Great, we’re barely a month into 2022 and every item on my list of New Year’s Resolutions is officially broken. Thanks for that, Clarence Valley.
First on my list was the ol’ favourite, the “watch what you eat / portion control / no snacking / no sweets” promise to myself. As with many of us over the last few lockdown years, the kilos have been slowly but relentlessly creeping north. What better time than the New Year to slam the brakes on and reverse the trend, send those numbers south again! No more Tim Tams. It’s all about those other T-words: Trim! Taut! Toned! Terrific!
Well, here’s another T-word: Tempted.
Like, have you SEEN the array of tasty temptations on offer round the Clarence lately? Gastronomical Grafton, Yummy Yamba, More-ish Maclean, I-like-eating-at Iluka (OK, so that wordplay didn’t really work, but you know what I mean). I’m not sure if it’s humanly possible to visit Wooli and not feel the gravitational pull of fish and chips by the river, or to poke around Ulmarra without coming away without some seriously delightful produce in hand, and lovely treats under the belt.
Kilos were not the only thing I had planned to shed. Last December, one melancholy evening, watching far too many Marie Kondo YouTube clips than anyone should, I looked around my abode and was dismayed by what I saw. How many items, objects, unique homewares, statement furniture pieces, shoes, books, clothes does a gal actually NEED in her life? Time to curb my unsustainable consumerist habits. My resolution? Give “shop ‘til you drop” the chop.
Easier said than done. For Chrissy, my partner gave me a Clarence Valley LOAD LOCAL LOVE gift card – fully loaded with cash to splash at any number of outlets. I defy you to click through here and tell me your dormant shopping soul is not awakened. For it certainly stirred mine. I’m not entirely sure what happened, to be honest. I set out one morning to have a poke around the shops, and the next thing I can remember is standing in my living room that afternoon, staring at an unholy mountain of shopping bags on the dining table. So much for resolution number two.
With these two major resolutions already history, most others collapsed without resistance: my intention to ‘stay out of the sun’ didn’t make it past week one – too much beachtime and bushwalks on offer not to enjoy the great outdoors. ‘Cutting down on alcohol’ is always a good thing to strive for, and the Clarence Valley’s pubs and bars are all about quality over quantity, so at least I’m winning on that front.
Wish I could say the same about caffeine, though. I’m writing this post at one of my favourite Clarence Valley cafés. You know the type, run by a delightful local couple who are as warm and welcoming as they are hardworking. That first coffee barely touched the sides, I think I’ll have another.
Oh, and pancakes. I feel like pancakes!
