Dear Ciara is a series of open letters from Tropical Queensland to Greater Sydney—notes from one friend to another.
Dear Ciara, It seems I have worked my magic too well. When I first moved into our new property, I spent the first month or so establishing a wildlife garden in the front yard. I planted a mix of natives and exotics under the rambutan trees in an effort to attract pollinators and beneficial birds. And it worked: a variety of butterflies and birds now frequent the garden, ranging from cuckooshrikes…
Dear Ciara, I am allergic to the cold. It is something that people struggle to understand, especially people I meet who are from or live in colder climates. "How could you possibly be allergic to the cold?" It isn’t a known allergen in the way pollen or dander is, and I admit: they’re technically not wrong. I’m not literally allergic to the cold. However, I have come to learn in the last few years…
Dear Ciara, The garden beds are built, the seedlings are growing, but they’re still not large enough to be transplanted. I’m hoping another next week is all that is needed, provided the weather behaves itself and I keep on top of watering them consistently. Transplanting seeds in the tropics is a challenging process—or perhaps I just overthink it? Even plants of a tropical nature that can tolerate…
Dear Ciara, It has been some time since I’ve written. I took the holidays to actually rejuvenate, to realign myself, and honestly—I’m feeling refreshed for the first time in a long time. The move was exhausting, and I felt all the changes associated with it creeping into my work life. But now, something has shifted. Part of it, I admit, has been because of recent changes I have made to the way I…
Dear Ciara, The rains have finally begun to reduce in frequency now that Cyclone Narelle has passed by. Yesterday, I even caught a glimpse of blue sky between the clouds. It won’t be long until the wet season begins to dissolve into the dry. I am so eager for the dry season—hungry for it—as it is when I am at my best. Nothing makes me feel more motivated than bright, warm sunlight. I have spent…
Dear Ciara, There is a single name on everyone’s lips this morning: Narelle . Cyclone Narelle made landfall overnight, bringing with her devastating winds and the most torrential rain. We are lucky—we are far enough south that we are mostly out of her reach—but her presence can still be felt. The rain at home is immense, just hundreds upon hundreds of millilitres pelting against the earth. While…
Dear Ciara, The first few weeks in the new house are over. It has been a wet few weeks, and a surprisingly emotional few weeks for me too. This transition into home ownership—and this change in scenery— has been challenging. I admit, I haven’t adjusted to the change as easily as I thought, but each day I find myself settling into my new community and discovering things to be excited about. I…
Dear Ciara, It’s fitting that our time at the Cutler house began with rain—heavy, pelting rain—and now ends with it. Outspread on the couch, I watch the droplets fall as the removal truck arrives. I think of my landlord upstairs, shuffling about, the pain in her hip ripe as an orange. She is shortly scheduled for surgery, and so I feel guilty for leaving her at this time. But I know I must go—I…
Dear Ciara, There is a sun shower. Through the window at work, I watch the individual droplets catch and refract the light. I love the colours, the little sparkles of blue and pink. And now—a rainbow. I see it above the building, cutting across the sky like a flock of multicoloured birds. I imagine them as herons or another species of waterbird, revelling in the cool and refreshing downpour. I’m…
Dear Ciara, We bought a house! After a good 12—18 months of searching, numerous offers, a couple of auctions, and even tears, we have finally scored our own place. This is the news I’ve been dying to tell you. While I am nervous for the change in our financial situation—for the necessary budgeting and the lack of disposable income—I am also overwhelmed with excitement. It is exactly what we were…