Friday, October 29, 2010

Change the clocks, please!

Queensland does not ~do~ daylight savings. They have had several referendums on the matter, and it is rejected each time, with the overwhelming issues seemingly to do with the fact that people cannot grasp that to change the clocks is not to ADD an hour of daylight, but to adjust when it occurs.

Reasons to reject daylight savings include; kids will get more sunburns, quiet evenings at home will be ruined by people running lawnmowers at night, kids won't go to bed early enough if it is light outside, people won't wake properly if it is dark outside, people will have more accidents because they are tired. There is a joke running around that other reasons included cows will be confused about when to milk and curtains will fade quicker with more sun exposure, but these reasons at least seem to be myths.

But seriously- it is well light bow shortly after 4 am as summer begins here. But it is dark at about 6:30 pm. WTF? My body clock is adjusting an I'm waking far too early to be reasonable.

On the other hand, being awake at that hour has led to me appreciating the spectacular birdlife in my area. In my backyard this morning was a Major Mitchell Cockatoo;



A couple of bellbirds, with the most amazing calls;



And of course, the ever-present but still delightful Kookaburras;



There are some benefits to being alert at this hour- but by 9 pm tonight I'll be yawning and desperate for bed.

Maybe I'm just getting old?

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Wanderlust





I love this track. Sean sent it to me when he and I were still an online promise of things to come, and I fell in love with the melancholic beauty of it's lyrics. It captures so much of what I feel as someone who has traveled so much, lived in so many cities, left so many friends behind.

A few weeks ago, I was missing my grandmother's jam. A couple of days ago I got an invite to my friend's upcoming birthday party home in Newfoundland. Last night, I had a chat with Paula.

All things combined, today I'm restless. I miss my people. I want to bring my husband, my girlfriend on a trip around the world and show them all my favourite places, favourite spaces, favourite faces.

Life is tremendously good right now.I feel blessed, lucky, peaceful and content with my lot in life. Summer is just rolling in, my coursework is nearly done, our social life is, if anything a little TOO full at the moment. I'm surrounded by happiness and love.

So why is it that I have the overwhelming urge to leave it all and go somewhere?