When I politely declined a fun opportunity to go out this past weekend (and was honest about my ‘why’ - that my weekend was already pleasantly full and while I loved and appreciated being thought of and included, I was going to opt out this time - something I wouldn’t have dreamed of replying ten or fifteen years ago), my friend (jokingly) replied, You can’t hack the pace! And I laughed, out loud, because I most definitely cannot! Being honest with myself and others about what level of activity, socialisation and action is ‘good’ versus what tips me over is a learning process for me. But a worthwhile one. I don’t function at full speed, I literally malfunction. And it’s not fun. Being comfortable with hitting the stop button before I get to that point is a work in progress and I don’t aways get it right. This fortnight, I did. (Smug.)
About four people (including my dear friend above) sent me this article that is doing the rounds this week. ‘Girl mossing’ sounds a bit silly to me, especially when talking about something that is vital and innate - it seems to have been wellnessified which makes it a bit icky - but the positive thing is that people are talking about it, recognising that striving to be everything is hurting women’s health and wellbeing, that being out in nature is good for you. And that is a good thing. (Also, maybe now is a good time to remind you of my short poem, Moss, that I wrote a few years back…)
What do you think about all this? Leave a comment for me below, I’d love to hear your perspective.
I’ve spent time in some incredible landscapes this fortnight. Last weekend my husband and I hiked 13km through Greens Bush in the Mornington Peninsula National Park, part of an Aboriginal cultural landscape on Boon Wurrung/Bunurong Country. It is the largest area of remnant bushland left on the peninsula. We’ve walked a few different sections of this track, but this part is my favourite. It feels superbly magical with phenomenal (and very old, some said to be 200+ years) stands of grass trees and a huge variety of birdlife. Hearing nothing but the wind rustling through grass trees, our footsteps, breathing and birdsong: this is the stuff that makes time bend.
I headed out again this past long weekend, walking 11km along Birrarung on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung country, where I live, with a group of women. I suppose you could say we were girl mossing. Walking, particularly in such special landscapes with good people, is honestly one of my greatest joys, I feel so lucky to be in a stage of my life where I’m able to be spared for a few hours once a month or so, to be able to trek off and walk some longer distances.
On the topic of girls, women, nature… this fortnight I had the absolute privilege of taking my eldest daughter to see Jane Goodall speaking live in Melbourne. I booked tickets last year, and finally the night arrived. Jane, at 90 years old, is an astonishing woman. During the first part of the evening Jane spent time talking about her life and achievements (of which there are many) but also the odds against which she has travelled through life, particularly in the beginning. All she had was a dream to go to Africa, and at that time it seemed incredibly far fetched. Women did not do such things in those days, nor did her family have the money. In the second part of the evening, Jane was interviewed by Berry Liberman, who at one point invited the audience to sing happy birthday to Jane. Never in my imagination did I think I would have the chance to sing happy 90th birthday to Jane Goodall - what a thrill. It was an inspiring and meaningful evening. I believe part if not all of it was also recorded, if I come across it I will be sure to share.
Other things…
I’ve read some odd books lately (good, but odd). So I was really glad to dip into Kate Grenville’s Restless Dolly Maunder, the fictionalised story of Kate’s grandmother, born in 1881 NSW into a poor farming family, a book that follows a normal sequence of time and events: a relief read. The story is about women, and touches on what women have had to endure in eras where our life choices have been (and still are, in many places) virtually non-existent. Fictionalised Dolly has a hard time expressing her feelings, and as a mother born into an entirely different timeline it was challenging to read her relationship with her children and see the impact of her harsh words sew their way, thread by dark thread, into their relationships. I do enjoy Kate Grenville’s books and admire her remarkable ability to imagine and articulate the intricacies of people’s lives. A nice book to sink into over winter.
In the extra home time I gained by opting out of some activity this weekend, I finally sewed up a second Wiksten Unfolding Jacket (unfortunately I think this pattern has been discontinued). After making a super bright pink patterned one, lined with a Ken Done sheet from the op shop, it has been on my list for some years to make a plainer version, and I’ve had the material (a charcoal hemp outer, and soft mauve gingham linen) sitting on my bench for a few weeks, aiming to entice myself to start chopping. This was the result:
As a family we attended a community planting day, planting habitat for the endangered Eltham Copper Butterfly. Our kids got a lot out of it, listening to a talk about the butterfly and how we can care for it, carefully noting where ‘their plants’ were so we can go back and monitor their growth. I highly recommend looking into what local opportunities are available in your community to support local habitats and wildlife. There are so many knowledgeable people out there that are just waiting to meet you and share their enthusiasm, we learnt a lot. Usually you can find this information on your local council website. If you’re in Nillumbik, it’s here.
And that’s quite enough for now.
Until next time, travel light.
L x
So much to love in this newsletter Lucinda. I hadn’t heard of girl missing yet, though perhaps I am a bit behind on social media these days. But I do enjoy getting out in nature and the idea of slowing down and not go, go, going, all the time. I will share this article with my girlfriends. I enjoyed your poem Moss too. Kate :)
Also wanted to say how much I enjoyed your Award winning essay - The Buttery Reserve. Lyrical and emotive, I felt I was walking the reserve with you. I too feel like a ‘cog in a devastating machine’ and I like your way of coming to terms with the ugliness of climate change in the reserve - a containment for your worries. The future is on our hands, let’s hope we can make good choices for our children. Congratulations on your writing ⭐️