The Burbs

Over suburban rooftops - the sunset is still something else -

 Andrew mentioned putting some up after he posted some amazing ones of his own... so I am still lucky I can still just step outside my back door and there it is - when I was younger I would easily be up before sunrise and saw many of those but admit to finding it a bit harder getting up that early these days in the cooler weather. Its a funny street that I live in now - you seldom see anyone walking around outside much less doing anything to their homes. Melissa and Chris commented that it would be the perfect street to make a Gothic movie in - all these houses and cars so close together but nothing moving... I am so used to open spaces, have been lucky most of my life to have been living either on the edge of town, out in the country or for a few years working all over from a caravan where our yard was the horizons around us...I've spent time in flats in the inner city which I loved as well as there is so much live and things to watch around - but never thought to find myself in this in between world the Burbs. Its okay - Just a different phase of my life.

Its funny here all the yards have high paling fences so no one can see into the next yard - sort of a good thing re privacy but its odd to hear conversations and movements so close but unseen. I even found myself one day so curious about what all the strange noises were I looked through a tiny hole in the fence to see  - lucky there was no eye looking back at me - (haven't told anyone but the kids this yet...) I couldn't see anything but the side of the house next door about an arms length away from me... I would say 100% of us would do the same left to their own devices for too long! I usually let the bad cat out late in the day for a short time - she is the one who has an almost 100% kill rate so I stay with her - she can't climb these fences yet or hasn't figured out she can - not a good idea as there are dogs on all sides - So while making sure no birds came her way was when curiosity got the better of me. Was disappointed - it was so ordinary.

Does anyone know what this lone bird sitting on the next door's antennae is? Its a newie to me.

I haven't seen any parrots of any type near here - put bird seed out but apart from a few little unknown birds I seem to have mainly sparrows and starlings...and pigeons.

I am leaning slowly to like it here but sometimes I find myself wondering how in hell did I get here. This time last year I hadn't made any decisions...although I knew keeping my few acres was financially unsustainable as well as emotionally draining. As much as I loved it it was getting harder and harder to come home - so many beautiful memories - the new people are really loving it and i am so happy about that. We liked each other straight off and its nice to know there are kids and horses running about my place as well as their mum who loves being there. What better could you want for a place as special as Craggy island?

I had to drive into South Melbourne yesterday got a bit lost when I missed a turn off the free way but found my way thanks to the technology  (GPS) - Later found the South Melbourne Markets which Ali and I used to go to when she was living in there. Was a nice day and only came away with a second hand book - moving after 35 years taught me I don't need any more stuff till my old stuff dies or is worn out - no more ornaments  - am a bit of a boring person to shop with as would rather sit and watch the world go by than blow money I don't need to spend - not a bad place to have my head in really.

Something I am slowly getting used to is the fact I don't have to be home at any set time. After most of our adult lives together, when if I had to do shopping we would either hire someone to stay with Don - or in the earlier days - I would need to be home within a few hours as not safe for Don to be on his own for too long - I still feel as if I have to be home at a certain time after I go out. Its unconscious. But in a way I miss being needed to be home because I was always happier there than anywhere. We became very self sufficient and grew used to not needing others apart from paid staff. I am still the same - quite happy in my own company generally. I actually get really tired when I have to be amongst people for an extended period of time apart from the kids. A couple of hours does me and is good.

Must get out in the sun now while it lasts - its a bit chillier here than I thought...