one day I'll share my travel tales...

PASSING THOUGHT: Great friend just shared her travel tales+photos of Robe+the Coorong National Park. She desperately needs a break from her stressful teaching role.
But I'm longing for the day when I can share with her MY travel tales+not packing or surprise challenge updates...

— 🇺🇦🌻Gemma Wiseman-on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) April 13, 2022

Mercetta - farewell lunch...

Lovely last lunch today with teacher friends at atmospheric Mercetta, Mornington... pic.twitter.com/4bugcjnzAn

— 🇺🇦🌻Gemma Wiseman-on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) April 12, 2022

Another view of Mercetta... pic.twitter.com/HXOhZES6F5

— 🇺🇦🌻Gemma Wiseman-on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) April 12, 2022

a friend?...

PASSING THOUGHT: I've a friend who supports me in many ways+I'm a good listener to her 'people conflicts'.
However, she tends to be bossy.
She organises all coffee+lunch meets.
If she has a problem, her problems=always worse than mine.
Her understanding ends+my stress rises.🤔

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) January 17, 2022

a Christmas lunch cancelled...

Just now cancelled Thursday Christmas lunch at The Heritage, Balnarring with a friend + her daughter. My friend + I agreed that the place is quite popular and therefore the Christmas season is not a good time to be there sadly.
Looks like 2022 promises to begin with hibernation.

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) December 20, 2021

Christmas lunch at The Heritage...

Delighted to share a Christmas lunch with friends yesterday in my special place - The Heritage, Balnarring... pic.twitter.com/RIETDynVE2

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) December 16, 2021

Paid for my 3 friends' Christmas lunch yesterday. Meant to be a huge thank you for all their support through my troubles this past year. Just checked a Christmas bag one friend gave me. (She texted me just now to check the bag again.) I found that she had tucked $50 into it...

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) December 16, 2021

flowers for a friend...

My teacher friend is facing some very awkward challenges, so I sent her some sunny flowers to brighten her day yesterday...
(She took these photos using her phone)
She has been a brilliant support to me during my troubled times...Now it's my turn... pic.twitter.com/h4DzMky99r

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) October 20, 2021

farm life detour...

PASSING THOUGHT: My friend has retired from teaching-other than the occasional casual work pre-lockdown. Now she nourishes my remote, 'murky' teaching days with tales of her farm life. She has sheep+today witnessed the birth of a lamb. She's my great detour from weary students... pic.twitter.com/JKgS9Lbp6t

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) September 15, 2021

flowers for a friend...

Sent some flowers today to a friend who really is going through a tough time at the moment...Loved the arrangement delivered to her door...So pleased...
I think they have given her a few moments of happiness... pic.twitter.com/bnue3UULfP

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) September 10, 2021

procrastination my old friend...

hello procrastination
my old friend
it seems we have
an unscheduled meeting
now#tanka pic.twitter.com/N4aBIVJPGg

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) September 5, 2021

friend's Pearcedale farm...

Loved some time at a friend's Pearcedale farm yesterday...
Walked around amazed at all the work she and her husband had done, trying to bring back a long-neglected farm and nursery...(So many rabbit holes)...Still a great deal to do - including a new house...
But they're happy... pic.twitter.com/cO8e5sSZp4

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) July 9, 2021

Nursery remnants are everywhere...mostly near old sheds...
My friend is planning on cultivating bordered, pocket gardens of them + giving an 'arty uplift' to the sheds... pic.twitter.com/sAB3n3STUf

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) July 9, 2021

we make a great team...

WARNING: Cuteness overload...
We make a great team... https://t.co/4Ey346aMJd

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) June 28, 2021

emotional support for a friend...

PASSING THOUGHT: Another super busy day, but tonight a friend needed some emotional support... Amazing how reaching out to help others revives a sense of personal purpose and fulfilment...
Feeling so much better myself now too...

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) May 6, 2021

not syncing...

PASSING THOUGHT: Strange day. Not syncing. 10:00am. for coffee. On time. Saw shiny red car+no dints - not her red car. Walked around outside cafe. Took photos. No friend. Phone must have fallen out of my bag. Sat in car. Waited. Waited. Leave? Saw friend at 'not her car'. Grrrrr pic.twitter.com/Xl0b9f9W5L

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) March 14, 2021

Friend arrived early+was inside...drinking coffee...waiting for me...When I saw her by her car, she had decided to leave...I had been wandering outside... I'd met her outside previous venues, so thought this was no different...Grrrrrr... Felt/feel bad...(Car polished+dents fixed)

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) March 14, 2021

new life on the move...

PASSING THOUGHT: A dear friend visited today...It's been so very long...Gave her many of my old poetry books (5 large bags full) to give to her teenage daughter...I felt good... Great to know those books are going to continue being valued...My new life is steadily on the move... pic.twitter.com/nliDmshtZZ

— Gemma Wiseman (@AuraGem) November 28, 2020

some morning indulgence...

Some morning indulgence...Nothing like some birthday left-overs to humour the spirit...Nothing like having some extra special good friends who tried to make a remote birthday wonderfully different... pic.twitter.com/YnJMR3yiiS

— Gemma Wiseman (@AuraGem) October 1, 2020

walking away...

Strange that this reflection has just appeared... For just today, I have sadly closed down a 5-year online friendship for all the reasons below...It isn't easy to be silent and simply walk away...But it is good for inner health in the long run... https://t.co/iEEbs693O3

— Gemma Wiseman (@AuraGem) August 23, 2020

stockpiling...

PASSING THOUGHT: Sad to watch an online U.S. friend so busy stockpiling her own brand of material happiness that she ignores the needs of others. She just flaunts her latest purchases. Yes, she's creative, but surely we should be sensitive to these strange times and do our part.

— Gemma Wiseman (@AuraGem) August 1, 2020

I always admired the creative spirit of this lady...
Amazing attention to surviving and creating her own brand of paradise...
I thought she was a role model of how to generate your own happiness...
How to live by your wits...

But now that image has soured...
Her life is all about collecting and selling old furniture and bric-a-bac...
She collects the tropical for her Florida paradise...

And openly mocks all there is about the pandemic...

(Notably, she never asks about others...at least, not online...
It's all about 'self'...
Admittedly, I saw this trait emerging before the pandemic...
But now it is stronger than ever...)

Her life goes on as per usual...

Her postings are parades of the latest acquisition
or the latest adjustment to her shop...

I understand, perhaps she may be standing strong
in the face of the current crisis...
but her strength is weighted with
a mockery of what is happening in the world...
a mockery verging on a complete denial...


I am shocked...
Horrified
Disappointed