Mary Street, Glebe on Saturday 27 June 2020

This small street comes off Glebe Point Road. One side overlooks Sydney harbour with a stunning view of the old Glebe Bridge and Anzac Bridge. But I can only catch glimpses through the gaps between buildings. Enjoying the view are the people who live in two mansion-style houses. Judging from the many letterboxes they are subdivided into flats. The next place with a view is a yellow brick block of flats with a driveway leading to a park at the back. “Residents Only - Trespassers Prosecuted” stops my temptation to enter it.

Outside in the street is a big barbecue with an orange sticker, saying “Illegally dumped material under investigation.” The next street goes steeply down towards the bay. From around the street corner and through the shrubs I see an older couple emerging from the yellow brick flats. They are slow, taking their time, but their little dog is impatient and has already rounded the corner, stretching his long elastic leash to the max. It looks funny as if he is held on a string by some invisible forces, stopped in motion, scratching the air with his front paws. When I go back there are picture books and wooden toys on the low wall.

The gutter here has been made from sandstone in earlier days, old and worn. It whispers about generations of feet wearing it down.