Just Keep Bouncing…….

We’ve spoken a bit over the last couple of days about getting back up when you’ve been knocked down, of not letting adversity get the better of you, of bouncing back.

These are some of the things I have seen lately that have made me bounce back.

My boy, my beautiful boy, blowing everyone away in his role as Oberon in the school production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I was so proud. So proud. I couldn’t believe he was related to me.

Bubbles. I defy anyone not to feel uplifted by the sight of a bubble. Especially a mega bubble. This guy I saw in Hyde Park had mega bubble making down to a fine art.

These young guys were playing in Hyde Park on the same day. They played mostly Beatles songs and were actually pretty good. Everyone in the park was bopping away and smiling. It was a collective feelgood moment!

Halfway through their set a group of bikeriders came along and began to sound their horns, clap and do tricks on their bikes to the music. It was amazing. The mood was high. I didn’t see one person who wasn’t smiling.

And then, one day when I was feeling a little bit down, I looked out of my window and once again, there was a message in the sky. I couldn’t believe it. It’s as if there’s a guy with a plane up there who realises when I’m feeling a bit bad and writes me an inspirational message. I found out later that the writing was for ROUK? Day which is a national initiative to raise awareness of depression, but at the time it felt very much like it was meant for me.

I like to end on a humorous note where I can and this really tickled my fancy. A lot of people around here name their houses. Some are obviously people’s surnames like Wilson or Jones. There are names relating to the garden like Rose Cottage or Azalea Heaven. But these two are my favourite. Old houses. Old friends. Watching over us all. And I know exactly what they would say – Just Keep Bouncing….

When You Go Out Walking

I saw some great things out on my walks this week.

One thing I love about this time of the year in Sydney is that all the magnolia trees begin to bloom. If there is anything more elegant or striking than a magnolia blossom, I don’t know what it is. The deep pink ones are simply stunning.

I saw some jugglers in the park a couple of weeks ago and lo and behold there was another one in the park today. Is there some juggling trend going on that I don’t know about? I remember when I was in the 6th grade and the big trend was Yo Yos. Everywhere you went people were making their yo yos walk the dog. Jacks and those really big cat’s eye marbles (called bonkers) were also very popular at the time. Maybe juggling is the new yo yo-ing. Allez oop!

I do love a good, slightly humorous shop sign and this surfwear shop in Brighton really fits the bill. Bottoms up, indeed.

This heart is painted on a garage door in a nearby laneway. I think it’s pretty cool. Love is all around, and that’s the truth.

One of my favourite birds is the Willie Wagtail. They are very cheeky, known for their agility and if you’re lucky, will put on a show when you get your camera out. This little guy entertained me for over fifteen minutes. He was adorable.

It is no secret that I love the bay in the evening. The cranes, so functional and busy during the day, turn to etchings at night, still strong and sure but settling into the skyline. Slowly, as the colours of the night sky deepen, they fade until the only thing that reveals they are there at all is the passing lights of a car on the bridge.

There is always something to see, something to think about, when you go out walking.

A Little Bit Of Head-Clearing

On the days when you walk around to clear your head it’s amazing what you can see….

Cutie-pie, sweet-faced duck.

Big Daddy Duck.

Two jugglers juggling.

A grim, ghastly gargoyle.

A sign on the back of a truck which is  very true because when you think about it without trucks and the transportation industry the world would probably come to a stop.

And such a find to see a beautiful soul gazing down at me. My dear old friend the Kookaburra. It aways cheers me to see a Kookie.

Aaaah, walking. What would I do without you? You always clear my head.