Coffee and Companionship

Most women can relate to meeting up with their friends at their local coffee shop for their favourite coffee blend and a good gossip session.

I have my own favoured cafes which are nearby or further afield and with preferred blends such as Merlo or Di Bello - not too weak, but just right. When making my favourite flat white the best baristas leave a signature design on the top - sometimes a heart, sometimes a leaf. A "Flat White" is common to Australia and perhaps if you requested it in the States or its companion a "Long Black" people might look at you askance. Was their a racist undertone there?

If alone, I always take a good book along to accompany me as I drink my brew. I sneak a glance over the coffee cup at the layout of the shop and who might be part of the scene. Sometimes its young mums with a toddler or two, or two friends close in conversation, or after school hours, the mums and the older kids. More regularly now you see a group of men, young and not so young, some of them alone taking in the scenery. There are retirees or students with their hefty tertiary books.

I bend to my book again and become immersed in its content. It feels good to be part of the community. This is what life teaches you - the old adage "no man is an island". As much as we like our solitude the fact that we can reach out and smile or talk to a fellow human being brings warmth to the soul.

Politics Again

We are on the verge of an election of the Country's government and the campaign by the parties has been relentless to say the least. It also makes for compelling viewing. In fact I wonder what I will do with all the free time once it is over. My family laugh at my absorption in the daily analysis and comments of our various media.

I have learned that most people do not change their political colour very much. In fact I do not think there is such a thing as a swinging voter. Perhaps the word "swinging" should be replaced by "disinterested". I believe our environment influences our political beliefs. If we were living a more than comfortable life with all the material things of life on tap would we really be anything but conservative in our voting habits.

Of course our philosophy of life could well intrude at this point and cause us to reflect on other issues rather than our bread and butter. For instance we can think of the asylum seekers who desperately try to change their lives for the better and brave an uncertain and dangerous trip to attempt entry illegally. We can be sympathetic and empathetic or we can let our own fears and prejudices override any other feelings.

It is the measure of a country's political leaders that do not try to exploit those prejudices and fears. It is a measure of a people that aspire to be better than that and open their borders and metaphorically as well, have open minds on this issue.

Jimi

He is a beautiful little man, only weeks old but he has already wormed his way into all our hearts. He looks so healthy so when you hear the dreaded word "cancer" it seems a world away from this little fellow.

The Doctors did tests at birth and realised an operation was necessary to remove a growth near his kidneys. They removed 98% of it and decided to do chemotherapy to remove the rest and other cancerous cells.

His Mum and Dad both so young to bear this dreadful news look stunned and exhausted. They look at you with tears welling as if to ask desperately that we make it go away into some dark nightmare from which they can wake. We've watched them grow strong and stoic. Dad has taken over the cooking supplemented by dishes cooked by grandparents and extended family. Mum is determined she will keep feeding her baby giving him every help to fight this unseen enemy. He is thriving on her milk giving us all hope for a positive outcome.

The latest scan shows chemo has reduced the bad cells by a large margin. Relief shines in the young parents' faces as they turn to hug eachother and are renewed for the further battle.

Lunch with the Girls

It was a great venue overlooking the river and various sail boats. There were six of us and all work mates until my retirement. I was the eldest and the others ranging from 40's to 23 in age.

We all met in the bar area and I received warm hugs and "don't you look well - love your hair".
Champagne seemed the order of the day and once we were all seated we got on with checking in with each other on how life was treating us. It was great to be part of the "young ones" again. Conversation meandered from work life (not much has changed), management and their good and bad points, gossip about the last work party. (There are always the players who always try to forget they have a wife or husband back home not to mention kids).

We giggled over jokes and in my case fond memories of work dramas or disasters - Which client caused the most angst or gave flowers and chocolates. The youngest of our group decided to leave the mobile number of the single member for the handsome waiter. (She only revealed this as we were walking to the car park to the squeals of the single one).

We passed an icecream vendor and decided we all desperately wanted a cone. As we enjoyed our icecream walking back to the cars we planned another get together in a month's time. Nice to be part of it all.