Anyone fancy beers in Helsinki this weekend?

[Wombat]

I've always wondered why would she write this... and what should it mean?

I would interpret this as 'subtracting till my fingers dropped off or down'. I don't believe she was referring to Tasmania but rather its geographical location. Reading that I imagine a woman tapping her fingers repeatedly as she counts, until they literally fall off. It shows the lengths the woman was prepared to wait.

[Hank W.]

IIRC the deportation was 7 +7 so 14 years before the woman of the deported would have a chance of see the man returning (low probability) or then be able to buy her a passage. There is a good book I read on the history of the prison colony system. Really gruesome stuff in parts.

[Francis]

To understand what Emily is saying, you need to really understand the women's way of thinking (which I do)

Here's what it all really means:

If only centuries delayed,
- holy smokes, I'm starting to look old

I'd count them on my hand,
- how many anti-aging creams was that again?

Subtracting till my fingers dropped
- not enough it seems, I'm losing body parts

Into Van Diemen's land.
- straight to Stockmann's (used to be called Van Diemen)

So as you see, with the proper perspective, it all becomes really clear!

[Hank W.]

[Dara]

men!