Eat Fish and Chips on a Pier at Sunset

I had fish and chips on the beach, but it definitely wasn’t a pier, so this goal is still not done.

Sounds romantic and sweet though, doesn’t it?

On a beautiful balmy night in May I found myself sitting on a long hardwood pier looking out to the endless splendor of the Pacific Ocean. With a fillet of grilled barramundi and the solace of unrivalled solitude, I sat in silence. The ebbing tide seemed to be retreating into the depths of the oceans, leaving behind a glassy film on the pebble covered sands. Even the passive summer winds could not stir the stillness of this glassy pool and so like a giant mirror, it absorbed and reflected the beauty of the skies. As colours assailed themselves upon the open horizon and storm clouds gathered in glorious assemble, the earth was transformed.

Where once the sparseness of blue skies alluded to an open and endless realm beyond comprehension, now the colour streaked horizon seemed to draw down its curtains for its final glorious finale. The trees which were once defined with colour and texture became blackened silhouettes, the vast oceans were inked and all of life which had only a moment ago pronounced its own identity and form – became lifeless, colourless and subservient to the unequalled beauty of the skies. The darkened clouds provided a dramatic theatrical stage upon which the sun was to perform its last act. Between cascading darkness and asphyxiating storm formations, a bulb of glorious brazen light pierced the horizon. Every porthole of sky was illuminated with a deep radiant crimson glow and even the shoreline was illumined with a filtered pink light.

In the glory of a sunset, a somewhat normal evening in May was transformed into an unforgettable moment of beauty, clarity and unrivalled peace. Stillness was cast like a spell not only over the waters and darkened earth but also over my thoughts and somewhat agitated state of mind, it was a truly relaxing way to spend an evening.

I penned the outline of this goal over a year ago, in which time the truth of my words ‘it’s these simple things that are overlooked in the convoluted and complicated lives in which we live’ has scarce changed. What makes busyness so encompassing of our thoughts and our time? Upon many a sun streaked horizon – I have pondered for a moment this goal and its embryonic, latent possibilities. Yet the instant my thoughts start to wander towards pursuing any such moment of wondrous oblivion, my attention is drawn towards the chaotic imagery of my overflowing schedule, and the impending deadlines and shaded in squares on my calendar dissuade me from pursuing such far-fetched idealism.

Despite busyness, deadlines and all that ensues – time stands as no excuse, our lives are ever determined by intentionality. I hoped that this goal will be fulfilled on some random occasion where life reposed from its hectic pace, however as now a year has passed without giving rise to any such occasion, I realise now that it will take a much more deliberate and intentional act to make it happen.

I have done this in many places with sunsets from various parts of the world…it’s always great. Of course you gotta love fish and chips and sitting on the water…then who doesn’t love a sunset?? Mmmmm….sounds so good right now. Too bad it’s after midnigt, dark and I have no money. :P

On Brighton Pier, very nice…...

Why do they taste so much better than when we take them home!
Yum Yum Yum~

When i worked at Salty Seadogs 2 summers back.

This is the simon’s town pier. near cape point.
at the tip of africa.

The Simple things in life are often the most enriching and fulfilling commodities that we take so much for granted. And sadly enough, it’s these simple things that are overlooked in the convoluted and complicated lives in which we live.

I cannot remember the last time I sat on the end of a pier and watched the sun go down over a watery horizon. To hear the air filled with the noise of seagulls and watch as fisherman throw their lines in for the last catch of the day. Instead my days reflect monotonous obligations of duty completely void of any such lifegiving renewings. The sound of seagulls is replaced by the noise of traffic as I speed down the motorway giving but a fleeting glance to the glorious colours of the dying sun. Or otherwise it goes by unnoticed as my head is buried in a pile of paperwork at the office and I have no time to look out the window.

There’s a freedom to be found in a life of uncluttered simplicity, even if it is just fish and chips by the water. Sometimes we need to simply determine to pursue a few moments of timeless spiritual reflection and cast aside for a few hours the trappings of our lives. Fish and Chips on the end of a pier, such is the life I would wish to pursue.