April arrives in Sydney with a sharp clarity. The air abruptly cools, and the foliage finally begins its turn. It demands a deliberate step out of familiar routines. This month, we find ourselves facing an itinerary that spans from the rugged to the refined, all contained within the next thirty days.
The month begins with the rhythmic pulse of The Wailers, bringing the undeniable weight of reggae history to the city. Soon after, the mood shifts to the introspective as we take in the Bic Runga Red Sunset Tour, a very different kind of sonic landscape. For a sharper, brass-heavy evening, the James Morrison Quartet is on the calendar. Because one cannot subsist entirely on earnest musical endeavors, we have reserved a night for the Tommy Little comedy show to puncture the seriousness.
There is also theatre to consider. We are seeing the play "Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead," an evening of dark, ecological philosophy wrapped in a murder mystery. It is the sort of production that promises to linger in the mind long after the curtain falls. For a more grounding physical experience, the Shelly Beach Walk offers a necessary brush with the Pacific, serving as a brief recalibration before the heavier travel begins.
The real departures require proper packing. We are embarking on an eight-day road trip through New Zealand's lower South Island. The appeal of those dramatic, cinematic landscapes is undeniable. We are keen to explore a number of quiet small towns, providing a stark contrast to our own scale against the mountains. Closer to home, we will be escaping to Crowdy Head for a few days over the Easter break. The coastal retreat offers the perfect antidote to the city, a quiet place where the only pressing concern is the turning of the tide.
Then there are the twin anchors of the season. We have both Easter and Greek Easter to navigate, bringing their respective rituals and the slow-cooked lamb that demands a devoted patience. Amidst all this movement and tradition, one must not forget the NBL finals. We will be tuning in for the last one or two games, watching as the basketball season reaches its breathless conclusion.
April will not be a quiet month, but it will certainly be a lived-in one.