Education for all, not just the rich.

At the memorable protest rally I attended during my time at the University of Western Australia, I loudly chanted this along with my first year peers as we marched along St. Georges Terrace in the Perth CBD.

This was way way back in 1988 when University education was free.

Yes kids, free.

Among the many legacies of the Whitlam Labor government was the removal of University fees in the 1970’s, but this apparently became ‘untenable’ by the end of the next decade.

For people like me, the first person in my family to be offered a place and attend such a beautiful and prestigious university, the concept of fees being implemented right now in Australia would have meant closing the door on tertiary education completely.

I ended up taking seven years to complete my undergraduate degree, and the legacy of debt I had to repay for all those years was with me until relatively recently.

Life has this funny way of getting in the way when you’re busy making plans, and sometimes you need a Plan B, but that shouldn’t have to involve removing the choice to go to university.

As an Arts graduate who also recently completed a Graduate Diploma, I can honestly say that tertiary education provided for me the critical thinking and communication skills that are also important in the workplace.

I understand that the system is struggling right now, largely because of the void that has been created by the absence of international students, but there are already other ways to learn job-ready skills.

Does the guarantee of a job after graduation mean your knowledge is more valuable?

Is it ‘right’ or ‘fair’ to value accountants more than artists?

Sorry but the implications of this sort of change on The Arts simply does not sit well with me.

But these are just my thoughts so please don’t take anything I have to say personally 🤔🙏

Retail Therapy

I have been a follower of fashion for as long as I can remember, but have never had the income to fully feed my passion.

I can only imagine a life where shopping involves looking at the price tag AFTER you try something on, which is why I’ve been a bargain hunter and ‘vintage’ shopper ever since I first started earning an income.

Way back in the day, I would have been about twelve from memory, I printed flyers offering my babysitting services to the neighbours.

Would you believe, even though I had very little experience, let alone a first aid certificate or anything, it turned out to be quite a lucrative business for me.

The money I made meant freedom to buy and wear clothes that I thought suited my personality. Trust me there were some epic fails at the time, my only defence is that I was a teenager in the 80’s …

But for me there was, and still is, nothing like the feeling when, after trawling through racks of ‘trash’ you find a ‘treasure’ that fits and you can afford!

And when you wear that special something and receive a compliment?

Now THAT is a very special feeling.

Who’s with me?

Carpentry cacophony

The Covid-19 ‘lockdown’ here in Western Australia is winding down, and I’m hopeful that some of the positives from the experience will remain.

The opportunity to get to know our neighbours has been just one of the silver linings of the experience for me, but not so for two of our immediate neighbours it would seem.

One is a retired carpenter who likes to tinker in his garage, building grandfather clocks from scratch.

Across the driveway the other neighbour, also retired, likes to entertain friends at home, and is obviously not happy with the noise that the carpentry emits.

A disagreement over the noise recently boiled over, with the neighbour not happy with the garage noise using a passive aggressive technique to counter it; playing the radio loudly on a portable stereo in the doorway of her home, directly facing the offending garage.

As you can imagine the combined noise is not pleasant, especially in the rear courtyard of our home where I normally enjoy pottering in the garden. Today the noise was enough to rouse Shadow from her Nanna nap to the front door to investigate.

We have had both neighbours at our doorstep complaining about the other, and to be honest they’re both starting to annoy the heck out of me.

But there is no way I’m picking a side, because I think they’re both being very selfish and childish. Who said with age comes wisdom?

Perhaps the situation will resolve itself once the social distance restrictions ease and the local men’s shed reopens?

But the noise is only part of the problem really, even if it stops they’re still ultimately going to need to learn to get along in my opinion.

Because life’s too short.

#nofilter I am not okay

I have a guilty secret that I feel the need to share …

I have medically diagnosed Generalised Anxiety Disorder that keeps me awake at night, literally.

Along with seeing a psychologist, I have recently started taking medication to help manage my chronic insomnia. Lack of sleep is like a ‘truth serum’ for me, which also happens to be one of my favourite songs. It’s by Smog if you’re interested, Google it 😁

Some days it’s like I have too much to say and not enough time, and if get within earshot I’ll tell you what I really think about EVERYTHING 😃

But I digress, until now I have felt too ashamed or scared or … something to share my ‘guilty’ secret.

Like my cat who is not well, some days all it want to do is find somewhere cosy and hide away. The linen cupboard is her favourite comfy place at the moment. But I’m off topic again …

Why is it so hard to reveal and discuss mental illness?

I broke my ankle a couple of years ago and it was clear I was not ok because of the dirty black smelly ‘moon boot’ I had to wear for nearly two months. The lack of sleep and reactive gut, two symptoms of anxiety, caused me to lose a lot of weight and I keep being told I look fantastic but I can, hand on heart, say I have never felt worse.

On days like today when I’ve had a bad sleep I know I look like crap but it’s not like I have a sling or a cast or a moon boot to explain why. And until now I’ve done my best to soldier on and put on my ‘happy face’ and act like everything is okay.

But I am not okay and it feels better to share that with you so thanks for taking the time to read this.

And if you are interested Google Generalised Anxiety Disorder 😉

A time to survive and thrive

I find it ironic that the easing of Covid-19 restrictions in Western Australia is timed for the first week of Winter.

A time for hibernation in the plant and animal world, and craving warmth and the comforts of home for people like me.

Over the past two months I witnessed my husband stuggle to manage a team, navigate his way through new technology, and maintain contact with and coordinate the workload of the staff reporting to him from home.

I can only imagine how hard it would have been for both of us to be working at home as well as maintaining a routine for, home schooling and entertaining school-aged children. Hats off to those who have been, and are now most likely breathing a sigh of relief that our State is starting to return to the old routine.

For me the routine we created at home during Covid-19 was comfortable and comforting. No need to stress about presentation, my husband let his beard and hair grow for a few weeks, and I spent most days in active wear, starting my day with online group fitness and ending with a walk around the neighbourhood.

Along with the jigsaw we worked on together, outside of Covid-19 news, planning for and preparation of lunch and dinner was our key discussion topic, and every day I found something that needed to be worked on in the house and garden while he carried on with working life in our ‘new’ normal.

As well as exercise, most days there was time to work on my personal interests like listening to and playing music, reading, writing, knitting and baking. Mastering the guitar is still a long way off, as is finishing the first and starting on the second in a pair of socks, and don’t get me started on the fifty shades of black pieces left on the jigsaw. My time at home was more about making the most of and finding silver linings in every day than meeting deadlines and ticking boxes.

Our Covid-19 socially distant routine was perhaps similar to the life our grandparents lived, ‘the simple life’ we talk about, with less deadlines and cars on the road, more conversations with neighbours, and overall a lot less stress.

Don’t get me wrong, I am only too aware and very grateful for the privelege of being paid to be at home and maintain social distance during Covid-19. But the silver lining I found on my return to work last week was more about rediscovering my work wardrobe and embracing new conversations than reading and responding to two months worth of emails.

A walk beneath the Autumn leaves from the Port and West End of Freo during my lunch break revealed a handful of shops adapting and surviving the social distance and trade restrictions. The clusters of people outside coffee shops and in the mall was heart warming to see, but not the many closed or closing down retailers.

Winter is coming and we are on the verge of flu season too, which combined with Covid-19 is likely to add salt to the wound of the ‘new normal’ we are all only just starting to adapt to.

Yes I am looking forward to the opportunity to see and be with close friends and family in venues outside our homes from next weekend, and to supporting the struggling retail and entertainment venues.

But I am also determined to maintain some of our ‘new normal’ routine through Winter and beyond. Because it’s not until you live through something that impacts every aspect of lifes routine that, for me at least, the opportunity to reflect on, adapt to, survive and thrive life with renewed appreciation for the silver linings in every day is revealed.

On the road to recovery

We hit the road mid-morning on Monday, the day the regional borders were expanded to allow us to travel to the Southern Forests in the South West of Western Australia.

Our plan was to head to Pemberton with no set agenda apart from rest and relaxation, perhaps take the opportunity to test our car off-road, switch off from the news, and offer our support to small businesses outside the Perth metro area.

Pemberton is something of a hidden gem in my opinion. A little too far from Perth for a weekend away, but far enough from the hustle and busyness of the Margaret River region to make the journey worthwhile.

Thanks to a recommendation we booked four nights at Rainbow Trail Chalets, taking advantage of their stay 4 pay 3 offer.

Located just outside of town, the adults only chalet with breathtaking views of the Karri forest was a world away from all the worries of Covid-19.

Thoughtful touches including a heated towel rail, dishwasher, candles next to the spa, and seed to feed the friendly parrots on the balcony while watching the passing parade of emus and savouring the spectacular views were appreciated.

It was interesting to see how the local community have adapted to the Covid-19 restrictions, with takeaway the only option at the hotel, and delivery of a delicious pizza by Source Kitchen to our chalet an unexpected bonus. The local IGA, bakery, general store, chemist and cafe were also open for business with antibacterial gel provided and social distancing arrangements in place.

After putting feelers out on social media I touched base with Toni from Pemberton Discovery Tours, making arrangements for a twilight tagalong tour to Yeagarup hut via the dunes.

The drive through the Karri trees in Warren National Park is a must see, and venturing up the giant wall of sand to Yeagarup dunes is not for the faint hearted. The tagalong tour was a great way to get a feeling for handling our car, and we will definitely be back to explore on our own once we’ve made some modifications to our 2018 Subaru Outback.

The team from Pemberton Discovery Tours will happily accommodate any other interests including exploring the local wineries and wildflowers if the timing is right. My tip is to get in touch before you arrive so you can plan your trip and make the most of your time away.

Other highlights of our time in the Southern Forests region included a day trip to Northcliffe and Windy Harbour, with a stop to hike to the top of Mount Chudalup for the panoramic view.

The Autumn sunshine and leaves are an Instagram feast, but we’re already planning our return trip in Winter when the rain will have topped up the Cascades and Beedelup Falls.

2020 may be the year we’d all rather forget, but maybe the ‘lockdown’ experience and road to recovery is just what we all need to reset our priorities. If you have the time why not head beyond the crowds to the Southern Forests and see what other gems you can find?

Shadow in The Good Room

There is a room in our house that over the years we have preferred to keep our kids and cats out of, ‘The Good Room’.

It’s where our nicest furniture, a wool rug and our DVD and vinyl collection are stored, and most recently the room I like to practice my guitar in.

Since we’ve been spending so much time at home we’ve relaxed the rules, and our furbaby Shadow has taken a liking to sleeping on the sofas in there.

And we’re okay with that.

I’ve not been able to practice my guitar or watch movies or listen to records because she’s not happy with loud noises.

But we’re okay with that.

You see today we found out the reason she’s been off her food the past few days is because she’s got Lymphoma, and we had to make a decision about her end of life.

At seventeen years of age she’s not going to handle surgery or chemotherapy, so the best we can offer is for her to be on medication that is likely to stimulate her appetite.

We’ve been assured she’s not in pain, and should be comfortable as long as she’s eating and drinking and not incontinent.

We’ve been told that best case scenario is a few more months of life, and for now she’s happy and comfortable in ‘The Good Room.’

There’s a bowl of water and her favourite rug, and she’s still mobile and seems happy to make her way to the laundry to use the kitty litter. She even headed out into the sunshine today, and rolled around in the dirt which ended up on the rug and sofa.

But after all the years of love and companionship we’ve been blessed with receiving from our furbaby, the least we can do is let her make herself comfortable in ‘The Good Room’.

The sounds of home

Today is Tuesday and I was woken just after sunrise by the sound of our bin being emptied. That sound would normally be around the same time as my workday alarm going off when I would jump straight in the shower to wash the sleep away. This morning I rolled over and went back to sleep for a few more hours instead.

Every morning a relative of an elderly Italian neighbour calls in. He drives an Audi R8, a car with a distinctive engine sound that announces his arrival, with a staccato double tap on the horn defining his departure every day. I am normally ready for a coffee around that time so it’s my signal to head into the kitchen to turn on the espresso machine.

The mail is delivered around midday by a postal delivery officer whose bike has squeaky brakes. Even if he doesn’t stop outside our block of units, the sound is a reminder to go outside and check the mailbox.

We live on the same street as the local Primary School, and since the start of term the day has been punctuated by the school siren.
Kind of reminds me of the time we stayed in the heart of Florence across the road from a church, with a bell that rang at 8am and 5pm every day.

The plan for the final leg of the big holiday we had organised for now was to settle into an Airbnb in Sorrento for a week, and it was the opportunity to experience the sights and sounds as a local that I was especially looking forward to.

The funny thing is that it wasn’t until I was forced to holiday at home that I came to really appreciate the comfort that the sounds of home already offer me.

I am so very grateful that Covid-19 has given me the opportunity to slow down, reflect on and reset my priorities, and the day there is no engine purr or staccato double tap is when I will knock on the neighbours door to check on her myself.

In the meantime I think it’s about time to put the kettle on.

This is the day

It’s funny how, for me anyway, one of the best things about travel is that along with the opportunity to see new faces and places, learn some life lessons and gain insight into the wild world, it helps you appreciate what you have at home.

The rituals and traditions of home, which for me include the first sip from a freshly brewed cup of tea, the sight and smell of a home-grown rose against a brilliant blue sky, that feeling when the washing has all been sorted, and slipping between the sheets of our freshly made bed.

Things I generally take for granted but appreciate so much more after time away.

To be honest I have mixed feelings about today, the day when our bags would have been packed and ready to go, give or take a few too many clothes, shoes, bits and pieces from home.

My lists would have been checked and ticked off, my anxiety and stress levels high, with the delicious anticipation of the journey ahead buzzing and fuzzing my brain.

This is the day the countdown would have been in hours instead of months, weeks or days. Counting down to the time to close the cases, shut the front door and leave home.

I am genuinely sorry that the holiday we have looked forward to and saved for is not starting today, but also very grateful for the opportunity to take stock, unwind, and just be at home instead.

This is the day my lesson is to savour the tea, smell the roses, count my blessings and appreciate that home is exactly where I need to be.

And to imagine how great the next holiday can be!

One room at a time

The original plan for this week was to get the house clean and tidy for our house-sitting friends moving in over the Easter weekend. Then next week would have been all about preparation for the big holiday.

So the holiday is cancelled but I’m still taking my leave, and the plan now is to get on top of our collective crap and deal with the backlog of housework one room at a time.

I have started in the kitchen, where along with finding out I have a lot of tea, I have uncovered some gems in the recipe collection, including a folder from my daughter’s high school Food and Technology lessons.

Her evaluation of an Anzac Biscuits recipe was priceless:

‘I was not able to cook this lesson as last lesson I did not clean up properly, which was devastating and disappointing but I have learned my lesson and will be better next time.’

My daughter always had a flair for the dramatic, which is how she ended up doing so well on stage, and devastating and disappointing is how I would have described the cancellation of our holiday a few weeks ago.

Watching the Covid-19 situation unfold all over the world, and bracing for potential fallout amongst close friends and family, I can honestly say there is nowhere else I would rather be right now.

I’m looking forward to uncovering more hidden gems, but in the meantime I think I’ll try the Anzac Biscuits recipe to have with a cuppa tea.