After two nights of ‘Goldie’ coastal views we headed to ‘Brissie’ for a couple of nights at a recently renovated, hip Holiday Inn Express.
On Wednesday, we walked from the hotel in Spring Hill through the City Botanic Gardens to traverse the Good Will Bridge, and enjoy the South Bank Parklands.
The serpentine bougainvillea arbour is in full bloom.
Families were enjoying the riverside aquatic park.
I love the palm tree fringed vistas with city glimpses.
Forever the optimist, this week, I thought I would be able to share a brand new poem with you; it’s in the works.
Back in 2016 when living in Sydney, we took a trip five hours’ drive inland to Orange and Mudgee in regional New South Wales.
This poem captures a peaceful moment at sunset.
https://theinfp.com/2016/06/04/peaceful-moment/
For the past few weeks, I have been wrestling with writing a poem. It is one of the longest so far. Perhaps next week it will finally be ready to share.
I recently came across these pictures of a young me, mid ‘80s at night school in Birmingham. I was fortunate to be able to go back to study with the person who inspired me to pot at secondary school, Lyn Chatwin.
Part of the base blew off in the biscuit firing of this Medusa inspired coiled creation. I did not risk a second glaze firing, opting to spray paint it instead.
After three months’ working from home, a routine has developed. Starting work around 7 am, morning tea at 10:30, one hour for lunch at 1 pm, and finishing around 4pm.
The path to this regimen was at times bumpy. Reflecting on it now, I realise the journey is a text book example of the only group development model I can remember; ‘forming-storming-norming-performing’*.
My husband and I each had practises in place. Our daily lives, like so many worldwide, changed. Without even thinking about it, we began boundary setting and melding timetables, through negotiation.
The lunch hour is when we both switch off and take Stan for a walk. Together, we have found alternatives to trudging suburban streets.
One extended route takes us through a community garden, down quiet tree lined streets, along a pedestrian path bridging a narrow creek, and into a quiet lane with horse paddocks.
The red bloom image above, reminds me of a Passion flower, taken on one of our walks. Below, palms, skies and a Queenslander house.
*Bruce Tuckman, 1965
Manly Harbour from Norfolk Point causeway
My husband let me know that the house was making him feel claustrophobic. I agreed with him, having only accomplished one ‘explore Queensland’ outing in the car since moving to Brisbane last year. We settled on making an 11km journey east, to Manly.
Don’t get me wrong, we like living in a modern house with a private courtyard. What we find challenging is that there is no view, other than looking at the walls of the neighbouring property. Also, most of the outside area is covered by a roof. Great for shade, not so great for creating a feeling of openness.
We have accomplished a lot in the last three months as noted in my previous post, Avoidance. This has taken its toll. Believing that we should be constantly busy at home winds one up so.
Masts, Manly Harbour from Sea Vibes kitchen and bar
After a short spell at Norfolk Point, we completely relaxed while sitting outside Sea Vibes kitchen and bar. Lightly gazing at the masts in the Harbour and feeling a breeze that took the heat out of a 30oC day.
Since moving to Brisbane we have:
Also, I have made three unsuccessful job applications and almost finished writing a step by step guide to baking bread that I plan to release as an eBook.
We have both celebrated birthdays that step us towards sixty. In what seems like a blink of an eye, we marked twenty five years together in December by enjoying a lunch at StokehouseQ, overlooking the Brisbane River. As you can see from the photo, one is not too old to sit on Santa Nicolai’s lap. Thank you to the BrisBears for making us feel so welcome.
All of the above is no excuse for my apparent avoidance of blogging. Instead, spending mindless hours scrolling through Instagram posts. Rest assured, I have given myself a severe talking to!
Taking this opportunity, I wish my dear readers a wonderful festive season.
Robert x
Even though a decision has more or less been made to take voluntary redundancy, conversations with newly appointed bright eyed members of staff and valued colleagues remind me of what I will be missing.
At home, I focus on the future beyond the eight years invested at this place of employment. Options take on a lustre of shiny possibility. Queensland and Western Australia currently jostle as potential destinations to explore and settle. The journey will chart the next chapter of our lives in Australia.
On Monday, a window of opportunity opens for the ‘disestablished’ to express interest in new roles. Two weeks of hand wringing indecision awaits. Assuming my resolve does not waver the decision will truly have been made. The torture of unknowing continues as a fortnight of interviews follow. External recruitment to remaining vacancies will then occur. Only then will there be any idea of an end date for the disestablished.
You cab read about the background to this post at Should I Go or Stay.
Dark chocolate marquise with raspberry sorbet, raspberry coulis, vanilla sponge and meringue. Thank you, Monté Restaurant, Norton Street, Leichhardt, Sydney, Australia; absolutely delicious.
The thunder storm last evening cleared the heat and humidity. The temperature in Leichhardt is a comfortable 21 oC, due to peak at 28 oC by midday.
Christmas Day is going to be a collaborative effort kicking off around lunch time. I need to make mince pies before everyone arrives.
Happy Christmas.
theINFP 