When the going gets tough, the tough get hiking.
Also known as: I have a new favourite part of my day.
Also known as: The Black Legging Wild Maidens Have Adventures.
Jenni and I have been temporarily joined at work by E.Moonbeams, a fine lady of comparable age and enthusiasm for stress-relieving-five-minute-dance-parties. This has proven wondrous for all our souls, not least because E.Moonbeams has initiated lunchtime hikes up the Nature Reserve behind our building.
These hikes are glorious. Our first adventure led me to post the following status update on Facebook: Forty-five minutes of gallivanting, whooping, dancing, running, flailing limbs, and getting lost in the Nature Reserve with Jeniqua and E.Moonbeams should be a mandatory part of every work day.
The next day we chose to bush-bash, and PEOPLE WE FOUND A BLACKBERRY PATCH.
Standing around a blackberry patch in matching black leggings and New Balance sneakers, picking glossy sun-soaked blackberries from the brambles and letting the sweetness burst on our tongues, all while eight kangaroos watched us from nearby, thrumming their paws along their chests in what looked to be a secret kangaroo code, the sun beating down on our shoulders and arms… it was perfect.
Yes, I leaped around singing “KAN-ga-ROO-la-ROO-la-ROOOOOOO”. Yes, I had earlier started krumping halfway through changing from business skirt to leggings in my office, forgetting for a moment that I have a full-length window looking out onto the street and that passersby could see me. And yes, when we Black Legging Wild Maidens returned from our gallivant, the IT guy had arrived to fix Jeniqua’s computer and he must have thought we’d erroneously wandered in looking for a sunburn-friendly yoga studio. But I digress.
Apparently, the area we found our berries in is subject to chemical spraying. Therefore I’ve probably been poisoned and will likely sprout a third arm tomorrow. You know what, though? A third arm is all the better to make smoothies with. (Best. Segue. Ever.)
No real recipe today, folks. Simply a list of ingredients that create a gorgeous and sneakily green smoothie perfect for a post-hike-stress-relief-post-work afternoon.
Frozen blueberries, frozen strawberries, Mango Chobani yoghurt, zucchini, soy milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon.
Perfect, with or without leggings (are not pants!) and third arms.
Question Time: How do you bring jazziness into your workdays when times feel tough?
Well Hannah, when I was a wild child (in the days before blackberries were invented) I tried to jazz up the mood of a 15 strong office in Adelaide by whistling the Golden Wedding – the whole song, made famous by Woody Herman, and American jazz clarinetist and band leader. Everyone stopped to hear if I could get the real high notes at the end of the song. I did! And got a round of applause! And then got marched down the passage to the big boss’s office and got a lecture about disrupting the other workers and told not to whistle or tap my feet again. Sigh ….
*laughs* I guess that’s one benefit of not having had a boss for several months… but I shan’t say more here.
Admittedly the concrete jungle isn’t quite as therapeutic as blackberries and kangaroos but a good walk around the block for some fresh air quite often helps. Turning up the iPod and bouncing along to songs is good too. (As is writing random, slightly emotional e-mails to near strangers
). Most of the time it’s just me and my two bosses so a walk or a laugh with colleagues is out of the question.
I’ve just lately started adding a handful of baby spinach leaves to my smoothies, I’m not sure if I could bring myself to add zucchini though … and I can just imagine the look on my husband’s face, he thinks the spinach is weird enough
!
I’ve spent almost an entire year at this job *never* leaving the office and getting no fresh air during the day, unless to go to meetings elsewhere,. It’s incredible how much better it makes the day to get some exercise and sun. Please don’t ever let me forget this and go back to my hunched-over burrowing-creature ways!
Teehee, the near-stranger (not really a stranger at all, surely
) wants more emails! More explanatory emotional emails, at that! And more literary quotes, because you lifted up my soul 
Funnily enough, I actually find that zucchini is far less noticeable than spinach in the smoothie! Flavourwise and colourwise both. But yes, keep your husband in the dark, I say…
I’ve been in this office for just on eight years now and still wax and wain on going outside at lunch times (Melbourne winters make for a really easy excuse) so maybe I’m not the best person to be looking to for that reminder.
Literary quotes are easy
. The explanations not so much but I’ll try. As for the stranger bit, you’re right – anyone who has received virtual hugs from my dogs is definitely not a stranger anymore 
IF I can bring myself to try zucchini in the smoothie I’ll definitely have to do it on the sly. On the other hand if you start to sprout that third arm please let me know – the man is ALWAYS going on about how necessary a third arm is (handy-manning, traveling, driving – it comes up all.the.time!).
I’m a complete pansy when it comes to the cold, so I’ll probably go back to acting like a hibernating bear in June
Teehee, I will let you know how the third arm goes. Might prove problematic for clothes, though.
Zucchini smoothie! Love the concept.
(As I was reading about your blackberry find, I did remember hearing about how many blackberries in Australia are sprayed and shouldn’t be eaten without finding out, but I thought, if you haven’t died, maybe I shouldn’t bring it up? Regardless, I’m glad you did bring it up – and that you haven’t died. Though please post photos of the new arm. I’m curious to see if it will be well-formed, or a bit creepy.)
PS – It is too hot for bush bashing, and I am wearing a dress, so I find myself reading your blog during work hours. Shh… don’t tell my boss(es).
P.S. So far the arm is just a nubbin. Will keep you informed.
P.P.S. Why am I so strange sometimes?!
Aw, the idea that my writing can be a respite from stresses in your day makes me so happy. As does wearing dresses
After sobbing on the phone to mum about how I was going to die from chemicals, the next day E. and Jenni laughed at me and said that not only would there have been signs if it was sprayed, but that they would have been able to tell if it had. They have more nature-astute eyes than me, so I trust them
Love that hidden zucchini! Very sneaky
I’m pretty much as sneaky as a spy. True story.
I’m glad you have some fun stress relieving activities to enjoy, particularly if you do a lot of writing, which can be mentally draining.
I noticed that this week at Woolworths the Cadbury baking blocks and melts are half price! Good timing since I’m still really in the mood to bake and make fudge.
From memory you said the baking range is reasonable quality chocolate.
Soon I will return to working on Saturdays, so I’ll make lots of tasty creations now and freeze them, for when I won’t have the time to play in the kitchen.
It’s incredible what a difference it makes to the work day. Today was all about backbends and geocaching and high kicks on the oval
Yep, the Cadbury baking range isn’t too nasty. Just avoid the milk chocolate chips… devil spawn.
You’ll be working six days a week? Oh no! You’ll definitely need treats on hand for that
Zucchini?! You totally just one-upped me in the adding weird things to smoothies department. Sooooo making this tomorrow. Genius.
Teehee! I’ve never been more proud to be a weird genius.
Oooh…I was captivated by your facebook post and now I want to climb into the computer and come out on your side! Bush exploring in the middle of the workday with running-jumping-gallivanting and flailing arms (my arms are my best flailing limbs, I’ve discovered) and kangaroos and blackberries sounds like a new definition of perfect. Even if the berries are poisonous, which granted might make it not *quite* perfect
I hope your arms are all present and accounted for tomorrow! And that many more such wild hikes ensue.
I’m a firm believer that its the imperfections that make us perfect, so really poison is just the part that makes everything else even sparklier
I wish you could crawl through the computer to me! Flailing arms are always welcome in the Wild Maidens Club.
Alas, tomorrow in a 15 hour day travelling to Sydney, so no hiking. I have to be up in six hours. BAHAHA.
Darnit.
Maybe a mild poison reaction would be just the thing in that case, to render you unable to fly but perfectly able to enjoy yourself at home?
I hope the trip goes well and you sleep on the plane!
Funnily enough, I absolutely fail at sleeping in my own bed, but as soon as I get on a plane I get incredibly sleepy. Unfortunately the half hour flight from Canberra to Sydney doesn’t allow for much resting! But I’m here, and I’m functioning. God bless caffeine.
oooh what fun! Hope those berries werent sprayed though????
That’s what the third arm comment is about
We’ll see whether or not depending on if I survive.
Where’s the photo of the kangaroos? How do we know they were there and not just a figment of your sprayed-brain-fried imagination?
Oh, but very glad you are finally WALKING in your break … you know what I’m talking about, missy!
Oh, the kangaroos were definitely there. They were lolling around right beside the naked centaurs made of cake.
What, do you just mean how you’ve been telling me to do this for about eight months?
No, have I, really? Would I do that? OF COURSE THAT’S WHAT I MEAN! So glad you are seeing the benefits even if you are a slow learner at some things.
I know. One day someone’s going to come and take that university medal away from me.
I need to hike to nature reserves on weekend instead of lunch al desko – must try to start going to the market again on fridays – just have been too disorganised to feel I can buy anything but it is a nice walk and a lovely place to get away from the office (as you will appreciate) – and nice smoothie – I have never had zucchini in a smoothie – wonder if my blender would cope with it?
If your blender can puree fruit, it could definitely do zucchini, as zucchini is super soft. I can’t believe it’s taken me almost a year to finally start getting out of the office at lunch! And my mum’s been telling me to for months, too…
I never thought of putting zucchini in my smoothie but I likes it. I likes it a lot. And walking lunch breaks are very good for the soul. I knows this from experience (and my England has left the building tonight).
Zucchini is even more innocuous than spinach, so I say go for it!
My soul is going to need many such walking breaks in weeks and months to come. I thought of you when we found a geocache today
Oh I want to go berry-picking! I usually just go for short walk when I feel stressed at work, but nothing much exciting ever happens!
Well, then, you’ll simple have to move to Canberra, won’t you?
Ooooh, we are just starting to see the arrival of berries in the supermarkets here and I love the idea of adding a zucchini too. Yep, it’s a balmy 6C outside and I’m even tempted to open the window!
It’s *crazy* how your sense of what is warm and cold changes, isn’t it?! I remember going for a walk in Asheville without my scarf when it was 2C once, because it felt almost toasty! And then I come back to Canberra and am immediately moping when it’s 12C…
So excited for true warmth for you eventually!
You know I’ve often wished for a third or fourth arm-in fact sometimes I think I have one and then I look down and see that both my arms are busy and I do not in fact have a third. Disappointment
I think all of us who read your blog would honestly believe it if you said you had a third arm. How else do you manage to create those gorgeous cupcakes and incredible theme parties?! There must be magic involved!
Hee hee heee kan-ga-ROOOOOOOOOOS! What delightful magical luscious woods and berry patches and leggings and kan-ga-ROOOOS!
Wild hiking maidens makes me think of Pirates of Penzance, which is perhaps applicable here. Except that you’re showing a bit more skin than your ankle:)
I will let you know how I bring jazziness to work once I get a job, if I ever get a job. But for now, it’s nonstop jazziness around here, missy!
I’ll teach you how to sing that particular song properly soon, Emma. SOON. (I have to believe in a speedy progression of time to calm my heart right now.)
Climbing over rocky mountains! I am the very model of a modern major general! It is my du-TEEEEEEEE! Oh, happiness right now. I think that was the first musical I ever saw
And bahaha! Cleavage comment!
Nonstop jazziness! Now that’s something to aim for
You read my mind. I have been craving a good smoothie after a winter without a single one and was also wondering how long before berries started tasting sweet again.
You totally hallucinated those kangaroos. I’m gonna need you to take another midday gallivant to get photo evidence of these alleged “kangaroos” so we all know you weren’t just high on pesticide.
I am absolutely COLLYWOBBLED that you would think I was lying! We used to have a family of kangaroos visit every night to eat the grass on our front lawn, before the drought hit. I can show you proof of that, at least!
Of course, kangaroos don’t actually even exist. They’re a myth, just like Tasmania.
Just as I suspected!
Hey Hannah,
I start humming or singing a tune if things get a bit dull around the workplace… or just bring in some cupcakes! They are always a winner
.
I know I haven’t really been a visible reader of your blog (I get your posts via email) but just wanted to let you know I’ve nominated you for The Versatile Blogger award! Please see and accept below:
http://amelbournegirlatheart.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/back-but-not/
Keep up the great work!
Ames
You and I are two peas in a pod then
Singing out loud and baking, hurrah! And thank you so much for the award, the support, and for popping up to say hi! It really means a lot 
I told you there were blackberries to be had!!! And that bush definitely does not look sprayed to me. Ahhh the wonder of Canberra’s free blackberry haul. How exciting are these warm sunny days. I feel I’m probably disproportionately excited about the lack of rain but yay!
Anyway, I generally pretend to be all efficient and professional at work, but in long meetings it is well known that I will eventually head off and bring back a giant bag of chocolate to share. Nothing like chocolate to relieve tension.
Thank you Lisa!! I told Jenni and E the next day, and they laughed at me and said that they would have known if it had been sprayed, plus there would have been signs. They’re nature-savvy, like you
Teehee, Jenni totally comes into my office fairly regularly asking for chocolate, and I always have something in my drawer for her.
hahaha the secret kangaroo code must be true, I can’t belive that you actually found balckberries and you managed to make a delicious looking smoothie
Kangaroos are far smarter than we know…
Hiking makes me slightly panicky, but I think that’s because the only hiking I’ve ever done has been accompanied by a stern teacher/camp leader who blows a whistle and points at a vertical hill and shrieks “Climb, NOW! Without joy or mercy!”
Whereas whooping and hollering and flailing and blackberry-discovering and smoothie drinking while seeing beautiful nature and getting some fresh air and excercise is much more my scene.
I love that you wore earrings to hike, by the way – it gives me hope for hiking
Excellent segue, too!
It’s so funny you say that, because the nature reserve we’ve been traversing is *exactly* the same one I was forced to run around in Year Nine Outdoor Ed, and I HATED it. So much so that I changed as soon as I could to Cooking for my elective instead
It’s so much more fun doing it because you’re 24 and whooping to escape the stress of Grown Up World with wonderful friends.
And, well, it probably wasn’t hiking in the sense of other people’s serious hiking… but I’d like to think I’d wear earrings then too. Kinda like how I wore that ridiculous sequined top to go horse-riding, and people here laughed at me…
i’ve never heard of zucchini in a smoothie before…..wow hannah. you outdo yourself! and yes, organic berries are the best for ya since the toxins seep into the fruit so easily!
I like wild berries found in the middle of nowhere best
You sound like you have the most fun workplace yet! And so awesome to find black berries!
I work from home, so I don’t really jazz up work much, although on my ‘lunch’ breaks I will turn up a ballad or three and belt it out whilst boiling an egg and frying some mushies….
A third arm would be so useful. You could type fast and still eat/drink at the same time. Multi-tasking to the max!
I think that sentence should be amended to the most fun work colleagues
Bahaha, I totally belt out tunes at my work too… except I don’t work from home. The other two (sometimes three) people in the office tolerate me. I’d love to work from home one day…
Oh I would have so joined you for a round or two of “KAN-ga-ROO-la-ROO-la-ROOOOOOO” (but for some reason in my head the tune is very similar to Que Sera Sera???!!)
Midday hikes are the awesomest – I used to do that in HK where just going for a stroll meant climbing up vertical hills. And mmmm blackberries….
How do I jazz up work these days? Well I am also quite partial to a midday krump however, since I’m usually out at a client they’re not so partial to my antics. Usually quite boringly with a cuppa of herbal tea. Yep. That’s the highlight of my day.
We would have created a very discordant duet, then.
(Whatever shall beeeeeeee shall beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!)
Maybe if you follow my lead and krump half-dressed, then your clients would be more tolerant? Herbal tea is good. I always have my lemon and ginger cuppa at around 3pm
Zucchini! Zucchini!!!!!!!!!!!! That’s brilliant!
Jazziness? I put on some music and dance. I can dance everywhere, I just imagine the other people weren’t there. Just recently in the lab on a test run, with one of my best friends, to this song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JDzlhW3XTM which she used as an positive mood induction in one of her experiments. She made big eyes at first, and then we both danced and sang and clubbed our chests like monkeys.
Teehee! Thank you for the enthusiasm! I’m surprised at how odd people find the zucchini idea; after all, it’s so neutral in taste, far moreso than kale or even spinach! And adds creaminess and body
But did you dance in your bra? If not, then I’m still one step ahead of you in insanity
Ahhhh! It’s such torture when people leave youtube clips and I’m at work! Must resist clicking through for hours….
Okay, the bra dancing has still to come.
The video is the King Louie song from the Jungle Book.
I cannot tell you how often (read: at least once a week) I stroll around the office singing “Ooh-ooh-ooh! I wanna be like you-ooh-ooh! I wanna walk like you, talk like you, too-ooh-ooh!”
So jealous you get to go hiking in the mountains
I’m in a concrete jungle lately hehe I miss the sun and trees ~ Sighhh people here in HK don’t really seem to like smoothies ~
Oh, it’s definitely not a mountain, so perhaps you needn’t be too jealous
It’s more just a very hill-y nature reserve. Luckily we can never get too lost because we can always use the sound of traffic in the distance to guide us back to the office!
This post is so full of amazing, I don’t know where to begin.
Office krumping, lunchtime hikes with co-workers, proximity to kangaroos, (hopefully not too pesticide-laden) blackberry picking…your life sounds like a happy dream!
*beams* Thank you, Sarah! It’s amazing to me to read your comment, for in truth the past few weeks/months have involved more anxious sobbing attacks than I’d like to admit. I’m glad that this post comes across as happiness, though, because it’s these moments of exhilaration that are getting me through
xo
I have to visit Australia someday. I am just out for a stroll and, look! A kangaroo!
Correction: many kangaroos, including joeys-in-pouches
Thanks for the comment replies tip! Your title “Wild Hiking Maidens” made me crack up. :p
You’re more than welcome, on all counts
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