Nyaania Creek and Waterfall!

Last Monday, we took another morning walk, this time at Nyaania Creek, here in the Swan Valley in Western Australia. The area is only about a fifteen-minute drive from our house, and is stunningly beautiful. It is rugged, rocky in nature, and slowly springing to life, after what has been officially one of the wettest winters in years.

With my IBS really playing up at the moment, I do find walking is an amazing tonic to helping with the pain. It is true to say that I do more walking today, in my fifties, than I have ever done in my life, and strangely, to many people I know, I am actually enjoying it. 

Most people who have known me, for many years, understand just how much I detest physical exercise. My aversion to it, really goes back to my time at school and my avoidance of PE lessons. This shouldn't really be a surprise to anyone — I was, after all, the dumpy, fat kid, who was always picked last in sports. I suppose that was part of the reason I became the person I was. Anxiety ridden, full of resentment and bitterness, I continued in similar vein, avoiding all forms of exercise, until today.

Despite enjoying the walking, the amount I do weekly, has slowed somewhat. Work commitments have overtaken my leisure time, and despite having quite an active job, I have noticed aches and pains gradually creeping back, normally kept at bay with physical activity and walking everywhere I go. At 53 years old, I am well aware of the importance of keeping fit and my weight under control. Luckily for me, my weight is stable, and I have stayed within a normal range for four years. I wouldn't say I have conquered my love hate relationship with weight loss and dieting, but I have learnt to control it and look after myself, in a healthy and lasting way.

There is much to explore in Western Australia, let alone Australia itself; with our holidays spent in Asia, we are both aware of how little time we have to spend right here, where we live, especially in The Swan Valley. Part of adjusting to our new life, down under, is about exploring the diverse landscapes, that make up this unique continent. Next week we will be walking somewhere else, and, rather like I did when I lived in Portsmouth, I will be discovering the hidden places that make up one of the most isolated states in the World. It certainly has been a hard journey, getting to where we are today, but the future is looking rosy and I am beginning to enjoy my new life in Australia; warts and all!

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