Live like a local and get off the tourist path
If I could, I would split my time between countries, my home with my family and my ancestral home with my culture. Earlier this year, I spent five fantastic weeks living like a local. I had the tremendous opportunity to be a digital nomad and simultaneously combined work and family matters. A great plan, excellent collaboration and complete trust from my employer meant that I could log in a work from the opposite side of the globe without having to dip into my precious annual leave.
Published: Sylvia Jimenez
Mind-wandering in solitude in a city swarmed by high rises.
Who would have thought that in the middle of inner-city Sydney, a parcel of land, large enough to develop a small suburb lays dormant to real estate aficionados’ grasp, provides solitude to early morning walkers, as well as being a true representative of Australian colonial history? On Easter Saturday I met with my good friend Liz for overdue catchup. We often meet in between our homes for a brisk walk and interesting conversation. She is one who listens intently and offers insightful observations. It was on this crisp morning walk that she showed me Yaralla from a local’s perspective and I’m ashamed to say that living in the area for nearly a decade I had never ventured past the gates. The estate, now heritage-listed was initially the home of a convict turned landowner who later mortgaged the land and was then converted as a convalescent home for returning soldiers.
Published: Sylvia Jimenez
12 Good-mornings versus six blanks stares
My observation for this week. Since when have we become a community, where a pleasant ‘good morning’ has been replaced with a curious blank stare? I’m watching Ted Lasso on Apple TV, and I find it hilarious in a Ned Flanders kind-of-way how the main character Ted faces the constant barrage of colourful language while still smiling and extending a cheery hello! I would have told them to stick it where the sun doesn’t shine, but hey, that’s just me. The thought did linger. I decided to test out the theory that faced with a ‘good morning’ from a stranger would compel you to adhere to social customs to respond, unless you were a psychopath and if that’s the case, run for the hills!
Published: Sylvia Jimenez
A little distraction...
I've never had a dog before. We were a family of felines. My grandfather always kept cats to help with the rodents and birds around the hens and the vegetable patch. So when our puppy came along, admittedly I didn't have a clue. Also, although he is 'our' puppy, the men in the family sold me the idea of having a puppy as being 'their' puppy. But with me working from home and everyone else out the door at work and school, the responsibility of caring, training and feeding ultimately fell onto me.
Published: Sylvia Jimenez
'There is nothing unusual about that...'
On a Saturday afternoon, on the grounds of a very nice art gallery in the middle of New South Wales Wine Region, we found a rather large uninhabited spot of grass. It was manicured, soft and had very little contact with anything heavier that a bird, until we arrived.
Published: Sylvia Jimenez
Never assume on a daily walk...
As a creature of habit, you will most likely find me taking my daily walk at the same time every weekday. I plan, it’s scheduled in my online diary, friends can catch me on the phone as I am most likely listening to a podcast or song, generally, it’s a green light for any future stalker. Contemplating now, perhaps, is not such a good idea. That being stated, there are others like me, who walk the same path around our area, albeit opposite, which, is another OCD moment on my behalf because I tend to walk the same path at the same time in the same direction.
Published: Sylvia Jimenez