A little buzz around the BC has been floating in the air in the form of those big hot air balloons. We see them during our morning walks with the little fellow. Last week, we thought we should go to the site where these are launched. So on Saturday, we started the day with that in mind. We decided to head to Weston Park, at the western edge of the Lake Burley Griffin. As we approached the park, we saw those big balloons hovering over us.

The park was busy, with some kind of park run events brewing. We walked around the tracks, saw very little of the balloons, but had a great morning of just mingling with the weekend runners and walkers. The little fellow too, was buzzing as he took in the new site. After our walk, we headed home and then joined Kiddo and Mic with the little angels, at their local, the Blanco Cafe on Boddington. It’s always wonderful to be with this family, and as we left their home late morning and headed to the Woden library, I felt grateful again.

We dropped off my books at the library, picked up a couple of books, and then did some grocery shopping. I had promised Kiddo and her mob that I’d do a pumpkin soup for their dinner. Back home, I decided to roast the pumpkin on the charcoal weber for extra lift, and spent the arvo doing the soup. We brought that to Kiddo’s home later that evening and spent yet more time with the little angels. Little Zoe had her bath too, and as we all stood around the kitchen bench with the little thing in that little bath tub, I thought it was such a special moment.

Tress and I went back that night, happy and grateful.

On Sunday, after SBC, Tress and I went to what is becoming our new local Malaysian place, Ming’s at Philip. We had some noodles there and while not the typical Malaysian styled fare, it was enjoyable all the same.

After lunch, we headed to Woden again and got some fruits, and then headed home to give the little fellow a run around the local oval that is about less than a km away from our home.

There was to be a “Connect Course” for newbies at SBC, later that arvo at Jayan the senior minister’s home. SBC does not have its own premises so a lot of stuff happens in ministers’ homes, especially at Jayan’s. As much as I do not enjoy these sit downs over prolonged chats about local church administrative stuff, I have come to accept these as necessary steps of our local community forming process. It is what is necessary to start community life again where we have made our new home. The course ended earlier than we expected so we headed to Kiddo’s home again after that.

Tress and I again embraced the fact that everything is within 10-15 minutes away – the Weston Park, SBC, Jayan’s home, Kiddo’s home, Woden and Mings. Back in Blackburn, I’d like to get my shopping, food and community life in a 5-10km radius from our home. That was by choice as it becomes a bit out of control otherwise. The sprawl and heavy traffic made that choice more sensible, for me at least. Some of our friends think nothing of jumping in a car and drive 30 mins through heavy traffic for lunch, for example. We didn’t, and “made do” with whatever was available inside that smaller circumference. Here in the BC however, that 10-15 mins drive take us much further afar so ironically, the options/choices become less encumbered in some ways. Strange I know, but that is what it is now.

At Kiddo’s last night, I was again carrying little Zoe – cooing, singing and talking to her. I get into my own little world with her when I do this. I feel so greatly blessed every time. Little Abby was a touch under the weather but even then, she wanted me to play with her, and asked that I trail her around the house and do stuff with her. I feel so greatly blessed every time she does this. I know Tress feels the same.

As we drove home along Kambah Pool Road and turned into Namatjira Drive, the familiar sentiment welled up in me again. I was going to sleep well again last night. My little Garmin watch confirmed it this morning.

Little Abby turned two last Saturday. As busy as the parents have been with little Zoe, they had planned the birthday party for a little while and on Saturday morning, we all got busy getting to the park with the foodstuffs and sparse deco before Kiddo and Mic’s friends and the Kohs arrived. It was a lovely little do for the little girl, who has grown up so much in the past 2 years. Last night for example, as I sat there in their lounge room reading and role playing a puppet book with her, I soaked up the joys of just engaging with her. Last night I said to Tress I felt so lucky; the blessing of having Abby wanting me to read to her and play with her, is one that I cherish and am very grateful for.

Little Zoe too, turned two on Sat. Two months, that is. She is a joy to hold and talk to. I’d like to think she is taking in all the sweet nothings I say to her. I tell her she is beautiful, as is the creation around her. I tell her she is much loved, not least by Jesus. I sing to her about that. Every time I have that “1:1 time” with her, I am filled with gratitude.

Yesterday arvo, after SBC, we went to the Southpoint Shopping Centre. We had lunch at the Japanese cafe there, then to a bookshop where Abby saw a book with Bluey eating an ice cream. She then said she wanted ice cream. So off we went to a gelato place in the food court. As we sat and enjoyed our desserts, I watched Abby working through her chocolate gelato. Momentarily, I marvelled at the focused and deliberate way she went about it. Even more, I was again soaking up the joys of being there with Kiddo and Mic and their two beautiful girls. As we drove home last night, I thought to myself that Tress is not alone in being happier. The gratitude I felt was also due to my own happiness.

The BC continues to present new things for me. I love the serenity, particularly in the mornings. This morning was a bit crisp and fresh and I donned a hoodie on top of the woollen jumper I had put on when I woke up. As Tress and I did our regular walk up to Warragamba Avenue where the little fella wanders in a dog park, the cool and fresh air was a touch invigorating. I felt fresh and alive. Maybe it was the good sleep I had, maybe it’s the fact that both Hawthorn and Man United won over the weekend. More likely however, it’s because I am with people who make me happier. The gratitude continues.

10 Mar was Labor Day in Vic. Tress and I go with Vic calendar so it was a long weekend for us. It was also “Canberra Day” here in the BC, so it was also a long weekend for everyone else here.

Tress and I drove up to Sydney on Sat morning. We booked an AirBnB apartment near Macquarie University, and we stayed there for a couple of nights. I had also teed up our Sydney relos for a catchup and on Sat night, we met up at Caleb and Cariss’ place and caught up over dinner. My uncle Tom and his wife Pauline and their 2 daughters Melissa and Sarah, came along. Sarah’s hubby Eddie and their little eight-month old daughter Erica were unwell with cold, so they stayed home.

It was wonderful catching up with family over a very delicious dinner. Caleb and Cariss both did some really good bah kut teh, together with some steamed okras with a delicious garlic sauce. Auntie Pauline also made some chinese styled lettuce with oyster sauce. The meal was almost as good as the time we spent catching up.

On Sunday morning, after walking the little fellow who came along, we took the Metro and train into the city, and visited St Andrew’s Cathedral just next to the Town Hall. It was a lovely service

After the service, we took a walk to Chinatown, and had a really good lunch at Mamak, and then went back to our AirBnB to walk the little guy again, before going to the Macquarie Centre to get some Asian groceries. Sydney obviously has heaps more options than the BC for these things so we got some stuff. Later that evening, we went to Chatswood for a walkabout.

On Monday morning, we walked through the campus of Macquarie University and discovered just how lovely the campus grounds were.

We left Sydney later that morning, and headed back to the BC. Last night, we went and saw the girls again. Just being away from there a couple of days and they looked like they have grown… yes, grandparents can be very biased and think the world of their grandkids.

Sydney was a good break for Tress and I. Other than reconnecting with relos, it gave us the option to just get away to be in a bustling city again, and being in a bustling city for a couple of days is about as much as we needed. It’s great to be back in the rural settings again, although Kiddo wants to make a trip to Sydney again soonish, and I think that would be lovely.

It was either 25 or 26 Feb, back in 1985. On either of those days, I landed in this wonderful country for the first time. Kingsford Smith airport in Sydney looked different – very different from anything I had seen prior. In fact, any thing or any where would have looked different for me, seeing it was the first time I had ever left Malaysia (other than for Singapore).

40 years hence, I’d probably see Oz and Malaysia through pretty different lenses.

Some days you feel flat. Today is one of those days. I had a good night’s sleep so that isn’t why. I did have a headache last night, and I’m not sure if that is why.

We’ve been here for almost 3 months now. While it has been wonderful being closer to people who mean much to me, it has also been flat in so many other ways. I guess I knew there would be days like today, when I’d look back and start to reminisce over stuff I enjoyed before coming up here. I knew I’d feel the way I feel now – flat, and wondering why we did what we did. I knew days like today too, will pass. So I guess the challenge is to let this day pass, with as little fall out as possible.

I can’t believe Paul Simon is an octogenarian now. He was the first muso I followed and I continue to listen to him today. I’m so glad he’s still touring, albeit in the US only.

Tress and I used to go out on Fridays. There were a few restaurants or cafes near where we lived in Melbourne, and sometimes, we went with a couple of friends. These Friday soirees were our little TGIF dinners that I looked forward to. During the football season, we’d go for these dinners and come back in time for the Friday night games to start. Yes, we went for these dinners early as late dinners wreak havoc to my sleep.

It has been a while since we had our TGIFs. It would be a long while before enjoying a game of football, particularly in situ, can be on the cards.

The past few Fridays, we have been getting takeaways to get to Kiddo and Mic’s place, and spend Friday nights with the little kiddies. We don’t actually eat anything, the takeaways were mainly for the tired mum and dad.

Last Friday we did the same thing, and took away a couple of pizzas that are now little Abby’s favourite thing to eat. Tress and I would cradle little Zoe and then play with Abby for a bit, before coming home to wind down, with some chocolates or other such indulgent fares. Our lives have become even more sedate, out here in this bush capital.

On Saturday, Tress and I woke early and prepped some “red eggs”. Zoe had turned a month old and we were doing her “full moon” party. It was at Mic’s parents place in the northern suburbs of Canberra. Tress did the eggs, we gave the little fellow a quick walk, and then we headed out to Woden to pick out a cake. We got a choc and raspberry choc mousse cake and it was very good. The little party at Desmond and SL’s finished up just before noon and we then headed to the shopping strip near where they lived to pick up some “angku’s”. They were for the “cafe time” snacks at SBC the next day, along with yet more red eggs that Tress also did.

At SBC on Sunday, a few men were “commissioned” for leadership roles and there was also the Lord’s Supper so the service ran even longer than it usually did. SBC services are longer than St Alf’s but we are slowly becoming accustomed to it. Just like a few more things at SBC. The (much) more “direct approach” (read: prescriptive), the even more laid back approach to Sunday mornings in some ways but much more serious in others. The more “raw” and unadorned music style, the longer sermons (and yes, loads more prescriptive as well). Nothing grossly unpalatable but very different indeed. It does take a bit of getting used to but I’d like to think we’re (I am) getting there.

My reading is now at Ecclesiastes. After countless advice from the preceding “wisdom” books, this is a crescendo of sorts. Wisdom and meaning is elusive. Or it can be. For now, for better or for worse, I care l little if I have/find either or both. One chooses a path and make the best of it. As I used to say to myself and others I care for, having the option is the first (and very important) goal and it (having an option) has already given me a head start. I’m already a “winner” in that sense. I’m liking my life now, warts and all, and sans whatever notwithstanding.

Tress and I now walk most mornings, around the hood. Most mornings, we head north to a dog park. On the way, we are often greeted with the rising sun and we get scenes like these. In the few short weeks we’ve been here, I’ve succumbed and taken dozens of pics like these. I am likely to take more…