For some reason, my sister planted it in her brain for us to go for a walk to Gunns Road Reserve. The idea would definitely not have come from me because lately I’ve just been on slug mode and this day being the day after New Year’s, I just wanted to chill and make the most out of my short 1-week holiday off work. (Not knowing I would have a surprise one, thanks — or no thanks — to COVID.)

I mean, I was just at home playing Shopkins with Raven, feeling very proud of my little shoe shop which expanded into a bag and headband shop whose display I painstakingly arranged one by one. My doll’s name is Candice, inspired by her candy-coloured hair and vibrant outfit. She’s only four years old because I can’t get her to age any faster than the limit Raven has imposed on me and my dolls. If I go any higher than eight then we start arguing more instead of playing.

Also, yes, I had my makeup on. The spirit of Mary Kay Ash prompted me to take her advice on getting yourself dolled up even when you have nowhere to go. It’s kind of like a way of showing up, you know what I mean? Like saying, I’m here, world! Ready when you are! Even when all you end up doing is taking on the washing of the laundry and the dishes instead of the actual world. But, you know, it’s the philosophy behind it. (I read her book ages ago and for some reason, that pointer stuck.)

So when my sister suggested we go for a walk, I was like, “Yep, I’m ready. Let’s go!” Although maybe not that enthusiastically.

Gunns Road Reserve is not really that far from where I live. Maybe about 5 minutes drive. But walking it is a different story. I think it took us about 15 minutes to get to the park because I ended up stopping a lot to take heaps of pictures.

Because for the life of me, I can’t seem to get enough of the sky.

“Omigod, look at the clouds!” I would call out to my sister walking ahead of me for the umpteenth time. “It’s so beautiful!”

Everything was beautiful. The world was beautiful and I drank every drop of it as if just seeing this scenery in front of me for the first time.

And to think this slice of paradise sits just down the road from me.

Of course the fact that it’s summer helped. The weather was nice and warm, and the sun smiled down on every Victorian out and about who’s had enough of the coldness of winter, spring, summer and fall. (Some summer days can feel like winter, too, I kid you not.)

But, yeah, look at those clouds!

It turned out to be a really good exercise for all of us, too. At the end of it, on the way back home, Raven was too tired to even push herself on her scooter. That’s where Jeff and his makeshift lace ribbon harness comes in — to pull Raven along while she sits on the deck holding on to the handlebars and singing made-up songs or asking a million questions about everything she sees.

Looking at them like that, it was as beautiful as the clouds.

*Raven at 5 years old