Dolly Down Under

Hello to all our fantastic Dolly fans out there.

I know we’ve been quiet for the last few months - nothing to report- oh- that’s right- Laura has had a baby- our beautiful little Matilda who is lighting up rooms wherever she goes.

Of course, that means that the darling of the dolls is a bit preoccupied - so- in a fit of boredom, I went and committed myself to walking The Great Ocean Road. It’s along the south coast of Victoria - a lovely drive but a rather long walk.

I leave tomorrow and at this point in time, I am completely confused as to what I could possibly be thinking .

Actually- for a while there it was all looking good- getting a bit fitter- looking forward to a bit of Melbourne culture and that fantastic week long walk along the coast to the Twelve Apostles. It’s about 100 km so it seemed sort of manageable - and in light of my aged status and the fact that everyone I asked declined the opportunity to join in with my mad idea, I’m even getting my bags carried and will be part of a group.

This is not something I’ve done before- I’m trying to suppress my cynical view of my fellow roadies before I’ve even met them. Anyway- all good - even a bit easy compared to things I’ve done before- and then last week, someone posted 52 - yes 52!!! - pics of their Great Ocean Walk.

Oh god/ apparently it rained every day and every night- there were pictures of knee deep mud, snakes, leeches attached to peoples’ shins and some very wet and exhausted looking souls. Oops - this is not what I had in mind!

Now I don’t want to go- all of a sudden my leg hurts and I think I’ve got a cold - maybe it’s Covid??? Hope it’s Covid!! I wish I was staying home in my warm safe house and taking the baby for walks.

But-I’ve paid the money so I’ll be going. If you want to come with me, I’ll post up a few little blogs and maybe a few little poems and inspire you (or not) to do it as well- preferably in the summer I think!!

And just to cheer you up. Here’s a little poem - about how I feel right this minute!

What it’s like to be old

When I look in the mirror and a stranger looks back at me,

I recognise the hair but nothing else.

I am mystified.

Where did this unattractive old woman come from?

Sometimes it stops me in my tracks.

 Every morning, before I get out of bed,

I check my bits, my broken bits.

How will the back stand up today?

The foot, the shoulder, the elbow, the tooth.

Each a little ever deteriorating flaw

Adding up to decrepitude.

I had no idea.

The tedium, the circular conversations about health,

The list of ailments of others.

I never understood why old people talked about their health so much.

Now I understand perfectly.

You can’t get away,

Or discard and drop it like a wet swimsuit.

It follows you every day, matching pace with you.

A stalker.

There is glamour in wisdom

Romance in knowledge

Beauty in memory

Joy in each passing day

Or is there?

 Lesley