On the road, Sunday arvo, Bob Evans, Counting Crows, Jen Cloher, intertwined with random conversation about life. We arrived in Coffs, greeted by my overly excited Mum and finish the night as we did every night over the coming week, with port and dark chocolate.

What would a holiday be if you didn’t sleep in? So Monday involved leaving the house at 2, a walk along the beach, coffee at the charming town of Coramba and ended with Ameli (which Tania had never seen!). Tuesday, raining, which is a great excuse to have a coffee and then go to the Cinema to see The Break Up.

My favourite day had to be Wednesday, it started with a walk up the headland of my childhood beach, followed by teaching Tania how to skim stones where my dad taught me.
Then snorkelling, cold to being with but worth every second, everything else disappears and your eyes are opened to a world that you forgot existed. The day finished with a coffee, more good conversation and a DVD (Shopgirl, not worth the effort, but still had some good insights into dating older uncommitted men and young dreamers).


Thursday, another favourite, started in Bellingen with coffee, re-inspiring my desire to become an artist and live at one with nature in a commune. We then drove out to The Promised Land, which lives up to its name a bit more in summer then winter, but still is gorgeous with its crystal clear waters. We sat quietly and put our sketching skills to work. Then on the veranda of an old house, looking out over the countryside, had another coffee. Then back home for another good dinner and glass of red with the family, ever enjoying my mums random comments and her and Dad trying to re-tell the story of how they met. Mum and Dads versions do differ, but basically they met on a bush walk, my Mum saw a sticker on my dads car saying “open the Bible, free gift inside” she invites him and his friend back to her place, they stay up all night drinking port, chatting and then at 5am wander the streets of Melbourne trying to find bacon and eggs and getting a tour through an art gallery by a security guard. Neither of them can remember when they decided to get married, but my dad did tell my mum a couple of months after they met that he was making her a ring, and really what else needs to be said?

Friday, coffee down town, Tania was pretty sick so we went to my favourite headland and she passed out while I did some sketching. Then the Classic Zoolander to finish off the week. Saturday, the drive home, newly purchased itunes playing and for the first time Tania and I sitting in silence.

“Life is more fun with a glass of wine” Janette Schulze