Holidays

Holiday time. The population here in Victor Harbor doubles, sometimes trebles when there's a long weekend. Nothing by British standards when small towns like Penzance have long lines of cars weaving through the town. Nonetheless, more people means more cars, more queues. Locals get disgruntled, unless they're storekeepers or retail managers.

It's an especially poignant time now. Tomorrow is ANZAC day and commemorates those who've fought and fallen and those who've survived the overseas wars that have traversed Australian history.

Nearby is Port Elliot, where servicemen and servicewomen came for recreation. A memorial garden, the type found in many an Australian and New Zealand town, has pine trees dedicated to the memory of those who perished. It's a sobering place, sad, and yet beautiful too, with the sweep of Horseshoe Bay below the gardens.

People often marry in the Gardens, ourselves included, and so the cycles of life are lived, shared and remembered in this special place.

Autumn Days

Autumn days here, warm with that cool breeze cutting in from the sea. A BBQ day in England, that sort of temperature, the low 20's centigrade. I've just lit the fire, not for a BBQ but the indoor wood combustion stove. It gets cool here quickly in the late afternoon, and this house can get cold. The stove's brilliant for slow cooking. We often cook ahead, preparing meals for the week, sometimes only for tomorrow's breakfast. I like it, it's light cooking, even. More natural. Perhaps it's the tending of the fire, not too quiet, not too active. The waft of the food as it cooks, gentles its way down the corridor to here where I type. The sun's slanting in too. The dog waits patient in her little basket. She knows dinner for her is soon.

The Art of Procrastination

One of my mother's laments about me was that I was 'a procrastinator'. I'm not unique in that.

I'd be interested in hearing people's ways of putting things off.

I've discovered I'm almost a compulsive shopper. Again, nothing unique. But notice I said 'almost'. Is that more procrastination in another form, an indecisiveness? Oops, better do the washing now, or look for that other book, or sigh with relief when our son and grandson arrive...

Wanderings

It's going to be warm today, that pleasant high 20's centigrade warmth. A day to spend some time by the sea, around Seal Rock- now that the holiday makers have gone - with that meditative quiet sensing that comes over one every now and then, unbidden but so welcome.

Days

I guess every day is a gift though sometimes it's very hard to see that. Today's one of those perfect days- blue sky, some clouds, cooling sea breeze, a warming heat, loved ones close.

Flows

Rain! The mouth of the River Murray opens unaided. No more dredging (for the time being), that dull droning sound silent. I like to stand there, on the shore, the beginning of the Coorong, look across to those cream-coloured dunes rising high, be silent, watch, listen.

Samhain

Samhain

The day brighter than a grin
Door open the tree outside
Leaves still green. I put out food,

Bamboo shoots, wanton soup, wet
Noodles, all steaming hot. And
Of course, dried chilli flakes. Hot too!

All your favourites. On
A special table sponged and ringed with light -
The Asia of our beginnings, wild rice of youth

I'll listen, dwell awhile,then let dusk take us
Each to where we belong,
Here, there, in-between.