It's a small world after all

I've had a few moments of small worlds lately. I have a follower here who's name didn't register as it might have. Then I got the loveliest email from Les. Touching base after way too many years, too many to mention really. Les and his lovely wife Annette lived at the beach on the Coromandel that was my soul place. The most beautiful beach in the world, even after all my travels it's tough to beat.

Les drove us unruly teenagers to school on a little mini bus through scorching heat when we all would rather have been at the beach; through storms that closed the roads during storm season; through those days when the road was metal and rutted, not like the highway it is today. He knew all of us well, I babysat their kids in that lovely A-frame wooden house on the corner.

There are stories of those long journeys to school and back, journeys that were the first hour plus of my days back then. It was a long way to school, it was a culture shock heading from the small school to high school in the small town an hour plus away.  I did lots of reading on those buses, scenery only holds interest so long with the daily commute when you're high school age.

There was the time that one of the younger girls bit into her egg and there were guests there. I'm shuddering just thinking about it. It's a story I tell when people are eating boiled eggs. There were times when we couldn't get to school because of the slips on the road ahead, barely getting home through the slippery rain. There were the times the surf was up, the beach too tempting. The smell and taste of the little red guavas on the the side of the road.

It's funny, I'm not one to go back there. I tend to live more in the now enjoying each day as it comes and saying yes to opportunities and adventures. It wasn't the easiest of times for so many reasons and tonight's email from Les took me back some years. In a good way. His words brought to mind this from Jim Carrey. Les and Annette are following their dreams, exploring their beautiful country in their retirement.


















And here's one of my beautiful place taken by Judy Drok Photography. There are plenty more on her website.

The weekend

A picture is worth a thousand words, well there was supposed to be photos but the iPad didn't want to help me do it. Oh well, may add them later. What an eventful weekend. Thursday was the Marriage of Figaro at the Opera House, the Sydney Opera House; Friday evening excitement with a Meetup; Saturday brunch at the market; Saturday night '80s party, dancing all night; and then there was Sunday.

The Sydney 12 meter club has restored Australia One, the original Bond Americas Cup challenger, and Sam and I got to sail on her on Sunday. It was fantastic, out down the harbour and out through the harbour heads. Fast once the wind picked up. A weekend to bottle,  might need a quiet one next weekend although there is a sail on offer then too.

And finally, the photo

Reflections

I've been in a reflective mood lately, counting my blessings and appreciating the space I find myself in. The space in all it's dimensions. Take today, well it started last evening after yoga. Samantha and I have bought a table at the Gangsters Ball next month and preparations have begun. Like getting a costume to wear. We Internet shopped last week and they arrived yesterday. The giggles started as we checked them out at work, we are beginning to get a little bit of a reputation there for enjoying ourselves fully.

Try ons followed dinner, hilariously the costumes all fitted. Skimpy and not covering enough but fitted us both. There will be no photos of that experience, suffice to say there was riotous laughter as the corset ribbons were tightened, the tulle arranged, shoes added. We both loved the sailor outfit most of all, we need a second one. My sparkly heeled, high high heeled, blue satin shoes worked perfectly. The pics shared today caused more work hilarity. Apparently we are the funny ones, good thing is we now have some colleagues keen to come to the ball too.

It's been a while since I've been where there is a ball season and I'm slightly regretting giving away my gold dress and some of those shoes. The gold one would fit again now, yoga and all this walking and healthy eating has me looking okay. Maybe I just need a new wardrobe, I know Sam will help. More about today, it was Abi's birthday last Friday and mine on the Monday so a team lunch was in order.

Macchiato Wood Fired Pizza Co has become a bit of a go to for me. Perfect Italian food, amazing desserts, banoffi pie mmmmm, and best of all, very best of all the perfect coffee. Dopio, double espresso. Perfect. And that's high praise from me. I have struggled a little getting the best coffee here. The weekend found me brunching at South End Cafe after a Friday out celebrating my birthday with cocktails and the very best Spanish tapas at Tapavino followed by some divine raisony sherry. Yes three lasses out drinking sherry on a chilly evening enjoying the best company.

So this has become a 'what I've been up to' that I've had very little spare time to write here, to write emails, to keep up with my social media. I'm very conscious that I owe emails, need to get some stuff done like sign pieces of paper that will end an era. Other pieces that will enable new beginnings. In a way this is procrastinating, thinking time.

Here are some of the promised reflections. Friends, I have found the best of friends here. The 'make new friends' of the poem. Through Meetups, at work, in my neighbourhood. Pleasant people, friendly in a way others told me Sydney might not be. Old friends, the ones I'll keep. The ones who write to me, make me laugh, don't mind if it's been a while between calls, comment on my comments and generally make me warm inside. The gold that sit nicely with the silver. Complimentary. Special.

Economies of scale. Well this reflection deserves it's own entry so I won't dwell too much now. Suffice to say that where there are many people, there are many amenities. Like my new yoga studio two minutes walk down the road. The place where I've been enjoying getting back into my most preferred activity. I think of Cayman Kim when I'm there, Monday yoga was our weekly get together. And my Al Ain yoga crew. Economies of scale that mean the city I live in has the very best public transport system too and so much to do. Like the going to the opera Marriage of Figaro on Thursday evening and hearing Louis de Bernieres speak next week.

Reflecting this evening as I wandered back from yoga on how I feel I've landed in the right place at the very right time doing the right thing. I've been published a few times in this new job and have another article brewing, due tomorrow. My work social media posts are popular too it seems. So all is well and truly well in my world. My lovely warm little home is still perfect and I enjoyed reading in the sun on Sunday. Noah and I talked on Sunday too. He had the funniest response when I showed him my view, it was almost snowing where he was.

"Wow grandma, where's that? Is it your place? Can I swim there? Can I come and visit?" He was very excited at the prospect of a visit, I am too. Photos will follow then.

In Cayman it was sunsets

In Sydney it's sunrises. I'm not sure if that's about the closing of old chapters and the beginning of new ones or if it just is because it is. The sun has always been my happy place, a home flooded with the rising of the sun ideal for me. Sydney has been very good to me so far, there's plenty to do like wandering along the coastal walkway from Bondi to Coogee. A lovely outing on an otherwise stay at home wet day. 

I sheltered at Bronte, coffee warming me while I waited for a break in the weather. The waves pounding the sand and crashing up against the rocks, spray filtering the air. Sea air, sharp with salt. I can see the attraction of living at these eastern beaches and may look there when my lease expires. For now the closeness to work and town win. That lovely morning when I can wander a variety of ways. Going out and being able to get home easily late at night. I do catch the train, I do wander through Kings Cross at night much to the horror of some locals I know. It's okay, really. I've wandered much worse places and been just fine.

Today Samantha and I ventured north to a new cafe her friend has opened, Maslow's. Her son is the most amazing chef, his food a work of art and the best coffee. This evening there's a Meet-up at Darling Harbour, it's a school night but a bit of dancing will be good for me. Meet-ups have been such a bonus, landing not really knowing anyone here and now having friends to hang out with on weekends. Like Celia. 

There's so much to write about! New things keep popping into my head as I write, disjointed and random adventures and discoveries. Like the recent breakfast at the Kings Cross market with my lovely Sydney family. Corn fritters, coffee, sun and the best company. Something I repeated this Saturday with quite different company. People watching, chatting, chilling on the sun. 

Next weekend I'm off to Brisbane on my first official outing in my new job. Attending a conference on Saturday and enjoying my Brisbane family on Sunday and Monday. Bonus. My new job is a writing job, preparing presentations, social media and web posts and writing articles for professional and other publications. Time to research built in. Presenting at conference and other fora expected from time to time. Does this sound like my perfect job, well yes it does. 

So best I get ready to salsa. Here are a few pics from my wanders. 

Wild water, he was wise to run

Sunrise sparkling on the water

Bondi

Risks

Taking a risk, is this a trait? In the eye of the beholder? Subjective. Dependent on our view of what risk really is for us. Is taking a risk born out of courage or foolishness? Out of knowledge or ignorance? Why are some so comfortable with risk, often not recognising the risk and only seeing the possibilities.

I took a risk recently, apparently. Others perceived it as a risk, I perceived it as a choice. The choice between two risks. Staying where I was or moving. Staying and always wondering. Going and always knowing. There's no risk in that for me, just choice. I came for a six month contract, a new job in a new country with a new organisation. I made a choice, less of a risk than taking a non contract position because there's an easy out. Not having to make the decision to leave if it doesn't work.

From my first day this choice has been the best choice. Time to get to know my gorgeous granddaughter. Time with family. A new home with an outstanding view and plenty of morning sun, a more forgiving climate and plenty to do in this big city. And best of all, my six month contract has turned into a more permanent role. One that was waiting for me to arrive. One that combines all my interests and passions, is flexible, working with an awesome team on a worthwhile project. Perfect. 

I don't take risks, I say yes to opportunities. I have GFA and that works out just fine for me.

The small stuff

The stuff that can drive you crazy, and is rather amusing. Like the ghost bus, the phantom bus as one of my fellow commuters dubbed it, the 311. Yes, talking at the bus stop is allowed when said bus does not turn up. It's been happening a bit lately. When it's there on the app then quietly greys out. No warning, just gone. Guess it's not coming then. While we waited one evneing, this lovely lady who works in the navy and I, the bus inspectors swarmed the stop.

No good, I shared with one of them. The ghost bus has gone off the radar again so you might need to choose another. Did I mention it was a chilly wet evening, not one to walk in my light coat, so we talked a bit about the weather. As the time drew out, the inspectors gave in and asked about the ghost bus. We regaled them with stories of our experiences. Much giggling from the very serious bus inspectors as we shared those 'being left there with no hope' stories.

It's funny, I've been a bit naughty at times when traveling and ridden the bus/train/tram without paying. Most of the time it hasn't been intentional like that time in Milan with Sandy or Rome with Di when the rules eluded me. I have been warned of inspectors throwing old ladies off the bus/tram/train. Since I've been in Sydney I've experienced them twice, both times riding legally. Once on the ferry and this time.

The next bus, not the ghost bus, came along and on we all hopped. It was hilarious, like party time on the bus. Strangers talking with each other as the inspectors checked the cards and tickets. The elderly gentleman sitting next to me shaking his head and saying he'd never seen such a thing in all his years of riding the bus. Our new friends waved good bye, promising to see if they can find that most ghostly of buses.

My stuff arrives on Saturday morning. I can't wait to lay down my precious carpets and hang my art and photographs. To make my little apartment more like home. The small stuff happened with the delivery of said goods. It seems that delivery is an issue. Not that I haven't paid for door to door, just that door to door means door to ground floor. So after a bit of grumpiness, I just had to suck it up, put on my big girl pants and get over it.

Sometime Saturday, at an extra cost for Saturday delivery grrr, I will be dragging boxes to the lift and getting them up to the 7th floor. All by myself. I'm hoping those delivering will take pity on me and help. We shall see. So life in the big city goes on, the weekend is close. One where I have a couple of social engagements. A BBQ with whanau on Saturday evening, a good catch up with those last seen a while ago, and drinks at mine on Sunday afternoon. I may even manage a few on Friday evening although I suspect it will be a quiet one. It's been a full on week.

Sunday

It's Sunday evening and I'm procrastinating. I've managed to successfully fill in some time chatting on the phone and catching up on emails. The job I set aside for this evening is still not done, I'm very good at procrastinating. Mulling things over until I'm ready to put pen to paper. then it just falls on the page. So rather than procrastinating, which is what my processing can feel like, I'm reflecting on what I might say to impress those who need to be impressed.

And this is a good spot to chill and reflect. Reflect on what a great couple of weeks it's been in my world. There's been a bit on. Work, socialising, family, getting my home together, time out to wander and chill. I can't believe how settled I feel here in Sydney. How much I'm enjoying being close to the small girl and her mum and dad. We got time together on Saturday, a sleep then a wander to the Kings Cross market just down the road. The charming child making the ladies smile back.

Then today her first birthday party. A day with family and friends all gathered together to celebrate the guest of honour who took it all in her stride. Well as long as mum or dad were in sight and there was cake to eat. First birthdays are so much more about adults, the small girl managed to make it her day. Opening the presents was a treat. She had that sorted pretty quickly, and waving for the camera.

My apartment continues to delight me, the sun streaming and that view. So much going on on the water, an every changing vista with the sun rising, the ferry and boat traffic and the sparkling night lights. The ones I can see now. The area I live in is a delight, so much to see and do just outside my door yet quiet enough to enjoy a stress free weekend.

The Saturday Kings Cross market, I wandered down and bought my weeks fruit and vege. Organic mostly and when my eggs run out they will come from the farmer that has them too. The gozleme was delicious and the coffee too as I sat on a bench and people watched. Children chasing the birds while dad ate his burger; a couple reading on a rug; children enjoying the play ground; groups of people wandering and buying; the smell of those bacon and egg buns; the cakes so tempting; people watching people watching people.

I've taken a few pics from my deck and I uploaded them this evening, along those from mothers day, my Brisbane trip and some from New Zealand. Here's a few of the view.

My first morning

Brooding sunrise

Saturday traffic