Tomorrow I leave my paradise at Potato Point to spend a year in Warsaw. This post is a temporary farewell to a place I’ve grown to love more and more since I moved here twenty years ago.
It’s given me so many gifts. It’s offered spectacular places to walk – on the beach, through the bush, beside lakes. It’s provided plenty of animal life – kangaroos, emus, diamond pythons, plovers, kookaburras, seagulls, terns, black cockatoos, sulphur crested cockatoos, sea eagles, black swans, ducks, magpies, king parrots, orioles, honey eaters, bower birds, even the occasional lyrebird. It’s given me close acquaintance with many native plants in the wild – banksias, spotted gums, eggs and bacon, hibbertia, poison peach, schelhammera, blueberry ash, tea-tree, bursaria, donkey orchids, hyacinth orchids, greenhoods, bearded orchids, glossodia, caladenia. It’s indulged my liking for patterns – braided sand as the sea retreats, intricacies of colour and shape on rocks, the designs of at least a hundred species of shell, textures and markings on the bark of trees, reflections broken up by ripples. It has drawn me out onto rock platforms to peer into rock pools at low tide and to wonder at the ancient geological history represented in the cliffs. And it always offers a cool sea breeze on a hot day.
Recently it’s enticed me into the sea, at least once, sometimes twice a day. I hang my towel on the minimalist structure surviving since the January floods and walk along the beach in my swimmers, often wet to my non-waist as the waves come in. The dog usually comes too, tearing off after the ball, poised in stillness mid-leap as he catches it, or digging a frantic hole out of which he noses it. When the lead appears he grimaces into the distance to see what other dog is responsible for his leashing. Sometimes we meet acquaintances and stop for a brief chat. Back at the towel, I hang my hat, shirt, camera and specs on convenient knobs and stroll in to meet the waves. Five or six steps in and I’m up to my neck, kneeling down at low tide, where I bob up and down for a few minutes. Only once have I been knocked off my feet and completely submerged, revisiting that salty-spluttering, eye-scrunching, and nose-holding I remember so well from childhood dowsings.
The moment I’ve been anticipating now since the middle of last year has arrived. I’ve wound down my Potato Point life. The bags are packed; the hard farewells to dear friends said. snippetsandsnaps is in mothballs till this time next year; 12monthsinwarsaw is on its rocky path to activation. Tomorrow we get on the Sydney bus, on Saturday we board the plane, on Sunday we’ll be settling into our apartment three doors along from my daughter on the other side of the world.
Thank you, blogging mates who’ve followed me in my Potato Point life. I hope you’ll sign up to join me for my Warsaw adventures. 12monthsinwarsaw goes live on Saturday, if my scheduling works!
agnesstramp said:
Gorgeous place! You had such an amazing journey!
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asthaguptaa said:
Bon Voyage to you! I recently discovered your blog and touched by your warmth! Will follow your Warsaw adventures 🙂
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morselsandscraps said:
Welcome to my world, both hemispheres. Thank you for your comment. Right now I’m only blogging at 12monthsinwarsaw: I return to snippetsandsnaps in early March.
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maristravels said:
Just found you and will follow with interest your adventures in Poland and elsewhere. Have read the post on your snake and envied your gorgeous photos of the python even though I can’t stand snakes. You are a brave woman. And hey, less of the ‘aged’ talk, you don’t sound old or write as an ‘oldie’ and that’s all that counts. So, music, cameras, and let the dance begin.
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samiveloso said:
Hello and goodbye, just arrived here from Jo’s blog (restlessjo). Enjoy your new adventure in Warsaw.
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Sonel said:
Wishing you all of the best Meg, but I know you will have fun and looking forward to see the new adventures that awaits you. 😀 ♥
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morselsandscraps said:
I’ve been in Warsaw for three months now, and I’m blogging at 12monthsinwarsaw.wordpress.com. I’ll return to the other blog next March. Thank you for your good wishes.
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Sonel said:
Oh, that is so cool and thanks for the link. I will definitely pop around there as well, and you’re very welcome. 😀
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Karen Thorburn said:
Potato Point sounds idyllic. I hope you’re not missing it too much and are settling into a new routine in Warsaw. I will enjoy following you there for the next year!
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Damyanti Biswas said:
Thanks for sharing your piece of paradise with us, and hoping to go along with you on your new adventures!
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Madhu said:
Bidding adieu to Potato Point with you, and looking forward to joining you on your new European adventures Meg. Isn’t it wonderful how we can stay in touch wherever we are on this planet?
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morselsandscraps said:
It is indeed wonderful. I feel blessed in my blogging community and I’m delighted to be geographically closer to much of it. I’m glad you’re joining me.
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morselsandscraps said:
You know what? With warmth like yours I will not feel lonely in your hemisphere. Which is where I am now after a trip you’ll read about soon.
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pommepal said:
Have a safe journey Meg. As I write this you will be winging away into the pale blue yonder. Hope it is a stress free transition and I will now press the button to fly into your new adventures.
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Heyjude said:
bon voyage my dear friend, I shall see you in your new abode soon – what an amazing adventure lies ahead for all of us 😍
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morselsandscraps said:
Indeed it is and it sounds as if you’ll be resident of Cornwall very soon. You must be delighted, and relieved that the move is done.
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Lucid Gypsy said:
Being a sniffy bundle of emotions I know exactly what Jo means! I will miss Spud, but look forward to your Polish adventure – as I write this you might just be on the bus. Happy journey Meg, you must be so excited. Oh and who’s looking after the dog? Catch you on Saturday honey x 🙂 x
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morselsandscraps said:
I’m so lucky in my blogging friendships – one of Christine’s legacies for me. Thank you.
To reassure you. Cruz isn’t my dog – he belongs to my resident son. He’s also a great fan of J who carried him up his jumper for 1100 km when he was three weeks old. My Queensland daughter rescued him from death and persuaded H to have him. I’m not a dog owner: just a convenient lap to slobber on when I’m eating and a comfort in a thunderstorm when H’s at work. He’s good fun though, and an excellent repository for kitchen scraps.
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anotherday2paradise said:
Bon voyage, Meg. 🙂
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Elissaveta said:
PS: I was recently recommended the following blog for our shared love of Morocco but I also thought of you when I visited him: he also writes about Poland and translates every single post in Polish + English. You can have a virtual tour of Poland AND practice your Polish! 😉
Here it is:
https://nareszcieurlop.wordpress.com/category/poland/
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susurrus said:
Travel safely!
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Suzanne said:
Gosh, a whole year in Warsaw. What a fascinating experience that will be. I like your summation of your experiences at Potato Point. What an adventurous life you lead no matter where you are.
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Jill's Scene said:
How wonderful! All signed up, ready for the next big adventure! Bon voyage!!
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Anabel Marsh said:
Good luck and bon voyage!
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Elissaveta said:
I love that you have various blogs according to the adventure. It’s like starting a fresh new life and a virtual one too!
Sounds like you’re a little scared but these are exciting times. Potato Point will wait for you, while Warsaw awaits you. Time to flip through that Polish phrasebook!!!
Safe journey and I look forward to reading what Warsaw inspires you with. xxx
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restlessjo said:
Oh, Meg! I’ve got such a big lump in my throat, you’d think I was leaving! You and your non-waist and your dog, sniffing the wind. You’ve been a delight to follow into the waves and beyond. I shall timorously press the link to Warsaw. Wish me luck! Bon voyage, sweetheart! 🙂
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