Category: Uncategorized

Love and other bruises…..

On By oceangirl63In Uncategorized8 Comments

It is that odd little transition of seasons where summer should have left us but somehow, it is still hanging on in there.  Like a shy wall-flower, autumn had been pushed into the shadows by glare and cloudless midday skies.  But on days like today however, this lovely season which signals the end of daylight saving here in New South Wales, radiates with its own beauty of late afternoon sun-showers and those big ocean swells.

099.jpgObsessed am I with this ocean when it is brutal and unforgiving.  For some reason, seeing the waves monstrous and wild strikes at the romantic spot in my heart every time.  I am endlessly drawn here when the big swells hit and to swim in those waves renders you humble with the greatest of respect.  When a big monster billows and slams, the very best you can hope for is that you resurface.  You will swallow sea water and lots of it and possibly a small fish but that big peeling wave and deep liquid beauty is absolute perfection and all you can do is surrender to it.

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I have an awful lot on my plate at the moment and I am trying to be kind…or at the very least, a little kinder to myself during this time.  I find I don’t have enough hours in my days at present and when I cannot accomplish all that I have set out to do I become restless and dissatisfied.

I am also in the process of de-cluttering.  A stripping down of sorts.  It is a frighteningly monumental task which involves unpacking literally hundreds of boxes which house years and years of collecting and memories.  It is the idea of simplifying and the beginnings of a minimalistic life which has been the driving force for this…..that and the fact I am beginning to develop the materialistic requirements of a swagman.

I am sorting and cataloguing and parting with many, many items and although it was (and still is) very difficult to do so, I am now enjoying the process of letting go.  There are some things I cannot discard though and I will happily remain tethered to those for the remainder of my life time but as for the rest it is arrivederci!  Some items and collections are quite valuable and some are not.  Some hold great sentimental value and some, not so much.  Some items are being sent to an auction house, some I merely give and donate and some will be sold at a sweet little place called ‘Miss Sadie Pineapples’ Beautiful Vintage Emporium‘ as a gathering of a quirky and eclectic mix of strange, wonderful, weird and beautiful items.

I am currently working on writing projects too and in particular a book.  I have been at this novel for quite some years now.  At times I write in fits of paralyzing self-doubt but I write simply because I love to do so and for me, there is much joy in words.  I write too because there are stories to be told and because I always believe there is an audience for genuine human life which is not without the harsh truths. My writing at times certainly does not skirt the issues. It is not devoid of discomfort and snatches of mess and nor does it cloak the existence of humanity in a neat deceptive veil.

I have filled many, many note books as all of my thoughts and ‘books’ are handwritten until transferred to the computer.  I love my notebooks and always carry one with me and this miscellany has become very precious to me.  There are plots and characters and life clarifying challenges, chapters and clusters of fiction upon the pages of my note books.  Real life, what it means to be human and the complexities of personalities all go onto my pages.  There are gracious, kind and loyal characters.  The deeply flawed but eccentrically lovely outcasts.  The complex, social ugliness, the low life’s, hateful failings of the very weakest of people, the truly brave, the merciless and mischievously conniving characters of actual existence and experience are all in my books.  Real life and those in it certainly do offer up the very best ensemble cast!

As with most things I am deeply disciplined with quiet direction therefore I will write every day even if it is only three words on a page.  I am, it seems, compelled by my very soul to write and these notebooks are also deeply private.    My heart has gone into these notepads for they are what I am unable to ‘say’ at times.  When I have felt monstrously defeated and devoid of all hope it is there among the pages as sorrow and gut wrenching heartache but there is also much happiness, dreams, light, strength and whimsical sketches and drawings.

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I read too and it seems I have a great affection for the male author and especially one who writes in neurotic alcohol soaked prose.   I love the flawed caustic raconteurs who write about love, lust, their misbehaving bowels, frail egos, drug fueled murderous intent, crippling heartbreak and exploding aardvarks.

Of course I acknowledge my novels (actually of which I will confess there are many books including children’s and young adult) may never turn in to more than mere words in my notebooks but as a true optimist, I always believe.

So back to this one book in particular for which I needed the insight of men as it is written from the view of a male narrator. I wanted the opinions, the perception and the raw honesty of men.  I wanted conversations with complete strangers.  Those easy conversations where you and the stranger are open and thoroughly honest because anonymity is the key.  Chances are you will never ever see that person again in your lifetime.  It is the perfect opportunity to say what you will and one man I spoke to told me, within moments of meeting him,  he was eight days out of prison and eight days without trouble.  Another was obviously absent a few brain cells but bless him, he made up for it with his ‘can do attitude’.  He was happy and kind and not hurting a soul which when you think about it, really is what life should be about.

A couple of other encounters weren’t particularly productive and just when I was feeling ever so slightly deflated I happened upon a handsome older man.  Now I like older men…..very much in fact so frankly, this was no coincidental meeting.  He said he was 81 but he looked remarkable for his age and I would have taken him for around 70.  I could easily picture him at his zenith – a good looking tanned surfer dude of the 60’s, button down shirt, nights out at the Trocadero in Sydney and with an endless steam of beautiful blonde girlfriends.   I stated what I wanted from him and he happily agreed.

Over very good martinis we hit almost every subject except the weather.  Life, loneliness, longing and this man could speak of heartache like I had not heard someone speak of it before. We mused on destiny and fate.  That sometimes lovely breath of coincidence where a good chance meeting will forever change your life.  Of relationships, of women and men and why each do what they do.  We spoke of what men want and don’t want.  Of what they admire and of what they find contemptuous in women and then, we happened upon that big heady province of all ghosts and demons…… Love!

Now I have often found love to be a tricky beast.  An ineffable mystery, something to be unsure of and all this talk of it made me feel as though I had stumbled across a vampire and like a very naïve boy scout I was ill prepared. How was it I found myself without garlic, a crucifix and a wooden stake to hand!  You see with love, there is a very good chance you will eventually open up your heart.   And that can be to anyone be they lovers or friends knowing there is a very real possibility your heart could be completely broken and your soul trampled.  But what happens if you remain unattainable!   Unreachable of that most cherished of human offering.

I guess when you render it all down ‘l o v and e’ really are just four simple letters.  They are often the most difficult of words to say but they are certainly the most precious and they are the ones I believe we all must utter to someone at some stage in our lives.  Love really is the very best gift we can offer ourselves and without question, the most valuable thing we will ever receive from someone in our lifetime.  I understand people will hurt you, and sometimes purposefully as that is sadly human nature for some but the trick is to find the ones who are worth you suffering for.  Finding them is the true holy grail.

I reveled in my open, very good and robust conversation with this intelligent man.  Discerning conversation truly is the most wonderful exercise for the brain and soul.  At times we had completely opposite views and outlooks which was great.  My motto is to always be your authentic self and hold sacred your own mind, words and integrity for without them you have very little!    ‘Air Supply’ was playing in the back ground.  Love and other bruises, a song I had not heard in years but it was just as lovely and significant and lyrical as it was when I first heard it over 38 years ago. I knew if All out of Love came on I would be plagued to a severe bout of melancholy!  It played three songs later and I was doomed!  What is it about the 70’s.  Such an innocent yet wonderful time.

After three hours I left the bar and this remarkable man and walked toward the beach.  I was off to brood in that big salty pool that I am endlessly drawn to no matter what time of day.

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As I walked barefoot across the sand I thought about all that we spoke of.  Tom had said he was always in love and I thought about how it must feel for someone to exist with that aching human hope that seemed to be such a huge part of living.

The remainder of the afternoon slipped by and I turned to walk home.  Walking is always when I do my very best thinking. When I walk I process and reflect on almost everything. On this walk I thought too that perhaps underneath all of the mess and chaos of life and love and the fragility and uncertainty of relationships forged and lost there really was something quite beautiful and wonderful.  I was very, very sure of it now ……xx

Little jars of contentment……

On By oceangirl63In Uncategorized8 Comments

Thanks to a lovely ‘Luna’ influence the waves are big and rolling and the tides are high.  The ocean is at its beautiful best.  It is somewhat wild and unpredictable out there but at times like this, I find the surf completely and utterly irresistible.

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My adventurous spirit was challenged to dive right on in yet my reckless streak has left me with a ‘rashed’ cheek.  And I can tell you, this is not the cheek you want to have a rosy glow upon either!   Nothing like the dump of a huge shore break to give you the wildest and most wonderful ride of your life though.  I guess, if you want to get out and play with the big boys, then you need to be prepared for a little heart-ache along the way but there is nothing that good old soothing Savlon cannot fix.

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We are also on the cusp of Easter, the days will shorten soon, we are having the most beautiful late afternoon sun-showers and evening rain storms and the year is slipping by so quickly.

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On the way home from the surf, I stopped in at the local farmers market and picked up some peaches and plums with the thought to ‘preserving’ a little taste of sunshine for when the grey and wintery days finally do arrive.   I think the stone-fruit trees may well be sighing their final breath while giving up the last of their yield now, so it is the perfect time to ‘bottle’ before these lovely trees take a much deserved break.  I also wanted to add this blog post as I had promised a reader that I would post my recipe for ‘Preserved Peaches in Ginger and Vanilla Bean Syrup’ and I always keep my word.

I am using the lovely blue Mason jars I bought back from America. I have used them previously to serve cocktails and deserts in and as vases, and I recently used them for their intended purpose of preserving.  I do love the beautiful hue of the glass however preserves and chutneys don’t really look that appealing in them but frankly, if that is all I have to carp about in my kitchen then I am fortunate indeed.  So, on to my ‘Preserved Peaches in Ginger and Vanilla Bean Syrup’ and then ‘Plums in Vanilla Nectar’. 

I made a batch of syrup simply by placing sugar and water in a tall stock pot.  It was equal parts sugar to water and it is the same ratio I use to make sugar syrup for my cocktails.  I peeled and sliced a largish piece of fresh ginger and halved a vanilla pod and scrapped out the seeds before adding them to the syrup.  I then let the syrup simmer and infuse before adding the peaches in very small batches to poach.

I used white and yellow peaches and allowed them to submerge for about three to four minutes each then removed them with a slotted spoon.  I placed them on a dish lined with paper towel and allowed them to cool before pinching off the skins.  If you have asbestos fingers, and I don’t,  you can removed the skins immediately.  I sliced the peaches in half, removed the seeds and sliced them again and once more for good measure before placing the segments into the hot sterilized glass.  I ladled the hot syrup over the fruit and sealed the containers immediately.  Doing this will ‘vacuum seal’ your jars.

I kept the vanilla bean pod aside then made a fresh batch of syrup.  I added the vanilla pod but not the ginger this time.  I really enjoyed working with the plums, they are far less laborious than the peaches.  I cut them in half, removed the stems and seeds and immersed them in the lovely liquid for a few moments.  The skins become almost papery and once the fruit is removed from the syrup the skins very easily peel off.  I added the halves to the waiting jars then put all of the removed plum skins into the syrup and let it steep for about ten minutes.  The nectar takes on a beautiful rosy tone from the color leaching from the skins.  With the syrup hot and blushing, I sieved it and poured it over the plums.  Again, I sealed the jars straight away.

I used:  Washed and sterilized Mason jars, yellow and white peaches (washed), a variety of plums (washed), equal parts water to sugar, fresh ginger peeled and sliced, one vanilla bean halved with the seeds scraped.  I chose fruit that was not blemished and that was also not too ripe.

Method for Peaches:  I washed my jars and then ‘cooked’ them in the oven on around 170 degrees for about 15 minutes.  I made the syrup by placing equal parts water and sugar in a tall pot.  I sliced the ginger, halved and scrapped out the fresh vanilla pod and once the sugar had dissolved I added these to the syrup.  I bought the mix to a gentle simmer and let the ginger and vanilla infuse before poaching the peaches (in small batches of 3-4 peaches at a time). I then lifted them out with a slotted spoon, allowed to cool then removed the skin.  I sliced the peaches and put the segments into the jars then ladled in the syrup.  I always ladle to the rim of the jar and to cover the peaches. I put the lids on and allowed the jars to cool at room temperature in order to create a vacuum seal.  Your lids should gently concave.

Method for plums:  Make a fresh pot of syrup and use the vanilla pod again. Cut each piece of fruit in half and remove the stem and stone.  Quickly submerge the fruit into the nectar, remove the skins (if you choose) and place the plum halves into awaiting sterilized jars.  You can add the removed skins to the syrup and let the lovely color leach out on a gentle simmer.  Strain well, pour the hot liquid over the plums and seal the jars to create the vacuum.

Both preserved fruits are lovely served with homemade vanilla bean ice-cream or fresh clotted cream.

My domestic goddess moment over, little jars of contentment stored on the pantry shelves in readiness for winter, the recipe posted as promised for Emma, a wish to all for a wonderful and safe and very happy Easter and I believe……. it is now time for a G&T xx

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Eight Perfect Peaches and a Spicy Indian Chutney…..

On By oceangirl63In Uncategorized9 Comments

I have spent the morning in the surf which abides as a constant.  I have always found in the surf a serene peacefulness.  The waves today were strong and rolling and battling them made my heart race like that of small deer, but it is that weightless elation and my immense love for the ocean which always holds me there for much longer than anticipated.  There were few who braved the conditions early this morning so the isolation in only having the die-hard body surfers, three older men who invited me to join them, made it so much more enjoyable.

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We are also experiencing the tail end of a blisteringly hot summer. Mother Natures little mood swing and one of the hottest on record.  Although it is Autumn in Australia, it should be a milder and kinder weather pattern, the furnace like heat is still unrelenting.  Global warming really is impacting our beautiful world.

And my life, well that is unfurling at a gentle pace and even the rocketing temperatures cannot lessen my mood.  My sadness still overwhelms at times and that can be a difficult one to shake.  I can easily retreat into sorrow for that is the acknowledgement of things being lost to me forever.  My guess is that comes from the odd dislocation of what has been, of what could have been (perhaps) and of where life’s unforeseen journey will take me.  Maybe I still find inadequacy in traversing life’s odious little snags but then, something will remind me how beautiful my new ‘home’ is and the nakedness of loss and yearning is somewhat diminished.

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It should be no surprise there is trepidation of interaction with others given past treachery, which still haunts like a savage ghost.  Perhaps there is nothing like a Judas kiss to make you appreciate it is not when we move on my friends, but how well we do so.  I have caught up with some family too which has been a lovely and welcome addition to my usual quiet existence. I haven’t seen them for about a hundred years (exaggeration on my part!!), but perhaps well over sixteen long years have passed.   I do tend to drop off the face of the earth at times and of course my tendency to not stay in touch with people plays a part in that but the connect of family can be an important and cherished one.  And my dear Great Aunty will also be happy to know I phoned my Mum xx.

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Anyway, once home from the surf and I had a thought to making a hot and spicy Indian peach chutney. I had sand, lots of it in my togs and salt upon my skin but I began the meticulous process of chopping eight perfect peaches regardless.

I have varying degrees in my levels of cooking confidence and for me, baking or making chutneys, jams or preserves is a restorative process.  I have a love affair with baking and I will bake when I am happy and even when overwhelmed and distracted as I find the gentle rhythm of the baking process lustral and kind to my soul.   When baking, I will generally always use a recipe except when making pancakes or pikelets.  When I make chutneys, preserves or jams I don’t use a recipe although I probably should.  I tend to rely on my own instincts and taste but at times, this trust has shown that I am an infallible human with glaring imperfection due to a couple of small failures.  Regardless, I soldier on with intuitive contentment.

Summers bounty of stone-fruit here in Australia is slowly coming to end. The sweet and juicy Victorian peaches however, are still in abundance. With my favorite cast pot on heat I popped the mustard seeds then sweated my diced onions down until translucent before adding the garlic, fresh ginger and spices.  The smell of ginger and spice on heat beautifully scented the apartment and the aroma of yielding is one of comfort.

I love mangos as they signal the ultimate taste of summer so after washing my preserving jars in hot soapy water I sliced into a fat Queensland mango.  I kept one of the cheeks aside and this, I have to say, required the greatest of will power on my part as I can eat two mangoes just as snack.  I chopped the set aside cheek and slid it into the bubbling mix.

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Gentle stirring stopped the chutney from sticking to the bottom of the heavy pan while it slowly darkened and became jammy with sticky caramelization.  I knew from its taste I had been heavy handed with the mustard seeds but all was not lost as I hit the mix with a good drizzle of local bush honey.  Don’t you think the dear little bee has an awful burden to bear.  The weight of humanity riding on its tiny shoulders for without bees humans would not be able to exist…..food for thought!

I will store these jars in the pantry for when the cooler months come and this chutney alone will warm us with its spicy heat from the fresh Thai chillies I added.  This really needs a few months to truly develop its flavor and we will use this as an accompaniment to curries but also liberally slathered on corn meat sandwiches made from the freshest of oven baked loaves.

What  a lovely way to end the day after a perfect start to it and with satisfaction, I will plan my next assault on the peach world.  Perhaps a row of preserved peaches in vanilla bean and ginger syrup would look fab on the pantry shelves……. xx

Note:   One jar barely lasted the day as FB enjoyed it on a platter and I had it with hand torn chunks of fresh baked bread and ripe French cheese.

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Hot and Spicy Indian Peach Chutney Recipe:

Ingredients:   Olive oil, 8 diced peaches, 1 large diced onion, 4 crushed cloves of garlic, apple cider vinegar, dash of water, white pepper, diced fresh Thai chillies, a shake of dry chilli flakes, a generous hand of local honey (I used honey as I didn’t have any brown sugar or palm sugar in the panty….yet), mustard seeds, Keens curry powder, fresh ginger finely sliced into match sticks, a sprinkle of ground ginger, currents, all spice, ground nutmeg, a pinch of sea salt and the cheek of a fresh lovely mango.

Method:   I placed the mustard seeds on the heat until they popped then I sweated off the onions before adding the garlic, fresh ginger, chilli and spices.  Once cooked off I added all the remaining ingredients and bought the mix to the boil then lowered the heat to a gentle simmer for a couple of hours.  While cooking, I sliced up a mango and added one cheek.

This mix made exactly enough to fill two jars.  How ideal was that!  The washed mason jars were placed in a hot oven to sterilize and once off the heat the hot chutney was added to the still hot jars.  The jars were sealed then left to cool.

To Market, To Market Newcastle Style and A Milestone……

On By oceangirl63In Uncategorized10 Comments

I do love a market be it a farmers, fish, craft, food and wine, flea, country, flower, produce or fair trade and two markets in Newcastle hold particular appeal for me. Both are centrally located and in this blog, I will happily fly the flag for The Olive Tree Markets and Hunt & Gather.

Both markets represent that indelible community warmth and spirit which Novocastrian’s are, it would seem, renowned for. Throw in an incredible multicultural mix of food, diverse and wonderfully talented local artists, sunshine, perfect city locations and you have the makings for an ideal market day out.

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The ‘Hunt & Gather’ Markets – to ‘Hunt and Gather’ at markets is a universal love for many and these markets certainly do not disappoint.  This market showcases the talents of wonderful local artist, purveyors of amazing food, local musicians and collectors with pre-loved treasures all neatly tied together under the ambient shade of the massive Pacific Park fig tree.  What could be more perfect.  These fabulous markets are held on the 3rd Saturday of the month in Pacific Park, Newcastle East.

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‘The Olive Tree Market’ – this amazing market showcases beautiful contemporary, bespoke and one of a kind items designed and handmade by some of the regions most talented artists. With over 140 stalls including gourmet and artesian food, workshops with artists and local musicians there really is something quite wonderful for everyone.  This community event is held on the first Saturday of the month and is centrally located at Newcastle’s Civic Park.  This is the uniqueness of the Hunter and its people right here.

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I am also going to give a shout out to the Carrington Village Markets.  These delightful community based markets, although small, are a lovely way to spend a Saturday.   They are held annually and the money raised helps support the Carrington Public School.  I loved that the parents of students are the volunteers manning some of the stalls – in particular the beautiful cake stall and the always favored sausage sizzle.  There really is a lovely vibe to these markets and I hope that it continues to grow and prosper.  My greatest belief is that education and the ability to read and write are the keys to unlocking the world.  Supporting this market (or any school market for that matter), and you contribute to a beautiful expression of freedom and knowledge and from there, the world can be anyone’s oyster.

I will also say the funniest, cleverest and most magical childrens’ entertainer I have ever seen charmed both children and adults alike on Saturday 13 February at these markets.  Just Brilliant!

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At any number of markets in the Hunter you have the perfect opportunity to support local and if you can’t find something wonderful and beautiful at any of the markets I have mentioned, then I think it might be time to stop looking ……xx

Footnote:  This, believe it or not, is my 100th blog post.  My first blog was posted on November 8th 2013 and it is now late February 2016.  There are an awful lot of photos and memories and stories in those years and to everyone who follows my blog, who reads it, who comments on it and who supports it I truly thank you so very much.  I believe that to have gratitude and to say thank you with heart felt appreciation and love turns what we have into enough.

I also believe that when we experience, discover or reflect on something in the world it is always more wonderful to share it with others and I have had the opportunity to do so on 100 occasions.  So happy birthday ‘oceangirl63 blog’, I shall celebrate your moment with cake…..and a cocktail xx

The Amazing Murals & Street Art of Newcastle……

On By oceangirl63In Uncategorized10 Comments

Nothing will brighten your day more than the colorful, rich and diverse street art culture of Newcastle.  This art work is the lovely suture in the fabric of social and community life and best of all, it is so easily accessible to everyone by foot or by pushie.

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I do love the street art around this wonderful city and I like to think of it as being more like an open air community gallery for everyone to enjoy.  I also believe too, some of this sort of imagery is as important as the most expensive art which hangs in the National Gallery.

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To me, street art is a visual feast which can provoke and entertain.  It can be imaginative and wildly creative and it can inspire and very often, it has an immensely powerful message. It is the artists’ unheard voice bought to life on an often cold concrete canvas which demands of the world to look and to think.  Street art really has become a global culture and you can find it on surfaces all over the world.

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Since I started hunting out and photographing these lovely works of art, I have discovered there is a ‘Street Art Walking Tour’ right here in Newcastle.  This is a guided tour and from their site, SAW (Street Art Walking), you can download your very own street art walking map.

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I am yet to download the map as I am happy to wander the streets alone and discover these pieces of art for myself, but I will recommend it to those who prefer a guided tour.  On walks such as these, you will gain information on the artist who created the piece, the meaning behind the artwork and how the piece came to be….which I think is  pretty wonderful.  This really is a great way to appreciate fine art.  When we educate ourselves we then better understand, protect and care for something for we all safeguard the things we love most.

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Some of these works are enormous and they are enormously beautiful and the one I have posted below is one of my favorites.  It also happens to be less than a one minute walk from my home and I see it almost daily.

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Some of this amazing art is found in the most obscure and neglected of areas which is sometimes inhabited by the homeless and those ‘doing it a little tough’ but I believe that everyone, no matter who they are, deserve to see something very beautiful ….. xx

Newcastle, New South Wales…..

On By oceangirl63In Uncategorized14 Comments

It is the month of February and here in Newcastle it is a time of heat, of big waves, of blazing sun rises, of fragrant frangipani, long days and of pale hot skies. I have unpacked my bag, recovered from jetlag induced by an almost 26-hour trip, the little cat is settled and very happy and I have filed away four months of memories but best of all, I am home and I find no words sufficient enough to express how truly lovely that feels.

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I have always had a belief with travel and that is, I try to never go back to a place I have loved or enjoyed because in going back it will never quite be the same and it will somehow disappoint.   That however, cannot be said of my return to Newcastle. All of my life I have searched for a place that was home and for a feeling of belonging.  There has been a consciousness for me in knowing that Newcastle is my home and it is the one place I have long wished for.  Some say your home is not a place but it is people however for me, home is an existence of where I can set my roots and it is where my heart is.   When you love somewhere, its beauty becomes deeply buried in your soul and you have a terrible ache when away from it which was exactly what I felt when in America.  For all of the places I have lived or travelled to, and there have been many, I was homesick for the first time in my life.

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My attachment to Newcastle comes from its ability to have wrapped itself around me. It has enveloped me in its charm and loveliness and this city continues to show itself many times over why I love it here.  The moment I arrived back, I walked out into the summer sunshine of this old coal and steel town and I knew that this was where I was truly meant to be.

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My blogs will now include quite a bit of this lovely city and for those unfamiliar with Newcastle, I will give you a little bit of run down on it.  Newcastle is Australia’s second oldest city with a 200-year-old past including maritime, indigenous and convict history.  It is famous for its coal and steel and it is the largest coal exporting harbor in the world. In 2011, Newcastle was named by ‘Lonely Planet’ as one of the worlds top 10 cities to visit.

I find Newcastle to be a laid back and very uber cool city but as with most places, its past suggests it hasn’t always been like this.  Perhaps to say it was once a little rough around the edges would best sum it up.

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This area holds to some of the most stunningly beautiful coastline and ocean swells and it can proudly boast to having some of the hottest surf spots around and these places are where I love to be.  Newcastle is also bursting with museums, iconic pubs, art galleries, markets, a great live music scene, bars and incredible national parks.  It has culture, cafes, festivals, ship wrecks, restaurants and beautiful and historic architecture.  Sydney is almost a 2-hour drive away and the Hunter Valley – which is one of Australia’s major wine producing regions – is less than a scenic hours’ drive.  It would also appear that even the local Emo’s and Goths, notoriously joyless and difficult to please, appear to be very happy here too which is about as best a recommendation as you can find.  From the heathlands to the ocean shore, there is something restorative to the soul for everyone.

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For me, one of the ultimate joys of Newcastle is that every single bit of it is accessible via the old foot falcon….my preferred mode of transport. Where else can such history and beauty be well and truly under foot.  Newcastle is also very push bike friendly.  A push bike and me, well that’s about as safe as a circus clowns’ cannon, but for those who love to cycle there are miles and miles of on and off-road pathways, tracks and trails all over Newcastle and its surrounds.

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I am so incredibly fortunate to live by the port and I love the late quiet at the end of the day when I can watch the small independent fishing boats leave their shelter and head out to open sea. In the early morning dawn, I watch for their return and this routine has become one of my most joyous of pleasures. I guess in the big of the world you can find small contentment sometimes.

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Newcastle, you sure know how to win a girl over……

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It seems to me, among the many complications of life, there is a tenuous aching pull to be where we belong and we are all certainly worthy of belonging. Sometimes you need to let go, be and just belong…..xx

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Beautiful Manatee Of Florida USA…..

On By oceangirl63In Uncategorized28 Comments

The start of a brand new year and what better way to welcome it in than by doing a road trip.  And as is the way of road trips, they tend to take you somewhere wonderful and my road trip led me to the Gulf of Mexico and to the manatee of Florida.

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How could I best describe these West Indian manatees other than to say they are incredibly charismatic and sweetly natured. Although large and cumbersome looking, the manatee are actually very agile and quite delicate.  They weigh up to 550 kg, can grow up to almost 4 meters in length (13 feet) and they are dependent on warm waters for survival.

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Being near or in or under the water is where I know I belong and it is where I feel most at home and there was nothing more enchanting than to be under the water with these beautiful and very gentle one tonne creatures. Immersed in this wonderland, I saw beautiful mothers with calves who are the perfect duplicate of their parents yet so endearing. Being inquisitive creatures, the manatee will approach you. Sometimes they will be alone, sometimes in the company of other manatee or with a calf but you cannot help but let your heart tumble with love for these incredible creatures.

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I was so fortunate to be in the company of Joe, a fellow conservationist, whose work is about the protection and preservation of these lovely creatures. We were on the water at dawn, the most beautiful part of the day, and long before any of the ‘big tourist’ boats were out. The tourist boats can carry up to 50 people at any one time and that sort of trip in those conditions is definitely not for me!   We were also not in the clear ‘springs’ but in the open water of the river systems where the water was, at times murky, but again it was away from the tourists. I really could not have wished for anything more wonderful than to have spent hours in the water observing and enjoying these lovely sea cows.

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Mid November to March 1st is the best time to see the manatee but you need to wait until the coldest of temperatures arrive. I was constantly reading and charting weather maps in anticipation of the coldest time in Florida and very fortunately, I managed to hit the coldest day. My patience and planning was well rewarded with the company of approximately 32 manatees on the day.

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The Manatee are air breathing and slow moving as their swim is serene and unhurried. Given this, they spend a lot of their time on the surface of the water, and as a result, many of the manatee very sadly show the scars of propeller encounter. I have always thought, as with any healing wound, the scar suggest the hurt is finally over and recovery has perhaps begun.

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Life is short and at times fragile and our world, although beautiful, can be a tragic and harsh place however we are so lucky to have the experience of this life so don’t ever waste a moment of it especially on maliciousness and spite. I do so believe with all of my heart, that every one of us has the power to make positive changes and a difference in this world. We should all strive to care for each other and to protect all living creatures through respect, compassion and love. Always measure your worth by what you do and by your humanity and your kindness because we as humans are the only ones who can do that. The potential for acknowledging that our careful acts of empathy and gentleness truly does have the greatest of impact.

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The manatee’s plight is still very much in crisis. They are endangered and don’t let anyone tell you they are not. It was such an incredible privilege and experience to swim alongside the manatee and to do something like this will make you weep with immense gratitude. I was able to dive and swim and glide and gracefully somersault in the water with these gentle and beautifully natured creatures and given this, I acknowledge that all animals are depend on our compassion, our quiet and passive observation, our respect and our great love in order to survive.

And just in case I ever momentarily forget how truly fortunate I am……. swimming with the manatee will always remind me of how wonderful life really is xx

Last Road Trip In America. Florida Part I……

On By oceangirl63In UncategorizedLeave a comment

In the last week before heading back to Australia, I completed my final road trip in America.  Whilst driving in the big sky country that is the US, I was feeling a little sad and somewhat sentimental however I realized the great fortune I had been blessed with in all of the wonderful experiences and opportunities I have had.

On this my final road trip, I was headed to Florida.   The main purpose for my road trip was to swim with the Manatee (next blog post) however as I left Warner Robins behind in the rear view mirror, I thought about the beauty of infinite possibilities which lay ahead.

The rural road stretched out in front of me taking me past freshly cut cotton fields and long abandoned pecan orchards.  It was a trip of old barns, deserted gas stations, bridges, the Suwannee River, swamps, river basins, the panhandle, the ocean and of sunshine.

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As I was travelling alone, I did wonder when I first came back to America, if my travel would evoke the same warmth and wonderment of the trips I have done previously.  And the answer to that……well, it was a resounding YES!  I don’t think any of us should ever be afraid to go it alone and where ever your journey takes you, you should truly go with all of your heart.  I think too that solo travel can, to a certain extent, make you a little more courageous and the best gift you can always offer yourself is bravery in the wonderment of adventure.

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My journey this time ended at the Gulf of Mexico.  I watched the sea birds, marveled at the expanse of sea stretched out in front of me, swam and dived then I sat on the sand to dry myself in the pale winter sun of Florida.  I drew sailing boats, hearts and sea horses and I wrote messages on the shoreline.  Nostalgia is free so with the fragile sand of the gulf threatening to be difficult I built a ‘sandcastle’…….just because I could.  I shaped an alligator simply because it was different and I always believe there is absolutely nothing wrong in ever being your unusual and unique self.

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What a wonderful gift it is to travel and for me, there is nothing more wondrous than to find a road that ends at the ocean.   I guess we all have our oceans to swim, but it will be our ability to find our beauty of courage which will enable us to do so.  Running up against the sharp edges of life and the painful events, although heartbreaking at times, are worthwhile in end and to take on that big ocean and swimming the hell out of it will sustain and sooth those with gentle souls always….. xx

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 The Gulf of Mexico…..