Raglan by the Sea:

I've been missing again.
A friend in need is a friend indeed.

I've been supporting a friend who hit a tough spot.
At last things are looking up
and I decided
a day out in the country was the perfect antidote to past blues.
I picked up my friend and off we went.


There is nothing like a walk in the bush to revive and refresh
and make a new start.

Deep breaths of fresh morning air;
the trees;
the green;
 the unique smell of the bush. 

The sound of water tumbling like music
and  the still pools.
  

The warmth of sun

and the patterns of light.

The wonder of small things
creating perfection,

 the miracle of new life,

and the thunder of cascading water.

After our morning walk in the bush,
revived by the sight and sound of beautiful Bridal Veil Falls,
we travelled on

to Kawhia Harbour. 

We found the bay 

and the old bach (beach house)
 that was a place of memories for my friend.

The place of happy childhood  summer holidays. 

 Changed and yet the same.
We sat on the deck and reminisced about
childhood things.

The ebbing tide was gentle and healing.

The toitoi keeping sentry
and riroriro the greywarbler singing his heart out. 

Such a happy day.

My friend found a tiny kina. a sea urchin,
identical in size to the silver one
she was wearing around her neck,
and four smooth stones for the Buddhist pebble meditation
we'd been talking about.

We marvelled at the diverse and wonderful  

creativity in nature
and collected treasures to take home for memory.

We wandered around the arty shops
of Raglan by the Sea
and felt inspired.
We chatted over delicious coffee in a busy cafe
and ate fish freshly caught in the harbour.

We went home feeling that happy tiredness,
the gift of the salty sea air.

This evening I took down my small volume of NZ Short Stories
and read yet again,
Katherine Mansfield's
At The Bay.

A fitting end to a perfect west coast day.