January 13, 2019

Project update:
A week along on the current writing project - 44,000 words in draft, marking I think around the halfway point for the first draft. Tomorrow I'm back at work again, so I will have to schedule my week around writing to keep the momentum powerful!

Research for this has been fascinating so far. I finally identified where the Argosy Palais was on the Seacliff esplanade: it's now a collection of units, the original ballroom, ice rink etc having been demolished in 1959. A fabulous book - Sea Change by Jim Blake published by Wakefield Press has provided brilliant information for my work.

I also caught up with my 92 yo uncle, Bruce, who features in the work, fictionalised, and spent a couple of hours beginning to hear his stories of the late 1940s in Adelaide. I'm hoping to hear more stories from him, and also my other relatives who I've not been able to keep contact with since Mum passed.
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I also located the West's cinema in Hindley Street where events take place in one part of the tale. Again, historical society records provided useful info on the cinema's interior and architectural features.

Next challenges are to research more on the Repatriation hospitals, at Daw Park and Heidelberg.