Friday Flaneur (8) - Carried on the wind

For the full length of the beach, the morning sun duelled with the southerly blasts to maintain dominance, to warm the sand, and the tumbling waters. I watched - from my hide in the dune grasses - as the young family weaved their way toward the rock pools at the southern end of the bay, in the lea of the headland, with one lone fisherman perched perilously on the pock-marked sandstone.


Their family tune came to me through the salty air in joyous crotchety squeals, as their bodies outlined a sandy stave for the beat-beat-beat of their naked feet. First, the dominant male, traced a theme of generous arcs, through which the fluid female maintained a steady counterpoint upon the G-string. Accompanying, with bravado and gay abandon, the youngest member of our trio plucked a pizzicato second theme, valiantly attempting a key change to focus all the attention upon him.

Reaching the rock pool, the winds baffled the sound, as they picked their way around, through and among the myriad of warming puddles, playing host to sea anemones, hermit crabs and the ghosts of sea-shells past.

Flaneur (n). Even a dedicated urban flaneur needs a counterpoint in order to heighten appreciation.

Theme Thursday - Out to lunch back soon

Misshapen by the southerly busters blasting around the headland, the wizened branches of the old callistemon provide a haven of hoppings for the raucous troupe of Rainbow Lorikeets,as they invade the camping ground. They hop. They squabble. They trapeze.

Their antics entrance jaded city-slickers, as they peg tents, unload eskies and pour coldies. Maureen scampers back out to the car, reefs a fat-stained baking tray out from behind the rear seat, and crumbles half of young Raymond’s loaf of white bread into the tray together with a drowning of water.


Over this, much to young Raymonds’ angst (‘Mum, that’s for me pancakes in the morning!’), she drizzles a tablespoon of Capilano 'Red gum' honey, and gives the entire mess a generous ploughing.

As Maureen picks her way gingerly down the eroding edge of the grassy knoll, the lorikeets swoop. Luckily, the National Park rangers are over at Racecourse Caravan park responding to a call. The lorikeets are messy and noisy eaters and will be dun’n’dusted before the ranger’s jeep breasts the dunes at the far end.


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Theme Thursday - Thinking outside the box

In the international sporting arena, Australia often punches above its weight.


The flag that we delight in flying is the green'n'gold boxing kangaroo.


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