Sunrise over the beach

Sunrise

What do you do when the world goes crazy? My twitter feed is full of reports of nasty racst incidents in the USA and of articles saying Liberal Party MPs want to repeal the Australian laws that protect people here from racial vilification.  I despair at the human race.

Nature continues to put on her best clothes and, as therapy, I have decided to take out my paintbrush and paint my beautiful area. This is the first, Sunrise over the beach. A metaphor for new beginnings.

Seagulls do beach judo

Like a flock of seagulls on the beach

but then they took off ....

Monday morning beach

View over to the Palm Beach headland, the most northern tip of Sydney.

Sppplosh!

The turquoise water that turns pale green as it forms an incoming wave, the splash of water as it reaches the shore, the footprints in soft wet sand. That is the NSW Central Coast on this lovely Monday morning.

Wanganui Christmas

Black sands at Wanganui beach

On a cold and very windy Christmas Day a picnic on the beach in Wanganui (after delivering visitors to the airport) was not such a good idea. It was so windy you could hardly stand up. Black sand blown horizontally along the beach soon filled your socks and the small family scampering about on the water's edge were soon forced back into their car.

Virgina Gardens Wintergarden

Virginia Gardens looked more promising. On the hillside near the car park stands an art deco structure that looks for all the world like a toilet block but walk inside and you find the Wintergarden,.a small fantastical wonderland.

Masses of red flowers in a well tended greenhouse, a fern house and sculpture garden. There was hardly a soul there on Christmas morning so all the colourful chairs were empty. It was the perfect spot for a picnic.

Merry Christmas!

Climate change

I always seem to be too busy to go to the beach, but tonight was so balmy I took the opportunity to take a beach walk. There was a huge moon coming up over the bay ... how enormous it looked as it rose from the hills.

On the bench overlooking the beach a woman sat, taking photos of the moon just as I was doing.
"Beautiful isn't it?"
"Just lovely."
"It's been so hot today it is nice to visit the beach in the cool of the evening."
"Yes, it is unseasonably hot."

"It is so hot here, but I just saw on the news before I came out that England is having snow and ice!" the bench sitter said,"and it is the end of March!"
"Well, that's climate change for you, I replied, "up and down like a yo yo."
The look on the face of the bench sitter changed and hardened.
"Oh I don't believe in climate change," she said moving her body into a less accommodating position.
So we had a bit of a discussion about the climate and then I wandered off down to the water feeling a bit dispirited despite the gorgeous moon and the luke-warm waves lapping at my feet.

moonlit beach at 7pm

Historic Clifton Gardens

Not many parts of historic Sydney have managed to save themselves from the wreckers ball but one small gem that remains is the historic wharf at Clifton Gardens. There is a cupboard sized cafe there and live music on Sundays. The perfect spot to relax away from the madding crowd.

Clifton Gardens Beach Cafe

Beach Cafe

Clifton GArdens Beach

The Beach on Saturday

Run, jump, chase the seagulls, splash. There is nothing quite like the beach.