Recently I turned my life on its head and left the comfort zone of home town, family and friends in Wellington (NZ), to start a new chapter in Western Australia. As I adjust to my new surroundings, I find myself thinking in the shape of stories and letters home. Feel free to take a seat and read on..

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

When Life Hands You Lemons


To the casual observer, this is just a bowl of lemons. To me, it is much more than that. I had a friend in New Zealand who I knew for only a few short years before she surrendered to the ravages of cancer. In the brief time I knew her, she was always full of life, laughter and love. She told me when I turned 50 that life would just get busier; I think she was right, but not in the ways I had imagined. She also had an orchard full of lemon trees, and I never left her place without bags full of the best lemons I have ever tasted. 
Since coming to live in WA, I have grown to love the charming custom the locals have of putting their surplus lemons out for those of us without trees; and can never resist helping myself to at least one. As I walk, I inhale the scent of the skin, and smile. 
My beloved often walks early in the morning while I am still asleep, and more often than not I will appear downstairs somewhat later to find a little yellow offering or two on the bench. Other times he will arrive home from work carrying one for me - still warm from the sun. This little gesture of love is so simple and yet so powerful. So much so, that the other day when he suggested I might perhaps have enough lemons for now, I was horrified and issued strict instructions not to stop! 
It's been another year of turmoil, change, adventure, heartache, loss, profound self-exploration, learning, love, and fun; with some unforeseen challenges met and overcome and some still a work in progress. This has been a year where I have largely been turned inwards, facing old demons, processing new heartaches and working to find my place in this new life we have created. And I'm getting there. 
In the meantime, I probably need to do something with all these lemons.

Friday, January 25, 2013

You can't always get what you want..

This morning's pursuit of water drops was less successful than I had hoped for. However, after spending more than half an hour leaning into the herbs to "just take one more"; I felt very soothed and settled. Which was exactly what I needed. And I smelt delicious.


Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Making love on a daily basis

One of the myriad reasons I choose to share my life with this man: 
In amongst the hustle of showering, shaving, breakfasting, remembering stuff, finding his 'phone..  
..he took the time to turn around and bring me this; "a perfect leaf".


Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Reflections from 2012, sans fancy writing

As I have written in previous posts, in 2012 I decided it was time to learn how to use my camera. One thing I have learnt this past year is that I need lessons now.. I've got about as far as I can figuring it out for myself and now I want more. But as they used to say in the cigarette ad - I've come a long way, baby.
Worlds in water drops:
Cyclamen
Heart's Ease
Retired Dandelions
Dandelion in the Morning
Wonderful trip to Shark Bay in June - beautiful scenery, perfect weather..
Sunrise in Shark Bay
Dolphin at Monkey Mia
Sunrise at Shell Beach
Fabulous month house sitting in the country in Spring.. an 80 acre playground at my disposal, and the luxury of having the time to enjoy it:
Ballet on Golden Pond
Pas de Deux
And we're done
Swam most days..
..and occasionally at night
Discovered Instagram
Made sacrifices for the cause
(dirty job, but someone had to do it)
Early morning stillness
Back home again..
Seagull on a walk by the river
Brief diversion into the myriad ways one can find a paper weight entertaining:
Park upside down
A cushion, an iPad and a paper weight
Messed about around boats with good friends:
And watched some great sunsets..

Happy New Year