Month: October 2021

Today, I was already relaxed and calm when I sat on the Bench. So the feeling of serenity was just so clear. From the moment I sat down, I felt this beautiful space open up. I’ve gotten used to this space when I sit on the park bench. It’s like I forget all the little […]

Once a year, on the anniversary of my Father’s passing, my family comes down to the pier. We bring flowers from our gardens in big containers. We walk out to the end of the Pier and, on an outgoing tide, we throw the flowers into the water and watch them slowly stream out to sea.

I snuck away for a quiet moment at Private Bench. We brought a friend to the river today. They’re hanging out near Northern Bench, climbing trees, skipping rocks and making a lot of noise. But down here, all I can hear is the breeze in the leaves of the trees. I love how the water’s […]

Another windy, windy day. There are fewer frogs at the Lily Pond. There’s a big flock of Ibises flying high up in the puffy clouds. The sound of the wind in the pine trees behind me is really loud. It’s a beautiful sound. And the wonderful stillness is here when I sit again today.

It’s the most perfect day. There’s not a cloud in the deep blue sky, except for one tiny little white smudge. The sun is warm, the breeze is cool, and the birds are singing. The only thing that’s not perfect is that I have a meeting starting in four minutes. I think I work too […]

The river is almost back to its normal flow. There’s very little to suggest that this whole area where I’m sitting was underwater for the last few days. The only noticeable things are the few puddles lying around, and the grass, which is normally so bright green, is dull under a very fine coat of […]

Then, just like that, the floodwaters drop. The whole path, which was underwater yesterday, now looks really quite dry. It’s amazing. Northern Bench is almost out of the water. Southern Bench is fully out of the water. Other Side Bench is pretty much out of the water, although it still has a lake with ducks […]

It’s absolutely surreal sitting here in the morning mist, watching the floodwaters very quietly but swiftly pass by. The Bench is just beginning to emerge from the floodwater, just the very top of the back of it. It really is humbling when you see something like a flood or the aftermath of a big bushfire. […]

The frogs are once again really loud today. The banjo frogs. I feel a little disconnected today. I’m frustrated. And to make it worse, I’m frustrated that I’m frustrated. Instead of feeling good, like I usually do when I sit here.