Beach

Cottesloe ( affectionately shortened to Cott) is after all a beach resort. I explored a bit today. Walked nearly 14 k along the beach and the coastal path and rather haphazardly into Cottesloe Central. It has a cluster of shops and what turned out to be a very good library.

I was allowed an hour free internet on their computer (should have paid but nice chap at desk let me off) and 3 hours wifi connection on my phone.

The library is in Peppermint Grove. The Mayfair of Perth. Shops however include Woolworth which was handy for a bit of shopping and some earplugs for the night to come.

I had lunch at the library and a coffee. I commented on the quality of the coffee shop and wondered if all libraries delivered such quality. Gales of laughter from the couple serving – no my dear, this is Peppermint Grove.

I had earlier purchased my first decaff soy cap from a little general store near the beach. Lovely. A great range of pastries and other things ( which I resisted).They also sold me a sim card. It had to be registered (by phoning or going on line) and then topped up by phone. I bought $20 of credit. Hence the trip to the library. It took 50 mins of my free hour to register the sim card and get the credit loaded. Pages of information required. Finally mastered it and texted Alice in Sydney who called me back. So odd to speak to her on the same turf but still two time zones away.

I returned to the beach and walked. You know you’re in Australia because of the smell. The vegetation has a distinctive aroma – maybe the eucalyptus. The lemon trees are loaded with fruit just now. Ironic since I bought some. You know you’re in Australia because of the birdsong. The squarking of the gull sized white cockatoos and rainbow loraqueets, the melodic song of the Australian magpies and the ever present minerbirds.

You know you’re in Australia because of the joggers. There were a few fellow travellers merely walking but dozens of people running, jogging or power walking, clutching water bottles, earphones delivering music (Staying Alive has a brilliant rythem for fast walking), faces serious and breathing hard.

I strolled until sunset, composing a poem as I went. Peace.