Visit to Warrnambool

Today after a morning of rain and wind and faced with the impossibility of a relaxing beach day we left to Warrnambool. We travelled along the road driving through patches of heavy rain and looking at ochre fields scattered with pasturing cows. As I watched them getting wet, munching of the grass, flickering their tails or resting their huge udders on the wet and soggy soil I pondered about their existence. Is it one of unawareness, of simple full stomach contentment or is it one of trapped anguish and exhaustion, of used and tired routines, of pain and desire to escape. I don't know but I like to think that if it is a sad life they are living the simple act of rain falling on their leather coats will bring at least some relief from the overcrowded and smelly barns they must inhabit at night. So I smiled for them as I saw them pass by and hoped that at least they were only used for milking.

Warrnambool is a pretty place but the town is boring. We had coffee and cake and drove around, walked around for a few hours before heading home

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Holidays at Peterborough

Today we finally jumped in the car to do what we love best...road tripping! A last minute decision turned in our favour and we got a cabin for 5 days at Seahorse Coastal Villages in Peterborough, an almost non-existent town just about 10 km of Port Campbell.
Getting here was easy and quick driving by Colac. The road tripping reduced to only 3 hours and a bit. The trip left a cruel impression of summer on the poor land. The harsh sunshine leaves yellow grass as far as the eye can see, cows dressed in multicoloured leather struggle to find a bit of shade.

Even though the weather forecast said it was going to rain. It didn't. We have had a spectacular day of sunshine and almost empty beaches. It was a bit windy, but we spent a very nice and relaxed afternoon at Peterborough main beach. 

City Stroll and Night Walk

First time catching the bus after Ric's surgery. A bit of a trial to see how much of the walk from Fitzroy Gardens to the city he could manage. It turned out to be a beautiful evening with lots of walking and relaxing in the gardens. Later, trying to find a restaurant that would serve food after 8 pm. How can it be conceivable for a restaurant in Federation Square overlooking the Yarra in the middle of summer not to be open or not to serve food after 8 pm? Seriously deficient, I believe, to occupy such a central location in the city and not provide basic gastronomic needs for people who are not in a rush to get home. After all it is still holidays for many people and even if it wasn't there are tourists coming all the time who would love to dine by the Yarra in the city square. Anyway we walked further along Southbank and found a place to dine. Great views and atmosphere.

Welcome 2015- Demystifying New Year Resolutions

As a new year starts I found myself thinking about the goals I should set for myself. I thought about it last night as I watched the fireworks from Studley Road Boathouse. I thought about it before the new year arrived during the inevitable summing up before the end of every year, and I came to the conclusion that I will not set another weight loss goal, I will not set another "be healthy" goal, because I haven't still reached the previous ones and if I did set these as new year's resolutions (NYR) I would clearly be setting myself up to fail. Let's be clear here. I do want to reach this goal, I do want to be healthy, I do want to be skinny, but I do not seem to stick to my new year's resolutions. So if I do go down the path of a healthy self I will do it out of a strength that I may find along the way during this year or whenever that will power will find me.
One thing I do want to state is this: I will give up having a diary that I cannot maintain. Year after year I have bought myself a fancy looking diary with the intention of becoming more organised. Another NYR that I fail year after year. I start off well, write all my family and friend's birthdays, write a few things I already know will happen and then I force myself to fill it up for about the first two months. After that the entries start to lessen until the diary doesn't even come out of the bag. Every year I spend money buying one that I think will entice me to use it, but to no avail. So this year I declare it a diary free year. Only electronic reminders will be allowed. There.
I worried for a while there about not having NYR this year, but I shouldn't really worry about something that ends up weighing me down. Instead I think I will look at 2014 and the paths I walked, the lessons I learnt and try to improve upon them. I will try to be strong, to work hard doing what I like, I will enjoy my family more, and above all be true to myself, allow myself to be who I am ALL OF THE TIME. I wish you the same, a happy 2015!

The Return of the Blogger

Hello my old blog. I have missed you. I have been in a nebula of thoughts and swirls of laziness. I have decided to start writing again. It is not such a difficult thing once I get started. This year seems to have gone so fast and it has been so busy that I can seldom recall moments of boredom or free time. But I also know that everything is but an excuse to lack of discipline and organisation, of which I am still a victim of.
Christmas have passed, we spent it at home, just the 3 of us enjoying our small but tight family group. Much love surrounded our celebration and much food too. I cooked for what it seemed a family of 20. Got up at 8 to hit the shops early before the waves of people washed the car parks and started cooking at 10. Non stop I chopped, mixed, baked, fried, stirred, washed and sprinkled until 5 pm, when exhausted I laid in bed to close my eyes for 15 minutes before showering and getting dressed for the occasion.
For the first time in the history of this Argentinean family we served a vegetarian menu. So I can proudly say that no animals were harmed for the creation of our Christmas banquet, except for the tuna. Sorry about that little fish. We will try to do without you next time. One thing at a time. Here are a few photos of our banquet, including entrees and some of the desserts.

Hola mi viejo blog. Te he extranado. He estado en una nebula de pensamientos y revoltijos de vagancia para escribir. Pero ahora he decidido comenzar otra vez. No es algo tan dificil una vez que se empieza. Este ano parece haberse ido tan rapido y fue tan atareado que casi no recuerdo momentos de aburrimiento o de tiempo libre. Asi y todo se que casi todo es una excusa para mi falta de disciplina y organizacion de la cual soy aun una victima.
Navidad paso, lo pasamos en casa, solo los tres disfrutando de nuestro pequeno pero cercano grupo familiar. Mucho amor rodeo nuestra celebracion y mucha comida tambien. Cocine para lo que parecia ser una familia de 20. Me levante a las 8 de la manana para ir temprano a comprar antes de que las olas de gente lavaran los estacionamientos y empeze a cocinar a las 10. No pare de cortar, picar, mezclar, hornear, fritar, revolver, lavar y decorar hasta las 5 pm, cuando exhausta me tire en la cama por 15 minutos antes de banarme y vestirme para la ocasion. 
Por primera vez en la historia de esta familia Argentina servimos un menu vegetariano. Asique puedo decir con orgullo que no animales fueron sacrificados para la creacion de este banquete navideno, excepto por el atun. Perdon por eso pescadito. Tratare el ano que viene de arreglarmela sin vos. De a poco, una cosa por vez. Aca hay algunas fotos de nuestro banquete, incluyendo las entradas y algunos de los postres. 

Writer's block?

Well...finally I logged on again and will be updating this blog...perhaps these few months that have been mysteriously unreported will always be like a hole in my memory. I have already forgotten what I did all this time. It feels like I have been so busy that I didn't really have time to reflect. But that is not entirely true. There is always time to reflect. During these months, I started a new year at work and I have moved house. I guess those are the two major events. Will be posting photos soon. Going to work now. Today I'm catching the bus and doing my bit for the environment.