Nothing gets on my goat more…….

On December 4, 2016December 5, 2016 By oceangirl63In Food, Musings, Uncategorized6 Comments

Part II – Eat, Drink, Love Chicago…….

As lovely as the architecture in this cloud scraping city is, Chicago is also an epicureans delight. Here you will hit the absolute mother load in terms of great restaurants and great bars.

In Newcastle there is a saying and that is – ‘there isn’t a pub on every corner but every pub is on a corner’. Well in Chicago, it can be stated this – ‘there really is a bar on every corner!’

Hip and beautiful cocktail bars, cosy or noisy bars, lounge bars, dive bars (always a favorite of mine), sip wine and eat charcuterie and pate and elegant cheese platter bars, slick bars, sports bars, roof top bars – a perfect accompaniment for summer, outdoor bars, old world bars and coffee bars……yes, there are such things as coffee bars and they will serve you up wonderful hand roasted bean water to perfection. And Chicago really does do great coffee!

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Beer, and in particular craft beers, are big in Chicago. As with most places in the world the craft beer industry has really taken off but sometimes you just want to go a little old school. You want to find a beloved watering hole, faded and as well-worn as your granddads favorite old slippers. So how do you find the perfect old school Ale house amid the thousands of Ale houses in Chicago and its neighborhoods! Well that’s easy. You just need to look up.

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Above the door-ways of most good Ale houses you will find either a flashing vintage neon sign or look for a wooden swinging ‘ye olde’ sign. These places tend to be real Chicago gems and I think if anyone ever tried to change or modernise these places into a hip gastro-pub then there would probably be rioting on the streets. I love that much of the original charm and nostalgia of these places remains.

Quite often the guy behind the bar with the large white tea-towel draped across his shoulder is, by rule of thumb, the one who owns it. These guys are genuine and down to earth and have an ancestry which dates back decades of tough working class immigrant families. Their history, by way of old black and white photographs, adorn the walls of their establishments and these photos tell stories of many years passed.

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I guess you really have to admire a place that greets you with a warning sign as soon as you step through the door………….

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The Billy Goat Tavern is a place you are either going to love or run screaming from. Grab a seat at the bar as this is the perfect place to people watch while you chow down on your cheezborger. And here’s the thing……..the cheezborger is so simple but ridiculously good. The tavern is located under Michigan Avenue so it can be a little hard to find but everyone who lives or works in Chicago knows where this place is and they can tell you how to get there. billy-goat-tavern1

This is where, on a good night (or day) or both, you can chug handles of warmish beer and eat humble cheezborgers ’til your heart’s content all while chatting with the locals, the newspaper journalists from papers such as the Chicago Tribune, old guys, old sports guys, the occasional D grade celeb and tourists.

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Now truth be told, this place isn’t for everyone. People come in, look around then very often (and hastily) take their leave. But if you are up for some local history, a good ‘borger’ (and my tip for that would be to go the two patty) and if you don’t have a shitty attitude…….and honestly, nothing gets on my goat more than a whiny negative attitude!! then you will be most welcome and you will have a great time.

Sometimes when it comes to food, I have little resistance. Please note that dark chocolate (always 70% and over) and ice-cream should never be placed in arms reach of me plus I am a sucker for hot chips and gravy. But in Chicago we found the real Holy Grail Trinity of food:

The Legendary Deep Dish Pizza – Chicago’s most iconic of big cheesy food.
The Authentic Chicago Style Hot Dog – an all-beef frankfurter on a bun which has been sprinkled with poppy seeds and stuffed with fresh tomato, onions, sport peppers, a pickle spear, drizzled with yellow mustard and finished with a dusting of celery salt.
The Italian Beef Sandwich – heaven!

No fancy pants dining or airs and graces required because this food will hold its own. Just great Chicago food where little more needs to be said other than these will be some of the best things you will ever eat…….and this is coming from someone who is not ‘big’ on pizza. I guess perhaps that’s just the comfort of food sometimes.

You will also find rib sticking Polish food, fantastic smokehouses, sandwich shops which are no ordinary sandwich shops, popcorn shops given popcorn is Illinois’ official snack food and it fabulously comes covered in cheese and caramel, iconic steak houses, roasted pig face….hello and more deli’s than you could ever imagine.

Life is so much more than your little microcosm of the world. It won’t always be perfect and sometimes it won’t work out the way you planned but do make every single wonderful moment of it count and in the mean time……. eat, drink and love where ever you are xx.

Love is the real nuclear bomb that destroys all our enemies, because when we love all living beings, we have no enemies……..Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

First stop, Chicago Illinois…….

On November 23, 2016November 26, 2016 By oceangirl63In Musings, Travel8 Comments

“I just flew in from the windy city. The windy city is mighty pretty…….”

I had always thought the name ‘Windy City’, a tag used to describe Chicago, was due to the bleak and frigid gusts which must come off Lake Michigan during Winter. According to the Chicago Historical Society however, that now famous moniker came about from an observation made in the late 19th century of windbag politicians blustering hot air! Hmmmm, I guess not a lot has changed since those days but one thing I will say is this! Chicago is one hell of town!

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I love cities. I love being in them and I love living in them. For me, cities hold extraordinary beauty and a thrum of inexplicable energy which almost feels like a heart beat. I am however, very mindful of the fact that cities, for all their allure can be as fickle and as harsh as a foe and for some, and this is particularly true of the homeless, they can be a cold, unforgiving and often brutal place. No doubt some big cities are difficult locations for one to find their feet or their rightful place in life and everyone, no matter their circumstance, are deserving of that one small mercy………

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The city of Chicago is world class and well set out. And the best way to appreciate it! Well that would be on foot. Chicago really is the perfect city for walkers. There are a couple of very good designated walks to take including the ‘Magnificent Mile’ and ‘The Loop’. The ‘Magnificent Mile’ is an easy walk beginning at the Michigan Avenue Bridge then encompassing the Chicago River, towers and buildings, retailers, landmarks, restaurants, the famous Billy Goat Tavern (more on that little gem later), the John Hancock Center and it ends at the shoreline of Lake Michigan.

‘The Loop’ runs through the heart of Chicago’s downtown financial hub. This walk begins on Jackson Boulevard and takes you through the labyrinth of densely packed commercial buildings, skyscrapers and architectural history and ends in the theatre district near Washington Street.

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The people of Chicago are easy to like. They are friendly, generous and very proud of their city and rightly so. They have a nice blend of non-arrogant swagger, a grounding of blue-collar edginess and a little uber cool white-collar hustle. The real draw-card however, are those towering skyscrapers.

These massive structures punctuate the skyline with their steel, glass and granite. There is a mix of stunning Art Deco exteriors, modern and post modern facades, Gothic splendor and iconic and elegant structures. Some buildings, including their stair-cases, elevators and fire-escapes are graced with the most beautifully ornamental ironwork. It is timeless, elegant and very intricate and these buildings alone are well worth seeking out.

Chicago Fire Escapes

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These massive silhouettes cast an impressive shadowy gloom and this is especially true on very cold days but almost all of the buildings are floodlit in a perfect golden glow from dusk until dawn. One building in particular, the Art Deco inspired Merchandise Mart, with its 372,000 squares of interior space was so large when first built in the 1930’s it even had its own postcode (zip code).

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This city is architectural splendor at its very best and although you can appreciate it all from the relative safety of the pavement you really do need to go up. And when I say up, I mean nothing under 90 floors. Up in the clouds you not only get a birds eye view but you will also get up close and very personal with Chicago. Most skyscrapers have offered to open their top floors to the public and from these vantage points there is no better way to see this city.

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Frank Sinatra said it best when he sang ‘My kind of town. Chicago is, my kind of town…….’ so grab an Old Fashion (or seven), sit back and enjoy the view. The sky really is the limit in this stunning city……. xx

‘Gimme a Bullet’……….

On November 15, 2016November 20, 2016 By oceangirl63In Travel, Uncategorized6 Comments

I am sitting in the lovely Spring sunshine tapping away at the key board in the company of the little cat while listening to some old AC/DC tracks. And by old, I mean tracks that originally came out on vinyl in the 70’s kids.

I guess everyone has a song which connects them, defines a moment in their life or makes them a fan of a band and this particular AC/DC song ‘Gimme a Bullet’ from the Powerage album of 1978 is that for me. It will be on the soundtrack of my life……well pretty much anything from the early days of AC/DC with Bon Scott on lead vocals would make it as these songs forge moments of happiness, nostalgia and a juncture of rock-chickiness.

My favorite AC/DC album cover…..

My lovely morning also began with an early surf. Although I have two really great boards and a nipper board I decided to take my old and rather battered boogie board out for a run. I had forgotten how much fun this little board is but I did initially take a couple of pretty good nose dives until I got back into the swing of it. Slight compression mark to my board and major dent to my ego 🙂

While out in that glorious surf I let my mind wander and it led to my blog. You see I have a little niggling issue with it and that is, I have posts sitting on the back-burner. These posts are ones to be written about the countries and places we visited during our return home to Australia from the USA.

I have let these stories stagnate without offering them their rightful and very deserving place on my blog. I find as time passes my memories of these places have not faded. There were far too many immense, far too many lovely and far too many majestic happenings not write about them. All of these places, the adventures and the memories such as the incredible beauty of Prince William Sound, the cat voted Mayor of a township, spam – the spiced meat in a can variety not the unsolicited internet type, the velvety antler of the moose and how to slurp soba noodles in a dingy Tokyo café all deserve acknowledgement.

I guess sometimes you just have to make that leap. It will not be an easy place to re-visit given it moved us into the shadow of grief and despair but there comes a time where you have to just jump right on in. And when you take that mighty leap, jump with all your heart and whether you stick your landing or not it doesn’t matter a dot.

I could not help but wonder too that in writing the next lot of posts it will beget that which is so often lost in social media. I know when used for all the right reasons that social media can be an impressive tool. It can highlight injustice, it can jolt the social conscience, hope can vanquish pessimism and it has the power to make the world fall in love with something all of which, are not so bad in my book.

I can say too that 18 months on and a minor weight has lifted. Life after all, continues on. Grief can be a terrible place to find yourself but it doesn’t mean you have to live there forever. The past can never be changed or erased and what happens….well that just happens. So until my next post I hope you spend a little time doing that which nourishes your soul and brings you joy.

Be mindful, be grateful and be kind. Happy days all………xx

Ukulele Baby…….

On October 27, 2016October 28, 2016 By oceangirl63In Newcastle NSW, Newkulele Festival Newcastle NSW, outrigging, ukulele5 Comments

It was a cold and grey Spring morning that broke with an awful lot of rain squalling about. Perfect weather for ducks and for the potted herbs and plants I am growing on the balcony but not so much for skulking around in. Now normally on a Saturday morning if the weather is like this, and unless I was going outrigging, I would have had little desire to get out of my warm bed but in another part of Newcastle, a lovely ray of sunshine was about to break and it was called the Newkulele Festival.

This is a festival dedicated entirely to the ukulele. How perfectly wonderful because apart from my passion for yodeling and velvet paintings from the early 1970’s, I also adore the ukulele. I have owned a uke for many years. Even before it was hip to do so. When I first became acquainted with this dear little accoutrement I felt as though I had run a marathon, eaten an entire block of chocolate and simultaneously met the love of my life…….which it turned out I had!

I find the ukulele charming and it’s a lot of fun. It is quite easy to learn to play as there are only four strings so once you master the basic chords along with a bit of basic strumming technique, you are pretty much on your way. Thing is, it does require a little skill and a lot of practice to play the ukulele well.

I am not often one to acknowledge my abilities however I do recognise my once barely there playing skills have improved considerably over the years. I haven’t had lessons but I do have a handbook and I also watch the occasional video on YouTube about playing. I just prefer to noodle away on my own, often in the company of Zoe, or I’ll strum along to a tune or ten which crackle out from my old transistor radio set to the Golden Oldies station. I even wrote two songs on my ukulele. Hey, I never said they were good. The first one I wrote about 10 years ago was for Gus and the other was a little jazzy number about insomnia. I should point out I cannot sing. I have the most terrible voice and I am, for the absolute life of me, unable to hold a tune or sing in key. Mere technicality though.

This is how I think I look playing the ukulele…….

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This is probably how I really look……..

The Newkulele Festival ran work shops for beginners to advanced players, singing and harmony sessions, finger picking, ukulele arranging, swing hokum and ragtime lessons, rock and roll and simple chord progression. You could even book in to make your own ukulele. There were stalls and market stalls where you could try out and buy a new uke. I mean really, why have one when you could have seven.

There was a youth stage and a main marquee for day and night gigs which saw some of the best of local and international acts. Ukulele teachers shared information, lessons and strumming secrets and then there was my favorite. The open mic.

No doubt this was the best part of the festival for me. A ‘first timers session’ where everyone, no matter who they were or what their level of skill got up and performed. Egos, worries and hipster attitudes were all left at the door and everyone in the bistro bar at the Newie Jockey club just rooted for each performer. Don’t you love the power of positive and encouraging attitudes. Stray cats, alley cats, hep cats, stolen kisses, rainbows, original songs and covers, a little base a little blues and little rock and roll, love and riptides were all strummed plus there was even a moment of yodeling. Oh happy days!

You know, sometimes I can feel a little like a five-legged pony in a field of thoroughbreds and I would dearly love to have had the confidence to get up and play. I don’t nor have I ever performed with other ukulele players, for others or in front of others with the exception of my cats so therein lies a slight problem. Who knows though, perhaps one day I will. After all, stranger things have been known to happen.

Ukulele players are a bit of a quirky lot too and never in one place will you see so much floral or colourful print outside of Hawaii or such happy, soul beautiful and carefree people. You always see a happy face on a uke player. My thought would be that this is because there is a high string at the top and the bottom of your ukulele so whether you strum up or down you will always end on high (and happy note). The ukulele is also a very agreeable travelling companion so here is a great tip – never leave home without your ukulele! I left mine in Australia when I went to live in America and deeply regretted that decision. It was however, one very happy moment of unpacking it two years later though.

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The ukulele originated in Hawaii and luckily I not only discovered outrigging while there last year, but I also found myself smack bang in ukulele heaven. Quite simply there is nothing more comforting than the smell of coconut oil, rum cocktails served in tiki heads and being surrounded by ukuleles. And if you want to buy a ukulele then this probably the place to be. Every shop in Hawaii sells them but if you want a better quality one and not just a toy souvenir, then don’t buy from the larger souvenir shops such as Hilo Hattie, ABC or Whalers General.

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I found a beautiful little ukulele while in Hawaii. Vintage and perfectly pre-loved. I picked it up. I put it down. I strummed it and I plucked its faultless strings. It had a lovely sound and it sat perfectly in my hands and against my body. I worried about the wood ……just a little. I worried about not buying it….an awful lot. I wanted it more than anything but I let it go and I have been kicking myself ever since. Perhaps, it really is just all about holding on and letting go…….. or heading back to Hawaii to buy it.

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This is a 1928 pineapple ukulele. Do I want one. Yes! Do I need one. Oh absolutely!!

Sadly, we are going to have to wait another two years for the festival to come back around to Newcastle. In the meantime though, it will give you a chance to discover the ukulele if you haven’t already done so and it will also give me the opportunity to perfect the riff from AC/DC’s Thunderstruck.

There really is just something quite lovely about this little flea that brings joy and happiness and sometimes, you can’t ask for more than that. So here’s hoping your week is full of good music, kindness and anything else that makes you feel pretty wonderful ……..xx

Nearer my donut to thee…….

On September 21, 2016November 5, 2016 By oceangirl63In Newcastle NSW, outrigging11 Comments

It is almost 12 am and I’m propped up in bed with the sweet little cat for company while trying to catch up on my blog. Hold up like this I have the mood of a convalescing character in a Bronte novel, but this really is a lovely time. It is dark, quiet and peaceful, save for the occasional rattle of the glass in my bedroom window thanks to a low pressure system which moved across our coastline earlier this evening. I have just discovered too the difficulty in compelling one’s self to write something for a blog post, especially about nothing in particular. So given this, I will just concentrate on the past week or so which has been kind of big.

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As I write this post I realise too that I have somehow slid very nicely in to my 50’s not at all feeling my age. At this moment I am alert, happy and feeling a little invincible but that could also be due to the fact I was outrigging on the harbour again earlier this evening. And hand on heart I will say this – outrigging by moonlight is pretty darn wonderful! Below you, inky deep water of the channels and above, a huge slice of a stunning night sky. The evening air of Newcastle port, one of the largest and busiest working harbours in the world, smells deeply of the ocean too and little more. With over 90 million tonnes of coal shipped throughout the year and also being the passage for many large tankers and ships, it is undoubtedly an incredibly healthy and stunning waterway.

It really is a lovely time to be out but it is also bloody hard work. Outrigging is challenging and physically demanding and holy cats, have I had some sore muscles and blisters to prove it. It does however, drive me out of my comfort zone and it also necessitates me to mix again with others. Not something most of my readers will appreciate, I relish with any enthusiasm. Nevertheless, it is a worthy marker by which to test myself as outrigging appears to make one strong in so many ways. Perhaps too it will also offer the opportunity to smooth down some of my occasional sharp edges and be the grease to loosen my often disquiet gears.

I first became aware of outrigging when in Hawaii last year after seeing the canoes drawn up on the sand. Later that afternoon, I watched a group of men paddle one out but did not know that things would move and gather to where I would find myself in an outrigger almost 14 months later.

I have discovered there is real discipline to this sport and a beauty within the liquid flowing movement required to pull the outrigger through the water. It is the succinct union of mind and body, not always easily accomplished, which demands my attention to just being present, digging that paddle in and powering on. I am learning much and I am deeply appreciative and respectful of my very tolerable and accomplished instructors as I am of the established yet welcoming paddlers already in the group.

Outrigging it seems, has become a notable fever that cannot be cooled even from the occasional dousing thrown up by the bow waves of the passing tug-boats or ferry or as with tonight, when a fortuitous thunderstorm drenched us to the bone. I am yet to encounter one of the massive tankers while out on the water but perhaps fate will see our paths cross in the not to distant future. In the mean time though, it’s about finding what you enjoy and just doing that……which brings me to donuts!

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Now they say it takes 21 days to make or break a habit and I am about to put that theory to the test as I have eaten more than my fair share of donuts lately. To say I have over-indulged would be an understatement so given this, I am about attempt a little detox or if my resolve holds, a very good shot at complete abstinence from my donut addiction.

You see I love donuts. Donuts are both my comfort food and my go to celebration food. My donuts however, as with most things, must meet some very strict criteria:

They must be served hot,
They must be rolled in cinnamon sugar once straight out of the boiling fat and the all-important third requirement,
They must only come from Donut King.

And here is an interesting fact about donuts. They are far healthier for you than crack cocaine.

The realisation of my donut affliction has been acutely pricked as recently I have experienced the joy of celebration and the sorrow of loss. Changes are a foot and there had been some small but niggling worries which dogged my week. The insensitive and intrusive use a mobile phone camera being one of them.

Mal, I have learned too is leaving to live in Queensland. Notice of his impending departure has not sat easily with me. Mal became my surf buddy after we met on a rock platform at Cowrie Hole shortly after my return from the USA earlier this year. Although his lack of fondness for dairy and coffee is highly questionable, I will miss his good company. We have a month and a half remaining so cometh those beautiful early morning waves.

On a sadder note, handsome and gentle Bozo Bob has gone. Bozo Bob was an incredibly sweet and lovely old dog who I had been walking for an elderly gentle man Mac. This dear dog with his slow and waddling gait won himself plenty of fans and he was a treasured old boy to many. I have such great affection for animals and I much prefer their company to that of humans any day. That’s not a bad thing, it’s just the way I am. People very often disillusion however animals expect nothing more than the commonality of genuine kindness, love and quiet respect.

Bozo’s life could no longer be sustained. To say it was a heartbreaking moment is trivial because the loss of a companion is never easy. The silence of his soul leaving was deafening but it is the sound of sorrow which has filled the cavernous hole his quiet loss created that is most undeniable. It is understated in the extreme to say Bozo is missed but I have profound empathy for Mac as he is suffering greater pain and sorrow than I at this moment.

We took Bozo Bob’s ashes to Horseshoe Bay early this morning and we let the gentle tide carry him out for one last swim. Standing with Mac on the sand I felt that strange mix of love and deep sorrow which seems to so intricately weave itself around those left behind. I realised too while standing there, that Bozo had a wonderful life where he was deeply loved and cherished which is something all beings should experience during their lifetime. Therein, I truly appreciate the importance of living a meaningful and almost breathtaking life and accept as heartwarming, a passing.

I don’t want to make any grand sentimental statements about loss because it affects everyone very differently but to me loss and heartache are very much like a dull bruising of ones’ spirit. A penance of sorts that will sear its pain so deeply and acutely that you cannot forget it is there. Death is one of life’s certainties and the loss initiated by it often drives me to seek answers. Loss and death are unavoidable in life and when that moment comes and is narrowed to its very sharpest of points, relinquishment of that soul is the only grace by which to move forward with.

Though there have been difficulties, they have sat side by side many other good things. I had some work published in an anthology collection. Viewing my work in print profoundly humbles yet it also bestows a deep yearning that is driving me to work much harder toward something I truly want to accomplish……and I will.

I also witnessed the immense goodness of people at a rally in Sydney to end live export. The merciless reality of this industry is not inescapable yet out of such enormous cruelty, inhumanity and brutal lack of compassion for animals came the elegant and strong voices for justice, comfort and reason. Always fight for what you believe in no matter the consequence!

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I know whatever life throws at me I will always come out on the side of optimism and hope. Life will always hold with it loss, challenges and sadness but with that also comes so very much to be grateful for. Solace will beckon from your acknowledgement that you have had and will continue to have wonderful experiences, good people coming into your life, amazing opportunities, wonderful friendships and many donuts and from this alone, the elegance of gratitude and love will win out every time.

For me, the real beauty in any challenge or the change it brings is that you will find the person who begins a journey is never the same one to end it. We all experience difficulties and challenges but it is what we do with these hurdles that determines who we are and who we become. I am certainly not the same woman who set foot back on Australian soil earlier this year. I know I am far more resilient and I am strong. I have had the very great privilege of knowing and returning from what others fear most but more importantly, I no longer limit what my true possibilities are.

And from what I thought to be nothing much at all came a blog post and on that note, we will say goodnight and wish the world the very sweetest of dreams……. xx

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The first day of Spring and the earth sighs with beauty…….

On September 1, 2016September 10, 2016 By oceangirl63In Uncategorized6 Comments

The eternal enchantment of Spring is finally here after a rather cold winter. For good reason this lovely seasonal change, akin to natures renaissance, is universally admired by so many. It is almost like a promise of beautiful things to come such as ducklings and sun-showers, spring fevers and fragrant blooms. It is also toward the end of Spring when the whales will return.

Everything with Spring seems lighter, brighter and more lovely. Jeans and heavy coats, woolen jumpers and knitted scarves have all been relegated to the back of the wardrobe and my light and pretty vintage dresses have once again taken their rightful place toward the front.

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The sun is shining a little more warmly, the skies are lapis blue, buds will burst into colour and the birds are happy with song. This really is about rejuvenation, renewal and new beginnings.

Happy Spring everyone……..xx

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A kick up the arts…….

On August 19, 2016August 19, 2016 By oceangirl63In Uncategorized6 Comments

Although we are a nation known for sun, sand and surf we can still deliver up some pretty impressive winter weather. And it has been a cold winter this year. Much colder than I have ever experienced it to be in Australia with good dustings of snow here and there. I guess it is mother natures gentle reminder that we are not just a country of baking hot days, deeply tanned summer skin and bone dry lands.

That said however, the days on the whole have been quite lovely and it was on one of these days with the sky ever so blue and the snow clouds having slung themselves low over the Blue Mountain ranges, that we headed for a little place tucked away amongst almost 43 acres of Australian bush at Faulconbridge – The Norman Lindsay Gallery and Museum.

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This lovely time capsule, preserved in near original condition, is an unflinching look at art, history and an avant-garde lifestyle long since passed. Although considered controversial and often a provocateur to the morals and standards of middle class society during his time, Lindsay was and is regarded as one of Australia’s greatest artists.

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Prolific and extraordinarily talented this wonderfully contentious man worked with water colour, ink, pencil and oils. He was a sculptor of both bronze and concrete, a cartoonist, a social commentator and an inventor. He wrote several novels during his time including the wonderful Australian classic The Magic Pudding which he brilliantly illustrated. Lindsay was also an etcher, a visionary, a boxer and an accomplished builder of the most intricate model boats built exactly to scale.

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Though living part of his life through a decadent period it was also the era of indigence, poverty stricken artists and the depression. There was no electricity, no telephone and no ease of life and nor were there most of the luxuries we experience today but it was during this time Lindsay managed to produce an enormous body of work.

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This collective is run by the National Trust and it is a living treasure with gardens, paths, fountains, the original sandstone home, art work on display, the painting studio, etching studio, sculptures and abundant fauna and flora. The oil painting studio Lindsay used has been preserved as it was at the time of his death at the age of almost 91 with unfinished oil paintings and the materials he used on display.

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This place will fill your eyes, your mind and your heart with delight and there are moments where you may find the sheer beauty of his work could actually dissolve you in to a pool of tears. It is also one of the few galleries where you are allowed the privilege (and great pleasure) of running your hands over these beautiful sculptures. These slightly weathered creations are still as lustrous as they were when first produced and to caress the curves, swells and rounded forms feels so damn good.

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Lindsay’s home has been lovingly preserved and it serves as the gallery which displays much of his work. It is a privilege to view his glorious works of beautifully solid yet lithe bodies and as you study the art work you will start to see the familiar and elegant faces of his favorite muses.

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Guided tours are available and I highly recommend taking one as the volunteer guides are knowledgeable and passionate. These tours also allow you access to his studio and the etching room. Other than that you can wander the grounds at your leisure, admire his beautiful art work of gorgeous nudes or take a moment or two to enjoy the café.

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There are many and varied things which I love and admire. Quality baked goods, yodeling and the unattractive babies depicted in Renaissance paintings are just a small few. You see art is objective and very personal and there is no right or wrong to what you like or do not like.

Faulconbridge is a lovely place to visit. You will be enriched by this journey and you don’t even have to be a lover of art to enjoy it……..xx

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* The Norman Lindsay Museum and Gallery is located at 14 Norman Lindsay Cres, Faulconbridge New South Wales

Colour Me Happy – the ‘Street Art Walk’ of Katoomba…….

On August 6, 2016August 9, 2016 By oceangirl63In Uncategorized6 Comments

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Located west of Sydney, lovely Katoomba with its backdrop of the spectacular World Heritage listed Blue Mountains, steep streets, art deco buildings and heritage homes is one of the most popular mountain townships in New South Wales. It is here you will also find an emerging and very impressive restaurant subculture, hip wine bars, fab op shops, a vibrant community and …………street art!

There is something about street art that I absolutely love. Perhaps it is the visual impact or the fact I adore the slightly rebellious undertone of it all but I do know that wherever I am in the world I seek this sort of work out.

I tend to like big mural works, pieces and stencils and I am now also discovering ‘yarn bombing’. A granny graffiti of sorts which I find rather sweet. Creative knitters and crocheters who will cover pretty much anything with wool, cotton thread or twine.

And in Katoomba, with brick and concrete as their canvases, passionate and creative artists along with the support of the Blue Mountains community have created a dynamic street art gallery. This visually stunning space is located right in the heart of Katoomba and it has seemingly transformed a once grim urban landscape with color, vibrancy and thought provoking beauty.

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Street art has become a global phenomenon and I really do believe there is a depth of cultural significance and great worth to this clever, entertaining, often powerful and engaging work. A unique open air gallery for all to enjoy and where selfless street artists, no longer marginalised or vilified, freely offered up their work. And when you think about it, that really does have a lovely sense of karma to it…………

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Recently in Newcastle we lost a stunning piece of street art by artist Guido Van Helton. I saw this work easily three times a week and loved the beauty of it and the fact it reminded me of crumpled paper. Naturally I ask the question ?, as do many……..

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We are coming to end of winter here in Australia and I viewed the Katoomba work on a bitterly cold and wind swept day. Standing under a brittle grey sky I realised over time this work will no doubt erode or fade due to the influence of our severe and unforgiving Australian elements but such is the ephemeral nature of this sort of art.

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In the meantime though……. touch it, see it, appreciate it, photograph it and be coloured happy by these works of art which have breathed life into a previously neglected and unappealing city area.

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**Open all hours and free, the Street Art Walk is located at Beverly Place Katoomba**

With a rainy and cold winters evening upon us I am about to settle in with the sweet little Zoe cat, a glass of red and begin to unravel the history of yarn bombing. Cheers to a bit of knit one purl one………xx

This imperfect girl…….

On July 22, 2016August 27, 2016 By oceangirl63In Uncategorized24 Comments

It seems so much of our lives is ruled by time or the lack thereof, and again time has sped from me as swiftly as an arrow. Mindfulness sees me acknowledging that once again it has been a while since my last blog post as I find I have been again all consumed by what I have on my plate. For me, immersion can often be a difficult place to navigate back from and maybe I just need to spend more time on that which is most important and less on the small insignificant stuff. A day spent sitting around in my undies, relaxed and reading tweets from the Dali Lama could possibly be just what I need!

It would also be safe to say the previous week or so has been an absolute bastard. Something continues to eat at my very last strands of hope and because of this strange alchemy, the past weeks have been challenging. You will never understand how much something will affect and continue to affect you until the falsehoods and utter deceit of it all completely destroys you and your reputation. And with that devastation comes terrible sorrow and despair. An immense bruising of ones very spirit which sears its path so cleanly and deeply that you believe it to be a near impossibility to ever overcome.

This has also been an extremely difficult post to write but I have written it and I have written it from my very heart. For some, it will not be an easy post to read either but I make no apologies for that. There is no shame in what I have written but an indication I am writing what I need to say and I do not have to justify this action to anyone.

Given all this, the weather today is quite lovely. The sky is impossibly blue and the winter sun warm so I am taking a moment or two just to appreciate the beauty of this small moment. Along with scratching out the bones of this blog post I am also about to enjoy what I believe will be a very good coffee. This coffee I have happily discovered, is not for the faint of heart and I swear I have sprouted 15 chest hairs just looking at it. I like this quirky little off beat place too and although busy, it is often a sanctuary of sorts for me. Today though, due to the intensity and loud distraction of a conversation between two younger men seated not far from me, I am left to over-hear their exchange which is something I do not normally appreciate.

The subject of their conversation is the project they are both about to embark upon. Their plan is to each write a letter, however this is no ordinary letter as it is going to be written to their very younger selves.

Now I thought this an odd concept and I could not help but wonder what the advantage would be to you as an adult to document your thoughts to a much younger self. Would the transcript proffer wisdom learnt or was it done to prepare or warn oneself of impending doom. Could a letter save you the heartbreak of unrequited love or save you the embarrassment of a mullet which no doubt will take you almost 7 months to grow out……if in fact you choose to grow it out at all! Prepared or not, could this letter just simply offer you an easier passage through the obstacles, complications and hurdles of life which we all must face.

I finished my coffee and as I stuffed my notebook into the back pocket of my jeans I started to think more about their project and I wondered what on earth I would write or say to my much younger self if given the opportunity. I could probably tell her – ‘buy a bedazzler and the original Star Wars figures because a company called Ebay is coming’ or ‘on that sultry day in Bali when your gut instinct says – do not venture into the monkey forest – listen to it! And perhaps with whimsy, I could even say – ‘there are a lot of difficult and complicated things ahead in your life but please don’t let love be one of them…….’

But what would I really say. What could be something of worth which I truly knew would guide her through the very difficult times ahead, and these times were certainly coming. I still wasn’t sure there was anything much to offer but later, while watching the newly born seal pup at the break-wall and my heart warm with affection, I knew I would lay my soul bare and say this………

As much as I would like, I cannot sugar coat any of this for you:

You are going to hurt and be hurt. Read everything you can get your hands on and one day thank your Nana for the blessing of the time she took in teaching you to read. You will be grateful, optimistic and kind. You will be inquisitive and sensitive. You are going to be a little different from everyone else and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

You will love the ocean with such a passion your heart will actually ache when you are not in it or near it. You are and will be far braver and stronger than you will ever know. You will have your heart broken. Know your worth!

You will be painfully shy and some will mistake this for aloofness or as being impersonal or cold but that could not be further from the truth. There really is a beautiful promise around every corner. You will find your voice and passionately use it to defend those without one. Your best friend (they purported) and someone whom you trusted will betray you in the worst possible way! You will travel much and see and do amazing things in this wonderful world. Never stop reading and never stop travelling. Through the influence, unkindness and brutal weakness of others you will be ostracized at one stage later in your life by people you thought loved or cared for you – understand this says far more about them than it does you. They need to own their own shit so let them!

Trust your intuition always for it will serve you well. You will see and appreciate joy and beauty even in the most difficult of times. You will be happy, almost obsessively private and you will harbor a will of titanium. Say I love you, just damn well learn to say those words. You will allow people to treat you like shit – god I wish you knew this and you knew even now not to let it happen!

With the grace of years and refinement of wisdom you will come to understand and appreciate the lesson of forgiveness. You will worry, you will stress but just don’t worry about the small stupid stuff you cannot change. You will have two major battles in your life both of which you will overcome. You will be perplexing. Let go of the people who do not deserve you but do hang on to those who do. You will not grow tall….….I am sorry to have to break that to you.

Toward the end of January 2016 you will be at your absolute lowest point ever. Alone, excluded, disparaged and pushed beyond your very limit you will put the barrel of a gun to your temple. Even though you believe all hope has surely been lost to you do not pull the trigger. There is far more courage in not doing so. Do not allow them an easy way out and understand this – the ruthlessness inflicted by them and an organization does not define you or your life and it never will!

Most importantly though, you are going to be okay. I know you don’t actually believe that now living your life with your family in that odd weatherboard house in Queensland, but you really are going to be just fine little one. So step away from all you were raised with and all you are told to believe is right. Ignore it for you alone will figure it out and you will do just great. I know you can’t even imagine making it to your mid fifties because that must seem like a million years and million miles away from here and plus you will do some pretty calamitous (although I like to refer to them as ‘adventurous’) things of which you probably should not have survived but you did so cherish and use this life wisely. Be good but don’t just do good. Do bloody amazing.

But the greatest thing you will come to understand is that there is nothing more important than your dignity, kindness, self-respect and compassion and the passing of time will always reveal who has it and who does not. Stay true to yourself and stay true to your beliefs and values no matter what for you have a mighty big and amazing life ahead. Love it! Live it!

And in the end, even a bad day or a bad week is actually a very, very good one……….xx

Take a hike……..

On July 6, 2016July 10, 2016 By oceangirl63In Uncategorized11 Comments

Where has the time gone! Another week has seemingly slipped by and we are already seven months into the year. It has been a while since my last blog post too (thank you for the gentle reminder Kenneth) and although I am accomplishing much, the days are ending far too quickly.

I have been getting a little snowed under lately too with ‘doing’ so I thought I would take some time for a little Zen ………and a smattering of meaningful gratitude never goes astray. So with a ‘no work and no commitments’ day on the agenda, I decided to hike a longer version of the Bathers Way Coastal Walk.

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This delightful walk not only highlights the beaches of Newcastle but it also provides the perfect opportunity to explore our stunning coastline of jagged cliffs, steep headlands, reefs, rock pools and the rich environments of the rock platforms. Newcastle also has some serious bragging rights by offering up some of the most beautiful beaches and surf sites in the world and you do get to truly appreciate them on this walk. This is also a great way to spot some wildlife, explore historic sites and brush up on the indigenous and convict history which has so significantly shaped this area.

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This walk can take as long or as short as you like depending on the pace you set, which tracks you travel and what you do along the way. I stopped at each of the beaches, navigated the stunning rock platforms and deviated well off the sealed pathways which lengthened my walk considerably. I like to think that of all the paths we take in our lifetime, making time to seek out and wander the areas less travelled can be the most rewarding.

Now I love to walk and I pretty much walk everywhere. To me, walking is a little like love. It can be your most wonderful journey that never really has an ending. Walking also clears my mind, gives perspective to my thoughts and it allows me to unwind. It is during these times that I really do ‘my best thinking’. It is just me and a big world and tiny shards of peace and calm.

So, fueled up on a breakfast of Uncle Toby’s oats and a banana smoothie I began my walk at Nobbys beach and finished near the lovely coastal wilderness of the Glenrock State Conservation Reserve in the south. The winter weather was perfect. Blue skies and mostly sunny so here’s the skinny on how I spent my day……

Horseshoe Beach: I had decided to begin my walk from the end of the breakwall just up from Nobbys Lighthouse so to get there I took a short cut through Horseshoe Beach. This is a leash-free-dog-friendly beach. Moments of pure happiness look so different from a dog’s point of view and I don’t think there is anything more endearing than a happy dog.

Nobbys Breakwall: This impressive man-made structure, 1.8 kilometers in length, is located at the entrance to the Newcastle harbor and my daily walks often bring me here a couple of times a week. From this imposing vantage point you can whale watch and spot pods of bottle nosed dolphins. And how lovely is this……a couple of long nosed fur seals have taken up residence on the breakwall. They arrive around the same time each year to spend their days swimming, fishing, soaking up a few rays, raising their sweet little pups which are birthed here and they have been known to hitch a ride upon the rudders of passing ships. Out on the breakwall you do need to watch for the occasional rogue wave and strong gale force winds but apart from that it is pretty near perfect.

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Nobbys Beach: A huge favorite with Novacastrians and for all of the right reasons. This beautiful beach is perfect for body surfing, swimming and those learning to surf. It has a 6 day a week lifeguard service and on Sundays the volunteers from the Nobbys Surf Lifesaving Club provide beach patrols. Nobbys is the first beach on the Bathers Way Coastal Walk…or the last depending on which end you start at. It is a beautiful beach and one of my favorite haunts where I regularly hit the surf.

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Historic Soldiers Baths Rock Pool: This enchanting ocean pool was constructed in 1882. I love ocean pools and the ones dotted around the Newcastle coastline date back to the convict era. This is also one of the loveliest of places to snorkel.

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Cowrie Hole: Cowrie Hole with its rocky platforms, pelicans, rock fishermen and its lovely rock pools is a beautiful spot. It has also been described as having the most perfect yet sharp, unforgiving reef break around. I come to this little part of the world almost daily. It is also here on the beach that I find my rare sea glass, more precious to me than diamonds and rubies. It can get pretty packed out on the waves and it is a break for the experienced surfer plus you also need to watch for rips and the occasional shark but to me, Cowrie Hole is winsome beyond imagination.

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Newcastle Ocean Baths: This distinctively beautiful art deco pavilion is one of this city’s most impressive and historic landmarks. Construction of the baths began in 1910 and they are still as popular today as they were when first built.

The Canoe Pool: How sweet is this. Though long buried by sand and sea water, this little pool has an old concrete map of the world etched into its floor. It was constructed around the same time as the Ocean Baths were being built.

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Newcastle Beach: Undoubtedly one of the best surf locations and where you are guaranteed to catch the perfect wave. It can get packed and busy out there on the waves and a little bloodletting does occur every now and then…..I think they call it friendly rivalry but it is fascinating to watch. Apart from that it is a beautiful beach and perfect for swimming. It is patrolled, adjacent to the Time Tunnel Mural and it is pretty much smack bang in the heart of the city. The surf here can get BIG…..and very beautiful so it is another of my favorite haunts. From the rock platforms, you can also watch the many pods of dolphins leap-fishing among the waves. What could be more lovely…..

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The endangered ecological Themeda Grasslands which are also commonly known as Kangaroo grass. Winter has colored much of the landscape and grasslands around Newcastle.

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Shepherds Hill Fort: Remnants of a key defence post used from the late 19^th century to the mid-20^th century. This historic fortification, rich with history, will now be considered for the highest level of heritage protection.

Bogey Hole: This beautiful, heritage listed sea bath and swimming hole was amazingly cut into the rock by convict labor in 1819. It is also thought to be the oldest surviving European construction in the city.

Bathers Way also encompasses Newcastle’s Memorial Walk: This walk was opened at sunset on April 24th 2015 to commemorate the centenary of World War I and the opening of the BHP Newcastle Steel works in 1915. This memorial is thought provoking with its stunning backdrop of the Newcastle coast line.

From vantage points along my walk I stood and watched the languid movement of the ocean, pods of dolphins and the whales whose lovely journey seems to move along slower than forever. We are seeing several hundred whales a day pass by our coast line now and they are coming in closer to the shoreline too.

When off the beaten track I saw the tussocky native Mat Rush grasses, coastal spinifex, Banksia, pig face with is lovely magenta flowers, wattles, tea trees, rushes and fan flowers.

At each of the beaches along the way you will also find signs which have been posted among the dunes. These are Landcare signs. Landcare is a volunteer organization, who along with local Council’s Bushland Services team, work together to rehabilitate, preserve and restore each of the local coastal dune systems which are incredibly fragile and vulnerable. Landcare also works toward bush regeneration, dune stabilization, the propagation of seeds of native and indigenous plants for Landcare sites and they also record local flora and fauna. It is an invaluable and wonderful community organization…….hope to see you at a Landcare site soon.

Bar Beach: A lovely family beach with a rock pool however it does get some big powerful swells. It is also the perfect place to watch the hang gliders who launch from Strzelecki Lookout.

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Dixon Park Beach: I dug my feet in the wet sand searching for pipi’s while watching the sea birds. It was peaceful and very quiet here although it does get busy in summer…..as most beaches tend to do.

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Merewether Beach: Home to Surfest. More than three decades on, this surfing comp has become one of the largest surfing festivals in Australia. Merewether also offers up amazing waves and great board riding conditions and although very popular, it is a nice place to hang out for a while. If the weather turns a little persnickety, and it does, then you have the Beach hotel directly opposite which makes for an excellent viewing platform of all things oceanic.

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Merewether Ocean Baths: Just a short stroll from Merewether beach, these ocean baths feature the historic Ladies Rock Pool and the Surf House which is heritage listed. The baths are also home to the famous Merewether Mackerels Winter Swimming club. It is also the largest ocean baths complex in the southern hemisphere.

Glenrock State Reserve: I ended my walk at the tranquil reserve of Glenrock. This is a protected conservation area with walking tracks, trails, waterfalls and beaches. It is next on my list for exploration.

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Something quiet charming also happened while on my walk. I took my wetsuit with me, rolled up in my backpack, so I could stop and have a body surf at the end of the day. The water temp was around 12 degrees which I did find a tad cold but the waves were around two feet, lovely and rolling which I found absolutely perfect. After my surf, I sat on the beach with a steaming mug of coffee in a bid to get some warmth back into my bones. I was looking at my skin, fascinated by the varying shades of blue it can turn when I am in the water in winter when a man, clad only in board shorts, jogged past. He looked over seventy, was seriously fit and well tanned. He turned around and jogged past me again before stopping in front of me. Facing the ocean, he then performed several star jumps, planking and some very impressive yoga stretches and postures. He winked at me then jogged off down the beach, his silhouette eventually disappearing amid the heavy sea haze. I was so taken with his bravado and I truly delighted in this very Monty Pythonesque moment. Good on him, life is far too short not to live it up a little I say.

On this walk, round trip beginning from my front door, I covered 27.8 kilometers which is around 17 plus miles. I guess every now and then you just need a moment or a hike or something quite wonderful like a very flexible septuagenarian to make you realize that very often the best adventure is in what lies ahead………xx

oceangirl – these are my stories

Author: oceangirl63