“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” – George Bernard Shaw

Last night the Wednesday Club went to a pop up video game arcade in the Sydney Tower Eye. It's a neon 80's bar with sparking views of the city and all the games that I loved in my teens and 20's - Galaga, Sega Rally, the moto bike one and pinball. 

While I raced a friend on the bikes, I was reminded of in my work days in the 90's, I would make collegues spend a lunch break in timezone for the Sega Rally Championship and we'd race each other for the office winner. I loved it. It was so fun. We'd return to the office so hyped up and bubbly, buoyed on the fun and excitement - almost an adrenaline rush, if you will. It was the perfect antidote to stress or boredom.

I had a friend return from an interstate visit to her aging parents ring me and say "It made me realise the importance of not just focusing on your kids and work. I need to maintain my friends and get some hobbies. The problem is I don't really have any."  This seems to be quite common. How do we get to our age and have such a small world focus?

Another friend a week later, was talking about the need to find things she liked to do before she retired.  Having declined the Wednesday club a few years ago, she's joining now to add some variation into her evenings, now that her work is less consuming.

While cleaning out a wallet from those Sega Rally Championship work days, I found this card. It was for a business I don't recall, so I presume I kept it because I liked the quote. 

I know I ask this repeatedly, but why do we stop doing things we find fun?

Linking with #Weekendreflection - see the disco ball above the city?

It was a big turn out for the Wednesday Club, 11 of us for the event and the 7 of us kicked on at a bar. I can't remember the last time I wandered the streets and sat in a bar with a group that large if not going out to dinner. This is a simple thing but it really sparked happiness. Why do we stop? Laziness?

They also had the dance machine game, and I loved playing that having never really played it before. I am now determined to hire one for a party or hold a dance off in an arcarde somewhere....if only I can get people to come. It was hilarious, joy-inducing, energetic fun!

I know lockdown really heightened this feeling for me, that I'm wasting so much time (my life) not squeezing all the fun on offer out of it, but I find it curious that some of my friends are feeling it too. 

I'm hoping it means a few more friends will switch their default mode of NO to YES.

 "Make a commitment to having fun. See your best friends and make time for your hobbies and passions."

– Robert Holden.

Do you have a commitment to fun? What do you do?

Linking with#TellusaaboutPlay

“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” ― Confucious

 I left my cardigan at the Art Gallery so went back the next day to pick it up from Lost & Found. I was early so pottered around the Botanic Gardens while I waited for it to open. 

I discovered a little corner I hadn't really noticed before, with a home to bees.

 I've walked past this part many times but purely with the objective of getting to the harbour, Botanic House or the Calyx.

We often look but don't really see what's there.

Sometimes wasting time brings new discoveries.

"The real voyage of discovery consists, not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." Marcel Proust

And lastly, we finally got a pretty sunrise - still with cloud cover but not enough to steal the colours.

Linking with #SkyWatch

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Lions up close

 Following on from the other lions at play, this one came right over to the glass to inspect a small child that had leaned on the glass. Unfortunately, I didn't have the light or the angle to obliterate the glass reflection.

This one was before the play got rough....

Note the strange colouring on the ears - I had not realised. You could also see the mane clearly beginning to grow on the male juevjuvenileenile, but it's not clear in the photos.

Linking with #WednesdayWithoutWords #AwwMondays #SundayBest #ThruMyLens #WonderfulWednesday #WordlessWednesday #PictorialTuesday

Lions

During the holidays, we had a night at the zoo - more on that fabulousness to come, but for now, I'm sharing my joy watching the lions at play. All shots are behind class but I thought the new camera did well. I'm still getting used to the settings so there's a lot to learn. Hopefully my old camera will be fixed soon!

Forgive the bombardment but these two at play really need the series for the full effect.

Given the lack of reaction from the lion next to them, I'm guessing this is a regular occurrence and nothing to pay any attention to.

Like a mother with squabbling siblings.

She definitely seemed more interested in me than in what they were doing....

Linking with #AwwMondays #PictorialTuesday   #Itsasnap 

Fishing

I regretted not having my camera for this, but my phone did manage to catch the bird circling and then diving into the harbour for fish. It continued in a pattern so I had plenty of opportunities to capture it above me. 

Sometimes the simplest pleasures bring excitement.

Linking with #KeithsRamblings #ItsASnap #Allseasons #HappyTuesday #WordlessWednesday  #WWOT #Inspirememonday #WildbirdWednesday #NaturesNotes 

 

Travel books

 When I travel, I read books set in the country I'm in, preferable the town I'm in if I can manage it.

Even if the book itself is not brilliant, I've enjoyed the history or being on the streets mentioned in the book, walking around like the characters did quite literally.

In Ho Chi Min City, I loved They are all my family (but I love this book full stop. Everyone should read it). Saigon by Anthony Grey was good if you travel up to Hue. It also includes the French history so it's not all focus on the American War, which is good tho it is one of those saga books.

In Singapore, I loved Singapore Grip by J. G. Farrell (the only one of his Empire trilogy not to win the Booker but my favourite of the three). I enjoyed King Rat and The Long Pursuit too, but they are war focused.

In Finland, I loved Let the Northern Lights Reveal your Name as we were up north in snowy Sami country and also The Wednesday Club and any of the Tove Jansson adult novels.

In Paris, I strolled around with the Phantom of the Opera (and even got busted trying to see the lake in the basement of the Opera House - they had a photo exhibition of it while I was there, but the security guard informed me that it had been filled with concrete decades ago). I would also recommend Swann's Way when in France just to get a joyful buzz every time you eat a Madeleine.

In Malaysia I liked And so the Rain my Drink, The Undone Years, and of course, The Malayan Trilogy. These are great if you are going out of KL. They're books where you really feel the heat and the jungle in the pages (and the rubber plantations). For some reason I think they're set in Johor Bahru, but can't be sure, I might have invented that because that's where I read them.

These books bring history alive, bring a different light to the buildings and architecture and often, not always correctly, show an insight to the culture.

Currently, for those visiting Sydney I would recommend Careful, He Might Hear You! I found this book delightful and it traipses all over Neutral Bay, the Cross, and the city.

(For the crime readers, Shamini Flint's Inspector Singh solves crime in a new country each book, and I enjoy all of these. They aren't brilliant books but good, easy holiday reads).

What are your travel reads?

Linking with #Bookdate #StackingtheShelves #SundaySalon