Friend, Zenned, and Quantum Physics Baby!

Last stop in Queensland... The obligatory catch up with our friends, Suzi and Neil. The friends that are family. The ones that know you, and you know them, with whom being yourself is completely comfortable. Love, laughter, and eternal connection, despite distance and time. You know those friends.

And then we crossed the border into New South Wales. So close to home now. But the journey will not end. We are only just beginning. We are returning with a fresh outlook on life. And loving it.

Onwards, inwards, upwards, and outwards.

The Universe is our oyster.

***

We couldn’t resist popping into The Crystal Castle again whilst we were in the area. The last time we were here, Ern’s zen was superficial due to the steep hills and winding country lanes. But this time, it was a breeze. Maybe Ern is truly zenned now. Or maybe Daph’s navigation through worse conditions in Queensland has conditioned him to realise that it’s not actually that bad after all.

Ern wanted to buy everything in the crystal shop...

Ern: “Ooh. Bookends.”

Daph: “We don’t need them.”

Ern: “Tibetan sound bowls?”

Daph: “We don’t need them.”

Ern: “Meditation blankets?”

Daph: *Deep breath, “I have hundreds of blankets at home.”

Ern: “Aura photos?”

Daph suspects her aura photo would not show peace and contentment right now.

We indulged in purchasing yet more crystals (Daph approved because she loves crystals) and hit the road feeling at peace after walking three times around the World Peace Stupa to put our troubles into perspective.

***

It was a hot and humid day of driving, made more unbearable by miles of roadworks that meant we couldn’t get the speed we need for Kombi “air-con”. Then the welcome storm hit, so we could hang our elbows out the window and catch the cooling raindrops. In the bliss of the cooling rain and the confusion of the roadworks, we missed our turn-off and had to U-turn and head back. But we eventually made it to our destination, Yamba. What a beautiful spot. Perfectly situated, surrounded by water. Wharf to the left, river to the right and ocean behind us, separated by a breakwater that you can walk along and enjoy 360-degree views of the water.

The rain had stopped, but then came the wind, which makes setting up the awning a tad tricky. Daph practised gratitude for the blustery winds by sitting in the Kombi and waiting for it to pass. Ern continued to attempt to set up the awning, but for no reward. The angle of the sun shone under the awning, casting a long shadow behind the awning out onto the road. Luckily, the rain had stopped, and he didn’t need shade and shelter at the same time. Relaxing in his chair ten metres away, out on the road where the shade was, Ern wanted to prove his efforts were worth it.

The kite surfers were loving the wind and were out again. But in Yamba, they are extreme kite surfers. Catching the wind and taking off ten metres into the air, para-kite surf-chuting. Mental!

And then, we discovered that Daph’s long-time colleague and “lasagne wife”[1] was also in Yamba, on holiday with her husband!

We caught up with Judy and Stuart for a chinwag and some mutual recommendations of travel spots over a delicious meal and some bevvies at the Bowling Club.

How can the world be so small but so vast in the same breath?

Quantum physics, baby!

[1] Judy’s lasagne is the only other lasagne that cuts the mustard for Daph.