I was reminded of this song when I heard of Bernard Bolan’s recent death. The chorus is a favourite with older members of my family. Bernard wrote the words and music to Rose Bay Ferry in 1973 and the song reached #1 on the Australian charts in 1974. A gentler time perhaps, which is why it’s resonating with me at the moment. For some context—the Nicholson Brothers operated ferries on Sydney Harbour at that time.
Where are we going today, Mr. Nicholson?
Where is it going to be?
Don’t turn left, turn right down the harbour
And out to the open sea
Throw away your compass, right hand down
And it’s out through the Heads we go
So ho! let’s be merry on the Rose Bay ferry
If we run out of petrol we’ll row Yo Ho!
If we run out of petrol we’ll row
It’s that line “And out to the open sea” that’s caught my attention. Possibly Sydney winter doldrums, but gosh new places and new horizons hover like fireflies sparkling in the distance. Is this where I confess that I get seasick and a boating holiday wouldn’t be my ideal getaway?
What’s your ideal escape?
Is your idea of heaven a tent in a secluded part of wild woodlands or forest or beach? Do you want sand between your toes and grit in your swimmers, the musty scent of seaweed, waves rolling over rocks turning them blue-black, and multifarious shades of green and blue everywhere you look?
Do you prefer luxury? The limousine collecting you from home, transporting you to the airport, flute of champagne in hand. The business class flight (don’t want to go too over the top, do we? Fantasies don’t all need a flat bed?) and the person with your name on a sign waiting at the other end to take your luggage and escort you to a waiting vehicle. Part of the luxury is all those people saying—and what more would madam like?
The room, tent, caravan, whatever, must always have a view. Let yourself be romanced by:
- tiled rooftops
- a string of backyards where opera and lawnmowers make mish-mashed music
- a narrow balcony across a narrow street with a violinist practising their craft
- the sight of a vertical bridge rising in the sky leaving behind tram tracks, cars, cyclists, protestors and pedestrians—it’s real
- a two-storey mural discovered on a wall when they demolished the building abutting it
- barge traffic along the Rhine
- a wombat crossing a clearing to disappear down its burrow in the Australian bush
- a light breeze rippling through a tree, a susurrus to tickle your ears.
Writing this makes me realise I’ve never written a book about a vacation. No holiday romances for me, and yet they are a staple of the genre. It’s never even occurred to me to write a vacation romance, but given my restlessness, maybe this is the moment?
Do you have other ideas for escape? Is it as easy as closing the door on the teeming crowd, dimming the lights, turning off all devices and snuggling into a couch with a hot chocolate and a favourite book? I know some people who never read a book twice, who rarely read a book twice, who are horrified I might read a book twice, and then there are the closet revolutionaries like me who frequently return to a much loved book, seeing it as comfort food that nourishes in a dark world or a difficult time. I won’t confess how many times I’ve read some books, because that’s my secret to keep.
Is escape for you a walk through a park or trees having left devices behind? A moment to hear birds calling to each other, leaves rustling, small animals scarpering through the undergrowth? To exchange a smile with strangers and wonder about their story? To look at the sky and the endless variation in clouds? Walks refresh me. I’m often the only person without earplugs of some sort. I find those times when my mind randomly roams produce the best ideas.
For July, I wish for dreams to come true.
What’s on the horizon for me:
The Wrong Time for Love—The Anderson Sisters Book 3 released on 14 July and is available at all major booksellers. Reviews are starting to come in. My readers seem to like relatable characters grappling with life’s challenges and finding love and hope.
I’ve registered for Australian Romance Readers Association (ARRA)’s annual A Romantic Rendezvous events in March 2027 in Sydney and Canberra. More news on that as we get closer, but in the meantime you can join their Facebook page.
Find me on:
- Instagram https://www.instagram.com/romanceauthorjen/
- Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/jenniferrainesauthor
- Goodreads—https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22577889.Jennifer_Raines
- Bookbub – https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jennifer-raines
- Diana Kathryn Penn’s Indie Reads Aloud podcast has recordings of me reading the opening 20 mins of my books:
- Betrayal—Choosing Family Book 3 (episode 212)
- Quinn, by design—Choosing Family Book 2 (episode 208)
- Masquerade—Choosing Family Book 1 (episode 188)
- Lela’s Choice (episode 143)
- Planting Hope (episode 101)
- The Anderson Sisters (episode 54 Taylor’s Law and 80 Grace Under Fire) http://www.dkpwriter.com/indie-reads-aloud-podcast.html
You can also contact me directly via the contact page on my website if you have any other questions.
Jennifer Raines 