The joys of walking in the rain

I have been whining about the rain, but a little rain is not too bad. In fact there are some benefits beyond filling our dams and watering the garden.

I greatly enjoyed walking to and from the Comedy festival each night, so that on the night it was raining, I donned a rain coat and did the same.

The street lights sparkled on the road in a way that made the city feel it was washing away it's sins and starting anew.

Because I was keeping my head down, I saw these on footpath.

Taking photos without the correct gear lead to some mistakes that amused me no end.

The BBC wrote this article How rain can make you happier and healthier. While rain makes you walk faster, it also gives you a feeling that you are doing something special or unusual - almost a bit naughty or that you are made of a tougher mettle than most - it releases something in your brain. Or maybe that's just a dopamine hit when you arrive at the dry place? 

That all said, I had planned to walk to the Writers Festival each day but there's far too much rain for that. I'm getting soaked just getting to and from the car!

But my little dog will need her walks each day so there's no avoiding it completely! As the Danes say "There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes".

Linking with #WordlessWednesday #MuralMonday #KeithsRamblings

If I speak of myself in different ways, that is because I look at myself in different ways.” ― Michel de Montaigne, The Complete Essays

If there's one thing we can learn from Kusama, it's to make the most of reflection. Be that the person we see in the mirror or our inner selves. 

Sure there are physical limitations, or flaws, but we can work with them until we see 'more' to it. 

"Behavior is the mirror in which everyone shows their image". Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Dazzle with colour or vibrancy, complicate the image with depths beyond the immediate surface.

Take something small and make it MORE. Amplify your good qualities. Sparkle and shine.

"Hold up a mirror and ask yourself what you are capable of doing, and what you really care about. Then take the initiative - don't wait for someone else to ask you to act." Sylvia Earle

"We have to confront ourselves. Do we like what we see in the mirror? And, according to our light, according to our understanding, according to our courage, we will have to say yea or nay - and rise!" Maya Angelou

Other Kusama photos from the Melbourne exhibition are here.

Linking with #WWWhimsy #TalkaboutitTuesday  #WeekendReflection  #KeithsRamblings #ThruMyLens #TheRandom

Rainy Sydney

Sydney is not at it's best in the rain. We need it but all the lovely things about Sydney dim. We need that sunshine to enjoy the outdoor beauty!

Linking with #WeekendReflection

I've been walking in a raincoat and umbrella, it's dark and cold.

The sun has fought the rain, either appearing sporadically after a down pour or even during it!

Raindrops on roses is not always the joy we are lead to believe.

(Linking with #FloralFridayFoto) 

So far, I've been lucky and the rain has only occasionally stopped what I wanted to do.

However, it has painted the sky at times through the grey.

Fingers crossed it drys up for VIVID - at least in the evenings!

Linking with #MySundaySnapshot #GardenAffair  #WordlessWednesday #TalkaboutitTuesday #NaturesNotes #

One ends and another begins

One what? Season, relationship, job...the list goes one.

The Sydney Comedy Festival ended and the Sydney Writers Festival begins.

I've spent the last month heading to comedy shows all over town with friends. One friend came more times than most, so for our last show, a 9.30 slot, we went for dinner at 20 Chapel in Marrickville.

It really felt liked we'd been in this bubble, an alternate universe for the last four weeks so it did feel appropriate to send off the good times in style. I also got to know this friend a little better, in our relaxed catch ups and bonding over the shows - discussing what we thought of them.

It's interesting, while always about laughter, I found a lot of the comedy shows quite thought provoking on serious subjects. I am hoping the writer's festival is equally engaging.

The writer's festival sent all my 18 tickets in one long PDF, so I spent quite some time saving individually and sending onto the different friends. 

One thing I like about all these festivals, while being great fun and usually low cost entertainment, they're a great way to catch up with a range of different friends. It's easy to fall into habits but these appeal to different groups for me, and it's also great to have outings that don't centre on food or drinks. They are also not necessarily a big time commitment, so usually I was home before 9pm, unless I kicked on to a second show. The Sydney Writer's Festival will be the same for me. 

Do you like going to author talks? Do you think of these types of festivals as 'seasons'?

One of the talks we wanted to go to but missed out on was on Sleep. The author is talking in this podcast, which I found quite interesting. 

#Allseasons linky runs  from Thursday to Wednesday each week. 

Link one post that shows something seasonal. Traditional weather wise, a seasonal nature marker or a seasonal celebration. 

Make sure you link back to this  #AllSeasons post. 

Please comment on the post before yours and the host. Don't dump and run.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

"Peace builds bridges, whereas hatred is the builder of walls. You must decide, in life: either I will make bridges or I will make walls." Pope Francis

 

I am writing this watching Eurovision, early Sunday morning here. There are many barely veiled social commentaries, from an Equality tshirt to the need for music to unite us. 

The Rainbow Map was released this week, and I was quite shocked at how badly Italy and Monaco did on LBGTQI rights and protections, and of course the massive fall by the UK.

I know Australia is not perfect. In recent data, in Australia 68% of LBGTIQA+ employees are not out to everyone at work. As someone form the Inner West in Sydney (righteous, rainbow heartland), I find this incomprehensible the figure is so high! However, I'm guessing I'm blinded by my privilege. No one would query me talking about my husband and no one would yell abuse at us if we walked down the street holding hands. It would never occur to either of us that we needed to pretend we were 'just friends' for safety - in fact as a woman, it's probably safer for me to talk about my husband and sadly more so to walk with him!  This contrasts with the 35% of LBGTIQA+ Australians that have experienced verbal abuse in the last 12 months.

While we have made progress in recent years, with our referendum on Marriage Equality, we can do better. The City of Sydney put out this graphic.

We can all be the stones that build the bridges to unity and equality. 

Back to Eurovision. The voting was crazy! But it is a joyous fun way to forget the troubles of the world and see how much we share with the people of the world, regardless of nationality and our differences.

"Songs are here to help us: they build bridges from heart to heart". Mary Gauthier

My vote went to Estonia...possibly because I was drinking espresso at the time ;)

Linking with #MySundaySnapshot #TheRandom #WaterThursday #WordlessWednesday   #GardenAffair 

(At Rachel, your badge is still flagging as Suspicious Content. Sorry)

The girl I used to be

I titled this photo Self Portrait:Too big for my boots because of what I discussed back in this post - no need to go over that trauma.

I had a melt down when I discovered I was older than Peter Dutton (Seriously, how is that possible?) and a friend said "Age is just a number" but it's not. I seem to be constantly saying goodbye to the girl I used to be. I'm not able to wear certain things or people pat me on the head (seriously) for being at a festival. Please tell your kids not to pat old ladies on the head, it's not the feel good thing they think it is. I feel the disconnect with the people around me. I see it in their eyes or kind smiles. 

As I said goodbye to these shoes, which I used to love and felt very glamorous in, I was sad. They've been in my wardrobe for parties for about 22 years. There's no point in even replacing them as the height would give me back and calf problems the next day.

Don't get me wrong, I loving my life, I do plenty of fun things. I'm working on balance, bone density and flexibility so I can physically keep doing fun things. But there is a physical toll with ageing that I'm very aware of.  And then there's all the changes in life with the kids moving on, which is great (for them) but sad for me. 

I get us all together to play and it makes me SO happy. I love watching them laugh and interact like they used to when they were little, running around joyfully. My little entourage for so many years.  I guess I just miss those days and who they made me.

There is that saying that one day you lift your child and carry them for the last time. But this is everything. One day we do something for the last time and never know it. We are in a constant state of goodbye. Even down to wearing shoes or an outfit for the last time.

"Gather ye rosebuds while ye may" and all that....or my favourite by Benjamin Franklin "Do not squander time, for that's the stuff that life is made of".

The Monkees had a song "The Girl you used to be" but I can't find it so signing off with this one which has nothing to do with anything except I used to love it. And please note, this lady is inspiring me to keep moving and not hold myself back. 

Linking with #TuesdayTwirl (bit less of a smile regarding footwear tho!) 

Street finds

There are two good street libraries on my dog walk so I am constantly seeing what's there and finding books for friends.

I found this one and was today years old when I discovered Casanova was real person who escaped from prison. I always thought he was fictional! 

There is one street library that often has psychology text books in it so I think the post-it's may not be personal, but I love that they left them in the book. I'd never heard of these people or the 8 Passengers vlog but I'll admit I went on a google frenzy and might read the book.

I love that even a book title can broaden your horizons.

While in Melbourne I wandered around early Sunday morning, waiting to meet my friend for breakfast. I discovered this little laneway and decided to follow it in between the buildings.

What was waiting for me were these murals.

Because of the narrowness of the walkway between the buildings it was hard to get the photos but it was really lovely to be surrounded by these gorgeous ladies.

There is joy to be found in the simplest things, if you look.

Linking with #WordlessWednesday #TalkaboutitTuesday #KeithsRamblings #TheRandom #TrafficJamReboot #MuralMondays and #StackingtheShelves #SundaySalon #SundayPost #Bookdate