A Weekend in Sydney

This will seem a little weird but my kids and I have this ‘thing’ where we notice people who look like animals. This Jetstar flight to Sydney is full of them!

The lady by the aisle and I are laughing because meerkat beside me is going to be so embarrassed when he wakes to find his head on my shoulder. And the monkey directly opposite has flung his head back almost at right angles. His snoring is louder than the engines! The flight attendant , a bird, is flitting around trying to deal with a special needs person and I’m being kicked in the back by a praying mantis.

Despite my initial amusement, I’m now wedged in to my window seat with my knees almost bent around my neck, gazing out at the fluffy clouds and contemplating how fortunate I am to have these opportunities. I’m aware of the pollution I’m participating in and yes I do feed a tad guilty, wondering what world awaits my beautiful grandchildren. Will they be able to travel the world like I have, experience other cultures?

My re-entry into Australian life after 6 months in Spain has been tough. I don’t talk about it but I’m feeling it deeply. I love the culture and lifestyle over there, and I also love being Australian, living in such open spaces where everything is familiar and comfortable. Our outdoor lifestyle is wonderful. Spain is tearing at my heart. I had never even wanted to go there…but that’s where the cheapest camino was….and now I’m completely enamoured by its people, the countryside, the culture, and Galicia in particular. The language of their music is so passionate and romantic and they have festivals and parties ALL the time. They know how to live and enjoy life.

Momentarily here, I’m brought back to reality. The clouds outside are now obviously smoke as we are approaching Sydney and it’s surrounding fires. Climate change is scary.

What is happening to our world?

……

…..fast track to my flight home, and I have more thoughts. A flight is a good place to think. I’m floating above the clouds, travelling the equivalent length of the Camino Frances. It took me 5 weeks to walk that far. Driving from Sydney to Brisbane (although taking my time) took two days. In the air, it’s just over an hour.

I’ve just had a couple of days holiday in Sydney, catching up with friends and I even fitted in a little presentation to a group of soon-to-be pilgrims.

Friday night was spent in the burbs with Janine and her family. (I met Janine in Gonzalo’s bar) Sunday afternoon was spent with Dan Mullins who was playing at the Wooloomooloo pub, and in between all that I hung out with a friend that I met on the Portugues Camino early last year.

I had a really long,deep conversation with Mark (a Bolivian/American friend), breakfast and coffee dates with other old friends from childhood. So much came up in these conversations that upset me. In particular, some news that broke me! I will respect privacy here, but it threw me into despair and I ended up finding peace and solitude in the Chinese gardens.

Sitting on a rock by the waterfall, I listened to the water and meditated for an hour and a half. When I came out of it, there was a curious water dragon on the rock beside me, head in the air, just soaking up the sun. He looked at me with his large dark eyes and scurried off into the grass. I had tears running down my face, I had been crying without realising.

I looked up the spiritual meaning of the water dragon…

‘water dragon‘ has a meaning of connection, depth and passion, as well as of memories and wishes that have possibly been long forgotten or hidden and are now being brought to the fore”

The rest of my day was spent processing the grief I felt for my friend who had given me her terrible news. My conversation with Mark had also brought up past hurt. Another friend is dealing with a serious health scare. I was feeling really vulnerable and sad. This would be one of those times where it sucks to be on your own. I just needed a hug and there was no one there.

My phone buzzed. Thinking it might be a timely comforting message from someone, it turned out to be virgin airlines lovingly advising me that my flight home was ‘iffy’ because of strong winds. This is my worst nightmare! The gods are angry. There is something huge going on up there in the ether. Everyone I know seems to be having difficulties at the moment, my country is under a blanket of snow in the south and being scarred by enormous bushfires everywhere else and I can feel change coming.

So I wandered some more, pulled myself together and went to the airport…Home to my family and familiar surroundings.

PS I’m ok by the way. It’s just an empath thing and it passes.