Summer Breeze

photo by Sue Ellen

If It's Free, It's For Me ;)

Hello from the Good Food Affare in Castle Hill!

I packed my bags on Friday night and ran away to play with OP for the weekend. We had a sleepover at Amanda's and the plan was to eat out for dinner and come back to play board games, watch movies, sing karaoke and chat all night. We got two ticks... the dinner part and the chatting part. I think we all passed out on Manda's couch before we even got the chance to either pop a movie into the dvd player or pick a song on Sing Star.

The main weekend activity was to check out the food festival in the Castle Hill showground. And the motto was "If it's free, it's for me." We went to every single tent in the festival grounds to see what they had on offer. Free samples are soooo good for you. We tried a variety of things - coffee, cheese, sausages, breads, dips, cakes, ice cream, etc. Our tummies were full from taste testing as were our hearts from laughing so much and having a great time together. It was a simple and relaxed way to spend a Saturday afternoon and I enjoyed it immensely.

It is true that the best things in life are free. It is an overly used phrase but I don't think it will ever lose its meaning. There is nothing like the positive feeling and energy boost from the little things that make us happy. I love love love them natural highs! Here are fifteen that never fail to make my day a little bit more different and worth the extra appreciation.

1. Summer days
2. Laughing so much until my jaw and tummy hurt
3. Walking around town without a particular destination
4. Hearing a song randomly and relating to it
5. A good dance... especially when I least expect it
6. Getting lost, stumbling upon nice little surprises and finding my way back again
7. Receiving mail and hearing from loved ones - email, letters, postcards, parcels
8. Work meetings getting cancelled at the last minute
9. The feeling of sand on my bare feet
10. Making up recipes and creating magic in the kitchen
11. Dancing outdoors
12. Ice cream
13. Browsing through children's books in the bookstore
14. Falling asleep while in public transport and waking up just before my stop
15. Taking my camera out to play

Now if only there was free internet in Cuba...

You. Are. Online.

This is me trying to be amusing because I'm a little bit sad innit... just a little bit cos i'm oh so stoked for your upcoming adventures. So stop tears and on with the monologue.. ;)

without the net, there is no catch
without the net, there is no safety
without the nets, there's no basketball in jersey
without the net, there is no goal
without the net, there is no income
without the net,there is no web
without the net, i. will. be. thai.
without the net, you. will. be. french.
without the net, scooby. will. be. indian.
without the net, you will get bored
without the net, i will get sleep
without the net, there is no red mist
without the net, there is no volcano
without the net, there will be no surprises
without the net, there will be no postcards
without the net, there will be no photos
without the net, there will be no comments
without the net, there's no copycat
without the net, you can't learn from the master
without the net, there will be no banter
without the net, there will be no winner
without the net, there will be no points
(which reminds me you're still on negative)
without the net, we will not talk endlessly
without the net, you will never see me teary
without the net, there will be less laughter
without the net, we will not have each other
without the net, we will not be here
without the net, things will not be clear
without the net, there is no going with the flow
without the net, we will never know
without the net, we wouldn't have become closer
without the net, goodbyes won't take forever...

without the net, i will miss you
without the net, you might miss me too...
so off we go to find it out
and see what this is all about...

This pretty much illustrates what seems to have become a daily routine for the last five months or so.

Love Love Love

thank you to friends who contributed to the production of this moving postcard:
clara, gretta, guapo, reem, sarah, amanda, rick, tony, andy, moro, gaby, margaret, sam, felicity, iris, claudia, mary, liz, laurie, lauren, paola, valeria, coco, nikki, janna, dwight and scooby doo.

special thanks to jason mraz for "clockwatching" (it's the perfect song for this moving postcard), www.jasonmraz.com

Clara y Yusdel

Our Clara is getting married innit!!! :)

They are perfect for each other. Their story has touched many. Their relationship is inspiring. Their union is beautiful. And their future is promising.

I cannot explain how much love I have for Clara and Guapo... but I know that with you, I don't really have to. Because you understand the reasons why. :)



Te amo sin saber cómo, ni cuándo, ni de dónde,
te amo directamente sin problemas ni orgullo:
así te amo porque no sé amar de otra manera,

sino así de este modo en que no soy ni eres,
tan cerca que tu mano sobre mi pecho es mía,
tan cerca que se cierran tus ojos con mi sueño.

***

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way

than this: where I does not exist, nor you,
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.