You Could Feel Spring Getting Closer

You could feel spring getting closer on Saturday.

There was still that familiar Melbourne winter chill in the air, but every now and again the clouds disappeared, the sun came out and the warmth of it on my skin was absolute bliss. Flowers are starting to bloom, buds are appearing everywhere and, at one point during my wanderings, the scent of gum blossoms in the air was so uplifting.

I love this time of the year. Those first little signs that winter is slowly beginning to loosen its grip and spring isn’t too far away.

Of course, Melbourne being Melbourne, I know better than to assume winter has finished with us just yet. 😂

I spent quite a few hours wandering around the city, taking photos, stopping to notice things and generally enjoying being out and about. Melbourne is such a wonderful city for that. You can walk along streets you have travelled many times before and still discover something you hadn’t really noticed, or suddenly look at something familiar from a completely different perspective.

There were beautiful old arches, sculptures, fountains, flowers, public art and, naturally, a coffee stop along the way.

One of the main reasons for my wanderings was walking the Veterans Public Arts Trail …. yaay!!!

Since first experiencing the trail back in 2022, I have loved how it changes the way I look at Melbourne. Once you start discovering the stories behind the veteran artists and the works they have created around the city, you begin seeing places differently. Things you may previously have walked straight past suddenly have another story sitting behind them.

And there is something rather lovely about spending a Saturday wandering through the city, looking up, looking around and noticing those stories.

By the time I eventually headed home, I had walked just over 6 kilometres.

6 kilometres!

That’s the most I’ve walked in one day since before my surgery.

It wasn’t something I had particularly set out to achieve. I hadn’t decided that morning that this was going to be a milestone day or that I needed to walk a certain distance. I was simply enjoying wandering around Melbourne and suddenly realised just how far my feet had carried me.

I think that made it feel even more special.

Although, I suspect my legs may have had a slightly different opinion about my enthusiasm by the end of the afternoon. 😂

Thankfully, I spotted some Epsom salts in the pharmacy at the train station before heading home, so there was a nice long relaxing bath waiting for me later that evening.

Somewhere amongst all that walking, art and architecture, there were also lots of little reminders that spring is getting closer.

Daffodils, jonquils and snowdrops are some of my absolute favourites at this time of the year. There is something wonderfully cheerful about seeing them starting to poke their heads up after their long winter rest.

It has also reminded me that I really should try and get back to Kyneton for the Daffodil and Arts Festival again this year. Another little adventure to look forward to.

And then, of course, there is the flower stall at Flinders Street Station.

I have such a soft spot for it.

Sitting right near the famous “under the clocks” meeting spot, it somehow manages to transport me somewhere completely different every time I walk past. For a moment, I’m back in Germany, seeing the flower stalls at Bahnhofs, with bunches of flowers sitting there ready for commuters to pick up on their way home.

Funny how something as simple as a flower stall can unlock a whole collection of memories.

Naturally, I couldn’t just walk past. 😂

So a bunch of jonquils came home with me.

Such a little gift, but such a sweet thing.

They are now sitting in my house and their scent is already filling the room. Every time I walk past them, I smile.

And perhaps that is what I loved most about Saturday.

Nothing enormous happened.

There was no grand plan.

I simply wandered.

I noticed the warmth of the sun on my skin. I breathed in the scent of gum blossoms. I discovered art and familiar parts of Melbourne from another perspective. I drank coffee. I watched fountains dancing around sculptures. I found flowers blooming. I walked further than I have been able to walk for quite some time. I remembered Germany while standing at Flinders Street Station, brought jonquils home and finished the day knowing there was a long bath waiting for me.

Lots of little joyful moments woven together across one Saturday.

And perhaps one of the loveliest things was realising that, just like those daffodils and jonquils slowly appearing after winter, more and more of the things I enjoy are finding their way back into my life too.

Happy Saturday indeed.

Loving life 🥰