seeing the trees

We decided to have a weekend away, to make the most of our winter, and to enjoy a few (cold) days by the sea. Great small town, fantastic accommodation, even better company and lots of red wine made for an excellent time.

Apollo Bay sits on the southwest coast of Victoria and at the edge of the Otway Ranges, it has an abundance of breathtaking scenery and natural beauty. We took the opportunity to do a walk through a surviving remnant of beech myrtle forest. The Otway Fly, a tree canopy walk, many meters above the forest floor also provided a chance (especially for me-very scared of heights) to see things from another perspective.

Without knowing it, we had left the best until last. A small group of Californian Redwoods planted in the middle of nowhere, now 68 years old. Beautiful, alien trees rising out of the bush as we rounded a bend in the road. Even now, two weeks later, I find it hard to describe these magnificent trees and what it was like to walk amongst them.

My place in the world seemed suddenly very small and insignificant.

A new start

A friend has left her partner, after twenty years.

'A hard decision?' No, she replied. 'Any doubts?' None at all she said.

She looks rejuvenated, literally like a weight has dropped from her shoulders, and is happy again regaining control over her own life. A transformation almost.

Abuse can take many different forms, be it subtle or aggressive, but it always has an extremely negative outcome for the victim. The evidence of a lowered self-esteem was there to see if you looked. Comfort eating,mood swings, excessive alcohol consumption, prescribed substance abuse and later, diagnosed depression all pointed to something very wrong. Yet no-one asked the hard question 'Why'?

As friends should we barge in, or should we be quietly supportive and wait until they are ready to take action? Could we really change events or is it up to the person to make those choices when they are strong enough to take charge themselves?

We seem, these days(even with our friends) to keep people at arms length. Have we, as a society, always been like this or is this a recent change? If the situation had worsened for my friend would anyone have intervened?

I like to think that someone would have.

Wardrobe Refashion

Sometimes there is an opportunity to put your 'money' where your mouth is and I have found something fun(maybe) and environmentally conscious to participate in. I say maybe because I have taken the pledge for six months and could be very a long time when you realise what I have signed on for!!!

Wardrobe Refashion is about taking a pledge for 2,4 or 6 months not to buy any new clothing(except underwear and work clothes). It allows for the purchase of preloved, handmade or renovated items. You also have a 'get out of jail card' so you can indulge in something new every two months. I have always been fairly conservative in my clothes shopping, buying classic pieces and supplementing these with cheaper in-season items but I have become more disillusioned with 'store bought' over the last few years and I can never find what I want.

Wish me luck!!!!!

Grumpy old ......

People appear in your life in many shapes and sizes, differing opinions and orientations. I believe that every person can add something to your life in some form or another.

I work with people all day within a small community and this theory has been proven time and again, often by only a few words uttered between 'Good Morning' and 'See you next week'.

After nearly twenty years no-one has been able to disprove my pet theory - until recently.
I will spare you you the details, there is little to say, except that I have never met anyone that I wanted to scream 'do something,anything!!!!!!' to before.Maybe my theory should be expanded to include that there a few people are here only to infuriate, annoy and frustrate others.

As I tested my new theory, my husband in his eternal wisdom, said only ' why do you think I call you a grumpy old ...'

See we have all learnt something today.............

New friends?

I sit here, with the roar of conversation all around, these are my husbands friends not (yet) mine.

Discussions of many things take place, again proving that (just about) everyone has something worth listening to if you take the time. The ride, the accident,the purchase of new bikes, and the planned weekend away are all examined over the first cups of coffee.

As the breakfast continues the noise reduces to a pleasant hum and the topics shift to the more intimate ones of marriage, relationships, children and friends. These conversations take place quietly, generally with kindness and sympathy.

I am glad that I made the effort to be here today.

a dog's day

I have a dog, an old grey smelly dog.

He is gentle and kind and quiet.

A comfortable place to sleep, someone to sit near and the occasional treat is all that is needed to make him happy. Gone are the days of persecuting our two cats or running around the backyard all day or barking at crows.

He is asleep at my feet now, content in his old age, just to wait for dinner.

A good day for Mums

Today is Mothers Day, and in years past, this was a day to celebrate motherhood (and all that implies). A day simply to remind us to say 'thank you' to our mums.

As with all special days found on our calendar, it has now become a mixture of rampant consumerism and commercially driven guilt. Bigger is better, the larger and more expensive present seems to be what is important.

I think that for most mums what they really want is someone to genuinely and sincerely say 'I love you', once in a while.........

.........and maybe not just on Mothers Day.