I have a habit of reflecting and journaling and radom writing and this morning I discovered this in a note in my phone. I have no recollection of actually writing it but it made me feel good to read it and realise there is something heartening about appreciating the little things. Living quietly and simply and understanding that, that is a privilege. This morning I also received positive feedback about my blog. which I so often fear is self indulgent so why not blog it?
One perfect day
Life is good. It’s been a while since I thought that.
I’m grateful I found new bathers (Is it only Aussies who use that term?) and went through the ordeal of trying them on in a closet sized fitting room today. I bought them. Well Ian paid actually. Best of all, they are my favourite colour and cost a quarter of what I usually have to pay.
Swimming for sanity is an established routine with me. I need it and it helps me unwind and relax as much as it challenges my physical being. I always leave the pool feeling calm and clear headed, in a better mood and more attuned to myself.
I’m also delighted that we walked and distributed muesli cookies to several enterprises we know today too. Walking and observing the street scenes is a regular activity for us. Maybe we are urban strollers despite the challenges or maybe they are the appeal. If a task can be done on foot, it’s our preferred option, regardless of the obstacles. We also seek shade in preference to shortcuts. Though alleyways hold a special appeal too.
The Decathlon employee we first proffered an open container of cookies to, was not shy. That was encouraging. Neither were the proprietors of Paradise, who just for the record hooked in straight away. We loved that too. Our server at Dorsu, positively beamed at the prospect. How good is that? This is not our first encounter with any of them but I’ve never offered a homemade cookie before. Maybe I will again. Adopting another idiosyncrasy cannot be the most judicious decision right now but it felt good.
Tonight, as we often do, we made dinner from scratch, from ingredients purchased in the local market, just that morning. During that excursion out we were instantly given two limes when we bought passionfruit. Later we selected two mangoes and the stall owner pointed out the bruise on another one and gave it to us. That experience set the tone for the whole day. We also purchased almost more produce than we could carry home. By now, we are well recognised regulars in this local market.
Cooking commenced once we’d returned from having my bag repaired. It was a dash downstairs to the shoe repairman, who conveniently sits at a stall opposite the entrance to our community. He repaired the strap that broke for the princely sum of $2.50. We then climbed the four flights of stairs for the third and final time and decided that was it for the day. Thirteen flights in scorching heat is more than enough and the knees were both objecting by then.
We shared some ciabatta, chapattis and baba ganoush with our neighbour. All Ian’s creations. Hummus and salad accompanied Ian’s bread for our causal dinner on the terrace and we washed it down with a few beers.
I liked me and the world I was moving through a whole lot more today than has recently been the case. It’s been a while since I felt that inner sense of calm. I’ll take that.
Feels like one perfect day to me.
20/6/26
I just returned to that date on my camera roll and included all the photos I took on that day and they seemed to work perfectly too.
Life IS good.
