Chapter 1 of Digger Smith, this is a LibriBox recording, or LibriBox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriBox.org. Recording by Son of the Exiles. Digger Smith by CJ Dennis. Chapter 1. Before the War Before the war she sighs, before the war, then blinks her eyes and tries to work a smile. Old sins, she says, don't look the same no more. Old ways, she says, seems to have changed their style. The pleasures that we had don't seem worthwhile. Them simple joys that passed an hour away. And troubles that we used to so revile. How small they look, she says, how small today. This war sighs old ma-flud, and when I seen the old girl sitting in our parlour telling her troubles to my wife Doreen, as though the talker needs a load of care. I think some mothers here and everywhere smile in a bit while they are grieve and sore, for growing up babies fighting over there, and then I use them so before the war. My wife has took the social abadard. I ain't a verse, one more new word I've learned. A verse to T when T is to be ad. And when it comes I reckon that it's earned. It's just a drink as far as I'm concerned. Good for a bloke that's tall and on the land. But when a caller comes, here I am turned into a social butterfly off-hand. And drink and T becomes an only right. So as I won't bring the family to disgrace, I get a bit of coaching overnight on riding winners in this bun-fed race. I have to change my shirt and wash my face, and look real newt from my waist up at least, and sling remarks in at the proper place, and not make noises drinkin' like a beast. Have some more cake, another slice, now do. And won't you have a second cup of tea? How is the children? Oh, it makes me blue. This bud wire abbit ain't no good to me. I likes to take me tucker plain and free, tea and a chunk out on the job for choice, so I can stoke with no one there to see. Besides, I haven't got no company voice. Of course I've added all out with the wife. I argues that there's work that must be done, and tells her that I ate this Tony life. She says there's duties that we must not shun. You bet that ends it, so I joins the fun, and puts them all at ease with silly grins, slings bits of repartee, like have a bun, and passes bread and butter for me sins. Since I've been married, say I've chucked some things, and learned a whole lot more to fill the space. I've slung all slang, crook words of taken wings, and I have learned to entertain with grace.  Before the war she sighs the poor old girl. Her talk it gets me thinking, in between. While I'm assisting out this social world, she comes across for comfort to Doreen, to talk about the things that might have been, if Sid had not been killed at Surve la Bay, or Jim not done a bunk at Seventeen, and not been heard of since he went away. They have a little farm right next to us, her and her husband, where they live alone, spite of her cares she ain't the sort to fuss, or serve up sudden tears and sob and moan. And since I've known her somehow I have grown, to see in her and all the grief she's bore, a million brave old mothers who have known deep sorrow since them days before the war. Before the war she says you mind our Sid, poor lad, but then you never met young Jim, him who was charged with things he never did. Ah, both of you had been real chums with him. I spirited he was, a perfect limb. It's six long years now since he went away.  That was she sighs, that was me blackest day. Me blackest day? What am I saying now? There was the day the person come to tell. The news about our Sid, and yet somehow, my little Jim, she pauses for a spell. Your oliox is doing really well, she says, and battles are to brighten up. And them their pinks are yours, how sweet they smell. Ah, thanks, I think I will have one more cup. As far as I can get the strength of it, them floods have had a real tough road to hoe. First off young Jim, who blazes an eye a bit, narks the old man a treat, and slings the show. Then come the war, and Sid, he has to go. He run his final up at Suvla Bay. One of the Aussies I was proud to know, and Jim's cracked arty, since he went away. The Jim, these mothers, Lord, they're all the same. I wonder if Doreen will be that kind. Sid was the son who played the Real Man's game, but Jim, who sloped and left no word behind, he's as the pitcher shining in her mind. I spirited, I've heard that tale before. I sometimes think she'd take it rather kind, to hear that his eye spirits run to war. Before the war, she says, our times was good. The little farm out there, and just us four, working to make a decent livelihood. Our Sid and Jim, poor Jim, it grieves me sore. The dad won't have him mentioned home no more. He's hurt, I know, because he thinks Jim hurt me, as if he could the Bonnie boy I bore. But I must off home now, and get dad's tea. I seen her to the gate, take it from me. I'm some polite. She says, you mustn't mind. Me talking so of Jim, but when I see, your face, it brings him back. He's just your kind. Not quite so handsome, perhaps, nor so refined. I've got some toys of his, she says, but there.  She gives me Anne to squeeze and turns away. Sobbing, I thought, but when she looks behind, smiling and waving like she felt real gay, I wonders how the women works that blind. And just waves back, then goes inside to find a looking-glass, and takes a real good look. Not quite so handsome, perhaps, nor so refined. God help you, Jim. I think you must be crook. End of Chapter 1 Recording by Son of the Exiles Chapter 2 of Digger Smith by C.J. Dennis This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Son of the Exiles Chapter 2 Dummy Bridge If I had applied me, Jack, on that there ten, says Peter Begg, I might have made the lot. How could you, barks old pool? How could you when? I had me queen behind, says Begg. What rot? I slung away me king to take that trick. Which one?  Now don't you see that when I plays me king, I'll give you queen a chance, and lost the slam. But pool, he says, he don't see no such thing. So Begg gets hot, and starts to loose a dam. He twigs the misses just in time to check, and makes it dash, and gets red down his neck. There's me and Peter Begg, an old man pool. Neighbours of mine that farm a bit close by. Just once a week or so, we makes a school, and gives this game a dummy bridge of lie. Doreen, she has her sewn by the fire. The kid's in bed, and is me aunt's desire. Home comfort, peace, the picture of me wife. Appy at work, me neighbours gathered round. All friendly like, what more is there in life? I've searched a bit, but better, I ain't found. Doreen, she seems content, but in her eye. I've seen real pity when the talk gets eye. This evening we had started off real lot. Two little slams and pool without a score. Still looking sore about the cards he got, when sudden like a knock comes to the door. A visitor growls big to cruel our game, and looks at me as though I was to blame. Just as Doreen goes out, I seen a grin. Deal him up quick, I whispers. Grab your hand, and look real occupied. When they comes in, perhaps they'll have the sense to understand. If it's a man, maybe he'll make a foe. But if, then Mrs. Flood comes in the door. Twas old ma Flood, her face wrapped in a smile. Now, boy, she says, don't let me spoil your game. I'll just chat with Doreen a little while. But if you stop, I'll be ashamed I came. And then she waves a letter in her hand. Says she, our gym's a soldier, ain't it grand? Good boy, says Pool. Let's see. I'll make it arts. Double jouts, Begg. And he'd been in a fight. Says Mrs. Flood, out in them foreign parts. French, I suppose. I can't pronounce it right. He's been once wounded somewhere in the leg.  Asks Peter, Begg. I place me queen of spades, and plays her bad. Begg snorts, my boy-size Mrs. Flood, my gym. King here, laughs Pool. That's the last spade I had. Doreen, she smiles. I'm glad you've heard from him. We're done, groans Begg. Why did you nurse your ace? My gym. And there was sunlight in her face. I always thought a lot of gym might did. Says Begg, he does your credit. Here, your deal. That's so, says Pool. He was an all right kid. No, Trumps. I'm sorry, that's the way you feel. It will take you all your time to make the book. And then Doreen sends me a wireless look. I gets the SOS, but Begg is keen. My dearly yaps, what rotten cards I get. Oh, Mrs. Flood sits closer to Doreen. The best she whispers.  Strains me ears, and leads me king of Trumps. Ace here, grins Begg. Pool throws his coin, and thumps. That saves me Jack, Al's Begg tough luck-old sport. Says Mrs. Flood, gyms won a medal, too. For doing something brave at bully court. Play on, play on, growls Begg. It's up to you. And I renegs and Trumps me partner's ace. And Pool gets sudden murder in his face.  It's tame. Righto, I chips. Suppose we toss it in. Begg don't say nothing, so we sling the game.  Wished, she says, surprised. Well, perhaps it's right. It looks to me like Arts was Trump's tonight. And so they was, and say the game was grand.  The miles all up that lie twixed France in air, and found her son, and brought him very near. The gamer bridge it was with Arts for Trumps. We was the dummies sitting silent there. I knew the men like me was feeling chumps, fullen with cards while this was in the air. It took Doreen to shove us in our place, and mother held the lot right from the ace. She told us how he said he'd writ before, and how the letters must have gone astray. And how the stern old father still was sore, but looked like he'd be softening day by day. Our pride in Jim poops out behind his frown, and how the old bull lobes to hide it down. I knew, she says, I never doubted Jim, but what could any mother say or do, when pry and folks ask what become of him? But drop her eyes and say she never knew. Now I can lift me head to that slide glance, and say Jim's fighting with the rest in France. And when she goes us for we don't require, no gossiping to keep us in employ, old pool sits there and hard into the fire. I guess that he was thinking of his boy, who's been right in it from the very start, and pool was thinking of a father's part. And then he speaks this war as turned as hard. Suppose four years ago you said to me, that I'd sit idly staring at a card, while that old mother told, Good Lord, says he, it takes the women fall to put us wise, to play in games in wartime, and his size. An ear-door reen sets out to put him right, as games and games, she says, when women starts, a handed bridge like she has played tonight, it's nature teaching him to make it arts. The other suits are yours, she says, but then, that's as it should be, seeing you a man. Maybe, says pool, and both gets up to go. I'll stand beside the door when they are gone, watching their lanterns swingin' to and fro, and ears begs voice as they go trudgin' on. If you had led that queen we might have made, rubbish, shouts pool, you mucked it with your spade. End of chapter two. Recording by son of the exiles. Chapter three of Digger Smith by CJ Dennis. This Libra box recording is in the public domain. Recording by son of the exiles. Chapter three. Dad, I've known Old Flood this last five year or more. I knew him when he said, went to the war. A proud old man he was, but I've watched him, and seen his look when people spoke at Jim. The sourer look as most coves want to see, it made me glad that this ear Jim weren't me. I sized up Flood the first day that we met. Stubborn as blazers when his mind is set. Old fashion in his looks and in his ways. Believin' it is honesty that pays. Earned still dead set in spite of bumps he's got, to keep on honest if it pays or not. Poor old Dad Flood. He is too old to fight. By close on thirty year, but if I'm right, about his doings and about his grit, he's done a fair bit over, he's fair bit. They are too old to fight, but all the same, he's kinds quite young enough to play the game. I've heard it called this war, and it's the truth. I've heard it called the sacrifice, a youth. And all this land is recognised too, and gives the boys the praises. That is due. I've heard the cheers for every fight and lad, but up to now I ain't heard none for Dad. Old Flood and all these kind throughout the land. They ain't been eryldered with no brass band. Or been much thought about, but take my tip. The warriors found him with a stiffened lip. Ump in the load they thought they'd dropped for good. Crackin' real arty, and just soarin' wood. Dad Flood he's back his bent, his strength is gone. He's done his bit before this war came on. At sixty-five he thought his work was done. He gave the farmer an over to his son.  Then come the war, and when Sid hesitates, between the old folk and his fightin' mates, the old man goes outside and grabs a hoe.  What's stoppin' ya? he straightens his old frame. Ain't I farmed long enough to know the game? There weren't no more to say, and Sid went west, into the sunset with old Ozzy's best. But no one ever erred no groans from Dad. Though all his pride and hope was in that lad, he showed no sign except to grow more grim. His son was gone, and it was up to him. One day last month when I was down at Flood's, I seen him struggling with a bag of spuds.  You armpin' loads like that's a bit too bad. He gives a grump that's more than half a groan. What's up, he snaps. Got no work of your own? That's him, but I've been tippin' that the pace would tell, and when his wife comes to our place, and says the dad is ill and took to bed, flat out with work, though that ain't what she said. I ain't surprised and tells her when I'm through. I'll come across and see what I can do. I went across, and I'll come back again. Strike me, it's no use risenin' with some men.  The way yells, keep your hands off me tools. Yet think I was a thief, his missus said. I'd bet a slope or he'd be out of bed. He heard us talkin' through the open door. There's that, he croaks, although he tries to roar. And when his wife explains it's only me, to help a bit, I want no charity. He barks, I'll do me work myself, yeah. And then he gets so snarky that I clear. But he'll do me, I like the old boy's nerve. We don't do nothin' that he don't deserve. But me and Peter beg an old man pool. We fairly as our work cut out to fool the sly old fox when we sneaks down each day, and works a while to keep things underway. We digs a bit, and plows a bit, and chops the wood, and does the needful to his crops. We does it soft, and when he hears a row, his missus tells him it's the dog or cow. He says that it's queer noises for a pup, and there'll be ructions when old flood gets up. It ain't all over work that's laid him out. Old pride in him is fightin' hard, with doubt. Today's wife says something strange in him. For any sleep sometimes, he calls for Jim. It's six long years, she says, and stops to shake. He read that he don't mention him awake. Bad flood.  Before the war, but as I says to pool, this war is tested more than fightin' men. But say he isn't only terror when friends try to help him earn a bite and sup, or they'll be held to pay when he gets up. End of Chapter 3 Recording by Son of the Exiles Chapter 4 of Digger Smith by C.J. Dennis This Libra box recording is in the public domain. Recording by Son of the Exiles Chapter 4 Digger Smith He calls me Digger. That's how he begins. He says he's only half a man, and grins. Judged by his nerve, I'd say he was worth two, of me and you.  The first I'd heard about it, pool, told me. There is a bloke called Smith at Floodz, says he. Come there this mornin', says he's come to stay, and won't go away. Says he was sent there by a pal named Flood, and talks a contract sealed with Flanders mud. No matter what they say, he only grins, says pool, he's rather wobbly on his pins. Seems like a soldier bloke and Peter beg. He says one leg, works by machinery, but I don't know. I only know he's there, and he won't go. He grins, says pool, at everything they say. Dad Flood is nearly out of fit today. He's cursed and ordered him clean off the place. But this cove's face just goes on grinning, and he says quite calm. He's come to do a bit around the farm. The tail don't sound too good to me at all.  Maybe he's dilly, I'll go down and see. He'll grin at me when I have done, if he needs dealin' with. So I goes down to interview this Smith. He had a fork out in the tater patch. Says he, why hello digger, got a match? Digger, I says, why you ain't digger here. Yet better clear, you oughta know that you can't dig them spuds. I don't belong to you, they're old man floods. Can't I, he grins, I'll do the best I can. Considering I'm only half a man. Give us a light, I can't get none from flood. Then mine is dud. I parts, and he stands grinnin' at me still. And then he says, have you forgot me, Bill? I looks, and seen a tough bloke, short and thin. Then Lord, I recommend that I'll grin. It's little Smith Iowls, a calling wood. Glad this is good.  You're onto it, he says, next day we sailed. Now half of me's back home, and half they nailed. And Mick, oh well, Fritz took me down a peg. He waves his leg. It ain't too bad, he says, with his old smile. When I start to dig, it cramps me style. But I ain't grouchin', it was worth the fun. We had some picnic stashing, brother-un. The only fight I've had, that some John Op, don't come and stop. They pulled me leg a treat, but all the same. There's nothing over here, to beat the game. And now he says, I'm here to do a job. I promised, if it was me luck, to lob. Back home before me mate, he says, and then he grins again. As clear as mud, I says, but I can't work. Me brains to hold your pace. So what's the lurk? So then he puts me wise, it seems, that him. And this air flood, I tips, it must be Jim. Was Cobbers up in France, and things occurred? I got his word. Things did occur up there, but anyway. Seems Flood done something good for him, one day. Then Smithy promised, if he came back home. Before his Cobber, or the Flamin' Farm. He'd see the old folks here, and he agreed. If there was need, he'd stay and do a bit around the farm. So long as he had one sound dinkum arm. So here I am, he says, and grins again. A promise is a promise, amongst us men. Says I, you come along up to the house. Oh, dad won't rouse. When once he's got your strength, and has for mar.  So we goes up, and finds them both fair dazed. About this little Smith, they think he's crazed. I tells the tale in words they understand. Then it was grand. To see dad grab Smith's hand, and pump it good. And mar, she kissed him, like I said she would. Mar says he must be starved, and right away. The kettle's on. She's busy, with a tray. And when I left this digger Smith, he looked. Like he was booked. For keeps with tea, and bread, and beef inside. Our little willies own, he grins, and dried. End of chapter four. Recording by son of the exiles. Chapter five of digger Smith by CJ Dennis. This LibraVox recording is in the public domain. Recording by son of the exiles. Chapter five. West. I've seen so much of dirt and grime. I'm mad to have things clean. I've seen so much of death, he said. So many cobbers lie and dead. You won't know what I mean. But lad, I've had so much of strife. I want things straightened in me life. I've seen so much of hate, he said. Mad eight and silly rage. I'm yearning for clear thought city. Kindness and love seem good to me. I want a new white page. To start all over, clean and good. And live me life as real men should. We're sitting talking by the fence. The sun's just going down. Painting the sky all gold and pink. City, when it's like that, I think. And then he stops to frown. City, I think, when it's just so of God or something. I don't know. I ain't seen much of God, city. Not here, nor over there. But partly what I've seen and read. And partly what the Padre said. It gets me when I stare. Out west, when it's like that is now. There must be something else. Somehow. I've thought a lot, said Digger Smith. Out there, I've thought a lot. I've thought of death and all the rest. And of me mates, good mates gone west. And it ain't much of God. But things get moving in me Ed. When I look over there, he said. He's got me beat as little Smith. I knew him years ago. I knew him as a real tough boy. Who roughed it up with holy joy. But now, well I don't know. And when I ask my flood she sighs. And says he's got the Anzac eyes. She says he's got them soldier's eyes. That make her own eyes wet. And we must give him wholesome food. And lead his thoughts to something good. And never let him fret. But he ain't fretting, seems to me. More puzzled far as I can see. The clouds above the hill was tore apart until some hour. It seemed like some big shining gate. Said he, why lad? I'll tell you straight. I feel like starting now. And walking on and on and through. Dead game and ain't it so to you? I've seen enough of pain he said. And curse and killin' ords. I ain't the man to smudge with God. To get to heaven on the nod. Or our limbs bore rewards. But this, beloved, why? Oh, struth. This never hit me in me youth. They talk a love-twixed man, said he. That sounds dead crook to you. But lately I have come to see. Old on I said, it seems to me. There's love of women, too. And you? He turns away, he said. I'm only half a man, he said. I've seen so much of death, said he. Me mind is in a whirl. I've had so many thoughts of late, said I. Now tell me. Tell me straight. Own up. Ain't there a girl? Said he. I've done the best I can. What does she want with half a man? It weren't no use. He wouldn't talk, and nothing but that sky. Said he. Now dink him, talk and square. When you get gazing over there, don't you half want to cry? I wouldn't be surprised to see an angel coming out, said he. Gone west, said Digger Smith. I lad, I've seen him going west. And often wonder when I look if they have at it dealt him crook. Or if they've got the rest. They earn twice over by the spell they spent down in that dinker mill. The gold was creeping up. The sun was half behind the range. It don't seem strange a man should cry to see that glory in the sky. To me it don't seem strange. Digger said he. Look at it now. It must be something else, somehow. End of chapter five. Recording by son of the exiles. Chapter six of Digger Smith by C.J. Dennis. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Recording by son of the exiles. Chapter six. Over the fence.  And I ain't looking round for bricks to either old man pull. But when he gets to sputin' he's inclined to lose his head. You don't so much his choice of words as how the words is said. He's such a coot for takin' sides as I says to Doreen. Says she, how can he buy himself? Whatever that may mean. My wife says little things sometimes that nearly get me riled. I knew she meant more than she said by that soft way she smiled. Today when I was arrowing, pull come down to the fence. To get the loan of my long spade and uses that pretence. To have a bit of friendly talk and one word leads to more. And is the way with old man pull as I've remarked before. The spade reminds him how he done some diggin' in his day. And diggin' brings the talk to earth and earth leads on to clay. Then clay quite natural reminds a thinkin' bloke of bricks. Then mortar brings up mud and then, of course, it's politics. Now, pull sticks by his party and I don't deny he's right. But when he starts abusing mine he's lookin' for a fight. So I delivers good-aimed truths about his crowd then pull.  Now that's the dizzy limit, so I lays aside the reins and starts to prove he's storin' mud where most blokes keeps their brains. He decorates his answers and we're goin' it ding dong. When this returned bloke, Digger Smith, comes soldering along. Pulls grip the fence as though he means to tear the rails in two. And eyes me wagon finger like he wants to have a chew. Then Digger Smith he grins at Pull and then he looks at me and says quite soft and friendly like, Winnin' the war, says he. Now Pull deserves it and I'm pleased the lad give him that jolt. He goes fair man in argument when once he gets a halt. You make me sad, says Digger Smith, the both of you, says he. The both of us, God's truth says I, you ain't including me. Well it takes two to make a row, says little Digger Smith. A bloke can't argue lest he has a bloke to argue with. I've come home from a dinkum scrap to find this land of light. He's chasin' its own tail around and callin' it a fight. We've seen a thing or two us blokes who fought on many fronts. And we've had time to think a bit between the fight and stunts. We've seen big things and thought big things and all the silly fuss that used to get us rattled once seems very small to us. And when a bloke's fought for a land and gets laid on the shelf it pains him to come home and find its scrappin' with itself.  Perhaps we've had some scot knocked out and perhaps we see more clear but seems to us there's plenty cleanin' up to do round here. We've learned a little thing or two and we have unlearned eeps. And silly partisans with us is counted out for keeps. There's taken sides just for the sake of taken sides of truth. I used to do them things one time back in me foolish youth. Out there when I remembered things I've kicked me self real good in football days I barracked once red for Collingwood. I didn't want to see a game nor see no justice done that never mattered what occurred as long as my side won. The other side was narks and cows and rotters to a man but mine was all real bonds of chaps. I was a partisan. It might sound like swell dead says Smith but show me if you can. Old Ard says, Poole just tell me this what is a partisan? Then Digger Smith starts to explain. Poole interrupts straight out and I wades in to give me views and Astonilly shout. We battles on for one good hour. My team sleeps where it stands and Poole has tossed the spade away to talk with both his hands and Smith has dropped the moorly ad. Then all looks round to see. Door ring quite close. She smiles at us. Win in the war says she. End of Chapter 6 Recording by Son of the Exiles Chapter 7 of Digger Smith This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Son of the Exiles Digger Smith by CJ Dennis Chapter 7 A Digger's Tale My oath the Duchess says you'd not expect. Such things as that you don't mean kangaroos. Go on she says or words to that effect. It's hard to imitate the speech they use or tells her straight or drives them for an end. I'm in my land.  Don't you believe it? It's a silly myth. I've been real cobbers with the British Toff. When I'm on leave for blightly like our crowd then Dennis proud. Our sozzies was the goods in London Town when I was there if they just twigged you out. The jerks would ask you could you keep one down and urls would hang out welcome on the mat and sling your invites to their stately halls for fancy balls. This Duchess I ain't quite sure of her rank. She might have been a peeress I don't know. She meets her husband first. He owns a bank. I heard an half a dozen mince or so. A dinkum toff he says come home with me and have some tea. That's how I meet this Duchess. What's her name? Or Countess? Never mind her moniker. I ain't no end at this year title game. And right away I was real pals with her. I'll tell me all about your home says she and smiles at me. That knocks me out. I know it ain't no good. Painting word pitches of the things I've done. Out owe me barricing for Collingwood or putting on the flat at Flemington. I know this barrenness of what you call want something tall. I've got things real hard and then I'll let it go. I'll tell her out at Richmond on Me Run a little place of ten square mile or so on Breeden Boomerangs which is real fun. When I ain't troubled by the wild John Ops that eats me crops. I'll talk about the wondrous Boschter bird that builds her nest up in the cobbler tree at her young on May the 3rd, strict to the minute just at half past three. Her eyes get big, she says. Can it be true? Her eyes was blue. And then I speak a sport and tells her out.  Large packs of barricades and out there row. Wakes echoes in the forests of Fitzroy where lurks the deadly shicker snake whose breath is certain death. I'm going on to talk a kangaroos and how I used to drive them four in ant. What says the Marquianess them things in zizz that hops about. I've seen them in the Strand in double harness but I ain't seen four. Tell me some more. I balks a bit at that and she says well there ain't no calls at all for you to fill. Modest about the things you have to tell. And what you say sounds wonderfully real.  I recollect she says now let me see. In Gippsland long ago when I was young I had a little pet caroberie all sits up in me chair like I was stung. On its own legs she says it used to stand fed from the end. Of course I threw me alley in right there. This princess was a dinkum Aussie girl. I can't do nothing else but sit and stare thinking so rapid that me air roots curl. But her she says I ain't her talk so good since my childhood. I wish says she I could be back again beneath the waddle and that great blue sky.  You're done real good she says. Don't you be shy. When you're in blighty once again says she come and see me. I don't see her no more cause I stopped one but for I sales I gets a billy do which says give my love to the dear old son and take an exiles blessing home with you. And if you have some boomerangs to spare save me a pair. I'd like to see him play about she wrote out on me lawn and stroke there pretty fur God bless your boy and then she ends her note your dinkum copper and her moniker a sport you bet she's married to an oil an Aussie girl. End of chapter seven recording by son of the exiles. Chapter eight of Digger Smith by C.J. Dennis this Libra Vox recording is in the public domain recording by son of the exiles. Chapter eight. Jim's girl. Who is that girl says Digger Smith that never seems to bother with no blokes the bent with curly air I've often seen her over there talking to Mrs. Flood and she seems like a real right peach to me. Not that I'm asking, hear his eyes go sort of swivelly and he sighs not that I'm asking with ideas of love and marriage have no fears I've chucked the matrimony plan he says I'm only half a man. This Digger Smith has fairly got me rampant with his half man rot he has a timber leg it's true but he can do the work of two besides the things he's done out there makes him one man and some to spare. I knew his question was just kid he'd met this girl I know he did he knew Jim Flood and her was booked for double when the un was cooked but seeing her it used to start him thinking of another tart. Oh her says I she is a pearl I've heard she used to be Jim's girl but she was just a child when Jim got out she has forgotten him. I knows just what was in his mind and says wait in if you're inclined he give me such a nasty look I thought he meant to answer crook but I ain't out for jokes says he you needn't sling that stuff to me I only was just thinkin' perhaps there's some he says that sticks to chaps some girl says he keeps true to chaps and when they're done with scraps and come home all you don't expect no tart to tie up with a wreck besides he says well anyhow that girl's alright I know it now I know says Smith I got it right Jim used to talk to me at night about a little girl he tracked her name is Flow ain't that a fact that's her I know she writes to him each mail she ain't forgotten Jim I'd like to swap me luck for Jim's if he comes home with all these limbs and if he don't well I don't know I've taken notice of this flow and wonder if he stares at me if there is more like her says he now digga Smith has learned a lot out fightin' there but he ain't got the cunning four to eyed his art he's too damn honest or a start he's minds dead simple to a friend I've read him through from end to end I've learned from things he hasn't said just what's been runnin' in his head I know there is a girl somewhere someone who had the art to care for him when he went to the war I know all that and something more I know that since he came back here he hasn't seen that girl for fear she'd turn him down give him the bird and hand him out the frozen word because he's left the leg in France and he's afraid to take a chance well not afraid perhaps but shook it's just the form his nerves have took now he's been watchin' flow and seen her style and how she's always keen for news at gym then he starts out to hope and hesitate and doubt he wonders if his own girl spoke just this same way about her bloke he wonders if in his girl's eyes the same look came and then he sighs and dulls his senses with the dope that half a man ain't got no hope he makes me tired but all the same I tries to work a little game look here I says about this flow gym mightn't come back home you know you have a fly you're sure to score besides all's fair in love and war sling that he says but I goes on oh gym won't blame you when she's gone he knows the same as me and you these silly tarts they can't keep true now piles it on until I've got him where I want him jump a knot and then he says here sling that torque might be groggy in me walk but if you say them things to me oh man enough to crack ya see right oh says I that was me plan now what about this half a man he stares at me and then says slow what is your game what do you know nothing I tells him only this when there's a waitin' tart to kiss man but when there's blokes to fight you're 20 men what tart he asks you mean this flow perhaps not I says you oughta know I waits to let me words sink in and then he beats me with that grin matchmaking Bill he laughs oh hell you take up knitting for a spell end of chapter 8 recording by son of the exiles chapter 9 of Digger Smith by C.J. Dennis this Libra box recording is in the public domain recording by son of the exiles chapter 9 the boys out there why do they do it I don't know says Digger Smith you got me beat some of the yarns you hear is true and some is rather empty do and some is indiscreet but them that don't get to the crowd them is the ones would make you proud with Digger Smith and other blokes who have returned it's much the same they talk of what they've seen and done when they've been out to have their fun but no word of the game on fights and all the tale of blood their talk as they remark is dud it's so with soldiers I avert all times the things that they have done wore mad with blood before their eyes and in their ears wild fight and cries they ever after shun perhaps they forget or find it well not to recall too much the veil and when they won't loose up their talk it's hard for us to understand how all those boys we used to know old Billow, Jim and Tom and Joe done things to beat the band we knew they'd fight but they've became ed ringers at the fight and game well what I've heard from Digger Smith and other soldier blokes like him I've put together bit by bit and chewed a long time over it and now I've got a dim an easy notion in me ed why they as battlers born and bred what did they know of war first off when they joined up what did I know when I was tossed out on me neck as if I was a shattered wreck the time I tried to go flat feet me feet as length and breadth enough to kick an under death they don't know nothing bein' reared out here where war has never spread a land by bloodless conquest won as some son of a writing gun says in a book I read they don't know nicks but what they're told at school and that sticks till they're old you've got to take the kid at school get in his history lesson learned them tales of Nelson and of Drake of Wellington and fightin' Blake his little art is burned to get right out and have a go and socket into some base foe nothing but glory fills his mind the British charge is something grand the soldier that he reads about don't have no time for fear and doubt he's the heroic brand so when that boy gets in the game he just wades in and does the same not bein' old hands at the stunt they simply do as they are told but bein' Aussies spare me days they never thinks of other ways but does it brave and bold that's half and for the other part you've got to go back to the start you've got to go right back to dad to granddad and the pioneers who packed up all their bag of tricks and come out here in 56 and battled through the years our granddads and their women too that add the grit to face the new it's that old stock and more than that it's Bill and Jim and every son gettin' three good meat mills a day the neeps of chance to go and play out in the bonza sun it's partly that but don't forget when it's all said there's somethin' yet there's somethin' yet and they're on beat crowds of these lads I've known but then they have got somethin' from this war somethin' I never had before that makes them better men better there's no word I can get to name it right there's somethin' yet we hear a lot about reward we praise and sling the cheers about but there was debts we can't repay piled up on us one single day when that first list come out there ain't no way to pay that debt do what we can there's somethin' yet End of chapter 9 Recording by Son of the Exiles Chapter 10 of Digger Smith by C.J. Dennis This Libra Box recording is in the public domain Recording by Son of the Exiles Chapter 10 Arthur Mann Oh wash me hands of him I tell somethin' straight You women can do what ya dash well like I leave this Arthur Mann to his own fate I've done me bit and now I'm gone on strike Do what ya please but don't ask help from me He's give me nerves so now I'll let him be Doreen and old Marfludd has got a scheme They've been conspiring for a week or more About this Digger Smith and now they dream They've got his future waitin' in cool store To hand him out and fix him up for life But they've got bucklies as I tells me wife I've seen him whisperin' up in our room Now they want me to join in the debate But next I tell them I ain't in the boom And Digger Smith ain't risin' to me bait He's far too fly a fish for me to catch And to designin' women ain't his match I puts me foot down firm and tells them no They're silly plans a thing I wouldn't touch And then me wife for half an hour or so Talks to me confident of nothin' much Then for I know it I am all red-ot Into the scheme and leader of the plot Twas Marfludd starts it, she got old of him You know the way they have with poor weak men She drops a tear or two concerning Jim Tells him what women have to bear and then She got him talkin' like a woman can He never woulda squeaked to any man She leads him on, it's crook the way they scheme To talk about this girl he's left behind Not that she's prying, why she wouldn't dream But speakin' of it might just ease his mind Then for he knows he's told to his surprise Name an address and color of her eyes And then she's off here plottin' with Doreen Bustin' a confidence I tell them flat But all me roustin' leaves them both serene Women don't see a little thing like that And I ain't cooled off yet before they've got Me workin' for em' in this crooked plot Next day Marfludd she takes her Sunday dress And her best little bonnet up to town Her games to see the girl at this address And word her in regard to comin' down To take Smith by surprise my parts to fix A meetin' so they won't be any mix I tip somehow that girl won't hesitate She don't, she comes right back with Mar next day All of a fluster when I seen her state Thinks I'd best see Digger straight away Cos if I don't he's bound to ear the row With her where is he? Can't I see him now? I finds him in the paddock down at Floods I arms and arse a bit about the crops He don't say nothin' goes on baggin' spuds How would you like? I says to him and stops How would it be? He stands and looks at me Now what the hell's got into you? Says he That don't restore me confidence a bit The drama isn't goin' as I tipped I coughs and makes another shot at it Wiley looks at me like he thinks I'm dipped Well, just suppose I says and then I turn And see her standin' there among the fern She don't want no prelimaries this tart She's broke away before they rung the bell She's beat the gun and got a flyin' start Smith makes a funny noise and I says Because I tumbles that I'm out of place But as I went I caught sight of her face That's all I wanna know and as I ran I use her cry, my man, man and a half Don't fool me with your talk of half a man I years old digger start to laugh It was a funny laugh, so help me Bob Fair in the middle of it, come a sob I don't see digger till the other night Well half a man I says, how gas it now? Yes, half a man says he, you got it right I can't change that alone, not anyhow But she is mendin' things, he starts to laugh Someday he says she'll be the better half End of chapter 10 Recording by son of the exiles Chapter 11 of Digger Smith by C.J. Dennis This LibriVox recording is in the public domain Recording by son of the exiles Chapter 11 Soaring Wood I wondered what was doin' first I seen Oh Mrs. Floodwave signals to Doreen I'm in the paddock slashing down some ferns She's coming up the road, and if she turns And and spring I won't be surprised a bit The way she's capering and going it She yells out some remark when she gets near Which I don't catch, I'm too far off to air And then Doreen comes prancing to our door And Mrs. Flood she sprints and yells some more My wife runs to the gate and waves her arms But I lays low, I'm used to these alarms A married bloke in time he learns a bit And he ain't overkeen to throw a fit Each time the women calls the fire real out It's just a trifle he'll know all about When things get normal that's a point I learn So I soars wood and keeps on cuttin' fern At least I cut a few I gotta give Real facts and own I was inquisitive And these air fireworks gets me fair perplexed I watch the house to see what happens next But nothing's doin' they just goes on in And leaves me wonderin' what's caused the din I stands it for a full half hour or more Then gets dead sick of starein' at the door I goes down to the house and hunts about To find some bakker which I have no doubt Is in me trousers pocket all the while When I goes in the talk stops and they smile I says I've lost me smoke and search a bit And I ask Doreen what has become of it And turns the mantel shelf all upside down And looks inside the teapot with a frown Then gives it up and owns I'd like a drink When Mrs. Flood says, Bill, what do you think?  Couldn't I says if I guessed for a year then lights me pipe and waits for her to speak. At last she says Jim's coming back next week.   Just ear Doreen she says to me good lord what do you want two plugs a backer for I takes me pipe out of me mouth and stairs and stammer's muster found a piece somewhere but by the way she smiles so extra sweet I know she twigs me game and I am beat fancy she says you're absent minded dear sure there was nothing else you wanted here nothing I says and feels a first prize full and goes outside and grabs the nearest tool it was the crosscut so I works like mad to keep me self-respect from going bad this game I tells me self will do you good you ain't proficient yet it's sore and wood. End of Chapter 11 Recording by son of the Exiles Chapter 12 of Digger Smith by C.J. Dennis this LibriVox recording is in the public domain Recording by son of the Exiles Chapter 12 Jim now be the oaky fly says Peter Begg suppose he comes home with a wooden leg suppose he isn't fit to dance at all then ain't we hasty fixing up this ball and a bridge is my idea says Peter be the oaky fly Oh Peter Begg is getting on in years he owns a real good farm and all he fears is that some girl will land him by and by and share it with him be the oaky fly that's his pet swear word and I don't know what but he uses it a lot dance and growls beg we're fixing up the all with bits of green stuff for a little ball to welcome Jim who's coming home next day wearing and flags around to make things gay and shifting chairs and candle-grizzin' floors as is our way when blokes comes home from wars and Emma Bridge says Peter Begg would be more decent like and perhaps a keg something if the yearos feel and dry but this here dance and be the oaky fly these selfish women never thinks at all about the guest they only wants the ball now cards says Begg amuses everyone I told you guests could have his fun if he'd lost both his legs it makes me sick here don't you spread that candle-grizz too thick you're wasting it and us men ask to buy enough for nonsense be the oaky fly Begg he ain't never keen on wasting much Peter I says it's you that needs a crutch and settle down he looks real fierce and answers with a frown do you think I am going to be rocked draft me Tucker just to get it cooked oh let's it go at that and does me job and when a little later on my lob along the home would track down by floods gate I meet old digger Smith and stops to state me views about the weather and the war he tells me Jim gets here next day at four and as we talk I seize along the road a strange blow-cump and some queer sort of load I points him out to Smith and says is that looks like a soldier don't he be that stranger says digger be the cut of him cluster mother's eyes it's Jim my Jim my Jim my ears and scootin' up the track comes Mrs. Flood with Flo close at her back it was a race for lover and for son they finished neck and neck but mother won for it was her that got the first good hug took so back I stands there like a mug then come Flo's turn and Jim and digger they shakes ends without no fancy grandstand play yet think they parted yesterday them too for all the wild heroics that they do you done it lad says Jim I knew you would you bet sir Smith but I'm all to the good then all of a sudden all their tongues is loosed me there and I am introduced and Jim tells how it was he come to land so soon while myron flow each holds an end but just a sudden they all stop and stare down to the house that dad flood stand in there he's got his hand up shading off the sun then he starts up to them but dad don't run he is an Alan poor he's lost boys kiss he's got his own sweet way in things like this he wanders up and stands and looks at Jim and spare me days that look was extra grim I seen the mother plucking at her dress I seen the girl's white face and her distress and digger Smith he looks real queer to me grinning inside himself he seemed to be at last dad says oh he's a tough old gun well are you sorry now for what you done Jim gives a start but answers with a grin well dad I have been learning discipline and though I ain't quite sure what did occur way back he's grinning worse I'm sorry sir it beats me that about those soldier blokes they're always grinning like all things was jokes perhaps dad is getting dull in his old age but he don't seem to see Jim's camouflage perhaps he don't want to for in his old eye I seen a twinkle as he gives reply next week he says we will begin to start the taters you can make another start but then he grabs Jim's and I seen the joy in mother's eyes now welcome me boy says dad and then he adds you made me proud that's all and he don't add it none too loud dad don't express his feelings in a shout it cost him something to get that much out we had the dance and spite of all begs fears Jim dance like he could keep it up for years mostly with flow we don't let up till three and then old Peter beg door in and me we walk together home and on the way door in has quite a lot of things to say did you see flow says she don't she look grand that Jim's the luckiest in all the land and little Smith that girl of ease I'm sure she'll bring him happiness that will endure she hugs me arm then says us been door wife if it's the right one is the wealth of life I sneaks a look at beggin answers yes you're right old girl that's the real happiness and if all lonely growlers was to know the worth of happy marriage year below they'd swap their bank books for a wife says I says Peter beg well be the okie fly end of chapter 12 recording by son of the exiles chapter 13 of diggers Smith by CJ Dennis this Libra box recording is in the public domain recording by son of the exiles chapter 13 a square deal dreamin I says to digger Smith old sport and smile ain't there enough joy today to drive the bogey man away and make real things worthwhile to see a stair there's visions on the ill tops there dreamin says digger Smith why not and there is visions too and when I get them sorted out and strafe that little bogey doubt I'll start me life all new I ain't crook but packed in here is thoughts enough to last a year and things says digger Smith I'm thinking big and fine of life and love and all the rest and what is right and what is best and how much will be mine not that I'm wanting over much some work some play and food and such see here I says you are to me I've done some thinking too and this here land for what you did goes some few million solid quid to fight and blokes like you so don't be too damn modest or you'll get less than you're looking for money says digger loot says he I'll give that talk a rest I'm sick of it I didn't say that I was thinking all of pay but what was right and best and that ain't in the crazy a grab and wealth and chase and fame do you think us blokes over there when things was going strong was keeping ledgers day be day and reckoning what the crowd would pay pull off you've got it wrong do you think all the blokes gone west wants great swank headstones on their chest you chaps at home a small idea of what we think and feel we done our bit and seen it through and all that we are asking you is just a fair squared deal we want this land we battled for to settle up and something more we want the land we battled for to be a land worthwhile where sick agreed and ate and strife and all the mess that's made of life he stopped a bit to smile I got these thoughts out there because we learnt what my chip really was the ills behind the orchard trees was showing misty blue the evening light was growing dim and down I sat alongside of him and done some dreaming too our dreams of war and what is paid by blokes that went and blokes that stayed I dreams of honour and reward and how to pay a debt for part in cash and buying farms and fitting chaps with legs and arms ain't all there's something yet there's still a solid balance due and now it's up to me and you there's men I know ain't yet woke up or recognize that debt proud men who wouldn't take you down or owe their grosser half a crown they ain't considered yet there's something Owen to the dead and diggers live for more than bread we learnt what my chip was he says us diggers found the good that's it away somewhere in chaps and ain't searched for enough or prized or understood but all this game a grab and greed and ciliate why where's the need the ills behind the orchard trees just caught the setting sun a bloke might easy think that there way back behind the range somewhere where streaks of sunlight run there was a land swept clear a doubt where men finds what they dreams about beauty says diggers sudden like and love and kindness the chance to live a clean straight life a dinkum deal for kids and wife a man needs nothing less maybe they'll get it when I go to push up daisies I don't know dreamin says diggers Smith why not there's visions on the hill then I gets up and steals away and leaves him with the dying day dreamin and doubting still copper it's up to me and you to see that are these dream comes true the end end of chapter 13 recording by son of the exiles end of diggers Smith by C.J. Dennis


ct timeframes. We're talking about generational engagement with actors across different societies across different levels of societies and then maybe measure short term But if we try to solve this in short term measurable increments, I don't think we'll get there The very models of how we work might need to change, you know Typically government funding, especially is project oriented the kind of work We're talking about as you say is not really project oriented where we need a different timescale a different set of metrics I want to bring in uh ambassador corner on this on this point because you've worked in many of these countries I mentioned that in your introduction, but you you're also ambassador in the drc Um, and now at the in the uk there's been a focus on fragility for several years now I think the target is something like half of all for the British foreign assistance should go to fragile and conflict affected states I'm not sure where the government is now on that target whether it's achieved it or not, but I believe that's the stated goal Um, so with fragility as such a core goal of the government's approach How do you take the lessons of this report and the conversation that you're hearing so far today? Well, thank you very much and thank you very much to usip and to the task force For this excellent report, which I think contains a lot which is really thought provoking and I think uh There's a lot in that with which we would agree Because the uk too as you say does care very deeply about stability About extremism and about fragile states We're committed to spending at least half of our bilateral aid programs in fragile states And we think that there is a very clear correlation between fragility and the growth of extremism Um In terms of of how we address this Some of some of what's in the report. I suppose our experience in the uk may be of some value in So if I if I share some of that So within the uk within the the british government, which is of course is is much smaller And probably rather less complex than the u.s. Government We have actually managed to set up cross government working to address this issue For about 12 years now, we've had something called the stabilization unit, which has been at the heart of government, which cuts across The foreign office diffid our department for international development and the ministry of defense and that Enables us to have a cross government single version of the truth if you like And provide an analysis of what's going on in a country a conflict analysis and how we should all work together In going forward And I think this has been particularly valuable in helping to bring You know as we've seen this morning In some of the discussions all these different points of view The military can bring a huge amount to the table that they have they're different actors But they know a great deal about conflict And they have a lot of very firsthand experience The development actors development agencies work closely with ngo's they understand What can be delivered and how things can be delivered and how best to measure how to be accountable to Our electorates because we have we do have those electorates and we do have to be accountable as the ambassador was saying And finally, you know, I would say the diplomats I mean at the heart of this is a political solution And I think the the diplomats very often Can bring those insights into the political process because dealing with this is an incredibly complex issue And it has to be multifaceted as other speakers have brought out And I think that we need to everybody brings something to the table So it becomes you know, it's it's it's a crowded sphere, but it's one in which It is right to have all those different points of view And it's right to have coordination across all those different actors And I think that's one of the things that the report brings out and brings out really well I'd say also, you know Very important to coordinate between nations between governments The countries that I've worked I've worked in drc tanzania as well And also car there has been very good donor coordination Sometimes it can feel a little bit heavy and a little bit of a drag But what what comes out of that is so much richer than you know, the the Than than if we worked unilaterally. So for example, there's the information sharing There's the efficiency there's the effectiveness and there's the complementarity of donors getting together and to actually help each other And can I also just say that there is very much a strategic role for multilateral organizations in this So the un and its agencies the world bank others as well And I would say the reason for this is because they bring resources and and I'm not just talking about money but resources that as a national Actor you may not have Secondly, you know as national actors sometimes you come with baggage And that is not always good in terms of achieving the impact that you want So sometimes it can be really useful to work through other agencies other multilateral actors and finally There's the question of legitimacy as well and legitimacy. I think is something which is subjective You know, it's it's it's basically how you seem by the audience that you're trying to by those that you're trying to to impact And and legitimacy isn't just I think some it's not some vague concept It actually means leverage and it means impact And it means actually getting the results that you want So I would say there is definitely an important role for multilateral actors Because of what they can bring to the table in a way it's strengthened being multilateral Strengthens the voice of the country of the government of the society Instead of having many individual donor countries coming in with their own agenda You say well, we're we're one coordinated agenda But you know, I think there's obviously as you know a lot of backlash against the idea of multilateralism, right? And there's a lot of push to be able to take unilateral action in places where we think it It makes sense from a foreign policy standpoint I wonder how you would push back on the arguments of people who say but you can't work with these governments You can't just coordinate with governments in fragile states. They're not equipped to do it You need to come in from the outside You can't trust them with the funding for for programming of this kind Or in some cases the government maybe is friendly Maybe you like to work with them, but their authority in the country doesn't Doesn't go much past the the palace walls, right? So how do you think about some of those realities? And and address the concerns of those kinds that you'll hear in in parliaments and congresses around the world This is for you and anyone on the panel who'd like to jump in I think that's that's a really important question And it is very difficult and certainly, you know when I was working in car central african republic Government legitimately elected But very very weak very weak in terms of resources in terms of manpower in terms of capacity in terms of Just ability to get around the country and to deploy So what I think you need to do is is to build up a partnership But definitely And it can be difficult put them in front because they have to be You know, you you need a solution which is sustainable You need a solution which is going to be there for the long term. It's going to be difficult. It's going to be challenging It's going to be Not straightforward sometimes it'll be three steps forward and two steps back And one of the things I really like about this Report is that it stresses the need for an adaptive approach That you're going to have to try things out and see if they work and if they don't You know then then try something else in a way you have to experiment But you've got to be prepared to accept risk and and occasional failure as well Because that's the only way you'll learn. There are so many different factors that can have an impact on success and You know, you're you're going to have to work with all of those. It's very very complex the the arena room which you're working I think you wanted to jump in have you? Yeah, this is a very important point that you raised. First of all, let's think this way Do we have any other alternative to the state or to the government? How long can the international community Engage there if you do not work with the governments or if you do not work with the state institutions Is it affordable to continue funding or delivering these services through? Any other alternative means like parallel institutions or NGOs which are extremely extremely expensive So we don't have any other option We have to find out the way and then there is one element in the new deal Which is called the compact and it has worked in so many countries in Somalia in Afghanistan You know, it provides a platform where you can agree on joint benchmarks of delivering on the state building agenda But what all we need is just to trust each other and to be again I would like to repeat that word that the international community has to be humble To listen and to understand or to accept those priorities Sometimes we take these concepts on the face value and we do not dig into it Or sometimes we copy, you know approaches from one places to the other places And it's an acceptable and accepted fact that you know contexts are different We have to we have to first of all assess or analyze what the context is Again, there's another element which we call fragility assessment in the new deal Which means that you have to measure or assess the fragility across the five peace building and state building goals And then see where the country lies and different country across, you know, the region they are in different stages Some countries have Comparatively stronger institutions, but then, you know, some other weak economy Some of them are just like countries which have not had the luxury of having state institutions for decades And then obviously they are fragile But it doesn't mean that you have to avoid and you raise a very good point ambassador that, you know, if you have to put them in front The the the tragedy with the aid system is that there is a kind of competition between the governments and the aid providers You know to establish that fragility or you know, in other terms, which is very common Is to win the hearts and minds of people which doesn't work So we have to accept that these are the state institutions which have to win the hearts and minds of people And I think in part because if they don't that's where extremist groups find a vacuum to to enter and sometimes provide basic Services themselves that government would otherwise provide Yeah, this is this is I mean, this is very True in Somalia in afghanistan in other parts of the of african one of the reasons that they have established the legitimacy because they are They're they're providing services quicker than you know, the government and then the other tragedy I mean is that if you go to these countries when you speak what the governments have done Or you know all you can see is on the project is you know the donors sign boards From the people of xyz country and the government is missing At least if you put this ceremonially on on the lead People would see that the government is able or they are providing and then it's not like one thing the Yes corruption and all these cases are valid reasons or genuine, you know concerns But it's not as simple as we think you know aid is provided not as you know Like just it's not a check that is given to a minister that you know he or she can spend There are ways or there are mechanisms afghanistan is the biggest example again It was totally dependent on aid And you know we have had you know the budget Spending by the donors and there was a mechanism of accountability and it has worked and then corruption is Again, it's not only just within the government systems If you measure corruption in the aid which has been externally managed is much Larger than that which was channeled to the government system I think a lot of what you're saying there is very sensible and I see nodding heads on the panel I do want to underline that Two of the things you're talking about are quite hard You know you're asking the richest most powerful countries in the world to be humble against some of the poorest Least resource countries in the world and you're also asking political leaders Using taxpayer money to take more risk I think we've all been saying that on this panel and in prior panels as well But I just want to underline how truly challenging those asks are I think lorica wants to jump in Let's hear from you and then sam No, and I was also nodding because I do believe that taxpayers or constituencies actually are wise enough if we have an honest conversation based on the decades of experiences what actually works And how we can get long-term more sustainable results working with local ownership and uindp and the other unages But also the world bank if we talk about the multilateral institutions many times lend our support and actually We become the government function I mean afghanistan is is I think one critical example where I know that there is also criticism on behalf of the afghan government in relation to the world bank not perhaps Lending the support towards what actually needs to become Local ownership at the end, but then of course this also depends on The shareholders of the world bank or the member states and the donors also within the un system to actually We do have experience enough and and evidence enough And I also wanted to say that while I do think that we need to look for results Of course, we need to see that there's a contradiction taking risk and planning for results And there are as also these reports suggest different ways of planning for results in an adaptive Manor and also then being able to report that and just Last I I think that we should also look towards the international frameworks that we have G7 framework being one of them, but also of course the goal 16 of the sustainable development goals internationally Negotiated it was the toughest goal to get because it contains governance goal on governance on rule of law, but also how to build peace in a Way that sustains peace But it is there and I think it is a false assumption to actually believe that the There are western donor countries that wants this while it wouldn't be wished even though we see a shrinking space in many countries We see as many actors actually Understands the importance of rule of law and governance in order to to build sustainable and then prosperous societies So I'm gonna go to sam, but we're about to go to questions as soon as we hear briefly from sam So please get your questions ready So I think I'll as the NGO person I'll bring in the private sector a little bit here because I think we have to play to the strengths of all actors there need to be resources to local government to central government to the capacity of a state to govern and organize itself there need to be resources Through civil society with society for civil society have a voice And to express voices of people and then the private sector as a generator of jobs How do you generate those jobs and how do you bring in that capital? And we've had an interesting conversation with the us NGOs and Institutions bringing in risk capital into fragile environments is how can one facilitate Or accelerate that capital coming into these environments or foreign direct investment And is there a role that foundations? NGOs could play or that large donors can play in mitigating risk of bringing capital to these environments So I think we have to look at all the different players the different strengths They bring together and that is the complexity of what we're looking at here There is not a government solution to this Or just a business solution or civil society You need all these actors together playing to their strengths and our challenge is is then as donors as people And different environments is again back to like your point Do we have the humility to recognize ultimately that the solution is local on all three of these points? Yeah, in some ways the current model is the riskiest model we could have Right where donors have to does it say we understand the problem We design the solution we go and execute and implement it in some ways That's actually a lot riskier than finding new modalities to just mitigate some risk and allow private players to operate Operate there. I see a couple hands already. I think there's are there microphones to go around. I think they are coming Yes Maybe not. Oh, they're they're it's coming.  Okay, it's on microphone is on its way to I think the fourth row there. We'll start. Yeah, we'll start right here Thank you. Uh, my name is homera Khan from muslihom This report actually recommends starting a new partnership development fund multilateral And yet we know there one already exists and in the previous panel Alina Romanosky actually mentioned it the global community engagement and resilience fund and uk is one of the donors into it It's a swiss foundation and switzerland is one of the very generous donors into it So I guess I'm asking would you recommend actually starting for something which Several of the governments have been investing in for the past five years. Do you ditch it and start something new? Um, is there something which you would want to adjust it restructure it or what would actually make That this new thing potentially succeed if the idea is that the existing prevention efforts are not working That's a great question. No matter. I was going to take a few at a time But that's such a good one. Let's let's actually dig into it for a moment if we can and maybe I can go to you ambassador martin Martin if you could give us a sense of Why that particular fund has not taken off In the way, maybe we had hoped it would I think that was part of the conversation in the last panel And whether or not it makes sense to really launch something new or try to Use something that exists today so I Don't The fund didn't take off as we expected But what we could see from the projects that are run is that they produced the results We wanted and it's perhaps rather a political hesitation why it could not be widened more Than Than it is actually and I still think it's It's a right approach and their approach is very similar to what is proposed in the report here Any other thoughts about that from this from the from the panel either about the existing fund or How we can make a fund there seem to be a lot of earlier consensus that we need a fund of this kind So what do we have to do to actually get to the point where it might exist? Go ahead orica No, I was just saying there are more funds as well You have the peace building fund of of the un and and of course UNDP would be one of the agencies where we work and you have the world bank here also in the previous So there are several existing funds And I do think it is a good to see and perhaps do a mapping of these kind of initiatives We would know that it's easier to start up something than to close it down But of course if that could be some coordination And I think that there is also Between these different funds we could perhaps improve but then of course the political initiative is important So that's many times also the reason why we start up new initiatives and and maybe it's a matter of packaging And how to make something out of what we already have To showcase that there are countries really taking this seriously in the challenge in times that we have I have another remark. I mean we are dealing here With something where we cannot have template solutions We need to be aware of this and rightly the report points out that analysis Is extremely important when working in In in fragile Context and so what I think is to if Further funds should be developed The existing experience should be analyzed and one should be really aware of that you cannot have something one side fits all So we are not there and this is a difference for instance to Traditional development corporation where you know how to run a vaccination program It's something completely different So getting to this point. Yes, there is not a template of implementation that we all agree on So there's that challenge right there This report is interesting and the idea of a fund is interesting because it really isn't also many ways addressed to the united states How do we look at prevention differently? How does how do the different actors here get organized around an idea of prevention? How does congress invested it and so forth? And that's where I think this point of this but need to be political space to create a new fund And then that new fund should it be created needs to look at other experiences out there to move on it But there is this political dimension And practical dimension of how do we shift? Under the leadership usip and its ideas coming into this the concept of where prevention fits into What has been more traditional us approaches and I think that's the shift that needs to happen You're getting that political support from the us is the key And maybe there could be a fund of funds where some of these are coming under as you would as you see in the finance world Go ahead and master corner. Thank you. Um, yeah I mean there are already a number of funds in this area But you know and we we have our own bilateral fund as well I mean the uk has a conflicts stability and security fund. That's 1.7 billion dollars a year But you know, so I think we're well used to working together I think one of the the strong messages from This report is actually about building partnerships And and so I think I think the coordination will flow. We're sort of fairly good at that these days But I think you know if it helps to bring more actors in if it helps to You know sort of to drive that that buy in if you like then they can only be for the good Well, especially if it can help us to get that long-term funding That doesn't just work on a political cycle or an emergency cycle But that you can count on given that the efforts we're talking about are very long range And maybe relatively small in dollar amounts But our long range just just to jump in and put a plug in for the global fragility act because this is where Congress comes in this comes with a frame to act on this and the importance of the alignment of congress of the administration And making this something that is legislated and not a one-off activity And that's where I think the that we may see the political momentum at least in the us context To shift some of thinking that will be influenced by this report. Good point I think we have a few more questions. We'll take two or three at a time There's one in the very back and then I saw one up here. I thought maybe yes If you have one go ahead. Just give us your your name and organization Eric grows in with the prevention project and brookings On g-surf as someone who was involved in helping set it up. I think it Lends itself very nicely to everything that was described in the report and I would just Echo humera's questions and which were seemed to be more rhetorical than actual questions But I think the larger issue is and I some of the panelists have alluded to it is this desire for always something new and the desire to Essentially to reinvent the wheel and it's not just in terms of The funds that exist out there including g-surf But it's also all the different sort of youth focused programs that have been stood up In different contexts all kind of around dealing with fragility all kind of around dealing with prevention multiple donors funding in the same space single donors Funding in the same space through multiple funding streams in that donor capital and a reluctance to actually Change behavior Even when there's a sort of a high political imperative to do so. So my question is Why is this different? Why is This report going to produce the kind of structural behavioral changes among not among local actors Not among host governments, but among donors That no previous reports, whether it's the world bank, whether it's the u.n. Whether it's o.h.c.d Have whether it's the united states European union have been able to do what is different about this report If anything Thanks for that question great question. Again, I think there's one here. Go ahead, please Okay, is there is there another question if not then I can ask I think you're on Okay This Sufi lagari with the sindhi foundation Some NGOs are not extremist organization is different scenario, but organization like jayshay muhammad Masoud azar who's extremist and most wanted men And but always china veto in united nation I don't know how this panel response or what can be u.s or u.n or other Steps can take it to prevent the extremism and terrorism Person like masoud azar and that is I think is totally state sponsored by some country china is also trying to Prevent, you know Simply okay. Thank you. Was there one more question? This is your chance Okay, we'll we'll go with these two and maybe we can start with eric's first Because it really is a pointed question And and essentially why what he's asking is, you know, if I can even expand his question a little bit We've been talking in the panel already that the international architecture isn't really fit for purpose There's urgency. We understand the number of terrorist incidents have grown the number of members of terrorist groups have grown There are many countries facing fragility challenges There's lots of money being spent in a way, but the organization of it isn't quite right So Why now are we going to actually shift if we're not fit for purpose to this point? What will what will make us actually move? I'll dive in first This report is a continuation of a conversation that will keep on happening and repeating itself in the challenge that we need We're looking for a sort of short-term immediate solution because it's an imperative to have that With an inherently long-term complex problem in front of us And as learning happens along the way there are we need to focus often on time on areas That require more attention and the focus on prevention as a reminder of that This is ultimately going to work better through a focus on prevention if you want to mitigate the problem I think that is a value added at this point in time of the conversation That doesn't mean that five years from now 10 years may not be another report on prevention to do this Because we tend to run towards where there's the quick need to act But not on how do we take the long-term view of Trying to take on some of these challenges that are going to be difficult to address So I think the report is very timely because I'm concerned that we see actually a downward trend With regard to quality of aid or international development cooperation with more fragmentation Even though we actually should know much more all the studies over the decades have taught us that we need to do it differently So I think it's a very good reminder to Member states of the u.m. But also the donor countries that we need to work differently and that we do have the experience on how to do it Eric pointed out some examples where there are there is more fragmentation new youth programs being being stood up There are political imperatives for doing that in many donor capitals around the world But as you say we know better at this point We know better and I also think that The taxpayers or the constituencies as I said before they would actually want us to work more efficiently And not in a fragmented way Putting up different flags if that is not really getting us the results that the investment should get Yeah, thank you. Um, I mean, I think you know Extremism is changing all the time and our Knowledge of what works and how best to respond to it is also changing and evolving and and I think we have to See this as you know this report as part of that discussion about how best do we respond to it? and I think it's You know, it's got a huge amount of value Because of that because it is it's looking at the problem in 2019 It's looking at it with all the lessons that we've learned about what works What hasn't worked so well and how best do we address it and how best do we bring all the actors on board? So I think it it definitely fulfills a An important space in this in this discussion Go ahead. Happy. Um, I think I mean, let's let's just introduce some sense of optimism here We're optimistic about it because we think that it's a great report and the Recommendations are reflective of what I mentioned the new deal So for us, it's very, you know, it's very good. And I hope that you know It will change the policy discourse here in the united states Which will definitely, you know, get a lot of followers on the international community And the second point that I also want to mention regarding the implementation of the recommendations You know, we we have this term the left behind Our country is not only the people but even our countries are left behind On on the global discourse when it comes to addressing fragility and I think this the The new deal and also the g7 plus with together with the international dialogue is a good platform to bring the voices of these countries We were always at the receiving end And you know, when you are in the receiving end, you don't have much say to add But I think this has changed that shift and we have offered this already I mean Based on our conversation that we will be happy to bring those experiences from the countries And speaking of humbleness. I mean, there is always ways to learn from our from our experiences, you know Yes, we are We are called fragile, but we know we have we have we have lived in fragility and we might bring a better perspective So I think in terms of recommendation It would be great to create that kind of, you know platform where there's a dialogue And one last point on the trust fund or the the funding mechanism We also have been advocating for, you know Creating a global trust fund for private sector development in these countries Because private sector is always, you know, they they are scared. They don't go to these countries But if we create that kind of funding where, you know, you can pool the The the money and you know where you can bring the willing investors to go in in western these countries I think that can also be a big part of the prevention agenda because, you know It will create jobs. It will create livelihoods and people have better alternatives to live there. Thank you And Ambassador Hindant, I wonder if you could in part as you address the question Also for address the question from our colleague at the the Cindy foundation, you know, the geopolitics around this is complicated There are violent extremist groups that are out there that may be supported by state sponsors And it becomes very complicated at the un or other multilateral for to address those How do you see that challenge as well as the broader debate here as we as we close up our session? Of course, we cannot break everything down on the project and the program level In countries that are affected by fragility and as I mentioned before I see a strong role in multilateral institutions like the united nations to address those issues I mean, I know this is quite this is quite difficult national interests of different countries are involved But I think in the multilateral framework It is the only place where we can create a common definition of the problem A common Perception and then of course also common approaches. I believe in this even so it has failed many times and will continue to fail Yes, it's it's almost like the churchillian quote about democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others What else can we do but continue to try to work through multilateral fora? I do hope that as you leave the session today You you take away a couple of things one is there is a lot of urgency around this topic And we very quickly get into technocratic issues about how to organize ourselves rightly so that's where a lot of the action is But we shouldn't forget the urgency That that the world is shifting very quickly the facts are changing on the ground and I think this report I hope brings very clear and makes that point very clearly, especially in the u.s. Congress to our executive branch That we have to take action now Whether it is using existing mechanisms or standing up new ones Something different has to be done today If we want to change the trajectory of the future The report I think is worth reading if you haven't had a read it's worth doing that But I think almost more important is the narrative that it is pushing out that we can all adopt and take forward The idea that there has been a real shift Many people I talked to about development still use terms like the third world right that was a mental model That took decades to get over and now people still talk about developed countries and developing countries We are in a different time the world is much more complex than that And I think this idea that we don't combat terrorism by combating terrorists We focus on the environments. We focus on the countries. We focus on much broader challenges In key geographies around the world if we can change that mental model, which I think this report Really does a great job of putting a case out there to do it We can really make real progress So I want to congratulate the u.s. Institute of peace Nancy lindworth your whole team all the task force members who created the report and thank all of you for being Part of this today. Thank you


Hi friends! Welcome to Preschool Storytime with the Long Beach Public Library. I'm Ms. Shayna and today we're going to sing a song called Let's Collab Our Hands Together by Hap Palmer. There is a part of this song where I tell you to reach high, high, high, stretching for the sky. Can you do that? Can you stretch for the sky? Good. I'm going to need you to remember to do that part because my hands will be busy playing the world's tiniest guitar. Okay? Let's clap our hands together. People everywhere. Clap our hands together with the love that we can share. Clap our hands together. Just stand up and try and reach high. Let's bounce and shake together. People everywhere. Bounce and shake together. Bounce and shake together. Just stand up and try. Then reach high. This verse we're going to get really silly, okay? We're going to hop like little bunnies and we're going to freeze. So you can't move, okay? Freeze like your ice. Here we go. Let's hop and freeze together. People everywhere. Let's hop and freeze together with the love. Then reach high. Okay, last verse. Let's spin and stand up and try. Then reach high. Thank you. Wow, that's a heavy story time basket. What's that? There's a very special treat inside. Oh boy, I can't wait. Thank you, Storytime Fairy. Let's see what's inside. I can't wait. A measuring cup full of sugar, a cup of flour, pound ginger. They seem like ingredients to make something. There's still something in here. Look what it is. A cookie. I get it. These are the ingredients you use to bake gingerbread cookies. That must be what Storytime is about today. That reminds me of one of my favorite rimes where you get to pretend you're making gingerbread men. Okay, let's do the rhyme. For this rhyme, we're going to need to pretend we're holding a big, big pot, big bowl, and we're going to stir like this, okay? And we're going to need to get out our rolling pins and roll the dough. Good. And then we're going to get our cookie cutter and cut out little gingerbread men, okay? And then we're going to put it in the oven and look at our watch and wait for them to bake. Goes like this. Stir a bowl of gingerbread smooth and spicy brown. Roll it with the rolling pin up and up and down with a cookie cutter. We'll make some little men. Then put them in the oven till half past 10. Very good. Let's try that again. Stir a bowl of gingerbread smooth and spicy brown. Roll it with a rolling pin up and up and down with a cookie cutter. Make some little men. Then put them in the oven till half. Very good. Our first story today is called the gingerbread man. This version was retold by Eric Kimmel and illustrated by Megan Lloyd, the gingerbread man.  First they mixed up the dough. Then they rolled it out on the table. Then they cut the dough into the shape of a gingerbread man. The old woman and the old man put the gingerbread man in the oven to bake. He baked for a good long time. When he was done, the old woman and the old man let him cool a little.  As soon as they put on the last peppermint button, up jumped the gingerbread man. To their surprise, he leaped off the table and ran out the door. Back gingerbread man, come back, the old woman and the old man called as they ran after him. But the gingerbread man ran faster. I'll run and run and run as fast as I can. You can't catch me. I'm the gingerbread man. Off he goes. Down the road ran the gingerbread man. He ran past the pigsty where the old sow lay. Slow down, gingerbread man. I want to talk to you. The old sow oinked and she started running after the gingerbread man. But the gingerbread man ran faster. I'll run and run as fast as I can. You can't catch me. I'm the gingerbread man. I ran from the woman. I ran from the man. I'll run from you. See if I can. Down the road ran the gingerbread man. He ran past the dog house. The dog wagged his tail. Slow down, gingerbread man. I want to talk to you. The dog barked and he started running after the gingerbread man. But the gingerbread man ran faster. I'll run and run as fast as I can. You can't catch me. I'm the gingerbread man. I ran from the woman. I ran from the man. I'll run from you. See if I can. Down the road ran the gingerbread man. He ran past the pasture where the horse and the cow stood grazing. The horse neighed. The cow mooed. Slow down, gingerbread man. We want to talk to you. And they started running after the gingerbread man. But the gingerbread man ran faster. I'll run and run as fast as I can. You can't catch me. I'm the gingerbread man. I ran from the woman. I ran from the man. I'll run from you. See if I can. Down the road ran the gingerbread man with the horse and the cow and the dog and the sow. The old woman and the old man running behind him. The gingerbread man ran and ran until he came to the river. There he stopped wondering what to do. Hello, gingerbread man. The boy said. The gingerbread man cried. I'll run and run as fast as I can. You can't catch me. I'm the gingerbread man. I ran from the horse. I ran from the cow. I ran from the dog. I ran from the sow. I ran from the woman. I ran from the man. I'll run from you. See if I can. The fox chuckled. Why, gingerbread man, you don't have to run from me. I am your friend. I want to help you. Hmm, look at gingerbread man's face. He doesn't seem very sure about Mr. Fox, huh? How can you help me, the gingerbread man, asked the fox? Hop on my tail, the sly fox said. I will carry you across the river. He'll be safe on the other side. The gingerbread man hopped on the fox's tail. The fox jumped in the river and started swimming across. Oh, I'm getting nervous. Gingerbread man, the water is rising. Hop on my back so your feet don't get wet, the fox called out. The gingerbread man hopped on the fox's back and the fox swam on. After a while, the fox said, gingerbread man, the water is still rising. Hop on my head so your feet don't get wet. The gingerbread man hopped on the fox's head. The fox swam on. After a while, the fox said again, gingerbread man, the water is still rising. Hop on my snout so your feet don't get wet. The gingerbread man hopped on the fox's snout, but no sooner had he done that than the fox threw back his head and snapped up the gingerbread man in one bite.  For that wasn't the end of the gingerbread man. The gingerbread man has gone away, but he'll be back some other day. For gingerbread men return, it said, when someone bakes some gingerbread. The end. Just the other day, I was baking some gingerbread and I had an idea. I would make my favorite storybook character. Do you recognize who that is? It's Pete the gingerbread cat. That's right. Ooh, he looks so delicious. But something's missing. I know. How about some gumdrop buttons? We could give him a purple one. And an orange one. Maybe a green one. And how about a pink one? How many gumdrop buttons does Pete have? One, two, three, four. That's right. Can you show me four on your hand? Good. Gingerbread loved his buttons so much, he sang a song. My buttons, my buttons, I love my gumdrop buttons. I'm a little hungry. I think I'm gonna take just one. Did ginger Pete cry? Goodness, no. Gumdrop buttons come and gumdrop buttons go. And even though Pete had one, two, three gumdrop buttons now, he kept walking along and singing his song. My buttons, my buttons, I love my gumdrop buttons. I think I'll take one more. Did ginger Pete cry? Goodness, no. Gumdrop buttons come and gumdrop buttons go. Or get eaten. And even though he only had one, two gumdrop buttons, he kept walking along and singing his song. My buttons, my buttons, I love my gumdrop buttons. Did Pete cry? Goodness, no. Gumdrop buttons come and gumdrop buttons go. And even though he only had one gumdrop button, he kept walking along and singing his song. My buttons, my buttons, I love my gumdrop buttons. Did ginger Pete cry? He sure seems awfully sad. I have an idea ginger Pete. I'll give you some real buttons. How about an orange one and a pink one and a blue one. Ginger Pete loved his new button so much he sang a different song. My buttons, my buttons, I love my plastic buttons. The end. Now I want to share with you one of my favorite pop-up books. It's called Cookie Count, A Tasty Pop-Up by Robert Sabuda. Let's count the cookies together, shall we? And look out for the little mice. One chocolate chip cookie left unaware. One.  Two coconut kisses to share. One, two, three twirling pinwheels to munch. One, two, three, four peanut butter cookies that crunch. One, two, three, four, five fortune cookies wrapped tight. One, two, three, four, five, six stained glass cookies so bright. One, two, three, four. Wait, they're supposed to be six. Six. There it is. Seven lins or hearts divine. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight sugar cookies that shine. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. Nine Madeleines fit for a king. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. Gingerbread windows. Uh-oh. That happens sometimes with pop-up books. There we go. Ten gingerbread windows for hiding. Look at that. The end. This flannel board rhyme is called Five Little Gingerbread Lying on a Trey. Let's count the gingerbread. One, two. Oh, they're so cute and delicious-looking, huh? Five Little Gingerbread Lying on a Trey. One jumped up and ran away. Shouting, catch me, catch me, catch me if you can. I'm really quick. I'm the gingerbread man.  One jumped up and shouting, catch me, catch me, catch me if you can. I'm really quick. I'm the gingerbread. There's one, two, three little gingerbread lying on a tray. One jumped up. Catch me, catch me if you can. I'm really quick. I'm the gingerbread man.  One jumped up. Catch me if you can. I'm really quick. I'm the gingerbread. Have one.  He jumped up. Catch me, catch me, catch me if you can. I'm really quick. I'm the gingerbread man. No more gingerbread lying on a tray. They all jumped up and ran away. Oh, how I wish they stayed with me to play.  Thank you for joining me, friends. I had so much fun sharing gingerbread stories with you. Happy holidays, and I'll see you next time.


What's going on everybody? Welcome back to a breaking news story and we have more players that are pulled out of the French Open on the men and the women's side and there's some big names that we're actually contenders going into the French Open which is happening next week. Let's go over and look at the list. Starting with the ATP, we have Balash, he's pulled out, Chorich, Edmund, Kyrios, Hospicell's also pulled out, Dennis Chappavallib has pulled out with a shoulder injury which is probably the biggest shock on the men's side considering how good he had been on the clay in 2021 and he just made the Geneva final last week so he's out of the French Open and Stan Vavrinco is also missing the event for 2021. Having a look at the women that are pulled out of the French Open, we have Flipkins, she's pulled out, Simone Hallop is pulled out which is another big one pulled out with a left calf injury and she is always a serious contender at any slam especially the French Open so she's not going to be playing. Sam Stoes is pulled out, Strickerv is pulled out and Yastremska is also pulled out because she is still on a provisional suspension. So there you have it, they are the names that have pulled out of the French Open like I said, big names like Chappavallib. He's had a great season, almost beat Rafa in Rome a couple of weeks ago and Hallop of course, she's always a contender. World number three, she's the most high profile player not to be playing the French Open but there are some players that are under injury clouds, Ash Barty. She was injured a couple of weeks ago, Bianca Andrescu also pulled out last week from a tournament with injury as well so we're going to wait and see with those players but there are some big names that are not playing but we have the big names that are playing so the top ten of the men, they're all playing and besides Hallop, the top ten of the women are also on the cards and ready to play but let me know down in the comments below who are you most excited to be watching at the French Open because like I said we've got a couple of players that aren't playing but there are big names that are playing so let me know down in the comments below who do you think is going to win the French Open and who are you most excited to watch. So the French Open, it's only a couple of days away but it's going to be missing some key players.