Lost weekend

I am still rocked by shock and disbelief following the tragic events that unfolded in Bondi on Sunday.

The suburb holds a special place in my heart – I was pregnant with my first child while living there. Each morning I would walk along the boardwalk as my belly swelled. The eldest’s first six weeks were spent beside the beach.

It is grotesque that a father and son plotted murder on such a grand scale there, armed with their ugly rifles and bombs.

It breaks my heart to think of the terror that gripped residents and visitors.

DD and I were watching the news when the announcer said an active shooter situation was unfolding.

We didn’t know what to think and details were scant at first, but our horror grew as we realised how serious it was.

I went to work in the city yesterday and watched people grab coffees, eat breakfast and laugh with friends and colleagues.

Life went on.

However, as I sat at my desk, a police helicopter circled repeatedly over the harbour.

Normal life hasn’t completely resumed.

I am struggling with what happened in Bondi. It is unfathomable and my heart feels so heavy.

The horror of Sunday night was in stark, terrible contrast to the rest of my weekend.

We spent Friday night with DD’s cycling mates at the Oaks Hotel in Neutral Bay, which has gone all out with festive decorations.

If you’re needing a little festive spirit of both the emotional and distilled kind in the days ahead, I recommend checking out the beer garden.

Also at the Oaks that night were Jonesy and Amanda and the team from Gold FM. It must have been a bittersweet night for them, as they recorded their last-ever breakfast show that morning.

Saturday was spent wrapping Christmas gifts and Sunday included a swim and dinner with the neighbours and their adorable kids.

Then hate reared its ugly head.

I am appalled by how quickly the awful commenters piled onto social media calling for Pauline Hanson to be installed as PM. As if that will solve anything.

And I’m not sure how they reconcile their bile with the heroic efforts of the Muslim bystander who wrestled a shotgun from one of the attackers.

Such a sad moment in Australian history, but his bravery reminds me there are still so many good, courageous people in this world.

No song of the day, I don’t feel like singing right now.