don’t water down your uniqueness for anyone. be like a wildflower — passionate and unforgettable.
(grow in places they never expected)
April Green
I spent the public holiday on a beautiful walk with a beautiful friend! I’m so grateful for any opportunity to be outside among nature. I can physically feel my shoulders drop and my jaw relax in places like this. Today, it was excruciatingly hot (like…suffocating, crushing heat), but the Riverside Walk in the Lane Cove National Park was a welcome relief, with dappled shade and greenery galore to keep us cool. We are so lucky to have places like this so close to home.
We saw enough cockatoos and lizards on our travels to last us many years. They all seemed to be out enjoying the sunshine – some more happy to share the track than others! We found a spot to park ourselves beside the river while we rehydrated. We decided that on a day like today, sitting in the shade and watching people kayak was a much better option than BEING in a kayak.
How gorgeous are these teeny-tiny daisies?! They are delicate and wild and free, and oh so pretty. One day I will have a garden full of them. Don’t they just make you believe in fairies and magic? The wonderful poetry of April Green draws a lot of inspiration from wildflowers, and since becoming acquainted with her work I have drawn many parallels myself. There’s just something about wildflowers that helps me to see the value of imperfection – rambling and stubborn, adding a unique beauty to their surroundings. We could all learn a lot from wildflowers!
“She did not stand alone, but what stood behind her, the most potent moral force in her life, was the love of her father.”
Harper Lee
Happy Fathers’ Day!
I consider myself pretty lucky to have been blessed with a wonderful father.
His role in my life was the builder-up-er. He had big expectations and held me to a high standard, but he never failed to tell me he was proud of me – even for the smallest of achievements. I think I can speak similarly for my siblings. While he always pushed us to do better and be better; he made a big deal out of our success, he bragged about us to his friends, and he constantly showered us with love, laughter and support.
I like to think he played this role for many of our peers as well. He was known in our extended family and among friends as the “career advisor”. At any social event, he would speak to us all about our strengths and our interests, and then suggest a possible career path for us. It was a fun game at the time, and we would all laugh about the ridiculous job titles he would come up with. Now when I think back on those conversations, I realise that he was letting us know that we were capable, he saw our potential, and he believed in us.
He lived in a way that encouraged us to be passionate about what we do. He taught us by example that there was certainly a place for hard work, but there was no reason you shouldn’t have fun in the process. He was full of crazy ideas, and he was constantly planning exciting adventures for us. It’s thanks to him that we have had so many amazing experiences as a family, which have become beautiful memories that we can cherish forever.
He was the solid foundation in our lives that empowered us, made us feel safe and filled us with confidence. When he passed away so suddenly, the floor was ripped out from underneath us. This unwavering, invincible figure had suddenly been stripped of his power, and what seemed solid before didn’t feel so solid any more.
I will always miss him dearly. Life goes on, but it’s just not the same. It’s certainly never as good. It’s not as fun, it’s not as exciting, it’s not as spirited, it’s not as carefree. However, I like to think he fulfilled his job as a father – even though his time may have been cut short. He built us up so that we could live with confidence and independence, and made sure we knew that we could do anything if we worked hard enough. He fostered a sense of humour in us that has helped us stay sane through some pretty traumatic times. Most importantly, he made us feel unconditionally loved, respected and valued – ALL THE TIME. Even when we misbehaved. Even when we had differences in opinion. Even when we were ratbag teenagers. The way I see it, that’s what dads are for…so he did good! All the while working incessantly to support his family, bring his passion projects to life, and brighten the lives of those around him.
My privilege is not lost on me. I know there are so many whose fathers are not a positive force in their lives. I also have so many loving, supportive, gentle and encouraging men in my life – it would be ignorant of me to pretend that I lost all fatherly figures when my Dad died. I am forever grateful to all of these men for showing me what it means to be a man of good character – a good father, brother, husband, uncle, grandfather and friend.
One of his favourite places in the world was Manly Beach, and it is now a place we love to visit and remember him. What a beautiful gift it is to have such a stunning backdrop to bring our family together.
“Because my cup doth overflow with the beauty of the days gone by.” ~ Van Morrison
“We don’t live our lives with this much order and control. To represent them in death like this is a lie. A proper cemetery should have big, gnarled trees among crumbling angels and weathered tombstones arranged haphazardly. The grass should be littered with clover and worn down to dirt in places.”
Kevin A. Kuhn
Camperdown Cemetery is a historic site in Sydney’s inner city suburb of Newtown. It was established in 1848, and tells the story of many years of abandonment and repair. In the 1940’s most of the cemetery was returned to public space, now known as Camperdown Memorial Rest Park. The remaining graves are now contained within stone walls, sharing the space with St Stephen’s Anglican Church.
It is a fascinating place to visit, and it is strikingly different from most operational cemeteries. When I read the above excerpt, I immediately thought of Camperdown Cemetery. I think Kuhn perfectly captures the organic and wild nature of this beautiful place in his writing.
Australia is burning, and the effects are tangible. The colour of the sky alone is enough to make you believe the world is ending. We are fortunate to be surrounded by wonderful friends and family this festive season, and lucky enough to be living in a relatively unaffected area. My heart goes out to all those who have not been so lucky.
Hoping for ACTION from our government, and lots and lots of rain!
There is something special about Christmas time. I have spent White Christmases abroad, cuddling up in front of a fireplace and wearing daggy Christmas jumpers. The roast turkey and eggnog feels appropriate and comforting in this setting. But nothing feels quite as festive to me as wandering through the sparkling streets of Sydney on a balmy December evening. Children stand at the top of their driveways handing out candy canes to passers-by, people blast Christmas carols from their car windows and very few people are wearing shoes.
This year we checked out the lights of Lane Cove. The whole suburb participates and they have a competition for the most impressive display. It’s a little painful to think of the amount of electricity being used, but it was comforting to see some solar lights in action!
While the world is falling down around us, I think a bit of electricity is a small price to pay for some Christmas cheer!
