There’s something inherently calming about starting the day on the front deck (verandah for my non-Aussie readers), sipping coffee in the warmth of the newly-risen sun, listening to the quiet roar of the ocean in harmony with the morning bird calls. As the cliché goes, you can feel the serenity!

I love our front deck. It’s where we’ve spent many hours over the years; where we welcome friends in summer and sit rugged-up in winter longing for spring. It’s where we laugh with old friends and get to know new ones; share dreams, plans and stories; read, discuss and debate the issues of the day.

It’s on the this deck that countless cheese plates have been consumed and champagne corks popped while celebrating milestones, birthdays, Christmases and New Years; where smoky single malts have been sipped on balmy evenings along with the odd puff of a Cuban cigar. It’s here I play I-spy with my grandchildren and read stories, where we can watch the neighbors come and go, and have a grandstand view of spectacular storms rolling in from the ocean.

The view Of the ocean from the deck is calming in times of stress and anxiety. It encourages me to look beyond the horizon, appreciate and be thankful for the beauty that’s around. It’s a place to sit and be in the moment. This old deck has had its fair share of storms and has had to be repainted and repaired over the years. It’s not a huge structure, but the events and people who have shared it with us have enriched our lives and created lasting memories, and for that I am truly grateful.