No reflection this week. I took the kids on a road trip to Victoria (a southern Australian state) where I got a booking for a free cancer retreat accommodation (thanks, Otis Foundation!). So, this week is on impressions from Mandurang.
Happy Nostalgia
After not driving for years and not owning a car (I rented one), it was really fun to discover how great driving and singing are. My playlist started with lots of Shakira but then I went into a German playlist, starting with Die Ärzte (German punk band translated to The Doctors) who have been singing as long as I can think. Same with Die Toten Hosen (The Dead Trousers). I happily discovered that I still remember the complete lyrics of the songs Zu Spät, Westerland, Schrei Nach Liebe und Alles Aus Liebe. I was very impressed with myself and demonstrated my knowledge in a loud voice. My children didn’t seem to know what to do although they didn’t beg me to stop. I added a little Wir Sind Helden and Hamburg band Kettcar to the mix. It was fantastic (and we heard lots of songs from Disney’s ZOMBIES soundtrack which my kids wanted to hear)!
After that trip down Nostalgia lane, we arrived after three days of roadtrippin in lovely Mandurang and the generous laid-out retreat. Situated at the border of a forest with a little river (National Park) and next to a lake, the house has three sides of top-to-bottom windows and glass doors. I woke up the next morning, opened the blinds and lay with the kids in the super-king-size bed watching the birds flying around. Those birds were very busy while we were very lazy.
The meditation bench
I love sitting at the lake and meditating or watching the water. Despite promoting meditation in my posts and newsletters, I have a hard time meditating. I haven’t meditated for weeks. Not sure why it’s such a problem to sit with closed eyes for 10-15 min and observe your thoughts – but it is. It’s always another thing to do and so I like to drop it from my to do list. It felt good to take meditating up again.
Nice guys & kangaroos
Erik and I went for a walk and found something we took for a camp site. In the evening, I went for another walk with the kids to spot kangaroos, we heard voices and it turned out to be bike jumping ramps. Two guys were doing impressive jumps. When we left, the guys said they’ll be there the next day at 6pm again. Indeed, they were. I think they already had a few drinks and had finished their jumping. But when spotting us, one said he’ll do a couple of jumps for us and he did. How nice! After that we spotted kangaroos. Great evening.
In the evening, I read Harry Potter to the kids. Erik falls asleep while I read. When I stop reading, I tug sleepy Nima in, give Erik a kiss and then cuddle in their middle in that huge bed under that nice thick doona. Rest for now.