The whales migrate in numbers so large the Australian eastern coast is known as the Humpback Highway. There's a great book on it too, if you're interested (reviewed here).
Officially the season runs May - November with June & July peak months as they go north, and then again September & October as they come back.
We've yet to get out and see them but I must make that happen.
These pics are from previous trips.
Do you go whale watching?
There was a joyous cacophony of bird calls and the crunch of the leaves underfoot.
We were far from civilisation.
Except we weren't. We were walking from the pub to the train station.
It is remarkable that I live in this urban city and still stumble across pockets unknown to me. This is why I like to venture out of my locals, as convenient as they are. There's a whole city out there....
In a very built up area, there is a park that feels a million miles from anywhere, and animals and birds abound.
The walk through the trees was a fabulous end to the festivities.
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| Street flowers on the dog walk brightened my day! |
I find it hard to believe I'm doing this again already! Where did this month go? And I'm still doing the Tax, which I've been doing unsuccessfully for a week. Time is being stolen from me somehow!
Loving this mix of the Lola Young song. Hot Dub played Messy and announced 'This song goes out to all the parents' and I now can only hear it in those terms, not as a dysfunctional romantic relationship that I thought it was about.
Something that went well I have started breaking my day at my desk with 5 or 10 mins of little stretching and weight exercises. I do believe it's working and I'm feeling physically better and maybe my arms are getting slightly stronger.
Interestingly a number of people messaged me about the Instagram post when I shared it, and feel in the same boat with their friends, so it seems to be a pattern out there with people our age. Why persist with people that offer nothing in return? If I see them at a party or a dinner, it's fine. I'll chat away as normal, happy enough to see them, but I am putting up some boundaries and no longer tolerating people that don't reciprocate friendship.
READ I read this post by The Annoyed Thyroid and it sent me on a nostalgic mania, and a week or so later I've booked a trip we can't really afford for next year to Paris (and Venice). I've got a lot of serious ill health in my family at the moment so I'm guessing this is a reaction to that. As we learnt from Squid Game "Hodie mihi, cras tibi" the Latin for 'Today it is my turn, tomorrow it will be yours."
WATCHED Been to the theatre a bit - saw Betrayal (Pinter) last night at the Old Fitz (ends August 10) and Judy Davis in The Spare Room (based on the Helen Garner book. While I didn't like the narrator in the book, I thought Davis made her much more likeable). We also saw Lisa Simone's show on her mother's legacy. I found it quite sad how tangled up her life is. As a parent, I think you want your child to be their own star. She is in a tricky situation, because she knows why 90% of the audience went, so doesn't want to disappoint, but also wants to showcase her talents in her own music.
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HEARD A friend and I went to Kiasmos at the Opera House, not the ideal venue for a dance but after the first song, they waved us up so the whole audience eagerly jumped to their feet and we danced for the rest of the show. In that moment the energy and vibe of the concert hall instantaneously changed. It was so fun and joyful!
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| The most Sydney street art ever! |
Late to the party but I discovered The Guilty Feminist is watching And Just Like That - so listening to those episodes in reverse order. If you find yourself hate watching the show, annoyed with all the characters, it will definitely make you laugh! Seriously though, was Carrie always this awful and why didn't I ever notice? And Aiden? What on earth is she thinking. Big time ick.
AND LASTLY My top three moments? How to narrow it down? I've had lots of lovely dinners, lunches and brunches out. Not sure which to say was the highlight? They were all great. But I guess getting all the kids together for a family catch up is always my favourite. Too rare for my liking but I'm greedy for their time. (And as I said re Lisa Simone, I want them to also have their own lives and happiness, so I try to walk the fine line that works for all of us).
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Been going to music trivia and music bingo. These are such fun ways to get out during the week. With groups or just another friend, it's always a laugh and easy catch up.
My greatest 'little' love - my baby with her baby!
And absolutely last, leaving you with Nina. She really was an extraordinary talent.
A week or so ago, Sammie at Annoyed Thyroid posted about the Emily in Paris walking tour. Now I am ALWAYS happy to look at photos from Paris. I have been sending people to art exhibitions & concerts over there, pleading for photos for decades. I am happy to vicariously travel if I can't do the real deal myself. Even sketch drawings of Paris bring me great joy.
Little surprise it is on my list of favourite places. I went there a lot as a solo traveller, and we had the most wonderful time with two of the kids. It is my favourite city in the world hands down.
My first trip to Europe was to Paris as a 24 year old. I was on my own. I was meant to travel around France but had only prebooked skiing for a week and a visit to my Godmother in the south. I had booked 4 days accommodation in Paris, expecting to move on. Except I didn't. I just kept finding things I wanted to do, and thinking I would move on the day after next. In the end I spent three weeks there. And even so, I didn't make it to the Louvre (though went to many other galleries) and only made it to the Arc de Triomphe the morning of the day I was leaving. I did a LOT in Paris. A lot of tourist things and a lot of local activities. I had the time to explore. I changed hotels to experience different areas, but I still think of the 5th & 6th as 'home' in Paris.
Each trip back to France included a trip to Paris as there was still so much I hadn't seen or done.
Going with the kids made us see it on a different level. So much fun, so much kindness and generosity of spirit in the people towards the kids. It was magical. (But truth be told, I think Paris always is magical - you travel in history and beauty).
My first trip saw me land in Rue Gay-Lussac for a week. I got to know the 5th & 6th very well. I was in the Luxembourg gardens almost daily. So the photos of the walking tour really prompted a flood of memories.
One more than others. Emily's apartment. I walked everywhere when possible (because in Paris there are signs on all the buildings of all the famous people that lived there or resistance fighters shot there or other pieces of history around you). I stumbled across this gorgeous place. I loved it. It was so stunning. So any opportunity I had, I would walk that way to get home.
I have been watching Emily in Paris since the beginning (for the scenery as I find most of the characters infuriating and Emily just obnoxious). Not one time did I make the connection. But seeing Sammie's photo triggered the memory so I had to did it out.
And yes. Years before Emily, I was Emily in Paris. Sort of.
And that is probably why I persist with the show.
I adore the Pantheon. The first time I went there I cried. If you don't know about Jean Moulin, it's a piece of history worth learning. He was an extraordinarily brave man. The building is beautiful and a must see. These were taken between Boxing Day and New Years, I can't remember when the decorations came down, but sometime in January the lights and the Christmas trees disappeared. I think I've been into the Pantheon ever trip to Paris. It's my favourite building in the city. (There is a mural of Jeanne d'Arc and I'm a huge fan of hers too so it ticks a lot of boxes for me).
(Next to it is my favourite church in Paris. Just magical - this shot is taken from the Dome of the Pantheon, I'm not sure if you can still go up there).
I have to include Palais Royale, which also features in Emily in Paris. I went there in the 1994 trip but a few days later it snowed, so I had to go back to take photos. Still one of my favourite memories in Paris.
I apologise for the nostalgia but I had to thank Sammie for the flood of memories her post inspired. And even though we can't really afford it, we are booking a trip next year with our youngest, because she never got to go with the other kids, being in my tummy at the time! You never know, I might do another Then & Now post....
