The fifth beach of Christmas is yet another stretch of Coastline, that during the first 25 years of my life as a full-time a South Coast resident, I ignored. Add 10 years of city living to this tally, and FINALLY I found the time to spend an afternoon at Sandon Point Beach, Bulli.
Yet it was bitter sweet, for I felt a tinge of sadness for the beach I had neglected for many, many years. As a young girl, Austinmer Beach stole my heart. As a teenager, when I wasn’t sulking in my room, I was scanning groceries at the local supermarket…. thus neglecting sand and surf. And as a young adult, when I wasn’t serving fish & chips at the local take away shop, I was sculling vodkas in Wollongong ‘ Night Clubs’….the beach furthest from my mind.
Then I up’ed & left town, moved to the UK for two years, finally settling for ‘ good’ in Sydney, NSW. Good bye South Coast!!
But I find myself returning each Summer to the family home down South, and it tugs at my heart-strings, raises questions I struggle to answer with conviction- ‘ Why did I Leave this place?’
Ah, Sandon Point Beach, Bulli….you got me good this afternoon with your stunning ocean views, perfectly formed waves and cool summer breeze. As I soaked up the view, over & over the question swirled- ‘ Why did I leave this place?’ …..Why did I leave this place?’
But I have come to realise some questions take a lifetime to answer, and the verdict remains out of this particular one. I took a deep breath, shelving the question then & there, looked out to sea, happy to have FINALLY found the time to savour the beauty that is Sandon Point.