This morning I walk by the river.  I park at the lock and start from there.  It is warm already, but the air is moving.  Earbuds in.  Now faces come into view.  Smile.  Nod.  Good morning!

Couples, some serious and ascetic, determinedly pursuing their constitutional. Jolly couples, meandering through this part of their day in gentle humour.

Seriously yummy mummies in fluro and spandex, pushing prawn-pink infants in snazzy strollers. Families with golden retrievers and earnest toddlers pushing their tiny bikes with pale peach chubby legs.

The ducks are prolific this year, and clutches of them scuttle across the paths and along the river bank like crowds of cockroaches, scurrying away from the approach of the morning exercisers.

I reach the arbitrary half way point of my walk, near the sound shell, and note there are still a few waterlilies in the big patch on this side of the river.

As I turn, I feel the breeze is stiffer.  The ducks are starting to hunker and cluster together.  I reach the car and count the steps on my accursed ‘health app’, only 5150, darn! More work to be done there!

I stop at the PO box on the way home, and as I head away from the river, I see the reason for the increased wind:  dust, approaching from the south. A bank of it right across the horizon.  My niece texts from work: please can I go to her house and shut the windows.  Essential to do this in a Mallee dust storm, no telling how bad it will be!  I have a spare key, so I ride to the rescue.

Another day in my Mallee paradise!