As I missed linking up last month because I'm an idiot, I'm going early and being prepared!
Something Loved: My city. With the news that our 10 kms was closing down to 5kms, I raced out to the Botanic Gardens* for one last crowd free harbour stroll (and a desperate bid to try my luck at seeing the seal on the Opera House steps but that was disappointingly closed off). I charged around a meandering 8kms in an hour, so definitely endorphin boosting exercise while taking in the stunning views and being flooded with memories of all the fun things I'd squeezed in this year - sunset drinks at the Botanic Gardens bar, sunset dance lesson on the Opera House forecourt, Hayden James in the Domain, the Opera on the Harbour plus all the many shows I went to in the Opera House. I miss it all so much.
Something Read (or Said): I am struggling a bit with our book club book - The Miles Franklin winner, The Labyrinth. It's not the book's fault, my concentration is shot when it comes to reading. I am listening to audio books with ease though. Midway through Crusoe's Daughter (which I'm enjoying but not loving as much as I did the Old Filth trilogy). I just listened to You know you want this by Roupenian (of the Cat person fame) which was interesting but quite hard at time (hard in the sense of harsh themes or tone) and Adolfo Kaminsky A Forger's Life which I really enjoyed. It starts more or less with World War II and continues on to present day. Great biography.
Something Treasured: A short story of mine got a Story Box Award which really lifted my spirits as I didn't make the Grieve Anthology this year (I knew I wouldn't because I just didn't have an idea for a story and I couldn't get the one I submitted to really work). I celebrated with the prize money by buying another tasty treat from 3 Ronin. Variation on the Lychee Martini and thoroughly delicious! I treasure the pat on the back that makes me want to write another story, at a time when my creativity is flagging....
Something Ahead : For us, there's nothing further ahead than planning the Friday night dinner party (a fancy dinner box delivered, to mark the start of the weekend when every day is more or less the same). So I leave you with the new song by Grace Petrie which pretty much sums up the lockdown vibes. I find it quite fortifying when I get down about all that we've lost in the last two years and all that seems so far off from regaining safely.
"So best foot first, and hold on fast
Do your worst - this too will pass"
(Note the new album and merch are available here)
*Both the Botanic Gardens and
Walsh Bay are in the 6km radius. My 5km ends at the start of the Domain and Barangaroo Reserve, so wasn't being wildly irresponsible - just making the most of what was allowed yesterday but not allowed tomorrow.
That was a lovely read. Your harbour stroll is really wonderful.
ReplyDelete-Soma
Interesting post#mischiefandmemories@_karendennis
ReplyDeleteOh how fun. I wish I could have gone with you. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you for joining the Awww Mondays Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Awww Monday and week. ♥
What beautiful walking views!
ReplyDelete...the opera house is iconic!
ReplyDeleteGood to read you post and it brought back a lot of memories for me. My daughter and family liked in Sydney for quite a while and I visited them from N. Ireland and often wandered round the City and Botanic Gardens. I think Sydney is my favourite city in the world. Sorry to hear you have a neck and shoulder problem. Mine probably came from long Covid and is very rare. Parsonage Turner Syndrome. I have also got this terrible metal taste in my mouth and eating through metal is not nice at all. Thanks for your comment and I hope you your nec/shoulder improves quickly and you stay safe and within your government restrictions.
ReplyDeleteI love the view of the opera house
ReplyDeleteThat is a great shot of the Opera House. Congratulations on your award for your short story! Please send me your email so I can respond to your comments personally from my blog! Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteI've not heard of Grace Petrie before, but wow, the song fits! (And yep, got the rogue seal). What's getting me with Sydney at the moment is just how confusing the public health orders are - depending on where you live. One sister lives in Epping with her family (Parramatta LGA) and is saying the new laws don't affect them (they do), another is in Castle Hill, while my parents in West Pennant Hills (both Baulkham Hills Shire) and they have absolutely no idea. They're not great with the internet & while Gladys might say that Sydneysiders aren't confused, many of the elderly absolutely are. I had to read through the orders to Dad yesterday when he said he couldn't buy a new whipper snipper (his is broken) until after lockdown & Mum was worried she couldn't get to where she buys the dog's food from - in the same LGA.
ReplyDeleteIt's not even the elderly. It's everyone. The problem is they will say some new rule in the press conference but not update the written rule.My FB is awash with people asking if this is the rule or do we have to do that and everyone has a different understanding. Some of my friends think the rules are the Victorian rules from last year. It's hilarious.
DeleteOh Jo, I hope your parents can get what they need and want. I am so fortunate that my brother lives close enough to Dad at Dee Why and can steer him through what his needs are. Denyse #weekendcoffeeshare..and yes, Lydia, it is cray cray for many of us.
DeleteCongrats on your Story Box Award! Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos of Sydney Opera House and good song by Grace Petrie with #weekendcoffeeshare.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I really needed it. Especially as I am really struggling to write at the moment.
DeleteI love the idea of four somethings Lydia and your walk around the harbour area looks so inviting! I really enjoyed listening to that Grace petrie song and you're right it sums up well what's happening right now! Take care.
ReplyDeletecongrats on the award. We may not always admit it but it's always nice to know that our words are being appreciated. Great job #KCACOLS
ReplyDeleteGlad you were able to get in a harbour stroll before the restrictions tightened. Congratulations on your short story award. #mischiefandmemories
ReplyDeleteWow, a huge congratulations on the award! That's amazing! The Opera House is just so beautiful, isn't it? I'm glad you managed to squeeze in some strolls beforehand. Thank you so much for joining us for #KCACOLS and we hope that you come and join us next time. We'd love to read some more posts from you. 😁🥰
ReplyDeleteYour city is awesome! I know you're likely tired of Nemo jokes, but that wonderful show must have brought a lot of love to your locale!!
ReplyDeleteWendy TheInspiredEater
Hi Lydia, despite things here in Sonoma County California, things are not as bad as you're enduring, I'm still so ready for this to just be over. Our leaders are failures at managing things and mostly have just lost credibility. I'm going with common sense and trying to abide by those rules I have to without causing a stir which folks like store owners have no control over.
ReplyDeleteThat and just staying home is enough for now.
Liked your list. I was going to partcipate and then forgot. Maybe next month.
ReplyDeleteI loved visiting Sydney years ago when my husband had a business trip. I took the "Hop On and Hop Off" bus all around the city including Bondi Beach. I wrote many blog posts about my visit. Your martini sounds delicious! Congrats on winning the Story Box award!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your award. Coping with lockdown is no joke and trying to keep positive is hard. We are out of lockdown here in the UK but are not free of Covid as there are over 30,000 confirmed cases each day! We are learning to live with it. The high number of vaccinated people means that there are less severe cases being reported and that's about all we can hope for as we are desperate not to have to go through another long lockdown. Good luck and keep safe.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on winning your short story reward, you should be so super proud of yourself! A walk around the Sydney harbour sounds like a dream, sending love and best wishes to you throughout these challenging times and take care. Thank you so much for joining us for #KCACOLS and we hope that you'll come and join us next time.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your short story award!! I think that stroll - with that view! - would have been my reward to myself!:)
ReplyDeleteWhat a beaitful place to live x #kcacols
ReplyDeleteI am sorry that you all are entering harder lock downs again. It does seem to be never ending. I loved the pictures of your view, it reminded me of views from when we lived in Singapore. I'm sorry that you are not enjoying your book club pick, but hopefully you have found other books to read and enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine being told to stay within a certain physical radius. We're in a small enough community that we could get to the grocery store, but things are so spread out in the US that it would be challenging for many.
ReplyDeleteIn the regional areas the rules are different buit for me, in the city, I have 3 major shopping centres (malls) in my 5km. Ironically I don't go to any of them if I can help it because too likely to hotspot
DeleteA great idea for a post. I am sorry the lock down is still going strong and you can't go very far.
ReplyDeletewww.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
Beautiful photos, I would love to visit one day :) Thanks so much for joining us this week.
ReplyDeleteThe opera house! So many lovely views!
ReplyDeleteOh wow! Well done on your story box award. How lovey and what a sweet treat too to celebrate. I love your share four somethings posts... I've been quite inspired. Thank you for joining us for #mischiefandmemories
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the story award! I hope you are all staying healthy and the rules are managable. Thanks for linking up with #MischiefAndMemories
ReplyDeleteLockdown is tough. We have had 3 here so far and they won't rule out more so I hope things improve for us all #MischiefAndMemories
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