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Country Life
Secure – One Word Sunday
Visiting – One Word Sunday
Welcome to the One Word Sunday challenge. My cheeky visitor is an Australian King Parrot who regularly comes to chirp at us and eat wild bird seed.
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https://travelwithintent.com/2023/01/01/travel/#like-108803
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2022 IN FOCUS
Some random photographs taken during 2022, most close to my home. Although there was much more freedom to roam than in the previous two years, life seemed to be focused on the scenes, animals and community activities of our local area. There is much to be grateful for and as we all head into 2023 may that continue. Happy New Year.
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Merry Christmas across the world from my home to yours!
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Oh, to drown in a sea of roses
If one rose can bring so much pleasure How much more joy can a bunch bring Or even a basket full. A blooming bush bursting with buds is a delight, As is a huge climbing rose full of heavenly scent. Make a garden bed full of roses to enjoy, Or a whole garden dedicated to the rose and stroll about at leisure. By Lynn Elder
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Wait – One word Sunday
Birdwatching requires lots of waiting. Morning session with a local Landcare group.
https://travelwithintent.com/2022/12/04/wait/#respond
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#wait
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Wet, wet, wet, spring
By Lynn Elder
Splashes of yellow bright sunshine comes between, Splashes of water bouncing upon the already drenched earth. Splashes of red and blue announce the arrival of the rosellas, Splashes of water in the bowls as they frolic and beg for seed. Splashes and quacking as ducks land on overflowing dams. Splashes of running water cascading over temporary waterways. Splashes of mud and water as gumboots wade through. Splashes and squelching as cattle sink into the quagmire. Splashes of furious currents as spillways release the excess water. Splashes as the four-wheel drive negotiates the potholes and puddles. Splashes on the ground as the rainwater tank overflows. Splashes of colour emerge in the form of flowers when grey clouds roll away. Splashes of flowery fashions appear on the sunny spring days. Splashes continue with each rainy day that insists on not stopping too soon.
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The moods of spring
By Lynn Elder
Oh, what personality does spring display When it thinks it is time to play. Spring can be so fickle, Also, so changeable. Spring can be a myriad of colours As bursting buds bring forth the flowers, Then disappear in a breeze, With the sudden arrival of a wintry freeze. There is a promise of radiant sunshine, For which we did all through winter pine, For a return of some warmth to bask in, And feel the sensation on our skin. Spring does have a gentle side to its personality, Amidst all the activity and vitality. Blossom petals fall softly like light bird feathers, And newborn lambs and calves snuggle against mothers, To herald in the hope and joy of spring.
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The Final Goodbye
Certain rituals in our lives help to mark special occasions, rites of passage, or simply to make sense of what we cannot understand or control. Such was the case with the sudden death of my stepson, Matthew, over three years ago, which I have written about in previous posts.
Taking one’s life regardless of age or circumstances is a tragedy and devastating for those left behind to wonder why. We must celebrate life as precious and continue to remember those who were part of our lives. While they may not be here physically, our shared memories live on.
A group of us, including family and close friends, was finally able to gather to spread Matthew’s ashes up in the bush, looking towards the nearby mountains. It was his happy place. Constant lockdowns and ongoing COVID outbreaks curtailed this final goodbye for the past three years. I would often say hello to Matt as I vacuumed around the box containing his ashes.
His Dad finally said we needed to do this, so within a matter of less than a month, it was decided everyone could make it on the long weekend being the Queen’s Birthday public holiday. It also coincided with the official opening of the snow season on the nearby mountain where Matt loved to snowboard. A fitting tribute.
We arranged to meet for lunch before heading up the hills. The nine of us, all with different recollections of Matt. I took a framed photo used at his funeral, where he is grinning merrily, dressed in his snowboarding gear, to sit on the table. We bought him a pint and raised a glass to Matt’s memory.
A nice touch was when the bistro manager said she recognised his face. I said he lived in the city but spent much time on the mountain in winter. Apparently, she worked up on the ski lifts during the season.
The weather was atrocious, but we thought Matt might have the last laugh by sending snow up to the hills. Our ascent up the hills was icy, wet and foggy. It did not snow on us, but the cloud was so low it blocked the usual beautiful mountain views. It provided a surreal backdrop as we huddled on the veranda of the weekend shack. Each of us took turns spreading Matt’s ashes and saying our last goodbye.
His good mate, who owns the holiday property, had bought a mini-keg of pale ale to enjoy afterwards. I suddenly felt teary but had a real sense that Matthew’s spirit was with us and was where he belonged.
His good mate has set up a bar inside above the wood heater with a digital display of photos, and a snowboard mounted on the wall, in honour of Matt’s memory. We all need to find our own ways of keeping those we love close to us in a meaningful way.
We departed back down the hills, knowing it was a final goodbye. The landscape, in all its bleakness, seemed appropriate at that moment.
If anyone you know is struggling and needs help with anxiety, depression or suicide prevention, contact the two Australian organisations below:
https://www.lifeline.org.au/131114/
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
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Love cats everywhere on International Cat Day – August 8
“If animals could speak, the dog would be a blundering outspoken fellow; but the cat would have the rare grace of never saying a word too much.” — Mark Twain
“A cat has absolute emotional honesty: human beings, for one reason or another, may hide their feelings, but a cat does not.” — Ernest Hemingway
“My cats are really sassy and sophisticated, but most importantly, they are picky.” — Jason Wu
“Time spent with cats is never wasted.” — Sigmund Freud
“You can keep a dog; but it is the cat who keeps people, because cats find humans useful domestic animals.” — George Mikes
“What greater gift than the love of a cat.” — Charles Dickens
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100…not not out!
Photo by Yogendra Singh on Pexels.com
I had some other blog posts planned but decided, given this would be my 100th blog post on WordPress, maybe I should take a moment to celebrate and not be too serious! Us Aussies love our cricket, especially when we are winning and hitting sixers all over the “G”. The Boxing Day test match series is a tradition for many and a way of filling in many hours on those hot, languid days. In the late 1970s I can remember my then boyfriend and I travelling by tram with an Esky loaded with cold tinnies to enjoy at the match. Those days are long gone with no BYO alcohol allowed now and limits on how much liquor you can buy at the grounds. How times have changed! Probably not a bad thing!
Cricket was everywhere. I think how ironic a tobacco company was the major sponsor with their logo emblazoned on the picket fence and high profile in the mainstream media. One positive was the inclusion of women who fielded their own teams and toured internationally from as far back as the 1970s.
As kids, we grew up in a country town and played French cricket on the road. It is a great way to include the whole family, whether in the backyard at Mum’s or on the beach. Wikipedia provides a good description of the game. “There is only one batsman, and their objective is not to be dismissed by the other participants — who are fielders or a bowler if they have possession of the ball — for as long as possible. The objective of the other participants is to dismiss the batsman. There are only two methods of dismissal, being caught or being “Leg Before Wicket“, but as there are no stumps “(but we used an upturned garbage bin!), this method of dismissal is affected by a bowled ball hitting the batsman’s legs typically below the knees. Once the batsman is dismissed, the other participant who took the catch or affected the LBW typically replaces them as the batsman, and the game-play begins again. There are many varieties of additional rules.”
But back to the serious game, Australia has certainly seen some incredible cricketing legends grace the hallowed turf, from Sir Donald Bradman to the late Shane Warne. Decades apart, they both knew how to play the game and entertain the masses, one for his batting prowess and the other for his fast bowling.
Not everyone is a keen follower of the game cricket or understands the attraction. The sub-continent embraced it with lots of enthusiasm after being introduced to it by the English colonists and continue the tradition. For those who don’t understand the rules this may help explain it in more simple terms.
As I reflect on reaching my milestone of 100 posts, I realise it is a bit of luck, but most of all, it is about showing up. Here’s to my next century! I just saw where I had achieved my first ever half-century with more than 50 likes. Howzat?
Reference: French cricket – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_cricket
Escape to the High Country... 