SIMPLY SLOWLY

Summarizing slow living: ‘You see stuff, hear stuff, learn stuff, connect stuff, appreciate stuff.’ For want of an ideologically saturated, nausea inducing attempt at describing a commonly cliched state of gratitude, mindfulness, contemplation and solace; simple is best. Simple is transparent and simple resonates. It sits well with the territory; the tractors, the old towns, the church turrets, the corn fields, village fountains and the ever - present tabby. Simple is what we have strapped to our backs, stuffed in our mouths and sets the unassuming…

4 Comments

27/09/2019

Germany / Gratitude / hiking / RAMBLINGS / TRAVEL / TRAVEL RAMBLINGS / Uncategorized / walking / wanderlust

OF HISTORY AND HOPE

“Yes, across Europe, this wall will fall. For it cannot withstand faith; it cannot withstand truth. The wall cannot withstand freedom.” Ronald Reagan, West Berlin, 1987. “The wall will be standing in 50 and even 100 years.” GDR Head of State Erich Honecker East Berlin, January 1989. “It comes into effect according to my information, immediately.” Günter Schabowski, East Berlin, November 9th, 1989. “Now what belongs together will grow together.” Willi Brandt (Berlin’s Mayor), November 10th, 1989. “The wall was not brought down by Washington, Bonn…

2 Comments

21/09/2019

australia / blessing / community / CONFIDENCE / Experience / groups / LIFE RAMBLINGS / RAMBLINGS / sharing / Uncategorized

Community – Comeshareunity

“What colour will it be? Will the inside be varnished? Is the sanding finished? How long will it take? How old is it? Where did you dig it up from? Did it come with sails? Looks great. Good progress!” A barrage of questions fired like shots from a Heckler and Koch. Undisturbed by the onslaught from bystanders, hand-workers on the boat renovation project remain unvexed, composed and keen to answer questions, seemingly happy to share ideas, plans and progress. Around the workplace coffee machine conversation froths…

6 Comments

05/07/2019

Courage / Determination / discovery / Empowerment / LIFE RAMBLINGS / RAMBLINGS / Uncategorized / wholeheartedness

BEYOND THE FENCE

“Just stop digging!” Curse this frenzied journey to the centre of the earth. What secret navigational coordinates indicate a prized cache buried here? Oh, to have discovery as a hardwired, quintessential mandate. A high energy, all encompassing, thoroughly convincing and self - confident mission to love blindly, serve unconditionally, dig vociferously and destroy innocently. Envy of such single minded determination. Loving the sock, the ripped serviette, the table leg and its seriously angry owner simultaneously seems effortless. Mixed somewhere in the dried dog food, hides a…

4 Comments

30/03/2019

australia / Determination / discovery / Experience / hiking / LIFE RAMBLINGS / milestones / positive thinking / RAMBLINGS / TRAVEL / Uncategorized / walking

ARE YOU KID-DING?

“Because the teachers hate me.” Is the sweaty response from the continuously complaining 14 year old as to why he was in the most difficult hiking group on the school camp. “That way they don’t have me hanging around base camp for three days.” His athletic, teen build and energetic aura hinted at the more likely reason he’d been selected to pound the three day trail from Tidal River, to Waterloo Bay and on to Sealers Cove. Radiating heat from rugged granitic rock faces smothers conversation…

4 Comments

16/02/2019

blessing / friendship / Gratitude / RAMBLINGS / sisters / TRAVEL RAMBLINGS / Uncategorized

A Fruit Salad of Friendship

350 kilometres for the road trip rest 2,400 kilometres behind us that was just the best. 350 kilometres where our travel trail ends 2,400 kilometres of the very best of friends. 350 kilometres where she’ll search out new places 2,4000 kilometres leaving behind favourite spaces. 350 kilometres for more selfie photographs 2,400 kilometres of soul searching and laughs. 350 kilometres glow new morning skies 2,400 kilometres a windy road to goodbyes. 350 kilometres awaits her husband’s embrace 2,400 kilometres of memories we cannot replace. 350 kilometres…

4 Comments

29/01/2019

australia / friendship / RAMBLINGS / TRAVEL / TRAVEL RAMBLINGS / Uncategorized

Mangoes Make Memories

“Google Google on the wall, which is the fairest café of them all?” A modern age technological morning routine. With plenty of locals seeking refuge from the deluge in Mackay’s Dispensary Café, we get well caffeinated, drenched from crossing the street and immediately sweaty. Cranking up the aircon, the GPS is set, and we reconnect with Bruce. Fields wrapping the roadway envelop us in endless green. Low lying clouds, teeming rain and upcoming weather shroud with grey. Yesterday was bushfires, today aquaplaning. “Haven’t you had…

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16/01/2019

australia / blessing / Experience / RAMBLINGS / road trip / TRAVEL / TRAVEL RAMBLINGS / Uncategorized

Coconuts and Coal

“Just slow down, slow down. Holy crap, that’s scary”. Surrounded by smoke, front and rear vision blocked, uncertain when the road would appear; driving through a bushfire was not part of the original list of experiences. Travelling along the Bruce Highway from the volcanic coastline of Yeppoon and Capricorn National Park, the heat source shaping this part of the hinterland landscape was a grassfire. Appearing suddenly and out of nowhere, we were somehow always going to meet the same fate as Thelma and Louise. We’d just…

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13/01/2019

australia / friendship / RAMBLINGS / road trip / TRAVEL / TRAVEL RAMBLINGS / Uncategorized

Bananas?

Rising at the crack of dawn, we’re getting ready to meet Ludwig. Coffee being the best approach to any new introduction, the OK Milk Bar located near the statue of the champion race horse must be a winner, looking more like a hipster Brunswick hangout than a country café. The coffee experience is enhanced with positive quotes on the counter and on coffee lids, ‘Believe in yourself.’ A good reminder for the next 712 kilometres. I reckon we are ready to meet Ludwig. Named after the intrepid…

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08/01/2019

australia / Experience / RAMBLINGS / road trip / TRAVEL / TRAVEL RAMBLINGS / Uncategorized

Pineapple Pyjamas

“Which way?” I ask. “Not sure. Put it into Google Maps and check the options” she answers. The itinerary is scratched on a shopping receipt shoved in the side door pocket and lists five overnight destinations. “The GPS is melting down, it wants you to turn right,” I direct. “I can’t, there’s a concrete median strip, the entire length of this highway” she replies. “I think that was an illegal U-Turn.” I add constructively. “I know. I didn’t think we’d make it with our turning…

6 Comments

04/01/2019