Loving where you live

Loving where you live

Wendy Philip loving where you live

To love where you live is about….finding freedom, peace and security in your chosen location.

Especially when you can’t travel your home and environment needs to appeal to you.

 

It seems every man and his dog, (or every woman and her cat) seem to travel the globe today, or they are planning and prioritising their future around this forever trendy occupation of TRAVEL.

Since the dawn of mankind, (and particularly in this last century since the aeroplane was invented.) we long to explore, to investigate other lands, to see how others live, basically I guess, to experience a small segment of life in another part of the world. It’s human nature to be inquisitive and knowledge seeking.

However when you can’t travel, you can still find freedom in your given location.

Maybe we are too old to travel, maybe we have a sickness that limits our travel, maybe we don’t like cars, buses and aeroplanes, or maybe we have done all the travelling we want.
With myself it’s basically all of the above and a few other reasons, the delays with air flight, the sitting in one spot for hours, the stomach aches from foreign food, the difference in time etc etc. All seem to contribute to the cessation of my travel urge.

AND one other major reason for myself is……I have found freedom….I have found a place that I am at peace with, completely contented with, and a place that has a natural beauty that can compare equally with any number of touristy, exotic locations anywhere in the world. In fact I find it better than most ….

Exploration for me is local,

Finding new places and walking, bike riding or boating to these new places keeps me more than fulfilled and occupied.

Why not look at your chosen location, look through a visitors eyes.

Where you live might just be a slice of heaven. No one knows your location exactly the way you do.

You get to experience it in all seasons, and in all temperatures, and in all its comings and goings.

There is actually a heck of a lot going on right where you live today. Why not make the most of it? It’s about attitude…
Paul the apostle sums up an ideal that we can strive for:

Philippians 4.11. ..I have learnt to be content whatever the circumstances. I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound in any and every situation, I have learned the secret of being filled and being hungry, of having plenty and having need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

We can do all things, in time, and with patience and gratitude along the way.

However it could be time to move….

I am not saying you must live in the same location all your life. Maybe your neighbour has a pesky barking dog. (Seriously we have moved because of barking dogs!!) Maybe you are not suited to the climate, maybe you need to fulfil a lifelong dream and move to the country…. Whatever your situation you still have options, a caravan, or building a new home, or buying an old home, building a small cost effective beach home, (as we have done).

Whatever you can afford, and have a vision for, you may want to downsize, or upsize to a prettier location in the same area you live.

Finding freedom is generally about being healthy and content in your current location, at your stage in life. It’s also about dreaming a dream and planning for a contented future.

 

 

Below are my images of my neighbourhood.

Hat and towel on the front of boat at salmon Inlet Yorke Peninsula
Red striped towel on the front of the boat, cliffs in distance.
Wendy Philip sitting on a surfboard at Wilder beach Yorke Peninsula

Boating is our great love, fishing and exploring new islands and inlets, many times places only accessible by boat.

Sunset at Marion Bay jetty
Marion Bay jetty with two yachts in the distance

Marion Bay jetty.

Yachts in the early morning moored at Marion Bay Yorke Peninsula

I often stroll along our local beach. The yachts that stop overnight at Marion Bay are ideal for the keen photographer, like myself!! 

West Cape beach misty day. Yorke Peninsula

West Cape beach, notorious for huge waves which apparently come thousands of mile from the Antarctica. The South Australian coastline is in the Southern ocean, known to be rough and erratic.  It is ideal for a long walk when the conditions are right.

Young girl at the beach with red striped towel
Grandchild strolling along the beach Penguin Point Marion Bay

Family with the grandchildren often visit. Penguin Point.

Outdoors at the beach house pink door and yellow sun chairs

Our very small home is adequate and has all we need.

Blue bottles on our dining table
Bedroom decor white sheets and wooden walls
Log fire at the beach house

What is your vision..?

Get ready to explore your neighbourhood, or get ready to build your dream.

Proverbs 29.18. Without a vision the people perish.

(All images are taken by Wendy Philip. No AI generated images.)

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The old fisherman and the sea

The old fisherman and the sea

Old fishing boat named the Virgo

The old fisherman never tires of his expeditions on the sea .

I have some very old photos of my husband, my father and some deckhands in the early days fishing the seas in Kaikoura, New Zealand. I figured I would love to write a blog of the memories I have of these happy times. I have also included a few other fishing boats that I have photographed over the years.

Drawn by an unending urge, the ocean call is too strong for the fisherman to deny.

It never leaves him or forsakes him.

He arises a great while before even the hint of a dawn sky. Alone and cold he heads for the cool dampness of the fishing boat. A smell of salty air greets him and his ear hears a familiar sound, waves jostling too and fro competitors in a never ending race for the shore.

Finally a cold sun hits the eastern skies. Distant floating buoys of pink and yellow are spotted near the horizon with the naked eye. We drift awhile closer and closer with the silent tide.
The seabirds follow from a distance, waiting for their breakfast to be brought to the oceans surface.

Nets are hoisted and lines and hooks are pulled by swarthy hands.

Fish, from deep in the ocean, 200 to 400 metres straight down, as the crow flies, whoops…as an octopus swims.
Fish are sorted, cut and boxed, the mornings work begins in earnest. The day is long and hard, no lunch break, no morning or afternoon tea, the tides, the winds and the fish cannot enjoy any idle time.

As the sun begins to turn towards the west a deep exhilaration touches the cool fisherman’s heart, money made to keep the kids at school and a few bob for the wife to spend at the local drapers store.
(No apology here for the choice of older style language!)

No one who has fished the great oceans of the world will ever find a reason to not return.
Happy days to say the least.

As he ages, the salty sea dog must now only visit the waves in a recreational way. But it’s still a repeat of the long ago, a reminder, an echo, a yearning to touch the waters, and catch the blessings the great ocean offers.

 

Setting off fishing in the morning old photo

Setting off in the early morning

Setting off fishing in the early morning Kaikoura mountains

A pink float and a pink sky.

fisherman out at sea

Out at sea on winters day setting the nets. As you can see many of these old photos are quite blurry, but stiil able to be enjoyed

Making nets for fishing

Making nets for the fishing days ahead

Old engine and fish
Untangling knots a fisherman out at sea

A winters day and the long line floats to the surface

Bronzed fisherman in the summer

A summers day and the long line floats to the surface. 

Killer whale swims by

A killer whale swims by. 

Out at sea a fishing day

Seagulls trying to eat the catch of the day!!

Fishing boat and Kaikoura mountains

The old fishing boat with the Kaikoura mountain range in the background.

Fisherman out at sea setting a line
Fishing boats Pondalowie Bay
Rope and fishing floats
Fishing boats moored

Looking back…

Nothing or no one can stop the relentless, fleeting moments of time. Maybe a camera can? A photograph can hold on to a cherished memory and a bygone era, stopping time in its tracks for a second or two. Fisherman have a strong connection to the seas as I have witnessed from my family members. These old photographs certainly do it justice, and make history a blessed thing.

 

No AI generated images

 

 

The beginning……Immigrating to Australia.

The beginning……Immigrating to Australia.

Kaikoura mountain range.

When we first immigrated from New Zealand to Adelaide, Australia,

 

……I found the landscape boring, mundane and lacking height. Lowlands everywhere and not a drop of water in sight. I mean around every corner in New Zealand is a mountain, a river or a lake, all clear, blue and very pure.

The above image is the view out of my bedroom window, the other images are random shots of mountains, lakes and rivers.

Blue lake in Southland New Zealand
A river in New Zealand
River turquoise and abundant New Zealand

Rivers, rivers everywhere and lots of drops to drink! Not so in South Australia we discovered!

 

OUR TREK TO FIND SOME WATER

Being unused to the South Australian landscape, on a 40 degree day we headed towards the hills (Mount Lofty range)….looking for rivers, lakes and lagoons so we could cool off and take a swim.

 

BIG MISTAKE!

I have never ever found any of those things in the hills in South Australia to this day!! 

As we rounded each corner of the winding  road up towards Mt Lofty, with those harsh nasty gum trees looking down at us sadistically, I glanced over into the back seat to look at my children. I saw three flaming red cheeked kids with moronic looks on their faces staring back at me……It was that look of, “ Why have you brought us kids to this God forsaken country, what terrible parents you turned out to be, we are definitely not your children? We are adopted that’s for sure!”

Eventually we did realise that the two words “barren” and “Australia” walk hand in hand. Disheartened and very hot we drove back home.

As the days and weeks progressed instead of going to the hills to look for lakes and rivers we headed in the opposite direction. We thought we would see what the coastline offered to this unfortunate family who were suffering badly from heat stroke.

 

OH MY GOODNESS…

Spectacular, beautiful and untouched stretches of beach, which were swimmable! Not too many beaches in NZ are beautiful and swimmable. Too cold, too rocky, too dangerous, too rough, too gloomy, or weather never permitting. You may be lucky to stumble upon a few sunny days in the middle of summer! 

 

WE FAST BECAME BEACH ADDICTS..

Those glorious blue beaches have found us surfing, fishing, swimming, boating, playing, and almost all year round I might add! 

I well remember when we first arrived here trying to put the golden sand into an envelope to send home to show them how amazing the beaches were. True story! (The sand in New Zealand is either non existent or grey.)

Early on with my first camera my photography was centred around photographing my sons surfing. Not a hint of hilly heat stroke on those long warm days spent at the beach with the waves continuously rolling in. Now I photograph all aspects of the vast blue sea, which changes day to day and moment by moment. Variety and beauty endlessly! It is a genuine privilige to be able to photograph the South Australian land and coastline.

TODAY….

Whenever we have spent a day at the beach and evening approaches I have created a habit, as I leave any of our beaches, I stop and look back at the ocean and ponder and thank God for the genius of His creation. The beaches so idyllic, I will always miss my homeland but I have found something wonderful to replace those nostalgic longings.

Calm blue sea water
Isolated beach with white umbrella

This beach is about 2 kms long, I had it all to myself on a glorious summers day last January, crystal clear water and golden sand, no flies and warm weather, what more could a woman want?

Yacht in the summertime

The bluest of blue!

Yacht moored in pink sunset
Fishing boat staying out till the end of the day.

A boat stays out fishing till the sun sets and the gulls have gone home.

Swimming in Salmon inlet shaded such a brilliant green.

Swimming in this effervescent green water. Located at the back of Althorpe Island, South Australia, we discovered this unique spot on one of our fishing trips, quite remarkable in its colour and location. You can read my other blog about Salmon Inlet HERE 

Massive cliffs in the setting sun. Cape Spencer

Enormous cliffs tower over the breaking seas. Cape Spencer, Yorke Peninsula.

Stenhouse jetty

Stenhouse jetty.

Surfer jumping

Surfers, sailors, swimmers and sunbakers they all love it!

Surfing at West Cape, Yorke Peninsula
Turquoise beach and waves rolling in
Ethels beach and a pink sunset
At the beach till midnight

The water is warm as is the air temperature. In the image above it is New Years Eve  and these boys walked the beach till midnight in bathers and bare chests.

South Australia is a vast and hot country, a unique environment which definitely takes some getting used to. There will be many challenges to face. Initially I missed family and friends, we struggled to succeed in a new business venture and my children were extremely unsettled, but the hot dry weather, the lack of inland water and mountains. definitely had the most profound effect on us all.
Today some 30 years later I love the place, can’t get enough of the beaches and strangely I have learnt to also love and appreciate the inland areas. The fields, the farms, the desert, the outback all have a beauty of their own. There is a huge variety of landscapes to photograph and as time has gone by I have noticed I am never bored with my photography.  Still hate the heat, but hey, who enjoys 40 degrees?

If I can encourage anyone on this journey, slow down and get an air conditioner, (first things first) so you can think straight and make good decisions for your future. You will ,  as you perservere find a very beautiful and very majestical country.

All images taken by Wendy Philip. No AI generated images.

Facing fear: How to overcome when anxiety strikes

Facing fear: How to overcome when anxiety strikes

Facing the wind seagulls

When the night descends and anxiety comes….

Why is it that very often it is in the night hours that problems and serious situations become huge? I am writng this blog in the hope that my situation may in some small way help you overcome fear and anxiety. 

 

When you face the storm you can see what’s coming, you can lean in to it and keep your balance and consequently you are better able to equip yourself and conquer life’s challenges.

It’s time to face the storm and face your fears!

Here’s my story….

When I was in my late twenties I had a full on battle with firstly insomnia followed by fear, until the two merged together and I became very similar to a stuffed, mute, zombie.
I got help from friends, I got help from family members, I got help from the bible, I got help from great non fiction books, I got help from everywhere and anywhere. Sadly nothing seemed to do me any good, I would lie awake for hours at night afraid of fear itself.
Finally after approx two years of this morbid, depressing pattern, one night, I got out of my bed as usual unable to sleep. I felt like I had a soaring temperature, my whole body seemed to be on fire with fear. As I sat simply shaking and tormented, I decided this fear had to end, so why not simply walk into the ocean and then finally a cold, deep sleep would envelop my being. A sure fire way to escape this awful anxiety.

Hmm, I had three children and a great family and home and husband. I think they all wanted and needed me??

I decided  on a plan of action after a bit of thought and planning.

I gathered together all my ongoing information, books, counselling, friends advice, tape recordings, (yes.. tape recordings that’s how long ago this was) even the bible was closed and put away.
Every fearful thought I decided must be negated and put to rest.

I went back to bed, took a huge breath

………and in my mind, I went for a walk amongst a most beautiful field of daisies. The centre of each daisy was so yellow it shone like the sun, the white petals gleamed like the Arctic snow.. The simple daisy swished and wavered in the gentle breezes of a spring day.

Ahhhh fear entered my thoughts and whispered…You won’t get to sleep tonight,

NO, no, ….I’m walking among the fields of flowers, daisies, lilies, dandelions, the sun warms my skin, the clouds like white fluffy balls, float through the sky, the birds swoop and soar in the distance. I walk and breathe in the scent of the flowering field.

Ahhhh you won’t get to sleep…remember me, your old negative thought patterns…

NO, no no…. I’m now going horse, riding, I put my bridle on my horse’s nose, I took the heavy brown leather saddle and threw it over his back. I tied the girth strap and talked gently to my horse telling him I loved him and today we are going to ride over the hill and through the river bed. He snorted softly and looked my way to see if I had another apple in my hand. Of course I did, he ate it closing his big eyes in thankfulness. I got the bridle and led him to the open gate. I put my foot into the stirrup and flung myself up and over, gently prodding his sides I said, “Let’s go!” 

Ahhh remember darkness your old friend, I’ve come to haunt you again!

NO, no, ….I’m off for a swim in the balmy blue ocean waters, towel in hand and straw sun hat on my head. Always the windy breezes, clearing the way, refreshing my thoughts and mind, cleaning away the daily tasks. Oh how I love the wind! I hear and see the seabirds soaring down from their heights, often landing nearby, they are flying from nowhere, heading somewhere. I lay out my towel and take off my hat, the sun indeed is beginning to bring a few beads of sweat to my face and my cheeks are red from walking down the winding beach track……ooohh to cool off will be so very delectable, I saunter into the blue, vivid, sparkling sea. Lowering my hot body into the water and washing away the day’s vibes. I begin to swim along the shoreline and am feeling so cleansed and beautiful. My mind embraces the distant horizon, where I see a white sail, heading east. My thoughts relax, and I slowly start to enjoy the moment….

What I was doing was replacing all those negative thoughts with new thoughts.

I determined that my mind would think on good things instead of the bad things.

Roms 12.2. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

And by the way it was not easy, it felt like a fight, that I must win. But win I did. I slept soundly that night for the first time in months.

Then the next night the battle began again and again the next night, I was facing the storm front on, and defeat was not an option.

A determination took over my being. In a few weeks I found I had a reasonable control of my thought patterns and it was imperative that it stay that way.

To this day I have never had trouble with those particular thought patterns again. I have faced other issues, and once again have had to be courageous and strong.

One good thought can replace one horrible thought, with Gods help all things are possible. Life is a journey of faith. 

 

My photographs are of the beautiful ocean birds who either seem to fly high and have fun in a storm or get down low and brace themselves head on to the storm.

Facing the wind seagulls
Spoonbills in the pink sky
Terns facing the wind
Flying in the mist
Spoonbills flying
Seagulls flying past a cliff face
Birds on a stormy day
Two pelicans resting
Seagulls flying away
Osprey
Sea birds sitting

Philippians 4.8. Teaches us to …Think on those things which are true, honest, right, and clean, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise dwell on these things.

Therefore as much as I am able, I think Gods way, I can now rest and trust that everything will be okay. it may not always be perfect, but it will in the long term be alright.

All images are taken by Wendy Philip. No AI generated images.

How I overcame a lifelong habit of rushing

How I overcame a lifelong habit of rushing

Girl running

How can you over come this habit of rushing?

 

I do tend to like this idea of slow living.

One of the things you need to train yourself out of as a photographer is the modern day disease called ‘Rushing”. You may be able to pin point how this condition took over your mind and body or otherwise you may need to simply develop new habits that slow you down.

I often find I am in a rush. I have this anxious feeling of rushing through all my daily tasks, to bring them to completion asap.
This anxious, rushing, feeling, I can trace back to my childhood. You see from the age of seven, I have had to deal with migraine headaches. Very debilitating and painful.

From somewhere around my teenage years, I felt I had to rush to get everything completed in case I got sick with a migraine and had to spend hours in bed with a massive headache. This became a very deeply entrenched habit. More especially in the years I was raising children, you see everything had to be perfect and in order in case anything went wrong.
But as I got older, I have had to retrain my brain and remind myself, why the panic? Tomorrow is another day with a new beginning and a little mess is not going to hurt. If I need to rest then I must rest!

SLOW DOWN, and focus on the fact that this is only temporary, soon the events that I am drowning in at the present moment will not last.

 

A wonderful side note, as I grew older those terrible migraines lost alot of their severity. I no longer vomit for hours and the headache is quite mild. You see, life can change!

Just how do you slow down?

*Gather less stuff. We take nothing into this world and we take nothing out when we leave. I have found it liberating moving into a smaller home and making myself throw out things I am fairly sure I will not use again

*Read the bible and pray. Dwelling on the good things the bible has to say is very relaxing and calming. Psalm 119.105. says ….Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

*Begin the day with peaceful, positive thoughts. Your self talk will set you in the right direction if it is life giving and positive.

*Retrain your mind to stop and enjoy. This process took me awhile to achieve, but some grim determination and a healthy stance against fear has helped.

*Be grateful and make an effort to thank God for all the good things in life.

*Find an interest or hobby that you love and enjoy. When I am out photographing, I find my mind and body are totally unaware of worries and lifes distractions. I am fully involved and absolutely loving what I am doing. The peace and fulfilment after the day is over keeps my mind thoughful and certainly has the effect of slowing me down.

 

Photography has slowed my mental state

…for the reason that it involves seeking out and being in the presence of beautiful things. Beauty is designed and created by God to enrich our lives and enhance our thinking.

 

Below are some images that have brought peace to my heart and soul.

The coast is where many or most of my images are taken. Water and the ocean have the ability to capture the heart and soul of a person. Science has proven that a trip to the beach has a positive effect on our brains. I can indeed walk, sit, and explore the coastline photographing for many an hour and never get bored or tired.

The sand dunes along Yorke Peninsula are also vast and undulating, promising long walks and happy thoughts.

 

 

One white umbrella at West Cape
Ethels beach at sunset
Moon light rising over Marion Bay Yorke Peninsula
Blue ocean and tiny white sail
Mauve shades as the sun sets Marion Bay
Pink evening Marion Bay coastline
Wave along the West Cape coastline at sunset
Ethels on a cloudy day
Two gulls in the evening light
Sunshine on the sea water
Desert sands at Cactus beach South Australia
Close up of sand dunes Yorke Peninsula
Close up of sand dunes Yorke peninsula

John 14.27. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

 

All images photographed by Wendy Philip. No AI generated images.

When things go wrong on the journey..an adventure down to Echoes

When things go wrong on the journey..an adventure down to Echoes

Beautiful beach

 

Revisiting beautiful Echoes beach , but sometimes things can go wrong on a journey!!

 

(The image above was taken many years ago with my old Pentax camera. One of my children lies under the umbrella.)

In our early years when camping, surfing and holidaying at Marion Bay, we frequented a beautiful isolated beach. The beach was called Echoes, because of the sound the waves made as they whispered and echoed up against the gigantic cliffs this beach is surrounded by. It fast became one of our favorite spots due to its isolation and the good surf.

Recently the governing bodies, whoever they maybe, decided the descent to this beach was too dangerous and so the 3km road to the beach and the beach itself are closed  and consequently completely overgrown now.

One bright and sunny day we decided we would walk the distance and visit this most spectacular and beautiful beach for old time sake. 

Armed with packs, cameras and food etc, we set off.

All good the first hour, but on arrival at the cliffs edge we noted how the old track we had used, was definitely in a much worse condition than before. 

Then as fate would turn on us, my vision went fuzzy and blurry, I was getting a migraine. Usually these gave me a headache, followed by vomiting and feeling very ill. Well we sat on the top of the cliff and waited till I could see again. I took some pain relievers. 

I was not giving up, no sickness would stop me from visiting my old beloved beach. 

So down we scrambled, fell, jumped, hopped, toppled,

until we finally made the beach. My legs were like jelly, so I lay down on the golden sand and slept for about 30 mins.

When I awoke my husband had been swimming and so we both idled away the afternoon swimming, listening to the echoes and chatting and resting. 

I would need all my energy to climb back up that cliff.

I did consider how silly we had been and this was probably quite a dangerous undertaking.

As we lay there looking out to sea a small boating vessel passed by, they stopped and peered in at us and we distinctly heard them say. “How on earth did those people get to that beach?”

If I could have yelled back, I may have said, “Sometimes people are silly and insist on taking the track less travelled!”

Most of the afternoon I did keep pondering how on earth we were going to get back up the cliff, especially in my weakened state.

Three o’clock and departure time finally arrived.

We stood back and planned out our route, I gritted my teeth and I used all of my strength to slowly crawl my way back up the cliff. We helped each other over difficult spots and clung to branches or anything secure as we ascended. Exhausted we reached the top and took a drink and rest, however we still had a long walk back. 

As we walked along and time went by I seemed to gather new strength and felt amused at our exploratory activities, maybe as we are getting older we should not take such risks….oh what the heck…

“Man who sit and do nothing, experience no excitement in life!”

The whispering cliffs of Echoes beach. Taken with harsh sunlight and me not taking much notice of camera settings.

The view of Echoes beach taken from a boat on another day.

Myself walking back along the old road.

Cliffs Echoes beach

The image above is of the cliffs that we climbed down and then up again!!

Photography can take you on many unexpected and exciting adventures. Planning is a key, but sometimes situations can develop that throw you off guard. I had to rest to get my strength back to climb that hill. I actually did take photographs even though my vision was blurry for an hour. We survived and want to go back to this spot again. Maybe we need to rethink all our stratagies!