Fresh Air For Headspace

We all get a little wound up on occasion… How do you handle it?

We don’t always have time to deal with it, but today I did… I’m taking 10 minutes to ease that tension just a little… Or a lot!

This morning, instead of diving straight into my workload, with a myriad of distractions tumbling around in my brain, I grabbed my carkeys and walked out the door. Moments later with a treat of my favourite coffee in hand, I found myself sitting at a special place – a tiny beach on the bay – a hidden gem.

This is my 10 minutes…

The park bench is cold through my jeans and the bay breeze nips at my cheeks and nose, but a wintry sun is shining – brightening the day and my mood. I gaze upward into broad green leaves. The vivid blue sky penetrates the canopy, highlighting nature’s intricate lacework, woven over the many years this gnarly old tree has stood as sentinel on the beach.

The rapid, yet soothing rhythm of the wavelets as they lap against the small strip of sand, managed to dominate the ever-present urban hum of humanity – mowers trimming grass in backyards behind, and barges meandering their way through the bay islands before me – lulling me into an almost hypnotic state of relaxation.

Breathing deeply, cool air filling my lungs, I stretch my back and let the tension float away on the breeze. A slow sip of rich aromatic coffee warms within – a perfect balance to the crisp air that envelops my body.

I gaze out toward the vista before me… Pale blue sky dappled with cotton-wool clouds draping down to distant hills and mangrove foreshores on an island across the bay. The mangroves are dipping their “toes“ into the cool grey-blue waters that bridge the gap between them, the swaying masts of sailboats, and the ripples that radiate to the milk coffee coloured sand a few metres in front of me. Scrappy sticks scattered with a little flotsam and jetsam form a border between clean sand and the bright emerald grass carpet that reaches to my feet.

If only I could capture this 10 minutes in a painting and hang it on my wall… But then why would I?… Nothing can compare to being here and breathing in this beautiful fresh air.

Brrrrr…

Whispers of winter in the cool evening sky.

Showers dampen the soil but not my mood.

The list is short, and I shop on the fly.

Now homeward bound for cozy comfort food.

A Disappearing Dragon

Sandpaper skin, piercing bright eyes,

Perched on a stump, upon his world he spies.

Look too hard and his form fades away,

Blending into leaves through the heat of the day.

The hum of cicadas hangs on humid air,

The barely-there breeze brings relief, just enough to bear.

I twitched a muscle, he flicked his tail,

In the space of a heartbeat, that bearded dragon left the trail.

Ebb & Flow

A gentle breeze caresses my face,

As tiny birds flitter to and fro.

Sapphire sky and fresh green space,

Cooling waters ebb and flow.

Just One (More) Thing, Dr Michael Mosley…

Just One Thing… And so much more!

Years ago, on a whim, as I was “channel-surfing“ the TV – and I’m not usually inclined to do that – I paused on a documentary about a rather adventurous doctor who had decided to “experiment” upon himself with the crazy idea of swallowing a micro-camera in a capsule!

From that moment, I was hooked!… His infectious enthusiasm for life, and curiosity about the incredible biology of our bodies, how we treat them, and how they in turn respond to that treatment, has had me equally as intrigued since then.

From that day, I have shared in, and fed on his enthusiasm through numerous books, interviews, documentaries, TV shows, and a podcast… gobbling every fascinating morsel that was dished up.

More recently, I decided to climb out of the passenger seat and jump into the driver’s seat, embarking on my own journey – thanks to Dr Michael and his wife, Dr Clare Bailey – following the healthy lifestyle of “The Fast 800”, discovering a world of new tastes and a realistic exercise habit. And I have to say, I am feeling so much better for it!

Then, my daughter gifted me the book, “Just One Thing”, which – for those in the know – has elevated my daily toothbrushing experience (and many other aspects of my life) to the next level. Some books designed to improve your life can make the task seem like an overhaul far too big to tackle, but as I balance precariously on one leg while brushing my teeth (improving my balance, and so then my surefootedness later in life), I realise that I can achieve the same goal, day by day, with “just one thing” at a time.

From that first moment, until this very day, and every other day moving forward, I will thank you, Dr Michael Mosley, for not only transforming my quality of life, but my outlook upon it.

I will celebrate and remember your life every day for the rest of mine, with “Just One Thing”… And so much more!

My thoughts, like those of so many others, are with Dr Mosley‘s family and friends at this terribly sad time – thank you so much for sharing this very special person with the rest of the world.

Another Time and Place

The dry warm wind tugs at the treetops this morning, fluctuating between barely a whisper from the leaves, to a dull roar as it blusters through the branches.

I’m not sure why, but as I inhale the aroma of my coffee and lift my face to the vast, pale blue sky, I am transported back to a beloved place, where that very same pale blue dome is broken at the horizon by a jagged outline of red rocks, shimmering savannah grass, and the scrappy umbrella-like spread of acacia trees.

Scrambling out of bed in the pre-dawn darkness, hastily dressing, draped in the obligatory fashion accessories of a camera and set of binoculars… It’s funny how the excitement of an early morning game drive can invigorate one far more than the prospect of a day in the office!

As the vehicle rumbled to life, and gently rolled along the two-wheel track between the rivers of grass that flowed either side, I squinted, straining to be the first to catch a glimpse of telltale spots emerging from the undulating blond blades of grass.

I held my breath as we stopped moving and fell silent. I thought I caught a flicker of something from the corner of my eye. Raising the binoculars slowly, I zoomed in and focused on a tuft that suddenly twitched, and directing my view just a fraction lower, locked eyes with the most hypnotic, unwavering gaze I had ever encountered. In that moment, I realised that in this game of “hide and seek”, where I had assumed that I was the “seeker”, perhaps the cheetah behind those glowing amber eyes thought it was the other way around!

Do you ever have those moments when a sound, a scent or a sensation transports you to another time and place… just for a moment? If you do, please comment, I’d love to hear about them.

30 Minute Meals

Stirring a little self-love into my breakfast.

Who googles “30 minute meals”?

Who always looks for the “quick & easy” recipes?…

Me!

It’s funny, the little “epiphanies” one has, whilst doing the most mundane of things.

I’ve always tried those “30 minute meals” and cursed over those so-called “quick & easy” recipe options, often to end up feeling less than adequate when they don’t turn out quite as expected, or frustrated when they seem to take longer than the bare minimum 30 minutes I had in which to make them!

As I stand here, sipping my coffee – and let’s face it, today I am only in it for the caffeine hit – gently stirring the pancake mix I am making (from scratch) for my children when they get home from school, I realise that the success and joy of providing even the simplest dish is actually about having a little patience! And that if I factor a few extra minutes into the process, I have actually factored in the joy and satisfaction of a dish well made.

I usually rush the food prep as the hungry hordes salivate over the kitchen benchtop, trying to condense a “30 minute meal“ into about fifteen. But today I decided to do it differently, and how glad I am!

It might only be a very simple batter, but I actually enjoyed the process. I added my ingredients carefully and gradually, stirring gently (not beating madly), thinking about how much they will enjoy this treat. Before I knew it, I glanced down to see probably the smoothest and most lump-free batter that I have ever made!

As I factored in the patience, I discovered the joy. I also realised that I was stirring in a little extra love… So of course it was going to be my best batter ever!

I remembered a book I’d read along time ago, “Like Water For Hot Chocolate“. It was a magical story about how the emotions we feel when we cook a meal can influence its flavour and the effect it has on those who consume it… I think I might understand that better now, and somehow I think my mother always did.

We don’t often get the time in this busy world to factor in that patience – that little extra time – into preparing our meals with, and for those we care about, but if the opportunity ever arises, give it a try… It’s worth it!

Kitchen Linen Lore

A line of linen, fluttering in the breeze,

Brings a wisp of my childhood,

of family love, & meals at ease.

Sunlight dancing on a fading dishtowel,

Highlights years of friendship,

A bond built on a silent vow.

Picnic napkins, bright and cheery.

Remind of youthful outings,

Busy days, warm sunsets, then home happy & weary.

A stark white sports towel echos with thunderous cheers,

Thousands of Canucks, screaming “Bruce, there it is”!

That kitchen linen drying on the line,

Memories of innocence, adolescence, and experience.

That kitchen drying on the line,

Speaks the joyful lore of my lifetime.

NB. The word “lore” – as explained by the Oxford dictionary – means; “knowledge and information related to a particular subject, especially when this is not written down; the stories and traditions of a particular group of people”.

Where do your Morning Coffee Musings lead you?☕️🏝️

Musing Over Memories, While Making New Ones

Feeling a little “rusty“ from the overnight flight, my sandpaper-lined eyelids tentatively opened, and then excitement took hold!

A quick freshen up before stepping out into Sunday’s sunshine. The brisk slap-in-the-face that was a southern Autumn morning, replaced by a warm embrace from the languid northern Dry Season.

Moments later, my friend and I were musing merrily over a fresh cup of coffee on a timber balcony. It had been way too long since we’d shared some quality time just sitting… clear blue overhead, warm light illuminating the bright green that surrounded us. As a gentle breeze fluttered through the palm fronds, it was almost as though they were trembling with the same excitement we were all feeling to be reconnecting.

Numerous coffees were consumed over those few mornings. Memories made us laugh (and cry), and plans to make more were made.

The years that had passed since our younger ones had seen each other probably felt like a lifetime to them… But while we were perched up on the balcony – and as their nervous chatter drifted up through the floorboards – for us, it was as though barely a moment had gone by.

Games were played, sights were seen, expeditions were had, and meals were shared. Although time was limited, the pace was comfortable… it could have easily continued.

But with our “getaway“ more than half over, it was time to rekindle a few more friendships that time & distance had put a strain on…