Bastian Fox Phelan
Bastian Fox Phelan is a writer, musician, zinemaker and citizen scientist. Bastian’s debut memoir about female facial hair, PCOS and gender identity is forthcoming from Giramondo. They are a PhD student at University of Newcastle, working on an eco-memoir of Mulubinba Newcastle. They live on Awabakal land. You can follow Bastian’s rockpooling adventures on Instagram @rockpooling or on iNaturalist.
All essays by Bastian Fox Phelan
Perambulating
My daughter is nine weeks old, and I am strong enough to push the pram a short distance. The movement of her limbs as she lies in the pram bassinet is more controlled now, and she turns her head to listen to the sound of passing cars and low-flying cockatoos. Before the move to the suburbs, I used Google Maps’ Street View function to plan how I would leave the house with a pram and return safely. There are no footpaths on my street but if I go on the road to the street beyond, there is a footpath that takes me to the main road, where I find a humble collection of shops – butcher, newsagent, petrol station. I take this route a few times before realising that it is rather dull.