July.  It’s become a month that lurches from one extreme to the other.  School holidays and a trip home to Perth on the one hand, crazy times at work on the other.  Miserable rain and gusts of wind one day, beautiful sun and a hint of warmth the next.   Through it all there’s been many opportunities for me to grow as a person and I’m happy to say that I’ve met those opportunities with an open mind and a willingness to adapt.

Let’s get recapitulating….

1. It never gets old, this view of the planes at the airport.  We made it and we’re ready to fly!!!!!
2. There’s no place like home.
   

   Hello again, my dear friend Perth and thank you for a beautiful welcome home run.

3. Well. 
   

   All that cardio and the only bulb I could light up on the Scitech energy bike today was the 60W one at the very bottom….

4. The rain is setting in here in Perth. Which means there’s only one contender for lunch today.
   

   Mi Goreng with some veggies and chicken I bought in anticipation of this weather at Woolies yesterday. Way to go, past me.

5. Rainy weather is all the excuse I need. 
   

   Enjoying the treats my sister in law brought home with her from Japan this week.  Tokyo Bananas are little sponge cakes, shaped like bananas and filled with a banana cream filling.  The immaculate way the Japanese present even the humble baked good always astounds me.

6. This rainbow greeted me at the end of today’s long run. 
   

   It was shaping up to be a stunning morning before this.  The rainbow topped it all off.  And then it started to rain.  And rain.

7. Observing World Chocolate Day with this delicious dark chocolate Malteser bar.  
   

   Who am I kidding?  Every day is chocolate day for me.

8. At the airport with plenty of time to spare. 
   
   

   Sydney, ready or not, here I come!

9. All done.  My drivers licence is renewed and I’m all good for the next 10 years. Which will take me to my mid fifties.  Wow.  Just reading that sentence makes me feel both excited and just a bit scared.  A half century on this earth.  What have I done with that time?
10. Back at work today.  It was good to be back.  I cleared paperwork and emails like a woman possessed. 
11. A rewarding day of getting all the pieces to fit together. 
12. ‘Perfection is illusion’.  Wise words from the yoga instructor leading tonight’s Apptiv yoga practice.
13. One more thing I love about Sydney. 
    
    

    That I can take a train to Circular Quay and walk into a joint celebration of Bastille Day and Christmas in July.

14. Empathy is the ability to show love.  I’m carrying this in my head and my heart as we start a new week.  May I be guided by empathy in all that I do this week.
15. This meme about MyGov made me laugh and cry because of its truth.
    

16. It was meant to be.  Remember that Aldi cast iron saucepan I thought I’d missed out on?
    

      I found the last one today at Top Ryde.

17. The moon was stunning this morning on account of the lunar eclipse. 
    

    Who knew you could see the moon so clearly at six in the morning?

18. Street art Thursday!  
    

19. Work, work, work .. and work.  Still, at least there was all that glorious sun overhead.
20. See yesterday.
21. As above but I am so glad I got out in the sun for an afternoon run to decompress.
    

22. As above but I am so glad I got 14 minutes to myself tonight to my yoga practice.
23. What a difference a good night’s sleep makes!  I’m feeling on top of the world today.
    

24. I choose to adapt.  Not my usual stew and simmer but something new and positive for a change.  I will end this week choosing happiness .. and to ‘win’.
25. I was prepared for today to be painful.  But I made it work for me as best I could.  I got to work early, took a walk through a park, got myself a coffee and then got down to it. 
    

    It turned out that the day humbled me and gave me a stern talking to.

26. Inspiring news today about a project I’m part of at work.  There’s a reason it’s been tough recently – we’ve grown a service from very humble beginnings.  And we did it as a team.  The experience has taught me how to deal with my preconceptions, expectations and frustrations.   
27. I always have fun at Ikea. 
    

    Their lamb shank with mash is 11/10 by the way.

28. Birthday milk!!!!!
    
29. Wonderful news for a dear friend and my own day ending better than it began.  All things considered, it was a solid Monday.  And the last one for July too!
30. Rainy days are slow down days.  Grateful for the change of pace and a chance to recharge today.
31. Last run of the month.  Hoping all my training is reflected in my C2S time in a week and a bit.  The taper begins Monday so I am relying on muscle memory when it comes to Heartbreak Hill on the big day.

And that’s a wrap.

I’m ready for you, August.  You’re going to be a cracker.  My birthday month, two exciting runs…

What a time to be alive!!!!!!!