To insanity and beyond ...: There is ALWAYS something to smile about ...

The view I saw as I stepped onto Ladies Bay at 7 this morning.

Sometimes we never quite realise how much we touch the lives of others. I got such a lift this morning ... a parcel in the post from a friend in South Africa .... it touched my heart and the words made me cry. Someone, somewhere was thinking of me .... and I love that they were ... I felt so humbled and so uplifted!

Writing this blog has been so therapeutic ... it allows me to see the good in my world and focus on the positive ... it allows me to realise that negativity does me no good at all ... that some things are here for me to learn lessons from .... and most of all, that no matter how low I feel, there is ALWAYS ... ALWAYS ..... ALWAYS something to smile about! Tui moments come to mind ... they’re so ridiculous they always make me smile .... the occasional ‘blonde’ moments I have also make me smile .... and I know my ‘blonde’ moments make certain of my friends smile too ... some friends more than others!

The rainbow over my city

Our weather, as those of you who regularly read my blog will know, has been relatively grim. The majority of my photos recently have had grey skies in them ... and raindrops on the lens! I’ve felt a definite shortage of sunshine! I’d thought that was all in my mind until I chanced upon an article that confirmed December’s weather in Auckland was the cloudiest we’ve had in over 100 years. For 11 days in December my City of Sails had no sunshine whatsoever and twice the usual rainfall .... no wonder I’m feeling deprived!! Thank goodness the hound has webbed feet!

This morning the weather looked like it was following the same pattern as the weekend ... rain, rain and more rain ... but the wind’s picked up and the sun’s shining .... albeit infrequently as the clouds pass in front of it.

I was out and about on the beach at 7 this morning ... Julia returned to work today but Indy and her have so enjoyed our daily walks that she wants to make it a regular habit, so we’re walking earlier. I would have thought that the pavements would be people-less at 6.45 when I headed out .... but I was wrong .... my elderly neighbour was out walking her VERY elderly hound (handbag-type hound) so I stopped to pass the time of day with her. Rounding the corner I came across Pete and Sebastian ... Sebastian was out for his early-morning call of nature. I haven’t seen Sebastian et al since Christmas so stopped to say hi to them too!

The Ferry passing through my rainbow

Despite all my unexpected socialising I got to the beach before Julia and headed down the stairs. The view as I reach the bottom of the stairs always takes my breath away .... this morning was no exception. Added to the vista of Rangitoto and rainclouds was the most vibrant rainbow ... only the bottom portion of it visible beneath the black storm clouds ... but every colour was vividly displayed .... it was magnificent!

As the wind blew the clouds across the sky, more of the rainbow was visible ... the other end ... hiding the pot of gold ..... was hovering over my city. The vibrancy of the colours fluctuated as the sun shifted in and out of the clouds ... what a gorgeous start to my day!

The tide is so high it's almost covering the rocks at the bottom of the stairs

Moments like this make time stand still .... early morning in my favourite spot .... my favourite hound and her buddy in the waves .... a like-minded friend to share the rainbow with .... life IS good!

I’d never have seen that rainbow if I hadn’t of walked early ... as Julia and I headed back up the stairs and down to the village it disappeared .... job done .... our day brightened and made more special. I just LOVE rainbows ...

When you hear the call ..... when you feel the urge ..... when you know it’s the right thing to do ....be the “somebody” you came here to be.

The skies are lightening as we head down towards the village

I’m wishing a rainbow of love on the families of all those who lost their lives in the devastating Hot Air Balloon accident in NZ this weekend ... my heart goes out to them one and all.