Sunny-ish Sunday

Everyone you ask in Sydney tells you they’re sick to death of all the rain. After a record-breaking August that saw over 368mm of rain—more than four times the monthly average—and only eight dry days, everyone has been desperate for some sunshine. The relentless downpours put us on track for the third-wettest August in history, a truly remarkable and unseasonable event for what is typically our fourth-driest month.

Finally, the rain gave way this weekend. Yesterday was sunny, and today it was sunny-ish. I seized the chance to get out and about, meeting up with a group of friends for our “First Sunday Roast Club,” an informal tradition where we aim for a roast lunch once a month. This time, we picked a restaurant in Bondi called Rocker. The food was great, and the service was quick and friendly. Highly recommended. The roast pork was excellent, and the conversation and wine were even better

Afterward, we walked down to Bondi Beach. It was a bit overcast by then, but not raining. For me, walking on the sand has been a challenge since my amputation a couple of years ago, but today was different. Taking it slowly and having a friend close by for support, I made it all the way down to the water’s edge. It was a wonderful, a truly triumphant feeling to walk along the beach again. We finished the day with some delights from Riverina Gelato, which was the perfect sweet ending.

The evening brought a few more friendly encounters. I helped a colleague settle into her hotel room, which included a few computer lessons on a machine I’ve loaned to her.

Arriving home, a neighbor texted to ask if I’d seen their cat, Biscuit, who often wanders around our block. They told me they’d attached an AirTag to his collar so they could keep tabs on him. Biscuit was lounging comfortably in my lounge room chair – a clear sign that the tracking device was working perfectly. Then, another neighbor knocked on my door. Her friend had recently had surgery and needed a wheelchair, and she wanted to know if she could borrow mine. Of course, I said yes, since I haven’t used it for a quite a while. It felt great to be able to help out and contribute in that way. Hopefully I won’t need it myself over the next couple of weeks!

After such a long, wet month, it was a day to truly be grateful for.