Lazy
Saturdays are the best. I couldn't sleep last night, due to my late night large
coffee at 10:30pm on route to Happy Valley to watch a film with Paul. I lay
awake till 3am reading and relaxed in the knowledge it didn't really matter
that I would be tired the following day as all I wanted to do was head to the
beach and finish my book in the sunshine.
I
jumped on the 11am ferry to Lamma Island after debating my other options,
Repulse Bay, Deep Water Bay, The Cricket Club, all much closer and after
deciding it would be a cop out I decided to stick with my original plan to
spend the day on Lamma. Part of me thinking I'm getting better at committing,
the other part realising I'm better at committing to plans if they don't
involve anyone else.
I got
stuck into my book waiting for the ferry and on the ferry. I've now become more
'local' as I chose to sit downstairs and read rather than look out of the
window. I also know that I'll be first off this way. I had three plans, beach,
food at The Green Cottage and shopping in no particular
order.
I
remembered a great little cafe/bakery serving fresh smoothies on route to the
beach, I ordered the blueberry and banana and drank it on my walk to the beach,
roughly a 10 minute stroll from the ferry pier along the footpaths. I like to
think of this as a green Venice. No cars, no traffic, little streets and
bicycles.
Lamma
definitely has the bohemian feel. Brighton on a leafy green island bathed in
sunshine.
I
settled at the beach in a quite spot away from the flow of other Lamma visitors
passing through on their way to the other side of the Island. I wasn't here
today to do anything apart from relax. I found myself with tears in my eyes as
I finished my book When God was a Rabbit.
My mummy and sister both recommended it to me after they both read it. The
story is simple, but the relationship between the main character and her
brother Joe, was what struck a cord with my heart, hence the tears in public.
Their relationship reminded me of my own with Ruth, my dearest sister. I felt
very close to her in this moment on the beach and as one of 'our' songs came on
in the bar behind me I was reminded of our friendship, support and
unconditional love for each other. She was with me at this very moment, in my
heart, where I carry hers, wherever I am in the world, on every adventure I go
on. She is the strength I have.
After
a few hours of midday sun it was time I made my way to The Green Cottage, my new favourite place in the world to eat
and watch the world go by.
I decided
somewhere between the beach and the cafe that I think I might quite like to
live on Lamma. Visions of family and friends coming to visit me in my house
near the beach, with a veranda to sit and watch the world go by in the sun came
rushing over me. Kenai riding around on his little bike down the trafficless roads,
safe and sound as Ruth and I drink smoothies in the sun and catching up like
we'd never been apart. I thought of Tar, Kate and Kay all coming to visit. I
suddenly realised that I could really see myself here. Working in the city and
living on an island!
I
could have a bike with a basket and cycle to collect fresh vegetables in the
morning. I could go for a run in the fresh air to the beach where I could swim
in the sea. I could go for a coffee and piece of cake, read the newspaper and
watch the world go by on a weekend morning. I could be part of the slightly
eccentric Lamma community.........
I sat
at The Green Cottage for a few hours.
It's the sort of cafe you can do this. In the city, you get funny looks for
what feels like out staying your welcome. A coffee buys you and hour; order
something else for an additional hour type thing. In The Green Cottage I can imagine ordering, and the staff sort of
forgetting about you for as long as you want to be invisible for, hours, the
whole day even, without them putting any pressure on you to leave or make you
feel you are out staying your welcome. I could have stayed all day, and I fully
intend to one day soon!
Ohhhhh
Lamma, Lamma Lamma Lamma. I think I'm falling in love
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