On the weekend Matt and I planned a fun mini adventure for our Saturday – a picnic at the Wollongong Botanic Gardens.

It was so peaceful and relaxing! We put down a picnic rug by a little stream, surrounded by lush gardens and blooming flowers, and snacked on sandwiches, hot chicken and salads while feeding some cute water hens. I couldn’t think of a more relaxing way to spend my Saturday!

Even the drifting music from a nearby wedding in the rose garden couldn’t disturb me from my relaxing arvo, as I read a magazine while Matt napped. The cool rush of the water and the little squeaks of the nearby ducks was so peaceful, I thought that nothing could ruin this day!

Until one of my top pet hates appeared – a smoker! Now, you must not know me very well if you do not know I can’t stand smokers. I’m sure most of them are lovely people and if they choose to fill their lungs with toxins in their own time it is their choice, but the smell is disgusting.

There are a number of reasons I can’t stand smokers – number one being they smell so bad. The smoke sticks to them like gum on a shoe, and for me, and many others, it causes an instant headache! But most of all I hate that smokers – not all, but many – have no regard or care for who their smoke is affecting. I hate being in my car, minding my own business, and all of a sudden I have to rush to turn the air onto re-circulate because the person in front of me is paying more attention to flicking their ash on the road than driving. All too often I see derros pushing their kids through Wollongong mall , one arm on the stroller and the other hanging a ciggy. Just because you face your infant in the other direction doesn’t mean they can’t inhale your toxic smoke!

As you can understand, to say I was quite annoyed by smelling someones second-hand smoke is an understatement. My mind drifted and I imagined myself running up to the person, and pushing them into the stream and yelling ‘that’s what I think of your cancer sticks! Good on you junkie lady, your kids lungs are probably covered in tar because of your trashy habit!’ Ahhh…if only her burly husband didn’t look like he’d rip me to shreds!

I felt like my oasis has been ripped from beneath me, like my paradise was ruined. I’m thinking this was how Adam felt like when he realised that Eve had ruined it for everyone by eating that damn apple!

It makes me so sad to think that all the kids, families and couples enjoying the park – hundreds of visitors, are affected by the passive smoke of one or two patrons. So I figured, if council are implementing smoke-free areas in the Mall, at bus stops and restaurants, why can’t the Botanic Gardens, which are funded by our rates anyway, be smoke-free too?

I mean, what is the worse that is going to happen, a couple of people aren’t going to visit? A smoker will have to smoke in the car park instead? I think the inconvenience of a couple, to benefit the health, the gardens and the visit of others is a cost that smokers can pay.

So I am campaigning to council to get the Wollongong Botanic Gardens made a smoke-free area. I have written to council to seek advice on why this isn’t so, and how this can be changed.

To my avid readers who know me so well, I have been trying to keep this a whinge-free blog! I really have! But if you know me well enough to know I’m a whinger, you will also know I am a very passionate person, who is not afraid to speak her mind and show my opinions. And that I like to know I can make a positive difference to this world.

I will keep you all updated on how the campaign progresses, as I am determined to not rest until I can enjoy the Gardens without inhaling toxic smoke.

Now, for all my fans who got to the bottom of this post and thought ‘what? no crafting or cooking? what is going on?’ I will leave you with a photo from my weekend crafty indulgence, some beading! You see, after the visit to the Gardens I stopped by Spotlight and FINALLY bought my new pair of much-needed beading plyers. I mean, what is the point of having czech glass beads if you can’t put them together to make some cute earrings? So i have made some vintage-inspired earrings and a Thomas Sabo inspired bracelet. Beads are from my favourite place (you guessed it, a bead shop in Berry!).

I may craft like a nana, but I am a stylish nana!

Until my next rant, Rach xxx