Yallingup

Overnight showers meant overcast and atmospheric dawn skies when we went for a walk from Yallingup Beach to Smiths Beach.  It was a relatively strenuous scramble over the rocky track and beach sand but so worth it to hear the surf and breathe the fresh salty air.

Sunrise on the coast

Walking to Smiths Beach

And what sand! Beautiful smooth sand and we almost had the beach to ourselves. 

Smiths Beach

After breakfast it was a trip down Caves Road past wineries and forest to Boranup Gallery, Margaret River, the always divine Gabriel Chocolate, and Vasse Virgin for the nicest local produce.

And to bookend the day, a return journey to Smiths Beach to dine at Lamont's.  My Dad turns 79 tomorrow and it was a fittingly low-key but meaningful celebration.

Birthday dinner

A welcome break

After a very busy few weeks leading up to June, a week off was very welcome and what better way to unwind than a trip to the southwest.  Dad's birthday gave us all a good excuse to spend a few days together in Dunsborough, and we started with an excellent meal at Little Fish in Yallingup.

Pre-birthday lunch in the perfect spot

It was a dreamy Saturday afternoon with sunlight streaming in through the large window and reflecting off the lake outside.  Good food and a deliciously warm sunbeam, is this heaven?

The view from Little Fish

Full from lunch we returned to comfort in Dunsborough for a lazy evening at the house.  The neighbourhood kangaroos even popped round for a visit, grazing just outside the kitchen window.

Kitchen kangaroos

Day One down and nought but another full week of holidays to look forward to.  Absolute bliss.

Sunday morning

How long has it been since I've been walking on a Sunday morning... so many months and a slow evaporation of the fitness I used to take for granted.  Anyway, back on the wagon again with a new goal: must be fit enough to walk 12km at the end of May for the HBF Run for a Reason.  So, it was out before 7am this morning with Ross for a walk through Kings Park.  First though, a last glimpse at this grand old house - the last standalone residence on Bellevue Terrace - shortly to be demolished and replaced with six luxury apartments.

Going...going...soon to be gone

Of course walking through the park is made easier by glorious vistas like this:

Melville Water 

War Memorial - decked out for the ANZAC Day Centenary

Poignant to see the red flowers planted around the Flame of Remembrance, in readiness for the ANZAC Day centenary service in a few weeks from now.  Poignant too to see the wonderful memorial to fire fighters which opened last year.  So much captured without the need for a single word.

Firefighters Memorial Kings Park

And just to make this first walk a bit easier - a stop along the way for a hot chocolate.  A glorious Sunday, an early morning walk with my best friend, and a table overlooking the park as the morning rays break through the trees ... is this heaven?

Zamia cafe

Midweek at the beach

What nicer way to break up the week than to detour to Cottesloe Beach after work one afternoon to check out the annual Sculptures by the Sea.

Cottesloe Beach - Sculptures by the Sea

Lots of happy, carefree people enjoying the afternoon sunshine, and taking in the weird and wacky sculptures on the sand. 

Metal spheres...with legs?!

I really liked this one - wild abandon silhouetted against an Indian Ocean sunset

And my favourite piece?  The very whimsical giant pink rabbit... a bit ridiculous to be sure but good fun nonetheless, and very popular.  

What rabbit?

Brand sparkly new year... it's 2015!

The new year seems like a good time to reflect on the passage of time and there's no better way than by sampling the glorious natural canvas that is Kings Park.

A year ago I was in pain and despair, living with post-accident uncertainty in a dental purgatory defined by specialists, painkillers, fatigue and a mash diet.  Things have moved on a bit and while I still have a very very long road before I can get my smile back, at least I'm on the right track.  Mash is still front and centre in my diet but at least it's slightly more sophisticated mash these days!

A year ago I also started my 'Saturday Sequence' - a series of photos taken of Kings Park from the same spot every Saturday morning at around the same time.  Not very high tech but in just under 5 minutes it's possible to watch the seasons change from spring (Sept 2013)  through a complete cycle to summer (Dec 2014).  A reminder perhaps that the world keeps turning, the seasons keep changing, and life carries on.

Enjoy!