Everytime we come to Perth I realise there are so many things that I have learned and somewhat adjusted to while living in the forest: like the value of clean water and its abundance in the city and not in the forest - being transfixed by the clear sparkling stuff that flushes the loo in the city, not the light brown tannin tinged liquid that we have at Donnelly! The idea that I can have a slightly longer shower and not worry when I do about how much water is left in the dam and the tanks and is the pump working OK?
The morning chorus of kookaburras and other tweeters is replaced by the hum of cars whizzing down South Street for the early morning shifts. Readjusting to driving in the city with other cars around, watching out for an unpredictable driver instead of an equally unpredictable emu or kangaroo racing across the road in front of you out of the bush.
The excitement of catching up with people for coffee without driving 25 kms to the nearest town, home delivered pizza, seeing the sea as you get to the top of the hill at Hilton, being able to go to the movies just down the road, catching buses, and yes superfast internet compared to the NBN Satellite....
Realising that tradesmen don't always come today or even next week and especially not at the drop of a hat! That it is possible to learn to get used to having snailmail only once a week and not being connected to the mobile except, apparently, when the wind blows in a certain direction and you might get a beep beep of a message you can't answer because you can't find that certain spot again!
Smelling smoke and hearing a small plane flying around and its OK! Living in the forest means when you smell smoke you look around, where is it coming from, check the DFES website for burns near you and then, ring the fire controller to check all is OK. Loving thunderstorms instead of waiting fingers crossed and hoping for the rain to come as well...
Understanding just how quickly nature works and that new trees quickly sprout up to replace the dead ones.... the happy surprise when you discover the roses you and the kangaroos had forgotten about have bloomed all pretty and pink beside the drive way.
The joy of seeing the sunrise through the karri trees at the back of the house, the sound of kids enjoying themselves outside - though not at 6 o'clock in the morning! The ease of getting to work by just crossing the road.
Just my reflections on returning to live in the bush....
The morning chorus of kookaburras and other tweeters is replaced by the hum of cars whizzing down South Street for the early morning shifts. Readjusting to driving in the city with other cars around, watching out for an unpredictable driver instead of an equally unpredictable emu or kangaroo racing across the road in front of you out of the bush.
The excitement of catching up with people for coffee without driving 25 kms to the nearest town, home delivered pizza, seeing the sea as you get to the top of the hill at Hilton, being able to go to the movies just down the road, catching buses, and yes superfast internet compared to the NBN Satellite....
Realising that tradesmen don't always come today or even next week and especially not at the drop of a hat! That it is possible to learn to get used to having snailmail only once a week and not being connected to the mobile except, apparently, when the wind blows in a certain direction and you might get a beep beep of a message you can't answer because you can't find that certain spot again!
Smelling smoke and hearing a small plane flying around and its OK! Living in the forest means when you smell smoke you look around, where is it coming from, check the DFES website for burns near you and then, ring the fire controller to check all is OK. Loving thunderstorms instead of waiting fingers crossed and hoping for the rain to come as well...
Understanding just how quickly nature works and that new trees quickly sprout up to replace the dead ones.... the happy surprise when you discover the roses you and the kangaroos had forgotten about have bloomed all pretty and pink beside the drive way.
The joy of seeing the sunrise through the karri trees at the back of the house, the sound of kids enjoying themselves outside - though not at 6 o'clock in the morning! The ease of getting to work by just crossing the road.
Just my reflections on returning to live in the bush....
