Ocean Breeze

On clear spring evenings, we wander down to the sea. If we're lucky the air is calm, only a gentle ocean breeze blows wayward strands of my auburn hair. Cool salty air bristles the bare skin of my neck as I pull the sleeves of my sweater down over my fingers. I smile to myself as I recall this is a habit my mother used to disapprove of when I was a teenager.

Days pass and we return to the shore. This time we try in vain to teach Coco to 'stay'. Sometimes I think she is so clever that it is she who is training us. We persist for fifteen minutes, rewarding her with liver treats before we turn to walk towards the jagged point of Witches Reef.

The next morning, an offshore land breeze blasts cool air across the breaking waves. Sea water sprays off the crest of the waves in impressive arcs and further out to sea, the familiar triangular shape of a sailboat can be seen racing along at an alarming speed.

A cheeky seagull parades infront of me as I stare in disbelief. Surely he can see Coco fix her gaze upon his plump, feathered breast. Hours later, onshore afternoon winds increase in intensity from the southeast, whipping the shore, and howling with wild stories of distant storms.

We jog along the shore together, taking turns to run in front of the other. Coco splashes in the tiny breakers as I focus on my breathing. We pause at the end of the beach to stretch with yoga and play before returning home for a warm shower.

Coastal trees bow, their leaves rustling with the wind. I close my eyes and listen to the steady rhythm of the waves as they gently roll ashore. When I open my eyes, I gaze along the beach and marvel at how the top layer of sand is magically picked up and blown in fluid, moving shapes across the beach.

Suddenly, as if a giant switch is turned off, the wind stops. The air is clear, and the sound of the ocean is somehow amplified.

As the sun dips, it casts golden orange, pink and pale violet hues across the sky. I turn to watch Byron walk beside me, in the soft light his skin takes on a peachy glow.

My heart grows with happiness. This is my seaside life. This is home. Sometimes all I can do is stare at the expansive ocean and breathe deeply.

Bella xx

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39/52 Selfie

A portrait of my family once a week, every week in 2013

Byron: Using the 50mm f/1.8 lens to take a close up 'selfie' of his ecstatic smile.

This guy. He stole my heart a couple of years ago with this gorgeous smile and his boyish enthusiasm. Every day he flashes those perfectly straight teeth my direction and my heart beats a little harder, a little faster. We might not engage in as many crazy, spontaneous activities as we used to and with good reason. We've matured, we know each other. We are compassionate and caring. Sometimes an unplanned evening stroll is as exciting as pumping our fists at an ear-splitting live concert. Sometimes the best thing we can do is to sit down and share a long meal together, a luxury we savour due to our busy lifestyles and long work hours.

Sometimes going for a surf or a sea kayak, a skin dive or a day hike are just as exciting as that first night, when we drank sweet alcoholic shots, danced into the wee hours and fell into a taxi together, inseparable ever since. That night we stayed up late in my room talking about our very different lives, laughing at our stories, our different cultures, accents and plans for the future. That night rolled into two weeks that seemed to flash by in blurry motion.

At our wedding, our friend Isaac informed me that Byron had announced he would make me his girlfriend an hour or so after meeting me. He is a man of his word.

Today is Byron's 27th birthday. At 27 he has been married to me for 14 months. He has lived in Malaysia, Dubai and Australia. He has completed his studies at Le Cordon Bleu. He has captivated me for two and half years. He may father my children one day, if we're lucky. He has been my strongest supporter (Ok.. Equal with you, Mum!) and he has taught me patience and the power of dreaming big.

In his 27th year he will officially become certified as a PADI open water scuba diver, my present to him so that we may continue to share our love for the sea, marine conservation and the magic of feeling weightless in the deep blue sea.

Happy birthday my sweet, sweet man! To borrow a quote from a lady who inspired the both of us..

'You are the butter to my (gluten free) bread, and the breath to my life.'

~Joining Jodi and friends~

Love Bella xx

This week I love these pictures of sunset in the long grass, because they remind me of this beautiful day. I'm also digging this kitty swim cap (and the toy dinosaur!!). I want say a HUGE happy birthday to sweet Che for tomorrow. Six years old on the 30th, a day after Byron's birthday. September- you have been a beautiful month!

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