The Brainstorm: The First Post

Hello? Is this thing working?

That’s right, it’s my very first blog post! Apologies in advance for any appalling writing or disruption of flow… you have been warned.

So I was think about what I would write in my very first introduction to the wonderful world that is blogging and I decided to tell you all about a place that is very special to me. This place is called Innisfail. A fairly unremarkably sounding name for, if I’m being honest, a fairly unremarkable town. Innisfail is around an hour’s drive from Cairns and its town centre consists of only two streets, mainly full of little family run stores that look like they haven’t been renovated since the 80s – hardly a booming metropolis. It is for this reason that I use to complain profusely about visiting Innisfail the two or three time a year we went to visit all my relatives that live there. How was I supposed to see the newest Nicholas Sparks film when the town didn’t even have a cinema?!

Fortunately, I said used to complain. The older I’ve gotten, the more I enjoy going up to Innisfail. It is the town where my mum grew up and just being there I feel closer to her as she points out the places and people that were part of her childhood and adolescent years. Everyone knows everyone else – a trip into town turns into a family reunion but this just further establishes the sense of community that is missing in the more populated city where I live. No one is in a rush, everyone is in the right place at the right time and there is always, always time for a chat. It’s refreshing to be transported back to the simpler forms of communication that existed before we all bought iPhones and took up busier lives.

But even with that aside, if you take a moment to stand back and look – and there is plenty of time to look when you have limited phone reception – Innisfail is actually a really aesthetically beautiful place. I couldn’t resist taking a few snaps while I was up there for Easter a few weeks ago, there were so many lovely sunsets.

And without the usual restaurants, shops and entertainment, I got to go outdoors and get active! I went snorkelling, on beach walks, did some baking, went fishing etc. It was fun to do so many different activities.

So who knew? The torture town of my younger years has become one of my new favourite places to get away from it all on a holiday… It goes to show that a simpler lifestyle can be really enjoyable, even if only for a week. I definitely recommend you try it, whether you just take a drive out to Maleny or buy a place ticket to Innisfail right now, a quiet moment will do anyone the world of good.