“You can hide things from the world, but you can never hide things from time.” ― Kim Dong Hwa

 I'm okay getting older, and I'm more or less okay with my aging looks. However, it's the decaying body that is becoming a problem. I had an alarm bell moment this week that made me realise that my body would put a stop to certain activities in time, whether I wanted to do them or not.

For years we have done those rope courses with the kids. Big groups of us going to Treetops in Ourimbah or Minmi in the school holidays. I would be one of the supervising parents on the high course while one of the other parents would watch my baby/toddler/six year old on the low rope course.

I always found it fun and fairly easy. I didn't think twice when I decided to take the youngest and a friend to do the Treetops course at Pennant Hills this week, as she was finally tall enough to do the high course. It would be some fun forest bathing for us inner city mice.

But in the six years or so since I'd last done it, something had changed. My body had aged. I found even Green easy course tricky and less enjoyable because I lacked confidence. On the Blue course I got into the rhythm and thought "Oh, I'm just out of practice. I just needed to warm up." However on the Red course, I really hurt myself slamming into some wood posts and couldn't hold my weight on the swing rope and was exhausted by the time we finished. I had fun but it was hard and I was aware of my frailness. I am aware my days of this type of activity are finite. There is an end date, not set by my will or desire. It worries me.

I said to my husband, "They want to do the Black course when they turn 16. I don't think I'll be able to do it in four years time." I can't tell you how sad this makes me. Not specifically about the ropes course, but I am reaching the point in life where my body dictates my limitations.

While dangling from a rope, trying to pull myself into the climbing web, my daughter's friend apologised for picking the hard* route, not the easy route. I yelled at my daughter "When you are really hating my guts, just remember I did this for you". The two guys behind me laughed. 

Later at the lockers, one of the young men came up to me and said "Good on you. Mum of the f#cking year if you ask me!"** So I'm taking that title and owning it! Might even get it made into a tee for such occasions when I'm physically out of my depth.

I am looking at this endless COVID time with the same sadness, knowing I'm on the clock in terms of what I'll be able to do physically by the time we get the big festivals and travel and other fun stuff back. All I can say is make hay while the sun shines, because it gets cloudy sooner than you think.

Now off to do some agility training, in an attempt to steal some time back into this body.

* Always do the Hard route. The Easy route looked lame, even to me. Notwithstanding my fails, I would have regretted taking the easy route

** I suspect he knew I wouldn't be upset by the emphatic swearing due to what he may have heard coming out of my mouth when I slammed into the poles...

Linking with

“Mistakes are the portals of discovery.” James Joyce

 

Not all mistakes are bad. When I was doing the Katoomba Night Walk, both my camera and mobile had issues with the dim light. My mobile, decided to sort of over-pixelate the shots, and what occurred was strangely alluring, though not good photography.

I love the one of the Three Sisters with a rogue cloud floating in. The melting trees in the bottom photo look like they slid off the rock face...Orphan Rocklooks like it's in Minecraft.

Not everything has to be perfect for you to like it.

Linking with #SundayBest and #AllSeasons

It's very refreshing to go away and take a break, to clear your head, and just get into something else. Francois Nars

 

Shutting up shop for a few weeks. Back late April, around the 20th. Will be on Insta, visiting Hobart (first plane since Jan 2020!) and some art-y & outdoors adventures.

Hope everyone has a safe and dry Easter break, wonderful school holidays if lucky enough for that.

I have stories to write so want to knuckle down on that.

With no particular meaning except I can't get enough of these guys at the moment, I leave you with this cheery song!

Have a good few weeks, everyone!

"Once a year, go somewhere you have never been before." Dalai Lama 

Linking with #WonderfulWednesday #AllSeasons 

We live in a rainbow of chaos - Paul Cezanne

 

The view out the window is incredibly grey, and the living room has sprung a leak so that's fun, however, fighting through the darkness are bursts of bright light and colour. Indeed, a delightful rainbow of chaos.

What are you loving this week?

Linking with #MCoW #WednesdayaroundTheWorld #SundayBest #WWOAT #WWOT #OurWorldTuesday

“A good life is a collection of happy moments” so keep collecting them ― Denis Waitley (and me)

 

There has been a lot going on in this country to be unhappy about. There is even more on a global scale to overwhelm you with feelings of loss and despair. However, there is good. Plenty of good and plenty to be uplifted by.

 

“One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and, if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words.”
― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

I was lucky this week to get to Monet & Friends, the very pretty exhibition on at EQ. I didn't love it as much as the Van Gogh, but I still enjoyed the music and colour, and learnt a little too. Did you know that the invention of the collapsible metal paint tube was what allowed the Impressionists to start painting outdoors? Artistic evolution through practical invention.

I also got to Summer in the Domain for Hayden James. It was all things wonderful in spite of the weather. In the uber there, my pulse was racing and the feeling in my chest was as if my ribs might burst as my heart expanded in joy. I was exuberant at the idea of being in that crowded energy, though we were spaced at tables and had to remain seated, and the heavens were about to bring forth a deluge.

I went with friends to Young Frankenstein at the Hayes Street Theatre. My friends were just back from Womad, and I hadn't seen them since last year, so it was lovely to catch up and heqar all their news. The show was hilariously kooky and frankly, I LOVE that you can get a Negroni or real champagne at the bar. It's a small theatre but hits all the high marks in my book. Plus weirdly no queues for the toilets even though there's only 2.

I got two hours to sneak off to The Other Art Fair, which was fabulous, thought provoking and fun. 

There was a break in the rain that allowed me to go for a walk & talk with a friend - my favourite type of exercise.

I've written a bit of a story and I've read a book and started a new one.

Tonight I am off to what would have been cocktails and bush tucker treats in the Botanic Gardens at sunset...while the Harbour views will be limited, it's an outing with friends so I'm happy enough.

So in these wet, dark and depressing times, life is still pretty. pretty good!

Linking with #LovingLifeLinky #WonderfulWednesday #MCoW #KeithsRamblings #PictorialTuesday #PicturePerfectLinky #TheRandom #WWOAT #Lifethisweek #FriendshipFriday and #WeekendCoffeeShare

Anthem of the week (both due to COVID and Floods):

Early morning at the Grounds

 

I had to pick up a cake on the weekend, and I booked for the 7.30 slot. It was a rainy morning so people were sparse. 

I managed to get some reflective shots as the lamps (and fairy lights) were on and sparkling (for #WeekendReflections)

I still hope to get back for dinner in the cushioned Moroccan themed private dining, but not sure if that will actually happen. 

It certainly felt like a magical escape, even though I was just running an errand on a rainy day. 

Sometimes those simple pleasures are enough to make you love life!

Linking #WednesdayAroundTheWorld #TravelTuesday #WordlessWednesday #WonderfulWednesday #WWOT #OurWorldTuesday #ThruMyLens #SundayBest  #AllSeasons #LovingLifeLinky

Writers Block

I definitely have it. I am struggling to write any fiction and it appears I'm beginning to struggle to think of anything for the blog as well! 

I will be taking a break come the 26th March until 18th April so will limp along on the blog until then, just to try and push through it.

I can't explain it. I have been going out and doing fun things, I've been seeing art to inspire me - and movies and exercise and walks in nature. Just nothing.

I submitted something for Furious Fiction but my brain shut straight back down again.

#AusWrites even asked their writers how they got through writers block and while there were plenty of great ideas, still here I am!!

Got a busy week ahead so hopefully I can shake things up inside, and get back to feeling more 'normal'.  A play, an art show and a (drum roll)...festival! (of sorts). 

May you all be feeling more creatively inspired or content than me! 

Linking with #WritersDen