No going back..

I've had the pleasure of doing a written interview for Sarah on her awesome blog in the past week. She talks about "that space in between..." all sorts of things, the space between being a woman with no children and then a mother, the space between lost and gone, and many other thoughtful concepts.
I joined her with my space, one that is on my mind a lot at the moment - the space between me as a mother of semi-dependent children (teens) and the space that will gape as I transition to an empty nester, whenever that ends up being. I wrote this with a gentle sense of melancholy...
Have a look at the post here.

Glorious Luang Prabang

washing day for the monks

I loved reading Jennifer’s post about Elephant riding in Luang Prabang, Laos. This is my favourite place in the world, having discovered it 2 years ago. We had a glorious week there and I long to return. Sadly, the Western World will change it, and as with many Indochinese countries, this will happen quickly. A saving grace for Luang Prabang, though, despite its International airport, is its inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage protected list .

So, back to the Elephants – we too went elephant riding and whilst I adored the elephants, such sage creatures, I missed out on Jennifer’s joy. My overwhelming emotion was terror, not of interacting with these magnificent creatures, but of being up on top of them. I had an uncontrollable sense that I would fall off (and my son and I were on the big one!). The children, of course, thought this was hysterically funny, which was good really, as it did help me loosen up, except for my arm muscles which were clamped tightly to the seat.

me looking calmer than I felt  - check out the mahout texting as we ride!

The others were brave enough to ride on the neck of the elephant and were charmed by the way it wrapped its ears around their legs to hold them steady when going downhill.

Hang on!

 Another highlight of the stay was the morning procession of monks accepting alms. A very peaceful, gentle morning ritual. As I write this and look through my photos, yet again, I yearn to return.

The morning procession of monks

Ricketty bridge - did I really walk over this?

Utopia - an aptly named cafe/bar/restaurant on bamboo platforms up above the  river

Shenanigans - Five Sentence Fiction

Five Sentence Fiction

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week I will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the inspiration word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just take your inspiration from that word. 

My first try at Five Sentence Fiction  - here goes!

Nanna had the best legs in the family, always encased in perfect hose. I inhaled the smell of lamb roast as I read, for the hundredth time, the Disiderata on her wall.

Grandad clomped in the back door from the garden, placed grubby hands on her aproned waist and spun her around. “Oh you and your shenanigans”, she giggled, flicking spilt salt over her Irish shoulder.

As he left the room, she turned to me and dropped her voice, “I never could resist a man with a twinkle in his eye”.

weekend away

Sitting with family and friends, watching tennis, a lazy day of laughs and sharing. Leaving the big smoke for the space and green and starry skies - a headclearing space refreshes for return.

10 years on...

Where was I on 9/11? When the towers tumbled I was in a world of pain of my own - 9/10 (or 10/9 as we say in Oz) was my day of horror - my beloved father passed away. So in the dark early hours of another sleepless night , when my husband stared in shock at the CNN footage, my reaction was "and.... what does this have to do with me?". My immediate pain could not allow me to absorb that of others.
But over the years, I've been able to consider the incomprehensible, think of the losses of those involved and yesterday, finally watch the outpouring of grief with compassion.