Ukitopia in Uki

Sunday afternoon Jen, Col, Minky and I went to Uki for the festival of Ukitopia. Uki is a small town where is only one hour drive from Coolangatta, my house. That’s where I like about this southern part of Gold Coast, I can drive to north in one hour for a city life, and in the same distance I can reach to a forest even the national park—Mt. Warning. I have to say that it is nice to have a tree-change from the coast breath.

The festival is included some promotion of Eco awareness but I must say that dancing and country market have drawn more attention from the public. I don’t know how the dancers can stay under that steamy hot sun for many hours and being dancing and dancing, all I can see is happy face and friendly greeting from everyone. Col has joked around that was because the alternative life style with some substance that made people happy.

I won’t say I will suit for this kind life style, but, hey, I looked back my weekly notes and I think I’m not too far from this group.

Well, in the week day, I go to the gymnasium 3-4 times a week stay for 2 hours, seeing my Japanese girlfriends at the TAFE on Wednesdays, visiting mum at the nursing home 2-3 times a week. On Saturdays, I would have a long breakfast with nice music, and my test of music is kind small. I listen to Jazz, Tony O’Conner, Norah Johns, Beethoven, Mozart, Lureena Mckennitt, I can put these music on and on and never get sick of them. These music and symphony can often swell my vein and make me need to take a long breath to settle down my heart beat.

I guess I’m not sociable enough though I do have some good friends who I go with for movies, theaters, dinning out, but I’m more comfortable with myself at home, especially on the Sunday. I would watch ABC’s program with a health breakfast and then walk on the beach for 2 hours.

Many of my firends think I am lucky to be happily being myself and enjoy my freedom to do what I want to do. If there is something missing, only if, I’d say it’s a company from someone who I can share with my enjoyment when I’m travelling, cycling, reading and dreaming for the future.

妳已經很幸運啦

最怕東方民族的朋友這麼說我，變成我的煩惱都像是強說愁。

說起要離開這個住過11年太熟悉的地方，朋友的不捨得當然可以理解，我也自問過，哪裡可以找到比黃金海岸更適合人住的呢? 我回來到現在每天是藍天白雲，配上清澈的溪湖，碧綠的海邊，慢動作的生活步調，一點也跟不上流行的生活穿著，是真的不能挑了。

我的固定去健身房和海邊走路，找一些非正式員工求職活動，到養老院看婆婆，去不同的朋友家聊天作客。只是想著，這樣子好多年了，有點想換個舞台。尤其越有這樣心思出現後，越多反面的思考對待這熟悉的家鄉。

先說是一回來就兩位很好的朋友的壞消息包覆著空氣，一個面臨離婚她老公打官司好幾個月要爭取女兒的全部扶養權，每天都會聽得很氣憤的念這樣無理的澳洲老公會下地獄。另一個朋友為了家和照顧女兒，辭掉了銀行工作專心養小孩做家事，結果小她七歲的老公開始在外面交往女友，又是一個被念負責任的澳洲人。

黃金海岸一直都是無業遊民最愛落居的地方，因為不管任何地方領的補助金都一樣，當然是來這個四季宜人，風景優美，去海邊泛舟沖浪又近的小鄉村定居瞜。不過就是這些人的水平難以控制，今天在超市有一個拿著沖浪板一頭嬉皮不像是有工作的年輕人，對著一位老先生罵他為何回頭一直盯他，嚇得大家躲遠遠的。連以前不認為是眼睛痛的現象，現在都刺眼，我是說那些在海邊的街道上，露著肚子隨便穿人字鞋，說粗話，好像就有點不珍惜這美麗的風景。要不然就是我變成愛撈叨族了吧。

去養老院看婆婆，馬上被她拉住說好寂寞沒人和她講話，要我安排帶去牙醫和買一些需要品。我就想著那這半年來他還不適度過了啊，聽二哥說大哥從沒來過一次養老院，母親節和婆婆生日沒打電話來也沒寄卡片。在台北的我給哥哥周末通話時他也是說忙得一周來看婆婆兩三次而已。難怪我一回家哥哥就說要去布里斯本散心四天。

我搬離開這熟悉的地方其實也是自私的希望不要分攤太多的責任。想到人老了就是要獨立的心態，有專業的護士照顧的養老院就不應該拖累家人的。