Happiness is….

G’day to you all, I’m back again after a very special week spent with my daughter who was visiting from New Zealand.

It made me think what makes me happy. A Sunday afternoon walk along the beach is definitely a happy time. Especially when the sun is shining, the sky is blue and the temperature is in the mid 20’s. Happiness radiates everywhere.

Come with me…

As I left home I stopped to chat to 2 of the neighbours from across the street. They greeted me with happy smiles…

This is the first thing I saw when I reached the beach. I had to go over and talk to them.They looked so happy. “What’s happening?” I asked… “It’s my 16th birthday and my friends have surprised me” the happy birthday girl said.

What a beautiful spread. I walked away with a smile on my face.Then the afternoon light on these She Oaks stopped me in my tracks to try to capture the way they seemed to drip with iridescent emeralds and diamonds, gently swaying in the slight breeze. I walked down onto the beach and it was a magical afternoon. 

A perfect surf break made the surfers flock here.

This couple was in a world of their own. The joy of being together had this young woman dancing to the sound of their own music.

 

 

This couple are all smiles as they play fetch with their canine companion.

Look at the hill in front of the apartments on Burleigh Headland. Can you see all the small dots? They are people, hundreds of them, the park is crowded as it catches the last of the afternoon sun.As I walk past the viewing  platform on my way to see why so many people are here today, I notice this just married couple. This should be their happiest day, but they look a bit worried. I wonder if they have a problem. Maybe the photographer has not turned up!

But these people will be happy dining at this brilliant restaurant. Dining almost in the ocean. In fact during storms it is often under the ocean.This is a cheaper way to enjoy a meal.Many groups are enjoying a get together and a picnic on a superb Sunday afternoon. While the soft sound from this guitar player drifts through the air.

 

I start to notice how many people are using their mobile phones.

Having a complete stranger take a group photo for you will make these young girls happy and when they send it on to friends and family they will be happy too.

This is what they are all looking at.

A soft, gentle sunset. A young boy playing among the rocks, and the surfers catching the last of the evening light and waves.

Time to head home and as I walk back I notice the bride and friends heading for their reception at the surf club.But that is not all because as I pass under the Norfolk Pines planted along the beach front I can hear the hundreds, maybe even thousands, of Lorikeets as they come in to roost. It happens every night and the noise is deafening. I captured a short video to share this “happy”? ( at least to the lorikeets) noise with you.

 

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Every 1st and 3rd Thursday Cathy at “Wander Essence” has a “photography invitation” when she invites you to share a photography essay on a place or subject. I think it would be appropriate to join in this week with this post on “happiness”