Thank you for sharing this story and for adding the need for wilderness. It is amazing how it reignites and makes us feel alive. This newsletter was wonderful, warm in its wishes and so truthful to the multifaceted experience of parenthood. Hoping you made it back to the comfort of home with plenty of memories from your time away 🏔️
Hello Mar, so glad you enjoyed reading. And thank you for your wishes. We had an incredible trip, memories to last a lifetime. A very special birthday gift from my mum, I am so grateful. Life outside is heaven. I hope you had a great week :)
Beautifully told, Kate. I love the thought of four making pairs of harmony. It's something I've observed in my brother's four, although hadn't thought of in such lovely words, with the two eldest and the two youngest banding together.
Thank you for your lovely comment here Alia. I am laughing now at my 'pairs of harmony' after getting my four off to school this morning - the eldest boy ran over the other boys foot with his hover board, the youngest hit the eldest, and on and on until we were running late and I said Out, time to go!
The joys of parenting. But I know there will be a beautiful moment, perhaps sometime later today, and I will have to hold onto it.
Sounds very familiar :) My two are constantly fighting at the moment. Each only ever wants what the other one has and sometimes you would swear they want to kill each other, but if I scold them or try to pull them apart, they cling to each other, hugging and making sure the other is OK. They switch between hitting and fits of laughter on a dime, and here I am getting stressed at their arguing while they've already moved on and in hysterics.
Sibling love is so fierce isn’t it. Wishing you a lovely day too Alia. And I’m looking forward to reading your latest essay tonight with a cup of tea, always thought provoking writing. :)
Gorgeous Kate - all of it. Motherhood/parenthood, 3 scorchingly good poems I have never seen before, and memories of being dropped off at Cockle Creek too tart the South Coast Track...
I love the little vid too. A paradise place to camp!
Hello Dave, thanks for reading and for your birthday wishes too. I am home now, and wow what an incredible adventure it was, I am filled with energy and joy after my time in the Tasmanian mountains, looking forward to sitting down with my notebook and writing about this experience. The South Coast track is one of my favourite walks, and one of the last truly wild walks you can experience I think, very special.
The South Coast was certainly wild when I walked it in 1982. A week of rain and gales. Having made the mistake of walking Westwards, into the roaring 40's instead of having the wind at our backs, it became quite an epic.
My companion became hypothermic on West Prion Beach in driving wind and rain; took off her pack and jacket, announced that she had had enough and was walking into the ocean - great foaming beach eating rollers packed with all the power of the gale and almost solid with bull kelp. She then proceeded to do just that and I had to literally drag her back up the sand and try to get her sry(ish) and warm (ish) enough - and then to end of the beach where we could set up a tent.
I would love to go back in good weather!!!! (if that ever happens lol)
Dear Kate,
Thank you for sharing this story and for adding the need for wilderness. It is amazing how it reignites and makes us feel alive. This newsletter was wonderful, warm in its wishes and so truthful to the multifaceted experience of parenthood. Hoping you made it back to the comfort of home with plenty of memories from your time away 🏔️
Hello Mar, so glad you enjoyed reading. And thank you for your wishes. We had an incredible trip, memories to last a lifetime. A very special birthday gift from my mum, I am so grateful. Life outside is heaven. I hope you had a great week :)
Beautifully told, Kate. I love the thought of four making pairs of harmony. It's something I've observed in my brother's four, although hadn't thought of in such lovely words, with the two eldest and the two youngest banding together.
Thank you for your lovely comment here Alia. I am laughing now at my 'pairs of harmony' after getting my four off to school this morning - the eldest boy ran over the other boys foot with his hover board, the youngest hit the eldest, and on and on until we were running late and I said Out, time to go!
The joys of parenting. But I know there will be a beautiful moment, perhaps sometime later today, and I will have to hold onto it.
Sounds very familiar :) My two are constantly fighting at the moment. Each only ever wants what the other one has and sometimes you would swear they want to kill each other, but if I scold them or try to pull them apart, they cling to each other, hugging and making sure the other is OK. They switch between hitting and fits of laughter on a dime, and here I am getting stressed at their arguing while they've already moved on and in hysterics.
Have a lovely day Kate :)
Sibling love is so fierce isn’t it. Wishing you a lovely day too Alia. And I’m looking forward to reading your latest essay tonight with a cup of tea, always thought provoking writing. :)
Gorgeous Kate - all of it. Motherhood/parenthood, 3 scorchingly good poems I have never seen before, and memories of being dropped off at Cockle Creek too tart the South Coast Track...
I love the little vid too. A paradise place to camp!
Hope your trip out bush is/was fabulous!
Also - Happy Birthday!
Best Wishes - Dave :)
Hello Dave, thanks for reading and for your birthday wishes too. I am home now, and wow what an incredible adventure it was, I am filled with energy and joy after my time in the Tasmanian mountains, looking forward to sitting down with my notebook and writing about this experience. The South Coast track is one of my favourite walks, and one of the last truly wild walks you can experience I think, very special.
Take care, Kate
yay! So glad you had a good trip!
The South Coast was certainly wild when I walked it in 1982. A week of rain and gales. Having made the mistake of walking Westwards, into the roaring 40's instead of having the wind at our backs, it became quite an epic.
My companion became hypothermic on West Prion Beach in driving wind and rain; took off her pack and jacket, announced that she had had enough and was walking into the ocean - great foaming beach eating rollers packed with all the power of the gale and almost solid with bull kelp. She then proceeded to do just that and I had to literally drag her back up the sand and try to get her sry(ish) and warm (ish) enough - and then to end of the beach where we could set up a tent.
I would love to go back in good weather!!!! (if that ever happens lol)
D :)