Adventure before Dementia

After my drunken lazy day of doing nothing it was time to get out of the house and do something... in the middle of the Australian countryside what do you do? Go for a walk that's what! 

So off I set, not really with any sort of plan or direction in mind... I wandering in a circle before I decided on "THAT WAY!"  and walked, headphones in. 

The good thing about where I was walking was that there was barely another person around so I could sing along to my music as loudly and badly as I wanted! (I apologise to anybody who did manage to catch a verse of my headphones-in singing). 

Look at those birds on the right - amused me!

When I started out it was quite a bit overcast and very very windy, I had my jumper and sunglasses on as the sun peeped out from the clouds occasionally. I ended up making it to the beach. Who could argue with the beauty of the sea and the views this place has to offer? You'd be a bit of a Scrooge if you didn't like this place.... or just a mentalist who would rather look at concrete floors and grey buildings, not a pretty sight. 

I made it to the beach and had it completely to myself which was pretty brilliant. Due to the wind I got a free leg exfoliation, who needs to buy salt scrubs when you can go to the beach on a windy day huh? Whilst I walked down the beach I went and walked along near the water and played the "is the tide coming in or out" game. I got quite far along before I realised the tide may be coming in, but I never managed a definitive answer no matter how long I looked at it.  

Given I couldn't decide if the water was coming in to get me or running away from me, I decided maybe get off the beach before I get stranded. It was good timing, since the sand was so soft and beautiful, my right knee was like "naw, forget this!" so back to solid floors it was. I also came across a sign that, as informative as it is, did make me chuckle, mostly due to the fact that you never get these kind of warnings at Blackpool beach. More likely to be 

• WARNING
• Strong drugs
• Large piles of rubbish
• Slippery sludge
• Submerged syringes and beer bottles
• Moron risk area
• Sh**s
• No Fashion Police on patrol

I would hate to see the yellow pictures associated! 

I was having a lot of fun on my walk, I had done some reflecting whilst looking at the sea with the big waves crashing, I had done some overly loud singing and some out loud laughing, so I carried on and decided to go for a Chai latte. I sat at the front and watched the wind surfers skid across the water at speed and it looked like "heaps" (to use an Australian term) of fun. I will absolutely be looking for somewhere/one to help me get involved with that for sure! Big kites and surf board, what could go wrong, eh? (Watch this space!).

I started heading back home along the road to get my bearings when a car drove past me and went up to park at the top car park near the cafe... I HAD to follow it; what I saw on that car absolutely made my day. I needed a picture! When I got to the car there were four guys near it... I was in two minds, ask for them to take a picture of me, for me, OR wait until everyone had gone and make a stealth picture. As they hovered near another car I walked down a path and decided on Stealth-Ninja... I waited a little then wandered back, nobody in sight so BAM! Selfie time. 

For those of you who don't know, my Grandad suffered with dementia and passed away earlier this year. It was very very sad for all of us who love him and dementia is a horrible disease that nobody should have to suffer from. Unfortunately it runs in both sides of my family so I may have to suffer this sadness myself one day (I seriously hope not!!). However, the one thing the passing of my adored Grandad has done for me is to make sure I grab life by the horns and have the time of my life riding it out! Make memories that will last a life time and live a life you love. When you look back on your life, make sure you did all you could to have fun and be happy, it's never too late to start doing that, so you better crack on and tell me about the fantastic times you're having in your life! Remember, Adventure before Dementia!

When I made it back from my walk (and yes, I did make it back in one piece) I was sat on the couch looking at my feet...  Now feet, are you just immensely grubby from that walk, or have we caught the sun by chance? Even on this overcast windy day... I couldn't decide before I decided to pop in to town with Charlotte. 


In town I went to the post office and a mysterious place called Woolworths, those of you I have on Facebook will have seen my post about the shock I suffered in Woolworths. No nostalgic pick'n'mix to be seen with mini cans of fizzy drinks. No section full of games and toys. What was this mysterious place? I was just like Waitrose; a rose by any other name (see what I did there?). There were groceries, and not even those I was used to, the ones I recognised where in the "International" aisle - orange clubs, pot noodles and hellmans mayo - international? Not only are they international, they're expensive! Over 3 dollars for Monster Munch, dafuq?! Who would buy them... I'm sure there is an equivalent over here much cheaper. Brand names huh? To top it all off, they had an aisle with "Manchester" in it... what is with this confusing shop? I needed to lie down. (I'm being strictly sarcastic).

Well, after thinking my day had already been made by that awesome car slogan I was walking back to the pool with the post and still simcard-less, in a daze from the Woolworths experience. Walking down the street I smelt something and to myself I said "mmm chicken", buh? I laughed at myself, clearly I was hungry after missing lunch for my epic walk. The best was yet to come, bouncing along to my music on my walk back, I saw a guy who was too cool for school; sunglasses on, mint green shorts and t-shirt, flip flops, bouncing down the street like he was gangster... and you'll never believe it unless you saw it... HE WAS PALER THAN ME! I nearly wee'd with excitement, it was the funniest thing I had seen all day, I almost burst in to a fit of laughter (luckily I managed to control myself long enough to pass him before I laughed out-loud like a bit of a lunatic). He actually looked WHITE, I have dubbed him The Snowman. When Charlotte drove us back in to town to get buns I was so excited that I might be able to point him out to somebody else but he had gone by then. Oh but it absolutely made my day!

When I had been walking back to the car I saw they had decorated the crossing with tinsel, I can't get my head around it yet. As I said in my previous post, we'll see how I get on post-birthday. My brain never accepts Christmas until after this point so maybe I'll have a Christmas revelation, like oooh I feel the Christmas spirit. I'll HAVE to watch Muppet Christmas Carol, it's not the same without it. 

Remember I mentioned my grubby feet? Well I'm sure you've guessed already, yes they were grubby from all the walking barefoot. However, I've got a 'thong" line (another Australian term, for flip flops) and I am lobster red; nose, feet, shins. The overcast windy day lulled me in to a false sense of security and my poor pasty complexion has been done for! Although at least I look like rudolph to help with my Christmas feeling. No, no pictures for you! Regardless of knowing I will go white again, I'm content that I will never be paler than The Snowman. Ginger problems!

I'm staying indoors today as best I can... Who's got the aftersun?!