Constantia market with Russell and Heather

 

Lunch with Heather

Heather and I had a great catch up and a nice lunch at a local restaurant.  We then went for a shady walk in The Contantia Green Belt to escape the heat.

Email to Heather

Thanks so much, Heather.  All is well and the experience was actually a priceless one, one I wouldn't change for anything, except the worry it caused my family and friends.

Basically, I went off on an extraordinary spiritual high - due at least in part, I'm pretty sure, to the stimulent medication I've been taking for several years that masks lower energies in my psyche.   I was in such a state of peace and complete fearlessness that I stopped taking the medication altogether.  I continued to feel peaceful and joyful for several days with extraordinary revelations and experiences and love beyond anything I can describe.

But sometimes what goes up, comes down abruptly - especially when the brain suddenly isn't getting the chemical it has become reliant on.

So I plummeted into a sudden world of illusion and in that state, literally stared face to face at my Ultimate Nightmares.  I lived for about 12 hours of intense suffering and intense fear before I realised that it was just a psychotic episode and I was in the North Sydney High Dependency Ward (Maximum Lock Up!)

I stayed there for about a week, meeting beautiful people and coming off the medication I'm been wanting to come off for years.  Now I'm home and feeling fantastic.

Hope all is going well.

Graeme

Onset of mania

Hi Heather

That's great that you got that downloaded and working. Simplest thing in the world to add pages.  I think they may already be at the foot of the page.

Funny about the energy. For days I've been hugely fatigued with no energy at all, almost certain that would be the case for goodness knows how long while I come off the strong stimulent I've been on for several years.

Today I've taken very little and should feel even tireder than usual.  But I suddenly feel more alive than I have in my whole life.  I have thoughts flowing through me that to the mind seem extraordinarily profound. None of them repetitive, all from the deepest place.  I've spent the day in reverie allowing the ideas to flow, enjoying them, not pre-occupied as I usually am with capturing, but capturing a lot when it feels peaceful to. It feels like the most extraordinarily creative experience of my whole life.

I don't know where it's going or whether ideas will ever see light of day, and don't even feel to attached to that right now.  Who knows how I'll feel tomorrow?  Whether energy will still be here (the body, to all accounts needs plenty of rest having been neglected for a long time.  My state doesn't feel manic in the slightest (had lots of experience of that in past 3 years.)

Who knows where it's going?  I have a strong sense the mind has no control over any of it. Ever. At any time.  Just enjoy the ride and experience of it and don't try to control it.

Not that the mind has any control over whether it can let go of control?  Am I sounding insane?  Surely insanity can't feel this good?  If so, I choose it!  Not even going to edit this.  How totally unlike me :)

Graeme

Beach Crawl

After climbing Lions Head with Antony and Matt, Chrisèl and I did a tour of some of Cape Town's most beautiful beaches before joining the family on Llandudno Beach for Sam's 14th birthday party.

Highlights of our beach crawl included ...

• A stunning warm day, perfect for walks along the beach and a dip in the ocean.
• Walking down to Clifton's 3rd beach for a sit down.
• Moving onto Camps Bay for an invigorating swim and delicious ice cream (once we eventually managed to find parking!)  The water was brisk to say the least!
• Heading onto Hout Bay for a walk along the beach in the lovely late afternoon light.  
• Bumping into Heather, Russell's mum, on the beach and having a bit of a catch up.
• Watching the frolicking dogs on the beach, all having a ball.
• Going to Woolies where we bought some delicious salads to take on with us to Llandudno.
• Meeting the family on Llandudno just in time for a spectacular sunset. They're always so beautiful here. Of course, we took lots of silhouette shots, which came out great.
• Meeting Sam's 3 friends (she'd decided to opt for an intimate party this year).
• Sam and friends stripping down to their costumes despite the cool temperature and having a splash and paddle in the freezing ocean with much shrieking and laughing.
• A lovely picnic of salad and pizza on the beach by candle light.

Clifton

Camps Bay

Hout Bay

So lovely to bump into Heather!

Llandudno

Chrisèl and I having a leap.

Sam's party friends

Hout Bay with Heather

I met up with Heather (Russell's lovely mum) at La Cuccina for a delicious lunch, followed by a lovely walk along the beach.  It was great to have a good chat.

Walk at Silvermine with Russell - and a lovely swim

A lovely walk with Russell, Heather, Brandon and co.  I love Silvermine so much, especially the reservoir.  We had a gorgeous swim before and after the walk.

Volleyball on Camps Bay beach

Brendan and Eva were in Cape Town at the same time as me, so we organised a big game of volleyball on Camps Bay beach.  All the old volleyball crowd came, and Russell and Heather joined us too.  So much fun!!  I impressed everyone with my power serve, great to find out I haven't lost it even after over 10 years of non use.