Burraneer Bay

I started off two weeks ago with a taste of semi rural living, farms, kangaroos, horses and cows, national parks and lakes in Canberra. Then onto the dazzling cityscape of Sydney and its beaches, followed by a trip south to the Hastings river and next up 200km west to the Blue Mountains.

I'm struck by how much natural beauty I'm surrounded by since I've returned to Australia. It's a way of life here to be outdoors all through the seasons in the year and something I, like many residents took for granted.

I'm appreciating it much more now after living in Phnom Penh which while extremely satisfying on many other levels, didn't offer this kind of sensory natural relief in the midst of urban living.

The heatwave in the eastern states continues. Sarah came to pick me up to drive me back to Yowie Bay. We went sunset sailing on Gavin's new (old) catamaran that he's rebuilding. What a splendid way to catch up - floating along on Burraneer Bay, sipping wine and grazing on delicious morsels. Sarah and I have been friends for nearly 25 years. Whatever time we get together feels like a precious gift.