Hello,

I'm back!

So it has been a minute between blog posts. I wish there was a good reason why, but it really was just life. Life got busy. And I got tired (so tired) And I didn't give much time to anything except crafting and perfecting coffee making. Blogging felt meaningless in relation to my time.

But I have been yearning to write...I script a lot in my mind but it never gets further then that. However I have decided that I need to make time for this blog. In the future I fear that I will loose my photographs to the cloud (as we have many of our kid's childhood photos that were downloaded for save keeping on a hard drive, which no longer works)...so I am going to take this little piece of the internet to post my thoughts, doings and some photos.

Loosing things seems to be a bit of an issue with me at the moment. The most recent 'thing' that I have lost is my freedom. In particular my freedom in relation to my car. And like most things, I didn't know that I had lost it until I found it again...You see my youngest did an amazing thing and got his licence. So I offered him my car, to share mind you. I was playing around with the idea of selling my car and becoming a one car family. Makes perfect sense as I now work from home. But just as I did when I was 17, and had access to freedom, my youngest was never home, neither was my car. I didn't realise how much I loved just gettting in the car to pop to the shops to get milk, post a parcel and to go to the craft shop.

However finally the youngest brought his first car! (This is another story for another time, but lets say he is learning lots of lessons) I became giddy with delight at the idea of my car being available when I wanted it. No more juggling, no more negotiation, no more checking for availability, no more tantrums (all from me, I might add) And realising that I'm not ready to become a one car family.

With this freedom back What would I do? Where would I go? It was then that I remembered, I used to go to the beach

...Years ago when the kids were in primary school and I had one delicious day off DayCare a week I would go to the beach (as long as this coincided with the husband's work roster of course) and I would walk and I would swim and I would just love that time. But, I had forgotten this!! How could I forget? But then I remembered, life became complicated, mum got sick and I spent the days that I could with her, and then the beach just became the place we would visit for holidays.

So I was excited, I planned my morning the night before. I had an appointment and food shopping that had to be done, so I thought I would pop down to the beach after that and go for a walk. But I forgot (again) that it was school holidays, it was the first day of the spring holidays and it was glorious. And I could not get anywhere near the beach. A quick look as I drove past was all I could see. I had to park in the city, and this was the closest I got to the water; the harbour. Not the same as the beach.

However I decided to take a walk in the city. I stopped in at one of the cafe's owned by the loveliest neighbour who stops by my coffee van. We chat about lots of things, and although she wasn't in the cafe, it felt great to support her shop. I then had a walk down the main street. Gosh it has changed since high school days when we would take the train and bus to the beach and walk along the street until we reached McDonalds.

While I was walking, my eldest rang, and we chatted as I walked. It was lovely, it was kind of like she was there with me.

So I learnt my lesson, leaving earlier was the key, no more jobs first. Me first. The following week I left early after feeding the pup and the chickens and ducks. I popped on an Audio book; The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks - very good and it was good trip. As I got closser to Newcastle it started to rain. But I would not turn my car around. I was determined. And I was so glad I did.

The coastal walk had (finally) been extended... the beaches were quiet and the sea was rough and grey.

But I did not mind, not at all. The whales were out, it seemed like they were waving, just to me. The walk was nearly 5 kilometers and I loved it.

Today, I repeated the experience, but this time. The weather was perfect! I saw a pod of dolphins, whales and the sparkles on the water. How I love the sparkles.

I was able to walk to the Boogie Hole. I have never seen the Boogie Hole in my life. The water was crystal clear, I could have stayed for hours. But I walked back to Nobbies and got a coffee. And I sat on the steps and I had my coffee and banana bread, and I did not hurry home. I just sat and I watched, and I loved it.

Next week I have already decided that I will take my swimmers. It was getting quiet warm by 10o'clock. The ocean baths has been updated and had a bit of a make over.

Already I am looking forward to it.

It really feels like I am finding pieces of myself again. What a relief.

Till Next time {I hope}

Melissa