Elora Canne's Blog, page 15
February 18, 2021
Gratitude
Churchill Street Trail, Hobart Tasmania
This was one of those date events that I initially really didn’t want to go on. Now before you cast
me aside, hear me out. James wanted me to go away with him. Not being ungrateful here but there is
always a lot to organize if I were to join James on our trip away.
Okay I came to my senses and off we went to Hobart in Tasmania. Because we had time on our
hands we chose to dedicate one entire day to our Date Event. Saturday morning began atop Mt Nelson.
We felt like we had lost all hope of ever getting home. The mountain was crisp with the chill
winter air. The mist surrounding us felt isolating. Wild.
Churchill Street trail plumped up all of our senses and set them to vibrating with life.
We slipped and slid down shiny slimy rocks and thick chocolatey mud, we trundled over sodden
winter leaves trampled into the ground and trod with care over bridges decayed with age. Talk
about stepping out of our comfort zone, quite literally.
A trickle of water, alluding to being a waterfall, held our gaze with sparkles of spray catching the
sunlight through lanky trees.
Our hike had left us feeling invincible with so much aliveness coursing through our veins.
Out of the woods, as it were, and back on the street, we decided to walk to the waterfront. As we made
our turn down the street we jumped up and down like excited young children to find the right stop for
the right bus to our next date exploration. Could that be chance or could it be providence? This bus was
going directly to our required stop!
Having worked up a thirst and a hunger fit for a giant we wasted no time in getting to Cascade
Brewery. Here, the express purpose was to sample a paddle of beers and ciders respectively. I
had imagined a shot glass size sample and was pumped for the four or five flavor bursts. Instead,
my paddle of ciders contained four midi’s (285ml). As I’m not customarily a big drinker, this amount of
liquid was rather daunting for me. Needless to say, lunch was going to be a languid affair. I
eventually got through the crisp, sweet, tart and cloudy ciders with the help of a stroll around the
lavender gardens and formal stairs to the private garden room. I had never realized that apple
cider could come in so many taste sensations. Once more, there I was right out of my comfort
zone.
A stroll past the original Cascade Brewery with its stark façade of moulded architecture took us
to our homeward bound bus shelter and Salamanca Pier.
We wandered the shops and waterways whiling away the mild afternoon weather, watching
ducks and people go about their day either waddling or wading as appropriate.
Our evening ended with purple lights glimmering a path towards chocolate heaven. With hot
chocolate in one hand and churro’s dripping in the other, we ambled home deeply satisfied, this
time, right into our comfort zone.
I am so grateful we had this time together to forge new ways of being and doing and creating
expanded comfort zones in the process.
February 12, 2021
Embrace Uniqueness
Image credit to Unsplash by Raissa Lara LütolfArmed with a glass of velvety smooth Merlot and James with an ice cold beer we joined the hustle of talking, laughing guests standing around bar tables with our behinds perched on wire barstools. While it was fun to blend in with the loud and raucous customers around us, James and I longed for a space to sit comfortably where we could talk to each other instead of shouting at each other, albeit kindly.
“Should we find somewhere else to have dinner?” James yelled at me.
“Sure,” I screamed back into his ear.
So much fun.
Leaving the warmth of those cozy blankets behind, James and I headed for a restaurant with a water view on Darling Harbour. One of our favourites is Bungalow 8 and to our delight, they had revamped their eatery into private booth spaces.
Ours was particularly intimate with a sign that implored, “Please, no sledding.”
Let me emphasize that the courtyard in question was no more than a two metre square paved patio. No privacy for ‘sledding,’ if that’s what they called it these days. We did get to enjoy quiet conversation without having to screech at each other to properly exchange banter.
Our thoughts were our own and reflected our sanguine comfort in each others’ presence. Sighing contentedly, James and I relaxed into each other taking in the beauty around us, thankful that, after 30 years of marriage we were still able to sigh with so much contentment and enjoy the quiet company of each other. So although we had started our date wanting it be unique, we were truly happy with just comfortable us.
What is your idea of a romantic night out?
