.... she's like a WIND-UP toy ....

It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are .....

A fallen tree in Glover Park that the wildflowers are covering ..

Took a long long walk this morning ... and no, it wasn’t because of my Bokke’s loss yesterday ... though that was very distressing .... but because I felt the need just to touch base with myself and the world around me.  There’s so much going on in my world right now and sometimes it just overwhelms me.  When I feel like this it’s good to spend longer walking in the waves and just being at one with the sun and the wind and the very air I’m breathing.  It restores some sanity to the soul.

The most divine colours ... Mother Nature is magnificent!

The hound loves our rambles .... she's like a wind-up toy.  Every new smell requires investigation ..... she has to read the pee-mail on every pole and lamp-post! She's not
shy either .... every new person we meet is greeted .... irrespective of if they want the greeting or not.  This can be a good thing .... if you like dogs .... as it's been scientifically proven that interaction with a dog is beneficial to both human and canine.  It reduces cortisol levels .... the stress hormone .... and raises levels of the neurotransmitters that are involved in making you feel happy and social.  Hmmmmmm ..... so that’s why my rambles with my hound are so good for me .... she’s reducing those cortisol levels!!!

I realised today that she does the same for other people that I don’t even know .... I’m not always aware of how many people see us on the beach everyday but I met some of them this morning ...... a lady with 2 small children.  I was standing talking to Carol, Vi and Rosemary ... and the hound was digging a ginormous hole to hide her log in ..... when this mom stopped to talk to me.  She told me the highlight of their morning walk is seeing my hound on the beach ... and watching what she gets up to.  They love her enthusiasm as she bounds into the waves after her rugby ball or log ... and she makes them laugh in the way she talks to me when she’s trying to dig her log back out of the hole she’s buried it in.

Looking down on my bay from Cliff Road ... so awesome!

It’s the same with the chaps working on the building site next to my coffee haunt .. they love seeing what her “toy” of the day is when we go for our daily fix.  If it’s a rugby ball it gets kicked up the road for her .... if it’s a log ... a tug-of-war ensues ..... the smiles she leaves on peoples faces is heartening ... she’s doing her bit to make their days brighter ... she’s spreading HER brand of sunshine.

I have to share a poem that one of my friend’s  wrote about her ... 

Chocolate brown
joviality hurtling down the beach
Affability is the lesson she can teach.
Vitality, vivacity,
a dynamic ball of fun
Rugby balls and splashes,
playing in the sun.

Serenity and solitude,
she understands my needs,
A companion who’s almost human,
no need for walks with leads
Freedom and laughter ..
my coffee she will drink
A friend by my side 
when I need to think.

It describes her so completely!

Brown Island 

I guess my blog wouldn’t be complete today without mentioning this weekend’s rugby .... I am THRILLED that Wales are through to the semi-finals ... they so deserve to be there .. they played the most amazing game against Ireland and came away worthy winners and deserving of their place in the semi’s! Even Pete, the owner of my local coffee haunt, gave me a hug on Sunday after my Dragons won ...... and he’s a staunch FF supporter!

Yes ... I’m sad and a bit shocked that my Bokke are on their way home ..... I’ve lost a $50 bet that they’d be in the finals .... but I still have my red DRAGONS to shout for ..... come on WALES!!