Simply Friends

The Catch Up

2009-11-15T10:52:00.031+11:00

Ok so where to start?, where to start? hummmm ok so the last time I posted was in July that was just before I finished up work in Sydney. I finished up on the 17th July & then hence had no internet except going to internet cafe so I tended to just check emails & that when I was there so no blogging for a bit.

So the week after we finished work, we filled out all the forms & did medicals & x-rays & all that malarky & went & had them in to the NZ immigration office in Sydney & yipee we got them. SOoooooooo the next thing we had to start organising to move & look up shipping companies & hand in our notice for our apt & all that. More madness & here I was thinking Iwas getting a break from it hahaha. But it was good progressive madness so much better.

Back in April we had booked a ski trip with friends of ours to Queenstown, NZ for 14th Aug so when all the visa happened we decided rather than spending extra on flights we'd try to combine it all & be there by 14th & go to Auckland from Queenstown at the end of our skiing week. Yeah so literally the week after finishing work sorted visa, the week after started cleaning & packing, that took bout 2 weeks, as well as organising all the customs & shipping stuff so our stuff would arrive when we got there. Then spent few days meeting up with people to say goodbyes & that then the final week we decided to get our stuff shipped on the wed of that week so it won't be all panic the last few days. We were leaving the Friday so we booked to stay in a hotel the last two days in Sydney & our friends who we were going skiing with came up the Thurs so it was nice & relaxed then. But to get to there was fun. Not only did we have to pack but we had to pack for a holiday plus & few bits to do us when we first got to Auckland in case our stuff got delayed & also try not go over our baggage weight allowance. Fun Fun Fun. But we got there & apart from a small delay we got out of our apt & had final inspection & got our bond(deposit) back which was good. I was a bit worried as its harder to chase up when you're not in the country.

So we flew to Christchurch, NZ on 14th Aug (still can't believe it was less than a month since finishing up work & making the decision to move) & we stayed the night there with friends of the people we went with. Then we hired a car & drove to Queenstown & got settled into our 'home' for the next week anyway. http://www.camp.co.nz/, really nice place, we enjoyed it. We got one of the self contained units so we could cook ourselves & that.

We ended up going to get fitted for our boots & boards that night as well to save time the next day & we got our life passes & that. We all had decided to go snow boarding instead of skiing. I'd never done either so it didn't bother me, S had gone snow boarding before & defo wanted to do it again & the other couple we were with had skied loads so wanted to try something new.

So started a week of lots & lots of snow, I have to say I don't think I've ever seem so much but it was really beautiful up there. This was the view from the mountain, Coronet Peak was the one we went to, there were a few you could go to. Oh yeah and not to forget a week full of pain..... being a beginner the first few days I spent more time on my ass the upright yes feel free to laugh cos its very very true. I'd do the whole getting up really slowly & I'd just be vertical & boom down again ahhhhhhh even thinking about it now, it was so frustrating but apparently thats the hardest bit to master but man was I frustrated until I got it sorted that I could get up all by myself. & if the snow was hard it was SO NOT FUN. Every evening we'd all be sore from using muscles we rarely used but it was nice to fall into bed & sleep really deeply from the exertion. So the week went on, we got lessons as well so we were all improving the others having done snow sports before were miles ahead of me but I'd didn't mind as as soon as I was able to stay upright I was happy doing the easier runs. Although that being said I fell every time I got off the ski life at the top of the run, bar once I fell EVERY time. haha. This is a picture of the ski lift. Actually going up that thing was pretty scary, I forgotten that. Anyway the evenings were nice, we took turns with eating out & cooking & eating in, it was nice & laid back. We all got a massage closer to the end of the week cos man we needed it. We went for walks around the town, I have to say I really like Queenstown a lot.

Oh yeah I nearly forgot one of days we took off from snowboarding cos really I was just in too much pain from falling in the same place the whole time so we went up the gondola that they have there that was pretty cool straight up the side of the mountain & had a really nice lunch up at the restaurant at the top & then on the spur of the moment decided to go paragliding down. Was pretty to cool, basically flew out over the town. Fun.

This was the view looking out the gondola on the way up...

& this was the view behind us going up the mountain. Cool huh?

This was the view from above &

me coming into land.

A good time was had by all.

Ok I really need some lunch so I'll go do that then be back for part 2 of the catch up :oD

Its only me

2009-11-14T17:16:00.002+11:00

Isn't that the best picture ever? I love daffodils & since its spring here coming into summer I thought I'd update a bit :o)

Yes folks she's back FINALLY. Its been too long but I have internet at home now so there will be no stopping me. Just doing my little edits & will do a proper post tomorrow.

Welcome back to blog land to me I've missed it.

Madness Update ;o)

2009-07-14T14:04:00.003+10:00

So so where did June go? can anyone enlighten me please? heeeeellllllllloooooooooo its the middle of july. Ok so this seems to be a running theme in my blog............missing time.

So ok we're now in the middle of July & nearly the middle of winter but the days are starting to get bit longer so its nice to have a bit more sunshine.

So anyway bit of an update. No i haven't dropped off the face of the planet you'll be happy to hear :o) hhhuuuummmmmm ok news. I went to the Pink concert in Sydney in June, it was excellent, I nearly wanted to go see her again but all the tickets sold out. If you're a fan I'd definitely recommend her concert, brilliant. Towards the end of June we started having to think about what we were going to do regarding visa & job & such. So S found out that tandem master is on the skills shortage list in New Zealand so he put a few feelers out there to see if there were any positions going. He got back a good few responses but one particularly was willing to put pen to paper. We need that to sort out visa etc. I wouldn't go & work anywhere without a valid visa. So anyway we took a trip over to Auckland at the beginning of July & it seems nice & DZ is nice. It did rain a lot but suppose what can i expect? is so much farther south than Sydney is. I was finding it hard to get a job here because the new restrictions on 457 visa makes it very unattractive for employers to hire oversea workers, they want to give ozzies the jobs first. Which to be honest is fair enough, but not so good for me. So we're going to apply of the NZ visa & see what happens. If it all works out we'll be over there in Aug. There is a house on the DZ that we can stay in when we first arrive so that'll be nice not to have to sort that part out at least.

If that doesn't come through we might stay in Australia on a tourist visa & do a bit of travelling around. It was our initial plan to drive up the east coast so we may still do that. Then possibly travel home through Asia, I'd love that. I'd like to have stayed here for a bit longer but at the same time I was kindda getting itchy feet to go travel again. We've had a few friends visit us when they stopped off in Sydney on their travels & I was so jealous.

So thats all for now folks I've been so mad busy in work trying to find someone to replace me for the last few weeks. Oh yeah did I mention that the Jul 1 contract deadline got extended until 31 Jul? Well it did but we literally only found out the week before & we'd already started looking into New Zealand stuff so we said feck it may as well finish up. So I'm finishing up work on Fri 17th Jul Yipeee. I'm so happy, I've been so stressed & so down & really not liking my life its so nice to be doing something about it. So freeing. And while I know this week is going to be MAD it's all good cos there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I have found some of my enthusiasm again which was sadly lacking before and I think that part of what was getting me down i couldn't be enthusiastic about anything & that's so not like me. That's partly why I haven't blogged didn't have the energy but hopefully all that will be changing soon. :o)

Hope you all good & having a day that's happy.

I saw this & I though it was particularly apt for this week :o)

"I don't mind coming to work, But that eight hour wait to go home is a bitch."

Crazy World

2009-05-27T16:01:00.002+10:00

Don't even know why I've titled this post crazy world but it came to me so i put it there. Maybe its my subconscious trying to tell me something. Its been a bit of a crazy time alright. I'm feeling a bit whirlwinded. Is that even a word ??huuuuummmm, me thinks not.

I feel like I'm been torn in like ten different directions, with no end in sight. Well of course there is an end in sight, it'll mostly end when my contract with work is up but then again that presents its whole other set of issues doesn't it? I'm finding it really hard to drag myself out of my negative..........what??? vibe would you say???........frame of mind? maybe.

Anyway I'm stuck in my head a lot recently & its very crowded in there. I'm not really sure what to do I feel stuck full stop. Frustrated. There's a good word for it.

It feels very selfish of me to be so self absorbed but its pretty hard not to be right now & then of course I beat myself up about that, which doesn't altogether help.

I'm tired of worrying. I'm tired out by worrying and the worst part is I'm so lucky in so many regards but I can't help worrying. I worry about everything & its so tiring. I wish I could find the gene that would turn that off :o) A little worry is ok but alot? not so much.

But there is nothing to be done I'm at the mercy of time/fate/whatever it is? at the moment. I'm trying to be positive but I'm finding it so so so hard.

If anyone is of the praying kind, say a little one for me will ya please? Thanks so much. Hopefully it'll all be sorted soon.

Hope everyone else is doing good though.

PS sorry bout the rant, well more like a whinge but if I can't do it on my own blog where else :o) poor S's ear is probably worn out by now :oD

Monday again

2009-05-25T09:57:00.002+10:00

And another Monday rolls around & for that matter another month has passed now that I'm looking at my last blog post date. Oh well.

You know I was just thinking who ever invented the 5 day work week?? they should have been shot haha. Now a four day work week would be nice of course I'd have to earn the same for it to be a perfect world but that ain't gonna happen :o)

Wishful thinking on a Monday, sure what can you do?

Well no news really, still don't know whats happening with my job/visa which is a bit frustrating. I'd just like to know either way so I can DO something. This whole waiting business is not my strong point.

We have a few options at least. We could go to New Zealand for awhile if the visa here doesn't work out. or we're thinking about Canada too, I'd really like to go & work there for awhile, don't' know how visas & that work for there yet but I' might check it out. I know that change is good & we need it to survive really but I'd like to know the facts so I can make some decisions.

Anyways on to more randoms things. I got my hair cut yesterday, it has been doing my head in for awhile so decided to go a little shorter than just getting a trim. So its cut to about my jawline with a few layers, I'm liking it so far but I'll reserve judgement until I wash & dry it myself. It was great at home cos my cousin was a hairdresser & she used to cut my hair & I always loved it but I'm finding it hard to find a good hairdresser here. I suppose just trial & error.

Now that I'm thinking about the whole possibility of travelling, I'm getting excited. I love travelling & seeing new places & I'm good with doing it on a budget. So I suppose that's a good thing that at least whichever way the fates or whatever decide to play my cards I should be ok with it. So, trying to be positive.

S's friends are visiting Australia for a few weeks, they'll be in Sydney next Thurs. He's really excited about it, its a childhood friend of his & his wife. I don't' know them that well but should be good. We can take them out & show them the city. Sydney really is a nice city.

Anyway better go & do some work.

Hope you have a great week & think of something that makes you smile today. :o)

I'm smiling.

A little touch up

2009-04-24T14:31:00.001+10:00

Now that its Autumn & I've had the same blog colour for a year thought I'd do a little touch up. What da yay think?

Thoughts

2009-04-24T13:53:00.004+10:00

Thoughts are funny things really, well that's if they can be called things at all but not getting into that whole thing. :o)

So I'm feeling bit more human I went to meditation on wed & to the gym Tue & yesterday & I was so amazed at how much I'd gotten out of shape even in 2 months since I've been. But anyway I'm feeling better which is good. I feel like I'm getting proper sleep or should i say more restful sleep which always helps. I hate having to drag myself out of bed Its so much nicer to wake up with some semblance of energy & be able to move.

Anyway back to the thoughts, I was in the gym yesterday & I was running on the treadmill & I was doing ok, tired but going ok & then out of nowhere my brain starts with the ' i can't do anymore' thoughts & nearly immediately I started to fatigue, isn't that mad? I'd felt fine like 2 seconds previous it really brought home to me how much our thoughts effect us. I've been watching the Australian biggest loser & the trainer go on about getting thru the mental barrier & I hadn't ever really thought about it til then. It just goes to show you.

So that got me thinking of how I've been feeling so stressed & under pressure in work etc & maybe if I start thinking about it in a more positive way (not sure yet how) but it might seem a little less overwhelming. So thats my project for the next while we'll see how we go.

I'm in work on lunch listening to Pink(the first of my de-stressing initiatives ie taking a lunch break), I really love her music i really can identify with a lot of it. I'm so glad she's getting back with her hubbie. We have tickets to see her in Sydney in Jun I'm so excited she's supposed to be brilliant in concert. You see....trying to think of good stuff :o).

Anyway I'm glad its Friday I've loads of study to catch up with this weekend cos it has been suffering with being so busy in work but I've exams in like 6 weeks so need to get my ass in gear. oh the joy but it'll all be worth it in the end,(think I'll need to use that as a mantra) :oD

Hope you all have a brilliant weekend & remember keep smiling.

So up in the air

2009-04-21T13:36:00.008+10:00

I'm feeling a bit crushed by all the work pressure I've been under for the past month. Just really flattened really. Just when I think its coming to an end or well at least a bit of a let up, something else comes up to take up more time. I've never been so busy or stressed in a job in my life before & I have to say I'm really hating it. Not the job so much as the stress I've been under. I don't do stress well.

I feel like my life has gone totally out of balance with not enough down time to balance out the madness that is my work life recently. I'm getting bit sick of it.

On top of that it looks like our parent company is going to be outsourcing the reporting side of our org so that will leave me out of a job on 1st July. So its even harder to motivate myself to do stuff when I know I'm going to be let go anyway. That's not even the thing that's worrying me, what worrying me is my visa is a work sponsored visa so if I'm no longer employed by this company I no longer will have a valid visa to stay in Australia. The dept of immigration only give you 28 days to find another sponsor. Which even finding a job in that time is hard. At least I've found out well in advance, I know loads of people who've found out their jobs are going at the end of the day so in that respect I count myself lucky.

But its all very depressing really & a bit of a pain. I don't know what to do I'd be happy to go home but S likes it here & wants to stay but not sure if I can go through the hassle of applying for another visa, it really is a long a tedious paper pushing exercise & patience & nerves get stretched to the limits. I really don't know what to do.

Also one of my best friends is getting married in Sept & I'd love so much to get home for it but if I apply for a visa & its still being processed I'll have to apply for a bridging visa & one of the stipulations is I can't leave the country so that makes it really crappy.

oh what to do what to do? I really feel like my mind is spinning out of control. Its more that everything is so up in the air & I'm not really sure where the chips will land so I feel like I can't plan anything. I feel so powerless & I hate that. I need to shake it off. I'm going to the gym after work & it'll be the first time in ages but I think it'll really help I need to work off some steam.

Anyway hope you all are doing well, I'm trying to catch up on all my blog reading, I'm so behind.

Keep smiling :o)

A blog Year

2009-03-10T16:07:00.003+11:00

Wow I realised I passed my year blogging anniversary & forgot about it totally. A year of my life has passed. What have i done with my life? Most people do this kind of thinking at New years me i find myself doing it at blogs new year ;o) well i never said i was normal.

Well I still have the same job but a lot more responsibility, in the current climate I'm thankful I still have a job. I've visited Melbourne, Brisbane & Canberra this past year, just short breaks but good. Oh and Adelaide nearly forgot that was last weekend. Had great time. I'll post about it soon. I've aged a year :o) I haven't killed my husband yet, always a good sign :oD I've done a photography class, I've taken exams. UUUU I went home of course how could I forget, friends & family have had babies this past year. I've made some new friends here. I've read a lot, learned a bit. Laughed a lot, cried a lot. Life huh its funny. I've seen a good bit of New South Wales. I've learnt why its called New South Wales or well the several possible reasons. I've gotten more organised at home & work. I've improved my diet(although its slipped a bit this past month), I've exercised more. I've learned to love myself a bit more but its a work in progress.

Its nice to look back on a year & even though you know it was hard at the time the memories that come to mind first are the good memories. I like that. I read somewhere recently that thinking about the bad things that happened before means you are reliving them. Made me think about that it did. So I'm trying to be more positive. I have found that i can be quite negative, unintentionally but I am.

Anyway a few random thoughts for today.

Passing the Purple Hat to You........

2009-03-04T10:40:00.008+11:00

This is another email forward I got, it made me think but mostly made me grateful so I'd thought I'd share it & feel free to pass it on to another phenomenal woman(or man).

Passing the Purple Hat to You........IN honor of women's history month and in memory of Erma Bombeck who lost her fight with cancer. Pass this on to five women that you want watched over. If you don't know five women to pass this on to, one will do just fine.

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck?(written after she found out she was dying from cancer).?

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, 'Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.'

There would have been more 'I love you's' More 'I'm sorry's.

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute.look at it and really see it...... live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!!

Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what.Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us!

If you don't mind, send this on to all the women you are grateful to have as friends. Maybe we should all grab that purple hat earlier. Please send this to five phenomenal women today in celebration of Beautiful Women's Month. If you do, something good will happen--you will boost another woman's self esteem.

Have a great day :o) & give someone you love a BIG hug.

YIPPEEE

2009-02-27T17:17:00.001+11:00

Yipppeeeeeeeee its FRIDAY, 'nuff said :oD

In my younger days

2009-02-26T10:03:00.002+11:00

I got this from my sister as a forward, thought it was good so I'm going post it here. Enjoy

When I was in my younger days,
I weighed a few pounds less,
I didn't need to hold my tummy in
to wear a belted dress.
But now that I am older,
I've set my body free;
There's comfort of elastic
Where once my waist would be.
Inventor of those high-heeled shoes
My feet have not forgiven;
I have to wear a nine now,
But used to wear a seven.

And how about those blasted tights --
They're sized by weight, you see,
So how come when I put them on
The crotch is at my knee?
I need to wear these glasses
As the print has been getting smaller;
And it wasn't very long ago
I know that I was taller.
Though my hair has turned to grey
and my skin no longer fits,
On the inside, I'm the same old me,
the outside's changed a bit.

But, on a positive note... I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way they handle these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they’re gone from your life.

I've learned that making a ’living’ is not the same thing as making a 'life.'

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life just being a doormat. You need to be able to throw something back.

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.

I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.

I've learned that people will forget what you said,people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

So on that note hope you have a brilliant day.

Case of the Blahs

2009-02-25T16:35:00.004+11:00

Don't know whats wrong with me today, having a case of the 'blaaaaahhhs'. I was going grand up until lunchtime then sort of slumped. Can't seem to find any energy to do anymore work. I'm supposed to be going to meditation tonight & I don't think I'll manage that. I just want to go home to bed. I hate when I get like this, it frustrates me cos I want to be doing things but nothing happens. It kindda makes me disappointed in myself that i let precious time slip by by feeling crappy. I've been told before to give myself a break that everyone gets like this but i find that hard to do. Sad but true.

I had Monday off, so I've only done two days work so far but I feel like I normally do on a friday, totally zonked. Its crap knowing i still have two more days to go until a lie in. oh well.

Makes me think of motivation, how do you motivate yourself? I'm learning about myself all the time but this is something i struggle with. How do i motivate myself when i really don't want to do something even when i know it''ll do my good. Its kinda like having a parent/child conversation in my head. You know the one - parent 'you should do such and such it'll be good for you', child' i don't want to', parent ' why?' child ' i don't know i just don't'. But all going on inside. It's the easiest way to try describe how I'm feeling right now. strange but again true. :o/

Blaah blaah blaah. Seems like such a waste of a day. All I want to do is crawl into bed & sleep. Maybe i need some vitamins or something. Hope you're having a better day & hopefully i'll have a better one tomorrow.

Jumping

2009-02-24T15:01:00.002+11:00

We went jumping at the weekend, was good fun, its been awhile so it was nice to be back in the air again. I only did one jump in the end as Sat weather wasn't great & we had friends visiting us from Ireland. They're on a world trip & are in Australia for 2 weeks so they came down to Picton too. S was able to borrow gear for F to jump so I lent my gear to A to get a few jumps in. That's why I only did one, I let her use my rig & she got 2 jumps in so I was happy with that. She hadn't jumped in 2 years so she was happy out :o)

I took yesterday off work. We've been away the last three weekend so I just felt I needed to just be at home by myself for a day. It was really rejuvenating. I needed it. Sometimes I just need some time to myself to let my soul rest & be peaceful. Later on I put the TV on & the Oscars were on, I watched a bit of them, they were quite good. I like Hugh Jackman though so that helped :o). I actually saw him & his wife & kids in Sydney, they went into a restaurant near my apt. He is as cute in the flesh.

I started studying for my next round of exams. I was hoping that this would be the last set but I just found out that 2 of the exams I want to do are on at the same time so I can't. How crap so I'll just have to do that on the following round. I'm nearly there though, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. S has been really good about me having to study, ie tv off but we'll if that lasts the 3 months until the exams :oD its hard on him too.

I've noticed the days getting shorter already its feels like no time since winter & we're heading for autumn again. I'm going to try get out more while the evenings are still bright.

I hope you're having a good day.

Bushfires update

2009-02-11T14:00:00.003+11:00

The death toll has reached 181 so far & they're expecting it to go as high as 300. Its beyond comprehension. Its the worst natural disaster of this kind in Australia.

One of the things that really has amazed me, is the amount of support that the area's effected have been getting from the whole country, it really has surprised me. There have been national & local fundraising going on for the people & areas effected, set up since even before the first death was reported. I think they've raised AU$38 million so far. There really is amazing sense of community in Australia, I knew was there but hadn't really seen it put into action as evidently as now. It warms the heart that people are still able to pull together in a tragedy. The Red Cross is accepting donations both here in Australia and from their locations around the world. You can read about their current efforts here.

Life really is so short, enjoy it today.

Bushfires

2009-02-09T14:07:00.003+11:00

There have been bush fires raging in South Australian & Victoria these past few weeks really but the past few days they've gotten worse. 108 have been killed as of this mornings news. Its so sad. I've been hearing on the news that some of the fires have been started deliberately. It makes me so angry to think someone did this on purpose. Whats were they thinking? What is the world coming to?

Keep these people, who've lost loved ones, homes, livestock, everything in your thoughts and prayers. Also the firefighters who are out there constantly & some of whom are finding friends bodies in the wreakage.

I can't even begin to imagine what its like, so terrifying. I used to have nightmares about fire when I was little so that would be a particular phobia for me. Here in Sydney its been ok, but temperatures soared to 44oC yesterday. I felt like I was slowly cooking, even staying in the shade & with suncream on. it was too much. I've heard from people at home that its snowing. Ireland rarely gets snow at all. What is going on with the climate? Hope everyone is doing ok.

Writer in the making :o)

2009-02-04T15:02:00.003+11:00

I got a good nights sleep last night so not feeling to ragged today which is good. I'm going to try get another early night tonight & hopefully that'll sort me out.

I actually turned off the TV last night at 8.30pm cos there was nothing on & normally I'd sit there & just watch whatever crap was on but last night I decided no I'd turn it off & do something. I'm glad I did. I think it helped me sleep better too. But anyway I went through loads of old photos that I've been meaning to go through for ages, to sort, throw out or scrap book. So that's done. I played a little more with the stitch software I was talking about yesterday. Its so cool. S had been wrecked cos he was working all weekend & with 2 late nights he was shattered so he went to bed at 9.30....shock horror he NEVER goes to bed early even when he knows he should but he did, fair play & he said he's feeling better today too. Although he did fall asleep at his desk yesterday so that might have prompted it :oD

So got all that sorted & by then my eyes were dropping so went to bed at 11pm, early for me these past few weeks.

I was surfing through some other blogs today and I saw a blog that had an entry about a writing competition. You know I've wanted to write for ages but never really knew what or how. They say that everyone has a least one book inside them & its something I've wanted to give a go. And it struck me as I was reading this competition thing, my first thought/reaction was 'I'd never be able to do that' & the second was 'I'd never get anywhere so whats the point'. I was surprised at myself when I realised that's what I was thinking, that's not really like me at all. It surprised me that negative thoughts were the first thing to come to mind. So now that I'm aware I do that subconsciously I'm going to try to change that. I think I've come to realise that life isn't the things you succeed at, its the things you try that make the memories of your life. After all what are we here for. I went to see 'Yesman' last week (hilarious) but it kindda got me thinking too. I can be a bit like that sometimes. So with this very late new year resolution I'm going to be more aware of negative thinking & I'm going to try more stuff, just give it a go & see what happens. Could make for an interesting life :o) So I'm going to give this competition a go & see what happens.

Anyway there's a few nuggets for today, oh & if anyone else is interested in entering the writing comp here's the website.

Enjoy your day.

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are"
- Theordore Roosevelt

A few musings

2009-02-03T11:25:00.005+11:00

Don't really know whats wrong with me today I'm so tired. It was quite warm last night so maybe I didn't sleep all that well? Its so hard to concentrate when I'm so tired & this being the month end time I really need to be on the ball. D'oh. All I can think of is crawling into my lovely bed & sleeping. I don't normally drink coffee I'm more a tea girl but i think it might be called for today to get me moving.

I had been hoping to get to my 100th post within a year of starting to blog but even if I write every day for the next month which I don't think I will I don't think I'd get it. Oh well. I'll try anyway see how I go. It may loosen the creative parts in me that haven't been oiled in awhile.

Went for a walk after work it was so nice to be out in fresh air, I'm going to try do that every evening if its fine. Its good to clear the cobwebs :oD.

I just started a James Patterson book, its called 'Sundays at Tiffany's'. I'm a fan of his Alex Cross series but this one is a romance so I'm not sure what to expect but thought I'd give it a read. I'll let you know.

I've been reading alot lately I go through phases of reading loads then nothing for ages. I've always loved reading. It a kind of an escape for me. My favourite author is Nora Roberts, I've read tons of her books. Another favourite is Kathy Reichs. I find it amazing that a book can transport you to other worlds, invoke emotions, I've cried at so many books, if you haven't read P.S I love I'd totally recommend it. I quite like a good few Irish authors too, Marian Keyes is hilarious. I read a lot of fiction but travel book interest me alot too, photography, biographies huumm what else do I like to read? Bits of everything really. My sister bought me a book for my birthday, its poems, short stories & essays so not sure what that'll be like. I've always wanted to be interested in poetry but haven't quite gotten there yet.

I've found myself searching for something recently. I don't' know what that's the frustrating part. I'd love to have a calling in life, you know like doctors & writers & that. These people know exactly what they want & are passionate about it. I'm good at alot of things but I'm not really passionate about anything. I'm a good started but not really that great at consistency. I wish I was. any ideas on how to do that I'd love to hear them.

Well guess that's a few thought of mine today, hope you all have a great day.

"Live well, be humble & strive for happiness"

February

2009-02-02T15:36:00.004+11:00

February, I mean wow. Still feeling like a broken record but heh i hadn't caught up with 2008 yet & the first month of 09 is gone...I mean HELLO.

ok so another Monday! I can handle it, I can, really I can ok I have to keep telling myself that. :o/

I'm not sure if its the working thing I'm not that into, this job in particular or the fact its flat out busy ALL THE TIME now, but anyway it has me thinking of looking for another job. BUT, (there's always a but isn't there?), in order for me to do that I'd have to apply for a different visa to stay in Australia, cos the visa I currently have my company sponsored me so I have to stay working here basically. It also begs to ask in the current economic climate what if I'm let go or the company closes? I'll be in the same position. So I'm going to apply for this different visa which lets me work for whoever I want or should I say whoever will employ me :oD. But its such a pain there are loads, I mean LOADS of forms to fill out every single bit of your life is scrutinised & you need certified documents for EVERYTHING. I mean i understand for national security & all that but when you're a pretty normal average everyday person with no funny business in the past, like me, its kind of a pain. But what can you do?

So along with being busy in work I'm trying to get all my school & college certs organised from home so I can do a skills assessment. Fun. & get this, it takes 8 weeks for them to do the skills assessment & then I've to fill out all the forms for the visa itself & could be waiting 6 months!! The joy. But I'll just plod on cos I do want to stay here for a bit longer anyway, the economy at home is pretty bad at the moment, everyone is telling us we should stay here for another while. I'm just not a fan of form filling. Is anyone?

I did a whole heap of sorting at the weekend of all the clutter I mentioned before, so that felt good to get that out of the way. I was also playing with my new photo printer & some stitching software I'd gotten recently but hadn't had a chance to try out. It basically lets you stitch together shots of the same scene & puts it into a panoramic view, its pretty cool. I'd taken a sunset picture of Sydney harbour bridge & another further along of the opera house & I'd been trying for ages to get them photoshopped together but could never get it just right that you couldn't see the lines cos the sky was so many different shades of oranges, pink & blues. So I decided to try this software out. & it was SO COOL. you just pick the photos you want to paste together & it blends it for you, its so cool I was so pleased all day with my cool photo. I must put a copy up to show you.

What else did I do? oh yeah I treated myself(well with a voucher I'd gotten from S for my birthday) to a manicure & pedicure, it felt so nice to be pampered I don't normally bother, just do it myself but it felt so nice.

It was really hot at the weekend but not as bad as its been down in Victoria & South Australia, major heatwave at the moment, think it reached nearly the 50's at one point & thats oC. wow. It got to 41oC in Sydney a coupe of weeks ago & that was too much for me I'm not used to that kind of heat at all.

Well being month end and all I'd better get back to work. I'll try be more social tomorrow, today's a bit of a write off cos I'm tired, I stayed up to watch the Australian Open final between Federer & Nadal, it was so good. Nadal got it in the end but it was amazing.

Anyway have a good one. :oD

Boo its monday

2009-01-27T14:20:00.006+11:00

Well its actually Tuesday yes I do know this :o) but it was bank holiday weekend here yesterday for Australia Day so only back to work today & its like a doubly bad Mondayitis.

Had really good weekend, didn't do all that much Sat chilled out needed it after the busy week last week. Oh & I did watch the tennis the Australia Open is on at the moment & its strangely additive. I've always enjoyed tennis but haven't played in ages. Sunday, myself & S went to Rays Outdoors cos they're having a sale on & we wanted to get a new tent, the one we have is crap & we've used it more than i thought we would so it justifies us getting a more decent one this time. Loved that shop could have spent a fortune there if I'd had my way :o) but I was good. All the tents were half price which was so handy so we got a fairly decent sized one this time, can't wait to try it out. I think we're heading to picton not next weekend but weekend after so get to use it then. Ah its the little things.

Yesterday we got up reasonable early & did a bit of a blitz on the apt, it needed it. Then headed down to the royal national park about an hour south of Sydney. We hiked for about two and a half hours, it was tough going in parts but the views were spectacular, I really enjoyed it more than I'd expected to. We're thinking about getting proper hiking boots etc & doing it more often. Huuuummmmmm might need another trip to Ray's outdoors hehehe.

Anyway that's all really, I'm thinking I need to do a bit of decluttering soon. I don't know how i do it but 'stuff' just seems to be attracted to me, it just appears & piles up. Does that happen to anyone else?

We're supposed to be going to the cinema this evening to see 'yesman' but not sure yet, think I might prefer to just go home. We'll see.

Hope you all have great day. Enjoy it.

Wehoo Friday

2009-01-16T14:12:00.005+11:00

I'm tired today. I thought I had a really good sleep but I woke up exhausted, really exhausted. Maybe a few nights of good sleep will help. My eyes were so tired & red it looked like I'd gone to bed crying which i hadn't but its bit embarrassing coming into work looking like i had, even makeup wasn't a great help cos it was my eyes looking bloodshot. I might try eye drops, my sister gets dry eyes & she had saline ones before & said they brighten up her eyes. She has lovely green eyes, but wears glasses so they're kindda hidden. It'd be nice to see her with contacts so we could see her vivid eyes but don't think she likes them much.

Anyway what was i saying oh yeah tired.... you see i know I'm tired when i lose my train of thought :o) its Friday yipee I've no plans for the weekend, yipee well slightly untrue i have one plan that its going to be a veggie weekend. I've a few crafty things I'd like to do but that'll be if the desire hits me & it'll be for enjoyment. I might even go home bit early since my boss has already left & with so few of us here now no one really minds. But I've so much to do if i leave early I'll probably have to work late on Monday but you know it might just be worth it :o)

I bought a tarot card set yesterday its really pretty set. I've always been interested in it so thought i might learn how to read them etc. Who knows?

Emm not much really else I'm too tired to think & be coherent in any sort of thought process so think I'll sign off & hope you have a great weekend.

Things to be thankful for

2009-01-13T14:01:00.004+11:00

Ok so I didn't win the lotto and I'm in work today but I'm much more grateful today for all I have. Part of me yesterday was so wishing I'd win money give up my job & travel the world which would be nice but since it didn't happen I tried to concentrate more on what I have. I'm so lucky in a lot of ways & I should be more grateful for that. So many others are having a hard time right now with the world economy being the way it is.

So I'm grateful that I have a good job, I'm grateful I'm healthy, happy(most of the time anyway ;o)), that the sun is shining, I have a roof over my head, food on my plate, a husband that I love & who loves me, for my friends & family. I'm grateful for all the happy times & happy memories, grateful too for the sad ones cos it's made me who I am today & so many other things that I can't even begin to name. Another new years resolution I'm going to try to think less of what I don't have & be more thankful for what I have. Try not to take things for granted.

So a couple of thoughts to mull on today, think about everything you should be thankful for & remember blessings come in all disguises.

Hope you have a good day & have a least one good belly laugh. :oD

WOW 2009

2009-01-12T15:12:00.004+11:00

Ok I've said it before & i"ll say it again(probably another 10 million times but hey!!) where the hell is the time going???????? Anyone, anyone??

I just checked & my last blog was 28th Nov, it SOOOO does not feel that long ago.

But anyhoooooooo as they say in the films.........I"M baaaacccccckkkkkk :oD

ok bit of a catch up. December sort of went by in a bit of a blur which I'm saying way to often for my liking. But as the other girl in work was let go at beginning of Nov, Dec was the first month of doing all 3 jobs myself!! Crazy had a bit of a meltdown at one stage but that was to be expected I suppose, a body can only take so much. I then did the two exams I'd been cramming for. I was supposed to have been off the Fri before on study leave but ended up having to go into work to finish all the reports etc which was a bit of a bummer. So the exams were on the mon & tue(8th&9th), i think they wenk ok but I wish I'd had about a week off before to study more & just be bit more focused. I wasn't in exam mode. I didn't get one finished completely as I just ran out of time so if anything that may trip me up but the results aren't until Feb so I'll just forget them until then.

The rest of Dec was bit better was so relieved to have exams over & just had to worry about work. We had a really nice Christmas party in work & that helped to relax everyone a bit. We finished up work on 24th with a half day which was nice. S finished on 17th I was so jealous :o)

Then we headed down to Canberra where we were spending Christmas with out friends down there. Traffic was pretty crap but got there about 9pm so it was grand to chill out & catch up. I actually had a really nice Christmas this year. We got up earlyish, opened one present each then we went for a walk up the mountain that's near their apt. It was a lovely day & already really hot. K brought her bagpipes with her to practice up the mountain as you can imagine they're pretty loud so she doesn't often get to practice at home. She's really good she'd just bought a new set & was getting the feel of them. They're really nice ones. She's played for years but hasn't in awhile so wanted to get back up to speed. She's joined the local pipe band. Anyway so we came back & got all our stuff together & headed out to the lake. We had a BBQ beside the lake there for our Christmas dinner, it was yummy. I had even brought down with me a few of the tomatoes i grew, they were SO tasty I can't believe the difference in flavour between mine & store bought ones.!!

We headed back to their place & opened all the prezzies so that was good fun. My main prezzie was a photo printer so played with that for awhile. Everyone was busy with different family calls home etc. then we settled down with the game cranium, it was absolutely hilarious i haven't laughed so much in AGES. Its sort of a mix between pictionary, scrabble & trivial pursuit.....so much fun & of course add drink & it gets even funnier :o) Really nice relaxing Christmas.

St Stephens day we chilled out & went for walk the other side of Canberre & went to the cinema to see the new Keanu Reeves film..was ok.

Saturday we headed to the DZ in picton for the weekend. It was so hot there, I decided not to jump. But i wanted to practice my sports photography so my friends there who were swooping, i took action shots of them, was really good fun & good practice. Lots of food & drink later & pretty much the same sunday.

Monday back home to a bit of quiet for one day that is, it was nice to just chill together.

Tue our friends from Canberra came up to Sydney, we did shopping, walks around Sydney, ate lots again, went to the zoo & then New Year eve we went to the park near us to watch the firework off Sydney Harbour Bridge they were pretty amazing. They left on New years day as K had to work. I ended up having to work on the Fri too :o( even though i wasn't supposed to be back until 5th. oh well. I got a call leter on on Fri from friends from home they were in Sydney & wanted to meet up, so met up with them at the rocks, near circular key & S came after & caught up & had food & drinks. We caught up with them on Sunday too they came to our apt for a bbq, was really nice catching up with them. I hadn't seen either of them for about 3 years. So that was really cool. S & I went exploring around botany bay, south of Sydney on the weekend too, was so nice.

Then back to work 5th, that was SO hard, believe me I was praying to win the lotto although I'd have to do the lotto first in order to win but you understand the sentiment :oD

It was such a busy weekend last week as even if I'm off the work still needs to be caught up with so pure madness again. It was my birthday last wed so S treated me to a weekend away, we both managed to get half days on Fri & we headed down to Jervis Bay about 3 hours south of Sydney. It was so nice there, real seaside, summer holiday feel to it. I really liked it. It supposed to have some of the whitest beaches in the world. They were fab. Again ate & drank too much, we went walking in the National park there, Booderee National Park & we went snorkeling off the rocks at Murrays beach. Got bit sunburnt too, d'oh even with suncream on. Although it was cooler than Sydney it was still about 24oC. But it was breezy so you don't feel yourself burning, normally I do. I collected a whole load of really cool shells too when we went exploring. All in all I had a really good weekend.

So back to work today, boo & I actually did go out & do the lotto this afternoon hahhaa. Who knows i may be able to have a weekend like that everyday :oD one can only hope.

Anyway hope haven't bored to all to tears but I had a lot to catch up on & I'm hoping, well its one of my new year resolutions to get better at keeping up my blogging. Its so nice to have a record of things I've done or places I've been etc.

Anyway very belated HAPPY NEW YEAR & hope you all had loads of fun.

Be seeing you soon.

Been thinking

2008-11-28T11:37:00.004+11:00

I can't believe its nearly a month since I blogged, really can't get over that. This month has just been a blur for me. Another girl was let go in work at the beginning of the month & its just been little ol' me doing 3 peoples jobs now. Along with the whole catching up/changover thing that I didn't have its been a really really really stressful few weeks. Haven't even had a minute to think about blogging let alone actually do it. When I have managed to get online I've been reading & catching up on other blogs I read so by time i get to thinking about writing, something else has come up & i don't' have time, bit crap really. I have exams in two weeks actually make that 11 days......aaaahhhhhhhhhh. that I've been studying for most evenings so time is blurry at the moment :o) If it doesn't end soon I may have a bit of a breakdown cos a person can only take so much stress at a time. Hopefully that'll happen AFTER the exams & not before :o)

Huuummmm let me think anything new to report, ohhh i have a few tomatoes growing on my bushes?plants? you know what I mean. Can't wait to pick them, yummy yummy. What else? oh yeah....I went to Canberra the weekend of 15th/16th to help out at the races there. Think I mentioned the ones I help out with in Sydney well the centre holds them there too & in fact all over Australia but anyway I went down to give them a hand. It was the Triple Triathlon that was happening. Most people did it in teams but there were 7 soloists. I mean hello, one triathlon would be an achievement(one i couldn't do i might add) but doing THREE one after the other I mean HELLO, how did they do it?. It boggled my mind I have to say, it still does even thinking about it now, wow. It goes to show you what you can do when you put your mind to it. or maybe its expanding your mind to incorporate the possibility of doing it that's the key, huummmm deep thoughts for another day.

Anyway just a quickie to say hi & hope you're all doing well & hopefully I'll have more time for thought after the exams. I've one on the 8th & one the 9th Dec so keep your fingers crossed or say a prayer or whatever for me those days. Thanks.

I was supposed to go jumping this weekend but had to put it off as I'm behind in study, boo. I'm sure I'll be having a poor me pity party when S heads off to the dz. I told him to still go cos i get more done when its quiet.

Anyway hope you all have a great weekend & for anyone celebrating Thanksgiving hope you had a great day. :o)

Jumping

2008-10-30T12:28:00.004+11:00

We went down to Picton at the

weekend, we arrived later than expected on Sat so didn't get
to jump until Sunday. We met friends of ours there who had come up from Canberra. There was really long wait times as the only had one plane there so I only got one jump in, the others did two.
This is me, K & J & S is filming & taking pictures. What a great view huh?

I'm still a newish jumper, these two have loads more jumps than me but it was so fun. We did a three way formation skydive.

& S managed to get a close up of me jumping, how cool is that? Its the first clear picture I have of me in the air.

Life seems pretty simple when you're falling at 120kmH, it really clears the mind I have to say, it was what I needed. Well clears the cobwebs anyway ;o)

Hope you're all having a good day, I have video of the dive if I can manage to get it up on blogspot I will.

Growing veggies

2008-10-17T14:47:00.010+11:00

I decided awhile back I wanted to try growing some veggies, got the inspiration from Rhonda Jean at the down-to-earth blog I read. I said ages ago I'd take some pictures so I finally got round to bringing my camera into work with me so I can post them. I'm very proud of my little plants. So heres a few picture of my little balcony garden. :o)

My lettuce

& a baby lettuce just growing

My tomatoes getting big, I need to get a few stakes to hold them up.

More tomato plants

& onions. They take the longest to grow but should be ready in couple of months. Sorry about the gaps Blogspot wasn't playing nice with my pictures today. Have a good weekend everyone.

Back to a bit of normal

2008-10-15T11:37:00.003+11:00

I was just reading back over my last post, wow was I mad. Sorry about that bit of negative mental spludge but thanks so much for your thoughts it really helped a lot. I don't usually have brain wattage shortages like that so I was probably due one. ;o)

I'm glad it didn't last. I went to a pump class at the gym at lunchtime on Friday so that took the edge off & we went to play squash after work. So I really hammered there too so that defo helped. I'm so glad I did cos I would have seriously been pissed me off with myself if I carried it over to the weekend. But all good, got home & was pleasantly tired from all the physical activity that day so slept really well.

Sat & Sun passed in a bit of a blur of, the weather was fab, its so nice to have it back. Went for walks, went to the library, visited friends, did household stuff, TV & basically chilled out. It was really nice, exactly what I needed.

Well now we're back to Wed again & yes I did come into work on Mon, hard as it was but that's mostly the getting up early bit, I'm not a morning person. I wish I was cos when I do happen to be up early I really love the morning time but dragging my ass out of bed is no mean feat I tell you. The snooze button is my friend. :oD

Anyway just a quickie to say hi & I survived & I'm grand really, struggle on. I saw another nice quote so thought I'd share, seemed apt after last weeks challenging day. Hope you're all having a great day.

Challenges are what make life interesting;

overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.

Joshua J. Marine

That kind of a day

2008-10-10T10:25:00.008+11:00

You know the one I mean don't you?

The one where you get up & all seems fine, perfectly normal day. You go about your business knowing nothing of the way its going to turn out. Well I'm having that day & its only 10.30am. I am so pissed off right now. I'm sick of this job & the people here. You know its funny cos it wasn't anything big that happened today & if I told you it as just a one off you'd be like 'what? that's nothing' & I know that. Cos when I hear myself saying it out loud(had a bit of a rant to S about it) it sounds so lame & I'm thinking what am i getting myself worked up about. But I think it was just the straw that broke the camels back. I'm so in tune with that saying right now its not funny. Its the accumulation of all the little things that have been happening to piss me off here that have just avalanched & broken the dam for me today. THANK GOD its Fri so i can relax & maybe come back on Monday.

I tell you I am so tempted to just walk. If it wasn't for the crap economy & worrying about getting another job with loans, debts etc to pay I'd be outta here. Its so not worth the agro, life is too short. This is not what we're put here to do. AAAHHHHHHHHHHH

Ok feel bit better, but I'm going from feeling angry & want to hurt something to wanting to curl up in a ball & cry & eat chocolate. We're going to play squash this evening so that'll be so good for me I can just bash the crap out of the ball instead.

There is one guy here, a middle aged man, in his fifties anyway, not married & I normally get on really well with him but the last week or so he's been really weird not sure if its just with me or everyone. Maybe mid-life crisis or something. He's the one that started my crap day over something so small & insignificant its not even worth mentioning. Some things that are so small he takes so seriously. You know now that I'm thinking its like he needs to feel important or something, you know what I mean. But he''ll step on you to do it, to make himself feel big. Oh I don't know I don't get it.

Well really sorry for crappy day kind of a post, I hope you all are having a much better day & after all its the weekend so SMILE. :oD

Tuesday'itis'

2008-10-07T13:26:00.004+11:00

"Its a new dawn, its a new day & I'm feeling good" de dum de dum

Well I'm not actually its a Tue after a long weekend & back in work.....sucks. But I still like the song, having it playing here, something about it always makes me .......sing along, dance, sway in my seat, all of the above sometimes.... :oD but sure all good. I love Nina Simone.

I had a pretty good weekend considering the weather wasn't playing its part. We went to the Blue Mountains national park yesterday for a walk/hike, it was so nice up there. I really like getting out of the city for a bit. It calms my soul, all those rolling hills & trees. We'd planned on going on Sat but cos weather was crap we ended up going to the cinema instead, went to the see the new "mummy" film with Brendan Fraser. I'm a big fan of his & really enjoyed the first two but this one ......nah not impressed have to say, oh well.

One thing I wanted to do which I didn't was get my books out to start studying, I've two exams coming up in Dec & need to get my ass in gear. But its hard to motivate yourself to do it when its SO not what you want to be doing on your weekend so gave myself the weekend & I'm going to start tonight, even if I just do the organising bit tonight that'll be a start.

Oooouuuu did I tell you ages ago that I planted onions, tomatoes & lettuce? Well if not, I did plant them in Aug & the lettuce should be ready for picking in next few weeks. How cool is that? I have to admit I'm not the most patient person in the world & wasn't impressed that I had to wait for them to grow, hahaha. Its like what do you mean I've to wait 14 weeks??? Guess thats the society we live in today, everything now. So anyhoooo nearly picking time. I'm actually excited to eat something I've grown, sad but very true. :o) The tomatoes will be another little while yet & the onions will take the longest. I must take some pics to show you how they're coming along on our little balcony.

Sure better go & do some work. Hope you all had great weekends & are smiling a bit cos after all frowning gives you wrinkles. ;o)

21 Suggestions for Success

2008-10-03T10:11:00.005+10:00

I saw this on Sharon's blog & found it inspiring so thought I'd share it here too. I added this pic cos its one I love.

21 Suggestions for SUCCESS

by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

1. Marry the right person. This one decision will determine 90% of your happiness or misery.
2. Work at something you enjoy and that's worthy of your time and talent.
3. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
4. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
5. Be forgiving of yourself and others.
6. Be generous.
7. Have a grateful heart.
8. Persistence, persistence, persistence.
9. Discipline yourself to save money on even the most modest salary.
10. Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.
11. Commit yourself to constant improvement.
12. Commit yourself to quality.
13. Understand that happiness is not based on possessions, power or prestige, but on relationships with people you love and respect.
14. Be loyal.
15. Be honest.
16. Be a self-starter.
17. Be decisive even if it means you'll sometimes be wrong.
18. Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life.
19. Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the ones you did.
20. Take good care of those you love.
21. Don't do anything that wouldn't make your Mom proud.

So I hope it gives you something to aspire to & on that note I hope you all have a great weekend. Be happy. :o)

Huuuummmmmm

2008-10-01T17:03:00.001+10:00

I just haven't been in the mood to blog these last few days, I will try to catch up may be tomorrow.
We were in Canberra for the weekend visiting friends so I've a few pics of that.

Hope you all are well & blogging away happily.

Music

2008-09-23T16:14:00.002+10:00

Its a really beautiful day today. Nothing like a nice sunny beautiful day to raise the spirits huh? It was raining this morning so I'm glad its brightened up.

I've been thinking about music. I had my itunes playing in work & as the different songs come on different memories are coming to mind. The good, the bad & the ugly, memories that is, all come flooding back. Music is pretty amazing like that it can transport you back to that very second, the first kiss, the first dance, the first heartbreak....... ahhhh sigh.
It makes me think of people I've met, loved and/or lost & places I've been, things I've seen. How its possible to get caught up in a song, is pretty special. It makes you feel. I suppose that's one of the amazing things about being human the ability to appreciate music. Although I've heard of playing music to plants but not sure how that works out. ;o)

Anyway just another random thought for today.

Oh yeah, update, S's Dad was discharged on Fri & came home from UK on Sat. Surgeon is happy they seem to have gotten it all out. He'll have to go back for more scans in few weeks but all good news for the time being. So thanks for your kind thoughts & prayers.

Have a good one.

Interesting Internet

2008-09-23T10:40:00.017+10:00

I've learned something new. The internet is great ok thats not what I learned but I got what i learned form the internet, get me. ;o)

Just trivial bits of general knowledge that I found interesting. I found out yesterday that racquetball, which I'd heard of but didn't know what exactly it was is very like squash. So i decided to look it up (what can i say it was Monday & i was bored in work ;oD)

You can learn very interesting things about everything & nothing on the internet, well of course I knew this but haven't really thought about how cool it is really for awhile, just take it for granted, like everything else that we get used to having but think about it 20yrs ago, internet? what was that?

Anyway i'm totally digressing, heres what I found out, racquetball is essentially the same type of game as squash with just some minor differences. Anyone who doesn't care please switch off now but anyone interested in a bit of trivia please continue. What can i say I was interested, I'm interested in the different things people call things in different parts of the world.

Squash racquet - 27in long & 8.5in wide
& see the little itty bitty ball - usually 39.5mm

Racquetball racquet - 22in long & wider not sure by how much
Ball - 57mm diametre

The courts are slightly different too

32-ft. long by 21-ft. wide by 15 feet high

Also generally only one wall is glass & above the top red line is out.

Whereas racquetball court is

40-ft. long by 20-ft. wide by 20 feet high and generally 2 walls are glass.

There is no 'out' area the ball can bounce anywhere & still be counted as in.

Again isn't the internet great?

Squash

2008-09-19T11:27:00.007+10:00

Ok so I had a comment what squash is so here is what I was playing last night, ok well that's obviously not me, ;oD just picture from web but its good to illustrate.

Its a box where you run around like a mad thing after a ball & get sweaty. But its good fun. Its sort of like tennis but using half a court & a much smaller ball.

Here are the general rules which I'm still getting the hang of. Each person stands in one of the boxes. One person serves, you have to have one foot in the smaller box(on floor) & the ball has to bounce between the top red line & the middle red line(in diagram) & in the other persons box to be in. Then its basically run all over the place trying to hit the ball back without letting it bounce more than once. It can bounce off the side & back walls but only allowed to bounce on the floor once. Ohh & its not allowed to go over the top red line. A game it first to nine points. I won last night, wehoo.

Its great fun. Its not like tennis in that the ball bounces a lot differently. Its doesn't bounce back to you you really have to run to get it. So its a great workout.

Well hope thats clear as mud, lol. I tell you though I had a great nights sleep after it & feel great today. Well to top it all off its friday too so thats always good. Also the weather is looking fab for the weekend so ALL good.

Hope you all have a great weekend & don't sweat the small stuff. :o)

Seems ok

2008-09-18T16:06:00.004+10:00

So the operation seems to have been a success, we're only getting texts updates at the moment. His dad will be discharged on Fri & the surgeon was happy with the op so all good for the minute. Not really sure what happens now maybe wait for more tests & hope that they've gotten it all.

Woke up this morning & thought it was Fri, how crap is that? anyway at least tomorrow is Fri & its not like Tue today or something that would be horrible. We're going for a game of squash after work I'm actually really looking forward to it. We've gone twice so far & really enjoying it. I'd never played before, S has. We're both wanting to get fit. S has gotten a bit of a belly going on & he's getting bit self conscious of it I think. And hes not really one for the gym so hopefully this will help. I'm just glad he's out doing some sort of exercise. I actually went to the gym yesterday, was surprised at myself but I'm glad I did I needed to burn off some stress so that was good & if I lose a few pounds in the meantime that can't be bad. ;o)

Anyway sure better do some work before I head out for our game. I'm just thankful that my meeting for tomorrow was canceled til next week so bit of pressure off.

Hope you're all having a good day. Saw a funny quote that I thought I'd share.

'BLESSED ARE THE CRACKED FOR THEY ARE

THE ONES WHO LET IN THE LIGHT!'

Operation update & swap pic

2008-09-17T10:36:00.005+10:00

Ok so not sure if i've updated you, but S's Dad's operation was moved from Fri 19th to yesterday. They had a free spot or something. So just waiting to hear, initial news seems it went ok, we'll find out more today. Hopefully they'll have gotten it all out.

Not much else going on at the moment, the operation situation has sortta been taking up our time.

Work.....hhhuuuummmmmm, same ol' same ol'. Having a bit of a "oh i'd love to win the lotto & quit work" kind of a day. Happens a lot as you can imagine. :o)

oouuhh I finished my swap I told you that, well she's gotten it I can put up a picture of my amateur efforts ;oD

Needlebook & pin cushion

It was fun to make in the end, its good to get off my ass & be creative for once it does me good. It balances out all the numerical stuff I do in work, well thats the idea anyway.

Well thats it I suppose, hope you all are having a great day.

Dad's

2008-09-10T10:19:00.006+10:00

Well I'm not sure if no news is good news or not? :o) S rang his Dad last night to see how things went. His Mum had texted that he wasn't having the op on Monday, it was re-scheduled for 19th Sept but we didn't know why? So anyway he rang last night & it turns out that the surgeon was having a really long operation the next day(Tue) & needed to rest as this other operation was a priority. The doc said his wasn't so bad that it couldn't wait 2 weeks so in a round about way I suppose that's kindda good news. The scan result came back also & everywhere is all clear so that's really good. His eye is the only site of cancer. So while still not out of the woods its the best of bad news if you know what I mean. So just have to wait now til 19th & pray. S seemed a bit more relieved so that was good too.

Its been making me think a lot about my Dad, this whole situation. I miss him. He died when I was nineteen, wow can't believe it's been eleven years already. It doesn't feel it. He had skin cancer. It was so hard, so horrible watching someone you love wasting away from the inside. Still upsets me sometimes when I think about that time. This whole thing with S's Dad I suppose brought it all back. I miss him. Don't get me wrong I'd gotten past the stage of thinking he was perfect I'm well aware he wasn't but he was still my Dad & I always knew he would be there for me if I ever needed him. And then he was gone & he took that security blanket with him & I felt very lost for a long time. It devastated me. But like anything in life what can you do but just keep going, find your way. You learn to cope, learn to live, it never goes away but it gets a bit better with time. Am I brilliant, am i perfect? no. I'm just me, no better no worse than anyone else. Everyone has a story. Today, right now, mine feels sad. But thats ok, later on or maybe tomorrow, it'll be better and life goes on.

I think what upsets me most is the thought that S might have to go through it too. That's whats hard. You want to protect the people you love. I really really hope he doesn't. I pray that everything will be ok with his Dad. Keep him in your prayers.

Its raining

2008-09-05T15:56:00.002+10:00

Its raining in Sydney today & its grey, we were teased with a few nice days of spring but now its raining. You know its funny, when I was in Ireland I was under the impression that it never rained in Australia, funny now when I think of it but a few other Irish people I've talked to had the same impression.

Its Friday & I'm not having a very productive day I have to say, I'm waiting on other people to finish their work & give it me so I can finish off the monthly reporting. Usually I'm busy with my stuff but I seem to have gotten it done more quickly than usual this month.

S came back yesterday morning he was so wrecked from the flight but ti was so nice to have him home. I got up at 5.30am to go pick him up at the airport as a surprise, he was so happy. He went to bed early but woke early then. I'm tired today

He had a bit of bad news on his way back, his mum called to tell him his Dad has a tumour behind his eye, he went for a full scan yesterday & hes going to the UK to have the tumour removed on Monday. We haven't many details as off yet its sort of wait & see. We don't even know any sort of prognosis yet or anything, not knowing is hard. S was quite upset about it but hes trying to keep positive. I feel so helpless that there's is nothing i can do for him right now. Maybe the rain suits this sad time.

I'm looking forward to a lie in tomorrow no alarm clock, yipee. I've to be up early on Sunday cos I'm helping out with a race. Not looking forward to it but I'm sure it'll be fine when I'm there.

Oh yeah I finished my swap finally & got it posted off today so I'm happy about that, I'll have some pictures soon.

Anyway think I need a cup of tea & some choc always a good recipe for cheering me up :o)

Hope you all have a great weekend.

Flowers

2008-09-04T10:28:00.010+10:00

I decided to change my picture at the head of my blog cos the last one while I liked it a lot it had a bit of an autumn/winter feel to it & since its officially spring here in Oz I decided to change it to some nice cheerful daisies(well at least I think they are :oD ), they always make me smile & thing of spring.

I had to play around with it a bit to get it to fit so its a bit cropped but here is the original I took at the royal botanic gardens here in Sydney.

They're so ...........happy aren't they?

I love flowers, sure i suppose who doesn't. I also love taking pictures of flowers. Its a lot better too with my new camera, the focus is better on it & it has a better zoom than my point & shoot.
Here are some of my favourites that I've taken in various places.

Let me know what you think?

Hump Day

2008-09-03T16:24:00.005+10:00

Thank God the hump day is nearly over & yipee S will be back in the morning, his flight lands at 6am so hopefully he'll be home before I leave for work. I've missed him a lot.

So to my swap project saga, thought I'd have it finished last night, ha, i tempted fate I think. LOL. I was doing so well until i have to iron the felt with fusible web, the first side went on a bit but ok so I thought I'd turn up the iron a bit to see if that helped. Cue the smell of burning felt. As soon as I put it down it stuck to it, d'oh. & when i pulled it off the iron was covered in singed felt, d'oh d'oh d'oh & that side of the needlebook had to be written off, but would you know it did stick to the card but was all curly & burnt. Was quite funny after i cleaned the iron. So back to the drawing board tonight & lesson learnt hopefully will get it finished. I've another few days left before the deadline anyway so all good. At least the pin cushion is done. :o)

S is coming home tomorrow, did i tell ya? can you tell I'm excited. lol

Anyway must go & do some work I suppose since they are paying to.

Have a good one.

Monday again? Whats the story with that?

2008-09-01T13:24:00.007+10:00

I honestly do not know where this weekend went. Having said that it was nice & relaxing. Went to see' in Bruges on Friday, its actually was quite good, some bits were hilarious but not sure if that's just Irish humour, bit gross at the end (think tarantino) but I enjoyed it. S got free tickets at work so all good.
S had to take a bit of a short notice trip to Florida so he left Sat morning. Miss him loads, this will be the longest we've been apart since we met. Mad. But it was nice to have the place to myself for the weekend, I cleaned & tidied, & did all the recycling, so the place it nice & homely at the moment.

After the week I'd had I really took it easy on Sat, read my book which I always find is a good way for my mind to dis-engage for a bit, & there was loads of good films on TV so stayed up watching them. Sunday was the cleaning & tidying day then went to the library for a bit, did my shopping, it was so nice out, spring is really starting to show & its the first official day of spring today yipee. Ooh yeah I also started my swap project finally, but I've about half done just waiting on the glue to dry(its says leave 24hours, don't ask) & I'll finish it tonight, I'm doing the pin cushion & needlebook one. My swap partner is in the states.

I have a mixed feeling about the swaps, a sort of love/hate thing going on. I amuse myself sometimes. I get very enthusiastic & join & think it'll be great. then the thought of doing it seems like such a chore & a burden(yes i know how sad, oh how the mind works) & then i get started & i really enjoy it, & even when I'm thinking of it as a pain in the ass I know I'm going to enjoy doing it when i get started. Can someone please explain to me the logic there cos it has me at a loss & its something I'd really like to overcome? It was the same with the last swap I did too. So anyhoooo going to finish tonight hopefully & post it away tomorrow. The deadline date is the 6th so I'm doing ok for now normally I'm a late minute kind of gal but I'm trying to work on that too. I'll put a picture up when I know she has received it. Its all in the doing I suppose I'm trying to learn new skills, my Mum died when I was 8 & I'm sure she would have taught me all these things as she was a kind of old school country girl, my stepmother, lets just say, wasn't very into that.

I missed doing the sowing course at the end of July as I had a few unexpected doctors bills so I'm going to keep an eye out for the next one that's starting.

Well think that's all for now, feeling a bit better so think last weeks blues have finally passed on, well til the next time as only in this life is there ups & downs. But all good & I'm back smiling :o)

Hope you all are well & have a great week.

Thank Crunchie it Friday

2008-08-29T13:38:00.005+10:00

So, I had a nice relaxing bath last night & a good nights sleep for the most part so that helped today. Also the fact that its Friday is HUGELY helping, yipee

Well what to say, I've no plans for the weekend, well, except we're supposed to be going to see 'In Bruges' tonight at the cinema but to be honest would prefer to just go home but we've arranged to meet friends so think will go. I'm sure it'll be fun when we get there.

Nothing else on the cards at the moment, I'm just looking forward to a lie on tomorrow morning. I live for Sat morning. :o) I'm a night person by nature so this 9-5 business so doesn't suit me. Maybe I'm in the wrong profession, LOL.

I'm getting itchy feet again, thinking about doing a bit more travelling but I'll have to wait til i replenish the funds somewhat. I'm due my tax return tax back soon so will use that I think. It always helps to have something like that to look forward to.

I might go buy a few photo albums & start putting all the photos I got developed into them its been something I've wanted to get done for awhile. I'm big on memory keeping. As I get older my memory isn't as good as it was so I find it so nice to take lots of pictures & record the little details of trips & things so that when you look back you can remember the good times. I guess that's what life is about, making good memories. Photos are amazing really, aren't they? they take you back to that exact moment in time & good or bad you remember the people, the places, the smells, the experience. Its great.

So that's all really, I'm thinking of leaving work a bit early today. The evenings are getting longer now that we're coming into spring so it'd be nice to go for a walk or something before it gets dark.

Hope you all have a great weekend. :o)

So over it

2008-08-28T18:12:00.005+10:00

There's a girl in my office who is very difficult to deal with at the best of times most people in the office have had run ins with her at one stage or other. I try to get on with everyone i meet i really do, even though its not always possible. But recently maybe the last two months or so she has been really difficult. Working with her & trying to get information is like trying to get blood out of a stone. There have been a few layoffs in the company & its like she guarding her 'work' with a manic determination. But I'm so over her passive aggressiveness i really am, its making working really unbearable. I don't know if because I've been feeling bit blue anyway that its effecting me more or if this situation has been a contributor to feeling like this. I've never... well never in work, wanted to throttle someone so much today as i have her, very unlike me. I just wanted to slap her & tell her to cop on, that this behaviour is not going to make her more assured of keeping her position but totally less likely that they are going to keep her if it continues. The ceo has even noticed.

You know what it is? she creates a bad atmosphere or something in the office & its crap to work here at the moment. I hate feeling like I'm tiptoeing around someone or that work is a potential battlefield at every turn. She told me to piss off last week & brushed past me out of the office (a little dramatic i thought)when I was asking her about audit stuff that was needed. Not stuff that i needed that the auditors needed, you would think she would at least put her work first.

Then i think there are so many people so much worse off than me & i should just get over it & get on with it. But I've had my little rant so I guess that'll have to do for the time being. People frustrate me sometimes. Grrrrrr

Think I'll go home have a nice relaxing bath & listen to relaxing music & just chill out. That thought has cheered me up somewhat so I'm off & hope you all are having a tad more pleasant day.

See ya.

Maybe its for the best

2008-08-26T13:59:00.004+10:00

Don't know why but feeling really down today, not really sure why. I've a lot going on at the moment & a lot going on in my head too, that usually does it i suppose. I haven't been sleeping well the past few night & that is SO not like me.

Maybe its for the best cos its at times like these that it really makes me appreciate when i'm feeling happy & light & whereas before I could never see a light at the end, now I know or I've learned to know that I just need to hang on & that this will too indeed pass. It helps to reaffirm to enjoy the moments when you're happy to stop & take a minute to just enjoy & feel grateful for that feeling.

Think I may go to the gym after work, release some of those nice endorphins. If nothing else it will help me sleep but it may help shake this blue. Is it a full moon or something?

Anyhooooo still haven't gotten round to telling you about my trip away but don't think i can now cos it won't sound as good as it was cos my heart won't be in the telling. I must get the pics downloaded too. S's mom has been asking for them too. God its only Tue, its days like these I hate working wish i could just stay home in bed until i feel better. Not a solution i know but sure would be nice. Its days like these i think about winning the lotto so i don't have to work anymore. Most of the time i don't' mind working but when your heart & mind are not in it, its a struggle.

I'm getting bit morbid now so I'll stop & hopefully y'all are having a better day.

I'll be back. :o\

7 Things

2008-08-20T12:21:00.008+10:00

Okay I got tagged from Letera to do this. Well at least I think it was me but always one to particiate....lol.....I'll give it a go.

7 Things

7 things I plan to do before I die

1) Walk on great wall of China

2) Swim great barrier reef

3) Go see the pyramids

4) Build a house

5) Do a bungee jump

6) Get fit

7) Finish all my photo albums & scrapbooks

7 things I can do

1) Skydive

2) Speak french & german (badly but heh!!)

3) Be positive - well most of the time

4) Play piano - been awhile though

5) Dance

6) Be a good friend

7) Listen

7 things I cannot do

1) Sing (doesn't stop me from doing it though ha ha)

2) Sustain unclutteredness

3) Touch a spider - but seriously who would want to anyway

4) Play didgeridoo

5) Be tickled

6) Tolerate rudeness or ignorance

7) Understand men - but i'll keep trying :o)

7 things that attract me to the opposite sex

1) Being strong

2) Nice eyes

3) Considerate & sweet

4) A nice smile

5) Being fun

6) Having nice forearms & hands (don't ask, just a thing of mine)

7) Gives good hugs

7 things I say most often

1) Like

2) Like, you know, like

3) That's hilarious

4) You're not serious

5) Shit

6) Oops

7) D'oh (what can i say i like the Simpsons)

7 celebrity crushes

1) Jon Bon Jovi

2) Brendan Fraser

3) David Boreanaz

4) Jason Hodges

5) Vin Diesel

6) Patrick Swayze

7) Keanu Reeves (I'm thinking 'Point Break' here....yum)

7 people who should to do this

Ah sure anyone one wants to give it a go for bit of a laugh.

Anyway hope you all doing well, I'm good just been crazy busy, I will get round to filling you in on our trip away & get my pics downloaded.

Catch ya later!!!!

Brisbane

2008-07-31T14:12:00.003+10:00

Ok so there won't be a post for a few days cos we're going away for our anniversary. We're heading to Brisbane this evening until Monday night. I'm so excited. I love travelling & seeing new places. S & I said we wanted to see more of Australia once we got back from Ireland so that's what we're trying to do. :o)

We got cheap flight up cos they were on sale so that's always a plus & we've booked the cheapest (decent) hotel we could find that was central'ish. So that leaves more funds for the fun part of doing stuff. I've just checked out the weather for Brisbane & its looking nice for the weekend, yipee. Can you tell I'm excited yet??

Anyway we're planning on going to the zoo while we're there, its the Steve Irwin zoo. I really liked his tv programmes at home so always wanted to go & feed the crocs, sad but true. ha ha.

Other than that we're going to check out a few of the theme parks & do the tourist thing around town. But I'm looking forward to it, I think its good to do different things & challenge the rut. I think I was getting into a bit of a rut there for awhile so trying to do more.

Other news????? Huuummmm, well I'm still mad busy in work so what's new you say? But I've made a conscious decision not to let it get to me or get the better of me. I've made more time for the things I really enjoy like blogging for example, a bit more balance & I feel better for it I have to say. & I think its made me more efficient in work too & definitely less stressed.

So although its a bit early hope you all have a great weekend! Keep smiling.

Oh & I'll try take loads of photos, so stay tuned. ;o)

Few More Pics

2008-07-29T14:17:00.012+10:00

I really need to think of a new heading. I'm not being very creative. lol

Anyway here is a bit of a visual of where we walked through at the National park on Sunday.

This was the view for most of the walk

This was the trail path we were following

These were everywhere, very pretty

Yes it looks dark cos it was getting dark at this stage & with the canopy of the trees, it seemed much darker. We came across this tree with a big hole through the middle, it was pretty cool & just to give you an idea of how big it was, that's me standing in the middle of it & I'm 5'10.

This was very eerie, I was taking a picture of the tree from the other side & this mist came through & I was like.....what the hell! Then figured it S was

standing next to me & had breathed out just at the second I took the picture so while we couldn't see it the camera picked up the heat of this breath. How mad!

Some more photos

2008-07-29T14:11:00.003+10:00

These were the flowers I got yesterday.

Aren't they pretty??

Anniversary

2008-07-28T16:19:00.007+10:00

Its our second anniversary today and since we haven't killed each other yet I'm going with 'that's a good sign', LOL.

I was surprised with a gorgeous bouquet of roses & lilies in work today. awh, I nearly cried(happy tears of course) ,what can i say I'm a mush when it comes to nice surprises. I'll take a picture this evening & show them to you tomorrow. S can be so thoughtful sometimes. We're heading away on Thurs to celebrate, we're going to Brisbane for 5 days, I can't wait. Queensland is somewhat warmer than New South Wales so should be nice holiday, well short break anyway. :o)

So what did I do at the weekend, Saturday we got a new carpet put down in our bedroom, well I should say our landlord did. I'm so glad cos the old one was pretty yuck. So that's actually quite nice. We had planned to go jumping at Picton but Shane was called into work at the last minute so I actually ended up doing a lot of sorting around the house which was great cos I've been wanting to do it for AGES. You know?? all those bills that are floating around & the random bits of paper that clutter up the place? it was getting to the stage where it was annoying me so I had gotten to the stage where they were all in one spot & then stopped & that pile was just getting bigger so I made a really good go of it on Sat & got through most of it so I'm feeling fairly organised for once & i threw out a load of crap too. So that made me feel productive, sat night we had a DVD & popcorn night which was really nice cos we haven't done that in ages. We turned off all the light like it was the cinema, was really fun. We had planned to go to the cinema but the weather was really cold & wet so we didn't bother.

Sunday we visited The Royal National park, it was amazing. The first time I've ever been in a forest that really felt like the rain forest. I kept expecting to see monkeys & things in the trees. It was so quiet. We did one of the trail walks(I'll put up some photos tomorrow) & it was really nice. Even being from Ireland I've never seen so many different greens & so many varieties of trees. I would have loved to have stayed longer but we started out alter than planned & got stuck in traffic cos there was some game on in Sydney stadium & since it gets dark at 5.10pm we had to head back to the car. We're going to go again soon.

Well hope you all had a great weekend. Huuummmm just have to figure out how I'm going to get these flowers home on the train in rush hour?? Methinks a taxi is in order this evening & that plan goes nicely with the fact that its just started raining.

Have a good Monday!

Time goes by

2008-07-25T14:22:00.004+10:00

Here we are again, another Friday. Isn't it amazing how time is flying, nearly the end of July already. Although I have to say I'm feeling a bit like a broken record saying that, but it truly amazes me all the time. I was just reading on gary's blog today about a similar time flying feeling & thought well at least its not just me.

You should read it, its gets you thinking about the perception of time going quicker as we get older. I often wonder does it slow down again later in life as we retire & slow down physically?

I read on another persons blog about her grandfather who is 96 & fit & well & as she says as sharp as anything. I wonder what his perceptions of time are?

I think it makes me think of 'why are we here'? type questions. Whats the whole scheme of things that we were put on this planet for. The bigger scheme I suppose i mean. we can get drawn into our own little lives & little trivialities that they get out of proportionately big & important to us.

Case in point , my husband had a really bad dream the other night that I was knocked down (God forbid) and died and it was on his mind all day & he was really lovey dovey with me that day(well more than usual) & when I asked him why he explained about the dream & said 'it kindda makes the little things not so important anymore & I'm just happy to have you' I guess it made him stop & think & be grateful for the things he does have in life

So I suppose my thought for today is to maybe stop & think about all the great things in your life & be grateful for them, really grateful for them. The worries will still be there tomorrow so worry about them then. Give yourself a break today.

Anyway on that note I hope you all have a great weekend. :o)

Wedding Pics

2008-07-22T14:11:00.006+10:00

Isn't she pretty?

The wedding party & cutting the cake

Us having fun & the first dance

Our hotel room, had to take two pics cos so big....nice!!

Tried to get these to gether but this was front of the hotel.
Great day was had by all

One of The Best Stories I've heard (read) in Awhile

2008-07-18T11:27:00.004+10:00

I got this as an email forward today & it made me tear up so thought I'd share it as a thought for the day. :o)

As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. However, that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.

Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he did not play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in markinghis papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big 'F' at the top of his papers.

At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.

Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, 'Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners... he is a joy to be around.

'His second grade teacher wrote, 'Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle.

'His third grade teacher wrote, 'His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest, and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken.

'Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, 'Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school.. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class.

'By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, 'Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to.

'After the children left, she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs.Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her 'teacher's pets.

'A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy,telling her that she was the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.

Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy.He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in life.

Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times , he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs.Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he had ever had in his whole life.

Then four more years passed and yet another letter came.This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer.... The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD.

The story does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he had met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs.Thompson might agree to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Of course,Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet,the one with several rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together.

They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs.Thompson's ear, 'Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference.

'Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, 'Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you.

'(For you that don't know, Teddy Stoddard is the Dr. at Iowa Methodist in Des Moines that has the Stoddard Cancer Wing.)

Warm someone's heart today. . . pass this along. I love this story so very much, I cry every time I read it.

Just try to make a difference in someone's life today?tomorrow? just 'do it'.

FOTA Pics

2008-07-17T18:01:00.004+10:00

Although you can't see them this was where the monkeys hung out, excuse the pun.

And it was such a beautiful day too.

You can't really tell from the pics but these guys were huge!!!

How cute is he??

Loads of Giraffes

Some Pics

2008-07-17T17:49:00.003+10:00

Visit to Foto In May

These guys are just wandering around the place happy as larry. So cool.

Think I got too close or maybe he was just showing off but a very impressive sight it has to be said.

Yipee its the weekend.

2008-06-27T13:25:00.008+10:00

Its a very sad day when I have to sit & think about what my login & password are for my blog. Huuummmmm me thinks there are changes to be made. The whole point of setting it up really was to express/vent/record my feelings etc. So if they're not coming out here, they must be being bottled up, well I suppose that would explain a few things.
I just noticed that its been 3 weeks since my last post & we're back from holidays a month. I mean..hello....where did that time go. Sometimes I feel like I'm on a merry go round & only every so often get off & notice my life. Not really the way I want to be. Its seems as I get older the faster the time goes. Does anyone else feel like that or is it just me sliding very slowly in senility??

Anyway to quote a very old record at this stage I've been mental busy in work. The group accountant in our company left & I've sort of unofficially been promoted to her position. Well basically I've been dumped with doing her job. But I found out this week that I am going to get a pay rise to reflect the increase of work load. & boy is it an increase. There was basically NO handover from her position. She handed in her notice while I was away & was supposed to have 2 weeks to handover to me. Guess what she called in sick for those 2 weeks & came in her last day so I got all of a two hour handover. That was such a sucky thing to do & I was kindda hurt too cos we were friends or so I thought. She had a bit of beef with the CEO so didn't really care but she knew I would be the one that would be in a hole but sure what can you do. Yes I'm feeling cranky have you guessed? ha ha
Ah no I'm not so bad now but the last two weeks have been pretty much hell. I'm not out of the works yet but at least I got all the board reports done so I'm back to doing my own job again. So busy but no stress of worrying about making mistakes. The position is a lit more responsibility. I'll see how I go over next few weeks & if its still mental I might start looking for another job.

So anyway forgetting my login has sort of brought home to me that I don't have a proper work/life balance. Work has taken over a bit so I need to pull that back. I've booked to see a personal trainer next week...dear Lord am I mad?? So hes going to do up a programme & stuff for me to follow at the gym I joined at the beginning of June to which I have been to ....huuuuummmmm how many times???????? None!. But its all about keeping trying. So going to go see him & hopefully be more motivated. Also my sister has been getting into knitting & stuff the last few months she made me a hat. Its was so cool so thought I might give it a go. Its something I haven't done since school so I bought a couple of balls of wool & I'm going to knit a scarf since its winter here at the moment. Hopefully I'll have it finished while its still winter, ha ha ha.
What else?? oh yeah I mentioned before how I'd like to start sewing well I was looking up some classes & theres one starting at the end of July in the community college not too far away from me. Its not too expensive either which is a bit plus. So think I'm going to enrol in that.

We're heading away for the weekend. Just decided this week & booked last night. All very last minute. But I needed a break. I worked last sat & sun so that would make today my 11th day working. Ok it wasn't like 18 hour days or anything but still you need at least one day off. S is going skydiving on sat so I had said I'd go do a jump too as I haven't jumped since March. Then we said we'd stay up there sat night & go do something on the Sunday. And from that we just decided to head up tonight instead, go jumping tomorrow & then head back to hotel & do the tourist thing on Sunday. Its about 3-4 hours north of Sydney, where we're going is called Port Stephens. So I'm so looking forward to that. I've taken Monday off work too so it'll be nice to just chill out at home on Monday. S couldn't get the time off work so we'll be back Sunday

I'm so glad I got those board reports done this week they were really weighing me down. I'm not good when I get stressed. It tends to get me down & sap all my energy so it was like a huge weight was lifted when I'd finished. I know I'm still going to be busy but I feel so much more positive now. I just thought as I'm writing I haven't put the photos up of our holiday yet, I must do that too. I'll probably have more from this weekend too so that's on my mental to do list too.

I saw this & thought it was quite apt for my life over the last few weeks.

'The art of life lies in a constant readjustment to our surroundings' - Okakura Kakuzo

I'm hoping you all have a really great weekend. Keep smiling, it really does make people wonder. :o)

Back in the Land of Oz

2008-06-05T14:39:00.012+10:00

Hi all, sorry its been ages since I've updated my blog, ok no i haven't fallen down a big hole or off a cliff or anything equally as gruesome, ha ha. I've been on holiday, for 3 weeks in fact. The week before the holiday isn't worth mentioning cos it was so manic that I'm not even sure it happened, LOL. What with trying to get work sorted for while I'd be away & trying to get packed & make sure I didn't forget important things like ohhh say my passport & that!. So suffice to say it was MENTAL.

Anyway the holiday turned out to be hectic too but excellent. We arrived back Fri 9th May after a 22 hour flight. It took 14 hours to Abu Dhabi & the 2 hours stopover where we could at least get off the plane & have a walk around & then another 8 hours to Dublin. We went into the city centre to meet up with my sister & get keys from her as we were staying in her house the first night. It was great to see her. We headed to her house then & crashed for about an 2 hours cos we were wrecked tired by then. S went down to the parachute club & I stayed with my sister & my brother came over & we got caught up. It was really nice.

The Sat night was S's grans birthday party, she's 80. Well she' eighty in June but they brought the party forward so we could be there for it. It was great & we got all his relies out the way in one go, ha ha. Sunday we just hung out & then went down to the IPC in clonbullogue to see friends. It was so mad, a few things have changed but its like I was there yesterday.

On the Monday we had to go pick up all our stuff from storage, (we'd put our stuff in storage cos we'd only planned on staying in Australia for one year but then my company offered to sponsor me to stay & it seemed to expensive to continue the storage unit indefinitely so S's parents said we could put it up in their attic). So we filled the van, no mean feat & headed down to Cork, southwest of Ireland - gorgeous spot for anyone who's visiting. Then we had the 'wonderful' job of unloading it all & getting it all up into their attic. It was back breaking work it has to be said & the less said about it the better. But we got it done. So with that off my head I could relax a bit & feel like the holiday was starting.

So we chilled out in Cork for few days with his parents & family & visited his grandad who's 84. Dan is an amazing man, you wouldn't think it to look at him that's he's 84. He still drives himself around & everything. Hes so independent, its great. We were really lucky with the weather while we were home. We went to Fota Wildlife Park one of the days, its so pretty. I don't' know why S got it into his head that he wanted to go, so we did. He'd been before but I never had. It was great. That night we brought his family out to dinner, alotta laughs.

Thurs 15th we headed back up to Dublin & stayed with my other sister A. My best friend's wedding was on the 16th in Dunlavin, in Wicklow. What a great day.

I got up early & treated myself to a wash & blow dry at the local salon. I'd already gotten my nails done down in Cork so I was feeling very 'wedding'y. So apart from a short moment when i thought we were going to be late, we got there on time. The ceremony was lovely. I was doing a reading, I have to say I was so nervous but I think it went ok. Talk about altar fright. LOL.

The reception was held at Rathsallagh & all I can say is wow, what a place. Had really great day catching up with my four best friends. I've loads of pictures but haven't gotten around to uploading them yet so stay tuned for those.

So S went down to do some jumping on the Sat & Sun, I stayed in Dublin on Sat & hung out with family. Then on Sunday I went down to visit my family it Galway - west of Ireland. It was so great to see them. Since my parents died they have been my home base & have always been so so good to me. It really made me miss home to be down there. I was just sad I didn't have more time with them but what can you do when theres so much to squeeze in to such a short time.

So we drove back up Tue & headed straight to the airport, where we flew to Geneva & took the train to Chambery, France to visit my other sister & her family, whom I hadn't seen in nearly 2 years. The kids have gotten so big its amazing. It was great to see them all. I really felt like those few days were a real holiday cos with all the travelling it was hectic like I said but in France it was really laid back & chilled out. We went for a picnic by the lake, it was gorgeous with the Alps in the background, wow. Again pics will be on the way soon. Another night we took the family out to dinner & we went birthday present shopping for my niece. She was 11 while we were there. Have to say it makes me feel old. sigh.

So we flew back Fri 23rd & spend the last four days really just catching up with people that we hadn't seen yet or me with my best friends who I'd only seen at the wedding. The last night we went out to dinner with my brothers & sisters & had a really fab night, good food, drink & a lot of laughs you can't go far wrong with that.

And then amazingly enough it was time to fly back. We flew out Tue evening Irish time but actually only landed Thurs morning in Oz. I was sad leaving, I miss home but I'm enjoying Australia for the time being but I think I'll always return to Ireland to live. So I'm back a week already & I so can't believe it, I feel like I've never left. It took about 4 days for my internal clock to let me get a proper nights sleep at the proper time but I'm just about back to normal now.

Just back to the mania in work & trying to catch up from being away for 3 weeks. Although found out my sister is getting married next April so I may have to start saving for another trip home. yipee.

Anyway thanks to those who were wondering what'd happened to me. Its all good. I had a great time.

Hope you're all having a great day. Keep smiling. :o)

World Harmony Run

2008-04-24T13:16:00.002+10:00

I'm not sure if I've mentioned before that I do a meditation class on a wed nights, but anyway I do & thank God I do I think I'd be in the nut house by now if I didn't have some way for my mind to relax. I totally recommend it by the way.

Anyway that's not the purpose of this post. The meditations are run by the Sri Chinmoy centre in Sydney & they have a really big event coming up in Australia starting this weekend. The world Harmony run, well as you can tell by the name its not just Australia but the Australian leg starts this Sunday in Brisbane. It's a global relay that seeks to promote international friendship, goodwill and understanding.

There are runners from Australia & all over the world running around the whole of Australia, how cool is that. They generally visit different sights along the way & meet with local dignitaries & visit schools & let the children run with the torch all in the name of peace & goodwill. Its very inspiring to see really. So if you see them out on the street or if they're coming to near your area, try to come out & support the runners & cheer them on.

If you want to check out the Australian run click here.

If you're not in Australia & fancy checking out the rest of the world runs, click here & then pick your country at the top of the page.

If nothing else go & have a look, its amazing what these people are doing to try to bring peace & awareness to the world.

Enjoy. Its a public holiday here tomorrow so I'm off work & I just found out that we can leave early today so WEHOOOO long weekend. I'm soooo looking forward to a sleep in tomorrow morning. Although knowing me I'll be awake at the same time, LOL.

Hope you all have a brilliant weekend. I saw a good quote today
'minds are like parachutes they only function when open' - Thomas Dewar

Since I'm a skydiver I thought that was good. Keep smiling!

Tagged

2008-04-22T13:46:00.003+10:00

Its been awhile since I've had a chance to blog & I was tagged by Debbie & Susan so apologies for the delay but finally getting a chance to do it.
And so for some facts about me.

1. The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.
2. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
3. At the end of the post, the player tags 5 people and posts their name, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog.
***

What I was doing 10 years ago:
I was still in college doing my year away in France as part of my college course. Although I did enjoy it for the most part, my father had died the year before so still was getting over that.

Five Snacks I enjoy:In a perfect, non weight-gaining world
1. Chipper chips with garlic mayo – yum!!
2. Choc choc chip Hagen Daas Ice Cream
3. Chocolate – anything except dark chocolate
4. Super Nachos with guacamole, cheese, salsa & sour cream
5. French baguette & Camembert

In the real world
1. Cream crackers
2. bananas
3. Diet choc bars (or weight watchers)
4. popcorn
5. dried fruit & nut mix

Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
1. Build my house at home that we have planning permission for.
2. Buy my brother & sisters their own houses
3. Travel
4. Give to charity
5. travel more

Five jobs that I have had:
1. Assistant accountant
2. Worked in a bank
3. Restaurant Assistant Mgr
4. Waitress
5. Worked in petrol station

Three of my habits:
1. Can’t put a good book down until I’m finished even if I end up reading all night.
2. I hog the TV remote control
3. I say ‘like’ a lot, I dunno think its an Irish thing.

Five place I have lived:
1. Sydney, Australia
2. Zephrhills, Florida
3. Rathgar, Dublin
4. St Omer, France
5. Killiney, Dublin

Five People I Want to Get to Know Better: (a nice way of saying TAG!) But don't feel obligated! Just do it if you want to.
1. Lindsay
2. Tracy
3. Letera
4. Melissa
5. Sadge

So ok I know it was only a short one but I'll write more soon.

Hope you're all having a great day & if not hope it gets better for you. :o)

Tote Bag

2008-04-11T13:48:00.005+10:00

I joined a shopping tote swap a few weeks ago on Down to earth blog. Now me I'm not generally a joiner in'er but just decided to give it a go & sure maybe I'd learn a new skill. I had been fascinated by the dressmaker who did the bridesmaids dresses for my wedding that she could just thrown this piece together & that piece & fiddle this & that & kaboom you have a dress. I brought her pictures of the one I wanted & she just measured the girls & away she went. I thought that was soooo cool & that I'd love to be able to do that.

Long & short of it never got round to it so when this came up sure I thought maybe I'd give it a go, it was a start after all. I haven't sewed anything since my home economics class in school so wasn't really sure how i was going to get on but sure I did it anyway. My swap partner had said she liked purple & patterned material so that's what I got for her. Ok so after many unpickings & fights with the sewing machine as it didn't like that I'd doubled up the layers so it would be more sturdy I ended up doing most of it by hand & you know what I actually found it very therapeutic.

So this is the one I made for Lindsay

and this is the one I got in the post this morning.

How cool is it to get a present that someone actually put time & effort into? It really meant more to me than something bought which was nice. So I'm thinking of making presents from now on well when I can.

So ok I know its only a small start but definitely want to learn how to sew properly. I find it very difficult to find trousers that are long enough for me cos I'm quite tall without paying a fortune for them which I'm not inclined to do so to be able to make clothes that actually fit me, fit my shape would be so cool.

Feeling good

2008-04-10T10:21:00.002+10:00

You know normally I turn on the computer & read others blogs first & then sortta run out of time for my own so today I've decided to write first, read later. Lol.

Its funny every time I look at the title Nina Simone song pops into my head & I start humming. Singing is great isn't it? it makes you feel happy. Although if I burst into song here I may be asked ever so politely to quiet down while they get the men in white coats for me, hehehe. That may just be worth it.

Anyway I'm feeling good cos the award I got yesterday actually made me feel pretty good but it was the passing it on to others & their responses that really cheered me up out of my doldrums. Another thing that made me feel good was yesterday morning while I was getting my ticket for the train the guy in front of me was short 20 cent for his ticket, he was at the change only machine so he had to go & queue again at the notes machine. I got my ticket & I had 40 cent change & I was passing him at the end of the queue & asked him how much he was short & I gave him the 20c & said hope you have a good day. Now that's something totally small but I actually really felt great. It just goes to show you doing something nice for others is its own reward.

Now I know this but I realised its been awhile since I've put that into practice, so now that I have a bit more motivation for life I'm going to try to do more for others & that'll help me.

I firmly believe the soul & the spirit need nourishment just as much as the body & I've been sadly lacking in that recently.

Ok so here's a challenge for you today. To do one totally random act of kindness for someone, it doesn't matter if you know them or not. Try it, it may surprise you.

Other than that I hope you all have a totally brilliant day.

Blog Award

2008-04-09T13:35:00.007+10:00

I got a blog award yesterday (well I only saw it today) I'm so excited. How cool!

So thank you, first of all Tracy for giving me the "You Cheer Me Up" award.

Here are the instructions for this award:"If you are a recipient of the "You Cheer Me Up" Award, please find the blogs that cheer you up, copy the code to post on your sidebar and pass Ethel and Lucy (in the pic above from the 'I Love Lucy' show) across the blogosphere. You can use what cheers you up in your post, or copy this one, but please send your award recipients back to the original post on A Nice Place In The Sun to get a copy of the award code, post the image and read the instructions. I want to try to maintain a page of original and ongoing award recipients, so feel free to let me know if you've received an award when you pick up the image code."

I have chosen a few of the blogs that cheer me up. There are so many that I love to read but I have stuck to five.

Lindsay
Nova-San
DND
Debbie
Elee

Ok so I need to go & leave comments for the award recipients

Hope you have a great day.

Autumn

2008-04-08T14:00:00.004+10:00

Well autumn finally hit Sydney yesterday, it rained a lot during the night, I was lucky enough not to get caught yesterday. Not so lucky this morning though. I was about 10 steps out of my apt on the way to the train & it started, oh the joy! At least I did have my umbrella, I was thankful for small mercies I have to say cos its normally on a day like that that I don't have it & get into work looking like a drowned rat....very attractive!......not.

But other than that its actually been a good day, ok I'm flat out busy in work the past two days but I much prefer being busy I have to say, time definitely goes quicker.

Its been a bit chillier too, I've been getting out the heavier jumpers & cardigans to put on. I'm like, is it not time to turn the A/C down in the office yet? or up? you know what I mean make it warmer in here.

Life's been tripping along quite ok for the most part recently, I'm getting so excited about the trip home. Have i mentioned that before ? not sure. Well we're heading home for 3 weeks in May for a wedding, but also to see everyone. Its the longest I've been totally away from home... ever. It'll be nearly 2 years since living there. Home is Ireland by the way, so its going to take something like 22 hours flying to get there, soooooo not looking forward to that.

But it'll be so great seeing everyone, all my friends & family, I'm quite close to a lot of my family on my Mum's side, don't really know any on my Dad's side at all, then there are my brothers & sisters to visit & also Shane's (hubbie) family to visit so its going to be a hectic 3 weeks but hopefully all will go well.

Oh I know I haven't mentioned them in ages but my tomato plants are coming along nicely, very proud of me. Normally things die on me. alot!

So hope you all have a great day.

Happiness

2008-04-04T11:54:00.004+11:00

I saw this on the wall of a restaurant we ate in in the Blue Mountains & it touched me so I took a picture of it to remember it. Its what I look at when I need a bit of 'happiness' inspiration & staying on track of what its all about in this mad wonderful world.

So even if it makes you think today, then thats enough.

Hope you're all having a great day.

Stay strong, Live proud & be the person you were meant to be, today.

Musings on negativity

2008-04-02T16:01:00.004+11:00

I've come to my blog every day this past week in order to write something & I look at a blank screen &.................nothing. What’s up with that? I’ve also been busy reading other peoples blogs & discovering the blogging world in general.

I've had loads of ideas in the past week, usually when I'm walking home so don't write them down which is what I usually try to do cos otherwise I forget.
So come to the screen ........ nothing....total blank....am I really that boring I ask myself?
& what am I writing today? about not having anything to write!!! Go figure.

I have been pondering on what I wanted from this blog cos obviously no point in continuing if I'm not getting anything out of it. It started by wanting to help others, then it became about helping me then it sort of meandered into what I'm up to on a daily basis. What was my point again? Oh yes the point of the blog..........hhhuuummmmm, it’s supposed to be an outlet for me i suppose but then I get caught up in what should I write or add or not add.
Although in a way I suppose that is revealing about myself, that I'm confused! LOL. I want to learn about myself & I think I just did.....hhhuuuuummmmm.....refreshing.
Ok so what can I do to 'un'confused myself or should I say find out what’s causing it so I can fix it.

Well I know I've been really busy these past few weeks & ‘me’ time is down to nil, studying has been getting to me cos I know I'm not doing enough so that's stressing me. My healthy diet has somewhat stalled which is annoying me & exercise?????? What’s that??
I feel like there is not enough hours in the day & I'm feeling totally over-whelmed......grrrrrrr.
The funny thing is I'm aware of feeling this but haven't been able to pull myself out of it yet that’s what frustrating me, I wish I could stop time for a day or two chill out & get back to the madness. But if I do that I’ll just get more behind with the madness. Its motivation that is missing, I’ve lost my motivation or enthusiasm for everything at the moment.

I hate being negative/lethargic, it doesn't feel like me if you know what I mean. Another thing is they've let 2 people go in work this week & I've been feeling so bad for them. I guess it brings to mind what if it was me? Depressing.

So I digress, what was I talking about again? hold on need to re-read what I wrote................. ok so yes confusion. I've suffered with depression a lot in the past & was on medication for a few years but that was a good while ago but it was one of the things I hated so much about that time in my life was the loss of concentration. I think I might be having a small dose of that now. I think because I haven't had to deal with it for awhile I’ve lost track of what my coping skills were or what things I used to do back then to help me. hhhuuuuummmm thoughtful.......yes it makes sense.

I've found it’s a mixture of a lot of factors that’s used to contribute to the depression & I've noticed a few similarities when I read back through my musings here. It’s just been so long since I had a bad ‘bout’ that I thought I was ‘cured’. Which is stupid even for me to think cos it’s a state of being. I’ve forgotten that its easy to slip bad into unhealthy patterns of behaviour & all it takes is a combination of them & for an extended period of time to cause a re-lapse/re-occurrence, not really sure what the correct term is. But I so don’t want to go back to feeling like that again, it was hell & I’ve come so far since those days.

But you know what? getting this out really does help, I hate that it was negativity I vowed I would have a bright & cheery blog but hey if it helps then who cares?

So hopefully I'll be back tomorrow with some sort of plan of action, need to think about it this evening & write a list, I remember that was one thing that really used to help get me sorted.

So other than that I hope you all are having a better day.

Sinead O'Connor

2008-03-27T10:17:00.003+11:00

We went to see Sinead O'Connor in concert last night, my husband had gotten free tickets in work. And I have to say I was impressed. I'm not exactly a fan & I don't have any of her CD's & if the tickets hadn't been free I probably wouldn't have gone but I actually really enjoyed the night which surprised me a lot. She really is very talented & speaks her mind through her lyrics even if it goes against the common thought. You have to kindda admire her for that.

It got me thinking about the whole 'judging a book by its cover' thing & I have to say although I try not to judge, I have to admit I was in this instance. I judged her on her past exploits in the media & other instances of controversy. But she, like us all, is trying to do what she thinks is right to highlight injustices in this world. Do I agree with her? not always but can I judge her? No. But as a musician & an artist she really is very good.

Ok you might think 'ciara you went to one concert & now you're like her best friend' but it wasn't like that. She really was very unassuming on stage & her comments in between songs really were revealing. It wasn't so much what she said or didn't say but it was that she made me think & be aware of my prejudices - which is pre - judging people after all. Its so easy to do & I'm guilty myself but its something I'm going to try to be more aware of in my dealings with people.

So maybe that's a thought for the day of how you think about people you meet before you even know anything about them. Maybe train yourself to be 'aware' of how you think. Might be interesting. Let me know your thoughts on this if you have any.

Other than that I hope you have a great day & keep smiling.

As I've Matured - Link I got

2008-03-26T12:17:00.005+11:00

I got this by email from a really close friend of mine & it was so cute & inspiring I thought I'd post it for others to share.

It kindda makes you think & I like things that make me think.

CLICK ON THE 'AS I'VE MATURED' ... Just LOVE this!!!As I've Matured <------click here

I haven't been feeling very inspired lately, & haven't had much time to think about what to write. It makes me sad sometimes when life gets in the way if you know what I mean.

But anyway hope you enjoy the link I know I did & it made me smile. Sure isn't that what its all about? Falling down, getting up & keeping going, doing the best you can & being the best person you can be.

So be your best person today.

Phots Part 3

2008-03-20T15:28:00.003+11:00

Check out the teeth of these & these lads. hehe

Few bears chilling out. You do get the impression they're thinking 'lunch' when they look at you. This picture doesn't really do them justice they are HUGE.

The red panda's were so cute but very shy & hard to photo

This is the view of Sydney from the zoo. Nice huh?

Well hope you enjoyed the few pic I finally managed to get up. Its really been a mad week for me, not a spare second. I'm really looking forward to the long weekend & a bit of a break. No plans as of yet for the time off, planning on taking it easy.

I saw this quote today & I found it quite inspiring especially since I've been feeling a bit over-whelmed.

'Great things are not done by impulse but by a series of small things brought together' - Vincent Van Gogh.

Something to think about when it all seems too much.

Anyway hope you all have a brilliant Easter & eat loads of chocolate.

More Pictures

2008-03-20T15:01:00.003+11:00

Ok now that I think I've gotten he hang of it. Here's a few more.
Are you looking at me?

He was so funny he tried for about ten minutes to get this piece of napkin from the water.

They had these gorgeous flowers everywhere
Relaxing in the shade for the king of beasts.

All they need is a cold one.Eh?

Pictures

2008-03-20T14:30:00.008+11:00

ok I think I've finally figured out this whole picture thing. I'm quite new to this blogging business so you'll forgive me if its a bit of a learning curve. :o)
The cute chimps playing in the grass with Mum looking on ready to swipe.

So this is one of the spiders that were everywhere, euh

Elephant taking a quick dip

Catch up

2008-03-18T13:53:00.009+11:00

I didn't get a chance to catch up on my weekend so will do that now.

Ok Sat - so we went to the Taronga Zoo, we caught the ferry over - I mean how cool is that to catch the ferry over Sydney harbour to the zoo? It was perfect day to be out & about. It took us bit longer than planed to get packed up & out so we didn't have as much time in the zoo as we'd have liked but it was still a great day.

What stole the show for me was the chimps, they were hilarious. They had two young chimps & honestly they were exactly like children, playing & messing about. Then you'd have an adult get up & give them a swipe to stop. Then one would start showing off by doing rolls for the crowd. It was so funny. I took some pics - promise promise promise will have them up this week.

I have to say I got totally freaked by the amount of spiders in the trees, they were huge. But I have to assume not poisonous since they were everywhere. They had these huge webs built up in the trees over where the paths were so you had to walk under them & I was convinced it was going to drop on me. Sad but true what can I say I' don't like spiders. Having said that I did take few pics of them too.

We had out picnic on a little stretch of beach beside the zoo, it was lovely especially cos we were starving by that time. Really nice relaxing day.

Sunday - got up early (whats that about on a Sunday?? ha ha) to go to the photography class in Centennial park. It went really well. I had been a bit frustrated with it cos I wasn't getting the whole exposure/aperture/shutter speed thing to do what I wanted. I would see something & want to get it captured the way I was seeing it but it wasn't working so I was getting bit frustrated with the whole thing. I was beginning to think I'd never get the hang of it. I had tried it out loads at the zoo too but wasn't exactly the picture I wanted so I was really glad we had the class today so i could ask the questions while they were still fresh in my head.

So he explained some stuff to me so think its finally sinking in. He brought his three dogs with him as models. We were practising movement shots & that. He'd set up situation with the dogs & tell us what we should be looking for etc & then go around & see how we got on & explain why some worked & the problems with others & more importantly (for me anyway) how to correct them.

So my faith in myself is restored & I'll keep trying to get it right. I'm not a good learner, I'm very impatient with myself i want to know how to do it 'now'.

So after that we headed down to Picton to met up friends up from Melbourne. It was great seeing them again. The competitions actually didn't start til Monday they were all just training but that was still good to watch. So I registered, got my rig all checked out & got my drop zone brief & I was all set. Shane (my husband) had jumped there before so he'd gotten that done already. We chatted for a bit with our mates & caught up with all the news.

After a bit Shane says 'so come on we'll go jump'. So sucked it up & said Ok. Kate said she'd jump with us, we would do a three-way. Like I said I haven't jumped since Oct so was bit nervous. I knew I'd be fine once the door opened & you're out its all good its the initial nerves get you when you're not current (ie haven't jumped in awhile). After all you are jumping out of a plane. :o)

But it went brilliant it was such a beautiful day & it was so warm up there & you could see the coastline. We jumped at 13,000 feet we managed one point before breakaway. Sweet opening & no problems so headed back to DZ. There is nothing like being under canopy 1000feet in the air, it is THE most peaceful feeling in the world. Awwhh sigh! It was great the views up there were AMAZING. I really would recommend it to everyone, it should be something everyone does once in their life. And I even stood up my landing! yeah me!. I have a perchance on landing on my ass as I'm still learning but all good, I was proud of me.

So after that headed out for food with John & Kate(our friends) & about 10 other skydivers. Went to a really nice little restaurant near the train station in Picton & had fab dinner, good laugh too. We headed home after that. It wasn't too late when we got home about 11.15pm but it had been a long day. So we literally unpacked the car, dumped the stuff & fell into bed.

I have to say its been the best weekend I've had in awhile. A good for the soul kind of weekend.

Cead Mile Failte

2008-03-17T17:04:00.004+11:00

& a Happy St Paddy's Day to one & all.

Isn't it a great day to be Irish!!

Although better if I was in Ireland than I'd be off work as its a public holiday but since I'm in Sydney I'm working d'oh. I'm missing being at home today.

Oh well. so in all the spirit of the day - 'May your day hold all the treasures you deserve & your evening all the smiles to see you through til tomorrow'.

Have a GREAT day, go green for the day!

PS - Cead Mile Failte is Irish for 'a hundred thousand welcomes'

Weekend Plans

2008-03-14T13:40:00.007+11:00

Its been a mad hectic week for me in work so I've missed a few days of blogging. Which I'm trying not to do cos if I'm not consistent then I'll just stop, like so many other things I've let slide. Its something I don't like about myself & I'm trying to change. its hard to change your behaviours, they are just so ingrained & not budging without a fight. ;o)

Anyway the weather is supposed to be excellent for the weekend. Apparently its gale force winds & raining at home (Ireland) but sure no surprise there.

So plans for the weekend are, try not to kill my tomatoes & plant them in separate pots. We're going to the zoo on sat, I'm going to pack a picnic & bring it with us. Being vegetarian I never have many options at these places & always end up with chips -- boring. And they are usually very over-priced. I'm actually really looking forward to going, it brings out the child in me what can I say.

Then on Sunday, the photography course I'm doing is having the class in Centennial Park so going to that, really looking forward to being outside taking photos with the teach as up til now they've been conducted in the classroom. So it'll be good practice that he's there to ask stuff to about lighting, exposure & all that stuff I'm only learning about.

That's just for couple of hours in the morning & after that we're heading to Picton(South Sydney) as a friend of ours from Melbourne is competing in the 8 way skydiving Australian national competitions. So that should be fun, we'll watch the competition & maybe I'll do a jump. I haven't jumped since Oct so it'll be good to get back in the air again. I only have 75 jumps & really want to get my jump numbers up. This is one of the things I've let slide & really want to get back into cos it's so much fun!!! Falling at 120mph straight down. You can't get much freer than that.

Its not that I intentionally let things slide as I'm just pondering on the 'why'. Its more that life just gets in the way or something else happens & before I know it a month has past. Actually been saying that for the past year. The time is just flying by. I try to fit in as much as I can & enjoy it to the full but its a big world out there & still so much I'd like to do. I love travelling & seeing new places & people & experiencing their different cultures & traditions. It really is fascinating to me.

So in case I don't get a chance to post at the weekend, I hope you all have a great one & the thought for the weekend?

Get out there & do something you're afraid off......maybe try a skydive. :o)

Above all stay positive & keep smiling if nothing else it'll make people wonder what you're smiling at. LOL.

Soda Bread

2008-03-12T17:02:00.005+11:00

I think I'm hooked, blogging is so much fun & reading others peoples blogs is so fascinating, you learn so much about people all over the world. I mean how cool is that. In a world today that people seem afraid to get to know each other, I mean really know each other its so refreshing to see so many blogs out there & to learn from others & to chat/comment if you choose, no pressure.

Today has been a really hectic day so I haven't much time to write my thoughts but they're all in there bursting to get out. I picked up a recipe for soda bread today that I think I'm going to have a go at making. Its something I've always loved & i used to watch my Aunt making when I was small & she wouldn't measure anything just throw in a bit of this & a bit of that & bob's your uncle - soda bread. I could never figure out how she did it & it was always gorgeous every time. I asked a few times for a recipe but she didn't know it, she just always made it but sight. I think that's excellent & its so sad that its a dying art.

Anyway must dash hope you have a great Wednesday wherever you are in the world & keep smiling.

Autumn

2008-03-11T13:19:00.007+11:00

The weather has been amazing the past few days in Sydney & its supposed to continue until next monday. Its so hard to work when the sun is shining outside your window and the sky is clear blue. I just want to be out & about in it. Just checked the weather & its about 26oC now. wimper wimper want to be out walking on the beach or in a park or something.

Its coming into winter here. wow. I'm from Dublin, Ireland originally & my husband & I have been in Sydney just over a year but I’m still totally on the northern hemisphere zones, every cell in my body along with my mentality, psychology, physiology, whatever is all tuned that it should be spring now & with the weather being nicer now it fits with the psychology, its just too weird to think its autumn. :o)

But the good weather has brought out a few shoots on my tomato plant did I mention that before I think I did. Anyway checked it this morning & I have another two germinating so that brings total to seven now. So excited. I checked into lettuce seeds & pots at the weekend & I got a few books out of the library but decided to read up a bit before I buy any, just to be sure. So I’ll let you know how that goes.

I joined a shopping tote swap on another blog and we got our swap buddies today. I'm really looking forward to trying it out. I'm a total beginner. I think the last thing I sewed was in home economics class in school.

You should check it out its: http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/

She has so many wonderful tips & recipes its well worth a visit. I'm not normally a joiner in’er but this site really inspired me to give it a go. We'll see. I'll post a picture of the bag when I'm finished. I was paired up with a woman from Wales & I've emailed her already but I'm sure she’s still in cloud cuckoo land as its about 3am over there about now.

I thinking I must post up a few pictures soon. I'll do that soon. I had no idea how many blogs were how there I was having a bit of a surf yesterday it really is amazing, people from all over the world. I'm looking forward to meeting some new friends from around the world. I'm only new to this whole blogging thing & it’s been a revelation.

Yesterday I mentioned that I wanted to try to improve my diet & exerices etc. Well I actually brought in a proper lunch with me with plenty of fruit which I’ve just finished & feel very full after & last night I did an exercise routine from a Tai-bo class I used to do at home. I really miss it I used to LOVE doing it at home but I haven’t been able to find any classes here yet. So I worked up a good sweat at that. Another name for it is Kai-bo which is the original Billy Blanks US version. Its mixture between Taiquando & kick-boxing but done as an aerobic exercise as opposed to martial arts. It’s so much fun so if anyone out there knows of a class in Sydney please let me know.

I just saw a really good quote that I thought might be a nice thought for the day.

“Everyone thinks of changing the world but no one thinks of changing himself” - Leo Tolstoy

I thought it was quite appropriate as that is exactly what I'm trying to do at the moment. Anyway hope you all have a great day & keep smiling. :o)

Start of a new me

2008-03-10T13:06:00.005+11:00

Ok I was going to write the heading as start of a new week but decided instead to call it start of a new me. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking & then a lot of procrastinating about myself this weekend. I really wanted to get a few things done like writing in my blog for one which I didn’t’ get to do & I had a whole list of errands I needed to do & did I do them ok yes I did some but with great effort & much mental dialogue to get my ass out the door. Don’t know what’s going on its like I decide to improve myself & something inside kicks in & goes no I like it the way it is.
It can be very frustrating breaking out of old behaviours & habits & I’m still trying to get through it all. How do you fight yourself? It’s a pondery. I don’t’ think that’s even a word but hey I like it.
But even now as I start to think about doing a healthy diet plan & the like for this week & I’m dreading it & already the ’blah can’t be bothered’ tune is going on in my head. Ahhhh its frustrating.
Also I did a search for my blog just to see what would come up & nothing, not even a link don’t know why or whats going on. I searched for others that I read & they all came up so not really sure why mine doesn’t might have to ask the experts or other bloggers for advice on getting my blog ‘out there’.
So back to the new me, I’m going to start tomorrow as its way too much of a mental barrier to start on a Monday having said that I did have a healthy lunch today so I’m proud of that. I’m planning on going for a run this evening after work. Ok so it may be more of a brisk power walk cos its been so long but we’ll see.
I’ve decided to keep up with this blog. I’ve decided to grow some veggies. Oh oh did I mention I had planted some tomato seeds last week & they germinated this weekend. I have four baby shoots & I’m so proud, who knew! I’ve decided to start recycling properly not just here & there. I set up bags for plastic & paper beside my bin so I’ll remember. It’s just a habit I need to develop.

I think the thing is I’m a really good starter’er but not really good at consistency & continuing on with stuff so going to give that a go this week & see how I get on.

I was debating this weekend about whether to give my blog address to all my friends & for some reason I’m reluctant cos I feel like I’d start writing as if someone is listening & start to edit stuff & I don’t’ want that. Maybe I wouldn’t be I’ll leave it til I get a bit more confident in myself & then see.

I'm glad I'm starting to be a bit more proactive in the whole environmental thing, I'm beginning to realise everyone can do their bit no matter how small, cos it all adds up. There are so many out there doing their bit & I hadn't realised it until I started reading blogs & comments. Its really nice to hear about so many nice people out there doing nice things. Its not often enough that we hear about the good things in life. All the newspapers are filled with is bad news it seems. I have to say I haven't bought a newspaper in years, they just depress me & I only watch the headlines of the news generally. So its such a nice change to read about good things people are doing. It makes it feel, to me anyway, that the world has a bit more balance & thats a nice thought.

So be good to the planet today its the only one we have.

Weekend plans

2008-03-07T16:01:00.003+11:00

Just figured out why this whole writing business is so good. It forces my mind to slow down so I can put thoughts to paper or keyboard as it were. I can’t type as fast as I can think. Lol.

I love a good book. Isn’t it a marvelous escape? I never thought I’d be a person to say marvelous but blogland is a space for anything. Anyway books, there is nothing I like better than to settle down with a good book & a cup of tea. Its becoming less & less that I have the time to sit down with a book & I’m just realising that now. So I think this weekend I’m going to get some books out of the library & make time for myself. My husband will be away for the weekend & although I will miss him I’m really looking forward to the time alone. Some ‘me’ time. It has been sadly lacking of late.

I love Nora Roberts books, she never fails to entertain me & I’ve read loads of hers. I love Robert Ludlum too & James Patterson is a favourite but I’ve also been peppering my reading with more arts & craftsy reading. I’ve just taken up scrapbooking which is so much fun, so have gotten a few books out on that, as well as drawing & painting. I’ve just planted my first tomato plant having been inspired by my sister & other blogs to try simple living. Like I’ve said baby steps. My sister has been banging on about reclycling & conservation etc etc for ages & trying to convert me. But its funny as soon as she stopped trying to convert/bagger me was when I started getting more interested. I think you need to lead by example & all shes been talking about has finally seeped in. It was the genuine pleasure she gets from her own efforts & plants that’s inspired me. So I’m trying to get more involved after all we only have one planet & we need, we ALL need to do our part in conserving it. Although changing is not always easy but I think the thought of changing is usually harder than the actual doing. So this weekend I’m going to splash out & try to grow lettuce too. I’ve been told it’s a winter plant so hopefully should grow for me. I’ve never claimed to have green fingers but I’ll give it a go. Maybe that’s another book I’ll try get out of the library, how not to kill plants ha ha which is what I seem to invariably do. Ah no something on planting & seeds & soil to give me tips & ideas. Its also amazing what knowledge is out there waiting when you ask for help, people are so open to helping when asked. It truly has amazed me.

Even for a day that started our blue I’ve slowly come round to a more positive outlook after these few simple plans for my weekend have emerged.
Funny eh?

Live a good life today.

Getting Better

2008-03-07T11:11:00.004+11:00

Ok so I was reading over my last post & usually this is where I would reach for the bar of chocolate or go out & buy myself something nice to cheer myself up. That make me think. As I was sitting thinking how can I cheer myself up, it made me realise how often I depend on outside therepy like shopping or chocolate to put the world back on its right axis but is that really the solution?

It hasn't made me totally happy so far & I think its the whole 'fix-it-quick' era we live in. We depend on convenience in every aspect of our lives. The whole bandaid approach as opposed to really solving the problem. I could have a bar of chocolate & it probably would make me feel a bit better in the short term but is that what I want? I'm beginning to realise no its not. It makes me sad that so many people use quick fixes, myself included but like I said I'm realising there is more to life, more to happiness. Its a small beginning, these realisations but its a beginning. Like all the major changes that happen they often start small.

So today instead of feeling blue & getting caught up in that I'm going to go out & do something nice for someone. Be it something small like a smile or whatever. I'm going to try. It feels good to learn something about yourself & to feel like you're making a chance for the better no matter how small. I think someone famous said 'Rome wasn't built in a day'.

So going forward 'help others to help yourself'. Not a bad motto for a rainy Friday :o)

A blue day

2008-03-07T10:06:00.005+11:00

I'm having a bit of a down day. Don't know why as nothing has happened & I got up feeling normal enough. Maybe its the grey sky thats doing it or the promise of rain. Its still warm here in Sydney supposed to be 25 oC today but I'd say we're in for another thunderstorm. There are plenty of them at this time of year.
So back to wondering why I'm feeling bit blue today.....huuuummmm. Its friday I should be elated its the weekend. I guess its just one of those troughs in the rollercoaster of emothions. Its funny isn't it we can be so happy then so sad then middle'ing & so the cycle continues.
I so dont' want to be in work today my heart is not in it. I really try to put my best effort into my job as thats what I'm being paid for but today its a bit of a non starter. Does anyone else have days like this?

I've been thinking a lot about work recently. I like my job & at times I even enjoy it depending on the relevant days events & stress levels. I work in an accounts dept of a financial services company. I sort of fell into this profession as I was good at maths & good with numbers in general & that continued through my schooling. But what I was thinking about is I dont' have anything, job included that I'm passionate about, REALLY passionate about. I often envy those who KNOW they want to be doctors for example, they just know. Or teachers or whatever they seem to just know thats what they want to do. I envy that. I'm sort of trying to find that now & hopefully will make it my profession whatever it is I find but in the meantime there are bills to pay, food to buy you know yourself.
I went to a tarot card reader a few years ago & she was very good I'd have to say, freaky good actually. & she questioned my current profession too which was strange & suggested I do something more creative. I suppose thats partly why I decided to start this blog to find out what I want to do & how I can help others that might help me find my passion. I guess like everyone I just want to have that feeling of finding my place in the world.

But still haven't figured out why feeling so blue today. I really have a heavy heart, nothings happened nothings gone wrong, I was even very cheerfull this morning. maybe I just need a good cup of tea, growing up that was the answer for everything, LOL.

So hopefully you all are having a better day & hopefully I'll be a bit more cheery next time.

Here is a really good thought for the day - everyone must row with the oars they have.

Yoga

2008-03-06T13:37:00.004+11:00

I started a yoga class a few weeks ago. I was feeling very blah after the Christmas/New Year period & I wanted to do something to get me moving. I had done a class a few years ago & really enjoyed it so thought I would give it a go here as there is a yoga school very near my apt.
For the most part I really enjoy it but as I'm out of shape or should I say very unflexible it does push me. I'm usually stiff the next day, not overly but enough to know its working.
I'm a big believer in the balance of life. Its hard mostly to keep all the balls in the air at once & for me excerise is usually the first out the window when my schedule gets hectic but I've really begun to realise how important it is. I know scientists have been going on about it for years but I for one never really listened & I think its true that no matter how many times you hear something its up to you to decided whether its right or it works for you.
Its so true though, it makes you feel so good, those excellent endorphins! what would we do without them LOL.

I find its the whole mental barrier thats hard to get through. I used to go to the gym & I really loved going & I always felt GREAT after it but the getting there was the pits. It really was a mental struggle to get there. I resorted to tricking my own mind into going weird but true. If anyone has any other ideas on how to get motivated please share them with me cos its something I struggle with.

Life really is funny isn't it? a crazy mixed up mentalness thats so simple when wwe step back from it & not get so caught up in its whirlwind. I found meditation to be excellent for helping me calm my mind dowm after a hectic work day. I really had a problem with switching off my mind it was constantly going. Meditation really is so relaxing. Don't get me wrong its not as easy as just sitting in a chair doing nothing its totally focusing your concentration on either not thinking or on one specific thing/item. It really is hard at first like a muscle that hasn't been used in awhile but trust me it does get easier. I really see the benefits & would recommend it to everyone. I might see if I can out up a few simple mediation exercises for anyone to practise.

So my thought for today is to go out & do something be it going for a brisk walk in the evening or joining a fitness group or class but get out there & start moving you'll be surpirsed at how much energy it gives you.

Inspiration

2008-03-05T12:45:00.000+11:00

I have so much inspiration today I don't know where to start. I want to change the layout abit to make it more user friendly. I want to talk about life, love, friendships, living simply, getting out of the rat race, getting back to whats really important.
Its so easy to get caught up in life isn't it?
You forget to stop & look around once in awhile. I had an ordinary moment yesterday that really was amazing. I was out on my balcony & it was a glorious day even though its coming into Autumn here & I just breathed in the fresh air & I just felt so alive. Strange you might say as you're always alive. har har. But it really was amazing. Something I do everyday but yesterday it just struck me of how beautiful the day was & how glorious everything looks in the sunshine & how nature is really amazing. & it really cheered me up. It was such a simple thing but I felt such joy in my heart. I wish I could have that feeling all day everyday what a happy person I'd be but baby steps I'm getting there slowly but surely.
I really believe you have to be open to good things coming into your life for them to happen.

I will try to get my thoughts in order so I can add them here a bit more coherently but even writing this helps me SO much even I am so surprised at that. I've heard about the benefits of journalling before but never really believed it til now. It's like letting myself go & really being allowed to be who I am, without fear of judgement or reprisal or whatever. Fear is funny isn't it, we don't realise how much it controls us. But thats a topic for another day.
I feel like I'm talking to a long lost friend. Funny I set this blog up to try to help others & to offer my time & friendship to those who may need it & i'm finding I'm helping myself. Wow who would have thought it.

Being Found

2008-03-05T10:42:00.000+11:00

I've just been reading Rhonda Jeans' blog & as I've only discovered it recently & she's been blogging for about a year I decided to start at her beginning & she said something amazing in one of her comments. Might I add - amazing to me as when I look at all her comments today I wonder how she could have thought that. She said something along the lines of ' I was wondering if I'd be found in a blog' & I thought wow she felt the same way as I'm feeling now.
Its all well & good wanting to help people & be there for people but if you have no people then its a bit redundant isn't it? Irony! it keeps the world amusing.
So feeling somewhat reassured that I'll be found if I'm meant to be I'll continue on my thoughts for the day.
Living simply to simply live.
I struggled for a long time to find who I am in this world, where is my spot. I suppose the age old, why are we here question? Its a big one isn't it?
Ever since I've been quite young I've had since feeling/sensation/emothion (not really sure) of searching for something. Ok so the pondery is how can I find something when I don't know what I'm searching for?
Who Am I? Where am I going? who will I be when I get there?
Also the big one for me - at the time- was how do people know the real me? Is it by my actions? but haven't we all done things that were less than honourable & thought well that isn't really me? Is it by my emotions, my thoughts, my words? how do I know what really is me? Who AM I?

And while its still an ongoing journey I think I'm starting to find a path through this muddy track of life, my own little space of peace in this world of turmoil. I hope to be able to share my experiences & trials & tribulations with you so you can maybe learn, be inspired ....who knows. The world really is such a beautiful place but we get caught up in the material that we forget to look around & be grateful for what we have & who we are. Thats why I want to help people to unload some of their emotional burdens & see what an amazing creation the human being really is & how special each of us are.

So think of even one thing today you are grateful for or if you're lucky write a list. Leave it somewhere you can see it often today & smile. You're blessed today.

The Next Day

2008-03-04T14:26:00.000+11:00

I find it funny when you start out on a grand limb & you have loads of insporation then when you try to put it into words .....nothing.
I've been contemplating getting my blog out there & to try to help people & being a new blogger I'm a bit lost I admit. I was introduced to a really inspiring blog by my sister which upon getting permission I will post the link & the woman who writes it is so inspiring. So here I am in the virtual jungle learning as I go.
It kind of reminds me about life in general, it really is a kind of jungle that we stumble through trying to find meaning to our lives. I have so many thoughts & finding it hard to get them in order well should I say a coherant order so it doesn't turn into one bit waffle.

I think the thought for today which I'm spreading from this other blog of the day is to do a random act of kindness for someone today. It really does come back to you tenfold when you lest expect it.

So be kind to each other, really make the effort & know others are out there too doing the same.

Be strong & stay positive. :o)

Inspiration

2008-03-03T17:37:00.000+11:00

I haven't really thought this through completely but I'll try to explain my basic comcept for this blog. Ok bit of history but bear with me. I'm not the sort of person who trusts people easily & find it hard to really feel comfortable confiding in people about my true feelings. However I have a few very close friends but one in particular who really was my rock. We were very close, I could talk to him about anything. Apart from my husband he was the only person I felt I could truly confid in. Of course when I needed to vent about my husband for whatever reason he was there. We were best friends for nearly 10 years & shared SO much in that time.
Anyway, there came a time when he had a relationship that was getting serious, not his first obviously but the first really serious one & even though I was married she felt extremely threatened by our friendship. She was a bit younger than us & I think very insecure. So the long & the short of it was the ultimatum came from her, a 'her or me' typy of thing & although he tried to reason with her & comfort her & what have you he -much to my hurt - gave in & ended our friendship.
This really was a huge shock to me & to say it hurt was really an understatement. I felt very betrayed. But before you go thinking I'm setting up a get back at the witch type blog I'm not. I came to realise that I had no one I felt comfortable talking to, really talking to, not just the everyday stuff but the really hard personal feelings type talking. I wondered if others had the same feeling, didn't want to talk to those close to them for fear of being judged or ridiculed or for whatever reason. I thought maybe I could help. Maybe I could offer others the ear/email/friend they needed in times when it all seemed hopeless. Let me say I don't have any professional qualifications but just help. I really believe that talking about your problems really helps make them clearer or talking about your dreams helps them feel real.

So when I recently came upon another blog I was inspired by & I found how easy it was to set up I thought this may be the first step on the road to helping people. This life is so short & we really our just one big community & I would so love for more people to come together in friendship & harmony.

So i'll continue & write my thoughts & if you need a friend or need an ear or just simply a chat cos you're feeling a bit lonely please feel free to leave a comment or your email address & I'll get back to you. I welcome all comments about improving this blog or any thoughts really.