“Keeping my eyes wide open, I will show gratitude for all of the Everyday Inspirations I find in my life, recording their appearance to me in my Gratitude Diary.”
I wrote the above quoted words myself, on January 6, 2011, in my post “My Year for Freedom and Gratitude”. Little did I realise, as I wrote these words less than three weeks ago, just how closed my eyes had been.
For here, virtually right on my door step, is a veritable Touch of Paradise.
(Note ~ Run the mouse over each photo and click on it, to enlarge.)
Breaking Waves
Oh, for sure, I always knew it was there. The trouble is, I have been taking it for granted.
I Love Her Far Horizons
“Oft the colours are pitched so high
The deepest note is the cobalt sky…” ~ The Colours of Light, Dorothea Mackellar.
Point Danger lookout is situated right on the border of the two states of Queensland and New South Wales, with the border line running straight through the Captain Cook Memorial Lighthouse.
Captain Cook Memorial Lighthouse
The lighthouse itself stands 45 metres above sea level, or 146 feet.
This “Slice of Heaven on Earth” would be no more than fifteen minutes drive from where I live.
My first series of photographs were taken late yesterday afternoon. Although these pictures were all rather stunning, I figured the morning light would produce a far superior result, as Point Danger is located on the eastern side of Australia.
Crystals on the Ocean
The weather this morning was spectacular, with not a cloud in the sky. The salty-air wind howled around my ears as I walked around the lookout, taking photo after breathtaking photo, while the foamy white of the waves crashed into the rocks below.
These photos do not do the area justice. The colours surrounding me were magical. The bluest of blue skies, the greenness of the Southern Pacific Ocean, progressively darkening as the waters deepened and the ocean swelling and crashing in cascades of white bubbles against the rocks and along the shoreline of Duranbah Beach.
Duranbah Beach
In certain places, the sun glistened like shiny little crystals dotted across the ocean’s surface.
As I headed back to where I had parked my car this morning I came across a little fellow who my son had spotted yesterday afternoon, lazing on an embankment of rocks on the cliff face, probably 20 feet below us.
My attempts to photograph him yesterday had produced the result of a mound of brown rocks; he had camouflaged himself so well!
This morning, however, there he was as large as life, sunning himself on the grass beside the pathway, posing beautifully for a photo! After our photo shoot, he headed back to the safety of his rocky embankment.
Eastern Water Dragon
I’m confident in identifying my little model as an Eastern Water Dragon.
To say that I have reached an epiphany would be an understatement. I need to get out more; to explore my home area, my Touch of Paradise, with my eyes wide open and all of my six, (yes six!), senses, completely in tune to my surroundings.
And all of my discoveries will be written of, with accompanying photographs, right here. 🙂
Well, I am happy to report that the day did not disappoint. In fact, it exceeded all expectations!
Not in the least bit deterred by the fact that at his new school, his year alone contained half the population of the entire school he had previously attended, this morning my son calmly prepared his lunch and packed his books into his new school bag, in preparation for his first day of school for the year.
Expectations will remain high, from the point of view of the school, at least. For my boy to retain his position in the Academic Excellence classes in which he has been placed, his grades must remain at B- or above.
He’s not concerned in the slightest! In fact, I would like to a make written record right here, to refer back to in December this year, stating that my ambitious son, during this past weekend, has declared that he will end this year as the Grade 8 Dux!
As he climbed into the back seat of my car this afternoon, he announced to my daughter and I that he had just experienced the fastest school day of his entire school life!
I think I can safely say that this transfer of schools is showing extremely positive aspects, right from day one!
On the way home, we stopped off at Baskin Robbins ice cream shop. My boy was famished!
With all ice creams carefully steadied, we headed on up to Point Danger, a local landmark and lookout.
What a gloriously crystal clear day we have had today! After ice creams were devoured, my son and I went off for a walk, camera in hand, leaving Miss Eighteen to “chill” in the car, listening to music.
Chillin'
Most of the photos I took turned out very well indeed, considering the age and quality of my camera. (***Added to my wish list today, under the heading “Top Priority” ~ an upgrade on my camera!***)
The 26th January is a day of celebration for Australia, a day which we simply call “Australia Day”.
In honour of Australia Day, I would like to share a beautiful poem by the famous Australian, Dorothea Mackellar.
The Colours of Light ~ Dorothea Mackellar (1885 – 1968)
This is not easy to understand
For you that come from a distant land
Where all the colours are low in pitch –
Deep purples, emeralds deep and rich,
Where autumn’s flaming and summer’s green –
Here is a beauty you have not seen.
All is pitched in a higher key,
Lilac, topaz, and ivory,
Palest jade-green and pale clear blue
Like aquamarines that the sun shines through,
Golds and silvers, we have at will –
Silver and gold on each plain and hill,
Silver-green of the myall leaves,
Tawny gold of the garnered sheaves,
Silver rivers that silent slide,
Golden sands by the water-side,
Golden wattle, and golden broom,
Silver stars of the rosewood bloom;
Amber sunshine, and smoke-blue shade:
Opal colours that glow and fade;
On the gold of the upland grass
Blue cloud-shadows that swiftly pass;
Wood-smoke blown in an azure mist;
Hills of tenuous amethyst. . .
Oft the colours are pitched so high
The deepest note is the cobalt sky;
We have to wait till the sunset comes
For shades that feel like the beat of drums –
Or like organ notes in their rise and fall –
Purple and orange and cardinal,
Or the peacock-green that turns soft and slow
To peacock-blue as the great stars show . . .
Sugar-gum boles flushed to peach-blow pink;
Blue-gums, tall at the clearing’s brink;
Ivory pillars, their smooth fine slope
Dappled with delicate heliotrope;
Grey of the twisted mulga-roots;
Golden-bronze of the budding shoots;
Tints of the lichens that cling and spread,
Nile-green, primrose, and palest red . . .
Sheen of the bronze-wing; blue of the crane;
Fawn and pearl of the lyrebird’s train;
Cream of the plover; grey of the dove –
These are the hues of the land I love.
Well, who would have thought? It was exactly twenty years ago his month that I made my first January school dash!
Although back then, it was all about my five year old baby boy, my first child to start school.
He arrived at school on his first day, all bright eyed and ambitious, looking forward to this brand new adventure he was just beginning.
I was a cot case!!
As the year went by, momentum kicked in, I gained control over my apprehension and fears and I grew up somewhat.
Really, I had no choice. Who was I to worry myself stupid, when my children were going off to school filled with anticipation? I had to face the facts…
My babies loved having new adventures, thrived on learning new things, couldn’t wait to make new friends and appreciated their newly forming independence.
Was it really only seven years ago this month that the baby of my four children started school? In 2004 I had all four of my children attending school; the eldest in his final year, the youngest starting his first.
So, my baby arrived home yesterday from his surfing carnival, suntanned and tired, realising he is heading into the final days of his summer school holidays.
He’s starting a new school this year filled, yet again, with eager anticipation.
Enrolment into school ran smoothly. He’s beginning an Academic Excellence program this year, hence the change of schools.
With the enrolment completed by 11.30am and uniforms tried on and purchased by 12.30am, we were off to the shops for the final leg of our annual January dash.
Shoes and socks were purchased without incident at a local sports store. He’s a very happy chappie, knowing he will be wearing sports shoes every day, from this day forward, (well, Monday, actually!) as the school uniform requirement!
Lastly, we headed off to a nearby chain store to join another dozen or so mums, also accompanied by their overly suntanned children, in the rummage for stationary items.
By 1.15pm we were famished. What’s a January school dash without junk food? We found sausage rolls (I had a spinach roll!) and chocolate thick shakes to tide us over for the trip home. It’s been another hot, typically January day, yet another day when drinks are as necessary as breathing!
For the grand finale of this most typically January day, the weather has provided us with a thunderstorm, usual in these parts of the country after the heat of the day.
As the thunder fades away into the distance, our pretty bright green garden frogs will begin their croaking chorus to entertain me, as I patiently hand sew name labels onto my boy’s new school uniforms.
I’m sure the majority of you have heard about the massive deluge of rain in certain parts of Australia just now, with the state of Queensland being the worst hit.
Well, yes, it is that time of year, the rainy season in these parts, which I spoke about the other day in my post “My Country”.
What has eventuated over the last two days, however, is nothing short of a freak of nature!
The beautiful town of Toowoomba, just west of Brisbane and part of The Great Dividing Range is situated at 2,267 feet, or 691 metres above sea level. The last thing the residents of the town would have expected would be a flood, which has left, at latest report, eight people dead and seventy people missing.
The city of Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, has also been experiencing unexpected high rainfalls (even for this time of the year), over a rather short period of time, causing the Brisbane River to break its banks.
The loss and damage to homes and businesses during times like these are unimaginable. I know. I’ve lived through it myself.
It’s times like these, when the situation becomes beyond critical, that brings out the best in people.
Here are a few ways to help ~
Appliances Online Australia has announced that for every Facebook member who “likes” their Facebook page, they will donate $1.00, up until 5pm on January 21, 2011. Their target to donate is $100,000.
If you have Facebook, please take a moment to show your support here.
The Queensland Government is accepting donations to help the flood victims get their lives back to normal sooner, rather than later.
And last but not least, please say a prayer for the safety and well being of those who have been affected by the floods.
Look at the photo I have added at the top of the page, showing Toowoomba in all of its colourful, floral glory, and picture the town returning to the picturesque status it is so well known for.
Ah yes, Australia is Australia and our harsh climate does indeed send us some very trying times.
It is at these times when we all rally together and help in any way we are able, large or small, then life moves on.
The poet Henry Lawson sums the Australian way of looking at things up very well in “Send Round the Hat” when he says ~
“Now this is the creed from the Book of the Bush –
Should be simple and plain to a dunce:
If a man’s in a hole you must pass round the hat –
In My World 