Turrbal & Kabi Kabi Country -  Brisbane & Sunshine Coast

February...

It's been a few months between posts. I took some time to be really present with my family over the Christmas hols which was lovely. We enjoyed some day trips around the Canberra Region and spent time working on some projects at home. February turned out to be a bittersweet month. Just as we were getting back into the swing of the school term, my grandmother passed away after becoming ill with covid. She was the last of my grandparents and the one I have such cherished childhood memories of. The one who took me to see the nutcracker ballet at Christmas time. The one who nurtured my creativity when I came to stay during the school holidays, the one who included me in whatever she was doing. It was a terrible loss. I took a trip back home to Qld to attend her funeral in Brisbane and spent some long overdue time with my extended family.

The last two days of my trip were on the Sunshine Coast. I had an apartment on the Maroochy river with a pretty glorious view which demanded I rise at dawn to capture it. I was quickly reminded that sandflies always had the ability to see me coming at 20 paces when I was a kid but it was entirely worth getting eaten alive to watch the river turn liquid gold as the sun crept above the horizon. It was so good to see my family again. We hadn't been able to see each other in several years. Real hugs and a conversation around the table always trump a video call. I also got to visit some of my favourite haunts around the Sunshine Coast hinterland. As a teen I preferred heading inland on the weekends while my friends were roasting themselves on the beach. I loved the cool, green, quiet spaces with views stretching out across the Glasshouse Mountains. They were my refuge and it seems they still are. My five days away were joyous and sad and precious and hilarious and I'm so glad I took the time to be there. Life, it's so messy, unpredictable &...beautiful.