We are on "holiday" in the UK and spent time in the town I grew-up in. I am very lucky that I get to visit every 2 years and we are also greeted enthusiastically and it makes the trip so worth while. On NY's day, we joined our friends down at Milford Beach on the South Coast of England, and "they" went for a NY dip. As my husband sdaid- "oh, we forgot our sun screen". ....there was a howling wind, and it was so grey, and so bleak... I could not help but laugh with my friend Helen, how as children we came to the beach and hurt our feet on the stones and went home with tar on our skin. She laughed back, and said "we still come down here!" They all now have beach huts, the traditional ones, some coloured and fancy, some tired and weather beaten. But the spirit was there.
One of the friendships I have is with Nicki. Nicki lived across the field from me as kids. She turned up with her tribe, she has 4 children ranging from 3-11, and a very hands on husband- he has to be-the middle two have a generic degenerative disease and they will not see much of their teenage years. It was amazing to see everyone pitch-in and assist with getting the children down the stairs ( I'd say 60, wooden wet ones), two large strollers. On the way back -up I helped take Tom, he is 6 I think, with the strength of a 9 year old. he is determined to pick-up anything, and jam it in his mouth. Luckily, over wine two nights before Nicki had given me a bit of an up-date and I knew what to expect. I was terrified I was going to go flying and take all of us back down the cliff! There is not much to Nicki in stature, 50 kg and 5"ft2 ish, but her determination and patience is incredible, and it makes me humble.
I always marvel at how we all grew up together and left, but so many have now moved back and
their children seek the haunts that we did, and are now students at the same schools.
How removed we are from our life in Sydney, so different, things here seem so much simpler, less competitive and slower. I often wonder how things would be if I lived here now? Would I do as much yoga? ( I haven't done any since I've been here), would I have Yoga Gear website? Would I have a healthy lifestyle? Are we looking at it through rose coloured glasses??
Let's be happy! Satisfied and happy to be here, where ever that maybe!
Happy 2012!
