Hiya Kanga

Wave to Croix and Mrs Dools.

You are so funny. Laughter makes me so very happy. Thank you for your lovely post. I'm absolutely incredulous about living life backwards. It's so funny to think about.

On a more serious note - how are things with you? You seem a down? Anything we can do to help lift your spirits?

Dear All~

I was listening to Demonblaster (and being hypnotized by her huge shiny avatar) which reminded my of one of the very best holidays I ever had, which was in NZ - the south island.

We were driving from backpackers to backpackers around the island and one day came to a bridge over a gorge. A lot of people were lined up by a fence looking over so we stopped to look too. They were watching bungy-jumping, which struck me as a perilous undertaking. The spectators were not being kind, saying this one hesitated too much and that one was a show-off and so on. This got me mad, I did not want be associated with those unkind do-nothings so I went and booked to jump.

A classic example of rushing in without thought! My wife was horrified. Anyway onto the bridge I went, having surrendered my false teeth and spectacles. All harnessed up I found jumping into mid-air is not easy. It was only all the others yelling one, two, three that gave me enough courage to make the jump. Then I was swinging on the end of the rope, just about the water, upside down and being levered into the rescue boat.

Now comes the happy memory.

On returning home to Aus I told my young son, who did not believe me until I showed him the video. From then on to this day he mentions it proudly to his friends.

Croix

Hi Croix,

Hooray! Your happy memory thread is back 😊. Thank you for your bungee memory! What did it feel like? The reaction of your son is wonderful to read.

I'm struggling with happy memories at the moment but there is a little one I'll share.

Footsteps on old floorboards. Hubby brings the tea and I begin the movie. Kids asleep. Snuggled up on the couch. A treat for us. My feet tucked under him as usual.

We watch and snort and laugh at the innocent humour. Half tonight, half tomorrow. He has an early start. But for a little while there is Mr McGregor and his awkward romance, Mr Tod the fox who gets drunk and shaved, a gorgeous rooster who thinks the sun rising is the biggest surprise of all and a little rabbit in a blue coat from my childhood.

The feeling of anticipation when we stop the movie for tonight. I wonder what tomorrow will bring? And best of all the reason I love kids movies... I feel lighter inside for a moment. And when hubby flirts and holds me close I know it has made him feel better too.

Dear Nat~

I'm pleased to see you back here. You have a gift for seeing what is precious.

What did it feel like? Well I never really had time to notice, I was bobbing up and down before I knew it. No repeat performances though.

I remember another thing about the trip. The South Island has a lot of coastal roads. You would drive along and see a big brown rock, which turned out to be a large seal having a snooze, amazing so close.

In normal urban life it is so easy to forget the rest of the world. Being looked at by a seal as big as you is quite a reminder

Croix

Hi Croix 😊

I have missed your thread. It feels good to remember the good moments.

So impressed that you jumped. I think I'd have to be pushed haha. But it does sound exciting!

I like how you mentioned reconnecting with the world. I feel like that when I leave the city and go to my block. So that will be today's memory. Thank you for saying I have a gift. Haven't felt very competent at much lately so that felt good.

At the top of a retaining wall there is a line of succulent plants. I've always called them toad flowers.

It feels like a lifetime ago I was walking through my Nan's garden and saw the plant. Like wrinkled fingers sticking up from the earth. Green in shade. Red in the sun. Not remarkable. Until I saw the flowers. A star which feels like the skin of a toad. They smell awful but it was love at first sight.

My Nanny gave me some to take home once and they've come with me from house to house.

When I look at them I feel connected to my Nan. I can imagine the patch of toad flowers growing opposite her kitchen window. The kitchen is the heart of her home. I am transported. A burmese cat by the wood stove. A cane chair with a colourful throw. A little vase of roses on the piano for my Grandad long gone but still loved. A thousand cups of tea. Nice and strong.

A place I have always felt safe and loved.

The plants are thriving at our block. They flower all year. Slowly slowly I am settling my own roots. I wonder what plant my grandchildren will associate with me?

PS if you're curious they are Orbea variegata

Dear Nat~

"It feels like a lifetime ago". Yes there are times in our past that seem separate and so different as to almost be another lifetime. My Welsh grandparents fall into such a happy time capsule - as you may have seen from my earlier posts in this thread.

I'd have to thank you for reflecting on the sort of legacy you will leave as a grandparent yourself. It is not something I'd thought about. It's also not sometime one can choose, it just happens. Hopefully it will be an oasis of peace, as my Nain and Tide are for me and your Grandmother is for you.

I looked at your plant, whose flower rather reminded me of the huge Corpse Lily, which too smells though is no botanic relation. My grandparents has a long produce garden beside a stone wall, and one of my memories is picking the fruit, be it gooseberries, raspberries, strawberries or such. I blush to say I was often prohibited from picking until the majority had already been harvested. Although I was equipped with a small bucket it never seemed to fill, most being diverted to instant consumption.

Gooseberry crumble (from the produce that did not pass though my hands) cooked in an enamel dish and served direct and steaming from it on the table was a favorite, covered in cream (if the little birds had not drunk it all by pecking though the milk-bottle tops on the doorstep). It was my job to bring the bottles in but I was not always as prompt as I might have been.

Croix

Great minds Croix 😊 I would love to see a corpse flower one day. Sounds silly and probably smells revolting but the idea of seeing the largest flower in the world is appealing. It makea sense that my plant is reminiscent. The smell is to attract flies which are the pollinators of both.

Mmmmmm gooseberries. Are you talking about the ones inside the papery lanterns or something else?

Isn't it lovely how we associate people we love with scents or tastes or feelings or textures. I love the memories about your Nairn and Tide (have I got that right?).

I have to pick up the kids from Polish school so will try find a memory today for later on.

Dear Nat

I think you may possible talking of 'cape gooseberries' Physallis peruvian which I'd never heard of before -the paper lanterns had me puzzled. The ones when I was a lad are Ribes uva-crispa, a spherical fruit with a hard skin. I guess they probably taste much the same. When ripe sometimes they would go reddish.

As a small boy the unripe fruit made excellent projectiles to annoy all and sundry:) This of course got me into two-fold trouble from Nain, for throwing things and for denuding the bushes of future fruit. Not my fault - Tide was the one that gave me the idea when talking of his youth.

Croix

I just caught up with this thread.

Croix I'm horrified. I imagined a nice sensible person NOT a bungee jumper!!!! Bungee jumping is on my list of thing never to do along with skydiving!!!!

The description of flowers reminded me of white daisies. When in hospital a lady I'd never seen before visited with a lovely green vase of white daisies I presume she picked from her garden rather than shopping on a Sunday. She had gone to my church for the first time & heard someone say I was in hospital after giving birth. She decided since she wanted to be a Christian her first act would be visiting me in hospital.

The daisies looked loke a breath of fresh air compared to the extravagant bouquets others had. Every time I saw them sitting on my table it reminded me of the person taking time to reach out to a stranger. Later I planted cuttings of daisy plants & would regularly put the flowers in the green vase on my kitchen window ledge. It reminded me of the person's selfless act & brightened my day looking at the flowers. There is something lovely in their simplicity. I need to get some plants for this garden

Dear Elizabeth~

What can I say? We walruses are an impulsive lot.

I like the way you planted those cuttings as a reminder.

I do have one hospital memory that was both good and bad. I was in the psych ward having gone there without notifying any of my colleagues, in fact I'd deliberately not let them know anything other than I was ill.

I received a card in the ward from one of them, My secret was out. On (much later) reflection I came to see it was a kind and understanding gesture. At the time it did make me dread my return, which turned out to be a non-event.The person concerned had not passed on their discovery.

Croix.

Dah lost post, this tablets gremlins are a way bigger test than any mental illness 😀 and then to lose a post on top and yet oh beasty I'm not losing the plot....yet

Hey all ☺ Croixy loved your Bungy story, very brave, aren't some people charmers and as you say do-nothings 👍and Nat darl 😆 hear you I'd be same, needing to be pushed. Thanks Croixy letting me know about your NZ experience 😨 it reminded me to come back here when I'm in the darks.

Might have said this one already. I love being in the water. Late love and I had the odd dunk, and when I get in it's VERY hard getting out, its my mermaid status ya know 😄 So he'd been saying for a while come on we've got to go but I managed to get some extra time in there and in the end I said ok take me out so he had my hand and dragged me slowly it was a neat little ride and then when we were close to where I'd have to get out I broke off and ran back in and of course 😂 this was repeated several times...yes.. he was laughing as much as I was too.

Gotta throw this one up too, he'd forgive me cause he wasn't fazed 😅 when I texted friends in NZ and half of Oz 😲 We were dunking in a usually safe calm beach and facing eachother, the odd cuddle then all of a sudden he jolted towards me (omitting my jokes) because the literally one only Jelly fish we saw stung him on his bottom. Of course I cared but it really was hard not to see the funny side, then although vinegar doesn't work for all stings I got some from a fish and chip shop and in the street dabbed it and it helped, poor darling but ...😂 and yes in case you're wondering I was a good nurse 😁 but that as mentioned before Croixy we were talking about does contribute to a warped sense of humour 😄

Talking of water another thank you I've 👂🏻you mentioning to Mr Jay about some gyms having pools which has got me 🤔👍dunno bout $ tho

Enjoy your days guys ⚘

Dear DB and all~

I'd never have seen a fast food shop as a first aid station, amazing:)

As I've mentioned before I liked our time in NZ (even if we couldn't find Footrot Flats or even Raupo) and going around the coast was pretty good. We had the world's smallest hire-car, you had a choice, 2 people or one suitcase inside.

The reason I mention that is we had decided to take a very overgrown single track along the coastal hills and I was worrying the little car would not be up to it.

Then we saw these tiny little gray birds with little black topknots running along. We'd never seen anything like it before. They were so cute and came in assorted sizes. They ran up the track before us for quite a ways before veering off.

The car manged the journey and we often reminded each other in following years of our enjoyment. Having the same outlook on life as one's partner is a great thing, be it love of animals, or both seeing the funny side of a stung back side

Croix

I love New Zealand. We went for our 25 wedding anniversary. Most of the time just drove wherever we felt like stopped to explore & hike mainly in National Parks & then set up camp wherever we could stop usually near a river so we could get water & wash or swim instead of shower. Carried a little metho stove & cooked very basic meals. One day we drove a total of 10km!!! There were so many walks to do there was no time to drive further. I found the National Parks offices really helpful except I came away feeling there was too much I wanted to see & do for the time we had. I miss being able to do those sort of trips. I usually navigated while my husband drove so we could be very spontaneous (or crazy) I remember walking up a mountain which overlooked a glassier. The helicopters flying over the glacier were far beneath us. It was hard work but the views were worth it.

Hi all

I love New Zealand also. Have been there twice, and have never seen Footroot or Raupo. Though there were similar beings.

Our first trip was in a camper van around the north island for about 2 weeks and a 1 week in Auckland. Never did try the bungy jumping. Croix you are amazing, I'm in awe of you!!

So what were some of the most happy memories of this trip - getting into a wet suit and going underground in Waitamo Caves to do black water rafting and to see the glow worms. I remember the feat of getting me into a wet suit, enough said. The water was so cold and the cave so dark but the glow worms were beautiful, they light up the cave. I remember the difficulties I had sitting in the tire tube and moving myself. I had to turn over which made me even wetter and colder. But the experience was awesome. There was that element of the unknown and putting your trust in someone you didn't know. I did it and had fun.

Not to mention the extreme things we did in Rotorua. While it wasn't bungy jumping, it was sitting in a seat (for 2) that flew you out over the gorge at 160km per hr for 3 km, then hauled you back. My eyes were closed all the way to the end of the 3km, opened them on the return journey which was a little slower. Then we tried our bodies on the luge. Hubby went down at a great rate of knots, but me, well my hand was on the break lever all the way, but I did it.

I remember the adrenaline for these activities. Though they were also a challenge for me. My fear of heights, my fear of dark places, my fear of going down hill on a board - I did them all and was happy. My hubby was especially pleased, he had seen my fear of heights for a long time. His pride in me made it all worthwhile.

Kind regards

PamelaR

Hey Croixy and all ☺

So good hearing people loving NZ it's beauty and overall quite friendly and truthfully I feel same about Oz.

Those birdies sound cute what a lovely memory about wild life.

It reminded me of minor birds there, my oldest brother when he was driving the family on holidays I think they were halarious and so was he. It was almost like they were taunting, they'd take their sweet time to get out the way of cars literally last seconds. It infuriated brother he would have been quite happy to get them. Theres minors here too think bigger though.

Haha Pammy the luge oh fun or what, when we went there was a fast track and slower one crikey partner and I took the slower and ZOOOM

Dear DB and all~

Yes New Zealanders are indeed friendly and the country undeniably beautiful, but I think they are not above promoting an national myth on gullible tourists like my partner and I. I'm sure in fact that another sort of bird - the kiwi - is simply a figment of fertile imaginations.

Everywhere we went were signs on the side of the road saying 'kiwi reserve', 'amazing wild kiwis' or 'thrill to the kiwis', or even 'kiwis cross here'. After each sign would be a large wooden shed with a moa skeleton outside. On paying our NZ dollars (plus NZ GST) we would go inside to see a glass partition running down the middle of the shed. On one side was us, on the other, specially darkened, was shrubbery - and that's it.

When we asked we were told, "well you see kiwis are shy". Um.

So sadly the only one I've ever seen was on the lid of a boot polish tin.

We used to have lots of fun at backpackers teasing the locals about the lack of kiwis. an excellent holiday notwihtstanding

Croix

Hello Mr Walrus and all!

Today is a difficult day so I wanted to find a memory. Maybe others will think of one too...

The green sign reads FR Berry Reserve and is covered in silver pockmarks, remnants of drunken youths taking shots at it. The name is too formal for us. We call it Slippery Dip Falls.

It is cold and wet. Winter is here at last. Hubby leads the way down the track. Mr 4 is close behind with his toy fox under his arm and shoes squelching in the mud. Miss 3 and I meander. Every so often I pry her fingers off my jumper and give her a gentle push ahead. Go run.

Not even the birds are out today but the frogs are loud in the winter pools nearby. I fall behind searching for flowers. The screeches and yelps and squeals and shouts ahead echo. Hubby is the loudest of all. I snort amused and keep hunting.

An impatient Muuuum tells me Miss 3 has come to fetch me. Small fingers wrap tight into my jumper again.

I pretend I can't spot them. Two boys. One little, one grown. Perched on top of a high rock behind a red gum. Miss 3 waves at them and two groans reply.

Led by my jumper she shows me her find. A carpet of pale pink trigger flowers. Each flower the size of half a pea. Beautiful. Not to be outdone Mr 4 shows me a scraggly bush with red flowers. Calothamnus. I pretend I haven't already taken a photo and take another for him.

The falls are flowing! White foam floating in the air. Smooth granite outcrops. Reds. Oranges. Browns. Black where the water makea the rocks slippery. We sit on the edge and quietly smile at eachother. Who will fall in today? He frowns as the cold air makes my cough worse. And nods as if to resign himself. If a feral falls in he is rescuer today. The water is freezing. I smirk and tease quietly Daddy likes skinnydipping here. What's skinnydipping Mum? Is the loud reply. He laughs.

The day passes in a blur. Yellow buckets. Dark cold water with a pool carved into the bank. We scoop to find treasure. Hubby peers at the baby crustaceans in my bucket. They are almost transparent. A native fish. The kids lose interest and practice balancing on a log over the water. Throwing in rocks. No words are needed between us. Time to go. This won't end well. He nods. Let him learn his lesson.

A loud splash. Dad scoops him out. Teary and shivering. Swamped in hubby's jacket he nods solemnly as he is praised for remembering his swimming lessons and grabbing onto the branches. Little cold fingers curl into my hand.

Yesterday, I felt happy.

Dear Natalie and all~

Tomorrow you will feel happy, maybe even this evening.

Funny what some words remind one of. Shivering reminds me of being all wrapped up, jumpers scarves, woolly beanies and coats with hoods. My partner and I are sitting on a lump of concrete at the edge of the scrub up from a sandy beach. It is dusk and there is a guide a few meters away with a big red spotlight.

We huddle and wait and shiver in the wind. Then a little penguin comes out of the water and walks up the sand towards us.Then there are lots, all following the first. We are quite still and they take no notice of the light. As they get close there is a bottleneck as the beach becomes a narrow track. Penguins are not polite, a peck, a scramble and up they go, into burrows in the scrub. All gone. Half an hour in an instant.

We get up and shiver to the car. My partner thinks it well worth it. That adds to the happy memory, being with someone who treasures the same things.

Croix

☺ nice reading

Croixy oh dear so youse didn't see one, sounds a bit suss eh 🌹 Saw a couple at a exhibition place yrs ago they're neat.

Glad you enjoyed your time.

Nat I hope you have more times like that. You wrote that really well. Sounded like beautiful time ☺

Happy Memories were created for me recently.

My niece invited me for lunch. We used cloth napkins in silver napkin rings, special plates with a gorgeous rose design, the food was all presented in delicate crockery and the serving utensils were from a different era.

A cloth was on the table, one I recall from my childhood and had been a gift to my niece from my Mum.

I was regaled with stories from my nieces recent trip to Canberra for a Jane Austin event. I was told how to make buttons from scratch and how to make a feathered quill.

I was shown a gorgeous period dress my niece had purchased which looked so glamorous.

It was a lovely occasion, so very nice to be spoilt in such a fashionable and regal way!

Cheers all from Dools

Dear Mrs Dools~

Thank you for reminding me. I can see quite clearly in my mind my wife and I standing on the front step about to go out. This was very many years ago. The reason I remembers is because of her dress and shawl.

I'd taken her to a large department store and helped her choose it for some special occasion. It was really out of our price range but looked wonderful on her, and she felt the glow of wearing it too.

A 'posh dress' can sure make a difference

Croix

Dear Croix and All,

Yes dressing up in a posh frock or outfit can do wonders for the soul.

Occasionally in the Op Shop I will try on different garments, mainly for a laugh and a bit of fun. Some people's treasures really are quite individual in taste I am sure.

One time my husband and I went to a very posh restaurant for a wedding anniversary. The man greeting us at the door asked my husband if he would like to borrow a tie for the evening. My husband told him "no thank you!"

Wishing you all a day where happy memories come to mind.

Cheers All from Dools

Hello all,

It's not the memory I came to relate, but you guys have reminded me of a recent event. My partner just found a shop we hadn't previously known of which supplies alternative clothing and accessories (a rare thing, where I live), and we had a get together coming up. He helped me pay for an altogether too expensive and beautifully Gothic outfit. The skirt was long at the back (floor length), a bit above the knees at the front, dark green satin with black lace over. The top, black, high collar with a small ruffle, flared sleeves with a split to show off the black lace underneath and corset-style black lacing at the back. Black ankle boots with hourglass heels and lace panelling. He kept his own outfit simple. Black shirt and pans, long black coat, scarf, black boots, wooden walking cane, his gorgeous auburn hair the one splash of colour on him. He looked amazing.

The two of us were by far overdressed for the occasion, but all heads turned as we arrived, and the feedback from the group was entirely positive. It was nice to stand out in a good way, having clothes that were genuinely what we wanted to wear, not just whatever we could get in a market that doesn't cater to our taste.

Blue.

Hello all

After reading the last few pages of posts for this thread, I was almost in tears. (It takes a lot to get me to shed them). You have no idea how much your stories have touched my heart deeply.

I haven't been around here for awhile Croix, but the stories seem to get better and better (If that's possible:) ).

The love you all have for your others is something I'm sure they cherish. I'll really have to think deeply to find a memory that matches any of yours. Off camping again, so maybe a flash of memory will come up while I'm away and can share it when I return. I hope so.

There is a bit of a peer group pressure here....No, no. Completely joking everyone.

PamelaR

Hi PamelaR and All,

The happy memories do not have to be from "way back" as even yesterday or earlier today is a memory already!

So my happy memory from today may be the laughter I enjoyed with other volunteers at the Op Shop and the thanks a lady gave me when I helped her find a certain item of clothing. She gave me a beautiful smile.

PamelaR you may well have some wonderful new memories to share with us after your camping trip.

Cheers to all from Dools

So many memories today...

- When we were younger Mum (and Dad for a bit) used to have a “confiscated cupboard” which was full of things we either shouldn’t of had in the first place or were completely harmless items we found an alternative use for.... usually at some stage if they were toys we would get these back. I don’t know why it’s funny but it makes me laugh every time because I remember looking at that cupboard knowing our prized possessions eg plastic sticks with toys i’d forced onto the end, tiny wooden cricket bats, rope, were all in the cupboard. Some of those things we never got back, I wonder why.

- When Mum and I took us on holidays to Nsw and we went on one of those jumping pillow things, and there was a little kid on the other end while we were doing flips and stuff, and we literally catapulted them. We were well and truly old enough to not to be on it and still be able to entertain ourselves. We understandably copped it.

Dear Jackson~
You probably did not get those other ones back as you were full of mischief and would have created havoc with them! I do feel a bit sorry for that catapulted kid.
Having a forbidden store of toys reminds me of the box of toys my father kept in a spare room. I was forbidden to even look in their direction as they were for the parish. Unfortunately htey were particularly fine - and tempting - everything from tanks to ray guns.
Not surprisingly there were times when choice items 'migrated' to my cache of toys - for some reason this only seemed to happen when my parents were out. I do remember the fun I had with them:)
Croix

Taking a trip in a hot air balloon over some amazing landscape at dawn. Seeing all the natural beauty, the sky changing colour and being exhilarated by floating through space.

Croixy hey 😀 love this thread

Such pleasure reading.

Of course hard as. for my beautiful Mum 💗 I wanted a particular toy of hers to "migrate". 😄 to my stash as we do when we can't have something especially as kids.

It was precious, the sweetest most gentle little puppy in a soft Pink little basket with Pink Saturn around it (Mums fave colour) Oh what was the basket made of... it had a flexible plastic coating like an artificial cane horizontally woven in and out pattern..how we goin so far 😆 She'd so carefully wind it nice and gently and the puppies head moved side to side with the sweetest soft little bark.

Sweet touches of magic

Was such a pleasure seeing it.

Thanks lovelies for reminding me of that.

Hey Jacko seen you at the cafe at times ☺ Thinking I might have a game of footy with ya if you don't mind me winning 😆

Pleasure in your days good people 😀

Hope you're well Croixy😊

Yes Croix the jumping pillow incident is funny now but definitely wasn’t at the time. It was purely an accident we just kept jumping oblivious to the small child and his parents screaming for us to stop. That was quickly added to the list of things we couldn’t be trusted on.