No backsies

It’s been a strange day today.

Calm.  Imminent.  The beginning of the end of the Aussie chapter of my adventure ride.

I started today with a coffee at the Botanical Garden.  It’s hard to say exactly what my favourite part of Darwin would be, but the Garden is a definite contender.  I wondered around a few hours, just enjoying the peace and vibrant, lush, beautiful gardens.  A well-kept garden isn’t in my top (1,000) capabilities, but I certainly appreciate being enveloped in it.  It always takes me back to “Chapter One” (and “…Two”) – our first commission was in fact to tend and care for The Garden.  There’s something deeply good about a beautiful garden.  It is certainly good for my soul.  Thank you to all who steward the world’s gardens for the rest of us to enjoy!

   

I dropped in after the Botanical to say a last hello and a goodbye to Allan.  We chatted for a bit about this and that, and parted for what I expect will be the last time with good wishes and a warm hand shake.  He’s been very hospitable and generous.  I am very definitely disappointed that I couldn’t sail to Timor on his Huey, but he’ll be glad that I put on record (again) that I never felt he’d promised that outcome and so can’t (don’t) hold against him that it didn’t happen.  And the reality is that without provision of his kindness and hospitality, I doubt I would have been able to wait long enough to finally now be able to make the push to Timor.  Thank you, Allan.  He’s been good fun company too – at least “on the whole”!

Out to East Arm thereafter for the last time I’d ride my GSA in Australia, this side of finishing the adventure.  I wasn’t sure what to expect of the customs process, but it was beyond simple.  I simply rode into the shed, helped the guys weigh it (282kg with panniers and luggage), watched them measure it up, and that was that.

That leaves me now quite bike-less.  It is quite a strange feeling.  That bike may be only new to me since November, but i hadn’t realised how much we’d become “a thing”, until now we’re parted.  I just feel a little under dressed.

An Uber later, and a bit of lunch back at the house-sit accompanied a quick Tsitsipas victory in the Aus Open semi final, followed by bit of reading. I’m reading through a Bible in a Year plan, although with the amount of time I’ve had on my hands it’ll probably be almost “Bible in a Month”.  Might have to start again, perhaps around Singapore.  Close study percolating for a while on a single verse, chapter or small section can be great.  But I do love the birds-eye observations from reading the Inspired Word in large swathes.  It really gives a much deeper sense, I think, of God’s heart for His creation, and particularly for people.  For me.  His heart for you.

Tonight – in case I haven’t been enough into the tennis – I watched Djokovic wipe the floor with the last of the Americans over a bit of chicken-and-rice dinner.  Novak’s first set was a bit all over the place.  Nothing was said about it in the post-match interview, but I reckon today’s media about his dad (which turned out to be a complete misunderstanding I believe) knocked him off his game.  But he found his balance and has booked us what will be a most entertaining final.

But Novak wasn’t the only one knocked off balance.  Allan texted to say he’s had a diagnosis tonight of cancer.  25 years ago he was given 2 months to live from a similar diagnosis.  In the end he stubbornly pulled through, but the treatment robbed him of all but the faintest voice (often needing to resort to sign language), and of any ability to eat at all (now using a “peg” and tube with liquid sustenance straight into his intestines).  So this understandably is a whack of an impact, because Allan knows how the process can hurt. He’ll probably be in hospital in the morning for a battery of further scans.  I’ve affirmed that I’m praying for him (even though he and God “aren’t on speaking terms”), and offered to cancel/delay my flight if I can help or if he needs company.  We’ll see how that plays out over the next 48 hours.

As if today’s focus areas weren’t already eclectic enough, I’ve had a late text from another new church friend while I was out for a second-set walk and pray in the Djokovic match.  There’s a mens’ breakkie in town 7:30am tomorrow, and I’ll take up the invitation to join them.  Without a bike (d’oh!), that’ll be a cab to get there, but AJ kindly said he’d drop me back afterwards.  That’ll be a great way to close the Darwin chapter (unless things with Allan or difficulties with Monday’s flights interrupt plans), so I’m delighted to see what this new breakkie context is all about.  In fact I’ve collected a couple of different circles of friends while I’m here (and have just recalled the fortnightly Wednesday bbq group in this context too), which is a great privilege for which I’m deeply thankful.

So, it’s calm, but kind of still all up in the air.  It feels imminent.  But still might not happen for several reasons. And yet in all that there really is (are?) no backsies, because that bike is now in the hands of the shipping crew and I won’t see it (or my stuff) again unless/until I turn up myself in Timor.

Perhaps it is time for another cuppa tea?

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