I find it so hard to explain to people how happy I am living back on the coast again. Perhaps it's the echoes of a childhood spent in sand dunes and beaches, the briny scent of the ocean, the moonah trees twisting away from the wind. A time when I felt held. And even though I am no longer a child, and one parent is gone, I still feel childlike here—bubbling with excitement for the potential of each day. A cycle, a swim, a surf, a walk, gardening—honestly, I wake up every morning full of beans.
And I get to share it with this guy. This morning it almost felt like Cornwall—grey skies, grey ocean, my man in his flat cap. I'm lucky he decided to live here with me, and that it feels like home to him, his blessed home, even though it's so far from England. The UK has changed so much—you can't swim safely there anymore, for one, which makes me so sad. Here, the water is clean.
While the weather was drizzly and cool this morning, it was still quite humid, and at least the rain chased away some of the crowds—although they were mainly in the cafes anyway. We feel so lucky that we don't have to drive back to Melbourne, or anywhere else we've visited on holiday—we live here full time.
Sqeeeee.
On Saturday, we went for a bit of a bike ride, taking the long way home from the shops. There are so many amazing roads and tracks around here—you can get quite lost in an adventure. Easy on an electric bike, although I stupidly went to turn and take off on a tree root, so I fell off and hurt my elbow so badly that it's still super swollen and bruised. Idiot. If it's not one thing, it's another with me. At least my hip's not hurting, or swimming would have been hard with only one working limb.
We had my mum and my sister's family (including my beautiful nephews) over for dinner on Saturday night. I made a roast veggie, tomato and bean Middle Eastern–spiced casserole, and we drank wine and listened to music. The boys had arrived early as Jamie was fixing the eldest boy’s car—he’d copped a fire extinguisher to the side door, meaning a replacement door (which my sister had found at a scrapyard, same colour and all), which then needed rewiring. We all jumped in to help him—poor kid. He felt loved and grateful.
We've also made the decision to spread Dad's ashes soon.
On Sunday, we did more DIY, getting the alcove painted ready for the wood stove to go in next week, and I did some knitting in the sunshine with a slight hangover.
I harvested some bush beans I'd planted toward the end of summer (good call), picked caterpillars off the brassicas, and we worked on the side garden bed a little more.
I thought of Dad a lot. My youngest nephew and I had some time to chat while I was cooking dinner, before the rest of the family arrived, and we were talking about Dad's music. My nephew is a great musician at 17, and last weekend he ran his own mini festival in Melbourne with various bands. He was saying how much he’s been enjoying The Stones, Ry Cooder, Taj Mahal—because it reminds him of his granddad. Granddad always encouraged him to play music, even buying him guitars—he was his biggest fan.
He got teary talking about Dad, and I said—how beautiful is it that we’re listening to his music and thinking of him? That we carry his spirit forward in this way.
Funnily enough a Facebook memory came up of an Easter a few years back and a bushwalk with Dad. Yep, that's him starting a headstand on a rock. He always was the adventure.
I feel like that's with everything I do here. Dad’s present in all of it. He would have loved my life here, been so happy for me. Perhaps it doesn’t matter that he never knew we moved here. His spirit is alive in all of us—enjoying our lives, each other, the coast, the bush, the music, life. It might be a life without my father, but it's an earthly paradise nonetheless.
I'm not even sure what I was attempting with this post. Just an outpouring of energy I suppose on this sublime Easter Monday, glass of wine in hand, lentil stew with mash for tea. I hope this post sees you as happy as I am, right now, in this moment.
How was your Easter?
With Love,
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Hi River, I am so envious of you almost living right on the beach. Just kidding, I'm very happy for you as I know that is your absolute favourite place! That's where my hubby and I would have chosen to live! I can see him walking along the sandy beach or the rocks, looking for the best place to cast his line. The fish would often be too young to keep, and they'd be tossed back into the waters to live another day.
Your Dad would absolutely have approved of where you find yourself now, and I do believe he is often right there with you, unseen, yet letting you feel his presence.
Enjoy this awesome lifestyle!
Thanks for your lovely comment @lizelle - I know you must miss him still but it's so nice you gave these fond beach memories of him. I do feel grateful for every moment with Jamie as I know it may not last 💖😭
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How are you, friend? I hope you are well. The feeling at sea is really indescribable. The feeling there is a little different. Walking along the river, that sound still rings in my ears.
Ha, my post says how I am.. Yes, water is so soothing.
¡Qué reflexión tan hermosa! Se nota que el espíritu de tu padre te acompaña en cada rincón de ese paraíso costero. Siento lo de tu codo, pero me alegra que hayas disfrutado tanto con tu familia. Gracias por compartir
ecency.com
What a beautiful reflection! It's clear your father's spirit is with you in every corner of that coastal paradise. Sorry about your elbow, but I'm glad you had such a wonderful time with your family. Thanks for sharing
I have a giant bruise but it's getting better. Thanks for your well wishes..
That is what I use Hive for. A good deal of my posts are that.
Sorry about your fall. You arelike my wife and seem to be injury prone. Like I told her, we may need to put you in bubble wrap. It did my heart good though to read the rest of your post and know that you and Jamie are happy. Your nephew the musician sounds like a well grounded young man. Sounds like there is a lot of your Dad in him. It is so lovely that he wants to carry on that love for music.
Oh, tell Jamie I love the hat. I want one now.
Ha it's a cool hat. I love him in it. He's my gorgeous Englishman.
Yes he's such an incredible kid. Very smart and driven by his passion for music. Very personable and loving too. He's the kinda kid that gives you faith in the world. He drove me nuts as a little kid. Pain in the ass. But I like him more now he's grown up. He's always good for a hug too.
Honestly falling off the bike was such a dumb move. I was trying to be careful too. You should see my bruise. I'm still icing it.
I may get a hat like it. My older brother wears hats like that. I forget what the name for them is.
Most kids that are pains in the ass when they are little grow up to be legit when they are older. Look at me! LOL
Hope that elbow heals up quick. A sore elbow is no joke. Had surgery on my right elbow a couple or three years ago. It sucked.
It's a flat cap 💖
Oh no I bet that elbow hurt for a while, like a broken wing! The swellings gone down and I have more movement so I think I'm good
When Jamie was a teenager he was a total pain in the ass. You should have read his school reports. I don't think he ever stopped talking. I can definitely see the teenager in him at times but mostly he turned out pretty well too.
Just bought me one. Now I can be stylish too. :)
The elbow still aches. Especially when it is cold. Glad the swelling is down and you are on the mend.
Him and I have being a pain in the ass as kids in common. My school reports weren't so hot either. :)
Oh photo please!!!
It is supposed to come today. I.ll post one.
Here it is:
I think that's part of why I try so hard to be able to stay here on the farm. My husband is everywhere here.
And I was recovering from that awful garden all day...
I know you keep it up in his memory. I can't imagine you off the farm. What ob earth would you do with yourself? I know Mum won't leave her acre because of Dad.
I know, right? It gives me something to get up in the morning for...
I hear that!
What a lovely sentimental post, sharing your fond memories. How wonderful that you are so happy with your life back at the coast, but really, you have to stop hurting yourself!
Ha I know, and I was trying so hard to be injury free! It's because I like an adventure but maybet body doesn't keep up with my head 🙂↕️
Taking a walk near the beach is great; I love feeling the sea breeze, the sand between my toes, and taking in the scenery. It’s too bad you had that accident; I hope you get well soon.
Remembering is living, and those moments with your father were wonderful. It’s nice to relive those adventures and keep them in mind on special days, as well as pay tribute to him through music.
Around here, I’ve just paid a quick visit to San Antonio de la Eminencia Castle and gotten plenty of rest.
Thanks for your comment. I hope you wrote about that castle... Off to check it out!
I haven't done it yet, but I'll let you know how it goes soon. The photos are amazing.
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awwww... I hope your elbow recuperates soon! 💞
Dad’s spirit is this place.