to me more and more by the time that realized me of his knowledge as a senior professor. He was sound in science, philosophy, arts and what not. He was born in Cap Town, South Africa and has gone to 26 schools in his life! He had been instrumental in activities of Green Party in Australia. He is ,by all means, a workaholic supervising many Phd students at that time.

Anyway, David's story had very sad chapters. Miranda has been Davids daughter from his first marriage. She was so pretty, attractive and loved his father very much. When she was 18, as many young girls of western cultures do, decided to move from parents. So she planned to move to a southern suburb. She had missed David so much, while on her way, she stopped in a coffee shop and text David telling how worried she was about Dad being a person who work long hours and etc. After receiving those emotional notes from daughter, next he received was a call from Police to inform a fatal accident!

After this fateful event, David was in isolation, suffering from depression and started living like a dead man. He didnt speak to any one; didnt answer any call.

Back in Vietnam, Kim heard the news, about the unfortunate plight of the college professor who helped her during her studies in Australia. One fateful day she called David and something forced David to answer the phone. Rest is history: Kim did a great job by talking to David and help heel the wounds. As many other stories, David married Kim.

Kim is a very pleasant lady with motherly qualities. She looked after David very well and also cared for their guests. Kim is handling the renting of rooms for travelers, to help her nephew to come to Australia for studies.

She was so kind to me. Once she realized I was alone in Perth, she took the responsibility of looking after me like a mum! Her biggest advise to me was, you are working too much, you need rest. There was a point in her advise, since it was the beginning of my official assignment in Perth, I was working late frequently. I presented Kim and David a big pack of high quality Ceylon tea, which they accepted very sincerely. David was a big time tea lover. If Kim is not around David would easily skip a meal and drink tea. When Kim do the grocery shopping, she used to bring me a small chocolate. As I realized, Kim was very comfortable talking to me since she can open up "very Asian" conversation with me when she was fed-up with western culture.

David's sad story had more darker side. Not only Miranda, but both his parents had died in motor accidents! It was a very tragic thing to hear. David has a son too, Nick, who was a nursing coordinator in a local hospital. David always called Nick in evenings, specially on Fridays and Saturdays, to find out if Nick was in a pub. If he was in a pub, David would go any far to give Nick a lift. David didnt want Nick to follow the same tragic end by driving after a drink. Luckily, Nick realized fathers' agony and gave up drinking alcohols of all sorts.

By the time goes, I was just like a family member. Kim sometimes offer me a dinner. I too sometimes cooked Sri Lankan food for them. Unfortunately, David couldnt bear hot and spicy Sri Lankan curries.

David and Kim's place was nice and cosmopolitan where a lot of intellectuals gather. I realized I shouldn't underestimate the visitors of this home by their appearances. Just like David, some one who come in a humble-looking jumper, would be one of the scholars with multiple patents under his/her belt. I always liked listening to conversations of these critical thinkers; very informative and interesting.

Just like Emily, there were a couple of young people I liked. One of them was Wahib, who was born in Afghanistan and adopted by a German family.

Anyway, even after moving from this place, I visited David and Kim again. They welcomed me and so happy to see that I was doing quite well. I promised them I would bring more Tea and Gingerly rolls once I go back to Sri Lanka.

Some pictures I captured from nearby suburbs;