Today has been an incredible day… I had planned a bit of down time today, which I did this morning – but then had a surprise afternoon out with an old friend, which was really fun!
After meandering through the graveyard for a while, looking at all the vaults and tombs, I walked along some of the Coogee-Bondi Coastal Walk route, and found a little ‘off-the-beaten-track’ pathway down to a cliff edge, where nobody really goes. Took my backpack off and sat at the top of the cliff, overlooking the most beautiful view I think I have ever seen. The sun bouncing off the water… words will never ever be able to do it justice. For the first time in a VERY long time, I felt peaceful. Like I could think clearly. I don’t want to get too deep, but I seemed to be able to get clarity on a LOT of things that have been unclear recently.
I actually got quite emotional while I was sitting there… To think that just 4 months ago I was literally at rock bottom, and now I am 100% at peace with myself – it’s a feeling that I don’t think I will ever be able to describe. It has made me realise that leaving the relationship that I was in was one of the best decisions I have ever made, despite the hell that I had to go through to get to this point. I feel like I am finally me again, like I spent 2 years of my life trying to be somebody that I’m not, and I’ve finally found who I really am again! Okay, that’s enough reflection for now – but it really was an intense moment of clarity, and I have made some more big decisions about how I want my life to be moving forward from this journey…
I started my day with a trip to an organic supermarket to pick up some food for while I’m here. Food here in Sydney is EXPENSIVE. In fact, everything here is expensive – but to be honest, it’s worth it. I picked up some chocolate coconut yoghurt, some bananas, passionfruit, a loaf of sour dough bread and a bar of dairy milk. Gotta have some chocolate! I came back to the house and had breakfast with the landlady, who is just so sweet. We chatted for a while about her family, my family and what I intended to do while I’m here.
After breakfast, I decided to go and find a famous graveyard (I know, weird eh?) called Waverley Cemetery. It was incredible! Honestly, really incredible. There are something like 50,000 graves there, dating back to 1844 apparently. It was quite a sight to see… it sits right up in the cliffs overlooking the sea. I took some photos and did a live video there (which is on my Facebook page).
I stopped in a cafe called ‘Jenny’s’ after my morning walk and had a lovely coffee with hot almond milk, and a slice of toasted banana bread (a HUGE slice)…it was much needed after the climb to the cemetery. I spent the next couple of hours on the beach reading my book (tough life, I know)!
I had planned a chilled afternoon, but a chance message to my friend Michael ended in a ride on the back of his motorbike to a place called Le Perouse, which encompasses Botany Bay National Park, and the entrance where Captain Cook sailed in and claimed the land! Being on the back of a motorbike, sun beating down on your skin is bloody amazing! We went for a short walk and took some photos, then headed back to Michael’s apartment in Alexandria and had a swim in his pool and a drink. It was such an awesome afternoon! Michael and I worked together at The Observatory Hotel in Sydney when I lived here, he was their Head Concierge at the time and knows Sydney like the back of his hand. He was an ace tour guide!
So, back in Bronte I was bloody starving so I made some chicken & veg for dinner with some lovely coconut oil that my landlady gave me. Delicious. I headed back out for a short walk to watch the sunset and then came back to get some work done.
Right now, I’m sat drinking some tea and writing this blog thinking, surely it can’t get any better than this…?