Ocean Views

I am grateful to live in the northern suburbs of Brisbane, as it is so convenient to go to the seashore. In the old days, when I was living in Indooroopilly, it was not that easy.

As the warmer season has arrived, we’ve resumed our activities at swimming pools. Despite living close to the Chermside swimming pool, we are keen to travel a little further to the Sandgate Aquatic Centre, which is located on the shore. Next to it is a café with great ocean views. My wife enjoys holding a cup of coffee and taking photographs.

The weather was not good yesterday, but as painters usually believe, bad weather can be more beautiful. When the sky was overcast and the trees were shaken fiercely by winds from the ocean, the view was naturally like an ink and wash painting. Though there was a big umbrella covering our table when we had lunch in the café, we still got wet during a shower, as the winds blew the rain at us from all directions, making it impossible to escape.

After lunch, the two boys — one riding a bike and the other riding a scooter — were chasing each other on the path along the seashore. The tide had receded a great deal, leaving a soil beach that was wet and mostly covered by shallow water. It was interesting to see water birds wandering leisurely on the beach.

The trees on the shore were very special. Having experienced winds and rains from the sea, they had grown into shapes and forms that we typically couldn’t see elsewhere. They stood on the shore like some most delicate statues, crafted by Mother Nature.

In a few spots on the shore, we saw strange rocks. Occasionally, there were crabs hiding on the rocks.

I will never get tired of ocean views. Different places on the shore have different spectacles. They are different at different times, under different weather conditions, and in different seasons.