Uncluttered

  Photo by my sister Anne.

There's a famous quote in our family from my Dad, as told to me by my brother Paul, that goes, "wouldn't it put you off your food!?" This comment was made as Dad was looking at the absolute state of my bedroom which was not very organised. I mean, things were filed, just not in their traditional places, e.g. on the floor. I was a music student in my late teens, with big 80s hair and probably suffering from undiagnosed ADHD or whatever it wasn't called at that time. (Incidentally, in the late 80s my hair was so big that it didn't all fit in my license picture and therefore came out looking square). I've always been opposite to my sister with regards to managing a physical space. For me, stuff everywhere, for Anne, no wrinkles allowed in the bedspread. What bedspread, I say.  Above is a mindful drawing that I did, along with one of my nephews as we listened to Passacaglia - Handel/Halvorsen. (Solo piano, recommended, it's nice). We started off with bilat...

  I'm wondering what is happening beneath the surface of this picture - under the sea, amongst the sand, beyond the clouds. How strange is it to step into the various social arenas of our lives and realise that most people have no idea who we are or what is driving us!?  In seemingly unrelated news, I was working with some young students today and out of my mouth came the words, "there is a saying about pouring kindness into yourself so that it can then flow out to other people." There is something very similar in one of the meditations that I do on the Headspace App, but the words just came out. I can't help thinking how close this message is to "love your neighbour as you love yourself." In some of my early church-related experiences, the bit about loving yourself was sadly missing, which was quite unfortunate. I was completely impressed by the response of the young people. One said to another, "you do that all the time." Another said, "that...

  "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." - John  (Light, Ipswich, March, 2025. Taken by William).

I drew some squiggles and somehow ended up with this. I find it calming to look at. What do you see or feel?

  Sitting here this morning after or partway through the post-cyclonic deluge, I came across this photo that I took in Caloundra a while ago. Something feels peaceful about it and we can cope with a bit of that. 

  It is quite traditional in our family to play with soft toys during weather events. William had some appropriately cyclonic ideas yesterday - plus I must mention Mum flooding the kitchen by dropping a container of water - and this Snoopy, known to us as Mini Molly sheltered in the letter box for a while. There were other toy shenanigans! Locally, we avoided destructive winds but are now expecting heavy rain for the next 24 hours or so. The Bremer is noted for flood risk. We've seen plenty of that before! Thinking of others who have experienced the damaging or destructive winds from Cyclone Alfred who is now classified as Ex. 

  Well Molly's certainly very relaxed waiting for Cyclone Alfred to arrive!  Here are some things that stood out to me on potentially Cyclone Alfred Eve: 1. A stranger offered to help me by carrying some of my shopping to my car. That doesn't normally happen! 2. When Molly and I went for a walk at about 5 pm, the neighbourhood seemed almost deserted. I was mainly struck by birds flying around between trees. It was quite peaceful and reasonably cool in the gentle breeze. 3. It didn't rain much. 4. When we went outside with Molly just before - around 8:00 pm - there was only one star to be seen amidst the clouds. 5. We - family - got a lot done, which is good. 6. It was enjoyable and unexpected to be able to connect with a number of friends by text and online. 

We've brought this guy - "Puppy" - inside in preparation for Cyclone Alfred. We didn't want him to become a projectile. A wombat friend has taken shelter too. Alfred is on track to be the first cyclone to cross in line with Brisbane since 1974 when there were massive floods which I barely remember. I'm always impressed by the knowledge that my family endured even larger floods in Woodend, Ipswich in 1893 - "the big one." I don't know whether or not a cyclone was involved in that event. Probably. 

  As we await Cyclone Alfred, I wonder how things are at this marina near Brisbane. Here's hoping for everyone's safety and wellbeing.