Squeaky Beach
Darin and I went to the Prom today. Tidal River was bursting at the seams with people so we decided after lunch to head to Squeaky Beach. There is a carpark there now. Last time I went there I had to walk from Tidal River. It was gorgeous. White, squeaky sand and blue water that looked unreal. It was a bit chilly for a swim today so we had a little play in the waves, really only getting our feet wet. We lay on the beach for a couple of hours reading. I started the Coco Chanel biography I got for Christmas from Darin. It’s great. It tells a different story to the film I watched. I was rapt he remembered how interested I was in her.
Popularity: 10% [?]
Afternoon Walk
After school today we went for a walk down the street. I love afternoons like this. The rain we’ve had has made the creek alive and the grass green and the afternoon lights it up.
We came across a bewildered traveller from Korea (can’t remember whether it was North or South). He was looking for a town 30 minutes drive away, standing on the edge of the highway. We explained to him that he couldn’t walk there and pointed him toward the railway station. I gave him my phone number in case he was stranded.
The afternoon sunlight was beautiful and the walk along the creek, even with the magpies threatening to swoop, was the highlight of my busy day.
Popularity: 5% [?]
Monday
When I was on camp last week I changed my alarm from 6.00 to 7.30. I didn’t want to wake the kids up that early! Thursday and Friday mornings I woke up by myself before the alarm was needed, so I didn’t really bother to change it. This morning though, when the alarm woke me, the rush began.
I had an excursion today to Tarra Bulga National Park. I hadn’t prepared the night before because I was tired. So I was in a big rush. I had to get lunch to take with me and I missed breakfast because I simply didn’t have time. It’s was so busy with camp last week that I hadn’t prepared properly for the excursion and had left it till this morning.
I arrived in morning briefing just on time and waited for someone to start before being told that it was me. My turn had come up to chair the meeting. After giving the staff their usual 30 seconds to read the bulletin, I launched into a conversation with another teacher about the day ahead and had to be interupted to be reminded that everyone was waiting for me to continue.
Despite my disorganised beginning, the excursion, which had been very well prepared and planned by the teachers who had organised it, went off without a hitch. I work with some great people.
The trip to Tarra Bulga revealed to me the extent of our local bushfires. It was a horrifying sight and the bus driver who lives out that way took us down his street to show us the rebuilding. He said that 40 % of the people whose homes burnt down won’t be returning. The ones who were have new homes well underway.
The park itself was still as I remember it from my trip with Andrew years ago. The kids enjoyed the day and learnt a lot. I was surprised that although it is less than an hour away from where we live only a small number of students had visited before. It is a beautiful place. The air is different.
Popularity: 6% [?]
Home Again
It was beautiful weather at Tamboritha. The creeks were full and flowing with the melted snow. We walked to Thomastown on the first day. The water was freezing, not that I wet more than my feet. It was numbing.
I rode the horses morning and afternoon on Tuesday. We rode through the bush and along the creek on the plains in front of the hut. It was sunny and the air was crisp. They were perfect conditions. I was at the back of the line so I missed a lot of the little thrills experienced by the kids, they certainly shared them that night in the huts in front of the fire. I laughed till tears rolled down my face and my stomach hurt. It still brings a chuckle thinking of some of the reactions of the students to their first horse ride.
The night sky was clear and there was no moon on Monday night giving the stars the best opportunity to show themselves. I felt really lucky to enjoy such a view. The second night the small sliver of a moon and the lightest clouds gave a different view, no less enjoyable.
I am so glad to be back from camp. I’m tired. I love being home and I missed Darin. It was probably the longest length of time we’ve been apart since we met! My parents are home from their Winter nomading and it was great to see their tanned faces again. Knowing it was possibly my last year 9 camp at Tamboritha, I appreciated the environment and the conditions have never been better.
Popularity: 7% [?]
9 Holes
Yesterday we went to Cowes for a drive. It was really sunny when we left home and my clothing reflected this. Once I arrived I needed to buy a pair of warm pants because my skirt just wasn’t keeping the wind out. I love the emergency purchase. We checked out some real estate that we’d seen online. It was less than we’d hoped, but it was still interesting to see what was available.
I spent quite a few years holidaying at Cowes with my family as a teenager. I had never been to Rhyll, so we drove there and I had a look. We also drove around San Remo, there are some amazing views in that part of the world, but no fish and chip shop was open, what’s with that?
We got back home mid afternoon and it was sunny and bright. Darin suggested 9 holes of golf. I haven’t played golf for nearly 20 years, except on the Wii! It was a perfect afternoon for it and I enjoyed it a lot. He is very patient and helpful to play golf with, it was actually more fun than I had expected.
Sitting out on the balcony having a beer, the late afternoon light and shadows over the golf course was tranquil and I was happy about the way I’d spent the second day of my holidays.
Popularity: 7% [?]
Class Clown
One of the sights that really made me smile whilst I was away was a group of statues in the front yard of the Bayview Christian College in Portland. They created a wonderful vibe and I am curious to know what that school is like. It’s architecture really captured my imagination. The jester as shown in the photo below would represent a common archetype found in schools. One that ought to be celebrated, yet is often met with exasperation.
Popularity: 8% [?]
Driving to Work
My drive to work used to take about 5 minutes at most through the main street, a couple roundabouts and one set of traffic lights. It was a brief couple of moments to compose myself for my day and a quick transition from work to home at the end of the day.
Now I take 20 minutes to get to work. The drive is into the sun at both ends of the work day. I love it. That is a real chunk of time to think through the day ahead and let go of the day that’s been.
There are alternative routes. This morning I took the windy road as I had a little time up my sleeve. I don’t think it took much longer. It was a picturesque start to the day. The speed limit is 110 most of the way, so it’s enjoyable coasting along the road.
I listen to my music. I am making CD’s of my current favourites, knowing I will have the time to enjoy because of the drive. I have a lot of music that I don’t always have enough time to listen to. It’s lovely.
I also enjoy coming home to Darin. He makes me a coffee and we chat about our day. It’s better than I could believe.
Popularity: 8% [?]
What was the Hurry?
Co-habiting is often a rude shock in a relationship. I have no idea why I did it so quickly looking back on it all. Makes me feel like I was in a desperate, mad, rush or something. It was more like a perfect storm though. There were all these factors that made sense at the time. I have felt totally at ease with Darin from the minute I met him. I felt like I’d known him for years. I totally enjoy being around him. School holidays seemed like a good time to move. I’d already planned to move to my parents house about that time and rent my house out. He was moving to a new place and when we discussed it I really liked the idea.I’ve lived with people before and they had usually moved into my house.
That was pretty comfortable and easy for me looking back on it all. I always sensed though they never quite felt at home because I had already been living there and had ‘claimed the space’. So the chance for us both to move into a home together seemed like a smart move. It was weird though because I don’t own this house. It felt like a loss of power or control or something and I kept asking permission for each adjustment …. ‘Can I put that here?, Can I attach a full-length mirror to the bathroom door?’ Probably drove him crazy…. like men really care!
Naturally this kind of sudden change creates a lot of upheaval. Other changes to the plans such as Tom not leaving on his planned adventures due to other opportunities he wants to stick around for, meant it was not as I had envisioned it. I am glad now though. After visiting my old home with Tom living there as a trial for independent living in another state/country, I think it has provided us both with a baby step. I felt a bit of loss about not having Tom living with me, so I’m glad to be able to see him frequently, before he takes a bigger step. I also watched the housekeeping deteriorate to a scary level and then rise back up to better than I kept it myself most of the time. It was challenging not to nag about the mess as though it wasn’t his responsibility, or to not actually get in there and clean it up.
It has been a challenging school holidays for me in many ways, other issues have cropped up and at times I have really scratched my head and thought “What was I thinking?”. At the end of the day though I look at that strong, calm man and know I am beginning an adventure that I really want to have.
Here is a photo of the view from our outdoor space…. pretty sweet to me.
Popularity: 8% [?]
Pom Wonderful – Pomegranate Juice
As you know I love pomegranates. I like the smell, the flavour and the appearance of them. I even have skin cream with pomegranate in it. The people from Pom Wonderful recently delivered some of their 100% Pomegranate Juice to try and I am hooked. It is the most delicious juice I’ve yet to try. It’s sweet yet has a slight bitterness that I enjoy. The colour is just amazing.
I’ve been trying a few brands this summer because I find it really refreshing. This is by far the best I’ve enjoyed. Unfortunately it’s not available in my local supermarket, which is frustrating and hopefully will be corrected, but I’ll be looking out for it everywhere I go. ‘
It didn’t last long enough….
Popularity: 6% [?]
How Relaxed? Very Relaxed!
I went to Melbourne last night and visited Willy on the way to Asha’s. She is in a beautiful light, airy new home. I love seeing my friends in great homes. She is sharing the house with her beautiful daughter, Dallis and it will be great to catch up with them both at once in the future. I know they are going to love living there and there’s a pool and a spare bedroom, so I also know I am going to love staying there with them.
I got to the Camels Hump unfortunately after they’d turned the coffee machine off, but really who needs coffee at that late hour? I heard about the amusing Kev’s excellent adventure in Thailand as they packed up and waited for the lingering ones to leave. I slept at Asha’s so we could get to the radio station on time.
When we got to Nova 100 , the transport was late so we had a tour of the station. I don’t listen to the radio anymore, let alone Melbourne radio, so much of the excitement was lost on me, yet the people were warm, friendly, young and very upbeat. It was a happy environment, which I apprecitated.
The Aurora Spa Retreat was gorgeous. I had a deep tissue massage from Adamo that was the best ‘deep tissue’ massage I’ve ever had. I had a year of those kinds of massages at an earlier stage in my life and they were all pain. I decided I didn’t need that anymore, but clearly I was going to the wrong person. This guy was amazing, absolutely no pain, but the knots that had accumulated in my shoulders and neck were dealt with expertly. Then we had a meditation session, which was really effective. It was lucky we had lunch after that, which grounded me, or I probably would have been a hazard on the road due to being over relaxed. I managed to skillfully avoid the lovely photographer, but Asha got snapped.
It was a blissful day and when I got home this afternoon, I had a lovely long nap. All is well in the world.
Popularity: 8% [?]
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