Happy (belated) New Year!
...from the Southern Hemisphere 🇦🇺
I’ve been absent from the online world, because I’ve been much more focused on being present in the real world, surrounded by the people I love most and making new precious memories.
I’m also in Perth, Western Australia, where it’s currently summer, and I’m so enjoying the warmth of the sun on my skin, the smell of sea breeze and the feeling of sand between my toes. Eating food made from the freshest ingredients and indulging in savouring tropical fruits as I remember them from my childhood in growing up in the tropics.
This is my third visit, my eldest child lives here permanently, so my visiting will become a more regular occurrence as they set roots here and start reaching adulthood milestones at their own pace. Also with us is my youngest child, who is now an adult.
Having arrived at lunchtime on Christmas Eve, we set off on a drive four hours south of Perth, in a hired camper van, to start off our mini adventure.
We celebrated Christmas together in Margaret River, a wine producing region, starting the day with a five kilometres run in beautiful trails through the woods, my first run since October 2021. It felt invigorating, and I surprised myself with being able to keep a decent pace after not having run for such a long time.
I had this desire to dip my toes into the Indian Ocean on Christmas morning, having imagined a forty degree Celsius kind of day, but the weather did not play ball, and, as the locals remarked throughout the day, it was the coldest Christmas they’ve had in memory. It was cold, the Indian Ocean wasn’t as warm as I had expected, nevertheless, dip my toes I did.
My eldest child did swim, being accustomed to these waters and the Western Australian shores. The sea was far too rough for my liking.
What followed was a whole day of eating delicious food, lovingly prepared by my eldest’s mother-in-law…
At some point after this veritable feast, games were played!
We also had a close encounter with local wildlife whilst out on our Boxing Day walk, despite my previous visits this was my first time seeing kangaroos within about twenty metres; we concluded it was a mother, as we could see a joey poking out of her pouch, and three younger ones on tow. As long as we didn’t make any sudden movements, they seemed content to graze and watch us, turning their ears in every direction and their noses up in the air as they hopped from patch of grass to tree cover. It was magical!
I will leave you with this first instalment for now. I have limited access to WiFi and I’m currently typing this as I sit overlooking the city from the third floor of the City of Perth Library, a wonderful oasis offering excellent services to residents and visitors alike, and the coffee isn’t too bad either.
Until next time…
What an amazing experience 💚