Terns, Coastlines and a quiet Paradise.

Blog Post – January 2026

We’ve already had a whole month of 2026! Can you believe it?

Greetings from a very balmy Bali. Bob and I are staying in a small but beautifully formed haven of rest and tranquillity in a village on the outskirts of Tanah Lot. Puri Arsa is a collection of four small hut-like structures with a lovely outdoor bathroom out the back. Our hut is a generous, welcoming space with a king-sized bed, a fridge, a wardrobe, and a set of chairs. We each have a little recess at the side of the bed for books and bits.

There’s a front porch with a table and chairs and another table and chairs at the back, giving us plenty of room and privacy. A gorgeous swimming pool lies at the front, with lush gardens surrounding us. It feels like paradise.

Back in Dee Why, NSW

Before Bali, we spent much-needed family time with Jo and our gorgeous girls. They’re not girls anymore! Bella and Chiara are most definitely young women – funny, kind, thoughtful, and absolutely beautiful (not that I’m biased at all :-) ). Jo, of course, is just wonderful. I love them so.

In our first week, we went to the local cinema. The girls loved the film; I did not. The Housemaid is a thriller of sorts, with music that pulls the audience into jumpy reactions at all the tensest moments. I found it sort of entertaining but frustrating: the stereotypical portrayal of women (crazy, stupid, manipulative, greedy, vicious, and overtly sexual) did my head in.

A friend who saw it with a teenage daughter and mother reported the exact same split: the teenager loved it; the adults didn’t. Maybe it’s my age?

Anyway, (PLOT SPOILER!) my biggest criticism is the ending. After all the twisty plot lines and the violent finale, they still blamed the perpetrator’s mother. Too easy. Lazy concept. I won’t be watching the inevitable sequel.

Aside from that, we spent time at the beach, ate delicious meals, and generally soaked up being together. Once Jo was back at work, we headed down the coast to visit friends.

Time with Ian and Fiona

We love staying with Ian and Fiona Stewart at their gorgeous home in Yatte Yattah, near Milton, NSW. Fiona has taken to waking early (not her favourite thing) and walking along Lake Conjola Beach every morning, so we joined her and Ian in that ritual while we were there. What a glorious way to start the day. It’s a truly beautiful spot.

On our first morning, Fiona and I dipped in the lake as well, which was a joy.

After our second morning walk, Fiona and I went to her local yoga class – a restorative style, right up my street. The teacher was exceptional: grounded, warm, kind, and compassionate. She took time to explain so much and show us variations, which were incredibly helpful. We both floated out of the class.

We met Bob and Ian at their favourite local eatery, Milk Haus, just out of town, for a delicious brunch.

The Arctic tern

On our third morning walk, Fiona and I discovered a tiny fledgling Arctic tern tangled in a bundle of knotty seaweed at the water’s edge. It looked dead. But when I glanced back, I saw its little head lift, just a fraction.

The beach is a protected site for nesting Arctic terns – they’re so vulnerable. We gently disentangled the bird. Fiona carried it cupped in her hands while we walked back to the car, and Ian phoned a friend who volunteers at the site. We were advised to return the bird to inside the protected area, scoop some sand into a hollow so it could rest out of the wind, and mark the spot. We drew an arrow in the sand and placed two large sticks as markers for the rescuers.

That evening, they rang to say they’d found our little fledgling and taken her to a centre, where she would be hydrated and allowed to recover before being brought back to her nesting site. It was such a beautiful moment. My heart was full.

There's a Reel of our time in YY: HERE!

A fierce storm rolled in over the next few days. Bob and I travelled up to Shellharbour for the weekend, just the two of us, and I was relieved our little bird didn’t have to face those gale-force winds. Our time with Fiona and Ian, as always, was rich, fun, and enlightening. They’re an amazing couple.

Shellharbour and Hamnet

In Shellharbour, we stayed in a quirky little Airbnb – a well-appointed hut at the side of someone’s house, which turned out to be delightful. It rained the entire time we were there, but in between downpours we managed a short walk to Bushrangers Bay Aquatic Reserve. Spectacular.

One afternoon we saw Hamnet at the local cinema. I loved it. The two leads are wonderful, and Jessie Buckley is an extraordinary singer as well as an actor. The film won Best Motion Picture at the Golden Globes, and Jessie Buckley won Best Actress, so the signs look good for the Oscars. I’m not really an awards person, but when a quiet, beautiful, understated performance rises above the rest… I like it. Always championing the underdog? Maybe :-) x

Our last few days before heading to Bali were back in Dee Why, close to Jo and the girls.

Bali and visas

We’re in Bali till February 22nd, ostensibly to trigger a work visa for my gigs with Michael Fix, starting Feb 27th. Last year, we allowed two weeks for what was supposed to be a one-week process. When the visa was still missing the day before we were due to leave, panic set in. This year, we’re giving the process a whole month to sort itself out. I’ll let you know how that goes next month.

Since arriving, we’ve done very little. I’m making a piece of art every day, just as I promised myself in 2023 when Children of the Sea was trying to become not only a CD but also a book, and needed gorgeous imagery. At the time, I had no intention of creating anything for the project, but that’s exactly what happened. I gave myself permission to make the worst art imaginable, as long as I showed up every day.

This time, I don’t even have a theme. I just know I’d love to make another book with stories, songs, and images. For now, I’m playing with watercolour paints and abstract shapes. It’s incredibly satisfying and great fun, and I believe it paves the way for more creativity. Not that anyone needs a reason :-) x

Three promises

I promised myself three things while I’m here:

1. Paint something every day.

2. Do some research to find inspiration for a theme for my next project.

3. Edit the fantasy book I wrote twelve years ago.

The art is ongoing, I’ve yet to start the theme research, but the book is edited! It’s actually the fourth edit, but I hadn’t touched it for about eight years. I have no idea what to do next, if anything, but there’s a wonderful sense of achievement in getting this far, even though it’s taken so long. Watch this space.

Exploring (a little)

So far our “exploring” has consisted of a taxi trip to Tanah Lot Temple and a run to an international supermarket for yoghurt, granola, and fruit. (OK, we got crisps, Ritz crackers, and cheese too – but we do love the local food as well!) We also did one long walk, in scorching, sweat-inducing heat, to what we hoped would be a beach we could visit regularly.

There are a Reel that show the adventure: Here

There’s talk of a trip to one of the volcanoes next week with a lovely German couple who are here for three weeks, and we might revisit Ubud on the way. That’s probably as adventurous as we’ll get.

We’re acutely aware of how fortunate we are to have this experience. It’s not taken for granted, nor is it something we expect to continue indefinitely. Life is unknown in so many ways. Gratitude abounds.

An update on our tern

A sad update on our fledgling Arctic tern: she survived a few days after we found her but, sadly, died. However, another rescued Arctic tern made it back to Conjola Lake Beach and may well find its way to the Arctic. Who knows.

I take solace in knowing that our little bird was in far better shape than when we first saw her and that she knew the kindness of strangers before her last breath. Bless her.

Here's a video to capture all the above :-) x

Thank you, as always, for your kind attention and continued support – you matter to me.

Till next month, dear reader: be well, stay curious, and keep rising above the turbulence.

Know you are loved.

Christine x